The Russell Moore Show

Welcome to the quarterly books episode of The Russell Moore Show!

Tune in for a discussion of what Russell Moore and Ashley Hales, the former producer of the show and now CT’s editorial director for print, have been reading lately. The two discuss the themes that emerge in their reads, from power to technology to deconstruction. Their conversation covers nonfiction, fiction, and poetry—with shout-outs to some television and music as well. 

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why do we struggle to rest in the love of God? Perhaps, says Steve Cuss, it’s because we’ve never “wrestled to the ground our own preconceived notions.”

On this episode of The Russell Moore Show, Moore and Cuss dig into some of those preconceived notions about God and Christianity. They talk about fear and anxiety, persistent sin, and addiction. Their conversation covers the differences between a preventative and a redemptive gospel, the power of community as an antidote to despair, and how to determine when a failure is an inevitable part of life or when it is a sign that something is wrong. Moore and Cuss discuss the five false needs in every human, what it looks like to give our anxiety to God, and the great hope of the thief on the cross.

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

Click here for a trial subscription at Christianity Today.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Does the world seem crazy because we’re in an unusually tense time? Or is this just … life? Maybe it’s a little bit of both. 

On this episode, Bible teacher and author Jen Wilkin talks about the modern era in light of Revelation. She and Russell Moore talk about how the apocalyptic book has been misinterpreted and misused, how Christians can recognize when they have lost their first love, and the role of persecution in the life of the church. Their conversation covers the blessings of generations caring for one another, the hope of the new creation, and how the references to prior books of the Bible seen in Revelation might feel a bit like watching Shrek. 

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



Do you have a question for Russell Moore? Send it to [email protected].

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Content warning: This episode discusses mental affliction, self-harm, and suicide. 

The United States surgeon general says there should be a tobacco-style warning for social media. Why? Because the mental health crisis among young people is reaching seriously harmful levels.

On this episode, associate professor, author, and cofounder and editor in chief of Christ and Pop Culture Alan Noble joins Russell Moore to discuss what such a warning may look like and the modern state of affairs in the public square. Noble and Moore talk about Noble’s latest book, On Getting Out of Bed, and the differences between mental affliction and mental illness. The conversation covers the importance of friendship, embracing life as an act of worship, and how men can embody healthy masculinity. 

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

Click here for a trial subscription at Christianity Today.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Science should be a quest to discover truth. Christian faith means following the one who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

This pair of facts defines the life and work of this episode’s guest, former director of the National Institutes of Health, Francis Collins. He and Moore discuss COVID-19, conspiracies, and the creator God. Their conversation draws upon Collins’ new book, The Road to Wisdom, and highlights Christian hope for perspective amidst polarization. Collins and Moore also talk about Artificial Intelligence, the power of the Sermon on the Mount, and their common friend, the late Tim Keller.

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

Do you have a question for Russell Moore? Send it to [email protected].

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How can Christians act with integrity, fortitude, and gospel hope in a volatile political season?

That’s the question that David French, Curtis Chang, Ashley Hales, and Russell Moore consider on this special episode. Recorded live at a spring The After Party event in Washington, DC, the first half of the episode features a live panel discussion. In the second half, Moore, Chang, and French consider audience questions on practical engagement for Christians.

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

Do you have a question for Russell Moore? Send it to [email protected].

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Do we believe in redemption? 

That’s the question Latasha Morrison, author and founder of Be the Bridge, encourages listeners to consider. On this episode, Morrison and Moore discuss the issues of race, culture, and history’s impact on the present. They talk about what it’s like to listen, lament, and act on behalf of the oppressed—surrendering our work to the Lord as we walk the path of justice, righteousness, and reconciliation.

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

Do you have a question for Russell Moore? Send it to [email protected].

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Could the Constitution provide the antidote to polarization?

Yuval Levin thinks so. The director of social, cultural, and constitutional studies at the American Enterprise Institute, Levin is the author of a new book titled American Covenant. In it, and during this episode, Levin identifies the reasons people feel as though America is at a breaking point and meaningful opportunities for reuniting.

He and Moore consider why fragmentation is happening, the naiveté of cynicism, and ways the party system has—and hasn’t—worked well for the United States. They discuss partisanship, the potential upsides of ranked-choice voting in primaries, and the importance of seeing one another not primarily as political beings but as human beings.

Yuval Levin’s work:

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

Click here for a trial subscription at Christianity Today.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

American politics have hit a fever pitch. 

In the wake of events such as the assassination attempt on former president Trump, President Biden’s choice not to run for reelection, and the announcement of the Harris-Walz ticket, we’re revisiting a fan-favorite episode on political polarization. This conversation with Elizabeth Neumann, the former assistant secretary for counterterrorism and threat prevention at the Department of Homeland Security, covers radicalization, online discourse, and where to find hope. 

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

Do you have a question for Russell Moore? Send it to [email protected].

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Was Richard Nixon a Christian?

As America approaches the 50th anniversary of Watergate, Russell Moore welcomes Daniel Silliman, Christianity Today news editor and the author of One Lost Soul: Richard Nixon’s Search for Salvation to the podcast.

Silliman and Moore discuss the dissonance between Nixon’s Quaker heritage and legacy as the president who executed the Vietnam War. They also examine the former president’s relationship with CT founder, Billy Graham, and how it influenced his understanding of God and his political rhetoric.

Tune in for an episode that reflects on history while speaking pointedly to the present.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

Click here for a trial subscription at Christianity Today.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices