The Cartographers

When the world feels unstable, we double-down on fear and tribalism. Beauty is an antidote to culture war fear. Hear one New York writer's story of conversion and how the Christian gospel is more solid than secularism in this episode with Susannah Black Roberts.You can follow Suzannah Black Roberts on Twitter, Plough, or read her Substack with husband, Alistair Roberts.Resources mentioned: "Babette's Feast"CS Lewis, Surprised by JoyOther episodes in this series:Episode 1: Stuck in the MiddleEpisode 2: How'd we Get Stuck in the Middle?Episode 3: A Culture War Alternative with Mark LabbertonEpisode 4: Agent of Grace or Culture War Victim with Dan DarlingEpisode 5: What if Culture Wars are your Work? with Pete WehnerThe Cartographers is a production of Willowbrae Institute. Find out more at willowbrae.org. Be sure to signup for Willowbrae's newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When your job is politics, how do you get away from the rhetoric and tribalism of the culture wars? In this episode, Bryce Hales and Ashley Hales talk with Peter Wehner, a contributing editor for The Atlantic and a former presidential speech writer, about navigating culture war topics.Pete Wehner is a Senior Fellow at Trinity Forum @trinityforum; he writes for @nytimes & @TheAtlantic. He has worked in Reagan/Bush41 administrations and Bush43 White House. He’s also the author of The Death of Politics.Resources mentioned: Pete's work in The AtlanticJames Davison Hunter, Culture Wars"Four Forces Bind Trump's Supporters More than Ever," AtlanticFor more on Mark Labberton, listen to our episode with him on the beauty of exileOther episodes in this series:Episode 1: Stuck in the MiddleEpisode 2: How'd we Get Stuck in the Middle?Episode 3: A Culture War Alternative with Mark LabbertonEpisode 4: Agent of Grace or Culture War Victim with Dan DarlingThe Cartographers is a production of Willowbrae Institute. Find out more at willowbrae.org. Be sure to signup for Willowbrae's newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What happens if you've been a victim of the culture war? When Daniel Darling was fired from a prominent evangelical organization, he knew he needed not to capitulate to the culture wars, but to find a robust unity. His newest book, Agents of Grace, embodies one way to move beyond warring factionalism and embody the gospel Christians believe.Be sure to listen to the series to chart your way through the culture wars.Resources mentioned:Dan's book, Agents of GraceDan's CNN appearanceKeller's Center ChurchNiebuhr on 4 postures (synopsis by Brad East at Mere Orthodoxy)Adventures in Evangelical Civility, MouwMark of a Christian, SchaefferNon-Anxious Presence, SayersRene Girard on currency of victimhood (summary at Washington Examiner) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Need an alternative to online culture warmongering? On this episode, Bryce Hales and Ashley Hales talk with Mark Labberton, President Emeritus of Fuller Theological Seminary, about how exile is the paradigm we need for this cultural moment. Be sure to listen, subscribe and share. We'd love if you shared these episodes with a friend or family member as a starting point for conversation.Be sure to head to Willowbrae Institute to sign up for our newsletter and get a free pdf to help you process the "culture wars." Resources mentioned and other episodes in this series:Episode 1: Stuck in the MiddleEpisode 2: How'd we Get Stuck in the Middle?Mark Labberton's lecture "Beauty in Exile"Willowbrae newsletter signupThe Cartographers is a production of Willowbrae Institute. Find out more at willowbrae.org. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this series, "Stuck in the Middle," we're talking to leaders like you who feel pulled into multiple directions in the latest iteration of the culture wars. (Here's the first episode if you missed out on that).On this episode, Bryce Hales and Ashley Hales talk about the questions they bring to the table, the origin of the term "culture wars", what's involved (and get a short literary history in the process) and how a leader can actually lead through cultural change without capitulating. Be sure to listen, subscribe and share. Consider using these episodes as a starting point for conversation.Be sure to head to Willowbrae Institute to sign up for our newsletter and get a free pdf to help you process the "culture wars." Resources mentioned: James Davison Hunter, Culture WarsJames Hunter, To Change the WorldJonathan Haidt, The Righteous MindMark Sayers, A Non-Anxious PresenceWillowbrae newsletter signupThe Cartographers is a production of Willowbrae Institute. Find out more at willowbrae.org. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you feel like you're stuck in the middle of polarization, disinformation, and decision fatigue this new series on the "culture wars" is for you!In this short intro, Bryce Hales and Ashley Hales share some of their hopes to help guide the conversation around partisanship and tribalism so that leaders can chart a pathway through the culture wars. In this series, you'll get more from thoughtful leaders and practitioners so you'll have a framework to move beyond being "stuck in the middle" to live faithfully in this moment in time.Subscribe and share so you don't miss an episode!Resources mentioned:Culture Wars by James Davison HunterThe Righteous Mind by Jonathan HaidtThe Cartographers is a production of Willowbrae Institute. Find out more at willowbrae.org. The Cartographers is hosted by Bryce Hales and Ashley Hales and mixed and edited by Nathan Michel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How can we get out of bed each morning? Alan Noble's On Getting Out of Bed is a gentle reminder to do the next right thing when you or someone you love experiences mental affliction. In this conversation, Bryce Hales and Ashley Hales talk about Alan's work, what the redemption of Jesus means for depression and anxiety, and how to move beyond performing our pain.Resources mentioned:Alan's latest book, On Getting Out of BedAlan's other books: Disruptive Witness and You are Not Your OwnAshley's latest book, A Spacious LifeLinks are affiliate links.The Cartographers is a production of Willowbrae Institute. Find out more at willowbrae.org. The Cartographers is hosted by Bryce Hales and Ashley Hales and mixed and edited by Nathan Michel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How do modernity, technology, brain science, and spiritual formation work together? In this wide-ranging and fascinating conversation, Bryce and Ashley sit down with Curt Thompson, MD, who deftly combines interpersonal neurobiology and Christian faith. We talk about institutions, the lack of fruitfulness amongst Christians, and developing a Christian imagination. A must-listen: practical, thoughtful, warm-hearted and help for you to live with your people and in your place.Resources Mentioned:Curt's latest book, The Soul of DesireCurt's website and podcastMark Oppenheimer, "The Schools that Ban Smartphones," The AtlanticThe Cartographers is a production of Willowbrae Institute. Find out more at willowbrae.org. The Cartographers is hosted by Bryce Hales and Ashley Hales and mixed and edited by Nathan Michel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Can the church be a place for disillusioned people? In this conversation, Bryce Hales and Ashley Hales talk with Sara Billups about the ways consumer-driven and end-times-focused Christian belief shaped a generation. Listen in for thoughtful commentary and a way forward.Resources mentioned:Sara Billups, Orphaned Believers: How a Generation of Christian Exiles can Find the Way HomeLeigh Stein, "The Empty Religions of Instagram," NYTFind out more about Sara on her website.The Cartographers is a production of Willowbrae Institute. Find out more at willowbrae.org. The Cartographers is hosted by Bryce Hales and Ashley Hales and mixed and edited by Nathan Michel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bryce Hales and Ashley Hales interview Christopher Watkin about the story the bible tells as an interpretative lens. We speak about the issue of critical theory, how his book Biblical Critical Theory is useful, and how it might help us over and against a culture war lens.LINKSChristopher Watkin's book, Biblical Critical TheoryFind out more about Christopher on his websiteThe Cartographers is a production of Willowbrae Institute. Find out more at willowbrae.org. The Cartographers is hosted by Bryce Hales and Ashley Hales and mixed and edited by Nathan Michel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices