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Good Faith

Good Faith

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Join host Curtis Chang and his friends as they follow Jesus and make sense of the world. With expertise, thoughtfulness, and humor, they discuss how Christian faith intersects with culture, politics, work, entertainment, and other aspects of life. Good Faith is produced by Redeeming Babel. Good Faith is ranked in the top .5 percent of all podcasts.

Episodes

268 episodes available, newest first.

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Andy Crouch: Why Is AI Coming for My College Degree?
56 min

Your "Safe" College Major May Be an AI Dead End Could AI make your college degree obsolete while making your plumber more valuable? Curtis Chang and Andy Crouch explore how artificial intelligence is disrupting higher education and the future of work—and why skilled trades and embodied human abilities may be safer bets. They also examine the rise of AI therapy and explain why chatbots can offer useful advice but can never replace human connection, spiritual community, and forgiveness. 02:36 - Declaring Personal Educational Backgrounds 13:26 - The Risk of "Cutting Edge" Education 15:37 - Computer Science: A Good Bet Turned Bad? 19:49 - Advice for Today's College Students 27:11 - The Role of a Teacher in the AI Age 30:54 - What About First-Generation American Students 35:27 - The Value of Skilled Trades 38:08 - The Intellectual Life of the Working Class 42:38 - The Real-World Value of Skilled Professionals 44:26 - What About AI as a Mental Health Tool? 47:35 - The Limits of AI in Providing Human Connection Apply to be Good Faith's next Director of Marketing Sign up for The After Party course Mentioned in This Episode: Notre Dame's DELTA: Human Formation in the Age of AI Jean Lee Latham's Carry On, Mr. Bowditch Jonathan Rose's The Intellectual Life of the British Working Classes Matthew Loftus' Resisting Therapy Culture Good Faith episode 245: When Mental Health Goes Too Far with Matthew Loftus RAND study: Use of Generative AI for Mental Health Advice Among US Adolescents and Young Adults Ronald Heifetz's adaptive-leadership framework More From Andy Crouch: Check out Andy's website Check out Andy's work at Praxis Read Andy's book: The Life We're Looking For Read Andy's book The Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in Its Proper Place Follow Us: Good Faith on Instagram Good Faith on X (formerly Twitter) Good Faith on Facebook The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.

The Homeland Security Trap? with Russell Moore & Elizabeth Neumann
51 min

What America Learned, Feared, and Forgot After 9/11 Former Trump White House security expert Elizabeth Neumann and theologian Russell Moore join Curtis Chang to consider whether America is safer—or simply more afraid—25 years after 9/11. They examine the war with Iran, immigration enforcement, domestic extremism, government overreach, and the church's complicity in fear-driven efforts. Together, they ask how Christians can confront legitimate threats without surrendering to fear, offering civic engagement, moral courage, and faithful "small refusals" to conform as a way forward. 03:14 - A 25-Year Review of Homeland Security 06:22 - A Theological View on "Homeland Security" 09:55 - How Do We Evaluate the War with Iran? 19:34 - Should Christians Trust the State? 24:01 - The Public's Disengagement from Government 28:54 - The Church's Role in Local Justice 33:59 - The Rise of Domestic Terrorism 40:52 - Is the Church Complicit in Fear Mongering? 42:29- Russell's Counsel for Pastors: Small Refusals 44:39 - The Personal Cost of Opposing Government Overreach 48:22 - When Lament and Hope Are the Same Thing Apply to be Good Faith's next Director of Marketing Register for Calvin University's Wisdom in the Age of AI Conference 2026 Sign up for The After Party course Mentioned in This Episode: Elizabeth Neumann's Kingdom of Rage: The Rise of Christian Extremism and the Path Back to Peace National September 11 Memorial & Museum: Marking the 25th Anniversary George W. Bush White House's the Department of Homeland Security executive Summary More about National Immigration Forum Wendell Berry's "A Statement Against the War in Vietnam" from The Long-Legged House Scriptures: Hebrews 11:13–16 ESV Jeremiah 29:7 ESV 1 Samuel 8 ESV Romans 12–13 ESV Isaiah 8:11–13 ESV Romans 8:24–27 ESV More From Elizabeth Neumann: Elizabeth Neumann's website More From Russell Moore: Russell Moore's Substack Read Russell Moore's article The Trump-Era Laughter at Immigrant Suffering Is Deforming Our Souls Sign up for Russell Moore's weekly newsletter Moore to the Point Follow Us: Good Faith on Instagram Good Faith on X (formerly Twitter) Good Faith on Facebook The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.

Has the Modern Slave Trade Met Its Match? with Gary Haugen
49 min

Miracles, Heartbreak, and the Fight Against Human Trafficking Nearly 50 million people remain trapped in modern slavery—but International Justice Mission founder Gary Haugen believes it could end in our lifetime. He joins host Curtis Chang to explore how IJM fights human trafficking by transforming broken justice systems, where God is amid horrific evil and patient prayer, and how Christians can stop watching from the sidelines and join the fight. 02:23 - The Evolution of IJM's Strategy of Strengthening Local Justice Systems 08:30 - US Complicity in Global Slavery 13:48 - The Impact of Unpredictable US Government Action 18:24 - Is Their a Contradiction in Evangelical Support? 24:23 - The Role of Miracles in Fighting Evil 28:56 - Waiting For Prayers to Be Answered 33:51 - The Dangers of Christian Hero Worship 45:26 - A Call to Action Against Modern Day Slavery To give to Good Faith: https://goodfaith.org/donate Mentioned in This Episode: Gary Haugen's biography IJM's work fighting trafficking and slavery IJM's response to the State Department funding pause U.S. State Department Trafficking in Persons Report Global Estimates of Modern Slavery Child trafficking and forced labor on Ghana's Lake Volta Good Faith episode 224: Francis Collins and Kristine Torjesen Scriptures: Matthew 5:16 (ESV) Matthew 25:14–30 (ESV) International Justice Mission: Get involved with IJM Pray with IJM Support IJM's advocacy work IJM resources for churches Follow Us: Good Faith on Instagram Good Faith on X (formerly Twitter) Good Faith on Facebook The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.

What the Heck Is a Democratic Socialist? with David French
54 min

Untangling America's Socialist Fever and Fear Host Curtis Chang and Good Faith "founding friend" David French ask whether democratic socialism is your grandparents' socialism, the left's answer to MAGA, or something more sinister. They unpack what Christians should make of its growing influence by exploring the DSA, economic inequality, America's national debt, the influence of Big Tech, and why Christians who feel politically homeless still have an obligation to stay engaged. 00:44 - Introduction to Democratic Socialism 02:19 - Can We Define a Democratic Socialist? 04:04 - Should Socialism Scare Us? 08:39 - Is the DSA the Left's MAGA? 17:38 - The Electoral Risk of Extremism 21:21 - Is There a Theological Take on Socialism? 25:19 - Has Debt Seized the Means of Production? 28:45 - Policy Must Be Effective, Not Just Well-Intentioned 33:13 - The Role of Economics in Moral Reasoning 34:19 - The Homeless Political Middle 36:43 - The Legitimate Grievances Fueling Extremism 42:08 - Socialism and the Threat of Big Tech 43:52 - The Presumption of Socialism and Economic Freedom 47:13 - Encouragement for the Politically Homeless To give to Good Faith: https://goodfaith.org/donate Mentioned in This Episode: Ten Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) Arguments for Socialism and Why They're Wrong (CATO Institute) Hasan Piker: What You Need to Know (Anti-Defamation League) Pope Leo XIII's Rerum Novarum (the basis for solidarity and subsidiarity) Congressional Budget Office: the federal debt / long-term budget outlook What is the Federal Debt right now? (Peter G. Peterson Foundation) Noah Smith: No one knows how much the government can borrow David French's How Can America Be So Miserable When It's So Rich? Starlink in the Russian-Ukrainian war More about labor leader Eugene Debs More about 20th Century economist Friedrich August Hayek Scriptures: Proverbs 22:7 (ESV) 1 Kings 19:18 (ESV) Romans 11:4 (ESV) More From David French: David French's New York Times pieces HERE Follow David French on Threads Follow Us: Good Faith on Instagram Good Faith on X (formerly Twitter) Good Faith on Facebook The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.

What Loneliness Is Trying to Tell You with Dr. Alison Cook
50 min

Why Are We So Lonely Even When We're Not Alone? Host Curtis Chang talks with psychologist and podcaster Dr. Alison Cook about why America's loneliness epidemic can't be solved by simply adding more people to our lives. They explore how attachment wounds, anxiety, distraction, and modern life leave us disconnected—and how solitude and honest prayer can become paths toward healing. Dr. Cook offers a practice for loneliness: "recognize and return"—name what you feel, then remember, "I am loved even here." 02:46 - Why Do We Minimize Loneliness? 05:12 - What Is Attachment Theory? 10:31 - Childhood Wounds and Cultural Context 13:42 - Where God Enters the Healing Process 16:14 - The Inner Dialogue with God 20:44 - The Importance of Solitude 27:20 - The Modern Epidemic of Loneliness 35:16 - Loneliness as a Holy Longing 39:22 - Spiritual Practices for a Healthy Inner Life To give to Good Faith: https://goodfaith.org/donate Mentioned in This Episode: Dr. Cook's The Secure Soul: Finding Inner Strength and Connection When Trust Doesn't Come Easy The U.S. Surgeon General's report: Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation Professor Irvin D. Yalom's Existential Psychotherapy Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Life Together Scriptures: Psalm 42 (ESV) Psalm 131 (ESV) Psalm 139 (ESV) Genesis 2 (ESV) Romans 8 (ESV) More From Alison Cook: Dr. Alison Cook's Website Dr. Alison Cook's The Best of You podcast Follow Us: Good Faith on Instagram Good Faith on X (formerly Twitter) Good Faith on Facebook The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.

Andy Crouch: Defending the Human Mind in an AI World
1h 7m

Do friction, struggle, and silence make you fully human? AI can generate an answer, but it cannot suffer with you, worship, love a neighbor, or become wise. Host Curtis Chang and Andy Crouch, the partner for theology and culture at Praxis, explore how AI may weaken our minds, distort relationships, and tempt us to outsource the very experiences that form wisdom, wonder, and sacrificial love. From chatbot "companionship" and AI-assisted grief to medicine, spiritual counsel, and the loss of silence, Curtis and Andy ask whether convenience is quietly creating a kind of cognitive metabolic syndrome and what we can do about it. 00:01:22 - Introduction to AI's Impact on Our Minds. 00:04:35 - Lessons from Social Media's Evolution 00:08:26 - Cognitive Metabolic Syndrome 00:18:45 - What Is the Purpose of the Human Mind? 00:25:23 - Wonder vs. Power 00:26:49 - Love Requires Suffering and Friction 00:34:38 - The Limits of AI in Healthcare 00:40:53 - The Danger of Outsourcing Life's Hardships 00:51:23 - The Loss of Silence 00:58:11 - The AI Forced Conversation on Being Human 01:01:03 - Practical Ways to Protect Our Humanity To give to Good Faith: https://goodfaith.org/donate Mentioned in This Episode: Andrew Briggs and Roger Wagner's The Penultimate Curiosity: How Science Swims in the Slipstream of Ultimate Questions Thomas Fuchs' In Defence of the Human Being Victor Hugo's Les Misérables Tristan Harris on How AI Worsens Ills Caused by Social Media (The Economist) Explore the work of The Future of Life Institute Emma Pearson's I'd Rather Risk Cancer Than See AI Move This Fast (The Atlantic) Scriptures: Mark 12:30–31 (ESV) Matthew 22:37–39 (ESV) Deuteronomy 6:5 (ESV) Luke 10:27 (ESV) More From Andy Crouch: Check out Andy's website Check out Andy's work at Praxis Read Andy's book: The Life We're Looking For Read Andy's book The Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in Its Proper Place Follow Us: Good Faith on Instagram Good Faith on X (formerly Twitter) Good Faith on Facebook The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.

When Mental Health Goes Too Far with Matthew Loftus
37 min

How Does Therapy Culture Undermine True Healing? Host Curtis Chang talks with physician and author Matthew Loftus about how therapeutic language can distort ordinary suffering, turn disagreement into "gaslighting," and leave people feeling less capable of changing their lives. They examine the overmedicalization of grief and anxiety, the rise of mental health culture in schools, and why churches risk losing their purpose when pastors start acting like therapists. **This is not an attack on therapy or psychiatric medication. It is a provocative conversation about when mental health care becomes a worldview—and whether our relentless focus on feeling better is actually making us sicker. 02:10 - Therapy Practice vs. Therapy Culture 03:52 - The Importance of Personal Experience 06:34 - The Three Elements of Therapy Culture 10:09 - The Problem with Focusing on Mental Health 13:22 - The Suggestive Power of Diagnosis 15:30 - A Christian Understanding of Suffering 17:57 - Finding Solace in the Midst of Suffering 21:40 - The Role of Medication in Mental Health 25:49 - Knowing When Therapy Becomes Unhelpful 28:30 - The Unique, Healing Functions of the Church 32:21 - How Parents Can Counter Therapy Culture in Schools 35:01 - A Final Word of Encouragement To give to Good Faith: https://goodfaith.org/donate Mentioned in This Episode: Matthew Loftus's Resisting Therapy Culture Curtis Chang's Anxiety Opportunity Kathryn Greene-McCreight's Darkness Is My Only Companion What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy? Further Reading: DSM5 and the Medicalization of Grief: Two Perspectives (article) Matter over mind: How mental health symptom presentations shape diagnostic outcomes Effectiveness of school-based mental health programs on mental health among adolescents Scriptures: Romans 8:38–39 (ESV) More From Matthew Loftus: Matthew's website Matthew's writing at Mere Orthodoxy Matthew's articles at Plough Follow Us: Good Faith on Instagram Good Faith on X (formerly Twitter) Good Faith on Facebook The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.

The Real Thing Driving American Politics from No Small Endeavor
1h 4m

Bridging Two Worlds: An American Immigrant's Story of Faith, Anxiety, and Political Calling Today, we are sharing a conversation between Curtis Chang and Lee C. Camp on the Signal Award-winning and 2026 Ambie Award-nominated podcast No Small Endeavor. Hosted by award-winning teacher and Professor of Theology and Ethics Lee C. Camp, No Small Endeavor explores what it means to live a good life through conversations about culture, ideas, and the habits that help people flourish. In this episode, you'll hear from Curtis Chang as he reflects on his experience as a Chinese American immigrant, former pastor, and public theologian, and argues that anxiety sits at the root of America's political crisis. Chang explains how anxiety is rooted in a fear of future loss, and offers actionable ways to name, face, and move through that anxiety with compassion rather than avoidance. You'll also hear Chang and Camp dig into how institutions are made up of people rather than systems, why that means they're capable of being healed rather than torn down, and why refocusing on the how of politics rather than just the what is essential to moving beyond our current moment of division. Follow and listen to more episodes of No Small Endeavor 00:00:19 - Introducing You to No Small Endeavor 00:04:07 - What Is Curtis Chang's Earliest Memory? 00:05:26 - Immigrant Curtis and Cultural Displacement 00:07:24 - The Subtle Art of Bridge Building 00:11:44 - Henry Kissinger and Harvard 00:16:32 - Reconciliation Work in South Africa 00:20:20 - Is Anxiety an Opportunity? 00:27:54 - Anxiety in American Politics 00:39:20 - Are Institutions Multipliers of Humanity? 00:43:44 - The "How" vs. The "What" of Politics 00:50:21 - Curtis Navigates Cynicism 00:54:23 - Pessimism, Hope, and the Resurrection 00:59:40 - The Practice of Contemplative Prayer Mentioned in This Episode: Listen to episodes and follow No Small Endeavor Lee C. Camp's Scandalous Witness: A Little Political Manifesto for Christians Curtis Chang & Nancy French's The After Party: Toward Better Christian Politics Curtis Chang's The Anxiety Opportunity: How Worry Is the Doorway to Your Best Self Projects and Courses: Video Course: The After Party Video Course: The Anxiety Opportunity Follow Us: Good Faith on Instagram Good Faith on X (formerly Twitter) Good Faith on Facebook The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.

David French on How the Confederacy Still Shapes America
1h 6m

What Does the Confederacy's Legacy Mean for the Modern South and Christian America? Host Curtis Chang and New York Times columnist, and Good Faith podcast "founding friend," David French confront the enduring power of the Confederate myth. David reflects on growing up as a white Southerner in a culture shaped by Confederate symbols, revisionist history, racial injustice, and a deeply rooted shame-and-honor code. Curtis, a Chinese American immigrant, brings an outsider's perspective that challenges familiar assumptions about heritage, memory, and belonging. Together, they examine Confederate monuments, the theological defenses of slavery, the meaning of "heritage, not hate," and whether honest historical reckoning can lead to redemption and reconciliation. 02:51 - Curtis Congratulates David on the Birth of His Latest Grandchild 05:54 - Why Does the Confederacy Still Matter? 10:12 - The South's Distinct Cultural Cohesion 22:19 - "Heritage, Not Hate": A White Southern Perspective 29:52 - Race, Religion, and Revisionism in the South 42:13 - The Resurgence of Explicit Racism 47:20 - What to Do with Confederate Memorials 56:32 - Repenting of Southern Shame-Honor Culture 01:01:32 - Institutions Founded on Injustice Can Carry Spiritual Darkness Sign up for The After Party Informational Webinars Sign up for The Good List Mentioned in This Episode: Learn about the Tulsa Race Massacre Learn about The Great Migration Watch MLK50 Conference (video) More about General George H. Thomas More about the Southern Baptist Convention and slavery What is Kinism More about the South's resistance to Reconstruction Read the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Watch: Selma and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (video) Scriptures: Ephesians 6:12 (ESV) Colossians 2:15 (ESV) Luke 10:25–37 (ESV) Matthew 20:16 (ESV) Matthew 10:39 (ESV) More From David French: David French's New York Times pieces HERE Follow David French on Threads Follow Us: Good Faith on Instagram Good Faith on X (formerly Twitter) Good Faith on Facebook The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.

When Protestant Curiosity Meets Catholic Wisdom with Pete Wehner
44 min

What can Protestants learn from the Catholic tradition? Host Curtis Chang and The Atlantic writer and former White House staffer Pete Wehner explore how Catholic social teaching—from subsidiarity and solidarity to the preferential option for the poor—offers a rich framework for Christian public life. They consider the limits of sola scriptura, unpack the importance of intellectual rigor, and define Christian humanism. Curtis and Pete also contrast the public faith of Pope Leo XIV and Vice President JD Vance, asking why faithful Christian witness should shape how believers respond to artificial intelligence and other challenges of our time. 02:31 - Does Catholic Theology Meet a Protestant Need? 04:41 - Tradition Is Powerful 08:43 - Does Sola Scriptura Have Limits? 10:19 - Protestant Traditions and Discernment 13:54 - Catholicism's Robust Frameworks 17:08 - Reclaiming Tradition for Protestants 21:36 - Embracing the Life of the Mind 27:22 - Christian Humanism fand 21st Century Questions 30:08 - A Protestant-Catholic Convergence 37:42 - Comparing Visions: JD Vance and Pope Leo 41:16 - The Power of a Faithful Witness Sign up for The After Party Sign up for The Good List Referenced in the Episode: Pete Wehner's article American Christians Face a Choice Learn about the seven themes of Catholic social teaching Carl F. H. Henry's The Uneasy Conscience of Modern Fundamentalism Alan Jacobs's The Year of Our Lord 1943: Christian Humanism in an Age of Crisis Christian Wiman's My Bright Abyss John F. Kennedy's 1960 address to Protestant ministers in Houston (video) Pope Leo XIV's encyclical on artificial intelligence, Magnifica Humanitas Pope Leo XIII's encyclical on capital and labor, Rerum Novarum Daniel K. Williams on J.D. Vances' Communion What Type of Christian is J. D. Vance? Miroslav Volf on Forgiveness, Justice, and Reconciliation (video) Miroslav Volf & Christian Wiman's Glimmerings Scriptures Referenced: Psalm 127:3–5 (ESV) Acts 2:42–47 (ESV) Luke 4:1–13 (ESV) More from Pete Wehner: Pete Wehner's articles at The Atlantic Pete Wehner's opinion pieces at The New York Times Follow Us: Good Faith on Instagram Good Faith on X (formerly Twitter) Good Faith on Facebook The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.