The Common Good Podcast

Canadian wildfire smoke is still blanketing the Midwest, and Brian From opens with the theological thread underneath the inconvenience: control and comfort are the two great idols of American culture, and weather has a way of stripping both bare at once. On a happier note, his daughter is home from five weeks of intensive Arabic study in Washington DC, all three kids are under one roof for the next month, and Brian takes a moment to speak directly to parents of young children: the days are long, but the years go fast — don't take it for granted. Relevant Magazine ranks the top ten fictional pastors on television, and the winner is Reverend Timothy Lovejoy from The Simpsons — a punchline who is also, the piece argues, the most honest portrait of ministry burnout television has ever managed. A nostalgic look back at Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Life campaign of 2002, when twelve thousand American churches read the same book and preached the same sermons simultaneously — and what it says about our capacity for unity then and now. And then the unexpected closer: a viral clip of Shaquille O'Neal reflecting on his divorce from inside a 76,000 square foot house where no one else was home. No kids in the gym, no one in the rooms. Brian holds it up as a modern reading of Ecclesiastes — the man who had everything, admits he was greedy, and was left with nothing that mattered. What are you building your life around? Only one thing fills the house.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Everybody's talking about The Odyssey — Christopher Nolan's sweeping epic starring Matt Damon as Odysseus — and Adam Holtz from Plugged In joins Brian From to give the full breakdown. The film generated significant pre-release controversy over casting choices including a Black actress as Helen of Troy and Elliot Page as a warrior, plus concerns about a more progressive interpretation of Homer's source material. But the early numbers tell a different story: 96% from critics and 97% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. Adam notes something worth acknowledging: the movie's version of Odysseus is actually more redemptive than the original — a faithful family man trying to get home to his wife and son after 20 years, not the arrogant womanizer of Homer's text. The R rating is the real curveball: the violence is intense but not gory, and Adam traces the rating almost entirely to three F-words — one over the PG-13 threshold — in what he reads as a very deliberate creative decision. His bottom line: know your family's convictions, because this R-rated film is less problematic than a lot of movies that carry that same rating. And teaser: Little House on the Prairie is coming up next week. Full review at pluggedin.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Family movie night sounds simple — but Bret Eckelberry, managing editor and movie reviewer at Plugged In, makes the case that it's one of the most powerful tools in a parent's toolbox. He joins Brian From to talk about why shared screen experiences matter, how to get resistant kids on board, and what movies actually make for great family nights. His picks span the decades: Inside Out for its remarkable ability to give families a shared emotional vocabulary; Toy Story 5 for its surprisingly timely take on screen addiction and the value of real-world friendships (when it hits streaming); and The Rookie, the 2002 Dennis Quaid film about a high school teacher who gets a second shot at his baseball dream — really a story about a man growing into his role as a husband and father. Brian and Bret also tackle the deeper question of whether family movie night always needs a discussion point (short answer: no — sometimes laughing together is the whole point), and Bret confesses the classic family movie he's always been happy to skip. His pick for a family with 8 and 10-year-olds this weekend: the original Lilo and Stitch. Find full reviews and family movie night recommendations at pluggedin.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Canadian wildfire smoke is blanketing Chicago and stretching all the way to New York, and Brian From turns the haze into a parable: the decisions we make set off domino effects that ripple far beyond us, affecting people we love and people we'll never meet. Then a personal update — his son's summer baseball team won their league championship in what turned out to be the last game before he heads to college, and his daughter returns tomorrow from five weeks of intensive Arabic study in Washington DC before a nine-month Fulbright scholarship in the fall. Life is moving. Last night's ESPYs honored a Michigan missionary who pitched in Major League Baseball — a story about what happens when fame and faith intersect in unexpected ways. A meditation on contentment drawn from Philippians 4 and a Gospel Coalition piece on the abundant life. And a closing sermon preview from Brian's role as campus pastor at Compass Church's Hinsdale location, centered on one of the most obscure and haunting figures in the New Testament: Demas. He's mentioned twice as part of Paul's team — and then disappears, described in 2 Timothy 4 as having "loved the present world" and deserted Paul entirely. Brian's challenge: the goal of the Christian life is not to start well. It's to finish well. Don't be Demas.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's a hundred degrees outside and your kids are asking what's next — Melissa Paredes, Senior Director of Content Marketing at Wycliffe Bible Translators, has an answer that's actually good for them. She joins Brian From to talk about Kate and Mac, a free series of printable, downloadable resources Wycliffe has been producing for twelve years: kids travel the world with a 14-year-old missionary kid named Kate and her pet macaw Mac, learning about different languages, cultures, and how much God loves people regardless of where they live or what language they speak. Activities include decoding exercises that simulate what it's like to encounter scripture in a new language, games, crafts, recipes, and devotionals — all available monthly at wycliffe.org/kids. Melissa also shares her own story: a missionary kid who moved overseas at 12 and lived there through 18, she credits those cross-cultural years with shaping everything about her worldview. For parents of teens and young adults, Wycliffe's Purpose 7-9 resource — including an interactive quiz, devotional, and discussion guide — is available at wycliffe.org/purpose.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does it mean for the gospel to be functionally central — not just theologically true in the abstract, but actually animating the way a pastor preaches, thinks, and lives? Mike Bullmore, author of The Heart of Preaching: The Functional Centrality of the Gospel in the Life and Work of the Preacher, joins Brian From to answer that question. A veteran pastor who planted Crossway Community Church 28 years ago and now preaches at Park Community Church in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood, Mike makes a simple but convicting diagnosis: the moment a preacher reserves gospel proclamation only for evangelistic sermons and then shifts to discipleship content for believers, he's already gone off course. The gospel isn't just the entry point — it's the flywheel that keeps everything else moving. He also speaks directly to the pastor who has quietly grown apathetic, lost the awe, and is grinding through sermons on fumes — with a word from Psalm 103 about God's compassion and a surprisingly practical prescription involving the Gospel of Mark and the book of Leviticus. Find The Heart of Preaching at Amazon or crossway.org.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Back to school season is just around the corner, and Brian From sits down with Julie Messina, principal of St. Peter Lutheran School in Schaumburg, Illinois — a school that has been educating families for 189 years and sits on 30 acres in the middle of the suburbs. Julie talks about what makes a private Lutheran school distinctive: daily prayer, weekly chapel, classroom buddy programs pairing older and younger students, and class sizes averaging around ten students per teacher. She pushes back on the assumption that private Christian schools offer less than public schools — St. Peter has Lego club, chess club, cross country, volleyball, basketball, cheer and dance — and shares what alumni consistently say when they come back: "High school was a breeze. You prepared us so well." Brian also highlights the school voucher program available through AM1160 at elevensixtyhope.com for families concerned about tuition, and Julie points to the Kirsch Flat scholarship fund — supported by an annual golf outing — for additional financial assistance. Visit stpeterlcms.org to schedule a tour or learn more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Chosen is being translated into 600 languages — and Wendy Lord, Vice President of Localization at Come and See Foundation, is overseeing the effort. She joins Brian From to talk about what that actually looks like on the ground: a theologian in India working through the Assamese translation who says the show is bringing fresh life to his own faith, a woman in Spain whose small group ministered to her for twelve years until she watched The Chosen and said "I finally get it." Then the conversation turns to AI — and Wendy makes a careful, specific case for it. In majority languages like Spanish and French, human voice actors and dubbing teams do the work. But in lower-resourced minority languages where those resources don't exist, AI is filling the gap in remarkable ways: accelerating Bible translation four to sixteen times faster than just a few years ago, and even applying the voices of The Chosen's original cast to single-person recordings so that pre-literate and illiterate communities who can't read subtitles can now hear the story of Jesus in their heart language. Wendy also shares what's coming next — Moses, the book of Acts, and a pipeline of new projects expanding far beyond the original seven seasons. Find The Chosen in the free Chosen mobile app, now available in 125 languages.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Russia, you can now rent a barbecue companion for $15 to $65 a day — jokes and anecdotes included, no lasting friendship expected. Brian From opens with that story as a window into something both funny and genuinely heartbreaking about the loneliness epidemic. Then a personal story: getting pulled over late at night with his son in the car, expired plates, and the surprisingly rich spiritual parallel — what happens when those lights come on behind you, and do you repent or make excuses? Former congressman Ben Sass is walking his terminal cancer diagnosis publicly and with remarkable faith, and Brian reflects on what it means to display your theology when the stakes are as high as they get. A pointed look at the lukewarm church of Laodicea in Revelation 3 — hot or cold, not somewhere in between — and what it means for a congregation to be spiritually comfortable, wealthy, and quietly dying. A meditation on what faith looks like when God feels silent, drawing on the stories of the bleeding woman and Jairus's daughter in Mark 5, and the startling private letters of Mother Teresa, who spent decades feeling God's complete absence while continuing to serve the poorest of the poor. The paradox of faith, Brian concludes, is that it often shines brightest not in clarity but in darkness — and what feels like absence will in time reveal itself as a deeper presence.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Senator Lindsey Graham died over the weekend from what appears to be a tear in his aorta — and Brian From opens not with politics but with perspective. Graham was on the phone with President Trump Saturday night, had just returned from NATO and a meeting with Zelensky, and was at the very center of world events right up until his final moments. Brian uses that as a launching point into the book of Ecclesiastes: meaningless, meaningless, all of it meaningless. Not as a cynical verdict on life, but as a wake-up call to invest in what actually lasts. Then a surprising and personal segment — Brian shares that he's been serving as campus pastor of the Hinsdale location of Compass Church for the past nine months, working through a series on scripture memory and the importance of the local church. A Gospel Coalition piece on Nashville as one of America's hardest mission fields not because of hostility but because of comfort and consumer Christianity. A call to make evangelism a natural part of everyday life rather than a program. And a closing piece from Relevant Magazine that lands like a gut punch for anyone in a waiting season: what if you're missing your life while you're waiting for it? Life doesn't begin when you get married, land the dream job, or reach the next milestone. As Elizabeth Elliot said, the secret is Christ in me — not me in a different set of circumstances.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do Christians engage politically without losing their witness, their humility, or their neighbors? A rich meditation on one of the most quietly devastating experiences in the Christian life — doing the right thing and getting punished for it, or doing good work that simply goes unseen. Brian walks through the biblical pattern from Joseph to Paul: faithfulness often precedes obscurity, and obscurity often precedes the thing God was building all along. A burnout study showing that the most burned-out workers aren't the ones working the longest hours but the ones whose work feels most meaningless — a finding with real implications for how Christians think about calling and vocation. A new Barna study on what churchgoers say they most want from a sermon: not inspiration, not entertainment, but practical application they can actually use on Monday morning. Social media's new frontier — AI-generated influencers with millions of followers who don't exist — and what it means to build your sense of identity on an audience's approval. And a closing word from Proverbs 3 on trusting God with your reputation: commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established — even when no one is watching.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The average movie length people say they want is now 88 minutes — which makes the upcoming Odyssey at 172 minutes a particularly interesting bet. Adam Holtz from Plugged In joins Brian From to break down what's happening in summer movies. First, live action Moana: a beat-for-beat remake of the original that is neither stunningly good nor stunningly bad, but probably exists because the animated film is the most streamed movie across all platforms over the last five years — 80 billion minutes of viewing. Then the bigger story: The Odyssey, Christopher Nolan's blockbuster epic, is already a flashpoint before it even opens. The latest trailer has been ratioed online with ten times as many dislikes as likes, driven largely by casting choices that have race-swapped and gender-swapped major characters including Helen of Troy and Achilles. Meanwhile mainstream media reviews from early screenings are effusive. The gap between those two reactions tells a story about who controls the narrative — and whether it's representative of the actual audience. Adam and Brian also reflect on the broader pattern: franchises and sequels keep bombing while low-budget originals like Backrooms clean up. Maybe audiences are simply exhausted by retreads. Full reviews at pluggedin.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kim Trobee, longtime Focus on the Family spokesperson and senior manager for their marriage ministry, spent six days in Washington DC for America's 250th birthday celebration — and came back with a surprising report: hundreds of thousands of people on the National Mall, no fights, no division, just genuine gratitude and camaraderie. She talks with Brian From about what it felt like to be there, the immigrant families who were the most visibly moved by the celebration, and the significance of Focus on the Family having a booth in the Faith and Family Pavilion on the national mall — something that wouldn't have been possible under previous administrations. Then the conversation shifts to marriage: Kim and her husband Gary have been married 36 years, and she's passionate about helping couples not just survive but thrive. Focus on the Family offers free marriage getaway weekends at four resort locations around the country, and their Hope Restored intensive program — designed for marriages in genuine crisis — has an 80% success rate two years out. Whether you're dating, newlywed, blended, or on the verge of divorce, focusonthefamily.com has resources for every season.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Paul Blair is a former Chicago Bear and the founder of Liberty Pastors, a network of over 2,500 pastors across the country who have completed a three-day worldview training camp designed to equip them on subjects most churches never touch: economics, civil government, and human sexuality. His core argument is simple and pointed — if we say Jesus is Lord of all, why are there subjects we're not supposed to preach about? Brian From talks with Paul about the Liberty Pastors Training Camp coming to the Hilton Chicago Oak Brook Hills Resort July 27-30, where pastors get three nights at a luxury resort, 20 hours of continuing education from historians and speakers including Tim Barton of WallBuilders, and practical next steps for equipping their congregations to navigate the world they're living in. The cost to pastors is just $99 for what amounts to a $2,000 value. Every single pastor who has attended has said they wished they'd brought friends. Find out more and register at libertypastorsu.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How can Christians faithfully live out their faith in the workplace and everyday life? Brian Fromm sits down with Phil Cochran to explore what it means to move beyond a "Sunday-only" faith and embrace a life of intentional discipleship every day of the week. Their conversation covers the challenges believers face in today's culture, practical ways to integrate faith into work and relationships, and why authentic Christian witness starts with character, humility, and consistency. Phil also shares encouragement for Christians who want to make a meaningful impact wherever God has placed them. Whether you're leading in business, serving in your community, or simply seeking to follow Jesus more faithfully, this conversation offers practical wisdom and biblical encouragement for living out your faith with purpose every day.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of The Common Good, Brian Fromm sits down with Quintin Wingate for an encouraging conversation about living a life of faith with purpose and perseverance. Together they discuss what it means to trust God through life's challenges, the importance of remaining grounded in Scripture, and how Christians can faithfully reflect Christ in their everyday lives. Quintin shares insights from his own journey, offering practical encouragement for anyone seeking to grow spiritually, navigate difficult seasons, and pursue God's calling with confidence. Whether you're facing uncertainty or simply looking to deepen your walk with Christ, this conversation is a reminder that God remains faithful—and our hope is always found in Him.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does it mean to flourish—not just succeed, but truly thrive as God intended? Brian Fromm is joined by Brendan McClenahan, Church Engagement Manager at Plant with Purpose, to explore the biblical vision of human flourishing. Together they discuss why our relationships with God, other people, and creation are all essential to a healthy, Christ-centered life. They also examine the growing epidemic of loneliness, the limitations of digital connection, and the simple, practical habits that can help cultivate deeper community and spiritual growth. Brendan shares how Plant with Purpose's TEND initiative is helping churches and families rediscover practices that lead to lasting flourishing.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The US goes down four to one to Belgium, ending another World Cup run in the round of sixteen — the same place they've been stuck for five straight tournaments. Brian From turns the disappointment into a question about barriers: do you accept them, or do you keep pushing? A disturbing story out of Maine where a Senate candidate facing serious assault allegations is being debated not on the grounds of character but on electability — and Brian names the problem plainly: character must matter, regardless of which party's candidate it is. A rich meditation on Luke 5 and the four friends who tore a hole in a roof to lower their paralyzed friend right in front of Jesus — and what it means to have people in your life who will carry your mat when you can't get there yourself. Brian Johnson, the world's most famous biohacker spending a million dollars a year trying to live forever, has been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease — a reminder that no amount of money or discipline outsmarts mortality. A four-year-old girl caught on tape naming her future husband at a pretend wedding, and it turned out to be her real one 25 years later. Unexpected car and sump pump bills arrive simultaneously, and Brian gets honest about anxiety and finances. And C.S. Lewis via Jen Oshman at the Gospel Coalition: aim at happiness and you'll miss it; aim at heaven and you'll get earth thrown in.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Summer camp can be a life-changing experience—but for children with an incarcerated parent, it can be so much more. Brian Fromm talks with Steve Collins, Senior Program Manager of Angel Tree Camping at Prison Fellowship, about how Christian summer camps are bringing hope, healing, and the love of Christ to thousands of children across the country. Steve explains the unique challenges these children face, why trauma-informed care is essential, and how a single week at camp can build confidence, foster belonging, and introduce kids to the transforming message of the gospel. They also discuss the lasting value of Christian camping for all children and how listeners can support this important ministry. Learn more about Angel Tree Camping and Prison Fellowship's work with families impacted by incarceration at PrisonFellowship.org.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Back from a wet Fourth of July weekend — Brian From opens by reflecting on what unexpected circumstances (a flooded basement, a broken sump pump, a car with no airflow) reveal about how poorly we handle the loss of control, and where our theology has to meet us in those moments. Then a genuinely surprising Gospel Coalition piece arguing that Nashville — the buckle of the Bible Belt — may actually be a harder mission field than secular London: not because of hostility, but because of comfort. When the question isn't whether God exists but what the church will do for you, and when churches line up like thirty-one flavors on a single street, something gets lost. Two uplifting weekend stories: a Phoenix police officer who rented a movie theater for a hundred middle schoolers and asked only that they pay it forward someday, and John Krasinski's moving account of how his mother's three-year deadline — and last-minute extension — put him on the path to booking The Office. A challenging Tim Challies piece on why small sins may actually reveal our rebellious hearts more clearly than big ones. Brian preaches on the story of John Mark — the disciple who deserted Paul, was written off, and ended up being called "useful" decades later — as a picture of how God redeems failures. Science inches closer to a cancer "kill switch." Americans of all ages are spending measurably less time socializing. And a closing meditation on rest — why God himself rested not from weariness but to set a pattern, and why Christians who feel guilty resting may be missing one of God's best gifts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Before the fireworks and the barbecue, Brian From sits down with Zach Mettler of Focus on the Family's Daily Citizen to dig into one of the most contested questions in American history: what role did faith actually play in the founding of this nation? Zach makes the case that you simply cannot understand the founding without understanding Christianity's essential role — tracing it back not to 1776 but to 1607, when the English settlers at Cape Henry knelt in the sand, prayed, and planted a cross before establishing Jamestown. The Bible was the single most cited source among the founding fathers according to a landmark 20th century study, and the Declaration of Independence references God five times — making it as much a theological document as a political one. Zach also engages honestly with the complications: founding fathers on a spectrum from orthodox Christians like John Jay to heterodox figures like Jefferson, the irreconcilable tension of declaring all men equal while holding slaves, and what we do with that legacy. He closes with what Os Guinness calls the civilizational choice before America right now: recommit to its founding principles, find something else to root itself in, or decline. Find Focus on the Family's documentary Faith in America on YouTube or at thedailycitizen.org.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's Fourth of July weekend, it's a hundred degrees outside, and Paul Asay from Plugged In joins Brian From with a perfect excuse to sit in air-conditioned darkness for two hours. First up: Minions and Monsters, the latest entry in the franchise that somehow keeps going — fun and frenetic as always, but parents should know there are some darker spiritual elements from a spell book and at least one real swear word that feels out of place. Then a genuine recommendation for the holiday weekend: Young Washington, a historically grounded action film about George Washington before the wigs and the dentures, back when he was just a Virginian colonial trying to make his name in the French and Indian War. Paul — who reads presidential biographies for fun — calls out the liberties it takes while vouching for its historical core, and notes a welcome faith element alongside the battle sequences. For streaming at home: Enola Holmes 3 on Netflix brings Sherlock's younger sister to the altar while Moriarty tries to ruin the wedding. And in a delightful bonus, Brian puts Paul on the spot about what he's actually watching — the answer involves Robert Mitchum, Kirk Douglas, and a 1952 western that Paul still hasn't forgiven for its famously annoying kid. Full reviews at pluggedin.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The American Bible Society has been taking the temperature of America's relationship with scripture for 16 years, and the honest summary from editor-in-chief John Plake is this: it's complicated. Bible use has been slowly eroding since the 1970s, and while there's a "movable middle" of 74 million curious but unengaged Americans who represent real opportunity, things aren't simply getting better. The newest chapter of the State of the Bible report focuses on AI — specifically, how Americans are using it to try to understand scripture. The findings are nuanced: biblically literate people tend to use AI effectively because they can identify when it gets things wrong, while people with no biblical background are most likely to be misled without knowing it. John makes a pointed observation: following Jesus is not a do-it-yourself task, and a chatbot is no substitute for a community of people faithfully walking together. He also shares the tangible benefits of Bible engagement backed by the data — lower anxiety, better close relationships, higher human flourishing scores across the board — and closes with three practical steps for anyone who's been putting off engaging with scripture. Find the full report at stateofthebible.org and a personalized starting point at nextstep.bible.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

America turns 250 this weekend, and Brian From draws on Russell Moore's piece about Johnny Cash and Roger Williams to land on the right frame for Christian patriotism: love your country, celebrate it, hang the flag, watch the fireworks — but remember which is which. You have a Lord, you have a kingdom, and while you're proud to be American, your primary citizenship is in heaven. Then a sobering look at Gallup data showing loneliness among 18-to-44-year-olds at its highest level since the pandemic, what causes it to spiral into shame and self-isolation, and why the only way out is the uncomfortable step toward vulnerability and connection. A viral story about two climbers who scaled to the very top of the Empire State Building's antenna to get engaged — and are now facing jail time. China's new dog rental platform where you can lease someone's pet by the hour. And the competitive nature of online relationships — how performative digital culture makes deep connection nearly impossible, and what it would look like to be genuinely for other people instead. Brian closes with Teddy Roosevelt's famous "man in the arena" quote, applied not to politics but to faith, family, marriage, church, and mission: the credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, not the one on the sideline critiquing everyone else.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People are showing up to Walking on Water Bible Church in Westland, Michigan and texting their pastor afterward to say: "I've been in church for 10 years and no one has ever pushed me to learn the books of the Bible." Pastor Mike Holloway joins Brian From to talk about what happens when a church decides to make the Word of God — not inspiration, not entertainment — the foundation of everything it does. That means Christian education before Sunday service, 26-week certificate programs working through systematic theology and the essentials of the faith, challenges for members of every age to memorize the books of the Bible, and formal debates with atheists, Muslims, and other false teachers in the public square. Pastor Mike's simple conviction: the right information brings about the right transformation. He also speaks directly to anyone who hasn't opened their Bible in a while and doesn't know where to start — and closes with a word for anyone who feels like hope is out of reach. Find Walking on Water Bible Church at wowbc.org, services Sundays at 11:15 AM.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's July 1st — the halfway point of the year and the official start of Q3. Brian From opens with the domino chain in Romans 5:3-5 that most comfortable American Christians would rather skip: suffering produces perseverance, perseverance produces character, and character produces hope. In a culture that idolizes comfort, this is genuinely countercultural news. The Supreme Court ruled six to three that states may bar biological males from competing in women's and girls' sports, returning the issue to state law in the same way Dobbs returned abortion — and Brian walks through what that actually means practically. A sobering new study shows the percentage of regular churchgoers identifying as pro-life has dropped from 63% to 43% in just two years, with no significant difference now between church attendance and likelihood of supporting or choosing abortion — a discipleship crisis, not a political one. Ninety percent of pastors recommend counseling to their congregations, but only 9% go themselves, and Brian challenges pastoral culture directly. Christian college students share their honest takes on how to celebrate America 250 well. Michigan's legislature unanimously passes a bill allowing kids to run lemonade stands without permits. Happy Bobby Bonilla Day. And a closing reflection from Brian's former co-host Ian Simkins on the miracles that only come slowly, and why mistaking slow for absent is one of the great dangers of an impatient faith.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A popular tarot card reader with nearly a million followers deleted her entire platform after coming to faith in Christ, saying simply, "Jesus Christ has saved my life." She lost 30,000 followers overnight, and Brian From holds her story up as evidence that God is still doing the kind of dramatic, costly transformation we read about in the book of Acts. As America's 250th birthday approaches, Brian digs into what proper Christian patriotism actually looks like, drawing on Augustine and Daniel Darling's guidance: love your country, give thanks for it, work for its renewal, but keep that love rightly ordered beneath love for God. Meanwhile in England, King Charles is redefining his role from "Defender of the Faith" to "protector of space for faith" — a shift Albert Mohler calls a window into where post-Christian secularization eventually leads. Two pieces wrestle honestly with the gap between the Christianity we market and the Christianity we actually live: one on why Christians should stop pretending faith is easy, and another making the case that doubt, far from disqualifying you, can actually deepen and strengthen genuine faith. Venezuelan churches step up to fill gaps the government can't after the devastating earthquake. And Brian closes with a personal reflection on John Mark — the disciple who failed, was written off by Paul, and was later called "useful" by that same Paul — as a picture of how no one's worst moment has to be their final chapter.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why does the word "Appalachia" conjure a specific image in your mind, even if you've never been there? Ben Norquist, co-author of Every Somewhere Sacred: Rescuing a Theology of Place in the American Imagination, joins Brian From to unpack what he and co-author Brian Miller call "land stories" — the often inaccurate, sometimes harmful narratives American Christians tell about places and the people who live there. Some of these stories operate on the surface, shaping how we think about a region like Appalachia. Others run far deeper, tracing back centuries to colonial-era assumptions about who belongs on land and who doesn't, assumptions that still quietly shape modern politics and attitudes toward immigrants and neighbors. Drawing on his own research sitting across the table from Palestinian Christians and professors, Ben makes a careful, humble case that most American Christians' mental picture of Palestine and the Holy Land comes from inherited narratives rather than direct encounter, and he invites listeners to hold that imagination loosely and become genuine students of a place rather than passive recipients of a story. Find Ben's writing at the Bethlehem Institute for Peace and Justice's Substack, and look for Every Somewhere Sacred wherever books are sold.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

World Cup visitors have discovered something unexpected about American culture: ranch dressing. Brian From opens with that lighthearted detail before diving into heavier territory — a record 25 million adults under 35 are now living with their parents, driven primarily by housing affordability rather than unemployment, and what that means for a generation's sense of independence and identity. A Twitter debate erupts after a pastor suggests young children are too distracting in worship services and should stay in kids' ministry, sparking pushback from those citing research on family worship and faith retention — Brian lands in the middle, advocating for excellent kids' ministry without mandating it. A deep dive into Barnabas, arguably the most underrated figure in the book of Acts — trustworthy with people and resources, an advocate for the overlooked like Paul and John Mark, and a leader who knew exactly when to step back and let others surpass him. Former President Obama's reflections on George Washington's contradictions spark a broader conversation about how to hold both admiration and honest critique of flawed people, including ourselves. A local church's closing after losing its theological grounding prompts sober reflection on what happens when churches drift from scripture and mission. Relevant Magazine examines how social media is quietly terrorizing Christians' prayer lives by making true silence nearly impossible to access. And the Buffalo Bills' decision not to honor OJ Simpson in their new stadium becomes a pointed challenge to the church: do we honor character, or just platform and results?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

JD Vance said that if Watergate happened today, it would barely be a 12-hour news story — and Brian From's response isn't relief, it's concern, because he thinks Vance is probably right, and that says something troubling about how far the character bar has fallen in American politics. Brian takes a surprising position on a hot debate: Texas is poised to require millions of public school students to study Bible stories, and as an evangelical pastor, he argues this is a bad idea — public schools shouldn't be infusing curriculum with any religion's teachings, his own included. Gambling disorder diagnoses have spiked over 60% in states that legalized sports betting since 2018, a sobering data point on the real cost of expanded access. Asbury Theological Seminary was removed from the United Methodist Church's approved ordination list over its traditional stance on marriage, a sign of widening fractures between evangelical and mainline institutions. A viral TikTok from a 21-year-old whose "hobby" is lying in bed for eight hours sparks a conversation about what leisure has become for Gen Z. Amazon Prime Day sales were down 16%, and Brian connects it to a simpler explanation than marketing failures: people just have less money. And two deeply practical spiritual pieces close out the hour — why no one drifts into godliness (spiritual growth requires intentional habits, not passive churchgoing), and the story of John Mark, whose public failure didn't define the rest of his life, and whose later faithfulness made him "useful" again in Paul's own words.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Before reviewing movies was an internet cottage industry, Plugged In was doing it as a four-page newsletter to youth pastors back in 1991. Adam Holz joins Brian From to share that origin story before diving into this week's big release: Supergirl, James Gunn's reboot of the DC universe's most iconic heroine — and it's a shockingly dark departure from the squeaky-clean character most people remember. This Kara Zor-El is grieving, drinking, cynical, and gets pulled into a revenge plot involving a poisoned dog that turns out to be the most compelling part of the whole film. Adam and Brian dig into the bigger trend behind it — why so many superhero franchises keep darkening their once-wholesome characters, what that says about culture's appetite for angst over "boring" goodness, and why Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy remains the gold standard DC has been chasing ever since. They close with a fun detour into YouTube's endless niche communities, whatever your interest, there's a corner of YouTube built entirely around it. Full reviews at pluggedin.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three San Francisco Giants pitchers wrote Genesis 9 — God's covenant sign of the rainbow — on their caps during Pride Night, and the backlash has been swift. Paul Batura, VP of Communications for Focus on the Family, joins Brian From to unpack the controversy and the bigger question underneath it: is it appropriate for Christian athletes to publicly profess their faith? Paul traces a long line of precedent, from Billy Sunday to Eric Liddell to Tim Tebow, and makes the case that one player's courage tends to be contagious. He's not surprised by the intensity of the backlash, but he also senses fans and even corporations growing less afraid to push back against pressure to fall in line. The conversation extends beyond sports to everyday workplaces — how do you discern when and how to share your faith at the office without being obnoxious about it? And with the World Cup drawing tens of millions of viewers worldwide, Paul and Brian discuss how moments of public prayer by athletes can plant seeds even among people who'd otherwise never think about faith. Paul's prediction: this conversation isn't going away, and Christians are well-positioned to engage it thoughtfully. Find Paul's writing at focusonthefamily.com and the Daily Citizen.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"I'm good, he's over there, I'm over here" — that's how Wesley Martin once described his relationship with God, the same distant dynamic he had with his own absent earthly father. Ahead of Father's Day, Wesley shares his story with Brian From: a childhood without a dad, a slide into drug dealing, partying, and addiction trying to fill a void only his Heavenly Father could fill, and the moment everything changed in a rehab facility where he gave his life to Christ. Sixteen years into recovery now, Wesley talks candidly about what it's like to father three kids without ever having had a model for it himself, including a non-traditional decade as a stay-at-home dad while his wife's nursing career took off. He shares a moment that brought him to tears — asking his youngest son to describe him in one word, and hearing "sweet" instead of the harsh coach he feared he'd become. His message to dads who feel like they're failing: be present, keep trying, and let God take care of the rest. And to anyone struggling to see God as a loving father: just take one step toward Him, and He'll take care of the rest.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As America's 250th birthday approaches, Brian From tackles a genuinely tricky question for pastors: how patriotic should a Sunday worship service actually be? Drawing on Russell Moore's guidance, Brian makes the case for a middle path — genuine thanksgiving for the blessings of being American, without confusing love of country with love of God or turning the worship service into a flag-waving rally. From there, a thoughtful look at the devastating earthquakes in Venezuela, with fears of up to 100,000 casualties, and what it means to live with urgency in a world where life can change in an instant. A reflection on essentials versus non-essentials in the faith — and the danger of turning secondary theological debates into faith-dividing issues. A candid, vulnerable moment where Brian admits his own struggle with envy and jealousy watching other people's vacations on social media, and why thankfulness is the real antidote. A Gospel Coalition piece reframing Christian identity around belonging rather than imitation — you're not just trying to be like Jesus, you belong to him. And a closing word from David Jeremiah on conquering worry by verbalizing it, remembering God's care, and bringing it to him in prayer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jeff Ford leads Man Up and Go, an organization dedicated to ending fatherlessness by championing healthy biblical masculinity — and his story starts with an adoption class he and his wife wandered into back in 2010. That decision led to adopting two kids from Ethiopia and China, a mission trip to Uganda that changed his life, and eventually a full-time calling to disciple men toward what he calls being a "Patros" — an ancient word meaning father, rooted in Paul's words in 1 Corinthians 4:15 about spiritual fathers who pass on wisdom to the next generation. Brian From talks with his old Wheaton College dormmate about his new book, The Way of the Patros, 74 short, three-minute chapters built for the average guy in any town to grow as a man of faith a few minutes at a time. Jeff doesn't shy away from hard data either — citing a stat that the average man has less than one close friend — and makes the case that healthy masculinity requires real vulnerability, brotherhood, and putting faith into action, not just talk. Learn more at manupandgo.org and patros.us, and find The Way of the Patros on Amazon, available for presale through July 28.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"Judge not, lest ye be judged" might be the most misapplied verse in scripture. Brian From walks through Rachel Gilson's piece at the Gospel Coalition unpacking what Jesus actually meant in Matthew 7 — it's not a prohibition on moral discernment, but a call to humble self-examination before correcting others, with love as the motive, not arrogance. Then a sobering reflection on the consequences of sin, prompted by reports that a sports journalist lost an $800,000 job after an affair with a married NFL coach came to light — a reminder that sin entangles even when it's never publicly exposed. Four years after the Dobbs decision overturned Roe v. Wade, Brian clarifies a common misunderstanding: abortion wasn't eliminated, it was returned to the states, and the pro-life cause remains fundamentally grassroots. A genuinely helpful piece from Relevant Magazine on feeling spiritually stuck even when you're doing everything "right" — and why dryness isn't a sign of failure but often where real growth quietly happens. A new study links anxiety and depression in young people to difficulty recalling positive memories, with real implications for parents about prioritizing shared experiences. And a closing reflection from Randy Alcorn on choosing daily to trust God's sovereignty — even when life is genuinely hard.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does it actually mean to worship? Brian From makes the case from Romans 11 and 12 that worship is far bigger than singing or a Sunday gathering — it's offering your entire body and life as a living sacrifice, every day, in every decision. From there, a genuinely fun detour into Relevant Magazine's piece on the "gospel according to Pixar," tracing surprisingly biblical themes through Toy Story, The Incredibles, WALL-E, and Inside Out — including the case that real leadership looks less like a throne and more like a foot washing. Then Randy Alcorn tackles one of the hardest questions in the Christian life: why does God permit evil and suffering, and why do so many churches fail to prepare people for it before it hits? A viral story about a lawn-mowing YouTuber whose followers raised $685,000 for a grieving widow becomes a picture of internet generosity done right. A frustrating New York Times piece on rising "gray divorce" rates among couples married 25+ years gets a pointed response: marriages don't have to drift into apathy, but it takes ongoing work at every stage. Christian ministries are using the World Cup's massive audience as an unprecedented evangelism opportunity, prompting the question of what opportunities exist in your own life. And a closing reflection on play as a spiritual discipline — and why a Christian's inability to play might reveal a view of God that's too small.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two Father's Day moments from the US Open stick with Brian From — a 17-year-old amateur inviting his dad to caddy the final hole, and Wyndham Clark's father surprising him with a red-eye flight after the win. From there, a beautiful walk through John 21 and the restoration of Peter: how Jesus doesn't just forgive Peter's three denials but fully reinstates him with the same calling, three times — and how the church Peter goes on to lead in Acts doesn't happen without that moment on the beach. A genuinely practical conversation about raising resilient kids in an age of helicopter and snowplow parenting, built around the idea that struggle, not comfort, is what makes children strong — and a hopeful Gospel Coalition report showing that parents, not churches or youth groups, remain the single biggest predictor of whether kids keep the faith into adulthood. Reflections on reading through 2 Samuel and the life of David, and why the Bible's major figures almost never had it easy — a corrective to the idea that faithfulness should produce ease. Trust in the federal government hits an all-time low, and Brian asks the uncomfortable parallel question about trust in pastors and the church. Plus the true story behind the movie The Roof Man, and a closing devotion on doing everything — work, parenting, service — as unto the Lord.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Juneteenth, Brian From walks through the history behind the holiday — the more than two-year gap between the Emancipation Proclamation and the day Union troops finally reached Galveston, Texas to declare freedom for 250,000 enslaved Texans — and what it means for the church to commemorate and remember well. A Johnson & Johnson executive says a cure for certain cancers could realistically be within reach in the next decade, and Brian roots that hope in something deeper: our ultimate hope isn't the eradication of disease, but the eradication of sin and death through Christ. Ahead of Father's Day, a moving reflection on the "fathers in the faith" who shape us beyond our biological dads, paired with the extraordinary final words ever preached by Charles Spurgeon before his death. Three San Francisco Giants pitchers wrote a Bible verse about God's covenant on their caps during Pride Night, sparking backlash — Brian walks through what happened and why he thinks they handled a genuinely difficult moment with restraint. A look back at Matt Chandler's 2021 warning against churches becoming ideologically uniform rather than spiritually unified. The story of Jonah, reframed as a story about judgmentalism and the failure to recognize our own desperate need for grace. And a closing word from 1 Peter 5 on casting anxiety on a Father who genuinely cares for you.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

31 years after the original Toy Story changed animation forever, the franchise returns with a fifth installment that's better than the much-maligned fourth — and surprisingly timely. Adam Holtz from Plugged In joins Brian From to break down the plot: Woody is now part of a street toy gang after kids traded toys for screens, and the story leans hard into questions about childhood, isolation, and what happens when a tween's parents finally hand over a tablet. Then a hard pass: The Death of Robin Hood starring Hugh Jackman is a deeply cynical, blood-soaked reimagining where Robin Hood was never noble to begin with — "Graveheart" might be the more honest title. But there's a genuine recommendation in the mix: Young Washington from the Irwin brothers (the team behind Woodlawn and Jesus Revolution), a well-made historical drama about a young, unproven George Washington trying to earn the woman he loves and the respect of his country decades before the Revolution. Full reviews at pluggedin.com before you head to the theater this Fourth of July weekend.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jermaine Wilson learned how to be a father in prison. Born into a generational cycle of incarceration — his mother was 15 when she had her first child, his father in and out of his life — Jermaine committed his first crime at 12 and was sentenced to three years for drug possession at 20, leaving behind an eight-month-old son. Ahead of Father's Day, he shares with Brian From how Prison Fellowship's discipleship program and Angel Tree gift initiative became the turning point: a single Christmas present, delivered on his behalf by a local church, reconnected him with his son after months of silence and reopened a relationship he thought might be lost for good. Jermaine talks candidly about learning to depend on his Heavenly Father in order to become a present, prayerful father himself, and about his current work as Mission Ambassador for Prison Fellowship, advocating for second chances and ministering to incarcerated men and women across the country. His message to any dad who feels like he's already failed: God doesn't make mistakes, He makes miracles — and as long as you have breath, it's not too late to show up.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Girls who were close to their dads at 16 or 17 had better mental health at age 33 — a finding from a 17-year longitudinal study. Boys with close relationships with their fathers are three times less likely to struggle with behavioral issues, anxiety, or depression. Ahead of Father's Day, Dr. Danny Huerta, VP of Parenting and Youth at Focus on the Family, joins Brian From to unpack what he calls "the dad effect" — and the research backing it up. Danny walks through what good fathering actually looks like in practice (hint: not perfection, but intentional presence, self-control, and consistent guidance), offers five mindsets dads can grow into, and gets personal about the hard transition of watching his own kids leave home and get married. He also has a direct word for dads who feel like they've already dropped the ball: you're not alone, and it's never too late to ask your kid the question, "What's one thing you wish I knew about you?" Find Focus on the Family's dad resources, including a parenting report card and a seven traits assessment, at focusonthefamily.com/dad.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tired of science fiction that leaves readers feeling cold, empty, and convinced the universe is indifferent to human life, Andrew Gillsmith set out to write something different. His new novel Our Lady of the Artilex — set 250 years in the future, where androids begin reporting apocalyptic religious visions and the Vatican sends a neuroscientist-turned-exorcist to investigate — is his attempt to bring genuine theological weight back into speculative fiction. Brian From talks with Andrew, a Catholic convert with a data science background, about the question behind the book: can AI imitate the soul? Andrew's answer is a clear no — AI isn't conscious, doesn't have a will, and isn't made in God's image — but he's careful to explain just how convincingly it can mimic those things, and why that mimicry is dangerous precisely because humans (and even birds, as one wild study shows) are biologically wired to respond to it. They also dig into Pope Leo's recent encyclical on AI, why the church shouldn't be afraid but should be discerning, and the looming push to merge AI with transhumanist ideas that reduce human consciousness to mere computation. Find the book at ourladyoftheartilex.com or wherever books are sold.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tornadoes hit southern Illinois and Wisconsin, flooding threatened the South and East Coast, and Brian From uses the chaos to name something most of us don't admit: control is one of the great idols of our day, and weather has a way of stripping it bare. From there, a candid look at a Relevant Magazine piece showing the gap between Black and white American Christians isn't closing — it's widening, both politically and in church attendance patterns — and why Jesus's prayer for unity in John 17 makes this an issue the church cannot shrug off as just "politics." A new study on what married couples actually have in common reveals it's narrower than people think — mostly shared values and moral foundations, not personality — and why that's exactly what makes marriage both fun and hard. JD Vance gets pressed on The View about what Christians are willing to excuse in their politicians, and Brian argues the question deserves an honest answer regardless of which side it's aimed at. The Knicks' championship parade becomes a meditation on celebration as a core posture of the church. McDonald's brings back fried apple pie for America's 250th birthday. And a closing reflection on prayer — not just praying ourselves, but modeling and teaching others how to pray, because the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"I'm bored" — two words every parent hears within days of summer break starting. Jesse Florea, editor-in-chief of Focus on the Family's magazines, joins Brian From to talk about why kids today struggle with boredom more than previous generations (hint: it's largely about how screens train the brain to crave constant stimulation), and what parents can actually do about it. Jesse shares Focus on the Family's summer challenge encouraging kids to serve others — five acts of service, memorizing scripture, donating outgrown clothes and toys, writing encouragement cards — and makes the case that some boredom is healthy, even necessary, for kids to develop problem-solving skills. He and Brian also dig into why neighborhood free play has all but disappeared, the role of technology in isolating families even when they're together, and why VBS, sports camps, and structured social time matter more now that "go outside and play" doesn't really work the way it used to. Jesse closes with a simple, practical tip: be like Jesus, and ask your bored kid good questions instead of just handing them a screen. Learn more about Clubhouse, Clubhouse Junior, Brio, and Focus on the Family magazine at focusonthefamily.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been 32 years since the OJ Simpson car chase captivated the nation, and Brian From takes a trip down memory lane while reflecting on how the moment became a cultural touchpoint for an entire generation. Then: a fascinating NPR piece on the more than half of parents who now track their 18-to-25-year-olds on their phones — is it healthy connection or a new kind of surveillance? A candid, personal segment on two sins Brian says don't get talked about enough: envy and bitterness, including his own recent struggle holding onto bitterness after being hurt by people he trusted. The Supreme Court halts the execution of a death row inmate who became a Christian ministry leader during 26 years of incarceration, raising hard questions about transformation, redemption, and the death penalty. A new flip phone blocks social media and browsers at the system level — and people are buying it. A study finds one in three young adults are heavy smartphone users driven by FOMO and low self-control. And Tim Challies offers a simple but convicting filter for everything you consume online: does this content exist to bless you, or does it exist to serve the one who made it?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nearly half of young men today say they feel like failures — and Pastor Russ Ewell of Bay Area Christian Church says the solution isn't complicated, but it does require intentionality. Brian From sits down with Russ ahead of Father's Day to talk about what's driving the crisis among young men, why mentorship has fallen off, and what fathers and churches can actually do about it. Russ draws from decades of working with young men ages 12 to 30 across nine church campuses in Silicon Valley, making the case that the questions young men are asking — Will I be loved? Who am I? What's my purpose? — aren't being answered well by social media, economics, or a culture that has quietly stopped investing in boys. A practical, honest conversation for dads, pastors, and anyone who cares about the next generation of men.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Words matter — and a post-fight interview at a White House UFC event where a fighter dropped F-bombs, thanked Jesus, and then spread a conspiracy theory about Michelle Obama is Exhibit A. Brian From doesn't let it slide, and his point isn't political: when you claim the name of Jesus publicly, how you speak and how you treat people reflects on Him. From there, a meditation on Ephesians 3:20 and the power of expectation — do you still believe God is doing immeasurably more than you could ask or imagine, or has your faith quietly settled into apathy? Brian makes the case that awe is the fuel of a growing faith, and walks through what that looks like from Moses at the burning bush to Peter at the miraculous catch of fish. A heartfelt reflection on two young Wheaton College alumni lost in a Lake Michigan drowning tragedy. And a closing devotion on the unconditional love of God — not just that He loves you, but that the unconditional part is the part most of us struggle to actually believe.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Only 38% of Gen Z can answer basic financial literacy questions — making them the least financially literate generation on record. And even baby boomers only clock in at 55%. Aaron Caid, Chief Marketing Officer of Adelfi, the largest Christian banking institution in the country, joins Brian From to talk about why that matters, what the Bible actually says about money (over 2,300 verses worth), and how generosity was never meant to be the last thing you do with what's left. It's the first. Adelfi was born nearly 70 years ago when a group of ministers discovered banks didn't understand them — so they pooled their resources to help each other — and now serves Christians in all 50 states across individuals, families, churches, and ministries. Aaron also makes a personal confession: he talked to his kids about money but never actually showed them how the family finances worked. And he argues that modeling is more powerful than instructing. A practical, grounded conversation about stewardship, generosity, and how to start the money conversation even when it's uncomfortable. Find Adelfi at https://www.adelfibanking.com/.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The top ten grossing movies of 2025 include four sequels, two reboots, and two live-action remakes. The only film with a genuinely original premise is Sinners. Brian From turns that observation into a deeper question: why is an entire generation — raised online, drowning in new content — desperately reaching backward toward Polaroid cameras, record players, VHS tapes, and music from eras they never lived? Kyle Burks at the Gospel Coalition says Gen Z is drunk on nostalgia, and Brian argues it's not just Gen Z. That longing for something simpler, something that lasts, something you can hold onto — it's not ultimately a longing for the past. It's a longing for the eternal. Then: celebrating as a spiritual discipline — why moving on too quickly to the next thing robs us of joy, and what Brian learned hosting his son's graduation party. The Knicks win their first championship in 53 years. A pastor's thread of ordinary life-change stories from his congregation that reads like a modern Acts 8. GLP-1 drugs and Christians — less a right-or-wrong question and more an identity question. And a top-ten list of 2000s worship songs that will immediately transport you back to every lock-in you ever attended.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.