"Reading Round Up" Josh and Betsy are back with more book recommendations. Each of them shares briefly about three books they read this summer. Log onto Amazon, open your Kindle, or get out your library card -- and let us know what you think of these books!Betsy reviews:"Over the Edge: Death in the Grand Canyon" by Michael P. Ghiglieri & Thomas M. …

"Which Vacation is Better: A Cruise, or an All-Inclusive Resort?"Welcome to the Official Launch of the "INTERSECT: Where Church Meets Culture" YouTube Video Show!While most of our episodes will dive into meatier topics, today Josh and Betsy Desch have some fun with one of their (in)famous debates: Which Vacation do you think is better -- a Cruise o…

"Metaverse Madness"Have you heard about the metaverse? Are you living in the metaverse already? Why is Facebook now called Meta? And do you need to take out a second mortgage and buy the new Apple Vision Pro glasses? Josh and Betsy are here to guide you through all these issues and more, so bring your “main character energy” and leave your NPC atti…

"A Bridge Too Far — Assisted Death in Canada"Who has the right to determine when they die? For most of history, taking one’s own life has been viewed as something society should prevent at all costs. Yet in Canada today, assisted suicide is on the rise. In fact, the government has made it a legal option.Josh and Betsy put these concerning trends un…

"F·R·I·E·N·D·S, Friendship, and the Secret Sauce"“The passing of Matthew Perry, the actor known to so many as "Chandler Bing" on the popular TV Show "FRIENDS", has the world talking about this show again. Josh and Betsy offer their take on why this iconic show has remained nearly as popular today as it was in its heyday. What does FRIENDS teach us …

"THROWDOWN - Is the Casualization of Clothing in Our Culture Good or Bad?"“Josh and Betsy are ready to rumble! In this debate style episode they take opposite sides on the question of whether or not the casualization of clothing in America has been a good thing. This episode was prompted by the recent rule change in the United States Senate, which …

"A Christian Perspective on Mental Health -- AreMental Health Professionals the New High Priests?"Mental health is an area of constant growth and awareness in our country. We have certainly seen the demand for mental health services increase since COVID. So how should Christians navigate these challenging waters, especially as it relates to teenage…

"Every Human Has A Story"Stories. We read them, we watch them, we live them. Every person has a story, and every person has to make sense of life in terms of a story. That is to say, everyone believes some story about how we got here, what is our purpose, and what happens when we die. We are en-storied beings. Josh and Betsy jump into this topic an…

"Résumé Virtues vs. Eulogy Virtues"Have you heard of the difference between ‘résumé virtues’ and ‘eulogy virtues’? This distinction, first brought to the public’s awareness by NY Times columnist David Brooks, is worth contemplating for all of us. What are we living for? What virtues are we cultivating? Are we more concerned with the things that we …

"Cultivating Intellectual Humility over Intellectual Suspicion"PCA pastor and writer Derek Radney joins Josh and Betsy to talk about our culture of suspicion and bad faith readings of those we disagree with. Why has our culture become so polarized? When should we confront others? What does it mean to have intellectual humility without compromising …

"You Are Not Your Own... and Why That's a Good Thing"Oftentimes we hear about the benefits of home ownership, but what we don't think about is that our culture is constantly talking to us about self-ownership. We are all constantly hearing the message that we belong to ourselves, and no one else, and that what we do with our lives is totally up to …

"The Gospel According to Elf (The Movie)"Have you seen the movie "Elf", the 2003 comedy starring Will Ferrell? Josh and Betsy love that particular film. But more than the movie, they love one theme that radiates throughout the movie and throughout the Bible: hope. We live in a cynical age. In this episode, Josh and Betsy discuss the gospel and the …

"David French on the Fracturing of Evangelicalism"Josh and Betsy are joined by nationally recognized writer, speaker and constitutional lawyer David French to discuss what is happening inside of the American Evangelical Church. What makes an evangelical? Why is there so much division? What should Christians be aiming for in political engagement? Fi…

"Why Can't We Be Friends? A Conversation about Toxic People"Our culture now regularly labels people and statements as "toxic." What does toxic mean in this sense of the word? Should we cut toxic people out of our lives? Is our culture evolving in a positive way or is this a concerning trend? Josh and Betsy are back to break this down from a Christi…

"Why Are Americans Becoming More Isolated and Does It Matter?"New research shows that more and more people are retreating into their interior worlds. In others words, we are becoming less social people. We are interacting with other people less than prior generations. Is there a price we are paying for being less social? Does God care about how soc…

Exploring Trauma - A Review of the Book "The Body Keeps the Score"Josh and Betsy engage a heavy, but extremely important topic in this episode, that of trauma. It’s easy to believe that trauma is just about what we can remember with our minds, but ground-breaking new research has shown that trauma is embedded in our physical bodies. Josh and Betsy …

“Singleness, Celibacy, and Christian Ministry with Rev. Dr. Greg Johnson”Josh and Betsy are joined by Greg Johnson, the Lead Pastor at Historic Memorial Presbyterian Church in Saint Louis, to discuss the topic of singleness, celibacy, and Christian ministry. Has the American evangelical church ignored or marginalized singles? How can the church bet…

“The Restorative Power of Silence”Season five is here! Josh and Betsy kick off the new season by discussing the power of silence in our lives. Why is silence hard? What good can it do for us? Drawing on the insights of Dallas Willard, they present a strong case for building in times of silence in your life.Show Notes:The Spirit of the Disciplines b…

“Staying Dapper as a Dad”The finale is here! Josh and Betsy are joined by Andrew Eckstrom to talk about how to stay dapper as a dad of four kids. In addition to discussing this important topic, they talk about Andrew’s efforts to raise money for cancer research and the importance of men being in a men’s Bible study. Finally, for the first time ever…

“From Branding Products to Branding Ourselves”Social Media . . . these days, platforms like Instagram are the dominant channel through which many brands advertise. But in our quest to gain followers and get likes, have we become the product? Are we now branding ourselves? And if so, what impact is that making on our lives? Josh and Betsy dive into …

“Wake Up, People...You're a Miracle”What an amazing universe we live in! There are over 100 billion galaxies in the universe. Each galaxy contains hundreds of billions of stars. In this episode, Betsy and Josh discuss the book, Astrophysics for Young People in a Hurry, By Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson. Why does our amazing universe not move us to wonder …

“Clothing, Consumption, and the Christian Life”Clothes, we all own plenty of them, and they help define who we are. But why have clothes gotten so cheap? What is the story behind the clothes we wear? Where were they made? Who made them? And should we care? Josh and Betsy bring a Christian worldview to the topic of clothing and consumption. In this …

“Football vs Fútbol”Are you ready for the debate of the century? Josh and Betsy are back to debate one another on this question: Which sport is better, American Football or what the rest of the world calls Football/Futbol? Producer Billy Grooms serves as the debate judge and picks a winner at the end. This debate will change your life . . . or at l…

“Learning to Love the Gospels, Part 2”Josh and Betsy are back with Dr. Dan Doriani to discuss what makes each of the four gospels unique. Dan also shares about how he came to love the gospel of Matthew, and what gospel stories are deeply meaningful to him. Finally, he shares a bit about his own podcast, Working with Dan Doriani. Enjoy the second pa…

“Learning to Love the Gospels, Part 1”Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. We all know about the four gospels. But do we love them? And what's wrong with just reading other parts of the Bible, like the Psalms or Paul's letters, while not focusing on the gospels? Josh and Betsy are joined by Dr. Dan Doriani, Professor of Biblical and Systematic Theology a…

“The Messy Work of True Love with Jim Pocta Pt. 2”In the second part of this interview, counselor Jim Pocta shares how we can develop a culture of grace where all kinds of people are enveloped and discipled. Jim also addresses repentance, and how we can grow our witness to the world through a willingness to share our story. You will be blessed by t…

“The Messy Work of True Love with Jim Pocta Pt. 1”Josh and Betsy are joined by Jim Pocta, a ruling elder in the PCA, and a professional counselor who lives in Dallas, Texas. Jim joins them to talk about the messy work of true love. In first part of this interview, Jim shares his story, talks about the PCA's report on Human Sexuality, and talks abou…

“Worship Pt. 2: Working Your Worship Muscles”Josh and Betsy are back with the second half of their interview on worship with Jeremy Buzzard and Kerri Roberts. What should you do when you don’t feel like going to church and worshipping? Are worship and discipleship connected? How do we worship God with both our minds and our hearts? These are just s…

“Worship Pt. 1: Growing as Worshippers”Josh and Betsy are joined by Jeremy Buzzard and Kerri Roberts to discuss the topic of worship. What does it mean to be a lead worshipper? What is a worship culture? Where in the Scriptures do we see worship? This dynamic discussion with two incredibly gifted lead worshippers will sharpen your mind and warm you…

“Getting Healthy for the Glory of God - Part 2”Josh and Betsy continue their discussion on why our health matters to God. Because Christians know that we are going to heaven after we die, it can be easy to neglect our bodies while we live. Praise God that this life isn’t all there is! However, that is no excuse to not care for our bodies. Check out…

“Getting Healthy for the Glory of God - Part 1”Well, the holidays are upon us! And that means lots of cookies and sweets of all kinds. Josh and Betsy love sugar as much as the next guy, but where does our Christian faith come in when it comes to what we eat? Or more generally, how does our faith impact our relationship with our bodies in general? J…

“Exploring Social Media and Identity”Why do we all use Social Media? What do we get out of it? How does it affect us? What are its positives and negatives? In this episode, Josh and Betsy explore under the hood of Social Media and offer biblical analysis on how we should think about and use it. Become better equipped to engage on your favorite Soci…

“Atomic Habits: A Book Review”Habits! We all have them. Ones we like, ones we don’t like so much. On this episode of Intersect, Josh and Betsy talk about the book, Atomic Habits. What is the role of habits in the Christian life? What can we glean from this fascinating book? Whatever your habits, join Josh and Betsy for another conversation where ch…

“Exvangelicals — Deconstruction and Deconversion Pt. 2”In part two, Josh and Betsy continue their discussion on the trending Exvangelical phenomena. In this episode, they address how Christians should respond. Is evangelical still a label worth keeping? What should the foundation for the evangelical movement be in the future? Tune in and figure out…

“Exvangelicals — Deconstruction and Deconversion Pt. 1”Exvangelical. Have you heard the term? There is a growing number of people rejecting the label evangelical. Many are doing so for political reasons, but there are actually a number of factors at work. Josh and Betsy kick off season 4 with a provocative discussion on those who are deconstructing…

“Season 3 Recap”Josh and Betsy are back with a final episode of season 3. What a year it’s been! Josh and Betsy review the different episodes from this past season, from the various interviews they did to addressing hot topics like the transgender debate. They also offer a preview of where things are headed in season four! Join Josh and Betsy for a…

“When Famous Christians Fall”Ravi Zacharias, Bill Hybels, Carl Lentz . . . What are Christians supposed to make of the downfall of prominent voices in evangelical spaces? In this episode, Josh and Betsy take a deep dive into the celebrity evangelical complex and what it says about the modern-day church. They also offer ways that Christians can be l…

“Are We in a Teen Mental Health Crisis? Part 2”During the second half of this interview, Dr. Hanna brings an explicitly Christian perspective on questions of mental health. What can parents do? What should parents be thinking about? What is the root cause of this crisis? What resources are available to parents? You will find the second half of this…

“Are We in a Teen Mental Health Crisis? Part 1”Josh and Betsy interview Dr. Mohab Hanna, child and adolescent psychiatrist and published author, on the question of whether or not we are currently living in a teen mental health crisis. Dr. Hanna, who is a committed and thoughtful Christian, provides a helpful overview of the state of mental health a…

“Equipping Families in the Trans Discussion”The trans discussion is out in the open like never before. Teens today don’t bat an eyelash when other students come out as trans. How can parents and other concerned adults come alongside teens and support them with biblical love and truth? In this episode, Josh and Betsy interview Julie Palekas, a longt…

“Understanding the Gender and Trans Debate” With the Equality Act now in the halls of congress, you may be wondering, “What is the state of the gender debate in America?” Josh and Betsy are here to help you understand transgender questions and positions being discussed today with their latest episode. They cover questions like:1. What is this debat…

“What Have You Been Reading?” In this episode, Josh and Betsy each share about a book that they have been reading recently. Josh shares about the book “Reading While Black” by Dr. Esau McCaulley, and Betsy shares about the book “The Divine Conspiracy” by Dallas Willard. Both of these books bring insights that will help Christians walk faithfully wi…

“Just Mercy: A Book Review” In this episode, Josh and Betsy discuss the book Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson. Stevenson is the founder of Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), and his book has captured the attention of many as he talks about the importance of fighting injustice in society. These are relevant and crucial issues for white Christians in Ameri…

“How Can Black and White Christians Model Unity in Divided America?” We live in a polarized country. How can Christians show our witness to the watching world? Pastor Stephen Splawn of First Northeast Baptist Church returns for a second conversation with Josh and Betsy. This episode focuses on how the church is doing with race relations in terms of…

"Barriers and Bridges to Racial Unity Among Christians" In this episode, Josh and Betsy sit down with Stephen Splawn, the Pastor of First Northeast Baptist Church in Columbia, to talk about a necessary and controversial topic in America today: race relations in the church. Pastor Splawn’s transparency and biblical insight make this a "can’t miss" e…

"2020 - What a Year!!!" Bonus holiday episode! 2020 has been hard, so Josh and Betsy conclude the year with a light-hearted conversation about different things they have experienced in 2020, including many of their favorite Christmas-related things. Nothing serious here, just good, clean fun. Hopefully this episode will provide a little holiday che…

"Confronting Homelessness in Columbia, SC and Beyond" In this episode, Josh and Betsy interview Craig Currey, CEO of Transitions Homeless Center in Columbia, SC. Craig dispels common myths about homelessness and provides practical ways that Christians can and should engage this challenge. Jesus told us to care about the least and the lost. Listen t…

"Who Is Catechizing Our Kids?" "Catechism" is an old word that describes training and instruction in the fundamentals of the faith. Who is catechizing Christian kids today? Is it only the job of the church? What role do parents play and how can we catechize our kids in the daily grind of life? Join Josh and Betsy as they discuss a surprisingly rele…

Hot Take! Netflix's "The Social Dilemma" This recent documentary film has elicited both great praise and strong criticism. Josh and Betsy do a film review to engage a pressing topic of our day. "How should Christians think about social media?" "How can it be used well?" A wide range of technology topics are covered in this energetic discussion. Sho…

"How To Be a Blessing" In this episode, Josh and Betsy are joined by Jason Pittman, Pastor of Discipleship and Next Gen. Ministries at Northeast Presbyterian Church, to talk about the thought-provoking and practical acronym, "BLESS". How can we live out our faith? How can we share our faith? This episode will provide you with practical ways to live…