Good Faith

Why Does Politics Reward the Wrong People?

Former Congressman Adam Kinzinger joins Curtis Chang on the Good Faith podcast to discuss the 2026 midterm elections, political corruption, and how Christians can evaluate political leaders. Kinzinger argues that character is revealed when leaders put public responsibility ahead of personal comfort—even when it means challenging their own party. Drawing on his vote to impeach Donald Trump and his service on the January 6 committee, he explores what restoring congressional accountability requires. They also discuss why principled candidates struggle to stay in office and how Christians can oppose harmful actions while loving their enemies and praying for political opponents.

02:33 - What Is the Meaning of Heroism?

04:34 - Models of Courage for Congress

09:54 - Faith and the January 6 Impeachment Vote

14:08 - Adam's Midterm Elections Predictions

17:55 - The Other Side of the "God Gap"

22:51 - Avoiding Political Idolatry

25:18 - The Impacts of Redistricting on Congressional Careers

29:00 - Cross-Partisan Alliances and Democratic Principles

31:24 - Are There Candidates Who Understand the Stakes?

36:21 - How Does Political Corruption Work?

42:32 - Adam's Guide to Assessing Character and Examining Records

46:45 - Is There Hope for Congress?

52:37 - Praying for Political Enemies

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Mentioned in this episode:

• Listen to Good Faith episode 255: David French: What Christians Should Want on Election Night
• Adam Kinzinger's That's What Heroes Do
• Adam Kinzinger's Substack Newsletter & Podcast
• Adam Kinzinger's 2024 Democratic National Convention Speech (transcript)
• Listen to Good Faith episode 163: "Adam Kinzinger Defends Democracy and Embraces Biblical Hope"
• Check out The After Party

Scriptures:

• Matthew 5:43–45 (ESV)
• Psalm 119:105 (ESV)
• Matthew 6:10 (ESV)
• 1 Corinthians 15:20–23 (ESV)
• Matthew 5–7 (ESV)

More From Adam Kinzinger:

• Adam Kinzinger's Renegade: Defending Democracy and Liberty in Our Divided Country
• Adam Kinzinger's Country First Movement

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The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.

Can We Speak About Jesus's Transforming Power Without Reducing It To a Consumer Product?

You can believe Christianity is true and still wonder what difference it makes. Theologian and former atheist Alister McGrath joins Curtis Chang to discuss Rethinking Christianity and why conversations about faith need to address meaning, purpose, and hope alongside rational belief. They explore the danger of reducing Christianity to self-help, the limits of intellectual answers to suffering, and how Jesus' suffering speaks to people in their darkest moments. Curtis also shares his experience of anxiety and depression as they consider how truth, lived experience, and Christian friendship can sustain faith.

02:34 - Why Won't Christianity Stay Buried?

04:43 - Dr. McGrath's Journey from Atheism to Christianity

07:11 - From Debating Atheism to Addressing Meaning

15:30 - Consumerism, Relevance, and Losing Christianity's Story

19:19 - How Can We Find Purpose and Flourish in Faith?

23:46 - The Limits of Apologetic Answers to Suffering

30:43 - Explaining the Trinity

33:09 - Preaching to the Choir and Finding Companions

Find this episode on our website: Good Faith episode 256

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Mentioned in This Episode:

• Dr. McGrath's Rethinking Christianity: A Thoughtful Guide to a Life-Changing Faith
• C.S. Lewis's The Problem of Pain
• Henri Blocker's Evil and the Cross
• More about C.S. Lewis's conversion
• More about Dorothy L. Sayers
• More about Alvin Plantinga
• Dr. McGrath Debates Richard Dawkins
• Dr. McGrath Debates Christopher Hitchens
• Dr. McGrath Debates Daniel Dennett

Scriptures:

• John 4:1–42 (ESV)
• John 10:10 (ESV)
• Psalm 23 (ESV)
• Matthew 7:24–27 (ESV)

More From Dr. McGrath:

• Professor Alister McGrath at the University of Oxford
• Alister McGrath's website
• Alister McGrath's books

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The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.

Will the Midterms Be a Tourniquet, a Cure, or Something Else Entirely?

Does who wins Congress matter? What happens to American democracy after the midterms may be up for grabs. Good Faith "founding friend" and New York Times columnist David French joins Curtis Chang to look beyond the 2026 midterm scoreboard and explore what the elections could mean for presidential power, political extremism, and the church's public witness. They discuss the limits of congressional checks on President Trump, the Texas Senate race between James Talarico and Ken Paxton, and why restoring trust requires more than a partisan victory. David and Curtis also offer practical ways Christians can move to active participation—and a call to pray for justice, repentance, and reconciliation.

01:28 - David Forecasts the Midterms

06:45 - Can a Democratic Congress Check the President?

13:10 - The Republican Party's Future and Moderate Candidates

17:48 - Institutional Damage and Constitutional Checks

22:47 - Election Integrity and the Risk of Close Results

30:22 - The Need to Move from Spectatorship to Participation

35:50 - Speaking Up in Evangelical Churches

41:08 - Is Texas a Signal for Faith and Politics?

46:23 - Why Do Candidates Like Adam Kinzinger Struggle?

51:03 - David's Call to Prayer

Find this episode on our website: Good Faith episode 255

Sign up for The After Party course

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Good Faith ep. 252: David French: Can We Trust the Supreme Court?
• David French's The 'God Gap' Is Narrowing in Texas
• Virginia debate Ratifying Convention: Article 2, Section 2, Clause 1
• Congressal authority to judge its members' elections/qualifications: Article I, Section 5
• Learn more about The After Party course

Scriptures:

• Jeremiah 29:7 (ESV)
• 1 Timothy 2:1–2 (ESV)

More From David French:

• David French's New York Times pieces HERE
• Follow David French on Threads

Follow Us:

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The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.

Escaping the Digital Age Where Noise Is Our Destiny

What if the noise filling your life is drowning out God's voice? John Mark Comer joins Curtis Chang to discuss his book Into the Quiet: Following Jesus in a World of Noise and how churches can offer refuge from digital overload, what the Desert Fathers and Mothers teach about faith and power, and why contemplative prayer sustains public engagement. John Mark and Curtis do a deep dive into the relationship between contemplative prayer, political engagement, and faithful public witness. Along the way, John Mark offers gentle, practical ways to begin making room for God—even if sitting still feels impossible.

02:27 - How do we talk about silence in a noisy age?

06:19 - "Quiet time" versus quiet presence

10:52 - Why does solitude matter for active people?

15:34 - Is solitude essential to discipleship?

23:11 - Noisy churches and quieter worship

30:01 - Silence, politics, and public witness

37:40 - The Desert Fathers, Constantine, the church & empire

43:45 - Solitude and confronting demonic thoughts

50:32 - Starting a practice of quiet & finding joy in God

Sign up for The After Party course

Mentioned in This Episode:

• John Mark Comer's Into the Quiet: Following Jesus in a World of Noise
• More about Martin Laird
• More about Dallas Willard & spiritual disciplines
• Richard Foster's list of spiritual disciplines
• Adele Ahlberg Calhoun's Spiritual Disciplines Handbook
• BJ Fogg's Tiny Habits: The Small Changes That Change Everything
• Howard Thurman's Jesus and the Disinherited
• Howard Thurman's Meditations of the Heart

Scriptures:

• Luke 5:15–16 (ESV)
• Psalm 46 (ESV)
• Matthew 4:1–11 and Luke 4:1–13 (ESV)
• Jude 9 (ESV)
• Colossians 1:27 (ESV)
• 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 (ESV)

More From John Mark Comer:

• Explore John Mark's website
• Listen to John Mark's podcast
• Find John Mark on Instagram
• Watch John Mark on YouTube

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The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.

Can the Next Generation Do Politics Better Than We Have?

Being angry on the internet isn't activism. So what actually makes a difference? Sharon McMahon, "America's government teacher" and author of The Small and the Mighty and host of the Preamble podcast, joins Curtis Chang to explore how we can help the next generation do politics better and build a healthier democracy in the process. They discuss raising engaged citizens, choosing character over party loyalty, and loving our neighbors—even when they're our enemies. With the midterms approaching, Sharon offers a practical path from political frustration to local civic engagement, reminding us that hope begins with believing our actions matter.

00:54 - Welcome and Why Civic Formation Matters

05:53 - Norm Mineta and Modeling Public Service

09:27 - Teaching Young People to Vote Thoughtfully

14:21 - Can Civic Engagement Form Character? 18:04 - Choosing a Community Focus

23:55 - Loving Enemies Without Accepting Harm

34:04 - Helping College Students Speak Up

38:30 - Civic Education During a Constitutional Crisis

41:26 - Is Hope an Active Choice?

43:55 - Helping One Person at a Time

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Mentioned in This Episode:

• Sharon McMahon's The Small and the Mighty
• Sharon McMahon's We Are Mighty
• More about Norman Mineta
• Executive Order 9066: Resulting in Japanese-American Incarceration (1942)
• Read the Constitution and the Preamble (transcript)

Scriptures:

• Matthew 22:34-40 and Matthew 5:43-48 (ESV)
• Matthew 6:10 (ESV)

More From Sharon McMahon:

• Sharon McMahon's website
• Sharon McMahon's The Preamble podcast
• Sharon McMahon's The Preamble Newsletter

Follow Us:

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The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.

What Happens When Power, Politics, and Judges Collide? (Spoiler: It's Complicated)

Host Curtis Chang and New York Times columnist David French ask how much Americans can rely on the Supreme Court if the 2026 midterms are contested. They discuss the constitutional limit on presidential terms and why a disputed House race could expose the limits of judicial power. French explains why he remains hopeful about the highest court in the land despite political pressure, and shares his concerns about the conservative Christian legal movement. They also ask Christians: How can you love your neighbors when a court ruling causes harm?

03:19 - The Most Relevant Supreme Court Ruling of 2026

10:26 - Risks of the Upcoming Midterm Elections

13:16 - The Threat of Exploiting Legal Confusion

20:10 - Internal Relationships Within the Supreme Court

27:12 - The Influence of Personal Experience on Court Decisions

31:45 - The Conservative Christian Legal Movement's Influence

38:31 - Practicing the Second Greatest Commandment

46:10 - How to Pray for the Supreme Court

Apply to be Good Faith's next Director of Marketing

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Mentioned in This Episode:

• David French's article The Fix Was Almost In
• Listen to the Supreme Court: argument audio
• The Supreme Court's tariff ruling
• The Constitution's Twenty-Second Amendment
• More about: Missouri Supreme Court and congressional maps
• Georgetown Journal of Legal Ethics: The Dobbs Leak as an Illustration of the Impasse Between Legal Ethics and Reality
• Washington Post: Why a lawyer who launched the Christian legal movement believes it's gone astray
• Read about Toyosaburo Korematsu v. United States

Scriptures:

• Mark 12:31 (ESV)

More From David French:

• David French's New York Times pieces HERE
• David French's Advisory Opinions podcast
• Follow David French on Threads

Follow Us:

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The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.

Your "Safe" College Major May Be an AI Dead End

Could AI make your college degree obsolete while making your plumber more valuable? Curtis Chang and Andy Crouch explore how artificial intelligence is disrupting higher education and the future of work—and why skilled trades and embodied human abilities may be safer bets. They also examine the rise of AI therapy and explain why chatbots can offer useful advice but can never replace human connection, spiritual community, and forgiveness.

02:36 - Declaring Personal Educational Backgrounds

13:26 - The Risk of "Cutting Edge" Education

15:37 - Computer Science: A Good Bet Turned Bad?

19:49 - Advice for Today's College Students

27:11 - The Role of a Teacher in the AI Age

30:54 - What About First-Generation American Students

35:27 - The Value of Skilled Trades

38:08 - The Intellectual Life of the Working Class

42:38 - The Real-World Value of Skilled Professionals

44:26 - What About AI as a Mental Health Tool?

47:35 - The Limits of AI in Providing Human Connection

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Mentioned in This Episode:

• Notre Dame's DELTA: Human Formation in the Age of AI
• Jean Lee Latham's Carry On, Mr. Bowditch
• Jonathan Rose's The Intellectual Life of the British Working Classes
• Matthew Loftus' Resisting Therapy Culture
• Good Faith episode 245: When Mental Health Goes Too Far with Matthew Loftus
• RAND study: Use of Generative AI for Mental Health Advice Among US Adolescents and Young Adults
• Ronald Heifetz's adaptive-leadership framework

More From Andy Crouch:

• Check out Andy's website
• Check out Andy's work at Praxis
• Read Andy's book: The Life We're Looking For
• Read Andy's book The Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in Its Proper Place

Follow Us:

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Good Faith on Facebook

The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.

What America Learned, Feared, and Forgot After 9/11

Former Trump White House security expert Elizabeth Neumann and theologian Russell Moore join Curtis Chang to consider whether America is safer—or simply more afraid—25 years after 9/11. They examine the war with Iran, immigration enforcement, domestic extremism, government overreach, and the church's complicity in fear-driven efforts. Together, they ask how Christians can confront legitimate threats without surrendering to fear, offering civic engagement, moral courage, and faithful "small refusals" to conform as a way forward.

03:14 - A 25-Year Review of Homeland Security

06:22 - A Theological View on "Homeland Security"

09:55 - How Do We Evaluate the War with Iran?

19:34 - Should Christians Trust the State?

24:01 - The Public's Disengagement from Government

28:54 - The Church's Role in Local Justice

33:59 - The Rise of Domestic Terrorism

40:52 - Is the Church Complicit in Fear Mongering?

42:29- Russell's Counsel for Pastors: Small Refusals

44:39 - The Personal Cost of Opposing Government Overreach

48:22 - When Lament and Hope Are the Same Thing

Apply to be Good Faith's next Director of Marketing

Register for Calvin University's Wisdom in the Age of AI Conference 2026

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Mentioned in This Episode:

• Elizabeth Neumann's Kingdom of Rage: The Rise of Christian Extremism and the Path Back to Peace
• National September 11 Memorial & Museum: Marking the 25th Anniversary
• George W. Bush White House's the Department of Homeland Security executive Summary
• More about National Immigration Forum
• Wendell Berry's "A Statement Against the War in Vietnam" from The Long-Legged House

Scriptures:

• Hebrews 11:13–16 ESV
• Jeremiah 29:7 ESV
• 1 Samuel 8 ESV
• Romans 12–13 ESV
• Isaiah 8:11–13 ESV
• Romans 8:24–27 ESV

More From Elizabeth Neumann:

• Elizabeth Neumann's website

More From Russell Moore:

• Russell Moore's Substack
• Read Russell Moore's article The Trump-Era Laughter at Immigrant Suffering Is Deforming Our Souls
• Sign up for Russell Moore's weekly newsletter Moore to the Point

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The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.

Miracles, Heartbreak, and the Fight Against Human Trafficking

Nearly 50 million people remain trapped in modern slavery—but International Justice Mission founder Gary Haugen believes it could end in our lifetime. He joins host Curtis Chang to explore how IJM fights human trafficking by transforming broken justice systems, where God is amid horrific evil and patient prayer, and how Christians can stop watching from the sidelines and join the fight.

02:23 - The Evolution of IJM's Strategy of Strengthening Local Justice Systems

08:30 - US Complicity in Global Slavery

13:48 - The Impact of Unpredictable US Government Action

18:24 - Is Their a Contradiction in Evangelical Support?

24:23 - The Role of Miracles in Fighting Evil

28:56 - Waiting For Prayers to Be Answered

33:51 - The Dangers of Christian Hero Worship

45:26 - A Call to Action Against Modern Day Slavery

To give to Good Faith: https://goodfaith.org/donate

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Gary Haugen's biography
• IJM's work fighting trafficking and slavery
• IJM's response to the State Department funding pause
• U.S. State Department Trafficking in Persons Report
• Global Estimates of Modern Slavery
• Child trafficking and forced labor on Ghana's Lake Volta
• Good Faith episode 224: Francis Collins and Kristine Torjesen

Scriptures:

• Matthew 5:16 (ESV)
• Matthew 25:14–30 (ESV)

International Justice Mission:

• Get involved with IJM
• Pray with IJM
• Support IJM's advocacy work
• IJM resources for churches

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The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.

Untangling America's Socialist Fever and Fear

Host Curtis Chang and Good Faith "founding friend" David French ask whether democratic socialism is your grandparents' socialism, the left's answer to MAGA, or something more sinister. They unpack what Christians should make of its growing influence by exploring the DSA, economic inequality, America's national debt, the influence of Big Tech, and why Christians who feel politically homeless still have an obligation to stay engaged.

00:44 - Introduction to Democratic Socialism

02:19 - Can We Define a Democratic Socialist?

04:04 - Should Socialism Scare Us?

08:39 - Is the DSA the Left's MAGA?

17:38 - The Electoral Risk of Extremism

21:21 - Is There a Theological Take on Socialism?

25:19 - Has Debt Seized the Means of Production?

28:45 - Policy Must Be Effective, Not Just Well-Intentioned

33:13 - The Role of Economics in Moral Reasoning

34:19 - The Homeless Political Middle

36:43 - The Legitimate Grievances Fueling Extremism

42:08 - Socialism and the Threat of Big Tech

43:52 - The Presumption of Socialism and Economic Freedom

47:13 - Encouragement for the Politically Homeless

To give to Good Faith: https://goodfaith.org/donate

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Ten Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) Arguments for Socialism and Why They're Wrong (CATO Institute)
• Hasan Piker: What You Need to Know (Anti-Defamation League)
• Pope Leo XIII's Rerum Novarum (the basis for solidarity and subsidiarity)
• Congressional Budget Office: the federal debt / long-term budget outlook
• What is the Federal Debt right now? (Peter G. Peterson Foundation)
• Noah Smith: No one knows how much the government can borrow
• David French's How Can America Be So Miserable When It's So Rich?
• Starlink in the Russian-Ukrainian war
• More about labor leader Eugene Debs
• More about 20th Century economist Friedrich August Hayek

Scriptures:

• Proverbs 22:7 (ESV)
• 1 Kings 19:18 (ESV)
• Romans 11:4 (ESV)

More From David French:

• David French's New York Times pieces HERE
• Follow David French on Threads

Follow Us:

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Good Faith on X (formerly Twitter)

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The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.

Why Are We So Lonely Even When We're Not Alone?

Host Curtis Chang talks with psychologist and podcaster Dr. Alison Cook about why America's loneliness epidemic can't be solved by simply adding more people to our lives. They explore how attachment wounds, anxiety, distraction, and modern life leave us disconnected—and how solitude and honest prayer can become paths toward healing. Dr. Cook offers a practice for loneliness: "recognize and return"—name what you feel, then remember, "I am loved even here."

02:46 - Why Do We Minimize Loneliness?

05:12 - What Is Attachment Theory?

10:31 - Childhood Wounds and Cultural Context

13:42 - Where God Enters the Healing Process

16:14 - The Inner Dialogue with God

20:44 - The Importance of Solitude

27:20 - The Modern Epidemic of Loneliness

35:16 - Loneliness as a Holy Longing

39:22 - Spiritual Practices for a Healthy Inner Life

To give to Good Faith: https://goodfaith.org/donate

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Dr. Cook's The Secure Soul: Finding Inner Strength and Connection When Trust Doesn't Come Easy
• The U.S. Surgeon General's report: Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation
• Professor Irvin D. Yalom's Existential Psychotherapy
• Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Life Together

Scriptures:

• Psalm 42 (ESV)
• Psalm 131 (ESV)
• Psalm 139 (ESV)
• Genesis 2 (ESV)
• Romans 8 (ESV)

More From Alison Cook:

• Dr. Alison Cook's Website
• Dr. Alison Cook's The Best of You podcast

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The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.

Do friction, struggle, and silence make you fully human?

AI can generate an answer, but it cannot suffer with you, worship, love a neighbor, or become wise. Host Curtis Chang and Andy Crouch, the partner for theology and culture at Praxis, explore how AI may weaken our minds, distort relationships, and tempt us to outsource the very experiences that form wisdom, wonder, and sacrificial love. From chatbot "companionship" and AI-assisted grief to medicine, spiritual counsel, and the loss of silence, Curtis and Andy ask whether convenience is quietly creating a kind of cognitive metabolic syndrome and what we can do about it.

00:01:22 - Introduction to AI's Impact on Our Minds.

00:04:35 - Lessons from Social Media's Evolution

00:08:26 - Cognitive Metabolic Syndrome

00:18:45 - What Is the Purpose of the Human Mind?

00:25:23 - Wonder vs. Power

00:26:49 - Love Requires Suffering and Friction

00:34:38 - The Limits of AI in Healthcare

00:40:53 - The Danger of Outsourcing Life's Hardships

00:51:23 - The Loss of Silence

00:58:11 - The AI Forced Conversation on Being Human

01:01:03 - Practical Ways to Protect Our Humanity

To give to Good Faith: https://goodfaith.org/donate

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Andrew Briggs and Roger Wagner's The Penultimate Curiosity: How Science Swims in the Slipstream of Ultimate Questions
• Thomas Fuchs' In Defence of the Human Being
• Victor Hugo's Les Misérables
• Tristan Harris on How AI Worsens Ills Caused by Social Media (The Economist)
• Explore the work of The Future of Life Institute
• Emma Pearson's I'd Rather Risk Cancer Than See AI Move This Fast (The Atlantic)

Scriptures:

• Mark 12:30–31 (ESV)
• Matthew 22:37–39 (ESV)
• Deuteronomy 6:5 (ESV)
• Luke 10:27 (ESV)

More From Andy Crouch:

• Check out Andy's website
• Check out Andy's work at Praxis
• Read Andy's book: The Life We're Looking For
• Read Andy's book The Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in Its Proper Place

Follow Us:

Good Faith on Instagram

Good Faith on X (formerly Twitter)

Good Faith on Facebook

The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.

How Does Therapy Culture Undermine True Healing?

Host Curtis Chang talks with physician and author Matthew Loftus about how therapeutic language can distort ordinary suffering, turn disagreement into "gaslighting," and leave people feeling less capable of changing their lives. They examine the overmedicalization of grief and anxiety, the rise of mental health culture in schools, and why churches risk losing their purpose when pastors start acting like therapists.

**This is not an attack on therapy or psychiatric medication. It is a provocative conversation about when mental health care becomes a worldview—and whether our relentless focus on feeling better is actually making us sicker.

02:10 - Therapy Practice vs. Therapy Culture

03:52 - The Importance of Personal Experience

06:34 - The Three Elements of Therapy Culture

10:09 - The Problem with Focusing on Mental Health

13:22 - The Suggestive Power of Diagnosis

15:30 - A Christian Understanding of Suffering

17:57 - Finding Solace in the Midst of Suffering

21:40 - The Role of Medication in Mental Health

25:49 - Knowing When Therapy Becomes Unhelpful

28:30 - The Unique, Healing Functions of the Church

32:21 - How Parents Can Counter Therapy Culture in Schools

35:01 - A Final Word of Encouragement

To give to Good Faith: https://goodfaith.org/donate

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Matthew Loftus's Resisting Therapy Culture
• Curtis Chang's Anxiety Opportunity
• Kathryn Greene-McCreight's Darkness Is My Only Companion
• What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?

Further Reading:

• DSM5 and the Medicalization of Grief: Two Perspectives (article)
• Matter over mind: How mental health symptom presentations shape diagnostic outcomes
• Effectiveness of school-based mental health programs on mental health among adolescents

Scriptures:

• Romans 8:38–39 (ESV)

More From Matthew Loftus:

• Matthew's website
• Matthew's writing at Mere Orthodoxy
• Matthew's articles at Plough

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The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.

Bridging Two Worlds: An American Immigrant's Story of Faith, Anxiety, and Political Calling

Today, we are sharing a conversation between Curtis Chang and Lee C. Camp on the Signal Award-winning and 2026 Ambie Award-nominated podcast No Small Endeavor. Hosted by award-winning teacher and Professor of Theology and Ethics Lee C. Camp, No Small Endeavor explores what it means to live a good life through conversations about culture, ideas, and the habits that help people flourish.

In this episode, you'll hear from Curtis Chang as he reflects on his experience as a Chinese American immigrant, former pastor, and public theologian, and argues that anxiety sits at the root of America's political crisis. Chang explains how anxiety is rooted in a fear of future loss, and offers actionable ways to name, face, and move through that anxiety with compassion rather than avoidance.

You'll also hear Chang and Camp dig into how institutions are made up of people rather than systems, why that means they're capable of being healed rather than torn down, and why refocusing on the how of politics rather than just the what is essential to moving beyond our current moment of division.

Follow and listen to more episodes of No Small Endeavor

00:00:19 - Introducing You to No Small Endeavor

00:04:07 - What Is Curtis Chang's Earliest Memory?

00:05:26 - Immigrant Curtis and Cultural Displacement

00:07:24 - The Subtle Art of Bridge Building

00:11:44 - Henry Kissinger and Harvard

00:16:32 - Reconciliation Work in South Africa

00:20:20 - Is Anxiety an Opportunity?

00:27:54 - Anxiety in American Politics

00:39:20 - Are Institutions Multipliers of Humanity?

00:43:44 - The "How" vs. The "What" of Politics

00:50:21 - Curtis Navigates Cynicism

00:54:23 - Pessimism, Hope, and the Resurrection

00:59:40 - The Practice of Contemplative Prayer

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Listen to episodes and follow No Small Endeavor
• Lee C. Camp's Scandalous Witness: A Little Political Manifesto for Christians
• Curtis Chang & Nancy French's The After Party: Toward Better Christian Politics
• Curtis Chang's The Anxiety Opportunity: How Worry Is the Doorway to Your Best Self

Projects and Courses:

• Video Course: The After Party
• Video Course: The Anxiety Opportunity

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The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.

What Does the Confederacy's Legacy Mean for the Modern South and Christian America?

Host Curtis Chang and New York Times columnist, and Good Faith podcast "founding friend," David French confront the enduring power of the Confederate myth. David reflects on growing up as a white Southerner in a culture shaped by Confederate symbols, revisionist history, racial injustice, and a deeply rooted shame-and-honor code. Curtis, a Chinese American immigrant, brings an outsider's perspective that challenges familiar assumptions about heritage, memory, and belonging. Together, they examine Confederate monuments, the theological defenses of slavery, the meaning of "heritage, not hate," and whether honest historical reckoning can lead to redemption and reconciliation.

02:51 - Curtis Congratulates David on the Birth of His Latest Grandchild

05:54 - Why Does the Confederacy Still Matter?

10:12 - The South's Distinct Cultural Cohesion

22:19 - "Heritage, Not Hate": A White Southern Perspective

29:52 - Race, Religion, and Revisionism in the South

42:13 - The Resurgence of Explicit Racism

47:20 - What to Do with Confederate Memorials

56:32 - Repenting of Southern Shame-Honor Culture

01:01:32 - Institutions Founded on Injustice Can Carry Spiritual Darkness

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Mentioned in This Episode:

• Learn about the Tulsa Race Massacre
• Learn about The Great Migration
• Watch MLK50 Conference (video)
• More about General George H. Thomas
• More about the Southern Baptist Convention and slavery
• What is Kinism
• More about the South's resistance to Reconstruction
• Read the Civil Rights Act of 1964
• Watch: Selma and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (video)

Scriptures:

• Ephesians 6:12 (ESV)
• Colossians 2:15 (ESV)
• Luke 10:25–37 (ESV)
• Matthew 20:16 (ESV)
• Matthew 10:39 (ESV)

More From David French:

• David French's New York Times pieces HERE
• Follow David French on Threads

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The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.

What can Protestants learn from the Catholic tradition?

Host Curtis Chang and The Atlantic writer and former White House staffer Pete Wehner explore how Catholic social teaching—from subsidiarity and solidarity to the preferential option for the poor—offers a rich framework for Christian public life. They consider the limits of sola scriptura, unpack the importance of intellectual rigor, and define Christian humanism. Curtis and Pete also contrast the public faith of Pope Leo XIV and Vice President JD Vance, asking why faithful Christian witness should shape how believers respond to artificial intelligence and other challenges of our time.

02:31 - Does Catholic Theology Meet a Protestant Need?

04:41 - Tradition Is Powerful

08:43 - Does Sola Scriptura Have Limits?

10:19 - Protestant Traditions and Discernment

13:54 - Catholicism's Robust Frameworks

17:08 - Reclaiming Tradition for Protestants

21:36 - Embracing the Life of the Mind

27:22 - Christian Humanism fand 21st Century Questions

30:08 - A Protestant-Catholic Convergence

37:42 - Comparing Visions: JD Vance and Pope Leo

41:16 - The Power of a Faithful Witness

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Referenced in the Episode:

• Pete Wehner's article American Christians Face a Choice
• Learn about the seven themes of Catholic social teaching
• Carl F. H. Henry's The Uneasy Conscience of Modern Fundamentalism
• Alan Jacobs's The Year of Our Lord 1943: Christian Humanism in an Age of Crisis
• Christian Wiman's My Bright Abyss
• John F. Kennedy's 1960 address to Protestant ministers in Houston (video)
• Pope Leo XIV's encyclical on artificial intelligence, Magnifica Humanitas
• Pope Leo XIII's encyclical on capital and labor, Rerum Novarum
• Daniel K. Williams on J.D. Vances' Communion What Type of Christian is J. D. Vance?
• Miroslav Volf on Forgiveness, Justice, and Reconciliation (video)
• Miroslav Volf & Christian Wiman's Glimmerings

Scriptures Referenced:

• Psalm 127:3–5 (ESV)
• Acts 2:42–47 (ESV)
• Luke 4:1–13 (ESV)

More from Pete Wehner:

• Pete Wehner's articles at The Atlantic
• Pete Wehner's opinion pieces at The New York Times

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The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.

The Odyssey Isn't About Monsters. It's About Trust.

Before Christopher Nolan brings The Odyssey to the big screen, Curtis Chang and Jessica Hooten Wilson revisit Homer's ancient epic to ask what the story is really about: monsters, homecoming, and the search for truth among intentional lies. They explore why reading The Odyssey still matters in the age of film and AI, how Odysseus forces us to ask who we can trust, and what Christians can learn from Greek myths and pagan gods about the one true God revealed in Scripture.

03:53 - Reading the Homer vs. Watching Matt Damon

05:38 - When to Read the Book First?

11:06 - How "The Odyssey" Changes with the Reader

13:32 - Did A Woman Really Write The Odyssey?

16:50 - What Is The Unreliable Narrator?

23:23 - The Psychological Impact of an Unreliable Narrator

31:27 - A Christian Approach to Greek Mythology

34:37 - Understanding The Greco-Roman Culture of Jesus

41:36 - The Irreplaceable Human Elements of Teaching Literature in the Age of AI

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Mentioned in This Episode:

• Homer's The Odyssey (Stanley Lombardo's translation)
• Homer's The Iliad
• Nadya Williams's Christians Reading the Classics
• Yann Martel's Son of Nobody
• Yann Martel's Life of Pi
• Edith Hamilton's Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes
• Neil Gaiman's Norse Mythology
• Natalie Haynes's Pandora's Jar: Women in the Greek Myths
• Christopher Nolan's Memento (trailer)
• David Fincher's Fight Club (trailer)
• An Introduction to 1 and 2 Samuel (The story of King David)

More From Jessica Hooten Wilson:

• Jessica Hooten Wilson's website
• Explore Jessica's books HERE
• Read articles and Essay by Jessica HERE

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The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.

What Does America's 250th Birthday Mean for Its Future and Our Faith?

To celebrate America's 250th birthday, Curtis Chang is joined by his The After Party partners David French and Russell Moore to ask how Christians should think about patriotism, democracy, and national identity in a divisive age. Comparing the optimism of the 1976 Bicentennial with today's fractured political climate, they explore America's founding ideals, the promises and failures of liberty and equality, the relationship between Christianity and the American experiment, and the dangers of Christian nationalism. Together, they answer listener questions and offer a vision for faithful civic engagement — one marked by gratitude without idolatry, honesty without despair, and allegiance to Christ above every nation.

00:34 - Introduction to America's 250th Birthday

02:07 - Comparing the 250th with the Bicentennial

09:18 - America's Gifts to the World

16:16 - Was America Founded as a Christian Nation?

25:13 - The Pull of Christian Nationalism

29:29 - Project 2025 & What True American Renewal Requires

36:07 - A Bottom Up Christian Influence on Government

40:30 - Politics is Downstream from Culture

45:14 - Guidance for Pastors on the 250th

48:24 - America's Historical Role in the World

52:22 - Defining Christian Patriotism

58:03 - A Closing Prayer For Our Country

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More to Listen to:

• Good Faith 199 – David French asks: What the Heck Is a Christian Nationalist?
• Good Faith 181 – Can the Church Resist Political Extremism Again? With Paul D. Miller
• Good Faith 36 – The Religion of American Greatness
• Good Faith 207 – N.T. Wright Explains Ephesians: The Church, Christian Nationalism, and the Armor of God

Referenced in the Episode:

• Remembering the American Bicentennial Celebration
• Remembering Operation Sail
• Remembering the Miracle on Ice
• Article: Christian Nationalism's Dark Forebears by David French
• Ben Rhodes' All We Say: The Battle for American Identity: A History in 15 Speeches
• Jon Meacham's American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House
• Legal Philosophy and the Founding Fathers
• James Madison's Memorial and Remonstrance Against Religious Assessments
• Who was the minister, Roger Williams?
• John Locke's influence and Christian faith & legal philosophy of the American founding
• The story of Thomas Jefferson & Rev. John Leland
• Understanding Frederick Douglass and the Constitution
• Article: How Viktor Orbán's Hungary Eroded the Rule of Law and Free Markets
• PEPFAR: President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief
• Who is Freddy, the German?

Scriptures Referenced:

• 1 Timothy 2:1–6 (ESV)
• John 18:36 (ESV)
• Colossians 1:15–17 (ESV)
• Micah 6:8 (ESV)
• Luke 3:12–14 (ESV)
• Philippians 3:20 (ESV)

More From David French:

• David French's New York Times pieces HERE
• Follow David French on Threads

More From Russell Moore:

• Sign up for Russell Moore's weekly newsletter Moore to the Point
• Listen to The Russell Moore Show (podcast)

Follow Us:

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The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.

How Are Protestants Navigating a Moral and Spiritual Vacuum in Evangelicalism?

Host Curtis Chang talks with former White House staffer and Atlantic columnist Pete Wehner about why Pope Leo XIV is resonating with Protestants and evangelicals despite historic theological divides. Together, they explore the Pope's moral leadership while contrasting his dignified, intellectually grounded public witness with Donald Trump's increasingly erratic influence on evangelical political culture. The conversation examines a perceived spiritual leadership vacuum within Protestantism and calls pastors, congregations, and followers of Jesus to cultivate beauty, goodness, and truth as a long-term path toward renewing Christian public witness.

00:34 - Introduction to Pope Leo XIV's Influence

02:29 - Is There a Protestant Appreciation for Catholicism?

03:59 - What Is This Pope's Impact on Public Theology?

06:06 - Papal Influence in Past Administrations

11:19 - The Collapse of Evangelical Public Theology

14:18 - Can Protestants Still Exert Moral Influence?

21:16 - The "Mad King" and Trump's Cognitive Decline

28:42 - What Can Pastors Do?

32:00 - The Importance of Beauty, Goodness, and Truth

37:08 - What Is The Pope's Transcendent Influence?

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Referenced in the Episode:

• Pete Wehner's article "The American Pope vs. the American President"
• Pete Wehner's article "The Apotheosis of Donald Trump"
• Pope Leo XIV's Encyclical Letter: Magnifica Humanitas
• The Madness of King George (YouTube free with ads)
• David Bentley Hart's The Beauty of the Infinite
• Wordsworth's The Prelude, Book 14
• Good Faith's course: The After Party

Scriptures Referenced:

• 1 Timothy 3 (ESV)
• Titus 1 (ESV)

Protestant and Catholic Leaders Referenced:

• Pope John Paul II
• Pope Benedict XVI
• Pope Francis
• Reinhold Niebuhr
• C.S. Lewis
• Billy Graham
• Dietrich Bonhoeffer
• John Stott
• Karl Barth
• Oliver O'Donovan
• Rowan Williams
• Dr. Tim Keller

More from Pete Wehner:

• Pete Wehner's articles at The Atlantic
• Pete Wehner's opinion pieces at The New York Times

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Good Faith on X (formerly Twitter)

Good Faith on Facebook

The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.

How Can Freedom, Faith, and the Fight Beyond A Holiday Shape Us?

Host Curtis Chang talks with sociologist Dr. Angel Adams Parham about the history of Juneteenth, from the 1865 emancipation announcement in Galveston, Texas, to its meaning for American freedom, racial justice, and collective memory. Together, they explore the spiritual resilience of the Black church, its influence on Christian theology and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and why Juneteenth matters for all Americans. They also consider how Christians can celebrate Juneteenth with both joy and historical honesty.

02:05 - The Historical Story of Juneteenth

05:11 - What Were the Limitations of the Emancipation Proclamation?

09:28 - An American Pattern of Incomplete Freedom

13:34 - How Do We Preserve the Meaning of Juneteenth?

19:24 - The Pain of Historical Erasure & Cultural Setbacks

23:43 - Scripture as a Freedom Narrative Fostering Resilience

29:22 - The Universal Longing To Be Free

32:06 - The Black Church's Contribution to the Christian Story

35:54 - Embodied Practices for Juneteenth

39:09 - The Spiritual Promise of "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot"

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Referenced in the Episode:

• Transcript of The Emancipation Proclamation
• Union General Gordon Granger's announcement: General Order No. 3
• Claude Atcho's Reading Black Books
• Frederick Douglass' "What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?" (pdf)
• Transcription of an interview with ex-slave Felix Haywood
• Reggie L. Williams' Bonhoeffer's Black Jesus
• Phillis Wheatley's letter to Rev. Samson Occom
• James Weldon Johnson's poem Lift Every Voice and Sing
• Manhattan Harmony Four's recording Lift Every Voice And Sing
• The Fisk University Quartet's Swing Low, Sweet Chariot

Scriptures Referenced:

• Exodus 12:31–15:21 (ESV)
• Isaiah 61 (ESV)
• Leviticus 25 (ESV)
• Luke 4:14–30 (ESV)

More From Dr. Angel Adams Parham:

• Dr. Parham's bio: the University of Virginia
• Dr. Parham's Website
• Dr. Parham's book The Black Intellectual Tradition: Reading Freedom in Classical Literature

Follow Us:

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The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.