The Sacred Now

Ever notice how, in times of social turmoil and civil unrest, well-meaning folks start calling for "unity" and for "both sides to come together?" Well, JAY JACKSON has had quite enough of it — and, in the first solo episode of this podcast, lays out a six-point case outlining why these appeals to "go high" actually do more harm than good.

Calvin & Hobbes , the immensely popular comic strip by Bill Watterson, has impacted the philosophical and moral perspectives of its fans ever since its debut more than 35 years ago. BEN UTTER, Ph. D. joins host JAY JACKSON to talk about the lessons we're still learning from this strip, and how its influence can be felt in our national consciousness even now.

There was a time when representations of BIPOC and LGBTQ people in media wasn't the greatest. But things have improved... haven't they? Writer LATISHA JONES of " Interspectional " returns to talk with JAY JACKSON about how far we've come... and how far we've yet to go.

African Americans make up nearly 60% percent of COVID-19 cases, but only 18% of Black people say they trust the vaccine to be effective. Why is that? In the season two premiere, host JAY JACKSON invites DR. JAMES MONTGOMERY and historian BRIAN ROGERS to shed light on the dark history of medicine, how vaccines work, and why building trust between the Black community and the medical field is an issu...

It's almost time! Season Two of The Sacred Now kicks off Monday, March 1 with new subjects to explore. We're talking about sex, superstition, Spider-Man, and storytelling; cops, Captain America, COVID-19, and Calvin and Hobbes. You won’t want to miss an episode - and now it’s easier than ever to listen and enjoy from our brand new website, SacredNowPod.com !

What do political parties have in common with cults? More than you might think. This super-size episode features a slew of interviews and takes on the history of how politics has intertwined with religion and pop culture, and how it's affecting our national discourse. Content warning: themes of abuse and exploitation.

Although Black Women have been present in front of the camera, on the page, and behind the scenes of sci-fi, fantasy, and speculative fiction for years, how is it they are still done a disservice when it comes to mainstream media depictions of Black Women in the genre? Today's discussion features guests Cam Apparently ( @yourblerdgirl ), Leticia Jones ( @leticia_creates ), and special guest host L...

Is it possible to still take life lessons, internalize valued themes, and enjoy a work of art story, knowing that its creator is a human piece of garbage? Does the art become less valid if the artist is an asshole? Artist Randi Curtis and auteur Christi Seatts sit with Jay Jackson to discuss.

Thrilled to have Trace from Side Eye Gaming on the podcast to talk about the incredibly vast lore of The Legend of Zelda! What makes Link's journey as a hero so compelling? Why did the Golden Goddess leave the Hyleans to their own devices? And WTF is going on with that timeline?! Let's talk about it!

Ever think about why the image of war is so prevalent in American Christianity? When did we militarize the Gospel? It turns out that history goes deeper than you think. Activist Amie White and army veteran Leslie Battle sit with Jay and delve into America's militant evangelical history.

If you’ve played any Final Fantasy game, you know one major theme is the idea of Man vs God. What can the series' iconoclastic protagonists teach us about divine faith and discipline of the spirit? Jay calls in Willow Pate ( twitch.tv/seskaplays ) and Tanner Treadway ( @tanner_juicebox ) to discuss.

The audio recording of our first LIVE event! Katrina Coleman (@youlooklikecomedy) and Robert Jenkins (@robjcomedy) go head-to-head in a debate about Batman's methods, goals, and effectiveness as a crimefighter. Supporters get access to exclusive content: find out more by subscribing and becoming a patron at anchor.fm/sacrednowpod .

What does Will and Jada's "entanglement" with August Alsina have to teach us about representations of Black Relationships in pop culture? Quite a bit, as it turns out. Jay Jackson and LaToya Cherise ( @incitefulA ) discuss.

Even with mask mandates in effect all over the country, and data indicating that masks slow the spread of COVID-19, a number of people refuse to wear them. This week, Jay invites Scott , a microbiologist, to debunk the myths about masks, and discuss the ethics of why the government should make wearing them mandatory.

There's no show today, but there are several announcements to make, including our upcoming LIVE SHOW EVENTS and what cool stuff to expect for the rest of the season!

Jay is joined by Robert Shepherd ( @ElThrob ) to discuss how the Last Son of Krypton stacks up to the Son of God, and whether or not mankind needs a messiah — heat vision or not.

The church played an integral part in the Civil Rights Era; but in the modern #BLM movement, not so much. Will Spottedbear (WillSpottedbear), Mo Alexander (@MoAlexander), and Krish Mohan (@KrishMohanHaHa) talk with Jay about whether faith has a part to play in the new revolution.

It's #Pride Month, and Jay moderates a panel of LGBTQIA+ folks to talk about the complicated relationship between queer culture and the church. Featuring artist Evie Page (aka " Eden Alive "), comedian Amanda G (" Near and Queer to My Heart "), and educator Karr (" You Look Like: Little Rock ").

Host Jay Jackson and guest Tanner Treadway (@tanner_juicebox) discuss the concepts of law, chaos, good and evil as presented in Dungeons And Dragons. What, exactly, do the words “good” and “evil” mean? And how does the way the game defines those terms apply to the real world? 

When the world is crumbling all around you, how do you cope? What kind of strain does the trauma and grief of the universe place on your personal faith? For this completely, totally hypothetical and not-at-all-related-to-real-life question, Jay brings special guest Leroy Mathis in for some table talk on, chicken, traditionalism, and "The Walking Dead."

We break our normal schedule to bring you a special episode in light of the resurgent deaths of unarmed Black people at the hands of police. Jay invites several friends to share their thoughts and feelings on current events... and they responded. **CONTENT WARNING: themes of violence, references to sexual assault, strong language**

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is rife with allegory, symbolism, and thematic elements. In this episode, Ruth Houston (@the_lost_blog) and Chad Kusturin (@chaders99) help Jay unpack the religious implications thereof, and touch on some of the controversial elements surrounding the Boy Who Lived.

Jay invites actor and producer Amie White , comedian Will Wininger , veteran and comedian Leslie Battle , and veteran and gamer Austin Zlomke to discuss how COVID-19, quarantine, and social distancing have affected our cultural landscape — and our faith.

This episode, Jay is joined by LaToya Cherise (@IncitefulA) of the Inciteful Alien podcast to talk about the instances of African spiritualism in Black Panther — and how it relates to the Black American experience of today.

Our two-part episode continues with Jay, Krish, and Lucas traveling at warp speed through the Star Trek universe looking for God, and finding time-bending Prophets, omnipotent aliens, and lots of laughs along the way. Download Transcript