Molly Worthen is an academic, a historian of religion, a Yale-educated professor at UNC-Chapel Hill, and was an agnostic for decades. She studied Christianity, wrote about it, and even lived alongside devout believers. But belief itself? That always felt just out of reach. In this conversation, Molly shares how God gently disrupted her intellectual framework, used unexpected relationships (including Pastor J.D. Greear), and led her on a rigorous investigation of the resurrection that changed everything.

Listen as she unpacks:

• Why she resisted religion growing up
• How studying Orthodoxy and evangelicalism fed her curiosity
• Why most scholars don’t take the resurrection seriously, and why she did
• How she moved from detached study to full surrender

If you’re a skeptic, seeker, or a believer walking with one, this is an invitation to deeper reflection.

Guest Bio:

Molly Worthen is a professor of history at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a freelance journalist. She received her BA and PhD from Yale University. Her research focuses on North American religious and intellectual history. Molly writes about religion, politics, and higher education for the New York Times and has also contributed to the Atlantic, the New Yorker, Slate, and other publications.

Resources Mentioned:

Molly’s Resources:

• Website: mollyworthen.com

• Book: Spellbound (2025)

• Book: Apostles of Reason: The Crisis of Authority in American Evangelicalism

• Book: The Man on Whom Nothing was Lost: The Grand Strategy of Charles Hill

• Great Course: “History of Christianity II: From the Reformation to the Modern Megachurch,”

• Course on Audible: “Charismatic Leaders Who Remade America.”

Molly’s recommended resources:

• Reasons for God, Tim Keller

• Resurrection and the Son of God, NT Wright

• Jesus and the Eyewitnesses, Richard Bauckham

• Language of God, Francis Collins

• Author, David Bentley Hart

• A Severe Mercy, Sheldon Van Auken

America’s Christian Credit Union (ACCU): AmericasChristianCU.com/Jana

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Can reason, morality, and public good stand without God?

Allison Leonhardt once thought so. An atheist from her teens, she was convinced religion was outdated, the Bible unreliable, and morality explainable through modern thought and politics. With The God Delusion in hand, she challenged religious teachers and built her worldview around science, social justice, and self-made meaning.

But when the pandemic forced her into isolation in a foreign country, and a friend casually invited her to watch an online church service, something unexpected happened. Curiosity gave way to conviction, not through pressure or platitudes, but through Scripture that spoke directly to her experience.

Guest Bio:

Allison Leonhardt is a Senior Communications Advisor in the housing industry. Her career has taken her around the world as she spent several years working in finance and management in the United Kingdom. She is a sought-after Campaign Manager for all three levels of government in Canada, most recently having run a campaign in the 2025 Federal Election. She has a diploma in Public Relations from the University of Victoria. Allison has recently been announced as one of the 2025 Cardus NextGen Fellows.

Resources Mentioned:

• Alpha Course – A safe space for exploring the basics of Christianity: https://alpha.org
• Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis – Introductory apologetics from a former atheist
• Return of the God Hypothesis, Stephen Meyer
• The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel – Investigative journey of a skeptical journalist
• John Rylands Library – Home of the oldest known fragment of the Gospel of John: https://www.library.manchester.ac.uk/rylands/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allison-leonhardt-7a75b377/

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What would lead a Jewish man, raised in an Orthodox home, who didn’t even know who Jesus was, to become a Christian pastor, podcast host, and author of a book on the evidence for Christ?

David Shapiro shares his unlikely journey from strict tradition to sincere faith. Growing up in Queens, New York, David was immersed in Jewish customs, Hebrew school, and temple life. But over time, he began to question the rituals and drift from belief altogether. What followed was a long road through agnosticism, atheism, military service, and a successful career in martial arts, all while pushing God further and further away.

Yet, in the quiet moments, and even in unexpected places, God kept nudging.

Guest Bio:

David Shapiro is a pastor, chaplain for a local fire department, co-host of the Boundless Bible podcast, and a soon-to-be published author of Jesus Christ: A Lot of Evidence. Raised in an Orthodox Jewish home in Queens, NY, David never imagined he’d one day come to faith in Jesus—let alone teach others about Him. With a doctorate in religious education, a background in professional martial arts, and a testimony that spans atheism, agnosticism, and deep academic study, David now uses his unique story and voice to help others encounter the truth and grace of Jesus Christ.

Resources Mentioned:

• Book (Coming Soon): Jesus Christ: A Lot of Evidence by David Shapiro
• Book and Website: https://www.drdavidshapiro.org/general-1
• Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/50ZbQ1Sy0uQtmx1DxmhT3Y
• Isaiah 53 – A Key Prophecy
• The Great Isaiah Scroll / Dead Sea Scrolls – For historical background on biblical reliability
• Recommended Next Step: Read the Bible (start with the Gospels or Isaiah 53) and explore the entire narrative.

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What happens when a neuroscientist trained in rationalism begins to question the very worldview that shaped his career?

Trevor Lohman is a clinical neuroscience researcher and author of God’s Eye View. Raised with a nominal faith and drawn early into the promises of scientific progress, Trevor embraced atheism with confidence. For years, he believed that science held all the answers—until he realized how many of those answers rested on assumptions, unanswered questions, and even faith of a different kind.

Trevor shares how intellectual integrity, personal reflection, and the birth of his children led him to rethink everything. From the limitations of naturalism to the surprising relevance of Scripture, Trevor walks us through his journey from doubt to belief—and how science, far from disproving God, pointed back to Him.

Guest Bio:

Trevor Lohman is a clinical research neuroscientist, professor, and author whose academic path began in cellular and molecular biology before transitioning into gene expression and aging. Currently serving as an assistant professor at a medical school in Los Angeles, Trevor explores the intersection of neuroscience and cardiovascular disease. Despite a successful scientific career, Trevor experienced a seismic worldview shift. Once a staunch atheist deeply immersed in rationalism, he began to question the very foundation of his beliefs. His journey—driven by curiosity, intellectual honesty, and a deep love of science—led him not away from reason, but toward faith. His debut book, God’s Eye View, challenges the modern cultural divide between science and spirituality and reclaims the spiritual heritage at the roots of scientific inquiry.

Resources Mentioned:

Book mentioned:

“God’s Eye View” by Trevor Lohman

https://amzn.to/3Z0jGYV

People mentioned:

John Lennox Stephen Meyer Michael Behe Lee Strobel Federico Faggin (physicist and inventor of the CPU) Robert Sapolsky (critic of free will) Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens (representing rational atheism)

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What happens when a horror filmmaker, once a staunch atheist, sets out to disprove Christianity, only to be convinced by the evidence?

Michael Ray Lewis, a filmmaker who once mocked Christians, dismissed the Bible as nonsense and devoured documentaries that tore down belief in God. But when his wife unexpectedly felt called back to Christ, Michael set out to prove her wrong, and instead, found himself confronted by something he couldn’t ignore: the evidence.

Michael shares how his atheism was shaped by a childhood void of genuine faith, how his fascination with horror films reflected a deeper spiritual searching, and what ultimately opened his eyes to the truth of Christianity.

Guest Bio:

Michael Ray Lewis is a filmmaker and former atheist whose search for truth led him to faith in Jesus Christ. Michael now uses his passion for storytelling to communicate truth through film. He is currently directing Universe Designed, a documentary exploring the evidence for God through science, reason, and personal stories. The film features leading apologists and thinkers and aims to help skeptics take a second look at Christianity. Michael lives with his wife and two children just south of Dallas–Fort Worth, where he continues to create meaningful media projects grounded in faith.

Resources Mentioned:

Website: UniverseDesigned.com

Books Michael Recommended

• The Reason for God – Tim Keller
• I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist – Frank Turek & Norman Geisler
• Person of Interest – J. Warner Wallace
• Tactics – Greg Koukl

Apologists/Thinkers Featured or Referenced:

• Hugh Ross (Reasons to Believe)
• Frank Turek
• Sean McDowell
• Stephen Meyer
• J. Warner Wallace
• Greg Koukl

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What happens when the pursuit of intellectual certainty leads not to clarity, but to doubt, and doubt, in time, leads back to faith?

Jeffrey Geibel, a seasoned mathematics educator and former skeptic, shares a journey that challenges assumptions about belief, knowledge, and truth. Raised in a home where chaos, cultural Christianity, and moral contradictions shaped his early view of faith, Jeff set out to find truth through reason and lived experience. Though once deeply involved in church and sincere in his belief, growing disillusionment with theological inconsistencies and a reliance on subjective experiences ultimately led him to atheism, then to radical agnosticism, questioning whether anything could truly be known at all. The turning point came unexpectedly, in a graduate-level geometry class.

Guest Bio:

Jeffrey Geibel is a veteran high school mathematics teacher with two decades of experience in public education. He holds a master’s degree in mathematics and brings a deep appreciation for critical thinking, logic, and analytical inquiry to both his profession and personal life. Outside the classroom, Jeff is a dedicated husband and father of nine, with a passion for exploring the intersections of faith, reason, and human experience. His journey through skepticism, agnosticism, and ultimately back to belief reflects a thoughtful engagement with both intellectual honesty and existential meaning.

Resources Mentioned

Jeffrey's website: KingJesus.info

Geibel Family Blog: Math Master’s Musings: 581 Studies in Geometry | The Geibel Tribe

Math Textbook that Jeffrey referenced - Euclidean and Non-Euclidean Geometries: Development and History (4th Edition)

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Show Notes:

Why do people believe in God, or reject Him altogether? In this compelling episode, Dr. Jay Medenwaldt shares his intellectual and spiritual journey from atheism to belief. A social psychologist with a PhD from Baylor and a current professor at Northwestern College, Jay approached religion from a purely academic lens, interested in why people believed in things he once viewed as clearly false.

But, in an effort to avoid confirmation bias and stay true to his role as a researcher, Jay began examining both sides of the argument. To his surprise, the rational and historical case for Christianity was stronger than he expected.

Guest Bio:

Dr. Jay Medenwaldt, a former Air Force behavioral scientist with nine years of service, including teaching psychology courses at the Air Force Academy and conducting research. Dr. Medenwaldt holds a doctorate in social psychology from Baylor University, with a focus on the psychology of religion and virtue. He also earned a Master of Divinity in apologetics, ethics, and biblical studies, as well as a Master’s in psychological sciences. His research has been published in prominent journals, including The International Journal for the Psychology of Religion and Current Opinion in Psychology.

Resources Mentioned:

• The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel
• The Historical Reliability of the Gospels by Craig Blomberg
• Reasonable Faith by William Lane Craig
• Concepts: Confirmation Bias, Cosmological Argument, Teleological Argument

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Laura Zifer Powell seemed to be doing everything right. A top-tier student and Division I athlete at Duke University, she was driven, disciplined, and outwardly successful. But beneath the surface, something was missing. The more she achieved, the emptier she felt. And when a health crisis brought everything to a halt, the questions she had avoided for years finally caught up with her: What is all this for? What’s the point of being good if it still doesn’t satisfy?

In this candid conversation, Laura shares her journey from moral pragmatist and religious skeptic to a confident follower of Christ. She opens up about the moment everything changed—a late-night plea to a God she wasn’t sure existed, and the quiet unraveling that followed.

If you've ever asked, “Is this all there is?” or wrestled with the gap between outward success and inward emptiness, Laura’s story offers more than answers—it offers hope.

Guest Bio:

Laura Zifer Powell is a Christian apologist, writer, and speaker. She is the founder of An Affair with Reason and co-host of the Knight and Rose Show podcast. She graduated from Duke University with a bachelor’s in public policy, earned her master’s degree from Denver Seminary, and is currently working on her Doctor of Ministry in Public Theology from Birmingham Theological Seminary. She has ministered in over thirty countries on five continents and has seen first-hand how false worldviews harm and destroy God’s image bearers, while the Christian worldview leads people and societies toward human flourishing. As an apologist, she shares evidence for the biblical worldview and discusses how our worldview ought to impact every area of life, from our relationships to our public policy and economics. Her blog, previous interviews, and speaking request form can be found at her website, www.AnAffairWithReason.com, and her 20-lesson online course, Islam Foundations, is available at womeninapologetics.com.

Resources Mentioned:

Laura’s Resources:

• An Affair with Reason: https://laurazpowell.org/

• Knight and Rose Show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@knightandroseshow

• Knight and Rose Show: https://knightandrose.podbean.com/

• Islam Foundations course: https://womeninapologetics.com/islam-foundations-course/

Books Laura Recommends:

• I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist by Frank Turek & Norman Geisler
• The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel
• How Now Shall We Live by Chuck Colson & Nancy Pearcey
• Is God Just a Human Invention? by Sean McDowell & Jonathan Morrow
• The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus by Gary Habermas & Mike Licona

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