The Echoes Podcast

Episode Summary   Five-time Emmy award-winning journalist Rome Hartman talks with Marcus Goodyear and Camille Hall-Ortega to reflect on faith, leadership, and patriotism. They discuss three presidents—Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and Gerald Ford—each of whom spoke at H. E. Butt Foundation events in the past. It’s a conversation about humility, power, public service, and the enduring challenge of l...

After nearly two seasons of conversations with thinkers, writers, artists, and scholars, Marcus and Camille take time to reflect on the ideas they can't stop thinking about. From mental health and human connection to AI, addiction, and the future of community, this episode explores the themes that have echoed long after the microphones were turned off. It's a candid look at what they've learned, w...

Summary   We all hide. We hide from God, from each other, and even from ourselves — and it turns out that's not just a spiritual problem. It's a brain problem. In this episode, psychiatrist and author Dr. Curt Thompson joins Marcus Goodyear and Camille Hall-Ortega to explore what neuroscience and Christian spiritual formation have to say to each other about shame, community, and the human longing...

When suffering silences us, where do we turn? Drawing from his forthcoming book And the Sea Was No More , biblical scholar, professor, and author, Dave Nienhuis Nienhuis reflects on suffering, community, and the “victory narrative” that can keep us from telling the truth. This conversation is a powerful look at how God meets us in chaos and how faith makes room for struggle and vulnerability. Show...

What if addiction isn’t just about substances—but about the human soul?  In this episode of The Echoes Podcast , Marcus Goodyear and Camille Hall-Ortega sit down with bestselling author, Episcopal priest, psychotherapist, and Enneagram teacher Ian Morgan Cron to explore a surprising and deeply human idea: we are all addicts . Drawing from his latest book, The Fix , Ian reframes addiction as a misd...

Summary  Largely due to technology, many of us feel more connected than ever—but we also feel less known than ever. In this episode, Andy Crouch talks with us about AI, anxiety, loneliness, and what technology can never replace. Drawing on The Life We’re Looking For , Andy explores why “formation requires friction” and why real hope begins with recovering a more personal, relational, and loving wa...

Movies don’t just entertain us—they train our imaginations. In this episode, New York Times film critic Alissa Wilkinson helps us think about Hollywood, media, AI, and the stories shaping our shared reality. It’s a thoughtful conversation about truth, criticism, and how to choose better narratives in a fractured age. In this episode Hollywood is an American “dream machine” Movies shape both person...

In this episode, New York Times bestselling children’s author Sally Lloyd-Jones discusses storytelling, faith, and rediscovering childlike wonder. Drawing from her books, including The Jesus Storybook Bible and Jesus, Our True Friend , Sally helps us explore themes of friendship, trust in God’s presence, and the freedom that comes from approaching faith like a child, allowing space for awe, imagin...

SUMMARY:  Physician and medical ethicist Dr. Lydia Dugdale (Columbia University) argues hope isn’t a careless wish—it’s a practiced habit oriented toward a future good that’s hard but possible. We talk about hope as a communal discipline, the dangers on both sides—despair and false hope—how doctors actually handle prognoses, why imagination relates to hope, and whether “AI grief avatars” help or h...

“I love being old.” That comment from a woman in her late 80s stuck with Mark D. Roberts. Today he helps people think about how to flourish in the “third third” of life. In this episode of The Echoes Podcast, we cover why relationships at 20–50 shape our health at 80, what the U.S. Surgeon General calls the loneliness epidemic, how churches can foster intergenerational community, when moving in yo...

 A frank talk about fathers—what we inherit, what we can repair, and how faith communities help (or don’t). Patton Dodd, author of The Father You Get, shares the story behind his new memoir and the “father hunger” that shaped him. We discuss money and manhood and honest family conversations. The Father You Get released in 2025 and is available in print, audio, and at your local bookstore.  NOTES: ...

This summer, devastating floods struck Central Texas, leaving families, camps, and entire communities grieving and in shock. In response, the Echoes team hosted two live webinars to support parents, educators, and caregivers facing an urgent question: How do we help our kids cope with something like this? In this season one finale, we share highlights from those gatherings—including two heartfelt...

We live in a difficult time. People have their opinions about how to solve problems, but distrust runs deep. People make promises—especially our politicians—but they can’t always deliver on those promises. In our season one finale, bestselling author and columnist David Brooks joins The Echoes Podcast to explore what’s really missing—and how we might find it again. Brooks helps us see that what’s...

What does it mean to create something beautiful—not despite our limitations, but because of them? We talk with bestselling author and artist Austin Kleon about creativity as resistance, the tension between process and product, and the courage to show our work. From crushed oyster shells to pink conchas, from ancient nun rhythms to the modern grind, this episode reminds us that creativity is not ab...

Do “kids these days” have you scratching your head? You’re not alone. In this episode, Dr. Crystal Kirgiss joins Camille Hall-Ortega and Marcus Goodyear to explore the ancient roots of adolescence, the unchanging traits of teenagers across time, and why understanding young adults has more to do with showing up than keeping up with trends. Whether you're a parent, a mentor, or just someone who want...

Sister Pearl Ceasar has a remarkable journey from classroom teacher to nonpartisan community organizer. Guided by her deep faith and commitment to justice, Sister Pearl spent decades building coalitions for change in San Antonio and across Texas. She explains how personal relationships, listening, and persistence can transform neighborhoods—and entire cities. Co-hosts Marcus Goodyear and Camille H...

Grammy-winning musical artist and author Ashley Cleveland joins The Echoes Podcast to talk about grit. Through addiction and recovery, heartbreak and healing, Ashley invites us into a story where surrender becomes strength, vulnerability becomes vision, and brokenness gives way to beauty. This is a conversation about faith forged in fire, and the quiet, astonishing power of telling the whole, unva...

Theoretically, we are more connected than ever, yet loneliness is a growing crisis. Research shows that social isolation can be as harmful to our health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. What’s behind this epidemic of disconnection, and what can we do about it? In this episode, psychiatrist and theologian Dr. Warren Kinghorn joins hosts Marcus Goodyear and Camille Hall-Ortega to explore the medical...

“Your zip code shouldn’t determine your life expectancy—but in many American cities, it does.” In this eye-opening conversation, San Antonio vascular surgeon Dr. Lyssa Ochoa talks with us, your hosts Camille Hall-Ortega and Marcus Goodyear, about the stark health disparities in our communities. She highlights a 20-year gap in life expectancy between San Antonio neighborhoods just miles apart. This...

“We live in a world designed to distract us. Quiet isn’t passivity—it’s an active resistance, a space to reconnect with God and ourselves,” says celebrated singer-songwriter Jon Guerra in this episode. He joins hosts Camille Hall-Ortega and Marcus Goodyear to explore the profound relationship between worship, silence, and beauty. Known for his devotional music and work on the critically acclaimed...

When the city condemns your house and schedules it for demolition, what can you do? On this episode of The Echoes Podcast , we talk about the crisis of affordable housing in San Antonio. Our guest, Elizabeth Cruz, a licensed clinical social worker and project manager at San Antonio Affordable Housing, sheds light on "Operation Rebuild," an initiative focused on saving homes from demolition and res...

Church attendance is declining, and people often wonder: Why should we still go? To answer this question, The Echoes Podcast welcomes Corey Widmer, lead pastor of Third Church in Richmond, Virginia, and a member of the Theological Advisory Council for the H. E. Butt Foundation. Corey shares his insights on the meaning of life, the importance of community, and how the church can better embody Jesus...

Words are powerful. They shape our relationships, influence how we see ourselves, and impact how we experience the world. In this episode of The Echoes Podcast , poet, author, and educator Olga Samples Davis shares her reflections on the significance of words—whether spoken in kindness, passed down through generations, or rooted in faith. Olga reflects on her mother’s wisdom, her journey as an edu...

Our culture often equates leadership with tall, confident men. But history and scripture show us that true leadership comes from those willing to listen, collaborate, and empower others," says guest Tod Bolsinger in this episode. Join hosts Marcus Goodyear and Camille Hall-Ortega as they explore with Bolsinger the intricate process of transformation. Drawing from his books Canoeing the Mountains a...

How do we find true belonging in our communities, and what responsibility do we have to help others do the same? On this episode of The Echoes Podcast , hosts Marcus Goodyear and Camille Hall-Ortega welcome Reverend Ben McBride, faith leader, activist, CEO of the Empower Initiative, and author of Troubling the Water . Ben shares his powerful story of moving his family to East Oakland’s “Kill Zone”...