In this episode, we sit down with Russell J. Levenson, Jr. to dig into his latest work, Witness to Belief: Conversations on Faith and Meaning. Together, we explore the heart behind the book, how it came to be, what compelled him to write it, and how his pastoral journey shaped each conversation within.
We discuss:
The origin of Witness to Belief and what sparked Russ’s decision to interview twelve public figures on faith. Over the Mountain Journal+2PublishersWeekly.com+2
His approach to these conversations: as a pastor, not merely an interviewer. Over the Mountain Journal
How he selected subjects (from Denzel Washington to Nikki Haley, Jim Nantz to Jane Goodall) and the diversity of spiritual paths represented.
Memorable stories from the book:
• Denzel Washington asking to begin and end the interview with prayer.
• Amy Grant sharing how, after a brain injury, she now sings scripture instead of reciting it.
• Brit Hume’s reflections on loss and faith, Jim Nantz’s journey with his father’s Alzheimer’s PublishersWeekly.com
• Admiral McRaven wrestling with the tension between military duty and Christian moral imperatives.
Behind-the-scenes of writing: how Russ prepared, how he built trust, and how he balanced theological depth with accessibility.
What it meant to him personally, how these conversations shaped his own faith and pastoral perspective.
How readers can approach the book: what to look for, how to engage with the stories, and what impact he hopes it might have.
If you’ve ever wondered how faith lives out in public life, or how deeply personal belief intersects with leadership, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.
Book Links & References
Witness to Belief: Conversations on Faith and Meaning — Morehouse Publishing page ChurchPublishing.org+1
Witness to Belief on Amazon Amazon+1
Witness to Belief on Target Target
Announcements / profile of the book from Over the Mountain Journal Over the Mountain Journal
Publisher’s Weekly review of Witness to Belief PublishersWeekly.com
