More than two years ago, I started an irregular series recommending podcasts I listen to. That series has appeared five times, and I have recommended a total of 25 podcasts. (I have included a complete list, along with links to those columns, below.)
Today, I extend that series by recommending a few more podcasts to you that I have found nourishing. I want to note that podcasts, like all media, must be consumed wisely. I do not agree with everyone I have recommended over the past two years. But just as the Sons of Issachar “understood the times and knew what Israel should do,” so should Christians today understand the times in which they live. Having a diverse media diet, which you consume with discretion, can help you behave wisely and fruitfully in this beautiful but broken world.
With these thoughts in mind, let us begin:
Inkwell: Letters to a Young Creative. Inkwell bills itself as Christianity Today’s “creative community for a new generation of Christian writers, artists, storytellers and culture makers.” I confess that I am allergic to the word “creative” used as a noun. The Bible says God was a creator and we are created in His image. We are all creators. The notion that some of us are “creatives” and some of us are not feels to me to be elitist and sanctimonious, and — more to the point — fundamentally opposed to a biblical anthropology.
That said, I have found this new podcast helpful. “Letters to a Young Creative” pairs emerging artists with experienced creative mentors for intimate conversations about the questions, challenges and possibilities that shape an artistic vocation.
Stand Firm. “Stand Firm” is a weekly podcast featuring Anglican pastors Matt Kennedy, Jady Koch and Nick Lannon. The hosts offer conversation and commentary on Christianity, theology, culture, politics and the contemporary church, with particular attention to developments within the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA).
Access to MinistryWatch content is free. However, we hope you will support our work with your prayers and financial gifts. To make a donation, click here.
Episodes examine current controversies and theological questions through the lens of historic Christian teaching and Scripture, often addressing issues such as biblical interpretation, evangelism, sexuality, church leadership, Christian nationalism, worship and the relationship between faith and public life. Since its launch in 2020, Stand Firm has published hundreds of episodes and has become a regular forum for discussing the intersection of Christian faith, church life and culture.
The Ezra Klein Show. Ezra Klein is far more liberal than I am, but from his perch atop the New York Times media ecosystem, he has access to an unparalleled range of guests. Recent interviewees have included Bill Gates, Jensen Huang, Francis Fukuyama, Rick Rubin, Ross Douthat, Brian Eno, Christopher Rufo and many more. The program ranges from politics and public policy to economics, technology, religion and culture. Rather than simply discussing the news, the show often steps back to examine the deeper forces behind current events, challenging conventional wisdom and exploring how people with different perspectives understand the world.
The West Wing Weekly. This podcast started as an episode-by-episode examination of the popular TV show “The West Wing,” but it has evolved into much more than that. Hosts are actor Joshua Malina, who played Will Bailey on “The West Wing,” and podcast creator and musician Hrishikesh Hirway. After completing its original run, it expanded its focus to other works of political television and film, including “The Diplomat,” “All the President’s Men” and “A Few Good Men.” The result is an entertaining blend of television criticism, political conversation, nostalgia, humor and insider perspective. The podcast regularly features actors, writers, directors, producers, journalists, political figures and other guests connected to the shows and movies they review.
The Writers Circle with Will Parker Anderson. Will Parker Anderson has been an editor at Christian publisher WaterBrook & Multnomah. He offers practical guidance and candid conversations about the writing life. Anderson interviews Christian authors, editors, literary agents and other publishing professionals about everything from developing book ideas and writing compelling prose to receiving feedback, building an author platform and pitching a book to publishers.
The podcast also features coaching episodes in which Anderson draws on his experience as an editor and writing coach to address common challenges writers face. His goal is to make writing and publishing feel less mysterious and less lonely, offering aspiring and experienced writers both encouragement and concrete tools. Rooted in Christian faith, “The Writers Circle” treats writing not simply as a career, but as a craft and calling. The program is on something of a hiatus, but this is a great time to get caught up by cherry-picking from the archives. Past interviewees include Andrew Peterson, Kevin Burrell, Rich Villodas, Michael Longinow, Drew Dyck and Trevin Wax.
Past Recommendations for Easy Access
Here are my previous recommendations, in one place.
April 2024 — “Listening In On The World”
Focused on avoiding media echo chambers and broadening one’s listening diet.
“Lex Fridman Podcast”
“Strong Towns”
“One Degree of Andy” (hosted by Andy Chrisman)
“True Believer: The Unsolved Murder of Elizabeth Mackintosh”
July 2024 — “Podcasts for Doers and Donors”
Focused on leadership, management, creativity and organizational effectiveness.
“Freakonomics Radio”
“Wisdom From The Top” (Guy Raz)
“The Great Creators” (Guy Raz)
“The Russell Moore Show”
October 2024 — “Quarterly Review of Podcasts”
Focused on economics, church leadership, politics, history and music.
“The Economics of Everyday Things”
“The ChurchLeaders Podcast” (Ed Stetzer)
“Inside the Hive”
“Slow Burn”
“Broken Record with Rick Rubin”
November 2025 — “Podcasts That Nourish Me”
Focused on spiritual formation, economics, storytelling, business, music and journalism.
“David Bahnsen’s Capital Record”
“COMPELLED: Real Christians, Remarkable Stories”
“ACQUIRED: Every Company Has a Story”
“Song Exploder”
“The Daily” (New York Times)
June 2026 – A New Batch of Podcasts on Media and Leadership
“Fresh Air”
“How I Write”
“Interesting Times”
“On The Media”
“The Bulletin”
“Carey Nieuwhof on Leadership”
“The Town with Matt Belloni”
I find that I do not listen to some of these as much as I used to. In the case of the Christianity Today podcast “The Bulletin,” the co-hosts I enjoyed hearing from, Clarissa Moll and Mike Cosper, are no longer working at CT. “True Believer” podcast was a limited series, so once you listen to it, there’s not much reason to go back.
That is the nature of the podcast ecosystem. Podcasts rise and fall. They come and go. But another interesting feature is that they also hang around on the internet for a long time. A podcast I did for WORLD, “Listening In,” was discontinued five years ago, but its episodes are still accessible, and I still occasionally refer to some of the interviews I did then.
The moral of that story is: Be careful what you say. In the digital age, nothing ever really gets deleted.
TO OUR READERS: The mission of MinistryWatch is to help Christian donors become more faithful stewards of the resources God has entrusted to them. Do you know of a story that will help us fulfill our mission, or do you want to give us feedback about this or any other story? If so, please email us at info@ministrywatch.com.