Shows / Good God
Good God
Good God, the podcast, will attempt to refasten the ties that bind neighbor to neighbor. Through conversations on matters of faith and public life, the host, Dr. George Mason, will attempt to move people toward one another and restore confidence in God’s purposeful activity in all things. “Only God is good,” Jesus said. Which means that all goodness is found in reference to God, including public good.
Episodes
Good GodFaithful Dissent: Noemi Rios and the Neighbors Who Keep Watch at Immigration Court
Chicago and Los Angeles were making headlines for ICE enforcement. Dallas wasn’t, and a friend told Noemi Rios why: nobody was observing immigration court, so…
Good GodFaithful Dissent: Hate Has No Home in Texas, with Chanda Parbhoo
When Chanda Parbhoo was a teenager in Tyler, Texas, a football coach counting students by race in the school gym had no category for her. “You’re just other,”…
Good GodFaithful Dissent: What Would an Upstander Do? with Lee Michaels
Lee Michaels was already helping families outside the Dallas ICE field office with hugs, diapers, and rent checks when she decided to reactivate her law…
Good GodFaithful Dissent: Hadi Jawad on Dignity, Human Rights, and the Death Penalty
Hadi Jawad's path into activism began with a phone call. In the late 1990s, his sister in Pakistan told him that relatives from Iraq had shown up at her door…
Good GodFaithful Dissent: Robin Lederer on the Fight for Fair Elections in Texas
Robin Lederer's path into voting rights work started with a letter. When her husband received notice from county elections claiming he'd moved, and he hadn't…
Good GodFaithful Dissent: Kim Verriere on Prayer, Protest, and Showing Up
Every Monday morning, Kim Verriere shows up outside the Dallas ICE field office to pray and organize a public vigil, a role she never expected to play. In this…
Good GodFaithful Dissent: John Putnam on Tracking ICE Flights Out of Dallas
Every time a deportation flight lands at Dallas Love Field, John Putnam is there watching. In this conversation, he tells George Mason how a campaign to stop…
Good GodThe First Amendment Test: Imam Azhar Subedar, 25 Years After 9/11
As the nation marks the 25th anniversary of September 11, George Mason sits down with Imam Azhar Subedar, author of "I Am the Other: Debating the Role of Islam…
Good GodHow Dissent Can Save Us: Nancy Kasten on Faith and Resistance
What does it take to turn ordinary people into dissenters? In this conversation, George Mason sits down with his Faith Commons co-founder Rabbi Nancy Kasten to…
Good GodJohn Munayer: Understanding Israel–Palestine Through a Theology of Neighbor
Many American Christians want to understand Israel–Palestine but feel overwhelmed by history, headlines, and competing narratives. In this conversation, George…
Good GodBuilding Peace Through Dialogue: A Conversation with Hana Bendcowsky
What does peacebuilding look like in a place marked by fear and trauma? George Mason speaks with Hana Bendcowsky, Program Director at the Rossing Center for…
Good GodMara Richards Bim on What Chicago Is Teaching Us
As immigration enforcement intensifies in cities like Chicago, people of faith are grappling with how to respond. In this episode, George Mason speaks with…
Good GodFrom DACA to Dallas: Sandra Avalos on Faith and Immigration Organizing
How does someone move from living in the shadows to leading in the light? In this episode, Sandra Avalos shares how her experience as a DACA recipient shaped…
Good GodFaith Over Fear: Rev. Eric Folkerth on Prayer, Immigration, and Moral Courage
As fear and tension rise around immigration enforcement in North Texas, Rev. Eric Folkerth has helped lead an interfaith clergy vigil outside the Dallas ICE…
Good GodFrom Private Equity to Public Good: Peter Brodsky on Housing and Hope
Peter Brodsky wasn’t always a real estate developer—but when he saw an opportunity to use his business experience to help transform southern Dallas, he stepped…
Good GodSharon Grigsby on Journalism, Justice, and the Power of Paying Attention
What does it mean to report with compassion in a culture driven by clicks and controversy? George Mason sits down with veteran journalist Sharon Grigsby to…
Good GodGratitude and the Common Good: Reimagining Community with Kyle Ogden
At the heart of downtown Dallas lies Thanks-Giving Square—a place designed to inspire gratitude, foster interfaith understanding, and call an entire city…
Good GodBringing Faith to Dallas Civic Life with Jaynie Schultz
What does it look like to bring your whole self—your values, your faith, your history—into public life? Councilmember Jaynie Schultz joins George Mason for a…
Good GodMark Melton Didn’t Plan to Fight Evictions—Until He Had To
When the COVID-19 pandemic upended lives and livelihoods, attorney Mark Melton found himself unexpectedly answering thousands of questions about eviction…
Good GodBeril Berk on Building Bridges through Dialogue, Art, and Empathy
Beril Berk, Executive Director of the Dialogue Institute of Dallas, joins George Mason to explore how intentional relationship-building—across faiths…
Good GodVoting Rights, Immigration, and the Fight for Justice with Eric Cedillo
Restrictive voting laws and immigration policies shape who has a voice in our democracy. Attorney and activist Eric Cedillo joins Good God to discuss his work…
Good GodLiving Faith: Almas Muscatwalla on Pluralism, Service, and the Power of Community
Faith isn’t just a belief—it’s a way of life. Almas Muscatwalla, a dedicated interfaith leader and advocate for social justice, joins Good God to share how her…
Good GodHow to End Christian Nationalism: A Conversation with Amanda Tyler
In this episode of Good God, George Mason sits down with Amanda Tyler, Executive Director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty and lead…
Good GodThis Is Going to Hurt: Faith, Division, and Radical Love with Bekah McNeel
In this episode of Good God, George Mason sits down with journalist Bekah McNeel to discuss her latest book, This Is Going to Hurt: Following Jesus in a…
Good GodState of our Faith | Light in the Darkness: Reflections on Faith in this Season
In this special year-end episode of State of Our Faith, Rev. George Mason, Rabbi Nancy Kasten, and Mara Richards Bim reflect on themes of light and darkness…
Good God10 for 10: Voting Vision Not Division | From the Ballot to Action: Building Unity After the Election
In this special post-election episode of the "10 for 10: Voting Vision, Not Division" series, Rabbi Nancy Kasten and Rev. Dr. George Mason reflect on the…
Good God10 for 10: Voting Vision Not Division | The Character of a Nation
In the final episode of our "10 for 10: Voting Vision, Not Division" series, Faith Commons reflects on the importance of character in leadership as we approach…
Good God10 for 10: Voting Vision Not Division | Balancing the Rights and Responsibility of Freedom
The Faith Commons team unpacks what freedom means in a society bound by shared values and responsibilities. Reflecting on individual conscience, faith-based…
Good God10 for 10: Voting Vision Not Division | Aligning Our Values with Economic Policies
In this episode, the Faith Commons team discusses how faith shapes our understanding of economic systems. From fair treatment of workers to addressing…
Good God10 for 10: Voting Vision Not Division | On Immigration - Faith at the Border
This episode reflects on immigration through the lens of faith, with the Faith Commons team exploring how religious stories emphasize compassion for migrants…
Good God10 for 10: Voting Vision not Division | "What Makes This Land Holy?" Reflections on the Israel/Hamas War One Year Later
In this special episode, the Faith Commons team reflects on the one-year anniversary of the war between Israel and Hamas. Drawing from their own experiences in…
Good God10 for 10: Voting Vision not Division | On Climate - Faith and Our Responsibility to the Earth
In this episode, the Faith Commons team discusses how faith traditions call us to care for the planet and address the urgent challenges of climate change…
Good God10 for 10: Voting Vision not Division | On Family
In this episode of "10 for 10: Voting Vision Not Division," Rev. Dr. George Mason, Rabbi Nancy Kasten, and Mara Richards Bim dive into the complexities of…
Good God10 for 10: Voting Vision not Division | On Healthcare
In this episode of "10 for 10: Voting Vision Not Division," Rev. Dr. George Mason, Rabbi Nancy Kasten, and Mara Richards Bim reflect on the role of healthcare…
Good God10 for 10: Voting Vision not Division | On Education
In this episode of "10 for 10: Voting Vision Not Division," Rabbi Nancy Kasten, Rev. Dr. George Mason, and Mara Richards Bim examine the vital role education…
Good God10 for 10: Voting Vision not Division | On Labor
In this inaugural episode of "10 for 10: Voting Vision Not Division," Rev. Dr. George Mason is joined by Rabbi Nancy Kasten and Mara Richards Bim to explore…
Good GodGrowing Hope: Joppy Momma's Farm
George Mason joins in conversation with Kim High, the passionate founder of Joppy Momma's Farm—a grassroots initiative tackling food insecurity in South…
Good GodEmpowering the Masses: Tammy Johnson on Food Security and Community Transformation
In this Good God episode, Tammy Johnson—Executive Director and Founder of Empowering the Masses in South Dallas—shares her inspiring journey from childhood…
Good GodBuilding a Food Justice Future: Transforming South Oak Cliff
Join host George Mason as he visits For Oak Cliff to discuss food security, access, and justice in Southern Dallas. Meet Julianna YeeFoon and Raven Shankle…
Good GodTalking Faith: Christianity & Politics
In this pivotal election year, Rev. Dr. George Mason led the participants at Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church’s Pub Theology in a reflective…
Good GodRachel Laser: Abortion rights are a religious freedom issue.
This episode features a conversation with Rachel Laser, President & CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, protecting the foundational…
Good GodBrian Kaylor: The Surprising Origin Story of Christian Nationalism
George is joined by Brian Kaylor, author of the book "Baptizing America: How Mainline Protestants Helped Build Christian Nationalism"—a critique of the concept…
Good GodCourageous Conversations: Sandy Ovalle Martínez on Responding to Social Injustice with Courage
Meet Sandy Ovalle Martínez, Sojourners' Director of Campaigns and Mobilizing. A mujerista theologian and an organizer, Sandy oversees mobilization and activist…
Good GodCourageous Conversations: Father Michael Lapsley on Pain as a Pathway to Wholeness and the Spiritual Wound of Racism
Fr. Lapsley is currently the Director of the Institute for the Healing of Memories in Cape Town, South Africa. He is an Anglican priest and social justice…
Good GodCourageous Conversations: Jeff Sharlet on American Failures and American Possibility
Meet Dr. Jeff Sharlet, Professor in the Art of Writing at Dartmouth College and author of the recently released The Undertow: Scenes from a Slow Civil War. In…
Good GodCourageous Conversations: Chris Walsh and William McKenzie on Pluralism
George is joined by Chris Walsh and William McKenzie, both of the George W. Bush Institute where they engage in the advancement of freedom and democracy in the…
Good GodCourageous Conversations: Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger and Noor A’wad
Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger and Noor A’wad are leaders of the West Bank-based Roots/Shorashim/Judur, an Israeli-Palestinian initiative for understanding…
Good GodPamela Cooper-White on the Psychology of Christian Nationalism
Meet Pamela Cooper-White, MDiv, PhD, LCPC, author of the recently released The Psychology of Christian Nationalism, which uncovers the troubling extent of…
Good GodAmy Butler: Embracing Jesus' Message in the Church, in the World, and in our Lives
George is joined by his friend and colleague Rev. Dr. Amy Butler, author of the recently released Beautiful and Terrible Things on the necessity of community…
Good GodRestorative Farms: Community Supported Agriculture in South Dallas
George pays a visit to Restorative Farms where he meets with co-founder Brad Boa. He tours the farm and learns how this Community Farm is working to address…
Good GodCity of Dallas: Sustainable Hunger Solutions through Food Distribution and Education
George pays a visit to the West Dallas Multipurpose Center where he tours the grounds, meets with Center Manager Ashley Hutto, and learns how the city of…
Good GodA different kind of Sunday Service: 4DWN's food rescue and recovery
This episode is the second in the new series “More than Food for Thought: Community-Based Solutions to Hunger in South Dallas.” In it, George introduces us to…
Good GodJoey Darwin: A grocery store in South Dallas that nourishes body and spirit while nurturing autonomy and dignity
This episode is the first in the new series “More than Food for Thought: Community-Based Solutions to Hunger in South Dallas.” In it, George introduces us to…
Good GodImam Omar Suleiman: Understanding redemption and renewal during Ramadan
This episode is the final installment of a three-part series on redemption and renewal. Imam Omar Suleiman describes redemption as a change in the cravings of…
Good GodDr. Curtis W. Freeman: Understanding redemption and renewal during Holy Week
This episode is the second installment of a three-part series on redemption and renewal. Dr. Curtis Freeman discusses the significance of how Christians keep…
Good GodRabbi Elana Zelony: Understanding redemption and renewal at Passover
This episode begins a three-part series on redemption and renewal. Rabbi Elana Zelony unpacks the historical significance of Passover and its role in forming…
Good GodSkye Perryman on marriage equality and our legal right to dignity
In this third episode on civil rights, Skye and George look at the question of marriage equality in our country. They discuss the notion that in a democracy…
Good GodSkye Perryman on the Dobbs decision and the future of reproductive rights
Join Skye and George as they unpack the consequences of the Dobbs decision, how Christian nationalism influenced the ruling, the future of reproductive rights…
Good GodSkye Perryman on the midterm elections and perfecting democracy
Skye Perryman is the President and CEO of Democracy Forward. She is a lawyer, advocate, and leader with a track record of taking on and winning critical fights…
Good GodDoug Pagitt on how to vote for the common good
Doug Pagitt is an author, pastor, social activist, and the Executive Director of Vote Common Good. A leading voice for progressive Christianity, in this…