The UpWords Podcast

In this conversation, host Dan Hummel sits down with author Daniel Silliman to discuss his new book,  One Lost Soul: Richard Nixon's Search for Salvation , which explores the religious and spiritual life of Richard Nixon. Silliman explains what drew him to Nixon as a subject and how he approached researching a well-known figure like Nixon. They also discuss Nixon's upbringing as a Quaker...

In this conversation, host Daniel Johnson and guest Byron Borger from Hearts and Minds bookstore discuss various topics, including reading in different seasons, the church calendar, and the role of reading in the life of a Christian. Byron recommends several books on topics such as education, creation care, and politics. The conversation provides insights and recommendations for readers who are in...

In this episode, host John Terrill has a conversation with Michaela O'Donnell and Lisa Pratt Slayton about their new book, Life in Flux: Navigational Skills to Guide and Ground You in an Ever-Changing World . We explored how internal and external reactions are crucial in effective leadership and the importance of profound inner work. Here are three key takeaways: 🔑  Embrace Pain and Failure...

In this conversation, host Dan Hummel and Rebecca DeYoung, a professor of philosophy at Calvin University, discuss her background in philosophy and ethics, as well as her focus on virtue ethics and character formation. They dig deep into the relationship between modern psychology and sanctification, the challenges of translating between different disciplines, and the importance of ethics education...

In this episode, our host, Dan Hummel, talks with Paul Putz, the director of the Faith and Sports Institute at Baylor University's Truett Theological Seminary, and discusses the intersection of faith and sports from a historical perspective. He shares his personal interest in sports and how it led him to study the topic academically. Paul highlights the cultural significance of sports and the...

In this engaging conversation, Rachel Pieh Jones and Susan Smetzer-Anderson share their insights on the challenges and lessons learned from living in a cross-cultural context. They delve into topics such as cultural divisions, finding a church community in Djibouti, serving the poor, and the discomfort of returning to one's home country. Rachel's personal stories and reflections undersco...

In this episode, host Dan Hummel, sits down with Vincent Bacote, Professor of Theology and Director of Wheaton College’s Center for Applied Christian Ethics in Wheaton, Illinois. Bacote is the lead for The Black Evangelical Oral History Project, a documentary film that aims to tell the story of black evangelicalism in the United States. The project originated from an event at Fuller Seminary in 20...

In this episode, host Daniel Johnson talks with John Dyer, who holds two positions at Dallas Theological Seminary: Vice President for Enrollment and Educational Technology and an assistant professor of Theological Studies. They discuss media ecology and its impact on society, particularly on technology and the church. John explores the influence of media on our environment, history, and individual...

What is on your summer reading list? In this episode, host Susan Smetzer-Anderson has a conversation with Byron Borger, owner of Hearts and Minds Bookstore. They discuss the importance of books and reading in shaping our imagination, empathy, and faith. Byron shares insights on the power of narratives and the impact of literature on our spiritual growth and understanding of the world. He also reco...

Welcome to this special episode of The UpWords podcast! In today's episode, we will relive some of the moments from our events and podcasts and answer the question of what it means to be a good neighbor. Journey with me as we relive the moments that shaped our semester of ministry and discuss what it means to Love your neighbor as yourself. This is one of Jesus's most well-known teaching...

In this episode, host Susan Smetzer-Anderson has a conversation with author Rachel Pieh Jones. writes about life at the crossroads of faith and culture. Her work is influenced by living as a foreigner in the Horn of Africa, raising three Third Culture Kids, and adventurous exploration of the natural world. She has written for the New York Times , Runners World , Deadspin , the Big Roundtable , and...

In this episode, host Dan Hummel, sits down with Nadya Williams. She has spent 15 years teaching Classics and Ancient History at secular state universities before walking away in summer 2023. She is the author of  C ultural Christians in the Early Church  (Zondervan Academic, 2023) and  Mothers, Children, and the Body Politic: Ancient Christianity and the Recovery of Human Dignity  (under contract...

In this episode, host Daniel Johnson sits down with Ross Chapman (Denver Institute for Faith and Work) and Ryan Tafilowski (Denver Seminary) to discuss their new book, Faithful Work: In the Daily Grind with God and for Others . Ross and Ryan show how work is a way to love God, serve our neighbors, and demonstrate the gospel. With a broader understanding of God's work in the world, we are able...

Our host, Dan Hummel, raises the conversation on faith, pop culture, and storytelling in our modern world and media. In this episode, they explore the relationship between Christianity and pop culture with our honored guest, John Anthony Dunne, associate professor of Biblical and Theological Studies at Bethel University and a thought leader on integrating theology with pop culture narratives. John...

In this episode, our host, Susan Smetzer-Anderson, speaks with Aaron White, a pastor from Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, about the transformative potential of true kinship and the profound possibilities of living out the Beatitudes and connecting with the marginalized. Aaron relentlessly advocates for building relationships across boundaries (such as economics) that often keep people in silos—disl...

In this episode of The UpWords Podcast, host Daniel Johnson, has an engaging conversation with Jim Stump, Vice President of Programs at BioLogos. They discuss the importance of bridging the gap between science and faith, and how churches can engage with science to prevent conflicts that drive youth away. Don't miss their insightful conversation on technology's impact on relationships and...

This episode of The UpWords Podcast brings insightful perspectives on faith, society, and history to light. In today's episode, host Dan Hummel engages in a thoughtful conversation with distinguished professor Janine Giordano Drake, Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of History at Indiana University. We dive deep into the roots of American Christianity's engagement with socia...

In this fresh UpWords conversation with Steve Cook—President of Workplace Chaplaincy Foundation, Inc. and Executive Director of Operations at Marketplace Chaplains—we learn how workplace chaplains can powerfully influence the stability and wellbeing of workplaces.   Steve’s 40 years of experience speak to questions that often weigh on marketplace professionals and pastors: What does a corporate ch...

In this powerful episode with Julie Bolos, we dove deep into the heart of caring for vulnerable children. Julie shared her invaluable experience from New Hope Peru to the Christian Alliance for Orphans, highlighting the urgent need for family-based care over institutional settings. We discussed the profound impact of trauma on a child's development and the importance of personal connection an...

Today, we're embarking on a fascinating journey through time, text, and technology with our guest, Brent Seales, is the Gill Professor and Chair of the Computer Science Department at the University of Kentucky, as well as Principal Investigator for the Digital Restoration Initiative, funded in part by a major grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Brent, a visionary in the intersecting w...

In this engaging conversation, Scott challenges us to think about our obsession with the afterlife and invites us to trust in grace, as matters of birth, death, and rebirth are beyond our control. We'll uncover the richness of Jesus's narrative, exploring how the Christmas season isn't just about the commerce that clamors for our attention, but a time to ponder the profound meaning...

In this episode, Susan has a conversation with Marjorie Thompson, ordained minister of the Presbyterian Church USA and former research fellow at Yale Divinity School, where she worked with Henry Nowan. According to estimates from the National Alliance for Caregiving, 65.7 million Americans (or 29% of the adult U.S. adult population) served as caregivers during the past year. Marjorie's wisdom...

Today, we're thrilled to have esteemed guest J. Richard Middleton. We dive into an engaging exploration of the Biblical stories of Abraham and Isaac. We'll delve into the complexities of silence in these narratives, question the traditional interpretations of obedience and love for God, and look at the intergenerational effects on Jacob's family. In this episode, we'll carefull...

In this episode, we navigated the tension-filled landscape of politics and faith, discussing the church's role and its interaction with government while maintaining the principle of collective good. Ron Sanders, is an Affiliate Assistant Professor of Christian Ethics at Fuller Theological Seminary. His field of research is the intersection of religion and public policy—especially the relation...

We welcome visual artist Marianne Lettieri to the podcast to share her passion for taking old or broken things and transforming them into beautiful works of art. She holds an MFA in Spatial Arts from San Jose State University and a BFA in Drawing and Printmaking from the University of Florida. Numerous books and art journals have featured her work, including  Placemaking and the Arts  by Jennifer...