Bigger Than Belief

As we near the midterm elections, it's becoming harder to deny to connection between faith, politics and personal identity - but has it always been this way?

On this episode of Bigger Than Belief, Adam sits down with Dan Hofrenning, longtime political science professor at St. Olaf College, to examine the role religion plays in American politics, and what happens when political identity begins to rival, or even transcend, religious belief.

With the midterms approaching, this is a conversation about more than candidates and campaigns. It's about the values that shape us, the identities that divide us, and whether faith can help Americans approach politics with a little more humility.

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Artificial intelligence is becoming more human-like by the day. But what happens when the people building it start asking religious leaders for moral guidance — and even raising questions about whether AI could one day deserve moral consideration of its own?

On this episode of Bigger Than Belief, Adam Duxter sits down with Professor Noreen Herzfeld, a theologian and computer scientist who has spent decades exploring the intersection of artificial intelligence, faith and the human spirit.

Herzfeld breaks down why Anthropic, the company behind Claude, has been turning to religious thinkers for guidance — and why she believes there's more happening than a simple search for moral advice. She explains the controversial idea that AI could represent the next step in human evolution, why creating machines in our own image could change how we understand ourselves, and what Christianity teaches about the soul, the body and what makes us human.

Could AI become a substitute for pastors, priests or other spiritual leaders? Can a chatbot offer meaningful spiritual guidance if it's designed to agree with you? And what should Christians and people of faith make of a technology that increasingly sounds, thinks and responds like us?

Herzfeld offers a pointed warning about becoming too attached to AI — and a reminder that our deepest calling may have little to do with technology at all.

Because as artificial intelligence advances, the most important question might not be whether machines can become more human. It's whether we're forgetting what makes us human in the first place.

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What if the best way to fight poverty isn't simply giving people what they need, but helping them build something of their own?

On this episode of Bigger Than Belief, Erik Olson, CEO of Dignity Made, unpacks the company’s unconventional mission: to help coconut farmers in the Philippines escape crushing debt and poverty by creating jobs and bringing their products to consumers in the United States.

Rather than relying solely on traditional aid, Erik and his team helped build a business around the resources the community already had: coconuts. The result was Dignity Made, a company that combines economic opportunity with a commitment to human dignity.

We also explore a bigger question: What does it look like to live out your faith through your work? And how do you make a difference without making yourself the hero of someone else's story?

It's a conversation about faith, business, humility, and the power of helping people build a future they can call their own.

Learn more about Dignity Made at https://dignitymade.com/.

Use code BIGGER20 for 20% off your first purchase, as mentioned in the episode.

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The Twin Cities are grappling with a troubling wave of gun violence involving young people — and few conversations are more complicated than the one surrounding Somali youth and alleged gang activity. In the days surrounding this interview, shootings in Eden Prairie and Bloomington brought the issue back into the spotlight, as law enforcement leaders called for a more coordinated regional response. So what is actually happening? Why are young people getting caught up in violence? What role are social media and guns playing? And how can a community confront a real problem without painting an entire group of people with the same brush? This week on Bigger Than Belief, Adam Duxter sits down with Imam Yusuf Abdulle, executive director of the Islamic Association of North America. Abdulle has spent years working with young people and community leaders. He strongly rejects the characterization of the violence as “Somali gang” violence, arguing that the young people involved are American kids and that the problem is ultimately a Minnesota and American problem. But he does not minimize the violence. Abdulle talks candidly about the fear and frustration inside the Somali community, the work Muslim faith leaders are doing with parents, imams and young people, the role social media may play in escalating rivalries, the availability of guns, and why some witnesses and families may be reluctant to cooperate with police. He also offers a deeply personal perspective on the violence — explaining that it “keeps me awake at night” and describing his fear that the next shooting could take the life of another young person in his community. And he makes a broader appeal: confront the people responsible for the violence, he says, but don't punish or blame innocent people who had nothing to do with it.

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What can a church do about homelessness in its own backyard? On this episode of Bigger Than Belief, Pastor Kyle Robinson of Wooddale Church joins to discuss Wooddale’s Brighter Futures initiative. It started with one simple question: What if we could help families before they became homeless? It also started with a realization - hundreds of students in Eden Prairie were homeless. In the years since, it’s led to an intervention program providing rental assistance, financial coaching and, perhaps most importantly, relationships. And best of all? It’s working. Three years. 30 families. 73 kids. Now, there’s a push to take the model statewide.

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Rabbi Nolan Lebovitz thought he knew what his life was supposed to look like. After film school at USC, he pursued a career in Hollywood, made a movie, sold television projects and was living the dream he had imagined for himself. But after becoming a father, one question wouldn't go away: “Was I put on earth to pitch horror films for the rest of my life?”

That question sent him on an unexpected journey—from Hollywood back to Jewish tradition, from Los Angeles to rabbinical school and eventually to the pulpit of Valley Beth Shalom in Southern California – one of America’s largest conservative Synagogues.

In this episode of Bigger Than Belief, Rabbi Lebovitz talks about the search for something deeper than professional success, why sacred texts can help us realize we're not alone in asking life's biggest questions, and what happens when faith and community become essential in a rapidly changing world.

He also reflects on the profound impact of October 7, the rise of antisemitism, the loss of innocence among young Jewish people, the importance of interfaith allyship, and where he finds hope in a moment of profound division.

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What happens when we stop seeing people through labels? How would things change if we saw them as individuals, each with their own story and reason for being?

On this week’s Bigger Than Belief, Adam sits down with Malika Dahir, executive director of Reviving Sisterhood (RISE), an organization dedicated to empowering and amplifying the voices of Muslim women through the Twin Cities and beyond.

Ultimately, this episode is about something bigger than any one faith or community: how we bridge divides.

Malika argues that the answer starts with something surprisingly simple—one-to-one conversations. Getting to know someone whose background, faith or identity is different from our own, listening to their story, and discovering the person behind the label.

It's a conversation about faith, identity, prejudice, redemption, community and the power of simply getting to know your neighbor.
About Bigger Than Belief: Bigger Than Belief is a weekly podcast exploring faith, belief, and religion – all through the stories of believers. With an emphasis on understanding belief through personal experience, we aim to create a conversation about faith that is fair, honest, and easy to understand - regardless of what you do (or don't) believe. We'll also take a journalistic approach to concepts and questions that are difficult to understand, while helping to make sense of current events impacting believers in our communities.

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Hamline Church Dining Hall has been serving up at the Minnesota State Fair for more than 120 years. Host Adam Duxter spoke with Senior Pastor Mariah Tollgaard live at the Great Minnesota Get-Together to hear what it takes to be so successful. Is it having the best breakfast pancakes? Maybe it's the handmade fresh daily pies?

Pastor Tollgaard says while faith drives them, it's certainly no requirement. More than 700 congregation members volunteer every year, but they don't spend their time ministering. They are simply there to serve up a nice meal. She says she's seen all kinds of people share a meal, maybe two people that would otherwise never share the same space.

Their discussion also touches on Operation Metro Surge, and how the community continues to heal.

From serious, to silly, and maybe a slice of pie, it's a fun conversation-- join us on Bigger Than Belief.

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Candace Cameron Bure has spent most of her life in the spotlight—from Full House to movies, television, podcasting and now a live tour. But in this candid conversation, she opens up about something much deeper than her career: who she is when the cameras aren't rolling.

Candace shares how becoming a wife and mother helped her discover an identity rooted not in her work, but in her relationship with God. She explains why she believes her faith isn't something she leaves at home, why she's willing to be vulnerable even when it means occasionally sharing too much, and how she has learned to draw boundaries while living a very public life.

She also talks about mistakes, apologies, redemption and the pressure of knowing that millions of people may see when you get something wrong.

It's a short but meaningful conversation about faith, identity, vulnerability and the reminder that what we do isn't necessarily who we are.

Candace Cameron Bure is currently taking her live show on the road, including a stop in Minneapolis on September 12.

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August 27, 2026, marks one year since a gunman shot into an early morning all-school mass at Annunciation Catholic Church - injuring dozens of students, teachers and parishioners - and killing 10-year-old Harper Moyski and 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel. On today's episode of Bigger Than Belief, Adam shares extended interview segments from WCCO-TV's on-air Annunciation special - along with personal interviews from three WCCO staff members who put those stories together. One year removed from one of the single greatest tragedies to take place in the Twin Cities, they share the impact still being felt.

To Harper, Fletcher, your families, and your classmates - our hearts are with you. We will never forget you.

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“What happens when faith moves beyond something we believe and becomes something we actually live?

This week on Bigger Than Belief, Paul Hurckman, executive director of Venture, joins us for a wide-ranging conversation about faith, courage, service, family, and the uncomfortable places where belief becomes action.

Paul shares the story of the decision that changed his life: saying no to a cross-country bike trip — and living with that regret for years. Eventually, he learned to say yes to the unconventional, a journey that took him to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro and ultimately into leadership at Venture, a faith-based justice organization working in some of the world's most unsafe, unreached, and under resourced communities.

We talk about the realities of refugee care, human trafficking, women's health and church planting, and why Paul believes the Gospel requires both proclaiming hope and responding to urgent human needs.

But this conversation isn't only about global missions. Paul gets candid about the tension between doing meaningful work around the world and being present for his wife, his five children and his neighbors. He talks about resisting the temptation to be the "hero" of his own story, the importance of listening to your neighbors, and why sometimes faith asks us to step away from comfort.

And in a particularly honest moment, Paul discusses what happens when he turns on the news and sees faith used to justify competing worldviews — and how those moments of doubt send him back to the foundations of what he believes.

From seven marathons on seven continents to the simple act of helping a neighbor move a couch, this is a conversation about what it means to live a faith that shows up.

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For years, alcohol was simply part of life for Nick Hanson. What started as normal social drinking in college slowly became something much darker—an addiction that consumed his thoughts, relationships, and sense of self.

On this week’s Episode of Bigger Than Belief, Nick shares his journey through more than two decades of alcohol use, the devastating impact addiction had on his life, and the moment he finally admitted he couldn't overcome it alone. What began as a search for sobriety ultimately became a deeper journey of faith, purpose, and personal transformation.

Today, Nick is over three years sober, a published author, a father of three, and an advocate for others seeking recovery. His story is a powerful reminder that no matter how far someone has fallen, hope remains—and life on the other side can be better than they ever imagined.

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Every 10 seconds, a child dies from hunger-related causes.

JJ Slag, CEO of Feed My Starving Children, has spent the last two years traveling the world, meeting children whose lives are being transformed by something as simple as a nutritious meal.

But this conversation goes far beyond global hunger - it's about faith that costs something, leading one of the world's largest Christian humanitarian organizations, raising children while carrying enormous responsibility, wrestling with doubt, and why some of the greatest heroes of faith may be people whose names we'll never know.

Whether you're a person of faith or simply searching for purpose, this episode is a reminder that compassion isn't just something we believe, it's something we do.

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One moment, Sig Muller was laughing with lifelong friends at a backyard barbecue. The next, his heart stopped. After suffering a sudden cardiac arrest, Sig was clinically dead for nearly 10 minutes.

Thanks to quick-thinking friends, CPR, and an AED, he survived with less than a one percent chance of making a full recovery.

But surviving wasn't the greatest miracle.

In this episode of Bigger Than Belief, Sig shares how facing death transformed the way he thinks about faith, purpose, gratitude, and the time we've all been given. From the friends who refused to give up on him to the simple question that now guides every day—"Am I spending my 5% on the right things?"—this conversation is an inspiring reminder that every day is a gift.

Whether you're walking through a difficult season, questioning your purpose, or simply wondering what really matters, Sig's story offers hope, perspective, and encouragement.

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Jesse Phenow thought he was volunteering to help a refugee family. Instead, he became part of their family.

In this episode, Jesse shares how one college volunteer opportunity grew into lifelong friendships, living with a refugee family in St. Paul, humanitarian work in war-torn Myanmar, and ultimately founding The Urban Village to serve Karenni youth in St. Paul.

Along the way, he reflects on violence, faith, empathy, and why following Jesus often begins with one simple decision: moving toward people instead of away from them.

This is a conversation about compassion, courage, and discovering that the people we think we're serving often end up changing us the most.

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From carrying frozen kettlebells into church basements to training future NBA and NFL stars, DeVentri Jordan's journey is anything but ordinary.

As the founder of Game Face Training, one of the nation's premier sports performance programs, DeVentri has helped countless athletes reach the highest levels of competition. But behind the success is a story marked by loss, hardship, fatherlessness, business setbacks, and a faith that ultimately changed everything.

In this powerful episode of Bigger Than Belief, DeVentri shares how the death of his mother, the loss of his brother, and years of chasing success forced him to ask one life-changing question:

"Where did you last leave God?"

Together, we explore the connection between physical discipline and spiritual growth, what it means to be "gracefully broken," and why some of the strongest athletes in the world are struggling silently behind the scenes.

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For Kaycee Stanley, adoption isn’t just a cause—it’s a calling.

What started as a dream to change the narrative around foster care grew into a nonprofit with a national reach - that has created hundreds of videos connecting waiting children with adoptive families across the country.

On this episode, Kaycee opens up about the challenges of launching a faith-based organization, the resistance she faced in launching Reel Hope, and the remarkable ways she has seen God provide every step of the journey. She also shares the deeply personal story of adopting her own son through foster care and why she believes family remains the greatest need in a child's life.

From faith and calling to foster care and adoption, this conversation is a moving reminder that one act of obedience can change countless lives.

Learn more about The Reel Hope Project at http://thereelhopeproject.org.

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It started as a college assignment and a simple dream - "put Jesus at the pulse of a generation". It has since grown into a global movement reaching millions of people across the planet.

On this week’s Bigger Than Belief Nick Hall shares the remarkable story behind Pulse Evangelism, why he believes Gen Z is leading a spiritual awakening, and what it looks like to bring hope into a culture marked by division, loneliness, and uncertainty.

He also shares how he views the role of the Church during moments of crisis, why authentic faith matters more than influence, and how ordinary people can make an extraordinary impact right where they are.

Whether you're a lifelong believer, spiritually curious, or simply searching for purpose, this conversation offers an honest look at faith, leadership, and the power of one life surrendered to something bigger than itself.

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Najeeba Syeed—peacebuilder, professor, author, and Executive Director of Interfaith at Augsburg University—has spent her life as a bridge-builder across religious, cultural, and political divides.

Born in Kashmir and raised in Southern Indiana after immigrating to America at age three, Najeeba grew up learning that faith wasn't just about what you believe—it was about how you care for others. From her parents' intentional friendships across faith traditions to her mother's nightly questions about how she used her hands, heart, and feet to serve others, Najeeba developed a vision of faith rooted in action.

Throughout the conversation, she challenges the idea that religious differences must divide us. Instead, she argues that authentic faith should expand our capacity to love our neighbors, engage conflict with courage, and build meaningful relationships with people who see the world differently.

The conversation takes an unexpected and deeply personal turn when Najeeba reveals she is awaiting results from a biopsy and facing the possibility of a cancer diagnosis. In that vulnerable moment, she reflects on prayer, uncertainty, and the surprising people who have shown up for her—including friends and colleagues from different faith traditions. Her story becomes a powerful reminder that our deepest connections often emerge not from shared beliefs, but from shared humanity.

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A successful career in finance, a marriage, and a growing family. On the outside, Tom Truszinksi had it all together. On the inside, he was quietly falling apart.

After years of addiction, arrests, and despair, he reached a breaking point. Convinced his family would be better off without him, Tom prepared to walk away from everything. Instead, a devastating motorcycle crash became the turning point that changed the course of his life.

On this week’s episode of Bigger Than Belief, Tom shares the deeply personal story of growing up in a home marked by alcoholism, wrestling with questions about faith, surviving addiction, and ultimately finding hope through a life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ.

Today, Tom serves as CEO of Minnesota Adult & Teen Challenge, one of the nation's largest faith-based recovery organizations. He also offers a firsthand perspective on the fentanyl crisis, addiction recovery, and why he believes true transformation requires more than sobriety alone.

Learn more about Minnesota Adult & Teen Challenge at mntc.org.

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