The UpWords Podcast

We all have a conscience, but what is it and where does it come from? In this episode, Dan interviews fellow historian Peter Cajka, who has recently …

In this callback episode to 2020, we listen in on an interview with author Marilyn McEntyre, hosted by our Director of Programming, Melissa Shackelford. They discuss the immense power of words, and the ways in which …

Preaching is one of those things that can often be hit or miss. A person can be captivated, moved and even changed, but other times you have to fight …

Gene Zubovich, author of the new book, Before the Religious Right: Liberal Protestants, Human Rights, and the Polarization of the United States, sits …

For this next installment of From the Vault (highlighting past talks at Upper House), we're stretching all the way back to February 2020 for a unique …

For this return of From the Vault (highlighting talks at Upper House), we're listening to a March 2022 event featuring theologian A.J. Swoboda. …

Susan talks with Catherine Prescott about the fascinating world of portrait painting and the intellectual and spiritual tensions that reside in the work. For more of Catherine's art, see her personal website.

Check out …

John welcomes Steve Preston, CEO of Goodwill Industries, for a conversation that ranges from Steve's childhood in Janesville, WI to his leadership of U.S. federal agencies. On the way they explore how God enabled Steve, …

Susan speaks with psychologist Cynthia Eriksson about the topic of suffering: how to make sense of suffering and ways social scientists have sought …

Dan Johnson sits down with Drew Moser, who visited Upper House last month. They talk about on Drew's passion area, the Enneagram personality …

John sits down with Christopher James to discuss church planting in the twenty-first century, the challenges facing churches old and young, and …

John sits down with Rev. Kerri Parker to discuss everything from Kerri’s childhood and education to her recent work with the Wisconsin Council of Churches on forming church responses to COVID-19.

Rev. Kerri Parker is …

This episode features a recent conversation hosted virtually by the Awaken Dane initiative with noted author Parker Palmer. The discussion centers on belonging and the sense of lost belonging that pervades modern church …

This week Dan talks to historian and UW-alumnus David Harrisville about his new book, The Virtuous Wehrmacht: Crafting the Myth of the German Soldier …

Featured for the second time on the podcast, Christine Jeske joins John to talk about the anatomy of a crisis, thinking through the concept both …

Dan Johnson is joined by Justin Early to discuss the importance of practices, rhythms, and habits to a healthy life with God, and a healthy family life. Justin calls us to embrace a true freedom—not just the absence of …

Melissa speaks with public theologian and baker Kendall Vanderslice about the intersection of food and theology, food and church life, and the new …

Susan speaks with author Alice Fryling about her new book, Aging Faithfully: The Holy Invitation of Growing Older. The conversation ranges from …

Eric speaks with historian Tal Howard about Tal's new book, The Faith of Others: A History of Interreligious Dialogue (Yale University Press, 2021). They cover Tal's background with the study of history and then embark …

Lea Schweitz (Upper House's Visiting Theologian for our Higher Pursuits Project) sits down with sociologist Felicia Wu Song to discuss technology, …

Returning to our ongoing conversations with Christian artists, Bruce Herman and Bobby Gross discuss the insights of modern art on the nature of God and the human condition. Much of the conversation centers on the work …

In a partner episode with journalist Gordon Govier, we hear from Dr. Jodi Magness about her work as an archeologist in the land of the Bible. They …

In this episode, Reverend Mike Winnowski, pastor at Geneva Campus Church in Madison, sits down with the distinguished artist, educator, and art evangelist Steve Prince. They discuss Steve's influences, his deep …

In this concluding episode of our Inside Upper House series (for now), the script is flipped and Dan is interviewed by Cam Anderson, Associate Director of Upper House. Dan discusses the work he and others are doing to …

In this special episode, Dan Johnson, Director of Technology and Campus Ministry Engagement at Upper House, takes the reins as host as he reports on …

Dan talks with Susan, Upper House's communications manager, on the unique way we understand our thematic areas of interest at Upper House. We call these our pathways. For more on the graphic designer of our pathways …

John sits down with Kirk Morledge, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Waunakee, WI, to celebrate thirty years in the pulpit and a career of …

How does Upper House come up with ideas for the programs we host? In this episode of Inside Upper House, Dan, Dan, and Melissa discuss the ways they each generate ideas, connect those ideas with Upper House audiences, …

Dan talks with historian David Fields, associate director of the Center for East Asian Studies at UW-Madison. They discuss David's background and training and then dive into his 2019 book, Foreign Friends: Syngman Rhee, …

Dan Johnson, our Director of Technology and Campus Ministry Engagement, shares about the ecosystem of campus ministries at UW-Madison and the ways …

Greg Cootsona talks with psychologist Pamela Ebstyne King on her new book, co-authored with Justin Barrett, Thriving with Stone Age Minds: …

Dan talks to the Co-directors of Science for the Church, Greg Cootsona and Drew Rick-Miller. We take the occasion here to focus on their organization, its mission, and its partnership with Upper House. Sign up for …

In this Upper House virtual event from earlier this year, Dr. Edgardo Rosado of the Ciencia, Fe y Esperanza Initiative speaks with Greg Cootsona, …

In this Upper House talk from September 2018, Dr. Praveen Sethupathy explains the science surrounding gene editing, CRISPR technology, and the …

John talks with Mark Elsdon, pastor, entrepreneur, author, and a fellow religious worker on the campus of UW-Madison. Mark discusses his life and his new book, We Aren’t Broke: Uncovering Hidden Resources for Mission …

John and Jean discuss the recent learning cohort they led on Faith & Co. Season 2 (all documentary films available for free), as well as Upper House's broader mission to marketplace leaders in Madison and beyond. 

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In this talk from Upper House's "Worked Up" conference in March, Paige Wiley of Made to Flourish debunks myths surrounding the meaning work, calling, …

Dan sits down with Karl Johnson, executive director of the Consortium of Christian Study Centers, to discuss the bigger movement of study centers that Upper House belongs to. We mention the recently published history of …

John talks with author and pastor Mark Buchanan on his new book, God Walk: Moving at the Speed of Your Soul. They discuss the spiritual practice of …

In this second installment of our new series, Inside Upper House, Dan, Dan, Aiden, and Ilya discuss podcasting at Upper House, and especially our new UpWords Student Voices podcast, which is wrapping up its first …

Historian Lauren Turek, associate professor at Trinity University, joins Dan to discuss her recent book, To Bring the Good News to All Nations: Evangelical Influence on Human Rights and U.S. Foreign Relations (Cornell, …

We're moving to a weekly podcast! Alongside our regular stream of interviews with scholars, leaders, and artists, we're adding more conversations …

Artist Leslie Iwai joins Melissa as they discuss Leslie's path toward becoming an installation artist, the themes and concepts in her work, and art's …

Curtis Chang discusses COVID-19 vaccines and the role that churches can play in the healing of society. He speaks with Science for the Church …

Science for the Church co-founder Drew Rick-Miller interviews Rob Barrett, until recently the chief operating officer of The Colossian Forum, an …

Rebecca hosts a group of multiethnic Christians to reflect on the unique beauties--and challenges--of living out mixed ethnic and cultural …

Melissa speaks with Peter Tan, the Chief Design Officer at Strang, Inc., an award-winning architecture, engineering, interior design and planning firm in Madison, WI. Together they cover the spiritual significance of …

Cam Anderson, Associate Director at Upper House, talks with friend and fellow artist Makoto Fujimura about his new book, Art and Faith: A Theology of …

Eric Carlsson interviews friend and fellow UW history alumnus Paul Grant on Paul's new book, Healing and Power in Ghana: Early Indigenous Expressions …

Melissa recently interviewed anthropologist Christine Jeske about her new book, The Laziness Myth: Narratives of Work and the Good Life in South …

In this episode, Dan talks to historian James Ungureanu about the origins of the "conflict thesis" between faith and science. In his important new book, Science, Religion, and the Protestant Tradition: Retracing the …

Happy MLK Day! In this episode, we replay one of Upper House's speaker events from last October, "Defiant: What the Women of Exodus Teach Us About Freedom" by Kelley Ninkodeha. Kelley is co-director for Communities of …

In this episode, Rebecca talks to LaToya Wilson and Paul Kamps, two participants in Upper House's recent cohort on the practice of lament. They …

In this episode, John talks to Randy Franz and Kenman Wong, two professors at Seattle Pacific University and producers for Faith & Co, a …

In this episode, Science for the Church co-founder Greg Cootsona interviews mathematician, Christian apologist, and Emeritus Professor at the …

In this episode, Melissa talks with Marilyn McEntyre about writing, teaching, and the creative life. Marilyn's work includes Make a List: How a Simple Practice Can Change Our Lives and Open Our Hearts; her most recent …

In this inaugural episode, Dan talks with Darren Dochuk, professor of history at the University of Notre Dame,  about his formation as a historian, his contributions to the history of American evangelicalism, and how he …

Welcome to the official Upper House podcast!