Best John Parham Podcasts (2025)

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Episode #309 - Our Favorite Christmas Movies 1:01:49

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1d ago1:01:49

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In this episode, we talk about our favorite Christmas movies. We give some nods to Christmas classics as well as more than a few surprises. Listen and see if your favorites end up on each of our top five Christmas films lists! Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Adishian, Dr. John Anthony Dunne, Rev. Daniel P…

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God Might Be Real—But Is He Personal? | Tim Keller & Anthony Kronman

7d ago

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The Christmas season, at its heart, is about giving. We spend days—even weeks—searching for thoughtful, personalized gifts to bring joy to those we love. For Christians, the ultimate gift was given on Christmas: God becoming human in Jesus. This wasn’t an abstract idea, but a deeply personal act—one that changed the world forever. In today’s episod…

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Episode #308 - C. S. Lewis & The Bible with Dr. Leslie Baynes 1:01:19

8d ago1:01:19

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In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Leslie Baynes, associate professor in the Department of Cultures, Languages, and Religions at Missouri State University and the author of the book that we're discussing in this episode, Between Interpretation and Imagination: C. S. Lewis and the Bible (published by Eerdmans). Over the course of our conversation,…

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That's a Wrap! Best Episodes from 2025 + Sneak Peek at 2026 17:22

14d ago17:22

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We’ve reached the end of another amazing year on the podcast — all thanks to you, our listeners! In 2025, we had over 100,000 listens and over 6 million YouTube views across 140 different countries. We’re so grateful for the thousands of you who listen to the podcast and watch our forums online every week. In this episode, Seth (our podcast host an…

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Episode #307 - From Dropout to Doctorate with Dr. Terence Lester 1:09:44

15d ago1:09:44

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In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Terence Lester, who is a minister, speaker, community activist, author, and founder of Love Beyond Walls, a not-for-profit organization focused on poverty awareness and community mobilization. He also serves as the director of public policy and social change and as a professor at Simmons College of Kentucky (HBC…

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Episode #306 - Debriefing SBL 2025 1:16:54

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In this episode, we debrief our time in Boston at SBL 2025. We discuss some of our highlights from the conferences, including our favorite papers and panels, and we took the mics around the book stalls for some impromptu interviews with (in order of appearance): Dr. Eva Puschautz, Prof. James McGrath, Dr. Andy Judd, Dr. Chris Fresch, Kent Hendricks…

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Episode 35: Father Christmas, St. Nicholas, and the Cosmic Story of Christmas: A Conversation with Addison Hodges Hart 1:06:10

27d ago1:06:10

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In this Christmas-season episode, Jesse Hake speaks with author, retired parish priest, and former university chaplain Addison Hodges Hart about Father Christmas, St. Nicholas, and the meaning of the Nativity, drawing on stories and poetry ranging from Tolkien’s Letters from Father Christmas, C. S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and "…

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Episode #305 - Medieval Virtues and Vices with Dr. Grace Hamman 1:00:29

30d ago1:00:29

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In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Grace Hamman, who is an independent scholar of late medieval poetry and contemplative writing, and is the author of Jesus through Medieval Eyes as well as the book that we’re discussing in this episode, Ask of Old Paths: Medieval Virtues and Vices for a Whole and Holy Life (published by Zondervan). Over the cour…

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Beyond Prescriptions: How Physicians Can Help Suffering Patients | Lydia Dugdale & Michael Menchine

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In today’s episode, two physicians explore the problem of suffering in medicine. They address questions like: What does it mean to care for those who suffer? And what would it take to restore dignity to every patient interaction? You’ll hear from Lydia Dugdale, a primary care physician and medical ethicist at Columbia, and Michael Menchine, an emer…

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Episode #304 - Political Polarization with Tim Dixon 1:15:33

1M ago1:15:33

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In this episode, we're joined by Tim Dixon, who is the co-founder of More in Common, an organization that works to build stronger and more inclusive democratic societies that are resilient to the threats of populism and division. In our conversation, we discuss political polarization and perceptions of "the other side's" willingness to perpetuate v…

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Episode #303 - Rereading Revelation with Professor Greg Carey 48:44

1M ago48:44

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In this episode, we're joined by Professor Greg Carey, who is Professor of New Testament at Lancaster Theology Seminary and Moravian Theological Seminary, and the author of the book that we’re discussing in this episode: Rereading Revelation: Theology, Ethics, and Resistance (published by Eerdmans). In our conversation we talk about the meaning of …

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Success, Silicon Valley, & Fulfillment | Pat Gelsinger & John Hennessy

2M ago

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In today’s episode, two Stanford leaders open up about the personal costs and course corrections in their professional lives. Is it possible to lead with integrity and still compete at the highest level? And what do you hold onto when you fail? You’ll hear from John Hennessy, the former president of Stanford, and Pat Gelsinger, the former CEO of In…

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Episode #302 - The Fourth Synoptic Gospel with Professor Mark Goodacre 57:31

2M ago57:31

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In this episode we're joined by Professor Mark Goodacre, who is Professor in the Department of Religious Studies at Duke University and the author of The Fourth Synoptic Gospel: John’s Knowledge of Matthew, Mark, and Luke (published by Eerdmans). In this episode we discuss Prof. Goodacre's thesis that John knew and used each of the Synoptic Gospels…

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Episode 34: Teaching in Reality: D. C. Schindler on Classical Education and Metaphysics 1:05:48

2M ago1:05:48

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In this episode of the ClassicalU Podcast, philosopher D. C. Schindler joins Jesse Hake for a conversation on the metaphysical and theological foundations of classical education. Interview questions address epistemology, anthropology, the nature of true authority, and the dangers of mixing culture wars and Christian nationalism with classical educa…

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Episode #301 - Scared by the Bible with Professor Brandon Grafius 56:43

2M ago56:43

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In this episode we're joined by Professor Brandon Grafius, who is academic dean and professor of biblical studies at Ecumenical Theological Seminary in Detroit, Michigan, and he’s the author of several works on religion and horror, including the book that we’re excited to talk about in this episode, Scared by the Bible: The Roots of Horror in Scrip…

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Miracles: How Skeptical Should We Be? | Sean McDowell & Paul Rinzler

2M ago

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In today’s episode, an atheist and a Christian explore the plausibility of miracles. Do miracles actually happen? What kind of evidence supports them? And if they do occur, how should that shape the way we live today? You’ll hear from Sean McDowell, a professor of apologetics at Biola, and Paul Rinzler, professor emeritus at Cal Poly. In this conve…

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Episode #300 - Celebrating 300 Episodes 1:56:35

2M ago1:56:35

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In this episode, we're celebrating our 300th episode, which means that this episode is full of listener comments and questions, our responses to those questions, several examples of bloopers over the past two years, new music for the next 100 episodes, some exciting announcements and updates from the team, and the names of the winners of our nine b…

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Episode #299 - The Mountains Shall Drip Sweet Wine with Dr. John Anthony Dunne 1:00:32

2M ago1:00:32

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In this episode, we celebrate the release of our very own Dr. John Anthony Dunne’s new book on wine in the Bible as we conclude our series on alcohol in the Bible and Jewish/Christian traditions. As we talk about the topic of wine and beer in the Bible, John shares many stories with us about his interests in wine and beer, his family background and…

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Why Education is About More Than Grades | Angel Adams Parham & Roosevelt Montás

3M ago

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In today’s episode, two professors reflect on what a college education is really for. Is it just about mastering content—or can it shape who we’re becoming and how we live? And what is the role of religious texts in this formative process? You’ll hear from Roosevelt Montás, a professor of American Studies at Columbia, and Angel Adams Parham, a soci…

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Episode #298 - Drunk with Professor Edward Slingerland 1:01:06

3M ago1:01:06

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CW: Adult themes and language. In this episode we're joined by Professor Edward Slingerland, who is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, Distinguished University Scholar and Professor of Philosophy at the University of British Columbia, and the author of Drunk: How We Sipped, Danced, and Stumbled Our Way to Civilization (published by Little, Br…

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Episode 33: Leadership in the Classical Tradition with Aristotle, Aurelius, and Christopher Perrin 1:08:32

3M ago1:08:32

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In this conversation, Jesse Hake welcomes Dr. Christopher Perrin to explore leadership in the virtue and liberal arts tradition. Drawing from the ClassicalU courses Leadership and the Liberal Arts and Essential School Leadership, Dr. Perrin reflects on how classical and Christian traditions of virtue shape a truly human vision of leadership—one roo…

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Episode #297 - Wine & Christian Spirituality with Dr. Gisela Kreglinger 52:49

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In this episode we're joined by Dr. Gisela Kreglinger, who is the author of several books on wine, namely, The Spirituality of Wine (with Eerdmans), The Soul of Wine (with IVP), and most recently, Cup Overflowing: Wine’s Place in Faith, Feasting, and Fellowship (with Zondervan Reflective). In this conversation we discuss the nature of wine as a ble…

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What Makes Humans Unique? | Praveen Sethupathy & Scott Aikin

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In today’s episode, a scientist and a philosopher explore what it means to be human. Is our distinctiveness rooted in biology, consciousness, or something more? And why have humans always been curious about this question? You’ll hear from Praveen Sethupathy, a genomics professor at Cornell, and Scott Aikin, a philosophy professor at Vanderbilt. In …

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Episode #296 - Ascetic Eucharists with the Very Rev'd Dr. Andrew McGowan 1:02:22

3M ago1:02:22

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In this episode we're joined by the Very Rev’d Dr. Andrew McGowan, an Anglican priest, Dean and President of the Berkeley Divinity School of Yale University and the McFaddin Professor of Anglican Studies and Pastoral Theology, and he’s the author of Ascetic Eucharists: Food and Drink in Early Christian Ritual Meals (with Oxford University Press). I…

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Episode #295 - Sober Spirituality with Rev. Erin Jean Warde 57:02

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In this episode we’re joined by Rev. Erin Jean Warde, who is an episcopal priest and recovery coach, as well as the author of the book we’re excited to discuss in this episode, Sober Spirituality: The Joy of a Mindful Relationship with Alcohol (published by Brazos). Over the course of our conversation, Rev. Warde shares a bit of her story with us a…

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How a Philosopher Found Christianity, and Why She Still Believes | Meghan Sullivan

4M ago

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In today’s episode, a philosopher explores this question: Is belief in God irrational? You’ll hear from Meghan Sullivan, a philosophy professor at the University of Notre Dame. In this talk, she explores what led her to become a Christian in college, how she responds to common objections about her faith, and why she thinks it’s rational to believe …

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Episode #294 - The Church & Alcoholics Anonymous with Professor Stephen R. Haynes 51:21

4M ago51:21

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In this episode we’re joined by Professor Stephen R. Haynes, who is Professor of Religious Studies at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee, and the author of several books, including the one we’re excited to discuss in this episode, Why Can’t Church Be More Like an AA Meeting? And Other Questions Christians Ask about Recovery (published by Eerdmans…

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Episode #293 - Drinking with the Saints with Professor Michael Foley 58:15

4M ago58:15

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In this episode we're joined by Professor Michael Foley, who is Professor of Patristics in the Great Texts program at Baylor University, and the author of Drinking with the Saints: The Sinner's Guide to a Holy Happy Hour (published by Regnery History). Professor explains how is book is designed to pair beer, wine, and cocktail recipes with the feas…

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Episode 32: Revisiting the Classics for All: A Conversation with Angel Adams Parham 57:23

4M ago57:23

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In this wide-ranging conversation, sociologist, educator and ClassicalU course presenter Angel Adams Parham joins Jesse Hake to explore the idea of an “American classical education.” Drawing, in part, upon her work on “The Black Intellectual Tradition” and Women in the Liberal Arts Tradition, Angel makes a compelling case for expanding our understa…

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Episode #292 - Wine & Beer in the Talmud with Professor Jordan Rosenblum 1:02:46

4M ago1:02:46

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In this episode we’re joined by Professor Jordan Rosenblum, who is the Belzer Professor of Classical Judaism at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Director of the Mosse/Weinstein Center for Jewish Studies, and he’s also the author of Rabbinic Drinking: What Beverages Teach Us About Rabbinic Literature (published by the University of Califo…

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Episode #291 - Wine & the Mishnah with Rabbi Drew Kaplan 52:18

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In this episode we’re joined by Rabbi Drew Kaplan, who is Campus Rabbi for Cincinnati Hillel, hosts The Jewish Drinking Show podcast (over 175 episodes and counting), and publishes a weekly newsletter and Torah portion sheet on drinking that covers the Tanakh, Rabbinic Literature, Jewish history, Jewish practice, and more. In our conversation we ta…

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Christianity and the Basic Assumptions All Scientists Make | John Lennox

4M ago

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In today’s episode, we’ll explore some of the most basic questions about science: Why do we do science? Does science rely on any foundational truths? And is it possible to be a scientist and believe in God? You’ll hear from John Lennox, emeritus professor of mathematics at Oxford. He explores the history of modern science, the philosophical assumpt…

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Episode #290 - Dionysus & the New Testament with Professor Courtney Friesen 57:38

5M ago57:38

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In this conversation, we’re joined by Professor Courtney Friesen, who is Professor of Classics and the Director of Graduate Studies in Classics at the University of Arizona and the author of Reading Dionysus: Euripides’ Bacchae and the Cultural Contestations of Greeks, Jews, Romans, and Christians (published by Mohr Siebeck). In our conversation we…

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Episode #289 - Drunkenness in the Old Testament with Dr. Rebekah Welton 52:03

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In this episode we’re joined by Dr. Rebekah Welton, who is Lecturer in Hebrew Bible at the University of Exeter and the author of ‘He Is A Glutton and a Drunkard’: Deviant Consumption in the Hebrew Bible (Published by Brill). In our discussion we talk about broader conceptions in the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible of feasting, excessive consumption, an…

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Episode 31: Walking with Dante: Louis Markos on the Poet's Cosmic Imagination 58:54

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In this rich and wide-ranging conversation, scholar Louis Markos joins host Jesse Hake to discuss his upcoming ClassicalU course, and forthcoming companion book on Dante’s Divine Comedy. Markos explores Dante’s visionary architecture of Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise, not merely as allegory, but as a deeply experiential and spiritually transformativ…

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Episode #288 - Wine, Soil, and Salvation with Rev. Dr. Mark Scarlata 55:47

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In this episode we’re joined by Rev Dr Mark Scarlata, who is Tutor and Senior Lecturer in Old Testament at St. Mellitus College, the Vicar-Chaplain at St. Edward, King and Martyr Church in Cambridge, and the author of Wine, Soil, and Salvation in the Hebrew Bible and New Testament (published by Cambridge University Press). In our conversation we di…

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Episode #287 - A History of Beer in Ancient Mesopotamia with Dr. Tate Paulette 1:04:21

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In this episode we’re joined by Dr. Tate Paulette, who is an Archeologist and Associate Professor of History at NC State University and the author of In the Land of Ninkasi: A History of Beer in Ancient Mesopotamia (published by Oxford University Press). Kicking off our series on ancient wine and beer in biblical literature and relevant traditions,…

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Politics, Faith, & Hope: Two Perspectives | Michael Wear & Hahrie Han

5M ago

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In today’s episode, our speakers explore the possibilities and limits of politics. How can politics be used as a force for good in society? And when our political systems fail us, where should we look for hope? You’ll hear from Michael Wear, the founder and CEO of the Center for Christianity and Public Life, and Hahrie Han, a professor of political…

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Episode #286 - Crafting Expository Sermons in Post-Christian Communities with Dr. Mark Glanville 1:03:36

5M ago1:03:36

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In this episode we're joined by Dr. Mark Glanville, who is an Old Testament scholar and jazz pianist, the Director of The Center of Mission and Leadership at St. Andrews Hall at the University of British Columbia, the host of the podcast, Blue Note Theology, and the author of Preaching in a New Key: Crafting Expository Sermons in Post-Christian Com…

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Episode #285 - Reviewing Squid Game 3 1:03:03

6M ago1:03:03

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Spoiler alert and content warning! In this episode we review the third season of the smash hit Korean show on Netflix, Squid Game. As we debrief our experience watching the third season, we talk about the crazy ending, what surprised us the most about what the third season did and didn't do, what we appreciated and disliked about the season, and ho…

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Episode 30: John Mays Shares about Moving from Lifeless Teaching to Holy Moments 50:38

6M ago50:38

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In this episode of the ClassicalU Podcast, host Jesse Hake interviews John Mays, the founder of the Novare Science curriculum. The discussion centers around Mays' new course, "Cultivating Wonder Throughout the School" as a help to educators integrating a sense of wonder and mystery into their teaching across various subjects. Mays shares his journe…

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Episode #284 - Reviewing Black Mirror Season 7 1:31:42

6M ago1:31:42

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In this episode we review and debrief the seventh season of Black Mirror, the technologically-dystopian anthology series on Netflix (on which Amber Bowen and John Anthony Dunne produced a collection of essays). We talk about key themes and new emphases that appear this season as we work through each of the six episodes in detail. Team members on th…

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Episode #283 - Reviewing Severance Season 2 with Dr. Nick Fox 57:47

6M ago57:47

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In this episode we review season 2 of the hit streaming show on Apple+ called Severance. We're joined by Dr. Nick Fox, who is Assistant Professor of Christian Studies and the Chair of the Biblical, Theological, and Ministry Studies at Crown College, and the editor of the forthcoming volume, Theology, Philosophy, and Severance (published by Rowman &…

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Is Hope Naïve in a World Like Ours? | Esau McCaulley & Gary Saul Morson

6M ago

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In today’s episode, our speakers explore this question: In a world with so much pain, is it naïve to have hope? And where can we find hope when circumstances are out of our control? You’ll hear from Esau McCaulley, a New Testament scholar at Wheaton College, and Gary Saul Morson, a Russian literature scholar at Northwestern. In this discussion mode…

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Episode #282 - Bearing Witness with Dr. Daniel Hill 56:16

6M ago56:16

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In this episode we're joined by Dr. Daniel Hill, assistant professor of Christian Theology at George W. Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, and the author of Bearing Witness: What the Church Can Learn from Early Abolitionists (published by Baker Academic). In our conversation Dr. Hill helps us to think about the importa…

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Episode #281 - Interpreting Jesus with Professor Dale Allison 55:24

7M ago55:24

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In this episode we’re joined by Professor Dale C. Allison Jr., who is the Richard J. Dearborn Professor of New Testament Studies at Princeton Theological Seminary and the author of Interpreting Jesus (published by Eerdmans). Over the course of our conversation we talked about why Prof. Allison chose to write this book as a collection of essays, how…

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Episode 29: From Chaos to Clarity: Practical Support for New Classical Educators 1:00:09

7M ago1:00:09

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Kim Warman, lower school dean and teacher at Coram Deo Academy in Carmel, Indiana, shares insights from her new ClassicalU course, Launching Your Classical Classroom, which provides practical support for new grammar school teachers. She reflects on her own educational journey, having experienced both non-classical and classical education before att…

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Episode #280 - Ancient Slavery with Dr. Christy Cobb and Dr. Katherine Shaner 53:58

7M ago53:58

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In this episode we’re joined by Dr. Christy Cobb and Dr. Katherine Shaner to talk about their new edited volume, Ancient Slavery and Its New Testament Contexts (published by Eerdmans). Dr. Christy Cobb is Associate Professor of Christianity in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Denver, and Dr. Katherine Shaner is Associate Pro…

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Episode #279 - Saving Face with Aimee Byrd 53:39

7M ago53:39

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In this episode we’re joined by Aimee Byrd, who is the author of eight books, including the new one that we discuss in this episode, Saving Face: Finding My Self, God, and One Another Outside a Defaced Church (published by Zondervan). Over the course of our conversation we talk about the rich value of faces, the metaphorical nuances to “saving face…

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Suffering, Belief, & the Search for Meaning | Ross Douthat & Frank Bruni 1:10:11

7M ago1:10:11

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College is a time for searching. For jobs, friends, meaning, and purpose. But when these searches fail us, or when we suffer from things outside our control, where does that leave us? Is there something more — something spiritual or transcendent— that can give us hope? In today’s episode, you’ll hear from two journalists who have thought about thes…