Molly Worthen is an academic, a historian of religion, a Yale-educated professor at UNC-Chapel Hill, and was an agnostic for decades. She studied Christianity, wrote about it, and even lived alongside devout believers. But belief itself? That always felt just out of reach. In this conversation, Molly shares how God gently disrupted her intellectual framework, used unexpected relationships (including Pastor J.D. Greear), and led her on a rigorous investigation of the resurrection that changed everything.

Listen as she unpacks:

• Why she resisted religion growing up
• How studying Orthodoxy and evangelicalism fed her curiosity
• Why most scholars don’t take the resurrection seriously, and why she did
• How she moved from detached study to full surrender

If you’re a skeptic, seeker, or a believer walking with one, this is an invitation to deeper reflection.

Guest Bio:

Molly Worthen is a professor of history at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a freelance journalist. She received her BA and PhD from Yale University. Her research focuses on North American religious and intellectual history. Molly writes about religion, politics, and higher education for the New York Times and has also contributed to the Atlantic, the New Yorker, Slate, and other publications.

Resources Mentioned:

Molly’s Resources:

• Website: mollyworthen.com

• Book: Spellbound (2025)

• Book: Apostles of Reason: The Crisis of Authority in American Evangelicalism

• Book: The Man on Whom Nothing was Lost: The Grand Strategy of Charles Hill

• Great Course: “History of Christianity II: From the Reformation to the Modern Megachurch,”

• Course on Audible: “Charismatic Leaders Who Remade America.”

Molly’s recommended resources:

• Reasons for God, Tim Keller

• Resurrection and the Son of God, NT Wright

• Jesus and the Eyewitnesses, Richard Bauckham

• Language of God, Francis Collins

• Author, David Bentley Hart

• A Severe Mercy, Sheldon Van Auken

America’s Christian Credit Union (ACCU): AmericasChristianCU.com/Jana

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Can reason, morality, and public good stand without God?

Allison Leonhardt once thought so. An atheist from her teens, she was convinced religion was outdated, the Bible unreliable, and morality explainable through modern thought and politics. With The God Delusion in hand, she challenged religious teachers and built her worldview around science, social justice, and self-made meaning.

But when the pandemic forced her into isolation in a foreign country, and a friend casually invited her to watch an online church service, something unexpected happened. Curiosity gave way to conviction, not through pressure or platitudes, but through Scripture that spoke directly to her experience.

Guest Bio:

Allison Leonhardt is a Senior Communications Advisor in the housing industry. Her career has taken her around the world as she spent several years working in finance and management in the United Kingdom. She is a sought-after Campaign Manager for all three levels of government in Canada, most recently having run a campaign in the 2025 Federal Election. She has a diploma in Public Relations from the University of Victoria. Allison has recently been announced as one of the 2025 Cardus NextGen Fellows.

Resources Mentioned:

• Alpha Course – A safe space for exploring the basics of Christianity: https://alpha.org
• Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis – Introductory apologetics from a former atheist
• Return of the God Hypothesis, Stephen Meyer
• The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel – Investigative journey of a skeptical journalist
• John Rylands Library – Home of the oldest known fragment of the Gospel of John: https://www.library.manchester.ac.uk/rylands/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allison-leonhardt-7a75b377/

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What would lead a Jewish man, raised in an Orthodox home, who didn’t even know who Jesus was, to become a Christian pastor, podcast host, and author of a book on the evidence for Christ?

David Shapiro shares his unlikely journey from strict tradition to sincere faith. Growing up in Queens, New York, David was immersed in Jewish customs, Hebrew school, and temple life. But over time, he began to question the rituals and drift from belief altogether. What followed was a long road through agnosticism, atheism, military service, and a successful career in martial arts, all while pushing God further and further away.

Yet, in the quiet moments, and even in unexpected places, God kept nudging.

Guest Bio:

David Shapiro is a pastor, chaplain for a local fire department, co-host of the Boundless Bible podcast, and a soon-to-be published author of Jesus Christ: A Lot of Evidence. Raised in an Orthodox Jewish home in Queens, NY, David never imagined he’d one day come to faith in Jesus—let alone teach others about Him. With a doctorate in religious education, a background in professional martial arts, and a testimony that spans atheism, agnosticism, and deep academic study, David now uses his unique story and voice to help others encounter the truth and grace of Jesus Christ.

Resources Mentioned:

• Book (Coming Soon): Jesus Christ: A Lot of Evidence by David Shapiro
• Book and Website: https://www.drdavidshapiro.org/general-1
• Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/50ZbQ1Sy0uQtmx1DxmhT3Y
• Isaiah 53 – A Key Prophecy
• The Great Isaiah Scroll / Dead Sea Scrolls – For historical background on biblical reliability
• Recommended Next Step: Read the Bible (start with the Gospels or Isaiah 53) and explore the entire narrative.

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