The Substance

It's hard to overstate the importance of being able to discern sources and consume the news in a healthy and appropriate manner. The last few years have especially highlighted this, but there has never been a time where this was unimportant. It seems like every week there are articles, stories, tweets, etc. about matters relating to politics, economics, sociology, public health, justice systems, a...

Welcome to our first holiday themed Substantive Cinema show! Little Women 2019 Written and Directed by Greta Gerwig Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, Laura Dern, Timothée Chalamet, Tracy Letts, Bob Odenkirk, James Norton, Louis Garrel, and Meryl Streep. Buy or Rent on iTunes We are happy to be joined on this episode by Alissa Wilkinson. Alissa is a film critic at...

This week we welcome the hip hop artist, activist, teacher, podcaster, upcoming author, and all around creative, Sho Baraka to The Substance. We discuss Sho’s faith journey, his political and social work with the AND Campaign, his time at Reach Records and how the Christian Hip Hop industry has changed over the years, his definitive Humble Beast album: The Narrative, how the church relates to the...

Topic Toss Up time again! This week we’re talking about how some Christians with public platforms are calling for their so-called woke brethren to be expelled from their churches, the Joe Rogan article on The Gospel Coalition and the controversy it sparked on social media, and we close out by starting the discussion of how to view Christmas and other holidays in a healthy manner. Shoutouts! Vincen...

J. C. Ryle’s Thoughts For Young Men is an important and accessible work that’s valuable for everyone. Not just the young and not just the men. And though the material in TFYM is over 130 years old, it is timeless in its wisdom and advice. If you are trying to live a life of meaning and one that honors God and takes the Bible seriously, this is a book that is well worth your time. And thank you to...

Chris Nolan’s Interstellar is an interesting film in many regards, one of them being that it’s the first Substantive Cinema episode we’ve done where we have significant disagreements on the subject matter. Interstellar was directed by Christopher Nolan and co-written by him and his brother Jonathan. It stars Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Michael Caine, Timothée Chalamet, an...

Part of why this subject is so difficult, is because “cancel culture” is such an ambiguous term. Join us as we consider what Cancel Culture is and isn’t, the benefits and challenges it has (and the whole conversation around it) for our society, and what some good goals are going forward. And remember, watch your back if you say anything bad about Beyoncé or Taylor Swift online! Listen and join the...

It’s Topic Toss Up time again! This week we field a listener question about the loving rebuke of a fellow believer (and in general how to relate well to one another in a politically divisive climate), evaluate the wisdom and utility of “celebrity pastors,” and discuss how the young and old relate to each other respectfully, especially in communities of faith. Have a thought about something we said...

This week The Substance welcomes Robert P. Jones to the show. Robert is the CEO and Founder of the Public Religion Research Institute, he holds an MDiv and a PhD in religion, and is the author of the recent, critically acclaimed “White Too Long.” White Too Long is combination of American history, survey data from PRRI, and the author’s own personal story. Join us as we dive in to some difficult bu...

While Vincent is off this week, Philip and Trevor are joined by The Substance’s first return guest, Brett McCracken, to discuss Terrence Malick’s most recent film, A Hidden Life. Brett is a film reviewer, an author, and the Senior Editor of Art & Culture at The Gospel Coalition. Join us as we look at the timeless and timely themes that A Hidden Life evokes. If something stuck out to you in the...

The enneagram has been a hot topic in recent years but it’s easy to uncritically reject or accept things that become popular. On this week’s show we look at some of the history and use of the enneagram and consider the Christian’s relationship to it. After you’ve listened (or while you’re listening!), let us know what you think. Why do you think it’s beneficial? Why might it be something that peop...

Right up front, we understand that “social justice” is a loaded term in Western Christian culture. The most important question though, is “Is it something that is good and honors God?” And if so, how do we pursue it in a way that’s honoring to Him? Join us as we talk with Jesse Eubanks, Founder and Executive Director of Love Thy Neighborhood, about these and more questions regarding this often mis...

We’re back with our first Substantive Stories of our new era! Join us as we talk with Dianne Jago about how to stay faithful to God as we pursue (or lay down) our dreams! We hope you enjoy our discussion and if you have any comments to share or questions to ask, reach out to us and continue the conversation. And be on the lookout for our giveaway contest THIS WEEK on Facebook and Instagram! Dianne...

We've got another Topic Toss Up for you this week! We'll address - John MacArthur's statement at the Falkirk center to the effect that true believers vote Republican. We get into some deep stuff with this one. For further reflection check out Our earlier episode about MacArthur's Shapiro interview [Spotify link], David French's "Do Pro Lifers Who Reject Trump Have Blood On Their Hands?", and a tim...

This is a special one in a number of ways. We’re happy to finally share this show with you as it was the last Substantive Cinema show we recorded in our 1.0 era. Black Panther was also the first film we covered that was selected by The Substance’s listeners (thank you to everyone who participated)! And sadly, this film is one that has taken on even more cultural significance due to Chadwick Bosema...

We’re back! And we’re starting off this era of The Substance by reflecting on how folks, particularly people of faith, cultivate their political identities. What priorities do we allow to shape how we think politically and how we vote? What personalities and sources do we trust and why do we trust them? How much do we look into things for ourselves or do we take things we hear from folks with larg...

The Substance Returns Sept 27th! Connect with us on Twitter , Instagram , and Facebook . Email: thesubstancepod@gmail.com  Phone Line: 913-703-3883

Not a normal episode this time - check out the announcement for all the details. 

Our Topics This Round: Being A Witness As A Public School Teacher Millennials’ Attitudes On Evangelism Christian Planetary Stewardship The UMC Traditional Plan Vote Other Links Check out Joe Thorn’s Podcast on the SBC and Sexual Abuse Trev’s Shout Out: Throughline, Four Days in August Philip’s Shout Out: Batman Animated Series Intros ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈ Thanks for listening! If you’d like to su...

This week, we look at the question: is it biblically permissible to be a “cursing Christian?” Join us as we talk through the issue of using the LORD’s name in vain, whether or not the Apostle Paul “swore” in the Bible and what that means for us, and some thoughts on how to be both God-honoring and gracious in the profane culture we live in.  **New Segment Alert** This week is also the debut o...

Welcome to our first entry into our Substantive Stories series! This week we have the pleasure of speaking with Quina Aragón. Quina is a spoken word artist, editor, an now a published writer of the wonderful new children’s book “Love Made.”  Join us as we discuss her background, and get to hear her testimony of faith and how God used circumstances and faithful believers to bring her not only...

Our topic this week is brought to you by our listeners. We had a number of listeners reach out and request that we talk about Jordan Peterson, so here we are!  Whether you love him or hate him (or something in between), Jordan Peterson is an undeniably impactful cultural figure. On this week’s show, we critically consider his message(s) and seek to get at the heart of some of the very importa...

We’re back with another Substantive Cinema show!  This week we’re looking at Terrence Malick’s spiritual masterpiece “The Tree of Life.” It’s not an “easy” film, but if you go into it with the right mindset, you’ll be hard pressed to find a more substantive moviegoing experience.  Watch Tree of Life: iTunes Joining us this week for our discussion is film critic, author, and Senior Editor...

In our second topic toss-up, we’ll be discussing the following. Stay tuned to the end for a Special Announcement! 1: Gillette Ad 2: Gospel Track Carpet-bombing 3: Brief thoughts on Statement on Social Justice Blog that references early drafts of the statement A full podcast on the SoSJ with great interviews and analysis 4: Lessons from “Believed” and Larry Nassar Released Feb 10, 2019 ≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈≈...

Not everyone has the same standards when it comes to what kind of media they feel is appropriate to consume. What are we to make of the wide variety of convictions and practices of fellow believers and those who claim Christ? How do we develop our own standards and what role does conscience, culture, and community play in the process? Join us as we think critically about these and related topics t...