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
50 episodes
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...
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Season 1
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Episode 50
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17:46
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...
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Season 1
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Episode 49
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30:39
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...
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Season 1
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Episode 48
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28:45
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...
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Season 1
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Episode 47
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32:27
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...
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Season 1
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Episode 46
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31:25
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...
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Season 1
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Episode 45
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30:16
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 ...
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Season 1
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Episode 44
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30:26
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 ...
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Season 1
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Episode 43
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35:58
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...
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Season 1
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Episode 42
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34:35
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...
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Season 1
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Episode 41
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25:25
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...
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Season 1
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Episode 40
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42:59
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...
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Season 1
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Episode 39
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44:57
“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. <...
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Season 1
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Episode 38
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31:23
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...
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Season 1
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Episode 37
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35:05
"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...
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Episode 36
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40:16
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...
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Season 1
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Episode 35
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33:13
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 ...
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Episode 34
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34:45
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...
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Episode 33
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27:43
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 development expert, joins forces with Tommy - together sharing invaluable insights glean...
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Episode 32
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33:13
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 holiness. It's a tension we can't ignore.We're faced with the challenge of stayi...
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Episode 31
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49:20
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 happening in Israel and Palestine – it's a hot topic, right? One side fiercely belie...
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Episode 30
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50:05
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 wrong practice? And who bears responsibility in this dynamic—the leaders who manipula...
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Episode 29
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51:41
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 entails. It can be a daunting prospect, and sometimes, downright frustrating!In ...
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Episode 28
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41:58
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 episode, we explore a nuanced perspective on DEI, emphasizing that it is not the u...
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Season 1
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Episode 27
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43:11
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 witness influential organizations thrive while others struggle to access even basic resou...
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Season 1
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Episode 26
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46:07