American Evangelicals blends storytelling and free-flowing conversation to explore the varieties, similarities, and significance of evangelical Christians in American history.

Spanning the religious revivals of the 18th century to the cultural and political conflicts of the 21st, each episode is a conversation grounded in the historical research of its hosts, deep scholarship on American evangelicals, and the lives of real figures who shaped the movement.

The UpWords Podcast features long-form conversations with leading Christian thinkers, authors, and scholars on faith, theology, culture, and the life of the mind. Hosted by a rotating team of thoughtful voices, each episode goes deep on the questions that matter most — for pastors, academics, and curious Christians alike. Since 2020, The UpWords Podcast has been building a community of curious, faithful listeners across the university, the church, and the broader culture. If you're someone who believes the examined life and the life of faith belong together, this podcast is for you.

Walking with God explores how discipleship transforms our lives, the significance of worship, how music has been a conduit for God's presence in our lives, and the importance of vulnerability, prayer, and community within the faith.

(Season 1 ran January to May 2025, and Season 2 ran March to April 2026)

With Faith In Mind is intended for academically-minded, ecumenical Christians. Our goal is to engage listeners with a thoughtful and faith-informed perspective on important issues and big questions that our society faces. We do this by having real conversations with people who have great stories and expertise. In our first series, titled “Christian Education at the Crossroads," we’re interviewing top leaders and scholars in the Christian education space.

(This podcast ran from June through September 2023)

Maggie Capra is a co-host of American Evangelicals - A History Podcast and a scholar of American evangelicalism, with research focused on the intersections of family, theology, culture, and politics. Her teaching interests span language education, Constitutional history, and the American culture wars — reflecting a wide-ranging curiosity and a deep commitment to helping people engage ideas and one another across difference. She holds a B.A. in History from UW–Stevens Point and an M.A. in History from UW–Madison. Outside of her academic work, Maggie coaches a debate team and reads as much fiction as she can get her hands on.

Rebecca Cooks is a host of The UpWords Podcast and Associate Director of Student & Employee Engagement at the Stephen & Laurel Brown Foundation, where she directs the Student Internship Program and teaches in the Upper House Fellows Program. A Chancellor's Scholar and proud UW–Madison alumna, Rebecca has been recognized by Madison365 as one of Wisconsin's Most Influential Black Leaders. Whether mentoring college students, emceeing a conference, or hosting a conversation on the podcast, she brings warmth, curiosity, and a gift for drawing out the best in others.

John Fea is a co-host of American Evangelicals - A History Podcast and a Distinguished Fellow at the Lumen Center at the Stephen & Laurel Brown Foundation. He is Distinguished Professor of History at Messiah University and a Distinguished Lecturer with the Organization of American Historians, with expertise in early American history, American religious history, and evangelicalism. He is the author or editor of six books, and his writing has appeared in outlets including The Atlantic, Christianity Today, and The Washington Post. 

Jean Geran is a host of The UpWords Podcast and Senior Advisor for Foundation Initiatives at the Stephen & Laurel Brown Foundation, where she helps lead the Upper House Fellows Program. She brings deep expertise in human rights, foreign policy, and anti-trafficking work — including experience at the U.S. Department of State and the National Security Council — and has taught at George Washington University and UW–Madison. Jean holds a PhD from UW–Madison and a BSBA from Georgetown.

Dan Hummel is a co-host of American Evangelicals - A History Podcast and is a host of The UpWords Podcast. He is the Director of the Lumen Center at the Stephen & Laurel Brown Foundation. Trained as a historian at UW–Madison, where he also holds a research fellowship in the Department of History, Dan brings scholarly depth to conversations at the intersection of American religion, politics, and culture. He previously held postdoctoral fellowships at Harvard and UW–Madison, and earned his PhD from UW–Madison.

Dan Johnson is a host of The UpWords Podcast and Director of Technology & Media at the Stephen & Laurel Brown Foundation. A Madison-area native who grew up in Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin, Dan spent a decade as a Young Life area director in Iowa and previously restarted a Young Life ministry in Texas, pioneering communications, social media, and technology initiatives across North America. He is passionate about telling stories through media. Dan directs the SLBF STUDIO initiative. 

Tressa Spingler is a host of The UpWords Podcast and serves as Assistant Project Manager at the Stephen & Laurel Brown Foundation, supporting the development of New College Madison and Christian study centers nationwide. She holds a bachelor's degree from Middle Tennessee State University and brings a background in social work and education coordination. Tressa is drawn to SLBF's commitment to hospitality and loves creating spaces where people feel welcomed and connected.

John Terrill is the Executive Director of the Stephen & Laurel Brown Foundation and a host of The UpWords Podcast. He brings decades of experience spanning business, ministry, and academia — including leadership roles with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at Harvard Business School, a professorship at Seattle Pacific University, and management consulting with Korn Ferry. John holds an MBA from Kellogg (Northwestern), master's degrees in theology and religion from Gordon-Conwell, and a PhD in industrial-organizational psychology from SPU. He writes and speaks on faith, higher education, and culture.