In Good Faith

How can we find joy in immense hardship? Join Douglas Abrams as he takes us on a journey of searching for truth, recounting his experience in learning from Archbishop Desmond Tutu and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Douglas Abrams is an author, editor, and producer. He co-wrote The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World with the His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, which inspired the film MISSION: JOY, which is now on Netflix. He also co-wrote The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times with Jane Goodall. He has coauthored many bestselling non-fiction books and has written two novels.

Krista Tippett discusses her experience responding to the call to listen by bringing faith to public radio. Join us as we learn from her about revering mystery, finding meaning in difficult times, and pushing broadcasting boundaries. Krista Tippett is a Peabody-award winning broadcaster, National Humanities Medalist, and New York Times bestselling author. She created and hosts On Being. Krista grew up in a small town in Oklahoma, attended Brown University, worked as a young journalist and diplomat in Cold War Berlin, and later received a Master of Divinity from Yale. Her books are Speaking of Faith, Einstein’s God and, most recently, Becoming Wise: An Inquiry into the Mystery and Art of Living.

Can faith hold up to questioning? Join Steve as he talks with Jimmy Akin, an apologist for the Catholic faith. He fields a variety of questions from all kinds of people, and vows to find the answers. Jimmy Akin is an internationally known author and speaker. He is the senior apologist at Catholic Answers, and he has more than thirty years of experience defending and explaining the Faith. He is a convert to the Faith and has an extensive background in the Bible, theology, the Church Fathers, philosophy, canon law, and liturgy.

How can we combine our faith and heritage? Cindy Quinney discusses her journey of merging her indigineous tradition and culture with her newfound faith. Cindy Quinney is the Executive Director of Gathering of Tribes, which works to meet the needs of Indigenous Latter-day Saints through producing media, organizing events, and serving communities. Cindy is an enrolled member of the Onion Lake Cree Nation. She lives in Calgary, Canada.

How can we serve the 'stranger'? Mark and Rabbi Erica Gerson are excellent examples of selflessly serving those not of their faith alongside missionaries who are not of their faith. They discuss the charitable work they do to help people in Africa receive the medical care that they need. Mark Gerson is a co-founder of African Mission Healthcare and the host of the podcast, the Rabbi’s Huband. He and his wife, Rabbi Erica Gerson, founded the L’Chaim Prize, an annual award for Outstanding Christian Medical Missionary Service. Go to https://africanmissionhealthcare.org/ to see how you can support their work.

Why is it so important to understand other religions? Imam Azhar Subedar discusses the problems that can be created when we only focus on stereotypes and ignore real people, and shares how he has worked to change some of the negative perceptions about his faith. Azhar Subedar has served as an Imam of multiple Masjids, currently serves as Imam of IACC, Plano, TX, and his religious expertise has been consulted by governments ranging from Florida to the White House.

How can we love the outgroup? Kelly James Clark talks about the difficulties of loving those who are different than us, and shares stories of when his neighbors helped him develop that love. Kelly James Clark is currently Senior Research Fellow at the Kaufman Interfaith Institute and Professor at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is the author of Raging Fire of Love: what I’ve learned from Jesus, the Jews, and the Prophet.

What does Jewish perspective bring to the New Testament? AJ Levine talks about her studies of the New Testament as a Jew, why she chooses to study it, and what benefits that brings to her and those she teaches. Amy-Jill Levine is a professor of New Testament and Jewish studies. She is a prolific writer and has authored many books about the New Testament, including The Gospel of John: A Beginners Guide to the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Chris and Julie Bennett talk about their experience moving across the country, dealing with cancer, and fighting for family, all the while led by their faith! They speak to how we need to share our whole selves in order to know and be known, in order to heal and change with God. Chris Bennett is a writer and the pastor of Vintage Church in Malibu, California. Julie Bennett is a writer, speaker, and two-time cancer survivor from Edmond, Oklahoma. Together they run their own production company, Welcome Home Entertainment. Chris and Julie have four kids, Beau, Nate, Brooks, and Joy. They recently wrote a book called Fighting for Family.

How can we become more complete? Jamal Rahman talks about doing the inner inconvenient work of being a Sufi to become a more developed human. He also comments on his time with the Three Amigos promoting interfaith work! Imam Jamal Rahman is a popular speaker and author of numerous books on Islam, Sufi spirituality, and Interfaith relations. Along with the Interfaith Amigos, he has been featured in the New York Times, CBS News, BBC, and various NPR programs. Jamal is co-founder and Muslim Sufi Imam at Interfaith Community Sanctuary, and adjunct faculty at Seattle University.

What are key beliefs in the most ancient world religion? Listen as Steve talks with Arman Ariane about how he came to Zoroastrianism, what it is, and how it guides him to be more God-like. Arman Ariane is a businessman from Claremont, California who was previously the President of the California Zoroastrian Center. He is currently a council member on the Zoroastrian Studies Council at Claremont Graduate University and speaks on Zoroastrianism all over the United States. He appeared in Morgan Freeman's National Geographic documentary series "The Story of God."

Can we see the divine in everyone? Kathleen Messina talks about ministering as a chaplain in the Harris County prison system; she asks us to recognize Christ in our daily interactions with everyone, including those we can't imagine ourselves having anything in common with. For her, it was those in prison. Kathleen Messina is the Director of the Spiritual Direction Institute at the Emmaus Spirituality Center. She also works as a chaplain in the Harris County Jail. She is an active minister in her parish—St. Angela Merici Catholic Church in Missouri City, TX.

How can we renew our spiritual practices? Mark Glanville talks "Improvising Church", his most recent book, with ideas ranging from the need for a 'leader-full' community to how we can best find our individual gifts from God. Mark shares insights about the flexibility and creativity encouraged by both faith and jazz traditions and highlights the significance of embracing one's unique gifts to contribute meaningfully to their 'incarnational community.' Mark R. Glanville (PhD, Bristol University) is associate professor of pastoral theology at Regent College, Vancouver, and an Old Testament scholar. He is also a jazz musician, and you'll hear some of his music in this episode!

Does jazz music have a place in church? Join Steve and William G. Carter as they talk about community, improvisation, and - that's right - jazz! Carter's journey highlights how God opens unexpected doors, integrating his musical talents with his ministry. He shares insights from his book 'Thriving on a Riff', exploring the communal aspects of jazz and church communities. William G. Carter maintains a dual career as a jazz pianist and a Presbyterian minister. He is the pastor and head of staff at the First Presbyterian Church of Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania, and the leader of the Presbybop Quartet.

Is it ever too late to learn more about your faith? Join Mary Lahaj as she tells Steve about her experience turning to God during a low point in her life. After growing up having not learned much about Islam, her family's religion, she tells about her journey to learning more. Mary Lahaj currently lives in Lowell, Massachusetts, and works as a professional freelance writer for a prominent law firm in Boston. Over the years, she has reimagined religion, not as an organized institution, but as an open question. In Bird on a Wire, her recent memoir, she makes a compelling case to her readers to do the same.

How can we approach faith with the head and heart? In this episode, Justin Brierley talks with Steven about how he faces opposing views to Christianity intellectually and emotionally. After hearing so many arguments for aetheism, he shares how his faith has been shaped and strengthened. Justin is a freelance writer, speaker and broadcaster who creates dialogue between Christians and non-Christians around faith, science, theology and culture. He aims to showcase an intellectually compelling case for Christianity, while taking seriously the questions and objections of sceptics.

Mina Thomas Brett, Ashley Hess, and Isaiah Bailey from 'the King will come' chat with Steve about how their faith has evolved along side the development of their worship ensemble 'the King will come.' This episode includes 5 songs from the group, recorded live in the In Good Faith studios, and performed by Jake Hansen, Isaiah Bailey, Tamy Stevens, Ashley Hess, Mina Thomas Brett, Sean Stevens, Brie Ray Aupiu, Garon Brett, Joseph Moore, with Miles Mann on piano. You can watch the performances on our YouTube channel.

In this episode we learn about finding spiritual direction through the mind, the word, and our communities. How do those three areas of our lives help us encounter God? Join Julie Goates, Steve, Josh, James, Alia, and Heather as we learn together. Juliana Boerio-Goates is a retired professor of chemistry at BYU, where she was named a Karl G. Maeser Professor of General Education for her contributions in the classroom. Dr. Boerio-Goates belongs to the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Orem, where she has been active in leadership positions, including coordinator of the first Christmas Eve Midnight Mass celebrated at the Provo LDS Tabernacle. She and her husband, Steven R. Goates, are the parents of two children.

What does the monastic life require? Join Steve as he asks four monks at the Holy Cross Abbey about how they got there, what it's like, and why they stay. Father James, Brother Paul, Brother John, and Brother Efrain speak about the faith experiences that support them day to day and how they see themselves as active in the lives of other through prayer, chant, work, and service.

How can we find peace in a busy world? Join Joan Burda as she tells Steve about her experience at a 5-day silent worship retreat, and why she goes back yearly--despite not professing a religion. Joan M. Burda is a writer, Anne Lister Codebreaker, and retired lawyer. She writes for online and print publications on a variety of issues including legal, travel, and retirement. She also writes reviews for the New York Journal of Books.