Faith, Politics, and our Cultural Climate

Right-Sizing Holiday Expectations

In this episode of the RearViewMirror Podcast, Jeff and Steve look ahead to the holiday season—from how they cook their turkeys to navigating Christmas shopping for grown kids. They reflect on how gift-giving shifts as kids grow up, and how the pressure of the season can land differently on young adults and young families. Jeff and Steve encourage parents to give their adult children space, remembering that “quality time” is rarely possible without a quantity of time together. And that time together often needs to be more on the kids' timetable than the parents. They talk honestly about changing expectations, traditions that fade, new ones that emerge, and the simple beauty of being present. Because making memories doesn’t happen in orchestrated “special moments”—it happens through consistent, ordinary moments with our eyes wide open. This episode is an invitation to right-size expectations, release pressure, and receive the holidays as they come.

An In-person Roundtable for Listeners

In this episode, Jeff and Steve look back at the small groups and mentors who have shaped their lives in profound ways. They talk candidly about why every man needs a circle where he can be known, encouraged, challenged, and given space to process life in real time. Near the end, they float a new idea: Rearview Mirror Roundtables—in-person, small-group gatherings designed to help men do exactly what the podcast invites them into. It’s a soft ask, but an important one: if you’d like to be part of a focus or beta group as we explore this concept, let us know. Your voice could help shape what comes next. Email at: rearviewmirror25@gmail.com [rearviewmirror25@gmail.com]

Mapping Your Midlife Journey

In this episode of The Rearview Mirror Podcast, Jeff and Steve begin by wrapping up their recent conversation on leadership, tying together key insights about influence, growth, and self-awareness. From there, they shift gears to explore LifeMapping, a two-day intensive Jeff offers that helps people reflect on where they’ve been, where they are, and where they want to go in their careers, relationships, and lives. The conversation centers on the midlife season—not as a specific age, but as a pivotal stage of transformation. Drawing on Richard Rohr’s Journey of Transformation, Jeff and Steve discuss the three possible paths we can take during this time: doubling down and doing more the same thing, giving up and living an Eeyore life of resignation and self-pity, or embracing the deeper work of spiritual and personal growth and renewal. The episode offers practical wisdom and honest reflection for anyone navigating life’s “middle chapters” and wondering what’s next.

Does Everything Really Rise and Fall on Leadership?

On this episode of The Rear View Mirror Podcast, Jeff and Steve kick things off swapping stories about Steve’s basketball days and the upcoming Tennessee (Jeff’s team) vs. Arkansas (Steve’s team) showdown. From there, they look back at the 50th anniversaries of Saturday Night Live and Willow Creek Community Church, with a fun detour into 1970s disco and Jeff’s homecoming dance memories. But the heart of the episode is a deep and honest conversation about leadership. They ask some big questions — does everything really rise and fall on leadership? Is it about power and authority, or character and service? Can the two actually come together? Jeff and Steve explore the differences and similarities between corporate and church leadership, and even talk about the dangers of making leadership an idol. It’s a mix of nostalgia, laughter, and thoughtful insight — the kind of conversation that makes you think long after the episode ends.

Faith, Politics, and our Cultural Climate

In this conversation, Jeff and Steve reflect on the shifting cultural climate in America—especially the growing polarization and the ways politics and faith are often intertwined. They begin by acknowledging their own limitations in fully grasping all that’s happening, yet they share observations from their lifetimes: the loss of decorum in dialogue, the struggle to hold paradox, and the troubling trend of “Christian” becoming more of an adjective than a noun. While they affirm their love for America and honor those who serve in politics, they also express concern about the dangers of conflating politics with Christianity. Ultimately, they point to the Gospel as the true priority and remind us of the call in Hebrews 13:16: “Do good and share”—perhaps the greatest impact we can have in such divided times.