Talkin‘ Politics & Religion Without Killin‘ Each Other

A deeply clarifying conversation about fear, faith, and how Christians can reclaim a healthier way of engaging in public life.

In this ICYMI release, Corey revisits his thoughtful and timely dialogue with Curtis Chang—public theologian, founder of Redeeming Babel, and co-creator (with David French, Dr. Russell Moore and Nancy French) of The After Party, a project devoted to healing the political fractures tearing churches and frien...

Forget what you think you know about religion in America. The latest research from Pew reveals a story that’s more complex—and more hopeful—than the headlines suggest.

Corey sits down with Gregory A. Smith, who’s spent over two decades studying how faith and identity shape American public life. In this no-fluff conversation, Greg unpacks the surprising stabilization of religious affiliation, the myths about Gen Z’s spiritual life, ...

A luminous conversation about leadership, love, and what spiritual courage looks like in a polarized age.

In this ICYMI episode, Corey revisits his deeply moving conversation with Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde, Episcopal Bishop of Washington and one of the most trusted—and most tested—faith leaders in American public life. With striking humility and clarity, Bishop Budde reflects on her faith journey, her response to political turbule...

One of the clearest, most necessary voices on Ukraine, democracy, and what the West keeps getting wrong.

In this ICYMI episode, Corey revisits his most recent conversation with Dr. Alexander Vindman — retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel, former Director for European Affairs on the National Security Council, and author of The Folly of Realism: How the West Deceived Itself About Russia and Betrayed Ukraine.

From the thousand-year st...

One of the most compelling personal and political stories in Congress today — raw, principled, and deeply human.

In this ICYMI episode, Corey revisits his conversation with Congressman Ritchie Torres, who represents New York’s 15th district in the Bronx. With refreshing candor, Torres shares his journey from public housing and poverty to becoming the first openly LGBTQ elected official from the Bronx and one of the most forthright ...

One of the most clarifying conversations we’ve had about conscience, character, and navigating our divisions with integrity.

In this ICYMI release, Corey revisits his conversation with David French — New York Times columnist, attorney, veteran, and one of the most thoughtful voices on religious liberty, civic virtue, polarization, and how principled disagreement can strengthen rather than destroy a pluralistic society.

David unpack...

One of the most essential conversations we’ve had — on authoritarianism, influence campaigns, and what it takes to defend democracy.

In this ICYMI release, Corey revisits his conversation with Anne Applebaum — Pulitzer Prize–winning historian, staff writer at The Atlantic, and one of the world’s leading experts on modern authoritarianism.

Anne explains how autocrats collaborate across borders, why propaganda spreads so easily, how ...

One of TP&R’s all-time standout conversations—perfect for new listeners discovering the show this week.

In this special ICYMI release, Corey revisits his deeply human, deeply honest conversation with David Brooks—New York Times columnist, bestselling author of The Second Mountain and How to Know a Person, and one of the most thoughtful public voices on moral formation, democracy, and what it takes to live well with one another.

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Call it a holiday palate cleanser: today’s TP&R feed features a special drop from East Meets West Sports. Be sure to find this new show on all the apps, follow, rate, review... You know the drill. Enjoy!

Can Shedeur Sanders prove he's “the one” – or is Cleveland just buying time? Meanwhile, LA sports shake things up from the locker room to the front office.

In this riveting holiday edition of East Meets West Sports, Rick Garcia...

What PRRI’s Latest Data Reveals About Our Deepening Divide

In the shadow of rising polarization, this episode dives deep into the latest findings from PRRI's American Values Survey, Trump’s Unprecedented Actions Deepen Asymmetric Divides. Corey is joined by Dr. Melissa Deckman to break down the data—and what it tells us about party loyalty, trust in institutions, Christian nationalism, and shifting norms around religion and identit...

Repairing the damage—in our democracy, in our relationships, and in ourselves.

✨ Episode Summary

Let’s talk about redemption—what it really means to repair what’s been broken, whether in our democracy or in our personal lives, and how we can tell the difference between a true apology and just going through the motions. Inspired by a powerful Substack piece by Mike Madrid, we'll reflect on the nuances between performative apologies ...

What do you get when a data scientist with a knack for sports betting and political forecasting returns to the pod? A masterclass in what polling can and can't do, how bad assumptions skew our democracy, and why Carl Allen thinks we need to stop blaming the camera for the race result.

In this fascinating, far-ranging convo, Corey and Carl Allen (author of The Polls Weren’t Wrong) break down why political polling is misunderstood, h...

"And now for something completely different..." In a world flooded with outrage and anxiety, taking stock of the good isn’t naive—it’s necessary.

Corey shifts the lens from polarization and pessimism to the power of thankfulness. Amid a flood of bad news and anxiety about the state of democracy, Corey invites listeners to pause and consider what’s good—not in a naive way, but as an intentional act of civic and spiritual grounding.

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🤖 What happens when an ex-campus minister turned agnostic writes a novel about AI Jesus?

You get this wide-ranging and deeply moving conversation between Corey and Lisa Rose Ferrara—writer of the Substack The Dangling Door and author of the novel CHRISTBOT. Lisa doesn’t just reflect on the absurdities of our sociopolitical moment—she rewrites the rules of faith, technology, and identity with humor and radical compassion.

Lisa shar...

What happens when a former military cop, existentialist philosopher, and Substack firebrand walks into a podcast? You get this riveting conversation between Corey and Christopher Armitage, who pulls no punches when it comes to democracy, resistance, and why “soft secession” might be the only sane response to creeping authoritarianism.

Chris is a U.S. Air Force veteran, former law enforcement officer, prolific writer, and founder of...

Not every relationship can—or should—be salvaged. In this solo episode, Corey shares a personal story and outlines five unmistakable red flags that tell you it’s time to step back to protect your peace.

Sometimes, staying in the conversation means knowing when to step away. In this raw and introspective solo episode, host Corey Nathan opens up about a deeply personal encounter that pushed him to confront a painful question: When is...

From Project 2025 to creeping authoritarianism, Atlantic journalist David A. Graham lays out the threats to democracy — and why he still believes it's worth defending.

Glad to have this timely conversation with David A. Graham, staff writer at The Atlantic, author of the Atlantic Daily newsletter, and the mind behind two major works: THE PROJECT: How Project 2025 Is Reshaping America and his latest featured story in THE ATLANTIC, D...

How one rural weaver is helping neighbors feel seen, supported, and connected in Wilkes County, NC — and what we can learn from her example.

We are kicking off something special.

This episode is the first in a new ongoing series highlighting Weavers — local leaders around the country who are rebuilding trust and community from the ground up through Weave: The Social Fabric Project (weavers.org).

Our inaugural guest is LB Prevette —...

Where baseball, family, and democracy meet — Mike Madrid reminds us what’s worth fighting for in America.

If you didn't catch our most recent conversation with friend of the pod, Mike Madrid, well... where were ya? We recorded this one right around July 4th and it's still on point! What'd ya expect with the brilliant Mike Madrid?!?!

So join us in welcoming back political consultant, author, and Substack contributor Mike Madrid. A r...