Best Paul D. Johnson Podcasts (2024)

1
Crisis Cast Flashback: Paul Kendrick "Candidate Camp" 30:46

6h ago30:46

30:46

Time travel can be enlightening. During this trip through our show archives, we go back to the heals of the 2022 midterm elections. Paul Kendrick is the Executive Director of Rust Belt Rising, a grass roots grooming organization for Democrats. Their mission is training candidates and their organizations to connect with working families. During this…

1
Michael Rhodes - Just Discipleship 1:08:52

8h ago1:08:52

1:08:52

Episode: Michael Rhodes joins Matt L and Dru to discuss the Bible's justice-oriented discipleship and its significance for the church today. We explore the importance of Deuteronomy for understanding biblical concepts of justice, including the triennial tithe, 7th year release of debts and slaves, and formative feasting. Discussion also takes us in…

1
Crisis Cast Whiteboard: Debates & Debacles 20:48

1d ago20:48

20:48

Here's a conversation that is both predictive and reflective on the potency of debates. Lissa Druss & Thom Serafin are in our chat room examine the stakes for Kamala Harris and Donald Trump in what may be their only Presidential debate. We'll ask the question, "Is the Commission on Presidential Debates obsolete?" Plus, how often has a single debate…

1
Austin Berg - The "NEW" Chicago Way 37:05

10d ago37:05

37:05

It's time to hear from a voice dedicated to writing Illinois' comeback story. Austin Berg has lived all over the Land of Lincoln, and is one of our state's most compelling change agents. During this episode, Lissa Druss and Thom Serafin get to the heart of how Austin engages action on governance issues, as VP of Marketing for the Illinois Policy In…

1
Ann Jervis - Paul and Time 47:33

11d ago47:33

47:33

Episode: How did Paul understand time? Was it an adaptation of the "two ages" of Judaism? Is there really an "already-not-yet" in Paul's letters? To the last two questions, Ann Jervis answers an emphatic "no." Join Erin and Ann Jervis for a conversation about Ann's groundbreaking book, Paul and Time, to hear Ann's unique take on how Christ relates …

1
Forrest Claypool - The Daley Show 37:54

28d ago37:54

37:54

During any crisis, the "cool" heads prevail. In this episode we'll cover some Chicago's most daunting and outrageous challenges -- like an airport bulldozed in the middle of the night. Forrest Claypool has held the highest leadership post at three of the most critical municipal institutions: the park district, the public schools, and the Chicago Tr…

1
Rick Pearson – Chicago's Image On The Line 30:12

1M ago30:12

30:12

During this episode, Lissa Druss and Thom Serafin lean in on one particular question. "What will the nationwide narrative on Chicago be following the 2024 Democratic National Convention?" To get some answers, there's no better source than Rick Pearson, Chief Political Writer for the Chicago Tribune. Our conversation examines DNC conventions from th…

1
Marty Folsom - Barth's Church Dogmatics for Everyone (vol. 2) - Doctrine of God 1:07:51

1M ago1:07:51

1:07:51

Episode: In this episode Chris Tilling interviews Marty Folsom about his second volume in the series, Karl Barth’s Church Dogmatics for Everyone (Vol. 2 - The Doctrine of God) (Zondervan Academic). What is it about Barth’s Church Dogmatics that is considered so important? What’s the “big deal”? And how to approach such a massive set of volumes? How…

1
Crisis Cast Whiteboard - Walz, Jobs, and the L-G-D-F 16:10

1M ago16:10

16:10

Lissa & Thom have a ton on their mind. What's the Fed's next move on interest rates? How much fear has been stoked by the jobs report? What's Governor Tim Walz all about? That's a ton to process, but we'll cover it all in rapid fire. Plus, a Crisis Cast primer on the state of Illinois' L-G-D-F. Gather round for a Crisis Cast Whiteboard on the issue…

1
Jodi Magness - Jerusalem Through the Ages 1:15:54

2M ago1:15:54

1:15:54

Episode: New Biblical World co-host Jason Staples speaks with Jodi Magness, Kenan Distinguished Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill about her new book, Jerusalem Through the Ages: From Its Beginnings to the Crusades (Oxford University Press, 2024), the spectacular synagogue mosaic her team discovered at Huqoq, why specializ…

1
Eddie Johnson & Garry McCarthy – ShotSpotter and The Secret Service 44:15

2M ago44:15

44:15

Here comes some rare enlightenment from two of Chicago's former police superintendents, in the same conversation. Thom Serafin welcomes Eddie Johnson & Garry McCarthy to share what everyone is missing about reducing crime in Chicago. They also reveal the statistics on the ShotSpotter systems that get buried in politics. Plus, you'll hear a real tim…

1
Austin Stevenson - The Consciousness of the Historical Jesus 1:06:23

2M ago1:06:23

1:06:23

Episode: In this episode, we delve into the rich and erudite book The Consciousness of the Historical Jesus by Austin Stevenson. This fine work tackles the intricate topics of epistemology, ontology, and their related historical and theological perspectives, drawing heavily on the ideas of Thomas Aquinas. In Part I of his book, Stevenson begins by …

1
Richard Porter - Live from Republican Nat'l Convention 23:02

2M ago23:02

23:02

In this special edition of the Crisis Cast, Lissa Druss & Thom Serafin take us to Milwaukee and the floor of the RNC. Their guest is Richard Porter, a national committeeman for the Republican Party of Illinois. Porter joined us moments after it was announced Ohio Senator J.D. Vance would be joining the Republican ticket as Donald Trump's running ma…

1
Ray Long - Madigan, Burke, and Colliding Courts 26:42

2M ago26:42

26:42

Lissa Druss is on assignment this week. Meanwhile, Thom Serafin digs into the trials and sentences of some key political figures like Mike Madigan and Ed Burke. Some of this lead straight to an intersection with the Chief Justice John Roberts' Supreme Court. Once again, we welcome Ray Long investigative reporter for the Chicago Tribune. The two-tim…

1
Jason Staples - Paul and the Resurrection of Israel (part II) 58:20

2M ago58:20

58:20

Episode: Ready to get exegetical? We had so much fun discussing Jason Staples's important new book, Paul and the Resurrection of Israel, that we couldn't resist a second episode. Episode one focused on the theology and broader message of the book. This second episode exposes how the book's theology emerges from a close reading of Paul's letters. Co…

1
Ray Long - A Debate At Helm's Deep 32:02

3M ago32:02

32:02

The firestorm that has engulfed 2024's first Presidential debate is still burning. We needed a cool head in the room, to consider the aftermath of President Joe Biden's performance vs. former President Donald Trump. That calming voice, came in the form of the Chicago Tribune's Ray Long. During this episode, Lissa & Thom work through the complicatio…

1
Jason Staples - Paul and the Resurrection of Israel (Part I) 1:08:06

3M ago1:08:06

1:08:06

Episode: When the Spirit blows over the bones, flesh forms, and they rattle back to life. But the bones are Israel, all twelve tribes. Did the partial return of several tribes from Babylon satisfy God's promises for all Israel? Or was a broader return expected? In his important and influential new book, Paul and the Resurrection of Israel, Jason St…

1
Crisis Cast Flashback - Kelly Richmond Pope "Discovering Your Strength" 22:35

3M ago22:35

22:35

Severe and sudden loss is how Kelly Richmond Pope realized her inner strength. As an educator and entrepreneur, she has uncovered the truths inside fiscal fraud. Her day job is teaching accounting forensics at DePaul University - but she is also the award-winning director of the documentary All The Queen's Horses. The film tells the story of the la…

1
Steve Cochran – Finding Your Megaphone 36:51

3M ago36:51

36:51

The traditional broadcast world has endured a seismic shift or two – or ten. Steve Cochran has been in front of a microphone and up and down the dial for all of it. For the better part of three decades he's been a fixture on Chicago radio. That includes audio brands like WLUP, WMVP, WIND, WLS, and more than 16 years on WGN. During this episode of t…

1
Crisis Cast Flashback: Aurelia Pucinski - Smarter Than The Boss 35:14

3M ago35:14

35:14

From retail politics to sitting on the judicial bench, Aurelia Pucinski's life in public service is brimming with wisdom. This Crisis Cast flashback offers a fascinating glimpse into our legal system from a discussion that took place just a week prior to the now infamous 2020 election. Judge Pucinski references her presence on the ballot, and her s…

1
Matthew Martens - Reforming Criminal Justice 49:40

3M ago49:40

49:40

Episode: What might Scripture have to contribute to contemporary discussions about criminal justice (esp. as practiced in the United States)? In this episode, Matt Lynch speaks with trial lawyer and author Matthew T. Martens about ways that the Bible can shape our thinking about criminal justice today. Topics range from biblical-theological princip…

1
Sgt. Allen Lynch – Unimaginable Heroism 26:56

4M ago26:56

26:56

Allen Lynch spent his childhood in Chicago's south suburbs with fond memories of walks to his grandmother's house in Roseland. Lynch was often bullied, and at age 18, to test his strength he enlisted in the U.S. Army. That was 1964, and one year later the United States had troops on the ground in Vietnam. In 1966, Sgt. Allen Lynch began a tour of s…

1
Introducing...The Gas Man 33:53

4M ago33:53

33:53

Introducing...The Gas Man It starts with a tip-off. It’s the late 1980s and US Special Agent Dennis Bass is warned about a shipment of suspicious chemicals headed to a secret destination. So he follows the lead – and ends up stumbling into a global plot helping fuel a war. The main suspect? The Gas Man. In the decades since, Special Agent Bass has …

1
Crisis Cast Whiteboard – Debating the Biden-Trump Debate(s) 28:03

4M ago28:03

28:03

Two presidential debates between Joe Biden and Donald Trump are on the books. The first will be June 27th at CNN studios in Atlanta. It will have a unique nod to Chicago, because it will take place without an audience on a television set. That was the case in 1960, when WBBM-TV hosted John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon for the first-ever televised d…

1
Crisis Cast Flashback: Sheila Bedi - Driving Toward Justice 31:40

4M ago31:40

31:40

The timing of this conversation left us pondering pathways to change. It was the spring of 2021, and occurred during the days surrounding the verdict in the killing of George Floyd, and the fatal shooting of 13-year-old Chicagoan Adam Toledo. Renowned civil rights attorney Sheila Bedi joined Lissa and Thom to discuss her work surrounding the Chicag…

1
Michael Barber - The Historical Jesus and the Temple 1:02:19

4M ago1:02:19

1:02:19

Episode: Has the quest for the historical Jesus been plagued by an anti-liturgical sentiment? Michael Barber joins OnScript to discuss the historical Jesus, best method, and Jesus's mysterious engagement with the temple and its system. Cohosted by Matthew Bates and Chris Tilling. The Book: Michael Patrick Barber, The Historical Jesus and the Temple…

1
Shia Kapos - What Is A Progressive? 30:31

4M ago30:31

30:31

During this episode, a critical look at Illinois’ strategic players with reporter Shia Kapos, author of Politico’s morning newsletter: the Illinois Playbook. Shia offers up her definition of the city's new brand progressive politics. Lissa & Thom dig in on how she sees the City of Chicago responding to a summer full of global visitors. Plus, we get…

1
Nijay Gupta - Strange Religion 1:02:59

4M ago1:02:59

1:02:59

Episode: Fighting statues? Mystery cults? Roman religion was strange. Yet in many ways Christianity was even stranger. Nijay Gupta's Strange Religion explores how Christianity was oddly attractive to Romans. If we "keep it weird," Christianity can remain compelling today. Co-hosted by Matthew Bates. The Book: Nijay K. Gupta, Strange Religion: How t…

1
Heroics In The Face Of Terror 36:58

5M ago36:58

36:58

During this episode, we’ll share the story behind a new film that documents the terrorist attack on Israel on October 7th, 2023. The documentary is called #NOVA, and it reveals the massacre of hundreds of psy-trance music enthusiasts at a festival on 10/7. Lissa Druss & Thom Serafin are in our chat room to hear the personal story of first responder…

1
Crisis Cast Whiteboard: Are The Bears Bluffing? 23:12

5M ago23:12

23:12

Bears President Kevin Warren and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson gathered us all together for a presser on their "Dome By The Lake" on Wednesday. This struck our Crisis Cast crew as an odd rollout. Why was it shoe-horned into a space just prior to the NFL draft? During this episode of the Crisis Cast, Lissa Druss & Thom Serafin ask the question – "Ar…

1
Brent Strawn - Honest To God Preaching 1:00:44

5M ago1:00:44

1:00:44

Episode: Strawn argues that keeping secrets makes us sick, and the Old Testament offers a way to speak honestly about the BIG things like sin, suffering, and violence. Guest: Brent Strawn is D. Moody Smith Distinguished Professor of Old Testament and Law at Duke Divinity and Duke University. He’s the author of numerous books, including The Old Test…

1
Crisis Cast Flashback - War in Ukraine Through Italy's Eyes 23:08

5M ago23:08

23:08

Just two months into the Russian invasion of Ukraine, we had a fascinating conversation with Lissa's cousin, Daniela. She's a veteran journalist on the economic beat, based in Rome. Daniela gave us an early lesson in how the war reverberates very differently across Europe. At that point, Italians were caught in the middle, particularly because 50% …

1
Garrick Allen - Words Are Not Enough 52:49

5M ago52:49

52:49

Episode: In this episode, Dru Johnson talks with Garrick Allen about how paratexts (i.e., all the things around and between the biblical texts) have shaped our notions of canon, Gospel, and our reading practices of the biblical literature. His forthcoming Eerdmans book—Words Are Not Enough: Paratexts, Manuscripts, and the Real New Testament—argues …

1
Mitch Rosen - Scoring The Radio Game 40:25

5M ago40:25

40:25

For more than two decades, veteran radio programmer Mitch Rosen has led Audacy's WSCR. "The Score" is Chicago's leading destination for sports talk. During this episode of the Crisis Cast, Thom Serafin finally gets his job interview to join "The Score" lineup of personalities. Lissa Druss stops Thom from pitching 10 hours of daily Sox talk on the C…

1
Frank Calabrese - The NEW Neighborhood Divide 21:39

6M ago21:39

21:39

While the March '24 primary revealed a disappointing truth in voter participation – it reinforced a shift in ideology within Chicago's neighborhoods and some collar suburbs. Research and public policy analyst Frank Calabrese returns to the Crisis Cast to share what his maps predict about voter trends. During this episode, Lissa Druss & Thom Serafin…

1
Ervine Sheblazm - Abraham's Bosom, Paul, and the Decline of Postmodernism 39:21

6M ago39:21

39:21

Episode: Back for the 7th time, Prof. Dr. Ervine Sheblazm is here to speak the hard truth about tuff questions. What happens when culture fails to address its own insidious tendencies? How do we move forward when culture reaches a dead end? What lies around the corner for those of us living on the crusted-over remains of modernity and its evil chil…

1
Crisis Cast Flashback - Youth Mental Health Crisis 26:23

6M ago26:23

26:23

In the spring of 2021, Lissa & Thom introduced us to a foursome of teens from Naperville Central High School on a mission. They saw their peers suffering through depression, and took action. Through a support group called Beyond Charity – they went on a mission to stop the stigmas associated with mental illness. During this episode of the Crisis Ca…

1
David Haugh - Take Me "Where" To The Ballgame 36:52

6M ago36:52

36:52

As the 2024 major league baseball season opens, Lissa & Thom take a look at the crisis facing the Chicago White Sox. We have one of the coolest heads in the room join us for a conversation about where the South Siders might call home. David Haugh has been the co-host of the morning show on WSCR since 2018. Known for his deep reporting and wise writ…

1
Craig Wall - Fighting For Trust 37:16

6M ago37:16

37:16

Once again, we dive into Lissa & Thom's roots in journalism to further explore the challenges of 21st century newsrooms. During this this episode, the Crisis Cast probes a guide to being tenacious, but fair with ABC7's political reporter Craig Wall. With more than 25 years of covering Chicago news and politics, Wall shares how the exponential numbe…

1
N. T. Wright and Michael Bird - Jesus and the Powers 1:02:06

6M ago1:02:06

1:02:06

Episode: Beginning with Jesus's kingship, Tom Wright and Michael Bird speak to about the potentials and perils of contemporary politics. Discover a Christian vision for government not as an overbearing nanny or a terrifying bully but as God's servant. Cohosted by Matthew Bates. The Book: Tom Wright and Michael F. Bird, Jesus and the Powers: Christi…

1
Ray Long - Mining The Minds of Madigan 38:28

6M ago38:28

38:28

Chicago Tribune investigative reporter Ray Long makes a return visit to the Crisis Cast to prep Lissa & Thom for the upcoming trial of former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan. During this episode we take a deeper dive into the "minds" that surrounded Madigan, and his unparalleled career in state government. Long also unpacks the recent sentencin…

1
David Tombs – The Crucifixion of Jesus: Torture, Sexual Abuse, and the Scandal of the Cross 1:19:54

7M ago1:19:54

1:19:54

Episode (Trigger Warning): David Tombs lays out his case for the crucifixion of Jesus as a form of state-sponsored sexual violence and considers the theological and pastoral implications of his case in a discussion of his newest book, The Crucifixion of Jesus: Torture, Sexual Abuse, and the Scandal of the Cross (Routledge, 2023). The episode includ…

1
Crisis Cast flashback: Carol Moseley Braun 26:06

7M ago26:06

26:06

We celebrate the first week of Women's History Month by revisiting a conversation with the first Black woman elected to the U.S. Senate. Carol Moseley Braun was also the first woman to represent Illinois as a U.S. senator. Three years ago, the Chicago native visited with Lissa Druss & Thom Serafin the morning after attending the inauguration of Pre…

1
Shamus Toomey - Defining Journalism's Future 38:10

7M ago38:10

38:10

On so many episodes, we've explored and dissected the peril of shrinking local news rooms. This conversation will feel different. Shamus Toomey is among the defining innovators in the growth of journalism. As publisher and co-founder of Block Club Chicago, Shamus has forged the unthinkable – a team of reporters that has tripled in size since Novemb…

1
David Hochberg - The Credit Utilization Crisis 28:46

7M ago28:46

28:46

In part two of our dialogue with David Hochberg, we confront the reality that is plaguing America. We are reaching 70% capacity on credit utilization. As Hochberg puts it, "We are running out of room to spend on stuff we don't need, with money we don't have." During this episode of the Crisis Cast, Lissa & Thom continue their conversation about the…

1
Nathan MacDonald - The Tabernacle and Priestly Power 52:57

7M ago52:57

52:57

Episode: Nathan MacDonald argues that four versions of the Tabernacle can be traced through ancient versions of the Old Testament. This episode explores those versions, the significance of Aaron's garments, the significance of the wild Nadab and Abihu account, and much more from Nathan MacDonald's new book The Making of the Tabernacle and the Const…

1
David Hochberg - A Saver For Life 19:45

7M ago19:45

19:45

Once upon a time David Hochberg's father planted a seed. "Pay yourself first, and you'll never go broke." It led to his first passbook savings account at age seven, and a pre-teen career in scrap metal, turning trash into cash. Along the way, he developed a passion for helping home-buyers protect their financial health. During this episode of The C…

1
Richard Irvin - The Day That Changed Everything 34:28

8M ago34:28

34:28

As a veteran of Desert Storm and Desert Shield, Richard Irvin confronted a moment with one question, "Is this the day I'm going to die?" During this episode of the Crisis Cast, we'll learn how those seconds have defined every day that has followed. Lissa Druss & Thom Serafin will also explore what drove the Mayor of Aurora to run for governor – and…

1
Top 10 Archaeological Discoveries in 2023 (Pt 1) 48:59

8M ago48:59

48:59

Episode: In this three-part series - Chris and Kyle discuss the year’s top ten archaeological discoveries and stories related to the Bible. Part 1 discusses the most important finds related to the Bronze Age. We talk Hittites, the location and identification of Sinai, and much more! This is a re-release from our Biblical World podcast. Hosts: Chris…

1
Venezuela to Chicago – One Migrant Family's Journey 27:28

8M ago27:28

27:28

In this special edition of the Crisis Cast, we'll hear the personal account of a dangerous trek across multiple borders. We invite you to listen in on Thom Serafin's intimate conversation with a couple from Venezuela, who traveled on foot and on top of train cars in search of the American Dream. We'll hear why they left their homeland, what life in…

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Paul D. Johnson Podcasts

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