In an interview with David Brooks, Molly Worthen characterized both herself and Brooks as 'overly educated, slightly nerdy, late-in-life converts.'

Just 5 years ago, after conversations with Pastor J.D. Greear and Tim Keller, Worthen felt compelled to examine the evidence for Jesus. What she discovered forced her to change the direction of her entire life.

This episode of Beneath The Headlines tells her story. 

We'll also unpack her latest book Spellbound — a history of how Charisma has affected American society from the Puritans to the present day. 

Molly Worthen is professor of history at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a freelance journalist. She lectures widely on religion and politics and teaches courses on North American religious and intellectual culture, global Christianity, and the history of ideas. She writes about religion, politics, and higher education for The New York Times and has also contributed to The New Yorker, Slate, The American Prospect, Foreign Policy, and other publications. She is the author of Spellbound, Apostles of Reason and The Man On Whom Nothing Was Lost.  You can learn more about her work on her website.

Mike is the author of The Friday Update, a weekly newsletter that combines cultural insight with Biblical wisdom. Subscribe here.

Beneath The Headlines is a Lakelight Institute production.

Thoughts? Guest Suggestions? email us at [email protected]

Marriage rates have been plummeting for over 50 years. If you ask young people what they want to be when they grow up, the answers revolve around achieving career success, financial security and personal happiness. Marriage doesn't fit into the picture. In fact, marriage is viewed as a barrier to those pursuits.

But what if marriage doesn't impede those goals? What if marriage serves as the foundation for a flourishing life?

That's what Dr. Brad Wilcox's research demonstrates.

Mike Woodruff sits down with Wilcox, a professor of sociology at the University of Virginia, director of the National Marriage Project, and author of several books on marriage and family. They discuss the cultural shifts undermining marriage, why it remains a vital institution for adults and children alike, and how society can better support strong, stable families. 

Beneath The Headlines is a Lakelight Institute production.

Thoughts? Guest Suggestions? email us at [email protected]

Mike is the author of The Friday Update, a weekly newsletter that combines cultural insight with Biblical wisdom. Subscribe here.

You can invest in other Lakelight Institute resources and experiences here: https://www.lakelight.com/invest

What is a man? 

Why are men now considered toxic? How can our culture promote a healthy vision for masculinity?

Together, Mike and Dr. Nancy Pearcey discuss these questions along with many others in this episode of Beneath The Headlines.

Nancy Pearcey is the author of The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes, as well as Love Thy Body, The Soul of Science, Saving Leonardo, Finding Truth, and Total Truth. She is professor and scholar in residence at Houston Christian University. She has been quoted in The New Yorker and Newsweek, highlighted as one of the five top women apologists by Christianity Today, and hailed in The Economist as "America's pre-eminent evangelical Protestant female intellectual."

Beneath The Headlines is a Lakelight Institute production.

Thoughts? Guest Suggestions? email us at [email protected]

Mike is the author of The Friday Update, a weekly newsletter that combines cultural insight with Biblical wisdom. Subscribe here.

You can invest in other Lakelight Institute resources and experiences here: https://www.lakelight.com/invest

In this episode, Mike sits down with Dr. Abigail Favale, the author of The Genesis of Gender: A Christian Theory. She teaches at the University of Notre Dame’s McGrath Institute for Church Life and holds degrees in philosophy, women’s writing, and English literature.

In this conversation, they explore:
- Dr. Favale's journey from progressive feminism to Catholic orthodoxy
- How motherhood and spiritual crisis reshaped her worldview
- The clash between the "gender paradigm" and a Christian vision of embodiment
- The intellectual roots of modern feminism and transgender ideology
- How to engage cultural debates with truth and love
- The gift of the body and why limits are essential to human flourishing

Beneath The Headlines is a Lakelight Institute production.

Thoughts? Guest Suggestions? email us at [email protected]

Mike is the author of The Friday Update, a weekly newsletter that combines cultural insight with Biblical wisdom. Subscribe here.

You can invest in other Lakelight Institute resources and experiences here: https://www.lakelight.com/invest

In this episode of Beneath the Headlines, host Mike Woodruff sits down with Dr. Nathan Hatch, a renowned historian, former president of Wake Forest University, and scholar of American religious history. 

Dr. Hatch reflects on the current crisis of trust in institutions — from higher education to politics — and offers a nuanced perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing universities today. He shares personal stories of leadership, the importance of character formation in education, and why he remains hopeful about the role of faith in academia.

Listen now on your favorite podcast platform!

Beneath The Headlines is a Lakelight Institute production.

Thoughts? Guest Suggestions? email us at [email protected]

Mike is the author of The Friday Update, a weekly newsletter that combines cultural insight with Biblical wisdom. Subscribe here.

You can invest in other Lakelight Institute resources and experiences here: https://www.lakelight.com/invest

With over 40 years in ministry, best-selling author and pastor John Ortberg thought he'd seen it all. Then, he discovered the principles behind AA.

In his book Steps: A Guide to Transforming Your Life When Willpower Isn't Enough, John shares profound insights on how the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous can be transformative for everyone—whether struggling with addiction or simply seeking deeper spiritual growth.

In their conversation, Mike and John explore:
- The 12 Steps as a Spiritual Pathway for surrender, humility, and transformation.
- Addiction vs. Sin – Is addiction a disease, a moral failing, or something deeper? 
- The Role of Willpower & Surrender – Why willpower alone fails and how surrendering to God’s will brings true freedom.
- Habits & Spiritual Formation – Practical ways to reshape daily habits to align with God’s vision for our lives.
- Confession & Community – The power of vulnerability and accountability in spiritual growth.
- Scripture & Renewing the Mind – How memorizing and meditating on Scripture reshapes our consciousness.
- Gratitude in Suffering – John reflects on finding God’s presence in life’s deepest challenges.

Beneath The Headlines is a Lakelight Institute production.

Thoughts? Guest Suggestions? email us at [email protected]

Mike is the author of The Friday Update, a weekly newsletter that combines cultural insight with Biblical wisdom. Subscribe here.

You can invest in other Lakelight Institute resources and experiences here: https://www.lakelight.com/invest

Dr. Darren Whitehead is a pastor, author, and founder of Church of the City in Nashville, Tennessee. And his most recent book The Digital Fast: 40 Days to Detox Your Mind and Reclaim What Matters Most offers a transformative approach to breaking free from the grip of smartphones, social media, and constant digital distractions. 

In this conversation, Mike and Darren explore:

• The hidden costs of our tech addiction and how it’s rewiring our brains.
• Practical steps to detox from digital overload and rediscover joy, presence, and connection.
• The impact of social media on mental health, especially for teenagers, and how parents can lead the way in creating healthier tech habits.

Resources Mentioned:

• The Digital Fast by Dr. Darren Whitehead
• The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
• The Tech-Wise Family by Andy Crouch
• The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God by Justin Brierley

Beneath The Headlines is a Lakelight Institute production.

Thoughts? Guest Suggestions? email us at [email protected]

Mike is the author of The Friday Update, a weekly newsletter that combines cultural insight with Biblical wisdom. Subscribe here.

You can invest in other Lakelight Institute resources and experiences here: https://www.lakelight.com/invest

In this episode of "Beneath the Headlines," host Mike Woodruff interviews Glen Scrivener, an Australian writer, pastor, and apologist currently living in the UK. The conversation centers around Scrivener's book "The Air We Breathe" which explores how modern Western values like human rights, equality, progress, and compassion are deeply rooted in Christian thought and tradition.

Key points discussed include:

• How many secular intellectuals (like Tom Holland, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, and Louise Perry) are reconsidering Christianity's role in shaping Western civilization
• Scrivener's "3-2-1" course, a digital evangelism program that has reached thousands
• The current state of Christianity in different regions (particularly England, Australia, and America)
• The potential future directions of Western society, including both secular and religious trends
• The challenge of connecting modern secular values back to their Christian origins

The conversation offers an interesting perspective on how Christianity continues to influence modern thought, even among those who don't identify as religious, and discusses the current cultural shifts happening around faith and secularism.

Join Pastor Mike Woodruff and guest Collin Hansen, editor-in-chief of The Gospel Coalition, as they explore:

• The evolution of journalism from traditional reporting to advocacy
• Challenges in discerning truth in today's media landscape
• Impact of changing media on faith and society
• Strategies for thoughtful news consumption
• The importance of local journalism
• Hansen's upcoming book on theodicy and evil
• The enduring relevance of World War II in shaping moral understanding

Key topics include:

• Media bias and its effects
• The 2016 election's impact on news reporting
• Balancing faith perspectives with current events
• Cultural apologetics in the modern age

Tune in for insights on maintaining a balanced, faith-informed view in our complex information age.

Enjoy listening to Mike lead a panel discussion about restoring trust at the sold-out inaugural Lakelight Institute Good Work Summit.  Panelists include Dr. David Miller (Director of Princeton Faith and Work Initiative), Mike Zafirovski (former President of Motorola) and Tom Tropp (Chief Ethics Officer at Gallagher).