Shows
Shifting CultureEp. 377 Best of 2025: Top 10 Books of the YearIn this episode, I am joined by Lore Wilbert and Byron Borger for a roundtable countdown of our top ten books of 2025. Moving from number ten to number one, we reflect on the novels, memoirs, theology, and cultural criticism that most shaped our reading year. Along the way, the conversation opens into deeper questions about faith and doubt, grief and hope, community and isolation, and what it means to stay human in an anxious, mechanized world. Rather than chasing trends, this episode lingers with books that slowed us down, challenged empire, and pointed toward love, imagination, and faithful presence...
2025-12-261h 37
Shifting CultureEp. 362 Glen Henry - Father Yourself FirstGlen Henry, the creator of Beleaf in Fatherhood, shares his story of how resistance turned into calling - how learning to father himself helped him become the father his children needed. We talk about the inherited baggage we carry, the control we try to hold, and the grace that grows when we choose presence over perfection. Glen opens up about fatherhood as a form of cultural resistance, the power of family to heal generational wounds, and the daily work of creating a home rooted in love and faith. It’s a conversation about wholeness, Black fatherhood, and the beauty of...
2025-11-1052 min
Shifting CultureEp. 361 Kat Armas Returns - Liturgies for Resisting EmpireKat Armas joins Shifting Culture to talk about her new book, Liturgies for Resisting Empire, a powerful exploration of how empire shapes the way we think about God, community, time, and ourselves. She names the ways control, hierarchy, and productivity have distorted our faith and imaginations, and invites us into practices of resistance rooted in love, rest, and belonging. Kat offers a vision of wholeness that embraces paradox over dualism, kinship over domination, and peace over violence. This conversation points us toward a more human way of living. One where we belong without conditions and find God in the...
2025-11-0755 min
Shifting CultureEp. 346 Joshua Ryan Butler - God is On Your SideWhat do we do when it feels like God isn’t on our side? In this episode of Shifting Culture, I talk with Joshua Ryan Butler about his new book God Is On Your Side and the ways he’s wrestled with that very question through seasons of heartbreak, illness, and despair. Josh takes us into the Gospel of John, where one-on-one encounters with Jesus become mirrors for our own stories - the paralyzed man, the woman at the well, the man born blind, Lazarus in the tomb. Each scene reveals a God who sees us before we see Him...
2025-09-2657 min
Shifting CultureEp. 334 Trevin Wax - What Story Are You Living In? A Catechism That Roots You in the Story of ChristWhat story are you living in? In this episode, Trevin Wax joins me to explore how the church can root itself more deeply in the story of Scripture. We talk about The Gospel Way Catechism, the ancient practice of catechesis, and why discipleship is more than just memorizing truths - it’s learning to walk in the way of Jesus. Along the way, Trevin shares why true freedom is found in submission to God, how cultural narratives like the American Dream can subtly reshape our faith, and why the global church is vital for our own spiritual health. This co...
2025-08-2251 min
Shifting CultureBonus: Joshua Johnson on Follow 2 LeadWe have a bonus episode for you today. I was recently on the Follow 2 Lead podcast hosted by Tony Miltenberger. And Tony was recently on Shifting Culture, so we decided to give you a glimpse of each other's shows by airing our episodes. So, enjoy. Let me know what you think. Find the Follow 2 Lead podcast anywhere you get podcasts.Subscribe to Our Substack: Shifting CultureConnect with Joshua: jjohnson@allnations.usGo to www.shiftingculturepodcast.com to interact and donate. Every donation helps to produce more podcasts for you to e...
2025-04-1042 min
Shifting CultureEp. 288 Liz Walker - How Community Helps Us HealLook, we've all got pain. We've all got stories we're afraid to tell. But what if there was a space where you could actually share those stories without judgment, without fear, and find healing in the process? Today, I'm sitting down with Liz Walker - a former news anchor turned pastor who discovered something powerful: when we create safe spaces for people to truly be heard, something miraculous happens. In the heart of Roxbury, she started a movement called "Can We Talk" that's transforming how communities process trauma, grief, and healing. This isn't just another feel-good story. This is...
2025-04-0458 min
Shifting CultureEp. 274 Nijay Gupta - Love at the Heart of Paul's TheologyWhen we think of the Apostle Paul, we often picture a stern, unyielding figure - the finger-wagging scold, laying down the law for the early Christian communities. But my guest today, Nijay Gupta, is here to shatter that perception and reveal the beating heart at the center of Paul's theology. In Nijay's new book, "The Affections of Christ Jesus," he makes a captivating case that what truly animates Paul's writings is an overwhelming, spilling-over affection - a profound, personal love that should reorient our entire understanding of the gospel message. As we dive into this conversation, Nijay makes the...
2025-02-2158 min
Shifting CultureEp. 255 Best of 2024: Favorite Movies with Elijah Davidson and Craig DetweilerIn this episode we are counting down our ten favorite movies of 2024 with guests Elijah Davidson and Craig Detweiler.Elijah's List:10. The Piano Lesson9. Between the Temples8. Conclave7. Dune: Part Two6. Fly5. Megalopolis4. Me3. Anora2. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga1. ChallengersCraig's List:10. Rebel Ridge9. A Real Pain8. Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga7. Conclave6. I Saw the TV Glow5. Daughters4. Dune: Part Two3. Sing Sing2. La Chimera1. AnoraJoshua's List:10. Small Things...
2024-12-271h 39
Shifting CultureEp. 254 Best of 2024: Favorite Books with Lore Ferguson Wilbert and Liam ByrnesWe are counting down our ten favorite books of 2024. Joshua, Lore, and Liam will each share their list of ten. To see my full list go to www.shiftingculturepodcast.comLore’s List:10. The Comfort of Crows by Margaret Renkl9. How to Walk Into a Room by Emily P. Freeman8. Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr7. The Salt Path by Raynor Winn6. The Book of Belonging by Mariko Clark5. The Quickening by Elizabeth Rush4. Field Notes for the Wilderness by Sarah Bessey...
2024-12-231h 32
Pardon Me!20th Year of Freedom Anniversary Join us on this special edition of the Pardon Me! podcast as we celebrate the 20th Year of Freedom for Pardon Me! Founder-Joshua Johnson. Hear how he got through it all and what his most pivotal moment was that has led to his success.
2024-12-1152 min
Shifting CultureEp. 242 Heather Gorman & Mark Nelson - Pushing Tables Together in a Fractured WorldIn this conversation we get to the heart of the divisions and fractures we're seeing in our society and in the church. Heather Gorman and Mark Nelson, the authors of the book "Lunchroom Theology," paint a vivid picture of the polarization all around us - the way we sort ourselves into different tables and groups, often suspicious or distrustful of those who aren't like us. But what's so compelling is how Heather and Mark point us back to the radical, subversive vision of Jesus - the way he broke down barriers, invited the unexpected to his table, and called...
2024-11-151h 04
faithN'fitThe Kevin Cotton Interview [S02 EP06] (pt.2) w/ JoJoe Fitts & Joshua JohnsonThis is the 2nd part of the 6th episode of the official FaithNFit podcast. Special thanks to Pastor Kevin Cotton for speaking with us. God bless.
2024-10-0414 minfaithN'fitThe Kevin Cotton Interview [S02 EP06] (pt.1) w/ JoJoe Fitts & Joshua JohnsonThis is the 6th episode of the second season to the official FaithNFit podcast. Special thanks to Pastor Kevin Cotton for talking with us.
2024-10-0414 minfaithN'fitDebrief 2 [S02 EP05] pt.3 w/ JoJoe Fitts & Joshua JohnsonThis is the 3rd part of the 5th episode of the FaithNFit podcast. God bless.
2024-09-1704 minfaithN'fitDebrief 2 [S02 EP05] pt. 2 w/ JoJoe Fitts & Joshua JohnsonThis is part 2 of episode 5 of the FaithNFit podcast. God bless.
2024-09-1714 minfaithN'fitDebreif 2 [S02 EP05] (pt.1) w/ JoJoe Fitts & Joshua JohnsonThis is the fifth episode to the FaithNFit podcast. God bless.
2024-09-0914 min
Shifting CultureEp. 211 Jamie Winship Returns - Receiving Your True IdentityIn this conversation, Jamie Winship talks about the importance of finding true identity in God and community, rather than in individual performance or achievement. We discuss how fear and shame can lead to false identities, and how addressing the root causes of these negative emotions through prayer and imagination can help people find freedom and peace. We talk through how true identity and addressing the real fear we have can help untie the knots of conflicts and bring needed peace. We touch on the role of group identities, the dangers of radical individualism, and how addressing injustice and restoring...
2024-08-1358 min
Shifting CultureEp. 165 Alan Fadling - Finding Peace in an Anxious WorldIn this episode, Alan Fadling talks about his journey with anxiety and how he has learned to manage it through deepening his faith in God. Alan shares practical tools like meditation on scripture and spiritual disciplines that have helped redirect his anxious thoughts and feelings towards peace. Joshua and Alan discuss how communities can come together through practices like communion to collectively experience less anxiety and more of God's shalom, even in troubling times. This conversation provides hope and guidance for anyone struggling with anxiety, and looking for spiritual paths to greater peace.Alan Fadling, (MDiv), serves...
2024-03-1250 min
Shifting CultureEp. 158 Lance Ford - Shifting Leadership Onto the Shoulders of JesusIn this episode, Lance Ford discusses the need to re-examine traditional views of Christian leadership and put Jesus back in his rightful place as head of the church. He traces the evolution of modern leadership theory and its influence on churches. Ford and host Joshua Johnson explore biblical models of servant leadership and equipping others. We emphasize distributing responsibility throughout the body of Christ rather than relying on a few individuals. This thought-provoking conversation challenges listeners to reflect on how they can organize churches to maximize the flow of wisdom from Christ as head into every member....
2024-02-161h 04
faithN'fitPilot - (faithNfit podcast) w/JoJoe (kortani) & JoshuaWelcome to the official start of the "FaithN'Fit" podcast starring JoJoe Fitts & Joshua Johnson. Honestly we are both taking a leap of faith into what God has for us involving this podcast. We hope that the things you hear will bless you and remind you that Yahweh is always here. God bless.
2024-02-0839 min
Pardon Me!Pardon Me!-Joshua-Armed RobberyJoin Former Inmate #305178 and the Teacher as they interview formerly incarcerated individuals about their success in life. The Pardon Me Podcast is designed to bring guests into your living room, your car, or wherever you listen to your podcasts; to share their stories of perseverance and success. In this forst epsiode, Pardon Me! brand founder-Joshua Johnson tells his story of overcoming a 20 year prison sentence to become a career executive in Wisconsin State Government. Tune in to hear Joshua’s story on how he went from prison to the White House.
2024-01-241h 00
The Night Light with Joshua JohnsonDon't trust Congress? Here's how to find out what they're up to.“Do your own research” is great advice… but where should you look? Keeping tabs on Congress is actually easier than you might think. I’ll show you how to keep an eye on your lawmakers and how to understand Congress the way its members do.Subscribe on YouTube & click the bell: @nightlightjoshua (https://www.youtube.com/@nightlightjoshua)"Gullible Ain't Sexy" shirt in merch store: shop now (https://joshua-johnson-shop.fourthwall.com/?source=dashboard)All my social media links: linktree (https://linktr.ee/nightlightjoshua)Join the premium subscribers: Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-night-light-with-joshua-johnson/id1694224826)Join the premium subscribers: Spotify...
2024-01-2133 minThe Night Light with Joshua JohnsonNikki Haley: America has "never been a racist country". Is she right?Nikki Haley remains adamant that America was never a racist country. That’s entirely false, but how do we know? I’ll show you and consider why her stance, though incorrect, might be politically shrewd.Subscribe on YouTube & click the bell: @nightlightjoshua (https://www.youtube.com/@nightlightjoshua)"Gullible Ain't Sexy" shirt in merch store: shop now (https://joshua-johnson-shop.fourthwall.com/?source=dashboard)All my social media links: linktree (https://linktr.ee/nightlightjoshua)Join the premium subscribers: Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-night-light-with-joshua-johnson/id1694224826)Join the premium subscribers: Spotify & other apps (https://nightlightjoshua.supercast.com/)
---
Support this podc...
2024-01-2045 minThe Night Light with Joshua JohnsonNew Hampshire primary: will Trump win? And why isn't Biden running?The New Hampshire primaries are this Tuesday: possibly a make-or-break moment for Haley and/or Ron DeSantis. Former Pres. Donald Trump is hoping to take his second state after a strong showing in Iowa. And Pres. Joe Biden isn't even on the ballot in the Granite State because of a shift in the Democratic primary calendar (a shift New Hampshire ignored). I’ll have what you need to know.Subscribe on YouTube & click the bell: @nightlightjoshua (https://www.youtube.com/@nightlightjoshua)"Gullible Ain't Sexy" shirt in merch store: shop now (https://joshua-johnson-shop.fourthwall.com/?source=dashboard)All my social media li...
2024-01-2032 minThe Night Light with Joshua JohnsonPsychedelic Healing: using Ibogaine to fight PTSD & the opioid crisisAn African plant might revolutionize America’s fight against opioids. A new Stanford study shows tremendous results in treating veterans with PTSD. Kentucky is already considering using this drug if it’s legalized for treatment. But are you ready to enter an uncontrollable dream state with your deepest thoughts? I’ll introduce you to this drug, ibogaine, and consider whether it could reshape the fight against fentanyl.For much more of The Night Light, become a premium subscriber on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-night-light-with-joshua-johnson/id1694224826) or Supercast (https://nightlightjoshua.supercast.com)
---
Support this podcast: https://podcas...
2024-01-0749 minThe Night Light with Joshua JohnsonHouse "Leadership" in the Search for a SpeakerCongress’s deadlock is broken… for now.Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) failed three times to become House Speaker. Republicans finally found someone they could unanimously support: Mike Johnson (R-LA). If you’re not familiar with him… you’re not alone. Here’s a good AP report (https://apnews.com/article/house-speaker-mike-johnson-conservatives-republicans-92b118abced14e4b221f3ab0daf4e757) that’ll bring you up to speed. In this episode I’ll share my thoughts on this saga, starting with my answer to a listener’s question from this week’s “Ask Me Anything!” YouTube live stream.Also, former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) ga...
2023-10-2944 minThe Night Light with Joshua JohnsonFROM THE HEART - My "Disney Wish" For DemocracySome of us struggle to protect our sense of childlike wonder, especially in painful times like these. I never have, and I have Disney to thank/blame for that. This bonus episode wasn't something I expected to share today, but this is how I keep hopeful during very dark times like these. Feel free to share your thoughts: joshua@nightlightshow.com (mailto:joshua@nightlightshow.com).Read & share the article that sparked this episode at nightlightshow.com (https://www.nightlightshow.com)Liked this episode? Show your support as A PAID SUBSCRIBER (https://nightlightjoshua.supercast.com/) or in my online TIP JAR...
2023-10-1615 minThe Night Light with Joshua JohnsonTrailer: Introducing "The Night Light"Things may look dark in America, but a new day will come. Until it does, let's defy the darkness and shine wherever we are. Joshua Johnson hosts a new show for anyone who's ready to help light the way.
---
Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nightlightjoshua/support
2023-06-2204 min
Shifting CultureEp. 103 Kat Armas - A More Embodied FaithIn this episode Kat Armas shares her story and how that informs her faith, and we talk about centering the marginalized, how to embody faith, healing the trauma of our past, and more.Kat Armas is a Cuban American writer and podcaster from Miami, FL. She holds a dual MDiv and MAT from Fuller Theological Seminary where she was awarded the Frederick Buechner Award for Excellence in Writing, and is currently pursuing a ThM at Vanderbilt Divinity School.Her first book, Abuelita Faith: What Women on the Margins Teach Us About Wisdom, Persistence...
2023-04-1851 min
Shifting CultureEp. 102 Brandon Wrencher - Community Organizing for the Common GoodIn this episode Brandon Wrencher talks about the black prophetic tradition, the importance of embodying the truth, practicals around community organizing for the common good, people receiving the power they have that is given to them by God, transformation to hope, peace, and joy, and more. Brandon is a minister, community organizer, teacher and facilitator. He works across faith, higher education, and nonprofit sectors at the intersections of decolonizing church, contemplative activism and local presence to build beloved communities. Brandon's Books:Liberating ChurchBuried SeedsBrandon's Recommendation:Elite Capture: How...
2023-04-1149 min
Shifting CultureEp. 101 Jesse Roberts - Poor Bishop Hooper and the EveryPsalm ProjectIn this episode Jesse Roberts talks about Poor Bishop Hooper, the EveryPsalm project, getting the word of God in the heart of people through music and song, the importance and power of beauty, small expressions of church, living with others, and being formed by Jesus.Jesse Roberts is one half of the duo Poor Bishop Hooper. Jesse writes, records, and performs with his wife Leah. Their latest project is EveryPsalm, which they began January 1, 2020, in which they wrote, recorded, and released a new song based on a Psalm each week. You can go, search for Poor Bishop...
2023-04-0453 min
Shifting CultureEp. 100 Sara Billups - Orphaned BelieversIt's episode 100! Thank you for going on this journey with me. It's been an amazing ride.In this episode, Sara Billups talks about her new book Orphaned Believers, the cultural components of white evangelical culture of the 80s and 90s, how we are formed - whether it be by the culture around us or into the image and likeness of Jesus, and the importance of love as the antidote to fear.Sara Billups is a Seattle-based writer and cultural commentator whose work has appeared in the New York Times, Christianity Today, Ekstasis, and others. Sara...
2023-03-2853 min
Shifting CultureEp. 99 Ed Khouri - Becoming a Face of GraceIn this episode Ed Khouri talks about being God's favorite, receiving grace and joy in recovery from addictive behavior, becoming a face of grace for others, lectio and scripture reflection as a group, the repair of broken things, and more. For more than 40 years, Ed Khouri has served churches, communities, and hurting people worldwide. He worked with substance abusers and their families in diverse settings. As a pastoral counselor, trainer, and writer, Ed’s work has encompassed outpatient counseling, jails, transitional housing for homeless addicts, and all residential treatment phases. He supervised all therapeutic services and...
2023-03-211h 00
Shifting CultureEp. 98 Daniel Grothe - The Power of PlaceIn this episode Daniel Grothe talks about the power of place, stability, and rootedness. And how the family of God can help re-family the world. Along with ways in which we can help bring Kingdom flourishing to a place and community.Daniel Grothe is the associate senior pastor at New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he’s been for eighteen years. He’s the author of Chasing Wisdom and The Power of Place. Daniel and his wife, Lisa, live on a hobby farm outside of Colorado Springs with their three children—Lillian, Wilson, and Wakley.
2023-03-1451 min
Shifting CultureEp. 97 Pete Greig - Shadows and LightIn this episode Pete Greig talks about the paradox of the Kingdom, serving the Good Shepherd and the bleeding Lamb, finding diverse perspectives in the church, the importance of prayer, and hope for what can come out of Waverley Abbey.Pete Greig is the increasingly bewildered founder of 24-7 Prayer an international, interdenominational movement of prayer, mission and justice which has been praying night-and-day for more than twenty years, and has reached more than half the nations on earth. He and his wife Sammy, a professional counsellor, serve as Senior Pastors of Emmaus Rd, a church with...
2023-03-0755 min
Shifting CultureEp. 96 Lucy Peppiatt - Implications of the Authority of JesusIn this episode Lucy Peppiatt talks about how theology has shaped her life and leadership, and how it affects the practical mission of the church. We also talk through the authority of Jesus and the given authority we have as Christ-followers and the implications of that practically through healing, deliverance, women in leadership, and more.Lucy Peppiatt is the Principal of Westminster Theological Centre (WTC) in the UK. She lectures in Christian doctrine and in spiritual formation and has written on discipleship, Christ and the Spirit, Paul and Women, 1 Corinthians, and charismatic theology and practice among other...
2023-02-2858 min