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: “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!

Season 3! The first two seasons of JUST FYI POD: IDEAS have focused on the greatest works in theological and philosophical history -- at least as far as my cohost Clark Elliston and I are concerned! Now, however, we will shift from the textual to the topical.Indeed, 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?" In today's episode, we will preview the upcoming season and then (possibly against all odds!) try to provide a coherent and engaging discussion how, and why, we got started in academic life.As always, please visit JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com) for additional information and much more content. Subscribe for free today! Your interest 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.” However, on today’s “breakout pod,” Amy Welborn, Clark Elliston, and I discuss one of the most shocking political events in recent memory—the public killing of Republican activist, author, and media personality Charlie Kirk, who was shot in front of thousands of people last week at Utah Valley University. While the criminal investigation into this case has proceeded at a brisk pace, Amy, Clark, and I take a wider view of this event, debating how American politics got to this point and what it means going forward. Topics include: social media and the phenomenon of online polarization, Kirk’s status as a kind of Christian “martyr,” and the role of churches amid this political firestorm. We end by wrestling with the question: will this crime spur a renewal of American public life—or accelerate its disintegration?Please visit JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com) for more details 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 title of JUST FYI POD: CULTURE's third season is "The Future of American Christianity: A Conversation in Ten Questions." On today's inaugural episode, my cohost Amy Welborn and I preview the upcoming season, both in terms of form and content. Yet, we also take time to catch up after a busy summer. Topics include Italy, road trips, baseball, writing projects, and our favorite Summer 2025 movie releases. With regard to the latter, we pay special to attention to the new mystery-horror film Weapons (Zach Cregger, 2025) and, in turn, to the so-called "elevated horror" movement. What does it mean that America's new generation of auteurs (Cregger, Ari Aster, Jordan Peele, etc.) are largely telling stories about witches, demons, aliens, and vampires?Please visit JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com) for more details 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 main task of JUST FYI POD: IDEAS' second season is to discuss "Our Ten Favorite Works of Philosophy." On today's episode—and at long last!—my cohost Clark Elliston and I wrap up our countdown and explore two very different philosophical works—one that is a classic (and seemingly prescient) analysis of the modern sociopolitical order, and another that exemplifies the so-called “theological turn” in postmodern phenomenology.First up is Søren Kierkegaard’s 1846 treatise A Literary Review (En literair Anmeldelse), which, as I will explain, provides an early and prophetic account of the media, public opinion, and bourgeois conformity in contemporary Western society. Next, Clark will turn to Emmanuel Falque’s The Metamorphosis of Finitude: An Essay on Birth and Resurrection(Métamorphose de la finitude. Essai philosophique sur la naissance et la résurrection), which uses Christian theology to probe a fundamental human reality—that our very existence hinges on the simple, but profound, fact that we have been born at all. Life, in other words, is more about birth than death.As always, additional content and links can be found at JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com). Please subscribe for free today, and, as always, consider following, liking, rating, and sharing our work. Your generosity and support are much appreciated!

The main task of JUST FYI POD: IDEAS' second season is to discuss "Our Ten Favorite Works of Philosophy." On today's episode, my cohost Clark Elliston and I explore two massively influential texts from the twentieth century. Yet, before doing so, we spend some time discussing the recent flash floods in Central Texas, which devastated Clark's hometown of Kerrville. In this opening segment, Clark gives a firsthand account of what life is now like in the Texas Hill Country. Next, and not unrelatedly, we pivot to my analysis of Martin Heidegger's famous work The Question Concerning Technology (Die Frage nach der Technik), which was first published in 1954. Finally, Clark offers an assessment of Emmanuel Levinas' 1974 treatise Otherwise than Being, or Beyond Essence (Autrement qu'être ou au-delà de l'essence).As always, additional content and links can be found at JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com). Please subscribe for free today, and, as always, consider following, liking, rating, and sharing our work. Your generosity and support are much appreciated!

The main task of JUST FYI POD: CULTURE's second season is to discuss "Ten Novels That Changed Our Lives." On today's episode, my cohost Amy Welborn and I resume our countdown, this time focusing -- at long last! -- on the #1 novel on our respective lists. I begin by examining Fyodor Dostoevsky's last and greatest novel THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV (Братья Карамазовы, 1880). Next, Amy delves into THE POWER AND THE GLORY (1940), arguably the magnum opus of British author Graham Greene. Both novels are considered classics of world literature. However, as Amy and I discuss, they are also theologically insightful and, in a unique way, spiritually transformative.Please visit JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com) for more details 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 main task of JUST FYI POD: CULTURE's second season is to discuss "Ten Novels That Changed Our Lives." On today's episode, my cohost Amy Welborn and I resume our countdown, this time focusing on the #2 (!) novel on our respective lists. I begin by examining what is undoubtedly one of the most important books in the history of world literature--namely, Don Quixote (1606/1615) by Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616). Next, Amy delves into Brideshead Revisited (1945), the magnum opus of the great English Catholic novelist Evelyn Waugh (1903-66). Written in different languages and in different eras, these two novels make for a curious pairing. And yet, both force us to grapple with the challenges of earthly life, not to mention the attendant human longing to find meaning thereinPlease visit JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com) for more details 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 main task of JUST FYI POD: IDEAS' second season is to discuss "Our Ten Favorite Works of Philosophy." On today's episode, my cohost Clark Elliston and I explore two recent philosophical texts -- one that is already considered a classic in the field, another that presents a penetrating overview some of philosophy's greatest thinkers. The former is Alasdair MacIntyre's After Virtue: A Study in Moral Theory (1981), which, as I will explain, has had a massive influence on the recovery of Aristotle and St. Thomas Aquinas in the tradition of virtue ethics. Next Clark will turn to Stephen Mulhall's Philosophical Myths of the Fall (2007), which probes the ethico-religious dimension in the thinking of Friedrich Nietzsche, Martin Heidegger, and Ludwig Wittgenstein.As always, additional content and links can be found at JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com). Please subscribe for free today, and, as always, consider following, liking, rating, and sharing our work. Your generosity and support are much appreciated!

Habemus papam! On May 8, Robert Francis Prevost, a Chicago native and a 1977 graduate of Villanova University, was elected Bishop of Rome at the 2025 papal conclave. He took the (meaningful) name of Leo XIV and is the first pope to be born in the United States. Joining me with instant reaction to this historic election is Amy Welborn, who is currently in Rome and was, in fact, present for the announcement today. See Just FYI (cbarnett,substack.com) for more details, links, and much, much more content!

The main task of JUST FYI POD: CULTURE'S second season is to discuss "Ten Novels That Changed Our Lives." On today's episode, my cohost Amy Welborn and I resume our countdown, this time focusing on the #3 novel on our respective lists. Amy begins by examining Flannery O'Connor's darkly comic debut WISE BLOOD (1952). Next, I explore Cormac McCarthy's fêted late masterpiece THE ROAD (2006). These two works are very different in tone, and yet both ponder the possibility of a godless world -- and why only the eternal can sustain human beings amid their existential suffering. Please visit JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com) for more details and much (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 main task of Just FYI Pod: Ideas’ second season is to discuss "Our Ten Favorite Works of Philosophy." On today's episode, my cohost Clark Elliston and I explore two key works from the transformative years of the mid 20th Century. First, I dive into Simone Weil's posthumously published classic The Need for Roots: Prelude Towards a Declaration of Duties Towards Mankind (L'Enracinement, prélude à une déclaration des devoirs envers l'être humain). Next, Clark turns to Iris Murdoch's 1970 exploration of moral philosophy entitled The Sovereignty of Good. Two great texts by two of the previous century's most creative and incisive intellects!As always, additional content and links can be found at JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com). Please subscribe for free today, and, as always, consider following, liking, rating, and sharing our work. Your generosity and support are much appreciated!

The main task of JUST FYI POD: CULTURE's second season is to discuss "Ten Novels That Changed Our Lives." On today's episode, my cohost Amy Welborn and I resume our countdown, this time focusing on the #4 novel on our respective lists. I begin by examining Joris-Karl Huysmans' fascinating (and disturbing!) 1891 novel THE DAMNED (Là-Bas). Next, Amy explores Shūsaku Endō's famous (and controversial!) 1966 novel SILENCE (沈黙). Both works dare to probe the darkest corners of human life, albeit with an eye to rekindling a faith forgotten or misunderstood.Please visit JUST FYI (cbarnett.substack.com) for more details, 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!