In this episode, I talk with Alex Fogleman about reclaiming the forgotten art of catechesis - not as rigid instruction, but as a living tradition that helps form whole people in the way of Jesus. We explore how the early church shaped new believers, what we’ve lost in our fast-paced, fragmented culture, and how we might recover a slower, deeper approach to discipleship today. This conversation offers a compelling vision for how we grow - not just in knowledge, but in love, practice, and maturity.

Alex Fogleman is Associate Dean of Special Programs and Assistant Professor of Theology at Trinity Anglican Seminary in Ambridge, PA. Author of Knowledge, Faith, and Early Christian Initiation (Cambridge University Press, 2023) and Making Disciples (Eerdmans, 2025)

Alex's Book:

Making Disciples

Alex's Recommendation:

The Wingfeather Saga

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What’s really happening in Iran beyond the headlines? In this episode, I sit down with Lana Silk, CEO of Transform Iran, to explore the remarkable growth of the underground church in one of the most spiritually hungry regions in the world. Lana shares her powerful personal story from a childhood shaped by faith under Iran’s Islamic regime to leading a global discipleship movement impacting millions of Iranians today. We talk about how faith flourishes under pressure, what Western Christians can learn from the Iranian church, and why discipleship, sacrifice, and hearing God’s voice are more vital than ever. You’ll also hear miraculous stories of transformation, healing, and courage that will stir your own faith. This is a conversation about radical obedience, contagious hope, and the quiet revolution of love that’s transforming Iran from the inside out.

Lana Silk, Chief Executive Officer, Transform Iran - USA

Lana Silk, daughter of Lazarus and Maggie Yeghnazar, serves as Transform Iran’s Chief Executive Officer. In this role, Lana actively seeks to bring freedom to the people of Iran, transforming the nation into one which bears the image of Christ. Through ministry and humanitarian aid, Lana hopes that Transform Iran will create divine change in the lives of the Iranian people.

Lana currently lives with her husband and three teenage children in Ohio.

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Connect with Joshua: jjohnson@allnations.us

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Cyd and Geoff Holsclaw join the podcast for a deep conversation on spiritual formation, attachment theory, and why so many of us feel stuck in our faith. Drawing from their work in neuroscience, pastoral care, and discipleship, they unpack how our early relational patterns shape the way we experience God and how we can begin to heal. We explore the four “landscapes of the soul” (the pasture, jungle, desert, and war zone), how spiritual practices like silence, Bible study, and joy impact us differently depending on where we’re starting from, and how to integrate intimacy and obedience in a holistic journey with God. This episode invites us to move beyond a one-size-fits-all model of discipleship and embrace a more embodied, relational, and compassionate approach to following Jesus.

Geoff Holsclaw (PhD) is cohost of the Embodied Faith podcast, which seeks a neuroscience-informed spiritual formation. He is also an affiliate professor of theology at Northern Seminary (Lisle, Illinois) and a pastor at Vineyard North in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Geoff is author of several books, most recently Does God Really Like Me? Discovering the God Who Wants to Be With Us.

Cyd is an author, spiritual director, and pastor. She is also a trauma-informed, Jesus-centered, professional certified coach (PCC) focused on embodied practices and building a secure attachment to God. She co-hosts the Embodied Faith podcast, offering a neuroscience-informed spiritual formation. And she is the co-author of Does God Really Like Me? Discovering the God Who Wants to Be With You (InterVarsity Press).

Cyd & Geoff's Book:

Landscapes of the Soul

Cyd & Geoff's Recommendations:

Shrinking

Lynn Austin

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Connect with Joshua: jjohnson@allnations.us

Go to www.shiftingculturepodcast.com to interact and donate. Every donation helps to produce more podcasts for you to enjoy.

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Consider Giving to the podcast and to the ministry that my wife and I do around the world. Just click on the support the show link below

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Support the show