The Hopper Podcast

Watch this first, What are we doing to White People? Our reaction to this young man's mega-viral and provocative video essay on racism against white people. Beavers dropping from the sky! thehopperpodcast.org Bonus Episodes here Leave a voicemail for us: 214.267.9287 Write us: thehopperpodcast@gmail.com

Does Artificial Intelligence threaten or save us? Or both? Huge leaps in technology come with all sorts of ethical complications requiring clear, level-headed thinking in a time of disorientation. Let's think about it together. Then, we answer some good questions posed on our Facebook page. Alan Turing (for whom the Turing Test is named) Trailer for M3GAN (2023 movie) thehopperpodcast.org Bonus Ep...

Comedian Emo Phillips introduces a topic on the joys and pains of relationships. Marriage, friendships, church relationships. Healthy relationships are painful, but life is meaningless without them. We walk through this topic with fun, careful, and sober conversation. Then, William is mad about how FEMA helps out the same flood and fire victims over and over. Is there any way to make things better...

Every society needs both conservatives and progressives to be healthy. Brains of conservative people are measurably different from brains of progressive people. What are the fundamental differences between conservatives and progressives? And how can we appreciate our differences instead of attacking each other? Also, let me tell you why beavers are so great! thehopperpodcast.org Bonus Episodes her...

The extreme right and the extreme left have gone crazy! They are both trying to eliminate the rights of parents to raise their "transgender" or "gender confused" children. Both sides cry out, "Child abuse!" to the other side. Let's take a breath, listen, and try to understand each other. Children should not be pawns in this culture war. Then, we try to stop giggling as we talk about a new scientif...

Religious social media companies are harvesting your prayers and selling them to the highest bidder. If you are not paying for it, you are the product! Then, the (small, but) growing movement to allow prisoners to sell their organs. thehopperpodcast.org Bonus Episodes here Leave a voicemail for us: 214.267.9287 Write us: thehopperpodcast@gmail.com

Part 2 of our conversation with Sociologist Matt Vos -- on the role of scapegoats in societies, and in our own relationships . . . with a powerful story to illustrate the evils of scapegoating. We also discuss how this relates to immigration policy. Matthew Vos, Strangers and Scapegoats: Extending God's Welcome to Those on the Margins thehopperpodcast.org Bonus Episodes here Leave a voicemail for...

We talk with sociologist Matt Vos about the role of the "stranger" in every society. What should/can we do with "outsiders" or those on the margins? Theology and sociology in dialogue about this important topic. Then, another recent true story about someone attacked with poop. What are the moral parameters around poop attacks? Matthew Vos, Strangers and Scapegoats: Extending God's Welcome to Those...

On commercial flights do you lean your seat back? Airlines use this feature to focus the frustration of travelers to each other rather than the airlines themselves. They sell the same space twice on every seat for every flight. And Dave is also upset about the seat size options. Then, what about the new movie, Cocaine Bear ? thehopperpodcast.org Bonus Episodes here Leave a voicemail for us: 214.26...

As we approach the "Final Four," how does money affect college athletics? Men's basketball and football make buckets of money for schools, but the athletes don't see any of the money. New changes allow athletes to sell their "name, image, and likeness;" this only affects the very few most popular athletes. Willy wants a big change, but Dave wants some modest changes. What do you think? Then, crazy...

Carolyn Custis James on ancient and modern patriarchy, and the updated edition of her book Malestrom . . . and her biblical vision for manhood and womanhood. Carolyn Custis James thehopperpodcast.org Bonus Episodes here Leave a voicemail for us: 214.267.9287 Write us: thehopperpodcast@gmail.com

William sings the praises of Nuclear Power, with history, statistics, and nuanced arguments And, why do we have Daylight Savings Time? Who is benefiting from this madness? thehopperpodcast.org Bonus Episodes here Leave a voicemail for us: 214.267.9287 Write us: thehopperpodcast@gmail.com

Stories of bullies and cyberbullies; how can we treat them? how can we help? Then, the classic Monty Hall Puzzle. Why is it so hard to understand something so simple? thehopperpodcast.org Bonus Episodes here Leave a voicemail for us: 214.267.9287 Write us: thehopperpodcast@gmail.com

The good, bad, and ugly of the "He Gets Us" campaign. Dave really likes it, William has reservations. Then, the M&M's characters have lost their "sex appeal," and some people have lost their minds! Is that good or bad? What does it mean? thehopperpodcast.org Bonus Episodes here Leave a voicemail for us: 214.267.9287 Write us: thehopperpodcast@gmail.com

More that 500,000 people live without homes, and this is growing super fast. The causes of are super complex; and the solutions are equally complex. Join us for some evidence-based analysis and ways we can help. thehopperpodcast.org Bonus Episodes here Leave a voicemail for us: 214.267.9287 Write us: thehopperpodcast@gmail.com

Jim Nelson joins us again as we discuss a ban on pornography. Then, what should we think of ghosts? There is more mystery here than some think, but we're not completely in the dark. thehopperpodcast.org Bonus Episodes here Leave a voicemail for us: 214.267.9287 Write us: thehopperpodcast@gmail.com

Librarian Jim Nelson joins us to bring some sanity to the Right-wing crazies and Left-wing wackos recently fighting about banning books in school libraries. These bans are mostly books related to LGBTQ+ and race issues. thehopperpodcast.org Bonus Episodes here Leave a voicemail for us: 214.267.9287 Write us: thehopperpodcast@gmail.com

Our continuing conversation on the recently passed American law that 1) protects religious freedom and, 2) ensures every state's marriage license is recognized by all other states. Dave and William disagree, and show how this issue needs careful thought, active listening, and compassion. Then, bizarre, old (and sometimes new!) medical procedures that might make you throw up in your mouth a little...

Is America a Christian nation? If so, to what degree? In what aspects? This topic is so complex! It requires great nuance with a heaping scoop of listening to opposing view points. There is disagreement here, but let's listen to each other, and try to learn. thehopperpodcast.org Bonus Episodes here Leave a voicemail for us: 214.267.9287 Write us: thehopperpodcast@gmail.com

Responding to a listener's question about using specific actions (genuflection and other physical rituals) as a placebo for spiritual growth. Can bodily motions lead to greater spiritual growth? And if so, what difference is made by our understanding of these things? These are difficult topics, let's think about it together. https://www.thehopperpodcast.org/ Bonus Episodes here Leave a voicemail f...

"Does God like suffering?" This question opens an important discussion about how we can navigate our pain and suffering, and how God can help. This is part 2 of our discussion with Scott Owen Moore. Then, sometimes vanity license plates get rejected . . . which ones, and why? The Hopper Podcast website Bonus Episodes here Leave a voicemail for us: 214.267.9287 Write us: thehopperpodcast@gmail.com

We sit down with Scott Owen Moore, an artist/missionary/producer to talk about his project, "I am art," using art to heal the souls of traumatized Guatemalan children, among many other important issues. Then, Dave schools Willy in 70's Rock bands. Athentikos ("I am art") Watch Reparando , documentary about Guatemala Bonus Episodes here Leave a voicemail for us: 214.267.9287 Write us: thehopperpodc...

What is the real story of Christmas according to the Bible? Did Mary ride a donkey? How many wise men were there? What does the Bible actually say? Then, responding to a listener, we discuss "us vs. them" mentality. We tend to prescribe negative moral value to those with whom we disagree. What does this look like, and how can we avoid it? The Hopper Podcast Website Bonus Episodes here Leave a voic...

Some people have really crazy Christmas traditions, including Krampus, Dia del diablo, the Poo Log, and the Caganer. Where do these things come from? Then, Bill Cosby is a terrible person, but he did some really great things. Can we enjoy his good work without endorsing his horrible crimes? Let's talk about it. The Hopper Podcast website Bonus Episodes here Leave a voicemail for us: 214.267.9287 W...

Christians everywhere, always have loved the story of Jesus and the woman caught in adultery from John's gospel. But John didn't write it. Who did? What should we think of it? This leads us to a deeper discussion: what makes the Bible scriptural anyway? Then, Dave tells the story of the world's dirtiest man, seriously, so dirty! Finally, William Shatner actually went to space, but it was totally d...