A conversation about play, attention, and why being fully present with children is some of the most important work we do.

I’ve spent a lifetime raising children and helping raise grandchildren. In this conversation with Christopher Mannino, I found myself recognizing ideas I’ve learned not from books, but from years of showing up. This is about play, imagination, and why presence — not performance — is what children remember.

Drawing on decades of humanitarian work, Sharon reflects on accountability, choice, faith, and why good intentions alone are not enough. We talk about suffering not as an abstract problem, but as something that asks something of us in our communities, our institutions, and our daily lives.

Novelist TJ Poortinga joins me to talk about Electric Orange, a darkly comic, theologically sharp warning written from inside evangelical culture. We unpack Christian nationalism, masculinity, media rage, and why secular America keeps misreading religious power.

Filmmaker Petra Costa and producer Alessandra Orofino join Frank Schaeffer to explore how evangelical movements fused with authoritarian politics in Brazil—and why the same forces are reshaping democracy in the United States.

Melanie D.G. Kaplan joins Frank Schaeffer to talk about dogs, science, forgiveness, and why love still matters.

What happens when a beagle bred for laboratory research gets a second life—and changes a human forever?

Journalist and author Melanie D.G. Kaplan joins me for a conversation about her book Lab Dog: A Beagle and His Human Investigate the Surprising World of Animal Research.

A Tufts chaplain on interfaith intimacy, loneliness, and staying human in hard times.

Lynn A. Cooper joins me to talk about Embracing Our Time: The Sacrament of Interfaith Friendship—and why friendship isn’t a “nice-to-have,” but a spiritual and civic survival skill. From interfaith practice on a campus under cultural pressure, to the loneliness crisis, Christian nationalism, and the way our phones rewire time itself, this conversation offers a realistic path back to each other.

What happens when the architect of a war knows—deep down—that it cannot be won?

In this episode of In Conversation with Frank Schaeffer, I speak with William Taubman and Philip Taubman about their new book, McNamara at War: A New History, which is our December “It Has to Be Read” selection.

Landscape designer Steve Griggs joins Frank Schaeffer for a raw, funny, deeply human conversation about rising from a working-class New York childhood to becoming one of America’s premier landscape artists — featured in Forbes, WSJ, HuffPost and Bravo’s Backyard Envy.

Frank Schaeffer talks with bestselling author and theologian Diana Butler Bass about Advent, spiritual resilience, and her new book A Beautiful Year. In this powerful conversation, they explore the meaning of “fear not” in a time of political turmoil, the role of the Christian liturgical calendar in daily life, and how ancient spiritual practices help us navigate modern anxiety, grief, and uncertainty. Diana reflects on the raw beauty of the Christmas story, the humanity of Mary, and why light and darkness are central to Christian spirituality. If you’re searching for insight on Advent, progressive Christianity, the intersection of faith and politics, or how to find hope in overwhelming times, this episode offers clarity, grounding, and real-world encouragement.

Neurologist Dr. Carolyn Larkin Taylor joins Frank Schaeffer to talk Whispers of the Mind, medical gaslighting, grief, dogs as healers, and hope after loss.

A rich conversation with Brian Cranley on faith, science, Aquinas, cosmology, beauty, and the mystery that drives human wonder.

Pulitzer winner Karen Elliott House joins Frank Schaeffer to unpack Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi reform and repression, Gaza, faith, and America’s future.

Engineer and author Barbara Oakley joins Frank Schaeffer to explore how censorship damages the brain, why education is broken, and how real thinking can save democracy.

Frank Schaeffer speaks with Dr. Clint Heacock—former pastor, theologian, and host of The Dismantling Doctrine Podcast—about surviving Bill Gothard’s teachings, the lasting harm of authoritarian Christianity, and the journey beyond deconstruction toward healing, reason, and community.

Sam Daley-Harris is a visionary citizen advocate who has spent four decades proving that ordinary people can change the world. Founder of RESULTS, co-founder of the Microcredit Summit Campaign, and leader of Civic Courage, Sam has mobilized citizen action across the globe to fight poverty and reclaim democracy.

Psychologist and author Dr. Jean M. Twenge joins Frank Schaeffer to discuss the impact of smartphones, social media, and gaming on today’s children. Drawing on decades of research and her new book 10 Rules for Raising Kids in a High-Tech World, Dr. Twenge offers practical strategies for parents who want to protect their kids’ mental health and reclaim real human connection in a digital age.

Marc J. Dunkelman joins Frank Schaeffer to unpack the architecture of American community, the fractured landscape of power, and what it will take to make progress work again.

Sally McQuillen’s Reaching for Beautiful is a fierce, unflinching memoir of love, loss, and survival. In conversation with Frank Schaeffer, she shares the story of raising and losing her “wild child,” and how grief, trauma, and healing can coexist in a search for light.

Frank Schaeffer speaks with Jessa Crispin—author, critic, and editor-in-chief of The Culture We Deserve. Crispin is the author of My Three Dads, The Dead Ladies Project, and What Is Wrong With Men. In this conversation, she discusses her latest work, the state of contemporary culture, and the complexities of feminism today.

In this episode of In Conversation, Frank Schaeffer speaks with Christian Smith, PhD, William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Sociology at Notre Dame and author of Why Religion Went Obsolete. Together they explore the decline of traditional faith in America, the rise of secularization, and what it means for the future of belief and culture.

Frank Schaeffer In Conversation with Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis and Dr. Charon Hribar, exploring their work and the themes of their book, “We Pray Freedom: Liturgies and Rituals from the Freedom Church of the Poor”

Frank Schaeffer In Conversation with Pamela Jones, exploring her life and the themes of her book, The Dirt Beneath Our Door.

Frank Schaeffer In Conversation with Geoffrey Kabaservice, exploring his work and the themes of his book, Rule and Ruin: The Downfall of Moderation and The Destruction of The Republican Party, From Eisenhower to The Tea Party.

Frank Schaeffer In Conversation with Peter Samuelson, exploring his work and the themes of his book, Finding Happy: A User's Guide to Your Life, with Lessons from Mine.

Frank Schaeffer In Conversation with Amanda Quintero Aguerrevere, exploring her work and the themes of her book, Unfiltered: from the feed to the page–stories of wanderlust.

Frank Schaeffer In Conversation with Atossa Araxia Abrahamian, exploring her work and the themes of her book, The Hidden Globe: How Wealth Hacks the World.

Frank Schaeffer In Conversation with Amanda Quintero Aguerrevere, exploring her work and the themes of her book, “We Said Farewell: stories of forced exile”

Frank Schaeffer In Conversation with Writer, Historian, and Ethicist, Nigel Cameron, exploring his work and the themes of his new book, Dr. Koop: The Many Lives of the Surgeon General.

Frank Schaeffer In Conversation with Professor Michael Albertus, exploring his work and the themes of his book, Land Power: Who Has It, Who Doesn't, And How That Determines The Fate Of Societies.

Frank Schaeffer In Conversation with Michelle Moffitt, exploring her work and the themes of her book, Cracked Open: A Journey to a Resilient and Independent Mindset.