Episode #37: Daniel Darling — Cultivating Confidence in a Cynical Age

Daniel Darling is an author, pastor and Christian leader. He currently serves as the Director of The Land Center for Cultural Engagement at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Assistant Professor of Faith and Culture at Texas Baptist College. 

Prior to his leadership of the Land Center, Darling served as the Senior Vice President for Communications of the National Religious Broadcasters. He also has served the Southern Baptist Convention as the Vice President of Communications at the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. He has also pastored churches in Illinois and Tennessee.

Website | Substack | Podcast | X

Selected Links From The Episode

• Founders Podcast by David Senra

Recommended Books:

• A Non-Anxious Presence: How a Changing and Complex World will Create a Remnant of Renewed Christian Leaders by Mark Sayers

• Dan’s Books

Quotes From The Interview

• “The environment I was in was really rewarding, in terms of leadership was this kind of alpha you’re not a leader unless you’re a super alpha and running over people but basically that’s kind of what defined courage and leadership so I felt like am I actually a leader because I feel like I can motivate people and have vision but I don’t feel like being a jerk to people.” - Dan Darling

• “Forgiveness matters…willingness to not carry with me the bitterness of my hurt and spend my whole like getting even is so important…” - Dan Darling

People Mentioned

• Tim Keller

• Dan Silva

• John Grisham

• Tom Brady

• Steve Martin

• Charlie Chaplin

• Tim Alberta

• Dr. Russell Moore

• Morning Joe

• Mark Sayers

• C.S. Lewis

Show Notes

• [00:00:00] Introduction to Dan Darling

• [00:02:20] Upbringing and how father shaped Dan into who he is today

• [00:10:58] Discovering ability to write

• [00:15:54] Where ideas to write come from and the process

• [00:21:43] Intentional in reading selection or read widely?

• [00:28:05] Stress testing leadership principles

• [00:35:29] Think about the mood and culture in the organization

• [00:39:48] How to overcome negative reviews

• [00:49:02] Evangelicals and role in America

• [00:56:52] Leaning into headlines and extremes versus meeting people in real life

• [01:04:50] Leadership in government

• [01:08:07] Ideas on upcoming book covering being Christian and patriotism

• [01:15:22] Where to find Dan