The Radical Middle
Episodes
57 episodes
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 refuses to fit neatly into political, cultural, or ideological boxes.This episo...
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 center of faith today. Both conservatives and progressives claim Jesus, yet...
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 hidden trauma responses that keep us from changing the world: fight, flight, freeze, a...
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, complicated, and deeply human. What happens when you realize that institutions, ...
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 his faith today: “Be Better.”After losing his mom suddenly, Tommy reflects on h...
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 Tommy Nixon shares the origin story behind the Radical Middle and the personal...
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 tribalism, church hypocrisy, deconstruction, and rising disillusionment, many Christians f...
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, reflecting on the podcast’s origins and the purpose that shaped it. Created to fos...
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 impact of excessive niceness. Could this culture of "niceness" be one of the rea...
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 progressive attitudes towards sexuality. They discuss the impact of these teachings on d...
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 dynamics and tensions between Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z. They delve into how...
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, especially during the heightened tensions of the political season. They emphasize that the "r...
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 of Jesus in a genuine, thoughtful way. Unlike a centrist approach, the radical middl...
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 with conflict. They explore how the reluctance to confront disagreements head-on has ...
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 lens of Christian faith. The discussion begins with a provocative question: If you were ...
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 facing the religious community today: Should megachurches continue in their current form...
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 multifaceted challenges of staying actively engaged in social justice amidst the back...
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 within the church. They are joined by guest Angel Maldonado, who shares his personal jou...
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 transformative power of the Bible when it is made accessible through modern methods like hip-ho...
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 pandemic, focusing on innovative approaches tailored to young adult ministry. <...
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 ministry. They examine the nuanced differences in cultural, ethnic, and church contexts...
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 latest book, "Just Be Honest." Join the conversation as they explore the delicate bala...
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 secular music and media. In this thought-provoking episode, they tackle the ten...
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 changing tides of gospel outreach, acknowledging the fading effectiveness ...
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 leaders. They highlight an intriguing shift that's been happening since around 2016—a mov...