The Fascinating Podcast

In the wake of JR.'s Bad Movie Birthday fundraiser, we dive in on what makes a bad movie (and why so many Christian movies tend to be bad).

We accidentally recorded a supersized Halloween episode! Kathy, Clay and JR. investigate quantum computing, women preaching and Halloween... and that's just the start!

Director Penny Lane found the Satanic Temple fascinating. Are they a religion? A political movement? A bunch of hilarious trolls? Or all of the above? She joins us to explore the nature of religion, the limits of belief and what it looks like to have faith in public.

Pastor and author Stephanie Williams O'Brien joins us to explore how to stay curious in faith. Why is curiosity good? And how to we cultivate a faithful curiosity? PLUS: we're mad about the ACTs

Justin McRoberts returns to talk about the Lord's Prayer. What does it mean to pray this most famous prayer of Jesus? How can this prayer be a path to knowing God better?

Gene Luen Yang is back! His latest project is SUPERMAN SMASHES THE KLAN, the first graphic novel adaptation of a classic Superman radio show. The original show crushed post-WWII Nazi popularity. Can Gene's new comic do the same today? PLUS: #RoofPanthers

Words shape our ideas about faith. What role does insider language play in Christian faith? How important is it? When is it a barrier to genuine faith? PLUS: Will we lose our iTunes rating thanks to bulls?

In the wake of some prominent Christians leaving faith, we explore the process of deconstructing faith. What were the keys in our own journeys? And how can we be friends to those who are deconstructing?

Your favorite podcast is back from break! We review an uneven Summer of movies. Who won the Summer prediction, and who was the big loser?

Matt's back in the hot seat in this Season 3 preview. We dive into the Heartwood Crown - the brand new second installment in the Sunlit Lands saga. Plus, we're joined by guest co-host Michelle Reyes!

In our season finale, JR. and Kathy debut a new segment: Cheers to You! We're celebrating things that turn 21 this year, and first up is Google. We do a deep dive into the search engine. Plus, we reflect on 30 episodes of Kathy!

From June 10, 2019, a panel on how faith in Jesus informs our public action. Hosted by JR. Forasteros, and featuring Mark Charles, Karen González, Andre Henry, Rev. José Humphreys, Kathy Khang and Dr. Michelle Reyes. Watch the full panel conversation.

Sociologist and pop culture guru Nancy Wang Yuen joins us to talk about a couple of recent hits - Netflix' Korean zombie thriller KINGDOM and romantic comedy Always Be My Maybe.

What if aliens are real? If they were, that truth would impact everything from theology to communications. In fact, maybe the reason we like telling alien stories so much is that we know deep down these stories help us communicate with difficult people. Clay and JR. dive into some communication tips that will help with little green men or that difficult coworker, friend or neighbor.

One of the biggest TV shows of all time has come to an end... and how was it? We welcome theologian Andre Henry to help us wade through the rubble of King's Landing, including a deep dive on the Mother of Dragons herself.

Though Jesus calls us to be poor - and poor in spirit, but weakness runs contrary to much of what's rewarded in Evangelicalism. Alia Joy shares with us how she navigates everything from church to publishing without the expectation that weakness is a stop along the way.

In honor of the the biggest movie of the year, we assembled an all-star cast of Fascinating guests. Rabbi Eliyahu Fink, Pastor Jose Humphreys and Dr. Michelle Reyes assemble to dive into the big themes of this big, big movie.

Author and writing instructor Blake Kimzey joins Clay and JR. to talk about how to face down distractions. What does it take to get things done? Plus: a Velocipastor update and maybe the best proof yet of yeti?

It's the annual summer movie preview! Other than Avengers: Endgame, what films do we think will rule the box office? Which will bust? And which are we anticipating most fully? Listen up!

Exactly how expensive should a pastor's shoes be? Should pastors, professors, speakers or other culture leaders receive gifts? We wade into the ethics of power and money in light of some recent scandals.

Captain Marvel is breaking the box office. Dr. Michelle Reyes joins us to dive into the surprising spiritual themes of this marvelous new movie. We cover everything from Feminism to refugees.

Author and artist Justin McRoberts joins us to talk prayer. Why is prayer so intimidating for many of us? And how can art invite us to recover prayer as a simple, accessible practice? Plus: a bevy of great t-shirt ideas.

If creating is a calling, then don't we owe it to ourselves (and God) to take our creative process seriously? Author and professor Julianna Baggott returns to the podcast to share about her amazing new course, Efficient Creativity.

Ben Winters returns to dive into his new novel, GOLDEN STATE. It's a detective story set in a dystopian future where telling lies is illegal, so we reflect on the nature of truth and whether it's possible to love a thing too much.

While Kathy's in Paris, we reflect on some pop culture that turns 30 this year. Then we explore how to avoid fights when sharing Jesus. How can we keep our relationship with the other person center? (Plus, seriously, why were there so many great movies in 1989?)