In this episode of The UpWords Podcast, host Daniel Johnson sits down with film critic and author Abby Olcese to explore how movies can deepen our spiritual rhythms throughout the church calendar. Abby shares insights from her book, Films for All Seasons: Experiencing the Church Year at the Movies, discussing how films like The Last Jedi and Paddington reflect themes of hope and joy during Advent, and how unexpected choices, such as Children of Men, illuminate Christmas. We also dive into the practice of watching films devotionally, regaining community around movies, and Abby’s top film recommendations for 2025.

Key Topics:

• Why Abby wrote Films for All Seasons
• How to watch movies devotionally using Lectio Divina principles
• Advent themes in The Last Jedi and Paddington
• Christmas through the lens of Children of Men
• Building community around film in a streaming era
• Abby’s 2025 film recommendations, including Wake Up Dead Man

Resources & Links:

• Films for All Seasons: Experiencing the Church Year at the Movies, (IVP, 2024) = https://www.ivpress.com/films-for-all-seasons

Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro

02:15 – Why Abby wrote Films for All Seasons

08:30 – Watching movies devotionally

15:45 – Advent themes: Hope & Joy (The Last Jedi, Paddington)

32:10 – Christmas themes: New life in Children of Men

45:00 – Regaining community around film

52:30 – Abby’s 2025 film recommendations (Wake Up Dead Man)

58:00 – Closing thoughts

Forgiveness isn’t a one-time decision—it’s a process that touches every part of our lives. In this episode of The UpWords Podcast, host Jean Geran sits down with Father Chad Magnuson, an Anglican pastor and PhD in psychology, to explore the spiritual and practical dimensions of forgiveness. Drawing on years of counseling and research, Chad shares why forgiveness can be challenging, how faith and the Holy Spirit empower us, and why emotional health is essential for spiritual maturity.

What You’ll Learn:

• Why forgiveness is more than saying “I forgive you.”
• The role of anger and acknowledgment in healing.
• How prayer and the Holy Spirit transform the forgiveness journey.
• The difference between forgiveness and reconciliation—and why it matters.
• How faith and psychology work together in the pursuit of wholeness.

Resources Mentioned:

• Forgiveness is a Choice by Dr. Robert Enright = https://a.co/d/3RXSGSC
• Emotionally Healthy Spirituality by Pete Scazzero = https://a.co/d/5rB9FMm
• Previous episode with Dr. Bob Enright (available at slbf.org/studio) = https://slbf.org/media/s8f264m/the-transformative-power-of-forgiveness-dr-robert-enright

Subscribe & Share:

If this conversation encouraged you, share it with a friend and leave us a review. It helps others find hope and healing through forgiveness.

What happens when artificial intelligence enters the sanctuary? In this episode of The UpWords Podcast, host Daniel Johnson talks with author and researcher Todd Korpi about his new book, AI Goes to Church (InterVarsity Press, 2025). They explore how AI is already shaping the church, the ethical and theological questions Christians must wrestle with, and how technology can be used to foster—not fracture—human flourishing. Todd (DMiss, Fuller Theological Seminary) is a pastor, missiologist, and church consultant. He is dean of digital ministry programs at Ascent College, assistant professor of Christian leadership at Fuller Theological Seminary, and works in several capacities at OneHope.

Key Topics:

• Why Todd wrote AI Goes to Church
• Defining AI and its influence on everyday life
• How algorithms shape spiritual formation
• Theological frameworks for engaging technology
• Ethics: Is technology neutral?
• AI and the future of work, rest, and human flourishing
• Higher education’s evolving posture toward AI
• Practical advice for churches: “Automate the boring bits”

Links & Resources:

• 📙Get the book: AI Goes to Church - https://www.ivpress.com/ai-goes-to-church
• Learn more about the SL Brown Foundation STUDIO - https://slbf.org/studio

Forgiveness is one of the most challenging—and liberating—virtues we can practice. In this episode of The UpWords Podcast, host Jean Geran, sits down with Dr. Robert Enright, a pioneer in the scientific study of forgiveness and the founder of the International Forgiveness Institute. Bob shares his remarkable journey from asking a “dangerous question” about the purpose of his research to becoming a global leader in forgiveness education.

We explore:

• What forgiveness is—and what it is not
• Why forgiveness is a moral virtue
• The psychological and spiritual benefits of forgiving
• How forgiveness can break cycles of generational trauma
• Practical steps for forgiving others and yourself

Resources Mentioned:

• https://internationalforgiveness.com
• Free curriculum guides: Email [email protected] and mention this podcast

Subscribe & Share:

If this conversation inspired you, subscribe to The Upward Podcast, leave a review, and share with a friend.

In this episode of The UpWords Podcast, we sit down with Byron Borger, owner of Hearts & Minds Bookstore, for a rich conversation about Advent—the season of waiting, longing, and hope. Byron shares personal stories, spiritual insights, and a curated list of Advent resources, from devotionals and theological reflections to family-friendly reads. Whether you’re seeking depth, beauty, or practical guidance for the season, this episode is a treasure trove of inspiration.

Highlights:

• Why Advent is central to the biblical story
• Byron’s childhood Christmas memories and their spiritual significance
• How busyness can become holy work during the holidays
• The meaning of waiting and longing in a restless world

Books Mentioned:

·      Advent: The Once and Future Coming of Jesus Christ – Fleming Rutledge (Eerdmans, 2018)

·      The First Advent in Palestine: Reversals, Resistance, and the Ongoing Complexity of Hope – Kelly Nikondeha (Broadleaf Books, 2022)

·      Hints of Hope: Essays on Living Proximately – Steven Garber (Pericles Press, 2024)

·      Advent (The Liturgical Year Series) – Tish Harrison Warren (InterVarsity Press, 2022)

·      Christmas: The Season of Light and Life (The Liturgical Year Series) – Emily Hunter McGowin (InterVarsity Press, 2022)

·      Epiphany: Season of Glory (The Liturgical Year Series) – Fleming Rutledge (InterVarsity Press, 2023)

·      The Art of Living in Advent: 28 Days of Joyful Waiting – Sylvie Van Hooser (Paraclete Press, 2024)

·      Advent Is the Story: Seeing the Nativity Throughout Scripture – Daniel Spanjer (Square Halo Books, 2022)

·      With Heart and Soul and Voice: Advent Devotions on the First Christmas Songs – Tim Chester (The Good Book Company, 2024)

·      A Book of Days: Christmas Reflections from the Northwest – Steve Moore & Contributors (Murdoch Trust, 2024)

·      Praying with Saint Nicholas: A Christmas Devotional – Matt Mikalatos (Tyndale House, 2024)

·      Waiting for Jesus: An Advent Invitation to Prayer and Renewal – Rich Villodas (WaterBrook, 2024)

·      The Star Still Beckons: Gifts of Presence at Advent and Christmas – Leonard Sweet (Salish Sea Press, 2024)

·      Unhappy Holidays: Advent Devotional Blessings for a Blue Christmas – Sherri Lee Gerber (Herald Press, 2024)

·      All Creation Waits: The Advent Mystery of New Beginnings – Gayle Boss; Illustrations by David G. Klein (Paraclete Press, 2016; Gift Edition 2021)

·      All Creation Waits: Children’s Edition – Gayle Boss (Paraclete Press, 2022)

·      The Biggest Story: Advent Devotional – Kevin DeYoung; Illustrations by Don Clark (Crossway, 2023)

·     The One We’re Waiting For: An Illustrated Advent Devotional for Families – Taylor Combs (B&H Publishing Group, 2023)

·     Incarnation: A Bible Study on the Coming of Christ – Derek Vreeland (Word of Life Resources, 2024)

Other Resources:

• Byron’s Booknotes Newsletter - https://www.heartsandmindsbooks.com
• Previous episodes: https://slbf.org/studio

Link to a downloadable PDF = https://storage2.snappages.site/6X3R8B/assets/files/2025-AdventChristmas-Resources.pdf

In this powerful replay from a live event at Upper House, we hear the extraordinary story of Calvin Duncan, a man wrongfully convicted at age 19 and sentenced to life in Louisiana’s Angola Prison. Over 23 years, Calvin became a jailhouse lawyer, fighting for his own freedom and advocating for countless others. Joined by criminal justice reform advocate Sophie Cole, co-founder of the Visiting Room Project, Calvin shares his journey from incarceration to exoneration and ultimately earning a law degree at age 60. Moderated by journalist and ordained minister Phil Haslinger, this conversation explores the brokenness of the justice system, the transformative power of advocacy, and the enduring strength of the human spirit.

Guests:

• Calvin Duncan – Jailhouse lawyer, law school graduate, co-founder of the New Orleans Innocence Project
• Sophie Cole – Criminal justice reform advocate, co-founder of the Visiting Room Project
• Moderator: Phil Haslinger – Journalist and ordained minister

Topics Covered:

• Wrongful conviction and the flaws in eyewitness testimony
• Life inside Angola Prison and the role of jailhouse lawyers
• The fight for access to legal records and justice reform
• Reentry challenges after incarceration
• Faith, resilience, and the meaning of advocacy

Resources & Links:

• https://slbf.org/events
• https://slbf.org/studio
• https://www.visitingroomproject.org

📙 Book:

• The Jailhouse Lawyer by Calvin Duncan and Sophie Cull (Penguin Random House, 2025) https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/771367/the-jailhouse-lawyer-by-calvin-duncan-and-sophie-cull/

Historian Tal Howard joins host Dan Hummel to discuss his new book Broken Altars: Secularist Violence in Modern History (Yale University Press). This episode dives deep into the global history of secularism, examining how different forms—passive, combative, and eliminationist—have shaped societies and, in some cases, led to state-sponsored violence against religious communities.

📚 Topics include:

·     The intellectual history of “religion” and “secularism”

·     Case studies from France, Turkey, Mexico, the Soviet Union, and Albania

·     The ideological legacy of Marxist-Leninist thought

·     How secularist ideologies have impacted religious minorities

·     A comparison with Charles Taylor’s A Secular Age

🔗 Resources:

·     Broken Altars by Tal Howard (Yale University Press) https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300263619/broken-altars/

·     Previous Upwards episode with Tal Howard (2021)

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2VKb21hmXYuFhCzB3RodKv?si=-f8_LzsMRnWp3ekfu8x0Hw

👍 Like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations at the intersection of faith, academia, and public life.

🌐 Learn more at https://slbf.org/studio

In this episode of The UpWords Podcast, host Jean Geran speaks with Nicole Bibbins Sedaca, Kelly and David Pfeil Fellow at the George W. Bush Institute and former Executive VP at Freedom House. As part of our series on Christian citizenship, Nicole shares her insights on how faith intersects with democracy, the importance of religious freedom, and the role Christians can play in promoting justice and compassion both locally and globally.

Topics Covered:

• Why democracy matters for people of faith
• The biblical call to seek justice for the vulnerable
• How Christians can engage in civic life without placing ultimate hope in politics
• The global struggle for freedom and the role of American Christians
• Higher education’s role in forming democratic citizens

Guest Bio:

Nicole Bibbins Sedaca is a seasoned advocate for democracy and human rights, with experience at the State Department and Freedom House. She brings a deep understanding of global democratic movements and a strong Christian perspective on civic engagement.

Resources & Links:

• Learn more about the https://slbf.org
• Connect with Nicole Bibbins Sedaca via the George W. Bush Institute - https://www.bushcenter.org/

Links to previous episodes on Citizenship:

Christian Citizenship in a Pluralistic World | Chris Seiple

• Apple Podcasts = https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-upwords-podcast/id1537044590?i=1000720569822
• Spotify = https://open.spotify.com/episode/1eXhXf3DdII63mc97NIlaq?si=Tqx8q4vGSgWKI2G7FhEOPg
• YouTube = https://youtu.be/ndD4NTT8kLQ

Faith, Citizenship, and Dissent: Lessons from 18th–19th Century Britain | Michael Rutz

• Apple Podcasts = https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-upwords-podcast/id1537044590?i=1000722513294
• Spotify = https://open.spotify.com/episode/2cwJ9pjDQZBp5hxRDVoUMR?si=38433acca24c40b4

Christian Citizenship and the Early Church | Gar Anderson

• Apple Podcasts = https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-upwords-podcast/id1537044590?i=1000726874819
• Spotify = https://open.spotify.com/episode/088w4Ne0lxQSStKsp9senx?si=87caaabc653943b3
• YouTube = https://youtu.be/tdE4uw2KokY

In this episode of The UpWords Podcast, host Daniel Johnson welcomes author and leadership coach J.R. Briggs to discuss his new book, The Art of Asking Better Questions: Pursuing Stronger Relationships, Healthier Leadership, and a Deeper Faith (IVP, 2025). Together, they explore how asking thoughtful questions can transform relationships, deepen spiritual formation, and strengthen leadership.

J.R. shares personal stories and practical frameworks, including the four levels of good questions—from basic information to transformational depth. He also reflects on how Jesus modeled question-asking, why curiosity is essential for Christian formation, and how leaders can use questions to foster flourishing in their communities.

Key Topics:

• Why questions are essential for spiritual growth and leadership
• The four levels of good questions
• How to ask better questions of God, ourselves, and others
• Stories of transformation through questions, including the powerful example of Daryl Davis
• Practical questions for leaders at every level

Resources Mentioned:

• The Art of Asking Better Questions by J.R. Briggs (IVP, 2025) https://www.ivpress.com/the-art-of-asking-better-questions
• Hearts & Minds Bookstore (Byron Borger)
• The Six Conversations by Heather Holleman
• Psalms of lament and the role of questions in Scripture

Connect with J.R. Briggs:

• https://jrbriggs.com
• @jr_briggs on social media

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/vu0qW7mQrWo

In this episode of The UpWords Podcast, host John Terrill sits down with Jason Jensen, Vice President of Spiritual Foundations at InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and author of Formed to Lead: Humility, Character, Integrity, and Discernment. Together, they explore a transformative vision of Christian leadership—one shaped not by power or platform, but by spiritual formation, humility, and the aroma of the gospel.

Drawing deeply from Luke chapters 1–4, Jason shares how the life of Jesus offers a radically different leadership model rooted in identity, character, and calling. He discusses the personal disciplines that have shaped his journey, including Ignatian spirituality, Orthodox iconography, therapy, and the daily examen. Jason also reflects on his pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago and the importance of discerning signposts in leadership vocation.

This rich conversation invites listeners to reimagine leadership as participation in God’s story, where we are called to be faithful secondary characters in the divine drama. Whether you're a seasoned leader or just beginning your journey, this episode offers wisdom, hope, and practical guidance for leading with integrity and grace.

📘 Form to Lead is available now and includes group discussion guides and spiritual exercises for deeper engagement.

https://www.ivpress.com/formed-to-lead