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AWARD-WINNING HOST MARION MACKENZIE
The UPside Conversations
that Light UP the World
A weekly talk show where
faith, healing, and purpose meet real life.
The UPside is AN OASIS of...
- Bold Voices
- Authentic Stories
- Radical Faith and Transformation
- Soul-Nourishing Conversations
- Healing and Wholeness
- Leadership and Impact
A smart and refreshing weekly talk show
that weaves together faith-filled inspiration, authentic conversations, and purpose-driven storytelling. In each uplifting 28-minute episode, award-winning host Marion MacKenzie interviews thought leaders, faith-heroes and game changers to explore powerful themes that enrich the soul, spark transformation, and light up the world.
The UPside gains national recognition
from NRB and CONTENT - two of the most respected organizations in Christian media.
"Marion doesn't just host... she elevates the conversation." -Paula Mosher Wallace
A Message From Your Host, Marion MacKenzie
In a season when the world feels loud, fractured, and often discouraging, The UPside was created as a place for thoughtful, hope-filled conversations -- stories that go beneath the surface success and explore faith, healing, purpose, resilience, and the moments that shape a life.
I believe the most powerful stories are the ones that lift our gaze from what's broken to what's possible. Each week, I sit down with leaders, creatives, and cultural influencers to talk honestly about the journeys behind their influence — the struggles, turning points, and values that carried them through.
This project reflects the heart of why Russell and I started Highlander Studios in the first place — to create redemptive, culturally impactful stories that uplift, challenge, and encourage. If The UPside resonates with you, I’d be honored if you’d watch, listen, comment, and share. Every response builds momentum and ensures stories like these can reach hungry hearts wherever they are.
Consider Partnering With Us
Bring hope to the world... one conversation at a time with your secure tax-deductible gifts. Help us reach new audiences across platforms, produce high-quality, faith-centered content, and give avoice to stories that might otherwise go unheard. This isn't just media; it's ministry.
Weekly video episodes are available on YouTube and Rumble, as well as here on our website. Audio episodes are available on Spotify and Apple.
THEMES WE TACKLE
weekly SINCE january 9, 2026
Watch the Show Here
Deborah Smith Pegues
The Conversation Every Woman Needs
Most women will face a season — through loss or through a marriage that ends — when the finances suddenly become theirs to carry alone. Deborah Smith Pegues, author of The One-Minute Money Mentor for Women, brings a warm, honest, and deeply practical conversation about facing financial independence —whether it comes by choice or by surprise.
Jean Thomason/Miss Patty Cake
Who Will Shape the Next Generation?
Beloved children’s ministry pioneer Jean Thomason—known to generations as Miss PattyCake—shares why the earliest years matter so deeply in a child’s faith journey.
Discover how music, joy, Scripture, and the faithful influence of parents and grandparents can plant seeds of faith that last a lifetime.
SEASON 2
Angel Phillips Faulk
She Woke Up Deaf-It Saved Her Life. A Heroic Story of Faith, Courage and Resilience
One night, Angel, a busy homeschooling mom, fitness instructor, and woman of vibrant faith — woke up in the middle of the night to a crunching sound in her ear. Then silence. What an MRI revealed would change her life forever: a massive meningioma, a brain tumor that had been growing for nearly a decade, wrapped around the nerves that control hearing, facial movement, and the very functions that keep the human heart beating.
Troy Miller
Only 13%?!
What if America’s biggest spiritual crisis isn’t unbelief—but disconnected belief?
Troy Miller, President and CEO of National Religious Broadcasters, unpacks a startling gap: nearly 60% of Americans affirm core Christian beliefs, yet only 13% allow those beliefs to shape their daily decisions, worldview, and hope.
This sobering insight helps explain much of the confusion, anxiety, loneliness, and spiritual hunger we see around us today.
Dr. Hugh Ross
What's Really Out There?
With UFO and UAP headlines fueling curiosity, fear, and endless speculation, where can thoughtful Christians turn for clarity?
Astrophysicist and Christian apologist Dr. Hugh Ross brings decades of research, scientific insight, and biblical wisdom to one of the most mysterious—and misunderstood—conversations of our time.
Brad Brandon
One Man, One Ticket, One Mission:
What would make a man leave comfort behind, buy a one-way ticket to Northern Nigeria, and never look back?
Brad Brandon shares the extraordinary story of Across Nigeria—serving persecuted believers, displaced families, widows, orphans, and underground congregations in a region where following Christ can carry deadly consequences under Sharia law and extremist persecution.
Steve Hemphill
Heaven Is Real - And It's Nothing Like You Think
Steve Hemphill breaks down Scripture's surprising details about eternal life — from tangible resurrection bodies to divine assignments, heavenly rewards, and why getting excited about heaven changes how you live today.
Ryan Dobson
The Covenant Is Coming
The Covenant is coming — a multi-season prestige television epic bringing the full sweep of the Old Testament to life on screen. it carries with it the weight of something that doesn't happen often: the right story, the right team, the right moment in history. In a world starving for truth and beauty, this is a project built to feed both.
Jeanne Roberson
Trapped for 22 Years in a World She Never Chose
Jeanne Roberson's story begins with a dysfunctional home she escaped as a young teenager. Then, at 17, lured by false promises of stardom and stability, she was trafficked into the adult entertainment industry —exotic dancing and club culture — by someone she trusted. What followed was more than two decades of exploitation, addiction, shattered dreams, and failed attempts to break free.
Bruce Van Natta
Saved by Angels
He was crushed beneath a semi-truck… and should not have survived.
But what he says he saw in those moments may change how you think about Heaven, angels, and the unseen realm.
Lisa Burkhart Worley
She Said Yes to God
What happens when God interrupts your life with a calling you never expected?
From supernatural encounters to uncovering hidden truths about Israel and antisemitism, this conversation will challenge what you see—and awaken what you may have missed.
Walt Heyer
He Lived as a Woman for 8 Years
He changed everything about his life… and it still didn’t bring him peace.
What followed was a journey through confusion, regret—and ultimately, profound restoration.
Steve Hemphill
Why Do Some Prayers Break Through...
You’ve been praying… but what if something is blocking the answer?
This conversation reveals why prayer alone may not always be enough—and what Scripture says to do about it.
Camey Joy
She Wasn't Supposed to Live
This is a story marked by pain, perseverance, and profound healing. It reminds us that no wound is wasted and no life is beyond redemption. God does His deepest work in our hardest places. If you’ve ever wondered whether your pain has purpose, this conversation is for you.
SEASON 1
Lynn Eldridge
From Bipolar to Delivered
Nearly 1 in 4 adults faces mental health challenges—and young women 18–25 at the highest rates. Lynn Eldridge lived three decades battling bipolar disorder, addiction, and depression…until a powerful encounter changed everything.
Senator Hank Erwin
GAP26
GAP26 isn't just an event; it's a chance to spark a revival that touches hearts, strengthens communities, and reshapes our world for God's glory. If you care about the spiritual future of our nation, watch this episode.
Alexandra Boylan
Girls Deserve Better Movies
What happens when a filmmaker decides not to wait for Hollywood's permission? This filmmaker went from creating independent horror films to making films that combine entertainment, faith, and real-life issues young people face.
Chris Mitchell
Israel
You're about to gain a perspective you won't hear anywhere else from a veteran journalist who has spent 25 years living and reporting from the frontlines of Jerusalem.
Denise Mountenay
When "Safe" Isn't the Whole Story
What would you do… if while you were being treated for a medical condition, you discovered the solution being offered to you wasn’t as safe as you had been told? What if the risks included breast cancer, pregnancy complications, depression, and serious mental health issues?
Joe Battaglia
The Hidden Power Behind Your Words
In a time when conversations feel more divided, harsh, and polarizing than ever — even within the body of Christ — how do we return to truth, civility, and unity?
Mark Joseph
The Making of "Reagan"
Two decades. One dream. The untold story behind the hit biographical film Reagan—and what it took to make it.
Tim Calhoun
Autism, 7 Miracles & A Father's Fight
A moving true story of Tim Calhoun’s family’s journey from the heartbreak of an autism diagnosis and the heroic, relentless fight of faith, perseverance, natural therapies, miracles...and healing!
Paula Mosher Wallace
Breaking Free
From captivity to clarity... trauma, faith, and the long walk to freedom. Author and trauma coach Paula Mosher Wallace shares a courageous story of escape, recovery, and redemption—and the practical steps that helped her heal.
Dr Byron Spradlin
The Arts as God's Language
Why do songs, stories, and images open us to truth? Global thought leader Dr. Byron Spradlin unpacks the arts as God’s language—how worship, beauty, and imagination shape disciples and cultures.
Zoro
From Impossible Dream to Legendary Groove
What does it take to carry a “no way” dream into the spotlight? World-renowned drummer Zoro shares how faith, perseverance, and a mother’s sacrificial love shaped his path from poverty and prejudice to incredible success.
Michael Garst
Retire with Purpose
What if retirement isn’t a finish line—but a fresh calling? Let's reframe your next season around purpose, service, and legacy with author Michael Garst. We talk hearing God’s voice, using your gifts, and advancing the Kingdom in “retirement.”
Behind the Scenes
ON THE UPSIDE
Conversations that light up the world!
Where faith, healing, and purpose meet real life.
A PRO HUSBAND AND WIFE TEAM
Where passion, purpose, and creativity thrive in harmony
Marion MacKenzie Pyle
Host of The UPside
Meet Marion
Marion is a dynamic creative force with a celebrated international background as a writer, producer, actress, and television host. Her award-winning work spans television series, video news magazines, documentaries film, theatre, and literature. Marion's uplifting storytelling reaches audiences in more than 200 countries.
Highlander Studios has always been rooted in our shared belief that stories can do more than entertain... they can heal, inspire, and point people toward what's possible. The UPside is a natural extension of that mission.
Russell Pyle
Producer of The UPside
Meet Russell
Highlander Studios’ CEO, Russell Pyle, is an award-winning media producer, editor, set and lighting designer. His expertise extends not just to video and television, but also AI visual storytelling, theatre, special events, theme parks, public art, opera, dance, museums, and fashion shows. He has designed lights and/or sets for over 350 productions across California, New York, Florida, as well as Singapore, Turkey and Japan.
Do you have a compelling story to share?
A conversation that could light up the world?
"I believe the most powerful stories are the ones that lift our gaze from what's broken to what's possible." - Marion MacKenzie Pyle
Your submission has been received and we will be in touch soon!
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