The Glenn Beck Podcast | Ep 278

The Next Adele, Ella Fitzgerald & Billie Eilish?! | Emma Nissen
Date: February 14, 2026

Episode Overview

In this heartfelt, musically rich episode, Glenn Beck sits down with Emma Nissen, a rising singer-songwriter whose style defies labels yet draws comparisons to legends like Adele, Ella Fitzgerald, and Billie Eilish. The conversation delves into Emma's journey through music, faith, personal challenges, and authenticity, highlighting her iridescent musical style, spiritual insights, and her refusal to be boxed in by genre or expectations. The episode is peppered with live musical performances, vulnerable storytelling, and profound reflections on creativity, mental health, and the transformative power of music.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Emma’s Musical Roots & Influences

• [02:33]–[03:23]:
  Glenn discovers Emma online, struck by her versatility:

  “I thought, oh, she sounds like Adele…no, she sounds like Billie Eilish…she’s positively Ella Fitzgerald.”

  • Emma embraces her “bouquet” of musical influences, from gospel to jazz, and prefers diversity over a single genre.
• [08:26]–[09:09]:
  Ella Fitzgerald is foundational to Emma’s musicality as is an upbringing surrounded by classical music, jazz, and family influences. Emma shares,

  “She’s my muse. I went through a really heavy phase in high school of just listening to Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra every day.”

2. The Origin of Her Unique Style

• [12:31]–[14:08]:
  Emma’s formal classical training was brief—only nine weeks before a vocal cord hemorrhage changed her course.
  • She learned primarily by ear, inspired by both jazz and the persistence of family members refining their craft.

3. The Power of Setbacks & Faith

• [14:18]–[16:35]:
  Emma details how losing her singing voice shifted her toward spiritual surrender and later, songwriting during the pandemic in Sweden.

  “I just gotta have faith…for the first time in my life, I’d never written a song. But I went over the piano…’gotta have faith, faith in the Lord…’ and it just wrote itself.”
  — Emma ([18:03])

4. Songwriting as Authentic Connection

• [16:45]–[18:59]:
  Emma began writing songs only five years prior and initially avoided songwriting, not feeling “deep or meta enough” for it.
  • Inspired by “the greats” and her storytelling father (who worked on “Swan Princess"), Emma realized songwriting could serve others and reflect shared spiritual journeys.

5. Navigating Labels & the Music Industry

• [28:02]–[30:22]:
  Glenn and Emma discuss how her music resists classification—spiritual but not narrowly “Christian,” joyful yet introspective, and genre-fluid.

  “You can write a song for one purpose...but it’s up to the listener...that’s why I think I got over the fear of being that girl...this is something that came from me. Do with it what you will.”
  — Emma ([29:09])

6. Breakout Moments

• [32:38]–[33:51]:
  Emma’s single “Breathe” (self-labeled “Christian jazz”) went viral, leading to a direct message from Adam Blackstone (industry heavyweight), and a set at NYC’s iconic Blue Note Jazz Club.

7. Songwriting Process & Authenticity

• [36:05]–[41:10]:
  Most of Emma’s songs were written in a creative burst from March 2020–August 2021. She’s reluctant to participate in analytical industry “writing sessions,” emphasizing inspiration and emotional honesty.

  “I don’t know how to do that. I don’t know how to go off of not inspiration.”
  — Emma ([53:44])

8. Musicianship & Vocal Techniques

• [41:16]–[44:46]:
  Glenn praises Emma’s unique vocal color and “mouth trumpet” (which she demonstrates live), tracing her ability back to compulsive imitation and immersion in jazz standards.

  “I think I am just a conglomeration of the things I’ve grown up on.”
  — Emma ([42:08])

9. Vulnerability: Body Image & Mental Health

• [54:07]–[63:06]:
  Emma opens up about struggles with body dysmorphia, eating disorders, and the power of cognitive reframing learned at a gym encounter:

  “Thoughts are just thoughts. They’re never true unless they’re a fact...choose the one that moves you forward.”
  — Emma ([60:59])

10. Self-Love and Spirituality

• [64:37]–[66:18]:
  Emma describes her practice of affirmations and how rewiring her thinking brought about inner healing—culminating in songs like “Lovin’” encouraging self-kindness and gratitude for God’s creation.

11. Embracing the "Bouquet" Approach

• [69:00]–[71:01]:
  Discussing her albums, Emma resists pressure to compartmentalize her music as strictly “Christian” or “secular,” wishing to remain open and genre-fluid:

  “Like Taylor Swift, I have my eras... it never started as one thing.”
  — Emma ([69:31])

12. Faith, Doubt, and Loving Despite Uncertainty

• [72:52]–[74:13]:
  Emma reflects on spiritual deconstruction and the importance of loving others amid uncertainty:

  “The thing I do cling to as my belief... is love is the most important thing.”

Memorable Quotes & Moments

On Being Unclassifiable:

“Whenever you can’t put somebody in a box, that’s when you have real unique talent.”
— Glenn Beck ([03:23])

On Authenticity:

“I never wanted to be the type of person that was like, 'Hey guys, here's a song...' but once I started writing about my spiritual journey and like my imperfections in that journey, I realized, oh, it’s not about me, it’s about the collective.”
— Emma ([22:58])

On The Power of Thoughts:

“Thoughts are just thoughts. They're never true unless they're a fact. Facts are true, but thoughts, they're made up... Choose the one that moves you forward.”
— Emma ([60:59])

On Self-Compassion:

“If someone were to ask you to list all the things that you love, how long would it take until you said yourself?”
— Emma ([63:06])

On Artistic Purpose:

“I don’t know that I have any expectation of affecting people’s lives...I do it because it’s blessed mine and I want to share that.”
— Emma ([51:57])

On Artistic Freedom:

“I hope you don’t ever listen to somebody who says 'No, that’s gotta go on a Christian album.' Mix them.”
— Glenn Beck ([69:25])

Featured Songs & Timestamps

• “Breathe” – [04:37]–[08:05]
  Soulful, gospel-infused jazz meditation on spiritual resilience.
• “Gotta Have Faith” – [19:31]–[22:25]
  Emma’s pandemic anthem, blending gospel and personal testimony.
• “Hear Him” – [38:31]–[41:06]
  Gentle, introspective song about listening for divine guidance.
• “Till That Day” – [48:15]–[51:17]
  Nostalgic love song with poetic lyrics and jazz textures.
• “Lovin’” – [66:18]–[68:34]
  Affirming tune about learning to love oneself as part of loving all creation.
• “Am I Enough” – [71:03]–[72:28]
  Vulnerable prayer about self-worth and divine acceptance.
• “Angels” – [79:34]–[83:05]
  Moving ballad inspired by the real-life resilience of Heather Van Borram and the unseen support of angels.
• “Hold On” – [86:32]–[89:42]
  Raw reflection on faith, self-doubt, and the courage to persist through uncertainty.

Notable & Personal Stories

• Meeting Music Legends:
  Glenn recounts meeting Elton John, Billy Joel, and BB King (who “hit on [his] wife!”) and why he’s hesitant to meet musical heroes.
• Gym Epiphany:
  Emma’s life-changing experience with a cognitive therapy class: “It almost felt illegal how easy that was...I was seriously, spiritually swole after that.” ([62:06])
• Embarrassing Moments:
  Opening for John Legend and wiping her nose just before shaking his hand, then telling audiences, “I just gotta tell you, I’m not any cooler than you…”
• Family Ties:
  Her father was a writer/voice actor on “Swan Princess” and a formative influence as a storyteller.

Thematic Threads

• Musical Diversity:
  Emma’s music is a “bouquet” of jazz, pop, gospel, and classical.
• Faith Amidst Uncertainty:
  Both host and guest discuss “deconstruction” in faith, resilience in setbacks, and emphasizing love over dogma.
• Vulnerability and Self-Love:
  The power of shifting from self-criticism to self-compassion, and using music as a vessel for healing and collective connection.

Final Reflection

Emma Nissen emerges as a vibrant new voice who refuses to be defined by a single genre, story, or struggle. Through candid dialogue and song, she models authenticity, humility, resilience, and joy—inviting others to love themselves and their neighbors more fully, no matter where their journey takes them.

Listen for These Segments

• Emma sings “Breathe”: [04:37]
• Ella Fitzgerald’s influence: [08:26]
• Her vocal injury and spiritual pivot: [14:08]
• “Gotta Have Faith” performance: [19:31]
• Viral internet moment → Blue Note debut: [32:38]
• “Til That Day” live: [48:15]
• Gym/cognitive therapy story: [58:44]
• “Lovin’” (self-love song): [66:18]
• “Angels” and its inspiration: [79:34]
• Emma’s perspective on faith, doubt, purpose: [84:18]–[89:42]

Notable End Quote:

“Someday you will be a category that somebody will say, oh, so she’s like eminiscing.”
— Glenn Beck ([83:05])

For Listeners

This episode is a soulful, candid conversation generously interwoven with live songs, insights about faith and creativity, stories of struggle and joy, and the invitation to embrace both the doubts and the beauty within and around us. Whether you’re interested in artistry, spiritual journeying, or stories of overcoming and hope, this conversation with Emma Nissen delivers abundant inspiration and heart.