Between Faith & Reason with Dr. Jeff Lawrence
Foundation Academy
Explore the intersection of faith and reason in shaping families and communities. Hosted by Foundation Academy in partnership with West Orange Observer, "Between Faith & Reason" delves into meaningful conversations about how these two pillars guide our lives, strengthen relationships, and inspire growth. Each episode features thoughtful dialogue with leaders, educators, and community members dedicated to integrating faith and logic in today’s world.
About the Host: Dr. Jeff Lawrence
Jeff Lawrence, a Florida native born and raised in Orlando, seamlessly blends faith and reason to engage a diverse audience in meaningful conversations. With degrees in pharmacology and music from Mississippi College, Jeff's multifaceted background includes performing at Walt Disney World and hosting Disney's Super Star Television Show.
He earned a Master of Divinity in Old Testament and Hebrew from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and has served in churches across Atlanta, Orlando, and Tennessee. Notably, Jeff directed Orlando's renowned Singing Christmas Trees for eleven years, gaining national attention from ABC's Good Morning America, The Wall Street Journal, and USA Today.
As the Director of Spiritual Development at Foundation Academy, Jeff has a doctorate in apologetics and theology from Liberty University's Rawlings School of Divinity. His extensive work in apologetics and worldview analysis has equipped him to address complex questions, fostering thoughtful dialogue that resonates with both faith-based and secular listeners.
In Between Faith and Reason, Jeff invites all individuals, regardless of background or beliefs, to explore life's profound questions through engaging discussions that bridge the gap between spirituality and rational thought. Collaborating with the West Orange Observer, this podcast seeks to encourage critical thinking, provide fresh perspectives, and highlight the compelling case for faith in an age of skepticism.
Beyond his professional endeavors, Jeff cherishes time with his wife of 31 years, Lisa, and their two children, Jacob and Kate. An avid outdoorsman and private pilot, he enjoys embarking on new adventures with family and friends.
About the Host: Dr. Jeff Lawrence
Jeff Lawrence, a Florida native born and raised in Orlando, seamlessly blends faith and reason to engage a diverse audience in meaningful conversations. With degrees in pharmacology and music from Mississippi College, Jeff's multifaceted background includes performing at Walt Disney World and hosting Disney's Super Star Television Show.
He earned a Master of Divinity in Old Testament and Hebrew from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and has served in churches across Atlanta, Orlando, and Tennessee. Notably, Jeff directed Orlando's renowned Singing Christmas Trees for eleven years, gaining national attention from ABC's Good Morning America, The Wall Street Journal, and USA Today.
As the Director of Spiritual Development at Foundation Academy, Jeff has a doctorate in apologetics and theology from Liberty University's Rawlings School of Divinity. His extensive work in apologetics and worldview analysis has equipped him to address complex questions, fostering thoughtful dialogue that resonates with both faith-based and secular listeners.
In Between Faith and Reason, Jeff invites all individuals, regardless of background or beliefs, to explore life's profound questions through engaging discussions that bridge the gap between spirituality and rational thought. Collaborating with the West Orange Observer, this podcast seeks to encourage critical thinking, provide fresh perspectives, and highlight the compelling case for faith in an age of skepticism.
Beyond his professional endeavors, Jeff cherishes time with his wife of 31 years, Lisa, and their two children, Jacob and Kate. An avid outdoorsman and private pilot, he enjoys embarking on new adventures with family and friends.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Apr 29, 2025 • 52min
The Epidemic of Loneliness with Guest Author Tim DeTellis
This week, host Jeff Lawrence addresses the rarely talked-about epidemic of loneliness. His guest is the president of New Missions and author Tim DeTellis. Jeff and Time explore the possible causes of loneliness, such as a changing culture, technology, and the loss of interdependency on our communities. They also discuss potential solutions to overcome loneliness and what we can do to create a sense of community. Tim DeTellis serves as president of New Missions, a non-profit organization that helps families flourish. He graduated from Houghton College in New York with a degree in Communications. Tim advocates for National Good Neighbor Day, a movement to promote unity and togetherness by helping individuals practice the good neighbor mindset. An author of nine books, he travels frequently and speaks nationwide. Tim spoke for TEDx Eustis on 1/17/2020 and shared his talk titled: “Are you a good neighbor?” Tim enjoys bike rides around his neighborhood and playing the piano for fun.
Apr 22, 2025 • 40min
Adolescent Anxiety and Technology: Part II with Guest Mental Health Nilda Laguna
This week, host Jeff Lawrence sits with Foundation Academy Mental Health Therapist Nilda Laguna for Part II of adolescent anxiety and the possible contributions smart devices make to the causation. This week, they dig deeper into the causes and how to identify potential problems and strategies for combating dependency on smart devices. Nilda Laguna is a licensed mental health therapist and founder of Inspirational Therapy in Clermont, Florida. Originally from Miami, she brings over a decade of experience in the mental health field, including her work with the Department of Children and Families, and as a professor and counselor to psychology students.Nilda earned her Master’s degree in Psychology from Carlos Albizu University, graduating magna cum laude. Her practice is rooted in creating spaces of compassion, love, and acceptance, driven by her deep passion for helping others heal and grow.Outside of her professional work, Nilda is a mother of two amazing boys. She finds joy in exploring the fields of neuroscience, studying the life of Christ, and discovering new food experiences.The conversation is framed around the book The Anxious Generation; social psychologist Jonathan Haidt lays out the facts about the epidemic of teen mental illness that hit many countries at the same time. He then investigates the nature of childhood, including why children need play and independent exploration to mature into competent, thriving adults. Haidt shows how the “play-based childhood” began to decline in the 1980s and how it was finally wiped out by the arrival of the “phone-based childhood” in the early 2010s. He presents more than a dozen mechanisms by which this “great rewiring of childhood” has interfered with children’s social and neurological development, covering everything from sleep deprivation to attention fragmentation, addiction, loneliness, social contagion, social comparison, and perfectionism. He explains why social media damages girls more than boys and why boys have been withdrawing from the real world into the virtual world, with disastrous consequences for themselves, their families, and their societies. (*Amazon)
Apr 14, 2025 • 43min
Adolescent Anxiety and Technology with Guest Mental Health Nilda Laguna
This week, host Jeff Lawrence sits with Foundation Academy Mental Health Therapist Nilda Laguna to discuss adolescent anxiety and the possible contributions smart devices make in the causation. Nilda Laguna is a licensed mental health therapist and founder of Inspirational Therapy in Clermont, Florida. Originally from Miami, she brings over a decade of experience in the mental health field, including her work with the Department of Children and Families, and as a professor and counselor to psychology students.Nilda earned her Master’s degree in Psychology from Carlos Albizu University, graduating magna cum laude. Her practice is rooted in creating spaces of compassion, love, and acceptance, driven by her deep passion for helping others heal and grow.Outside of her professional work, Nilda is a mother of two amazing boys. She finds joy in exploring the fields of neuroscience, studying the life of Christ, and discovering new food experiences.The conversation is framed around the book The Anxious Generation; social psychologist Jonathan Haidt lays out the facts about the epidemic of teen mental illness that hit many countries at the same time. He then investigates the nature of childhood, including why children need play and independent exploration to mature into competent, thriving adults. Haidt shows how the “play-based childhood” began to decline in the 1980s and how it was finally wiped out by the arrival of the “phone-based childhood” in the early 2010s. He presents more than a dozen mechanisms by which this “great rewiring of childhood” has interfered with children’s social and neurological development, covering everything from sleep deprivation to attention fragmentation, addiction, loneliness, social contagion, social comparison, and perfectionism. He explains why social media damages girls more than boys and why boys have been withdrawing from the real world into the virtual world, with disastrous consequences for themselves, their families, and their societies. (*Amazon)
Apr 8, 2025 • 43min
Between Faith & Reason with Jeff Lawrence: Guest Orlando Native and retired WNBA player Krystal Thomas-Smith
This week, Jeff sits down with Orlando native and former Duke basketball star Krystal Thomas-Smith. Krystal shares her testimony of how she overcame profound adversity and how that led her to a more real and relevant relationship with Christ.
Apr 1, 2025 • 1h 2min
Between Faith & Reason with Jeff Lawrence: Guest Entrepreneur, Influencer, and Business Strategist Martha Krejci
In this episode of Between Faith & Reason, host Jeff Lawrence sits down with entrepreneur, influencer, and business strategist Martha Krejci. Once a successful tech executive, Martha left the corporate world behind to pursue a mission-driven approach to business that truly serves and empowers entrepreneurs at every level.Jeff and Martha dive into the shortcomings of traditional marketing models and why she felt called to create a new, more impactful way of doing business. They also explore the role of faith in entrepreneurship, discussing how Martha integrates her beliefs into her work with partners, clients, and her team. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone looking to build a purpose-driven business while staying true to their values.Tune in now to hear Martha’s insights on faith, business, and making a real difference in the marketplace!
Mar 25, 2025 • 55min
Between Faith & Reason with Jeff Lawrence: The intersection Between faith and business
Today's guest is Brandan Molthan, a native Orlando resident who owns and operates MCKINLEY Contracting in Windermere, Florida, and services all of Orlando and Central Florida. Jeff and Brandan discuss how his faith influences his relationships and practices in business.
Mar 18, 2025 • 30min
Introduction to Between Faith & Reason with Jeff Lawrence: Guest Mike Eng Editor and Publisher of The Observer
In the introductory episode of Between Faith & Reason, host Jeff Lawrence sits down with The Observer editor and publisher Mike Eng to discuss this endeavor between Foundation Academy and The Observer and explore the impact faith can and does have in our community.
Mar 10, 2025 • 5min
Between Faith & Reason with Jeff Lawrence an Introduction to the Show
Episode 1: Welcome to Between Faith and Reason with Jeff LawrenceWelcome to Between Faith and Reason, a weekly podcast exploring the intersection of faith and daily life in the Winter Garden, Florida, community. Hosted by Jeff Lawrence, this podcast will feature thought-provoking conversations on how faith shapes our families, schools, businesses, and local culture.In this inaugural episode, Jeff introduces the heart behind the podcast and explains what listeners can expect in the coming weeks. We’ll discuss faith's role in our community and how it influences how we live, work, and connect.Between Faith and Reason is brought to you by Foundation Academy, a private Christian school dedicated to academic excellence and spiritual growth, and The Observer, Winter Garden’s trusted hyper-local news source.Join us on this journey as we seek wisdom, challenge perspectives, and celebrate the role of faith in our everyday lives.Follow & Subscribe to stay updated on new episodes every week!#BetweenFaithAndReason #FaithInCommunity #WinterGardenFL #FoundationAcademy #TheObserver #ChristianPodcast
