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The Message ConnectionPodcasting in 2025? Audio Only vs. YouTubeđ Episode Title: Podcasting in 2025? Audio Only vs. YouTubeđ Show Notes:Thinking about starting a podcast but not sure if you should go audio-only or dive into video for YouTube? In this episode of The Message Connection, Re breaks down the pros and cons of both formatsâand why audio still holds a special kind of magic in 2025.We explore:Why audio-only podcasting is still going strongThe intimacy and connection audio creates with listenersHow video can expand your reach on YouTube and social mediaThe benefits (and pressures) of visual storytellingWhy starting simple might be your...2025-04-1016 minThe Message ConnectionYOU are The Expert!Whether you're dreaming about launching a podcast, or you've already dropped off after three episodes (we get it!), this oneâs for you. Azurae shares why now is the time to share your message, how to approach your podcast with clarity and intention, and why a seasonal mindset might just save your creative energy.đĄ Big idea: You already know more than you thinkâyou just need to prove it to yourself.đ Find Azurae at: azuraephelps.comđą Follow Azurae on IG: @azurae.phelps2025-04-0313 minThe Message ConnectionBoundaries, Burnout & Business: Resilience Real Talk with Dr. Tuby AkinlosotuThis week on The Message Connection, Iâm joined by the insightful and empowering Dr. Tuby Akinlosotu â business growth coach, strategist, and resilience expert. We talk about what it means to really build a life-first business, the difference between ability and capacity, and how to design a sustainable rhythm that honors who you are.Whether youâre an introvert pretending to be an extrovert, a recovering people-pleaser, or just tired of the hustle that never seems to lead to peace, this episode is for you.Dr. Tuby shares stories from her own burnout and breakthrough moment...2025-03-2748 minThe Message ConnectionUsing AI to Get UnstuckRing Ring, AI calling! Will you answer? In this episode, host Azurae Phelps dives into how AI tools like ChatGPT can help with brainstorming, podcast content, and business strategyâbut without replacing your authentic voice.You'll learn:âď¸ How AI can break creative roadblocksâď¸ Why human connection still matters more than everâď¸ A cool trick for using your community as your personal ChatGPTâď¸ How to host a "My People Party" to ideate and refine your messageđĽ Tech is great, but real conversations are magic. Tune in and letâs talk AI, authenticity, and fi...2025-03-1908 minThe Message ConnectionUnlimited: How Wicked Changed Me for GoodPodcast Name: The Message Connection Episode Title: Unlimited: How Wicked Changed Me for Good Host: Azurae PhelpsEpisode SummaryIn this episode of The Message Connection, host Azurae Phelps shares her deep personal connection with Wicked, the beloved Broadway musical. Sparked by a special trip to New York City, Azurae reflects on how the showâs themes of friendship, personal growth, and stepping into one's power have profoundly impacted her life. She discusses the emotional resonance of the story and the broader significance of storytelling in the arts and how messages in th...2025-03-1325 minThe Message ConnectionHere on PurposeEpisode Title: Here on Purposeđď¸ Welcome to The Message Connection! Today, host Azurae Phelps sits down with speaker, trainer, and purpose discovery coach Nancy Zugschwert to explore what it truly means to live with purpose. Nancy shares insights from The Purpose Factor, a framework that helps individuals identify and embrace their unique calling in life and work.đš In this episode, we discuss:How to shift from seeking external validation to embracing your true giftsWhy your job title isnât the same as your purposeHow to find fulfillment in any lif...2025-03-0644 minThe Message ConnectionOwn Your MagnificencePodcast Show Notesđď¸ Episode Title: Own Your Magnificenceđ§ Host: Azurae Phelps | The Message ConnectionEpisode Summary:In this episode, Azurae shares a powerful clip from a recent masterclass where she encouraged attendees to recognize and embrace their expertise. Whether you're starting a podcast, a YouTube channel, or another creative project, it's easy to forget how much knowledge you already have. Azurae walks through a simple exercise to help you tap into your own magnificence and provides a structured approach to shaping your podcast or content.What Youâll Learn in This Episo...2025-02-2707 minThe Message Connection3 Winning Podcast FormatsEpisode Title: 3 Winning Podcast Formatsđ Welcome back to The Message Connection! In this episode, host Azurae Phelps dives into three powerful podcast formats that keep audiences engaged and coming back for more. Whether youâre an entrepreneur, coach, or creative, understanding these styles can help you craft a show that resonates with your audience and keeps them tuning in week after week.đš Investigative & Binge-Worthy Shows â The "next, next, next!" effect of deep-dive storytelling.đš News & Industry Insights â Stay informed with quick, digestible updates.đš Personality-Driven Podcasts â Why comedians, celebrities, and industry experts dominate this space.đĄ Learn how to...2025-02-2013 minThe Message ConnectionQ&A: Where, Why, and How Often.In this Q&A episode of The Message Connection, Azurae dives into three FAQ's every aspiring podcaster faces:đď¸ YouTube vs. Audio Podcasting: Should you focus on an audio-only podcast, or is YouTube a better platform for you? Azurae breaks down the key differences and how to decide what fits your goals and resources best.đ°ď¸ The Secret to Podcasting Consistency: Ever wonder why so many podcasts fade after just three episodes? Learn why consistency matters, how to develop sustainable habits, and practical strategies like batch recording to keep your show on track.đ
How O...2025-02-1318 minThe Message ConnectionCash Flow What You KnowIn this episode Azurae talks with speaker, songwriter, and entrepreneur Tonya Stout about conquering adversity, being the author of your own story, and turning your pain into your purpose. She talks about the authority you carry and how to cash flow what you knowâŚbecause youâve LIVED it!FREE conquer your morning toolkit: www.conquerpreneur.com/morningMasterclass: www.conquerpreneur.com/cashflowhttps://www.youtube.com/ @ConquerClubwithKevinTonyaStouthttps://stan.store/azuraephelps2025-02-0639 minThe Message ConnectionTrailer: The Message ConnectionWelcome to the Message Connection, a podcast dedicated to exploring all the angles that it takes to get your message to the masses. Week after week, we will dig in to the medium of podcasting as well as host conversations with entrepreneurs, business owners, coaches, artists, creatives, educators, and more to see how they got to the heart of their message and what it took to get them to the place where they were ready to share it.We'll talk all about the highs and lows, the insecurities that rise up, and how to overcome them, and...2025-01-1601 min
The Russell Moore ShowHope for High Conflict with Amanda RipleyâOur church lived through the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections divided. Our church lived through Black Lives Matter protests divided. Our church lived through COVID divided. How are we going to get through 2024?âThatâs one of the questions that Russell Moore is asked on a regular basis, and itâs not an easy one to answer. Enter Amanda Ripley, author of High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out. An investigative journalist and the co-founder of Good Conflict, Ripley has spent years exploring how humans engage in disagreements that threaten to tear people apart. On this...2023-10-1849 min
The Russell Moore ShowSkye Jethani Tells Us Where We're Wrong on HeavenâSheâs in a better place.â Statements like this tend to pop up at funerals and in Facebook comment threads memorializing a lost loved one. But do people really mean what theyâre saying? Is cultural commentary on life after death merely an attempt at comforting the bereaved or a statement of belief? Enter Skye Jethani, co-host of The Holy Post Podcast and author whose newest title asks the question What If Jesus Was Serious about Heaven? During his conversation with Russell Moore, Jethani talks about views on heaven, including whether it's a real place or a mere...2023-10-1140 min
The Russell Moore ShowYascha Mounk's Answer to the Identity TrapâPart of the beauty of America is that we all have roots in all kinds of parts of the world, and we bring that cultural richnessâand the aspect of cultural diversityâwith us to this country.â So says Yascha Mounk on this episode of The Russell Moore Show. And yet, of course, differences can also bring about conflict that has a significant negative impact on individuals and society alike. Mounk, an expert on issues in liberal democracy, and Moore discuss these parallel truths through the lens of Mounkâs new book, The Identity Trap: A Story of Ideas an...2023-10-0448 min
The Russell Moore ShowJake Tapper Says Reality Is Stranger than FictionOne might think working as a CNN anchor and chief Washington correspondent would have Jake Tapper spending his spare minutes doing anything but working with words. His recently published third novel, All the Demons Are Here, would beg to differ.On a new episode of The Russell Moore Show, Moore asks Tapper how he manages his time and talents. They discuss Tapperâs political thrillers, his curiosity about eras of disillusionment and mistrust of power, and his interest in the role of showmanship in politics. Moore and Tapperâs conversation covers the ways that recent political history has be...2023-09-1331 min
The Russell Moore ShowSharing in Martin Luther King Jr.'s Dream NowOn August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered the unforgettable âI Have a Dream Speech.â Sixty years later, two men have a dream of their own: to share the life and teachings of Dr. King for the good of the church and the world.This episode of The Russell Moore Show features one of those men, Professor Matthew Daniels. A global human rights activist and founder of the non-profit organization Good of All, Daniels is half of the team that created Share the Dreamâ˘, a Bible study based on the life, teachings, and biblical principles of Dr. King. In col...2023-09-0641 min
The Russell Moore ShowLosing Our Religion: Jackie Hill Perry on RevivalWhat does it look like to practice revival and holiness in our personal lives? What should we do if we feel jaded about the idea of revival? And how can we imagine Godâs law as a way for us to understand who God is? On a new Losing Our Religion episode of The Russell Moore Podcast, Moore and author, poet, Bible teacher, and recording artist Jackie Hill Perry explore the answers to these questions. Moore and Perry talk about what it means to be holy and how Christians can pursue holiness in a tech-driven society. Perry sha...2023-08-0934 min
The Russell Moore ShowLosing Our Religion: Evangelical Imagination with Karen Swallow PriorWelcome back to the Losing Our Religion series of The Russell Moore Podcast! This special series of episodes around Russell Mooreâs newest book, Losing Our Religion: An Altar Call for Evangelical America, explores navigating the Christian faith in confusing times.This week, Moore welcomes his good friend, author, and professor Karen Swallow Prior to the show. Moore and Prior discuss their newest titlesâPriorâs The Evangelical Imagination: How Stories, Images, and Metaphors Created a Culture in Crisis and Mooreâs Losing Our Religion: An Altar Call for Evangelical America, which have powerful crossovers. They talk about the histor...2023-08-0253 min
The Slow Work with Sandra McCrackenMusic Outside the Music Industry with JJ and Dave HellerOnce upon a time there was a music industry without streaming music. Songwriting duo JJ and Dave Heller remember this day well. They once had sixty thousand of JJâs CDs in their garage to prove it. This week on The Slow Work, host Sandra McCracken sits down with JJ and Dave to talk about how they have built their music careers outside of the traditional music industry. Prioritizing artistic independence, family time, and intentional ambition, the Hellers talk about what collaboration looks like in their marriage, how fame changes things, and why theyâre satisfied to go ag...2023-06-1447 minThe Slow Work with Sandra McCrackenThe Way You Become a Writer with Bret LottAuthor Bret Lott once held five majors in college; but he quit halfway through and learned the discipline of writing by pounding pavement as an RC Cola salesman. It is, perhaps, this salt of the earth quality that makes his writing so captivating and inspires others to the craft as well.This week on The Slow Work, host Sandra McCracken talks with Lott about the way you become a writer -- from the ethic required for the daily grind to the value of being around people and paying attention. Lott shares the hardest thing about being a...2023-06-0140 min
The Russell Moore ShowBonus Episode: Tim Keller's Heavenly HopeâHe was always shot through with gratitude.âSo says Russell Moore of pastor, theologian, and author Tim Keller, who died on Friday, May 19, 2023. Husband to Kathy and father of three, Keller was the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City and the cofounder of Redeemer City to City. Moore believes Keller to be the most significant American evangelist since Billy Graham, a designation he explains throughout the episode.âThe death of @timkellernyc is an incalculable loss to the church, the world, to those of us who loved him, those of us he helped in...2023-05-2348 minThe Slow Work with Sandra McCrackenWinning the Dave Barnes LotteryDave Barnes has been a Nashville fixture for more than 20 years now, and heâs still writing melodies that are new and creative. How does he keep doing it year after year? For Dave, it's pretty simple: respect the past and love the present.In this weekâs episode of The Slow Work, host Sandra McCracken sits down with singer-songwriter and producer, Dave Barnes to discuss what makes a tune stick in your head. Growing up in rural Mississippi, Dave played drums in the marching band and drew cartoons, exercising his creative gifts wherever he could. His work...2023-05-1639 minThe Slow Work with Sandra McCrackenThe Year of Jubilee with Cindy MorganGrowing up as mountain folk in East Tennessee, two-time GRAMMY nominee and 13 time Dove award winner Cindy Morgan, learned to write and play music with its roots in gospel. Today, Cindyâs writing is arriving at fans in a new way, in the form of her first novel, The Year of Jubilee. She joins host Sandra McCracken in this weekâs episode to talk all about it.In this episode of The Slow Work, Sandra and Cindy talk about returning to our roots, untangling difficult family stories, and finding a way forward through writing. Cindy opens up abou...2023-04-1834 min
What If I'm Wrong?Who Is My Neighbor?In todayâs episode Heather explains why she chose âWho Is My Neighbor?â as the subject for our next four-part, pod-class series, which starts next week. To help set the tone, Heather walks us through the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). Using Kenneth E. Baileyâs book Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes as a framework, Heather challenges us to experience the explosive message of the parable in a way similar to how its first-century audience heard it.Also, for this weekâs Social Toolkit, Heather sits down with theologian Esau McCaulley to discuss the sensitive topic of g...2023-03-3040 min
The Russell Moore ShowFleming Rutledge on the CrossHow do people who have devoted their lives to ministry know that Christianity is true? What can believers do to address the cultural loss of biblical literacy? How should we think about the social unrest we see in everything from political divides to tragic shootings?On todayâs episode of The Russell Moore Show, American Episcopal priest and author Fleming Rutledge joins Moore to respond to these questions and more. Rutledge and Moore discuss motifs and images of the cross, what it means that Satan is at work in the world, and the difference between virtue signaling and t...2023-03-2957 minWhat If I'm Wrong?These Brothers Are âJust DifferentâIn todayâs episode Heather sits down with brothers Darin and Jordan Starks, hosts of The Just Different Podcast, to talk about how they built an engaged podcast community. Darin and Jordan speak transparently and wisely about topics such as love, sex, purpose, and shame. They also share their experience with mentorship, finding their âwhy,â and why they believe God doesnât need us to be perfect, just available.Heather also chats with our favorite social media expert, Brady Shearer,, about how to handle trolls and negative comments on your page. Brady offers the acrostic R.I.D. as a han...2023-03-2350 min
The Russell Moore ShowBeth Moore Speaks OutâIâve had both a great time and a terrifying time on this planet. Lord, somewhere in the middle of that is my real life."So says Beth Moore, our returning guest on this episode of The Russell Moore Show. Reflecting on writing her recently-published memoir All My Knotted Up Life, Beth and Russell (friends who are regularly mistaken for relatives) talk about the heaviness and hope of Bethâs story. Russell and Beth also talk about the ways in which church was a safe place for Beth when her home was not. Beth offers advice...2023-03-2252 minWhat If I'm Wrong?Gen Z Needs Your Patience, Not Your JudgmentIn todayâs episode Heather unpacks some of the key themes and learnings from the past four weeks of our âLessons from My Mentorâ pod-class series. She is joined by special guests Arleny Aquino and Xavier Thomas, two of her students at Andrews University, who share their reflections on mentorship and what they were most challenged and encouraged by in the Viral Jesus pod class. They also discuss what they believe college students and young professionals need most from older adults right now, and you may be surprised by what they have to say.If you missed any of...2023-03-1644 min
The Russell Moore ShowJesus Encounters Us in ScriptureWhat is the biblical and historical evidence for the resurrection? What does it mean when Scripture says we carry around the death of Jesus in our bodies? How can Christians be deeply committed to interpreting the Bible faithfully while also taking care not to become legalistic?These are some of the listener questions that Russell Moore and producer Ashley Hales engage on this episode of The Russell Moore Show. Their conversation covers big-picture ideas like how to think about Scriptural interpretation and gets specific about certain passages in the Bible. Questions in this episode include:
What...2023-03-1536 minWhat If I'm Wrong?Beth Moore: God Is Always Talking to UsTodayâs episode concludes our four-part, pod-class series on mentorship. And what better way to finish than with godly wisdom and inspiration from another one of Heatherâs favorite online mentors? Weâre thrilled to welcome Beth Moore to Viral Jesus. Last week, Jo Saxton guided us through practical tips on what mentoring is, and why we need to cultivate environments that allow us to use our gifts. This week, in often emotional chat, Beth helps us to decipher the voice of God and explains why Scripture is crucial to that process. She also encourages all of us to look f...2023-03-0957 min
The Russell Moore ShowRick Warren Reflects on His LegacyRick Warren needs very little introduction. The planter and pastor of Saddleback Church in Orange County, California for 43 years, Warren is widely considered one of the most influential spiritual leaders in America. His book The Purpose-Driven Life has been translated into 137 languages and sold more than 50 million copies.And yet, on February 21, the Southern Baptist Convention disfellowshipped Saddleback Church due to their hiring of a female teaching pastor.On this episode of The Russell Moore Show, Warren and Moore discuss the SBC's decision and how it reflects on the convention's response to sexual abuse. They...2023-03-0855 minWhat If I'm Wrong?Jo Saxton: You Need Space to Practice Your GiftsIn todayâs episode we continue with part three of our four-part pod-class series on mentorship. If you missed it, please check out last weekâs episode with Christine Caine, where Christine cautioned us to not confuse platform with ministry. This week we sit down with Jo Saxton to gain some practical tips on what mentoring is, how we can get a mentor, and why we need to cultivate environments that let us use our gifts.Heather also sits down to discuss the latest research on mentoring with Dr. Meryl Herr, director of research and resources at Full...2023-03-0247 min
The Russell Moore ShowAre We Miracle or Machine?How should Christians think about evolving technology? What does it look like to engage in conversations about ChatGPT or the Bing AI bot that recently tried to persuade a New York Times reporter to leave his spouse for the bot? How is society affected by apocalyptic predictions regarding overpopulation or climate change?On this episode of The Russell Moore Show, poet, author, and literary critic Adam Kirsch joins Moore to answer these questions. They talk about Kirschâs new book, The Revolt Against Humanity: Imagining a Future Without Us; Jewish and Christian views of human nature; and how to com...2023-03-0150 minWhat If I'm Wrong?Christine Caine: Donât Confuse Platform with MinistryIn todayâs episode we present part two of âLessons from My Mentor,â our four-part, pod-class series on mentorship. In part one, Heather introduced us to Pastor JosĂŠ Rojas, her personal mentor and a former White House advisor. This week we learn from author, activist, and evangelist Christine Caine in a power-packed conversation about what it means to trust God, pursue your calling, and lean into the development process of your own life rather than rush through it. Christine also tells us why she resists the concept of âinfluencersâ and explains why a âplatformâ isnât necessarily a ministry.But first, Heather...2023-02-2358 min
The Russell Moore ShowEvangelicalism's Failure with Jon WardâWhat can people do about the fact that things are so tense with their families, especially when it comes to politics?âThis is one of the pressing questions that Russell Moore poses to Jon Ward, Chief National Correspondent for Yahoo News. A long-time political reporter, Ward acutely perceives the relationship between religion and politics in America. His new book, Testimony: Inside the Evangelical Movement That Failed a Generation chronicles Wardâs upbringing in, and eventual separation from, a well-known church that emerged at the intersection of Pentecostalism, the church growth movement, the Jesus Movement, and the New Calvin...2023-02-2257 minWhat If I'm Wrong?JosĂŠ Rojas: Giving It All AwayJosĂŠ Rojas went from a 1.7 GPA to a career at the White House and a lifetime of empowering others, including the host of this podcast. Todayâs episode is part one of âLessons from My Mentor,â our new four-part, pod-class series on mentorship. To kick off the series Heather sits down with Pastor Rojas, her personal mentor, to discuss the power of servant leadership. JosĂŠ recounts his ministry journey and explains how he learned the importance of using his influence to create transformative memories for others.We also visit with our favorite social media whiz Brady Shearer for this...2023-02-1658 min
The Russell Moore ShowChurch: Itâs ComplicatedJust one in three of todayâs pastors say that they are healthy. By 2050, less than half of the US population may identify as Christian. At the same time, 61 percent of millennials who attended church before the pandemic still worship with the same congregation. Not only that, but Barna recently found that young peopleâspecifically Generation Zâare uniquely open to learning about Jesus.Itâs within this good newsâbad news cultural context that Russell Moore and producer Ashley Hales answer listener questions about church membership, church hurt, and pastoral ministry. The listener questions covered in this episo...2023-02-1543 minThe Slow Work with Sandra McCrackenLife Beyond Scarcity with Jen SegerWho serves the servers? As it turns out, very few do. In the midst of serving others, those working in the hospitality industry -- waitresses, maids, line cooks and hotel front desk attendants -- often struggle to make ends meet. When crises come, few have the safety nets they need to weather the storms.This week, host Sandra McCracken visits with Jen Seger, City Director of Big Table Nashville, to talk about the slow work of collaborative care, and the capacity building that can lift vulnerable populations out of struggle and into strength. Big Table, a nonprofit...2023-02-1440 minWhat If I'm Wrong?What We May Be Getting Wrong About the Image of GodIn todayâs episode Heather puts on her professorâs hat to walk us through the social psychology behind why human beings are wired to exist in relationship with one another. Heather says this is where evolutionary biology and Christianity can agree, that human beings are social beings whose mental and spiritual wholeness depends on our connection to other people and our connection to God. We were created to exist in relationship.This episode wraps up our thought-provoking âWhat You May Be Getting Wrong About Godâ pod-class series. If youâre coming in fresh, you can go back and list...2023-02-0945 min
The Russell Moore ShowYuval Levin on What Christians Can Learn from Religious MinoritiesWhy has there been a rise in antisemitic tropes, speech, and acts in recent years? Why have cultural moments of change in the West often led to the emergence of violence against Jewish people? And how might the Jewish American experience shed light on how all of us can live in tumultuous times?On this episode, Yuval Levin and Russell Moore respond to these complex questions. Levin is the director of Social, Cultural, and Constitutional Studies at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), where he also holds the Beth and Ravenel Curry Chair in Public Policy. As the fou...2023-02-0858 minThe Slow Work with Sandra McCrackenSinners and Saints and Sacks of Meat with Mike CosperIn a culture of loneliness, charisma and freewheeling rootlessness seduce with empty promises. We are all looking for meaning, but few stop long enough to consider where it might be found in rich supply.In this weekâs episode, host Sandra McCracken sits down with author and podcaster Mike Cosper to talk about the slow work of confessional living. Discussion winds from the viral podcast The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill to Cosperâs transformative experience of visiting sacred hills in the Holy Land. As Cosper shares stories of Mars Hill congregants and visitors to the Chur...2023-02-0734 minWhat If I'm Wrong?What You May Be Getting Wrong About the Character of GodIn todayâs episode Heather sits down with her friends Ty Gibson and David Asscherick to discuss what we may be getting wrong about the character of God. David and Ty walk us through Scripture and show us what has been there all along: God is love. What would happen to our evangelism and conversations if we, as a church body, truly started believing that this statement is true? You wonât want to miss this third and final conversation in our âWhat You May Be Getting Wrong About Godâ pod-class series.Also, in a first for Viral Je...2023-02-021h 08
The Russell Moore ShowSenator Coonsâ Prayer Across the AislesAre events like the National Prayer Breakfast merely displays of civil religion? What does it look like for Christian political leaders to unite during such a divided time in American life? And what is the role of the government when it comes to managing the influence of social media?These are just some of the many questions that Delaware Senator Chris Coons and Russell Moore address during todayâs episode. In light of the upcoming National Prayer Breakfast on February 2, Coons, who has co-organized the event in prior years, talks about what it looks like for such ev...2023-02-0143 minThe Slow Work with Sandra McCrackenRunning on Empty with David RamirezThe pandemic changed how all creatives produced and marketed their work, but as restrictions have lifted many are holding onto the lessons learned from that season of limitations. Whether itâs saying ânoâ to technological advances in favor of stripped down recordings or shrugging off the frenetic nature of show business for a slower pace, musicians, artists, and others are discovering the surprising filling that comes in empty spaces.In this weekâs episode, host Sandra McCracken talks with Americana musician David Ramirez about the habits heâs formed in slow, creative work. Ramirez traces the line from his h...2023-01-3142 minWhat If I'm Wrong?What You May Be Getting Wrong About Godâs Vision for the ChurchIn todayâs episode Heather visits with one of her favorite theologians, Joel Muddamalle, for an energetic and insightful conversation about Godâs original vision for the church and how we often miss it. Joel unpacks what it means to be ambassadors for Christ in a fragmented world; he cautions us against letting social media divide our souls; and he reminds us that ethnic and cultural diversity in the church is a feature, not a bug. One of the big points Joel touches on is what he calls our commitment to âthe sacred-and-secular divide.â What does it mean to be set a...2023-01-2646 min
The Russell Moore ShowRoss Douthat on American Religion and Where Martin Luther was Right and WrongOn this episode, New York Times Opinion columnist Ross Douthat tells Russell Moore where he's wrong on Catholicism and American culture. Kind of.Douthat and Moore consider what it looks like for Christians to engage civically without surrendering to the relentless urgency of the political cycle. They discuss the Roman Catholic Church and what's happening at the intersection of religion, American culture, and world culture. They have a rich discussion of Douthat's religious upbringing, corruption in religious hierarchies, and when Martin Luther did (and didn't) have a point. They talk about Pope John Paul II and Pope...2023-01-2551 minWhat If I'm Wrong?What You May Be Getting Wrong About Biblical WomanhoodIn this episode Heather begins our three-part series of conversations with evangelical thought leaders who are challenging us to reconsider some of our long-held beliefs about God. Weâre calling this pod-class series âThings You May Be Getting Wrong About God.â If you missed last weekâs episode, you may want to go back to hear Heatherâs personal reflections on the theme and why she hopes youâll join her on this journey. But be forewarned: As its title suggests, this pod-class series is designed to challenge and stretch you. This week Heather sits down with Beth Allison...2023-01-1958 minWhat If I'm Wrong?What You May Be Getting Wrong About GodItâs our first new episode of 2023, and Heather opens the new year by introducing our latest pod-class series, âThings You May Be Getting Wrong About God.â She shares thoughts from Isaiah 30, a passage of Scripture sheâd been reading in worship that prompted her to confront some of her shortsighted ideas about how God was moving in her life. In addition to her own personal reflections, over the next few episodes Heather will talk to three different evangelical theologians about Godâs active role in the world and in our lives.In this episode, we also visit with Br...2023-01-1239 min
The Russell Moore ShowYour Questions on Sex, Teens and Marital ProspectsâJust wait until you get married, youâll drive each other crazy.ââJust wait until that baby is a toddler throwing tantrums, youâll long for the sleepless newborn nights!ââJust wait until your energetic third-grader is a surly teenager, youâll crave flag football and trampoline parks.âSound familiar? Sometimes, when we seek advice or empathy around family life, weâre met with a cynical response that things are only going to get worse. But does that have to be the case? Or can family life be joyful in each season?As a new year begi...2023-01-1135 minThe Slow Work with Sandra McCrackenUntying Knots with Colleen RamserTrauma may be a buzzword today, but itâs no simple concept to untangle. For many who experience abuse or trauma at the hands of church leaders, their pain becomes the breeding ground for doubt, deconstruction, and despair. Thankfully, Godâs Spirit persists in bringing new life from the ashes of our suffering.Sandra McCracken talks with trauma-informed counselor Colleen Ramser about the intersection between theology and therapy on this episode of The Slow Work. Ramser participates in perhaps the slowest work of all, helping clients unravel painful stories and delicately reweave new, healthier narratives. This conversation capt...2023-01-0537 minThe Slow Work with Sandra McCrackenCan I Get a Witness? with Sara GrovesSinger-songwriter Sara Groves knows a thing or two about storytelling. However, in the experience of these recent years, Sara realized she still had much to learn about the narratives that shape us.In this episode of The Slow Work, host Sandra McCracken welcomes Sara for a thoughtful, honest conversation about the stories we tell and how we tell them. The two explore how to tend the slow fires of creativity and how to bear witness to the hard stories within and around us. From songwriting sessions to the redemptive voice of activism, McCracken and Groves discuss how...2023-01-0545 minThe Slow Work with Sandra McCrackenThe Beautiful Mending with Mako and Haejin Shim FujimuraIn this first episode of The Slow Work, host Sandra McCracken sits down with husband and wife team, Makoto and Haejin Shim Fujimura, to discuss commitment, kintsugi, and creative justice. Learn how a unique marital commitment has focused the Fujimurasâ professional ambitions and how building in the midst of brokenness has the power to redeem generational pain. If youâve been striving or struggling and need a better way, this conversation promises a deep dose of release and hope. Listen in as Mako encourages that sometimes âitâs okay to just behold.âSpecial Guests:Makoto Fujimura i...2023-01-0547 min
The Russell Moore ShowRadicalization and Resilience with Elizabeth NeumannWhen Paul Pelosi, husband of speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, was attacked, social media erupted with jokes. Why? What is at the heart of such a calloused response to violence?On this episode of The Russell Moore Show, Moore welcomes Elizabeth Neumann to discuss online radicalization, loneliness, and how Christians can navigate an era of political hatred. Formerly the assistant secretary for counterterrorism and threat prevention at the Department of Homeland Security, Neumann is now a commentator on ABC News and the chief strategy officer at Moonshot, a social enterprise working to end online harms ranging fr...2023-01-0444 minThe Slow Work with Sandra McCrackenPreview: The Slow WorkWe are all creatives at heart, no matter what career or calling we find ourselves in. Inspiration can happen in a second, but the work of creativity only happens when we are patient enough to stay with it. It takes grit to see it through. Enjoy this short preview of The Slow Work with songwriter and host Sandra McCracken launching January 5, 2023. Subscribe today!The Slow Work is a production of Christianity TodayExecutive Producer: Mike CosperHost: Sandra McCrackenProducers: Luke Brawner and Azurae PhelpsAdditional Recording: Eva...2023-01-0303 min
The Bulletin2023: Here Comes the Sun?In this weekâs news roundup, host Mike Cosper and editor in chief Russell Moore look back at 2022 and cast a hopeful eye toward the coming year. Dubbing 2022 âThe Year of Exhaustion and Anger,â Cosper and Moore discuss the role of anger in American society, its fearful manifestations and protective instincts. The divisions in denominations, the rise of Christian nationalism, and the end of Roe might leave you with questions about what lies ahead; but hope springs eternal. Listen for why Dr. Moore believes âdemocracy is not dead,â and how healthy institution building can offer a path forward out of the dar...2022-12-2343 minThe BulletinBut Who Owns the Moon?In this weekâs news roundup, host Mike Cosper and editor in chief Russell Moore dive into the mysteries of bitcoin and fusion, coming up for air to talk holidays and food with James Beard-nominated chef and star of Outdoor Channelâs âFeral,â Yia Vang. News of nuclear fusionâs latest breakthrough and cryptocurrencyâs latest bust lead this weekâs conversation about the benefits and dangers of marveling at things beyond our understanding. Cosper and Moore discuss effective altruism, space mining, and generational cuisine all with a single common thread: Who are we inviting to the table and how are we wel...2022-12-1642 minWhat If I'm Wrong?Jonathan Evans: When Misery Becomes MinistryIn todayâs episode Heather sits down with Jonathan Evans to talk about his latest book, Fighting Your Battles: Every Christianâs Playbook for Victory. In this conversation Jonathan describes a God who has often âunsettledâ him. What do we do when life brings us conflict and disappointment instead of comfort and security? It starts, Jonathan says, by realizing that Christian maturity is not independence but dependence.Jonathan, the son of Tony Evans and his late wife Lois, shares openly about his motherâs long battle with terminal illness and his familyâs struggle with grief. He reflects on...2022-12-1545 min
The Russell Moore ShowAndy Crouch's Cure for a Tech-Obsessed World"In the long run, we're really looking to be enfolded in a durable, relational community in which we are known and lovedâloved after we're known, instead of loved because we're not yet known."So says Andy Crouch, author, speaker, and partner at venture-building ecosystem Praxis. As someone who fell in love with computers and technology at a young age, Crouch has spent years considering the ways technology shapes societies, families, and individuals. In this post-pandemic era, Crouch sees a universal quest to live humanly as we try to build back our relational muscles. Yet, many of us...2022-12-141h 01The BulletinStill Bowling AloneIn this weekâs news roundup, host Mike Cosper and editor in chief Russell Moore reflect on Robert Putnamâs 20-year-old book, Bowling Alone; what to do about a society that has only become more disconnected since then; and the impact this has on even one of lifeâs most simple pleasures: going out to dinner. Krista Boan joins in to discuss smartphones and how best to set you and your kids up when introducing this new technology. Stick around to hear about which apps Cosper, Moore, and Boan canât live without.Joining us this week:Kri...2022-12-0953 minWhat If I'm Wrong?Kara Powell: The Spiritual Promise of Generation ZIn todayâs episode Heather is joined by youth ministry expert Kara Powell to talk about Karaâs latest book, 3 Big Questions That Change Every Teenager. Kara will teach us how to connect with Generation Z, what they need in order to thrive spiritually, and how we can help them as they wrestle with questions of identity, purpose, and belonging.But first we visit with Mandy Majors, author of Keeping Kids Safe in a Digital World, for this weekâs #Blessed. When and how should we give our kids their own screens? Heather and Mandy discuss practical guidel...2022-12-0845 min
The Russell Moore ShowMax Lucado's Burnout Led to BreakthroughBy the age of 34, Max Lucado was burned out, struggling with insomnia, and begging the Lord to help him âhave the wherewithal to preach the next day.âNow, decades later, Lucado is still pastoringâheâs the teaching minister at Oak Hills Christian Church in San Antonio. Heâs written dozens of books in the years that have passed since he struggled to find the energy to keep going. Lucado doesnât attribute his renewal to his own efforts, though. Instead, he credits the Holy Spirit as the best friend, comforter, and one who came alongside him in his time of...2022-12-0754 minThe BulletinGuess Who's Coming To DinnerIn this weekâs news roundup, host Mike Cosper and editor in chief Russell Moore pull up a chair to discuss recent dinner events at Mar-a-Lago and a table of pastors hungry for power. Conversation focuses on the disturbing acquiescence to rising antisemitism in the United States and Christiansâ troubling restoration responses following abuse allegations in the Southern Baptist Convention. As Christmas approaches, Cosper and Moore view these topics in light of the babe in the manger and wonder together: Have we forgotten who our neighbor really is? When Holocaust denial and victim silencing become familiar language, we need the...2022-12-0242 minWhat If I'm Wrong?Anh Lin: Letting Go to GrowThis week, Heather sits down with social media influencer and Bible teacher Anh Lin to talk about all things YouTube and content creation. Youâll hear from one of the most dynamic content creators in the online lifestyle space about how she built her platform, what she discovered about handling burnout, and how being vulnerable about her failures helped save a life. Also, learn how Anh, a self-proclaimed ârecovering perfectionist,â deals with self-doubt and feeling like her content will never be good enough.In this episode, we also visit with TikTok whiz Garrison Hayes for this weekâs #Bless...2022-12-0142 min
The Russell Moore ShowNavigating Friendship and Loss with Peter WehnerWhat are Christians to do when political or religious differences are harmingâor even endingâtheir relationships? Why are so many modern people so deeply lonely? And what might it look like to live in peaceful community with people we see as enemies?On this episode of The Russell Moore Show, Peter Wehner, senior fellow at The Trinity Forum and a writer for The Atlantic and The New York Times, joins Moore to discuss friendship, loss, and conflict in todayâs world. Wehner and Moore share reflections on their friend Michael Gerson, adviser and speechwriter to George W. Bush and t...2022-11-3057 minThe BulletinViolence, Protest, and Pumpkin PieIn this weekâs news roundup, host Mike Cosper and editor in chief Russell Moore wrestle with culture wars of a related kind, discussing the divisive responses to the recent mass shooting at Club Q in Colorado and the silent courage of Iranian sports figures against their domineering government. Listen in as Cosper and Moore lament the ideological tropes we cling to in the face of dehumanizing tragedy, and find hope in the stories of real life heroes whose courage exposes online virtue signaling for the hollow artifice that it is. News editor Daniel Silliman joins the conversation in a...2022-11-2430 min
The Russell Moore ShowYour Questions on Social Media and Political WearinessDoes social media make us meaner? How do we stay faithful to Jesus when weâre downright exhausted?Tune in for a discussion between Russell Moore and producer Ashley Hales that covers these questions and more. The topics on this episode of The Russell Moore Show range from the recent mayhem on Twitter to Russellâs favorite Christmas present as a child.The listener questions covered in this episode include:
How might Christians think about social media in terms of discipleship in the church and the home?
What does Christian perseverance look like during this p...2022-11-2333 minThe BulletinMaybe Babel Was Bad?Brash election rhetoric seems to have grown boring (at least for now), but in the void of highly polarizing conversations, Christians still are looking for ways to define themselves.  In this weekâs news roundup, special guest Hannah Anderson joins host Mike Cosper and editor in chief Russell Moore for an election postmortem, including a discussion of how Donald Trumpâs second bid for the presidency may or may not deepen already existing divisions in congregations. Considering the state of Sunday morning pews, Anderson, Cosper and Moore ask what the rise in nondenominational churches means for Christian witnes...2022-11-1858 minWhat If I'm Wrong?Lord of âLittle by LittleâThis week, we review and reflect on what we learned in our âpod-classâ series on gaining self-confidence. Heather shares feedback from her listeners and reminds us that God often moves in our lives graduallyâlittle by littleâone small shift after another.If youâre new to our pod-classes, you may want to pause this episode and start with Heather's preface to the series, âOn Gaining Self-Confidence,â where she sets the framework for this three-week journey of faith. Then check out our first conversation of the pod-class with Amanda Pittman titled âStand in Confidenceâ followed by Heatherâs chat with Jordan L...2022-11-1738 min
The Rise and Fall of Mars HillEpilogue: A Return to SeattleMore than two years since producer Mike Cosper began recording interviews for the show, The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill returns with its most poignant episode yet -- a road trip to Seattle to stand in the spaces where Mars Hill Church began. This epilogue of the critically-acclaimed podcast sends Cosper and executive producer Erik Petrik on a trip down memory lane, visiting the buildings and church members who formed the vibrant community that would one day fall apart. From Seattle living rooms crammed with chairs to an empty sanctuary slated for demolition, discover afresh the m...2022-11-1143 minWhat If I'm Wrong?Tori Hope Petersen: Fostering HopeWelcome to part three of our three-part âpod-classâ series on gaining self-confidence. Heather visits with author Tori Hope Petersen to discuss Toriâs incredibly inspiring story of growing up in foster care, becoming a 4x track state champion, and eventually becoming Mrs. Universe. By the end of their lively and thoughtful chat, you'll understand a truth that drives Tori's ministry: âHealed people heal people.â In other words, we must use what God has given us to help others. If youâre new to our pod-classes, you may want to pause this episode and start with Heather's preface to the series...2022-11-1044 min