The Faith and Science Podcast

4-19-26 - Unlocking the Gift: What Gene Therapy Teaches Us About Faith in Action

These are the readings for the 3rd Sunday of Easter  The readings this Sunday are Acts 2:14a, 36-41, Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19, 1 Peter 1:17-23, and Luke 24:13-35. This week we explore the Third Sunday of Easter through the lens of the Road to Emmaus story, where two disciples walk with the risen Jesus without recognizing him until he breaks bread. The podcast connects this theme of sudden recognition and transformation to a groundbreaking gene therapy trial that restored hearing in deaf patients by delivering a missing protein-producing gene directly into the ear. Just as those patients had all the right structures to hear but lacked one crucial element, the podcast argues that Christ has already removed the barriers between us and God — the real question is what we do with that gift. Listeners are challenged to reflect on where they are truly living into their God-given talents and where they still have room to grow.  Let me know what you think of it.
Remember to answer this week's question:Where have you lived into your talents, and where do you still need to grow? #FaithandSciPod
If you're wanting to hear other podcasts on these texts check out:  4-23-23 - A Time for Metamorphosis4-26-20 - The Journey of Faith/Science
I look forward to all of your feedback,Tyler Bublitz
Music used in the podcast:March On by Silent PartnerPorches and Universes by Puddle of Infinity
Social Media:X: @FaithandSciPodFacebook Group: Faith and Science Podcast GroupFacebook Company Page: The Faith and Science PodcastLinkedIn: Faith and Science PodcastEmail: thefaithandsciencepodcast@gmail.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FaithandSciPod
References:The Green Blades Preaching Roundtable (Weekly) or Green Blades Rising Publications (Monthly) reach out to ecofaith@nemnsynod.org and say which you would like to sign up for! - https://nemnsynod.org/ecofaith-network/    https://www.ecofaithnetwork.org/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8HZw4AbttQ&list=LL&index=5https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-025-03773-w

4-12-26 - Wired for Resurrection

The readings this Sunday are Acts 2:14a, 22-32, Psalm 16, 1 Peter 1:3-9, and John 20:19-31. This week we dive into the Second Sunday of Easter and the familiar story of Thomas — but maybe not in the way you've heard it before. Rather than seeing Thomas as a doubter, we explore how his struggle mirrors something happening in his brain: neuroplasticity, the brain's remarkable ability to rewire and transform itself. Just like our neurons need time, repetition, and new experiences to change, Thomas needed time to grapple with a resurrection that shattered everything he thought he knew. Join us as we discover how the neuroplasticity God wired into our brains is the very same process He uses to grow us deeper in faith.  Let me know what you think of it.
Remember to answer this week's question:Where has God drastically changed your life in a moment's notice?  What happened? #FaithandSciPod
If you're wanting to hear other podcasts on these texts check out:  4-16-23 - Quantum Leaps vs Classic Understanding4-19-20 - Transformation All Around Us!
I look forward to all of your feedback,Tyler Bublitz
Music used in the podcast:March On by Silent PartnerPorches and Universes by Puddle of Infinity
Social Media:X: @FaithandSciPodFacebook Group: Faith and Science Podcast GroupFacebook Company Page: The Faith and Science PodcastLinkedIn: Faith and Science PodcastEmail: thefaithandsciencepodcast@gmail.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FaithandSciPod
References:The Green Blades Preaching Roundtable (Weekly) or Green Blades Rising Publications (Monthly) reach out to ecofaith@nemnsynod.org and say which you would like to sign up for! - https://nemnsynod.org/ecofaith-network/    https://www.ecofaithnetwork.org/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8wW1t1JqUchttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNHBMFCzznEhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esPRsT-lmw8&t=665s

4-5-26 - Surprised by Joy: A Faith and Science Look at the Resurrection

These are the readings for Resurrection Sunday/Easter Sunday.  The readings for Palm Sunday are Acts 10:34-43 or Jeremiah 31:1-6, Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24, Colossians 3:1-4 or Acts 10:34-43, John 20:1-18 or Matthew 28:1-10.  The readings for Easter Evenings are Isaiah 25:6-9, Psalm 114, 1 Corinthians 5:6b-8, and Luke 24:13-49. This Easter Sunday, we dig into the resurrection accounts from John, Matthew, and Luke while exploring a fascinating question: what was actually happening in the disciples' brains when they encountered the risen Christ? From the neuroscience of grief and surprise to the joy-releasing power of dopamine and oxytocin, we explore how the biological and the spiritual connect in a powerful way. Whether you're hearing the Easter story for the first time or the 451st time, this episode will challenge us to ask: how are we living as Easter people consistently? Join us as we uncover how science helps us understand why the resurrection was designed to transform us from the inside out. Let me know what you think of it.
Remember to answer this week's question:How are you being an Easter person consistently? #FaithandSciPod
If you're wanting to hear other podcasts on these texts check out:  4-9-23 - The Impossible becomes Possible!4-12-2020 - The hope we need like the American Robin or Mary('s)
I look forward to all of your feedback,Tyler Bublitz
Music used in the podcast:March On by Silent PartnerPorches and Universes by Puddle of Infinity
Social Media:X: @FaithandSciPodFacebook Group: Faith and Science Podcast GroupFacebook Company Page: The Faith and Science PodcastLinkedIn: Faith and Science PodcastEmail: thefaithandsciencepodcast@gmail.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FaithandSciPod
 
References:The Green Blades Preaching Roundtable (Weekly) or Green Blades Rising Publications (Monthly) reach out to ecofaith@nemnsynod.org and say which you would like to sign up for! - https://nemnsynod.org/ecofaith-network/    https://www.ecofaithnetwork.org/https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6055807/https://psychology.northwestern.edu/people/faculty/core/profiles/ann_rvw_psy_2014.pdfhttps://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-025-09208-zhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0149763420306801https://www.researchgate.net/publication/41001209_Friston_KJ_The_free-energy_principle_a_unified_brain_theory_Nat_Rev_Neurosci_11_127-138https://journals.plos.org/ploscompbiol/article?id=10.1371/journal.pcbi.1006267https://elifesciences.org/articles/85111https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0361923023000862https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7442719/https://www.sciopen.com/article/10.26599/BSA.2025.905001

3-29-26 - Your Brain in a Mob: The Neuroscience of Holy Week

These are the readings for 6th Sunday in Lent/ Palm Sunday/Passion Sunday.  The readings for Palm Sunday are Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29, and Matthew 21:1-11.  The readings for Passion Sunday are Isaiah 50:4-9a, Psalm 31:9-16, Philippians 2:5-11, and Matthew 26:14-27:66 or Matthew 27:11-54. This week we start with Palm Sunday beginning with shouts of 'Hosanna' and ends with cries of 'Crucify him' — and the science of crowd psychology helps explain how that dramatic shift happens so quickly. In this episode, we explore the neuroscience of deindividuation, the bystander effect, and how group dynamics shaped not only the crowds of Holy Week but also Peter's three denials. Understanding how our brains behave in crowds gives us fresh insight into why Jesus repeatedly urged his disciples to pray, prepare, and stay awake. This Holy Week, the question for all of us is: when the pressure of the crowd builds, are we living a faith of conviction or a faith of convenience  Let me know what you think of it.
Remember to answer this week's question:When have you been with a group of people and changed your opinion — for better or for worse? #FaithandSciPod
If you're wanting to hear other podcasts on these texts check out:  4-2-23 - Crucifixion of the Environment?4-5-2020 - Jesus was the Null Hypothesis to the Jews!
I look forward to all of your feedback,Tyler Bublitz
Music used in the podcast:March On by Silent PartnerPorches and Universes by Puddle of Infinity
Social Media:X: @FaithandSciPodFacebook Group: Faith and Science Podcast GroupFacebook Company Page: The Faith and Science PodcastLinkedIn: Faith and Science PodcastEmail: thefaithandsciencepodcast@gmail.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FaithandSciPod
References:The Green Blades Preaching Roundtable (Weekly) or Green Blades Rising Publications (Monthly) reach out to ecofaith@nemnsynod.org and say which you would like to sign up for! - https://nemnsynod.org/ecofaith-network/    https://www.ecofaithnetwork.org/https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/23311908.2017.1308104https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5qApIjNLXY

3-22-26 - Lazarus and the Platypus

The readings for 5th Sunday in Lent are Ezekiel 37:1-14, Psalm 130, Romans 8:6-11, and John 11:1-45. This week we ask, "What do dry bones, a risen Lazarus, and the return of platypuses to an Australian national park have in common?" In this week's episode, we explores this subject by drawing powerful connections between the lectionary texts and real-world wildlife conservation success stories that remind us restoration is possible even when all hope seems lost. Just as Jesus went to the tomb when it seemed too late, we are called as Christians to keep going, keep working, and keep believing in the resilience of both our faith and God's creation.   Let me know what you think of it.
Remember to answer this week's question:Where do we need to keep going, even when it seems hopeless? #FaithandSciPod
If you're wanting to hear other podcasts on these texts check out:  3-26-23 - God’s Timing vs. Ours3-29-20 - The Process of Being Unbound
I look forward to all of your feedback,Tyler Bublitz
Music used in the podcast:March On by Silent PartnerPorches and Universes by Puddle of Infinity
Social Media:X: @FaithandSciPodFacebook Group: Faith and Science Podcast GroupFacebook Company Page: The Faith and Science PodcastLinkedIn: Faith and Science PodcastEmail: thefaithandsciencepodcast@gmail.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FaithandSciPod
References:The Green Blades Preaching Roundtable (Weekly) or Green Blades Rising Publications (Monthly) reach out to ecofaith@nemnsynod.org and say which you would like to sign up for! - https://nemnsynod.org/ecofaith-network/    https://www.ecofaithnetwork.org/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989425006389https://www.unsw.edu.au/newsroom/news/2024/03/platypuses-reintroduced-royal-national-park-new-member-familyhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989425000290https://www.npca.org/articles/880-9-wildlife-success-storieshttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4275297/https://cases.open.ubc.ca/w17t2cons200-14/https://www.nwf.org/Our-Work/Wildlife-Conservation/Success-Storieshttps://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/eva.13629https://www.oneearth.org/six-successful-rewilding-stories-from-around-the-world/https://journeyswithpurpose.org/animal-conservation-success-stories/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0006320724000089https://www.ecotoneinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/aldo-leopold-tlam.pdfhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_Spring

3-15-26 - Let the Light In

The readings for 4th Sunday in Lent are 1 Samuel 16:1-13, Psalm 23, Ephesians 5:8-14, and John 9:1-41. This week we explore how the healing of the man born blind in John 9 challenges us to stay open to miracles rather than getting caught up in rules and technicalities — just like the Pharisees did. Drawing a striking parallel to the Prisma visual prosthesis, a cutting-edge microchip implant showing early promise in restoring sight to those with macular degeneration, we get to celebrate what is accomplished rather than dismissing it for falling short of perfection. Woven throughout is a timely reflection on cynicism — in our faith, in our relationship with science, and in our everyday lives — and a call to let the light in, even when it arrives in unexpected ways.  Let me know what you think of it.
Remember to answer this week's question:Where do you need to be less cynical? #FaithandSciPod
If you're wanting to hear other podcasts on these texts check out:  3-19-23 - Changing our Relationship3-22-20 - How Quick We are to Judge!
I look forward to all of your feedback,Tyler Bublitz
Music used in the podcast:March On by Silent PartnerPorches and Universes by Puddle of Infinity
Social Media:X: @FaithandSciPodFacebook Group: Faith and Science Podcast GroupFacebook Company Page: The Faith and Science PodcastLinkedIn: Faith and Science PodcastEmail: thefaithandsciencepodcast@gmail.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FaithandSciPod
References:The Green Blades Preaching Roundtable (Weekly) or Green Blades Rising Publications (Monthly) reach out to ecofaith@nemnsynod.org and say which you would like to sign up for! - https://nemnsynod.org/ecofaith-network/    https://www.ecofaithnetwork.org/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtQX7uMp03s&list=LL&index=2https://www.ophthalmologytimes.com/view/prima-retinal-implant-restores-vision-in-patients-with-advanced-gahttps://www.brightfocus.org/resource/the-latest-developments-in-retinal-implants/https://asquaresolution.com/blog/prisma-prima-retinal-implant-reading-vision-breakthrough/https://science.xyz/technologies/prima/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-04CIvXhVpohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQDYdqn59VEhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newton%27s_laws_of_motionhttps://www.britannica.com/topic/criterion-of-falsifiability
 

3-8-26 - Living Water, Living Ecosystems

The readings for 3rd Sunday in Lent are Exodus 17:1-7, Psalm 95, Romans 5:1-11, and John 4:5-42. This week we explore the texts through the lens of ecology and the encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well. Drawing on the concept of indicator species and cryptic species, we unpack how Jesus sees the true value in someone her community had written off as insignificant. Just as ecologists use certain species to reveal the hidden health of an ecosystem, Jesus reveals the deeper worth of this overlooked woman — and through that, transforms an entire community.  Let me know what you think of it.
Remember to answer this week's question:Who is or what is an indicator species to you in your community? #FaithandSciPod
If you're wanting to hear other podcasts on these texts check out:  3-12-23 - Don’t overlook ”Waste”3-15-20 - God is in COVID-19
I look forward to all of your feedback,Tyler Bublitz
Music used in the podcast:March On by Silent PartnerPorches and Universes by Puddle of Infinity
Social Media:X: @FaithandSciPodFacebook Group: Faith and Science Podcast GroupFacebook Company Page: The Faith and Science PodcastLinkedIn: Faith and Science PodcastEmail: thefaithandsciencepodcast@gmail.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FaithandSciPod
References:The Green Blades Preaching Roundtable (Weekly) or Green Blades Rising Publications (Monthly) reach out to ecofaith@nemnsynod.org and say which you would like to sign up for! - https://nemnsynod.org/ecofaith-network/    https://www.ecofaithnetwork.org/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/265509015_Differentiation_of_white-footed_mice_Peromyscus_leucopus_and_deer_mice_Peromyscus_maniculatus_of_the_Upper_Midwest_using_PCR_melt_curve_analysishttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0003269716301579https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_spotted_owlhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioindicatorhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Species_complex#Cryptic_specieshttps://ecology.wa.gov/blog/july-2024/high-quality-insectshttps://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-social-connection-advisory.pdf

3-1-26 - Faith in the Dark

The readings for 2nd Sunday in Lent are Genesis 12:1-4a, Psalm 121, Romans 4:1-5, 13-17, and John 3:1-17 or Matthew 17:1-9. This week we wrestle with what it means to trust beyond what we can see, both in our faith and in the cosmos, as we explore the fascinating and mind-bending science of dark matter and dark energy. Just as Nicodemus struggled to grasp what Jesus was showing him, scientists today can detect forces shaping our entire universe without being able to directly observe them. It's a Lenten week meant for grappling, and we're leaning all the way in.  Let me know what you think of it.
Remember to answer this week's question:What are you grappling with? #FaithandSciPod
If you're wanting to hear other podcasts on these texts check out:  3-5-23 - Changing our Perspective3-8-20 - Having Faith like Birds and Trees
I look forward to all of your feedback,Tyler Bublitz
Music used in the podcast:March On by Silent PartnerPorches and Universes by Puddle of Infinity
Social Media:X: @FaithandSciPodFacebook Group: Faith and Science Podcast GroupFacebook Company Page: The Faith and Science PodcastLinkedIn: Faith and Science PodcastEmail: thefaithandsciencepodcast@gmail.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FaithandSciPod
References:The Green Blades Preaching Roundtable (Weekly) or Green Blades Rising Publications (Monthly) reach out to ecofaith@nemnsynod.org and say which you would like to sign up for! - https://nemnsynod.org/ecofaith-network/    https://www.ecofaithnetwork.org/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_relativityhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmic_microwave_backgroundhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9B7Ix2VQEGohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzLM6ltw3l0https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9W3RsaWuCuEhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x344JiX8BCE&t=76shttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAa2O_8wBUQhttps://bigthink.com/starts-with-a-bang/dark-energy-prominence/https://www.cfa.harvard.edu/research/topic/dark-energy-and-dark-matter

2-22-26 - The Ecology of Temptation

The readings for 1st Sunday in Lent are Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7, Psalm 32, Romans 5:12-19, and Matthew 4:1-11. This week we explore how removing a single predator from a coastal ecosystem caused biodiversity to collapse by 50%—and what this ecological lesson reveals about Jesus's temptation, human hubris, and our interconnectedness with creation. This First Sunday of Lent episode challenges us to slow down, practice humility, and consider the far-reaching consequences of our actions on both people and the natural world.
Remember to answer this week's question:Where have you been humbled recently? #FaithandSciPod
If you're wanting to hear other podcasts on these texts check out:  2-26-23 -Reacting with God!3-1-20 - Ethics and Sustainability are Complicated
I look forward to all of your feedback,Tyler Bublitz
Music used in the podcast:March On by Silent PartnerPorches and Universes by Puddle of Infinity
Social Media:X: @FaithandSciPodFacebook Group: Faith and Science Podcast GroupFacebook Company Page: The Faith and Science PodcastLinkedIn: Faith and Science PodcastEmail: thefaithandsciencepodcast@gmail.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FaithandSciPod
References:The Green Blades Preaching Roundtable (Weekly) or Green Blades Rising Publications (Monthly) reach out to ecofaith@nemnsynod.org and say which you would like to sign up for! - https://nemnsynod.org/ecofaith-network/    https://www.ecofaithnetwork.org/https://savetheelephants.org/about-elephants/the-importance-of-elephants/https://www.nps.gov/articles/north-american-beaver-acadia.htmhttps://www.worldwildlife.org/resources/explainers/wildlife-climate-heroes/why-wildebeest-are-a-climate-hero-of-the-savanna/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989418300969https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsEOBZbxBr0https://faculty.fiu.edu/~trexlerj/Advanced_Ecology/Paine_1966.pdfhttps://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2307/1936888https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-man-whose-dynasty-changed-ecology/

2-15-26 - The Invisible Spectrum of Faith

The readings for Transfiguration Sunday are Exodus 24:12-18, Psalm 2 or Psalm 99, 2 Peter 1:16-21, and Matthew 17:1-9. This week examines how human sight—limited to just 380-780 nanometers of the electromagnetic spectrum—mirrors our spiritual limitations, drawing parallels between our narrow visible range and Peter's reaction at the transfiguration. As Lent approaches, the episode challenges listeners to slow down and recognize that God works beyond what we can perceive.
Remember to answer this week's question:How are you preparing to sit and listen in Lent, instead of relying solely on what your eyes can see? #FaithandSciPod
If you're wanting to hear other podcasts on these texts check out:  2-19-23 - Change is Required!2-23-20 - What are We Moving Towards?
I look forward to all of your feedback,Tyler Bublitz
Music used in the podcast:March On by Silent PartnerPorches and Universes by Puddle of Infinity
Social Media:X: @FaithandSciPodFacebook Group: Faith and Science Podcast GroupFacebook Company Page: The Faith and Science PodcastLinkedIn: Faith and Science PodcastEmail: thefaithandsciencepodcast@gmail.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FaithandSciPod
References:The Green Blades Preaching Roundtable (Weekly) or Green Blades Rising Publications (Monthly) reach out to ecofaith@nemnsynod.org and say which you would like to sign up for! - https://nemnsynod.org/ecofaith-network/    https://www.ecofaithnetwork.org/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electromagnetic_spectrumhttps://science.nasa.gov/ems/09_visiblelight/https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/photoreceptors-rods-and-coneshttps://www.scientificamerican.com/article/animals-can-see-colors-we-cant-and-new-tech-offers-us-a-glimpse/#:~:text=The%20rainbow%20looks%20different%20to,wavelengths%20or%20properties%20of%20light.https://science.nasa.gov/ems/01_intro/https://science.nasa.gov/ems/https://scied.ucar.edu/learning-zone/earth-system/electromagnetic-spectrum