This week, we’re breaking down Cracker Barrel’s rebrand disaster, what it says about cultural and brand identity in America, and how we, as Christians, should apply the lessons learned to our own faith and lives. We’ll also look at the nation’s growing divisions and ask what unity really means from a Christian perspective.

Then, big news in sports and pop culture: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s engagement, the kickoff of college football season, National Championship predictions, and Coach Bill Belichick stepping onto the college field for the first time.

All that and more in culture, sports, and faith—get caught up with a fresh Christian perspective!

Topics

• (00:53 ): Cracker Barrel's rebrand controversy
• (08:13 ): Chili's revival and success
• (13:40 ): The Christian brand
• (16:01 ): The divided states of America
• (26:27 ): Revival and community renewal
• (29:42 ): Pop culture news: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce
• (34:27 ): Global affairs: Russia and Ukraine
• (35:15 ): College football season kickoff

Resources

• Send us your thoughts, questions, and topic ideas: culturebrief@denisonforum.org
• Culture Brief Instagram
• Sign-up for Denison Forum’s daily newsletter: DenisonForum.org/subscribe

Links mentioned in this episode:

• Cracker Barrel, Chili’s, and the Dallas Cowboys- Denison Forum

Other articles on this week’s top headlines:

• How a Cracker Barrel Logo Change Spawned a Political Firestorm - WSJ
• Chili's was once a relic of the '90s. Then it blew past its competitors—and conquered casual American dining. In its Texas test kitchen, I saw how.
• CrackerBarrel on X
• Texas Senate passes redistricting bill, California counters - Denison Forum
• Party Affiliation | Gallup Historical Trends
• Democrats and Republicans live in partisan bubbles, study finds

About Conner Jones

Conner Jones is the Director of Performance Marketing at Denison Ministries and Co-Hosts Denison Forum's "Culture Brief" podcast. He graduated from Dallas Baptist University in 2019 with a degree in Business Management. Conner passionately follows politics, sports, pop-culture, entertainment, and current events. He enjoys fishing, movie-going, and traveling the world with his wife and son.

About Micah Tomasella

Micah Tomasella is the Senior Advancement Officer at Denison Ministries and co-hosts Denison Forum's "Culture Brief" podcast. A graduate of Dallas Baptist University, Micah is married to Emily, and together they are the proud parents of two daughters. With an extensive background in nonprofit work, finance, and real estate, Micah also brings experience from his years in pastoral church ministry.

About Denison Forum

Denison Forum exists to thoughtfully engage the issues of the day from a biblical perspective through The Daily Article email newsletter and podcast, The Faith & Clarity Podcast, as well as many books and additional resources.