Culture Matters

In this episode, Adam and Ty sit down with Rebecca McLaughlin to discuss her new book How Church Could (Literally) Save Your Life, which explores how regular involvement in a local church is linked with mental, physical, moral, and spiritual flourishing. Drawing on rigorous academic research (especially from Harvard School of Public Health), Rebecca outlines compelling findings: weekly attendance correlates with lower rates of depression, extended life expectancy, reduced deaths of despair, and more. She also addresses objections (such as church‑hurt, abuse, selection bias) and pivots to a theological framing: the church is more than an event — it is family.In This Episode01:00 – “church is our family”06:00 – Why this topic? The research behind the book08:00 – Stats: church attendance & health outcomes11:00 – Not prosperity gospel: deeper than health hacks12:00 – What about unhealthy churches?14:00 – Data controls: not just correlation16:00 – Theology: why worship matters18:00 – Church vs. self-optimization culture23:00 – Virtual vs. in-person: why weekly presence matters26:00 – Making church a real family29:00 – Marriage, singleness & spiritual kinship32:00 – Closing reflections & next stepsKey TakeawaysRegular attendance at church (once a week or more) is strongly correlated with improved mental health, longer life expectancy, and reduced risk of “deaths of despair.”The positive effect is not explained solely by social support.The church is not just “another activity” but a family.Making church family real may require simple but counter‑cultural practices.The research is not a guarantee of trouble‑free life or a health‑miracle; the gospel remains central — the church is for life in Christ, not just health benefits.For those who’ve been hurt in church: the invitation is not necessarily to abandon church, but to work toward healthy, safe, loving communities.Guest ResourcesHow Church Could Literally Save Your Life by Rebecca McLaughlinRebecca’s Website Confronting Christianity Podcast Follow Rebecca Follow Us!InstagramYoutube-- Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co. If you would like to sponsor this show, email sponsor@thegoodpodcast.co

In this episode, we welcome back Whitney Pipkin, who explores how artificial intelligence (AI) intersects with Christianity, the body, embodiment, and culture. Whitney draws on her background in environmental journalism and Christian thought to highlight the impacts of AI: its resource footprint, its effect on how we think, its influence on discipleship, and what it means for embodied Christian living in a disembodied age. The conversation covers both practical and theological questions—How does AI shape our habits, relationships, thinking? Are we just consumers of information, or are we being formed as creatures who live in bodies and communities? In This EpisodesAI’s Real-World Environmental CostsPower, Water, and the AI BoomTheological Accuracy in AI ModelsAI’s Influence on How We ThinkShould Christians Use AI Tools?Algorithms, Formation & DiscipleshipDisembodied Faith vs Embodied LifeDiscipleship Requires CommunityWhat AI Is Discipling Us IntoEmbodied Practices in a Digital AgeForecasting the Future of Tech & FaithDigital Monks or Missionaries?Limits, Attention & AccountabilityThe Body as a Theological WitnessKey TakeawaysAI isn’t neutral — it has real environmental, ethical, and spiritual consequences.Embodiment matters — we’re made to live, think, and relate in physical bodies, not just as online users.Formation over efficiency — spiritual growth comes through limits, relationships, and real-life discipleship.Question the tradeoffs — just because AI makes something easier doesn’t mean it’s good for us.Be distinct — Christians should live and think differently in a tech-driven, disembodied world.Follow WhitneyWebsite InstagramSubstackFollow Us!InstagramYoutube-- Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co. If you would like to sponsor this show, email sponsor@thegoodpodcast.co

In this enlightening discussion, Dr. Claudia MacMillian, founder of the Macmillan Institute and a scholar in literature, shares her insights on the 'myth of fact' and its impact on education and human experience. She emphasizes that isolated facts lack the fullness of truth and that context is crucial. Dr. MacMillian advocates for cultivating the poetic imagination to enrich our understanding and empathy, highlighting the importance of reading whole works and embracing mystery. She urges a shift from performance-based education to soul formation, preparing us to engage more deeply with life.

In this episode, Chelsea sits down with friends Ashley Hardcastle and Kaylee to explore the world of youth and amateur athletics, reflecting on their personal stories, the pressures and joys of competition, and how faith intersects with identity in the arena of sports and performance. They discuss what they loved, what they struggled with, and how they now seek to guide the next generation (whether as parents or mentors) toward a healthier, Christ‑centered perspective on activity, achievement, and belonging.In This Episode02:07 – Ashley’s story06:47 – Kaylee’s story14:59 – Reflecting on what was good22:28 – Discussion of parental/coach roles29:26 – Parenting advice38:32 – Coach/organization considerations49:56 – “What do we say to kids before and after games/performances?”54:26 – Final take‑awaysKey TakeawaysActivity is Not IdentityJoy & Pressure Often CoexistParents & Coaches Shape More Than SkillsFamily Health > Activity StackingWhat You Celebrate Shapes What They RememberMentioned ResourcesTake Back the Game: How Money and Mania Are Ruining Kids' Sports--and Why It Matters Follow Us!InstagramYoutube-- Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co. If you would like to sponsor this show, email sponsor@thegoodpodcast.co

Chelsea and Ty are joined in person by Robyn Bush to explore the deeply symbolic and often overlooked metaphor of Jesus as the Bridegroom. Drawing from Scripture, ancient Jewish wedding customs, and personal stories, they unpack how this image reshapes our understanding of intimacy with Christ—whether single, married, or widowed.In This Episode02:00 – Why This Topic: Book Club, Loss, and Curiosity04:30 – Isaiah 54:5 and the Tenderness of a Divine Husband07:00 – Ephesians 5 and the Weighty Call of Love and Submission10:00 – Single and Married: Living into the Picture of the Bride14:00 – Cultural Lenses & the Challenge of Bridegroom Language17:00 – Covenant, Death to Self, and Mutual Sacrifice20:00 – A Christian Vision of Marriage: “No Man Hates His Own Body”21:40 – Ancient Jewish Wedding Traditions & the Gospel Story30:00 – The Woman at the Well and the Bridegroom’s Pursuit34:00 – Genesis, Luke, and the Tender Choice of a Bride36:00 – Christ, the Second Adam, and the Bride from His Side38:00 – Why We Must Read the Bible with Eyes to See the BrideKey TakeawaysJesus as Bridegroom Is PersonalThe Bridegroom Chooses the BrokenMarriage Is Meant to Model the GospelThe Return of Christ Is a Wedding to AnticipateMentioned ResourcesJesus the Bridegroom: The Greatest Love Story Ever Told by Brant PitreThe Meaning of Marriage by Tim KellerFollow Us!InstagramYoutube-- Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co. If you would like to sponsor this show, email sponsor@thegoodpodcast.co

In this episode, Adam and Chelsea talk with Dr. Dani(elle) Treweek about her new book Single Ever After: A Biblical Vision for the Significance of Singleness. They explore how Christians often misunderstand singleness, how to read biblical passages like Genesis and Paul rightly in this topic, and what it means for both single and married Christians to live in community. Dani helps listeners see that singleness is not a lesser state, but a meaningful way of life that foreshadows eternal realities and contributes to the church now.In This Episode[00:34] Dani’s Background[06:38] Genesis & Aloneness[08:18] Song Titles as Chapter Titles[15:00] The “Gift” of Singleness[18:00] Chosen vs Unchosen Singleness[22:06] Married vs Single in Church[28:00] Friendship Across Life Stages[29:28] Kingdom Impact as a Single Person[35:00] Longing for True Church Community[37:00] Future Pressures in Church & CultureKey TakeawaysGenesis, aloneness, and marriageGift of Singleness — myth or reality?Singleness as a Choice vs CircumstanceComplementary portraits: married & singlePractical life & communityFuture cultural pressures & church postureGuest ResourcesBuy the book: Single Ever After Connect with DaniFollow Us!InstagramYoutube-- Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co. If you would like to sponsor this show, email sponsor@thegoodpodcast.co

Ty sits down with Pastor Charles Wilson to explore the topic of spiritual fatherhood. From personal stories of biological fathers to theological reflections on Paul and Timothy, this conversation covers the why and how of raising spiritual sons and daughters within the household of God.Whether you're a spiritual father, have one, or simply are curious what the Bible has to say about the topic, this episode is a rich reminder of God's design for intergenerational discipleship. Charles helps us reimagine the role of the church not just as a place of instruction, but of family.In This Episode02:00 - The Importance of Biological Fatherhood05:00 - Becoming a Father: Lessons Learned07:45 - Spiritual Fatherhood in Scripture12:00 - Encouragement, Discipline, and Rebuke16:00 - Misconceptions: Age, Authority & Access20:30 - Discipling Along the Way25:00 - Jesus as the Ultimate Spiritual Father30:00 - Local Church vs. Online Instructors34:00 - Everyday Saints: The Unsung Spiritual FathersKey TakeawaysSpiritual fatherhood is essential at every stage of lifeThe local church is where spiritual family happensBiblical discipleship looks like familySpiritual authority isn’t about age—it’s about faithfulnessFaithful presence outweighs public platformGuest ResourcesLearn more about The Hill Church, Roanoke VAFollow Us!InstagramYoutube-- Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co. If you would like to sponsor this show, email sponsor@thegoodpodcast.co

This episode is pretty special. Adam is joined by his mom to talk about spiritual motherhood. Spiritual Mothering is a posture of life more than a thing you do. Being in the word and recognizing that we get to spend time with God and spend time with others, spiritually mothering and discipling. It’s a beautiful GET TO, not a have to. When we’re living in a way that’s more about Jesus and less about ourselves, we get to serve out of that freedom and bless others. In This Episode[00:04:41] Spiritual Heritage[00:10:29] Faith That Shapes the Home[00:12:40] Parenting Through Rebellion[00:14:04] Creating a Safe Space[00:18:35] Discipleship Is Everyday Life[00:22:35] Staying Hopeful in Motherhood[00:25:42] The Role of a Grandmother[00:29:34] Spiritual Mothering in the Church[00:32:55] It’s Simpler Than We ThinkKey TakeawaysSpiritual motherhood is a posture, not a program.Prayer is the backbone of spiritual legacy.Home is a primary space for discipleship.Older women must move toward and support younger women.Follow Us!InstagramYoutube-- Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co. If you would like to sponsor this show, email sponsor@thegoodpodcast.co

In this episode, Chelsea and Ty unpack the nature of friendship—how it shifts across seasons of life, what it means to be a true friend as Christians, and how our modern, mediated world complicates our longings for connection. They explore the tension between real embodied friendships and virtual/para-social ones, how change (in jobs, marriage, location, spiritual growth) reshapes who “counts” as friend, and how the church as the Body of Christ is meant to be a home for mutual affection, care, and proximity. Intentionality, wisdom, and discernment are emphasized as keys in navigating changing friendships well.Key TakeawaysFriendship is chosen. Unlike family, genuine friendship involves mutual affection, choice, investment, and work.Depth vs breadth. Many people have lots of acquaintances or peer relationships, but few deep friendships; that’s normal, but it also means we must be intentional.Seasons change & reshape friendships. Jobs, marriage, location, spiritual maturity — these all shift who we spend time with and in what ways. That’s okay; it requires discernment.Being present & close matters. Physical proximity (or being “near” in relational or spiritual terms) allows vulnerable, caring relationship. Screens/virtual connection help but can’t fully substitute.Church as community. Local church gathers and smaller circles/home groups are opportunities for real friendship and embodying love in visible, practical ways.Intentional boundaries and priorities. Saying yes and no well: giving time for relationships you value, choosing less in order to do fewer things more fully, knowing your limits.ResourcesNo Greater Love by Rebecca McLaughlinFollow Us!InstagramYoutube-- Editing and support by The Good Podcast Co. If you would like to sponsor this show, email sponsor@thegoodpodcast.co

Join pastor and author John Van Sloten, who merges theology and scientific insight in his book, God Speaks Science, for a fascinating discussion. Discover how science can enhance spiritual awareness and deepen worship. Van Sloten shares awe-inspiring examples, from the majesty of supernovas to the mysteries of the giant squid. He challenges traditional views, proposing that scientific pursuit can be a divine discipline, leading us to appreciate God's artistry and purpose within creation.