What do we need to be paying attention to? 

Better yet, what do we need to be ignoring? Mike, Harold and Glenn all share their answers.

From there, the conversation moves through the disciplines of solitude (how to actually do it), the art of critical ignoring (what should we be blocking out?), and why there are more tigers in private U.S. facilities than in the wild. 

Also: Why Mike now thinks some problems aren't meant to be solved, just managed. Harold's record studio in Memphis (coolest thing ever?).

And why facing the worst outcome—and realizing "it's still okay"—might be the most helpful (and least appreciated) advice Mike gives.

This podcast is a Lakelight Institute Production.

 Thoughts? Guest Suggestions? Email us at [email protected]

Glenn, Mike and Harold are back—and this time, they're tackling the questions that actually matter: Why aren't more people coming to faith? What's holding them back? And what happens when Harvard gives 60% A's?

After a month of Harold leading Lakelight as interim president (yes, there's a jet—sort of), the team digs into objections to Christianity, the ethics of fighting back, and whether grades even matter anymore.

Also: Why Jonathan Rauch—a "gay, Jewish atheist"—now thinks Christianity's collapse is a disaster for society. And whether remedial math at UC San Diego proves we've lost the plot on education entirely.

This podcast is a Lakelight Institute Production.
Thoughts? Guest Suggestions? Email us at [email protected]

Mike and Glenn welcome Harold Smith to the Friday Update Commentary for his debut episode—and he doesn't hold back. Harold, Glenn and Mike have a wide-ranging conversation about courage, culture, and what happens when society loses its meaning.

What You'll Hear:

• Harold's Take on the Friday Update - What he likes and what he doesn't about Mike's newsletter.
• The Rusty Reno debrief - Why bold conversations are harder than they look, and more necessary now than ever.
•  Talent Vs Hard Work- Glenn asks Mike and Harold if they've known anyone whose success was due to talent alone.
• What divides us most? - Politics? Religion? Media habits? The team debates which identity marker shapes us most deeply (spoiler: it's probably not what you think)
• The lies we believe about God - From the "mollified Jesus" to cheap universalism, what are the misconceptions about God which are widespread today?

This podcast is a Lakelight Institute Production.

 Thoughts? Guest Suggestions? Email us at [email protected]

Have you changed your mind on an important topic in the last 5 years? If so, how?

That is the opening question for today's episode. Mike, Ben and Glenn, per usual, take the conversation in different directions.

Beyond that, we'll also discuss:

• How people come back to church: What Alpha is getting right—relational invites, a compelling launch night, and real scarcity that signals value.
• Reading for depth: Why long books form deeper thinkers (with picks from Adler, Alan Jacobs, Dostoevsky, Tom Holland, and more).
• A faithful posture: Navigating today’s tensions without panic or apathy—the “men of Issachar” approach to understanding our times.

This podcast is a Lakelight Institute Production. 

Thoughts? Guest Suggestions? email us at [email protected].

One year ago, Mike predicted public education would lose market share – and the numbers are in. We discuss what's changed and why.

But first, Glenn poses a question to the team: "What everyday thing will most people be nostalgic for in 20 years?" The answers might surprise you as we explore the velocity of cultural change.

Also in this episode:

• Glenn's mortifying confession about misspelling Mike's wife's name in the newsletter (sorry, Sheri!).
• Why Jesus chose hope over cynicism – and what that teaches us about rejecting our cultural pessimism
• Which personal habit would you actually recommend to others? Our answers reveal more than we expected
• A listener asks Mike about his sermon preparation process.

This podcast is a Lakelight Institute Production. 

Thoughts? Guest Suggestions? email us at [email protected].

This podcast is a Lakelight Institute Production. 
Thoughts? Guest Suggestions? email us at [email protected]. 

Ben, Mike and Glenn are back! 

This time, we're talking about how ChatGPT roasted Mike, how revival might be stirring in the United States, and how cultural issues are oftentimes spiritual in nature. 

On top of that, we share our recommendations for the upcoming fall. 

This podcast is a Lakelight Institute Production. 
Thoughts? Guest Suggestions? email us at [email protected]. 

Glenn Wishnew and Mike Woodruff are back – (Ben is out, sadly) – with special guest Syler Thomas for a thought-provoking conversation that spans from American patriotism to faith in a changing world. 

What You'll Hear:

• Celebrating America - What makes us proud to be American when patriotism is at historic lows? (Only 58% of Americans say they're proud to be American - a record low!)
• Faith & Doubt - Mike shares surprising findings from readers about the biggest objections to Christianity, and how the conversation has shifted from science vs. faith to moral credibility
• Liquid Culture - How rapidly changing cultural norms fuel polarization and fragment our communities
• Generation Gaps - Why today's high schoolers are less likely to date, work, or sleep than previous generations
• Dallas Willard's Wisdom - Essential insights from one of Christianity's most influential thinkers
• Personal Mount Rushmore - Our hosts reveal their four most influential figures

This podcast is a Lakelight Institute Production. 

Thoughts? Guest Suggestions? email us at [email protected]

In this episode, we look back at all the editions of The Friday Update from the past month—highlighting key themes, standout stories, and takeaways exclusively for our supporters.

In this episode, we look back at all the editions of The Friday Update from the past month—highlighting key themes, standout stories, and takeaways exclusively for our supporters.