The SkyePod

We are two months away from the midterm elections, and with multiple clergy running for office, faith is playing a larger role. Are evangelicals souring on MAGA? Will the Democrats close the "God gap?" Skye is joined by former chief political analyst for NBC News and moderator of Meet the Press, Chuck Todd, to discuss the intersection of faith and politics. Their conversation also turns to their diverse religious upbringings, the role of public education, backlash against big tech, and how to repair our broken, corrupt political system. Once named "The Most Powerful Journalist in Washington" by GQ magazine, Todd now hosts The Chuck ToddCast, featuring in-depth interviews with political figures, experts, and thought leaders.   0:00 - Theme Song   0:26 - Empty Nesters   2:16 - Clergy Running as Democrats   16:06 - Inflection Point in Evangelicalism   27:36 - Importance of Pluralism   36:48 - This episode is available only for Holy Post Plus subscribers. Not a subscriber? Head on over to: https://holypost.substack.com/p/93204b4f-df70-496e-ab96-8f9ce2a9cca8?postPreview=free&updated=2026-09-10T18%3A46%3A02.325Z&audience=only_paid&free_preview=true&freemail=true

It's back to school and off to college season. Sociologists and master of "Graphs About Religion," Ryan Burge, is back with new data about which college majors are the most and least devoted to Christianity. He also has stats about declining birth rates even among religious groups, and why some kids raised with and without faith switch their beliefs as adults.   0:11 - Theme Song   2:17 - Religiosity Among Different College Majors   10:42 - Finance Bros are Major Church-Goers   20:14 - Deconstruction and College   27:32 - This episode is available only for Holy Post Plus subscribers. Not a subscriber? Head on over to: https://holypost.substack.com/p/so-you-want-your-child-to-keep-the  

New data finds that almost half of Gen Z adults won't consider going to church because of Christians' support for Donald Trump. David French and Skye Jethani wonder what the research means for the majority of evangelical churches that avoid anything political, and why that may actually be part of the problem. They also discuss the rise of socialism on the political left and why JD Vance's recent memoir suggests socialism may be just as popular on the political right. Plus, what America can learn from the goodness of Dolly Parton.   0:00 - Theme Song   0:17 - Mourning Dolly Parton   9:23 - Is Polarization Keeping Gen Z Out of Church?   21:02 - Should the Church Be Political?   31:04 - The Rise of Socialists   50:21 - Can the Middle Hold Together?   1:04:32 - End Credits

Jesus raised Lazarus from the grave, but Lazarus was not transformed. He was still mortal, subject to the curse, and destined to die again. In other words, Lazarus was resuscitated; he was not truly resurrected. This message contrasts the difference between being rescued by God and being reborn, and asks whether we have accepted a lesser gospel of mere resuscitation when the life we are called to is one of transformation possible through the power of Christ's resurrection.   0:05 - Theme Song   0:20 - Intro   4:42 - John  Newton's Resuscitation   10:00 - Two Tombs   14:01 - Jesus Came Back Different   18:52 - This episode is available only for Holy Post Plus subscribers. Not a subscriber? Head on over to: https://holypost.substack.com/p/skyedive-resuscitation-vs-resurrection?r=35kf51&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true  

In perhaps the most faith-centric Drew's News yet, Drew Dyck brings us the rise of A.I. sermons, the rise of exorcisms, and the delayed rise of an airplane where a woman decided to evangelize to the unenthusiastic captive audience. Skye and Drew also speculate if the brief period of lucidity dementia patients experience shortly before death points to the existence of the human soul. And why does the church favor people going through "spiritual puberty?" All this and more on the new Drew's news!   0:00 - Theme Song   2:52 - Is Deconstruction a meaningless word now?   15:03 - Florida Evangelist Kicked Off Alaska Flight   27:12 - Terminal Lucidity   29:31 - This episode is available only for Holy Post Plus subscribers. Not a subscriber? Head on over to: https://holypost.substack.com/p/drews-news-spiritual-puberty-ai-sermons?r=35kf51&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

Skye wants to wrap his head around what's happening with A.I. There's the economic factor, the ethical factor, the societal factor… too much for most of us to keep up with. Skye sat down with Meghan Sullivan, a leading voice on ethics with A.I., to talk about how people in Silicon Valley are navigating this thorny topic. 0:00 - Intro   8:18 - Theme Song   8:38 - LLMs with Personalties   14:57 - Market Pressure   23:45 - Theory of Secularization   27:57 -  This episode is available only for Holy Post Plus subscribers. Not a subscriber? Head on over to: https://holypost.substack.com/p/6bb8ed52-78c1-45d3-bb70-4851140b06b2?postPreview=free&updated=2026-08-06T22%3A10%3A37.356Z&audience=only_paid&free_preview=true&freemail=true   Read more about Meghan Sullivan's work at her website: https://meghansullivan.org/

Guess what time it is? Once every year, David French and Skye Jethani devote an episode to movies, TV shows, and pop culture nerdery. This year's Nerdfest focuses on Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey," and David makes his case that the film is a Trojan horse filled with conservative values. They also react to the new "Avengers: Doomsday" trailer, why superhero movies aren't working anymore, and their shared hatred of multiverses. Finally, from the non-nerd world, they discuss new data showing Gen Z is turned off to Christianity by the evangelical support for Donald Trump. What's really behind the numbers?   0:00 - Theme Song   1:24 - The Conservatism of The Odyssey   16:04 - The Odyssey and Culture Wars   25:42 - Marvel, Star Wars, and Decay   43:24 - Is Trump Driving Gen Z from Church?   1:03:00 - End Credits

Christopher Nolan's take on Homer's epic "The Odyssey" is the biggest film in the world right now. Holy Post Pundit and New Testament scholar, Nijay Gupta, joins Skye to talk about what it tells us about pagan religion in the ancient world. He explains how the faith taught by the Apostles contradicted the kind of idolatry and superstition described in "The Odyssey," and what the ancient Greek understanding of hospitality toward strangers—a major theme in the movie—shares in common with both the Old and New Testaments.   0:07 - Theme Song   2:03 - The Odyssey and the Ancient World   8:28 - Demigods Among Us   22:02 - Hospitality as a Virtue   28:13 - This episode is available only for Holy Post Plus subscribers. Not a subscriber? Head on over to: https://holypost.substack.com/p/the-odyssey-and-the-bible-with-nijay?r=35kf51&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&triedRedirect=true   Link to Nijay's Substack series on Paganism: https://nijaykgupta.substack.com/p/the-odyssey-and-the-world-of-the   Engaging Scripture (Nijay Gupta's Substack): https://nijaykgupta.substack.com/       Link to Nijay's Substack series on Paganism: https://nijaykgupta.substack.com/p/the-odyssey-and-the-world-of-the   Engaging Scripture (Nijay Gupta's Substack): https://nijaykgupta.substack.com/

Drew Dyck is back with another roundup of stories from the web. Are physically unfit pastors spiritually unfit for ministry? Christian influencers are only eating foods found in the Bible. Why non-denominational churches are a myth. What's really behind the falling birthrates, and why aren't economic solutions working?   0:01 - Theme Song   0:19 - Drew's Newsletter   1:39 - Fat Pastors   5:25 - Are Pastors Aspirational?   22:58 - The Bible Diet   27:24 - This episode is available only for Holy Post Plus subscribers. Not a subscriber? Head on over to: https://holypost.substack.com/p/drews-news-fat-pastors-non-denoms    

Historian Daniel G. Hummel joins Skye Jethani to talk about the changing relationship between American evangelicals and Israel. Driven by a particular view of the end times, Hummel explains the origin of evangelical support for the modern state of Israel, and why current events are testing that commitment. They also examine influential media voices, like Tucker Carlson, who are aggressively pushing antisemitic conspiracy theories and half-truths about the origins of Christian Zionism.   0:07 - Theme Song   6:54 - Secularism and Zionism   12:03 - Dispensationalism   19:29 - Israel and Blessings   22:02 - Controlling God   27:56 - Carlson's Anti-semetic Anti-zionism   30:33 - End Credits   CT's article on Tucker Carlson and the Scofield Bible: https://www.christianitytoday.com/2026/06/what-tucker-carlson-got-wrong-cyrus-scofield-christian-zionism/

In honor of Independence Day, Holy Post Media released a new explainer video titled "Should America Rededicate Itself to God?" The short 12-minute video featured clips of a conversation between Skye Jethani and Caleb Campbell, the pastor of Desert Springs Bible Church in Phoenix and author of "Disarming Leviathan: Loving Your Christian Nationalist Neighbor." This episode features their full conversation, including Campbell's journey from neo-Nazi skinhead to senior pastor, what America's founders really thought about pluralism, and why so many pastors failed to speak up as their church members got sucked into Christian nationalism.   0:00 - Intro   1:29 - Theme Song   9:42 - The Founders RejectedNationalism   15:30 - Shouldn't Laws be Aligned to God's Will?   21:45 - How Caleb Changed   29:11 - This episode is available only for Holy Post Plus subscribers. Not a subscriber? Head on over to:  https://holypost.substack.com/p/caleb-campbell

It's a history lesson on today's French Friday. David French explains the parallels between the Vichy French government that cooperated with the Nazis in WWII and Christian nationalists in America today. Both were highly misogynistic, nativist, and blamed liberal democracy for all of the country's problems. Obviously, things did not end well for the Vichy government in France. David and Skye discuss why the authoritarianism pushed by Christian nationalists won't work in America either. They also discuss the 2026 midterm elections and what the Democrats are learning from the popularity of pugilistic candidates like Platner in Maine and the decency of candidates like Talarico in Texas.   0:00 - Theme Song   1:11 - Vichy France and Modern America   8:18 - Mistrust Toward Democracy   17:50 - Why Do We Return to Authoritarianism?   33:08 - Graham Platner   43:41 - What's a Good "Representative?"   1:02:09 - End Credits   David French's Vichy France article: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/14/opinion/christian-nationalism-maga-france.html

Skye and Esau saw Disclosure Day by Steven Spielberg this weekend—did it make them believe in aliens? Maybe not, but it does show a cultural preoccupation with our place in the world. Would the existence of aliens change history? Would you believe aliens were telling the truth? Skye and Esau debate these issues and Esau pitches a sequel.   0:06 - Theme Song   1:15 - Disclosure Day   7:27 - Why Aliens Would Change Our View of God   13:51 - Religion Without God   25:40 - Are Aliens Demons?   29:05 - This episode is available only for Holy Post Plus subscribers. Not a subscriber? Head on over to: https://holypost.substack.com/p/disclosure-day-faith-aliens-and-spielberg  

The internet keeps serving up strange stories, and Drew Dyck is back to help Skye figure out what they reveal about faith, wisdom, and our very weird cultural moment. They start with a Christianity Today article on marijuana and the Christian life, but the conversation quickly turns toward a bigger question about how believers learn discernment when Scripture doesn't give a simple rule. Then they discuss Freya India's warning that prayer apps, livestreamed sermons, and gamified discipleship can quietly train new Christians to experience faith as one more thing to consume on a phone. Also this week, Skye and Drew talk about microwaved fish, AI-generated Christian content, ghostwriting, UFOs, demons, and why the modern world may be getting stranger, not less spiritual.   0:05 - Theme Song   2:10 - Christianity Today on Weed   11:02 - Fundamentalism   21:35 - Commodification of Christianity   24:46 - This episode is available only for Holy Post Plus subscribers. Not a subscriber? Head on over to: https://holypost.substack.com/p/drews-news-weed-prayer-apps-and-ufos

Because it's graduation season, Skye offers some lessons for those starting their careers. He takes us through the story of his professional development from seminary, to pastoral ministry, into journalism, publishing, and eventually the creation of Holy Post Media. Along the way, he draws on the metaphor from Gordon Mackenzie's 1996 book, "Orbiting the Giant Hairball," to explain the tension between our callings and feeling trapped in broken institutions.   0:04 - Theme Song   6:15 - Hairball Number One: Ministry   11:28 - Sermon ROI   17:03 - Hairball Number Two: Publishing   24:40 - This episode is available only for Holy Post Plus subscribers. Not a subscriber? Head on over to: https://holypost.substack.com/publish/post/200657253?r=35kf51&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

The Supreme Court recently struck down a provision of the 1965 Voting Rights Bill that prevented the dilution of votes by racial minorities, unleashing red states throughout the South to redraw congressional districts before the 2026 midterm elections. The outcome is likely to be fewer Black representatives in Congress. David French and Skye Jethani discuss the issue of gerrymandering—partisan and racial—and why it is contrary to both the Constitution and the Christian call to love our neighbors. They also offer suggestions for fixing the problem in order to heal our broken politics.   0:00 - Theme Song   0:21 - Being on Bill Marr   6:04 - What is Gerrymandering?   11:27 - Racial vs Political Gerrymandering   26:22 - Christian Podcast and Politics   29:57 - Disempowering the People   40:22 - Possible Solutions   52:37 - Do We Need a Third Founding?   1:10:47 - End Credits

We love stories about redemption, except when it happens to our enemies. Skye and Kaitlyn Schiess discuss why our culture has become fluent in justice, punishment, and public condemnation, but has lost the language of mercy, forgiveness, and restoration. Drawing from Priya Parker's conversation with Ezra Klein, they explore what happens when justice becomes vengeance and people are permanently sorted into victims and villains. They also ask whether the church still has the theological resources our culture desperately needs, including a vision of final judgment, true repair, and communities where sinners can be reintegrated without pretending harm never happened.   0:02 - Theme Song   1:22 - Announcements   2:54 - Priya Parker   8:03 - Inevitability of Harm   11:46 - Social Vengeance   19:00 - Rodney King and Reginald Denny   25:25 - The full episode is available only for Holy Post Plus subscribers. Not a subscriber? Head on over to: https://www.patreon.com/posts/158894092/   Priya Parker on the Ezra Klein Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=714IB4avhWg   The Redemption Paradox: Why We Embrace it in Storytelling But Resist it in Life https://simplyputpsych.co.uk/mind-over-media/the-redemption-paradox-why-we-embrace-it-in-storytelling-but-resist-it-in-life?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Drew's back to talk about the youth and the Church. YouTube prophets preach about UFO's! Christian singles join dating shows on Hulu! Kids are saying "Christ is King..." but mean something different than allegiance to Jesus. It's a wild world, but Skye and Drew are here to talk about it. 0:08 - Theme Song 1:12 - Youtube Prophets and UFO Panic 16:46 - Christian Dating Reality Show? 24:52 - Gen Z Wants to be 80's Kids 26:08 - The full episode is available only for Holy Post Plus subscribers. Not a subscriber? Head on over to: https://www.patreon.com/posts/158271605/

Ryan Burge is back with graphs about (what else?) religion, as young men are increasingly identifying as religious, but aren't really participating in churches. What's going on? And how does this tie into Crotch Christianity? Skye and Ryan talk about this and maintaining humility in matters of faith.   0:00 - Theme Song   1:41 - People like the "Idea" of religion   5:11 - Young Men Claim Religious Identity   15:25 - Crotch Christianity, LGBTQ, and Roe V. Wade   24:01 - Moral Uncertainty and Religion   Ryan Burge's Substack Article: https://substack.com/home/post/p-195438773

Skye reacts to recent comments by Pope Leo about the danger of assuming the church only cares about sexual morality and the backlash to his remarks from conservative evangelicals. He explains the origin and widespread acceptance of what Skye calls "crotch Christianity," why the over-correction by more progressive Christians is also problematic, and how Pope Leo points us to a healthier, more biblical vision of Christian ethics.   0:04 - Theme Song   0:45 - Live Show Recap   7:00 - Is Sex the Slippery Slope?   14:10 - What is Crotch Christianity?   19:14 - Crotch Christianity and Roe V Wade   23:54 - Reflecting Our Culture   This episode is available only for Holy Post Plus subscribers. Not a subscriber? Head on over to: https://www.patreon.com/posts/157011066/   Skye's Explainer Video on Abortion: https://youtu.be/RvWD7ykNjCc

David French and Skye Jethani debrief David's recent debate with Governor Chris Christie about online gambling at the University of Chicago. The conversation also tackles competing definitions of liberty, and the possibility of creating a political message to unify the country around popular reforms and why neither party will try it.   0:00 - Theme Song   1:40 - Was the Pete Hegseth Prayer Actually That Weird?   2:26 - The Church Built a Blasphemer   10:55 - Online Gambling Debate   24:05 - Restricting Freedom for Virtue   34:50 - Cultural Shift from Libertarianism   44:22 - Majority Opinion Ignored   53:12 - Right Problem, Wrong Solution   1:02:10 - End Credits   Chris Christie and David French's Debate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAmVu4WVG7Q&t=1s

Canadian Drew is watching American news with befuddlement as a US government official cites Quinton Tarantino as scripture, our scientists develop AI to be "ethical," and a pastor gets caught with stealing baseball cards from Wal-Mart.

Mailman Mike is bringing the big questions this week, as he asks Skye about servant leadership, late-stage capitalism, penal substitutionary atonement, and how we at Holy Post Media try to avoid becoming like the Evangelical Industrial Complex.   0:05 - Theme Song   1:12 - Foot-Washing Servant Leadership?   11:20 - Holy Post and the Evangelical Industrial Complex   27:40 - Is There a Good Alternative to Capitalism?   Questions Covered: How do you understand John 13? How is Holy Post Media avoiding acting like the Evangelical Industrial Complex? Is there a better alternative to capitalism? Do you agree with the Penal Substitutionary Atonement theory of the Crucifixion?   Getting Schooled - Penal Atonement 101: https://www.patreon.com/posts/getting-schooled-84872925   This episode is available only for Holy Post Plus subscribers. Not a subscriber? Head on over to: https://www.patreon.com/posts/155213984/

John Ortberg explains his journey of faith, how Wheaton College and Dallas Willard helped shape him, and how he discovered the need for spiritual formation.   0:10 - Theme Song   1:14 - Where'd John Ortberg Come From?   7:36 - Wheaton's Influence   20:12 - Evangelicalism in the 80's   26:34 - This episode is available only for Holy Post Plus subscribers. Not a subscriber? Head on over to: https://www.patreon.com/posts/154622908/

David French unpacks how the Trump administration's decision to launch a war with Iran is different from previous American wars in the Middle East, including George W. Bush's invasion of Iraq in 2003. Does the criticism of Trump's war from some MAGA influencers signal the break-up of the movement? And what comes next?   0:00 - Theme Song   1:00 - Is This War Legal?   15:35 - Lack of Declared War   31:55 - What Makes People Leave MAGA?   48:04 - Trump Outperforms His Policies   1:11:57 - End Credits

Kaitlyn Schiess, Producer Mike, and some fellow named "Noah" discuss the Harry Potter fandom, controversial Hogwarts characters, and how deep christian themes permeate the series. And was Snape really that bad?   1:25 - Theme Song   1:52 - Who's Noah?   13:41 - Ginny Weasley: Not So Bad?   17:51 - Severus Snape: Also Not So Bad?   25:41 - The Theme of Free Will   26:51 - This episode is available only for Holy Post Plus subscribers. Not a subscriber? Head on over to: https://www.patreon.com/posts/153946735/

Skye and Mike Carl Erre don tin foil hats upon their bald heads and theorize about Peter Thiel's Antichrist warnings and Obama's comments on alien life. What does the Bible actually say about the Antichrist and what doctrinal implications would arise from aliens among us?   0:03 - Theme Song   4:52 - Evangelicals and Antichrist   12:29 - Gnosticism and Antichrist   24:11 - Anti-empathy and Antichrist   29:22 - This episode is available only for Holy Post Plus subscribers. Not a subscriber? Head on over to: https://www.patreon.com/posts/153452165/

Drew supports loud children in church, clothed teenagers in the media, and non-edgy influencer adults. He and Skye go over some news and articles about generals trying to start the end of the world, christians reflecting on the sexualization of teenagers that spurred on the purity culture movement, and teens accusing Jesus of having a God-complex. 0:03 - Theme Song 2:23 - Army Generals Talking Armageddon 4:38 - Horseshoe Theory Fundamentalists 12:00 - Bad Theology and the Apocalypse 19:23 - Where Purity Culture Had a Point 25:24 - This episode is available only for Holy Post Plus subscribers. Not a subscriber? Head on over to: https://www.patreon.com/posts/152887168/

Asbury University became a center of national attention as students had what many called a revival—Dr. Kevin Brown, President of Asbury, calls it an "outpouring of the spirit." Dr. Brown joins Skye to talk about how he experienced this take place and how he tried to steward it wisely.   0:07 - Theme Song   2:18 - Was this revival?   5:56 - Being on Campus When it was Happening   11:58 - Responsibility During Spiritual Movement   20:40 - Light Attracts Bugs   27:30 - This episode is available only for Holy Post Plus subscribers. Not a subscriber? Head on over to: https://www.patreon.com/posts/152331436/   What Statistics About Religion Tell Us—and What They Don't: https://www.deseret.com/opinion/2026/01/26/perspective-what-statistics-about-religion-tell-us-and-what-they-dont/

David French says false Christian ideas are behind the rise of antisemitism, and it requires a Christian response. He believes that response should be Christian Zionism. Skye pushes back on French's re-definition and argues that the term "Christian Zionism" creates more problems than it solves because of its roots in bad theology and the oppression of Palestinians. They also discuss the film "The Testament of Ann Lee" and what it illuminates about American ideals we still have not reached.   0:00 - Theme Song   5:00 - Rising Right-Wing Antisemitism   16:06 - Anti-Zionism and Anti-Semitism   20:08 - David's Definition of Christian Zionism   33:52 - Equality for All   43:22 - The Testament of Ann Lee   1:02:04 - End Credits

Skye and Kaitlyn discuss Harry Potter—covering its weird relationship to Christianity, who Hermione should have ended up with, and why it had such a deep effect on its fans.   This episode is available only for Holy Post Plus subscribers. Not a subscriber? Head on over to: https://www.patreon.com/posts/151173335/  

Skye and Drew talk about gambling, phone addiction… and get mildly depressed. In this edition of Drew's News, Drew's brought stories about the dating recession, the dark side of servant leadership and AI being out of control. All of this leads Skye to ask if we should let children have cigarettes.   0:05 - Theme Song   3:50 - The Dark Side of Servant Leadership   12:51 - The Disciples' Arrogance   20:01 - Gambling Money on Jesus' Return   27:05 - End Credits   The Dark Side of Servant Leadership: https://comment.org/the-dark-side-of-servant-leadership/?mc_cid=56cb06941f&mc_eid=ffb786c716

Have our churches been designed to keep us from going deeper with Christ? Skye draws on brain science to explain why we need a lot more than the church gives us if we're going to become more like Jesus.   0:06 - Theme Song   1:35 - Puppy News   3:15 - Up Soon on Holy Post   8:33 - Pilots Forgetting to Fly   13:37 - Thinking Fast and Slow   22:41 - Jesus' Community Was a Challenge   26:27 - Get the full episode by signing up for Holy Post Plus: https://www.patreon.com/posts/150047930/

Efficiency! Remove the redundancy!" This is the cry of our individualistic, market-driven culture, but Skye thinks there's some very good reason to make things redundant. How does this lack of redundancy hurt us spiritually, politically, and socially? What does it mean for our government, our churches, and… for Boeing airplanes?   0:04 - Theme Song   0:36 - Updates   8:34 - Why Are Airplanes so Safe?   15:08 - Anti-Fragile   20:23 - We're Too Efficient   24:57 - Get the full episode by signing up for Holy Post Plus: https://www.patreon.com/posts/149453873/  

Skye and Kaitlyn talk about James Talarico's Christianity as presented in a recent Ezra Klein interview. Talarico's progressive view of Christianity both loses a lot of the richness of the Gospel and has left America wanting something more. How does orthodox Christianity offer the world something it's deeply longing for?

Philip Yancey's affair raises questions about how we respond to the sins of famous Christians. And should prayers be written by ChatGPT? What about sermons? What about podcast devotionals? And why are people calling Justin Bieber's pastor a "hype priest?" Drew's got news and Skye's ready to talk about it.   0:06 - Theme Song   3:12 - Philip Yancey's Affair   18:05 - ChatCGP Prayeres   29:35 - End Credits   Get the full episode by signing up for Holy Post Plus: https://www.patreon.com/posts/148304064/  

Skye's here to answer questions—and talk about the Stranger Things finale. Is there a secret episode called "ConformityGate?" Then he talks about the questionable Christian cliches we use around grief and more.   Questions:  Why do you tout your public education experience and say that you support public education?  What are your thoughts on participating in interfaith outreach? When Jesus said to help the poor, did he mean in the local church or in the general? Is there a secret finale of Stranger Things?  What was it like writing The World Born in You, since it's in a more autobiographical style? Does evil still exist in the Kingdom of Heaven?  How do you express assurances and comfort when someone dies that reflect a biblical view about the person's state between now and the restoration of all things?   Get the full episode by signing up for Holy Post Plus: https://www.patreon.com/posts/147758132/  

As we wrap up our Christmas break, here's an oldie but a goodie from one of our first Skyepod episodes. Mike Erre and Michael Bird join Skye to break down our explainer video on the Rapture. We'll be back next week with a brand new episode. 0:13 - Theme Song 2:06 - Responding to Comments 7:36 - Urgent Preaching 14:23 - Is Jonah's Whale in the Bible? 18:23 - Harpazo? 22:42 - Hour of Trial 26:45 - Get the full episode by signing up for Holy Post Plus: https://www.patreon.com/posts/147034184/  

Covering topics from politics to pop culture, Skye Jethani offers a slate of 2026 predictions to David French. Will the public finally rebel against the social media companies? Will Texas elect its first Democratic senator in nearly 40 years? Will we finally get definitive proof of UFOs? Will "Dune Part 3" or "The Odyssey" dominate the box office? French unpacks the predictions and explains which ones are overreactions and which are more plausible.   0:00 - Theme Songs   2:15 - Nolan's Odyssey   6:23 - First Texan Democrat Senator?   11:52 - Social Media Bans   29:15 - US Government Has Alien Technology?   36:25 - Trump Appoints New Supreme Court Justice   44:05 - Transgender Self-Identification Decline   58:55 - End Credits

Skye's prepared to get on his soapbox to respond to Drew's news stories and internet controversies. We all know Die Hard is a Christmas movie, but is Home Alone a Christian movie? Is Old Man Marley a Christ-figure to young Kevin? Skye agree with Kirk Cameron that annihilationism makes sense—but many have hinged their faith on eternal conscious torment. And do stories in sermons actually help people remember?   0:00 - Theme Song   3:03 - Is Home Alone a Christian Movie   9:40 - Kirk Cameron on Hell   22:35 - The Neuroscience of Worship   24:38 - Get the full episode by signing up for Holy Post Plus: https://www.patreon.com/posts/146095822/   Topics Covered: Is Home Alone Christian?: https://www.ncregister.com/commentaries/home-alone-catholic-heart Kirk Cameron's Theology of Hell Changes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RflbA8Vt_Y The Neuroscience of Worship: https://relevantmagazine.com/current/science/the-neuroscience-of-worship/ Do Sermons Need Stories?: https://x.com/RebeccMcLaugh/status/1998783054626611250  Therapy culture replacing religion: https://www.freyaindia.co.uk/p/no-not-everyone-needs-therapy

Continuing our study of the Apostle Paul's view of circumcision, this week focuses on Galatians 6. To perpetuate a popular view that certain groups were inferior to others, some Christians required others to be circumcised. Paul believed this was so contrary to the gospel, and he took the issue so seriously, that he wrote this part of his letter himself with extra-large letters. So, why don't we take discrimination within the church as seriously as Paul did? Why do we passively participate in the prejudice of others?   0:00 - Show Starts   2:05 - Theme Song   5:15 - Looking Down on Others   10:46 - Social Pressure to Be Superior   23:08 - Pressured to Antagonized Muslims   34:00 - End Credits

Victor Boutros joins Skye to talk about the Human Trafficking Institute, which he cofounded after going from ethics debates with his fellow students to seeing the reality of human trafficking in India. The Human Trafficking Institute now works internationally and have seen results beyond what they imagined possible. Boutros explains the common misconceptions around human trafficking and what is effective to combat it.   0:07 - Theme Song   7:33 - Seeing the Reality of Human Trafficking   15:06 - The Church's Focus on Human Trafficking   22:18 - Effective Solutions   28:24 - Get the full episode by signing up for Holy Post Plus: https://www.patreon.com/posts/145084638/   Parent Guide from the Human Trafficking Institute https://traffickinginstitute.org/event-guide-download/   Human Trafficking Institute: https://traffickinginstitute.org/

Ken Burns has just released his new 12-hour PBS documentary about the American Revolution, and Skye's watched all of it. On this episode, he talks with David French about some of the less well-known aspects of the Revolution, how they shaped American history, and lessons we can apply to our current political and cultural challenges. David and Skye also share their favorite must-watch holiday movies. 0:00 - Theme Song  1:15 - Ken Burn's American Revolution Documentary 14:12 - American Grit and Consensus 20:25 - Strong Minorities 23:56 - Tory or Patriot? 32:00 - Great Man Theory 37:00 - Are We Actually Divided? 42:00 - The Activist Groups 58:00 - Holiday Movies 1:03:00 - End Credits

Big Eva's dead! Long live—Gig Eva? Big Giga? Drew brings us news about anti-institutionalism, pro-Christian Nationalism, and gig-evangelicalization. He and Skye look at our shifting Christian landscape in America (and Canada) and the news stories that represent it. And if all that brings you down, Skillet has a cover of an old Christmas song—but not everyone is happy.   Topics Covered: Goodbye Big Eva? https://firstthings.com/goodbye-big-eva-hello-gig-eva/   Seth Troutt on AI: https://holypost.us21.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7605245cd315b3ddb80b2c279&id=436e5b0c9f&e=ffb786c716   Skillet Cover "O Come, Emmanuel:" https://x.com/skilletmusic/status/1989485519953351099?s=20&mc_cid=9196dbe27a&mc_eid=ffb786c716   Pastor Call Christians "Fake and Gay:" …I can't properly cite this one cause they removed the trailer for being too funny.   Chris Nye on Institutions: https://cnye.substack.com/p/thank-god-the-church-is-an-institution   0:00 - Theme Song   4:38 - Gig Eva (Not a Swedish Woman)   18:41 - Be Mean to AI?   28:15 - Skillet Cooks with O Come, O Come Emmanuel   28:30 - Get the full episode by signing up for Holy Post Plus: https://www.patreon.com/posts/144046136/

What is the church supposed to be? Alan Hirsch is here to discuss the church growth movement, the duty of discipleship, and how we are tempted to plant pulpits rather than real churches. But Skye questions if retooling our idea of church may be leaving behind wisdom from our forefathers. 0:04 - Theme Song 5:00 - Constantine and Christian Nationalism 12:11 - Church as Movement 21:27 - Numerical Growth vs Spiritual Depth 28:04 - Get the full episode by signing up for Holy Post Plus:  Resources: The Forgotten Ways: Reactivating Apostolic Movements by Alan Hirsch: https://a.co/d/0IwWe1G Reframation: Seeing God, People, and Mission Through Reenchanted Frames by Alan Hirsch: https://a.co/d/ep0AUBo

Open Nazi rhetoric is gaining traction on the right, and the response from conservative institutions has been inconsistent at best. Skye and David trace the roots of the problem, the incentives that fueled it, and the late-breaking backlash that may signal a tipping point. They also look at ICE's increasingly aggressive "Kavanaugh stops," the risks of expanding executive power, and why election integrity could be threatened when extremism and state authority begin to reinforce each other.   0:00 - Theme Song   0:52 - Kavanaugh Stops   8:15 - Citizens Required to Carry Documentation?   16:04 - Burden Placed on Citizens, Not Government?   27:16 - Nazi Rhetoric is Mainstream?   41:02 - How Nazi Rot Grew in Silence   1:00:30 - End Credits  

Skye and Kaitlyn talk Liberalism, a political philosophy that's shaped our world—but the word has become totally conflated with whatever is considered "left-wing." What is liberalism, why was it instrumental in constructing the American Experiment, and why does Skye seem so much more positive about it than Kaitlyn is?   0:02 - Theme Song   4:04 - Liberals or Liberalism?   16:22 - Rights and Liberalism and Democracy   22:38 - Necessities of Illiberal Institutions   34:08 - Get the full episode by signing up for Holy Post Plus: https://www.patreon.com/posts/142446444/edit  

Jordan Raynor joins Skye to talk about Christians throughout history who demonstrate how faith and work go together, from TV star Fred Rogers to the inventor of the Lego brick to Civil Rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer. What can these people teach us about how our faith plays out outside of ministry positions?   0:06 - Theme Song   0:38 - Work and Faith   7:26 - Instrumental Thinking   12:40 - Mere Christians: Binge-Worthy Biographies That Show You How to Glorify God in Your Work by Jordan Raynor: https://a.co/d/aa8wTvq   14:56 - Mister Rogers and Masculinity   26:33 - Get the full episode by signing up for Holy Post Plus: https://www.patreon.com/posts/141374629/  

Drew's Newsletter is launching soon! To celebrate, he's brought his smorgasbord of news. Bond's gun is missing in action from Amazon Prime posters—is this doing any good? There's a slow exodus of older church-goers from the church—is the solution to this problem right in front of us? Why's there such a dip in young people identifying as trans? And has ministry just become content creation to a smaller and smaller audience?   0:04 - Theme Song   0:32 - Drew's Newsletter!   2:31 - Is Drew Famous?   5:35 - Gunless James Bond?   21:20 - The Elderly Exodus?   23:53 - Get the full episode by signing up for Holy Post Plus: https://www.patreon.com/posts/141385978/

Skye talks with his friend, Pastor David Swanson, about his confrontation with Border Patrol agents at an ICE protest in Chicago. What's really happening with "Operation Midway Blitz," what should churches and Christians do when the government is actively violating the rights of its citizens, and is the Trump Administration deliberately trying to provoke a wider conflict? 0:00 - Theme Song   1:36 - Bronzeville   6:12 - Protesting and Praying at Detention Facilities   15:07 - Confronted by Commander Bovino   18:27 - Police and Agents Not Coordinated   25:44 - The Apartment Raids   26:20 - Get the full episode by signing up for Holy Post Plus: https://www.patreon.com/posts/140857082/