Episodes

In Christian circles, we frequently hear that we need to put our ‘identity in Christ’ — but what does that even mean? How are Christians supposed to do that? Is that the only lens through which we should see the Christian life? Interacting with a recent article by public theologian Anthony Bradley, Josh and Betsy break down this question and show how modern psychology and American individualism has impacted the language that the church uses. Come join us as we consider the incredibly important q...

"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 on a Luxury Liner, or an escape to an All-Inclusive Resort on a Tropical Island? Email us or chime in on our Facebook page... and come watch this ina...

"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 attitude behind as we jump into another exciting episode of "Intersect: Where Church Meets Culture". Items Discussed: "We've Lost the Plot"-- The Atlanti...

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 on a Luxury Liner, or an escape to an All-Inclusive Resort on a Tropical Island? Let us know your preference in the comments below -- or, let us know who made the stronger case for their side of this throwdown? And ...

"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 under the microscope as they examine a difficult but highly pertinent topic: should we have the power to determine when we die? Items Discussed: "How ...

"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 about friendship... and have we lost that special something in our uber-digital world of today? Do we still need good friendships? How do we make the...

"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 permits Senators to wear pretty much whatever they want on the floor of the Senate. So what will it be, stretchy pants or tailored slacks? You decide...

"A Christian Perspective on Mental Health -- Are Mental 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 teenagers? In this interview, Josh and Betsy talk with Doctor Mo Hanna, who is both a highly successful child and adolescent psychiatrist and a deeply devo...

"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 and help us to think about the big questions. It’s time to examine your story. Is it a good one? Show Notes: "Being Mortal:Medicine and What Matters in...

"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 put on our resume or the things that others will say about us at our funeral? And how does all of this apply to modern parenting? Show Notes: "The Mo...

"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 on the truth? This episode will help you embrace curiosity and gospel-rootedness over fear and suspicion. . Show Notes: Derek Radney Website Derek Ra...

"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 us. Josh and Betsy discuss this cultural belief through a biblical lens, leaning heavily on Alan Noble's excellent book, You Are Not Your Own. Learn ...

"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 true meaning of Christmas through the lens of hope. Show Notes: "Elf" the movie on Amazon Prime Suggestions for future episodes? Email us at intersec...

"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? Finally, David gives us a review of Amazon's show, the Rings of Power. This conversation will challenge and enlighten you. Show Notes: David French, au...

"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 Christian perspective, with a little humor mixed in along the way. Show Notes: "That’s It. You’re Dead to Me." (Article) "A Shift in American Family Values ...

"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 social we are? Josh and Betsy, your favorite amateur researchers, are back to break this down and tease out the implications for the church in 2022. Sho...

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 reflect on the insights of this best-selling, enlightening book. Show Notes: The Body Keeps the Score (book) Suggestions for future episodes? Email u...

“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 better care for singles? Who are the single Christians in the history of the church who have made a big impact? And what about what Paul says in 1 Cor. ...

“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 by Dallas Willard (book) Suggestions for future episodes? Email us at intersect@nepres.com Intersect Podcast is a ministry of Northeast Presbyterian...

“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 on Intersect, we introduce the lighting round. Hope you enjoy! Show Notes: Lebron James on his draft day Real Men Wear Pink | American Cancer Societ...

“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 the world of Instagram for this interesting topic and bring Christian principles to the world of Social Media. Show Notes: Most followers per social ...

“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 more? Have we taken time recently to just take in the miracle of God’s creation? It’s time to talk Physics 101 and regain our sense of wonder. It’s t...

“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 episode, you will find a critical analysis of fast fashion and some practical suggestions for those who want to bring their faith to bear on their wa...

“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 least give you a little entertainment! Show Notes: Suggestions for future episodes? Email us at intersect@nepres.com