Podcast
The Common Good Podcast
Hosted by Brian From · EN
The idea of “the common good” has a rich history within the Christian church. It’s the notion that, as we pursue Jesus in our lives and in the lives of others, we are fulfilling God’s purposes for His creation. This pursuit can be messy. It means rolling up our sleeves and creating space for hard conversations about real issues that impact our lives. Things like parenting, marriage, finances, politics, art, and culture. On The Common Good, Brian From creates space to have these conversations, to sit with the big questions that we all have, to sometimes disagree, but to always look for the chance to create common good, by following after Jesus. Brian welcome listeners to join them in these conversations, to bring their own questions, hopes, and struggles, and to ultimately share in a journey to see God’s design for all of us fulfilled.
150episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
AI, Translation & The Chosen with Wendy Lord
2d ago00:10:02Tap to summarizeThe Chosen is being translated into 600 languages — and Wendy Lord, Vice President of Localization at Come and See Foundation, is overseeing the effort. She joins Brian From to talk about what that actually looks like on the ground: a theologian in India working through the Assamese translation who says the show is bringing fresh life to his own faith, a woman in Spain whose small group ministered to her for twelve years until she watched The Chosen and said "I finally get it." Then the conversation turns to AI — and Wendy makes a careful, specific case for it. In majority languages like Spanish and French, human voice actors and dubbing teams do the work. But in lower-resourced minority languages where those resources don't exist, AI is filling the gap in remarkable ways: accelerating Bible translation four to sixteen times faster than just a few years ago, and even applying the voices of The Chosen's original cast to single-person recordings so that pre-literate and illiterate communities who can't read subtitles can now hear the story of Jesus in their heart language. Wendy also shares what's coming next — Moses, the book of Acts, and a pipeline of new projects expanding far beyond the original seven seasons. Find The Chosen in the free Chosen mobile app, now available in 125 languages.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →Lukewarm Churches, Renting Barbecue Friends & the Dark Night of the Soul
2d ago00:59:11Tap to summarizeIn Russia, you can now rent a barbecue companion for $15 to $65 a day — jokes and anecdotes included, no lasting friendship expected. Brian From opens with that story as a window into something both funny and genuinely heartbreaking about the loneliness epidemic. Then a personal story: getting pulled over late at night with his son in the car, expired plates, and the surprisingly rich spiritual parallel — what happens when those lights come on behind you, and do you repent or make excuses? Former congressman Ben Sass is walking his terminal cancer diagnosis publicly and with remarkable faith, and Brian reflects on what it means to display your theology when the stakes are as high as they get. A pointed look at the lukewarm church of Laodicea in Revelation 3 — hot or cold, not somewhere in between — and what it means for a congregation to be spiritually comfortable, wealthy, and quietly dying. A meditation on what faith looks like when God feels silent, drawing on the stories of the bleeding woman and Jairus's daughter in Mark 5, and the startling private letters of Mother Teresa, who spent decades feeling God's complete absence while continuing to serve the poorest of the poor. The paradox of faith, Brian concludes, is that it often shines brightest not in clarity but in darkness — and what feels like absence will in time reveal itself as a deeper presence.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →Lindsey Graham, Ecclesiastes & What if You're Missing Your Life While You're Waiting for It?
3d ago01:07:32Tap to summarizeSenator Lindsey Graham died over the weekend from what appears to be a tear in his aorta — and Brian From opens not with politics but with perspective. Graham was on the phone with President Trump Saturday night, had just returned from NATO and a meeting with Zelensky, and was at the very center of world events right up until his final moments. Brian uses that as a launching point into the book of Ecclesiastes: meaningless, meaningless, all of it meaningless. Not as a cynical verdict on life, but as a wake-up call to invest in what actually lasts. Then a surprising and personal segment — Brian shares that he's been serving as campus pastor of the Hinsdale location of Compass Church for the past nine months, working through a series on scripture memory and the importance of the local church. A Gospel Coalition piece on Nashville as one of America's hardest mission fields not because of hostility but because of comfort and consumer Christianity. A call to make evangelism a natural part of everyday life rather than a program. And a closing piece from Relevant Magazine that lands like a gut punch for anyone in a waiting season: what if you're missing your life while you're waiting for it? Life doesn't begin when you get married, land the dream job, or reach the next milestone. As Elizabeth Elliot said, the secret is Christ in me — not me in a different set of circumstances.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →When the Good You Do Goes Unnoticed
6d ago00:58:05Tap to summarizeHow do Christians engage politically without losing their witness, their humility, or their neighbors? A rich meditation on one of the most quietly devastating experiences in the Christian life — doing the right thing and getting punished for it, or doing good work that simply goes unseen. Brian walks through the biblical pattern from Joseph to Paul: faithfulness often precedes obscurity, and obscurity often precedes the thing God was building all along. A burnout study showing that the most burned-out workers aren't the ones working the longest hours but the ones whose work feels most meaningless — a finding with real implications for how Christians think about calling and vocation. A new Barna study on what churchgoers say they most want from a sermon: not inspiration, not entertainment, but practical application they can actually use on Monday morning. Social media's new frontier — AI-generated influencers with millions of followers who don't exist — and what it means to build your sense of identity on an audience's approval. And a closing word from Proverbs 3 on trusting God with your reputation: commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established — even when no one is watching.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →Live Action Moana & the Odyssey Controversy with Adam Holtz of Plugged In
6d ago00:09:55Tap to summarizeThe average movie length people say they want is now 88 minutes — which makes the upcoming Odyssey at 172 minutes a particularly interesting bet. Adam Holtz from Plugged In joins Brian From to break down what's happening in summer movies. First, live action Moana: a beat-for-beat remake of the original that is neither stunningly good nor stunningly bad, but probably exists because the animated film is the most streamed movie across all platforms over the last five years — 80 billion minutes of viewing. Then the bigger story: The Odyssey, Christopher Nolan's blockbuster epic, is already a flashpoint before it even opens. The latest trailer has been ratioed online with ten times as many dislikes as likes, driven largely by casting choices that have race-swapped and gender-swapped major characters including Helen of Troy and Achilles. Meanwhile mainstream media reviews from early screenings are effusive. The gap between those two reactions tells a story about who controls the narrative — and whether it's representative of the actual audience. Adam and Brian also reflect on the broader pattern: franchises and sequels keep bombing while low-budget originals like Backrooms clean up. Maybe audiences are simply exhausted by retreads. Full reviews at pluggedin.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →Marriage Resources & Hope Restored with Kim Trobee
6d ago00:10:24Tap to summarizeKim Trobee, longtime Focus on the Family spokesperson and senior manager for their marriage ministry, spent six days in Washington DC for America's 250th birthday celebration — and came back with a surprising report: hundreds of thousands of people on the National Mall, no fights, no division, just genuine gratitude and camaraderie. She talks with Brian From about what it felt like to be there, the immigrant families who were the most visibly moved by the celebration, and the significance of Focus on the Family having a booth in the Faith and Family Pavilion on the national mall — something that wouldn't have been possible under previous administrations. Then the conversation shifts to marriage: Kim and her husband Gary have been married 36 years, and she's passionate about helping couples not just survive but thrive. Focus on the Family offers free marriage getaway weekends at four resort locations around the country, and their Hope Restored intensive program — designed for marriages in genuine crisis — has an 80% success rate two years out. Whether you're dating, newlywed, blended, or on the verge of divorce, focusonthefamily.com has resources for every season.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →If Jesus Is Lord of All, Why Don't We Preach It All? with Paul Blair
6d ago00:09:02Tap to summarizePaul Blair is a former Chicago Bear and the founder of Liberty Pastors, a network of over 2,500 pastors across the country who have completed a three-day worldview training camp designed to equip them on subjects most churches never touch: economics, civil government, and human sexuality. His core argument is simple and pointed — if we say Jesus is Lord of all, why are there subjects we're not supposed to preach about? Brian From talks with Paul about the Liberty Pastors Training Camp coming to the Hilton Chicago Oak Brook Hills Resort July 27-30, where pastors get three nights at a luxury resort, 20 hours of continuing education from historians and speakers including Tim Barton of WallBuilders, and practical next steps for equipping their congregations to navigate the world they're living in. The cost to pastors is just $99 for what amounts to a $2,000 value. Every single pastor who has attended has said they wished they'd brought friends. Find out more and register at libertypastorsu.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →Lessons Learned at the Sound of Speed: Phil Cochran on Faith, Work, and Everyday Discipleship
1w ago00:11:05Tap to summarizeHow can Christians faithfully live out their faith in the workplace and everyday life? Brian Fromm sits down with Phil Cochran to explore what it means to move beyond a "Sunday-only" faith and embrace a life of intentional discipleship every day of the week. Their conversation covers the challenges believers face in today's culture, practical ways to integrate faith into work and relationships, and why authentic Christian witness starts with character, humility, and consistency. Phil also shares encouragement for Christians who want to make a meaningful impact wherever God has placed them. Whether you're leading in business, serving in your community, or simply seeking to follow Jesus more faithfully, this conversation offers practical wisdom and biblical encouragement for living out your faith with purpose every day.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →Quintin Wingate on Hope, Purpose, and Following Christ
1w ago00:10:57Tap to summarizeOn this episode of The Common Good, Brian Fromm sits down with Quintin Wingate for an encouraging conversation about living a life of faith with purpose and perseverance. Together they discuss what it means to trust God through life's challenges, the importance of remaining grounded in Scripture, and how Christians can faithfully reflect Christ in their everyday lives. Quintin shares insights from his own journey, offering practical encouragement for anyone seeking to grow spiritually, navigate difficult seasons, and pursue God's calling with confidence. Whether you're facing uncertainty or simply looking to deepen your walk with Christ, this conversation is a reminder that God remains faithful—and our hope is always found in Him.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcribe →What Does It Mean to Truly Flourish? A Conversation with Brendan McClenahan
1w ago00:10:31Tap to summarizeWhat does it mean to flourish—not just succeed, but truly thrive as God intended? Brian Fromm is joined by Brendan McClenahan, Church Engagement Manager at Plant with Purpose, to explore the biblical vision of human flourishing. Together they discuss why our relationships with God, other people, and creation are all essential to a healthy, Christ-centered life. They also examine the growing epidemic of loneliness, the limitations of digital connection, and the simple, practical habits that can help cultivate deeper community and spiritual growth. Brendan shares how Plant with Purpose's TEND initiative is helping churches and families rediscover practices that lead to lasting flourishing.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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