Podcasts about calvin university

I first met Seth Wieck in person at the 2024 Festival of Faith and Writing at Calvin University. We had a thirty second encounter where he held a door for me in his red raincoat (Michigan in April can be a little fickle when it comes to the weather) and we exchanged a greeting. That was it.The Festival is one of those places where the sheer volume of interesting people can be overwhelming. The halls are filled with New York Times bestselling authors, literary agents who can change your life, poets and illustrators and journalists. It can be rich and rewarding but it can also be grasping and schmoozy.I'd followed Seth on social media for a bit and loved both his read alouds—poetry delivered by memory in a Texas panhandle accent, usually while driving—and his recommendations. He's the one who first put Chera Hammons, the fabulous poet we had on the show a few weeks back, on my radar.In those few seconds I realized, oh, Seth is exactly who he is online in person, too. One of the good ones. A person who loves language because language is fascinating and transcendent and gritty and strange. Someone who has been married for twenty years and working on his poetry for even longer. A well-read writer eager to encourage other writers, happy to share the literary joy.When I heard he had a new book (his first, I believe) coming out, I could not wait to get my hands on it. These are poems he's been working on for over two decades. I tore through it on its release day, leaving the dishes to soak in the kitchen and I don't regret a moment of it.My friends, Call Out Coyote is a gift. It's a treasure. It will take you through the arid landscapes of Texas, down to each parent's greatest fear, and up to the heights of what it means to buy into a community for decades. There are coyotes and hawks, rattlesnakes and sparrows. There is death and light and love and longing.I'm so excited to share today's conversation with you. Check out Call Out wherever books are sold. (I'm a fan of ordering directly from Wiseblood Books, as they do fabulous work and you might stumble upon another new favorite while you're there.) Get full access to Keep Looking Up at courtneyellis.substack.com/subscribe

Host Andrew Camp interviews historian and author Kristin Du Mez about her background in the Christian Reformed Church, her scholarly approach to evangelicalism as a cultural historian, and a pivotal moment watching Donald Trump's 2016 speech at Dordt University that prompted her to reassess white evangelical values. Du Mez argues support for Trump is not a “betrayal” but reflects deeper values embedded in evangelical subculture, shaped through Christian media, bookstores, and products, especially those marketed to white Christian women. Discussing her forthcoming book Live, Laugh, Love, she connects evangelical women's culture, multi-level marketing dynamics, and New Thought/positive-thinking theology to prosperity logic, purity culture, and “biblical womanhood,” highlighting Elisabeth Elliot's complex story. She links domesticity and purity to authoritarian politics and Christian nationalism, notes post–Cold War shifting threats sustaining high-control religion, and closes with cautious hope grounded in truth-telling, faithfulness over winning, and history's unpredictability.Kristin Kobes Du Mez is a New York Times bestselling author and Professor of History at Calvin University. She is a Senior Democracy Fellow with the Public Religion Research Institute. Her research focuses on the intersection of gender, religion, and politics. Her most recent books include Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation (2020) and Live Laugh Love: The Secret History of White Christian Women and the World They Made (September 2026). She is a Distinguished Associate at the Institute for Christian Studies (Toronto) and recently served as a Fellow at the University of Notre Dame's Center for Philosophy of Religion (2024-2025).Preorder Live, Laugh, Love (release date: September 15, 2026)Follow Kristin Kobes Du MezFacebook: kkdumezInstagram: @kkdumezSubstack: Du Mez CONNECTIONSFollow Andrew CampFacebook: andrew.camp.9Instagram: @andrewcamp80Substack: @thebiggesttableThis episode of the Biggest Table is brought to you in part by Wild Goose Coffee. Since 2008, Wild Goose has sought to build better communities through coffee. For our listeners, Wild Goose is offering a special promotion of 20% off a one time order using the code TABLE at checkout. To learn more and to order coffee, please visit wildgoosecoffee.com.  (00:00) - Kristin Du Mez Origins (03:46) - Trump and Evangelical Values (17:37) - Live Laugh Love and New Thought (28:41) - Women's Christian Media World (30:54) - Elizabeth Elliot's Complicated Legacy (38:33) - Purity Politics and Hope

Camden Bucey speaks with Derek C. Schuurman, professor and chair of computer science at Calvin University, about Christian wisdom in the age of artificial intelligence. Drawing upon Shaping a Digital World, Schuurman explains why technology is never neutral: people shape their tools, and those tools in turn reshape habits, institutions, and communities.The conversation sets contemporary AI within the biblical story of creation, fall, redemption, and new creation. Bucey and Schuurman contrast Christian hope with technicism—the belief that technology can solve humanity's deepest problems and build a technological heaven on earth. They also discuss human nature, transhumanism, responsible design, Christian higher education, autonomous weapons, and the need to keep human moral judgment and accountability in the loop.Chapters00:00 Introduction03:41 Derek C. Schuurman's path from engineering to Christian higher education08:29 Technology, cultural change, and the need for wisdom11:45 Technology is not neutral14:36 How tools reshape people and societies18:08 Reading technology through creation, fall, redemption, and new creation20:18 Two cities, two loves, and the biblical story22:22 Babel, idolatry, and the temptation to build heaven on earth23:21 Technicism and the promises of Silicon Valley26:52 Transhumanism and a Christian account of humanity29:14 Practical frameworks for responsible technological design30:36 Dooyeweerd's non-reductionistic view of creation33:19 Eight norms for faithful design37:34 Integrating Christian faith throughout education41:21 Liberal arts, AI, and well-rounded technical formation42:29 AI, labor, and the human calling to work43:42 Autonomous systems, accountability, and just-war questions45:55 Why moral judgment requires a human in the loop49:12 Faithful presence and wise Christian vocation51:41 Resources for engineers, designers, pastors, and parents53:24 Calvin University's “Wisdom in the Age of AI” conference55:36 ConclusionResourcesShaping a Digital World: Faith, Culture and Computer TechnologyA Christian Field Guide to Technology for Engineers and DesignersWisdom in the Age of AI Conference, Calvin University, October 8–10, 2026Magnifica HumanitasEpisode resources

Camden Bucey speaks with Derek C. Schuurman, professor and chair of computer science at Calvin University, about Christian wisdom in the age of artificial intelligence. Drawing upon his book Shaping […]

Jamie Smith is a Reformed philosopher — one of the first to put a Catholic mystic in the title of a book and then proceed to argue that it was the contemplative tradition that brought him back to a flourishing form of faith on the far side of a series of nerdy dead ends. Make Your Home in the Luminous Dark is his most personal and, I would argue, most beautiful book. It began the day, more than a decade ago, when Jamie was in the depths of a severe depression his analytical philosophical training could not think its way out of, and his wife came home from a garage sale with a battered used copy of The Dark Night of the Soul and told him he should read it. What that began — St. John of the Cross, Teresa of Avila, Meister Eckhart, Merton — is what this book bears witness to. It is a book about the mystics saving Jamie's faith. It is also a Reformed philosopher's argument that the cultural liturgies project he is best known for needs a prior undoing before its formative work can do anything at all. As I told Jamie in the hour, this is a book that made me feel uncomfortable about how much I enjoyed it. We covered the apophatic/cataphatic distinction with the twist Jamie puts on it, the way certainty is still Cartesian even when it calls itself pious, the trad-wife/manosphere as snorting modernity while claiming to have escaped it, Charles Taylor's Cosmic Connections as the real sequel to A Secular Age, and what to do when Distraction Inc. has fully occupied the inner room. The platform is the plantation. Come sit with this one and check out the book. You can WATCH the conversation on YouTube About our guest Dr. James K.A. Smith is Professor of Philosophy at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he holds the Gary and Henrietta Byker Chair in Applied Reformed Theology and Worldview. He earned his PhD at Villanova University under John D. Caputo. He served as editor of Comment magazine (2013–2018) and as editor-in-chief of Imagejournal (2019–2024). His new book is Make Your Home in the Luminous Dark. His previous books include the Cultural Liturgies trilogy — Desiring the Kingdom, Imagining the Kingdom, and Awaiting the King — as well as You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit, How (Not) to Be Secular: Reading Charles Taylor, On the Road with Saint Augustine, How to Inhabit Time, and his early philosophical work Speech and Theology. He writes at Quid Amo on Substack. ⁠JOIN OUR OPEN ONLINE CLASS: The Empire Christ Couldn't Keep⁠⁠ Ever notice how Christian nationalism gets talked about like it's some bizarre new glitch in the faith? It isn't — it's a 2,000-year-old arrangement wearing new clothes, and once you see how the pattern works, you can also spot the Christ who keeps slipping free of it. Join theologian Joerg Rieger and Tripp Fuller for The Christ Empire Couldn't Keep, a free six-week online class tracing the holy alliances, imperial creeds, and stubborn resistance that have shaped Christianity from Paul to the present. You'll get six lectures from Joerg, six live Q&As, weekly readings from his book Christ and Empire, and a community of fellow troublemakers thinking it through together. It's free to join, every session is recorded, and it kicks off Thursday, August 27. Grab your spot at ⁠⁠HomebrewedClasses.com.⁠⁠ This podcast is a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Homebrewed Christianity ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠production. Follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the Homebrewed Christianity⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Theology Nerd Throwdown⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Rise of Bonhoeffer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ podcasts for more theological goodness for your earbuds. Join over 75,000 other people by joining our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack - Process This!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get instant access to over 50 classes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.TheologyClass.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow the podcast, drop a review⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, send ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠feedback/questions⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or become a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠member of the HBC Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How do culture, politics and faith influence one another? Historian, and author of 'Jesus and John Wayne', Kristin Kobes Du Mez joins Clayton to explore the forces that shape religious communities, the relationship between belief and cultural identity, and what history can teach us about the challenges facing faith in the modern world. Kristin specifically focuses on the influence of white-evangelicals in the American culture & politics.About Kristin Kobes Du Mez:Kristin Kobes Du Mez is a historian, author and professor at Calvin University. Kristin examines the historical movements, ideas and cultural influences that have shaped generations of Christians and continue to impact society today.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More Americans have been getting news from social media like YouTube and Instagram, and more on the left and the right want news that's to the left or to the right. We talk with Jesse Holcomb, a journalism and communications professor at Calvin University, about what the impacts could be.

* More Americans have been getting news from social media like YouTube and Instagram, and more on the left and the right want news that's to the left or to the right. We'll talk with Jesse Holcomb, a journalism professor at Calvin University, about what the impacts could be. * More and more state officials and politicians have signed NDAs amid economic development talks…but some are backing out now. Is it a good practice to land business, or does it just make government less accountable and transparent?

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: Will@faithfulpoliticspodcast.comHow did “biblical manhood” become so tied to aggression, politics, and power? Kristin Kobes Du Mez, professor of history at Calvin University and author of Jesus and John Wayne, joins Will Wright and Pastor Josh Burtram to explain how white evangelical ideas about masculinity helped shape American Christianity and American politics. Du Mez traces the rise of rugged Christian manhood through culture, Cold War politics, the Religious Right, Ronald Reagan, fear of feminism and secularism, anti-Muslim rhetoric, and the culture war machinery that turns complicated issues into loyalty tests. She also connects masculine power to institutional self-protection, including the Southern Baptist Convention's response to women in leadership and sexual abuse reform. This conversation is not just about men. It is about how gender, theology, fear, capitalism, and political power worked together to shape modern white evangelicalism, and why America's 250th raises urgent questions about religious liberty and democracy.Guest BioKristin Kobes Du Mez, PhD, is a historian, New York Times bestselling author, and professor of history at Calvin University. Her work focuses on the intersection of gender, religion, politics, and American evangelicalism. She is the author of Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation, A New Gospel for Women, and the forthcoming Live Laugh Love: The Secret History of White Christian Women and the World They Made. She is also a Senior Democracy Fellow with PRRI. In this conversation, Du Mez helps explain how white evangelical ideas about masculinity, femininity, fear, family, politics, and power shaped the modern church and the country around it.Book MentionedJesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation by Kristin Kobes Du MezBookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9781631499050Live Laugh Love: The Secret History of White Christian Women and the World They Made by Kristin Kobes Du MezBookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9781324090977Relevant Links & ResourcesKristin Kobes Du Mez Official WebsiteURL: https://kristindumez.com/ Support Sarah Stankorb's work and preorder Damned If She Does: Why Women Quit Church and What It Means for the Future of Religion, Releases September 15, 2026.  Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9798889837091Website: https://www.sarahstankorb.com/Support the showKeep the conversation going.Want to learn more about Faithful Politics, suggest a future guest, or connect with us directly?Visit our website:faithfulpoliticspodcast.comBrowse our bookstore, featuring books from many of our guests:faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/bookstoreSupport the show and help us keep these conversations going:patreon.com/cw/FaithfulPoliticsSubscribe for behind-the-scenes content, reflections, and updates:faithfulpolitics.substack.comContact the hosts:Josh Burtram, Faithful Host: Josh@faithfulpolitics.comWill Wright, Political Host: Will@faithfulpolitics.comFollow Faithful Politics:Instagram: faithful_politicsFacebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcast

What does it mean to love your country?  Is that nationalism?  And isn't nationalism—you know—bad?  And how should our allegiance and love of country be weighed against our duties and affections to family and faith?   Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis is joined by John Wilsey to discuss his latest book, God and Country: Upholding Faith, History, and National Identity, the origins of nationalism and how it differs from patriotism, the link between history and love of ones country, the battles between the Romantics and Rationalists, and that great public servant, the freak show John Quincy Adams.   About John Wilsey From the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary   Dr. John Wilsey is Professor of Church History and Philosophy and Chair of the Department of Church History and Historical Theology.   Prior to coming to Southern, Wilsey taught elementary, middle, and high school students in history and Bible for eleven years in North Carolina and Virginia. He also has served Southern Baptist churches, as an associate pastor in Charlottesville, Virginia for eight years and interim pastor for three years in Spring, Texas. Between 2011 and 2017, he taught history and philosophy at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, with most of his teaching load in a fully accredited baccalaureate program in a maximum-security unit of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.   Dr. Wilsey's primary areas of teaching at Southern Seminary and Boyce College are in modern church history, history of Western thought, and American history. He supervises PhD dissertations in the areas of American church history and history of philosophy.   In addition to his work at Southern Seminary and Boyce College, Wilsey has held several fellowships, including with the McConnell Center at the University of Louisville as non-resident fellow (2023-2024); the Acton Institute for the Study of Religion and Liberty as Affiliate Scholar (2016-2020); the Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal as Wilbur Fellow (2023); and the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions in the Politics Department at Princeton University as William E. Simon Fellow in Religion and Public Life (2017-2018). He currently holds fellowships at the Center for Religion, Culture, and Democracy as Senior Fellow, the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention as Research Fellow, and the Land Center for Cultural Engagement at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary as Research Fellow.   Wilsey's academic works have been reviewed in outlets such as National Review, Publisher's Weekly, Journal of Church and State, Fides et Historia, Providence, Church History, Reading Religion, Catholic Books Review, Reviews in American History, Anxious Bench, Claremont Review of Books, First Things, The American Conservative, Christianity Today, and The Federalist. He has appeared on podcasts and programs hosted by the Acton Institute, New Books Network, Current, Thinking in Public, Law and Liberty, the City of Man Podcast, Christ Over All, the Museum of the Bible, the Family Research Council, BBC Radio Wales, 9Marks, the McConnell Center, the Commonwealth Policy Center, and Ben Franklin's World.   Wilsey has produced peer-reviewed pieces in the journal Religions and in academic books published by Palgrave and Routledge. He has contributed other chapters to books published by Crossway and B&H Academic as well as long-form articles to Modern Age: A Conservative Review and Fides et Historia. He has served as manuscript reviewer for American Political Thought, Religions, InterVarsity Press, and New York University Press. He has also served as book review editor for H-AmRel of the H-Net: Humanities and Social Sciences Online network and The Southern Baptist Journal of Theology.   Wilsey has served on the Ciceronian Society Advisory Board, the Kern Foundation Advisory Council, the Board of Directors of the Society for Values in Higher Education, the Scholar's Council for the Center for the Electoral College, the Southern Baptist Historical Library and Archives Advisory Board, and the Annual Meeting Proposal Review Board for Church History as well as the Membership Committee of the Evangelical Theological Society.   In 2020, Wilsey was named Tutor of the Year in Boyce College's Augustine Honors Collegium. He has addressed students, faculty, and public audiences as an invited lecturer at Princeton University, Princeton Theological Seminary, the University of Notre Dame, the University of Louisville, the Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg, Waynesburg University, Calvin University, St. Francis University, Hannibal-LaGrange University, Charleston Southern University, Grand Valley State University, the College of Biblical Studies, Houston Baptist University, Northwest Nazarene University, the University of Wyoming, Samford University, Spring Arbor University, Ave Maria University, the Philos Project, the Religious Freedom Institute, the Russell Kirk Center, the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, and the Kentucky Historical Association.   Over the years, Wilsey has remained active with academic societies, reading papers at meetings of the Evangelical Theological Society, the Conference on Faith and History, the Society of Historians of American Foreign Relations, the Christian Scholars' Conference, the Society for Values in Higher Education, the Society for US Intellectual History, the African American Intellectual History Society, the Ciceronian Society, the Association for the Scientific Study of Religion, and the Center for Christian Study in Charlottesville, Virginia. He is a member of the Evangelical Theological Society, the Ciceronian Society, the Society of Historians of American Foreign Relations, the Philadelphia Society, and the James Madison Society.   Wilsey is a columnist for World Opinions, and his other public writings have appeared in outlets such as Law and Liberty, Current, Modern Reformation, Acton's Commentary, Christianity Today, Providence, Public Discourse, 9Marks Journal, The Gospel Coalition, Aeon, History News Network, The American Conservative, The Imaginative Conservative, Anxious Bench, Religion and Liberty, and Religion in American History. He has reviewed numerous books for outlets such as Themelios, Southeastern Theological Review, Public Discourse, Fides et Historia, Westminster Theological Journal, Trinity Journal, The Southern Baptist Journal of Theology, Journal of Church and State, Evangelical Quarterly, Journal of Markets and Morality, Religion and Liberty, Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care, H-Diplo, Ad Fontes, and The London Lyceum.   Wilsey is married to Mandy, his wife of twenty-seven years, and they have two children. He is an elder at Kenwood Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky.  

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: Will@faithfulpoliticspodcast.comWhat should Christians do when global politics becomes personal, chaotic, and violent? Dr. Robert J. Joustra, Professor of Politics and Spoelhof Chair at Calvin University and author of Christ and Covenant in Global Politics, joins Faithful Politics to ask what Christian theology can actually contribute to international relations. Joustra argues that Christians have often thought carefully about domestic politics, but far less about diplomacy, war, trade, climate, Israel, China, Iran, and the moral responsibilities nations have to each other.Drawing on John Calvin, Augustine's idea of rightly ordered loves, covenantal pluralism, and the just war tradition, he explains why “Christ is King” should limit state power rather than sanctify it. The conversation moves from America's 250th anniversary and Christian nationalism to Israel, Iran, World War II, Afghanistan, Iraq, and the moral purpose of force. At its core, this is a conversation about whether Christian politics can be serious enough to pursue justice without turning nations into idols.Book MentionedChrist and Covenant in Global Politics: A Christian Introduction to International Relations by Robert J. JoustraBookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/p/books/christ-and-covenant-in-global-politics-a-christian-introduction-to-international-relations-robert-j-joustra/fe15a081a65ad89dRelevant Links & ResourcesChrist and Covenant in Global Politics - IVP AcademicURL: https://www.ivpress.com/christ-and-covenant-in-global-politicsGuest BioDr. Robert J. Joustra is Professor of Politics and Spoelhof Chair at Calvin University. He is a political scientist whose work focuses on international relations, public theology, religious freedom, pluralism, and the moral responsibilities of political communities. He is the author of Christ and Covenant in Global Politics: A Christian Introduction to International Relations, a book that brings Christian ethics into questions of diplomacy, war, political economy, climate, global justice, and covenantal pluralism. He has also authored and edited other books and serves as Senior Editor with The Review of Faith & International Affairs.Support the show

Have you ever felt a longing you could not explain?In this episode of The Sacred Travel Podcast, Julia speaks with presbyterian pastor, author, traveler, and lifelong pilgrim Douglas Brouwer about the deeper longing that calls us beyond the familiar.Together they explore pilgrimage, vulnerability, peacemaking, sacred encounters, indigenous wisdom, and the unnoticed moments that quietly transform our lives.What begins as a conversation about travel unfolds into a reflection on curiosity, humanity, faith, and the art of truly seeing one another.

Christians have done plenty of thinking about faith and domestic politics — poverty, abortion, local justice. But almost no one has systematically asked what it looks like to follow Jesus in international relations. Robert Joustra, author of Christ and Covenant in Global Politics: A Christian Introduction to International Relations, joins Brian From to fill that gap. He tackles America First nationalism head-on, arguing that loving one's country is genuinely biblical — fifth commandment stuff — but that ordered love is very different from whitewashed love or willful blindness. He applies the just war tradition to the war in Iran, making the case that all war properly conceived is a form of neighbor love aimed at reconciliation. And he closes with a biographical story about his Dutch father, born under Nazi occupation in 1943, who got his first taste of chocolate from a Canadian soldier — a picture of what war at its most just can look like. A timely, unusual, and genuinely illuminating conversation for anyone trying to think Christianly about a complicated world. Robert is joining the faculty at Calvin University in Michigan.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode: Lucy Lopez, Elizabeth Newcamp, and Zak Rosen debate if you should bribe your kid to read. They are joined by Katie Day Good, media educator, communication professor at Calvin University, and the author of Bring the World to the Child: Technologies of Global Citizenship in American Education. But perhaps most importantly…Katie has been paying her kids to read. She'll explain why monetary motivation works and how reading print books can help create a tech-intentional home. This week on the Plus Playground: Lucy, Elizabeth, and Zak recommend the books they're loving right now—and the ones they'll dig into this summer. Podcast production by Cheyna Roth and Rosemary Belson.Follow us on YouTube! Join us on Facebook and email us at careandfeedingpod@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today's show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. You can also call our phone line: (646) 357-9318.If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get to hang out with us on the Plus Playground every week for a whole additional grab-bag of content — and you'll get an ad-free experience across the network. And you'll also be supporting the work we do here on Care and Feeding. Sign up now at slate.com/careplus – or try it out on Apple Podcasts.Need to set up your Slate Plus feed? If you subscribed through Slate.com, check out our FAQ at slate.com/podcastfaqs for easy instructions. Members subscribed via Apple Podcasts get automatic access—no setup required. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode: Lucy Lopez, Elizabeth Newcamp, and Zak Rosen debate if you should bribe your kid to read. They are joined by Katie Day Good, media educator, communication professor at Calvin University, and the author of Bring the World to the Child: Technologies of Global Citizenship in American Education. But perhaps most importantly…Katie has been paying her kids to read. She'll explain why monetary motivation works and how reading print books can help create a tech-intentional home. This week on the Plus Playground: Lucy, Elizabeth, and Zak recommend the books they're loving right now—and the ones they'll dig into this summer. Podcast production by Cheyna Roth and Rosemary Belson.Follow us on YouTube! Join us on Facebook and email us at careandfeedingpod@slate.com to ask us new questions, tell us what you thought of today's show, and give us ideas about what we should talk about in future episodes. You can also call our phone line: (646) 357-9318.If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get to hang out with us on the Plus Playground every week for a whole additional grab-bag of content — and you'll get an ad-free experience across the network. And you'll also be supporting the work we do here on Care and Feeding. Sign up now at slate.com/careplus – or try it out on Apple Podcasts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A large number of Americans have very little confidence in news outlets. How did we get to this point? What are the impacts of that? Jesse Holcomb, Professor of journalism and communication at Calvin University, joins us.

Recorded live at the Kuyper Conference at Calvin University, this episode features a conversation with Dr. Gray Sutanto, alumnus of Westminster Theological Seminary and professor of systematic theology at RTS Washington, D.C. Sutanto reflects on his academic work in neo-Calvinism, particularly his efforts to retrieve and clarify the theological legacy of figures like Abraham Kuyper and Herman Bavinck. He highlights the coherence between neo-Calvinism and confessional Reformed theology, emphasizing that neo-Calvinism is not reducible to cultural transformationalism or theonomy, but rather represents a historically rooted, theologically rich movement seeking to articulate Christianity as a comprehensive worldview in the modern age. The discussion also explores the nature of theological retrieval, arguing for a model that is both historically grounded and constructively forward-looking. Sutanto outlines how neo-Calvinism exemplifies this balance by drawing deeply from the Reformed tradition while addressing the intellectual and social challenges of modernity—particularly in its articulation of common grace, sphere sovereignty, and the relationship between church and state. The episode concludes with reflections on the reception of neo-Calvinism in English-speaking contexts, the importance of recovering Bavinck's broader corpus, and the ongoing task of cultivating a robust, confessionally rooted theology that speaks meaningfully to contemporary cultural and ecclesial life. If you enjoy this episode, you can access tons of content just like this at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wm.wts.edu⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you would like to join us in our mission to train specialists in the bible to proclaim the whole counsel of God for Christ and his global church, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠wts.edu/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Thanks for listening!

At the table: Eric Baker, Dagne Forrest, Tobi Kassim, Jason Schneiderman, Kathleen Volk Miller, Lisa Zerkle, Lillie Volpe (sound engineer)   We made it back from AWP, Slushies! Welcome to any new listeners who have joined our audience since seeing us there. And please join us in welcoming our longtime reader, Eric Baker, to the table.    We're honored to discuss three poems from Jane Zwart. Once again, we call on Jason's knowledge of meter and syntax. Here we look at how the recursive syntax, like the memory of the woman in the poem, loops back on itself. The poem's epigraph places the reader in the cultural moment of the Great Depression and World War II era. Inherited family treasures, like Noritake China, carry memory. The poem echoed, for Dagne, one of Michael Montlack's poems from Episode 144.   The team is charmed by Zwart's use of unexpected words like “redoubt” and “hypotenuse” in the second poem. Kathy notes that the poem is successful at conveying sentiment without slipping into the sentimental. She admires the use of the word “startlement” and we realize we'll be seeing more of it given Ada Limón's new book of the same name. Jason admires the ending's gentle touch, which lands on a lilt. In a happy synchronicity, the final poem's take on springtime's fickle nature matches our exasperation with the changeable weather. While the poem's postpositive placement of adjectives sends us back to elementary school grammar, we're enthralled with how such a simple reversal refreshes our attention. Thanks, as always, for listening!   Author Bio: Jane Zwart teaches at Calvin University and co-edits book review for Plume. Her poems have appeared in Poetry, Ploughshares, The Southern Review, Threepenny Review, and The Nation. Her first collection of poems came out with Orison Books in February 2026.   Author Website: janezwart.com Blue Sky: @janezwart.bsky.social   Inheritance for Janet Knol, 1922 - 2019 I took the china from occupied Japan just as my uncles took seconds of corn. It wasn't about taste. Or want. When it came to last helpings, the starving children were conveniences, the tureen gratuitous, and if they were about wanting— Janet's divestments—wanting was nothing so forthright as hunger: my uncles eating for two, themselves and their mother; my wishing that teacups edged in corsage were my cup of tea; or, reared to hoard and abhor waste, my grandma's berating herself for an ingrate when each windfall knocked the wind from her, the handsome earner she wed, the sons they made. My grandma didn't dare ask for more, and God knows she didn't dare ask for less. There were reasons, of course. Some, in an expansive mood, she could name. Hunger, her father, and from that summer so hot no one slept, one extravagance— to drive, windows down, for the relief of a breeze. From her, my dad learned to waste nothing. But on what more to ask of life she left no instructions, so my dad cannot say what he wants for his birthday. Instead, he'll tell you he has all he needs, as if need were the whole of deserving, as if all the years' wisdom were getting on with what was. And from him, I learned. Waste nothing; get on with what is. Of the heirlooms, these come in handy. Still, if they were about wanting— Janet's divestments—they were not about choosing, though, in the end, my grandma had enough of pretending that what she had was enough and asked her sons to brush her hair when it didn't need brushing and left the corn on her tray. Hold my hand, she told me, then slipped in and out of knowing I held her hand until she slipped out and out and back into her father's car, its windows were down, and I'll tell you the breeze forgave everything: hunger and waste, want and wanting things to be otherwise, betrayal, demural, even the mezcal— even the time we sipped it from her Noritake when no other glasses were clean. I steal from children who do not hide their tests with a forearm, and I steal from those who do. I steal the soft redoubt an arm makes around a field of tents, their calculable heights, and I steal the stickman roughing it in a lean-to of unknown hypotenuse. Of my sons' wonder, I'm the chief plagiarist. Of their neologisms, the unauthorized scribe. Without asking, I borrow a kid's ardor for tire swings, his grief for lost dogs. I steal what I've mislaid: the art of startlement, the art of artlessness. Rabbit Redux Not spring, but its fickle scout: from the park, the smell of skunk and the skunk of weed; in gardens, exhumed saints and righted gnomes. Robin redux, rabbit redux—season of small resentments, the hassle of jackets, the discrepant grass. Of pent-up revving, of soft-serve soft openings. Season of ephemerals, the old bundled as if for the tundra. Season of warblers, the young rouged in dandelion, riding the oaks bareback.

In a world of misinformation and uncertainty, we're often tempted to think our way out of our problems. But what if more knowledge isn't the answer? In this episode, I talk with philosopher and author James K.A. Smith about his book Make Your Home in This Luminous Dark and why the pursuit of certainty can easily become an idol. We discuss his personal journey discovering the wisdom of silence, solitude, and surrender after a season of depression forced him to confront problems thinking alone couldn't solve. We explore the insights of the medieval mystics, what it means to let go of the need to win arguments, why our bodies matter in spiritual practice, and how discovering our belovedness reshapes the way we live and engage the world.James K. A. Smith is professor of philosophy at Calvin University and author of Make Your Home in this Luminous Dark: Mysticism, Art, and the Gift of Unknowing (Yale, March 2026). His popular writing has appeared in magazines such as Christianity Today, Christian Century, and the Los Angeles Review of Books, as well as the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and USA Today. He lives in Grand Rapids, MI.James' Book:Make Your Home in This Luminous DarkJames' Recommendation:Mussolini Son of the CenturyConnect with Joshua: jjohnson@shiftingculturepodcast.comGo to www.shiftingculturepodcast.com to interact and donate. Every donation helps to produce more podcasts for you to enjoy.Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Threads, Bluesky or YouTubeConsider Giving to the podcast and to the ministry that my wife and I do around the world. Just click on the support the show link below Let the Art Speak: About Hope conference on April 10 & 11 in Madison, WIJoin artists & creatives at the 5th Let the Art Speak conference — a celebration of hope.Support the show

Jane Zwart teaches literature and writing at Calvin University, where she also co-directs the Calvin Center for Faith & Writing. Her poems have appeared widely in periodicals, including Poetry, The Poetry Review, Ploughshares, The Southern Review, and Threepenny Review. Her first book, Oddest & Oldest & Saddest & Best, was just released from Orison Books. Find more info here: https://www.janezwart.com/ As always, we'll also include the live Prompt Lines for responses to our weekly prompt. Submit your poems through Submittable by midnight Sunday for a chance to be invited: https://rattle.submittable.com/submit/269309/rattlecast-prompt-poems-online For links to all the past episodes, visit: https://www.rattle.com/page/rattlecast/ This Week's Prompt: Write a poem which confesses something that's secretly seasonal to you, but not so much to others. Next Week's Prompt: Write a poem about a time you couldn't keep the correct time straight. Include at least one temporal shift. The Rattlecast livestreams on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter, then becomes an audio podcast. Find it on iTunes, Spotify, or anywhere else you get your podcasts.

Connecting German ladies content from the Nazi reich to today. Check out the archive from Calvin University here.

How do we rebuild the social fabric of our neighborhoods and congregations in an age of disconnection and division? In this episode, Pastor Amy Schenkel joins Corey to talk about what it means to be a "weaver" in your own community. From a front-yard picnic table that became a neighborhood gathering place to decades of church planting in downtown Grand Rapids, Amy brings a grounded, practical theology of neighboring that cuts across political and religious lines. Along the way, she and Corey explore the difference between curiosity and contentiousness, how congregations survive painful splits, and why "mission" might be the one thing that unites people who agree on very little else. Amy is a pastor and ministries coordinator at Neland Avenue Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and a regional mission leader who has also served as North American and U.S. Director of Resonate Global Mission. She's a trained missiologist, a church planting veteran, and a certified speaker with the Weave Speakers Bureau. Calls to Action ✅ If this conversation resonates, consider sharing it with someone who believes connection across difference still matters. ✅ Subscribe to Corey's Substack: coreysnathan.substack.com ✅ Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen: ratethispodcast.com/goodfaithpolitics ✅ Subscribe to Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other on your favorite podcast platform. ✅ Watch the full conversation and subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@politicsandreligion Key Takeaways Neighboring as a Practice: Neighboring doesn't happen by accident. It takes intentionality, imagination, and a willingness to show up consistently for the people around you. The Front-Yard Principle: A picnic table in the front yard rather than the backyard signals openness. Shared space that's accessible but not invasive invites connection without pressure. Missional Imagination: There's no curriculum for how your church or community should engage its neighborhood. It requires listening, creativity, and the willingness to try things and sometimes fail. Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD): Instead of cataloguing what's broken in a neighborhood, start by identifying what's already there: the gifts, talents, and resources people bring. Let the community lead its own renewal. Mission as Common Ground: Churches and communities can disagree deeply about politics and theology while still uniting around a shared calling to love their neighbors. Mission can hold together what ideology pulls apart. Curiosity Over Contentiousness: Everyone is an expert in something you know nothing about. Approaching others with genuine curiosity rather than a prepared rebuttal changes the entire nature of a conversation. The Non-Anxious Presence: When a community faces painful decisions, the most valuable thing a leader can bring is a calm, non-anxious presence. It lowers the temperature and makes honest dialogue possible. Broken Open: Weave identifies people who have been "broken open" by loss or hardship as some of the most effective community weavers. Suffering, when it doesn't harden us, can deepen our compassion for those on the margins. Dispositional Preparation: The preparation that matters most before a hard conversation isn't rehearsing your rebuttals. It's working on your own disposition, arriving curious, open, and genuinely willing to hear. The Image of God Principle: Even when a relationship feels impossibly strained, there's a way through. Lisa Sharon Harper's prayer, "The image of God in me loves the image of God in you," offers a floor to stand on when everything else feels unstable. About Our Guest Pastor Amy Schenkel is a pastor and ministries coordinator at Neland Avenue Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where she works to help one congregation connect more deeply with its neighborhood. A graduate of Calvin University and Calvin Theological Seminary, Amy was among the first women ordained in her classis within her denomination. Amy served for years with Resonate Global Mission, including as U.S. and North American Director, overseeing church planting and local mission engagement across the continent. Her work has always centered on a question at the heart of reformed missiology: how do ordinary people, in ordinary vocations, become agents of renewal in their communities? She and her husband Henry church-planted together in downtown Grand Rapids starting around 2000, learning early that a faith community rooted in a neighborhood has to think beyond Sunday mornings. Today she brings that same missional imagination to her work with individual congregations and with Weave: The Social Fabric Project, where she is a certified speaker available to address both secular and faith-based audiences. Links and Resources Weave: The Social Fabric Project weavers.org The Colossian Forum (recommended by Amy for congregations navigating conflict) colossianforum.org Lisa Sharon Harper (referenced in conversation) The Very Good Gospel and Fortune — both highly recommended by Amy lisasharonharper.com Amy Schenkel LinkedIn: Pastor Amy Schenkel Available through the Weave Speakers Bureau: weavers.org/speakers Connect on Social Media Corey is @coreysnathan on all the socials... Substack LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Twitter Threads Bluesky TikTok Thanks to our Sponsors and Partners Thanks to Pew Research Center for making today's conversation possible. Gratitude as well to Village Square for coming alongside us in this work and helping foster better civic dialogue. Links and additional resources: Pew Research Center: pewresearch.org The Village Square: villagesquare.us Meza Wealth Management: mezawealth.com Proud members of The Democracy Group Clarity, charity, and conviction can live in the same room.

The head of the FCC said TV talk shows must give equal time to opposing political candidates. What would that look like? Why are many saying it would stifle free speech? Jesse Holcomb, professor of journalism and communication at Calvin University, joins us.

MinistryWatch has published more than 30,000 words about ACNA in the past five years, and many of those words have come from Kathryn Post. Kathryn Post is a reporter for RNS and she has done a great job covering a number of controversies in the young and growing denomination. Her words have appeared in outlets including The Washington Post, Sojourners, The Christian Century, Christianity Today, and – of course – MinistryWatch. Post joined RNS full-time in 2021. She holds a Master of Arts in Religion from Yale Divinity School and bachelor’s degrees in writing and political science from Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The producer for today's program is Jeff McIntosh. Until next time, may God bless you.

Dr. Kurt Ver Beek In this episode of the Nonprofit Leadership podcast, host Dr. Rob Harter sits down with Dr. Kurt Ver Beek — longtime sociologist, adjunct professor at Calvin University, and co‑founder of the Honduran‑based nonprofit Association for a More Just Society (ASJ). Kurt has lived in Honduras for 30 + years and helps lead ASJ's mission of advancing justice through structural reform rather than simply charity. Their discussion explores how nonprofits can transition from short‑term relief approaches to tackling systemic issues, particularly in contexts of high violence, corruption, and migration. Key Topics Include: The motivation behind founding ASJ in Honduras and shifting focus from relief to justice‑oriented work. The four‑part strategy ASJ employs: investigation, alliance building, communications, and lobbying/incidence. Real‑world examples from Honduras: tackling police corruption, reducing homicide rates, auditing government institutions. Navigating donor expectations when working on long‑term systemic change rather than immediate tangible outcomes. Insights on the migration‑to‑the‑U.S. debate: root causes in origin countries like Honduras, and how systems reform might reduce migration pressures. Reflections on international aid: what works, what doesn't, and how U.S. federal funding cuts are reshaping NGOs' strategies. The distinction between charity (relief), development (capacity building) and justice (systemic transformation) — and why justice work is harder, riskier, but essential. Mentioned in This Episode: ASJ Website: https://asj-us.org Book: Call for Justice by Kurt Ver Beek & Nicholas Wolterstorff. Book: Bear Witness: The Pursuit of Justice in a Violent Land by Ross Halpern This Episode is Sponsored By: DonorBox Links to Resources: Interested in Leadership and Life Coaching? Visit Rob's website: RobHarter.com Find us on YouTube: Nonprofit Leadership Podcast YouTube Channel Suggestions for the show? Email us at nonprofitleadershippodcast@gmail.com Request a sample coaching session: Email Rob at rob@robharter.com Subscribe and Share: Listen and subscribe to the Nonprofit Leadership Podcast on iTunes, Spotify, or Amazon Don't forget to like, subscribe, and share with other nonprofit leaders!

In this episode of Our Classroom, Roberto Germán shares a powerful testimony from community member Justin Luttrull about a moment that unfolded in a breakout session at Calvin University. A professor teaching about book bans and the difference between harmful books and books that expose harm cited the work of Lorena Germán — and mentioned that he listens to Roberto's podcast. This unexpected story, coming from a white professor in Grand Rapids, Michigan, serves as a reminder that our work travels farther than we ever see. It speaks to representation, legacy, and the impact of culturally grounded education across communities and generations. This is an episode about encouragement, legacy, and the quiet ways our work changes the world. Chapters 0:00 – Welcome to Our Classroom 1:00 – Justin's Testimony 2:30 – Representation in Unexpected Places 4:30 – Why This Matters for Educators 6:00 – Staying Faithful to the Work 7:30 – A Call to Community 9:00 – Outro: Keep Leading with Curiosity

Dean Sweeney sits down with Derek Schuurman from Calvin University, where he chairs the departments of Computer Science and Faith and Technology. Dr. Schuurman spoke with our PhD students earlier in the semester about AI, the biblical story and rival stories.

Today, I am joined by Philosopher and author of Hungry Beautiful Animals, Matthew Halteman. Matt is is professor of philosophy at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and a fellow at the Oxford Centre for Animal Ethics in the UK. He is the author of Compassionate Eating as Care of Creation and co-editor of Philosophy Comes to Dinner: Arguments about the Ethics of Eating.His book Hungry Beautiful Animals, of which we talk a lot about, is a heartfelt, humane, and humorous exploration of how going vegan can bring abundance into our lives.This is such a rich conversation of veganism, morality, abundance, leading with love, and the parallels we observe in the state of our world right now, Matt and I dig in deep with a lot of care, love, and laughs. To connect with Matt:Book website is here: www.hungrybeautifulanimals.comPersonal website is here: www.matthewchalteman.weebly.com Instagram is @hungrybeautifulanimals: https://www.instagram.com/hungrybeautifulanimals/ LinkedIn is https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-halteman-49b2b56b/ Mentioned in this episode:Ethos Farm to Health - https://www.ethosfarmtohealth.org/Nathan Nobis Ph.D - https://www.nathannobis.com/Clare Mann - https://vystopia.com/To connect with me:Follow me on Facebook and Instagram @didyoubringthehummusFor more info on my Public Speaking 101 program: ⁠https://www.didyoubringthehummus.com/publicspeakingforactivists⁠Contact me here or send me an email at info@didyoubringthehummus.comSign up for meditation sessions hereSign up for The Vegan Voyage, to sponsor the podcast, book meditations packages, or sign up for my Public Speaking program hereJoin my Podcast Fan Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/didyoubringthehummus/To be a guest on the podcast: https://www.didyoubringthehummus.com/beaguest©2025 Kimberly Winters - Did You Bring the Hummus LLCTheme Song ©2020 JP Winters ⁠@musicbyjpw⁠

In Dallas, 6,700 women rally for culture war battles after Kirk’s death… GUEST Kathryn Post … Pittsburgh- based reporter for RNS covering topics such as Gen Z spirituality, pop culture and abuse in religious contexts. Before joining RNS, she earned a Master of Arts in Religion from Yale, interned at RNS in 2020 and has degrees in writing and political science from Calvin University in Grand Rapids MI … her writing has appeared in the WashPost, Sojourners, the Christian Century, Broadview Magazine and more. At last, the world is noticing the persecution of Christians: Violence against Christians merits U.S. pressure on Nigeria’s government for strong countermeasures … GUEST Robert Royal … author of “The Martyrs of the New Millennium: The Global Persecution of Christians in the Twenty-First Century.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ticks are among the most detested creatures in all of nature—but what happens when we look closer? In this Cool Creatures episode, Colin follows Calvin University professor Will Miller and some of his students into the field as they study ticks and the diseases they carry. As we explore ticks we find ourselves asking questions about public health, parasitism, and theology. Are ticks only dangerous pests or can they also open our eyes to the complexity and beauty of creation?  Helpful Resources: CDC Tick Bite Guidance Mayo Clinic Guide to Ticks and Diseases Theme song and credits music by Breakmaster Cylinder. Other music in this episode by Evan MacDonald, Pavel Yudin, Nathan King, Cosmo Lawson, Vesper Tapes, Ricky Bombino & Elizabells, courtesy of Shutterstock, Inc.

Ethan Daly is joined by Ryan Waalkes and Christy Carlin Knetsch to share about how God is moving in their city of Grand Rapids. They reflect on the history of Grand Rapids, what it means to pursue peace and belonging instead of mere civility or niceness, and the power of reconciliation in action. Learn more about the CCDA Conference and make plans to join us in Grand Rapids this November at ccda.org/conference. And discover ways to connect with like-minded people through CCDA's local and affinity networks at ccda.org/connect. With over two decades of experience as a social entrepreneur, Ethan Daly has dedicated his career to empowering community leaders and building ecosystems of opportunity. As co-founder of Sunshine Enterprises in Chicago, he helped grow an entrepreneur support organization that equips hundreds of emerging entrepreneurs each year with the tools to launch and scale businesses. He also served as U.S. Regional Director for Partners Worldwide, a global NGO focused on ending poverty through business. In 2022, Ethan joined Stand Together Foundation, where he currently serves as Senior Director of Bridging Divides. In this role, Ethan leads collaborative initiatives that bring together ideologically diverse leaders to solve community challenges, reduce toxic polarization, and promote a shared American identity. His work reflects a deep commitment to inclusive economic development, civic dialogue, and the transformative power of local leadership.Ryan is the founder and executive director of Bridge Street Ministries, a Christ-centered, urban youth development organization in Grand Rapids, MI.  He and his wife have five beautiful children and have been living out CCD principles for over 20 years.  Ryan is a part of the CCDA national leadership cohort 8, serves on the Local Advisory Team for the 2025 CCDA national conference, and serves as one of the Grand Rapids local network connectors.Inspiring others to know that in Christ, the past does not have to determine the future is the mission statement that has guided the career of Christy Carlin Knetsch (Kah-Net-Ch). Originally from the Pittsburgh area, where she was raised to cheer like a maniac for the Steelers, Christy started her career as a social worker and then spent 18 years as a youth pastor and community organizer at Madison Church, where one of her favorite things was driving a 12-passenger van filled with teenagers. After wrapping up six years of service as an Executive Director at New City Kids, she now serves in Philanthropy as a Program Officer at a local foundation. She is passionate about empowering leaders of all ages, promoting equity, and shaping the systems that influence the trajectory of a young person's life. She lives in Grand Rapids with her husband Brad and their wild and wonderful kiddos, Isaiah, Solomon, and Simone. A graduate of Calvin University with a BA in Psychology/English/Gender Studies, she also holds a Masters Degree in Organizational Leadership from Cornerstone Seminary's Urban Cohort Program.  Connect with CCDA on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Follow CCDA on YouTube. 

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Why read a poem at a time like this?… GUEST Marilyn McEntyre … writer, prof, speaker … award-winning author of multiple books on language & faith, incl “Where the Eye Alights,” “Speaking Peace in a Climate of Conflict,” “Caring for Words in a Culture of Lies”. GUEST Kathryn Post … Pittsburgh-based reporter for RNS covering topics such as Gen Z spirituality, pop culture and abuse in religious contexts (Before joining RNS, she earned a Master of Arts in Religion from Yale, interned at RNS in 2020 and has degrees in writing and political science from Calvin University in Grand Rapids MI … her writing has appeared in the WashPost, Sojourners, the Christian Century, Broadview Magazine and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Part I, Ross Halperin and I laid a foundation for the work of ASJ in Honduras under the leadership of Kurt Ver Beek and others. In this episode, I am joined by Kurt himself to discuss his exchange of letters between Nicholas Wolterstorff in a wonderful book, Call for Justice: From Practice to Theory and Back, which looks at the meaning of justice and the work ASJ. Kurt is joined by Emily Cole, who has focused on Latin America most of her career and remains a passionate advocate for the well-being and development of that region. I speak to them about a number of things, focusing on the structural details of working in the area, including the difference between social justice and community development, the importance of long-term missionary work, the significance of elections, working with the government, and more. Kurt and his wife, Jo Ann Van Engen, are currently the directors of Calvin University's Justice Studies Semester, which studies the concept of justice in relation to history, economics, politics, sociology, and development in Honduras. Both are founding members of the Association for a More Just Society (ASJ) in Honduras. ASJ seeks to do justice in Honduras and inspire others around the world to seek justice in their own contexts. For more. Emily Cole is a lawyer and an advocate, writing about poetry, human rights, and community development, with a focus on Latin America. For more on her work on covenantal pluralism, go here. She also recently wrote for the Journal of Christian Legal Thought considering the role of the poetic imagination in Latin America. Read it here. Both are Fulbright recipients, with a focus on work in Honduras and Ecuador, respectively. Cross & Gavel is a production of CHRISTIAN LEGAL SOCIETY. The episode was produced by Josh Deng, with music from Vexento.

We were joined by Calvin University Football's Head Coach Trent Figg. He talked about year one for his team, talked about how recruiting has gone for him, told us about some of the things they've overcome, and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, we start a two-part journey into the heart of Honduran society. Our focus will be on one man, Kurt Ver Beek, and the organization he co-founded, Association for a More Just Society (ASJ). Kurt is a professor of Sociology (Emeritus) at Calvin University and lead investigator for an agreement between Transparency International, the Honduran Government, and ASJ. For this first episode, we are joined by the reporter Ross Halperin, whose recent biography (here) of Kurt's ministry (New York Times profile here) paints a fascinating picture of a man dedicated to the cause of justice. While Ross and I do not discuss the entire scope of the book, we do focus on the criminal justice system and the many barriers erected for victims seeking relief. Ross and I talk about how he came to write the book, the work of ASJ in helping reduce the violence in Honduras, some of the main characters in the story, and much more. Ross attended Harvard University and worked under Mark A. R. Kleiman, one of the world's leading criminal-justice scholars. He started reporting this story in 2018 and has since spent much of his time in Honduras. Cross & Gavel is a production of CHRISTIAN LEGAL SOCIETY. The episode was produced by Josh Deng, with music from Vexento.

What does it look like to seek justice when the problems seem too big to solve? In this episode, sociologist and justice advocate Kurt Ver Beek shares his journey from the Midwest to the front lines of Honduras - moving into one of the country's most violent neighborhoods, confronting systemic corruption, and helping lead a nationwide police reform that saved thousands of lives. We talk about the power of proximity, the importance of alliances, and what it means to be a brave Christian - willing to act in the face of fear. Kurt reminds us that even the most complex issues can have practical solutions, and that God's heart for the most vulnerable is still calling us to action.Kurt Ver Beek is the co-founder of the Association for a More Just Society (ASJ). He taught as a professor of Sociology for Calvin University, where he directed the Honduras Justice Studies semester with his wife Jo Ann for 20 years. He is the author of Call for Justice, co-written with Christian philosopher Nicholas Wolterstorff.The book that tells the story:Bear WitnessKurt's Recommendation:Little AmericaSubscribe to Our Substack: Shifting CultureConnect with Joshua: jjohnson@allnations.usGo to www.shiftingculturepodcast.com to interact and donate. Every donation helps to produce more podcasts for you to enjoy.Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Threads, Bluesky or YouTubeConsider Giving to the podcast and to the ministry that my wife and I do around the world. Just click on the support the show link belowSubscribe today at shiftingculture.substack.com for early, ad-free episodes and more! The "What's Going On?" PodcastThink casual, relatable discussions like you'd overhear in a barbershop....Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the show

Kurt Ver Beek is the co-founder of the Association for a More Just Society (ASJ). He taught as a professor of Sociology at Calvin University, where he directed the Honduras Justice Studies semester with his wife, Jo Ann, for 20 years. He is the author of Call for Justice, co-written with Christian philosopher Nicholas Wolterstorff. Join the Theology in the Raw community for as little as $5/month to get access to premium content.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What can we learn about the future of the church by looking back at Robert Schuller? In this episode, Loren Richmond Jr. speaks with sociologists Gerardo Marti and Mark Mulder about their new biography, The Church Must Grow or Perish: Robert Schuller and the Business of American Christianity. Together, they explore how Schuller's entrepreneurial vision, drive-in worship, and architectural grandeur helped shape the megachurch model—and why his story still matters today. This wide-ranging conversation dives into Schuller's deep pastoral commitment, his embrace of American capitalism, and the unspoken ways his model of church innovation continues to influence today's pastors. Loren, Gerardo, and Mark also reflect on what it means to lead faithfully in a culture defined by speed, spectacle, and constant change. Topics Covered The rise and fall of Robert Schuller and the Crystal Cathedral Why Schuller's legacy lives on in today's church growth models How capitalism and faith became intertwined in modern ministry The unintended consequences of constant innovation Schuller's surprising theological conservatism and deep pastoral care What “resonance” offers as a response to cultural acceleration Mark T. Mulder is Professor of Sociology at Calvin University and director of the Common Good Collective. He is the author or co-author of five books In addition, Mulder has published numerous peer-reviewed articles in academic journals, including Social Problems, Religion and American Culture, and The Journal of Urban History. He has also published pieces for church audiences and won writing awards from the Evangelical Press Association and the Associated Church Press.  Gerardo Martí is William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Sociology at Davidson College and president of the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion. A prolific and award winning author, his research explores religious innovation and the role of religion in shaping patterns of racialization and political engagement in the United States. Bluesky ‪@gerardomarti.bsky.social   Mentioned Resources:

Show Notes:Dr. Corneilus Plantinga has a few words to say about gratitude, and it may just change your life--physically, spiritually, and emotionally. A habit of gratitude can lower your blood pressure and help you sleep better. But the habit of gratitude also ties us together collectively, in community and in church. When there is genuine appreciation of an act of kindness or a loving word, the memory of that “thank you” is a cushion when disagreement tries to divide us. Gratitude for God's gifts reminds us daily that we can find something good, even in tough situations.A previous guest on The Weight, Dr. Plantinga is Senior Research Fellow at the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship and president emeritus of Calvin Theological Seminary. He also served as Dean of the Chapel at Calvin University. He is the author of many books, including his latest, Gratitude.Resources:Find Dr. Plantinga's books on AmazonListen Dr. Plantinga's previous conversation on The Weight

Roslyn Hernández is joined by Carol Bremer-Bennett, the U.S. Executive Director of World Renew. Together, they discuss asset-based community development around the world, the process of connecting with their Indigenous heritage, and the importance of listening to the wisdom of elders. They also reflect on what shalom means in the lives of individuals and communities. Learn more about the CCDA Conference and make plans to join us at ccda.org/conference. And learn more about CCDA's Indigenous Peoples network at ccda.org/indigenous. Carol Bremer-Bennett is World Renew's U.S. Executive Director. As director, she oversees their work in 30 countries around the globe in poverty & hunger alleviation as well as disaster response. Learn more about World Renew at worldrenew.net. She is born to the To'aheedliinii (Waters Flow Together) Clan and born for the Todich'iinii (Bitter Water) Clan of the Navajo Nation. Bremer-Bennett is an educator by training, with a B.A. from Calvin College and M.A. from Western New Mexico University. Her extensive experience in Christian ministry spans more than 25 years of organizational leadership, leadership development, and administration. Carol believes in the power of community and shares her passion and gifts with her church, school, and like-minded international organizations. She has served on multiple boards, including Calvin University, the Christian Alliance for Inclusive Development, Integral Alliance, and Growing Hope Globally. Roslyn is a Latina public theologian, content producer, creative strategist, and spiritual director passionate about resourcing emerging adults as they navigate faith, identity, and justice. Her work integrates socio-cultural awareness, spirituality, and activism to decolonize and cultivate holistic healing, liberation, and formation. Roslyn's content often explores the intersections of theology and culture, offering thought-provoking reflections with clarity and depth. She brings a multidisciplinary lens to everything she does, curating safe spaces where emerging generations can cultivate their development and faithfully engage the world around them. Roslyn's creative practice is shaped by her lived experiences and a desire to hold space for the sacred in everyday life. When she's not ideating or writing, you'll likely find her in nature, immersed in ancestral stories and culinary traditions, or savoring moments of solitude with a cup of herbal tea.Connect with CCDA on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn. Follow CCDA on YouTube.

Today on conduct(her) Kyra and McKenna interview Dr. Pearl Shangkuan, professor emerita of music and director of choral activities at Calvin University.

Here's another fantastic conversation with Justin Barrett, cognitive scientist extraordinaire, who spends his time at the intersection of science and religion. We dove deep into why developmental psychology is such a powerful lens for understanding human nature - turns out you can't figure out if a zebra is white with black stripes or black with white stripes just by looking at adult zebras, you've got to watch how they develop. Justin walked us through the fascinating story of human evolution and our hyper-sociality, from our massive brains (five to seven times bigger than expected for mammals our size!) to our unique ability to think about each other's thoughts about our thoughts. We explored how kids naturally develop agency detection, theory of mind, and teleological reasoning - basically why three-year-olds spontaneously ask "what's that mountain for?" and start wondering about invisible agents. Then we got into the weeds about how our Stone Age minds are navigating modern technologies like social media and AI, with Justin making a compelling case using his "kudzu analogy" about technologies that spread too fast for us to understand their consequences. From the crisis of masculinity to boomers getting radicalized during COVID lockdowns, we covered how our evolved psychology is both a gift and a vulnerability in our rapidly changing world.  Check out his new book, How Can Your Faith Fuel Scientific Discovery?: Questions and Reflections for Becoming an Integrated Scientist. Justin L. Barrett is President of Blueprint 1543 and honorary Professor of Theology and the Sciences at St Andrews University School of Divinity. Barrett previously taught in Fuller Theological Seminary's School of Psychology, in the Institute of Cognitive and Evolutionary Anthropology at Oxford University, at the University of Michigan, and at Calvin University. Justin's Previous Visits to the Podcast Thriving with Stone-Age Minds This is Your Brain on God – Cognitive Science and the Naturalness of Belief Here are the lectures Dr. Barrett mentioned:What makes cultural innovations attractive? and From AI to social media. Upcoming Online Class:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Rediscovering the Spirit: Hand-Raisers, Han, & the Holy Ghost⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ "⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Rediscovering the Spirit: Hand-Raisers, Han, and the Holy Ghost⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠" is an open-online course exploring the dynamic, often overlooked third person of the Trinity. Based on Grace Ji-Sun Kim's groundbreaking work on the Holy Spirit (pneumatology), this class takes participants on a journey through biblical foundations, historical developments, diverse cultural perspectives, and practical applications of Spirit theology. Moving beyond traditional Western theological frameworks, we'll explore feminist interpretations, global perspectives, and innovative approaches to understanding the Spirit in today's world. Whether you've felt the Spirit was missing from your faith journey or are simply curious to deepen your understanding, this class creates space for thoughtful discussion, personal reflection, and spiritual growth. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠As always, this class is donation-based, including 0. To get class info and sign up, head over here. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ _____________________ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hang with 40+ Scholars & Podcasts and 600 people at Theology Beer Camp 2025 (Oct. 16-18) in St. Paul, MN. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ This podcast is a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Homebrewed Christianity⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ production. Follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠the Homebrewed Christianity⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Theology Nerd Throwdown⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Rise of Bonhoeffer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ podcasts for more theological goodness for your earbuds. Join over 80,000 other people by joining our⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Substack - Process This!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Get instant access to over 45 classes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.TheologyClass.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow the podcast, drop a review⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, send ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠feedback/questions⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or become a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠member of the HBC Community⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Deb Rienstra is a professor of English at Calvin University. Her beautiful book, Refugia Faith, takes us deep into both an aching planet and the goodness of God. Friends, I couldn't put this one down.From despair to preparation, alienation to kinship, and indifference to attention, Deb's masterful weaving of theology, literature, ecology, and a love for creation makes this book sing.Join us for a conversation about birds and hope, about how the church calendar can help remind us of our creatureliness before God, and about the ways both lament and gratitude can tether us to one another. Get full access to Keep Looking Up at courtneyellis.substack.com/subscribe

Recently James K. A. Smith said Calvin University should sue for divorce from the denomination that sponsors it because the governing body of that denomination says the university should enforce the biblical sexual teachings of that denomination. While this is the latest challenge to ecclesial authority at a ostensibly Christian college, it's definitely not the first. Across the church world similar battles between denominations and their colleges are being fought. But why does it happen in the first place? Today the Pugs--who've seen these fights from the inside many times--give their takes on how these colleges drift from the doctrinal standards of their sponsoring churches and what those churches can do about it. Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

Recently James K. A. Smith said Calvin University should sue for divorce from the denomination that sponsors it because the governing body of that denomination says the university should enforce the biblical sexual teachings of that denomination. While this is the latest challenge to ecclesial authority at a ostensibly Christian college, it's definitely not the first. Across the church world similar battles between denominations and their colleges are being fought. But why does it happen in the first place? Today the Pugs--who've seen these fights from the inside many times--give their takes on how these colleges drift from the doctrinal standards of their sponsoring churches and what those churches can do about it.Support the Pugcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thetheologypugcast?fbclid=IwAR17UHhfzjphO52C_kkZfursA_C784t0ldFix0wyB4fd-YOJpmOQ3dyqGf8

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Craig Mattson, an organizational researcher, professor at Calvin University, and expert in workplace communication. We dive deep into the pressures of the modern workplace, particularly for Gen Z and Millennial professionals, and explore how digital overwhelm, constant connectivity, and workplace technology are reshaping our daily lives.

Community Engagement and Overcoming Digital Overwhelm In this episode of the Breakfast Leadership Show, Michael D. Levitt sits down with Craig to explore the power of community engagement in the workplace and how it impacts younger generations. Craig shares insights from his book Digital Overwhelm, which examines how people navigate technology-related challenges. They also discuss seasonal shifts in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and the importance of being prepared for unexpected weather changes. Generational Needs and Workplace Flexibility Michael and Craig dive into the evolving dynamics of the workplace, emphasizing generational differences, adaptability, and flexibility. In today's ever-changing professional landscape, leaders must balance structure and certainty while meeting the diverse needs of employees. Craig underscores the importance of human decency, effective communication, and emotional intelligence to foster stronger workplace relationships. Michael highlights his leadership approach—listening to understand rather than just responding—to create an inclusive and productive work environment. Effective Team Management and Digital Communication Managing a high-performing team requires active listening and adaptability. Michael shares his experience implementing employee suggestions to boost team morale and reduce turnover. Craig explores the challenges of digital communication, noting that while it can feel intimate, it often lacks personal connection. They discuss strategies to enhance digital interactions, ensuring messages resonate effectively in virtual settings. How Sales Teams Overcame Pandemic Challenges Michael recounts a compelling case study of a multi-state insurance sales team struggling with client retention during the pandemic. His innovative solution? Encouraging them to practice Zoom calls with their grandkids to boost confidence in digital communication. The result? Increased client engagement and higher sales performance, proving that adapting to new technology can drive success. Leveraging Digital Tools for Business Growth Transitioning to digital platforms can be overwhelming but crucial for business success. Michael shares a real-world example of helping clients embrace technology for business expansion. Craig highlights the balance between digital efficiency and maintaining authentic human connections, reminding leaders that relationships remain key even in a tech-driven world. Digital Flexibility vs. Minimalism: Finding the Right Balance Craig discusses key themes from Digital Overwhelm, advocating for digital flexibility over strict minimalism. While reducing screen time can be beneficial, many professionals must engage with multiple platforms. The book provides strategies to navigate different communication modes effectively. Michael shares a relatable anecdote about restaurant apps and smartphone dependency, reinforcing the need for healthy digital boundaries. Reframing Mindset for a Positive Work Ethic A positive mindset can transform workplace dynamics. Michael and Craig explore how giving back in tough times fosters resilience and success. Craig shares a story of a client who shifted from a “how can I survive?” mindset to a “how can I give?”, resulting in long-term professional growth. Michael encourages listeners to embrace generosity, even without immediate recognition, as it cultivates strong habits and workplace satisfaction.

Glenn and Liz warn of the coming political war as Trump enters the White House. Will Republicans be able to make the most of the opportunity they've been given? Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.) joins to break down what his latest report on the corruption of January 6 exposes. Could we see some accountability for the people involved, like Liz Cheney? Quentin Schultze, Calvin University professor, joins to give the lesson Americans can take away from the holiday classic "A Christmas Story."  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has officially declared a state of emergency because of a recent bird flu outbreak despite no reported cases of human-to-human transmission. Is Gavin Newsom the Justin Trudeau of America? Glenn plays the latest song by Five for Fighting's John Ondrasik, a dis track against Justin Trudeau. Glenn and Liz warn of the coming political war as Trump enters the White House. Will Republicans be able to make the most of the opportunity they've been given? Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.) joins to break down what his latest report on the corruption of January 6 exposes. Could we see some accountability for the people involved, like Liz Cheney? Wave Nunnally, Evangel University professor of early Judaism, joins to outline the historical story behind the three wise men and what they were doing in the lead-up to Jesus' birth. Quentin Schultze, Calvin University professor, joins to give the lesson Americans can take away from the holiday classic "A Christmas Story." Glenn and Liz react to Minneapolis local news putting on a satanic display.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices