On this episode of The Common Good Podcast, Doug Pagitt talks with Brian Recker, author of the new book Hellbent: How the Fear of Hell Holds Christians Back from a Spirituality of Love. Brian, a former evangelical pastor, takes us inside his journey of questioning one of Christianity’s most entrenched doctrines — the idea of eternal damnation. He argues that the fear of hell has distorted Christian faith, fostering shame, exclusion, and toxic relationships, and he invites us to imagine a different path: a spirituality grounded in love, connection, and justice. We talk about what it means to reframe salvation, how to let go of fear-based religion, and why the way of Jesus still matters — not because of hell, but because of love.

Welcome to the Common Good Podcast. In this episode, Doug Pagitt sits down with Father Pete Nunnally, an Episcopal priest, writer, and visionary leader behind the new Water and Wilderness Church. Together they dive into Pete’s forthcoming book, Catching Hope, which offers a fresh vision of faith rooted in renewal, resilience, and community. Their conversation explores not only Pete’s personal journey and the inspiration behind his work, but also the larger state of Christian faith in America today. Doug and Pete wrestle with some of the biggest questions facing the church: How do we remain faithful in an age of division? What does it look like to embody Christ’s love when MAGA Christianity and Christian Nationalism threaten to distort the gospel? And how can communities of faith nurture hope and courage in these turbulent times? This episode is a heartfelt, honest, and hopeful dialogue—inviting listeners to imagine a Christianity that resists fear, rejects authoritarianism, and returns again and again to love as the way forward.

In this episode of Common Good Candidates, I talk with Mark Pinsley, a Democrat running for Congress in Pennsylvania. Mark’s district is one of the very few actually competitive Congressional districts in the country. It’s a critical race for Democrats to flip the House. Mark shares his journey from business leader to public servant, and why he believes government should work for people—not the wealthy and powerful. We dig into his values and priorities and what surprises him most as a congressional candidate. Learn more about Mark’s campaign: https://www.votemarkpinsley.com/ Subscribe for more conversations with candidates working for the common good and visit https://www.candidatesforcommongood.com.