Passages Pulse

Israel has pulled off some of the most remarkable military and intelligence operations in modern history. And yet it has never been more isolated on the world stage. How is that possible and what does it mean for the future? In this special episode of Passages Pulse, Josiah and Olivia step back from the weekly news cycle to reflect on what a year of covering Israel, the Middle East, and Christian...

Qatar has spent $400 billion in America. That number is not a guess. It is backed by federal disclosures, public records, and a two-year investigation into where every dollar actually went. So where is all that money going, and why does it matter? In this episode of Passages Pulse, Josiah sits down with Natalie Ecanow, senior research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, to break...

What does a Palestinian political activist actually think about Israel, Hamas, Abbas, and the future of the conflict? The answer might surprise you. Samer is a Palestinian leader, master's student in conflict resolution at Hebrew University, and chairman of the Jerusalem Development Fund. He is also one of the only high-profile Palestinian politicians to visit the Gaza envelope after October 7 and...

A deal with Iran has apparently been signed. But nobody has actually read it. American and Iranian officials are making contradictory claims, leaked copies keep surfacing, and Israel was not even part of the negotiations. So what is actually in this Iran MOU, and should Christians who care about Israel be concerned? In this episode of Passages Pulse, Josiah and Olivia break down everything we know...

Headlines are claiming Israel is breaking the ceasefire in Lebanon. But is that actually what is happening? And does anyone even know if there is still a ceasefire to break? So what is really going on in Lebanon right now, and why is the story so much more complicated than what you are seeing in the news? In this episode of Passages Pulse, Josiah and Olivia break down the Lebanon ceasefire confusi...

"Is it anti-Semitic to criticize Israel?" It is one of the most asked and most misunderstood questions in the conversation around Israel today. And the answer is more nuanced than most people are willing to admit. So what actually separates legitimate criticism of Israel from anti-Semitism? And where does that line get crossed? In this episode of Passages Pulse, Josiah and Olivia tackle the questi...

"Christian Zionist" is being used as an insult. But what does it actually mean, and should Christians who support Israel be ashamed of the label? In this episode of Passages Pulse, Josiah and Olivia answer listener and live audience questions on some of the most pressing topics in the Christian and Israel conversation, from whether support for Israel is conditional on Israel's spiritual state, to...

Is Christianity actually legal in Israel? Can Christians openly worship, evangelize, and build churches there, or is the reality very different from what people are being told online? In this episode of Passages Pulse, Josiah McGee and Olivia Layne tackle one of the biggest questions flooding social media right now: has Israel outlawed Christianity? As viral claims spread accusing Israel of suppre...

In this episode of Passages Pulse, Josiah McGee is joined by Samuel Ben-Er for an important conversation about a growing global reality: why are Christians being targeted in different parts of the world? From the Middle East to places like China and Iran, restrictions on faith are increasing and in some cases turning into outright persecution. Drawing on historical context and present-day examples...

In this episode of Passages Pulse, Josiah McGee and Olivia Layne unpack a viral moment that sparked major controversy online: a widely circulated image involving Israeli security forces and a Christian site in Lebanon. What actually happened? And why did so many people immediately jump to conclusions? As reactions spread across social media, many began asking deeper questions about Israel, Christi...

In this episode of Passages Pulse, Josiah McGee and Olivia Layne break down a rapidly shifting moment in the Middle East as Iran talks collapse, new dynamics emerge in Lebanon, and major questions remain unanswered. With headlines moving fast and narratives changing by the hour, it can be difficult to understand what’s actually happening and what it all means. So what’s really going on, and did di...

In this episode of Passages Pulse, a ceasefire is suddenly announced between the United States and Iran. But is the war actually over or just paused? Josiah McGee and Olivia Layne break down the confusion surrounding the ceasefire, the competing narratives coming from both sides, and what this moment could mean for the future of the conflict. We unpack: 📄 What we actually know about the ceasefire...

In this episode of Passages Pulse, Josiah McGee and Olivia Layne explore a surprising and important question: what is happening in Jerusalem during Holy Week this year? As Christians around the world prepare to celebrate Easter, the reality in Jerusalem looks very different. With new restrictions in place across the Old City, many of the traditional gatherings and celebrations that define Holy Wee...

Josiah McGee and Olivia Layne break down the latest developments in the war in Iran and ask a critical question: where is this conflict heading next? As the war enters a new phase, global attention is shifting to one of the most strategic waterways in the world: the Strait of Hormuz. Why does it matter so much and what happens if it closes? We unpack: 🌍 What the latest missile strikes in Israel r...

Josiah McGee and Olivia Layne break down the latest developments in the war between the United States, Israel, and Iran and why recent events are raising serious concerns here in America. As the conflict enters a new phase, targeting not just military infrastructure but key figures within Iran’s regime, the conversation turns to a sobering reality. This war may not stay overseas. Following a recen...

In this episode of Passages Pulse , Josiah McGee answers some of the most common questions listeners have been asking about the war with Iran . Why is the United States involved in this conflict? What are the real reasons behind the war? And did Israel actually drag America into it? In this solo episode, Josiah breaks down the moral, practical, and strategic reasons behind the war between the Unit...

In this episode of Passages Pulse , Olivia returns to the podcast with an unbelievable story after getting stranded in Israel when the war with Iran began . We unpack: ✈️ What it was like being stuck at Ben Gurion Airport when the war began 🚨 Experiencing missile sirens and bomb shelters in Tel Aviv during the first days of the conflict ⛵ How Olivia escaped Israel by sailboat to Cyprus after air...

In this episode of Passages Pulse, Josiah continues our coverage of the war in Iran by focusing on one critical but often overlooked element of the conflict: Iran’s proxy network. Joining the conversation is Bridget Toomey, a research analyst from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) who specializes in Iranian proxy groups, including Iraqi militias and the Houthis. Together, they unpack...

A war has begun between the United States and Iran. In this emergency episode of Passages Pulse , Josiah provides immediate context on what led to this moment, what happened over the weekend, and what it means for Israel, Iran, and the broader Middle East. With the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader and coordinated U.S.–Israel strikes underway, this is a historic and rapidly unfolding situation. We br...

In this episode of Passages Pulse, Josiah is joined by new co-host Olivia Layne to break down Tucker Carlson’s recent interview with U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee — and the controversy surrounding Tucker’s brief “visit” to Israel. Throughout the episode, Josiah and Olivia examine Tucker’s confrontation with Ambassador Huckabee, the repeated claim that America’s relationship with Israel...

In this episode of Passages Pulse, Sebastian and Josiah catch up on the biggest headlines shaping Israel, Iran, and the Middle East—and why, even with major developments, it still feels like the war isn’t over. With all Israeli hostages finally home, the war clock has stopped—but the questions are just beginning. What comes next for Gaza? Can Hamas be forced to disarm? And why does the region stil...

In this episode of Passages Pulse, Sebastian sits down with political strategist and media expert Aaron Evans to expose how foreign money, bot farms, lobbying networks, and media influence campaigns are driving division inside the United States. From fake social media accounts posing as voices inside war zones, to foreign-funded university programs and PR firms shaping public opinion, this convers...

Welcome to Passages Pulse Episode 41 (Part 2) — recorded in Jerusalem with a breathtaking view of the Old City from the roof of the Austrian Hospice. In this second half of our on-location “hot seat” conversation, Josiah McGee is joined again by Olivia Layne to tackle the next round of difficult, emotionally charged, and often misunderstood questions about Israel — especially those facing Gen Z in...

In this special episode of Passages Pulse, Josiah McGee is joined by Janatan Sayeh, Iran Research Analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, for an urgent conversation as historic protests erupt across Iran amid a sweeping internet blackout. What’s really happening inside Iran right now? Are these protests different from past uprisings — and could this moment finally lead to regime chan...

Welcome to Passages Pulse Episode 40 — recorded in Jerusalem with a stunning view of the Old City from the roof of the Austrian Hospice. With Sebastian away welcoming a new baby, Olivia Layne joins Josiah McGee for a “hot seat” conversation tackling some of the most common (and most controversial) questions about Israel that show up online and around the dinner table. This is Part 1 of a two-part...