Pastor With No Answers: The MIXTAPE Era

Author, speaker, activist, former pastor, and friend to this podcast, Brian McLaren, just released his newest book “Faith After Doubt.”  He submits to us that questions and doubt are not the enemies of faith, but rather a portal to a more mature and fruitful kind of faith. We also talk a bit about “Learning to See,” his new podcast with Fr. Richard Rohr and Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis. Brian McLaren: ht...

Grieving During the Holidays Part II (Part one, episode 208), Liz Miller joins Joey and Pricilla to talk through her dreadful first couple of holiday seasons without her husband of 6 years.  What does that kind of suffering feel like? Liz explains that when you’re going through this sort of suffering, any future seasons of joy seem impossible. She shares some tips, including the need to offer grac...

Crystal Cheatum created a bible app that “ditches toxic theology and provides resources for marginalized communities of faith.”  We learn a bit about her upbringing, discuss faith essentials and hear what theological positions cannot be represented by contributors to the bible studies and devotions on this app.  Crystal is a gracious soul, honors others' journeys, and recognizes the impact a...

www.1946themovie.com is a documentary in the making that claims the word “homosexual” appeared in the bible for the first time in the year 1946.  The director of this movie, Sharon “Rocky” Roggio, shares her story of coming out as a child raised in a fundamentalist household.  Her father, who she still has a relationship with her, is currently writing a book on how being gay is a sin.  1946 is a r...

Jared Svendsen, executive producer of the show and older brother of the host, stops by to discuss his recent conversion to Eastern Orthodoxy and why despite Joey’s liberal theology, he still sees his brother as a fellow Christian.  Joey also shares a story on how Jared prayed over his little brother "in tongues" when they were teens.   Marlo Schalesky wrote Women of the Bible Speak Out,...

First of all, kids say the darndest things.  [11:30 minute mark] Three kids belonging to some listeners of this podcast, as well as Joey’s son Waylon, kick us off to talk about the deeper things in life.  We talk about how God is good in the context of tornadoes, some specific times their parents have cussed, how the devil is apparently stronger than God sometimes, whether Biden will make a good p...

At the top of this episode, John Mark McMillan, Robbie Madison and Joey Svendsen give some examples of miracles in their lives they are convinced was the result of God’s supernatural hand. Oh, and Joey doesn’t know what the “WAP” is and John Mark and Robbie are uncomfortable to disclose this on the air.  MAIN INTERVIEW:If Jesus is fully God, we should worship Him. If he is fully man, we’d be sinni...

The beginning of Joey's crash was preceded by an onslaught of extreme anxiety at a whole new level he'd never experienced. Pricilla was in New York City when it happened while Joey was at home solo parenting. Our friend Chip Judd (pastor and therapist), one of the few who walked this path with us up close and personal, shares his expertise of physiological depression, reflects on what he...

There's two groups of people on both sides of the fence yelling from a posture of legalism; and it's killing us all. But people all share this common ground: we all need forgiveness because we all “know not what we're doing." Jay outlines the foundation all humans can stand on to offer love and forbearance to everyone, including people on “the other side” of theology and politi...

Wife and husband duo Jason Petty (Propaganda) and Dr. Alma Zaragoza-Petty sit with Pricilla and Joey to reflect on mental illness and the heaviness/pain it brings to a marriage. As Joey and Alma trade their “war stories,” Jason and Pricilla discuss the helplessness of not being able to “fix it” and the tension of providing love and support while not carrying the pain that isn’t theirs to carry. Ri...

A Halloween special! But a legit conversation. American Roman Catholic Priest and designated exorcist of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Indianapolis, Fr. Vince gives account of real, eerie demon possessions and exorcisms he performed. We discuss the sorts of people demons pursue, the awareness of the possessed during an exorcism, how some cooperate with demons for long-term partnership, and why...

This is going to be fun and we’ll share the results on episode 264. Go to @PWNApod on Instagram and VOTE. And we have one follow up question. On this episode, Joey also shares some beauty of the human spirit he encountered on Facebook. In an age of such social media toxicity, these stories are like cool water on a hot summer day. Or maybe even Kool-Aid. With ice. PWNA ELECTION: go to PWNApod on In...

In this episode, Joey’s dad Virgil Svendsen reflects with Joey and Pricilla the dark days of taking care of Joey; and all the fears, anger and grief that came along with that season. Pricilla shares about the night she was actually afraid of Joey and had to call Virgil and Barbara (Joey’s mom) to spend the night with her. These are all tough things to reflect on and grapple with, but it’s the real...

At the top of the episode, Robbie Madison and John Mark McMillan join Joey to talk a bit about Christians’ tendency to make God formulaic and how it’s a bit laughable for humans to believe this is even possible. Then, the dynamic husband and wife duo talk a bit about their deconstruction journey. These two started an Instagram account @yourfavoriteheretics that is basically a one-stop, central hub...

John Mark McMillan and Joey Svendsen enjoy their time with Pastor and Author Brian Zahnd, asking him a little about everything. What does Brian Zahnd think of the POTUS and if asked, would Brian serve on his spiritual advisement board? Brian Zahnd believes strongly in the church. He points out the problems with both the Christian right and left, highlighting how Jesus wouldn’t serve either of thei...

In this episode 1 of “My Depressive Episode: The Five Month Journey,” Pricilla and I give you a snapshot of the depths of pain we experienced and discuss how we are forever changed by this journey. We also share with you the purpose for putting these episodes together. Our friend Ryan Amick comes on to share the story of him and a mutual friend, Ted Demas, conspiring with Pricilla to get Joey out...

First EPISODE: Oct 7th (Wed) This time a year ago (Oct 2019), I was in the mental hospital for a week stay. This move was the product of having no relief from depression and anxiety that progressively worsened through the months. Pricilla and I are going to tell our story over the course of many episodes that will also include the perspectives of friends and family who walked through this hell alo...

Preview of upcoming episodes at the beginning of this show. (REBOOT) - This episode aired 2 years ago, I often refer to it as my favorite episode, one that represents perfectly what this podcast is all about and why I'm motivated to continue making episodes. Art Rash discusses the loss of his son a couple of years ago. Growing up in his Pentecostal faith resulted in his belief of universal pr...

Our guest today highlights the monumental changes the church undergoes every 500 years, and guess what, folks? It’s that time. Sarah Bessey is a best-selling author. She co-created and co-leads the conference and community of Evolving Faith and also is President of the Board for Heartline Ministries in Haiti. Sarah gives Joey, "guest co-host" Trisha Wilkerson, and all of our listeners re...

So is there sexual activity in heaven? We hear from lots of contributors on this one. In the beginning all things were good. Food, work, companionship, all of creation, perfect connection with God, perfect beauty and I presume, perfect sex. Things got screwed up along the way, ruining everything; and most Christians believe Jesus will redeem “all things," enjoying them forever in a new, perfe...

Two smart men, both fully convinced of two opposite “truths.”  The Explorer’s Club: https://freemusic.theexplorersclub.com/ You heard “Ruby” and “Look to the Horizon”  Instagram account: www.instagram.com/PWNApod Current DonorSee: https://donorsee.com/pwnahelps Get notifications each time we start raising money to get more information on our current opportunity to “save the day” for team humanity....

We've heard the stories, we've seen the signs, our jaws have dropped, our stomachs have turned. Why do they do what they do? How do they reconcile their actions with the teachings of Jesus? How do they claim to practice love? Jack Hoey III and Joey talk to one of the leaders of Westboro Baptist, Tim Phelps. Jack Hoey: @jackthelesser Instagram account: www.instagram.com/PWNApod Current Do...

What does that terminology even mean anymore? Is it a label we should dispose of because of the reputation and image it symbolizes? Does it even matter? Shane gives us his take, including why he's not on board with the "ex-vangelical" posture or #emptythepews sorts of movements.  John Mark McMillan, Ellen Mauro, and I talk about cancelling people and Derek Minor drops in to share a...

Hemant Mehta has a calling to open people’s eyes to the atrocities coming from the Christian church. As always, “The Friendly Atheist” is friendly, fair, insightful, eloquent in his observations and brings to the table many things to learn from. He points out the fallacy of Christians being persecuted under Democratic Presidents and makes a claim that most American stories of “Christian persecutio...

My friend Pastor Colin Kerr wrote a book called “Faith Hope Love: The Essentials of Christianity for the Curious, Confused and Skeptical.” We talk about “essentials” in the context of denominations. Colin says, “A skeptic’s reasons for rejecting institutional Christianity might be, unbeknownst to them, more faithful to the nature of Kingdom Christianity than some claiming to be Christians themselv...