Lakepointe megachurch pastor Josh Howerton has announced a significant partnership with conservative media company The Blaze, a move that observers suggest could elevate his podcast, "Live Free with Josh Howerton," to a broader audience, drawing comparisons to the reach of figures like Joe Rogan.
Howerton, who has amassed over 6 million online followers, framed the past three years of his podcast as an initial "test drive." Launched in 2023, the show quickly gained traction, with episodes now regularly attracting hundreds of thousands of views. The partnership with The Blaze aims to leverage the company's distribution and logistical expertise, areas Howerton admitted he lacked the time or wherewithal to manage himself.
Despite the expanded platform, Howerton stated that his content will not change, emphasizing his identity as a pastor rather than solely a podcaster. The Blaze, co-founded by Glenn Beck and also home to Steven Crowder, will carry Howerton's content, which will remain available on his existing social media channels and podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify.
Tyler Cardon, from Blaze Media, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, noting Howerton's "genuine chart momentum" and an audience seeking "clarity on faith and culture." He believes The Blaze's distribution capabilities will help Howerton "reach even more people hungry for the truth."
Howerton took over as lead pastor at the Dallas-based Lakepointe Church in 2020. His podcast, "Live Free with Josh Howerton," is currently ranked highly in Apple Podcasts' religion and spirituality category. The church itself is one of the largest in the U.S., with an average weekly attendance in the five digits.
This professional expansion comes amid past controversies surrounding Howerton's sermons. In January 2026, a sermon discussing the characteristics of a "godly wife" drew criticism for its message that women should do whatever they can to satisfy their husbands. Another instance involved remarks at a 2024 wedding, where he advised women to "stand where [your husband] tells you to stand, wear what he tells you to wear and do what he tells you to do." Howerton later defended these statements, suggesting they were taken out of context and part of a joke, and apologized for his wording.
Reports from 2024 indicated that former congregants had raised concerns about misogynistic messages and political rhetoric in Howerton's sermons after he took over from former lead pastor Steve Stroope. These concerns were cited as a reason for hundreds of congregants leaving the church.
Howerton has also engaged with political figures. He was among a group of religious leaders who toured the White House, led by then-President Trump's personal pastor, Paula White. At the time, Howerton commented on Facebook about the number of "Jesus-loving, church-attending, Bible-believing genuine Christians" he perceived to be within the government.
