Ravel

In this episode of Ravel, we unpack the idea of “religious big dick energy” as a way of describing the swagger, certainty, and supremacy often embedded in modern evangelical and political culture. We explore how manifest destiny, Christian nationalism, masculinity, power, and influencer culture all intertwine to create environments where people feel justified forcing their beliefs onto others. Alo...

In this episode, we return to the classic “How is it with your soul?” format and end up exploring identity, awareness, embodiment, spirituality, and community through a deeply personal and philosophical conversation. We reflect on how the self is shaped by memory, relationships, language, perception, and even the ways we are seen by others, while also grounding the discussion in ordinary life upda...

In this episode, we explore abuse of power in church leadership, accountability structures across denominations, and the ways grace and forgiveness can be distorted to protect harmful behavior instead of vulnerable people. We each reflect on personal experiences with church hypocrisy, charismatic celebrity culture, and the tension between repentance, justice, and institutional self-protection. The...

In this episode, Josh and Stephen explore a noticed growing anti-city sentiment within American Christianity, unpacking how politics, economics, fear, and cultural identity shape a rural-versus-urban divide. We contrast this with the deeply city-centered theology of the New Testament, noting the irony in modern Christian attitudes toward urban spaces. We weave through media narratives, food cultur...

We explore angels in the Bible and in Christian imagination, asking what role they actually play in the stories that shaped the tradition. Moving through familiar passages and odd details alike, we consider whether angels are supernatural beings, literary devices, or something closer to a storytelling signal that a narrative turn is about to happen. The conversation wanders through ancient mytholo...

We explore what optimism actually is and is not, moving beyond half full versus half empty toward peace, joy, acceptance, and responsible action. Drawing on psychology, Buddhism, and our own religious upbringings, we consider whether optimism is innate, learned, or a practice that shapes how we meet uncertainty and tragedy. We wrestle with how optimism can slide into apathy in politics and church...

After listening to the two episodes Emily and Stephen did without him, Josh takes the chance to speak with Stephen about questions he had about his experience so far at the Methodist church and whether or not Stephen might be finally ready to adopt his coined term, "Christian-ish Agnostic". Stephen is skeptical, but open. Emily is unfortunately not here today. Host Recommendations Stephen: browse...

In this episode, we explore why fulfilled desires so often fail to satisfy. Recorded in September 2025—before the current football season now in the playoffs , the conversation weaves together stories from the Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl mindset and Stephen’s long search for a Lazuli Bunting to ask a deeper question: what happens when the thing you want finally arrives and still isn’t enough?...

We're feeling silly out here, so Josh decides it's time we at Ravel finally invent our own typology system. Host Recommendations Stephen: The Complete Enneagram by Beatrice Chestnut , You Were Born For This by Chani Nicholas Josh: Game Changer on dropout.tv , go somewhere new Emily: Get a new tattoo, deepen a relationship you're enjoying Join us: Join our free Discord community by emailing us at t...

Of course, we had to turn the tables. Because Emily is probably not the only one wondering, "Stephen, why are you going to church if you're still an atheist?" Join us: Join our free Discord community by emailing us at theravelpod@gmail.com for an invite link! Take a minute to drop us a 5-star rating and a 1-2 sentence review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify ! Credits: Theme Song: In Full Color by Lou...

The title kinda says it all. You read that right. Stephen, the atheist of the pod, is now going to church. And he has questions for his new pastor about the denominations practices, motivations, and histories! Host Recommendations Stephen: Hope United Methodist Church in Billings Heights, Montana Emily: Try going to a different church every one in a while Join us: Join our free Discord community b...

After a late night road trip full of nostalgia, Josh has questions about what music brings us back to the good ol' days. Especially within the Christian genre, we meander through many songs, bands, and eras of the Christian music we grew up with: good, bad, and cringy. We try to name the silliest Christian song, the silliest Silly song, silliest camp song, and take some serious shots at grifters l...

It's a boys night! Josh and Stephen are left alone to talk about religion in the workplace. It felt fitting, after all, to let the pastor have a break for this one, considering her workplace IS her religion. We get into public shows of faith at work, evangelism in the cubicles, and what exactly "makes us different." Host Recommendations Josh: Phrases on a tilt Stephen: LEGOs Join us: Join our free...

There are still quite a few things we've never done here at Ravel. One of them was playing games on air. So we change that today, as Stephen leads us through a bracket style challenge game, pitting 32 ancient and modern heresies against each other in order to find the ultimate ICK! Grab a drink, play along, and learn a little bit about what Christians through the ages have cared about enough to co...

... but we're actually not going anywhere! Just different. Join us: Join our free Discord community by emailing us at theravelpod@gmail.com for an invite link! Take a minute to drop us a 5-star rating and a 1-2 sentence review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify ! Credits: Theme Song: In Full Color by Louie Zong on Spotify and Bandcamp Artwork: Yarn and Ravel by Dixie Lee Henning @dixieleedraws Produced...

Natural disasters often ignite spiritual reflection, but what if the apocalypse isn’t destruction, but transformation? In this episode, we trace the line between eschatology and ecology, questioning the theology that sees disaster as divine judgment and exploring what it means to live as responsible stewards in a world crying out for renewal. Host Recommendations Stephen: Octavia Butler's Earth Se...

We're back, and we explore whether transitional beliefs are helpful or harmful in faith journeys. We dig into slippery slopes, the power of personal values, and how openness (not rigidity) often shapes a healthier spiritual life. Along the way, we debate if progressive Christianity is truly an “off-ramp” out of faith, or just a new way to stay on the road.  Mentioned in the episode: Spiral Dynamic...

***CW: There is a brief mention of suicide at 39:48 and a story involving the following memorial service lasting until 41:20. If you or a loved one are experiencing mental health struggles, please call or text the Crisis Lifeline at 988 . Please listen gently and carefully.*** Allow us to set the table for a classic Christian conundrum: who gets to come to the table and partake in Communion? Do th...

Truly, this is just one of those episodes you have to listen to to believe. Josh does a book report on The Xanue: Befriending the Bigfoot Forrest People (no link provided because we don't actually think you should buy the book) .  Bigfoot is a missionary for the gospel of Christ Jesus.  There are warring factions of shapeshifters fighting to confuse and terrify THAT ARE DEFINITELY NOT NEPHILIM.  T...

In this episode, we volley interpretations around the story of Pharoah not letting the Israelites go because of his "hardened heart." What does it mean? In the light and heat of YHWH, was Pharoah more like mud baking dry rather than wax melting smooth? And what the heck do we do with the New Testament's "Unforgivable Sin"? And ultimately, are we looking at the same thing in Pharoah? Mentioned in t...

WHO'S YOUR DADDY??? Ravel is back from the unplanned break and ready to gooooo! We're bringing you an episode that was, admittedly, recorded months ago, but it is no less fun. We're getting into the reading of the Hebrew word "ABBA" as we try to figure out where the heck this whole "daddy" business started as it's used to refer to God. (FACT CHECK: Stephen goes the entire episode talking about the...

Stephen says "there are a lot of god shaped ghosts in my attic." Josh takes the idea and runs with it, saying that "we will always be haunted by the Holy Ghost, but it is up to us whether it's like Casper the friendly ghost or like a poltergeist."  Mentioned in the episode: Lofi Girl iOS Mental Health Check-In Feature Beedle The Bardcore Support us: Join our Patreon community and buy us a drink at...

Thank you for your supreme patience while we took an unscheduled break for a couple months! We're back with a conversation about the historical Jesus! Specifically, we're avoiding talking about "the Christ," instead focusing on the ideas of Jesus' humanity. Speculations include: as a devout Jewish man, he was likely married; he was likely born in Nazareth and not Bethlehem; and he was almost surel...

***This episode includes discussion of nihilism, meaninglessness, and suicide. If you or someone you know are experiencing suicidal thoughts or a crisis, please contact the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or visit 988lifeline.org . Please listen with care.*** Josh wonders if we ever escape nihilism. Stephen is ready to embrace the existential meaningless in a joyful, stoic way. Emily sees meani...

When does honest and earnest transparency tip into oversharing and misplaced attention seeking? (the podcasters ask, fully acknowledging what irony this invites...) What is gossip actually? How can information shared amongst a community be helpful for reinforcing good boundaries and expectations without tipping into harmful rumor-mongering?  Mentioned in the episode: Stephen's Goodreads Nothing mu...