Shows / The Radical Middle
The Radical Middle
The Radical Middle Podcast is a place where we embrace tension and talk about the things you wish your church would talk about. The middle is not a centrist point of view, but rather it is a place of dialogue where we can search out the truth of Jesus by pushing into the tension of it.
Episodes
- The Radical Middle
EP. 69 - The Switchbacks of Hypocrisy
Why is it so easy to recognize hypocrisy in others while struggling to confront it in ourselves? In this episode of The Radical Middle Podcast, Tommy Nixon…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 68 - How to Heal Your Past and Discover Your Identity in Christ
What if the pain, shame, and insecurity you've carried for years are keeping you from experiencing the fullness of God's love? In this episode of The Radical…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 67 - The Gray of Relationship: Why Following Jesus Requires Grace and Nuance
What happens when following Jesus becomes more about relationship than rules? In this episode of The Radical Middle, Tommy Nixon dives deeper into the “gray of…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 66 - Everyone Else Is an Idiot: The Christian Struggle with Judgment and Grace
Everyone Else Is an Idiot. We've all thought it. Whether it's someone cutting us off in traffic, a political opponent, a difficult coworker, or a family member…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 65 - When You’re Not Sure You Believe: How to find Jesus in the Dark
What if finding Jesus isn't always a single moment? In this episode of The Radical Middle, Tommy Nixon explores the story of Nicodemus and offers hope to…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 64 - Can Christians Disagree and Still Stay United? The Art of Holy Disagreement
What if disagreement doesn't have to lead to division? In this episode of The Radical Middle, Tommy Nixon explores the Jewish concept of machloket, often…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 63 - How to Wrestle with God Without Losing Your Faith
Have you ever wrestled with God over pain, unanswered questions, or difficult circumstances? In this episode of The Radical Middle, Tommy Nixon explores one of…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 62 - Is Truth Relative? Why Jesus Is More Than an Idea
What is truth? Is it something we create, something we discover, or someone we follow? In this episode of The Radical Middle, Tommy Nixon explores one of the…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 61 - How Would Jesus Vote? Why Both Political Parties Get Jesus Wrong
Should Christians identify as Republican or Democrat? Or is there a better way? In this episode of The Radical Middle, Tommy Nixon tackles one of the most…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 60 - When Church Feels Fake: Finding Authentic Faith in the Way of Jesus
Have you ever sat in church and wondered, Do we actually believe what we say we believe? In this episode of The Radical Middle, Tommy Nixon shares a personal…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 59 - The Lost Art of Dialogue: How We Stopped Talking to Each Other
In this episode of The Radical Middle, we confront a growing problem shaping our homes, churches, and public life. We are losing the ability to truly engage…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 58 - If We Can’t Figure Out Parking, We’re in Trouble
What can a parking dispute teach us about politics, tribalism, and the teachings of Jesus? Quite a lot. When a frustrated neighbor begins leaving bags of dog…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 57 - The Problem with Jesus in Modern Culture | Jesus Is Not Your Political Mascot (Part 2)
In Part 2 of this series on the Jesus Way, Tommy Nixon confronts one of the biggest tensions in modern culture: everyone wants Jesus on their side, but Jesus…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 56 - The Problem with Jesus in Modern Culture: Faith Beyond Left vs Right (Part 1)
Why does Jesus refuse to fit into modern political and cultural categories? In this episode of The Radical Middle, Tommy Nixon unpacks the tension at the…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 55 - Why We’re Not Changing the World: 4 Trauma Responses Holding You Back
Why do so many people want to make a difference but stay stuck, angry, numb, or disconnected? In this episode of The Radical Middle, Tommy Nixon explores the…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 54 - When Institutions Fail: How to Follow Jesus Without Losing Hope
In this episode of The Radical Middle, Tommy Nixon dives into the tension many people feel when they begin to see the world for what it really is, broken…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 53 - Be Better: What My Mom Taught Me About Following Jesus
In this deeply personal episode of The Radical Middle, Tommy Nixon shares the story of his mother and the powerful life lesson she gave him that still shapes…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 52 - From Church Hurt to Radical Faith: The Origin Story of The Radical Middle
What happens when faith collides with church hurt, political division, and real life in broken communities? In this episode of The Radical Middle Podcast, host…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 51 - The Comeback: Embracing Tension, Finding Hope, Following Jesus
In this relaunch episode, Tommy Nixon reintroduces the framework behind the Radical Middle and why it matters right now. In a culture shaped by political…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 50 - Final Reflections and New Beginnings - The Final Episode
In this final episode of The Radical Middle Podcast, hosts Tommy Nixon and Lenmarie Pascal take a heartfelt look back at their journey over 50 episodes…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 49 - Authenticity in Church Leadership - is being too nice hurting the church?
In this episode of The Radical Middle Podcast, hosts Tommy Nixon and Lenmarie Pascal dive into a crucial topic affecting today’s Christian communities—the…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 48 - Sexual Ethics
In this episode of the Radical Middle Podcast, hosts Tommy Nixon and Lenmarie Pascal explore sexual ethics, critiquing both conservative purity culture and…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 47 - Bridging Generational Gaps: How Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z Shape Leadership and Society
In this episode of The Radical Middle Podcast, hosts Tommy Nixon and Lenmarie Pascall are joined by their intern, Taitem Brown, for an insightful discussion on…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 46 - Faith Meets Politics: Navigating the Radical Middle in a Polarized Political Climate
In this episode of The Radical Middle Podcast, hosts Tommy Nixon and Lenmarie Pascall dive into the complex intersection of politics and Christianity…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 45 - What is the Radical Middle?
The Radical Middle Podcast, hosted by Tommy Nixon and Lenmarie Pascall, explores the concept of the "radical middle," which emphasizes living out the teachings…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 44 - Embracing Healthy Conflict: A Path to Growth in Christian Leadership
In this episode, Tommy and Lenmarie take a deep dive into the reasons why Christians, particularly those in leadership and institutional roles, often struggle…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 43 - Navigating Masculinity: A Christian Perspective on Toxic Masculinity and True Leadership
In this episode of the Radical Middle Podcast, Tommy and Lenmarie dive deep into the complex and often contentious topic of masculinity, viewed through the…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 42 - Rethinking Megachurches: Authenticity and Impact in Modern Congregations
In this compelling episode of the Radical Middle Podcast, hosts Tommy Nixon and Lenmarie Pascall engage in a thorough examination of a significant question…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 41 - Balancing Justice and Well-Being: Navigating Activism Fatigue with Faith and Authenticity
In this episode of the Radical Middle podcast, hosts Tommy Nixon and Lenmarie Pascall take a deep dive into the concept of "justice fatigue." They explore the…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 40 - Why We Suck at Grieving - Transforming Grief Through Faith
In this episode of the Radical Middle podcast, hosts Tommy Nixon and Lenmarie delve into the profound challenges of properly addressing grief, particularly…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 39 - Reviving Bible Engagement: Is The Church Illiterate
In the latest episode of the Radical Middle Podcast, hosts Tommy Nixon and Lenmarie Pascall, along with Esteban Shedd from Streetlights, explore the…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 38 - “Church is wack!” - Why old skool methods aren’t working in a Relational Generation
In this episode of the "Radical Middle" podcast, hosts Tommy Nixon and Lenmarie Pascal delve into the evolving landscape of Church practices in the wake of the…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 37 - Navigating Charisma vs. Character in Christian Leadership: A Critical Discussion
In this episode of the "Radical Middle" podcast, hosts Tommy Nixon and Lenmarie Pascal delve into critical questions facing young adult leaders in Christian…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 36 - "Just Be Honest": Navigating Faith and Authenticity While Balancing the Sacred & Secular
In this episode of the "Radical Middle" podcast, hosts Tommy Nixon and Lenmarie Pascal welcome Alexander James, a poet, pastor, and author, to delve into his…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 35 - Inclusion: Balancing Belief and Relevant Media Consumption
Join hosts Tommy Nixon, Vanessa, and Joseph Adam Cruz on The Radical Middle podcast as they delve into the complex interplay between faith and engagement with…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 34 - Reviving Evangelism: Embracing Modern Approaches to Share the Gospel
In this episode of The Radical Middle podcast, hosts Tommy and Vanessa invite special guest Joseph Adam Cruz to explore the evolution of evangelism, discussing…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 33 - Exploring Truth: Navigating Complexity in Youth Leadership
In this episode of the "Radical Middle" podcast, hosts Tommy Nixon and Vanessa Cruz dive into the fascinating realm of truth as perceived by today's young…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 32 - Navigating Toxicity: Leading in Challenging Church Environments
Welcome to The Radical Middle - In this episode, we tackle the crucial issue of toxicity within church organizations. Join us as Len, a seasoned leadership…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 31 - Navigating Urban Culture: Balancing Relevant Ratchetness and Holiness
In urban settings, we often find ourselves caught between two worlds: the raw authenticity of our surroundings and the call to live lives that reflect God's…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 30 - Christian Violence: Questioning the Idea of Fighting Fire with Fire
Let's talk about something that can cause a lot of division in Christian circles – the whole idea of using violence to make things right. Take a look at what's…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 29 - Leader Worship - Navigating the Boundaries of Honoring Leaders
How far should one go when it comes to showing honor to leaders? When does it cross the line into cringe-worthy territory, or worse, into a sinful or outright…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 28 - Death by Production - Balancing Expectations and Well-being
Unless you've experienced working or volunteering in an understaffed, under-resourced, or poorly-led organization, you may not fully grasp the challenges it…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 27 - Navigating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: A Holistic Perspective
The concepts of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) can elicit various reactions, from enthusiasm to resistance, based on individual ideologies. In this…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 26 - Power Dynamics - Understanding the Persistence of Organizations with Poor Leadership
Have you ever pondered why organizations with questionable leadership or unethical practices manage to maintain their grip on power? It can be baffling to…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 25 - Navigating the Political Landscape: A Christian Perspective on Voting
The question of how to cast our votes is increasingly on the minds of young leaders today. Voting is often portrayed as our civic duty, a way to have our…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 24 - Christianity as a Weapon - Examining the Misuse of Faith for Political Ends
January 6th has gained infamy, being likened to other dark days in U.S. history. Among the distressing scenes witnessed on that day, one that stands out is a…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 23 - Family Business - Addressing Nepotism in Churches & Its Impact on Ministries and Families
Nepotism, a concerning issue within church organizations, has become increasingly evident. It is disheartening to witness leaders favoring their relatives…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 22 - Wakanda Forever - Uniting Black and Brown Communities; Understanding Disunity and Hope
Why does it seem like there's an ongoing rivalry between black and brown communities? Is it an innate instinct, a cultural phenomenon, or something driven by…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 21 - Bibliolatry: Worshipping the Bible over God
Join Tommy and Fredy in this episode of The Radical Middle Podcast as they delve into the intriguing and contentious topic of whether it is possible for some…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 20 - Code-Switching: Cultural Diversity and Leadership
Have you ever observed someone transitioning from their native language to a more widely accepted form of communication? This occurrence is quite common, and…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 19 - Woke Wars - Decoding Wokeness: Impact, Gospel, and Necessity in Progressivism
The concept of the "woke agenda" faces scrutiny, with a notable portion of the challenge originating not solely from traditional conservatives or religious…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 18 - The Ambiguity of Whiteness - Exploring the Concept of Whiteness
What exactly is "whiteness," and who does it encompass? These are the questions at the heart of today's episode featuring Tommy and Fredy. Often, we casually…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 17 - McJesus - Serving up Quick & Delicious Christianity | Are We Replicating Cookie-Cutter Churches?
Have you ever felt like we're constantly replicating the same type of churches? Well, you're not alone in thinking that way! We've observed that even…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 16 - Challenging the Christian Industrial Complex - Examining Inclusivity & Representation
There's a significant financial aspect to the Christian industry, where substantial profits are attainable. But is it ethically sound that this industry…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 15 - Men’s Rights - Understanding Men's Concerns and Responsibilities in Christian Circles
Do men often feel under attack in today's society? It's a sentiment that's been voiced by many. But why is that the case? Join Tommy and Fredy as they explore…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 14 - You’re a Bad Leader if…. - Recognizing and Avoiding Bad Leadership
Effective leadership should be driven by noble intentions and a genuine love for the cause. However, what occurs when narcissistic or unqualified individuals…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 13 - Should You Go To Church - Is Church Attendance Essential in the Digital Age?
Is church attendance still a vital aspect of our faith journey? In an era where we can access worship services and sermons online, often from our favorite…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 12 - Get Out the Way - Should leaders step down? Unraveling the Challenges of Church Leadership Succession
In this episode, Tommy and Fredy dive deep into the pressing issue of why the church often faces hurdles when it comes to ensuring a healthy succession of…
- The Radical Middle
EP 11 - Special Episode: The Cult of Politics - President as Savior: Analyzing Easter Message and Christian Leadership
On Easter Sunday, Trump shared a message on Truth Social that had Fredy awake all night. Amidst Trump's ongoing legal challenges, Tommy and Fredy engage in a…
- The Radical Middle
EP. 10 - Securing the Bag - Exploring Compensation for Christian Leaders
Is it appropriate for Christian leaders to receive higher compensation? Is there a point where excessive financial success could undermine the effectiveness of…