Henry Conversations Podcast
The Henry Conversations Podcast series considers timely鈥攁nd timeless鈥攊ssues related to faith, politics, and culture. Institute Director Micah Watson and featured guests from across the political and religious spectrum discuss a range of interesting and thought-provoking issues.
Episode 8
New episode: In this episode, Micah talks with author Dr. Alan Noble of Oklahoma Baptist University. The pair discuss Dr. Noble鈥檚 most recent book, 鈥淵ou Are Not Your Own: Belonging to God in an Inhuman World.鈥 Today鈥檚 listeners will find particularly interesting Dr. Noble鈥檚 discussion of self belonging and the 鈥淚 just need to鈥 mentality with its endless horizon of tasks and goals. This episode offers applicable advice to push back against the influence of a 鈥渨orld built against the grain of how we鈥檙e designed to live.鈥
Episode 7
In this episode, Micah talks with Dr. Anika Prather, professor at Howard University and co-founder of the Living Water School. Dr. Prather鈥檚 research focuses on the Great Conversation and the Black intellectual tradition. She discusses what led her to be an advocate for classical education, the Black classical tradition, and its importance for education today across all traditions.
Episode 6
In this episode, Micah interviews Dr. Jordan Ballor of the Center for Religion, Culture and Democracy. Micah and Jordan discuss the CRCD's Shaftesbury Fellowship, the upcoming Kuyper Conference, and how contributions of Dutch Reformed thinkers like Abraham Kupyer are relevant today. How do we engage with thinkers that hold certain views "cancellable" by today's standards?
Episode 5
In this episode Micah is joined by Nathan Leamer, Calvin alum and vice president of Targeted Victory, as they discuss a range of topics including the pros and cons of technology, what the FCC actually does, Division I basketball at Calvin, and faithful Christian witness in the fields of big tech, public policy, and politics.
Episode 4
In this episode Micah talks with sociologist Dr. Josh Packard, executive director of the Springtide Research Institute. They discuss the Springtide's studies and findings about young people and their religious views and practices, what this might mean for professors and clergy who work with them, and how the social sciences can contribute to what seems like an increasing skepticism about reliable information and news. If you鈥檝e wondered about the commonalities and differences between the various generations鈥攂oomers, Gen X, Millennials, Gen Z鈥攖his conversation will shed some needed light.
Episode 3
In this episode, Micah talks with Robert P. George of Princeton University. They discuss the true meaning of American exceptionalism, the future of the Democratic and Republican parties, and friendship across deep political and moral difference. Listeners will find particularly interesting Professor George鈥檚 discussion of his friendships with Peter Singer and Cornel West.
Episode 2
In this episode Micah talks with Professor Susan McWilliams Barndt of Pomona College. They cover a range of topics, including why people are attracted to QAnon, the link between stories and politics, and whether it still makes sense to be speak of an American identity. The piece mentioned by James Baldwin can be found here: https://literatureofethnicgroups.files.wordpress.com/2016/03/baldwin-the-discovery-of-what-it-means-to-be-an-american.pdf
Episode 1
In the inaugural episode of Henry Conversations, Micah Watson talks with James R. Skillen about This Land is My Land: Rebellion in the West, his book about the history of militant resistance to federal authority in the Western U.S. While recorded before the events of January 6, 2021, this conversation provides helpful context for understanding how ordinary political conflict can become radical.