The RYM Podcast

Discover how humor can be a vital expression of faith, the importance of lament, and boundaries for Christian comedy. Join us as we unpack the connection between human emotion, biblical themes, and the role of humor in every person’s life.

Discover how humor is woven into the fabric of God's creation and how it reveals divine attributes like grace and surprise. This episode explores the surprising yet profound connection between laughter, theology, and living joyfully as followers of Christ.

In this episode, we explore how humor has played a vital role in the lives of our guests Matt Howell and Casey Cochran, especially in their faith journeys and ministry. Discover the origins of their comedic expressions, how humor intersects with spirituality, and practical insights into stewarding God's gift of laughter.

In this final episode of the season, the hosts and guests pull back the curtain on the making of The Dopamine Delusion. They discuss the season’s highlights—including wisdom from Anna Lembke, Arcadian Wild’s theme song, the launch of RYM’s Substack, and the creative editing process. Join the conversation about how dopamine shapes our lives, as well as the simple, actionable steps families and lead...

Daniel Darling and Kurt Cooper join host John Perritt to unpack how legalized sports betting and addictive apps exploit dopamine, target young men, and threaten families and communities. They discuss the predatory tactics of the industry, the role of technology, pastoral concerns, and practical steps for parents and churches to warn and help those at risk.

Therapist and author Jay Stringer explains that sexuality is a beautiful, God-given gift and that unwanted sexual behaviors—pornography, affairs, fantasy—can be navigated in a path toward healing rather than a life sentence. Combining original research and the science of dopamine, he shows how childhood wounds, family patterns, and digital dopamine loops shape desire, and offers practical guidance...

This episode examines how modern marketing taps into our deepest spiritual longings—the "God-shaped vacuum"—and uses dopamine-driven techniques to influence behavior, especially among children and teens. Guest Walt Mueller unpacks persuasion strategies and individualized targeting via social media and AI, showing how ads sell worldviews as much as products. Practical takeaways include nurturing a...

In this episode, Dr. Paul Loosemore explores how dopamine shapes kids' behavior, why it drives habit and craving, and how attachment and relationships matter more than quick fixes. The conversation offers practical, faith-informed guidance for parents: how to notice coping patterns, prioritize connection, set intentional tech boundaries, and invite community support. Listeners will hear theologica...

Host John Perritt and co-host Linda Oliver interview Dr. Anna Lembke, author of the book Dopamine Nation, about how dopamine shapes desire, addiction, and motivation in today’s tech-saturated world. Dr. Lembke explains how overstimulation from social media, food, and games can blunt dopamine signaling, creating a chronic reward deficit that drives compulsive behavior. They discuss why teenagers ar...

In this episode, we speak with youth minister Thomas Fitch about how dopamine shapes desire, why accomplishments and pleasures can still leave us empty, and how Scripture (particularly Ecclesiastes) intersects with neuroscience. The episode acts as an introduction to the topic of dopamine, giving practical steps for students, parents, and leaders—boundaries with technology, intentional fasting and...

This is the trailer episode of The RYM Podcast's brand new season of "The Dopamine Delusion: Parents, Teens, and the Pursuit of Peace." This trailer begins with a clip from Netflix's Secret Mall Apartment, recounting how local artists secretly built and lived in a hidden cinderblock-walled apartment beneath Providence Place Mall for four years, leading viewers to ask the question, "why?" One poten...

Join us as we revisit the iconic 2007 Macworld keynote by Steve Jobs where he unveiled the revolutionary iPhone, merging music, mobile phones, and internet communication into a single device. Discover how this launch shaped the future of technology and communication. Dive into a critical discussion on digital Christianity and the challenges faced by today's youth amidst the growing influence of te...

In this episode of the RYM Podcast, host John Perritt touches on the pervasive issue of digital addiction and its impact on our lives. With insights from Bill Smith, pastor and author of "A Student's Guide to Rest," and A.J. Swoboda, professor and author of "Subversive Sabbath," the discussion reveals the challenges of balancing technology with true rest. Exploring themes of productivity and busyn...

In this episode of 'Digital Christianity', we delve into the profound impact of smartphones on our relationships and on our own souls. Explore how a community comes together to combat digital addiction through a 28-day digital fast, fostering increased devotion and reduced distractions. Hear firsthand from Joey Odom, co-founder of Aro, a tech platform designed to encourage time away from phones an...

In Episode 12 of Digital Christianity, "Rejecting and Redeeming Technology," we dive into the pervasive presence of technology in modern life, particularly focusing on its impact on worship and education. Join us as we explore how digital devices distract churchgoers from meaningful worship and pose significant challenges in classrooms, affecting children's educational outcomes and mental health....

This episode of Digital Christianity delves into the profound effects of smartphones and social media on our lives, featuring insights from comedian Bo Burnham and Dr. Read Schuchardt. As these digital tools become increasingly integrated into our everyday existence, Burnham highlights the evolving nature of phones and their spiritual interaction with our lives. Dr. Schuchardt discusses the pervas...

This episode of Digital Christianity explores the parallels between a 1961 dystopian story and the current challenges faced by today's generation with our guest Collin Hansen from The Gospel Coalition. We delve into the impact of constant digital notifications on teenagers and how they deal with declining attention spans. We also highlight the struggles preachers face in maintaining attention and...

In Episode 9 of Reformed Youth Ministries' "Digital Christianity," we dive into the pervasive issue of addiction in our tech-driven world. Drawing insights from Anna Lembke's book, Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence, we explore the intricate balance between the pleasures and pains of modern life, and how technology has become a new frontier for addiction. The episode feature...

In this episode of Digital Christianity, explore the subtle but significant ways TikTok potentially harms its users. Delve into the concerns raised by Dr. O. Alan Noble about the platform's algorithm-driven content that can distort perceptions of beauty and encourage detrimental filter bubbles. Discover insights on the hidden pressures of social media, the dangers of glorifying mental health strug...

In this episode of Digital Christianity, we dive into the intricacies of living authentically in a digital age. Through firsthand accounts, including the tragic story of Dave Hollis, we explore the pressures of performative online lives and their impact on our humanity. Join us as we discuss how faith and wisdom can help navigate the digital landscape, highlighting resources like 'Digital Liturgie...

In this thought-provoking episode, we explore the complexities of identity in the age of social media and technology. The discussion delves into "confessional intimacy," a term coined to describe the personal and often revealing nature of online interactions. We question whether social media platforms help or hinder our self-awareness and investigate the alluring yet elusive quest for wisdom and g...

In this episode, we explore the profound impact of technology on culture through the lens of influential thinkers Neil Postman and Andy Crouch. Delve into Crouch's personal journey with technology, his insights into the societal effects of digital advances, and his advice on cultivating healthier relationships with our devices. Discover the importance of embodied living and reconnecting with natur...

Join us for a captivating discussion about Dr. Neil Postman, a renowned scholar in semantics and communication theory. As the former chair of the Department of Culture and Communication at NYU, Postman has been a prominent voice on the societal impacts of technology and media. In this episode, we explore his skepticism of technological progress and the profound influence of his classic work "Amusi...

In this episode, Brett McCracken, Senior Editor and Director of Communications for the Gospel Coalition, shares his personal struggles with smartphone addiction and the impact of digital habits on family life. As we explore insights from Brett's forthcoming book Scrolling Ourselves to Death, listeners are invited to reflect on their own tech usage. Brett discusses the challenge of modeling healthy...

This episode delves into the disruptive event known as Dark Tuesday during the Obama administration, when a virus led to a significant network shutdown. We explore the surprising impact of this incident on a senior advisor, who found increased productivity in the absence of constant emails. In this episode, we listen to Andrew Noble as he discusses the theological implications of technology and th...