The Speakeasy

Best-selling author James Finke joins Blake to discuss apologetics and how wrestling with doubt led him to a deeper faith. James shares his journey from a nominal religious upbringing to a life-changing encounter with scripture during a period of intense anxiety. He recalls how a panic attack drove him to open his Bible to Luke 12:22, a moment that transformed his understanding of God's presence....

Financial expert, best-selling author, and YouTuber George Kamel from Ramsey Solutions joins Blake to discuss faith, finances, and breaking free from debt. He shares his personal journey from financial struggle to becoming debt-free and emphasizes the importance of shifting from a scarcity mindset to an abundance mindset rooted in biblical principles. The discussion explores how cultural financial...

Executive Director of National Center's Free Enterprise Project Stefan Padfield joins Blake to dive into the complexities of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) and how its implementation has evolved, particularly since 2020. They explore how DEI shifted from preventing workplace discrimination to actively enforcing race and gender-based hiring and promotion policies, often leading to unintende...

Associate Director at Pure Desire Ashley Jameson joins Blake to discuss the often-overlooked topic of women and pornography, addressing the shame, struggles, and lack of support many women face in Christian communities. Ashley shares her personal journey of discovering her husband's addiction, her own struggles with sex and love addiction, and the challenges of finding real help within the church....

The creator of M is for Mama Abbie Halberstadt joins Blake to discuss countercultural motherhood, biblical parenting, and embracing the challenges of life. A mother of 10, homeschooler, and content creator, Abbie shares insights from her books, including Hard is Not the Same Thing as Bad , emphasizing the importance of perseverance and faith in motherhood. She recounts her journey into blogging, i...

In today's solo episode, Blake spends some time recapping the first week of Trump's presidency. She reflects on the stark contrast between Trump's energy and Biden's presidency, emphasizing how active and engaged Trump appeared on Inauguration Day. She shares emotional reactions to the event, highlighting moments like J.D. Vance's swearing-in and addressing fears surrounding alleged prophecies. Ot...

CEO and Co-founder of the Hallow app Alex Jones joins Blake to discuss his journey from atheism to creating a guided prayer and meditation app rooted in Christian spirituality. He shares how his personal encounter with meditation led him to discover the deeper spiritual traditions within Christianity, such as contemplative prayer and meditation on scripture. Inspired by his own profound experience...

Author Jodi LaRae Cunningham joins Blake to discuss the complex topic of estrangement. Jodi shares her personal journey, particularly her experiences of being estranged from her children and how she sought healing through counseling and faith. The conversation explores the nuances of estrangement, emphasizing that it can range from complete cutoff to emotional distance within relationships. They d...

In this episode, Blake discusses the catastrophic fires in California and the public's reaction to the government response, the parallels between the criticisms of FEMA during East Coast disasters and the current critique of California's state government. Then we delve into the political and military importance of areas like Greenland and the Panama Canal, examining Trump's controversial stance on...

Nutritionist, trainer, mom, and wife Brooke Rozzie joins Blake for a conversation about nutrition, self-care, and holistic health, with a focus on supporting busy moms. They discuss the challenges of prioritizing health amidst the chaos of life, reflecting on how many people, especially moms, put their own needs last. Brooke shares her personal journey of overcoming unexplained health issues, disc...

Podcaster and content creator Kevin Thom joins Blake to kick off the new year with a conversation focused on optimism, faith, and confronting societal and spiritual challenges. This episode delves deep into interconnected global issues, from the exposure of systemic corruption spanning politics, Hollywood, and the royal family to the spiritual and societal ramifications of these revelations. We di...

In this celebratory podcast episode, Blake reflects on an incredible six-year journey since launching her show as a birthday gift to herself in 2018. What started as a heartfelt space for candid conversations about faith, struggles, and authenticity has evolved into something far bigger than she imagined. With a fresh rebrand to The Speakeasy , the show now boldly tackles cultural and political to...

Author and poet Laura Wifler joins Blake to dive into the complex yet liberating truths of motherhood through a gospel-centered lens. They discuss the challenges of striving for perfection while embracing the reality that God's grace covers our shortcomings. By rooting our identity in Christ rather than our daily successes or failures, we can parent from a place of freedom rather than fear. They a...

Speaker, songwriter, and children's author BJ Jenkins joins Blake to discuss the challenges and joys of teaching children about the Bible. BJ shares her journey from a music evangelist to writing books and creating curriculum aimed at simplifying deep biblical concepts for kids. She emphasizes the importance of modeling faith at home, encouraging parents to actively demonstrate practices like pray...

Content creator, entrepreneur, and mom, Amy Bernhard joins Blake to discuss their transformative journeys in motherhood and how shifting their mindsets has shaped their experiences. They reflect on breaking free from toxic hustle culture and finding fulfillment beyond societal expectations of success. Both share how they transitioned from prioritizing external validation, like career achievements...

This week on Confessions of a Crappy Christian, Blake delves into navigating challenging political conversations, particularly with individuals who trust mainstream media. She explains the importance of discerning whether such discussions are worthwhile and provides insights to help you articulate your perspective effectively. She critiques the mainstream media's trustworthiness, citing examples o...

Author, speaker, and podcast host Alex Kocman joins Blake to discuss the complexities of immigration from a Christian perspective and the church's role in addressing societal challenges. They explore how biblical principles provide guidance on loving neighbors, understanding nations, and maintaining ordered affections. Alex emphasizes the importance of discerning scripture to navigate nuanced conv...

Former NFL linebacker, three-time All-American, and College Football Hall of Famer David Pollack joins Blake to share his inspiring journey of perseverance and faith. After a career-ending neck injury and later being let go from ESPN, Pollack reflects on how these setbacks allowed him to pivot toward impactful new roles, such as coaching youth sports and writing his new book, The Won't Quit Kid ....

Pastor, author and speaker Mark Batterson joins Blake to discuss his new book, A Million Little Miracles . Building on themes from his earlier work, Mark dives into the idea of everyday miracles, exploring how small moments of beauty and gratitude can transform our lives. The conversation highlights how acknowledging these smaller blessings—like breathing or witnessing the changing colors of leave...

Listen in to this special post-election episode where Blake provides an in-depth reflection on the recent election results. Join her to discuss initial expectations and preparations, the surprising outcome, and the ensuing public and personal reactions. The episode highlights the polarized nature of public discourse, the challenges of maintaining personal relationships amidst political divides, an...

In this special pre-election edition of Confessions of a Crappy Christian , Blake reflects on the anticipation and uncertainty surrounding the upcoming election, emphasizing the importance of being spiritually prepared for any outcome. While addressing concerns about potential policy impacts and media influence, Blake underscores that true strength and hope are rooted not in politics but in faith....

Mother-daughter duo Clarissa and Fiona Moll join Blake to discuss their journey of grief after losing Rob, Clarissa's husband and Fiona's father, in a tragic hiking accident. They talk about how their experience led them to write the book Hurt Help Hope , which serves as both a guide and a resource for others walking through grief. Clarissa reflects on the importance of having conversations about...

Writers Meseidy Rivera and Rachel Reeves (from Here Are the Headlines) join Blake to discuss the importance of voting, particularly for Christians, and criticize those abstaining from elections due to dissatisfaction with candidates. They highlight concerns about religious freedom, free speech, and media censorship, emphasizing that Trump, despite his flaws, is more likely to protect these rights...

Writer, author, and creator of Scribble Devos Whitney Lowe joins Blake to discuss her new devotional, Set Your Eyes Higher , which focuses on four key themes: identity and insecurity, wisdom and humility, capacity and burnout, and scarcity and abundance. Whitney explains that the devotional aims to move beyond surface-level Christianity by addressing real-life struggles through a lens of scripture...

Psychologist, author, and speaker Dr. Camden Morgante joins Blake to discuss the effects of purity culture, particularly on women, and the misconceptions and shame that many have struggled with because of it. Dr. Camden defines purity culture as a movement, especially prominent in the 1990s and 2000s, that promoted abstinence before marriage using fear and shame. They discuss how the movement's ri...