Dwell On These Things

Brad Oatney sits down with Bob Graham and Randy Jones — two men who have navigated retirement well — to talk about what it actually looks like to retire with purpose. They share practical wisdom, remarkable stories of how God repurposed their deepest scars, and a compelling case that the best chapter of life might still be ahead. Speaker: Bob Graham, Randy Jones, Brad Oatney

Abbey Merker sits down with Marianna Havkin, who in 2022 lost her son Andrew in a car accident. Marianna talks honestly about grief, anger at God, and doubt — but also about the community, the Word, and the hope of eternity that carried her through. It's a heavy conversation, but ultimately a story of real faith holding up under real loss. Speaker: Marianna Havkin, Abbey Merker

Chris Hearty sits down with Josh Dannemiller, Matt Johanson, and Brad Oatney to talk honestly about what it looks like to be a highly committed spiritual father — the relational investment it takes, the cultural pressures working against it, and what they wish they'd known sooner. Speaker: Chris Hearty, Brad Oatney, Josh Dannemiller, Matt Johanson

Pat Reeder sits down with Tim Nunn and Ryan Lowery to take a wide-angle look at artificial intelligence — from the transhumanist worldview driving Silicon Valley, to the practical ways AI is already reshaping work and ministry, to what Christians should keep in mind as they navigate it all. Speaker: Ryan Lowery, Tim Nunn, Pat Reeder

Pat Reeder sits down with Kevin Vanhoozer, theologian and author of Is There a Meaning in This Text? and Mere Christian Hermeneutics, to talk about what it actually means to read the Bible biblically — why authority and interpretation are inseparable, what postmodernism got right and wrong, and why a Trinitarian framework changes everything about how we approach Scripture. Speaker: Kevin VanHoozer, Pat Reeder

Pat Reeder interviews author and podcaster Rebecca McLaughlin about the hidden costs of parasocial media and the surprising research behind her book, "How Church Could (Literally) Save Your Life". McLaughlin unpacks Harvard research showing regular church attendance rivals exercise in its mental and physical health benefits, and explores why disillusioned young women—far from being unreachable—are often just waiting for an invitation. They close by previewing her upcoming book on how Christianity transformed sexual ethics and where that legacy diverges from modern feminism. Speaker: Pat Reeder, Rebecca McLaughlin

Keira and Kalyssa join the podcast to talk honestly about what it's actually like to try to maintain a high commitment to God and Christian community while raising young kids — including the pressures, the lies that are easy to believe, and why "I only have 20% to give" might not be the obstacle it feels like. Speaker: Keira Williamson, Kalyssa Deken, Abbey Merker

Pat Reeder talks with Steve Bauer and Mike Sullivan, both of whom lost their wives years apart, about what actually helped and didn't help in the aftermath — from the role of community to the spiritual hazards of isolation and identity. It's a candid look at grief that doesn't rush toward easy answers. Speaker: Mike Sullivan, Steve Bauer, Pat Reeder

Abbey Merker interviews John and Ruth, who served overseas for 13 years, about recognizing and responding to God's calling. They trace how individual burdens developed from childhood through short-term trips, discussing the long waiting period between sensing a call and actually moving—including wrestling with timing, seeking counsel, and watching other couples discern different paths. They address common mistakes like impatience, autonomy, and lack of submission, emphasizing that calling requires internal motivation paired with willingness to receive input, resilience through failure, and daily time with God to cultivate the ability to hear his voice. Speaker: Abbey Merker, John & Ruth

Abbey Merker interviews Marian Guzzo and Mary Beth Gladwell, friends since age 14 who met at an all-girls Catholic high school and became believers together in the 1970s. They discuss maintaining their friendship over six decades despite living in different cities, raising families separately, and serving in different home churches—meeting weekly for coffee, walks, and prayer, even when their ministry lives didn't overlap. Both credit this friendship with sustaining them through losing parents, family crises, and personal struggles, and they challenge the cultural trend of cutting people off quickly while emphasizing that close friendships outside marriage are essential, not optional, for long-term spiritual health. Speaker: Marian Guzzo, Mary Beth Gladwell, Abbey Merker