Faithful Discourse with Chris Henry

This episode is a must-listen for anyone who has to have hard conversations in their professional lives. Dr. Paul Helft is an oncologist, Professor Emeritus of Medicine at the Indiana University School of Medicine, and author of Speaking of Cancer: A Clinician’s Guide to Having Better Cancer Conversations. Dr. Helft talks with Chris about his unusual path to oncology, studying the patient experien...

Dustin Benac, author of Adaptive Church and clinical assistant professor at Baylor University, joins Chris to talk about curiosity, wonder, and belonging that is much deeper than a growth or retention strategy. They explore the questions: what does the community need, and how is the church equipped to respond?

Jon Houghton is the CEO of Holy Post Media, a multimedia company that “helps Christians engage the world with clarity, humility, and conviction — without getting pulled toward outrage or drawn to easy answers.” Join Chris and Jon for this rich conversation about leading courageously, raising difficult questions in polarized times, and seeking faithfulness over applause. 

Retired pastor Rev. John Gable joins Chris for a behind-the-scenes look at their friendship and to talk about calling, leadership, parish ministry, and the sustainable renewal of congregations. “People respond to being known and loved."

Judith B. Thomas’ leadership has touched nearly every aspect of our city’s life together. Currently the President and CEO of the Indy Arts Council, Judith previously served as Deputy Mayor and played key roles in the Indiana Black Expo, NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, and many other events and organizations. *Show Note: This episode includes Judith’s memories of growing up in Gary, Indiana. Beca...

Earl Goode — veteran, business leader, and chief of staff to two Indiana governors — shares his stories of leadership, from an unlikely presidency of his fraternity to Army service under a three-star general to his focus on government over politics. Earl and Chris discuss hope, how to find the right people for a team, and what we have lost in government in these polarized times. Listen for what he...

Dr. Courtnye Lloyd—pastor, organizer, educator, and community psychologist—founded The Gathering, built around the simple and radical idea that fellowship with God and fellowship with one another are the foundation for everything. Join Courtnye and Chris as they discuss what it means to be a church beyond a specific property, how to reinvest in relationships in the midst of the loneliness epidemic...

Writer and urban theorist Aaron Renn joins Chris to talk about the shifting cultural status of Christianity and the role of faith in our country. As the creator of the Negative World Framework and author of Life in the Negative World, Renn’s work has sparked important conversations across the entire spectrum of religious life. 

Indiana Fever and Pacers in-game host Olivia West is in the business of encouragement and storytelling. She shares about her journey from agriculture to sports entertainment and her faith that has been her foundation all along. 

Rik Hagarty founded Servants at Work to help those in need of a ramp, inspire volunteers, and show God’s love to the world. He shares how his faith has compelled action and how a congregation can be a catalyst, volunteer base, and support for important community work.

Joanna Taft, founding director of The Harrison Center for the Arts, shares her stories of falling in love with neighborhoods and creating beauty through artistic expression, honoring a neighborhood’s culture, seeking justice and mercy, and knowing each other’s stories. 

Author, history professor, and Indiana treasure Jim Madison joins Chris to talk about the importance of formation, education, and grappling with our failures as a state when it comes to race and Christian nationalism. Despite dark eras and current challenges, there is hope as we learn from history and “refuse to surrender” to the idea of a post-truth world. 

Beloved Indy 500 track announcer Dave Calabro sits down with Chris to talk about calling, curiosity, and a career full of incredible stories in the sports broadcasting world. Dave shares about his deep faith, the challenges of anxiety, and mentors like his father and Tom Carnegie who led the way.

Mo Merhoff—former president of One Zone Chamber, the joint Chamber of Carmel and Fishers—shares her stories of leadership from international rowing and the Olympics to making an impact in her own city. She encourages us to think bigger by working together across disparate viewpoints to create meaningful lives and thriving communities. 

Former Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb joins Chris for a look behind the curtain of public leadership. He shares his stories of being a voice of civility and bipartisan cooperation despite deep fractures in our state and nation, following the North Star of his faith in times of tension, violence, and darkness.

A Holy Week reflection with Rev. Chris Henry

Author and political scientist Ryan Burge joins Chris to discuss both transcendence and religious trends. As a data analyst and former pastor, Ryan shares what he has learned about the balance of head and heart knowledge, beyond the charts and numbers. 

Thoughtful, deliberate, brilliant, and grounded in faith are just a few of the words that describe 2025 Presidential Scholar Henry Joliet. Join Chris and Henry as they tell the stories of Henry growing up at Second Presbyterian Church and explore the intersection of faith, service, and curiosity. [This episode was recorded in December 2025] 

De’Amon Harges—founder of The Learning Tree and faculty member for the Asset-Based Community Development Institute—is nationally recognized as a social innovator and locally known as the roving listener. Join Chris and De’Amon for this conversation on joy, imagination, abundance, and paying attention to the sacred in our communities

Join us for this special episode with Noblesville’s mayor, Chris Jensen, recorded before a live audience on January 23, 2026. Mayor Jensen shares his stories of leadership, faith, speaking difficult truths, and living out his calling—all with his trademark positivity, humor, and genuine spirit. He distills his vocation down to this simple statement: “My job every day is to serve the public."

What if—despite good intentions—there are real barriers that keep us from loving our neighbors? And what if there are practices, grounded in scripture and science, that can help? Authors and scholars Katherine Douglass and Brittany Tausen join Chris to tackle this topic and share about their new book, Love Your Neighbor: How Psychology Can Enliven Faith and Transform Community.

Brenda Freije, President and CEO of the Rethink Coalition, devotes her professional life to naming, facing, and addressing some of the most complex social challenges in our city. Her current project is the collaborative reimagining of interstates, confronting the historic injustices of redlining, and shaping a better future for all. 

A Christmas Reflection with Rev. Chris Henry

Notre Dame’s Dr. Christian Smith, America’s preeminent sociologist of religion and author of Why Religion Went Obsolete, joins Chris to discuss some of the most pressing questions facing faith communities. How and why has religion’s place in American life changed so dramatically? What cultural forces have reshaped our expectations, institutions, and the way we imagine meaning? How can churches res...

Greg Stowers, the Indianapolis City Council’s Chief Administrative Officer, navigates policy, politics, and the daily work of making a city function as he supports all 25 city councilors across political divides. He discusses the issues facing our city and his stories of serving in a political space in a non-partisan way, focusing on the work that impacts residents’ real lives.