The Alisa Childers Podcast

Today I’m joined by John Stonestreet from the Colson Center for a conversation about what’s happening to the West—and why so much of our cultural confusion suddenly seems to “make sense” once you understand the deeper worldview battle underneath it.

We talk about why civilizations are built around shared principles, and what happens when a society tries to keep the “fruit” of those principles—human rights, equality, dignity, freedom—while severing the roots that made them possible. John explains why the chaos and strange alliances we’ve seen in recent years aren’t random, but often share a common goal: undermining Western civilization itself.

John offers practical guidance for living faithfully in a hostile culture: refusing to repeat what isn’t true, being willing to have hard conversations, trusting God with outcomes, and asking four questions in your own sphere of influence: What’s good to protect? What’s evil to oppose? What’s broken to restore? What’s missing to contribute?

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This video is sponsored by:

GOOD RANCHERS
American Meat Delivered
Go to https://go.goodranchers.com/alisa for more information.
Use my code: ALISA

SUMMIT
Give your kids a stronger foundation to embrace a biblical worldview.
Go to www.summit.org for more information
Use my code: ALISA26

FOUNDATION WORLDVIEW
Foundation Worldview creates curriculum series that will empower your child to think
Biblically in a deceptive world. 
Go to www.foundationworldview.com for more information! 
Use my code: ALISA

SEVEN WEEKS COFFEE
Taste the Coffee that is Saving Lives.
Save up to 25% with promo code 'ALISA' & get up to four FREE gifts this Christmas season: http://www.sevenweekscoffee.com/
Use my code: ALISA

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To Purchase the new CD, “Beauty from the Ash”, go to www.alisachilders.com/music
There you can get the CD, backing tracks, string charts, rhythm charts and stems.

Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/alisachilders

To order “Another Gospel”: www.alisachilders.com/another-gospel/
To order “Live Your Truth": www.alisachilders.com/live-your-truth-and-other-lies/
To order “The Deconstruction of Christianity”: https://alisachilders.com/the-deconstruction-of-christianity/

For Alisa's Merch: https://alisachilders.creator-spring.com

To see what gear Alisa uses to record her podcast, go to:
https://kit.co/alisachilders

Potential Sponsors: https://alisachilders.com/sponsor-request-form/

Product links are affiliate links which means if you buy something we'll receive a small commission.

Today’s conversation is a candid and at times sobering look inside the contemporary Christian music industry—where calling, platform, pressure, and spiritual warfare often collide. My guest is Michael O’Brien, beloved solo artist from the ’90s and former lead singer of NewSong. Michael opens up about the grueling pace of life on the road, the hidden sins that nearly cost him his marriage, and how the Lord used conviction, repentance, counseling, and a renewed love for Scripture to rebuild what was breaking.

We also talk honestly about the “machine” that can form around Christian celebrity, how easy it is for sin to stay buried in public ministry, and why true reform in the Christian music world won’t come through branding—but through humility, servant leadership, and gospel purity. Along the way, we discuss the current cultural moment, the renewed interest in church and Christianity, and why discernment is more important than ever—especially for brand-new believers who are hungry, hopeful, and vulnerable to bad theology.

------------------------------------------------------------------
This video is sponsored by:

SUMMIT
Give your kids a stronger foundation to embrace a biblical worldview.
Go to www.summit.org for more information
Use my code: ALISA26

BRAVE BOOKS
Entertainment that Engages the Imagination for Good.  
Go to www.bravebooks.com/childers for more information
Use my code: CHILDERS

GOOD RANCHERS
American Meat Delivered
Go to https://go.goodranchers.com/alisa for more information.
Use my code: ALISA

--------------------------------------------------------------------

To Purchase the new CD, “Beauty from the Ash”, go to www.alisachilders.com/music
There you can get the CD, backing tracks, string charts, rhythm charts and stems.

Support us on Patreon:  www.patreon.com/alisachilders

To order “Another Gospel”:  www.alisachilders.com/another-gospel/
To order “Live Your Truth":  www.alisachilders.com/live-your-truth-and-other-lies/
To order “The Deconstruction of Christianity”: https://alisachilders.com/the-deconstruction-of-christianity/

For Alisa's Merch: https://alisachilders.creator-spring.com

To see what gear Alisa uses to record her podcast, go to:
https://kit.co/alisachilders

Potential Sponsors: https://alisachilders.com/sponsor-request-form/

Product links are affiliate links which means if you buy something we'll receive a small commission.

This is the first episode of the New Year, and I'm starting with a deep dive into how progressive Christianity approaches the Bible.

In this episode, Natasha Crain and I walk through Better Ways to Read the Bible by progressive Christian pastor Zach Lambert, using it as a case study to examine common progressive claims about Scripture. Lambert argues that the Bible is often read through “harmful lenses” and should instead be read through new “healing” ones. While we agree that the Bible has been misused in real and damaging ways, we explain why his proposed solutions create more confusion than clarity.

We discuss the critical difference between:
The nature of Scripture (inspiration, inerrancy, authority)
The interpretation of Scripture (how we determine meaning)

Along the way, we address:
Why “literalism” is often misrepresented in progressive theology
How progressive Christianity reframes hell, sin, and judgment
Moralism vs. legalism—and what Scripture actually teaches about grace
Liberation theology, critical theory, and power-based readings of the Bible
The misuse of “fruit” language to justify affirming what Scripture calls sin
Why progressive Christians still identify as Christian—and why sincerity is not the same as truth

This conversation is not about motives or tone. It’s about theology, presuppositions, and whether the progressive framework is consistent with the historic Christian faith.
We’re starting the year by going back to first principles: what the Bible is, how it should be read, and why those questions matter.

In this very special episode, I’m reunited with my ZOEgirl bandmates, Kristin Schweain and Chrissy Katina, to celebrate 25 years since our very first self-titled album released back in 2000. If you remember us as the “Christian Spice Girls” for tween girls, this one is for you! And even if you’ve never heard our music, I think you’ll be encouraged by three former CCM artists who are still walking with Jesus in an age of deconstruction.

We share big news: ZOEgirl has written and recorded a brand-new song that will release in January, in honor of our 25-year anniversary. We talk about what it was like to re-enter the studio together after all these years, and we give life updates on what’s happened since we came off the road around 2008—family, ministry, photography, worship leading, and more.

We also get honest about the darker side of the Christian music industry—the body-image pressures, the pull toward “mainstream-friendly” lyrics, and what it was like to watch so many fellow artists deconstruct or walk away from the faith. Kristin shares the powerful pro-life story of her son Callum’s high-risk pregnancy and the pressure she faced to abort. Chrissy talks about years-long health struggles, losing her voice, and what God taught her in a long season of “just listening.”

Finally, all three of us answer a simple but profound question: “Why do you still believe?” We talk about sin, grace, the reliability of the gospel, and why Christianity isn’t just comforting...it’s true. If you grew up on ZOEgirl, or if you’re trying to stand firm in your faith in a culture that’s increasingly hostile to biblical Christianity, this episode is for you.

Stay connected with ZOEgirl:
Follow us on Instagram: @zoegirlmusicofficial
Find us on Facebook under ZOEgirl Music Official
Join us on our 2026 cruise (Oct 3–8) – details and registration at https://thekatinas.com/pages/the-kati...

------------------------------------------------------------------
This video is sponsored by:

SEVEN WEEKS COFFEE
Taste the Coffee that is Saving Lives.
Save up to 25% with promo code 'ALISA' & get up to four FREE gifts this Christmas season: http://www.sevenweekscoffee.com/
Use my code: ALISA

FOUNDATION WORLDVIEW
Foundation Worldview creates curriculum series that will empower your child to think
Biblically in a deceptive world. 
Go to www.foundationworldview.com for more information! 
Use my code: ALISA

GOOD RANCHERS
American Meat Delivered
Go to www.goodranchers.com/alisa for more information.
Back to the Table: https://pitch.com/v/back-to-the-table-for-partners-t346uj 
Use my code: ALISA

--------------------------------------------------------------------

To Purchase the new CD, “Beauty from the Ash”, go to www.alisachilders.com/music
There you can get the CD, backing tracks, string charts, rhythm charts and stems.

Support us on Patreon:  www.patreon.com/alisachilders

To order “Another Gospel”:  www.alisachilders.com/another-gospel/
To order “Live Your Truth":  www.alisachilders.com/live-your-truth-and-other-lies/
To order “The Deconstruction of Christianity”: https://alisachilders.com/the-deconstruction-of-christianity/

For Alisa's Merch: https://alisachilders.creator-spring.com

To see what gear Alisa uses to record her podcast, go to:
https://kit.co/alisachilders

Potential Sponsors: https://alisachilders.com/sponsor-request-form/

Product links are affiliate links which means if you buy something we'll receive a small commission.

When motherhood feels more like a thousand little deaths to self than the glossy highlight reel on Instagram, is it really worth it?

In this episode, I’m joined by my friend Abby Halberstadt, better known as M is for Mama, to talk about her new book, You Bet Your Stretch Marks: Finding Beauty and Worth in the Ways Motherhood Marks Our Bodies and Souls. Abby is a mom of 10, a fitness instructor, and a deeply theologically grounded voice speaking into the chaos of modern motherhood. Together we tackle comparison, cultural backlash, “honest motherhood,” and what it really means to live as a faithful, joyful mom in a world that often treats children like a burden instead of a blessing.

We talk about:
Why our “marks” (stretch marks, scars, sleepless nights, and hidden sacrifices) can be beautiful testimonies of love, not flaws to hide
How to push back against a culture that normalizes complaining, victimhood, and joking about hating motherhood
The difference between rejoicing in all things and enjoying all things
How our words, attitudes, and even facial expressions shape the spiritual atmosphere of our homes
Comparison, social media, and what to do when people accuse you of being “fake,” “toxic positive,” or “doing it for the ’gram”
Training our kids with a long view of legacy parenting—seeing everyday faithfulness as an investment in generations we may never meet
Why obedience to Christ in the hidden, thankless moments is always worth it, even when our feelings lag behind our theology
Abby also shares personal stories of suffering, health struggles, miscarriages, and how God’s kindness and sovereignty sustained her through it all. If you’re a mom who’s tired, discouraged, or tempted to believe the lie that you’re “not enough,” this conversation is for you.

???? Resources mentioned:
Abby’s book: You Bet Your Stretch Marks: Finding Beauty and Worth in the Ways Motherhood Marks Our Bodies and Souls
Abby online: @m.is.for.mama on Instagram and the M is for Mama podcast
If this episode encourages you, consider sharing it with a tired mom friend who needs to be reminded that her quiet, daily faithfulness really does matter—and yes, it’s worth it.

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This video is sponsored by:

RANGE LEATHER
American-Made Craftsmanship from Wyoming
Go to www.rangeleather.com for more information
Use my code: ALISA

BRAVE BOOKS
Entertainment that Engages the Imagination for Good. 
Go to www.bravebooks.com/childers for more information
Use my code: CHILDERS

SUMMIT
Give your kids a stronger foundation to embrace a biblical worldview.
Go to www.summit.org for more information
Use my code: ALISA26

--------------------------------------------------------------------

To Purchase the new CD, “Beauty from the Ash”, go to www.alisachilders.com/music
There you can get the CD, backing tracks, string charts, rhythm charts and stems.

Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/alisachilders

To order “Another Gospel”: www.alisachilders.com/another-gospel/
To order “Live Your Truth": www.alisachilders.com/live-your-truth-and-other-lies/
To order “The Deconstruction of Christianity”: https://alisachilders.com/the-deconstruction-of-christianity/

For Alisa's Merch: https://alisachilders.creator-spring.com

To see what gear Alisa uses to record her podcast, go to:
https://kit.co/alisachilders

Potential Sponsors: https://alisachilders.com/sponsor-request-form/

Product links are affiliate links which means if you buy something we'll receive a small commission.