Is God’s will for your life more of a dot or a circle?

That’s one of the questions addressed by Grammy Award–winning producer and artist Charlie Peacock, whose new memoir Roots & Rhythm explores what it means to find one’s calling in life, how to heal from the past, and how to give up the quest for holding on to power.

This conversation reveals at least one middle-school-era debate over what counts as “Christian music” (spoiler: there was almost a fistfight over Amy Grant), and they explore deeper questions about fame, ambition, and why some artists burn out while others grow deeper with time.

Peacock shares stories behind producing music for Amy Grant, Switchfoot, and The Civil Wars—and what he’s learned from the visible economies of success and the hidden “Great Economy” about which Wendell Berry wrote.

You’ll hear thoughtful conversation on everything from Zen Buddhism and Jack Kerouac to AI and the future of music. Along the way, Peacock reflects on a note found after his mother’s death, a formative encounter with Kierkegaard, and what it means to live with grace as “an antidote to karma.” Peacock and Moore also talk about Frederick Buechner and Merle Haggard, as well as fatherhood, how to find a “circle of affirmation,” and why failing is as important as succeeding.

If you’re curious about how art and faith intersect in an age of algorithms and ambition, this conversation offers a human and hopeful perspective.

Resources mentioned in this episode or recommended by the guest include:

Roots & Rhythm: A Life in Music by Charlie Peacock

On the Road: The Original Scroll by Jack Kerouac 

Distant Neighbors: The Selected Letters of Wendell Berry and Gary Snyder

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An end-times novel predicted the insanity of 2025 and it just might point the way out.

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What happens when everything you’ve built crumbles beneath your feet? 

In this personal and open conversation, pastor Ray Ortlund talks about what he’s learned from unexpected losses, crushed hopes, and discarded dreams. Moore and Ortlund discuss how to get through those moments when faith is tested beyond what seems bearable—and they talk about the surprising joy that emerges on the other side.

Resources mentioned in this episode or recommended by the guest include:

Good News at Rock Bottom By Ray Ortlund

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The demonization of empathy will lead to a church that coddles sin.

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What can the lives and trials of our Asian American neighbors teach the rest of us?

Michael Luo, executive editor of The New Yorker and author of the new book Strangers in the Land: Exclusion, Belonging, and the Epic Story of the Chinese in America, joins Mooreto talk about our country’s treatment of its Chinese residents, which drew Luo to trace his own family’s path to the United States.

Moore and Luo discuss not only American sentiments toward the Chinese populations but also the ways our country deals with perceived strangers, the unique challenges of Asian American churches grappling with whether to become multiethnic, Luo’s experience of being a Christian in secular media spaces, and the ways his friendship with Tim Keller informed his view of Keller’s unique gifts and legacy.

Resources mentioned in this episode or recommended by the guest include:

Strangers in the Land by Michael Luo

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An American evangelical considers the life of Pope Francis.

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What does it mean to sing about Jesus when the name has been co-opted by politics, performance, and power? 

In this episode Dr. Moore welcomes singer-songwriter Jon Guerra to discuss Guerra's new album simply titled "Jesus." Guerra shares how his music serves as devotional art—less Sunday morning worship and more Monday morning prayer—and explains his journey back to the words of Christ after experiences that created distance.

Moore and Guerra explore themes of nationalism, church collapse, and finding authentic faith in a politically charged culture. Guerra reflects on his time as a worship leader during the painful public downfall of James MacDonald's ministry, offering honest insights about power, performance, and platform in Christian leadership.

The conversation moves through Guerra's creative process, including his work on Terrence Malick's films, and unpacks the countercultural message of songs like "Citizens"—which confronts the marriage of faith and political power. As the child of Cuban immigrants, Guerra also opens up about his fear of scarcity and how it shapes his understanding of Jesus's teachings about treasure and provision.

At a time when Jesus's name is often wielded as a tribal symbol, Guerra's music invites listeners to encounter Christ not as a political mascot, but as the One who welcomes immigrants as citizens and calls us to a narrower, and better, way.

Join Jon on tour this spring, and listen to Jesus here.

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What’s a Christian, anyway?

In our 2025 political environment, terms like evangelical begin to lose the meaning they once held, or they require further refinement and definition. Glenn Packiam’s new book brings a fresh perspective to this conversation. It turns out the answer lies in the Nicene Creed.

This year, the Nicene Creed turns 1,700 years old. This ancient work, built from Scripture and the public life of the ancient church, is often considered part of a “dead” spirituality, especially in traditions which put an emphasis on individual experiences with God. However, Russell and Glenn unpack the depth of personal and congregational meaning within the creed and discuss its power to redefine what Christian means in an environment where the term is constantly changing. 

Resources mentioned in this episode or recommended by the guest include:

What’s a Christian, Anyway? By Glenn Packiam

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We convince ourselves that we can be cruel and nihilistic and Christian all at once.

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It’s time for another books episode.

Russell Moore is joined again by Ashley Hales, the former producer of the show and now CT’s editorial director for print, in a discussion about what they’re reading now and about how reading as a practice is necessary and helpful in a windblown world. 

What books are you loving? And which books would you be sure to pack if you were planning to be marooned on a desert island? Email us: [email protected]. 

Books/essays mentioned in this episode:

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