He “Felt Empty” & THIS Unexpected Invite Changed Everything...

What does it take to walk into church for the first time at 45… alone?

Retired NBA forward and 2017 champion Matt Barnes, who bunked three spots from Candace on Special Forces, sits down with her to talk about the childhood that shaped him and the faith that found him.

Matt grew up in the ’80s around drugs and violence, then moved from San Jose to Sacramento at eight and ran into racism for the first time. As a high school senior, he defended his little sister, was suspended, and saw his family threatened badly enough that they had to move. He also talks about losing his mom, his “rock,” 26 days after her cancer diagnosis.

After his infidelity ended his relationship with Anansa early in 2025, Matt dug up an old invitation from a friend and showed up at church by himself, hiding in the back row. A few months later he invited Anansa to come with him, and on New Year’s Eve they married. He and Candace also talk about raising seven kids with love instead of tough love, and why he joined Special Forces to test his mind.

For more conversations like this one, visit candace.com, where you can also download the free Fitness Basics Guide with 15 basic exercises for anyone who wants to know where to start.

Learn more about Athletes Versus Cancer, the foundation Matt started in honor of his mom. New episodes of Special Forces air Thursdays at 6:00 PM Pacific, 9:00 Eastern on FOX, with past episodes on Hulu.

Life is like a rollercoaster, but it’s better when we go through it together!

Connect with Candace Bure and Matt Barnes

• Candace on Instagram @candacecbure (instagram.com/candacecbure)

• Follow the Podcast on Instagram @candacecameronburepodcast (instagram.com/candacecameronburepodcast)

• Follow the Podcast on TikTok tiktok.com/@ccbpodcast

• Matt on IG/ TIKTOK: Matt on IG: instagram.com/matt_barnes9

Sponsors For This Episode

• 316 Financial bank316.com/candace-cameron-bure

• CrowdHealth joincrowdhealth.com CODE Candace

• IFCJ ifcj.com

• GCU gcu.edu

• Toups and Co Organicstoupsandco.com/candace (toupsandco..com)Code “CANDACE”

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