Épisodes

  • Suffering, Unanswered Prayer, and Hope in Christ with Vaneetha Risner

    Suffering, Unanswered Prayer, and Hope in Christ with Vaneetha Risner
    Sep 23 2025
    Rebecca welcomes Vaneetha Risner for a candid conversation about suffering, unanswered prayer, and the presence of Christ in our deepest pain. Vaneetha recounts her story (childhood polio, the death of her infant son, an unwanted divorce), how John 9 reframed her “why,” and why Christian hope rests in the character of God—not in guaranteed outcomes. They also explore lament, community, and practical ways to walk with those who hurt.

    Resources mentioned:
    • Watching for the Morning (90-day devotional): vaneetha.com/watching-for-the-morning
    • Desperate for Hope (7-session Bible study): vaneetha.com/desperate-for-hope
    • Vaneetha’s website: vaneetha.com
    • Joni Eareckson Tada & Steven Estes, When God Weeps: Amazon
    • John 9 (Jesus and the man born blind): Read
    • John 11 (Jesus with Mary & Martha): Read

    0:00 Exploring Faith and Suffering Through Personal Trials
    3:12 Finding Faith Amidst Life's Trials and Unanswered Prayers
    14:05 Finding Faith and Comfort Amidst Suffering and Loss
    19:53 Unexpected Suffering and the Journey of Writing Through Pain
    23:11 Finding Hope and Purpose in Suffering Through Faith
    32:19 Exploring Faith, Suffering, and Devotionals with Vaneetha Risner

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    Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠
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    40 min
  • Do You Have A Calling? with Karen Swallow Prior

    Do You Have A Calling? with Karen Swallow Prior
    Sep 16 2025
    Rebecca sits down with Karen Swallow Prior to explore vocation that comes from outside us, the goodness of “ordinary” faithfulness, and why pursuing the true, the good, and the beautiful gives shape to our work in every season. They reflect on biblical portraits of calling (Paul, Moses, Jonah), the role of community in discernment, and how serving others—not chasing status—aligns our lives with Jesus.

    Resources mentioned:
    • Karen's Website: karenswallowprior.com
    • You Have a Calling: Finding Your Vocation in the True, Good, and Beautiful (Karen Swallow Prior)
    • On Reading Well: Finding the Good Life Through Great Books (Karen Swallow Prior)
    • The Evangelical Imagination: How Stories, Images, and Metaphors Created a Culture in Crisis (Karen Swallow Prior)
    • Bible passages:
      • Acts 9 (Paul’s calling)
      • Exodus 3–4 (Moses)
      • Jonah (running from calling)
      • Colossians 3:23–24 (work as unto the Lord)
    0:00 Exploring Vocation and Identity in Confronting Christianity Podcast
    2:34 Understanding Life's Callings and Their External Origins
    7:23 Discerning Personal Calling Amidst Biblical and Modern Examples
    13:57 Discovering Your Calling Through Truth and Community
    14:52 Jesus's Teachings on Power and Christian Vocation
    17:47 Redefining Life's Calling Beyond Glamorous Achievements
    24:09 Christian Perspectives on Vocation and Service
    28:42 Finding Purpose in Serving Others Over Personal Ambitions
    33:28 Finding Purpose in Caring for Creation
    36:07 A Humbling Experience in a School Swimming Contest
    36:56 Discovering Personal Callings Through Community and Encouragement
    40:39 Exploring Beauty and Vocation Through a Christian Lens

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    Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠
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    48 min
  • What’s Ahead on Confronting Christianity Season 7

    What’s Ahead on Confronting Christianity Season 7
    Sep 9 2025
    Season 7 of Confronting Christianity is here! Rebecca gives a sneak peek at upcoming conversations—from finding hope in suffering and living faithfully as a single Christian, to confronting anxiety, pornography, and the meaning of Jesus’ death. Subscribe now so you don’t miss a single episode.

    📚 Resources Mentioned
    • Rebecca’s forthcoming book: How Church Could Literally Save Your Life (Releases October, preorder available)
    • Rebecca's Website
    • Weekly newsletter signup


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    Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠
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    1 min
  • From Crystals to Christianity: Finding Jesus After Trying Everything Else with Justine

    From Crystals to Christianity: Finding Jesus After Trying Everything Else with Justine
    Jun 17 2025
    What happens when you’ve tried everything—and nothing works? In this episode, Justine shares how she searched for meaning through alcohol, relationships, yoga, crystals, and tarot—only to find herself more lost than ever. But a YouTube video, a prayer in Madrid, and a series of quiet nudges led her to confront the truth she could no longer ignore: she needed Jesus. Whether you're skeptical, curious, or clinging to faith, this story of rescue will challenge your assumptions and stir your soul.
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    Based on his beloved song, Penelope Judd, Shai Linne shares a beautiful allegory to help kids grasp the gospel—that Jesus, like the Prince in the story, enters our broken world and invites us into something new. Using the song’s lyrics, this book offers a creative way to start gospel conversations with the children you love.

    Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

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    Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠
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    44 min
  • Good News at Rock Bottom with Ray Ortlund

    Good News at Rock Bottom with Ray Ortlund
    Jun 10 2025
    What if rock bottom isn’t the end of the story, but the place where grace runs deepest? In this episode, I talk with Dr. Ray Ortlund about the kind of suffering that strips us bare—and the kind of Savior who meets us there. We dig into betrayal, isolation, and the painful honesty of self-examination. Ray shares wisdom from his new book, Good News at Rock Bottom, reminding us that Christianity doesn’t offer a shallow fix—but a Redeemer who walks with us through the wreckage. If you’ve ever felt like your faith is hanging by a thread, this conversation is for you.
    Buy Ray's Book:
    Good News at Rock Bottom
    Follow Ray:
    Instagram
    Sign up for weekly emails at RebeccaMcLaughlin.org/Subscribe
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    Instagram | X

    Based on his beloved song, Penelope Judd, Shai Linne shares a beautiful allegory to help kids grasp the gospel—that Jesus, like the Prince in the story, enters our broken world and invites us into something new. Using the song’s lyrics, this book offers a creative way to start gospel conversations with the children you love.

    Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Sign up for weekly emails at RebeccaMcLaughlin.org/Subscribe
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    Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠
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    44 min
  • Will Education Undermine Your Faith? with Andrei Comlosan-Pop

    Will Education Undermine Your Faith? with Andrei Comlosan-Pop
    Jun 3 2025
    What does it look like to follow Jesus at Harvard? In this episode, I talk with senior Andrei Comlosan-Pop about coming to faith in high school, navigating life as a Christian at a secular university, and how literature, economics, and community all play a part in shaping a thoughtful, lived-out faith.
    Sign up for weekly emails at RebeccaMcLaughlin.org/Subscribe
    Follow Confronting Christianity:
    Instagram | X

    Based on his beloved song, Penelope Judd, Shai Linne shares a beautiful allegory to help kids grasp the gospel—that Jesus, like the Prince in the story, enters our broken world and invites us into something new. Using the song’s lyrics, this book offers a creative way to start gospel conversations with the children you love.

    Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

    Sign up for weekly emails at RebeccaMcLaughlin.org/Subscribe
    Follow Us on Instagram and X

    Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠
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    44 min
  • What Does It Mean to Live Free? with Elizabeth Woodson

    What Does It Mean to Live Free? with Elizabeth Woodson
    May 27 2025
    I’m joined by my friend Elizabeth Woodson—Bible teacher, author, and all-around theological powerhouse—to talk about Paul’s letter to the Galatians. We dig into what it really means to be free in Christ, why Paul’s transformation from persecutor to apostle matters so deeply, and how he surprisingly elevated the role of women in his ministry. Elizabeth shares wisdom from her new Bible study, Live Free, and together we unpack how belief in Jesus reshapes both our individual lives and our communities.
    Buy Elizabeth's Study:
    Live Free - Bible Study: A Study of Galatians
    Follow Elizabeth:
    Instagram | TikTok
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    Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠

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    Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠
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    32 min
  • Why Are We Drawn to Charismatic Leaders? with Molly Worthen

    Why Are We Drawn to Charismatic Leaders? with Molly Worthen
    May 20 2025
    Historian Molly Worthen joins Rebecca to unpack her journey from agnosticism to faith, the pull of charismatic leaders, and why Jesus—not political saviors—is the only one truly worth following. From Trump-era evangelicalism to the Spirit-led church, this episode asks: What kind of power really saves?
    Buy Molly's Book:
    Spellbound: How Charisma Shaped American History from the Puritans to Donald Trump
    Sign up for weekly emails at RebeccaMcLaughlin.org/Subscribe
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    Instagram | X

    Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠







    Sign up for weekly emails at RebeccaMcLaughlin.org/Subscribe
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    Produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Good Podcast Co.⁠⁠⁠⁠
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    46 min