Veterans of Culture Wars

Zach and Dave welcome Jared Stacy to the VCW hall to discuss Evangelicalism and conspiracy theories. We discuss why the religious right seems prone to be consumed by conspiracy theories and the fractures in relationships and society when conspiracy theories become prevalent. Buy Jared's book: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/reality-in-ruins-jared-stacy-phd Follow Jared on Substack: http...

We're back for our annual pre-Oscars special episode covering our favorite movies of the year with Six-Timer Club guest Jeffrey Overstreet, who also has a new memoir about art and movies and faith called Lost & Found in the Cathedral of Cinema: A Spiritual Journey. Buy Jeffrey's book: https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506496948/Lost-and-Found-in-the-Cathedral-of-Cinema F...

On our annual Christmas episode, we welcome author and Christmas TV expert Joanna Wilson to the show to talk about, well, Christmas TV! The classic specials, the infamous 1978 Star Wars Holiday Special, the film that defined Hallmark Christmas movies, oh and that time she watched the entire 24-hour A Christmas Story marathon and wrote a book about it (The Triple Dog Dare). Follow Joanna on Instagr...

In our first-ever double Zach episode, pastor Zach Lambert stops by to talk about the ideal spelling of his name, as well as his new book Better Ways to Read the Bible: Transforming a Weapon of Harm Into a Tool of Healing. We talk about the various lenses through which people approach the text, and the challenge of doing so with the lens of the original intended audience. Buy the book here: https:...

Alycea (AKA Transvangelical) returns to the VCW to talk about her new book On Your Knees: The 69-Day Irreverent Devotional. It's equal parts funny and serious linguistic scholarship, and we have a good discussion about it. We also discuss her thoughts as a trans woman and former military member on Pete Hegseth's tenure at the so-called "Department of War". Buy the book here: https://www.transvange...

Paul and Billie Hoard return to the show to receive their Three-Timers Club jackets and talk about their brand-new book Eucontamination: Disgust Theology and the Christian Life. Buy the book here: https://wipfandstock.com/9798385213726/eucontamination/ Bluesky: @vcwpod.bsky.social Zach: @muzach.bsky.social Dave: @davelester80.bsky.social Dave's second podcast- "Does the Bible Say THAT?": https://o...

Talia Lavin joins the VCW to talk about her new book Wild Faith: How the Christian Right Is Taking Over America. We talk about the Satanic Panic, Dr. Dobson's influence in creating generations of evangelical families built on ritualized violence, and how that has led to so many Americans embracing authoritarianism. Follow her on Bluesky: @swordsjew.bsky.social Bluesky: @vcwpod.bsky.social Zach: @m...

Katherine Stewart (The Power Worshippers) returns to discuss her latest book Money, Lies, and God: Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy, which details the rise and increasing influence of anti-democratic forces on the right - who they are, who's funding them, and what they are doing to fundamentally reshape America. We talk about "cultural Christian" Elon Musk and nazi s...

Our 5th annual pre-Oscars look at at our favorite films of the past year is back and we managed to cover them all in only one (long) episode this time. Film critic, professor, and author Jeffrey Overstreet joins as usual, and we also have first-time VCW guest, film critic and programming director of The Pickford Film Center, Melissa Tamminga. We discuss the Oscars briefly, then get into each of ou...

In our first episode since November, Tori Williams Douglass returns to the VCW hall to talk about *gestures wildly* allllll that, with a particular emphasis on the stated goal of the Trump administration to destroy Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and their efforts thus far to do that. Follow Tori on Bluesky: @toriglass.bsky.social Listen to her podcasts: White Homework - https://podcasts.apple.c...

Sergio Gonzalez and Lloyd Barba stop by the VCW to talk about their new podcast series Sanctuary: On the Border Between Church and State, which is part of the Axis Mundi network. We talk about the immigration crisis and how the US government has, historically, been a contributing factor. We discuss Sanctuary cities as well as religious sanctuary. Finally, we explore some of the factors for why Tru...

Award-winning author Liz Charlotte Grant joins the VCW hall to discuss her new book "Knock at the Sky" (out January 7, 2025 from Eerdmans). We talk about her faith journey, Biblical inerrancy including the 1978 Chicago Statement of Inerrancy and why she wanted to write a book about Genesis. You can order the book by Liz Charlotte Grant right here: https://www.eerdmans.com/9780802883759/knock-at-th...

Returning guests Dr. Paul Hoard and Billie Hoard share with us their thoughts and feelings on the recent presidential election and our serious concerns regarding the future of the country, in particular the existential threat to trans people and other marginalized people. Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/vcwpod Dave's second podcast- "Does the Bible Say THAT?": https://open.spo...

A special election day 2024 edition of the VCW Podcast! Podcaster and content creator April Ajoy joins us to discuss her brand new book "Star-Spangled Jesus: Leaving Christian Nationalism and Finding a True Faith". We talk about her personal faith story and how her faith has evolved over time. We also make election 2024 predictions! Buy April's book: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/april-...

Scott Coley joins the show to talk about his book Ministers of Propaganda: Truth, Power, and the Ideology of the Religious Right. We discuss the weaponization of the term "biblical", common sensism, the remarkable pivot of George Wallace, young earth creationism and more. Buy Scott's book: https://www.eerdmans.com/9781467466004/ministers-of-propaganda/ Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patr...

Justin Gentry joins the show to talk about his work as a former pastor and current co-podcaster (REVcovery Room, Scidentity Crisis, and Go Home Bible, You're Drunk), as well as helping organize the annual Content Warning event, coming to Atlanta next February. Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/vcwpod Dave's second podcast- "Does the Bible Say THAT?": https://open.spotify.com/epi...

Podcaster and originator of the exvangelical hashtag Blake Chastain returns to the VCW hall to talk about his new book Exvangelical and Beyond: How American Christianity Went Radical and the Movement That's Fighting Back. Buy Blake's Book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/747796/exvangelical-and-beyond-by-blake-chastain/ Katelyn Beaty article on what "post-Evangelical" means to her: https:...

Dr. Matthew Taylor returns to the VCW hall to discuss his forthcoming book (out October 1, 2024) "The Violent Take it By Force: The Christian Movement That is Threatening Our Democracy". Dr. Taylor talks about some of the major figures within the independent Charismatic movement, what he sees as 4 quadrants of Evangelicalism, how independent Charismatics have taken over the Religious Rig...

Alycea, who uses the pseudonym Transvangelical, and Wyld Violet are online sex workers who incorporate their evangelical experience into their work and have a new podcast called Not Safe for Worship. We talk about deconstruction, purity culture, ethics in porn consumption and production, and even touch on the current political climate regarding trans rights and safety. Support the show on Patreon:...

Dr. Matt Warner joins the VCW to talk about being fired from Grace College in Winona Lake, IN for what he describes as unspoken political expectations. Outside activists found old social media posts by him (involving posts about LGBTQ, Black Lives Matter and criticism of Tucker Carlson) and they pressured college board members to let this professor go. We talk about education vs indoctrination, Im...

Meg Wise joins the VCW hall to talk about her experiences at John MacArthur's Church in Los Angeles County, CA. She talks about their response to the COVID pandemic and the scandal involving MacArthur publicly shaming a woman whose husband was sexually abusing their kids. Follow Meg Wise: On X/Twitter: _nomadic_soul Read A Deconstruction Chronicle here: https://thedeconstructionchronicles.subs...

Burn this episode to the top blank CD on your spindle and throw it in your anti-skip discman, because writer and podcaster Jason Kirk joins the VCW hall to talk about his new novel, Hell is a World Without You, a coming-of-age story set in early 2000s evangelical youth group culture, and chock full of the rapture anxiety, purity culture, retreats, AIM chat logs, and Christian metalcore bands that...

Co-Host of the Holy Post podcast, Kaitlyn Schiess stops by the VCW hall to talk about her new book, The Ballot and the Bible. She discusses points of American history and how the Bible was interpreted on multiple sides of an issue by Christians- sometimes for good, sometimes for bad, and sometimes for really ugly evil. Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/vcwpod Dave's second p...

With Israel's brutal war against Gaza still raging, Dr. Alice Rothchild and Abby Brockman join the VCW hall to talk about the horror of Israel's war, to talk about their interactions with Palestinian people and the hospitality they experienced as well as speaking about their perspectives on Jewish faith and values. Read Dr. Rothchild's articles: The Seattle Times: https://www.seattleti...

Pastor Trey Ferguson joins the VCW hall to talk about Theologizin' Bigger, his new book out now. We talk about theology and imagination, Biblical inerrancy including the 1978 Chicago statement, an Ark in Kentucky and much more. Get Pastor Trey's book right here: https://www.lakedrivebooks.com/books/theologizin-bigger/ Listen to The New Living Treyslation right here: https://podcasts.apple....