Radical Optimism

We are back(ish)! After prompting from a couple folks, we thought we'd ease back into things by reviewing our top picks (thinkers) and worst picks (stinkers) from 2024. We added a new category at the end, tinkers, after prompting from a fan! On this episode we keep things casual.

Three recent popular books on the state of kids and families came out recently: The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt, Family Unfriendly by Tim Carney, and Bad Therapy by Abigail Shrier. They each grapple with the same societal problems of record rates of anxiety, depression, medication, treen suicide, and loneliness. They also discuss the decline of the “play-based childhood” since the 1980s. Each give slightly different prescriptions aimed at less anxiety for parents and more resiliency for children. Join us for a discussion of how these authors approach the issues and how Christians might think about it all.

It's hard to watch the news and the conflicts around the globe lately. It begs the question of where we are in history and what America's place in the world should be. This week the Senate debated and passed a foreign aid package to Ukraine, Taiwan, Gaza, and Israel. We give a very non-expert look into what's happening and why we can still be optimistic for freedom's future.

It's been over two months since out last episode! We had a deeper topic in mind but pivoted to something lighter: checking in our theme of the last year (and near future), “enjoy,” and discussing some of the spiritual and family Christmas practices and traditions in our family. We talk Advent, Santa, and, of course, our Stinkers and Thinkers too. Check out the books and resources Rachel recommends: She Reads Truth Advent devotionals Jesse Tree Ornaments Sacred Seasons by Danielle Hitchens

The Barkleys parse out what happened this week when Speaker Kevin McCarthy got ousted by a faction of Republicans. We break down what happened, who did what, why it is structured like it is, and what happens next on this wild Congressional ride. Thanks to Danny for the question that inspired this episode!

The societal trends for men are troubling. Men are graduating college with degrees at much lower rates than women. Prime-age working men are… not working. The number of black men in prison is particularly alarming, and 3 out of 4 deaths of despair are men. It's hard to deny that something isn't right. Taylor and Rachel discuss what's happening with men and what the Bible has to say about masculinity.

Is this generation better off than our parents were in 1985? That is the debate in Washington, and it reflects a greater malaise felt by Americans. Rachel and Taylor discuss the Cost of Thriving Index debate between think tankers Oren Kass and Scott Winship, as well as the broader beginnings of the presidential debate. We finish up with how we should think about our politics on these issues in a new way, instead.

The month of June is when we remember our biggest milestones— 7 years ago we got married and 4 years ago Rachel was diagnosed with the tumor, paralyzed, and received lifesaving surgery. Usually, Rachel is speaking to this experience, but we flipped the script and Rachel interviewed Taylor about what it has been like to be a spouse on this journey. Rachel asks what the diagnosis was like for him, how he processed disability and some caregiving, and what impact it all had on his faith journey.

Everyone is talking about Artificial Intelligence and the potential for doomsday scenarios. Taylor breaks down what exactly AI is for Rachel, and then they talk about what it could mean for society. Finally, they talk about how Christians might think about robots, souls, intelligent design and God's role in the world and our lives.

This week we thought we'd do something different. On March 25, 2023, Rachel gave a talk at the Falls Church Anglican Women's Conference, titled "Transformation Through Suffering" that we're sharing with you this Easter weekend. In the seminar talk she shared her story about becoming paralyzed and how she has wrestled with the pain in her life. She talked about how to think about suffering while you are in the chasm between the life you desire and the life you've been given. Rachel talks about what the Bible has to say about suffering, how she's worked through fears and doubts, and how the things she's learning along the way have transformed her relationship with God.

The news of Silicon Valley Bank collapsing struck a cord of fear: What if our economic system collapses?! It seems lately that story after story sparks fear of coming chaos— be it war, political dysfunction, or global pandemic. As we digest the 24/7 news cycle, how do we keep from panic and discern what is true? And then how do we live as Christians in this world that is wired to worry.

We are coming out of a long season of survival mode in our house. Maybe you're in the thick of it too. This podcast episode, we take a break from politics to talk about our strategies for survival. We also talk about why our word for this year is “enjoy” and how we plan to lean into this season with joy and contentment in mind.

Taylor and Rachel discuss a topic that's hot these days in media and in public policy: what to do about social media and the negative effects it might be having on teenagers. Taylor recently wrote a paper, "What Should Policymakers do about Social Media and Minors" for the Center for Growth and Opportunity and they discuss the problems and solutions on this issue. They end the show with some practical tips that are hopefully helpful to those raising teens or wanting to help teens stay safe online.

We are back! It's 2023 and the House of Representatives is unable to govern because they have not elected a Speaker. Rachel and Taylor break down what that means and how Congress, instead of being deadlocked, should focus on an abundance agenda and what that entails.

Jason Feifer, Editor in Chief of Entrepreneur, joins us to discuss his new book "Build for Tomorrow: An Action Plan for Embracing Change, Adapting Fast, and Future-Proofing Your Career." We talk about adapting to difficult changes in life, family, career, and health; how history can teach us about the four phases of change; and a debrief on how we all were forced to adapt to change during the COVID pandemic.

Taylor and Rachel talk about the latest big and little narratives coming out of Tuesday's elections. Did Republicans do as well as they thought they would? What's the breakdown of the numbers in the states and demographics and how do those change the political landscape? What do the results mean for the 2024 presidential election? Finally, what might Christians think about voting and participating in elections? Stay until the end for a special guest appearance.

Rachel and Taylor speak with a special guest, economist Vance Ginn PhD about whether we are in a recession or not, his overall economic outlook, and how Christians might respond during difficult economic times. We hear a bit about Vance's background as well as the Stinkers and Thinkers from all three of us.

We're back for Season 2 with our story of baby Barkley two's pregnancy and delivery. This was a different experience than baby one because Rachel was disabled this time around. We share what was and wasn't different, what the experience was like, and how God answered prayers and redeemed the hospital experience. Stinker and Thinkers are back with bang too!

We are expecting our new baby early next week so it's just Taylor here letting you all know we'll be back with the podcast in August or September. We totally meant to record a final real episode but we were too tired. In the meantime, Taylor leaves you with one thinker both he and Rachel enjoyed. Thanks so much for listening!

A federal judge struck down the transportation mask mandate this week— and people whooped and hollered for different reasons. We invited public health expert Tom Romeo on the podcast to share what he knows about masks with us, as well as give us an overview about what public health is. Enjoy this great discussion about how Christians might think about masks moving forward.

It just keeps coming back! We hear it anew every few years: Some form of fear about how Hollywood, the culture, the Super Bowl halftime show, and/or the political left is threatening the future of the American Christian. How might Christians interact with the culture and politics around the culture wars?

This week kicked off hearings for President Biden's Supreme Court nominee, Ketanji Brown Jackson. We talk about how the hearings went, Judge Jackson's unique background and accomplishments, and how the court has become increasingly politicized. Finally, we end with how Christians might think about these nominations.

The world has watched in horror as Vladimir Putin's Russian forces launched a much more aggressive attack on the sovereign nation of Ukraine than most expected. The result has been a terrible ongoing conflict, a humanitarian crisis, and a large refugee exodus to neighboring countries. Our guests, married couple Michael and Chelsea Sobolik, work in Washington, DC, on foreign policy and human rights issues. They share some insights into what is happening and how Christians can think, help, and pray about it.

Rachel and Taylor get personal and talk about having an interabled marriage. We've lived both and talk about what is the same and what has changed. How was it to be a spouse caregiver? How have our perceptions changed about wheelchairs? And what Christians can learn from suffering and unexpected disability in marriage?

January 6th is back in the news cycle. The Republican National Committee issued a statement that included calling January 6th participants speech “legitimate political discourse,” and then later walked that language back in a clarification. The same day, former Vice President Mike Pence gave a forceful speech saying the President Trump was wrong, it would have been unconstitutional to overturn the election results. Republicans are all over the map in their response and many just wish it would go away. Why is it important that Christians spend time pursuing the truth here?

President Biden has been in office for one year. Rachel and Taylor assess how he's doing in both foreign and domestic policy— and give some historical context about how presidents typically do their first year.

Taylor and Rachel predict what 2022 holds politically and culturally. There are big elections at the state and national level, as well as some potential for significant cultural changes afoot. What can we expect to see?

Our inaugural year of podcasting is coming to a close. For our year-in-review, the Barkleys talk about what we learned, what happened in the news this year, and our favorite movies, TV shows, books, and other media. We also share our hot take on what 2021 meant for the world…

Taylor recently wrote a piece published by Human Progress about the role of culture in fostering innovation. How should we think about the impact new technologies have on us and society? What should our attitude be towards innovation? Rachel and Taylor discuss these ideas and what they've learned along the way.

We've all come in contact with more suffering in the past year, and “being thankful” may feel a little more loaded this Thanksgiving. We tackle the tension between feeling empathy for those in pain while also being thankful for our own blessings. And what should thankfulness lead us to?

The off-year elections in Virginia and New Jersey held clues for what is to come in the 2022 mid-terms. The Virginia election gave Republicans a roadmap for success and shocked Democrats. Rachel and Taylor talk about what happened and what it could mean for the future.

It's been a little busy for us so we've missed the last couple of weeks. But we will be back!

Taylor and Rachel welcome guest Neil Chilson to talk about his new book Getting Out of Control: Emergent Leadership in a Complex World. Neil talks about what “emergent order” is and how it applies to personal life, policy, and the world around us. We also talk about how to square this idea with a God who is in control, even in a world that often feels like chaos.

President Biden recently initiated a vaccine mandate for federal employees and companies that employ over 100 people. But this is not the first vaccine mandate in American history. Rachel and Taylor discuss these topics, the many differences in the phrase "vaccine mandate," the implications for our freedom, and a Christian perspective.

Congress has a whole lot on its agenda in the coming weeks, including avoiding a government shutdown and a debt default! Also in play: trillions of dollars in infrastructure funding, new social programs, and tax increases. Rachel and Taylor (but mostly Rachel) give insight into how it all works.

In this episode we have our first guest joining us to discuss the war in Afghanistan and the recent withdrawal. Beth Bailey has had a fascinating career working in intelligence with a focus on counterinsurgency and is now a writer covering topics about veterans, antisemitism, being a homeschooling mom, and the war in Afghanistan. She's also just a lovely person. We were so glad she could join us to discuss this important topic as well as her stinkers and thinkers.

The news was abuzz about the Texas bill that effectively bans abortion after the detection of a fetal heartbeat. We talk about the history and context around this bill, what comes next, and how we think about it as Christians.

We are back from our summer break! Sorry we didn't give any heads up that we were taking one. We explain why. Next week we plan to return to discussions on current events, but this week's episode we devoted entirely to media stinkers and thinkers to ease back into it.

The Biden administration has recently said they want to deal with vaccine misinformation on Facebook. Rachel and Taylor talk about why getting the government involved in speech is a bad idea, and how tricky it can be to discern what is true or not on the Internet.

It seems like the pandemic is moving to the rearview mirror, but the grief, and even some of the positive societal changes are with us to stay. What's different about our relationships, our work lives, and our culture? How are Christians responding to these changes and gleaning wisdom from what we've learned? Taylor and Rachel share their experience and analysis of the trends.

Views on climate change have evolved over the past decade, and so have ours! The heat dome in the Pacific Northwest this week has prompted a national discussion yet again on climate change. We talk about important ways to frame solutions to our environmental problems and some history around the debate, as well as a discussion of how Christians should think about environmental policy.

Companies like Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Microsoft, and Alphabet increasingly are intersecting every part of our lives. Is this making our lives better? Who should be responsible for ensuring they are used wisely? Rachel and Taylor talk about tech's role in our lives.

This week Congress passed a bill creating a new federal holiday— Juneteenth National Independence Day. Historically, June 19 marks the day in 1865 when the last people known to be enslaved received the news that they were finally set free. Rachel and Taylor talk about this history and why it's important, as well as their own journeys learning about racial injustice.

Two years ago Rachel woke up paralyzed and two years later we have learned a lot about the disability community and living with a disability. We share about our time in the hospital, our struggles, and discovering that disability is just a different, not worse, life.

Everyone loves to hate the bigs— Big Business and Big Tech, that is. Concerns about corporate fat cats abound, and many politicians from both parties want to use antitrust like it's the 1910s. Taylor and Rachel share why they think this is a big bad idea.

Taylor and Rachel drove out (separately) to DC 10 years ago and have been here ever since. They share what they've learned in the last decade, what's surprised them, and whether the stereotypes about the city are true.

As if we didn't need another crisis, the East Coast is experiencing gas shortages due to a cyber attack on the Colonial pipeline. We explain what happened, why energy security is important, and muse about what this could mean.

President Biden shared his plans for American families and decreasing poverty in his speech to Congress last week marking his first 100 days. He laid out 1.8 trillion dollars of new government programs, paid for by taxing the rich. But will it actually help people?

Last week, the police officer who murdered George Floyd was found guilty on all three counts brought against him. This case has sparked a national conversation about police reform and racism. Taylor and Rachel share their thoughts and a Christian view of justice.

The term Values Voter has lost its meaning. Rachel has a new op-ed out redefining what “values” should be, rooted in the universal truth that every human being is born with intrinsic value and inherent rights.

This week we share our vaccine stories, a little vaccine history, and how to discern what is true out there in order to do your own risk analysis. We also hit reasons for Christians to consider getting the vaccine (or any medical intervention).