Best Ruth Haley Barton Podcasts (2025)

1
Our Souls on Technology with Andy Crouch and Jonathan Haidt 43:12

7d ago43:12

43:12

We were made for relationship — to be seen, loved, known, and committed to others. And yet we increasingly find ourselves, in the words of sociologist Jonathan Haidt, “disoriented, unable to speak the same language or recognize the same truth. We are cut off from one another and from the past.” On our podcast Haidt and bestselling author Andy Crouc…

1
Faith and Foreign Aid 1:01:38

21d ago1:01:38

1:01:38

US foreign aid is unexpectedly in the news in 2025 as never before. What do Christians need to know, to help us be part of the dialogue? America's history of foreign aid dates back at least to the Marshall Plan that followed World War II. Many Christians have been involved. How have these believers thought about the appropriate roles of government …

1
Finding God in the Garden with Andrew Peterson 32:42

28d ago32:42

32:42

As we emerge from the Lenten season, freshly renewed by the triumph of the Resurrection, beauty and wonder are particularly present for Christians. In this episode, author and songwriter Andrew Peterson shares his insights about the importance of location and living responsibly and attentively in whatever specific place you inhabit. He discusses ho…

1
Waiting for Good News with N.T. Wright 22:02

1M ago22:02

22:02

Throughout Lent, we've been releasing weekly episodes focused on spiritual practices. In the final episode of the series, this Holy Week we're considering the discipline of waiting: how we can prepare ourselves to receive good news. Our guide today is N.T. Wright, the Anglican Bishop and New Testament scholar. He describes how Jesus invited his hea…

1
Making as a Spiritual Practice with Makoto Fujimura 41:48

1M ago41:48

41:48

Throughout the season of Lent, we're releasing weekly episodes focused on spiritual practices. If at the center of reality is a God whose love is a generative, creative force, how do humans made in God’s image begin to reflect this beauty and love in a world rent by brokenness and ugliness? As Makoto Fujimura argues on our latest podcast, it’s in t…

1
The Blessing of Limitations with Kelly Kapic 31:19

2M ago31:19

31:19

Throughout the season of Lent, we're releasing weekly episodes focused on spiritual practices. We live in an age of speed and overwhelm, where we often feel we are expected to do more, move faster, work harder, brush past boundaries and limits, and shave margins. When we inevitably fail to meet all demands, we are left feeling not only exhausted, b…

1
Pursuing Humility with Richard Foster and Brenda Quinn 36:52

2M ago36:52

36:52

Pursuing Humility, with Richard Foster and Brenda Quinn Throughout the season of Lent, we're releasing weekly episodes focused on spiritual practices. In an age when self-promotion is often celebrated as a sign of leadership and strength, humility may seem a lost virtue. In his work Learning Humility, theologian Richard Foster argues that humility …

1
Reading as a Spiritual Practice with Jessica Hooten Wilson 28:45

2M ago28:45

28:45

Throughout the season of Lent, we'll be releasing weekly episodes focused on themes of reflection, prayer, and contemplation. As you listen to this episode, we invite you to take a moment to slow down, quiet your heart, and hear what God may be saying to you. What if we viewed reading as not just a personal hobby or a pleasurable indulgence but as …

1
Silence and Solitude with Ruth Haley Barton 50:03

2M ago50:03

50:03

In the first episode of our weekly Lenten series, we invite you to take a moment to slow down, quiet your heart, and hear what God may be saying to you. Throughout the season of Lent, we'll be releasing weekly episodes focused on themes of reflection, prayer, and contemplation. On March 19, 2021 we were delighted to host Christian author, leader, a…

1
How Christianity Remade the World with Tom Holland 51:53

3M ago51:53

51:53

How Christianity Remade the World In the context of the pagan classical world, the Christian faith was a shocking, even unfathomable inversion of the values systems and structures of the time. In that embattled context, its explosive growth was unimaginable. Today, however, Christianity is often considered boring or backwards. How might we better d…

1
Suffering, Wayfaring & Hope: A Conversation on Faith and Mental Health 53:00

3M ago53:00

53:00

Suffering, Wayfaring & Hope with Curt Thompson and Warren Kinghorn Anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges are surging among both young and old. By some estimates, more than one in five American adults struggle with some form of mental illness each year. There are few untouched – either directly or through loved ones – with the suff…

1
Discovering Humor in the Bible with Jelani Greenidge 55:41

3M ago55:41

55:41

In this episode of Craft & Character, Steve Carter interviews author, minister, rapper, and stand-up comedian Jelani Greenidge about the use of humor in preaching. Jelani does an incredible job breaking down how to discover humor in the text, how to use humor effectively, and what humor brings to a sermon. Also, they spend time unpacking Jelani’s l…

1
The Strangest Story in the World: G.K. Chesterton & the Incarnation 31:56

4M ago31:56

31:56

The Strangest Story in the World: G.K. Chesterton & the Incarnation C.S. Lewis famously credited G.K. Chesterton’s The Everlasting Man as a key step in his turn from atheism to Christian faith. The book audaciously surveyed the broad sweep of human history, then zeroed in on the Incarnation of Christ. How, Chesterton asked, could such a mysterious …

1
The Heartbeat of a Local Pastor with Tyler Gorsline 1:00:26

4M ago1:00:26

1:00:26

In this episode of Craft & Character, Steve Carter interviews pastor Tyler Gorsline about his love for preaching and staying put in Seattle. Tyler shares about what he's learned along the way as he and his incredible team lead A Seattle Church. The leaders they have been able to develop, empower, and release as well as having this missional desire …

1
Perfectly Human with Amy Julia Becker 31:31

4M ago31:31

31:31

Perfectly Human with Amy Julia Becker We live in a time when our value is often assessed and affirmed largely in terms of our productivity. Entire industries are built around pushing us to optimize our output, maximize our results, unlock our potential, break barriers and records, and perform perpetually at peak. Often drowned out by the din of suc…

1
The Role of the Pastor with Diane Langberg 54:57

4M ago54:57

54:57

In this episode of Craft & Character, Steve Carter interviews Diane Langberg about how a pastor must pursue truth, care for the wounded, point people to Jesus above themselves, and to resist abuse at all costs. For 50 plus years, Langberg has been a leader in the unfortunate field of church abuse and trauma. An incredibly wise guide who deeply love…

1
Practicing the Way with John Mark Comer 35:35

4M ago35:35

35:35

Practicing the Way with John Mark Comer The start of a new year prompts the reflection that if we are not intentionally modeling our life after Jesus, we are likely being formed by something or someone else. Adrift in the cultural current, we're likely to be carried to places we never consciously chose and wonder how we got there. In Practicing the…

1
The Great Annual Examen 27:15

5M ago27:15

27:15

SHOW NOTES Each year we hear about New Year’s Resolutions – we make plans to lose weight, become more organized, be on time more. All great goals, but how many times have those goals been forgotten in February? (I raised my hand too!) In today’s podcast we discuss “The Great Annual Examen,” a simple question and answer exercise to help you reflect …

1
God's Design for our Dilemma 1:04:05

5M ago1:04:05

1:04:05

SHOW NOTES In this episode we are treated to a special preview of the Potter’s Inn Soul Care Institute where Gwen Smith teaches on Sabbath Keeping: God’s Design For Our Dilemma. The discussion includes the origin of Sabbath, why we feel so much guilt concerning Sabbath, and why God gave us Sabbath in the first place. Gwen also introduces her 4 Pill…

1
Becoming the Beloved 38:16

5M ago38:16

38:16

SHOW NOTES In our heads, we know that being is more important than doing. But the reality of our day-to-day life is that we easily drift into a performance-based relationship with God and others. Jesus modeled a different way to live. In today’s episode, we learn how Jesus lived a life that began with acceptance by his Heavenly Father and ended by …

1
Waiting on the Word with Malcolm Guite 49:28

5M ago49:28

49:28

On Friday, December 18, 2020, in partnership with Regent College, The Rabbit Room, and The C.S. Lewis Foundation we were delighted to host the renowned poet, singer-songwriter, and Anglican priest Malcom Guite for a conversation about his work of poetry, Waiting on the Word. Learn more about Malcolm Guite. Watch the full Online Conversation and rea…

1
Heaven & Nature Sing with Hannah Anderson 31:31

5M ago31:31

31:31

Heaven & Nature Sing with Hannah Anderson Advent invites us to enter into the joy of the season through rhythms of remembrance, renewal, and waiting. But often, our very familiarity with the Advent story can leave us dulled to the miracle and joy of the season. In her book of Advent reflections, Heaven and Nature Sing, author Hannah Anderson invite…

1
Abraham Kuyper's Sphere Sovereignty with Vincent Bacote 30:45

6M ago30:45

30:45

Abraham Kuyper’s Sphere Sovereignty with Vincent Bacote In this episode of the Trinity Forum Conversations podcast, host Brian Daskam and guest Dr. Vincent Bacote explore Dutch theologian Abraham Kuyper’s contributions to Reformed theology, with particular emphasis on his concept of sphere sovereignty: “Kuyper helps us to see that we can be Christi…

1
Democracy & Solidarity with James Davison Hunter and David Brooks 53:28

6M ago53:28

53:28

Democracy & Solidarity with James Davison Hunter and David Brooks One of the biggest questions in the Christian life is what it means to love one's neighbor, both in the personal and the public spheres. While these questions have always been challenging and contested, they seem to have grown increasingly divisive and demoralizing. So how do we begi…

1
Having the Perseverance to Finish Well with Jon Thompson 59:39

7M ago59:39

59:39

In this episode of the Craft & Character podcast, Steve Carter interviews Pastor Jon Thompson from Sanctus Church in Toronto, Canada about the importance of perseverance in pastoral ministry. Jon is one of Canada’s most thoughtful and insightful shepherds and he shares about a book he wrote that unpacks 15 different observations at the halfway poin…

1
Extremism and the Path Back to Peace 35:11

7M ago35:11

35:11

Extremism and the Path Back to Peace with Elizabeth Neumann The appropriation of Christian images and language by extremists who advocate violence has become a shocking feature of our time. Surveys show alarming numbers of people who self-identify as religious expressing openness to political violence. Against such a distortion of Christian witness…

1
Preaching and Plagiarism with Mike Goldsworthy 59:29

7M ago59:29

59:29

In this episode of Craft & Character, Steve Carter interviews pastor Mike Goldsworthy around the topic of plagiarism and the crafting of sermons. Mike shares ways we can easily give credit to an idea or author without slowing down the flow of the teaching. He also unpacks what’s happening in a pastors life that makes them believe this is ok. The ch…

1
The Challenge of Christian Nationalism with Mark Noll and Vincent Bacote 41:49

7M ago41:49

41:49

The Challenge of Christian Nationalism with Mark Noll and Vincent Bacote As the lines between faith, politics, and patriotism have become, in some quarters, increasingly blurred, it is increasingly important to understand the origin, ideas, and consequences of Christian Nationalism — what it means, why it matters, and how best to respond. “Responsi…

1
The Art of Discernment with Ruth Haley Barton 52:33

8M ago52:33

52:33

In this episode of Craft & Character, Steve Carter talks with author, spiritual director, and founder of the Transforming Center, Ruth Haley Barton about the importance of spiritual formation for pastoral care. Ruth Haley Barton offers up so many moments of pure gold as she talks about the soul, the art of discernment, and how she came to discover …

1
Truth & Trust with Francis Collins 38:53

8M ago38:53

38:53

What does wisdom mean for Christians in an age of polarization, cynicism, and distrust? In confronting the unique concerns of our time, what can help us become wise? On our podcast, Dr. Francis S. Collins joins us to discuss his new book, The Road to Wisdom, illuminating how truth, science, faith, and trust work together to help us discern the best…

1
Broken to Beloved with Brian Lee 55:12

8M ago55:12

55:12

In this episode of the Craft & Character podcast, Steve Carter interviews pastor and thought leader Brian Lee about healing from church hurt. Brian has a heart for those who feel like wanderers looking for a safe place to land. He has created an incredible community for anyone who has felt cast aside, betrayed, or hurt from religious institutions. …

1
Hope Beyond Tribalism with James Mumford 27:59

8M ago27:59

27:59

Hope Beyond Tribalism with James Mumford Amidst a culture of political tribalism and personal loneliness, how can we more clearly, creatively, charitably, and faithfully think and engage with our neighbors? What kinds of practices of mind, body, and spirit, might help us to see and act with greater empathy and understanding? In his book, Vexed: Eth…

1
Words Against Despair with Christian Wiman 32:01

9M ago32:01

32:01

Words Against Despair with Christian Wiman As poet Christian Wiman explains on our podcast, despair is part of the human condition: “I deal with despair because…I don't know how not to, and it would be an evasion not to. And I think if you don't feel it, then you're not paying attention.” In his new book, Zero at the Bone: Fifty Entries Against Des…

1
The Expectation Gap with Steve Cuss 50:57

9M ago50:57

50:57

On this episode of Craft & Character, Steve Carter talks with pastor, founder of Capable Life, and author Steve Cuss about the tiny gap for preachers between our beliefs and experiences of God. Steve Cuss unpacks why this matters from theological, emotional, and character fronts, so we can begin to confront these gaps with curiosity and openness. S…

1
Faith, Fear & Conspiracy with David French 35:04

9M ago35:04

35:04

In his book, Divided We Fall, author David French explores not only the rise of conspiracy thinking, but also the tribalism and alienation that has divided the country. On our podcast, French considers why our unsettling times have proven fertile ground for the growth of conspiracy thinking, especially within the Christian community, and he offers …

1
The Discipleship Opportunity with Daniel Im 51:19

9M ago51:19

51:19

There is a discipleship opportunity right now that pastors and preachers must take advantage of. Pastor Daniel Im and Steve Carter discuss how we must understand the audience is different in our congregations than from 10, 20, 40 years ago. They’re asking different kinds of questions. They’re more cynical in some ways and wildly curious in others. …

1
The Fall, the Founding, and the Future of American Democracy 26:49

10M ago26:49

26:49

The Fall, the Founding, and the Future of American Democracy What did America’s founders believe about human nature? How might a deeper understanding of their perspective shape the way we think about current and future challenges to our democracy? On this podcast episode, historian and author Dr. Tracy McKenzie helps us take a closer look at the fo…

1
Life, Death, Poetry & Peace with Philip Yancey 30:21

10M ago30:21

30:21

Life, Death, Poetry & Peace with Philip Yancey Life has changed dramatically in the 400 years since John Donne wrote his Devotions. Yet despite the advances of the intervening centuries, we find that, like Donne, we are still subject to sickness and death. We still long for comfort. We still want to know what God is saying to us. Author Philip Yanc…

1
How to be a Patriotic Christian 31:09

11M ago31:09

31:09

How to be a Patriotic Christian The topic of Christian nationalism takes us into deep questions of how we understand and live out our allegiances to both our country and the kingdom of God, how we ought to relate to our neighbors, and how we should pursue justice and flourishing within our nation. It's also a topic rife with confusion and uncertain…

1
Scripture and the Public Square 35:49

11M ago35:49

35:49

The language of the Bible has often been invoked in American political discourse through the centuries. Quoted by suffragists and secessionists, invoked in arguments for (and against) American independence, the Civil War, and cited by virtually every President across parties. So how should we discern a faithful application of scripture in public li…

1
Healing What You Can’t Erase with Christopher Cook 59:00

12M ago59:00

59:00

In this episode of Craft & Character, Steve Carter interviews the Win Today Podcast host Christopher Cook about how leaders can transform their mental, emotional, and spiritual health from the inside out. Christopher shares wisdom he has learned, how the reliance on the Holy Spirit is everything, and what courage looks like as you face past trauma.…

1
What Really Matters with Charlie Peacock and Andi Ashworth 39:32

11M ago39:32

39:32

What Really Matters with Charlie Peacock and Andi Ashworth Ours is an age that values and valorizes productivity, speed, and scale, and emphasizes precise and perpetual measurement and management of those markers. A whole range of organizations, including nonprofits, and even churches, as well as individuals believe that what is valuable is empiric…

1
How to Avoid Pastoral Burnout with Alan Briggs 41:46

12M ago41:46

41:46

In this episode of Craft & Character, Steve Carter interviews leader, coach, and author Alan Briggs about avoiding burnout and finishing the race well. Alan recently released a new book called AntiBurnout that will help you lead for the long haul by sharing practical steps that he has learned advising pastors and business leaders. This episode is s…

1
Christian Pluralism: Living Faithfully in a World of Difference 38:52

12M ago38:52

38:52

Christian Pluralism: Living Faithfully in a World of Difference The term ‘pluralism’ has been subject to misunderstanding – even misuse – over the past several years. Some read or hear the word and think simply of a multiplicity of opinions. Others think of a sort of moral relativism that affirms your truth and my truth, no matter how contradictory…

1
How to Love the Life You Already Have with Luke Norsworthy 59:23

1y ago59:23

59:23

In this episode of Craft & Character, Steve Carter interviews Westover Hills Senior Pastor Luke Norsworthy about having the internal character to meet the six demands of life. It can be so easy to give time and energy wondering if my life would be better if I was in a new role or at a new church; but Luke beautifully articulate to love the life you…

1
Towards a Better Christian Politics 1:04:00

1y ago1:04:00

1:04:00

The relentless pull and pressure of partisan antagonisms and tribalism have fractured friendships, families, communities — and churches. In a time of conflict over what is good and confusion over what is true, what can church leaders do to cultivate a more faithful form of civic engagement? How can we learn to discern the call to love and justice a…

1
Grieve, Breathe, Receive with Steve Carter 52:14

1y ago52:14

52:14

In this special episode, the host of the Craft & Character, Steve Carter, unpacks how holy weekend is an incredible gift to anyone walking out a grief journey. Steve opens up about what led to him writing these words, what his hope is for Grieve, Breathe, Receive, and how to honor what comes up when change shows up. This is a book that will help yo…

1
A Life Worth Living with Miroslav Volf 33:10

1y ago33:10

33:10

A Life Worth Living What makes a good life? What habits of attention, reflection, and action orient us towards knowing, desiring, and doing what is good, true, and beautiful? Such “big questions” may seem unanswerable and intimidating — but their exploration is at the heart of the human quest for meaning. Drawing on his popular Yale course, theolog…

1
The Slower Way with Micha Boyett 53:14

1y ago53:14

53:14

In this Craft & Character episode, Steve Carter interviews author and youth pastor Micha Boyett about her new book Blessed Are The Rest Of Us. Micha talks about how she discovered the slow way when her son was born with Down Syndrome and later diagnosed with autism, she was drawn into the ancient teachings of the Beatitudes. In a culture that value…

1
The Kingdom, The Power, and The Glory with Tim Alberta 42:19

1y ago42:19

42:19

The Kingdom, The Power, and The Glory with Tim Alberta American Christians are certainly not immune to the anger, division, and fear that characterize our political moment. For many, the prospect of another election year is a source of dread or of numb exhaustion; others have responded with aggression or defensiveness. On our podcast, author and jo…

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Ruth Haley Barton Podcasts

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