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

Send us Fan Mail

CONNECT WITH US
Subscribe to The UpWords Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts and visit slbf.org/studio to learn more about our work at the intersection of faith, the academy, and the marketplace.

This episode was created by the SLBF STUDIO at Upper House.

Produced by Daniel Johnson and Dave Conour

Edited by Dave Conour

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

Send us Fan Mail

CONNECT WITH US
Subscribe to The UpWords Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts and visit slbf.org/studio to learn more about our work at the intersection of faith, the academy, and the marketplace.

This episode was created by the SLBF STUDIO at Upper House.

Produced by Daniel Johnson and Dave Conour

Edited by Dave Conour

In this episode, Dan Hummel sits down with historian Brandon Bloch to explore his new book, Reinventing Protestant Germany. The conversation traces the complex role of Protestant churches in Germany from the Weimar Republic through the Nazi era and into the post-war reconstruction. Block shares insights into how religious nationalism shaped political ideologies, the nuanced responses of church leaders to Nazism, and how post-war Protestantism positioned itself as a moral compass in rebuilding German democracy. 

🧠 Topics Covered 

• Brandon’s academic journey and early experiences in Berlin 
• The religious landscape of Germany in the early 20th century 
• Protestant responses to the Weimar Republic and the rise of Nazism 
• The Confessing Church, Bonhoeffer, and the myth vs. reality of resistance 
• Lay women and local resistance efforts during WWII 
• Post-war Protestantism and its role in moral reconstruction 
• The church’s stance on denazification and human rights 
• Protestant identity, conscience, and democratic values in West Germany 
• Comparative reflections on secularization in Germany vs. the U.S. 

📚 Key Takeaways 

• Protestant churches were deeply intertwined with the German state pre-WWI and faced identity crises post-1918. 
• Initial enthusiasm for Nazism among Protestant leaders gave way to internal conflict over racial policies and church autonomy. 
• Resistance efforts were often led by laypeople, especially women, rather than prominent pastors. 
• Post-1945, Protestant churches leveraged their moral authority to influence democratic reconstruction and human rights discourse. 
• The concept of “conscience” became central to Protestant political engagement in West Germany. 
• German secularization differs from the American model, with churches maintaining public roles despite declining private religiosity. 

🔗 Resources & Mentions 

• Reinventing Protestant Germany by Brandon Block — Harvard University Press https://www.hup.harvard.edu/books/9780674295438  
• Peter Kaika’s book Follow Your Conscience 
• Doris Bergen’s work on military chaplains and Nazi crimes 
• Kirchentag (German Protestant lay assembly) 
• Martin Niemöller’s famous quote: “First they came for the communists…” 

📍 Where to Listen 

Find this and over 150 other episodes at slbf.org/studio

Send us Fan Mail

CONNECT WITH US
Subscribe to The UpWords Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts and visit slbf.org/studio to learn more about our work at the intersection of faith, the academy, and the marketplace.

This episode was created by the SLBF STUDIO at Upper House.

Produced by Daniel Johnson and Dave Conour

Edited by Dave Conour

In this episode of The UpWords Podcast, host Susan Smetzer-Anderson sits down with J. Richard Middleton, Emeritus Professor of Biblical Worldview and Exegesis at Northeastern Seminary and Roberts Wesleyan University. With decades of scholarship spanning theology, philosophy, and cultural analysis, Middleton offers a compelling exploration of what it truly means to hold a Christian worldview—and how that concept has evolved, been misunderstood, and often distorted over time.

Drawing from his seminal work The Transforming Vision (1984) and his forthcoming book Dancing in the Dragon’s Jaws: The Christian Worldview in a Conflicted Age, Middleton challenges listeners to move beyond tribalism, cultural conformity, and rigid doctrinal packages. Instead, he invites us to embrace a biblically rooted, lived orientation toward the world—one that is shaped by grace, community, and spiritual formation.

Topics include:

• The difference between worldview as a lived orientation vs. a set of ideas
• How cultural norms have overtaken biblical foundations in many churches
• The role of deconstruction and reconstruction in spiritual growth
• Why diversity in Scripture points to a deeper unity
• Practical questions to help uncover and reshape your worldview

Whether you're a student, pastor, educator, or curious seeker, this episode offers rich insights into how we see the world—and how Scripture invites us to see it differently.

📺 Watch this episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/y20HygPRXWE.

🔔 Subscribe to The UpWords Podcast to stay updated on future episodes.

Send us Fan Mail

CONNECT WITH US
Subscribe to The UpWords Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts and visit slbf.org/studio to learn more about our work at the intersection of faith, the academy, and the marketplace.

This episode was created by the SLBF STUDIO at Upper House.

Produced by Daniel Johnson and Dave Conour

Edited by Dave Conour

In this conversation, host Daniel Johnson welcomes author and leader Peter Greer, who discusses his latest book, How Leaders Lose Their Way: And How to Make Sure It Doesn't Happen to You. Drawing from decades of leadership experience and research, Peter explores the subtle and often invisible forces that cause leaders to drift from their mission, values, and integrity. The episode is a deep dive into the habits, mindsets, and relationships that help leaders finish well.

🧭 Key Topics Covered

• Mission Drift & Leadership Drift
• Building on his earlier book Mission Drift, Peter explains how both organizations and individuals can lose sight of their purpose.
• Writing Your Eulogy & Resignation Letter
• Peter shares how these two exercises helped him recalibrate his identity and leadership priorities.
• Misguided Pursuits: Achievement & Power
• The dangers of idolizing success and influence, especially in mission-driven work.
• The Role of Speed & Isolation in Drift
• How hurry and lack of authentic relationships contribute to leaders losing their way.

Whether you're a senior leader or a rising one, this episode offers practical wisdom and soul-searching reflection. Peter’s insights challenge us to slow down, build authentic relationships, and stay rooted in purpose. Leadership isn’t just about achieving—it’s about finishing well.

Peter Greer is president and CEO of HOPE International, a global nonprofit working to alleviate physical and spiritual poverty in 29 countries around the world. Peter’s favorite part of his role is spending time with the remarkable entrepreneurs HOPE serves. A graduate of Harvard’s Kennedy School, Peter has co-authored over 15 books, including Lead with Prayer, Mission Drift, Rooting for Rivals, and How Leaders Lose Their Way. While his sports loyalties remain in New England, he lives with his wife, Laurel, and their four children in Lancaster, PA.

📚 About the Book

Title: How Leaders Lose Their Way

Author: Peter Greer

Publisher: InterVarsity Press

Year: 2025

Website: HowLeadersLoseTheirWay.com

🔗 Resources & Links

• 📖 Purchase the book from InterVarsity Press = https://www.ivpress.com/how-leaders-lose-their-way
• 🌍 Hope International = https://www.hopeinternational.org/
• 🏛️ S.L. Brown Foundation = https://slbf.org/
• 📺 Watch this episode on YouTube = link fourth coming

Send us Fan Mail

CONNECT WITH US
Subscribe to The UpWords Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts and visit slbf.org/studio to learn more about our work at the intersection of faith, the academy, and the marketplace.

This episode was created by the SLBF STUDIO at Upper House.

Produced by Daniel Johnson and Dave Conour

Edited by Dave Conour

In this thought-provoking episode, host Jean Geran sits down with guest Gar Anderson to explore the concept of Christian citizenship through the lens of the early church. Drawing from Gar’s recent lecture in Oshkosh, the conversation delves into how early Christians—most of whom lacked formal citizenship—navigated life under the Roman Empire. Rather than seeking political power, they transformed society through radical love, community care, and allegiance to Christ.

Gar and Jean discuss:

• The historical context of citizenship in the Roman Empire
• The difference between patriotism and indifference in Christian political engagement
• Jesus’ teaching on rendering to Caesar and God
• Lessons from Paul’s use of Roman citizenship to expose injustice
• Practical examples of loving one’s neighbor in everyday life

📚 Recommended Resources

Books Mentioned:

• Christians as the Romans Saw Them by Robert Wilken (Oxford University Press, 1984)
• The Rise of Christianity by Rodney Stark (HarperOne, 1996)
• Destroyer of the Gods by Larry Hurtado (Baylor University Press, 2016)
• Strange Religion by Nijay Gupta (Brazos Press, 2023)
• The Patient Ferment of the Early Church by Alan Kreider (Baker Academic, 2016)

Ancient Text Highlighted:

• Letter to Diognetus (c. 125–150 AD) — A second-century Christian apology describing the distinctiveness of Christian life and allegiance. Link = https://storage2.snappages.site/6X3R8B/assets/files/The-Epistle-to-Diognetus.pdf

Other Podcast Episodes Mentioned

·     Christian Citizenship in a Pluralistic World | Chris Seiple (August 4, 2025) https://player.captivate.fm/episode/1fedbb2c-6c00-47d3-bc40-a1cc9a367d84/

·     Faith, Citizenship, and Dissent: Lessons from 18th–19th Century Britain | Michael Rutz (August 18, 2025) https://player.captivate.fm/episode/8fa1fc18-402f-4271-afc8-9e4bf9a73c13/

🔗 Watch & Subscribe

🎧 Subscribe to The UpWords Podcast on your favorite podcast app to stay updated.

Send us Fan Mail

CONNECT WITH US
Subscribe to The UpWords Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts and visit slbf.org/studio to learn more about our work at the intersection of faith, the academy, and the marketplace.

This episode was created by the SLBF STUDIO at Upper House.

Produced by Daniel Johnson and Dave Conour

Edited by Dave Conour

In this rich and inspiring episode, host Daniel Johnson welcomes back guest Byron Borger to discuss transformative books for the fall season. Byron shares a curated list of titles that speak to theology, culture, education, memoir, and spiritual formation—perfect for students, readers, and lifelong learners. The conversation explores how books can shape our faith, deepen our understanding of culture, and equip us for meaningful engagement in the academy and beyond.

➡️ 📚 Featured Book Recommendations

🎓 For Students & Educators

• Why Study History? by John Fea (Baker Academic, 2024)
• Learning to Love: Christian Higher Education as Pilgrimage by Alex Sosler (Falls City Press, 2023)
• The Art of Asking Better Questions by J.R. Briggs (IVP, 2025)
• Everything is Never Enough: Ecclesiastes' Surprising Path to Resilient Happiness by Bobby Jamieson (Penguin Random House, 2025)

🌍 On Culture & Theology

• The Way of Christ in Culture: A Vision for All of Life by Benjamin Quinn & Dennis Greeson (B&H Academic, 2024)
• The Core of the Christian Faith: Living the Gospel for the Sake of the World by Michael Goheen (Brazos Press, 2025)
• Culture Making by Andy Crouch (IVP, 2008)
• He Shines in All That’s Fair: Culture and Common Grace by Richard Mouw (Eerdmans, 2002)
• Creation Regained: Biblical Basics for a Reformational Worldview by Albert Wolters (Eerdmans, 2005)

🕊️ Spiritual Formation

• Slow Theology: Eight Practices for Resilient Faith in a Turbulent World by A.J. Swoboda & Nijay Gupta (Brazos Press, 2025)
• You Can Trust a God with Scars: Faith (and Doubt) for the Searching Soul by Jared Ayers (NavPress, 2025)

👥 Memoirs & Personal Narratives

• I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown (Convergent Books, 2018)
• Full of Myself: Black Womanhood and the Journey to Self-Possession by Austin Channing Brown (Convergent Books, 2025)
• The Exact Place by Margie Haack (Deep River Books, 2012)
• Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story by Bono (Knopf, 2022)

💬 Key Themes

• The Gospel of the Kingdom and its cultural implications
• Christian higher education as a journey of love and formation
• Asking better questions as a spiritual and relational practice
• Engaging culture thoughtfully and faithfully
• The power of memoirs to cultivate empathy and self-reflection
• Slowing down to deepen theological understanding and resilience

🔗 Resources & Links

• Hearts & Minds Bookstore = https://www.heartsandmindsbooks.com
• SL Brown Foundation = https://slbf.org

Send us Fan Mail

CONNECT WITH US
Subscribe to The UpWords Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts and visit slbf.org/studio to learn more about our work at the intersection of faith, the academy, and the marketplace.

This episode was created by the SLBF STUDIO at Upper House.

Produced by Daniel Johnson and Dave Conour

Edited by Dave Conour

In this episode, host John Terrill welcomes Elaine Howard Ecklund and Denise Daniels to discuss their new book, Working for Better: A New Approach to Faith at Work. Drawing from extensive research, including surveys of over 16,000 people and nearly 300 interviews, Elaine and Denise explore how Christians can live out their faith in the workplace with integrity, courage, and compassion.

• The Double-Edged Nature of Calling: How a sense of calling can both inspire and blind us to workplace injustices.
• Faith in a Pluralistic Workplace: Navigating religious diversity while remaining true to Christian convictions.
• Radical Embrace: The central thesis of the book—engaging others with respect and openness, even across belief systems.

Five Core Tensions:

1. Secular vs. Sacred Work
2. Protecting Ourselves vs. Protecting Others
3. Individual Ethics vs. Systems Thinking
4. Restrictive Gender Roles vs. Flourishing Together
5. Verbal Proclamation vs. Principled Pluralism
6. (Bonus Tension: Work vs. Rest/Sabbath)

• The Role of Rest: Why Sabbath matters and how to integrate rhythms of rest into daily life.
• Empirical Insights: Surprising data on who feels called to their work—and who doesn’t.

• Only 1 in 5 Christians surveyed feel a strong sense of calling in their work.
• People in service-oriented or nonprofit roles report higher levels of calling than those in finance or knowledge work.
• Those with more organizational power are more likely to feel called—but higher income does not correlate with calling.

• Elaine Howard Ecklund is the Herbert S. Autrey Chair in Social Sciences, professor of sociology, and director of the Boniuk Institute at Rice University.
• Denise Daniels is Hudson T. Harrison Professor of Entrepreneurship at Wheaton College.

📺 Watch & Subscribe

• 🎧 Subscribe to The UpWords Podcast on your favorite podcast app to stay updated.

• Visit https://slbf.org/ for more about the SL Brown Foundation and Upper House.
• Explore the book: Working for Better: A New Approach to Faith at Work (available now). https://www.ivpress.com/working-for-better

Send us Fan Mail

CONNECT WITH US
Subscribe to The UpWords Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts and visit slbf.org/studio to learn more about our work at the intersection of faith, the academy, and the marketplace.

This episode was created by the SLBF STUDIO at Upper House.

Produced by Daniel Johnson and Dave Conour

Edited by Dave Conour

In this episode, host Jean Geran speaks with guest historian Michael Rutz about the historical experience of British Protestant dissenters in the 18th and 19th centuries. Drawing from his book The British Zion: Congregationalism, Politics and Empire, 1790–1850, Dr. Rutz explores how dissenting Christian communities navigated issues of religious liberty, education, social activism, and citizenship under an Anglican state church.

Who Were the Dissenters?

• Protestant groups (Congregationalists, Baptists, Quakers, Presbyterians) who refused to conform to the Church of England.
• Faced legal discrimination and second-class civic status.

Education and the Dissenting Academies

• Creation of alternative institutions to educate ministers and laypeople.
• Emphasis on practical, Enlightenment-influenced curriculum including science, history, and civic engagement.

Rational vs. Evangelical Dissenters

• Rational dissenters embraced Enlightenment ideals and supported revolutionary causes.
• Evangelical dissenters focused on personal conversion, biblical authority, and social activism.

Religious Liberty and Political Reform

• Campaigns to repeal discriminatory laws like the Test and Corporation Acts.
• Advocacy for religious freedom as a core Christian and civic principle.

Missions and Abolition

• Evangelical dissenters played key roles in foreign missions and anti-slavery movements.
• Missionary work in places like the Cape Colony led to campaigns for civil equality for indigenous populations.

Coalition Building Across Faith Lines

• Groups like the Clapham Sect united Anglicans and dissenters around shared goals like abolition.
• Lessons for today: working across theological and political divides for common good.

Michael A. Rutz, Ph.D. is a Professor of History at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. Since joining UWO’s history faculty in 2002, he has built a distinguished career as a scholar of 19th- and 20th-century Great Britain, the British Empire, religion and politics. Dr. Rutz earned his Ph.D. and M.A. in History from Washington University in St. Louis, and a B.A., with high honors in History, from the University of Michigan. His major publications include The British Zion: Congregationalism, Politics, and Empire (2011) and King Leopold’s Congo and the “Scramble for Africa” (2018); he has also published several articles on the intersection of religion and politics in 19c Britain and the British empire and is a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society.

• The British Zion: Congregationalism, Politics and Empire, 1790–1850 by Michael Rutz (Baylor University Press, 2011)
• https://www.baylorpress.com/9781602582057/the-british-zion/

• Learn more about the S.L. Brown Foundation and Upper House: https://slbf.org/

Send us Fan Mail

CONNECT WITH US
Subscribe to The UpWords Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts and visit slbf.org/studio to learn more about our work at the intersection of faith, the academy, and the marketplace.

This episode was created by the SLBF STUDIO at Upper House.

Produced by Daniel Johnson and Dave Conour

Edited by Dave Conour

In this episode, host Daniel Johnson sits down with Craig Detweiler — author, filmmaker, theologian, and Dean of the College of Arts and Media at Grand Canyon University — to explore the intersection of faith, storytelling, and technology. From his formative experiences with classic cinema to his work in Hollywood and academia, Craig shares how theology and filmmaking can be harmoniously integrated. The conversation dives deep into the evolving media landscape, the impact of AI on creativity, and the enduring power of human imagination.

• Craig’s journey from seminary to screenwriting
• The spiritual and emotional power of film as storytelling
• The changing dynamics of the film industry post-COVID and post-strike
• The rise of independent filmmaking and new distribution models
• The WinRyder program and its impact at Sundance Film Festival
• Recommended summer films: Sketch, Superman, Fantastic Four
• Upcoming fall release: Bruce Springsteen biopic Deliver Me From Nowhere
• Navigating the sacred/secular divide in media
• Technology’s influence on spirituality and identity
• AI’s role in the creative process — risks and opportunities
• The importance of human ingenuity and honest creativity

• Sketch – A heartfelt, imaginative indie film exploring grief and creativity
• Superman & Fantastic Four – Fresh takes on superhero narratives with sincerity and optimism
• Sinners – A dark, cautionary tale with unexpected spiritual depth
• Deliver Me From Nowhere – A soulful Bruce Springsteen biopic coming this fall

Honest Creativity – A reflection on anxiety in the creative class and the role of AI in shaping the future of art and storytelling.

• Watch this episode on YouTube
• Learn more about the S.L. Brown Foundation and Upper House: slbf.org

Craig reminds us that while tools may change, the human longing for connection through art remains timeless. He encourages creatives to lean into their unique voices and continue expressing joy, pain, and truth through their craft.

Send us Fan Mail

CONNECT WITH US
Subscribe to The UpWords Podcast wherever you listen to podcasts and visit slbf.org/studio to learn more about our work at the intersection of faith, the academy, and the marketplace.

This episode was created by the SLBF STUDIO at Upper House.

Produced by Daniel Johnson and Dave Conour

Edited by Dave Conour