Local journalism is facing an existential crisis: A variety of forces are pressing in on small-town newspapers that may soon make them obsolete. Don Miller has been a local journalist in California for almost 4 decades and he discusses his experiences, concerns and beliefs about the challenges currently facing local publications around the country.

Dr. Falk has been an accomplished biologist for over 40 years and has been a researcher, university instructor and author. His unique approach as a biologist caused some controversy at the religious academic institution where he taught. Dr. Falk discusses his work, how he reconciles his spiritual beliefs with science, the controversy that almost resulted in losing his position, and his ethical concerns about current genetic research.

How does faith intersect with politics and social change?  When he was a pastor, Barney Wiget never addressed those issues in the hundreds of sermons he preached. However, personal life challenges led to a dramatic change in how he understands his faith and the lessons he draws from the life of Jesus.  In our conversation, we discuss Jesus' ethics in the Sermon on the Mount--probably the most famous discourse in human history--and how they can, and do, speak to the unique times we are living through in our country.

Working in a Pediatric Emergency Room, and deploying to natural and man-made disasters, Katie Nees has worked closely with children facing life-threatening traumas. She has been present with children and their families as they face the nightmares that others only hear and read about. How do young people respond to trauma, and how can one be a healing presence in those harrowing situations? Katie discusses how children can process and grow through trauma and how her beliefs are both challenged, and strengthened, through these experiences.

The medium of film can transport us to imagined places, as well as deepen our awareness and understanding of the world in which we find ourselves. Turning a documentary lens to complex historical events and figures requires an ability to navigate tensions between underlying values and beliefs. Martin Doblmeier, who has been making documentaries for public television for decades, reflects on his work highlighting human values and the people and events that have shaped our lives.

What is the relationship between the human senses and the creative process?  Songwriter and performer Ken Medema, unable to see from birth, creates songs and stories that speak to the human experience.  From his work as a music therapist with troubled teens to crafting songs supporting political revolution in central America, Ken discusses his improvisational style and his process of creating visionary songs that draw from an unseen inner passion.