The Just Life with Benjamin Watson

In this episode of The Just Life, host Benjamin Watson sits down with award-winning rapper, educator, activist, and entrepreneur David Augustine Jr (Dee-1). Dee-1 made headlines when he challenged some of the biggest names in the hip hop industry. But through the controversy a new movement has emerged that he describes as “The Shift.” From his early roots in New Orleans East to his work as a...

In this powerful, previously aired episode of The Just Life, Benjamin Watson sits down with poet, author, and apologist Preston Perry. Preston shares his journey from the South Side of Chicago, where he witnessed the harsh realities of murder and systemic neglect, to becoming a leading voice in Christian apologetics. The conversation takes a deep dive into the necessity of empathy, the d...

What if our understanding of money, wealth, and power is completely upside down? In this powerful and candid conversation on The Just Life, host Benjamin Watson sits down with John Hope Bryant, founder, chairman, and CEO of Operation HOPE, the nation’s largest provider of financial empowerment services. Over more than three decades, John’s nonprofit and for-profit enterprises have driven over $5 b...

In this episode of The Just Life, host Benjamin Watson sits down with fellow Georgia Bulldog and chief political reporter for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Greg Bluestein. Together, they break down the shifting political landscape of Georgia, from a reliably red state to one of the most critical battlegrounds in the nation. Greg shares perspectives on the rise of campaign spending, the true im...

In this compelling episode of The Just Life, host Benjamin Watson sits down with Dr. Terence Lester: public scholar, author, community activist, and founder/Executive Director of Love Beyond Walls. Dr. Lester shares his journey from dropping out of high school as a teenager to earning five degrees, including a PhD in public policy. He discusses his firsthand experience sleeping under bridges and i...

In this eye-opening episode of The Just Life, host Benjamin Watson sits down with Brian Orme, CEO of Global Christian Relief (GCR). A former pastor, journalist, and media leader, Brian shares how personal grief and a transformative encounter with a North Korean refugee completely altered his understanding of faith, suffering, and the global church. Benjamin and Brian dive deep into the realities f...

In this episode of The Just Life, host Benjamin Watson sits down with author Delano Squires to unpack a crucial yet frequently overlooked dimension of social justice: marriage, fatherhood, and family structure. Drawing from his personal background growing up in New York, his experience in local government, and insights from his book, The Vanishing Black Family, Delano shares why human flourishing...

Host Benjamin Watson sits down with Connecticut State Representative Treneé McGee, the youngest Black woman ever elected to the Connecticut General Assembly (116th District). A former actress, studio founder, and self-described political "unicorn," Representative McGee shares her unique journey from studying film and acting to running for public office, taking a stand for her faith, and advocating...

What happens when a culture pursues justice while ignoring God’s standard of righteousness? In this deeply insightful episode of The Just Life, host Benjamin Watson welcomes legendary pastor, author, and theologian Dr. Tony Evans. Founder of The Urban Alternative and Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship, Dr. Evans reflects on over five decades of ministry, his personal journey growing up in Baltimore, and t...

In this episode of The Just Life, host Benjamin Watson sits down with Joe Knittig, CEO of Care Portal and The Global Orphan Project. Joe shares his journey from working as a labor attorney to shifting his focus to family preservation and child welfare. The conversation explores the limitations of traditional charity, the distinctions between poverty-driven neglect and abuse, and how local communit...

What does human flourishing really mean, and how can we use modern economic engines to drive true structural change? In this episode of The Just Life, host Benjamin Watson sits down with Mike Mannina, Director of Corporate Engagement at Vident Asset Management. Mike shares insights from his expansive career spanning the White House, post-conflict reconstruction in Afghanistan, and his 10-year tenu...

Welcome back to The Just Life podcast! To kick off Season 3, we’re asking “What does true biblical justice look like when it isn't decoupled from righteousness?” To answer this question, host Benjamin Watson sits down with Dr. Charlie Dates, Senior Pastor of both Progressive Baptist Church and Salem Baptist Church in Chicago, scholar, author, and founder of the Black Boy Literacy Campaign. Togethe...

In this powerful, partner-exclusive episode with the International Justice Mission (IJM), host Benjamin Watson sits down with his long-time friend, 18-year NFL veteran, and 3-time Pro Bowl quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. While Matt is widely celebrated for leading the Seattle Seahawks to their first Super Bowl appearance, this conversation pulls back the curtain on a different kind of legacy: one roo...

In this special episode of The Just Life, host Benjamin Watson sits down with fellow NFL tight end Juwan Johnson of the New Orleans Saints. Partnering with the International Justice Mission (IJM), Benjamin and Juwan dive deep into what it means to use an influential platform to combat modern-day slavery and human trafficking. Juwan shares his personal journey from blind spots to active advocacy, h...

What happens when the final whistle blows on a 13-year NFL career, but the passion for your community is just getting started? In this special episode of The Just Life, in partnership with the International Justice Mission (IJM), host Benjamin Watson sits down with his former New England Patriots teammate, Super Bowl champion, and current CBS/ESPN analyst Jason McCourty. Broadcasting live from the...

What happens when you trade standard Slack notifications and offseason relaxation for a deep-dive immersion into the front lines of human rights? In this special partnership episode with the International Justice Mission (IJM), Benjamin Watson sits down with nine-year NFL veteran, author, and ESPN analyst Sam Acho. Sam opens up about his unique childhood navigating spaces as the son of Nigerian im...

In this special episode of The Just Life, host Benjamin Watson sits down with 14-year NFL veteran, Bart Starr Award winner, and quarterback Kirk Cousins. Partnering with the International Justice Mission (IJM), Benjamin and Kirk explore what it means to live out biblical justice, the reality of spiritual warfare on the front lines, and how a prayer Kirk muttered as a 17-year-old high school studen...

What does nonviolence actually demand and who does it require us to become? Benjamin Watson welcomes Dr. Bernice King, CEO of The King Center and a leading global voice for social change, for a conversation that moves beyond legacy and into calling. Though many know her as the daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, this exchange reveals a fuller picture an athlete’s drive,...

In this episode of The Just Life, host Benjamin Watson sits down with Pro Football Hall of Famer and Super Bowl-winning coach, Tony Dungy. They explore the intersection of faith and justice, discussing Dungy’s controversial decision to speak at the March for Life, the legacy of his father, and the ongoing challenges regarding racial representation in NFL leadership. Key Takeaways:  - The Courage o...

In this episode of The Just Life, Benjamin Watson sits down with Super Bowl champion and three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Anquan Boldin. From his roots in the agricultural “Muck” of Palm Beach County to a standout NFL career, Boldin reflects on how football shaped his leadership and how personal tragedy reshaped his purpose. Boldin is the co-founder of the Players Coalition, a player-led organiza...

What does a just society owe the men and women it sends into harm's way? In this episode of The Just Life, Benjamin Watson sits down with Johnny Joey Jones, Marine Corps veteran, New York Times bestselling author, and FOX News co-host of The Big Weekend Show. In their conversation, Joey shares his journey from a small "one-horse town" in Georgia to serving as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) t...

For many, the tragedies occurring in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) feel distant - relegated to fleeting social media statistics or occasional news reports. But the reality is far closer to our everyday lives than most people realize. In this episode of The Just Life, Benjamin Watson sits down with Congolese native Michel Lusakueno to bridge that gap. Michel shares his unique perspecti...

In this episode of The Just Life, Benjamin Watson sits down with theologian, author, and pastor Dr. Eric Mason to dismantle the idea that justice is a "social elective" for the Christian. Dr. Mason explains how biblical justice is fundamentally rooted in "proper judgment" and spiritual maturity. They dive deep into the necessity of knowing our history, no matter how uncomfortable, to achieve true...

In this powerful episode of The Just Life, Benjamin Watson sits down with poet, author, and apologist Preston Perry. Preston shares his journey from the South Side of Chicago, where he witnessed the harsh realities of murder and systemic neglect, to becoming a leading voice in Christian apologetics. The conversation takes a deep dive into the necessity of empathy, the dangers of prioritizing polit...

What does it mean to live a just life in a society where the economic scales have been tipped for centuries? While protests, legislation, and boycotts are vital tools for justice, Dr. Boyce Watkins argues that there is another hammer we must pick up: Finance. In this episode, Benjamin Watson and Dr. Watkins move beyond the abstract and dive into the "science of wealth." From Dr. Watkins’ humble be...