Best Jonathan Beal Podcasts (2025)

1
Timothy Heyman on B. Traven and how to manage a literary archive 1:03:26

14d ago1:03:26

1:03:26

B. Traven's novels and stories have sold more than 30 million copies over the past century in more than 30 languages worldwide. He was Einstein's favourite novelist. Der Spiegel ranks his The Death Ship as the third greatest German novel ever written (okay in the past 100 years), after Thomas Mann's The Magic Mountain, and Kafka's The Castl…

1
The Final Episode in this Feed: Another preview of "A Good Story Well Told"! 1:05:35

24d ago1:05:35

1:05:35

It's another episode of Matt's new podcast, "A Good Story Well Told" with Jonathan Auxier, this time discussing "The Giver", but from now on, to get new content, you'll have to subscribe to the "A Good Story Well Told" feed. Meanwhile, this feed will remain active so you can enjoy the wonderful archives of Matt and James's content.…

1
The Final Episode in this Feed: Another preview of "A Good Story Well Told"! 1:05:36

24d ago1:05:36

1:05:36

It's another episode of Matt's new podcast, "A Good Story Well Told" with Jonathan Auxier, this time discussing "The Giver", but from now on, to get new content, you'll have to subscribe to the "A Good Story Well Told" feed. Meanwhile, this feed will remain active so you can enjoy the wonderful archives of Matt and James's content.…

1
Introducing a new podcast: A Good Story Well Told with Jonathan Auxier 42:02

1M ago42:02

42:02

It's a special preview of the first episode of Matt's new podcast with Jonathan Auxier: A Good Story Well Told. Search for and subscribe to the new podcast to get a second episode now!By Matt Bird and James Kennedy

1
Introducing a new podcast: A Good Story Well Told with Jonathan Auxier 42:03

1M ago42:03

42:03

It's a special preview of the first episode of Matt's new podcast with Jonathan Auxier: A Good Story Well Told. Search for and subscribe to the new podcast to get a second episode now!By Matt Bird and James Kennedy

1
David McKnight on Collecting The Beatles 1:08:24

2M ago1:08:24

1:08:24

Some years ago I interviewed David McKnight about a collection of Canadian “little magazines” he’d hunted down and later donated to the University of Alberta’s Bruce Peel Library. It was very easy to get caught up in David’s enthusiasm, and I was really impressed by the catalogue he’d produced. Shortly after our conversation I learned that he didn’…

1
Memory, History and The Reliability of the Gospels | Craig S. Keener 54:17

3M ago54:17

54:17

Are the Gospels historically reliable? In this episode, I sit down with renowned New Testament scholar Craig Keener to discuss his book Christobiography: Memory, History, and the Reliability of the Gospels. We explore how the Gospels fit within the genre of ancient biography (bios), what that means for their historical accuracy, and how eyewitness …

1
Galatians and the Fight For the Gospel | Thomas R. Schreiner 53:55

3M ago53:55

53:55

What is the heart of Paul’s message in Galatians, and why does it still matter today? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Thomas R. Schreiner to explore the powerful themes of his book, Christ Crucified: A Theology of Galatians. We discuss justification by faith, the role of the law, Christian freedom, and the centrality of the cross in one of Pau…

1
Michael Erdman on the history of magazines (and women's rights) in Turkey 1:00:54

3M ago1:00:54

1:00:54

Michael Erdman is Head of Middle East and Central Asian Collections at The British Library with overall responsibility for all manuscript holdings in Arabic, Armenian, Azerbaijani, Chagatai, Coptic, Hebrew, Kurdish, Ottoman Turkish, Persian, and Syriac. I talked with him about my recent magazine hunting exploits in Istanbul, and how what we found f…

1
The Unlikely Journey of Joshua S. Porter 1:22:33

3M ago1:22:33

1:22:33

Joshua Porter has lived a life of raw creativity and radical faith. From fronting a beautifully chaotic band to becoming an author, filmmaker, and pastor, his journey has been anything but conventional. In this episode, we dive into his unexpected path—exploring music, storytelling, and the intersection of art and faith. Joshua S. Porter is pastor …

1
Life, Faith, and Wakeboarding | Shaun Murray 57:25

4M ago57:25

57:25

In this episode, I talk with wakeboarding legend Shaun Murray about the role of faith in his life and career. We discuss what it means to trust God through the ups and downs of professional sports, how his faith has shaped his perspective on success and identity, and the lessons he’s learned along the way. Shaun shares how he stays grounded, what k…

1
The Beauty of The Gospel According to Matthew | Charles Quarles 44:35

4M ago44:35

44:35

Matthew’s Gospel is more than just a historical account—it’s a masterpiece of theology, fulfillment, and discipleship. In this episode, I sit down with New Testament professor Charles Quarles to explore the depth, structure, and significance of The Gospel According to Matthew, and to talk about his new Matthew commentary in the Evangelical Biblical…

1
The Power of the Gospel in Romans | Beverly Gaventa 52:25

4M ago52:25

52:25

In this episode, I sit down with renowned biblical scholar Beverly Gaventa to discuss her latest work, a groundbreaking commentary on Paul's letter to the Romans. We explore the rich theology of Romans, focusing on its central themes of grace, righteousness, and the transformative power of the Gospel. Beverly shares her insights on how this letter …

1
Guiding Kids Toward Christ-Centred Identity | Jonathan Holmes 52:07

4M ago52:07

52:07

In this episode, I sit down with Jonathan Holmes, author of Grounded in Grace: Helping Kids Build Their Identity in Christ. We discuss the challenges kids face in today’s culture, from performance-driven identities to issues of gender and peer pressure. Jonathan shares practical insights for parents, youth leaders, and mentors on fostering gospel-c…

1
Following Christ in Action Sports | Beaver Fleming 50:39

4M ago50:39

50:39

In this episode I dive into a conversation about faith, skateboarding, and Nitro Circus with professional skateboarder Beaver Fleming. From his journey into action sports to joining the legendary Nitro Circus team, Beaver shares the highs and challenges of his career, the wildest stuff he's attempted, and the lessons he's learned along the way. We …

1
A Conversation About Film, Faith and Seasons | Abby Olcese 1:00:28

4M ago1:00:28

1:00:28

In this episode, I sit down with film critic and author Abby Olcese to discuss her new book, "Films for All Seasons." Abby highlights how the changing seasons influence our emotional connection to movies, how certain films reflect the rhythms of life in profound and unexpected ways and how Christians can engage thoughtfully with film. Abby Olcese i…

1
The Revelation Conversation (Part 1) | G. K. Beale 40:18

4M ago40:18

40:18

I had the immense privilege today of getting to chat with renowned biblical scholar G.K. Beale to explore the profound depths of the Book of Revelation. Known for his expertise in biblical theology and his groundbreaking works on Revelation, Dr. Beale unpacks the book’s rich symbolism, its connections to the Old Testament, and its enduring message …

1
Andres M. Zervigon on Illustrated Magazines 1:12:12

5M ago1:12:12

1:12:12

I first came across Andrés Mario Zervigón’s (Cuban) name while researching a magazine that filled me with awe the first time I saw it. AIZ, the Arbeiter-Illustrierte-Zeitung (Workers Illustrated Magazine) is an illustrated, mass circulation German periodical that was published in Berlin during the 1920s and 1930s (in Prague after 1933). It contains…

1
Wonders From Your Law | Kevin Chen 55:25

5M ago55:25

55:25

In this episode, I sit down with Kevin S. Chen, author of "Wonders From Your Law: Nexus Passages and the Promise of an Exegetical Intertextual Old Testament Theology." Kevin shares insights into the "nexus passages"—key texts that bridge themes, stories, and promises across Scripture—and why they matter for understanding the Bible as a whole. Wheth…

1
The Quest for the Historical Baptizer | James F. McGrath 56:09

5M ago56:09

56:09

In this episode, I sit down for a second time with James McGrath to discuss his fascinating new book, "John of History, Baptist of Faith: The Quest for the Historical Baptizer." We dive into the life and legacy of John the Baptist, exploring his historical significance, his relationship with Jesus, and how his ministry shaped the Gospel story. Jame…

1
Tony Fekete on Collecting Erotica 52:56

5M ago52:56

52:56

Tony Fekete is a book collector who for years specialized in collecting erotica. He's best known for the catalogue he produced for a Christie’s auction that took place in 2014 that featured highlights from his collection. More than 200 books, manuscripts, lithographs and erotic photographs went up for sale, including a first edition of My …

1
Thinking Biblically About Danger and Risk | Jeremy Lundgren 54:05

5M ago54:05

54:05

In this episode, I am joined by Jeremy Lundgren to explore his new book, The Pursuit of Safety: A Theology of Danger, Risk, and Security. Jeremy challenges assumptions about safety in modern life, asking how a biblical worldview reshapes our understanding of risk, fear, and trust in God. Together, we discuss what it means to follow Christ in a worl…

1
Bonhoeffer for the Church | Matthew D. Kirkpatrick 1:01:41

5M ago1:01:41

1:01:41

In this episode, I sit down with Bonhoeffer scholar, Matthew D. Kirkpatrick to discuss his new book, "Bonhoeffer for the Church: An Introduction." Kirkpatrick offers a fresh and accessible look at the life, theology, and enduring legacy of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, one of the most influential Christian voices of the 20th century. In our conversation we …

1
Mobilizing for the Gospel | Jim Essian 49:01

5M ago49:01

49:01

In this episode, I sit down with pastor and author, Jim Essian, to discuss his latest book, "Send: Loving Your Church by Praying, Giving, or Going." Jim shares about his journey from professional baseball to church planting and founding the Plant Fort Worth network, which has helped plant 15 churches in just six years. He unpacks the heart of his n…

1
From Southtown to P.O.D. | Sonny Sandoval 1:17:11

5M ago1:17:11

1:17:11

In this episode I have the amazing privilege of getting to sit down with Sonny Sandoval, the legendary frontman of P.O.D., to talk about his upcoming autobiography, Son of Southtown: My Life Between Two Worlds. This conversation was one of, if not the highlight of this podcasting thing so far. Sonny was one of a kind. The nicest guy, and clearly so…

1
A Multiethnic Approach to Scripture | Janette H. Ok 47:35

6M ago47:35

47:35

In this episode, I was joined by Dr. Janette H. Ok, a leading New Testament scholar, to discuss her contribution as editor and commentator in the groundbreaking commentary, "The New Testament in Color." Dr. Ok shares the inspiration behind this project and reflects on how her own cultural background has shaped her approach to Scripture. We explore …

1
Rediscovering Christmas Stories | Timothy Larsen 49:16

6M ago49:16

49:16

In this episode I chat once again Timothy Larsen, this time to discuss his wonderful new book, "12 Classic Christmas Stories: A Feast of Yuletide Tales" (Moody Press). Whether you're a lover of classic literature or simply looking to deepen your appreciation of Christmas traditions, and connect them to Christ, this book will do it, and hopefully th…

1
The Lifelong Pursuits of a Godly Man | Tim Challies 40:46

6M ago40:46

40:46

In this episode, I sit down with well-known author and blogger, Tim Challies, to discuss his book Running to Win: The Lifelong Pursuits of a Godly Man. We dive into the spiritual disciplines and habits that shape a faithful life, exploring the parallels between the Christian walk and the discipline of running a race. Tim shares insights on marriage…

1
Redeeming Violent Verses | Eric A. Seibert 50:23

6M ago50:23

50:23

In today's episode, we’re diving into one of the most challenging topics in biblical interpretation: how to approach the Bible's violent texts in a way that is faithful, thoughtful, and pastoral. I’m thrilled to be joined by Dr. Eric Seibert, a renowned scholar, author, and professor, formerly at Messiah University, whose work has been instrumental…

1
The Barriers and Brilliance of the Book of Hebrews | Amy Peeler 55:46

6M ago55:46

55:46

Today's episode was with Amy Peeler out of Wheaton College. Amy has just released a new and wonderful Hebrews commentary in Eerdmans' "Commentaries for Christian Formation” series and I had the wonderful chance to chat with her today about it. Our conversation ranged from what led to her initial excitement about Hebrews, to what value it holds for …

1
What Makes Mark’s Gospel Unique? | Dr. C. Clifton Black 1:02:51

7M ago1:02:51

1:02:51

In this episode I have the privilege of chatting with New Testament scholar Dr. Clifton Black to explore his journey as a biblical scholar, his recent book Mark’s Gospel, and his deep insights into the unique qualities of this often-underappreciated Gospel. Dr. Black offers valuable insights on how Mark’s Gospel can deepen our understanding of the …

1
Sermon: By Becoming the Curse For Us (Galatians 3.10-14) 38:55

7M ago38:55

38:55

The scandal of the Gospel. That a perfect God would substitute himself in the place of the guilty. More than that, in the place of enemies. As Charles Wesley so wonderfully wrote, "How can it be That Thou, my God, should die for me?"By Ryley Heppner

1
Siegfried Lukatis on Insel Bucherei, the iconic German book series 58:26

7M ago58:26

58:26

Siegfried Lokatis is a retired professor of book history, and former head of the University of Leipzig's Institute for Communication and Media Studies. He is the author of Book Covers of the GDR and is currently working on a history of the S. Fischer publishing house, due out in 2026. We met in Leipzig recently where Siegfried treated me to a tou…

1
Live Show: Capturing the Nature of Children with Betsy Bird 45:43

8M ago45:43

45:43

Recorded Live at The Book Stall in Winnetka, IL, hosted by the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, James and Matt welcome the legendary Betsy Bird to tackle a topic all three know something about: Capturing the Voices of Children in Your Writing. Matt argues that novels that feature truly authentic kids are by definition not childr…

1
Live Show: Capturing the Nature of Children with Betsy Bird 45:44

8M ago45:44

45:44

Recorded Live at The Book Stall in Winnetka, IL, hosted by the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, James and Matt welcome the legendary Betsy Bird to tackle a topic all three know something about: Capturing the Voices of Children in Your Writing. Matt argues that novels that feature truly authentic kids are by definition not childr…

1
Following Jesus in a Political World | Miranda Zapor Cruz 55:20

8M ago55:20

55:20

How do you live as a faithful Christian in such politically polarized times? How do you follow Jesus and participate in politics? How do you be salt and light in the world and love your neighbour well and contribute politically to our society? There are so many pressing questions like these when it comes to the relationship with between faith and p…

1
How Do I Lead My Church Through Change? | Tod Bolsinger 44:41

9M ago44:41

44:41

In today's episode I chat with Tod Bolsinger about his new four book series, Practicing Change. In our conversation Tod briefly unpacks each book in the series, walking me through what it looks like to lead a church through positive change and transformation in the midst of crisis and resistance, while building trust and staying on mission. If you …

1
Does God Want Us to Have Fun? | Kevin Gushiken 53:13

9M ago53:13

53:13

Today I had the chance to chat with Kevin Gushiken about his new book out of Kregel Press, “A Theology of Play: Learning to Enjoy Life as God intended.” It is such a unique topic of study and one that hasn’t received that much focus. To think that God created play, gives us the freedom and permission to play, and that he actually delights in his pe…

1
Christ and the Psalms | Christopher Ash 59:16

9M ago59:16

59:16

I had the wonderful privilege today of getting to speak with, author and biblical scholar Christopher Ash. Ash has most recently released through Crossway a four volume commentary called The Psalms: A Christ Centred Commentary, which was the topic of our conversation today. We talked about how to find Christ in the Psalms, how to read the Psalms of…

1
10 TIPS to Better Bible Reading in the Busyness of Life 13:07

9M ago13:07

13:07

Just ten simple things that have helped me be more disciplined in and get more out of my time in God's Word. Maybe they'll be helpful to you too! 1. Read it daily. 2. Read it in strange places. 3. Read it while you’re waiting. 4. Read it with multiple bookmarks. 5. Read it with a plan. 6. Read the Psalms once a month. 7. Buy new Bibles because you …

1
Richard Charkin on Lessons Learned from 50 Years in Book Publishing 1:10:31

9M ago1:10:31

1:10:31

Richard Charkin has held senior posts at many major, and some minor, publishing houses in the U.K. over the past 50 years, including: Harrap, OUP, Pergamon Press, Reed Elsevier, Macmillan, Bloomsbury, and Mensch Publishing. He is former President of The Book Society, the International Publishers Association and the UK Publishers Association. His bo…

1
Waiting Isn't a Waste | Mark Vroegop 44:30

9M ago44:30

44:30

I had the awesome privileged today of getting to talk to pastor and author, Mark Vroegop about his latest book, “Waiting isn’t a Waste: The Surprising Comfort of Trusting God in the Uncertainties of Life." Our conversation covered, among other things, the motivation for the book, why waiting is both normal and difficult, how it is an opportunity fo…

1
Sermon: What Would You Risk if His Love Couldn't Fail? (Galatians 1.11-2.10) 47:15

9M ago47:15

47:15

There is an old adage that goes something like this, "What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?” Now let me reword it for you and ask it again, “What you would attempt for Christ, if you knew His love for you could not fail?”By Ryley Heppner

1
Book scholar Jonathan Rose on who used to read Playboy magazine and Why 48:48

9M ago48:48

48:48

The last time I ran into renowned book scholar Jonathan Rose (at a SHARP conference) he mentioned that he was doing some work on Playboy magazine. ‘Way more women readers than you’d expect!’ he told me. Rose is an accomplished author. His groundbreaking and award-winning book, The Intellectual Life of the British Working Classes, first published in…

1
Church History, George MacDonald and the Diary of an Old Soul | Dr. Timothy Larsen 49:46

9M ago49:46

49:46

Today's conversation is with Professor of History and Christian thought, Dr. Timothy Larsen. Dr. Larsen's latest project is the reissue of a powerful devotional from the 19th century Scottish author and minister, George MacDonald, Diary of an Old Soul, in which Dr. Larsen provides an introduction and explanatory notes throughout the book. We talked…

1
Which Bible Translation is Best? | Dr. Mark Strauss 1:02:34

10M ago1:02:34

1:02:34

Today I was joined by New Testament Professor and Bible Translator Dr. Mark Strauss, to talk about his new book, 40 Questions About Bible Translation. Our conversation ranged from gender neutral decisions in the NIV, to the difficulties, challenges and ongoing debates in Bible Translation, to the differences between a translation and paraphrase. Ho…

1
7 WAYS God Can Use Rejection For His Glory and Our Good 8:59

10M ago8:59

8:59

Rejection always hurts, no matter what I am being rejected from. It always makes me squirm; makes me want to disappear. And yet, I have come to realize through the years and over the course of many rejections that God can and does use rejection in my life to do a myriad of beautiful things. These days, even though rejection is still uncomfortable, …

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