In part one of a two-part conversation, John and Jason are joined by Rob De La Noval, a theology professor at Boston College. The guys connected with Rob after reading three of his articles on teaching theology published in the University of Notre Dame's The Church Life Journal. The discussion centers around the art of teaching introductory theology to modern college students and the necessity of moving away from the traditional "salvation history" approach.

Rob, drawing on Lonerganian philosophy, argues that introductory theology classes shouldn't just be an introduction to an academic discipline, but an introduction to oneself that addresses fundamental human questions—such as "Why do I suffer?" and "Is there an ultimate meaning?". The trio explores the concept of "awareness of God" as discovering one's own seeking and self-presence. They also discuss the need for teachers to have the "smell of the sheep," the necessity of intellectual conversion and returning to a childlike wonder for educators, and how the current cultural zeitgeist of relativism affects the modern classroom.

In this episode, "Just John" flies solo to interview his favorite professor from Duke Divinity School, Dr. Anathea Portier-Young. They discuss her groundbreaking book, "The Prophetic Body: Embodiment and Mediation in Biblical Prophetic Literature," which challenges the traditional "logocentric" view that prophets are merely mouthpieces for a divine message. Instead, Thea argues that prophecy is a deeply embodied experience—involving eating, sleeping, healing, and even the prophet's bones.

The conversation covers a wide range of "nerdy" topics, from Thea’s background as a Latin-loving classicist to the "ferocious" reality of biblical Cherubim (who are definitely not chubby babies). They explore how the physical bodies of prophets like Moses and Isaiah mediate God's presence, the connection between the Old Testament prophets and the Incarnation of Jesus, and how Benedictine asceticism might itself be a prophetic act. John also fondly recalls auditing Thea's "Biblical Bodies" class, which featured memorable discussions on everything from Metatron to Dead Sea Scrolls toilets.

In this episode, John and Jason are joined by Dr. William Portier, a renowned theologian, historian of American Catholicism, and the academic mentor who originally guided Jason into his doctoral program. As the author of "Tradition and Incarnation," a textbook used by nearly every Mount Marty student for the last several years, Dr. Portier helps the hosts unpack the complex relationship between faith and culture.

The conversation begins with Portier’s colorful biography—from entering seminary at age fourteen in Alabama to navigating the chaotic, desk-less classrooms of 1970s high schools, and finally finding his home at Mount St. Mary’s University. They dive deep into the central thesis of his work: the challenge of "Americanism," which reduces religion to a private hobby rather than a shared, public reality. The discussion touches on the loss of external judgment in modern society, the "prophetic body," and the work of his daughter, biblical scholar Anathea Portier-Young.