Best Wacker Podcasts (2025)

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Grant Wacker: the Defining Moments of Religion in America 1:04:49

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20d ago1:04:49

1:04:49

What’s up theology nerds! On this episode, I had the absolute privilege of sitting down with Dr. Grant Wacker, one of America’s preeminent historians of religion, and man did he deliver. We dove deep into his fascinating “Bushman test” – the idea that when writing history, you should do so with the understanding that you might someday encounter you…

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Zoellner Arts Center Executive Director Mark Wilson on Pigeons, Partnerships, and a “Non-Shushing” Family FUN-A-PALOOZA November 1 12:23

2d ago12:23

12:23

Get More LVWITHLOVE Content at LVwithLOVE.com Become a partner! Families and young people are the future of the arts, and no one knows that better than Mark Fitzgerald Wilson, Executive Director of the Zoellner Arts Center at Lehigh University. Mark joined Zoellner in 2020, bringing an eclectic background as an educator, business professional, and …

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Reparations, Violence, and Peacemaking: An Honest Conversation with Drew Hart 1:19:20

3d ago1:19:20

1:19:20

Drew Hart joined me to dig into questions from our God of Justice class about his lecture on the black church and American experience. We covered a lot of ground—from Drew’s own journey as a preacher’s kid who found his tribe in the prophetic tradition of the black church and Anabaptism, to why James Cone’s confrontational theology is actually nece…

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Reparations, Violence, and Peacemaking: An Honest Conversation with Drew Hart 1:22:10

3d ago1:22:10

1:22:10

Drew Hart joined me to dig into questions from our God of Justice class about his lecture on the black church and American experience. We covered a lot of ground—from Drew's own journey as a preacher's kid who found his tribe in the prophetic tradition of the black church and Anabaptism, to why James Cone's confrontational theology is actually nece…

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SPARK.grow Podcast featuring Greg Gage, Backyard Brains 39:34

4d ago39:34

39:34

This episode features special guest Greg Gage from Backyard Brains. SPARK.grow is hosted by Dave Haviland of Phimation Strategy Group.By Ann Arbor SPARK

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Hanna Reichel: Navigating Faith in the Era of Authoritarianism 1:23:23

4d ago1:23:23

1:23:23

Dr. Hanna Reichel returns to the podcast to discuss their timely devotional For Such a Time as This, which emerged from student questions about how theological wisdom applies to our current political moment. Drawing parallels between Trump-era America and the Weimar Republic, Reichel explores the muddy complexity of resistance, the dangers of purit…

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What’s that dead zone in the 19th Ward? 13:30

4d ago13:30

13:30

There’s a hole in the map of Chicago. It turns out, it’s a cemetery. But there are many other cemeteries in Chicago that don’t show up as holes on the map, so what’s up with this one? We take you to the 19th Ward and explore the history of this dead zone.

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The Great Outdoors 40:00

6d ago40:00

40:00

By Justin & Trent

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You Can’t Serve God and Mammon: Malcolm Foley on Greed, Racism, and the Gospel 1:27:03

6d ago1:27:03

1:27:03

This conversation was a wild ride through some of the most challenging questions facing progressive Christians today. Malcolm Foley—reverend, scholar, and all-around theology nerd—walked us through his journey from studying Greek church fathers to researching lynching and the Black church’s witness to America. We dug into his book’s central thesis …

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You Can't Serve God and Mammon: Malcolm Foley on Greed, Racism, and the Gospel 1:29:24

6d ago1:29:24

1:29:24

This conversation was a wild ride through some of the most challenging questions facing progressive Christians today. Malcolm Foley—reverend, scholar, and all-around theology nerd—walked us through his journey from studying Greek church fathers to researching lynching and the Black church's witness to America. We dug into his book's central thesis …

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Cynthia Moe-Lobeda: Saints, Sinners, & Supply Chains: Living Faithfully in Economic Webs 1:07:48

10d ago1:07:48

1:07:48

I had an incredible conversation with Cynthia Moe-Lobeda about her book Building a Moral Economy (the first in a six-book series!). We dug into how most Christians experience a profound disconnect between their faith and their economic lives—knowing intellectually that our consumer choices connect us to exploitation and ecological destruction, but …

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Cynthia Moe-Lobeda: Saints, Sinners, & Supply Chains: Living Faithfully in Economic Webs 1:09:08

10d ago1:09:08

1:09:08

I had an incredible conversation with Cynthia Moe-Lobeda about her book Building a Moral Economy (the first in a six-book series!). We dug into how most Christians experience a profound disconnect between their faith and their economic lives—knowing intellectually that our consumer choices connect us to exploitation and ecological destruction, but …

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The tale of the two-flat 12:47

10d ago12:47

12:47

You know the building: Two stories, an apartment unit on each floor, usually with bay windows and a facade of brick or greystone. But how did the two-flat become so popular, and who was it originally built to serve?In our last episode, we looked at the types of places Chicago’s single women lived in at the turn of the 20th century.In today’s episod…

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‘Women adrift’: How single women lived independently in early Chicago 6:52

11d ago6:52

6:52

At the turn of the century in Chicago, single women without a husband or family were considered to be "adrift," but they weren’t drifting at all. They were making choices that took them to different addresses.

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WDIY Celebrates 30 Years of Community Radio in the Lehigh Valley 27:39

13d ago27:39

27:39

Get More LVWITHLOVE Content at LVwithLOVE.com Become a partner! WDIY is celebrating 30 years of community radio from its home in Bethlehem’s historic Flatiron Building. Since first going on air in January 1995, the station has become a hub for local voices, diverse music, and civic engagement across the Lehigh Valley. We had a chance to sit down wi…

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Ryan Duns: From Jaws to K-Pop Demon Hunters: How Horror Films Reveal the Sacred 1:29:38

13d ago1:29:38

1:29:38

Ryan Duns is back on the podcast to talk about his provocative new book exploring horror and theology, and boy does he deliver some counterintuitive insights. He argues that horror is actually the most conservative film genre—and that’s precisely why it works so well for theological reflection. Think about it: to be scared, you first have to believ…

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Ryan Duns: From Jaws to K-Pop Demon Hunters: How Horror Films Reveal the Sacred 1:28:14

13d ago1:28:14

1:28:14

Ryan Duns is back on the podcast to talk about his provocative new book exploring horror and theology, and boy does he deliver some counterintuitive insights. He argues that horror is actually the most conservative film genre—and that's precisely why it works so well for theological reflection. Think about it: to be scared, you first have to believ…

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Historical Evidence for the Resurrection of Jesus? 33:29

14d ago33:29

33:29

Is there legitimate historical evidence for the resurrection of Jesus? In this episode, Dr. Todd von Helms interviews Dr. Dave Newton about this topic. From 1984-2012, Dr. Newton was a full-time university professor of entrepreneurship, finance, and strategy – first in the Pepperdine MBA program, then at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, …

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Four Questions About AI That Will Keep You Up at Night w/ Noreen Herzfeld | Theology Beer Camp 2025 53:22

14d ago53:22

53:22

Picture this: You’re sitting in a coffee shop, scrolling through your phone, when you notice the person across from you talking animatedly to their laptop. They’re laughing, sharing intimate details about their day, even saying “I love you” to… a chatbot named Aaron. Aaron has sky blue eyes, loves to bake, and never disagrees with anything his huma…

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Four Questions About AI That Will Keep You Up at Night w/ Noreen Herzfeld | Theology Beer Camp 2025 51:27

15d ago51:27

51:27

Computer scientist turned theologian Dr. Noreen Herzfeld tackles the most pressing questions about artificial intelligence through a theological lens. As we race toward artificial general intelligence while simultaneously destroying our planet's climate, could this be the "great filter" that explains why we haven't found alien civilizations? This g…

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‘Friendship set to music’: Curious City goes square dancing on the South Side 19:51

17d ago19:51

19:51

It’s a Thursday night and a group of folks in Washington Heights do-si-do to the bassline from “Shake Your Groove Thing” by Peaches & Herb. Square dancing has a reputation as more of a hobby for white people set to country music. But social clubs like the Southside Squares are turning that image on its head. Last episode, we heard how square dancin…

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Life experiences and sick pets 51:48

17d ago51:48

51:48

Life is full of lessons an d experiences. Certain things you have to learn on your own. Other things you can be encouraged to exploring. A solid mix of both can make your life incredibly awesome. Join the Dads this week as they discuss what what they will encourage the kids to experience or learn throughout life. As well as some studio turmoil from…

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Hanna Reichel: Navigating Faith in the Era of Authoritarianism 1:25:11

17d ago1:25:11

1:25:11

Dr. Hanna Reichel returns to the podcast to discuss their timely devotional For Such a Time as This, which emerged from student questions about how theological wisdom applies to our current political moment. Drawing parallels between Trump-era America and the Weimar Republic, Reichel explores the muddy complexity of resistance, the dangers of purit…

1
Swimming Against the Stream: How Contemplation Fuels Justice Work with Aizaiah Yong 1:27:57

18d ago1:27:57

1:27:57

In this conversation with Aizaiah Young, we dove deep into what it means to live a contemplative life in our hyperaccelerated culture. Aizaiah, who works at the Collegeville Institute and draws from thinkers like Raimon Panikkar and Howard Thurman, made a compelling case that contemplation isn’t passive navel-gazing—it’s about bringing your full se…

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Aizaiah Yong - Swimming Against the Stream: How Contemplation Fuels Justice Work 1:27:31

18d ago1:27:31

1:27:31

In this conversation with Aizaiah Young, we dove deep into what it means to live a contemplative life in our hyperaccelerated culture. Aizaiah, who works at the Collegeville Institute and draws from thinkers like Raimon Panikkar and Howard Thurman, made a compelling case that contemplation isn't passive navel-gazing—it's about bringing your full se…

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Ziggy Marley Talks Children’s Books, Legacy, and His Return to Bethlehem 8:42

18d ago8:42

8:42

Get More LVWITHLOVE Content at LVwithLOVE.com Eight-time Grammy winner Ziggy Marley is heading back to Bethlehem for a special night of music and message. On Saturday, September 27, 2025, Ziggy Marley & Burning Spear bring the Do the Reggae Tour to the Wind Creek Event Center. We had a chance to sit down with Ziggy for a quick conversation ahead of…

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Square dance clubs used to be bumping on the weekends 7:03

18d ago7:03

7:03

Square dancing was once so popular that a center opened in the suburbs dedicated to the hobby. Today, veteran dancers are trying to recruit new fans.

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Grant Wacker: the Defining Moments of Religion in America 1:02:43

20d ago1:02:43

1:02:43

What's up theology nerds! On this episode, I had the absolute privilege of sitting down with Dr. Grant Wacker, one of America's preeminent historians of religion, and man did he deliver. We dove deep into his fascinating "Bushman test" - the idea that when writing history, you should do so with the understanding that you might someday encounter you…

1
More Than a Tournament: Pickleball for a Purpose Helps Local Kids 17:13

20d ago17:13

17:13

Get More LVWITHLOVE Content at LVwithLOVE.com We sat down with Jane Ervin, Board Chair of The Fund to Benefit Children & Youth, and Bob Black, Event Chair of Pickleball for a Purpose and Chair of St. Luke’s Board. The Fund has been serving the Lehigh Valley for more than 30 years, providing critical support to abused, neglected, and at-risk childre…

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Standing Firm: Bonhoeffer’s Urgent Wisdom for Our Dangerous Times 29:40

21d ago29:40

29:40

In a world that feels increasingly unmoored, where the ground beneath our feet seems to shift daily, theologian Jeffrey C. Pugh offers us a sobering yet essential guide through the wisdom of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Speaking to participants preparing for Theology Beer Camp 2025, Pugh doesn’t mince words: we are living in “the most dangerous times” many…

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Standing Firm: Bonhoeffer's Urgent Wisdom for Our Dangerous Times 32:14

21d ago32:14

32:14

🍺 Bonhoeffer for Dangerous Times | Theology Beer Camp 2025 PreviewAre we living in the most dangerous times of our lives? Renowned Bonhoeffer scholar Jeffrey C. Pugh doesn't pull punches in this powerful preview lecture for Theology Beer Camp 2025. Drawing from Dietrich Bonhoeffer's prison writings, especially "After Ten Years," Pugh explores why t…

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Against Empathy: When Christians Declare Compassion a Vice 1:43:09

23d ago1:43:09

1:43:09

Bo and I dive deep into a controversial AP article about Christian conservatives declaring empathy a vice – yeah, you heard that right. We unpack how figures like Ali Beth Stuckey and Joe Rigney are arguing that empathy has become a “cudgel for the left,” leading Christians to affirm sin and support destructive policies. But here’s where it gets in…

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Kings, Prophets, and Politics: Ancient Warnings About Power and Justice with Pete Enns 1:13:40

24d ago1:13:40

1:13:40

We had Pete Enns back on the stream to dive deeper into questions from his God of Justice lecture, and man, did we get into some rich territory. Pete walked us through the fascinating tension between Deuteronomy 17’s positive view of kingship versus First Samuel 8’s harsh warnings – showing how the Bible itself contains multiple voices wrestling wi…

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Pete Enns: Kings, Prophets, and Politics: Ancient Warnings About Power and Justice 1:15:14

24d ago1:15:14

1:15:14

We had Pete Enns back on the stream to dive deeper into questions from his "God of Justice" lecture, and man, did we get into some rich territory. Pete walked us through the fascinating tension between Deuteronomy 17's positive view of kingship versus First Samuel 8's harsh warnings - showing how the Bible itself contains multiple voices wrestling …

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Is your local mall dying, thriving or evolving? 13:32

24d ago13:32

13:32

Malls hold a special spot in the hearts of many Americans of a certain age. One may have been the setting for your first date, the place you caught a now-classic summer blockbuster, or even a daycare of sorts after mom dropped you off with a few friends (and maybe a few bucks).In our last episode, we looked back at the history of Chicago’s Ford Cit…

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The Foundry Recording Studio Bethlehem, PA 5:23

25d ago5:23

5:23

Get More LVWITHLOVE Content at LVwithLOVE.com We visited The Foundry Recording Studio in Bethlehem to talk with co-directors Jason Wegfahrt and Justin Blackstone. The Foundry was created to be more than a professional recording space. It is also a community hub where musicians, producers, and engineers can work, learn, and connect. In this episode …

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Lesbians Connect in the Lehigh Valley | A Growing Group Building Community 9:28

25d ago9:28

9:28

Get More LVWITHLOVE Content at LVwithLOVE.com Lesbians Connect is one of the fastest-growing community movements in the Lehigh Valley. On this episode of the Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast, George Wacker sits down with founders: Meagan and Rebecca, Founders of Lesbians Connect We talk about:• How Lesbians Connect started and quickly grew from smal…

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What was Ford City Mall like in its heyday? 6:50

25d ago6:50

6:50

Vacant shops and faded signs, Ford City Mall is in the process of being sold. But this shell of a shopping center was once a bustling hub, especially for young people.

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Myron Penner: Five Ways Science Can Help Your Faith 1:22:40

26d ago1:22:40

1:22:40

In this delightful conversation, my friend Myron Penner – everyone’s favorite Canadian Mennonite philosopher of science and religion – offers up five compelling ways that science can actually enrich rather than threaten faith. We move beyond the tired old “conflict thesis” between science and religion to explore how scientific discoveries can help …

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Myron Penner: Five Ways Science Can Help Your Faith 1:22:33

26d ago1:22:33

1:22:33

My friend Dr. Myron Penner - everyone's favorite Canadian Mennonite philosopher of science & religion - offers up five compelling ways that science can actually enrich rather than threaten faith. We move beyond the tired old "conflict thesis" between science & religion to explore how scientific discoveries can help identify factually suspect theolo…