What If I'm Wrong?

Today Heather sits down with Jeffrey Harmon, the chief content officer of Angel Studios, to discuss the art, craft, and unconventional marketing strategies that have made both The Chosen television series and the film Sound of Freedom surprise hits in their respective mediums. Based on the true story of a US government agent who quits his job to devote his life to rescuing children from global child traffickers, Sound of Freedom stars Jim Caviezel (The Passion of the Christ) in the lead role of Tim Ballard.

Jeffrey Harmon says a key goal of the film is to put a spotlight on the global movement to end the trafficking of minors by successfully distributing the film to a worldwide audience. But even as it outperforms erstwhile blockbusters like Indiana Jones and Mission: Impossible, controversy and skepticism have surrounded Sound of Freedom, with some leaders of anti-trafficking ministries and organizations leaders concerned that it overly sensationalizes the real work of battling traffickers and rescuing abducted children. Other critics allege that it’s linked to the extreme-right QAnon conspiracy movement. Heather asks Jeffrey about the QAnon connections head-on. Tune in to hear his impassioned response to those questions and much more on how Angel Studios learned to make its projects go viral.

In this episode Heather also talks with her best friend and co-blogger Scarlett Longstreet in Safe Space, a new segment in which Heather and Scarlett discuss social media and popular culture. Today, they talk about whether or not parents should take their kids to see Barbie. It was announced this week that the film became Warner Bros.’ best-selling global release of all time reaching more than $1.2 billion in sales.

Heather and Scarlett are totally different. They don’t share the same religion or background, but they’ve done a good job of creating a Safe Space for both meaningful and casual conversation.

Guest Bio

Jeffrey Harmon is a cofounder and Chief Content Officer of Angel Studios. He's also a cofounder of the Harmon Brothers advertising agency, which has helped clients drive over $350 million in sales with over 1.3 billion online views. Based in Utah, Jeffrey hails from a Mormon family—another topic of ardent discussion over the years in the evangelicals spaces that he often occupies.

Additional Links

For a free ticket to Sound of Freedom, go to angel.com/freeticketsYou can sign up for Heather’s encouraging email that goes out every Friday night at 7pm EST at www.heatherthompsonday.com/links

Host Bio

Heather Thompson Day is an associate professor of communication at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. She is the author of eight books, including I’ll See You Tomorrow and It’s Not Your Turn. Reach out to Heather on Twitter @HeatherTDay and on Instagram @heatherthompsonday.

Viral Jesus is a production of Christianity Today

Host and creator: Heather Thompson Day

Executive Producer: Ed Gilbreath

Producer: Loren Joseph

Associate Producer: Azurae Phelps

Mix Engineer: Alex Carter

Director of CT Podcasts: Mike Cosper

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back Viral Jesus family! Many of you asked over the summer if you could have more mental health episodes so we wasted no time in giving you exactly what you wanted. Episode 1 of season 4 is here with an incredibly thoughtful and wise conversation with TikTok's favorite trauma therapist, Kobe Campbell. 

*Trigger warning* Heather and Kobe do discuss mental health and trauma, and there is a point where Kobe discusses suicide. Heather also asks Kobe what her thoughts are on the dangers of TikTok therapy, and whether or not she thinks social media has created an oversimplification of therapy terminology that has been harmful to our generation. You will find this conversation incredibly insightful and we hope it also leaves you feeling hopeful about any trauma you’ve endured.

In today’s episode Heather introduces a new segment called Safe Space. This is where she sits down with her best friend and co-blogger Scarlett Longstreet to discuss social media and popular culture. Heather and Scarlett are totally different. They don’t share the same religion or background, but as BFFs they’ve done a good job of creating a safe space for both meaningful and casual conversation.

Guest Bio

Kobe Campbell is an award-winning licensed trauma therapist, bestselling author and transformative leader. She uses TikTok to create posts (that often go viral) about teaching people real-life applications for her clinical study. Her latest book is called Why Am I Like This? How to Break Cycles, Heal from Trauma and Restore Your Faith. 

Additional Links

You can sign up for Heather’s encouraging email that goes out every Friday night at 7pm EST at www.heatherthompsonday.com/links

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is our last episode of season 3, and we are pulling out all the stops. If you are a parent trying to figure out how to raise your kids in the age of social media and nonstop technology access, this episode is a great place to start. Heather sits down with the award-winning author Mandy Majors to discuss three practical ideas for how to navigate the toils and snares of this digital age. Today’s episode concludes our “3 Things That Could Change Your Life” series.

If you’re jumping into our “3 Things” pod-class series for the first time with this episode, we encourage you to also catch part 1 with pastor and author Mark Batterson and part 2  with humorist and speaking coach Mary R. Snyder.

In today’s episode Heather also chats with our favorite social media expert, Brady Shearer. Heather and Brady discuss why Facebook Reels may be the best-kept secret for reaching your audience and community.

Guest Bio

Mandy Majors is the author of the award-winning book, TALK, and Keeping Kids Safe in a Digital World. She is the co-host of the podcast nextTalk. She is also a speaker and the founder of nextTalk, a nonprofit organization passionate about creating a culture of honest conversation in homes, churches, and schools to keep kids safe in a digital world.

Additional Links

You can sign up for Heather’s encouraging weekly email that goes out every Friday night at 7pm ET at www.heatherthompsonday.com/links. And remember to mark your calendar for season 4 of Viral Jesus, coming your way August 24.

Host Bio

Heather Thompson Day is an associate professor of communication at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. She is the author of eight books, including I’ll See You Tomorrow and It’s Not Your Turn. Reach out to Heather on Twitter @HeatherTDay and on Instagram @heatherthompsonday.

Viral Jesus is a production of Christianity Today

Host and creator: Heather Thompson Day

Executive Producer: Ed Gilbreath

Producer: Loren Joseph

Associate Producer: Azurae Phelps

Mix Engineer: Alex Carter

Director of CT Podcasts: Mike Cosper

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two communication questions Heather gets without fail every season are: How can I become a better public speaker? and How do I break into the Christian speaking circuit?

 If one or both of these questions have ever crossed your mind, then this episode is for you.

Today Heather sits down with speaking coach Mary R. Snyder to discuss everything about public speaking—from working a stage, to finding your passion, to negotiating your pay. As a Christian entrepreneur, Mary also challenges her students to grow in their relationship with Christ even as they hone their public-speaking craft.

This episode is part two of our season-ending series, “Three Things That Could Change Your Life.” Last week pastor and best-selling author Mark Batterson gave us three words that have the power to transform our friends, enemies, and everyone in between. And today Mary Snyder shares her three tips for raising our public-speaking game.

Heather also chats with our favorite social media expert, Brady Shearer, about the concept of feast or famine on social media. Brady’s tips will help you add more tools to your Social Toolkit. 

Guest Bio

For over two decades, MaryR. Snyder has been paving the way in Christian event production. A speaker and coach herself, Mary is dedicated to helping others become successful public speakers through her podcast, Take the Stage, and course, Activate Your Speaking Career. Hear stories of influence from some of today’s most talented voices while learning how you too can turn your passion into a career with help from the expert. Visit www.maryrsnyder.com for more information.

Host Bio

Heather Thompson Day is an associate professor of communication at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. She is the author of eight books, including I’ll See You Tomorrow and It’s Not Your Turn. Reach out to Heather on Twitter @HeatherTDay and on Instagram @heatherthompsonday.

Viral Jesus is a production of Christianity Today

Host and creator: Heather Thompson Day

Executive Producer: Ed Gilbreath

Producer: Loren Joseph

Associate Producer: Azurae Phelps

Mix Engineer: Alex Carter

Director of CT Podcasts: Mike Cosper

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we launch our final pod-class series of the season: “Three Things That Could Change Your Life.” In this three-part series, we speak with three Christian thought leaders about their three areas of expertise and ask them to share simple strategies that everyday people can implement in their daily lives. We are thrilled to open this series with Pastor Mark Batterson, the bestselling author of The Circle Maker. Mark tells Heather why three simple words—Please, Sorry, and Thanks—have the power to change the lives of those who love you, those who hate you, and everyone in between.

Heather also chats with our favorite social media expert, Brady Shearer. Heather and Brady discuss why you should be making your online videos shorter. Brady’s tips will add more tools to your Social Toolkit.

Guest Bio

Mark Batterson is the lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington, D.C. Mark holds a doctor of ministry degree from Regent University and is the New York Times bestselling author of 23 books, including Please, Sorry, Thanks: The Three Words That Change Everything and Win the Day: 7 Daily Habits to Help You Stress Less & Accomplish More, as well as several books for children, including The Best Worst Day Ever, written with his daughter Summer Batterson Dailey. Mark and his wife, Lora, live on Capitol Hill and have three children. Find him on social media @MarkBatterson.

Host Bio

Heather Thompson Day is an associate professor of communication at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. She is the author of eight books, including I’ll See You Tomorrow and It’s Not Your Turn. Reach out to Heather on Twitter @HeatherTDay and on Instagram @heatherthompsonday.

Viral Jesus is a production of Christianity Today

Host and creator: Heather Thompson Day

Executive Producer: Ed Gilbreath

Producer: Loren Joseph

Associate Producer: Azurae Phelps

Mix Engineer: Alex Carter

Director of CT Podcasts: Mike Cosper

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is session 2 of our two-part pod-class series “I Think I Need a Therapist.” If you’re a stickler for listening to podcasts in their sequential order and you missed last week’s episode, you may want to hit pause and play session 1 first. But you’ll find the conversations valuable in whichever order you listen to them.

Today Heather sits down with family therapist Sarah Bontrager, a friend and former colleague from Heather’s Colorado Christian University days. In their candid conversation, Sarah talks about her own experience in therapy after her son Ben’s cancer diagnosis. Sarah also offers her perspective on how to know when you should see a therapist, the difference between clinical depression and situational depression, and navigating symptoms of anxiety.

In this episode, Sarah also shares a deeply personal testimony of an encounter she had with Jesus. What if, in your life, Jesus turns out to be exactly who he said he is? Sarah’s story will leave you with a deeper awareness of God’s presence.

Heather also chats with our favorite social media expert, Brady Shearer, about online trolling. What do we do when someone posts something about us that’s insensitive or intentionally harsh? Brady’s tips will help you add more tools to your Social Toolkit. 

Guest Bio

Sarah Bontrager is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, an assistant professor of psychology at Colorado Christian University, and a PhD student in Philosophy of Performance Psychology. She is a Colorado native and lives in Golden with her husband of 22 years, Dr. Jeff Bontrager, and their four children—Ethan (20), Sam (15), Benjamin (13), and Isabella (10). Sarah has been in private practice since 2008 and is passionate about engaging authentically with relevant, pressing mental health and faith issues with teens, athletes, families, couples, and children. Her specialties include working with depression and anxiety, life-stage adjustments, performance issues, faith questions, parenting, trauma, grief, and family relationships. Outside of work, Sarah loves to cook, lead worship, and spend time with her friends and family, skiing, hiking, camping, and traveling.

Additional Links

Join Heather and Beth Moore at the next Living Proof LIVE event at National Church of God in Washington, DC, June 9 and 10. Buy tickets at https://www.lproof.org/events.

Host Bio

Heather Thompson Day is an associate professor of communication at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. She is the author of eight books, including I’ll See You Tomorrow and It’s Not Your Turn. Reach out to Heather on Twitter @HeatherTDay and on Instagram @heatherthompsonday.

Viral Jesus is a production of Christianity Today

Host and creator: Heather Thompson Day

Executive Producer: Ed Gilbreath

Producer: Loren Joseph

Associate Producer: Azurae Phelps

Mix Engineer: Alex Carter

Director of CT Podcasts: Mike Cosper

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back! After a two-week break, Viral Jesus is back and ready to serve you in a variety of ways this summer.

We are kicking off our first pod-class of summer today with the first episode of our new two-part series “I Think I Need a Therapist.” You will have plenty to chew on after listening to this episode. In the midst of what many are calling a national mental health crisis, young people are hurting, families are hurting, pastors and churches are hurting. Even some who once pooh-poohed therapists and psychology are recognizing their need for help. Today Heather sits down with critically acclaimed author and therapist Aundi Kolber to discuss strength, trauma, survival, and the slow miracle of being aligned with the Spirit of God.

Also, for this week’s Social Toolkit, Brady Shearer is back to give us the Three S’s of meaningful social media posts.

Guest Bio

Aundi Kolber is a licensed professional counselor (MA, LPC) and author of the critically acclaimed Try Softer. Her latest book is Strong Like Water: Finding the Freedom, Safety, and Compassion to Move Through Hard Things—and Experience True Flourishing. Aundi has received additional training in her specialization of trauma- and body-centered therapies and is passionate about the integration of faith and psychology. Aundi regularly speaks at local and national events, and she has appeared on podcasts such as The Lazy Genius with Kendra Adachi, Typology, Go and Tell Gals, and The Next Right Thing with Emily P. Freeman. As a survivor of trauma, Aundi brings hard-won knowledge about the work of change, the power of redemption, and the beauty of experiencing God with us in our pain. 

Host Bio

Heather Thompson Day is an associate professor of communication at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. She is the author of eight books, including I’ll See You Tomorrow and It’s Not Your Turn. Reach out to Heather on Twitter @HeatherTDay and on Instagram @heatherthompsonday.

Viral Jesus is a production of Christianity Today

Host and creator: Heather Thompson Day

Executive Producer: Ed Gilbreath

Producer: Loren Joseph

Associate Producer: Azurae Phelps

Mix Engineer: Alex Carter

Director of CT Podcasts: Mike Cosper

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s episode Heather borrows author Katherine May’s metaphorical idea of “wintering” to describe the season of sadness that she’s recently been navigating. Winters can be long and harsh, but they also can be vital to the healing and renewal of an environment. Our spiritual winters are no different. If this year has added pain and anxiety to your life, you will want to hear the encouragement in this episode, as Heather points us all toward spring. She also shares the important dates you’ll need to know for the Viral Jesus summer series.

For this week’s Social Toolkit, Heather chats with digital creator Chaz Smith, who has amassed a massive social media presence with over 3.2 million followers across his YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok channels. Chaz will tell you about his latest project, an animated Bible series titled What Had Happened Was, and also share some helpful tips that will enhance your social toolkit.

Remember, Viral Jesus is taking a two-week break. But Heather will be back on May 25 with our first summer pod-class titled “I Think I Need a Therapist.”

Heather Thompson Day is an associate professor of communication at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. She is the author of eight books, including I’ll See You Tomorrow and It’s Not Your Turn. Reach out to Heather on Twitter @HeatherTDay and on Instagram @heatherthompsonday.

Viral Jesus is a production of Christianity Today

Host and creator: Heather Thompson Day

Executive Producer: Ed Gilbreath

Producer: Loren Joseph

Associate Producer: Azurae Phelps

Mix Engineer: Alex Carter

Director of CT Podcasts: Mike Cosper

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s episode Heather sits down with author Shannan Martin for the final installment in our four-part series “Who Is My Neighbor?” Shannan says don’t wait for community to just happen. Instead, she encourages us to become the type of neighbor that creates and inspires community. Heather and Shannan discuss practical ways we can better live out our calling as Christ followers, right where we are.

Heather also chats with our favorite social media expert, Brady Shearer, about Meta allowing us to buy blue check mark verification on Instagram and Facebook. Should we pay for verification? Will it help you or hurt you? Brady’s tips will add more tools to your social toolkit.

Shannan Martin is the author of The Ministry of Ordinary Places and her latest book, Start With Hello: (And Other Simple Ways to Live as Neighbors). Based in Indiana, she is a speaker and writer who works as a cook at The Window, a local nonprofit dedicated to feeding its community.

Heather Thompson Day is an associate professor of communication at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. She is the author of eight books, including I’ll See You Tomorrow and It’s Not Your Turn. Reach out to Heather on Twitter @HeatherTDay and on Instagram @heatherthompsonday.

Viral Jesus is a production of Christianity Today

Host and creator: Heather Thompson Day

Executive Producer: Ed Gilbreath

Producer: Loren Joseph

Associate Producer: Azurae Phelps

Mix Engineer: Alex Carter

Director of CT Podcasts: Mike Cosper

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today’s episode Heather shares part three of our “Who Is My Neighbor?” pod-class series. She is joined by QuaWanna Bannarbie and Bethany Rivera Molinar, two of the gifted contributors to Voices of Lament: Reflections on Brokenness and Hope in a World Longing for Justice, a new book inspired by Psalm 37. In their candid conversation with Heather, QuaWanna and Bethany invite us to lean into the spiritual practice of lament and reflect on its power for both personal and social transformation.

If you missed it, please go back and listen to last week’s episode with author Karen González on “Seeing Our Immigrant Neighbor.”

This week Heather also chats with our favorite social media expert, Brady Shearer, as he shares his thoughts on how to use good storytelling to stop the scroll.

Guest Bios

QuaWanna Bannarbie and Bethany Rivera Molinar are two of 29 Christian women of color whose writing forms Voices of Lament: Reflections on Brokenness and Hope in a World Longing for Justice. Edited by Natasha Sistrunk Robinson and inspired by Psalm 37, with its outpouring of emotion about the human experience as an inspired starting place, these 29 women, representing an inclusive, intergenerational sisterhood of clergy, poets, entrepreneurs, creatives and more, make public their private stories. In so doing, they both model and offer a way to hold the tension of injustice and heartache with hope and love.

Host Bio

Heather Thompson Day is an associate professor of communication at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. She is the author of eight books, including I’ll See You Tomorrow and It’s Not Your Turn. Reach out to Heather on Twitter @HeatherTDay and on Instagram @heatherthompsonday.

Viral Jesus is a production of Christianity Today

Host and creator: Heather Thompson Day

Executive Producer: Ed Gilbreath

Producer: Loren Joseph

Associate Producer: Azurae Phelps

Mix Engineer: Alex Carter

Director of CT Podcasts: Mike Cosper

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices