Working with Dan Doriani

Longtime pastor and author Scotty Smith — founding pastor of Christ Community Church in Franklin, TN, and author of the daily prayer blog Heavenward — joins Dan for a conversation that starts with grace and ends up somewhere more personal. They dig into what Dan calls "horizontal legalism": the subtle habit of keeping a mental ledger of the good we've done for others, and quietly exp...

Mike Smith works in the kind of place where it's dangerous to do what he does - so much so that we can't share his real name or location. Sadly, there are lots of places that fit this description: cities and countries where children are exploited, and where people from all over the world come to participate in horrific acts of abuse. Mike Smith uses his knowledge and skill as a surgeon to...

"Prediction Markets" are becoming a normal sight on our college campuses, in our advertisements, and on the phones of our friends and family. This conversation felt especially relevant to us in light of the ongoing Brendan Sorsby story, the Texas Tech Quarterback who was recently granted a temporary injunction to play, despite being declared ineligible by the NCAA on the grounds of placi...

What can a former pro tennis player teach us about coaching, leadership, and faith-driven work? In this episode, athlete and Christian school leader Gus Martin joins Dan Doriani to trace his journey from world‑ranked tennis pro and high-end coach to long-time head of Christian schools. They discuss the hidden grind behind professional sports, the mental game of competition, the essentials of good...

What if the Christian life is less about your spiritual performance and more about the life God gives? In this episode, Dan Doriani talks with theologian Dr. Kelly Kapic about his book Christian Life, a rich theology of how God the Father, Son, and Spirit shape our daily lives. Instead of a “how-to” guide for prayer and Bible reading, Kapic invites us to see the Christian life as a response to God...

How would your life change if you truly believed Jesus is gentle and welcoming toward you at your weakest, not just at your best? In this conversation with Dane Ortlund, pastor and author of Gentle and Lowly, he and Dan Doriani explore the heart of Christ -- his gentleness toward the penitent, his costly, enduring love, and how this vision reshapes everyday Christian life, from how we see ourselve...

How do we know when a war is not only necessary, but truly just? In this episode, Dan Doriani sits down with former U.S. Senator Jim Talent, who served on the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, to discuss 'just war theory' in today’s world. Together, they examine what counts as war in an age of cyberattacks and proxy conflicts, revisit the classic Christian criteria for a just war, and ap...

What does it really mean to be a conservative, and how should Christians think about power, politics, and the common good? In this episode, Dan Doriani talks with writer and former White House advisor Pete Wehner about the moral roots of conservatism, the dangers of tribalism, the importance of character in leaders, and why a market economy can both lift people from poverty and cultivate virtue.

What does real connection look and feel like in our closest relationships? In this episode, Dan Doriani talks with counselor Jennifer Ware about Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), how patterns of connection and disconnection shape marriages and families, and simple practices couples can use to deepen their bond. Jennifer also shares about STL Storytell, s St. Louis-based live storytelling event th...

What happens when the very economic systems that lift millions out of material poverty also contribute to rising anxiety and depression? In part 2 of this 2-part episode, Dan Doriani sits down with Dr. Brian Fikkert - economist and co-author of When Helping Hurts - to integrate theological insight with sociological research, pushing against the limits of economic theory to participate in the broad...

What does it really mean to help the poor in ways that lead to lasting change? In this episode, Dan Doriani sits down with Dr. Brian Fikkert - economist, author, and co-author of 'When Helping Hurts, - to rethink how we approach poverty alleviation. Brian challenges the common assumption that poverty is primarily a material problem, arguing instead that it is rooted in broken relationships - psych...

What does faithful leadership look like when navigating organizational turbulence? In this episode, Dan sits down with pastor, author, and current president of The Gospel Coalition Mark Vroegop to explore the hard-won lessons that emerge from leading through difficulty. Mark brings a rare combination of perspectives: from shepherding College Park Church in Indianapolis through seasons of growth an...

Private equity is infamous for the often-destructive "Buy, Lever, Strip, Flip" strategy. In this episode of Working with Dan Doriani, entrepreneur and investor Brent Beshore joins Dan to discuss why Permanent Equity takes a different approach—avoiding debt, embracing long-term ownership, and prioritizing the well-being of employees, communities, and investors. Tune in to this episode to hear Brent...

In this podcast, Dan interviews Bob Doll, former executive at BlackRock and Merrill Lynch and now CEO and CIO of Crossmark. As a successful large-cap U.S. equity investor, Bob shares insights into leadership “at the top.” He urges Dan and listeners to recognize and value the unique resources God has given them, encouraging them to use these gifts to make a meaningful, lasting impact. While we can&...

Keith Getty is the songwriter behind some of the most loved and sung hymns of the twenty-first century. His credits include "In Christ Alone," Speak, O Lord," "The Power of the Cross," "By Faith," and others. On this episode of Working with Dan Doriani, Keith joins Dan to talk about his life in music: how he started in a household full of music, how he continues...

Anne Reitsema is the CEO of Medair, a Christian humanitarian organization that serves vulnerable people in hard-to-reach places in times of crisis. On this episode of Working with Dan Doriani, Anne joins Dan to talk about how she leads in hard places during challenging times. When pressured from multiple sides, Anne relies on her faith, her friends, her coworkers, and her belief in the value and d...

Tom Schoupe has held a variety of leadership roles in the automotive industry, the longest being his role as President of Manufacturing for Honda in Alabama. When Dan was an interim pastor in Birmingham, he had the chance to sit down in person with Tom and talk about his years in the industry. Tune in to hear Dan and Tom talk about how to add humanity to the process of making cars. Motivated by Ch...

In Kevin Vanhoozer's new book Mere Christian Hermeneutics, he discusses the importance of reading the Bible with a view towards glorifying God and enjoying him forever. On this episode of Working with Dan Doriani, Dr. Kevin Vanhoozer joins Dan to talk about his book and why it matters that we study the Bible with both accuracy and a kind of "second naivety." Join us at Main Street Su...

As the school year starts up around the country, parents and educators are hoping, working, and praying for good educational outcomes. On this episode of Working with Dan Doriani, Dan is joined by Elizabeth Zurlinden and Josh Crane, who lead independent schools in very different contexts. Dan, Elizabeth, and Josh discuss unique challenges schools are facing today and how parents and educators can...

How far can we go with impact investing? What if we evaluated the impacts of companies and products by examining supply chains, employment practices, and second-order effects on customers, communities, and the world? Meet Robin John, co-founder and CEO of Eventide, a Boston-based investment firm. Robin joins Dan on this episode to talk about why our investment decisions matter, and how they might...

Christians throughout history have wrestled with the questions around virtue - what is it? How is Christ's virtue ethics different from the ethics of other philosophers? In this episode, Clay Smith interviews Dan and Robbie Griggs about their work on the book "The Death of the Seven Deadly Sins." Tune in to hear what the Bible and its ancient commentators have to say about virtue and...

"If you can help people become more prosperous, they can become more peaceful." On this episode of the podcast, Dan is joined by Congressman Gary Palmer (R-AL) to talk about his journey from engineering into politics, the rationale behind policy decisions, and Gary's involvement in recent significant world events.

The "Seven Deadly Sins" are struggles that Christian tradition has recognized as persistent in the human heart. Earlier this year, Dan edited and contributed to "The Death of the Deadly Sins," a book on how we can tackle the root of these sins with virtue. Two contributors to the book, Christine Gordon and Trent Casto, to talk about the chapters that they contributed to: "...

Drawing is a playful activity that many children take up, but drop by the time they become adults. Drawing can also be a worshipful, working activity. Ron Adair joins Dan on this episode to talk about his work as an illustrator, which has spanned decades and produced beautiful portraits for all kinds of uses. Ron talks about what it takes to be a successful artist and why art is valuable for the C...

You may know some of Matt's songs from the radio or from singing them in your church. In this episode of Working with Dan Doriani, Dan and Matt discuss the reasoning behind writing hymns for worship, the inspiration for writing "His Mercy is More," and the ability that songs like "I Set My Hope (Hymn for a Deconstructing Friend)" have to connect with us emotionally.