Brian talks with Dr. Heather Holleman, Penn State writing professor and author, about the final book in her middle-grade series, This Seat Is Yours, which follows a seventh-grade girl discovering her identity as "seated with Christ" from Ephesians 2:6. Heather discusses the decline of pleasure reading among middle schoolers amid short-form media and AI book summaries, and why fiction remains a powerful tool for mental, emotional, and spiritual development. She walks through the series' arc — rejection, jealousy, popularity, and purpose — and explains the "seated and sent" framework she and her husband use to help both kids and adults move from comparison and anxiety into a settled identity in Christ that overflows into blessing others.

Brian talks with Dr. Heather Holleman, Penn State writing professor and author, about the final book in her middle-grade series, This Seat Is Yours, which follows a seventh-grade girl discovering her identity as "seated with Christ" from Ephesians 2:6. Heather discusses the decline of pleasure reading among middle schoolers amid short-form media and AI book summaries, and why fiction remains a powerful tool for mental, emotional, and spiritual development. She walks through the series' arc &mdash; rejection, jealousy, popularity, and purpose &mdash; and explains the "seated and sent" framework she and her husband use to help both kids and adults move from comparison and anxiety into a settled identity in Christ that overflows into blessing others.

The idea of “the common good” has a rich history within the Christian church. It’s the notion that, as we pursue Jesus in our lives and in the lives of others, we are fulfilling God’s purposes for His creation. This pursuit can be messy. It means rolling up our sleeves and creating space for hard conversations about real issues that impact our lives. Things like parenting, marriage, finances, politics, art, and culture. On The Common Good, Brian From creates space to have these conversations, to sit with the big questions that we all have, to sometimes disagree, but to always look for the chance to create common good, by following after Jesus. Brian welcome listeners to join them in these conversations, to bring their own questions, hopes, and struggles, and to ultimately share in a journey to see God’s design for all of us fulfilled.

The idea of &ldquo;the common good&rdquo; has a rich history within the Christian church. It&rsquo;s the notion that, as we pursue Jesus in our lives and in the lives of others, we are fulfilling God&rsquo;s purposes for His creation. This pursuit can be messy. It means rolling up our sleeves and creating space for hard conversations about real issues that impact our lives. Things like parenting, marriage, finances, politics, art, and culture. On The Common Good, Brian From creates space to have these conversations, to sit with the big questions that we all have, to sometimes disagree, but to always look for the chance to create common good, by following after Jesus. Brian welcome listeners to join them in these conversations, to bring their own questions, hopes, and struggles, and to ultimately share in a journey to see God&rsquo;s design for all of us fulfilled.

The Common Good Podcast

The Common Good

Helping Middle Schoolers Find Their Identity in Christ with Heather Holleman

Brian reflects on a heartbreaking update in the case of a drunk driver who killed a new bride, troubled by her father's response minimizing her responsibility, and reflects on the real consequences of our choices. He wrestles with a Religion News article on political campaigns branding opposing clergy candidates as "not real pastors," arguing it's not our place to make sweeping judgments about someone's faith from a political microphone. He shares Russell Moore's piece on the disturbing rise of interest in blasphemy laws among some Christian nationalists, and why external religious conformity was never Jesus's goal. Brian digs into a fascinating study finding improv theater classes uniquely help anxious teens build empathy and collaboration skills, reflects on a Gospel Coalition piece on staying rooted in Scripture amid cultural drift, laughs through a viral list of things considered normal parenting in the 1970s that would be unthinkable today, and shares a Christianity Today piece on the importance of letting kids take healthy risks. He closes with a Charles Stanley devotional on Jesus washing his disciples' feet as the ultimate picture of humility.

Brian reflects on a heartbreaking update in the case of a drunk driver who killed a new bride, troubled by her father's response minimizing her responsibility, and reflects on the real consequences of our choices. He wrestles with a Religion News article on political campaigns branding opposing clergy candidates as "not real pastors," arguing it's not our place to make sweeping judgments about someone's faith from a political microphone. He shares Russell Moore's piece on the disturbing rise of interest in blasphemy laws among some Christian nationalists, and why external religious conformity was never Jesus's goal. Brian digs into a fascinating study finding improv theater classes uniquely help anxious teens build empathy and collaboration skills, reflects on a Gospel Coalition piece on staying rooted in Scripture amid cultural drift, laughs through a viral list of things considered normal parenting in the 1970s that would be unthinkable today, and shares a Christianity Today piece on the importance of letting kids take healthy risks. He closes with a Charles Stanley devotional on Jesus washing his disciples' feet as the ultimate picture of humility.

The Danger of Religious Tests in Politics, and What Improv Is Doing for Anxious Teens

Brian, a former youth pastor himself, talks with Steve Eatmon, author of 10 Mistakes I Made in Youth Ministry and What You Can Learn from Them, about lessons from over a decade in student ministry. Steve reflects on mistakes like prioritizing entertainment over gospel-centered depth, neglecting to equip parents as the primary disciplers of their kids, and fostering an "us versus them" bubble mentality that separates students from the broader church. They discuss why youth need multiple adult relationships beyond just a youth pastor to help them transition into adulthood, and push back on the idea that students are merely "the church of the future" rather than a vital part of the church right now.

Brian, a former youth pastor himself, talks with Steve Eatmon, author of 10 Mistakes I Made in Youth Ministry and What You Can Learn from Them, about lessons from over a decade in student ministry. Steve reflects on mistakes like prioritizing entertainment over gospel-centered depth, neglecting to equip parents as the primary disciplers of their kids, and fostering an "us versus them" bubble mentality that separates students from the broader church. They discuss why youth need multiple adult relationships beyond just a youth pastor to help them transition into adulthood, and push back on the idea that students are merely "the church of the future" rather than a vital part of the church right now.

10 Mistakes I Made in Youth Ministry with Steve Eatmon

Brian starts light with a study on how good posture doesn't just help your body but actually improves mood and decision-making — vindicating moms everywhere. He shares the disconcerting experience of repeated tornado warnings in the Chicago suburbs this summer and reflects on what it means to surrender control to God when the weather, and life, feel chaotic. He digs into a New York Times piece asking whether letting kids play alone outside should be criminalized, and shares an encouraging social media post reminding pastors that the local church can't be replaced by big podcasts and platforms. Brian reads through the "hope passage" of Romans 5 in full, reflects on the growing political extremism on both the left and right, and shares a "Really?" moment from the Wall Street Journal on parents attending their Gen Z kids' job interviews. He closes with Andy Davis on the value of Scripture memorization for ministry and a Paul David Tripp reflection on the counterintuitive blessing found in mourning over sin.

Brian starts light with a study on how good posture doesn't just help your body but actually improves mood and decision-making &mdash; vindicating moms everywhere. He shares the disconcerting experience of repeated tornado warnings in the Chicago suburbs this summer and reflects on what it means to surrender control to God when the weather, and life, feel chaotic. He digs into a New York Times piece asking whether letting kids play alone outside should be criminalized, and shares an encouraging social media post reminding pastors that the local church can't be replaced by big podcasts and platforms. Brian reads through the "hope passage" of Romans 5 in full, reflects on the growing political extremism on both the left and right, and shares a "Really?" moment from the Wall Street Journal on parents attending their Gen Z kids' job interviews. He closes with Andy Davis on the value of Scripture memorization for ministry and a Paul David Tripp reflection on the counterintuitive blessing found in mourning over sin.

Helping Middle Schoolers Find Their Identity in Christ with Heather Holleman

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