November Commentary

Small Habits, Big Faith: How Daily Practices Shape Your Life

What do habits, anxiety, and culture wars have in common? More than you think. Glenn, Mike, and guest Dustin Hacker discuss why the future belongs to those who rise above the noise—and how simple, daily practices like prayer and Scripture reading can quietly transform your life. This episode blends cultural insight with practical wisdom for building a resilient, faith-filled life.

Solitude, Tigers, and the Mental Health Crisis

What do we need to be paying attention to?  Better yet, what do we need to be ignoring? Mike, Harold and Glenn all share their answers. From there, the conversation moves through the disciplines of solitude (how to actually do it), the art of critical ignoring (what should we be blocking out?), and why there are more tigers in private U.S. facilities than in the wild.  Also: Why Mike now thinks some problems aren't meant to be solved, just managed. Harold's record studio in Memphis (coolest thing ever?). And why facing the worst outcome—and realizing "it's still okay"—might be the most helpful (and least appreciated) advice Mike gives. This podcast is a Lakelight Institute [https://www.lakelight.com/] Production.  Thoughts? Guest Suggestions? Email us at info@lakelightinstitute.com [info@lakelightinstitute.com]

November Commentary

Glenn, Mike and Harold are back—and this time, they're tackling the questions that actually matter: Why aren't more people coming to faith? What's holding them back? And what happens when Harvard gives 60% A's? After a month of Harold leading Lakelight as interim president (yes, there's a jet—sort of), the team digs into objections to Christianity, the ethics of fighting back, and whether grades even matter anymore. Also: Why Jonathan Rauch—a "gay, Jewish atheist"—now thinks Christianity's collapse is a disaster for society. And whether remedial math at UC San Diego proves we've lost the plot on education entirely. This podcast is a Lakelight Institute Production [https://www.lakelight.com/]. Thoughts? Guest Suggestions? Email us at info@lakelightinstitute.com [info@lakelightinstitute.com]

October Commentary

Mike and Glenn welcome Harold Smith to the Friday Update Commentary for his debut episode—and he doesn't hold back. Harold, Glenn and Mike have a wide-ranging conversation about courage, culture, and what happens when society loses its meaning. What You'll Hear: * Harold's Take on the Friday Update - What he likes and what he doesn't about Mike's newsletter. * The Rusty Reno debrief - Why bold conversations are harder than they look, and more necessary now than ever. *  Talent Vs Hard Work- Glenn asks Mike and Harold if they've known anyone whose success was due to talent alone. * What divides us most? - Politics? Religion? Media habits? The team debates which identity marker shapes us most deeply (spoiler: it's probably not what you think) * The lies we believe about God - From the "mollified Jesus" to cheap universalism, what are the misconceptions about God which are widespread today? This podcast is a Lakelight Institute Production [https://www.lakelight.com/].  Thoughts? Guest Suggestions? Email us at info@lakelightinstitute.com [info@lakelightinstitute.com]

September Commentary

Have you changed your mind on an important topic in the last 5 years? If so, how? That is the opening question for today's episode. Mike, Ben and Glenn, per usual, take the conversation in different directions. Beyond that, we'll also discuss: * How people come back to church: What Alpha is getting right—relational invites, a compelling launch night, and real scarcity that signals value. * Reading for depth: Why long books form deeper thinkers (with picks from Adler, Alan Jacobs, Dostoevsky, Tom Holland, and more). * A faithful posture: Navigating today’s tensions without panic or apathy—the “men of Issachar” approach to understanding our times. This podcast is a Lakelight Institute [https://www.lakelight.com/] Production.  Thoughts? Guest Suggestions? email us at info@lakelightinstitute.com.