Today's Conversation

By National Association of EvangelicalsReligion & Spirituality Christianity

Today's Conversation episodes

August 15, 2025Bill and Dana Wichterman | Flourishing Through Financial Stewardship
Investing in God’s redemptive mission through generosity
When we think about Christian financial disciplines, tithing 10 percent often comes to mind. But what if Scripture calls us to look beyond giving a portion of our income and to embrace a new way of seeing — where everything we have, not just our money, belongs to God? Bill and Dana Wichterman join Today’s Conversation to discuss what it means to be stewards of all that God gives us to be used with joy, purpose and creativity.
In this episode, Bill and Dana Wichterman, co-authors of “Stewards Not Owners,” join NAE President Walter Kim to explore what it means to practice financial discipleship in a culture shaped by abundance, anxiety and individualism. Dana and Bill offer practical wisdom and explain why financial stewardship is ultimately about joining God’s redemption project.
In their conversation, they discuss:
How God leads us from financial anxiety to freedom and joyful generosity;
Trusting God’s provision for the good works he’s called us to;
The reality that most living in the West can live below their means; and
How sharing your financial life with others cultivates accountability and discipleship.
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Show Notes: https://www.nae.org/bill-and-dana-wichterman-flourishing-through-financial-stewardship/
watch the full interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6e4dEu8xJE
46 min
July 15, 2025Max Tegmark | AI at the Crossroads: Wisdom, Power and Moral Courage
What does it mean to keep wisdom ahead of rapidly advancing technology? In this episode of Today’s Conversation, Max Tegmark, professor and AI researcher at MIT and co-founder of the Future of Life Institute, explores the urgent question of how society can ensure artificial intelligence empowers — rather than endangers — human flourishing.
In this episode, Max Tegmark joins NAE President Walter Kim to unpack the profound opportunities and alarming risks posed by AI. Drawing on vivid analogies, historical lessons and real-world examples, they examine why the stakes for wisdom, foresight and moral courage have never been higher.
In their conversation, they discuss:
Why wisdom must stay ahead of technology’s power — and what happens when it doesn’t;
How past successes in safety engineering, like airbags and the FDA, offer a roadmap for responsible AI development;
The urgent need for faith communities to raise AI as a moral issue, not just a technical one; and
How re-centering the conversation on stewardship and responsibility can shift priorities toward the common good.
Subscribe today wherever you listen to podcasts.
Do you like the podcast?
Give us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review. This is the best way for others to discover these conversations. If you listen on Spotify, give us a follow and hit the notification bell to be sure you never miss an episode. And don’t forget to pass your favorite episodes along to colleagues, friends and family.
Resources
“Life 3.0: Being Human in the Age of Artificial Intelligence” by Max Tegmark
The Future of Life Institute
Redemptive Artificial Intelligence, NAE podcast with Andy Crouch
You Are Not a Machine, Spring/Summer 2025 edition of Evangelicals magazine
44 min
June 15, 2025Byron Johnson | A Global Vision for Human Flourishing
What does it really mean to flourish — not just as individuals, but as communities, cultures and societies? In this episode of Today’s Conversation, Byron Johnson, distinguished professor of social sciences at Baylor University and co–director of the Global Flourishing Study, expands our vision of human flourishing to a global scale.
Byron Johnson joins NAE President Walter Kim to unpack surprising and hopeful findings emergingfrom the Global Flourishing Study, a groundbreaking international research project he leads in collaboration with Harvard University and others. Together, they explore how flourishing is being measured across the world and why it matters now more than ever — for people of faith, for the Church and for the future of society.
In their conversation, they explore:
What makes the Global Flourishing Study a truly unprecedented effort;
Why flourishing is about more than just health and wealth — it’s also about purpose, relationships and faith;
How the Church plays a vital role in shaping holistic well-being; and
How the Bible offers a compelling vision of what it means to thrive.
Resources
Full conversation with Byron Johnson on YouTube 
For further study, see Ezekiel 47, John 7 and Revelation 22
Global Flourishing Study
“More God, Less Crime: Why Faith Matters and How it Could Matter More,” by Byron Johnson
“The Faith Factor and Social Welfare: Evidence, Practice, Policy,” by Byron Johnson (coming in December 2025)
Moving Society From “Me” to “We,” NAE podcast with Robert Putnam and Shaylyn Romney Garrett
“Faith That Flourishes,” by Walter Kim in Evangelicals magazine
40 min
May 15, 2025Sheila Wise Rowe | Rest and Resisting the Pace of Pharaoh
Rest can feel like an undeserved “luxury” for many of us — but what if it’s actually a gift from God to help us resist the “pharaohs” of our age that plague us with constant striving and endless productivity?
Sheila Wise Rowe, a counselor, spiritual director and author of “Healing Leadership Trauma,” joins this episode of Today’s Conversation podcast to explore the transformational power of rest — and why God’s rhythms for our lives are so different from the world’s relentless demands.
While our culture tends to measure value by output, the gospel offers a rich vision of rest as a practice that nurtures emotional, spiritual and communal flourishing. In this conversation, NAE President Walter Kim and Sheila Wise Rowe discuss:
Why rest is central to the gospel;
How to recognize signs of emotional and spiritual overdrive;
Rhythms of rest woven throughout Scripture; and
How God’s design for rest frees us.
Subscribe today wherever you listen to podcasts.
Find the show Notes: http://www.nae.org/wiserowepodcast
Watch the full Interview on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Je-hAOSKoWI
36 min
April 15, 2025 Craig Keener | A Gospel More Vast and Beautiful
What if the gospel is more vast, beautiful and multidimensional than we could ever imagine? Renowned New Testament scholar Dr. Craig Keener joins Today's Conversation podcast to deepen our understanding of what Jesus meant by the “good news,” how the early Christians received it, and how it transformed not just individual lives — but entire communities.
While the gospel is often framed primarily in terms of the forgiveness of sins — a foundational and essential truth — it doesn’t stop there. In this theological rich conversation, NAE President Walter Kim and Dr. Craig Keener explore the far-reaching implications of the gospel, including:
*Why the gospel is not just about personal salvation, but also about community renewal;
*How followers of Jesus are invited to participate in God’s redemptive work in the world;
*A call for today’s Church to reflect more fully the vision and mission of Jesus; and
*How a deeper understanding of the gospel inspires us to live with greater purpose and hope.
Today’s Conversation is a podcast of the National Association of Evangelicals. Listen on your favorite podcast app.
Show notes here: https://www.nae.org/craig-keener-gospel-good-news-new-testament-jesus-todays-conversation-podcast/
Watch the Interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pXYdarJtc0
This episode was sponsored by World Vision: http://WorldVision.org/nextgen25
#Gospel #GoodNews #CraigKeener #Theology #NewTestament #Evangelicals #NAE
37 min
March 15, 2025Michael Cerna | Faith, Funding and Foreign Aid
Recent changes in government funding for international aid, coupled with public criticism of some faith-based organizations, have raised important questions. What responsibility does the government have in saving lives, especially those of non-citizens? Is it acceptable for Christian groups to receive government funding to further the public good?
Michael Cerna, CEO of Accord Network, joins Today’s Conversation podcast, hosted by NAE President Walter Kim, to delve into these issues and more. In this episode, they also discuss:
How the foreign aid freeze impacts Christian nonprofits that do not receive federal funding;
What responsibilities governments have in caring for vulnerable people and enacting justice;
Examples of faith and government collaboration in the Bible; and
How Jesus’ perseverance in the face of adversity inspires hope.
Show Notes: https://www.nae.org/michael-cerna-faith-and-hope-amidst-crisis/
39 min
February 15, 2025Amanda Ripley | Breaking the Cycle of High Conflict
Have you ever found yourself stuck in a conflict that seems impossible to resolve? What if there was a way to break these cycles of intense conflict? Amanda Ripley joins Today’s Conversation to explore why some conflicts spiral out of control — and how we can shift the outcome.
As our country grapples with such high levels of conflict, NAE President Walter Kim and Amanda Ripley, author of “High Conflict” and co-founder of Good Conflict, dive into how conflicts escalate, the psychology behind heated disagreements, and practical steps to transform high conflict into good conflict.
You’ll also hear them discuss:
The factors that fuel high conflict in relationships and society;
Actionable steps to take in high-conflict moments, such as on an airplane or polling station;
Biblical examples of navigating high-conflict situations; and
How to enter into productive conflict through vulnerability and humility.
Find the Show Notes Here: https://www.nae.org/aripleypodcast/ ‎
46 min
January 15, 2025John Inazu | Building Bridges in a Pluralistic Society
It’s one thing to negotiate differences when you share a common moral framework. But how do you move forward with people who hold a completely different vision of the good life? John Inazu joins Today’s Conversation to discuss building bridges in a democracy, the role of the people of God in a pluralistic society, and the importance of empathy and forgiveness.
In this episode, NAE President Walter Kim and John Inazu, a constitutional lawyer and professor of law and religion at Washington University, offer insights into building meaningful connections with others in pursuit of the common good, including:
How to model engagement rooted in hope;
The translation work needed to find common ground;
How the theological understanding of forgiveness shapes our interactions; and
Why it requires faith to both engage and to disengage.
Show notes: https://www.nae.org/jinazupodcast
44 min
December 15, 2024 Tim Dixon | The Truth About What We Have in Common
Much has been said about our increasingly polarized society. It seems we are becoming more entrenched in particular ideologies and less capable of understanding others. But are we as polarized as we think we are?Tim Dixon, co-founder of More in Common, joins Today’s Conversation to discuss what we do have in common, and how we can find more in common with others.
In this conversation, NAE President Walter Kim and Tim Dixon discuss findings from More in Common's report, "Promising Revelations: Undoing the False Impressions of America's Faithful." The research sheds light on common misperceptions about communities of faith in America, including evangelicals.
You'll also hear them discuss:
*Where these misperceptions come from and what's at stake if they continue to be believed;
*What can be done to build bridges and find unity;
*How small moments of connection can shift perspectives; and
*Why this work is especially worthwhile for followers of Jesus.
Show notes: NAE.org/dixonpodcast
#difficultconversations #polarization #moreincommon #peacemakers
44 min
November 15, 2024Riad Kassis | Participating in the Global Church
Our context — whether political, cultural or social — often determines the lens by which we read Scripture, for better or for worse. Engaging with the global church expands our context and encourages us to ask fresh questions of the gospel and of Scripture. Riad Kassis joins Today’s Conversation from Beirut, Lebanon, bringing deep convictions of fidelity to Scripture and its application to lived experience.
Riad Kassis, international director of Langham Partnership, shares how living in the Middle East has shaped his faith and reflects on his experience at the most recent Lausanne Gathering in Seoul, South Korea.
You’ll also hear NAE President Walter Kim and Riad discuss:
Why theological resources for and by Majority World pastors is vital for the Church;
What biblical truths about persecution can reshape our minds and hearts;
Why justice is a matter of great importance to Christians in conflict areas; and
How we can stand with our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world.
Show Notes : https://www.nae.org/kassispodcast/
36 min

About Today's Conversation

From the publisher's feed

Today’s Conversation is the podcast of the National Association of Evangelicals. Host Walter Kim, NAE president, talks with leading thinkers, theologians, activists, culture-makers and more, with the goal of helping evangelicals foster thriving communities and navigate complexity with biblical clarity.