Best Zach Malm Podcasts (2025)

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S3E1: The Meaning You Make from the Message — Superman and Deconstruction 1:56:24

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5d ago1:56:24

1:56:24

We're back! After seeing Superman a few times in theaters, Gail and Nate have a bunch of thoughts. Here are some timestamps to help you through the episode if you don't want to listen straight through. 00:00:00 - Intro 00:41:57 - Our feelings on the new Superman movie 00:45:10 - Spoilers start here 01:18:02 - Deconstruction themes in Superman Oh, a…

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125: Talia Lavin on Wild Faith and the Ritualized Violence of Evangelical Childhood 1:24:11

4M ago1:24:11

1:24:11

Talia Lavin joins the VCW to talk about her new book Wild Faith: How the Christian Right Is Taking Over America. We talk about the Satanic Panic, Dr. Dobson's influence in creating generations of evangelical families built on ritualized violence, and how that has led to so many Americans embracing authoritarianism. Follow her on Bluesky: @swordsjew…

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124: Katherine Stewart: Money, Lies, and God 1:09:05

5M ago1:09:05

1:09:05

Katherine Stewart (The Power Worshippers) returns to discuss her latest book Money, Lies, and God: Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy, which details the rise and increasing influence of anti-democratic forces on the right - who they are, who's funding them, and what they are doing to fundamentally reshape America. We talk about "cult…

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123: Our Favorite Movies of 2024 with Jeffrey Overstreet and Melissa Tamminga 2:40:00

5M ago2:40:00

2:40:00

Our 5th annual pre-Oscars look at at our favorite films of the past year is back and we managed to cover them all in only one (long) episode this time. Film critic, professor, and author Jeffrey Overstreet joins as usual, and we also have first-time VCW guest, film critic and programming director of The Pickford Film Center, Melissa Tamminga. We di…

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122: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and DOGE with Tori Williams Douglass 1:23:14

5M ago1:23:14

1:23:14

In our first episode since November, Tori Williams Douglass returns to the VCW hall to talk about *gestures wildly* allllll that, with a particular emphasis on the stated goal of the Trump administration to destroy Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and their efforts thus far to do that. Follow Tori on Bluesky: @toriglass.bsky.social Listen to her p…

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S2E16: Taking Christ out of Christmas — with Jessica Goforth and Zach Malm 1:39:11

7M ago1:39:11

1:39:11

Merry Christmas, Exvies! Do you ever feel out of place at your deeply religious family's holiday celebrations? We know the feeling. For this special holiday edition of the podcast, we're joined by our friends Jessica Goforth and Zach Malm to talk about how Christmas has evolved over the course of our shifts away from Christianity and share some of …

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121: Sanctuary and Immigration in Trump's America with Sergio Gonzalez and Lloyd Barba 1:01:48

8M ago1:01:48

1:01:48

Sergio Gonzalez and Lloyd Barba stop by the VCW to talk about their new podcast series Sanctuary: On the Border Between Church and State, which is part of the Axis Mundi network. We talk about the immigration crisis and how the US government has, historically, been a contributing factor. We discuss Sanctuary cities as well as religious sanctuary. F…

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S2E15: Defying Evangelicalism: Our Thoughts on Wicked 2:15:53

8M ago2:15:53

2:15:53

The biggest Broadway musical adaptation has hit the big screen, and for some reason Evangelicals have some thoughts on it. Our dear friend Jessica Goforth from the Leaving the Village podcast sat down with us to chat about the new movie, Wicked: Part 1. We spend a chunk of the episode talking about musical theatre in general, along with some other …

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120: Knock at the Sky: Liz Charlotte Grant 1:17:56

8M ago1:17:56

1:17:56

Award-winning author Liz Charlotte Grant joins the VCW hall to discuss her new book "Knock at the Sky" (out January 7, 2025 from Eerdmans). We talk about her faith journey, Biblical inerrancy including the 1978 Chicago Statement of Inerrancy and why she wanted to write a book about Genesis. You can order the book by Liz Charlotte Grant right here: …

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S2E14: A Dauntless Media Post-Election Roundtable 2:00:23

9M ago2:00:23

2:00:23

A few members of the Dauntless Media Collective team—Gail from Full Mutuality, Jessica from Leaving the Village, Maggie from Hello Deconstructionists, Nate from Full Mutuality, and Scott from Chapel Probation and Horny Chapel—shared their raw, unedited, and unfiltered reactions to the 2024 election results. If you're looking for Exvangelical commun…

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119: Well That Sucked. Election Debrief With Paul and Billie Hoard 1:19:11

9M ago1:19:11

1:19:11

Returning guests Dr. Paul Hoard and Billie Hoard share with us their thoughts and feelings on the recent presidential election and our serious concerns regarding the future of the country, in particular the existential threat to trans people and other marginalized people. Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/vcwpod Dave's second pod…

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118: April Ajoy Helps Us Handle Our Election Anxiety 1:11:37

9M ago1:11:37

1:11:37

A special election day 2024 edition of the VCW Podcast! Podcaster and content creator April Ajoy joins us to discuss her brand new book "Star-Spangled Jesus: Leaving Christian Nationalism and Finding a True Faith". We talk about her personal faith story and how her faith has evolved over time. We also make election 2024 predictions! Buy April's boo…

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117: Ministers of Propaganda: Scott M. Coley 1:10:49

10M ago1:10:49

1:10:49

Scott Coley joins the show to talk about his book Ministers of Propaganda: Truth, Power, and the Ideology of the Religious Right. We discuss the weaponization of the term "biblical", common sensism, the remarkable pivot of George Wallace, young earth creationism and more. Buy Scott's book: https://www.eerdmans.com/9781467466004/ministers-of-propaga…

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116: Justin Gentry Has a Scidentity Crisis, Goes Home, and REVcovers 1:25:14

10M ago1:25:14

1:25:14

Justin Gentry joins the show to talk about his work as a former pastor and current co-podcaster (REVcovery Room, Scidentity Crisis, and Go Home Bible, You're Drunk), as well as helping organize the annual Content Warning event, coming to Atlanta next February. Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/vcwpod Dave's second podcast- "Does …

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115: Blake Chastain Goes Beyond #Exvangelical 1:13:33

10M ago1:13:33

1:13:33

Podcaster and originator of the exvangelical hashtag Blake Chastain returns to the VCW hall to talk about his new book Exvangelical and Beyond: How American Christianity Went Radical and the Movement That's Fighting Back. Buy Blake's Book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/747796/exvangelical-and-beyond-by-blake-chastain/ Katelyn Beaty artic…

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114: Dr. Matthew Taylor - The Violent Take it By Force 1:16:31

11M ago1:16:31

1:16:31

Dr. Matthew Taylor returns to the VCW hall to discuss his forthcoming book (out October 1, 2024) "The Violent Take it By Force: The Christian Movement That is Threatening Our Democracy". Dr. Taylor talks about some of the major figures within the independent Charismatic movement, what he sees as 4 quadrants of Evangelicalism, how independent Charis…

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S2E13: Religious Trauma, Healing Communities, & Saying Hello to Deconstruction — with Maggie Harrigan 1:19:21

12M ago1:19:21

1:19:21

Maggie Harrigan, host of the podcast Hello Deconstructionists and creator behind the Instagram account of the same name joins Nate and Gail for a fun conversation about healing from religious trauma, deconstruction, and the power of storytelling in building community after leaving evangelicalism. TRIGGER WARNING: there are a ton of references to co…

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113: Transvangelical and Wyld Violet are Not Safe for Worship 1:34:24

1y ago1:34:24

1:34:24

Alycea, who uses the pseudonym Transvangelical, and Wyld Violet are online sex workers who incorporate their evangelical experience into their work and have a new podcast called Not Safe for Worship. We talk about deconstruction, purity culture, ethics in porn consumption and production, and even touch on the current political climate regarding tra…

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112: Dr. Matt Warner was Cancelled at a Conservative College (With Dr. Paul Hoard) 1:07:15

1y ago1:07:15

1:07:15

Dr. Matt Warner joins the VCW to talk about being fired from Grace College in Winona Lake, IN for what he describes as unspoken political expectations. Outside activists found old social media posts by him (involving posts about LGBTQ, Black Lives Matter and criticism of Tucker Carlson) and they pressured college board members to let this professor…

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S2E12: The Incarceration of Japanese America — with Scott Okamoto 1:59:46

1y ago1:59:46

1:59:46

To wrap up AAPI History Month, friend of the show Scott Okamoto joins Gail and Nate to share about his family's history during the years that Japanese Americans were incarcerated in concentration camps in the western part of the US and Canada. Also, as one of the hosts of the podcast Asians in Baseball, Scott needed to be tested on his knowledge of…

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111: Meg Wise Deconstructed at John MacArthur's Church 1:26:27

1y ago1:26:27

1:26:27

Meg Wise joins the VCW hall to talk about her experiences at John MacArthur's Church in Los Angeles County, CA. She talks about their response to the COVID pandemic and the scandal involving MacArthur publicly shaming a woman whose husband was sexually abusing their kids. Follow Meg Wise: On X/Twitter: _nomadic_soul Read A Deconstruction Chronicle …

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110: Jason Kirk: Hell is a World Without You and Nevaeh is Just Heaven Spelled Backwards 1:13:02

1+ y ago1:13:02

1:13:02

Burn this episode to the top blank CD on your spindle and throw it in your anti-skip discman, because writer and podcaster Jason Kirk joins the VCW hall to talk about his new novel, Hell is a World Without You, a coming-of-age story set in early 2000s evangelical youth group culture, and chock full of the rapture anxiety, purity culture, retreats, …

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109: The Ballot and the Bible: Kaitlyn Schiess 1:03:31

1+ y ago1:03:31

1:03:31

Co-Host of the Holy Post podcast, Kaitlyn Schiess stops by the VCW hall to talk about her new book, The Ballot and the Bible. She discusses points of American history and how the Bible was interpreted on multiple sides of an issue by Christians- sometimes for good, sometimes for bad, and sometimes for really ugly evil. Support the show on Patreon: …

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108: Jewish Voices for Peace: Dr. Alice Rothchild and Abby Brockman 1:10:34

1+ y ago1:10:34

1:10:34

With Israel's brutal war against Gaza still raging, Dr. Alice Rothchild and Abby Brockman join the VCW hall to talk about the horror of Israel's war, to talk about their interactions with Palestinian people and the hospitality they experienced as well as speaking about their perspectives on Jewish faith and values. Read Dr. Rothchild's articles: Th…

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107: Theologizin' Bigger With Trey Ferguson 1:04:59

1+ y ago1:04:59

1:04:59

Pastor Trey Ferguson joins the VCW hall to talk about Theologizin' Bigger, his new book out now. We talk about theology and imagination, Biblical inerrancy including the 1978 Chicago statement, an Ark in Kentucky and much more. Get Pastor Trey's book right here: https://www.lakedrivebooks.com/books/theologizin-bigger/ Listen to The New Living Treys…

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106: Our Favorite Movies of 2023 Part 2 with Jeffrey Overstreet and Dr Mary McCampbell 1:54:34

1+ y ago1:54:34

1:54:34

Part 2 of the big annual pre-Oscars dive into our favorite movies of the year and the Oscar nominees. Part 2 covers the top 7 films on each our our top 10 lists, which we'd started going through toward the end of Part 1. Jeffrey Overstreet returns and brings with him new VCW guest Dr Mary McCampbell, an author, professor, and speaker who focuses on…

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105: Our Favorite Movies of 2023 Part 1 with Jeffrey Overstreet and Dr Mary McCampbell 1:33:52

1+ y ago1:33:52

1:33:52

Our big annual pre-Oscars dive into our favorite movies of the year and the Oscar nominees is back! Jeffrey Overstreet returns and brings with him new VCW guest Dr Mary McCampbell, an author, professor, and speaker who focuses on the theological significance of popular music, film, and literature. Subscribe to Mary's Substack The Empathetic Imagina…

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104: Warren Throckmorton on David Barton's Christian Nationalist Lies 1:04:09

1+ y ago1:04:09

1:04:09

Warren Throckmorton returns to the VCW hall to talk about his new podcast Telling Jefferson Lies, a companion to the recently released updated version of his 2012 book with Michael Coulter, Getting Jefferson Right. We talk about the conservative pseudo-historian David Barton, and how he distorts history to uphold and further a White Christian Natio…

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S2E11: Beyond Abortion: The Need for Reproductive Justice — with Kimberly Mutcherson 1:38:44

1+ y ago1:38:44

1:38:44

Professor of Law Kimberly Mutcherson joins Gail and Nate to discuss the history of abortion access in the US, the current landscape of women's healthcare, and the need for reproductive justice in the pro-choice conversation. Professor Mutcherson was the former co-host of the Anthem-Award-winning podcast—The Power of Attorney—which is produced by Ru…

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S2B01: Ash Valentine's Day - Too Much Love Will Kill You (or Those You Love) 1:02:22

1+ y ago1:02:22

1:02:22

Happy Valentine's Day! On today's episode, Gail and Nate talk about what happens when you love everyone and everything else more than God. Oh, and be sure to check out the Content Warning event taking place in Portland this weekend! Tickets are available at contentwarningevent.com. If you're looking for support for religious trauma survivors, check…

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103: Mason Mennenga Sinks Into the Youth Group Couch 1:10:09

1+ y ago1:10:09

1:10:09

Dave reveals that he has moved from "still an evangelical" to "committed Christian", and Mason Mennenga joins the show to talk about process theology, being funny online, heavy Christian music, purity culture, and of course, Veggie Tales. Follow Mason Mennenga and get into his work including podcasts, YouTube videos and more by going to his website…

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102: God Gave Rock and Roll to You: Dr. Leah Payne 1:07:10

1+ y ago1:07:10

1:07:10

Dr Leah Payne joins the show to talk about the her brand new book God Gave Rock and Roll to You: A History of Contemporary Christian Music. Also, Zach reveals the results of his research into exactly when and where in Disneyland Carman became a Christian. Buy Leah's book: https://www.amazon.com/God-Gave-Rock-Roll-You/dp/0197555241 Support the show …

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S2E10: My Cult Was in a Documentary, Part 3 — with Eric Skwarczynski 1:44:50

1+ y ago1:44:50

1:44:50

In the third part of our miniseries, "My Cult Was in a Documentary," Eric Skwarczynski joins the show to talk about his work investigating the Independent Fundamental Baptists and about the Max/Investigation Discovery docuseries Let Us Prey: A Ministry of Scandals. Eric's Links: Instagram | @preacherboysdoc Preacher Boys podcast | website Film Scho…

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S2E09: On Leaving BJU and Klandamentalism — with Dr. Camille Lewis 1:34:45

1+ y ago1:34:45

1:34:45

Dr. Camille Lewis joins Gail and Nate to share her story of growing up in the IFB, her life at Bob Jones University, the controversies that forced her to leave, and her ongoing work analyzing and reporting on BJU and the larger world of fundamentalism. Read Dr. Lewis' story of leaving BJU here. Follow Dr. Lewis' ongoing reporting and analysis of BJ…

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S2E08: My Cult Was in a Documentary, Part 2 — with Jessica Goforth 1:37:26

1+ y ago1:37:26

1:37:26

Our good friend Jessica Goforth joins us to talk about her reactions to the Amazon Prime series Shiny Happy People, which exposes some of the abuses in the Christian cult known as IBLP or ATI. Jessica is the host of the podcast Leaving the Village, where she shares her own story of surviving IBLP and interviews others who have also escaped the cult…

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S2E07: We're Back! An Update on Life, Thoughts on Current Events, and the Deconstruction World 1:49:44

1+ y ago1:49:44

1:49:44

Nate and Gail return for an update on life. We discuss weddings (especially the problems with evangelical ones), current events, Palestine and Israel (briefly), meeting people you've made friends with online, building new community after leaving toxic spaces, how to not fall into previous traps that people often take out of evangelicalism into thei…

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101: Holly Jolly X'masu and Christmas Underground: Scott Leopold and Jim Goodwin 1:07:51

1+ y ago1:07:51

1:07:51

Niche Christmas music enthusiasts Scott Leopold of the Japanese Christmas music podcast "Holly Jolly X'masu" and Jim Goodwin of the contemporary indie rock Christmas music blog "Christmas Underground" help spread some Christmas cheer around the VCW hall by podcasting loud for all to hear. Scott shares a couple of his favorite songs he's covered on …

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100: Leaving the Fold with Dr Marlene Winell 1:10:17

1+ y ago1:10:17

1:10:17

Dr. Marlene Winell is the author of the highly influential book Leaving the Fold: A Guide for Former Fundamentalists and Others Leaving Their Religion, and originated the term "Religious Trauma Syndrome", which she defined as "the condition experienced by people who are struggling with leaving an authoritarian, dogmatic religion and coping with the…

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099: Dave White of Linoleum Knife on Fundamentalism, Coming Out, Movies, and Christmas 1:28:01

1+ y ago1:28:01

1:28:01

Dave White, co-host of the movie podcast Linoleum Knife, visits the VCW to talk about his background with Evangelical Christianity and coming out. We discuss some of his favoritie movies of the year (so far) and also Christmas. Listen to the Linoleum Knife podcast right here: https://podcasts.apple.com/id/podcast/linoleum-knife/id403079737 Linoleum…

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098: Chris and Mendi Tackett are For Public Schools and Against Christian Nationalism 1:13:10

1+ y ago1:13:10

1:13:10

Advocates for education, Chris and Mendi Tackett join the VCW hall to talk about current attempts to weaken and dismantle the public school system. We discuss "school choice" (moving toward privatizing education) and the ramifications if that type of policy was more widely adopted. David Barton also comes up as we dialogue about his many ways to in…

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097: Death Doula: Virginia Spotts on Grief, Loss, Religious Trauma, Queerness, and Horror 1:19:07

1+ y ago1:19:07

1:19:07

Podcast performer and producer Virginia Spotts (The Sheridan Tapes) stops by the VCW hall to talk about her Evangelical story, including her time at Mark Driscoll's Mars Hill Church, and Acts 29 church after that. She talks about realizing she was suffering from religious trauma as well as deep grief and loss (due to extremely painful life experien…

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096: A Palestinian Christian Speaks on the Horror in Gaza: Rula Khoury 1:16:09

1+ y ago1:16:09

1:16:09

Rula Khoury, who is Palestinian-American-Christian, stops by the VCW hall to speak boldly about what is happening in Gaza and the West Bank with the current war. She talks about her family's history and we also talk about Christian Zionism (often fueled by forms of dispensational theology in America) which make it far more difficult for people to f…

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095: Power, Fear, and Violence: Andrew Whitehead on Christian Nationalism and American Idolatry 58:25

1+ y ago58:25

58:25

Dr. Andrew Whitehead stops by the VCW hall to chat about his new book "American Idolatry" chronicling the current manifestations of Christian Nationalism in our country. He talks about the main pillars of Christian Nationalism: power, fear and violence. He also discusses how Christians can think about the Great Commission minus a colonial mindset o…

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094: REAP On God's Campus: Erin Green and Paul Carlos Southwick 59:18

2y ago59:18

59:18

Erin Green and Paul Carlos Southwick of REAP (The Religious Exemption Accountability Project) visit the VCW hall to talk about their work organizing and fighting for LGBTQ+ equality at overwhelmingly white, taxpayer-supported religious schools and colleges, and their new podcast for the Axis Mundi network, On God's Campus. Learn more about REAP at …

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093: RL Stollar on Child Liberation Theology and Homeschooling 1:26:59

2y ago1:26:59

1:26:59

R.L. Stollar joins the show to talk about his new book The Kingdom of Children: A Liberation Theology, the homeschooling movement, and his work as an advocate for homeschool survivors. We discuss Mr Rogers, considering scripture stories involving children through the child's perspective, such as the binding of Isaac, and whether evangelism is an in…

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092: The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy: Robert P Jones 1:02:44

2y ago1:02:44

1:02:44

Founder and president of the Public Religion Research Institute and author Robert P Jones joins the VCW hall to talk about his New York Times bestselling new book The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy and the Path to a Shared American Future, which traces the underknown but outsized impact of the Doctrine of Discovery on minority and marginalized gro…

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091: Josh Larsen Gives Us Nightmares 1:04:35

2y ago1:04:35

1:04:35

Film critic Josh Larsen (Filmspotting, Think Christian) joins us to discuss his new book Fear Not! A Christian Appreciation of Horror Movies. We discuss frightful movies which have left a lasting impression and given him a deeper understanding of spirituality and human nature, covering multiple subgenres of horror, including slashers, psychological…

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090: Back from Summer Break with Tiki Drinks 43:03

2y ago43:03

43:03

Zach and Dave are changing lightbulbs and deep cleaning the carpets of the VCW Hall, getting it ready for the new season. They talk about trips they took this summer (including Zach's visit to a naked spa and the body positivity/body neutrality/embodiment stuff that involves), while also discussing Zach's recent realization that after 41 years of n…

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S2E06: Jews for Jesus, Messianic Jews, & Other Christian Falsehoods About Judaism — with Rabbi Ariann Weitzman 1:47:07

2y ago1:47:07

1:47:07

Rabbi Ariann Weitzman spends some time addressing a few of the common misconceptions Christians have about Jews and educating us about the relationship between the two religions. This insightful conversation is among our favorite episodes, and we hope you find it as helpful and informative as we did! Bnai Keshet Reconstructionist Synagogue Four Com…

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S2E05: Bob Jones University Will Never Do Right — with Christopher Peterman 1:53:49

2y ago1:53:49

1:53:49

On this episode we are joined by Christopher Peterman, a former student at Bob Jones University who organized the first ever student-run protest at BJU. Chris shares his own story of abuse at BJU and the severe trauma that motivated him to stand up to the administration at the self-proclaimed "Fortress of Faith." Further Reading: "Bob Jones Univers…