Should I Stay or Should I Go?
12/31/2025
Should I Stay or Should I Go?
Based on the current state of the church and the challenges faced by congregations today, many Christians find themselves asking, "When should I consider leaving my church?" Or, "When does my church need to leave the denomination?" Carl and Todd discuss these topics today, touching on reasons an ind
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The Eternal Son
12/17/2025
The Eternal Son
Carl and Todd are pleased to welcome returning guest, Robert Letham, to the podcast to discuss his new book, The Eternal Son. The Eternal Son is the second of a planned trilogy on the Father, Son, and Spirit that will complement Letham’s prizewinning book, The Holy Trinity.The conversation delves in
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Gig Eva
12/03/2025
Gig Eva
Todd and Carl engage in a lively discussion about the cultural influences shaping evangelicalism today. They explore the phenomenon of 'Gig Eva,' a term coined by Carl in an article he recently wrote, to describe the new landscape of evangelical influence that has shifted from traditional conference
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What's the Big Deal About Creeds?
11/19/2025
What's the Big Deal About Creeds?
Today, Todd is joined by Timothy Winterstein, pastor and author of the new book, Worshiped & Glorified: A Study of the Nicene Creed. Celebrating its 1700th anniversary this year, the summary of Christian faith known as the Nicene Creed has been a fixture in the church for centuries and is still reci
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Paradox People
11/05/2025
Paradox People
Jonathan Landry Cruse, pastor of Community Presbyterian Church in Kalamazoo, MI, returns to the podcast with Todd and Carl to discuss his latest book, Paradox People: Learning to Live the Beatitudes. Together they explore the significance of the Beatitudes in today’s culture. In fact, Jonathan says,
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Truth Rising
10/22/2025
Truth Rising
Today, Carl and Todd are joined by John Stonestreet, president of the Colson Center and co-host of the new documentary, “Truth Rising,” with Os Guinness. Featuring powerful stories and expert insights, it challenges viewers to recognize the cultural moment we’re in, stand firm in biblical truth, and
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Forgive & Forget?
10/08/2025
Forgive & Forget?
In light of recent tragic events, Carl and Todd engage in a thought-provoking discussion on the complexities of forgiveness in the wake of tragedy. They reflect on the recent memorial service for Charlie Kirk and the profound act of forgiveness demonstrated by his widow, Erica Kirk. The conversation
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Religious Freedom
09/24/2025
Religious Freedom
In this episode, Todd flies solo with guest John Wilsey, a professor of church history at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and author of the thought-provoking book, Religious Freedom: A Conservative Primer. In his book, John addresses urgent questions about religious freedom in America toda
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Dealing with Criticism
09/10/2025
Dealing with Criticism
Todd and Carl sit down today to engage in a candid discussion about the complexities and challenges of pastoral ministry, particularly in relation to suffering and criticism. Suffering is not a bug within the ministry system; it's actually going to be a feature of ministry. – Todd PruittThey explore
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The Tech Exit
08/27/2025
The Tech Exit
It’s no secret that addictive digital technologies like smartphones and social media apps are harming a generation of kids socially, mentally, and even physically. But a workable solution seems elusive. After all, don’t kids need phones, and won’t they be vulnerable or socially isolated without tech
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A Light on the Hill
08/13/2025
A Light on the Hill
The dynamic duo of Todd and Carl engage in a fascinating discussion with Caleb Morell, assistant pastor at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., and author of the book, A Light on the Hill: The Surprising Story of How a Local Church in the Nation's Capital Influenced Evangelicalism. They
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Dr. Todd on Pastoring
07/30/2025
Dr. Todd on Pastoring
Our hosts sit on opposite sides of the table today as Carl welcomes his guest, the Reverend Todd Pruitt, pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. They delve into the evolving challenges faced by pastors over the decades, from social media scrutiny to the changing dy
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Happy Lies
07/16/2025
Happy Lies
Carl and Todd welcome special guest Melissa Dougherty to the podcast, a Christian apologist best known for her YouTube channel, where she covers a variety of theological topics. Melissa is also the author of the thought-provoking book Happy Lies: How a Movement You Probably Never Heard of Shaped Our
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A Spiritual Check-up
07/02/2025
A Spiritual Check-up
Carl and Todd welcome Reverend David McKay to discuss his new book, A Spiritual Checkup for a Healthy Life with Christ. With over four decades of pastoral experience, David shares insights on spiritual health, the importance of living out our faith, and the role of the church in our spiritual journe
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Why Should We Read Neil Postman?
06/18/2025
Why Should We Read Neil Postman?
In this episode, Carl and Todd are joined by Francis Maier, a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, to discuss the influential works of Neil Postman. They explore Postman's critiques of technology, particularly in relation to culture and education, and how these ideas resonate with c
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Are We All Cyborgs Now?
06/04/2025
Are We All Cyborgs Now?
As technology increasingly blurs the distinction between man and machine, new questions emerge about the future of religion, education, work, politics, and family life. Today, Todd and Carl engage in a thought-provoking discussion with Joshua Pauling, co-author of the book Are We All Cyborgs Now? Re
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Thoughts for Young Men
05/21/2025
Thoughts for Young Men
In this episode of Mortification of Spin, Carl and Todd discuss the pressing issues facing young men today, exploring the need for role models and the church's potential to fill this void. The church is a community, and if we're living in a world where young men really lack good role models, there i
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In the Wilderness
05/07/2025
In the Wilderness
In this episode of Mortification of Spin, Carl and Todd are joined by their friend, Michael Morales, professor of biblical studies at Greenville Theological Seminary. Together, they discuss Michael's much-anticipated 2-volume commentary on the Book of Numbers, an often-overlooked by preachers and st
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Flourishing in God's Word
04/23/2025
Flourishing in God's Word
In this episode, Todd Pruitt and Carl Truman welcome back Lydia Brownback, the director for women's resources at Crossway and a well-known author. They dive into Lydia's journey from seminary to writing and teaching, and how the Lord wove all of these experiences together in her life to prepare her
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The Order of Love
04/09/2025
The Order of Love
Todd and Carl, now officially an American citizen, dive into the challenging subject of immigration. Together, they explore the theological concept of the "order of love," its implications for prioritizing our obligations to others, and how this intersects with the responsibilities of the State vers
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Retrieving Christian Liberty
03/26/2025
Retrieving Christian Liberty
In this episode of Mortification of Spin, Carl and Todd engage in a thought-provoking discussion with Brad Littlejohn, director of Programs and Education at American Compass, about Brad's newly published book, Call to Freedom: Retrieving Christian Liberty in an Age of License. Christians in the mode
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Death Teaches Us How to Live
03/12/2025
Death Teaches Us How to Live
In this poignant episode, Todd and Carl welcome author Whitney Pipkin to discuss her book, We Shall All Be Changed: How Facing Death with Loved Ones Transforms Us. Drawing from her own experience, Whitney sheds light and hope, reminding us that we are not alone in our grief. And she reveals the myst
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Digging Into Proverbs
02/26/2025
Digging Into Proverbs
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. – Proverbs 9:10Today, Todd and Carl are joined by Chris Ansberry, associate professor at Grove City College, and a colleague of Carl's who refuses to wear socks, much to Carl's chagrin. Wardrobe choi
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Gender Ideology and Pastoral Practice
02/12/2025
Gender Ideology and Pastoral Practice
Join Carl and Todd as they tackle the pressing issues of gender ideology and pastoral practice with special guests Mary Rice Hasson and Theresa Farnan from the Ethics and Public Policy Center. Mary and Theresa have worked on a book titled Gender Ideology and Pastoral Practice: A Handbook for Catholi
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