JUST FYI POD: Conversations about Culture, Ideas, and Life

The overarching theme of JUST FYI POD: CULTURE‘s third season is: “The Future of American Christianity: A Conversation in Ten Questions.” On today’s episode, my cohost Amy Welborn and I focus on the following question: “Can Christian art be resurrected?” We approach this question in a variety of ways. First, in a discussion recorded prior to last Sunday night’s awards ceremony, we offer an overview of the Oscars, noting that it was a good, if somewhat predictable, year in movies. Indeed, while political themes continue to abound in Hollywood, religious ones do not. Next, we turn to what might be called the “crisis” of Christian art today: like the “information silos” on social media, so it seems that Christian art has been siloed off from popular culture. To be sure, there are niche corners of the Christian art world, but they are ostensibly reserved for “believers.” Third, and finally, we consider the history and nature of Christian art—and why its “resurrection” depends on a rethinking of how contemporary Christians both receive and make art.Please visit JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com) for more details, plus much more additional content. Subscribe for free today! As always, your generosity and support are much appreciated!

The main task of JUST FYI POD: IDEAS’ third season is to discuss: “Higher Ed in the ChatGPT Era: How Did We Get Here? Where Is It Going?” On today’s episode, my cohost Clark Elliston and I will explore the topic: “What is a university for anyway?" This is a wide-ranging discussion, which will touch on student perceptions of university life, different models of higher education, and how twenty-first-century political polarization may very well lie downstream of university culture.Listener pro tip: this episode opens with a fairly long (and very off-topic) discussion about coaching youth sports! If you're not interested--and that would be totally understandable--just skip to the break.Please visit Just FYI (cbarnett.substack.com) for more details and much more content. Subscribe for free today! As ever, consider following, liking, rating, and sharing our work. Your generosity and support are much appreciated!

The overarching theme of JUST FYI POD: CULTURE‘s third season is: “The Future of American Christianity: A Conversation in Ten Questions.” On today’s episode, my cohost Amy Welborn and I focus on the following question: “What, if Anything, Will Replace Mainline Protestantism?” We approach this question in two main ways. First, we examine a handful of new religious surveys, including (but not limited to) a major study released in December 2025 by the Pew Research Center. They all paint a similar picture: after decades of diminution, American religious affiliation, belief, and practice have begun to level off. But this overarching period of “stasis” comes with a number of qualifiers: markers of diminishment in one quarter suggest pockets of renewal in others. Next, we ponder what these findings tell us about American religious life going forward. If, as political scientist and statistician Ryan Burge has recently argued, the decline of mainline Protestantism is irreversible, then is some other religious institution poised to take its place?Please go to JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com) for access to this pod and much, much more. Subscribe for free today! As always, your generosity and support are much appreciated!

The main task of JUST FYI POD: IDEAS’ third season is to discuss: “’Higher Ed in the ChatGPT Era: How Did We Get Here? Where Is It Going?” On today’s episode, my cohost Clark Elliston and I will discuss the topic: “Does It Matter if Students Can’t Read Anymore?” This is an issue that has caused more than a little hand-wringing, both among educators and in the popular media. Indeed, the issue isn’t whether literacy is declining among young people, particularly in the United States. That much is certain. No, the real questions are:Why is this happening?What are its consequences?Clark and I will take a look at the data and add our own observations. Then, in conclusion, we will ponder how this trajectory has impacted and will continue to impact the United States and Western culture in general, paying special attention to religious and political concerns that are already emerging downstream.Please visit JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com) for more details and much more content. Subscribe for free today! As ever, your generosity and support are greatly appreciated!

Amid the hum and hullabaloo of pre-Christmas activities, Amy Welborn and I found time to meet at Cahaba Brewing Co.in Avondale, where we discussed what we enjoyed (and, well, didn’t enjoy!) about 2025. Though interspersed with firsthand (!) stories about international travel and biker gangs in Pennsylvania, our conversation centers on culture—in particular, our respective “Best of 2025” lists in the following categories:MoviesTelevisionBooksTheaterMusicSo, pour a flute of champagne and join us as we look back on 2025 and get ready to usher in 2026. Te Deum laudámus!Please visit JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com) for more details and a miscellany of engaging content. Start out the New Year right and subscribe for free today! As ever, your generosity and support are greatly appreciated!

The main task of JUST FYI POD: IDEAS’ third season is to discuss: “Higher Ed in the ChatGPT Era: How Did We Get Here? Where Is It Going?” Today’s episode will approach this overarching topic in two ways. First, my regular cohost Clark Elliston and I will welcome a special guest—Michael Burdett, Associate Professor in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at the University of Nottingham. Though Michael is well-known for his work on the relationship between religion, science, and technology—in fact, he contributed an excellent chapter to our recent collection Theological Discourses on Social Media—today we will focus on an issue that has garnered headlines in the UK over the last six weeks. In early November, the University of Nottingham announced the suspension of several academic courses, including American and Canadian studies, architecture, music, modern languages, plant biology, and theology. In an accompanying statement, university administrators explained: “[We had to] make tough decisions based on changes in student demand, the cost of delivering courses, and competition from other institutions offering similar courses.” Protests have followed, led by students and faculty. Still, one might wonder, what is really at stake at Nottingham? And who is right? Michael will give us his on-the-ground perspective.Next, Clark, Michael, and I will broaden our scope and discuss how the situation at Nottingham is just one more symptom of an ongoing “crisis” in higher education in general. The nature of this crisis, however, is more than a little controversial. From political partisanship to grade inflation to artificial intelligence, any number of culprits have been identified by commentators. But can we drill down deeper and finally get to the root cause? Such, at any rate, is what we hope to accomplish over the course of our wide-ranging conversation, which will culminate in a few ideas about how higher ed might be fixed—even today!Nota bene: we experienced a few technical difficulties during the recording of this episode. Thankfully, I was able to smooth out some, if not all, of them on the backend. Bear with us! I think the discussion is worth it! As always, please visit Just FYI (cbarnett.substack.com) for additional information, links, and much more content. Subscribe for free today, and, as ever, consider following, liking, rating, and sharing our work. Your generosity and support are much appreciated!

The overarching theme of JUST FYI POD: CULTURE's third season is: "The Future of American Christianity: A Conversation in Ten Questions." On today's episode, my cohost Amy Welborn and I focus on the following question: "Have Pope Leo XIV’s first six months in office told us anything new or surprising about his plans for the Church?" After a rundown of the pope's activities since May, we conclude with "three takeaways and two questions," summing up both Pope Leo XIV's significance so far and what we think may be facing him in 2026 and beyond.Please visit JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com) for more details and much (much!) more content. So, what are you waiting for? Subscribe for free today! Your generosity and support are much appreciated.

The main task of JUST FYI POD: IDEAS’ third season is to discuss: “’Higher Ed in the ChatGPT Era: How Did We Get Here? Where Is It Going?” On today’s episode, my cohost Clark Elliston and I will share what life is like in academia today, particularly for professors. Indeed, while commentators and pundits have no trouble decrying the state of the academy, very few touch on, much less comprehend, the day-to-day life of a university professor. Today's episode intends to fill that gap.As always, please visit JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com) for additional information and much more content. Why not subscribe for free today? Your interest and support are much appreciated!

Boo! It’s Halloween on JUST FYI POD: CULTURE. 👻The overarching theme of Season 3 is: “The Future of American Christianity: A Conversation in Ten Questions.” On today’s episode, my cohost Amy Welborn and I wrestle with the following issue: “What does the recent uptick in exorcisms (yes, that’s a thing) say about Western cultural and religious life?” Topics include:Recent journalistic accounts of the “exorcism boom.”The popularity of exorcism in film and on social media.The biblical and theological understanding of the demonic and the traditional importance of exorcism in the Christian Church.Potential causes of the global increase in exorcisms, from the mental health crisis in Western culture to the rise of apocalyptic political rhetoric.Why you shouldn't expect candy if you go trick-or-treating at Amy’s house!Please visit JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com) for more details and (much!) more content. Subscribe for free today. Your generosity and support are much appreciated!

The main task of JUST FYI POD: CULTURE's third season is to discuss "The Future of American Christianity: A Conversation in Ten Questions." On today's episode, my cohost Amy Welborn and I wrestle with the following question: "What does the canonization of Carlo Acutis (1991-2006) mean for our understanding of sainthood and holiness in the 21st Century?" Topics include: the life of St. Carlo (whose feast was celebrated just yesterday), the ambiguous media coverage of his canonization, the nature of sainthood in general, and the Church's relation to, and teaching on, the Internet.Please visit JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com) for more details and much more content. Subscribe for free today! Your generosity and support are much appreciated!