Episodes
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This week we’re happy to welcome back author, activist, and Christian thought leader Shane Claiborne! Shane is one of the founding members of The Simple Way, a non-profit serving people in some of the poorest communities in Philadelphia, as well as Red Letter Christians, an organization that promotes a progressive Biblical view on issues such as social justice, nonviolence, and human rights. Our previous episode with Shane focused on the culture of gun violence in America, but he joins us this week to discuss the principles of nonviolence, the triviality and horrific realities of war, dehumanization, and the ways in which American Christianity has perverted a Biblical perspective on conflict. We really appreciate Shane’s commitment to these principles and the good work that he’s done over the course of his career. For more information and links to his socials, visit www.shaneclaiborne.com!
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This week Jeremiah joins us to discuss Phase 1 of The Chosen-Verse, the slightly-ambitious-but-mostly-just-puzzling expansion of the critically acclaimed tv series, The Chosen. We also touch on Sam’s visceral hatred for the bands you like and the glee he feels when someone ruins their life, Christian rock gods Skillet’s new song “All That Matters,” and the controversy surrounding Linkin Park’s new vocalist, Emily Armstrong. Enjoy, and have a nice week, friends!
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Missing episodes?
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This week we’re joined by Jeremiah to talk about the presidential debate, a self-important, globetrotting nut named Ryan, and Sam and Jeremiah exchange conversational purple nurples because sometimes when a boy likes you and doesn’t know how to show it, he does rude things to you… I can only assume that’s what’s happening there. It was a fun conversation and we hope you enjoy it!
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This week we skipped the presidential debate to discuss the clash of two actual titans: Christian hip-hop sensation KJ 52 (it’s important that you pronounce it five-two) and Eminem. For those troglodytes that just aren’t plugged into contemporary culture like we are, back at the turn of the century KJ 52 wrote a song called “Dear Slim” which was an open letter to Eminem. It did garner the attention of a couple of music news outlets, but it’s unclear whether Eminem actually heard it. Nowadays, Pastor KJ 52 (that’s right) uses the incredible story of his speaking truth to power to illustrate how God uses even the most unlikely of people to accomplish big things. I think you’re going to enjoy this story…
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We’re happy to welcome back our brother in Christ Spencer Bland as we dive into the story of two brothers who dared to say “here we are, Lord. Send us to The Buckle!” The Stanley brothers are a couple of greasy Massachusetts douchebags that ran a “driveway resurfacing business,” although the reviews make it sound more like they were giving your pavement a cheap paintjob. Then they found their calling when they started The Church of the End Times. As it turns out, they had a touch of the divine in them… We finish up by seeking out some Christian dating advice on Quora, an internet toilet for people who can’t spell 4Chan. We are always excited to talk to our friend Spencer, and if you live in the southeast, he might be coming to a city near you on tour! Follow Spencer on Instagram (@spencerspicy) and for more info about his upcoming dates including the High Plains Comedy Festival in Denver, go to his website wwww.iambadatcomedy.com.
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This week the boys are flying solo! We spent some time griping about the looming threat of war and the unsettling jingoistic attitude some in the west seem to have about it, pasty trust fund Rastafarians, and a very interesting story unfolding in the Philippines where the wealthy leader of what appears to be a Christian cult stands accused of a litany of disgusting criminal acts, including human trafficking. He and his followers are currently in a standoff with a large police force, and have barricaded themselves inside his 75 acre compound. What could be more American than that?! Enjoy the episode and if you’re not a member of our Discord, come hang out with us! You’ll find a link to it in our Instagram bio.
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This week we’re joined by Casey’s best friend Jesse to talk about his 10 year hiatus from and return to church, the fact that Howard Stern is a lame old pervert, moments that are flagged in your brain as eternally embarrassing, and then we catch up with Eli and Kaitlyn Regalado, the couple who made headlines earlier this year when their Christ-focused cryptocurrency and exchange went belly up. Earlier in the year, Eli was taking a more penitent approach to dealing with his legal issues. That has changed a bit… Enjoy the episode, and if you love old school games and want to play all of the best ones from your childhood on one easy to use console, contact Jesse on Instagram (@theretrowiener). His handhelds have all the best games from every console up through Sega Dreamcast. My favorites are NBA Jam, Donkey Kong Adventures, Mega Man, Mario 64, and like two of the 500 versions of Street Fighter. Shoot him a message and get one for yourself!
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This week Jeremiah joins us to hear about Sam’s nude rodent wrestling match, the most popular attachments for personal massagers, the best and worst screen adaptations of books and video games, and then we tackle the subject of premarital counselling. Did you have to meet with the pastor to discuss the most frivolous of topics in irritating detail while simultaneously breezing past the most important things a newlywed couple might need to map out? The only consolation is that you were probably talking to the worst person in the county to take advice from… All that and more on this week’s episode of Growing Up Christian!
P.S. We're moving our release day to Thursdays in order to give ourselves a little more time to get the episode done. Just a heads up!
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This week we’re joined by comedian and writer Tim Champa! Tim spent his early years as a non-denominational missionary kid in Portugal, even going to a school for missionary kids. After moving back to the states in his early teens, he was very involved in his church and even became a worship leader. Eventually, he found himself at odds with a number of things that his church taught, and the straw that broke the proverbial camel’s back was heated church-wide debate about whether women could be pastors. In the years since, he’s become a stand-up comedian and writer, appearing frequently around Boston and wider New England. We love his comedy, and we know you will too! Follow him on Instagram, X, and TikTok (@overweightchamp), Youtube (@chomparazzi), and go to www.timchampa.comfor upcoming dates and info!
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“There are years when nothing happens, and weeks when years happen.” -Me
That’s right, I coined that phrase. Don’t google it. What a week, huh?! The news cycle is tough to keep up with, much less process. So join us as we discuss Biden’s bitter surrender, why Kamala is most definitely brat, the “uncommitted” dissidents who helped bring about regime change despite nonstop consternation from the line-toers, and the MAGA church that never ceases to inspire hard-to-fathom headlines, Rod of Iron Ministries. Whether we’re speaking your language or you think we’re ruining these United States, we’d love to hear from you! Join our discord (link in our Instagram bio) and speak your truth in love… or spite, either one.
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This week we’re joined by friend of the show and fellow Liberty University apostate, Jillian! We were all part of the LU Christian metalcore community (it’s every bit as cringe as it sounds, but it was also a ton of fun), and it’s the first time we’ve caught up with her in over 15 years. Jillian’s story differs a lot from the many of us who grew up in church, in that her introduction to more extreme forms of Evangelicalism came as the result of a spiritual experience she had as teen, and her family’s somewhat bewildered-yet-supportive response to it. I’d hate to spill the beans before she tells the story herself, so I’ll just say that her journey has led her across the country and through many different scenarios to a place of self-acceptance and happiness. We were really excited to talk to her, and we hope you enjoy the conversation!
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This week we’re excited to welcome our good friend, comedian, musician, and podcaster Mike Valdes! Discussion topics include naughty assassins, the Lord’s stance on marionettes, Louisianna’s new Ten Commandments law for classrooms, and Disney’s new “Punk Goes Crunk”-esque album of cover songs. We always have so much fun hanging out with Mike! You can follow him on Instagram (@mikevaldes) and TikTok (@officialmikevaldes), check out his podcast Childlike at Best, and for info on upcoming appearances, merch, etc. go to www.thekidfromup.com.
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This week we’re joined by Jeremiah to discuss CNN’s televised squawk match between the ultimate Boomer avatars, as well as some updates in the continuing mudslide that is Gateway Church and their recently resigned pastor, Robert Morris. More articles are popping up, more church leaders are stepping down, and as predicted, we’re finding out that this isn’t the first scandal the church has attempted to sweep under the rug… All that and more on Episode 189 of Growing Up Christian!
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This week we’re joined by award-winning author, journalist, and public speaker Jonathan Merritt! Jonathan wasn’t just a “pastor’s kid,” his father was the president of the Southern Baptist Convention. Steeped in conservative evangelicalism, his life took a turn during college when he decided he wanted to be a religion and spirituality writer. Jonathan lost himself in his work, publishing several books, writing articles for prominent publications, and earning two graduate degrees. From the outside looking in his life appeared to be on track, but nobody knew that this rising star in progressive Christianity was a closeted gay man. Then he was publicly outed… and his whole world turned upside down. Jonathan is a truly prolific person with a one-of-a-kind perspective, and we love his approach to faith, family, and community. He just published his first children’s book, “My Guncle & Me,” a story about a boy whose gay uncle shows him that his little differences make him special. It’s a wonderful book that we absolutely recommend to anyone with kids in their life! Follow Jonathan on Instagram (@jonathan_merritt) and X (@jonathanmerritt), check out his podcast Seekers & Speakers, for more information go to www.jonathanmerritt.com.
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This week we’re talking about the developing story surrounding pastor Robert Morris of Gateway Church, a multi-campus Texas monstrosity boasting over 100k congregants. Cindy Clemishire is a brave woman who has accused Robert Morris of molesting her from 1982 to 1987, beginning when she was just 12 years old. Although she has sought justice against Morris multiple times, Cindy has watched in frustration and despair as he dodged nearly all consequences for his actions and become a prominent national figure in the Evangelical world. All that began to change just a couple of weeks ago thanks to this blog post… Let’s hope that Cindy finally gets the justice she deserves for the disgusting crimes perpetrated against her!
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Well this is embarrassing, but due to insurmountable technical difficulties with the Comfort Inn WIFI, we weren't able to finish recording this week's episode. However, we have a story in the works for next week that I'll bet many of you have been following. Tune in next Tuesday as we discuss the disturbing allegations surrounding Pastor Robert Morris of Gateway Church in Dallas, TX. Have a great week!
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This week we’re joined by Ryan George, author of “Hurt and Healed by the Church: Redemption and Reconstruction After Spiritual Abuse.” Ryan was listening to a podcast one day when he heard a heartbreaking story of sexual abuse about a pastor, a pastor who happened to be his father. It’s hard to imagine being hit with such a devastating revelation, but it set off a chain reaction that forced him to square himself with his own physical abuse at the hands of his dad. In his book, Ryan recounts the full story of his upbringing, coping with his father’s crimes, doing what he can to help the victims his dad had hurt, and how he found spiritual healing in what some might think is an unlikely place: the church. We really enjoyed talking with Ryan, and we hope you enjoy the discussion (it begins at 44:00)! Find his book “Hurt and Healed by the Church: Redemption and Reconstruction After Spiritual Abuse” through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and many other book retailers, check out his podcast Everyday Adventures, and follow Ryan on Instagram (@ryplane).
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Colorado is a magical place to so many people, and for so many different reasons! Some venture into the mountains to get glazed on big box weapons-grade weed in a puddle of pine sap, some scour Denver for the latest fast casual slop hut bastardizing ethnic cuisine, but me? I’m here to visit one of the last great vestiges of Christian Americana left in these United States of Tanger Outlets: the Focus on the Family world headquarters in beautiful Colorado Springs! While I was disappointed to find that Whitt’s End and the Welcome Center were closed for renovations, Grandpa Dobby made sure that the bookstore was open and ready to take my money. Sam and I chat about all the fun things I found in the store, and one brand in particular that caught my attention called Hold Fast. I’m not sure how to describe their clothing other than that I expect their t-shirts will become a staple of Kid Rock’s wardrobe after the terminal cirrhosis prompts him to join Greg Locke’s biblical manhood Bible study. However, they are doing big things for their brave-but-beleaguered “Big Brother,” Israel. We take a look at some strange organizations with vague goals supported by t-shirt purchases from Hold Fast and have a good time talking about our recent travels. Enjoy the show and have a great week!
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This week we’re joined by our friend Kavin to talk about his experiences as a short term foster parent! Foster care is an important service that really doesn’t get the attention it deserves. The fact of the matter is that kids across the world through no fault of their own find themselves in difficult, scary situations where they are taken out of their home, away from their families, and placed in the care of strangers. The reasons vary a lot more than I was aware of. They can involve everything from respite to abuse and can last anywhere from a few days to the rest of their childhoods. Regardless of the situation, think about how you would feel to be 6 or 8 years old and suddenly be placed in a strange house with people you don’t know. Could you relax? Could you go to sleep? Could you find it in yourself to trust that these people have your best interest at heart? It’s a pretty frightening position for a youngster, and extremely delicate for the family taking care of them. Over the last year, Kavin and his family have cared for over 20 children through short term foster care. As you will hear, this is a labor of love that requires a lot of his family, but one that they are passionate about. I think you’ll find this discussion informative! If you’d like to learn more about becoming a foster parent, the rules and requirements in your state, or simply some ways to help children in foster care, go to www.adoptuskids.org
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This week Jeremiah joins us to talk about God’s mightiest warrior and recent 700 Club guest, Terry Eugene Bollea, aka Hulk Hogan! We’re all suckers for a juicy testimony, right? Well nobody in recent memory can spin a yarn quite like the Hulkster. Terry is on fire for God and anxious to spread the good word with what time he has left before he takes Hulkamania all the way to the Pearly Gates! He’s a truly electric personality, just don’t go thinking too hard about his stories…
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