Radical Optimism

We are back(ish)! After prompting from a couple folks, we thought we'd ease back into things by reviewing our top picks (thinkers) and worst picks (stinkers) from 2024. We added a new category at the end, tinkers, after prompting from a fan! On this episode we keep things casual.

Three recent popular books on the state of kids and families came out recently: The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt, Family Unfriendly by Tim Carney, and Bad Therapy by Abigail Shrier. They each grapple with the same societal problems of record rates of anxiety, depression, medication, treen suicide, and loneliness. They also discuss the decline of the “play-based childhood” since the 1980s. Each give slightly different prescriptions aimed at less anxiety for parents and more resiliency for children. Join us for a discussion of how these authors approach the issues and how Christians might think about it all.

It’s hard to watch the news and the conflicts around the globe lately. It begs the question of where we are in history and what America’s place in the world should be. This week the Senate debated and passed a foreign aid package to Ukraine, Taiwan, Gaza, and Israel. We give a very non-expert look into what’s happening and why we can still be optimistic for freedom’s future.

It’s been over two months since out last episode! We had a deeper topic in mind but pivoted to something lighter: checking in our theme of the last year (and near future), “enjoy,” and discussing some of the spiritual and family Christmas practices and traditions in our family. We talk Advent, Santa, and, of course, our Stinkers and Thinkers too.

Check out the books and resources Rachel recommends:

She Reads Truth Advent devotionals

Jesse Tree Ornaments

Sacred Seasons by Danielle Hitchens

The Barkleys parse out what happened this week when Speaker Kevin McCarthy got ousted by a faction of Republicans. We break down what happened, who did what, why it is structured like it is, and what happens next on this wild Congressional ride. Thanks to Danny for the question that inspired this episode!

The societal trends for men are troubling. Men are graduating college with degrees at much lower rates than women. Prime-age working men are… not working. The number of black men in prison is particularly alarming, and 3 out of 4 deaths of despair are men. It’s hard to deny that something isn’t right. Taylor and Rachel discuss what’s happening with men and what the Bible has to say about masculinity.

Is this generation better off than our parents were in 1985? That is the debate in Washington, and it reflects a greater malaise felt by Americans. Rachel and Taylor discuss the Cost of Thriving Index debate between think tankers Oren Kass and Scott Winship, as well as the broader beginnings of the presidential debate. We finish up with how we should think about our politics on these issues in a new way, instead.

The month of June is when we remember our biggest milestones— 7 years ago we got married and 4 years ago Rachel was diagnosed with the tumor, paralyzed, and received lifesaving surgery. Usually, Rachel is speaking to this experience, but we flipped the script and Rachel interviewed Taylor about what it has been like to be a spouse on this journey. Rachel asks what the diagnosis was like for him, how he processed disability and some caregiving, and what impact it all had on his faith journey.

Everyone is talking about Artificial Intelligence and the potential for doomsday scenarios. Taylor breaks down what exactly AI is for Rachel, and then they talk about what it could mean for society. Finally, they talk about how Christians might think about robots, souls, intelligent design and God’s role in the world and our lives.

This week we thought we'd do something different. On March 25, 2023, Rachel gave a talk at the Falls Church Anglican Women's Conference, titled "Transformation Through Suffering" that we're sharing with you this Easter weekend. In the seminar talk she shared her story about becoming paralyzed and how she has wrestled with the pain in her life. She talked about how to think about suffering while you are in the chasm between the life you desire and the life you’ve been given. Rachel talks about what the Bible has to say about suffering, how she's worked through fears and doubts, and how the things she's learning along the way have transformed her relationship with God.