Kalos Center Podcast

As we transition the podcast host from Jim Spiegel to Jay Hawthorne, the new Executive Director of The Kalos Center, we thought it would be fun to hear from Jim Spiegel about his work and his thoughts on the state of spiritual growth in our churches today. They cover growing in wisdom, spiritual warfare, and the integration of our faith into our daily lives. Jim reminds us that critical thinking a...

Law enforcement professionals face some of society’s darkest realities, yet their calling demands both strength and compassion. In this powerful episode, Dr. Mildred Johnson recounts stories of personal trauma as a police woman, healing, and profound redemption from her decades in criminal justice. She shares her harrowing account of being set on fire and her journey to forgiveness for her attacke...

Can work be meaningful even if it’s mundane? How do I know what work I’m called to do? Is work something that we have to do because of the fall of humanity? Jim Spiegel and Professor Dan Dorani discuss tough questions about finding meaning in your work. They both share stories of how they found their calling and encourage all of us to think about our work through the lens of serving others and mak...

How does our understanding of freedom, virtue, and community shape the American experience? Jim Spiegel sits down with Don Eberly to examine the crucial links between civic life, family structure, and the pursuit of the common good. Don Eberly draws from his experience in government, post-war reconstruction in Iraq and Afghanistan, and his work with the National Fatherhood Initiative to explore th...

If you haven’t listened to the first part of our conversation with Ben Crenshaw, listen to that here . Jim and Ben continue today discussing how “free speech” definitions have changed in the last thirty years and what we find ourselves up against in this modern political climate. Ben shares the founders’ intentions for speech, distinguishing between injurious and non-injurious speech as well as th...

Jim Spiegel sits down with political scholar Ben Crenshaw to discuss the crossroads of politics and faith following the death of Charlie Kirk. We discuss the broader hesitancy among Christians (right and left) to combine theology and politics and the roots of American public life, tracing the influence of Christian thought on the nation’s founding. We look at the broader cultural trends, such as t...

How can we help people see the value of being married and having children? How does a declining birthrate affect the economies of our society? Jim Spiegel sits down with Economics Professor Clara Piano to discuss the major role family plays into any country’s economic landscape. Topics discussed: -the history of governmental economic policy -the church’s role in increasing the birthrate and buildi...

We welcome Philosophy Professor and Law Enforcement Officer Timothy Hsiao to discuss his unique perspective on gun ownership and the right to self-defense. Jim Spiegel and Tim discuss why traditional Christian thought often leaves unaddressed gaps in contemporary ethical debates on topics ranging from animal rights to drug prohibition. We think you’ll find Tim’s arguments and perspectives very int...

Jim Spiegel welcomes Jor-El Godsey, president of Heartbeat International, to discuss the sanctity of human life and ongoing challenges in the Post-Roe political landscape. They discuss the compelling philosophical arguments that point in the same direction as Scripture for a pro-life stance regardless of one’s religious leanings. Jor-El sheds light on the realities of abortion in America, the role...

Should everyone have a creative outlet? Our guest, professor and author Colleen Warren, believes it would benefit everyone to work the creative part of their brain. Dr. Warren explains how every person is gifted with creativity, reflecting the image of God. Jim and Colleen discuss the theology of creativity, it’s origins in the divine nature, questions around immorality depicted in art, and the un...

Jim sits down with Dr. Tom Edwards, a transformational leader with a powerful journey from his work in prisons to spearheading community revitalization and church leadership. Tom’s life experiences are inspiring! Jim and Tom discuss the importance of real discipleship over just conversion, the redemptive power of suffering, and leading by serving those around us. Tom's current work is an initiativ...

Apologist and Professor at Liberty University, Gary Habermas, joins Jim Spiegel to to discuss one of Christianity’s most mysterious artifacts: the Shroud of Turin. They talk about the decades of research, examining both naturalistic and miraculous theories behind the shroud's origins from a variety of perspectives. Being that Gary is an apologist, it wouldn’t be a good interview if they didn’t dis...

Nathan Schlueter is a Professor of Philosophy and Religion at Hillsdale College and teaches an extremely popular class called “Philosophy of Love, Sex and Marriage.” He spends some time with Jim Spiegel discussing the issues that plague our culture today. Areas of Discussion: -The glamorization of marriage, work, and infatuation leading to unrealistic expectations and dissatisfaction. -The domesti...

In this episode, Jim sits down with his longtime friend Ted Kluck to talk about Ted’s favorite topic: sports. In an ever-increasing individualized society, sporting events are one of the lasting “monocultural” events—moments when everyone comes together live for the drama and connection (think: Tyson fights, the OJ chase, or a crucial Lions playoff run). Ted, an award-winning writer and professor,...

What does Amazon Prime delivery say to us about the free market economy? Jim sits down with Professor and Economist Dr. Anne Bradley to discuss economics in a way we can all understand. From the early church’s practices of sharing in Acts and what companies like Amazon signal, Dr. Bradley examines income inequality, innovation, and the deeper meaning of work. Join us for this interesting conversat...

In this bonus episode, Jim Spiegel sits down with Dr. Joshua Farris—Anglican priest, canon theologian, and prolific author—to dive deep into one of humanity’s most profound mysteries: the nature of the human soul. The conversation winds through the latest philosophical trends and scientific debates about consciousness, looks at evidence from near-death experiences, and wrestles with the challenges...

Dr. Cornelius Davis is a part of a small “club” of believers in the field of medicine. In this episode, Dr. Davis and Jim talk about the intricate relationship between faith, science, and the practice of medicine. They discuss the reality of miracles, the prevalence of the “God complex” among physicians, and how Dr. Davis’ faith both grounds his perspective and shapes his commitment to his patient...

Today, Jim sits down with author and pastor, Karl Payne, to discuss the often misunderstood topic of spiritual warfare within the Christian community. Dr. Payne brings decades of pastoral experience and wisdom, sharing the Biblical references to and insights on the realities of demonization—not just in occult or addiction settings, but through common struggles like fear, bitterness, and unforgiven...

We are delighted to feature stand-up comedian, Kerri Pomarolli. She shares how her faith journey has influenced her career choices, steering her toward stand-up comedy as a means to share her perspectives authentically. She talks about her path to being clean and her faith-filled purpose in this career, to provide laughter to people who may be going through hard life circumstances. This one's pack...

We are proud to share this inspiring conversation with Robert Woodson Sr., a trailblazer in community development and the founder of the Woodson Center, an organization that promotes a grassroots approach to urban renewal and revitalizing impoverished communities. Robert believes in the power of self-reliance and local community enterprise to tackle poverty instead of dependency on government prog...

In this episode, we welcome Margarita Mooney Clayton to share with us her perspective on the profound relationship between art, beauty, and virtue. Her stance on how co-creation with God through art not only elevates the human spirit but also furthers divine governance, challenging the notion that art is merely self-expression. Margarita believes integrating art and music in schools can defend aga...

Why is it important for us to fight for religious freedom? Aren’t we already free to worship how we want? Jeremy Dys is a passionate advocate for true religious freedom that applies to all, regardless of religious beliefs. His work with the non-profit organization First Liberty Institute has seen many successes in landmark cases that have solidified the First Amendment right to practice one’s fait...

The sin of envy is something that sociologist Anne Hendershott has studied closely. She sat down with us to explore what it is and the many ways it is manifested in contemporary society in both secular and Christian contexts. Some topics we discuss: Socialism and the politics of envy Liberation theology’s roots in envy Envy in higher education Social media as a breeding ground for envy The state o...

Near-death experiences are remarkably common across cultures and belief systems. Research estimates that between 4-9% of the population has experienced a NDE, highlighting its potential significance in understanding life beyond death. Jim Spiegel sits down with Michael Zigarelli, author and professor at Messiah University, to hear about his research on the subject. They discuss how NDEs powerfully...

Christian Psychology Institute co-founder Eric Johnson helps us to consider the rich resources we have as Christians as we do counseling and soul care. He discusses the history of modern psychology and how we’ve been trained not to factor our faith into it. He also cautions against neglecting the many rich insights available to us from the world of secular psychology. Some Topics Covered: Deployin...