Thinking Out Loud

Did you take a picture of yourself at the pump? Be honest. In this episode, Nathan and Cameron explore what happens when our consumer habits crash into real time historical events.  As promised, here's a link to Professor John Mearsheimer's Ukraine lecture, which continues to garner millions of new views each week. 

In the wake of Putin's attack on Ukraine and the rapidly escalating warfare in that region, we sat down for a discussion with Stuart McAllister to explore the complex history between these two nations, as well as their ongoing sources of conflict. It's a sobering conversation but one that we hope will be helpful to you as you seek to understand this new war and its potential global implications.&n...

As Black History Month reaches its 2022 conclusion, Nathan and Cameron are joined by their friend, Brandon Cleaver, for a discussion of what the holiday has meant to him as a black man growing up in the Detroit area. The Thinking Out Loud crew are especially interested in how Brandon sees the Christian's hope informing the challenge our nation's ongoing racism.  Brandon is the Program Directo...

Lia Thomas, a transgender woman currently dominating the "Ivy 2022 Championship," is shining a spotlight on many of the issues surrounding transgender athletes. In this case, given the remaining masculine biological features, doesn't this particular athlete have an unfair advantage? Or is this really about "transphobia" and "the policing of women's bodies," as some activists maintain? The radical...

"Deconstruction," critical theory, Neo-Marxism--these complex and highly contentious subjects continue to dominate many conversations in the church. But do they constitute a distraction? Isn't church the place for the Gospel alone? In short, what hath Jerusalem to do with sociology (or France)? Tune in to hear Nathan and Cameron tackle these questions.

Sure, Olympic skier Eileen Gu's American sensibilities complicate her career as a Chinese athlete, but the real trouble for the Thinking Out Loud crew is talking about sports in general. In true Nathan and Cameron fashion, the subject leads into all sorts of theological territory. Tune in if you want to hear how we get from Gu's "I'm just a girl living my best life" all the way to Ralph Waldo Emer...

We'll give you three guesses as to whether the Thinking Out Loud crew are Valentine's Day fans and the first two don't count. Come for the theological explorations of love in our culture; stay for Nathan's blisteringly hot take on country music. 

The title of New York Times columnist, David Brooks's, latest piece speaks for itself: "The Dissenters Trying to Save Evangelicalism from Itself." Some found it compelling. Some found it irksome . Very few had a neutral response. In this episode, Nathan and Cameron weigh in on the state of the church in North America, drawing on some of their sobering experiences as former speakers for Ravi Zachar...

When pop star Dua Lipa asked Stephen Colbert about the role of faith in his life and work, the talk show host gave a surprisingly earnest answer. The clip quickly went viral and sparked some constructive discussions. In this episode, Nathan and Cameron apologize for not knowing who Dua Lipa is, and go on to consider the substance of Colbert's response, as well as its implications for Christian pub...

Recent years have seen a dramatic uptick in fascination with the occult. But is this really so strange? Nathan and Cameron don’t think so. Tune in and see what you think.

In this episode, Nathan and Cameron consider Joe Rogan's response to the Spotify controversy. 

Is Neil Young "so woke he canceled himself," or is he standing on moral principle? In this episode, Nathan and Cameron explore the developing story of one musician's opposition to the streaming giant. 

Has the pandemic forced us to recognize that physical church is now outdated? Is the pivot to online services the dawn of a new era, rather than a temporary precaution? Nathan and Cameron explore these issues in this episode and do their darndest to not get too grumpy. We’ll let you be the judge of whether they succeed…

Golden State Warriors co-owner Chamath Palihapitiya recently sparked controversy when he casually remarked “nobody cares about the Uyghurs” on his podcast. Given his wealth and position, it’s worth asking whether such a statement will even make a tangible difference in his life. In this episode, Nathan and Cameron press into the complex question of how wealth often dictates the rules of free speec...

What does a volcano eruption have to do with Christianity? Tune in to hear Nathan and Cameron explore the Tonga eruption, its ongoing devastation, and how our Christian convictions can help us to frame the situation.

Nathan and Cameron discuss the storming of the capital and consider some of the severe responses to its aftermath.

Do we need “Christian” celebrities to validate the credibility of the church? Join Nathan and Cameron as they explore this question.

Space, the final frontier: these are the voyages of Nathan and Cameron as they think out loud about the unprecedented capabilities of the James Webb telescope.

Nathan and Cameron explore the theological underpinnings of the rituals that inevitably structure our lives, and consider how our resolutions (or lack thereof) influence that dynamic.

Inspired by an editorial by Purdue engineering professor, Avi Kak, arguing for the value of the humanities, Nathan and Cameron do their best to persuade you that the humanities equip us for more than flipping burgers.

In this episode, Nathan and Cameron explore the longstanding tradition of media sensationalism and consider why it’s often mistaken for a new phenomenon.

Thought Nathan and Cameron couldn’t overanalyze Advent? Think again. Merry Christmas from the Thinking Out Loud crew!

In this episode, Nathan and Cameron try to explore the unique staying power of Christmas hymns without ruining it in the process.

In the wake of the devastation wrought by tornadoes in Kentucky and portions of the Midwest, many of us are struggling to make sense of these events. Nathan and Cameron explore the nature of our response.

Nathan and Cameron explore the vexed topic of evangelicalism through the lens of Daniel Silliman’s new book, Reading Evangelicals .