Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Bridging Two Worlds: An American Immigrant's Story of Faith, Anxiety, and Political Calling
Today, we are sharing a conversation between Curtis Chang and Lee C. Camp on the Signal Award-winning and 2026 Ambie Award-nominated podcast No Small Endeavor. Hosted by award-winning teacher and Professor of Theology and Ethics Lee C. Camp, No Small Endeavor explores what it means to live a good life through conversations about culture, ideas, and the habits that help people flourish.
In this episode, you'll hear from Curtis Chang as he reflects on his experience as a Chinese American immigrant, former pastor, and public theologian, and argues that anxiety sits at the root of America's political crisis. Chang explains how anxiety is rooted in a fear of future loss, and offers actionable ways to name, face, and move through that anxiety with compassion rather than avoidance.
You'll also hear Chang and Camp dig into how institutions are made up of people rather than systems, why that means they're capable of being healed rather than torn down, and why refocusing on the how of politics rather than just the what is essential to moving beyond our current moment of division.
Follow and listen to more episodes of No Small Endeavor: https://play.megaphone.fm/gxillmidtpimcjaih3b9dw
00:00:19 - Introducing You to No Small Endeavor
00:04:07 - What Is Curtis Chang's Earliest Memory?
00:05:26 - Immigrant Curtis and Cultural Displacement
00:07:24 - The Subtle Art of Bridge Building
00:11:44 - Henry Kissinger and Harvard
00:16:32 - Reconciliation Work in South Africa
00:20:20 - Is Anxiety an Opportunity?
00:27:54 - Anxiety in American Politics
00:39:20 - Are Institutions Multipliers of Humanity?
00:43:44 - The "How" vs. The "What" of Politics
00:50:21 - Curtis Navigates Cynicism
00:54:23 - Pessimism, Hope, and the Resurrection
00:59:40 - The Practice of Contemplative Prayer
Mentioned in This Episode:
Listen to episodes and follow No Small Endeavor: https://play.megaphone.fm/gxillmidtpimcjaih3b9dw
Lee C. Camp’s Scandalous Witness: A Little Political Manifesto for Christians: amazon.com/Scandalous-Witness-Political-Manifesto-Christians/dp/0802886388/ref=sr_1_1?crid=L3GQN8LN0DFF&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.V0ZEHdmyNZt2Xo_Pa1TgIrteRvAfd4DhKoW2eF2UuwBnawqOjoAFvPWka8u0E2vSzuWaJV-Osy6YfoQLO8ozVhtszNj6z21Sut9Uvg2eyTbjxhvT9fBu3uA5oGRLTuhAfavAc8wxr_Z33ubLkSwJaMaLlojD8uSGm-MaFfiZpXbX23y9fsatNtTQiDTDXHfUlYMYBKaayMBUrJCP2392dszsgoYiisXyGWByU663MUM.mYP6u3D3uq4lOug7WWUh40TomhL_KDCEfOjhn8IIIR8&dib_tag=se&keywords=Lee+C.+Camp&qid=1785337606&sprefix=lee+c.+camp%2Caps%2C284&sr=8-1
Curtis Chang & Nancy French’s The After Party: Toward Better Christian Politics: amazon.com/After-Party-Toward-Christian-Politics/dp/0310368707/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2LGF1SHEQFKWC&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.nuhF9WQ9l23gQF8G8qPGMy-L7CHjyfuucUYFtzf4n56WDybtEYD6EmUHktPKtTWYtGkkPT6dDk5-U5lUKoRXdNaYb5Y0hHG4t42yE9rh-ug5qcrhHExzhXb4Ef_fKLK3dOPYCwGCUmo9Hrz2ANT2p5UjqwRCi_FFF-K5pM4hk0jBFMAoKHfImOtPKl5bVvYGEdBOxQJ6wQW4j4SF9EyJ3hFpO6hUitp0V1REDBxA0Bg.3Cj6SUEm5z1F0P-n4EzFW1OSLwp0Im70SHSHLxYgF4U&dib_tag=se&keywords=Curtis+Chang+%26+Nancy+French%E2%80%99s+The+After+Party&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1785337733&sprefix=curtis+chang+%26+nancy+french%27s+the+after+party+%2Caps%2C248&sr=8-1
Curtis Chang’s The Anxiety Opportunity: How Worry Is the Doorway to Your Best Self: amazon.com/Anxiety-Opportunity-Worry-Doorway-Your/dp/031036728X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=173KQ3YM8DZUT&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.PEzhMF4UfHe6VmtRq6N2Vw.QaBQI_3kp9kBRUdV9bEUzOaGj8COolg4NoMzZJrUhbo&dib_tag=se&keywords=Curtis+Chang%E2%80%99s+The+Anxiety+Opportunity&qid=1785337672&sprefix=curtis+chang%27s+the+anxiety+opportunity%2Caps%2C566&sr=8-1
Projects and Courses:
Video Course: The After Party: goodfaith.org/the-after-party/free-course
Video Course: The Anxiety Opportunity: goodfaith.org/product/the-anxiety-opportunity-course
Follow Us:
Good Faith on Instagram: instagram.com/goodfaithnetwork
Good Faith on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/_good_faith
Good Faith on Facebook: facebook.com/goodfaithpod
The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.
Bridging Two Worlds: An American Immigrant's Story of Faith, Anxiety, and Political Calling
Today, we are sharing a conversation between Curtis Chang and Lee C. Camp on the Signal Award-winning and 2026 Ambie Award-nominated podcast No Small Endeavor. Hosted by award-winning teacher and Professor of Theology and Ethics Lee C. Camp, No Small Endeavor explores what it means to live a good life through conversations about culture, ideas, and the habits that help people flourish.
In this episode, you'll hear from Curtis Chang as he reflects on his experience as a Chinese American immigrant, former pastor, and public theologian, and argues that anxiety sits at the root of America's political crisis. Chang explains how anxiety is rooted in a fear of future loss, and offers actionable ways to name, face, and move through that anxiety with compassion rather than avoidance.
You'll also hear Chang and Camp dig into how institutions are made up of people rather than systems, why that means they're capable of being healed rather than torn down, and why refocusing on the how of politics rather than just the what is essential to moving beyond our current moment of division.
Follow and listen to more episodes of No Small Endeavor: https://play.megaphone.fm/gxillmidtpimcjaih3b9dw
00:00:19 - Introducing You to No Small Endeavor
00:04:07 - What Is Curtis Chang's Earliest Memory?
00:05:26 - Immigrant Curtis and Cultural Displacement
00:07:24 - The Subtle Art of Bridge Building
00:11:44 - Henry Kissinger and Harvard
00:16:32 - Reconciliation Work in South Africa
00:20:20 - Is Anxiety an Opportunity?
00:27:54 - Anxiety in American Politics
00:39:20 - Are Institutions Multipliers of Humanity?
00:43:44 - The "How" vs. The "What" of Politics
00:50:21 - Curtis Navigates Cynicism
00:54:23 - Pessimism, Hope, and the Resurrection
00:59:40 - The Practice of Contemplative Prayer
Mentioned in This Episode:
Listen to episodes and follow No Small Endeavor: https://play.megaphone.fm/gxillmidtpimcjaih3b9dw
Lee C. Camp’s Scandalous Witness: A Little Political Manifesto for Christians: amazon.com/Scandalous-Witness-Political-Manifesto-Christians/dp/0802886388/ref=sr_1_1?crid=L3GQN8LN0DFF&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.V0ZEHdmyNZt2Xo_Pa1TgIrteRvAfd4DhKoW2eF2UuwBnawqOjoAFvPWka8u0E2vSzuWaJV-Osy6YfoQLO8ozVhtszNj6z21Sut9Uvg2eyTbjxhvT9fBu3uA5oGRLTuhAfavAc8wxr_Z33ubLkSwJaMaLlojD8uSGm-MaFfiZpXbX23y9fsatNtTQiDTDXHfUlYMYBKaayMBUrJCP2392dszsgoYiisXyGWByU663MUM.mYP6u3D3uq4lOug7WWUh40TomhL_KDCEfOjhn8IIIR8&dib_tag=se&keywords=Lee+C.+Camp&qid=1785337606&sprefix=lee+c.+camp%2Caps%2C284&sr=8-1
Curtis Chang & Nancy French’s The After Party: Toward Better Christian Politics: amazon.com/After-Party-Toward-Christian-Politics/dp/0310368707/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2LGF1SHEQFKWC&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.nuhF9WQ9l23gQF8G8qPGMy-L7CHjyfuucUYFtzf4n56WDybtEYD6EmUHktPKtTWYtGkkPT6dDk5-U5lUKoRXdNaYb5Y0hHG4t42yE9rh-ug5qcrhHExzhXb4Ef_fKLK3dOPYCwGCUmo9Hrz2ANT2p5UjqwRCi_FFF-K5pM4hk0jBFMAoKHfImOtPKl5bVvYGEdBOxQJ6wQW4j4SF9EyJ3hFpO6hUitp0V1REDBxA0Bg.3Cj6SUEm5z1F0P-n4EzFW1OSLwp0Im70SHSHLxYgF4U&dib_tag=se&keywords=Curtis+Chang+%26+Nancy+French%E2%80%99s+The+After+Party&nsdOptOutParam=true&qid=1785337733&sprefix=curtis+chang+%26+nancy+french%27s+the+after+party+%2Caps%2C248&sr=8-1
Curtis Chang’s The Anxiety Opportunity: How Worry Is the Doorway to Your Best Self: amazon.com/Anxiety-Opportunity-Worry-Doorway-Your/dp/031036728X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=173KQ3YM8DZUT&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.PEzhMF4UfHe6VmtRq6N2Vw.QaBQI_3kp9kBRUdV9bEUzOaGj8COolg4NoMzZJrUhbo&dib_tag=se&keywords=Curtis+Chang%E2%80%99s+The+Anxiety+Opportunity&qid=1785337672&sprefix=curtis+chang%27s+the+anxiety+opportunity%2Caps%2C566&sr=8-1
Projects and Courses:
Video Course: The After Party: goodfaith.org/the-after-party/free-course
Video Course: The Anxiety Opportunity: goodfaith.org/product/the-anxiety-opportunity-course
Follow Us:
Good Faith on Instagram: instagram.com/goodfaithnetwork
Good Faith on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/_good_faith
Good Faith on Facebook: facebook.com/goodfaithpod
The Good Faith Podcast is a production of a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan organization that does not engage in any political campaign activity to support or oppose any candidate for public office. Any views and opinions expressed by any guests on this program are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Good Faith.
