Michael and Phebe close out the first half of Season Two of For the Good of the Public podcast with a benediction by Rev. Dr. Nicole Massie Martin, Chief Impact Officer at Christianity Today, Founder and Executive Director of Soulfire International Ministries and founding board member for the Center for Christianity and Public Life. Dr. Nicole talks about hope as a metric for success and the key ingredient for having a peaceful life. Hope is part of our Christian life, and she reminds us through the inspiration of Maya Angelou’s “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” why it’s important to have hope in the midst of hopefulness with God’s strength. For the Good of the Public podcast will return with new episodes in September. Please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

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“Hope is something that actually makes a difference in our everyday lived realities, and it is something that is cultivated in our communities. It’s cultivated in our churches. It’s cultivated by a faith in the everlasting love and salvation of Jesus Christ. And it’s actually an essential resource for public life.” -Phebe [01:34]

“Nicole is very much someone who embodies our mission, our identity as an organization. She is an incredible leader.” -Michael [02:07]

“The challenge of our faith isn’t just to have hope in good times. The challenge of our faith is how do we have hope when everything around us looks dismal, horrible, hopeless.” -Nicole [11:06]

TIMESTAMPS

[00:00] Intro

[02:54] About Rev. Nicole Massie Martin

[03:33] Habakkuk 3:17-19

[10:06] Hope in absolute chaos

[14:08] It’s our job to see the .1%

[18:50] Shaping us for the call

[26:16] Outro

REFERENCES

• Nicole Massie Martin
• Christianity Today
• Soulfire International Ministries
• Nailing It: Why Successful Leadership Demands Suffering and Surrender by Nicole Massie Martin
• For the Good of the Public Summit
• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
• Reclaiming Hope: Lessons Learned in the Obama White House About the Future of Faith in America by Michael Wear

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Mentioned in this episode:

The Spirit of Our Politics: Spiritual Formation and the Renovation of Public Life

The Spirit of Our Politics: Spiritual Formation and the Renovation of Public...

In this episode of For the Good of the Public podcast, we hear from Rachael Denhollander about Christian resources for confronting abuse. Rachel is an attorney, educator and author who was the first person to pursue criminal charges against Larry Nassar, USA gymnastics team’s doctor, in 2016. Her act of activism inspired other women to come forward and has turned her experience into becoming a powerful advocate and consultant about the realities of abuse. Rachael provides a stirring, challenging keynote address on what is required to build a culture that recognizes human dignity and opposes abuse.

Content Warning: This episode contains material of a highly sensitive nature including sexual abuse that may be triggering for some individuals.

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“Rachael shows us how we can draw from the resources of the Christian faith to gain insights that get closer to the heart of reality than we would otherwise.” -Michael [00:49]

“One of the most meaningful aspects of the talk for me was hearing Rachael reflect on the character of God. She talks about how throughout scripture, God is referenced as a refuge and a safe place, and an ever-present help in trouble. And that is exactly what the church should be, and most importantly, the people within the church that are a safe place to come to.” -Phebe [02:27]

“What I find so beautiful as a Christian is that as Christians, we are actually uniquely positioned to speak to a culture of abuse, and to bring hope to those who have suffered devastating wounds.” -Rachael [18:32]

TIMESTAMPS

[00:00] Intro

[04:01] About Rachael

[06:39] A starting point

[10:07] Who was the most helpful?

[18:51] Just and unjust

[23:23] A few framework concepts

[27:56] Outro

REFERENCES

• Rachael Denhollander
• CNN: Read Rachael Denhollander’s full victim impact statement about Larry Nassar
• What Is a Girl Worth?: My Story of Breaking the Silence and Exposing the Truth about Larry Nassar and USA Gymnastics by Rachael Denhollander
• For the Good of the Public Summit
• Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis

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For the Good of the Public Summit 2025

For the Good of the Public Summit '25

The Spirit of Our Politics: Spiritual Formation and the Renovation of Public Life

The Spirit of Our Politics:...

In this episode of For the Good of the Public podcast, Michael shares his in-depth conversation with Jessica Grose, a columnist at the New York Times, about her five-part series on how Americans think about religion today. Jessica dives into some of the trends she discovered through her reporting, and explores what Americans value, or miss, about religious experiences in modern America. Michael and Jessica also talk about Artificial Intelligence, and consider the potential for AI to help, or deepen, loneliness and social disrepair. Jessica’s approach to writing about these issues with a degree of earnest curiosity provides a fresh, essential perspective regarding how we think about religion and modern life. As a bonus: don’t miss Michael’s effusive reflections on Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird.

Watch the video recording of this talk on YouTube!

“It is just so rare to have someone who is approaching these things with an attempt to look at religion with fresh eyes, and that’s what Jessica’s really able to do in this series. I think it’s what she’s able to convey in this conversation that we have.” -Michael [01:14]

“A distinct good that Jessica talks about in her interview is churches being a place where people can find meaning and belonging and enriching friendship.” -Phebe [03:35]

“The best part of it has been opening up a space for people to talk about their faith.” -Jessica [14:53]

TIMESTAMPS

[00:00] Intro

[06:25] What Lady Bird teaches about religion

[10:12] Inspiration behind Jessica’s writing

[13:57] Her contribution to the conversation

[17:35] The role religion can play

[21:48] The “Nones” and spiritual but not religion

[26:42] AI and loneliness

[29:36] Jessica’s personal story and what’s next

[34:48] Outro

REFERENCES

• For the Good of the Public Summit
• Jessica Grose
• Jessica’s columns for the New York Times
• What Churches Offer That ‘Nones’ Still Long For By Jessica Grose
• Lady Bird
• Generation Z and the Future of Faith in America
• Wall Street Journal: More Americans Left Religion During the Pandemic
• Loneliness Is a Problem That A.I. Won’t Solve by Jessica Grose
• ‘Nobody Wants This’ Pits Jewish Women Against ‘Shiksas.’ Nobody Wins. by Jessica Grose

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In this episode of For the Good of the Public podcast, Michael and Phebe share a presentation from Tim Dixon, co-founder of More in Common, a leading international non-profit that seeks to understand the polarizing forces in our civic and cultural life and build strategies and partnerships to find common ground solutions. Tim highlights key findings that were discovered in More in Common’s recent report called Promising Revelations: Undoing the False Impressions of America’s Faithful, that uses data and research to understand how America’s polarization is playing out among Evangelical Christian, Mainline Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, and Latter-day Saint communities. Interviewing over 6,000 Americans with a specific focus on Christian, Jewish and Muslim Americans, the study reveals myths about faith in America today, but also a more hopeful perspective on what it means to be a person of faith and a clearer view of religion in American public life.

Watch the video recording of this talk on YouTube!

“What I love about More in Common is that they’re committed to data. They’re committed to research. They’re also committed to not making things worse than they appear. They’re committed to not just generating conflict for conflict’s sake. Tim–in this talk–actually sees ways in which maybe we’re overestimating how divided we are, overestimating how intractable some of our differences might be and I thought that was a good way to set the tone for the summit in 2024.” -Michael [00:37]

“While Tim acknowledges that this is a distinct crisis facing our churches, that there is so much division in specific faith congregations, it also is the biggest opportunity. And he acknowledges that local churches is actually where change will take place and trust will be built.” -Phebe [02:04]

“We’re still a country of faithful people. Yes, there’s a decline. Yes, there’s a change, and yes, I think there’s a lot of evidence of spiritual crisis, but the pews aren’t empty. And this is still a far more religious nation than other Western countries.” -Tim [23:17]

TIMESTAMPS

[00:00] Intro

[05:59] Surveying over 6,000 Americans

[07:52] The deepest story they found

[13:34] Faith in politics

[20:02] The perception of decline

[23:34] Religion intolerance

[26:07] Two other interesting findings

[30:49] Outro

REFERENCES

• For the Good of the Public Summit
• Tim Dixon, Co-Founder of More in Common Global
• Promising Revelations: Undoing the False Impressions of America’s Faithful

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The Spirit of Our Politics: Spiritual Formation and the Renovation of Public Life

The Spirit of Our Politics: Spiritual Formation and the...

In this episode of For the Good of the Public podcast, Michael Wear, Founder and CEO, and Phebe Meyer, Chief of Staff, of Center for Christianity & Public Life (CCPL), reflect on the meaningful and thought-provoking conversations from the second annual For the Good of the Public Summit, starting with Michael’s opening keynote. CCPL provides a hospitable place for speakers—from civic leaders to advocates to journalists and politicians—to reflect on some of the most pressing issues in public life today and what Christianity has to offer for a healthier politics and public life. While these conversations occurred a month prior to the 2024 Presidential Election, they will provide important context for the issues occurring today.

Watch the video recording of this talk on YouTube!

“It’s not only a summit where we cover a lot of deep and heavy topics, but it’s also genuinely fun. People come away from the summit having made new connections and friends and really having felt like they were at an event that has a generous and hospitable spirit to it.” -Phebe [04:18]

“In order to truly engage with what’s happening nationally, you need to be attentive to what is happening within your own spirit. You need to be attentive to the kind of person you are becoming in the midst of all of your thinking about structures and systems. You need to think about who you are, who you are becoming and what you are doing.” -Michael [17:07]

TIMESTAMPS

[00:00] Intro

[02:08] The work of CCPL

[04:46] The approach to the summit

[07:02] Being responsive to the moment

[09:58] A keynote address for today

[19:14] Sometimes a summit is called for

[23:38] Christianity still has much to offer America

[27:29] Spiritual formation is central to civic renewal

[31:07] On the lookout for light

[33:06] Outro

REFERENCES

• For the Good of the Public Summit
• CCPL’s 2024 Annual Report
• Martin Luther King Jr.’s Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech
• Sargent Shriver‘s Address to the National Conference of Catholic Charities
• New York Times: CHRIST IS DECLARED ALWAYS WITH MAN; He Confronts Conscience All Through Life, Dr. B.E. Mays Says in Riverside Sermon

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For the Good of the Public Summit 2025

For the Good of the Public Summit '25

The Spirit of Our Politics: Spiritual Formation and the Renovation of Public Life

The Center for Christianity & Public Life returns with another season of our podcast, For the Good of the Public. Michael Wear, Founder and CEO, and Phebe Meyer, Chief of Staff, review some of the most impactful sessions from CCPL’s 2024 For the Good of the Public summit, which brings together civic leaders, organizations and individuals who care about the public good to learn, dream and work together. In the coming weeks, we invite you to listen to conversations with Rachael Denhollander on preventing abuse, Former Slovakian Prime Minister Eduard Heger about democracy and Murdock Trust CEO Romanita Hairston on how philanthropy can strengthen our democracy along with other topics such as creating a culture of care and the future of religion in America.

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In this episode of For the Good of the Public podcast, Michael and Phebe share a conversation about service and volunteerism, highlighting leaders that show what Christians are doing to build a culture of service in their own communities. Phebe moderates as the panelists–Bryant Wright, President of Send Relief, Josh Dickson, Vice President of Public Policy at United Way Worldwide, and Sister Norma Pimentel, Executive Director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley–discuss their work in helping others by restoring human dignity and building trust. Sister Norma is also one of the first two recipients of the CCPL’s Civil Renewal Award, which honors Christians who show exemplary contributions to the health and well-being of their communities and nation. Jonathan Keller received the award on behalf of his father, the late-Rev. Timothy Keller. The talks from the awards ceremony are not included in the podcast, but are available on the website and Youtube channel.

Watch the video recording of this talk on YouTube!

“The message of this panel is that this is what Christians are doing in their own communities at very local levels every day. It’s something that each of us can do as we go about our lives, and it’s those kinds of contributions that really make up the fabric of this country and make life livable for so many.” -Michael [02:18]

“Each of you have a wealth of experience working with faith groups or individuals who are motivated by faith. What motivates Christians to serve?” -Phebe [07:37]

“I think that’s key to what our faith moves us forward to do–to help others–because we’re able to see the need and the struggle, and we want to be able to restore that dignity of the person that is in need of that.” -Sister Norma [11:55]

“One thing I would encourage you folks on is don’t give up on the local church, because you’ve got the largest manpower of volunteers in local churches all over the world.” -Bryant [26:03]

“It’s important to get offline a little bit and to get into community. I think that too often people are sitting on screens and only on screens, and I think where I have seen the most moving, formative, influential and impactful work happen is person-to-person with people.” -Josh [28:09]

TIMESTAMPS

[00:00] Intro

[03:16] This week’s guests

[07:05] Restoring human dignity

[17:13] The church is the heartbeat

[22:59] Building that trust

[24:28] How to build a culture of service

[29:11] Current trends and innovations

[32:34] Outro

REFERENCES

• For the Good of the Public Summit
• New award honors Tim Keller and Sister Norma Pimentel for civic renewal
• Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley
• Send Relief
• United Way Worldwide
• Beyond the Offering Plate: Views on Volunteering

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