Naghmeh Abedini Panahi advocated for her husband Saeed before on major news channels and before multiple governments while he was imprisoned in Iran for his Christianity. Unfortunately, after he was released, he abused her. Naghmeh's new book, I Didn’t Survive: Emerging Whole After Deception, Persecution, and Hidden Abuse, documents her early childhood in Iran in a Muslim family during the Iranian Revolution and Iran’s war with Iraq, her powerful conversion story, her complex history with Saeed, the rise of her status within the international church as she became a voice of advocacy for the persecuted, and her “fall from grace” with that same faith community when she spoke the truth about her marriage. She joined Brian and Aubrey to talk about her story and her calling as a church planter.

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Hosted by Aubrey Sampson and Brian From

Produced by Laura Finch and Keith Conrad

Naghmeh Abedini Panahi advocated for her husband Saeed before on major news channels and before multiple governments while he was imprisoned in Iran for his Christianity. Unfortunately, after he was released, he abused her. Naghmeh's new book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Didnt-Survive-Emerging-Deception-Persecution/dp/B0BXGKFFH5/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1A3SPN8INQ4J7&amp;keywords=i+didn%27t+survive+naghmeh&amp;qid=1698164320&amp;sprefix=i+didn%27t+survive%2Caps%2C311&amp;sr=8-1">I Didn’t Survive: Emerging Whole After Deception, Persecution, and Hidden Abuse</a>, documents her early childhood in Iran in a Muslim family during the Iranian Revolution and Iran’s war with Iraq, her powerful conversion story, her complex history with Saeed, the rise of her status within the international church as she became a voice of advocacy for the persecuted, and her “fall from grace” with that same faith community when she spoke the truth about her marriage. She joined Brian and Aubrey to talk about her story and her calling as a church planter.
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Produced by <a href="https://twitter.com/laura_e_finch">Laura Finch</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/keithrconrad">Keith Conrad</a>

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

Naghmeh Abedini Panahi shares her side of the story

From the wreckage of the Titan submersible to the walls of ancient Rome, this episode traces a single thread: the difference between a culture that worships strength and a faith that finds power in weakness.

Brian opens with two somber anniversaries — the Oklahoma City bombing and Columbine — before turning to the cautionary tale of OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, whose hubris cost five lives on a preventable voyage to the Titanic. From there, Brian unpacks JD Greer's reflection on the Corona Morales, Rome's highest military honor, and how the Apostle Paul flipped that imagery on its head in 2 Corinthians to boast not in triumph but in being lowered down a wall in shame. The crown that matters isn't earned by climbing over — it's received in weakness.

Other segments tackle why middle-aged Americans are lonelier, sadder, and weaker than their global peers (and why the church has the only real answer), a Yale committee's surprising admission about ideological echo chambers in higher education, Matt Chandler on sanctification as a winding coil rather than a straight line upward, and a closing meditation on Psalm 136 and the Hebrew word hesed — God's covenant love that endures forever.

Plus: a cold, rainy afternoon at Wrigley watching the Mets extend their losing streak, a shout-out to former producer and current Wrigley organist John Benedict, and the modern confusion of trying to figure out whether someone is talking to you or their AirPods.

Because sometimes the most formative work God does in us isn't when we're winning — it's when the floor falls out.

From the wreckage of the Titan submersible to the walls of ancient Rome, this episode traces a single thread: the difference between a culture that worships strength and a faith that finds power in weakness.
Brian opens with two somber anniversaries &mdash; the Oklahoma City bombing and Columbine &mdash; before turning to the cautionary tale of OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, whose hubris cost five lives on a preventable voyage to the Titanic. From there, Brian unpacks JD Greer's reflection on the Corona Morales, Rome's highest military honor, and how the Apostle Paul flipped that imagery on its head in 2 Corinthians to boast not in triumph but in being lowered down a wall in shame. The crown that matters isn't earned by climbing over &mdash; it's received in weakness.
Other segments tackle why middle-aged Americans are lonelier, sadder, and weaker than their global peers (and why the church has the only real answer), a Yale committee's surprising admission about ideological echo chambers in higher education, Matt Chandler on sanctification as a winding coil rather than a straight line upward, and a closing meditation on Psalm 136 and the Hebrew word hesed &mdash; God's covenant love that endures forever.
Plus: a cold, rainy afternoon at Wrigley watching the Mets extend their losing streak, a shout-out to former producer and current Wrigley organist John Benedict, and the modern confusion of trying to figure out whether someone is talking to you or their AirPods.
Because sometimes the most formative work God does in us isn't when we're winning &mdash; it's when the floor falls out.

The Danger of Arrogance and the Gift of Disorientation

What would it look like if Christians didn't just believe the right things — but actually became like Jesus? Host Brian From sits down with Keas Keasler, associate professor of spiritual theology at Friends University and author of Kingdom Apprenticeship: Dallas Willard's Formational Theology and Missional Vision. Drawing on seven years of deep research — including time spent in the archives of Willard's unpublished papers — Kees brings fresh life to one of the most important Christian thinkers of the last century. Together, Brian and Kees explore what "intelligent mysticism" really means, why "apprenticeship" captures something "discipleship" has lost, and how Willard's vision of character formation might be exactly what the church needs to close the gap between what we profess and how we actually live.

What would it look like if Christians didn't just believe the right things &mdash; but actually became like Jesus? Host Brian From sits down with Keas Keasler, associate professor of spiritual theology at Friends University and author of&nbsp;Kingdom Apprenticeship: Dallas Willard's Formational Theology and Missional Vision. Drawing on seven years of deep research &mdash; including time spent in the archives of Willard's unpublished papers &mdash; Kees brings fresh life to one of the most important Christian thinkers of the last century. Together, Brian and Kees explore what "intelligent mysticism" really means, why "apprenticeship" captures something "discipleship" has lost, and how Willard's vision of character formation might be exactly what the church needs to close the gap between what we profess and how we actually live.

Keas Keasler on Knowing Christ from the Inside Out

It's one of those days — taxes are due, life feels heavy, and the news keeps coming. Host Brian From takes a look at the cultural and spiritual moments that have him thinking. He reflects on the trap of comparison after actor Rainn Wilson admitted he was miserable during the height of his fame on The Office. He digs into Joy Behar's surprising claim on The View that Jesus never actually said he was the Messiah — and why that moment reveals exactly where evangelism gets hard. He covers the rise of AI-generated actors after Val Kilmer's digital likeness appeared in a new film, and the ethical questions it opens up. And he shares a practical six-step framework for becoming evangelism-ready, even when fear and busyness get in the way. The hour closes with a beautiful reflection on the paradox of the brightening path — why the closer we get to God, the more clearly we see our own sin, and why that's actually a sign of growth.

It's one of those days &mdash; taxes are due, life feels heavy, and the news keeps coming. Host Brian From takes a look at the cultural and spiritual moments that have him thinking. He reflects on the trap of comparison after actor Rainn Wilson admitted he was miserable during the height of his fame on&nbsp;The Office. He digs into Joy Behar's surprising claim on The View that Jesus never actually said he was the Messiah &mdash; and why that moment reveals exactly where evangelism gets hard. He covers the rise of AI-generated actors after Val Kilmer's digital likeness appeared in a new film, and the ethical questions it opens up. And he shares a practical six-step framework for becoming evangelism-ready, even when fear and busyness get in the way. The hour closes with a beautiful reflection on the paradox of the brightening path &mdash; why the closer we get to God, the more clearly we see our own sin, and why that's actually a sign of growth.

Naghmeh Abedini Panahi shares her side of the story

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