Filmmaker Caleb Robertson sets out to make a documentary about his brother, but ends up finding out more about himself. The process helps him leave mental depression and feelings of drifting behind, and helps him finds his purpose.

Original airdate: January 19, 2024

Professor Emeritus of Moody Bible Institute, John Koessler, discusses the need for prayer, and what to do when God is seemingly silent.

Original airdate: January 12, 2024

In this episode of State of Independence, Joe Watkins interviews Representative Glenn “GT” Thompson about his life and the principles that have guided him throughout his political career. (original airdate 12-22-23)

In this episode, Joe Watkins interviews Uri Feinberg, Jewish Educator and Licensed Guide. Uri, who lives in Israel, provides insight on the current war between Israel and Hamas. (original airdate 12-15-23)

Living a public life is hard. In politics, there are few places to disappear. Few places where you’re not noticed by opponents—or often fans—who recognize you from a favorite cable news channel. Tonight’s guest had one of those faces. He was an award-winning author and professor, a psychologist w...

Tonight, you’ll meet an individual—an extraordinary man who rose from foster care and adoption to become Philadelphia’s top prosecutor, earning national headlines and recognition for his success. But the famous District Attorney’s shining career was interrupted—by three years in a federal prison....

On this episode of State of Independence, Joe Watkin’s guest is Pastor Sean DeMars—the Pastor of 6th Avenue Community Church in Decatur, Alabama. He’s married and the father of two girls, but he says the best thing about him is that he belongs to Jesus.
In the introduction to his new book, “Heal...

Intellectual Christians like Philadelphia’s Dr. Benjamin Rush—a founding father and member of the Constitutional Convention—believed maltreatment of our two and four-legged friends were warnings of a sick society. But what about today? Where are the Christian voices in discussions about how we ra...

Joe Watkins interviews Father Eamon Kelly, Vice Director of The Magdala Center, & Chris Mitchell , the Bureau Chief for CBN News’ Middle East desk, with a focus on the aftermath of the horrific October terrorist attacks on the State of Israel. (Original Airdate 10-27-23)

Anxiety disorder, panic, social phobias, OCD, PTSD, depression, schizophrenia, anorexia, bulimia, and substance abuse — these are all categories in one way or another, and are often a mystery box for people who don’t suffer from mental illness. On this episode of State of Independence, Joe Watkin...

Who said this? “For I was hungry, and you gave me meat. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you took me in?” You know who said it. It was Jesus. The Son of God. The owner of all things. He also said, “In as much as you have done it to the least of these, you’ve done it u...

From the Boston Tea Party onwards, we Americans have used the power of the Boycott to hit our opponents where it hurts—in the wallet. It was a signature act of quiet protest in the civil rights movement—one that was deployed to debilitate a system of segregated buses in Montgomery, Alabama. But i...

On this episode of State of Independence, Joe Watkins interviews Jeremey Samek, Esq. the Senior Counsel at Independence Law Center who has made it his life’s work to defend religious freedom and the right of conscience in America’s Courtrooms. (original airdate 9-22-23)

Joe Watkins interviews Isaac Willour who is an award-winning journalist whose work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal and in publications like the Christian Post and National Review. His writing is smart, incisive, and original, and he’s still in college. Watch the interview to see how the r...

Joe Watkins interviews Dr. Russell Moore, a minister, theologian, and editor-in-chief of Christianity Today, whose new book is an attempt to help fellow Christ followers replace the religion of politics with a relationship with God. (original airdate 8-18-23)

Joe Watkins interviews Pastor David and Barbara Cross—mentors to a generation of men and women who are serving God around the world. As missionaries, their life wasn’t a straight line, but one that zig-zagged through opportunities and obstacles that led them to simply trust God—to know his voice—...

Recently, Lancaster, Pennsylvania—a county celebrated for its fertile farmland and famous Amish and Mennonite communities—received global attention for what the BBC called “The Refugee Capital of the World.” Joe Watkins talks to Danielle Bossert of Bethany Christian Services—who have been on the ...

For decades, Shelley Brooks has been the embrace, comfort, and security of disenfranchised and even discarded women—running from their abusers and battling years of pain and brokenness. And every year at the Bethesda Mission annual banquet in Harrisburg—in front of hundreds of supporters—Shelly i...

California is a big, beautiful, and complicated place—and that complexity is often most obvious in its politics. Some of the big movements for social and cultural change begin in the Golden State. When a spark is lit in LA or San Francisco—you can be sure it’s coming to a culture center near you....

Maybe this is something you’ve said—or thought—recently: Election time is always about choosing “the lesser of two evils.” Some of you have been so disgusted by leaders from the president to the town council that you don’t even bother to vote. Or if you do, you still don’t believe anything will c...

Joe Watkins interviews Dan Hostetter, a Pennsylvania native. Dan was an academic scholar at Liberty University, and Student Body President for two consecutive years. Here's what he told the student paper, the Liberty Champion, when he won: “Our heart is to serve and love the Liberty community jus...

What did Abraham Lincoln pray for? Who did he pray to? When his wife experienced chronic bouts of despair and depression. When all but one of his children died before they reached adulthood. When the War claimed tens of thousands of young men—on his watch—where did he turn? Joe Watkins speaks wit...

From the farm to the Capitol and beyond. One day he’s raising pigs on a farm, then the next he’s the state Secretary of Agriculture, then a Congressman, then a US Senator, then a Governor. And then asked—by the President—to be Ambassador for International Religious Freedom. Joe Watkins interviews...

On this episode of State of Independence, Joe Watkins interviews James Meredith, a hero for human dignity and equality. Mr. Meredith grew up in the Deep South—but didn’t grow up in poverty. His father was the son of an enslaved person who had risen to be a successful, independent farmer. So, it w...