Growing Up Christian

This week we’re joined by Sam’s childhood friend Jesse to discuss the story of Gideon, a very indecisive judge! God had to spend a lot of time convincing him he wasn’t going to let him be murdered, but in true Princess Diaries fashion, Gideon let’s his hair down, takes off his geeky glasses, and summons his inner hot girl bloodlust to become the maniacal tyrant God intended him to be. This is a fu...

Our guest this week is Angelo Fiaretti of Mighty! Angelo grew up in the Evangelical church outside Pittsburgh. We talk about his evolving feelings about faith, his time playing in the praise band, and how being open about normal teenage stuff eventually put him at odds with church leadership. Needless to say, their priorities seemed a little skewed towards the trivial… Angelo’s band Mighty is grea...

This week, we’re joined once again by our good friend Jesse to discuss two absolutely wild historical tales of Manifest Destiny despair: the Donner Party and the Mormon Handcart Tragedy! The Ric Burns documentary about the Donner Party begins with this quote from Alexis de Tocqueville: “It is odd to watch with what feverish ardor the Americans pursue prosperity and how they are ever tormented by t...

Our guest this week is comedian and writer for The Onion, Skyler Higley! Skyler was adopted into a Mormon family as a baby and grew up in Salt Lake City. Although he reveled in his faith as a youngster, being one of the few black kids in the church came with all sorts of challenges. Tokenism, racism, and old bigoted theology were just a few of the things that made Skyler wonder if the LDS church w...

This week we’re joined by singer-songwriter, author, LGBTQ advocate, and contemporary Christian music legend, Jennifer Knapp (interview begins at 35:00)! Jennifer grew up Christian-adjacent with a more tangential relationship to church. However, that all changed in her college years. In spite of her passion for spirituality, Jennifer found herself uncomfortable with many of the modern church’s tea...

This week, we’re taking a look at a truly horrific story from the book of 2 Samuel, and we should probably issue a trigger warning: this story revolves around sexual assault. King David’s house is a mess, and he’s raised a group of self-centered, psychotic brats. The first of his spawn’s name is Amnon, and, uh… he sucks. It becomes a real problem when he sets his sights on his half-sister, Tamar....

Our guest this week is vocalist Andrew Corfield of Meliorist, a great metal band from Brisbane, Australia! Andrew started life in an extremely conservative Christian sect known as The Brethren, but his family eventually joined a more traditional Evangelical church. It was there that Andrew became deeply entrenched in Christianity. However, life and loss would challenge his beliefs, and he has chan...

This week we’re joined by Harleigh Ellsworth, who’s father is the legendary Christian kids show hero, Bibleman! Harleigh’s family has been involved in film and media throughout her life, and Bibleman was one of many projects that they worked on together. They wrote scripts, designed and built props, played multiple characters, appeared at events, and Harleigh also appeared in several of their prod...

This week’s episode is LUSTY! First, we discuss Tennessee’s thirstiest Lieutenant Governor, Randy McNally, who’s taste for young male Instagram models has engulfed him in a very embarrassing scandal. Then we parse through the sordid story of the Silicon Valley Bank failure and fantasize about spanking some naughty bankers for potentially knocking the global banking system off of it’s axis. Lastly,...

Part 2 of our conversation with guitarist Chris Mojan of Fireworks. Be sure to check out the new Fireworks album “Higher Lonely Power,” and follow them on Instagram (@fireworksmi), Twitter (@WeAreFireworks), and Facebook (facebook.com/wearefireworks)!

Our guest this week is guitarist Chris Mojan of Fireworks! Chris grew up in a Macedonian Orthodox community in Detroit, but family and friends eventually brought him into contact with Evangelicalism. The awkward interactions that followed left him with lasting impressions about faith, community, sincerity, and ritual, and shaped his views of the Christian community for years to come. We had a grea...

Our guest this week is comedian Sadra Sumner! As a kid, Sadra thrived in her rural Pennsylvania church, but grew further away from the community. After moving to France, she developed a passion for standup. Sadra is a very funny comedian and she had us laughing throughout the whole episode! Don’t forget to follow her on Instagram @sadrasumner!

This week, Jeremiah joins us as we dive into the strangest Gospel tract we’ve ever seen, as well as the story of Judah and Tamar! I wouldn’t be surprised if you’ve sat through some very uncomfortable sermons about sex, marriage, and the roles of men and women thanks to the Evangelical interpretation of this story. Come along with us as we peel back the warm, sticky, pungent layers of this odd stor...

Our guests this week are Nick and Haley Gaglione of Two For Christ, a husband and wife ministry team (interview starts at 29:00)! We learned about Nick and Haley thanks to you fine folks, because many of you sent us a recent viral video where they performed a Christian version of Eye of the Tiger. Nick is a Christian motivational speaker and fitness influencer that runs a page called @liftwithchri...

Our guest this week is The Death Metal Ninja, Josh Wagg! Long before he was a contestant on American Ninja Warrior, Josh was a Florida pastor’s kid on his way to the mission field. After spending a number of years in Venezuela, Josh’s family moved back to the states where his dad took a position with a Baptist church in Fort Collins, CO. Little did they know that it wouldn’t last… Josh is a great...

This week, Jeremiah joins us to talk about your friend’s denim vest-wearing uncle who opened an exotic bird/fudge shop in the Wisconsin Dells, the Sandusky Neo-Nazi homeschool co-op and the Fuhrer’s favorite birthday baked goods, and the recent allegations made by silver spoon sucker, actor, and all-around prick, Armie Dahmer (Hammer) against his former youth pastor. This one was a lot of fun, but...

Our guest this week is musician Andy Prince of the phenomenal band, Manchester Orchestra! Andy Grew up in the Florida panhandle, and spent his early years immersed in an Evangelical movement known as the Brownsville Revival. He cut his teeth as a musician in the church praise band. However, as he grew older, he found himself yearning for a little more out of life, and a little less out of the big...

This week, Jeremiah joins us to talk about the man, the myth, the controversial legend: Dr. David Livingstone! Livingstone was a Victorian-era Scottish missionary and explorer who is best known for expeditions across Africa. He has long been regarded as a hero in Britain and Scotland, but cultural values have changed a lot in the last few decades. More and more people are reexamining his legacy an...

Joining us once again is comedian and musician, Mike Valdes! This time, we're taking a trip into the Old Testament as Sam recounts the story of Samson: a guy with wooly blue balls and red, slippery hands. He lifts doors, tells jokes, beats people to death, and is just an all around sweetheart of a guy. Mike is a ton of fun, and always gets us cackling! Follow him on Instagram (@mikevaldes), Tiktok...

This week, Jeremiah joins us to talk about Avatar: The Way of Water, movie morality, dyed-in-the-wool idealogues and extremists, and then we’re cracking open my high school copy of “Jesus Freaks” coauthored by the immortal CCM trio DC Talk, and Voice of the Martyrs! I’ll bet more than a few of you got a copy of “Jesus Freaks” in your Christmas stocking, back in the day. I know that when I was a ki...

Our guest this week is recording artist, author, and podcaster Brady Goodwin Jr., otherwise known as Phanatik! Brady was a member of one of the best Christian hip hop groups ever, The Cross Movement. Brady made headlines last year when he publicly stated that he was no longer a Christian. His new book, “Let There Be Gaslight: Does the Bible Tell the Truth About Our Creation, Fall, and Redemption?”...

This week, we’re excited to welcome back ex-Mormon podcaster and our friend, The Existential Ginger! It’s been a little while since we’ve sat down with Charisse, and what better way to reconnect with old pals than a good old fashioned potluck Bible study? Each of us brought a story that we found inspirational, heart-warming, and full of practical life lessons to share with each other (although I d...

Our guest this week is Matt Phillp, who cohosts a fantastic podcast called “Tell Me About Your Father” (along with Erin Hosier, who we talked to on Ep. 60)! Matt grew up between Australia and the US, and was exposed to Christianity as a boy after his father passed away. He attended a prestigious catholic school, where as a young gay kid interested in the arts, he faced more than a little pushback....

Face it: your family’s Christmas traditions are a little bland. You exchange Bed, Bath & Beyond gift cards, eat a turkey that’s so dry it might as well be insulation, and then lay around in the living room listening to your grandpa snore-fart while watching an inflatable Bart Simpson headbang in the gail force NYC wind… Why not spice it up, this year?? There are innumerable fascinating, strang...

Our guest this week is musician and seasoning salt tycoon Tori Johnson, aka Uncle T! Tori joins us to discuss her upbringing in a charismatic mega church, the accident that changed her life, grappling with sexuality, and how any responsible parent would sooner see their kid become a juggalo than a raver. It was a fun conversation, and you should go check out her website (www.hellounclet.com), and...