Apollos Watered Podcast

#287 | We the Fallen People: Navigating Democracy & Virtue with Robert Tracy McKenzie

June 30, 2026

In this episode, Travis Michael Fleming sits down with historian Dr. Robert Tracy McKenzie to discuss his new book, We the Fallen People, and explore what history can teach Christians about democracy, politics, and human nature. Their conversation traces the development of American democracy from the Founding Fathers through the Jacksonian era, highlighting the contrast […]

#286 | Seeking the Divine: Understanding God in Times of Silence with Jeffery M. Leonard

May 5, 2026

Travis Michael Fleming and Jeff Leonard sit down for an honest, thoughtful conversation about what it’s like to search for God when He feels distant—maybe even hard to find. Drawing from Leonard’s book Seekers in the Hands of an Elusive God, they wrestle with what faith looks like in seasons of uncertainty, doubt, and spiritual […]

#285 | The Rise and Fall of Christian Influence: Lessons for Today with Dr. Brian Stanley

April 28, 2026

The conversation traces what feels like a real shift—Christian influence fading in the West while, at the same time, the church is growing in powerful ways across the Global South. Dr. Stanley points out that the Western church is at a crossroads. We’re dealing with the effects of extreme individualism, and it’s chipped away at […]

#284 | Navigating Secularization: Lessons from France with Dr. Chantal Del Sol

April 21, 2026

This conversation with Dr. Chantal Delsol, centered on her book Prosperity and Torment in France, gets at something really important—why people can have so much materially and still feel deeply unsatisfied. Drawing from her Catholic intellectual tradition, she brings a thoughtful and deeply formed perspective to the question of meaning in modern life. One of […]

#283 | Reimagining Church: The Power of the Strategically Small Church with Brandon J. O’Brien

April 14, 2026

This conversation between Travis Michael Fleming and Brandon J. O’Brien really highlights the power and potential of smaller churches, drawing from O’Brien’s book The Strategically Small Church. It pushes back on the common idea that bigger automatically means better, and instead shows how smaller congregations actually have unique strengths that often get overlooked. O’Brien makes […]

#282 | Exploring God’s Sabbath: A Deep Dive into Creation with James W. Skillen

April 7, 2026

This episode really digs into the meaning of God’s Sabbath in the story of Creation. Travis Michael Fleming and James W. Skillen explore the idea that the story of history isn’t just about individual salvation—it’s much bigger than that. It’s about humanity’s role as stewards within God’s creation. Skillen pushes back on the idea that […]

#281 | Rethinking Faith in a Secular Age: Challenges and Opportunities with Michael Goheen & Mark Sayers

March 31, 2026

Travis Michael Fleming, Mike Goheen, and Mark Sayers dig into some of the biggest thought barriers shaping our culture right now—especially around secularization and what it means for the future of the Christian faith. They explore the deeper stories that quietly shape how people see the world and make decisions, often without even realizing it. […]

#280 | New Creation Community Divided by Faith with Michael O. Emerson

March 24, 2026

Travis Michael Fleming sits down with Michael O. Emerson for an honest and engaging conversation about Divided by Faith and the ongoing reality of racial division in the American church. Together, they unpack some of the assumptions many of us carry about the gospel and God’s kingdom, gently challenging listeners to see how a bigger, […]

#279 | Beyond Division: The Church as a New Creation Community

March 17, 2026

Travis Michael Fleming and Dr. Derwin Gray discuss the multi-ethnic church and why it’s central to the Gospel. They explore how the church as a new creation community isn’t just a modern ministry strategy—it’s a deeply biblical vision rooted in the heart of God. Drawing from the Apostle Paul’s teaching in Ephesians, they discuss how […]

#278 | The Reason for Church with Brad Edwards

March 10, 2026

We’re back! Travis Michael Fleming talks with Brad Edwards about his book The Reason for Church and why politics has replaced the church as a primary source of meaning in modern life. They also discuss how the Boomer-era embrace of market theology turned the church into a consumer product—and how recovering a deeper vision of […]