Church and Main

Why bad things happen to good people has always been the classic question of faith. But Gen Z is asking something different: why don't bad things happen to bad people? Jared Dodson — a Gen Z Bible professor at Bushnell University — joins Dennis to unpack the perspective he's seeing in his students and peers, one where anger at injustice, exposure to political violence, and a deep desire for God's...

There's a lot of despair in the world right now, and it seems especially pronounced among Generation Z. Writer, speaker, and podcaster Jake Doberins joins the show to talk about his recent essay "Having Hope in a Hopeless World," exploring why hope feels so scarce for his generation and what makes Christian hope different from mere optimism. Jake shares his own journey from a fundamentalist, know-...

Is now a good time to have kids? For many younger people, the answer is a firm no — climate change, political chaos, economic uncertainty, and a general sense of doom have made the idea of bringing a child into the world feel irresponsible. But theologian and expectant father Griffin Gooch sees it differently. In this episode, Dennis talks with Griffin about why the fears surrounding having childr...

Is artificial intelligence a threat — or a tool for love? Episcopal priest Cathie Caimano thinks it's the latter, and she joins Dennis in making the case that most church conversations about AI are missing the point entirely. Drawing from Pope Leo's encyclical Magnifica Humanitas, Cathie argues the question isn't whether AI is good or bad, but how each of us chooses to use it. While headlines focu...

What happens when a local church closes? More than a building goes dark — something essential to the fabric of community disappears with it. Trygve Johnson, executive director of the Preach For Foundation, joins Dennis to talk about why the local church matters more than most people realize and what is lost when congregations vanish from our neighborhoods. Drawing from his three-part Substack seri...

What does it mean to trust God in an age when trust itself feels almost impossible? In this episode, Dennis sits down with pastor, author, and Christian Century contributor Katherine Willis Pershey, who opens up about her journey from secular skepticism through ordained ministry to a renewed and deepening faith in the God who acts. They talk honestly about the decline of progressive mainline denom...

What does artificial intelligence reveal about what it means to be human—and what does faith have to say about it? In this episode, host Dennis Sanders sits down with the Reverend Michael DeLashmutt, Senior Vice President, Dean of the Chapel, and Associate Professor of Theology at General Theological Seminary in New York City, for a wide-ranging conversation about theology, technology, and the age...

In an era of social media influencers and viral hot takes, the word "prophetic" gets thrown around constantly — but usually it just means "someone saying things I agree with."  Dennis Sanders sits down with writer and communications professional Ryan Self to dig into what the biblical prophets actually looked like, and why today's version often falls dangerously short. Ryan, who writes the Substac...

The term "Christian nationalism" is everywhere — but is it actually helping us understand our political moment, or making things worse? Princeton Theological Seminary professor Heath Carter joins host Dennis to make a provocative case: the term has become so broad and loosely applied that it's lost its usefulness, and may be deepening the very polarization it aims to diagnose. Carter argues that w...

What if communion was more than a ritual squeezed between the offering and the sermon? I sat down with the Reverend Dr. Jarrod Longbons, pastor of Peachtree Christian Church in Atlanta, to explore what it means for the church to be a Eucharistic community. Jarrod makes the case that the Lord's Supper isn't just a worship practice — it's a social imagination that can reshape everything from how we...

What do you really know about Anne Boleyn? Most of us remember her as Henry VIII's ill-fated second wife — and not much more. But according to Martha Tatarnic, Anglican priest and author of Anne Boleyn: Reputation, Revolution, Religion, and the Queen Who Changed History, we've been missing the bigger picture entirely. Martha returns to the podcast to explore Anne Boleyn as a serious religious refo...

Many progressive and moderate Christians are passionate about justice, inclusion, and showing up for their neighbors. But what if in pursuing all the right causes, we've quietly set aside the message that makes us Christian in the first place? Jackson Campbell Walker knows this tension firsthand. As a gay pastor who has navigated both conservative evangelical and progressive Baptist spaces, he has...

What does it mean to "submit to governing authorities" — and does that command require Christians to accept whatever their government does without question? I sat down with Chris Nye, lead pastor of Imago Dei Community in Portland, Oregon, to take a closer look at one of the most frequently cited — and frequently misused — passages in political discourse: Romans 13:1. From immigration enforcement...

In this candid and wide-ranging conversation, I sat down with my friend and media commentator Andrew Donaldson to wrestle with one of the most uncomfortable questions facing American Christianity today: Is the public display of faith we're seeing from figures like Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth genuine witness — or just performance? This is a conversation about our failings, the danger of chasi...

Jerry Mitchell comes to the podcast to discuss his Christian Chronicle article. Jerry argues that America's deepest crisis isn't political — it's spiritual. From the erosion of humility and kindness to our growing inability to honestly confront our own sins, Jerry makes the case that the nation is sliding toward collapse for one simple reason: we have traded godliness for gaslighting, and piety fo...

Dennis Sanders sits down with Michael Baharaeen, chief political analyst for The Liberal Patriot, to explore the growing crisis of political polarization in America. Drawing on data, history, and his own experience working in national politics, Baharain examines how Americans have increasingly sorted themselves into politically homogenous communities, fueled by the decline of shared public spaces,...

In part two of his conversation with Lutheran Pastor Rob Maialis, host Dennis Sanders turns the lens toward the youngest generation entering adulthood. Is there a genuine religious revival happening among Gen Z, or are we measuring the wrong things? Together, they explore what it might look like for mainline churches to truly meet Gen Z rather than simply wait for them, and how an unlikely partner...

What happens when the people who built your church — the ones who carried it through lean years, chaired every committee, and showed up faithfully for decades — start to feel like the ladder has been taken away from them? In this episode, I welcome back Lutheran pastor and Rob Myallis to explore what Rob calls the "three-quarter life crisis": the profound emotional, physical, and spiritual transit...

When the Department of Homeland Security launched Operation PARRIS in January 2026, thousands of legal refugees in Minnesota suddenly found themselves targets of ICE arrests and detention — despite having followed every rule required of them. In this episode, I sit down with Emily Belz, senior staff writer at Christianity Today, to unpack how this shocking crackdown unfolded and how faith communit...

In this conversation, David Swanson discusses his experiences as a pastor in Bronzeville, Chicago, and the role of protest within the Christian faith. He reflects on the importance of community engagement, the theological underpinnings of protest, and the connections between spiritual practices and activism. Swanson emphasizes the need for lament in protest, the significance of bearing witness, an...

 I speak with Wes Granberg-Michelson about the essential link between spirituality and social justice in today's political climate, looking at the urgency for faith communities to act while remaining grounded in spiritual practices. Drawing from his book, "The Soul Work of Justice", Wes advocates for integrating deep prayer and reflection into our pursuit of justice, ultimately calling for a renew...

I engage with Pastor Anthony Robinson to discuss the contentious label of fascism in relation to Donald Trump's political rise. We look at Jonathan Rauch's essay, "Yes, It's Fascism," and explore the implications of such labels for American democracy. Robinson shares his evolving perspective, while I highlight the complexities of terminology and its potential to divide.  Suggested Reading and List...

 Rachel Pieh Jones joins to talk about the importance of potlucks in Minneapolis during a time of division. Drawing from her experiences in Djibouti and Somaliland, Rachel discusses how communal meals can bridge diverse communities and foster empathy, particularly amid the challenges faced by immigrant populations.  Why Minneapolis Needs Potlucks Now Donate to Church and Main Join the Church and M...

Political commentator Matt Lewis joins the podcast to talk about the shifting relationship between character and politics from the 1990s to the present. We examine how character dynamics during the Bill Clinton era contrast with current debates surrounding Donald Trump. Matt shares personal insights from his background while reflecting on the moral dilemmas faced by Republicans and the implication...

Dr. Paul Hoffman speaks about the intersection of faith and technology, especially artificial intelligence (AI). Dr. Hoffman discusses his recent book, "AI Shepherds and Electric Sheep," exploring how AI can both aid and hinder human flourishing from a theological perspective. We look at the implications of AI on community, embodiment, and the church's role in navigating these challenges. AI Sheph...