Tokens: Most Outstanding Episodes: Recent Episodes
Tokens Media
Public theology. Human flourishing. The good life.
Tokens dares to do theology in public, around supposedly non-theological topics like society and politics, whether (or how) to be happy, habits and human flourishing; and music, books, the arts, and poetry. We refuse to be overbearing, while also not pretending like most people don’t care about faith, theology, and the traditions that form us. We promise to be non-partisan – neither right nor left nor even necessarily religious. This is another way of saying we commit to extending hospitality to those with divergent voices and convictions, welcoming poets and authors, theologians and activists, scientists and educators, musicians and writers and even politicians.
“People are not so afraid of holding a wrong opinion, as they are of holding an opinion alone,” says public theologian Dr. Russell Moore, paraphrasing Soren Kierkegaard. In light of his recent book The Courage to Stand, we discussed the dangers of waging debate for the sake of hostility; the immense value found in cultivating the virtues of courage, prudence, and humility; and why he believes that “only the crucifiable self can find the courage to stand.” And these are not merely academic matters for Russell, having himself experienced trying times of intense public scrutiny from colleagues, friends, enemies, and Donald Trump.
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“It has to be the joyful journey for justice,” says Ben Cohen, the world-famous “Ben” in Ben & Jerry’s. In this episode, we hear from Ben how starting an ice cream business has given him the means to do justice with hope and humor.
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A special episode, taped in front of a live audience, in which Cyntoia Brown Long chronicles her experience leading to and within the Tennessee prison system, and the dramatic, at times hard-to-believe nature of the grace and providence which led to her coming-to-faith and ultimate release.
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An interview with Kristin Du Mez, Professor of History and Gender Studies at Calvin University and author of a provocative new book entitled Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation. In light of the fact that 81% of white evangelicals supposedly voted for Donald Trump in the 2016 election, many have tried to make sense of how “family values voters” could have supported Trump. Du Mez, in contrast, claims that this support of Trump was not in contradiction to, but consistent with, the deeper values of American evangelical Christianity. Regardless of your politics, you will not find this an episode that leaves you without some emotion.
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Drew Holcomb, whom the Rolling Stone recently called “one of Americana’s Most Popular Stars,” talks with Lee about his surprising road through academia to becoming a singer-songwriter; the tragic loss of his younger brother; and what it’s like to have courage and hope as a songwriter, artist, husband, and father in the midst of the current polarized cultural moment. PLUS! Live in-the-studio-performances of two of his most moving songs: “You Never Leave My Heart” and “Dragons.”
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An interview with Megan Barry, former mayor of Nashville. Lee and Megan discuss the tragic subject of addiction and how it led to the accidental overdose and death of her son Max; what it has been like to find hope and healing in both the midst and aftermath of such a tragedy; what there may be to learn, both personally and communally, about the various stigmas and statistics currently surrounding the issue; and the ways, both large and small, in which the current epidemic of addiction may be fought.
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A personal, unreserved and wide-ranging interview with Country Music Hall of Famer Vince Gill. Lee and Vince discuss why Vince has been writing songs of late about teen pregnancy, racial animosity, and sexual abuse; Merle Haggard as Vince’s “north star”; the time Vince opened for KISS; his own temper and his journey in understanding that temper; his public confrontation of the Westboro Baptist Church, and a question about his high-profile marriage with Amy Grant. Vince performs “Molly Brown” and “Price of Regret” for us in the studio.
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Stanley Hauerwas was once dubbed by Time Magazine with the moniker, “America’s Greatest Theologian.” This is ironic because he’s spent much of his life criticizing American Christianity. Join us for our evening with Stanley, a beloved, profane, beautifully grumpy theologian, as he shares about non-violence, the story of Billy Dick, and a brief commentary on Christians and Donald Trump. PLUS: Stanley Hauerwas makes his acting debut with a stand-up comedy with the Tokens Radio Players.
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Irish poet, peace-maker and theologian Pádraig Ó Tuama joins Lee for a discussion on practices of peace-making, including peace with oneself. They both discuss the great significance of John 21 for their own lives. And Pádraig shares readings from his poems “The Facts of Life,” “The Pedagogy of Conflict,” and “Shaking Hands.”
LINKS:
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Padraig Books:
- In the Shelter
- Sorry For Your Troubles
- Daily Prayer with the Corrymeela Community
- Readings from the Book of Exile
- Tokens Online Master Courses
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Charlie Strobel is a sort of elder-statesman in Nashville, a Catholic priest, and founder of Room in the Inn. In a moving conversation with Charlie about some of his most important life moments, Lee and Charlie discuss loneliness and solitude; therapy and the opening of the self; receiving hospitality from the homeless as a boy; and the murder of Charlie’s mother. Charlie shares things regarding which he says “Nobody really knows this, but I guess, I don't know if I should say it, but, well…”
LINKS:
- Tokens Courses: tokensshow.com/courses
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Host Lee C. Camp invents a phrase: the “sunk-suffering fallacy.” Borrowing from the economists’ sunk-cost fallacy, the sunk-suffering fallacy provides a potential explanation for why some Christians tend to be so horribly partisan. Is there any way out of such a mess? Lee wonders about such questions in his interview with former Tennessee governor Bill Haslam. Haslam reveals an almost jarring key to the kingdom of doing public service, and some virtues to live by.
LINKS:
- Website episode page: https://www.tokensshow.com/blog/s1e1
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