What Are We Talking About?

You don’t have to travel halfway around the world to have a mission field. Sometimes, your mission is right where you are. In this episode of 428 Ministries, Ben sits down with Jeff, a longtime sports and travel columnist, radio host, musician, speaker, comedian, and missionary who has spent nearly two decades serving on mission trips around the world. Jeff shares how growing up in the church shap...

Missouri voters will once again face Amendment 3, a major constitutional question involving abortion law, parental consent, and gender transition procedures for minors. In this episode, Ben breaks down Amendment 3 from a Christian conservative perspective and explains why he supports voting “yes.” He examines how the proposal relates to Missouri’s 2024 reproductive-rights amendment and addresses t...

What are we actually being told about Israel, Gaza, Hamas, and Palestine—and how much of it is true? Since the October 7th attack, the Israel–Hamas war has become one of the most emotionally charged and politically divisive issues in the world. We constantly hear words like **genocide, Holocaust, terrorism, humanitarian crisis, and war crimes**—but do most people actually understand what those wor...

Have we become so focused on protecting the rights of the accused that we’ve lost sight of government’s responsibility to protect innocent people? In this episode of 428 Ministries, Ben Lewis sits down with attorney and bail law expert Ken W. Good for a wide-ranging conversation about bail reform, public safety, pretrial release, and what happens when criminal justice policies fail to account for...

Is homeownership still part of the American Dream—or are rising home prices, interest rates, and affordability making it harder than ever to buy a house? In this episode of What Are We Talking About? , Ben Lewis sits down with Southwest Missouri realtor Tyler Schmidt to have a practical conversation about today’s real estate market and what buyers and sellers actually need to know. Tyler shares hi...

After sitting through all 3 hours and 17 minutes of the Candace Owens vs. Andrew Wilson debate , I walked away thinking one thing: Did we actually learn anything new? In this episode of What Are We Talking About? , I break down my reaction to the debate—the good points Andrew made, where I think he crossed the line, why Candace's arguments left me with more questions than answers, and one particul...

Are Christian men truly leading the lives God has called them to lead—or are too many simply going through the motions? CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR FREE COPY! In this episode of What Are We Talking About? , Ben Lewis sits down with entrepreneur, husband, father, and The Kingdom Codex author Michael Munster for a challenging conversation about biblical masculinity, Christian leadership, brotherhood, spi...

🏀 Did the WNBA just get called on its own rules? Former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White have declared for the 2027 WNBA Draft —and whether you see it as satire, protest, or a legitimate challenge, it raises a question the league may eventually have to answer: Who, exactly, is eligible to play in the WNBA? After Sophie Cunningham sparked controversy by arguing that women’s sports s...

🚨 A nurse spoke up about transgender medical treatment involving children. Then the FBI showed up at her door. Vanessa Sivadge was a pediatric nurse at Texas Children’s Hospital who says she witnessed practices involving pediatric gender medicine that she believed needed to be exposed—including concerns about puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, Medicaid billing, and the treatment of children st...

What Are We Talking About? | Marc Cox Breaks Down Missouri Amendments 4 & 5 With Missouri voters heading to the polls, the debate over Amendments 4 and 5 has become one of the biggest political battles in the state. But who's funding the campaigns? Why are major organizations spending millions of dollars to influence the outcome? And what do these amendments actually mean for everyday Miss...

Ben Keathley and Jamie Gragg host a town hall in Ozark, Missouri to address the concerns and questions over Amendment 5 that we will be voting on the 4th of August. If you have questions, scroll the notes, find where you want to listen, and fast forward. There is a ton of good information here. 00:00 – Welcome & Purpose Rep. Jamie Gragg welcomes attendees and emphasizes the importance of being...

Can a Republican incumbent be successfully challenged—and what issues are driving voters in Missouri's 138th District? In this episode of What Are We Talking About? , I sit down with Tom Franiak , Republican candidate for Missouri State House District 138, to discuss why he's challenging incumbent Rep. Burt Whaley and what he believes is at stake in this election. We discuss: Why Tom decided to ru...

Every election season brings headlines, social media debates, and competing narratives—but what do the proposed amendments actually mean for Missouri voters? In this episode of What Are We Talking About? , Ben Lewis sits down with Missouri State Representative Jamie Ray Gragg for an in-depth conversation about his reelection campaign, his Christian worldview, and two of the most discussed issues o...

The WNBA has more attention than ever before—but is it making the most of the moment? In this episode, Ben discusses the growing popularity of the WNBA, the impact of Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham, and why star power matters when it comes to building a successful sports league. The conversation explores marketing, media coverage, player personalities, business strategy, and why some athletes...

First, we discuss the viral story surrounding YouTuber Jesse Ridgeway and his wife Ashley, who publicly shared their decision to terminate a pregnancy after receiving a Down syndrome diagnosis. What does this reveal about how our culture defines human value? From a Christian worldview, does disability diminish dignity, or does every life carry worth because it bears the image of God? Next, we brea...

This is a BIG one. For the first time on the show, we’re sitting down with our very first guest — and this conversation could genuinely impact families all across Branson and Southwest Missouri. I’m joined by Bryce Burtless — husband, dad, former college athlete, and soon-to-be Nurse Practitioner — who’s launching a brand-new Direct Primary Care clinic in Hollister , right outside Branson. Here’s...

Are we being played? In this episode, we break down what I’m calling a Division Causing Event — the moments that pit people against each other and quietly profit off the chaos. From the Bad Bunny halftime controversy to the TPUSA concert debate, we dig into how two entertainment choices turned into a cultural battlefield overnight. Was it really about music? Politics? Identity? Or was it manufactu...

In this episode of What Are We Talking About? , host Ben Lewis breaks down the thin line between activism and anarchy through a Christian conservative lens. We’re diving deep into the headlines that are dominating our screens—from high-stakes jewelry heists in London to the destruction of property during political protests in the U.S. Is stealing a diamond watch different from looting a sneaker sh...

Family conflict can drain your spirit, test your faith, and leave you wondering: Is it unchristian to step back? In this episode of What Are We Talking About? , Ben Lewis dives into the overlooked biblical wisdom behind boundaries, distance, and self-protection. This is not about revenge or giving up on people. It’s about choosing peace over perpetual warfare. Using scripture from Proverbs, Romans...

Safe Harbor | A 5-Day Devotional Series When the Prodigal Son finally reached home, the Father didn't put him on probation; He put him at the head of the table. By calling for the best robe, the signet ring, and the sandals, the Father was making a public declaration of restoration. He wasn't just bringing a wanderer home; He was reinstating a son to his full authority and honor. In the fi...

Safe Harbor | A 5-Day Devotional Series Episode Description: In the ancient world, a dignified man did not run. To do so, he would have to lift his robes and expose his ankles—an act considered deeply shameful. Yet, in the story of the Prodigal Son, we see a Father who abandons his dignity to preserve his child. He didn’t wait on the porch with his arms crossed, demanding an apology; the moment he...

Safe Harbor | A 5-Day Devotional Series When we mess up, our first instinct is often to trade our "sonship" for a "contract." We see this in the Prodigal Son as he walks home, rehearsing his speech: “Make me like one of your hired servants.” He was ready to pivot from a relationship to a transaction, believing that if he couldn't be a son, he could at least earn his keep. I...

Safe Harbor | A 5-Day Devotional Series The most dangerous moment in our lives isn't usually the "pigpen"—it’s the moment just before the money runs out, while the music is still playing and the illusion of independence is still intact. In Day 2 of our Safe Harbor series, we look at the turning point of the Prodigal Son’s journey: the arrival of the famine. We often view our struggle...

Safe Harbor | A 5-Day Devotional Series We live in a culture that thrives on the "mirage of elsewhere"—the idea that a new job, a different city, or total independence will finally make us feel alive. But as the younger son in Luke 15 discovered, the distant country is high on promises and low on delivery. In this special 5-day series, Safe Harbor , we explore what it means to stop perfo...

The mainstream media playbook is back in Minneapolis, but are you seeing the full picture? In today’s deep dive, we cross-examine the January 7th fatal ICE shooting of Renee Nicole Good. Is it "state violence," or a calculated deflection from the $19 billion Minnesota fraud scandal currently rocking the state’s leadership? We break down the facts vs. the narrative through a biblical lens of person...