#20 - Jonathan Merritt

I had the privilege of sitting down with a fantastic human and writer, Jonathan Merritt. We met at his apartment in Brooklyn, NY and spoke for an hour or so over wine and a beer. We discuss everything from growing up as the son of a prominent Southern Baptist pastor and leader to how he got into writing as a career to how he uses his life and skills to give a damn by writing articles and books that move people toward action.  He currently serves as a contributing writer for The Atlantic, contributing editor for The Week, and senior columnist for Religion News Service. He has published more than 3500 articles in publications like USA Today, Buzzfeed, The Daily Beast, The Washington Post and Christianity Today. He has appeared on ABC World News, NPR, CNN, PBS, MSNBC, Fox News, CBS’ “60 Minutes” and The New York Times. He has also written three books, including Jesus is Better Than You Imagined and A Faith of Our Own: Following Jesus Beyond the Culture Wars, and has collaborated on or ghostwritten more than 40 additional books, with several titles landing on the New York Times, USA Today, or Wall Street Journal bestsellers lists.  If you want to learn more about Jonathan, check out jonathanmerritt.com. If you want to learn from him, check out writebrilliant.com and jumpstartmywriting.com.  Follow Nick Laparra on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter and Let’s Give A Damn on Facebook, Instagram, & Twitter to keep up with all that is going on. We have so much planned for the coming months and we don’t want you to miss a thing! Support Let’s Give A Damn by contributing the monthly amount of your choice on Patreon. 100% of the money you contribute will go to making more podcasts. Not a dime goes into our pockets.   THIS WEEK’S SPONSORS Ruby Cup: Ruby Cup is a healthier, more sustainable, cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative to pads and tampons. Ruby Cup makes a world of difference. It will transform how you manage your period and help promote menstrual health in developing countries. Visit their website to learn more about you can help make a difference in the lives of so many women around the world! Scout Books: Visit their website for 15% of any products in their store! All their products are made with 100% recyc