Anazao Podcasts
by anazao ministries
Anazao (an-ah-zah’-o) is a Koine Greek word meaning “new life” or “life restored,” describing both a moment of revival and an ongoing process of renewal. To wake from death, to be re-formed, or to continually renew the mind, body, and soul is to "anazao". Our network aims to live into that renewal by asking better questions and engaging the world as it actually is. We explore a variety of topics such as martial arts, Taoism, horror, science, pop culture, questions of Church unity, and more. Too often Christian media settles for safe answers and shallow conversations; we’d rather wrestle with what’s hard, strange, or uncomfortable. By digging beneath clichés and taking ideas seriously - whether from the Bible, a dojo, a film, the Church, or a laboratory - we believe faith doesn’t shrink. It restores, engages, and brings new life.
Episodes
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The Faces Behind Us: The Sparks of Frankenstein
They ask right off who the real monster is — the creature, Dr. Frankenstein, Mary Shelley, or the science that made the story possible. Joshua Noel and Andy Walsh riff on Mary Shelley’s book, old movies, and Luigi Galvani’s frog experiments that inspired the idea of galvanism. They dig into...
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Satan Wants You, Like A Lot
Welcome back to My Seminary Life. Today, we are looking again at the Satanic Panic this time through the Tubi documentary Satan Wants You. This documentary covers the famous book Michelle Remembers, the questionable counseling techniques that were used to access repressed memories, and the...
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Friday Nights Frights: Ufology: The Flatwoods Monster
Join Christian and Joe as they discuss the wild sighting of the Flatwoods Monster and whether it's an alien, cryptid, hoax, or something else.
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The Punch that Killed Houdini
Welcome to my dojo, this is Kung Fu Pizza Party. Today, on the eve of the 100th anniversary of his death, I sit down to discuss the mystery behind the punch that killed famed illusionist, Harry Houdini. After all the hairraising escapes, a punch to the gut did the magician in, or was there more…
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From Denmark to the Drive-In: Speak No Evil
They say the American Speak No Evil dials down the Danish film’s brutality and gives a safer, happier ending. Kevin Schaefer says it feels made for an American crowd with all the Friday-night horror tropes, and he had fun but wanted a tougher payoff. Christian Ashley, who has seen both, says the...
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Origin of the Species: The Biological Obsessions of Mr. Sinister
They dig into Mr. Sinister as Nathaniel Essex and his link to Charles Darwin, talking evolution, Essex Factors, and how comics retcon science. Andy Walsh and Christian Ashley riff on Sinister’s origins, Kieron Gillen’s take, and the Further Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix. They compare Darwin’s...
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The One Where We Got Ghosted
It's spooky season, so we're talking all things ghosts! Real ghosts, metaphorical ghosts, even the Holy Ghost! Also, have you made a plan to vote? Don't let that be a ghost, too! Happy Halloween, y'all!
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Holy Logistics: When Tolkien Translates Scripture
They state that J.R.R. Tolkien translated the Book of Jonah for the 1966 Jerusalem Bible, though his Jonah text was not carried into the later New Jerusalem Bible. Joshua Noel and TJ Blackwell interview Nick Polk of Tolkien Pop about Tolkien’s work on that translation project. They outline how…
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They Live
"I am here to chew bubble gum, and kick ass, and I'm all out of bubble gum." Welcome to my dojo, this is Kung Fu Pizza Party. Today, we're back to spooky vibes with my review of 1988s They Live starring Rowdy Roddy Piper. In this review, I discuss how this film has managed to find new life on...
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Page and Pixel Go to the Movies
We went to the movies! Listen in to hear our fully unhinged and unfiltered thoughts on the movie WIcker. Follow us on Instagram and Patreon @pageandpixelpc
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The Faces Behind Us: Demon Dads (Trigon vs. Hunson Abadeer)
Joshua Noel, TJ Blackwell, and Alex Matthews kick off by asking the big question: who is the worse demon dad, Trigon from Teen Titans or Hunson Abadeer from Adventure Time. They say Trigon is pure conquering evil who wants to use Raven to take over worlds. They call Hunson more of a selfish old...
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2 Samuel 9 & 10
Who is Mephibosheth and how is he important? How do we help those who feel unwanted in church? Is it loving to accept someone else's sin? How does David show the love of God to people who don't deserve it? Who should we surround ourselves with? How do we avoid digging in our heels when we're wrong?
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My Bloody Valentine: Axel, Agony, and Anatomy
Christian Ashley and Leah Robinson dive into My Bloody Valentine and make the main point fast: the original Canadian film beats the 2009 3D remake. They map out the mining-town setting, the Valentine’s Day mine blast, and how the remake shifts the big reveal in ways he didn’t love. She says the…
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Resident Evil (2002)
"That homicidal bitch might be our only way out of here." Welcome to my dojo, this is Kung Fu Pizza Party. Today, we are headed back to the Arcade but this time, it's spooky. I am joined by Pixel of Page & Pixel fame to review 2002s Resident Evil starring Milla Jovovich. We dive into the…
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The Faces Behind Luffy: The Pillars Who Shaped the Future King of the Pirates
They dig into the faces behind Luffy and the Straw Hat pirates and talk about how Luffy inspires people. Joshua Noel steers the banter with jokes, Liz Clyde breaks down the heart of One Piece, and TJ Blackwell brings the big-picture lore. They walk through Garp, Monkey D. Dragon, Ace, Sabo, Koby,...
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The One Where We Peak
Our BEST EPISODE EVER (probably, at least if we are being very realistic and humble about it). It's no secret we love to support and uplift women, but this episode we talk all about it! We have so many great women to shout out, but we also talk about why we think it's so important. Also, some…
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Street Fighter (2026)
"To live is to fight, and to fight is to live." Welcome to my dojo, this is kung Fu Pizza Party. Today, we are headed back to the Arcade for one of the reasons why this whole series even exists. This is my review of Street Fighter starring Andrew Koji and a whole bunch of other people. After all...
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Coffee, Charms, Crystals, and Clitoris
This week Page is going to tell us about a surprisingly heartfelt book, With All My Haunted Heart by Isabel Sterling, even though they don't tell you that until the end of the episode... Follow us on Instagram and Patreon @pageandpixelpc
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Chain of Memories - Who are we, again?
Joshua Noel and Christian Ashley review Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories, and they focus on how memory and identity drive the whole game. They talk about the card-based combat, Castle Oblivion vibes, and how this is where Organization XIII starts to show up. They crack jokes about nostalgia, GBA...
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2 Samuel 7 & 8
How does God honor David's heart to serve Him and still tell him no? How do we handle God telling us no? Did God need the Temple to be built? How did God help David protect Israel through war? Who are some of the unsung heroes of the Bible?
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Devil and the Deep Blue Sea and Me
Welcome back to My Seminary Life. Today, now that we are thoroughly in spooky season, I sit down to discuss the Christianity Today podcast series Devil and the Deep Blue Sea. In this series and this episode, I recap the Satanic Panic, how it created a fear of your neighbor, and how it weaponized...
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Marvel vs Capcom
Welcome to my dojo, this is Kung Fu Pizza Party. Today, we are headed back to the Arcade once more as I dive into the history of the Marvel vs Capcom series with a look at Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Series: Arcade Classics for the Nintendo Switch. In this episode, I look at the recent history of…
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The Ring: Cursed Tapes, Wells, and Horse Jumps
They dig into the price of revenge in The Ring (2002), asking what it costs when a vengeful spirit spreads a curse. Christian Ashley gets hyped and lays out the deep lore and the differences between Sadako and Samara. John Erdely calls it an investigative horror and likes how the film rewards...
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The One Where We Give Men a 2 On Yelp
We are back from Theology Beer Camp, and we've got the tea! And by that we mean, we chat a bit about what we did, what we liked, who we missed, and how great it was being in a sorority house. And then, our annual tradition of answering the remaining Hot Ones questions! Come listen, and keep an…
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The Faces Behind Spider-Man: Uncle Ben & Aunt May
Aunt May and Uncle Ben are the real heart of Peter Parker’s story: Uncle Ben’s death and Aunt May’s care shape the guilt, the duty, and the man who becomes Spider‑Man. Christian Ashley and Jill Elizabeth riff about how that loss and love push Peter into the whole “with great power” groove. They…
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Holy Logistics: The Makings of Church Pews
They interview Jamey Jones of Rainsville Church Pew Company about the process of building and selling pews to local churches. Joshua Noel and T. J. Blackwell interrogate the artisanal and industrial methodologies by which he explicates design decisions, material selection, upholstery, and the...
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Mold Grandma
Pixel does a deep dive into one of the games that shaped their love of gaming: Resident Evil: Biohazard. As always, Page will ask complicated questions that would be answered if they just shut up and listened. Follow us on Instagram and Patreon @pageandpixelpc
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What's New(s): Lanterns & Though I Am an Inept Villainess
Andy Walsh, Kevin Schaefer, Evan Garcia, and Liz Clyde dig into Lanterns right off the bat, calling it a gritty, HBO-style Green Lantern murder mystery that lands as a strong character study but low-key skips a bunch of classic Lantern lore. Andy says he liked the big ideas and the themes about...
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2 Samuel 5 & 6
How does David start his kingdom in Israel? Why did the Jebusites need to die and not the Canaanites of Tyre? How do the Philistines imperil Israel and how does God deliver them again? When should we seek God's help? Why is Uzzah to blame for trying to help the Ark of the Covenant? How does God's...
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Friday the 13th part 6: Jason Lives
"That's it, c'mon maggothead!" Welcome to my dojo, this is Kung Fu Pizza Party. Today, as part of spooky season, we are squaring up with Jason Voorhees himself with my review of Friday the 13th part 6: Jason Lives from 1986 starring Thom Matthews. In this review, I chronicle the series from part...
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From Uruguay to the Drive‑In: they talk the foreign film behind Silent House
Kevin Schaefer and Andy Walsh review Silent House, a 2011 psychological horror remake of a Uruguayan film, and dig into its one-shot style and Elizabeth Olsen's tight lead performance. Kevin admits he first watched Silent Hill by accident, which made for a funny start to the chat. They say the...
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Cross Guild: Buggy, Mihawk, Crocodile and the Big Move
Christian says the Cross Guild shakes up One Piece because Buggy is the flashy face while Mihawk and Crocodile do the heavy lifting. TJ says it is funny and smart at the same time. They talk about how the guild puts bounties on Marines and stirs up big trouble and fear. Christian notes that the...
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AJR, Shaboozey, and Jelly Roll: Party Anthems & Prayer Requests
I spend this episode talking about the music I’ve been listening to lately — mostly AJR, Shaboozey, and Jelly Roll — and why these very different sounds have been on repeat in my life right now. I dive into AJR’s Maybe Man and how its big theme is identity: these songs are like a pop-psychology...
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Coming Soon: Skydance Corporation
Welcome to my dojo, this is Kung Fu Pizza Party. Today, we keep the spooky season vibes going with a discussion about the real vampires in society, our corporate overlords with their streaming services. Paramount Skydance Warner Bros Discovery is now a thing. The Fox Corporation is set to acquire...
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(Don't) Send Nudes
This week, Page talks about Pet by Akwaeke Emezi and Pixel receives a very interesting gift from a friend. Follow us on Patreon and Instagram @pageandpixelpc
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Alfred Pennywise: More Than a Butler
Kevin Schaefer and Will Rose dig into Alfred Pennyworth's role as the father-figure and mentor to both Batman and Nightwing right off the bat. Kevin calls Alfred the greatest father figure in comics and says he keeps Bruce and Dick from going off the rails. Will, fresh from a sabbatical, says the...
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2 Samuel 3 & 4
How does David's polygamy cause problems for him? Why would God bless David even when he sins? Why is Abner's defection sinful even when choosing the right side? What is Joab's sin? How does he abuse the cities of refuge for his own interests? How does Ish-bosheth die? What ends the Israeli Civil...
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From Masking to Mercy: Pastor Will on Honesty, Anxiety and Real Community
Pastor Will Rose’s main point is that love fulfills the law: reconciliation matters, so go directly to the person, listen carefully, bring witnesses if needed, and only then involve the whole community because how people treat each other on earth carries spiritual weight. He grounds the message…
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Jonah, a Fish, and a Grumpy Prophet — They Laugh and Learn About God’s Generosity
Pastor Will Rose drives straight to the heart of the message: God’s generosity flips human ideas of fairness—“the last will be first and the first will be last”—and calls people into solidarity rather than standing idle. He walks through Jesus’s vineyard parable from Matthew (where every worker...
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She Shows Up: The Holy Spirit (yes, she) Steers the Church — He Breaks Down Crosses, Transfiguration, and Traffic Circles
Pastor Chill Will drives home one clear message right away: following Jesus means heading toward Jerusalem—embracing suffering, death, and resurrection—and taking up a cross rather than building one. He unpacks Jesus’ blunt prediction that the disciples will witness rejection and the cross, and...
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Valjean's Beginnings: How One Bishop's Mercy Changed a Thief's Life
Joshua Noel contends that Bishop Myriel’s singular act of mercy—bestowing the silver and the candlesticks and fabricating a lie to spare Jean Valjean incarceration—serves as the pivotal mechanism through which Victor Hugo demonstrates that compassion effects profound transformation more potently...
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Alien vs Ninja
"Whatever that thing may be, we are Ninja Warriors." Welcome to my dojo, this is Kung Fu Pizza Party. Today, we are kicking off spooky season with my review of 2010s Alien vs Ninja; a Japanese, martial art, sci-fi, horror, comedy. AVN brings together two things that every eight year old would…
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Kingdom Hearts: 'My Friends are My Power' (cheesy, but true)
Joshua and Christian dive into the original Kingdom Hearts (2002) and the big idea is clear fast: friendship is the power — "My friends are my power" — cheesy but true. Joshua says this game is his fave and he plays it every year because it hits his nostalgia sweet spot. Christian calls the…
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Holy Logistics: Missed Episodes and a Look Behind the Sabbatical
Friendship and companionship give purpose to labor and sustain people in work and grief. We discuss why we have missed a few weeks of the podcast, and we catch back up with Will Rose on how his Sabbatical went! Pastor Will draws on Ecclesiastes to argue that two are better than one and that...
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The Killer Elite
"...There's not one power system that really cares about its civilians." Welcome to my dojo, this is Kung Fu Pizza Party. Today, I sit down to fulfill one of my challenges. I had to play Tubi Roulette and it landed on 1975s The Killer Elite starring James Caan. The house didn't really win or lose...
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Nick Lives!
Ever wanted to work in a magical call center? Well Pixel has first hand experience now and is going to tell you all about it in their review of Home Safety Hotline. Follow us on Patreon and Instagram @pageandpixelpc
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Turning Homer Tropical: A Playful Take on The Odyssey (and why the sea isn’t the enemy)
Andy Walsh and Jill Elizabeth dig into Derek Walcott's stage version of The Odyssey, emphasizing its Caribbean retelling and how that shift remakes the poem’s tone and themes. He says the play’s playful language and stage directions make it feel like something that really needs to be seen, not…
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2 Samuel 1 & 2
How does David respond to the death of Saul and Jonathan? How do we mourn and grieve properly? Why is David righteous to kill the Amalekite who claimed to kill Saul? Is there any evidence for the idea that David and Jonathan were gay? How does David become king? How does the Israeli civil war begin?
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Never Back Down
"You can't always change your position can you?" Welcome to my dojo, this is Kung Fu Pizza Party. Today, I am sitting down to review the Millennial Karate Kid, 2008s Never Back Down starring Sean Farris. Take the Karate Kid and make everyone very angry and very horny and you've got Never Back…
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Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li
"Everywhere I looked there was crime without punishment." Welcome to my dojo, this is Kung Fu Pizza Party. Today, we are headed back to the Arcade this time with my review of 2009s Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li starring Kristin Kruek. For the first time here I on the show I get to say, I...
About this show
Anazao (an-ah-zah’-o) is a Koine Greek word meaning “new life” or “life restored,” describing both a moment of revival and an ongoing process of renewal. To wake from death, to be re-formed, or to continually renew the mind, body, and soul is to "anazao". Our network aims to live into that renewal by asking better questions and engaging the world as it actually is. We explore a variety of topics such as martial arts, Taoism, horror, science, pop culture, questions of Church unity, and more. Too often Christian media settles for safe answers and shallow conversations; we’d rather wrestle with what’s hard, strange, or uncomfortable. By digging beneath clichés and taking ideas seriously - whether from the Bible, a dojo, a film, the Church, or a laboratory - we believe faith doesn’t shrink. It restores, engages, and brings new life.
Hosted by
anazao ministries
Categories