Episodes
Will Acuff | No Elevator to Everest: Spirit-Led Self-Awareness, Joyful Work, and Ending Poverty through Ownership
Dr. James Spencer sits down with Will Acuff —author of No Elevator to Everest: Shift from Survive to Thrive through Spirit-Led Self-Awareness and cofounder of Corner to Corner (Nashville)—to explore how Christians can move fr...
Soundbites and Slogans: Thinking Christian in a World of Half-Truths
In this episode of the Thinking Christian Podcast , Dr. James Spencer is joined by Nate Giarratano reflect on recent political commentary surrounding the Israel–Gaza conflict. Instead of offering hot takes on a complex war, t...
How to Die: Punk Rock, Monasteries, and the Scandal of Discipleship
In a culture obsessed with self-optimization and curated spirituality, Joshua S. Porter offers a counterintuitive call: come and die . In this episode, James Spencer sits down with the punk-rocker-turned-pastor to discuss Por...
Jeremy Stalnecker | Identity Beyond the Uniform: Faith, Trauma & Leadership
In this episode of Thinking Christian , Dr. James Spencer hosts Jeremy Stalnecker of the March or Die podcast. They discuss Jeremy's ministry to veterans, the challenges facing those coming back from combat, and leadership. T...
The Serpent's Craft: Unpacking the Ambiguity and Tragedy of Genesis 3:1-7
What makes temptation so compelling? In this episode of Thinking Christian's Prepped Series, Dr. James Spencer takes us deep into one of Scripture's most foundational passages—the fall narrative in Genesis 3:1-7. Far from a s...
Christian Nationalism and the Church-State Divide: A Theological Reflection on the PCA Vote
In this episode of Thinking Christian , Dr. James Spencer and Nate dive into the recent Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) vote addressing Christian nationalism. They explore what makes Christian nationalism problematic fro...
Rethinking "Helper": Unpacking the True Meaning of Ezer in Genesis 2
What does it truly mean to be a "helper"? In this episode of Thinking Christian's Prepped Series, Dr. James Spencer challenges common misconceptions surrounding the Hebrew word ezer , often translated as "helper" in Genesis 2...
Temple, Eden, and the End of All Things: How Sacred Space Shapes Discipleship
What if the tabernacle, the Garden of Eden, and the Great Commission are all telling the same story? In this episode of Thinking Christian's Prepped Series , Dr. James Spencer uncovers the theological thread that weaves from ...
In God’s Image: Dignity, Dominion, and the Distorted Imago Dei
What does it actually mean to be made in the image of God? In this episode of Thinking Christian's Prepped Series , Dr. James Spencer dives deep into one of the Bible’s most profound claims about humanity. Exploring five majo...
“Away Game: Discipling Kids Through the Chaos of Youth Sports”
In today’s episode of Thinking Christian , host Dr. James Spencer welcomes sports ministry veterans Ed Uszynski and Brian Smith to discuss their new book, Away Game: A Christian Parent's Guide to Navigating Youth Sports . As ...
Back to the Garden: What Genesis Teaches Us About Order, Obedience, and Being Human
In this premiere episode of Thinking Christian's Prepped Series, Dr. James Spencer takes us to the beginning—not just of the Bible, but of everything. But instead of debating science or timelines, he asks three essential ques...
Losing the Signal: What the Death of AM Radio Means for Christian Witness in a Digital Age
What happens when a culture unplugs from the constraints that once helped us listen well? In this episode of Thinking Christian , James Spencer and Nate reflect on the slow disappearance of AM radio from new vehicles—a shift ...
Zach W. Lambert | A Better Way to Read the Bible: Escaping Weaponized Scripture and Embracing Transformative Faith
Can we read the Bible without reducing it to a rulebook, a road map, or a political weapon? In this episode of Thinking Christian , James Spencer sits down with pastor and author Zach Lambert to explore his new book Better Wa...
Jenn Suen Chen | Dim Sum, Identity, and the Table of God: How Our Stories Shape Our Souls
What does dim sum have to do with discipleship? In this deeply personal and thought-provoking episode, James Spencer talks with author and spiritual formation leader Jenn Suen Chen about her book Dim Sum and Faith: How Our St...
The Phony Age: Navigating Digital Deception, Noise, and the Need for Wisdom
Can we still spot the truth in a world that specializes in counterfeits? In this episode of Thinking Christian , James Spencer and Nate unpack the unsettling implications of the internet’s influence on our minds, our trust, a...
Alex Kocman | Borders, Nations, and the Order of Love: A Christian Conversation about Immigration
In this thought-provoking episode of Thinking Christian , Dr. James Spencer welcomes Alex Kocman—missions leader and co-host of the Missions Podcast —for a wide-ranging conversation on immigration, national identity, and how ...
Denise Daniels and Elaine Howard Ecklund | Is Your Job a Calling? Rethinking Faith at Work
What if the sacred-secular divide is more imagined than real? In this episode of Thinking Christian , Dr. James Spencer sits down with sociologist Elaine Howard Ecklund (Rice University) and business professor Denise Daniels ...
In Reality: The Biblical Teaching Office
In an age where charisma can eclipse character and trending ideas often overshadow timeless truth, how can we safeguard the integrity of Christian teaching? In this episode of PREPPED, accompany Dr. James Spencer on an explor...
Erin Moniz | Intimacy, Identity, and the Church: Reimagining Relationships Through the Gospel
What if our dating struggles, friendship breakdowns, and even church conflicts trace back not to technique—but to theology? In this episode of Thinking Christian , Dr. James Spencer sits down with Erin Moniz—Anglican deacon, ...
Alan Noble | You Are Not Your Own: Resisting the Gospel of Radical Autonomy
What if the crushing weight of modern life isn't a bug in the system but a feature of a false belief? In this episode of Thinking Christian , Dr. James Spencer is joined by Dr. Alan Noble to explore his compelling book, You A...
Chrystal Downing | More Than a Message: Dorothy Sayers, Film, and the Flesh of Christian Art
What do a detective novelist, a WWII radio drama, and a blockbuster film have in common? According to Dr. Crystal Downing — everything. In this episode of Thinking Christian , I’m joined by Dr. Crystal Downing, former co-dire...
Paul Hoffman | AI, the Imago Dei, and the Fight for Our Humanity
Is artificial intelligence just a tool — or are we slowly making it a partner in how we think, relate, and even worship? In this episode of Thinking Christian , I sit down with Dr. Paul Hoffman — pastor, theologian, and co-au...
AI, Adolescents, and the Apocalypse? Discerning the Digital Age Without Losing Your Soul
In this episode of Thinking Christian , Dr. James Spencer sits down with Nate Giarratano to unpack the rapid advance of artificial intelligence, a controversial 10-year moratorium on state regulation, and what it means for Ch...
Laura Richter | Formation at the Top: Catholic Healthcare, Mission Integration, and the Shape of the Soul
What does it look like to lead not just with strategy, but with soul? In this episode of Thinking Christian , Dr. James Spencer speaks with Laura Richter, executive advisor to various healthcare systems, about the quiet revol...