Rzim: Thinking Out Loud Broadcasts

Last year's Christmas episode provides a study in contrast. Nathan and Cameron hosted a jovial discussion on Santa. This year, that kind of tone seems utterly out of place. In this episode, Nathan and Cameron discuss the nature of our celebrations in the midst of deeply surreal circumstances and consider the greater hope of Christ's promise to make all things new. Follow the Thinking Out Loud hosts on Twitter: Cameron McAllister - @CamMcAllister7Nathan Rittenhouse - @N_Rittenhouse1

For most of us, a significant part of Thanksgiving involves food and lots of it. More importantly, it involves a shared meal with those we love (and often struggle with). Of course, this year things looked a bit different. Some of us headed into the holiday with increasing levels of anxiety. Others chose to forego travels altogether this year. In this episode, Nathan and Cameron discuss some of the complex dynamics surrounding shared meals in the midst of a global pandemic.Follow the Thinking Out Loud hosts on Twitter: Cameron McAllister - @CamMcAllister7Nathan Rittenhouse - @N_Rittenhouse1

This week, Nathan and Cameron discuss the challenges of friendship in the digital world as well as the nature of their own friendship. (Cameron also tries not to take offense at Nathan's initial question about the status of their friendship). Follow the Thinking Out Loud hosts on Twitter: Cameron McAllister - @CamMcAllister7Nathan Rittenhouse - @N_Rittenhouse1

In this re-run of a Thinking Out Loud episode recorded last year, Nathan and Cameron discussed the election and how to follow Christ through a turbulent time. While the US wait for the 2020 election results, we thought it would be an ideal time to re-air this episode recorded live from 2019. Though only a year has passed since this recording, the world in which the event took place now feels very distant. How do we follow Christ through it all? This live exchange from last year remains pertinent to our current political climate, so we invite you to take a deep breath and enjoy Nathan and Cameron trying to stay on their feet in front of a crowd. Follow the Thinking Out Loud hosts on Twitter: Cameron McAllister - @CamMcAllister7Nathan Rittenhouse - @N_Rittenhouse1

Many Christians feel conflicted about Halloween, even as they usher their costumed kids out the door for tricks or treats. In this episode, an enthusiast (Cameron) and a naysayer (Nathan) try to make sense of this deeply strange American holiday, and consider the light that the gospel sheds on the matter.Follow the Thinking Out Loud hosts on Twitter: Cameron McAllister - @CamMcAllister7Nathan Rittenhouse - @N_Rittenhouse1

Nathan and Cameron feel a bit down in this episode and they have a feeling that some of you may be in the same boat. That's 2020 in a nutshell. In this episode, they discuss what it looks like to hold to Christian hope, even when there doesn't seem to be a clear light at the end of the tunnel. Follow the Thinking Out Loud hosts on Twitter: Cameron McAllister - @CamMcAllister7Nathan Rittenhouse - @N_Rittenhouse1

The term "religion" is wildly unpopular and many contemporary Christians sidestep the issue with the neat phrase "personal relationship with Jesus." While the phrase is not necessarily false, it leaves both Nathan and Cameron uneasy. In this episode, they discuss that unease and try to offer a more holistic response. Follow the Thinking Out Loud hosts on Twitter: Cameron McAllister - @CamMcAllister7Nathan Rittenhouse - @N_Rittenhouse1

For the first time in history, it's possible to "bracket death." But death is the one thing we can all be certain of. So, what does it mean to be mortal? Why do many struggle in Western culture with elderly care? Nathan and Cameron "think out loud" about these questions, pulling from Dr. Atul Gawande's book Being Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End to take a timely and deeply helpful meditation on our mortal condition, end of life ethics, and more.Follow the Thinking Out Loud hosts on Twitter: Cameron McAllister - @CamMcAllister7Nathan Rittenhouse - @N_Rittenhouse1

One of the surprising national pastimes that have emerged during the pandemic is a growing obsession with conspiracy theories. A phenomenon that touches all points of the political spectrum, what does this new hobby say about us? In this episode, Nathan and Cameron tackle this question.Follow the Thinking Out Loud hosts on Twitter: Cameron McAllister - @CamMcAllister7Nathan Rittenhouse - @N_Rittenhouse1

In a time of deep cultural unrest, many of us long for "things to go back to normal." But if this is what our nation looks like under extreme stress, what does that say about our sense of normal? And what is the Christian posture in a time of wide-spread fear and division? Sound uplifting? Join Nathan and Cameron for a discussion of our troubled moment. Follow the Thinking Out Loud hosts on Twitter: Cameron McAllister - @CamMcAllister7Nathan Rittenhouse - @N_Rittenhouse1

Few would dispute that the past few weeks have been some of the more tumultuous America has experienced in recent years. Far from merely political or cultural tensions, the most recent crisis is a matter of life and death and can be seen most clearly in the three faces of those who unjustly lost their lives: Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd. These three names don't represent isolated incidents and the great travesty is that the list of names keeps growing. As has been repeatedly said, this is a fundamental human rights issue, one that goes to the heart of America's struggle with racism, prejudice, and discrimination. In this episode, Thinking Out Loud hosts Nathan Rittenhouse and Cameron McAllister are joined by their colleague Brandon Cleaver for a candid discussion about this cultural moment and how Christ's life, death, and resurrection intersect with our current predicament. Listen to Part 1Follow the Thinking Out Loud hosts on Twitter: Cameron McAllister - @CamMcAllister7Nathan Rittenhouse

It seems 2020 has been full of difficult news. In this episode, Nathan and Cameron push pause on the relentless news cycle to discuss gardening. As usual, this seemingly light-hearted topic leads into a much deeper discussion of the human condition. Follow the Thinking Out Loud hosts on Twitter: Cameron McAllister - @CamMcAllister7Nathan Rittenhouse - @N_Rittenhouse1

Few would dispute that the past few weeks have been some of the more tumultuous America has experienced in recent years. Far from merely political or cultural tensions, the most recent crisis is a matter of life and death and can be seen most clearly in the three faces of those who unjustly lost their lives: Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd. These three names don't represent isolated incidents and the great travesty is that the list of names keeps growing. As has been repeatedly said, this is a fundamental human rights issue, one that goes to the heart of America's struggle with racism, prejudice, and discrimination. In this episode, Thinking Out Loud hosts Nathan Rittenhouse and Cameron McAllister are joined by their colleague Brandon Cleaver for a candid discussion about this cultural moment and how Christ's life, death, and resurrection intersect with our current predicament. Follow the Thinking Out Loud hosts on Twitter: Cameron McAllister - @CamMcAllister7Nathan Rittenhouse - @N_Rittenhou

We live in a cultural moment that vigorously punishes mistakes, often in a very public fashion. Indeed, this is one of the key aspects of our deeply polarized landscape. Yet, if we aren't allowed the freedom to make mistakes—to be wrong—moral growth is short circuited. In this episode, Nathan and Cameron discuss how mistakes can be an occasion for tremendous growth, rather than simply shame and retribution. Follow the Thinking Out Loud hosts on Twitter: Cameron McAllister - @CamMcAllister7Nathan Rittenhouse - @N_Rittenhouse1

Given the deep divisions that define our cultural moment, empathy is often touted as the central virtue of our age. But our growing tribalism continues to undermine our efforts to understand people who remain culturally remote. Add a pandemic to the mix and the difficulties are multiplied. In this episode, Nathan and Cameron discuss the limits and possibilities of empathy in our divided age. Follow the Thinking Out Loud hosts on Twitter: Cameron McAllister - @CamMcAllister7Nathan Rittenhouse - @N_Rittenhouse1

What distinguishes a home from a mere physical shelter? And why do so many of us long to escape our homes? Since COVID-19 continues to keep many of us confined to the places we live, Nathan and Cameron discuss how Christianity reframes our understanding of home. Follow the Thinking Out Loud hosts on Twitter: Cameron McAllister - @CamMcAllister7Nathan Rittenhouse - @N_Rittenhouse1

Do you actually own your technological devices or are you just leasing the software that's running them? From Apple to John Deere, it's increasingly clear that these companies are securing their ownership through the very design of their devices. This is evidenced by the fact that we're entirely dependent on the providers for repairs. These machines are not made to be fixed by us. In this episode, Nathan and Cameron discuss the implications of this trend, as well as the disturbing possibility that what may initially appear to be an elaborate conspiracy is in fact simply an example of the cost of our demand for convenience. Follow the Thinking Out Loud hosts on Twitter: Cameron McAllister - @CamMcAllister7Nathan Rittenhouse - @N_Rittenhouse1

Though Nathan and Cameron recorded this episode before the coronavirus received its official name (Covid-19), their discussion reflects the dynamic nature of this story—we still have way more questions than answers—and attempts to counter the growing anxiety and animosity with a Christian response. Follow the Thinking Out Loud hosts on Twitter: Cameron McAllister - @CamMcAllister7Nathan Rittenhouse - @N_Rittenhouse1

The world is still reeling from the tragic events that claimed the lives of nine people, including basketball superstar Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna. For most of us, celebrities are people we feel personally attached to, but who remain strangers to us. In this episode, Nathan and Cameron talk about some of the complexities that arise when we grieve the loss of a celebrity. Follow the Thinking Out Loud hosts on Twitter: Cameron McAllister - @CamMcAllister7Nathan Rittenhouse - @N_Rittenhouse1

Experts continue to point to a growing mental health crisis. Suicide is now the third leading cause of death among teens, and depression and anxiety seem to be the rule, rather than the exception. On the face of it, this is a pretty odd state of affairs: Broadly speaking, we're more comfortable, connected, and healthy than ever. So what's wrong with us? In this episode, Nathan and Cameron wrestle with that question. Follow the Thinking Out Loud hosts on Twitter: Cameron McAllister - @CamMcAllister7Nathan Rittenhouse - @N_Rittenhouse1