For decades, evangelical Christianity shaped America’s spiritual landscape—but today, more and more people find themselves searching beyond the familiar labels. In this episode, Dr. David Gushee—author, ethicist, and trusted voice on faith—examines the rise and unraveling of a movement and the unexpected hope waiting on the other side.Drawing from his years of scholarship and experience, Gushee traces the path from passionate beginnings to painful disillusionment: how political entanglement and division have left many believers wondering if there’s anything left to reclaim. Yet within the loss, he sees signs of life—a post-evangelical movement rooted not in nostalgia, but in the genuine teachings of Jesus: humility, courage, and a deeper commitment to healing and inclusion.This conversation offers perspective for anyone sorting through old questions or longing for a more honest spiritual home. What if letting go is only the beginning? For those willing to start again, the future of faith may be wider, braver, and more connected than ever before.

Raised in the rituals of Catholicism, Julia Strukely found early meaning in scripture, teaching, and community life—yet her deepest growth came when she stepped outside the boundaries she’d always known. Her

pursuit of media literacy, curiosity about pop culture, and experience in an ecumenical spiritual direction program taught her that God can’t be contained by any one tradition.In this episode, Julia reflects on what it means to guide others gently along their spiritual path, letting real listening and honest encounter lead the way. She explains how faith becomes more vibrant when it opens to questions, when classrooms turn into sacred spaces, and when each person’s background is an invitation to something deeper rather than a barrier.Her story is a reminder that there’s always room for another perspective, another story around the table—even (or especially) if it’s different from our own. For anyone hoping to widen their understanding of God, or simply to walk the road with greater compassion, Julia’s journey sparks encouragement to take the next step, wherever you are starting.

Most people admire heroic lives from a distance without ever imagining they could live one. Audrey Rindlisbacher began in that same place, reading The Hiding Place while raising small children and simply wanting to be “a family like that” without knowing how. What followed was a deep study of the lives of men and women who seemed extraordinary—and the surprising discovery that they all started as ordinary people with familiar struggles.In this episode, Audrey unpacks the 7 Laws of Life Mission that emerged from her research and experience. She explains why mission doesn’t begin with a grand vision, but with practicing true principles in the middle of everyday challenges: strengthening a marriage, being more present as a parent, facing personal weaknesses with honesty. Over time, those small but consistent choices create the character, clarity, and courage needed for larger impact.This conversation is both grounding and hopeful. It offers a clear path for anyone who senses there is “more” to their life but feels unsure where to begin. Step by step, Audrey shows how starting exactly where you are—doing the next right thing—can quietly lead to a mission‑driven life that blesses others far beyond what you might expect.

For the first episode of 2025, Wade Fransson welcomes writer and pastor Morgan Guyton for a special New Year’s conversation that goes far beyond ordinary resolutions. Together, they chart a course into what Morgan calls a “New Year’s revolution”—rooted in mercy, courageously using privilege for the good of others, and forging authentic community in the face of division. Their discussion travels from the dynamics of privilege and the call to use our resources for solidarity and support, to the role of worship, the relationship between prophets and priests, and the irreplaceable value of real, personal relationships—especially in a digital age more accustomed to debates than dialogue. With trademark honesty and warmth, Morgan challenges the easy patterns of arguing with strangers online, and instead champions a faith that listens, shows up, and does the hard work of building a culture where people care for each other in tangible ways. Inspired by the wild ride of a true new beginning and laced with practical hope, this conversation invites listeners to make 2025 less about self-improvement and more about collective healing and bold, relational mercy. Whether you’re ready for new adventures or simply hoping to start the year with deeper meaning, Wade and Morgan’s dialogue is the beginning of something that just might last.

What should we expect from science—and where must we look beyond it? In this episode, Wade Fransson welcomes Alan Lightman for an hour-long journey through the frontiers of knowledge, awe, and responsibility. Drawing on his years as a physicist, novelist, and teacher at MIT, Lightman opens up about the curious intersection where theoretical physics meets philosophy and the search for meaning.The conversation ranges from star-filled nights on a quiet boat to the realities of climate change and the pandemic, exploring how science approaches—and sometimes collides with—the big questions of human existence. Lightman shares candid thoughts about the limits of scientific inquiry: the kinds of questions data can answer, and the mysteries that remain stubbornly outside its grasp. He also addresses the public’s growing skepticism around scientific authority, pointing toward the importance of humility, clear communication, and an honest admission of what we simply don’t know.Listeners will find themselves challenged to rethink “certainty,” and inspired to reclaim a sense of wonder. Whether science is your daily work or a distant headline, Alan Lightman’s perspective offers a refreshing space for doubt, discovery, and genuine curiosity. This episode is a rare reminder that the most important answers start with a willingness to wrestle with questions we cannot solve.

What if hell isn’t a place beneath our feet—but a metaphor for what we experience inside? In this episode, Wade sits down with David Langness, a Baha’i of 56 years and the editor of Baha’iTeachings.org, to unravel one of religion’s oldest—and most misunderstood—concepts.David explains how the idea of hell has often been used to frighten and control, but the Baha’i writings invite us to see it differently: as a condition of the soul, born from selfishness, ego, and the instincts that pull us away from our higher purpose. The conversation is an honest exploration of what it truly means to “conquer hell”—not by escaping punishment, but by facing our shortcomings, overcoming the animal side of our nature, and striving for something nobler.With wisdom drawn from decades of study and service, David offers a perspective that’s at once challenging and hopeful. Viewers will come away with a new understanding of character, the nature of the self, and the daily practices that enable us to move from darkness to light. If you’re looking for an uplifting yet grounded discussion about human potential and spiritual growth, this episode is not to be missed.

What does it take for faith traditions with centuries of complicated history to move from uneasy armistice toward genuine peace? In this illuminating episode, theologian Ellen Charry—Emerita Professor of Theology at Princeton—reflects on a lifelong journey that began as a curious Jewish child and transformed her into a bridge-builder between worlds. Ellen is frank about her own story: growing up Jewish, marrying into a rabbinic family, converting to Christianity, and ultimately claiming a unique vantage point from which to sponsor dialogue few are willing to undertake.Now, in the face of rising antisemitism and renewed tensions worldwide, Ellen is working on a peace proposal that moves beyond polite tolerance. Her forthcoming book seeks to reimagine the relationship between Judaism and Christianity not as inherited rivalry, but as a partnership rooted in God’s desire for flourishing, mutual understanding, and shared purpose. She argues that the well-being of creation itself depends on such reconciliation—because wherever division lingers, “creation languishes.”Across this conversation, Ellen charitably examines what it would mean for traditions—not just individuals—to make peace and “share God.” The episode is a testament to hard-won wisdom, honest spirituality, and the hope that old enmities can give way to something radically new. If you care about faith, history, or practical peacemaking, this is a conversation you will not want to miss.

The call to “follow the science” has become a defining phrase of recent years—but what does it mean to investigate reality for ourselves when institutions, experts, and financial incentives all shape the story we’re told? In this episode, journalist and independent researcher Mehrtash Olson brings the Bahá’í principle of the independent investigation of reality into direct contact with today’s information climate.Drawing on several years of research into media trends, COVID-era messaging, and the growing influence of what some describe as a medical-industrial complex, Olson traces how deference to authority can quietly slide into a culture where honest questions are discouraged or punished. He highlights efforts to categorize dissent as misinformation or hate speech, and the way political and economic power can converge to manage what counts as acceptable opinion. Alongside these observations, he turns to Bahá’í teachings from Bahá’u’lláh, ‘Abdu’l‑Bahá, and Shoghi Effendi that affirm freedom of conscience, the right of self-expression, and the vital role of open consultation in social progress.The conversation does not promote cynicism for its own sake. Instead, it invites a more mature, spiritually grounded approach to truth-seeking, one that respects science and institutions while insisting that each person retains the duty to “see with [their] own eyes and not through the eyes of another.” For listeners unsettled by the current information landscape, this episode offers principles, language, and examples to support thoughtful, ethical discernment in a noisy age.