Radical Optimism

The news of Silicon Valley Bank collapsing struck a cord of fear: What if our economic system collapses?! It seems lately that story after story sparks fear of coming chaos— be it war, political dysfunction, or global pandemic. As we digest the 24/7 news cycle, how do we keep from panic and discern what is true? And then how do we live as Christians in this world that is wired to worry.

We are coming out of a long season of survival mode in our house. Maybe you’re in the thick of it too. This podcast episode, we take a break from politics to talk about our strategies for survival. We also talk about why our word for this year is “enjoy” and how we plan to lean into this season with joy and contentment in mind.

Taylor and Rachel discuss a topic that's hot these days in media and in public policy: what to do about social media and the negative effects it might be having on teenagers. Taylor recently wrote a paper, "What Should Policymakers do about Social Media and Minors" for the Center for Growth and Opportunity and they discuss the problems and solutions on this issue. They end the show with some practical tips that are hopefully helpful to those raising teens or wanting to help teens stay safe online.

We are back! It's 2023 and the House of Representatives is unable to govern because they have not elected a Speaker. Rachel and Taylor break down what that means and how Congress, instead of being deadlocked, should focus on an abundance agenda and what that entails.

Jason Feifer, Editor in Chief of Entrepreneur, joins us to discuss his new book "Build for Tomorrow: An Action Plan for Embracing Change, Adapting Fast, and Future-Proofing Your Career." We talk about adapting to difficult changes in life, family, career, and health; how history can teach us about the four phases of change; and a debrief on how we all were forced to adapt to change during the COVID pandemic.

Taylor and Rachel talk about the latest big and little narratives coming out of Tuesday's elections. Did Republicans do as well as they thought they would? What's the breakdown of the numbers in the states and demographics and how do those change the political landscape? What do the results mean for the 2024 presidential election? Finally, what might Christians think about voting and participating in elections? Stay until the end for a special guest appearance.

Rachel and Taylor speak with a special guest, economist Vance Ginn PhD about whether we are in a recession or not, his overall economic outlook, and how Christians might respond during difficult economic times. We hear a bit about Vance's background as well as the Stinkers and Thinkers from all three of us.

We’re back for Season 2 with our story of baby Barkley two’s pregnancy and delivery. This was a different experience than baby one because Rachel was disabled this time around. We share what was and wasn’t different, what the experience was like, and how God answered prayers and redeemed the hospital experience. Stinker and Thinkers are back with bang too!

We are expecting our new baby early next week so it's just Taylor here letting you all know we'll be back with the podcast in August or September. We totally meant to record a final real episode but we were too tired. In the meantime, Taylor leaves you with one thinker both he and Rachel enjoyed. Thanks so much for listening!

A federal judge struck down the transportation mask mandate this week— and people whooped and hollered for different reasons. We invited public health expert Tom Romeo on the podcast to share what he knows about masks with us, as well as give us an overview about what public health is. Enjoy this great discussion about how Christians might think about masks moving forward.