PODCAST · religion
The Good Citizen Podcast
by Joshua Hershberger: Attorney | Minister | Speaker
Equipping Christians to confidently and effectively engage in public life. Hosted by attorney, minister, and speaker Josh Hershberger, the Good Citizen Podcast focuses on the ideas, encouragement, and practical examples you need to impact and even transform your zip code, state, and nation.
Episodes
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#443 Esther 8
How should Christians respond when given an opportunity to direct government authority to counter injustice and protect the innocent? Esther 8 provides a powerful answer. In this chapter, Haman is off the scene; but his genocidal plan remains in effect due to a Persian custom of irreversible…
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#442 The American Story and the Importance of Understanding and Defending It with Dr. Matthew Spalding
American history–or how we tell the American story–is critical to our future, and we should fully understand that past so we can explain and defend it. In this episode, Dr. Matthew Spalding joins me to discuss his newest book The Making of the American Mind: The Story of Our Declaration of...
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#441 The Wrong Glasses: How Borrowed Money and Borrowed Ideas Are Bankrupting American Freedom and How a Biblical Worldview Restores It with Tom Newell
Our national debt–which recently crossed the $40 trillion threshold–is a critical issue that must be addressed to preserve our future. In this episode based on his new book, Tom Newell (pastor, former state legislator, and current Chief of State for the Oklahoma Department of Education) explains...
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#440 Esther 7
Esther is often remembered for her courageous entrance into the Persian throne room as she hazarded death to save her people form genocide. But that is not the most remarkable (in my opinion) moment in the book. In Esther 7, Esther finally and boldly confronts Haman–the master manipulator who…
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#439 The Growing Assault on Parental Rights and How to Respond with Vernadette Broyles
The right of parents to direct the education, health care, and religious instruction of their children is under scrutiny and assault in our schools, courts, child welfare systems, and the broader culture. How should parents respond—and what can pastors, churches, and other concerned citizens do…
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#438 Securing AI for the Good of Humanity with Randan Steinhauser
The advanced AI revolution is here; and much of the national conversation is focused on breakthroughs in productivity, national security, and healthcare. But what happens if AI becomes powerful enough to reshape government surveillance, human relationships, and even our understanding of human...
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#437 Esther 6
Esther is a remarkable story because it turns on, of all things, a case of royal insomnia. In Esther 6, the same divine hand that guided David’s sling guides the hand of a Persian servant to select a record of Mordecai’s forgotten service to the king, Haman faces humiliation and a forecast of the...
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#436 Public Square Ministry in New Zealand with Bob McCoskrie
What does Christian engagement in public life look like in New Zealand? And what lessons should we learn from a nation further down the road of secularization and hostility toward Christian principles? In this episode, Bob McCoskrie from Family First New Zealand shares about his personal journey...
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#435 The Latest Challenges and Opportunities for the Pro-Life Movement with Sue Swayze Liebel
The 2022 Dobbs decision marked a historic victory for the pro-life movement—but it also ushered in a new era of challenges and opportunities. In this episode, Sue Swayze Liebel—Director of State Affairs for SBA Pro-Life America and a leading pro-life advocate—joins me to discuss where the…
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#434 Introducing Created Equal: America’s Founding Idea and Future Hope
After two years of research and writing and just in time for America’s 250th, my latest book – Created Equal – is now live! The United States was founded on a profound and Biblical idea: all people are created by a Creator and are, therefore, equal. Though the phrases “created equal” and “made in...
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#433 4 Facts about the 4th of July [Encore]
As we prepare to celebrate America’s 250th birthday or semiquincentennial, here are 4 facts about the 4th of July and some reflections on America’s present and future. It was improbable. It was impressive. It was imperfect (think “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more…
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#432 Rediscovering America’s Lost History with John and Faith Gelsthorpe
After an inspirational family trip to Washington, D.C. in 2022, John and Faith Gelsthorpe launched Lost History Tours to create app-based, self-guided history tours that make David Barton’s rich historical knowledge accessible to everyone, anywhere. Just in time for America’s 250th (and summer…
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#431 Esther 5
In this chapter, the fate of Esther and her people hangs in the balance as she approaches the Persian king without invitation. This episode/sermon explores this dramatic moment, including the courage required to stand before an unpredictable ruler, the wisdom behind Esther’s surprising strategy,...
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#430 6 Remarkable Moments in American History
As we count down toward America’s 250th anniversary, here’s a brief review and lessons from six of the most remarkable moments in our brief history as a nation: the signing of the Declaration of Independence against seemingly impossible odds, George Washington’s voluntary resignation of military...
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#429 Liberty for All: Defending Everyone’s Religious Freedom in a Pluralistic Age with Andrew Walker [Encore]
Many Christians know where to find religious freedom in the U.S. Constitution, but do we know where to find it in the Bible? In this interview, theologian and ethicist Andrew Walker discusses the Biblical roots of this “first freedom,” the current state of religious freedom in the United States…
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#428 Why Your Church (and the Country) Needs Marriage Ministry with J.P. De Gance
The future of our churches, communities, and country is tied to the strength of the family, and that institution is in free fall. Here’s how to respond. In this episode, I sit down with J. P. De Gance, founder of Communio, to discuss why marriage ministry is essential to the mission of the church...
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#427 Esther 4
Against the backdrop of the massive Persian empire and a decree of destruction, Mordecai grapples with grief and how to encourage and challenge Esther to action without exposing her to Haman. Esther, a young queen, is then confronted with a terrifying reality: approach the king uninvited and risk...
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#426 Why Creation Order is Key for Renewing America with Ken Ham
In this week’s episode, I welcome Answers in Genesis founder Ken Ham to the podcast for a conversation on why America’s renewal must begin—not with politics, economics, or education alone—but with a return to God’s created order revealed in Genesis 1. Ken shares his personal spiritual formation…
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#425 The Just War Tradition and Iran
Given the resurgence in armed conflict around the globe, what does it mean for Christians to think Biblically about war? In this episode, I review the striking exchange between President Trump and Pope Leo XIV, explain the Christian just war tradition, and explore how that tradition applies in…
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#424 What Really Matters: Restoring a Legacy of Faith, Family, and Freedom with Tim Goeglein
In this episode, I welcomed Tim Goeglein—Vice President of External Relations at Focus on the Family and former special assistant to President George W. Bush—back on the podcast to discuss his timely new book, What Really Matters: Restoring a Legacy of Faith, Family, and Freedom. Drawing from...
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#423 The Importance of Faith, Family, and Community in Making Indiana Thrive with Governor Mike Braun
I recently had the honor of sitting down with Indiana Governor Mike Braun for an in-office discussion on faith, leadership, and public service. Governor Braun shares the story behind his call (quite literally) into public life, why he chose to step away from the U.S. Senate to serve his home…
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#422 Esther 3 and the Question of Old Testament Violence
In this chapter, we encounter Haman–the antagonist of the story–and the question of Old Testament violence. How should we answer objections about the destruction of Amalek and the Canaanites, and what do these stories teach us about God’s justice and His merciful plan to redeem humanity? Mordecai...
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#421 Recent Free Speech Wins and What Free Speech Costs
Freedom of speech is a key right that is fundamental to the American experiment, but is under deep scrutiny and even attack these days. In this episode, I walk through recent wins and trends for free speech, explain the details of the case E.D. v. Noblesville School District that has now been...
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#420 3 Reasons Easter is Essential in a Secular Age
As I have reflected on the Resurrection the last few years, I have been struck by its importance in the here and now as well as the hereafter. In this weeks podcast episode/post, I explain 3 reasons Easter is essential in our secular age: Link to blog post. Watch on YouTube The post #420 3…
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#419 6 Legal Challenges in Christian Education in 2026
Is your ministry prepared to minister with confidence in a changing culture? In this episode, we explore recent legal developments and explain proactive steps your ministry can take to build and maintain strong legal protections. Recent legal developments: Define what you intend to defend....
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#418 A Wilberforce Moment: Responding to 5 Cultural Challenges Impacting the Next Generation
William Wilberforce, well known for his work on the abolition of slavery, also championed the protection of children during the Industrial Revolution. Now, it is our turn to guide and protect the next generation in the midst of a developing digital and sexual revolution. In this episode, we will...
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#417 Esther: The King’s Queen, Chapter 2
In Esther 2, Xerxes returns from a disastrous Greek campaign and focuses on replacing his deposed queen. We are also introduced to Mordecai and Esther as well as the ugly reality of the harem system and the contest for the crown that Esther faced. Here, we find deep truths and difficult lessons...
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#416 How to Strengthen America’s Families with Delano Squires
I often ask government officials this question: “What is the worst problem in your district/area of responsibility?” The answer is often the same and even phrased in the same way: “the breakdown of the family.” In this interview, Delano Squires explains this collapse of two-parents homes raising...
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#415 The Progressive Miseducation of America: Confronting the Cultural Revolution from the Classroom to Your Community with Dr. Corey Miller
Ideas that start in the ivory tower of America’s universities do not stay there; and higher education has fundamentally impacted our families, churches, and communities. And, as goes the American university (with 1 in 3 world leaders attending a U.S. school), so goes the world. In this interview...
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#414 Esther: The King’s Queen, Chapter 1
Once upon a time—and I mean in God’s perfect time—a Jewish orphan girl named Esther became a Persian Queen. But, as many of you know, this book is less fairy tale and much more mystery—a book full of lessons about the mysteries of divine calling, evil and justice, finding courage to stand for...
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#413 Binary: Debunking the Sex Spectrum Myth with Zachary Elliott
The definition of sex as binary–male and female–is a creation order issue (Gen. 1:26-27) and at the core of a number of current cultural and legal debates. This definition impacts sports, birth and medical records, medical treatment, placement in correctional facilities, our sense of self, and...
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#412 The American Future: 4 Reasons We Should Not Give Up on the American Experiment [Encore]
What do you think about the future of the United States? Should we expect and just accept further division and decline? Can the United States remain, well, united amidst differing worldviews and visions for the future of the country? The national debt, the temperature of our political rhetoric…
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#411 In Defense of Christian Patriotism with Daniel Darling
In our current political climate, patriotism is often treated with spiritual and secular suspicion. Especially as we mark America’s 250th birthday, is waving a flag or celebrating America’s rich spiritual heritage “political idolatry” or “Christian nationalism”? The short answer: no. Patriotism…
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#410 5 Lessons from Frederick Douglass
In this episode, I briefly address the disruption by protestors of a church service in Minneapolis, including the relevant legal protections for churches and some general guidelines on responding to protesters if they enter a sacred space. Then, I turn to five lessons for Christian citizens from...
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#409 Thoughts on the ICE Shooting; the Church, Immigration, and ICE Raids
In this episode, I share my thoughts on the ICE shooting last week with a focus on how to respond to the issue of immigration and law enforcement (and the response to ICE) moving forward. More specifically, I look at this event through the lens of tragedy, authority, ideology, and theology. Also,...
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#408 Them Before Us: Defending the Right of Children to a Mom and Dad with Katy Faust
In this interview, Katy Faust, founder of Them Before Us, joins me to address one of the most pressing and misunderstood moral issues of our time: the rights of children—beginning with their right to be raised by their own mother and father whenever possible. Katy Faust is Founder and President…
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#407 The Christmas Villains [Encore]
Every great story has a villain. And, I would argue, every great story has a great villain (in the sense that they are cunning, powerful and evil). The Christmas story is no different. We spend a lot of time talking about Mary and Joseph, the wise men, and the shepherds, but what about the...
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#405 5 Lessons from 2025
2025 has been a somber year with a rise in politically motivated violence–including the public assassination of Charlie Kirk–and heightened tensions and conflict around the world. 2025 has also been an encouraging year with a comeback of creation order (i.e., women’s sports and the Skrmetti case...
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#405 Acts: Postscript – Key Lessons and Reliability with Professor Sean O’Neill
In this episode, I share seven key lessons I learned while completing a verse-by-verse study of the book of Acts. Also, Professor Sean O’Neill joins me for an interview-style discussion on the reliability of the book of Acts (and the New Testament generally), including the accuracy of...
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#404 3 Lessons from the Holy Land
I recently spent a week in Israel on an incredible trip split between visiting Biblical/historical sites and understanding the geopolitical situation in the region post-Oct. 7th. In this episode, I share three key lessons from my time in the Holy Land. The video is linked below if interested in...
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#403 Gratitude: The Secret Ingredient of Greatness [Encore]
One of the greatest paradoxes in American life is a Thursday dedicated to quiet gratitude followed by a Friday dedicated to a frenzied pursuit of more. In the midst of a mental health crisis and a quickly changing world, Scripture calls us to an often forgotten, daily practice that demands...
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#402 3 Reflections after Visiting Auschwitz
I spent several days last week touring Holocaust sites in Poland with a group from Christians United for Israel. Especially since Oct. 7th and the concerning rise of antisemitism in the US, Holocaust sites such as Auschwitz are a somber and moving reminder of hatred and murder on an…
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#401 A Joseph Moment: Lessons from an Ancient Partnership, the Church’s Current Opportunities and How to Steward the Moment
Due to the breakdown of the family, tighter government budgets, and positive legal developments, the church currently has a unique if not a once-in-a-generation opportunity to impact their communities and point to Jesus. Will we seize the moment? In this sermon, I draw lessons from the…
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#400 How to Turn a Food Pantry into a Community Hub with Merlin Gonzales [Encore]
Here’s why and how churches should step up during the government shutdown. Yesterday, the administration announced that SNAP benefits will be partially funded as the government shutdown continues (though there is some speculation the shutdown could end as early as tomorrow after the election).…
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#399 Acts 28
In Acts 28, Paul survives a snake bite, meets believers already in Rome, and marches into the imperial city in chains–but on mission. Here, the narrative of the book of Acts closes with Paul preaching the kingdom of God boldly in the center of Roman power and authority. What happened to his…
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#398 Politics According to the Bible with Dr. Wayne Grudem [Encore]
Dr. Wayne Grudem is a theologian and prolific writer perhaps best known for his book Systematic Theology and his work on Christian ethics. But he also wrote Politics According to the Bible, a more than 600-page comprehensive resource on the application of faith in public life. I had the privilege...
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#397 Reflections on the Aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s Assassination
Photo: Members of the Hoosier Leadership Series, an effort of Indiana Family Institute, praying in front of the US Capitol after hearing about Kirk’s assassination on September 10, 2025. A little over a month has passed since Charlie Kirk’s public assassination at Utah Valley University, and much...
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#396 Religious Liberty: A Conservative Primer with Dr. John Wilsey
Given the continuing debate on religion’s impact in American public life and especially discussions about Christian nationalism, it is important to review America’s unique approach to church/state relations and its principled commitment to religious liberty. In this interview, Dr. John Wilsey…
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#395 How Your Church Can Help Fight Human Trafficking with Allison Madrigal
According to US and UN statistics, an estimated 27.6 million people are victims of human trafficking at any given time. And a majority of human trafficking victims in the United States are US nationals–meaning they are groomed, coerced, and trafficked on US soil. Because this an international and...
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#394 Acts 27
After experiencing several trials for his life, the Apostle Paul now heads west on an all-expense-paid trip courtesy of the Roman empire. But this journey, like so many others taken by Paul, will not be without peril and ministry opportunity. In a chapter that evidences remarkable historical…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Equipping Christians to confidently and effectively engage in public life. Hosted by attorney, minister, and speaker Josh Hershberger, the Good Citizen Podcast focuses on the ideas, encouragement, and practical examples you need to impact and even transform your zip code, state, and nation.
HOSTED BY
Joshua Hershberger: Attorney | Minister | Speaker
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How many episodes does The Good Citizen Podcast have?
The Good Citizen Podcast currently has 75 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Good Citizen Podcast about?
Equipping Christians to confidently and effectively engage in public life. Hosted by attorney, minister, and speaker Josh Hershberger, the Good Citizen Podcast focuses on the ideas, encouragement, and practical examples you need to impact and even transform your zip code, state, and nation.
How often does The Good Citizen Podcast release new episodes?
The Good Citizen Podcast has 75 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
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You can listen to The Good Citizen Podcast on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Good Citizen Podcast?
The Good Citizen Podcast is created and hosted by Joshua Hershberger: Attorney | Minister | Speaker.
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