This week, Brandon shares some information from a book he's been listening to. It talks a lot about the idea of reward and habit, but he wants to talk to AJ about what that approach to understanding the self leaves out. What is a more whole, Christian understanding of the self?

This week, AJ and Brandon build out from the idea of ought into obligations. So often, we think of obligations as limitations and restrictions. Is it possible, though, that our obligations could actually serve to make us more free?

This week, Brandon and AJ dive a little more deeply into the question of what we "ought" to do. Do our choices matter? Are they free or fated? How are we supposed to choose?

This week, Brandon and AJ continue talking about how our understanding of the nature of creation shapes the nature of our calling, using the Lord of the Rings as a framework and setting.

This week, Brandon and AJ discuss the role of God(Iluvatar) in Tolkien's Middle Earth, specifically in creation and the daily lives of the characters. What can we learn, reflect on, or incorporate into our own lives, world, and relationship with the Almighty? Is creation a completed work already that we are watching play out? Or is it an ongoing process?

This week, Brandon and AJ talk about some of the bleakness of the news cycles. The world doesn't seem to be getting better, and the Bible doesn't always seem to think that it will. So, how do we, as Christians, process this broken world with hope?

This week, AJ and Brandon discuss St. Paul's willingness to keep preaching the truth even after being told by the Holy Spirit and numerous prophets that it would result in his imprisonment and death. What does it take to embrace that level of acceptance of God's will?

This week, AJ wants to hear from Brandon about his own experience and thoughts when it comes to his girls' educations. What are the pluses and minuses when it comes to public and private school?

This week, Brandon follows up with AJ on the pros and cons of working where you worship. It's critical that those leading others in faith never stop growing and developing their own.

This week, Brandon mentions the idea of everyday Christians adopting monastic, and specifically Benedictine, approaches to life, and AJ talks about the relationship between the monastic, contemplative life and the active, evangelistic life.