Dr. Karen Swallow Prior, professor and author and monthly columnist of Religion News Service, just announced her resignation from the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. She joined Brian & Aubrey for the very first interview about her book coming out in August, The Evangelical Imagination: How Stories, Images & Metaphors Created a Culture in Crisis.

Then, Instagram sensation Natalie Runion talks about her book due out in July, Raised to Stay: Persevering in Ministry When You Have a Million Reasons to Walk Away.

And first and foremost: Aubrey gets mystery callers for her birthday! 

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Produced by Laura Finch and Keith Conrad

Dr. Karen Swallow Prior, professor and author and monthly columnist of Religion News Service, <a href="https://twitter.com/KSPrior/status/1637896705554149378">just announced her resignation</a> from the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. She joined Brian &amp; Aubrey for the very first interview about her book coming out in August, <a href="https://karenswallowprior.com/#purchase">The Evangelical Imagination</a>: <a href="https://karenswallowprior.com/#purchase">How Stories, Images &amp; Metaphors Created a Culture in Crisis.</a>
Then, Instagram sensation <a href="https://www.instagram.com/raisedtostay/">Natalie Runion</a> talks about her book due out in July, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Raised-Stay-Persevering-Ministry-Million-ebook/dp/B0BPKRDKLH">Raised to Stay: Persevering in Ministry When You Have a Million Reasons to Walk Away</a>.
And first and foremost: Aubrey gets mystery callers for her birthday! 
Follow The Common Good on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/CommonGoodTalk">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/commongoodtalk">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/commongoodtalk/">Instagram</a>
Hosted by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/aubsamp/">Aubrey Sampson</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/brianfrom7">Brian From</a>
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.

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The Common Good

The Notorious KSP has just resigned. What's next for her?

The US goes down four to one to Belgium, ending another World Cup run in the round of sixteen — the same place they've been stuck for five straight tournaments. Brian From turns the disappointment into a question about barriers: do you accept them, or do you keep pushing? A disturbing story out of Maine where a Senate candidate facing serious assault allegations is being debated not on the grounds of character but on electability — and Brian names the problem plainly: character must matter, regardless of which party's candidate it is. A rich meditation on Luke 5 and the four friends who tore a hole in a roof to lower their paralyzed friend right in front of Jesus — and what it means to have people in your life who will carry your mat when you can't get there yourself. Brian Johnson, the world's most famous biohacker spending a million dollars a year trying to live forever, has been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease — a reminder that no amount of money or discipline outsmarts mortality. A four-year-old girl caught on tape naming her future husband at a pretend wedding, and it turned out to be her real one 25 years later. Unexpected car and sump pump bills arrive simultaneously, and Brian gets honest about anxiety and finances. And C.S. Lewis via Jen Oshman at the Gospel Coalition: aim at happiness and you'll miss it; aim at heaven and you'll get earth thrown in.

The US goes down four to one to Belgium, ending another World Cup run in the round of sixteen &mdash; the same place they've been stuck for five straight tournaments. Brian From turns the disappointment into a question about barriers: do you accept them, or do you keep pushing? A disturbing story out of Maine where a Senate candidate facing serious assault allegations is being debated not on the grounds of character but on electability &mdash; and Brian names the problem plainly: character must matter, regardless of which party's candidate it is. A rich meditation on Luke 5 and the four friends who tore a hole in a roof to lower their paralyzed friend right in front of Jesus &mdash; and what it means to have people in your life who will carry your mat when you can't get there yourself. Brian Johnson, the world's most famous biohacker spending a million dollars a year trying to live forever, has been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease &mdash; a reminder that no amount of money or discipline outsmarts mortality. A four-year-old girl caught on tape naming her future husband at a pretend wedding, and it turned out to be her real one 25 years later. Unexpected car and sump pump bills arrive simultaneously, and Brian gets honest about anxiety and finances. And C.S. Lewis via Jen Oshman at the Gospel Coalition: aim at happiness and you'll miss it; aim at heaven and you'll get earth thrown in.

Character in Politics, the Key to Happiness & Biohacking Your Way to Forever

Summer camp can be a life-changing experience—but for children with an incarcerated parent, it can be so much more. Brian Fromm talks with Steve Collins, Senior Program Manager of Angel Tree Camping at Prison Fellowship, about how Christian summer camps are bringing hope, healing, and the love of Christ to thousands of children across the country.

Steve explains the unique challenges these children face, why trauma-informed care is essential, and how a single week at camp can build confidence, foster belonging, and introduce kids to the transforming message of the gospel. They also discuss the lasting value of Christian camping for all children and how listeners can support this important ministry.

Learn more about Angel Tree Camping and Prison Fellowship's work with families impacted by incarceration at PrisonFellowship.org.

Summer camp can be a life-changing experience&mdash;but for children with an incarcerated parent, it can be so much more. Brian Fromm talks with Steve Collins, Senior Program Manager of Angel Tree Camping at Prison Fellowship, about how Christian summer camps are bringing hope, healing, and the love of Christ to thousands of children across the country.
Steve explains the unique challenges these children face, why trauma-informed care is essential, and how a single week at camp can build confidence, foster belonging, and introduce kids to the transforming message of the gospel. They also discuss the lasting value of Christian camping for all children and how listeners can support this important ministry.
Learn more about Angel Tree Camping and Prison Fellowship's work with families impacted by incarceration at PrisonFellowship.org.

The Life-Changing Impact of Angel Tree Camp: Steve Collins on Hope for Children of Incarcerated Parents

Back from a wet Fourth of July weekend — Brian From opens by reflecting on what unexpected circumstances (a flooded basement, a broken sump pump, a car with no airflow) reveal about how poorly we handle the loss of control, and where our theology has to meet us in those moments. Then a genuinely surprising Gospel Coalition piece arguing that Nashville — the buckle of the Bible Belt — may actually be a harder mission field than secular London: not because of hostility, but because of comfort. When the question isn't whether God exists but what the church will do for you, and when churches line up like thirty-one flavors on a single street, something gets lost. Two uplifting weekend stories: a Phoenix police officer who rented a movie theater for a hundred middle schoolers and asked only that they pay it forward someday, and John Krasinski's moving account of how his mother's three-year deadline — and last-minute extension — put him on the path to booking The Office. A challenging Tim Challies piece on why small sins may actually reveal our rebellious hearts more clearly than big ones. Brian preaches on the story of John Mark — the disciple who deserted Paul, was written off, and ended up being called "useful" decades later — as a picture of how God redeems failures. Science inches closer to a cancer "kill switch." Americans of all ages are spending measurably less time socializing. And a closing meditation on rest — why God himself rested not from weariness but to set a pattern, and why Christians who feel guilty resting may be missing one of God's best gifts.

Back from a wet Fourth of July weekend &mdash; Brian From opens by reflecting on what unexpected circumstances (a flooded basement, a broken sump pump, a car with no airflow) reveal about how poorly we handle the loss of control, and where our theology has to meet us in those moments. Then a genuinely surprising Gospel Coalition piece arguing that Nashville &mdash; the buckle of the Bible Belt &mdash; may actually be a harder mission field than secular London: not because of hostility, but because of comfort. When the question isn't whether God exists but what the church will do for you, and when churches line up like thirty-one flavors on a single street, something gets lost. Two uplifting weekend stories: a Phoenix police officer who rented a movie theater for a hundred middle schoolers and asked only that they pay it forward someday, and John Krasinski's moving account of how his mother's three-year deadline &mdash; and last-minute extension &mdash; put him on the path to booking The Office. A challenging Tim Challies piece on why small sins may actually reveal our rebellious hearts more clearly than big ones. Brian preaches on the story of John Mark &mdash; the disciple who deserted Paul, was written off, and ended up being called "useful" decades later &mdash; as a picture of how God redeems failures. Science inches closer to a cancer "kill switch." Americans of all ages are spending measurably less time socializing. And a closing meditation on rest &mdash; why God himself rested not from weariness but to set a pattern, and why Christians who feel guilty resting may be missing one of God's best gifts.

The Notorious KSP has just resigned. What's next for her?

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