We like to do segments that highlight people who are doing civility right, and it’s pretty special when we see Biola students who are doing it right. On today’s episode, Tim speaks with one of his students, Markus, who is also a film major at Biola. Markus wrote and directed a short film, “Halfway,” that addresses the animosity and reconciliation between two families, Israeli and Palestinian. Tim and Markus also reflect on the role of film in helping to foster perspective-taking, including Markus’s stint as an intern on the set on the wildly popular tv series, The Chosen.Show notes and a full transcript are available.

On today’s episode, Rachel Gilson speaks with Tim about sexuality, same-sex attraction, and living faithfully as a follower of Jesus. The conversation dips into Rachel’s journey in coming to faith, being attracted to the same-sex and yet choosing to follow the Bible’s teaching on sexuality, considerations of sexuality for discipleship, and what the Church is doing well and not doing well with transgender and LGBTQ communities. Show notes and a full transcript are available.

We regularly host episodes speaking with people who are doing civility right. These “Reports From The Front” provide insights and illustrations from people who are practicing civility and conviction in the day to day. On this episode, Tim and Mark Muha, Vice President for Student Development at Biola University, reflect on a recent learning experience they went through that involved engaging their political opposite. Tim and Mark discuss and unpack some of the stigmas people have with “conservative” and “Christian,” the need for nuance and humor, and leading with curiosity when listening to another’s personal story.Show notes and a full transcript are available.

Dr. Rebecca McLaughlin (Ph.D. Cambridge University) joins today's episode to speak with Tim on how to engage challenging questions and challenging people. Through the course of the conversation they consider such questions as: How can persuasion be an act of love? When can challenging a person’s belief be a sign of respect? What are the telltale signs that someone is listening to you? And what might loving and respectful engagement look like in contentious topics such as homosexuality and abortion? If Jesus is the truth and the life, this should shape the manner in which Christians engage with others, especially when we engage with people who do not believe in the claims of Christianity. Show notes and a full transcript are available.

Chris McKinney, co-author of the book Neighborhoods Reimagined, is back on the podcast to speak with Tim and Mike on the surprising relevance of the beatitudes for being better neighbors. They also talk about a litmus test for gauging individualism, the challenges of “having time,” and Chris shares stories on the role of food in bringing people together, including a food event they creatively call “Bite of the World.”Show notes and a full transcript are available.

Recent surveys say less than half of Americans trust their neighbors. What might be some of the reasons for this erosion of trust? On today’s episode, Chris McKinney, co-author of the book Neighborhoods Reimagined, speaks with Tim and Mike on some of factors contributing to healthy and unhealthy neighborly relations, and they discuss the surprising relevance of the beatitudes. Chris also shares some of the practical steps he and his family are taking to build trust with their neighbors and the lessons they have learned.Show notes and a full transcript are available.

The presidential election is about to happen, so Tim and Rick take time on this episode to reflect on our cultural moment. They share ideas for having perspective, provide tips for speaking with people who are affiliated with another political party, and emphasize the need for the Church to preserve her integrity regardless of the candidate who becomes president elect.Show notes and a full transcript are available. 

Do people even want to engage in civil discourse? How does myside bias keep us from engaging others? On today’s episode, Mike and Tim discuss these questions and more as they discuss some of the motivations in writing End the Stalemate: Move Past Cancel Culture to Meaningful Conversations, a recently published book that Tim co-authored with Sean McDowell.Show notes and a full transcript are available.

Mike Ahn (Ph.D.), Dean of Spiritual Development at Biola University, is also a new co-director with the Winsome Conviction Project, and we wanted to give you a chance you learn a bit about Mike on this episode. Tim and Mike play two truths and a lie; Mike talks about the role of spiritual formation for helping to foster civility; and they dig into some of the projects on campus Mike is leading that aim to promote faithfulness among undergraduate students, including a training on civility with Pomona College and Biola University.Show notes and a full transcript are available.

Why are we experiencing so much polarization in culture? A common answer is social media. But what is some of the reasoning on how social media contributes to polarization? Today on the episode, Tim and Rick speak with Michael Whitenton (Ph.D.) about three types of polarization that social media incites - ideological, perceived, and affective. Michael also talks about the books and resources he uses for a course he teaches to undergraduate students on how to have courageous conversations in divided times, and they get into some of the hard realities of fostering bridge building conversations in public spaces.Show notes and a full transcript are available.