In this episode of Arroyo Grande, MercyMe frontman Bart Millard - voice behind I Can Only Imagine - reveals the truth about success: it doesn’t fix what’s broken.

At the height of his fame, Millard was battling depression, family struggles, and his son’s diabetes diagnosis. He shares how hitting rock bottom - and the song Even If - helped pull him back.

From the real story behind I Can Only Imagine to the pressures of life on the road, Millard opens up about pain, faith, and the tension between public success and private suffering.

A raw, honest conversation about endurance, healing, and holding on - even when life doesn’t go as planned.

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00:00 - Introduction
01:23 - Inside I Can Only Imagine 2
05:01 - The Hardest Scene to Watch
06:36 - The Tim Timmons Story
08:31 - Escaping Through Touring
09:11 - Battling Depression
11:35 - The Meaning of “Even If”
15:06 - Sponsor: Ave Maria Mutual Funds
16:34 - Music as an Escape
17:21 - From Football to Music
20:01 - Writing “I Can Only Imagine”
24:33 - Why the Song Connected
27:27 - Healing a Father’s Wounds
31:45 - Why Make a Sequel?
32:15 - Leaving the Label
33:49 - Lessons After 40 Years
36:06 - Arroyo Grande Questionnaire