The Fascinating Podcast

Best-selling author June Hur joins us to explore how her vibrant faith has always impacted her writing. 

Transgender priest Shannon Kearns joins us to explore what a trans man's experience can teach us about the masculinity crisis in America

We review the No Kings protests

Who counts as an influencer? What are the ethics of influence? And should an influencer work in the White House?

The current administration wants to turn the quest for citizenship into a reality tv competition. We have thoughts. 

We already have a new pope! Your cohosts have thoughts about what we can expect from Leo XIV. Then we run down some of our favorite recent pop culture favorites. 

Graci Kim returns to give us the scoop on her new novel DREAMSLINGER. What happens when you cross X-Men with Pokemon and the impossible power of dreaming? To find out, we dive into our own dreams. Who dreams lucid? Who doesn't dream at all? Find all this and more in the latest episode!

On the anniversary of the Kent State Massacre, Matt and JR. explore what protest is. When and how should Christians protest? And what are the limits of protests? PLUS: hockey updates. More or less.

SINNERS is a box office phenomenon and a critical darling. And if you couldn't tell from the film's title, it has religion on its mind. We dive into the film - both the drama surrounding it and the deep horrors of the film supernatural and human. 

Can you believe it? We've made it to episode 400 of the Fascinating Podcast! We dragged the one and only Clay Morgan out of mothballs and put him back on the mic to celebrate 400 episodes of Fascinating goodness. We retell the origins of the show, hit some of the big moments in the history of the show and celebrate our favorite guests, listeners and episodes. Then we talk about where the show is h...

Okay, buckle up, because today we're flipping the script and turning the mic on one of our own! Get ready for a high-energy deep dive as we put our cohost, the brilliant Matt Mikalatos, squarely in the interviewee hot seat. Why? Because he's unleashed an amazing new graphic novel upon the world called "God With Us," and we couldn't wait to grill him about bringing this epic story to life with stun...

We're back! Season 14 kicks off with our annual Pop Culture Madness Tournament! Who has what it takes to go all the way to championship? PLUS: What's in store for season 14 and episode 400?

What's the point of reading a bible commentary? And - after 2,000 years - do we really need a new one? The Rev Drs. Janette Ok and Amy Peeler join us to explore their new commentary called The New Testament in Color . We explore the unique benefits of a multi-ethnic commentary - from powerful readings of specific passages to how the volume challenges conventional wisdom simply by existing. Plus......

Do you know what you want? (Apologies to the Spice Girls, but what you REALLY want?) Coach and author Tracey Gee joins us to explore the good guidance that comes when we learn to listen to our desires. Sounds dangerous, doesn't it? 

We've all had... kind of a lot... going on, so we take a breather to play some catch-up. From the media we've been enjoying to our thoughts on the election to what's next for us, there's a ton of good stuff in here!

In the wake of a decisive presidential election in which Evangelicals yet again turned out in record numbers to put an unrepentant fascist, felon and sexual predator in the highest office in the US, we ask: how do we love our Christian Nationalist neighbors? Pastor, author and former white nationalist Caleb E. Campbell joins us to explore how Christian Nationalism is a competing religion, and what...

JR. is starting a new venture centered around board games! Since Kathy's on the road, Matt and JR. explore what exactly Game Nights with JR. is and how you can be part of it! PLUS: Election security!

Two years after the Dobbs decision allowed individual states to determine access and restrictions to abortion care, people of faith are still learning what an abortion is and isn't and learning what the consequences are when people who don't understand reproduction and healthcare make the rules. Whether you are pro-life or pro-choice, take a listen as we talk with Elaina Ramsey, the executive dire...

Pulitzer Prize-winning critic Emily Nussbaum joins us to explore the roots of reality television. Forget the Real World - reality tv started way earlier than you think. And there's a paradox at the heart of the genre Emily's new book, Cue the Sun , invites us to sit with. We explore everything from Candid Camera to Hell's Kitchen to Love is Blind. Whether you're part of Bachelor Nation or couldn't...

What's the best movie to watch at Christmas? What about Easter? Film Critic Abby Olcese's answers might surprise you. In her new book, Films for All Seasons , she explores movies that help us engage the story of the Church year. From Advent to Lent, Easter and Pentecost all the way to All Saints' Day, Abby offers up the most surprising and insightful films that help us know Jesus more fully than e...

Andrea Stewart is back with the first book in a dark new trilogy. Why would she ever decide to write another epic fantasy trilogy? What will she do if TikTok gets banned? And how does she navigate the power she wields as an author? All this and more on the new episode!

Jason Pargin returns to the show! His latest standalone novel is an uproarious takedown of internet culture. If anyone knows just how insidious social media has become, it's Pargin, who's been on just about every platform that's existed. In spite of all that, he remains shockingly optimistic about the potential we have for meaningful connections. PLUS: a surprise guest host!

S. B. Divya returns to the show to take us on a whirlwind tour of far-future Earth. Her latest novel explores the nature of choice and consent, as well as what it's like to persist in the face of disability. Plus: has she figured out what dark matter is? (No, but wait till you hear about the short story she's working on!) All this and more!

We're back! Season 13 is the march to episode 400! We get back together to review what we missed this summer - especially all that political turmoil. Then we review a surprising summer movie box office and give you a preview of what's coming up this season. All this and more on the season premier!

The Planet of the Apes franchise has a strange staying power. With the release of the latest (ninth!) film, we review the long, odd history of the franchise - including its mixed success with social commentary. Then we dive into the new film, which embodies the best and worst tendencies of its predecessors. PLUS: a Planet of the... Kyles?