e80: The Internet's Youth Pastor: A Conversation with Mason Mennenga

🧑🏽 Your Host, Bruce Reyes‑ChowRev. Bruce Reyes-Chow is a 3rd Generation Filipino/Chinese American and an active speaker, writer, coach, and podcaster on topics of faith, leadership, activism, culture, race, and technology. An ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA), he also works with organizations on immigration, decarceration, and Palestinian liberation. He is the author of six books, most recently Everything Good about God is True: Choosing Faith with his next book, "Prophets, Priests, Pastors & Poets: Being and Becoming the Ressurected Christ," due out in Fall 2026. He and his wife live in San Jose, CA.✊🏽 About Our GuestMason Mennenga (he/him/his) is an aspiring theologian, podcaster, YouTuber, and the Internet’s youth pastor. He received his Master of Divinity from Christian Theological Seminary in 2020 and a Master of Arts in Theology from United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities in 2022. You can connect with Mason on his website masonmennenga.com, subscribe to his YouTube channel, and find him via @masonmennenga on all the socials.🎧 Episode SummaryIn this episode of The Amalgamation, Bruce Reyes-Chow is joined by Mason Mennenga—podcaster, theologian, and YouTuber—for a thoughtful and often humorous conversation about faith, social media, and how digital spaces shape spiritual life. Bruce and Mason reflect on Mason’s upbringing, his evolving relationship with online platforms, and the “good old days” of social media before everything became optimized for outrage and engagement. Together, they explore how faith content functions online, the pressures of constant production, and what it means to step back—or reimagine—creative work in healthier ways. The conversation also touches on vocation, burnout, and the tension between visibility and sustainability in digital ministry. Mason shares what gives him life outside of work right now, including slower rhythms, creativity without pressure, and finding joy beyond metrics and platforms. As always, the episode balances big questions with warmth and laughter, offering listeners an honest look at faith, technology, and what it means to be human in public-facing spiritual spaces.🎙Thanks for Listening!💌 The Amalgamation Podcast, paired with The Amalgamation Newsletter, focuses on social justice, pop culture, digital community, left-leaning faith, and more. With humor, kindness, and conviction, each episode shares passions and projects and invites the listener to join Bruce and his guests to co-conspire for good. It is hosted by Bruce Reyes-Chow, produced by Emmie Hix, and edited by Dessiree McFarland, with music by Merissa Magdael-Lauron. You can find books from all podcast guests at The Amalgamation Podcast Bookshop Bookstore and all show inquiries can be sent to: [email protected].🏷 Tags / Hashtags#TheAmalgamationPodcast #StorytellingForChange #ProgressiveChristianity #PodcastLife #FaithAndCulture #DigitalFaith #ContentCreatorLife #FaithOnline #ReligiousPodcasts #ChurchAndCulture #SpiritualBurnout