Cover art for podcast Straight White American Jesus

Straight White American Jesus

553 EpisodesProduced by Bradley Onishi + Daniel MillerWebsite

An in-depth examination of the culture and politics of Christian Nationalism and Evangelicalism by two ex-evangelical ministers-turned-religion professors. If you have ever wondered what social and historical forces led white evangelicals to usher Donald Trump into the White House this is the show f… read more

episodes iconAll Episodes

Is the Bible a "Good Book"? w/ Jill Hicks Keeton

December 4th, 2023

43:22

The Bible is full of ravenous violence, sexually explicit scenes, sexual assault, murder, and more. But somehow it's considered the universal good …

Weekly Roundup: Kissinger? I Hardly Bombed Her

December 2nd, 2023

1:02:07

Brad and Dan begin by gauging the right-wing reactions to the death of Henry Kissinger. They then compare these, and the hallmarks of Kissinger's life, to those of Rosalynn Carter, who was buried this week in Plains, Ga.

It's In the Code Ep. 76: "Why Can't We Just Fix Conservative Christianity?

November 29th, 2023

24:27

“Why be so hard on conservative Christianity, to the point of dismissing it entirely? Why not fix it?” This is a real question we receive, and it’s a fair question. Can conservative Christianity be “fixed”? Or are the …

Conservatives and the Campus Wars

November 27th, 2023

41:45

Beginning in the 1960s, stakeholders on the American Right began astro-turfing conservative student organizations in order to counter the challenges …

Congressperson Jared Huffman on the Threat of Christian Nationalism (Re-release)

November 25th, 2023

34:38

Brad is joined by Congressperson Jared Huffman, who represents California's 2nd District. Rep. Huffman is the only member of the House who is not affiliated with a religious tradition. He started the Freethought Caucus …

It's In the Code Ep. 75: "Give Thanks"

November 23rd, 2023

25:24

This week Dan talks about the popular praise and worship song, “Give Thanks With a Grateful Heart.” What is the message of this song? Written as a …

AIDS, Nuclear Weapons, and the City on a Hill

November 21st, 2023

32:32

After two years in the White House, an aging and increasingly unpopular Ronald Reagan looked like a one-term president, but in 1983 something …

Weekly Roundup: The City Banning Gay People and Trump's Vermin Comments

November 18th, 2023

56:30

Brad begins by discussing the history of Murfreesboro, TN, where a city ordinance banned homosexuality in public. As Brad recounts, this isn't the first time the city has been in the news. A decade ago, citizens tried …

It's In the Code Ep. 74: "Be Grateful"

November 16th, 2023

25:42

We’ve all had the experience of sitting around a Thanksgiving table sharing what we’re grateful or thankful for. But why do some people seem to …

The Women Who Melted the Lee Statue

November 14th, 2023

44:23

The massive bronze sculpture of Confederate General Robert E. Lee, in uniform, astride his horse Traveller, stood in a downtown Charlottesville park …

Weekly Roundup: Covenant Eyes Johnson

November 11th, 2023

1:03:28

Brad and Dan begin by discussing the porn-accountability app that Speaker Mike Johnson uses with his son. They explain how apps like these are a feature in evangelical circles and how they are a part of the purity …

It's In the Code Ep. 73: "Lot of Great People in That Church"

November 8th, 2023

28:32

“Evangelicalism isn’t just Christian nationalism. There are also a lot of great individuals who are evangelicals but not Christian nationalists.” We hear that a lot. But is it as plausible a concern as it sounds? And …

A History of Fascism in America

November 6th, 2023

46:44

Has fascism arrived in America? In this pioneering book, Gavriel D. Rosenfeld and Janet Ward have gathered experts to survey the history of fascism in the United States. Although the US established a staunch …

Weekly Roundup: Melting Monuments and Myths

November 4th, 2023

58:17

Dan and Brad begin by recounting the melting of the Robert E. Lee statue in Charlottesville - and the right-wing reactions to it. This leads to a lengthy discussion of the efforts to keep Trump off the ballot in CO and …

Surviving IHOP-KC

November 2nd, 2023

1:00:49

Brad speaks to two survivors of IHOP-KC about the abuse they endured there, the dynamics of the community, and healing with others.

This week allegations emerged about Mike Bickle, founder of IHOP-KC, a central hub in …

It's In the Code Ep. 72: "Rebellion is the Sin of Witchcraft"

November 2nd, 2023

26:48

“Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft.” So reads the King James Bible. What does this verse mean? And why does this translation of the verse still …

Mike Johnson and the New Apostolic Reformation

October 30th, 2023

37:02

Brad speak with Dr. Matt Taylor, a foremost scholar on the New Apostolic Reformation. Matt takes Brad through all of the connections new Speaker of …

Weekly Roundup: A Johnson for Speaker

October 27th, 2023

1:06:54

Brad and Dan use the bulk of this episode to introduce listeners to the Christian nationalism of new Speaker of the House Mike Johnson. They go over …

It's In the Code Ep. 71: Christians and Halloween - A Brief History

October 25th, 2023

27:31

Dan gives a brief history of halloween and the ways it has morphed through pre-Christian and Christian history. He then asks: What does it mean when religious people appeal to “God’s will”? What kind of work does this …

Fascism is Our New Normal III: Red Caesar

October 25th, 2023

31:04

Brad looks upstream from the talking heads to the intellectuals on the American Right who are normalizing fascist ideas. He points to the phenomenon of the Red Caesar as the framework for how these intellectuals call …

Special Episode: On God's Campus Ep 1

October 24th, 2023

22:52

Fascism is Our New Normal III is coming tomorrow. In the meantime, enjoy the first episode of the new Axis Mundi Media series On God's Campus.

Chloe, …

Weekly Roundup: Our Blood is the Same Color

October 21st, 2023

1:03:49

Brad and Dan begin by discussing some of the terrible reactions to the situation in Israel on the part of American politicians and the deadly …

It' In the Code Ep. 71: "Playing God"

October 18th, 2023

28:01

We’ve probably all heard the phrase “playing god,” and many of us might even have been accused of playing god. But what does it mean when someone …

Fascism is Our New Normal II: Terribly and Terrifyingly Ordinary

October 16th, 2023

38:04

Brad draws on the work of Hannah Arendt to explain how fascism relies on ordinary people operating within a cruel system. He uses two clips - one from Fox News and the other from a right-wing show - to reveal how …

Weekly Roundup: Terror in Israel - War in Gaza

October 13th, 2023

49:04

Dan and Brad provide thoughts on the news from Israel and reflect on what its implications here in the USA.


Subscribe now to American Idols:

It's In the Code Ep. 70: "Faith Over Fear"

October 12th, 2023

28:38

During the height of the Covid pandemic, a certain kind of Christian community opposed to Covid mitigation practices like mask-wearing, social distancing, and (eventually) receiving vaccines advanced a position of …

Special Episode: On God's Campus Preview

October 10th, 2023

28:36

On God's Campus, produced by REAP and Axis Mundi Media, is a podcast that uncovers a hidden educational ecosystem in which taxpayer-funded religious …

Evangelicals, Christian Zionism, and Israel

October 9th, 2023

37:22

In light of recent events we are re-releasing Dan's interview with Chrissy Stroop, who helps explain the Evangelical obsession with Israel. One of the main themes is how Evangelicals profess love for Israel based on …

Weekly Roundup: Through the Gaetz of Hell

October 6th, 2023

1:04:18

Brad begin with an analytical discussion of political nihilism in order to provide a window into the chaos in congress created by the ouster of …

It's In the Code Ep. 69: "God-Fearing"

October 4th, 2023

29:19

What does it mean when a Christian describes someone as “God-fearing”? Is this a good thing? And what does it imply about their view of God, or human relationships with God, or the consequences of NOT being …

Fascism is Our New Normal

October 2nd, 2023

51:41

Brad zooms in on Biden's trip to Arizona and Trump's rhetoric about killing General Milley to analyze the normalization of fascist politics in the …

Weekly Roundup: All Their Faith in One Casket

September 29th, 2023

56:08

Dan begins this episode with by discussing new polling that reveals how GOP voters see Trump as person of faith. This leads to an investigation into …

It's In the Code Ep. 68: "Speaking the Truth in Love"

September 27th, 2023

25:01

What’s going on when someone tells us they need to “speak the truth in love”? How is this similar to someone who assures us they’re being critical because “they’re our friend,” or “because they care for us”? How is the …

What is Christian Nationalism? (American Idols Ep. 1)

September 25th, 2023

46:46

Brad is attending to the birth of his second child. So, enjoy the first episode of the new Axis Mundi series by Andrew Whitehead. In the opening episode, Andrew defines Christian nationalism, and uses his personal …

Weekly Roundup: Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

September 23rd, 2023

1:08:38

On the first segment Dan and Brad begrudgingly discuss Lauren Boebrert's Beetlejuice scandal - and what it reveals about the Christian nationalist …

It's In the Code Ep. 67: "There's No Morality Without God"

September 20th, 2023

26:11

“There’s no morality without God.” That is a claim made by many Christians. But it’s also a claim with a cultural hold that extends beyond …

Abortion Abolitionists (Inform Your Resistance)

September 18th, 2023

44:27

A special presentation of Inform Your Resistance: Abortion abolitionists: who are they, what drives them, and how do their tactics overlap with those …

Weekly Roundup: How 9/11 Accelerated Christian Nationalism

September 16th, 2023

1:02:46

Brad begins by tracing the extreme Christian nationalism of the 2020s to the years following 9/11. The thesis: the ways that Republican politicians …

It's In the Code Ep. 66: Let Go, and Let God

September 14th, 2023

27:50

“Let Go and Let God”

Maybe you’ve heard the admonition to “let go and let God.” Maybe it provides some comfort. Maybe it’s frustrating. Maybe it makes you angry. What does it mean, and why can it provoke such a range of …

Special Episode: Andrew Whitehead on American Idols and Christian Nationalism

September 12th, 2023

19:11

Ahead of the premier of American Idols next week, Brad talks with Dr. Andrew Whitehead about the podcast series, his new book, and why Christian …

Can Democracy Survive 24/7 Cable News?

September 11th, 2023

41:13

In her new book, 24/7 News: Cable Television and the Fragmenting of America From Watergate to Fox News, Dr. Kathryn Cramer Brownell, Associate Professor of History at Purdue University, shows how cable became an …

Weekly Roundup: The 14th

September 8th, 2023

1:01:23

Brad and Dan begin by discussing the fact that Trump may be kept off the ballot in some states. The 14th amendment prohibits those who have "engaged …

It's In the Code Ep. 65: Publicly Private

September 6th, 2023

22:10

“It’s In the Code.” But in what sense is a code something public and shared? And in what sense is a code something secret, communicated only the select few “in the know?” Dan explores these issues in this episode, …

The Reawaken America Tour: Anti-Semitic, Anti-Democratic, and Openly Violent

September 4th, 2023

38:58

Brad talks to Rev. Nathan Empsall, the Executive Director of Faithful America. They discuss the Reawaken America Tour, which just relaunched in Las …

Weekly Roundup: Back to (Destroy) School

September 1st, 2023

1:03:59

How does a racially fueled tragedy tie into the policies of a state governor? And what sinister patterns can we uncover when we trace the origins of …

It's In the Code Ep. 64: “You Have to Get ‘Em Lost to Get ‘Em Saved”

August 31st, 2023

26:50

“You Have to Get ‘Em Lost to Get ‘Em Saved”

What can it possibly mean when some Christians say that you “have to get people lost before you can get them saved?” What does it mean to be “lost”? What does it mean to be …

The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy with Robert P. Jones

August 28th, 2023

38:58

Brad speaks with Dr. Robert P. Jones, President of PRRI and author of the new book The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy: And the Path to a Shared American Future.

Beginning with contemporary efforts to reckon with the …

Weekly Roundup: Trickle Down Trumpism

August 26th, 2023

1:01:15

Brad and Dan discuss three main stories from the week:

  1. The GOP debate, where Trump was somehow both absent and present.
  2. The killing of a shop owner …

It's In the Code Ep. 63: Do They Know It's Code?

August 24th, 2023

25:38

We say someone is “speaking in code,” or talk about “codes,” or discuss things that are “in the code?” But what do we mean by “code?” And when someone uses coded language, do they know they’re doing that? When we talk …

Taxpayer Money is Going to Fund Religious Schools

August 21st, 2023

34:17

Brad speaks to Rachel Laser, President and CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church and State. They discuss AU's lawsuit with the ACLU and FFRF in the case of the state of Oklahoma agreeing to send taxpayer …

Weekly Roundup: Rico Suave

August 18th, 2023

55:16

On a solo Friday, Dan begins by discussing the sprawling indictment of Trump and his co-conspirators in Fulton County, Georgia. This indictment …

It's In the Code Ep. 62: Non-Denominational

August 16th, 2023

28:13

What does it mean when a church is “non-denominational”? What is the relation between non-denominational churches and established denominations? In what ways does the designation of being non-denominational encode …

The Rich Men North of Richmond

August 15th, 2023

39:33

Brad analyzes the new hit song, "The Rich Men North of Richmond," which has become an anthem for right-wing populism.


  • To Donate: venmo - …

Weekly Roundup: Power Bottoms

August 11th, 2023

1:02:34

Brad and Dan begin by discussing the latest news from SCOTUS - Clarence Thomas's many vacations with right-wing billionaires - by framing the entire …

It's In the Code Ep. 61: Baby Christians

August 9th, 2023

23:59

Within a certain part of the American Christian subculture, it’s common to speak of people who are “baby Christians.” But what does that mean? Is it …

No Chinese Allowed: The New Alien Land Laws w/ Russell Jeung

August 7th, 2023

33:44

Capitalizing on current, widespread anti-China sentiment in the United States, lawmakers in nearly 30 states have proposed or have passed legislation 

Weekly Roundup: 45 Pages

August 4th, 2023

57:41

Brad and Dan discuss the details, reactions, and takeaways to the Trump indictment by Jack Smith.

It's In the Code Ep. 60: The Distance Between the Head and the Heart

August 2nd, 2023

24:20

“Lots of people miss salvation by 18 inches—the distance between the head and the heart.” This (and statements like it) is a phrase that has long …

Conspirituality: Conspiracy + New Age Spirituality

July 31st, 2023

58:24

Brad is joined by Julian Walker and Matthew Remski, two of the hosts of the Conspirituality podcast and co-authors of the new book, Conspirituality: …

Weekly Roundup: Try That in a Barbie World

July 28th, 2023

1:01:14

Brad and Dan begin by discussing the new Florida school curriculum that forces teachers to tell students that enslaved people received some benefit …

It's In the Code Ep. 59: "Don't They Care?"

July 26th, 2023

26:44

Why do so many on the Christian, cultural, and political right receive such obvious pleasure in enacting policies and legislation that harm others? …

We Are in a Lawsuit, in Texas, Over Free Speech!

July 24th, 2023

42:30

Brad is scheduled to speak on August 26th at an interfaith event held by the Metropolex Atheists. However, the city of Fort Worth refuses to allow …

Weekly Roundup: Jesus Said Push Them in the River

July 22nd, 2023

59:17

Brad and Dan begin by discussing a bombshell report at the New York Times outlining Trump's plans to completely transform the executive branch if he becomes president again. Brad analyzes how the playbook he and his …

It's In the Code Ep. 58: "It's a Mental Illness"

July 19th, 2023

28:40

Why do those on the religious and cultural right often describe transgender or gender-nonconforming identity as a mental illness? What is the …

The Women Taking Down Abusive Evangelical Men

July 17th, 2023

36:33

Brad speaks with veteran journalist Sarah Stankorb about her new book Disobedient Women. Disobedient Women is not just a look at the women who have used the internet to bring down the religious power structures that …

Weekly Roundup: Straights Only at the Hair Salon + White Nationalists in the Military

July 14th, 2023

1:03:13

Brad and Dan begin by discussing the fallout from the 303 Creative SCOTUS case in the form of a hair stylists who claims they will not serve anyone …

It's In the Code Ep. 57: Religious Freedom Part II

July 12th, 2023

23:06

The language of “religious freedom” is often used as a code for the preservation of traditional White Christian privilege in the US. But it is also …

Moms for "Liberty"

July 10th, 2023

39:38

Last weekend Moms for Liberty held their national conference in Philadelphia. Annika Brockschmidt attended the conference. She talks to Brad about the protests outside the conference, conversations with rank and file …

Weekly Roundup: Klanned Karenhood (Moms for Liberty)

July 7th, 2023

59:33

Brad begins with a long discussion of the Moms for Liberty conference in Philadephia. He centers his comments on the long history of "housewife …

Asian Americans + Affirmative Action

July 5th, 2023

31:46

Last week SCOTUS ruled that race cannot be used in the college admissions process. Many in and outside of the Asian American community see the ruling …

303 Creative and the Phantom Gay Wedding

July 3rd, 2023

37:50

Brad analyzes the recent SCOTUS decision ruling that a website designer has the right to refuse to create websites for gay couples. It's the latest …

Weekly Roundup: Affirmative Reactions

July 1st, 2023

1:00:13

What does the SCOTUS decision on affirmative action have to do with the Don't Say Gay bills, book bans, and attacks on school curricula all over the …

It's In the Code Ep. 56: Religious Freedom Part 1

June 29th, 2023

27:47

The language of “religious freedom,” “religious freedom restoration” laws, and so forth makes many of us uncomfortable. What does this language mean? Who deploys it? For what reasons? Where did it come from? In this …

Inside the Evangelical Movement That Failed a Generation

June 26th, 2023

40:32

Jon Ward's life is divided in half: two decades inside the evangelical Christian bubble and two decades outside of it.

In Testimony, Ward tells the engaging story of his upbringing in, and eventual break from, an …

Weekly Roundup: Abortion is a Religious Right

June 24th, 2023

55:27

Brad and Dan dedicate this episode to discussing the state of reproductive rights, activism, and law one year since the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Brad begins by going through the numbers on support for abortion in the …

It's In the Code Ep. 55: Dedicated Babies

June 21st, 2023

25:27

In this week’s episode, Dan explores and explains the practice of infant “dedications,” in contrast with the more familiar practice of infant baptism. Why do some churches reject infant baptism, but practice infant …

Andrew Seidel, Katherine Stewart, Rob Boston on Hope and Fear in 2024 - And Beyond

June 19th, 2023

41:03

Brad shares the recording of a roundtable he hosted at Americans United's Summit for Religious Freedom. He asked Andrew Seidel, Katherine Stewart, and Rob Boston what they are worried about in the year ahead - and what …

Weekly Roundup: Trump Arraignment, SBC Misogyny, and Resources to be a Trans Ally

June 17th, 2023

1:04:27

Brad and Dan begin by discussing the reactions to Trump's arraignment in Miami - from congresspeople calling for war, to Kari Lake talking about 75 million Americans with guns, to megachurch pastors exhorting their …

It's In the Code Ep. 54: Suffering and Persecution

June 14th, 2023

22:00

Why do conservative American Christians and Christian nationalists use the rhetoric of being “attacked” and “persecuted”? Why do they perceive themselves to be “suffering” in the contemporary United States, when they …

Dispatches from TPUSA's Pastor's Conference

June 12th, 2023

44:00

Brad speaks with Tim Whitaker of the New Evangelicals about what he saw and heard at the TPUSA Pastor's Conference in Nashville - a gathering of 1100 …

Weekly Roundup: Trump Indicted, Robertson Dead, + Catholic Public Schools?

June 9th, 2023

59:21

Brad and Dan being by discussing Trump's indictment on federal charges. They then break down the life and death of Pat Robertson - an architect of the Religious Right and someone whose influence resounds in American …

The Religious Exemption Accountability Project

June 7th, 2023

25:58

With Dan still on vacation, enjoy this episode from the One Nation All Belief series:

Brad speaks with Paul Southwick and Erin Green from the …

The Data on Deconstruction

June 5th, 2023

29:04

Faith deconstruction - the intentional examination of one's religious faith and beliefs, leading to a profound change in, or even loss of, that faith - has received increasing attention in the past few years. But, who …

Weekly Roundup: Target Temper Tantrums & Dominionists Take Over Election Canvassing

June 2nd, 2023

55:56

Brad is joined by guest co-host Annika Brockschmidt. They begin by dissecting the Target boycott staged by the American Right. Brad analyzes it by …

Trans Minister Alex McNeill on Trans Survival and Trans Flourishing

May 31st, 2023

22:48

Dan is on vacation this week, so we are happy to present Brad's interview with Rev. Alex McNeill, which is part of the special series ONE NATION ALL BELIEFS.

Rev. McNeill is a white, queer, transgender man, an ordained …

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence and Trans Antagonism

May 29th, 2023

43:54

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence make up an unlikely order of nuns. Self-described as “twenty-first century queer nuns,” the Sisters began in 1979 …

Weekly Roundup: Moms for Book Bans, Dads for Dictators

May 27th, 2023

57:04

Brad begins by offering a metaphor for understanding how Christian nationalists and others view the United States: A complementarian marriage. The …

Special Episode: ONE NATION, ALL BELIEFS -I Am Dying Out Loud

May 25th, 2023

29:06

On this episode of ONE NATION, ALL BELIEFS (subscribe links below): Dave Warnock was caught up in the Jesus movement of the 70s and lived the bulk of …

It's In the Code Ep. 53: A Suffering Servant

May 24th, 2023

23:08

The previous episode explored how Christian churches, as well as other religious, non-profit, and volunteer organizations, exploit the idea of …

Prophecy and Political Violence - From the Seven Mountains to J6

May 22nd, 2023

34:13

What if told you 9% of Americans think only Christians should be eligible for citizenship? Or if 14% thought that their church should have veto power …

Weekly Roundup: Vigilantism - So Wrong, yet so Right

May 19th, 2023

55:44

Brad and Dan begin by analyzing the surge in vigilantism on the American Right. Brad discusses how vigilantism often rises in times when there is a question of who belongs in the community - and what it means to have a …

Special Episode: ONE NATION, ALL BELIEFS - Christian Nationalism on the Ground in Oklahoma

May 18th, 2023

21:11

On this episode of ONE NATION, ALL BELIEFS (subscribe links below) brad speaks with Dr. Allyson Shortle an associate professor at the University of Oklahoma, where she studies group identity in the context of American …

It's In the Code Ep. 52: A Servant's Heart

May 17th, 2023

26:14

What do Christians mean when they refer to someone having a “servant’s heart”? How does this language, so foreign to those outside of a particular …

Preventing Extremism, Radicalization, and Gun Violence in America

May 15th, 2023

32:17

How do we prevent young men from being radicalized into misogynistic, White supremacists, and xenophobic movements? How can this prevent gun …

Weekly Roundup: The Town Hall Putsch

May 12th, 2023

54:35

Brad and Dan begin by discussing the two massacres in one day that happened in Texas last weekend. They borrow from work by Umar Haique who …

Special Episode: ONE NATION, ALL BELIEFS - A Student Organizer in Nashville Ready for Change

May 11th, 2023

18:39

On this episode of ONE NATION, ALL BELIEFS (subscribe links below) Brad speaks with Indu Kumar, a student fellow with Americans United who is organizing on the ground in Tennessee. She discusses the ways that students, …

It's In the Code Ep. 51: Right Where God Wants You to Be - Or Not

May 10th, 2023

27:18

In the previous episode, Dan looked at what’s going on when people tell us we are “right where God wants us to be.” But what does it mean when those same people DON’T tell us that? Why do they seem to say this at some …

An Asian American Apostate Tells All

May 8th, 2023

51:18

Brad interviews writer Scott Okamoto, author of Asian American Apostate, his wry and ironic story of leaving religion while teaching at an evangelical university. Okamoto’s often-chilling accounts reveal that such …

Weekly Roundup: Proud to Be Boys

May 5th, 2023

1:03:51

Brad and Dan begin with a thorough breakdown of why the Texas bill to post the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms is unconstitutional and …

Special Episode: Series Release of ONE NATION, ALL BELIEFS

May 4th, 2023

10:02

Today we are launching a new limited series called One Nation, All Beliefs. produced in partnership with Americans United for the Separation of Church and State. This is the series intro.

You can subscribe by going …

It's In the Code Ep. 50: Right Where God Wants You to Be

May 3rd, 2023

21:10

What does it mean when someone assure you that you are “right where God wants you to be”? Is it intended as a word of encouragement? As an …

The Slow Civil War with Jeff Sharlet

May 1st, 2023

46:09

Brad speaks with Jeff Sharlet about his NYT bestseller The Undertow: Scenes from a Slow Civil War. Jeff talks about everything from his long …

Weekly Roundup: Protecting Kids to Death

April 28th, 2023

57:54
  1. Ten Commandments in Schools = religious freedom? In this economy?
  2. Brad and Dan discuss Tucker Carlson's ouster at Fox News - and what it means in …

Special Re-Release: The Great American Pornography Wars

April 27th, 2023

41:08

On the day that the Pornography Wars is released, we re-release Brad's interview with the author Dr. Kelsy Burke, a sociologist from the University …

It's In the Code Ep. 49: Public Confession

April 26th, 2023

25:35

What is “public confession,” and what is its relation to the practice of sharing one’s testimony? When and how does sharing a testimony verge into public confession? Why does public confession have to be “public,” and …

Beyond Whiteness: Conservatism and Fascism in Asian American Evangelical and Catholic Communities

April 25th, 2023

40:50

Many are wondering how and why religious minorities in the USA adopt conservative - and even fascist - political identities when it seems that the …

Weekly Roundup: Happiest Place on Earth

April 22nd, 2023

1:00:23

Dan and guest co-host Annika Brockschmidt discuss "Stand Your Ground Laws" in the wake of more shootings in the USA. They outline the catch 22 of perpetual fear that people live in as "wrong place, wrong time" murders …

It's In the Code Ep. 48: Testimony

April 19th, 2023

27:43

What do Christians mean when they refer to their “personal testimonies”? What do they mean when they refer to “witnessing” to others? Why do some Christians emphasize “testifying”? This language can be confusing to …

Resisting American Apartheid

April 17th, 2023

38:32

Brad speaks to Dr. Miguel de la Torre about his new book, Resisting American Apartheid. They talk about how "Euro-Christianity" distorts faith. They talk about how becoming "un-American" might be the best way to save …

Weekly Roundup: Red Pilling Abortion

April 14th, 2023

56:01

Brad and Dan begin by discussing the utterly confusing rulings from several judges on legality and availability of mifepristone, commonly known as …

It's In the Code Ep. 47: Staying on Brand

April 13th, 2023

27:52

G.R.A.C.E.: “God’s Riches at Christ’s Expense.” B.I.B.L.E.: “Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.” Acronyms like these are a common feature …

Healing Isn't Linear with Holly Laurent

April 10th, 2023

1:00:41

Brad speaks with writer, director, and comedian Holly Laurent, creator of the hit podcast MEGA about a satirical megachurch. They talk about her …

Weekly Roundup: The Tennessee Two and a Half

April 7th, 2023

1:02:02

Brad and Dan begin by discussing the explusion of two members of the Tennessee legislature - Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson - after they led …

It's In the Code Ep. 46: Anti-Woke

April 5th, 2023

22:28

Almost all of us are likely familiar with calls on the political and religious right to oppose “wokeness” or to be “anti-woke.” We all have a sense …

Trump Indictment: Civil War + MAGA Jesus

April 3rd, 2023

35:45

Brad speaks to Dr. Matthew Boedy, Associate Professor at the University of North Georgia. Dr. Boedy is the go-to source on all things Charlie Kirk and TPUSA. He explains the rhetoric Kirk has used with his various …

Weekly Roundup: Florida Man Indicted

March 31st, 2023

55:27

Brad and Dan begin with first reactions to the late breaking news that Donald Trump will be indicted next week. They discuss the details of the case, …

It's In the Code Ep. 45: The Word

March 29th, 2023

24:16

What do Christians mean when they refer to “the Word of God,” or even just “the word”? What do they mean when they someone has offered a “good word”? …

Handheld Killing Machines and the Age of Gun Groomers

March 28th, 2023

31:59

On a day when the USA suffers another mass shooting at a school, Brad talks about the symbolism of the AR 15, the sickness of wanting to provide …

Weekly Roundup: Not to Bragg

March 24th, 2023

1:05:52

On the Weekly Roundup Brad and Dan begin by going through the litany of Trump's attempts to thwart NY DA Alvin Bragg's case against him and his call for supporters to protest if/when he is arrested. This, in their mind, …

It's In the Code Ep. 44: A Word on My Heart

March 22nd, 2023

25:02

“I have a word on my heart for you,” or “the Lord has laid a word on my heart for you,” is a phrase that is common within conservative American Christian circles. Many people who are familiar with this phrase find that …

The J6 Select Committee Didn't Mention Christian Nationalism - Despite Their Expert Testimony

March 20th, 2023

47:40

Brad speaks to Dr. Andrew Whitehead (IUPUI) and Dr. Sam Perry (U. of Oklahoma) who discuss their written testimony to the J6 Select Committee on how Christian nationalism was a motivating force behind the J6 …

Weekly Roundup: The Men Are Not Okay

March 17th, 2023

1:07:30

Brad and Dan begin by discussing Mike Pence's homophobic joke about Pete Buttigieg and his openly blaming of Donald Trump for the J6 insurrection.

They then break down the GOP's reversal on mail-in voting and debate what …

It's In the Code Ep. 43: Unequally Yoked

March 15th, 2023

23:29

What does it mean when a Christian warns us against being “unequally yoked” with someone else? Where does this language come from? And how has been used to marginalize and exclude others? What are the dangers of this …

Evangelicals, Israel, and the End of the F*cking World (re-release)

March 13th, 2023

42:48

On this re-released episode from 2019 Brad shares his former apocalypse extremism. Dan draws on his expertise in apocalyptic literature to unpack how evangelicals envision the end of the world and what it means for …

Weekly Roundup: Tuck's Clucks

March 10th, 2023

1:06:25

Dan and guest co-host Annika Brockschmidt begin by discussing this Tucker Carlson's handling of 40,000 hours of video from the January 6th Capitol …

It's In the Code Ep. 42: Praying for You

March 8th, 2023

24:02

People in our lives often tell us they are “praying for” us, that they are “keeping us in their prayers,” etc. Sometimes these assurances on the part of others bring us comfort, but other times they stir up complex …

White Christian Nationalism and the FBI

March 6th, 2023

42:13

Brad speaks with Dr. Lerone Martin, Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Stanford University and Director of the Martin Luther King Jr. Institute at Stanford. They discuss his new book - The Gospel of J. Edgar …

Weekly Roundup: Christian Erotica for the Cringe

March 3rd, 2023

59:59

Brad and Dan begin by discussing an excerpt from Joshua Butler's new book, which appeared at the Gospel Coalition this week. The excerpt lays out a …

It's In the Code Ep. 41: Don't Be a Stumbling Block Part 2

March 1st, 2023

22:15

Building on the previous episode, Dan dives deeper into the code of not being a “stumbling block” in this episode. How do admonitions not to be a stumbling block depart from the actual context of that phrase in the …

All Things Asbury

February 27th, 2023

40:19

In a joint episode with the New Evangelicals, Brad hosts a roundtable with Tim Whitaker (New Evangelicals), Dr. Leah Payne, and Dr. Matthew Taylor. The four of them discuss what the revival looked like in person when …

Weekly Roundup: Mr Biden Goes to Kyiv

February 24th, 2023

1:01:54

Brad and Dan begin by discussing the polar opposite speeches given by Biden and Putin on the eve of the one year anniversary of Russia's invasion of …

It's In the Code Ep. 40: Don't Be A Stumbling Block

February 23rd, 2023

22:41

One of the most central metaphors for living a life of Christian faith is that of one’s “spiritual walk.” And within this framework, the metaphor of …

Catholic Confederates

February 20th, 2023

36:26

Brad speaks with Rebbecca Bratten Weiss, a reporter for US Catholic magazine and a contributor to the National Catholic Reporter. They revisit the …

Weekly Roundup: Haley-lujah - Revival for a New Generation

February 17th, 2023

59:49

Brad and Dan begin by talking about Nikki Haley's announcement that she is running for president. While she mentioned being a candidate for a new generation, it seems she is ready to carry on the work of her former boss …

It's In the Code Ep. 39: Understanding Religious Trauma Part II

February 16th, 2023

40:53


“Interview with Dr. Laura Anderson: Understanding Trauma”

Many of the themes and topics we explore in “It’s In the Code” figure prominently in the experience of those who have been traumatized by participation in …

NAR Apostles and Prophets on 2024 - And the End of the World

February 13th, 2023

41:22

Brad speaks with the one and only Dr. Matthew Taylor, creator of Charismatic Revival Fury. They begin by discussing where key NAR prophets and apostles are on the 2024 election and how they are navigating Trump's slide …

Weekly Roundup: State of the Onion

February 10th, 2023

56:12

Brad and Dan begin by discussing the State of the Union address given by Pres. Biden this past week. Brad touches on Biden's main theme: how he is working to provide support, relief, funding for Americans in the form of …

It's In the Code Ep. 38: Understanding Trauma with Dr. Laura Anderson Part I

February 8th, 2023

37:35

Many of the themes and topics we explore in “It’s In the Code” figure prominently in the experience of those who have been traumatized by …

Capitalist Christianity: A History of Evangelicalism + Big Business

February 6th, 2023

37:34

Brad speaks with author David Clary about his new book, Soul Winners: The Ascent of America's Evangelical Entrepreneurs. They discuss the history of …

Weekly Roundup: Transcontinental Spy Buffoons

February 4th, 2023

49:41

Brad and Dan break down three issues:

  1. The GOP attack on trans people and drag queens - why the obsession?
  2. The removal of Ilhan Omar from House …

It's In the Code Ep. 37: Purity

February 1st, 2023

20:54

The language of “purity” looms large within certain Christian discourses in the US. But what is “purity”? What are the religious, cultural, and …

Trad Catholics and the Liturgy Wars

January 30th, 2023

39:31

Brad speaks with Zac Dayvis and Ashley McKinless, co-hosts of Jesuitical and editors at America Magazine, about why young Catholics are drawn to the …

Weekly Roundup: 2016 Has Been a Long Year

January 27th, 2023

1:00:44

Brad and Dan begin by discussing the arrest of the FBI agent who was in charge of the NY bureau in the lead up to the 2016 election. He was arrested for working for Oleg Deripaska, a man who was at the center of the …

It's In the Code Ep. 36: A God-Shaped Hole in My Heart

January 25th, 2023

26:01

Many have had someone tell them, or grew up hearing, that we all have a “God-shaped hole” in our souls or hearts, and that only faith in (or a …

Astrotopia: The Religion of Space Exploration

January 23rd, 2023

46:10

As environmental, political, and public health crises multiply on Earth, we are also at the dawn of a new space race in which governments team up …

Weekly Roundup: God, Guns, Gas Stoves

January 20th, 2023

54:37

Brad and Dan begin by discussing the recent news that Ron DeSantis and his administration rejected the AP course in African American studies course …

It's In the Code Ep. 35: It Gives Me Purpose

January 18th, 2023

27:05

Many conservative Christians describe their “faith” as giving “purpose” or “meaning” to their life. What do they mean by this? And why does it does it feel to many that there’s more than a confession or description …

Purity Culture is a National Health Risk

January 16th, 2023

45:58

Brad speaks with journalist Anna Beahm from Reckon South. Anna shares her harrowing stories from living through (and surviving) purity culture. Over …

Weekly Roundup: J8 in Brazil to Biden's Classified Corvette

January 13th, 2023

1:00:20

Brad and Dan begin by breaking down how the attempted coup in Brazil is a Christian nationalist copycat of J6, and what this means for how the world …

It's In the Code Ep. 34: Saved By Grace

January 11th, 2023

23:11

Christians of all kinds and traditions talk about “grace.” But what is “grace”? And if it’s a message of God’s radical acceptance of human beings, why does it provoke feelings of guilt and condemnation for so many? …

J6 Two Years Later - Expert Panel

January 9th, 2023

1:23:46

On January 6, 2023 we gathered a group of scholars to discuss what we've witnesses since the Insurrection and what lies ahead for our democracy. The …

Weekly Roundup: The Insurrection is Coming From Inside the House

January 6th, 2023

57:12

Brad and Dan discuss the ongoing GOP debacle in the House, where a Speaker still has not been elected. They then talk hits and misses from the last year - reproductive rights, voting, Biden's agenda, Russia-Ukraine, J6, …

It's in the Code Ep. 33: God Helps Those Who Help Themselves

January 5th, 2023

25:32

If the notion that “God helps those who help themselves” isn’t in the Bible, why does it still figure so prominently in the experience of American evangelicals? What is the sentiment behind this notion, and where does …

Charismatic Revival Fury, Ep 5 Part II: Dutch Sheets and the NAR Go to Battle on J6

January 2nd, 2023

1:02:46

The NAR Apostles were at the heart of the Christian Trumpism of the J6 Insurrection. If you’ve looked at any images of the crowds surrounding the …

Charismatic Revival Fury, Ep. 5 Part I: Dutch Sheets Appeals to Heaven

January 2nd, 2023

57:02

Eight days before the Capitol Insurrection, on December 29, 2020, a group of 15 apostles and prophets, including Dutch Sheets and Becca Greenwood, …

Monster in the Mirror: Ep 5: The Sheepdog, The Wolf, And The Warlock

December 30th, 2022

1:23:39

Rudyard Kipling is best known for his children's classic The Jungle Book. But the creator of boy-hero Mowgli also created copaganda for his Nineties - the 1890’s.

In his recurring character Adam Strickland, Kipling …

It's In the Code Ep. 32: The War on Christmas

December 28th, 2022

22:42

We’ve all heard the rhetoric about the so-called “war on Christmas.” But why, exactly, do some Christians talk this way? Why do they get so angry? What are they so afraid of? And is there more going on with this …

Charismatic Revival Fury, Ep 4 Part II: Cindy Jacobs - General of Spiritual Warfare

December 26th, 2022

46:45

Cindy Jacobs is one of the most influential independent charismatic apostles on the planet. And almost no one outside of charismatic circles has any idea who she is or what she does. It was through Cindy Jacobs that C. …

Charismatic Revival Fury, Ep 4 Part I: Michael Flynn - Spiritual Warfare General

December 26th, 2022

57:00

Michael Flynn was raised Catholic. But in recent years his spiritual identity has shifted - or expanded. He talks often about spiritual warfare and …

Weekly Roundup: End of Year Tax Season

December 23rd, 2022

59:03

Brad and Dan begin by discussing a litany of stories related to the 45th president - the releasing of his tax returns, the criminal referrals to the DOJ by the J6 Select Committee, and the silence from the GOP.

They then …

It's In the Code Ep. 31: Remember the Reason for the Season

December 21st, 2022

27:23

We’ve likely all heard someone tell us to “remember the reason for the season.” But what exactly does that mean? What are Christians doing when they say that? In this episode, we find that there never has been a single …

Charismatic Revival Fury, Ep 3 Part II: Lance Wallnau and Spiritual Memes

December 19th, 2022

1:00:25

There are two phenomena that we hear a lot about these days in connection to the NAR: The Seven Mountains Mandate and Sean Feucht. The former is a …

Charismatic Revival Fury, Ep 3 Part I: Sean Feucht, Lance Wallnau, and the Seven Mountains

December 19th, 2022

54:34

There are two phenomena that we hear a lot about these days in connection to the NAR: The Seven Mountains Mandate and Sean Feucht. The former is a …

Weekly Roundup: Biblical Manhood is All Out War

December 17th, 2022

1:01:16

Brad and Dan begin by discussing the Young Republicans gala, where the president said: “We want to cross the Rubicon. We want total war. We must be prepared to do battle in every arena. In the media. In the courtroom. …

It's In the Code, Ep 30: Who Owns Christmas?

December 15th, 2022

23:38

Who “owns” Christmas? When Christians tell non-Christians that they need to “remember the reason for the season,” or accuse them of engaging in a “war on Christmas,” do they have a right to do so? Is Christmas “theirs” …

Charismatic Revival Fury, Ep 2: Modern-Day Apostles and the Spiritual Oligarchy

December 12th, 2022

1:25:41

Ché Ahn may be C. Peter Wagner's most dedicated student- and his most successful heir. He leads a network of 25,000 churches and an international …

Weekly Roundup: Independent Senate Marriage Theologies

December 9th, 2022

1:05:37

CORRECTION: We said on this episode that TH Warren is Episcopalian. She is not. She is part of the Anglican Church of North America. The former is a …

Monster in the Mirror: Ep. 4 -Meet the Beetle

December 7th, 2022

1:18:18

Christian nationalism is a kind of con game. And of all the authors examined in this podcast, the one most likely to appreciate that con would be …

Charismatic Revival Fury, Ep 1: January 6th and the New Apostolic Reformation

December 5th, 2022

1:21:58

This is the first episode in our new series - Charismatic Revival Fury: The New Apostolic Reformation, written and created by Dr. Matthew Taylor.

In …

Weekly Roundup: Protect the American Family

December 2nd, 2022

1:01:05

Brad and Dan begin by discussing the Senate's passage of the Respect for Marriage Act, which provides federal protections for same-sex marriage. Both hosts see the bill as a net win, but are concerned about the …

It's In the Code Ep. 29: Count It All Joy

November 30th, 2022

21:32

“Count it all Joy”

Why do Christians sometimes tell people they should feel “joy” when they experience difficult times? What can that possibly mean? …

The New Apostolic Reformation - Series Intro

November 28th, 2022

35:16

We are kicking off a new series on the history of the New Apostolic Reformation with Dr. Matthew Taylor. "Charismatic Revival Fury: The New Apostolic …

Weekly Roundup: Anti-Semitic Avengers Assemble at Mar a Lago

November 26th, 2022

39:52

On a solo Weekly Roundup Brad discusses the significance of anti-Semitic Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes having dinner at Mar A Lago with former …

A History of the Religious Left 2.0: Victorious Invisibility

November 23rd, 2022

49:17

In the second episode from their 2019 series, Brad and Dan continue their discussion of the history of the Christian Religious Left. They try to …

A Brief History of the Christian Left (Re-release)

November 21st, 2022

46:31

This is the first episode in a 2019 series on the Religious Left . Brad and Dan begin by giving a brief history of the Christian Left over the last century. They highlight four main differences with evangelicalism: …

In Place of a Weekly Roundup - Monster in the Mirror: Ep. 3 - The Asiatic Criminal Mastermind

November 18th, 2022

1:09:12

Brad and Dan are in Denver for the SWAJ event this evening! Buy a last minute ticket here: bradonshi.com/nationalism. If you can't watch live a recording will be sent to all virtual attendees in a week or so. In place …

It's In the Code Ep. 28: Children Need a Family

November 16th, 2022

22:10

We often hear Christians, cultural conservatives, and conservative politicians appeal to the family, and particularly the need for children to have …

2022 Midterm Debrief + Twitterpocalypse with Annika Brockschmidt

November 14th, 2022

46:40

Brad is joined by return guest and co-author Annika Brockschmidt to discuss three things:

  1. Her recent piece at Religion Dispatches on the fascist …

Weekly Roundup: The Red Wave Goodbye

November 11th, 2022

1:00:08

Brad and Dan breakdown the good, the bad, the ugly, and the hopeful from the 2022 midterms.

Join us at the SWAJ Live Event:

It's In the Code Ep. 27: Stand for the Flag, Kneel for the Cross

November 9th, 2022

26:58

Is the slogan, “stand for the flag, kneel for the cross” a harmless expression of the conviction that good Christians can also be good citizens? Or if we decode it, do we find that a meaning that’s much more pernicious …

Monster in the Mirror: Ep. 2 - Dracula's Tale of Two Conspiracies

November 7th, 2022

1:08:23

When it was first published in 1897, Bram Stoker's Dracula immediately triggered a spate of strong emotional responses. These responses partly …

Weekly Roundup: An Assassination Attempt Gone to the Right

November 4th, 2022

57:16

Brad and Dan begin by discussing the attack on Paul Pelosi. Brad discusses the conspiracy theories that have taken hold surrounding the attack and …

It's In the Code, Ep 26: Love Your Enemies

November 2nd, 2022

26:41

One of the most central commands given by Jesus of Nazareth in the Bible is to “love your enemies.” But if this is true, why does it seem like we seldom see this in practice among Christians, especially those who …

Monster in the Mirror: Ep. 1 - Christian Nationalism's Gothic Genesis

October 31st, 2022

1:02:11

Monster in the Mirror is a limited audio series produced by Straight White American Jesus, and created and written by Dr. Lucas Kwong.

Monster in the Mirror is a series about monsters. It's about how the fantastical …

Weekly Roundup: A Majority of Americans Think This is a Christian Nation

October 28th, 2022

1:08:02

Brad and Dan begin by discussing the brand new survey data from Pew Religion and PRRI about faith, politics, and American values. Dan brings up the …

Dracula, QAnon, and Crumbling Christian Empires

October 24th, 2022

32:17

Brad speaks with Dr. Lucas Kwong, creator of the SWAJ spinoff podcast series Monster in the Mirror - first episode drops Halloween 2022.

They discuss how Christian nationalism is a story - a story about empire, fear of …

Weekly Roundup: American Conservatism is Dead

October 21st, 2022

1:04:29

Brad and Dan discuss three stories from this week that show American conservatism is over - and what is taking its place is a right-wing …

It's In the Code, Ep 25: Not a Spirit of Fear 2.0

October 19th, 2022

27:35

In the previous episode, Dan decoded the affirmation that Christians are called not to “live in a spirit of fear,” showing that this affirmation …

The Case Against Christian Nationalism

October 17th, 2022

31:04

Brad links last's week's episode on Christianity as the original American purity culture to the argument made in a new book by Stephen Wolfe - "The …

Weekly Roundup: Civil Info Wars

October 14th, 2022

59:27

Brad and Dan begin by discussing the final J6 hearing. Brad focuses on the new information that the Secret Service had tips about potential violence …

It's In the Code, Ep 24: Not a Spirit of Fear

October 12th, 2022

28:01

One of the central admonitions within theologically conservative American Christianity is that Christians are not defined by a “spirit of fear.” What …

Christian Nationalism is the Original Purity Culture

October 10th, 2022

31:43

Brad does a preview from a key chapter in his new book. He argues that we should see purity culture - the movement for sexual purity in every way …

Weekly Roundup: I'm Pro Secret Abortion But Anti-Flute, OK?

October 7th, 2022

1:05:27

Brad and Dan begin by discussing the revelations about Herschel Walker, GOP candidate for US Senate in Georgia, paying for an abortion for an ex-girlfriend. What interests them is how this event (like others) reveals …

It's In the Code, Ep 23: Christian Health and Safety

October 5th, 2022

31:12

Theologically and culturally conservative American Christians actively mock “liberal” or “progressive” or “secular” appeals to “safety” in society. …

Fantasy and Folly at the Museum of the Bible

October 3rd, 2022

47:52

Brad is joined by scholars Jill-Hicks Keeton and Cavan Concannon to talk about their new book: "Does Scripture Speak for Itself: The Museum of the …

Everything You Need to Know About SWAJ

September 30th, 2022

1:10:25

Brad and Dan are in the same room! Recording SWAJ in person! It's the first time since 2019 and so they take the opportunity to do a primer on all things SWAJ: the origin story of the show, the rundown of all the series …

It's In the Code, Ep. 22: God's Ways Are Not Our Ways

September 28th, 2022

28:57

Many have heard Christians claim that “God’s ways are not our ways,” or that “God moves in mysterious ways.” While these words might have been offered as comfort in a trying time, they have had a negative impact on …

Andrew Seidel on How SCOTUS is Weaponizing Religious Liberty

September 26th, 2022

46:58

Brad speaks with constitutional lawyer Andrew Seidel about the crusade to weaponize religious freedom for the minority - and against the majority.

The Bible speaks of people beating swords into plowshares, but some …

Weekly Roundup: A Special Master

September 23rd, 2022

1:00:09

ANNOUNCING THE FIRST SWAJ LIVE EVENT! https://www.bradonishi.com/nationalism/

Brad and Dan begin by going through the details of Trump's awful no good …

It's In the Code, Ep. 21: In the World But Not of the World

September 21st, 2022

30:58

ANNOUNCING THE FIRST SWAJ LIVE EVENT! https://www.bradonishi.com/nationalism/

You may hear Christians say they are called to be “in the world, but not of the world”? What does that mean? When someone talks in this way, …

The Clergy Fighting for Reproductive Justice

September 19th, 2022

43:39

ANNOUNCING THE FIRST SWAJ LIVE EVENT! CHECK IT OUT: https://www.bradonishi.com/nationalism/

Brad speaks with the Rev. Angela Tyler-Williams a queer pastor in the Presbyterian USA Church and co-director for movement …

Weekly Roundup: Mermaid Replacement Theory

September 16th, 2022

56:24

ANNOUNCING THE FIRST SWAJ LIVE EVENT! CHECK IT OUT: https://www.bradonishi.com/nationalism/

Brad and Dan begin by discussing the proposed federal …

It's In the Code, Ep. 20: Freedom in Christ

September 14th, 2022

30:38

“Freedom in Christ”

What do Christians mean when they appeal to “freedom in Christ”? Where does this phrase come from? How is it understood differently by different kinds of Christians? And why does it seem confusing or …

Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg On Repentance - And Why Forgiveness Is Overrated

September 12th, 2022

44:37

American culture focuses on letting go of grudges and redemption narratives instead of the perpetrator’s obligations or recompense for harmed …

Special Episode: Christian Nationalists Denigrate 9/11 to Celebrate Trump

September 11th, 2022

31:28

Christian musician and political activist Sean Feucht wants people to join him on Sept. 11 for a time of worship at the U.S. Capitol Reflecting Pool. …

Weekly Roundup: Racism from Middle America to Middle Earth

September 9th, 2022

59:56

Brad and Dan begin by discussing the recent "controversy" over the casting of BIPOC actors in a new Lord of the Rings series. Dan lays out the reactions from American conservatives who claim that casting a diverse cast …

It's In the Code, Ep. 19: God's Will

September 7th, 2022

30:06

“God’s Will”

What does it mean when religious people appeal to “God’s will”? What kind of work does this do? Does it always provide the guidance and comfort for life it seems to promise? And what are the dangers of …

Hitler, Trump, and Fascism

September 5th, 2022

28:26

Brad gives a preview of his new book by discussing how some of Trump's tactics and myths are comparable to what Hitler used to gain power in Germany. …

Weekly Roundup: Biden Uses the F Word

September 2nd, 2022

1:00:37

Brad and Dan begin by discussing the growing case against Trump, whose seems to have clearly obstructed the retrieval of classified documents from his home. This leads to a discussion of how and when GOP elites will …

It's in the Code, Ep. 18: Pronouns

August 31st, 2022

28:15

“Pronouns”

What’s up with Christian nationalists and religious communities that are so angry when people talk about their pronouns? How does pronoun use relate to and express gender identity? Why do cisgender people also …

Jemar Tisby on Paternalism, Prejudice, and Power

August 29th, 2022

45:32

Brad is joined by the one and only Dr. Jemar Tisby. They discuss a range of issues related to paternalism, prejudice, and power.

One of the first things Dr. Tisby points out is that compromise has often been the site of …

Weekly Roundup: Jesus Died to Forgive Your Loans

August 26th, 2022

59:08

Brad and Dan begin the episode by discussing the student loan forgiveness announcement the Biden administration made this week. They ask whether it went far enough and then track the responses from the GOP, who …

It's In the Code, Ep. 17: Spiritual Warfare 2.0

August 24th, 2022

28:38

“Spiritual Warfare 2.0”

How do appeals to “spiritual warfare” relate to the social and political struggles of the flesh-and-blood world? How do …

Evangelicals, Trump, and Civil War (Re-release)

August 22nd, 2022

42:48

From the archives, an episode from 2019 centered on how fundamentalist religions are prone to violence. This episode has renewed relevance given the …

Weekly Roundup: Rad Trad Catholics, SBC Investigations, and the Party of Trump

August 19th, 2022

57:35

Brad and. Dan begin by discussing the week's GOP primary results, nothing that the GOP remains the Party of Trump. They juxtapose these results with …

It's In the Code, Ep. 16: Spiritual Warfare

August 17th, 2022

33:15

“Spiritual Warfare 1.0”

What is “spiritual warfare”? Why do some Christians understand their faith and practice in terms of spiritual warfare? And what are some of the concrete effects of understanding Christianity in …

Talking to Red State Christians

August 15th, 2022

38:33

Brad speaks with journalist and pastor Angela Denker about the updated version of her book, Red State Christians.

Red State Christians: https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506482507/Red-State-Christians

Weekly Roundup: Infrastructure Week at Mar-a-Lago

August 12th, 2022

1:06:57

Brad and Dan begin by going through the nuts and bolts related to the FBI's search of Trump's residence--what it requires to get a warrant, who had …

It's In the Code, Ep. 16: Being Biblical 2.0

August 10th, 2022

27:37

In this episode, Dan revisits the claim or aspiration to be “biblical.” If such claims or aspirations involve efforts to control religious adherents, …

Latinx Evangelicals and Christian Nationalism

August 8th, 2022

44:04

Brad speaks with Dr. Arlene Sanchez-Walsh, author of Latino Pentecostal Identity, about how and why many Latinx Evangelicals have signed on to Trump's brand of Christian nationalism. They discuss the history of Latinx …

Weekly Roundup: Are We In Kansas Anymore?

August 5th, 2022

58:13

Brad and Dan begin by discussing takeaways from Kansas, where voters soundly rejected a state amendment proposal to ban abortion. In one sense, it offers hope that pro-abortion movements and candidates can push back in …

It's In the Code, Ep. 15: Being Biblical

August 3rd, 2022

27:50

What does it mean when a Christian says something is “biblical?” Why do some Christians talk this way, while others don’t? What do “biblicist” claims tell us about Christians’ understanding of religious authority and …

Magical Thinking Is Going to Kill Us All

August 1st, 2022

41:39

What is power? How can power be yielded in helpful and harmful ways?

Brad is joined by Dr. Stephen Backhouse, an international scholar, speaker, and …

Weekly Roundup: Christian Nationalism is Not Imposter Christianity

July 29th, 2022

1:02:32

Dan is joined by guest co-host Dr. Sara Moslener. They begin by the calls by Mike Pence and others for a national abortion ban. Dan puts this in the …

Special Episode: Is Trump Going to Be Indicted?

July 28th, 2022

50:54

On a special episode, Brad is joined by Dr. Thomas Lecaque to discuss the likelihood that Trump will face criminal charges for his role in the …

It's In the Code, Ep. 14: God Hates Divorce

July 27th, 2022

29:41

In this episode, Dan takes his lead from listeners who’ve written in about hearing that “God hates divorce,” that “the family that prays together, stays together,” and so forth. What does this language mean? How have …

What Counts as Religion According to SCOTUS? Whose Religion is Protected? Whose Isn't?

July 25th, 2022

43:55

Brad is joined by Dr. Charlie McCrary, postdoctoral researcher at Arizona State University and author of the new book, Sincerely Held: American …

Weekly Roundup: 187 Minutes

July 22nd, 2022

1:02:08

Brad and Dan begin by discussing last night's J6 hearing, focusing on the 187 minutes between when violence erupted at the Capitol and when Trump …

It's In the Code, Ep. 13: Church Family

July 20th, 2022

26:44

“Church Family”

What does it mean when a church or spiritual community refers to itself as a “family”? If this is intended as a statement of support and affirmation, why does it make some people feel uncomfortable? And …

Immigrants, Refugees, and White Evangelicals (re-release)

July 18th, 2022

43:56

Brad and Dan discuss immigration, refugees, and White evangelicals with Dr. Janelle Wong, Core Faculty in Asian American Studies and Professor of …

Weekly Roundup: Woke Thomas Jefferson

July 16th, 2022

1:11:32

This week’s episode focuses on the intersections of cultural and political debates about race, history, sexual violence, and abortion. Dan and guest …

It's In the Code, Ep. 12: Culture of Life

July 13th, 2022

29:03

What does it mean when cultural and religious conservatives proclaim that they affirm a “culture of life?” We know it means that they oppose abortion …

Heathen: Christianity, Colonialism, and the Other

July 11th, 2022

43:23

Brad speaks with Stanford scholar of religion Dr. Kathryn Gin Lum about her new book Heathen. They discuss how White American Christians have used …

Weekly Roundup: Is this Freedom?

July 8th, 2022

53:37

Brad is joined by guest co-host Dr. Leah Payne. They begin by discussing how many White Americans - especially White Christian nationalists - view the national body as straight, White, patriarchal, and American-born. …

It's In the Code, Ep. 11: We Live in a Fallen World

July 6th, 2022

26:26

What does it mean when Christians say that we “live in a fallen world”? Where does that language come from? Most importantly, what to different kinds of Christians do with that language? Dan tackles these topics in this …

The Great American Pornography Wars

July 4th, 2022

41:08

Brad speaks with Dr. Kelsy Burke, a sociologist from the University of Nebraska, who discusses her new book The Pornography Wars: The Past, Present, …

Weekly Roundup: SCROTUS

July 1st, 2022

1:02:20

Brad and Dan are back together. They begin by discussing the validity and significance of Cassidy Hutchinson's testimony at the J6 hearing this week. Brad implores us not to get distracted by claims that her account of …

It's In the Code, Ep. 10: Love the Sinner Hate the Sin

June 29th, 2022

25:34

In this episode, Dan decodes a phrase that A LOT of listeners have contacted him about: the claim that Christians are called to “love the sinner, but hate the sin.” What does this mean? What kind of Christian claim is …

The Stay at Home Daughter Movement and the SBC

June 27th, 2022

43:01

Brad is joined by writer R.L. Stollar who discusses his recent article on Voddie Baucham and the Stay at Home Daughter Movement. Baucham may not be a …

Weekly Roundup: The Texas GOP Goes Full Fascist

June 24th, 2022

57:07

Brad is joined by guest co-host Annika Brockschmidt, a historian and journalist who has written a wonderful new book about Christian nationalism in …

It's In the Code, Ep. 9: Remember Who You Are

June 22nd, 2022

25:12

In this episode, Dan decodes the admonition to “remember who you are,” as well as the related admonition to “remember whose you are” and the question …

Is It Possible to Be Non-Religious in the United States?

June 20th, 2022

39:43

Brad is joined by Dr. Joe Blankholm, Associate Professor of Religious Studies at the University of California Santa Barbara. They discuss his new …

Weekly Roundup: Go East to Get a Pardon, Young Man.

June 17th, 2022

1:03:20

Brad and Dan begin this weekly roundup with takeaways from the J6 hearings. They focus on the ways the committee demonstrated how Trump and Eastman both knew the theory was illegal, but pushed it anyway. The question: …

Special Episode: Patriot Front at Pride in Idaho

June 16th, 2022

57:36

On June 11, 2022 31 alleged members of Patriot Front were arrested near the Pride celebration in Coeur d'Alene Idaho. Brad speaks with two people who were at the event--Alicia Abbott of The Idaho 97 and Chad Schobert, …

It's In the Code, Ep. 8: It's a Relationship, Not a Religion

June 15th, 2022

28:54

Building from the previous episode, Dan explores what’s going on when people say that Christianity is “a religion, not a relationship,” when salvation is understood as requiring a “personal relationship” with Jesus, and …

Christian Nationalists and the Holy Gun Crusade

June 13th, 2022

43:44

In his recent article at Religion Dispatches, historian Thomas Lecaque writes: In the wake of every mass shooting in this country, we have a brief …

Weekly Roundup: January 6th Goes Primetime

June 10th, 2022

54:04

Brad is joined by guest co-host Dr. Leah Payne. They begin by discussing the first primetime hearing of the J6 Select Committee. Brad observes that they seemed to have two goals - first to show that Trump and Trump's …

It's In the Code, Ep. 7: Being Saved

June 8th, 2022

26:58

What does it mean when someone asks you if you’re “saved”? If you’re active in the life of a Christian church or tradition (of whatever kind), and someone says, “that’s fine, but are you saved,” what’s going on? In this …

Pentecostalism is Taking Over the World

June 6th, 2022

39:13

Brad speaks with journalist Elle Hardy about her new book, Beyond Belief: How Pentecostal Christianity is Taking Over the World. How has a Christian movement, founded at the turn of the twentieth century by the son of …

Weekly Roundup: Schools, Grocery Stores, Hospitals, Funerals, Churches

June 3rd, 2022

59:00

Brad and Dan begin by discussing the mass shootings that took place this week at a funeral, a hospital, and more. They ask what can be done about gun …

It's In the Code, Ep. 6: Open and Affirming

June 1st, 2022

26:12

What does it mean when a church declares itself to be “open and affirming?” How does this relate to churches that claim that “no matter where you are on your spiritual journey, you’re welcome here”? In this episode, Dan …

The Illusion of Religious Equality in the USA

May 30th, 2022

41:27

Brad speaks with Dr. Khyati Joshi, author of White Christian Privilege: The Illusion of Religious Equality in America (NYU 2020).

https://nyupress.org/9781479840236/white-christian-privilege/

The United States is …

Weekly Roundup: Guns Over People (GOP)

May 27th, 2022

1:08:05

On an emotional weekly roundup, Brad and Dan discuss the timeline, law enforcement failures, and nihilism of the Uvalde Massacre. From the handcuffing of parents trying to rescue their kids, to the myth of the good guy …

Special Episode: The Southern Baptist Convention's Apocalypse with Robert Downen

May 26th, 2022

40:09

This past week a 400-page report outlining the culture of coverup and the widespread abuse in the Southern Baptist Convention was released. The SBC …

It's In the Code, Ep. 5: Wherever You Are on Your Spiritual Journey

May 25th, 2022

27:38

“No matter where you are on your spiritual journey, you’re welcome here.” This is a slogan we might read on church flyers, websites, or signs. We might here it in the welcome given by the pastor of a church. But what …

A Sex Educator and Abortion Care Provider on Organizing and Fighting Back

May 23rd, 2022

36:30

Brad speaks with sex educator Erica Smith about her experiences working in abortion care and what the overturning of Roe looks like on the ground for ordinary Americans. They discuss how and why abortion is healthcare …

Weekly Roundup: The Deadliness of Caucasian Replacement Theory (CRT)

May 20th, 2022

1:00:22

Brad and Dan begin by discussing the various dimensions of the Buffalo massacre and the shooter's understanding of Caucasian Replacement Theory …

It's In the Code, Ep. 4: Cool Kid Church

May 18th, 2022

30:53

What is “cool kid church?” It’s the gleaming church-that-doesn’t-look-like-a-church in suburbia. It’s the church with the pastor who’s just a “cool …

The Post-Roe Landscape and the Fissures in the Anti-Abortion Movement

May 16th, 2022

41:53

Brad speaks with Teddy Wilson of Radical Reports about the trickle down effect of overturning Roe. They discuss how this will lead to an expanded …

Weekly Roundup: So Pro Life They'll Let You Die

May 13th, 2022

1:06:26

Brad and Dan continue to discuss what the post-Roe landscape looks like. They begin by going through a new article by Katherine Stewart and the New Republic. Stewart shows how Alito uses the argument from history to …

It's In the Code, Ep. 3: It's All in God's Plan

May 11th, 2022

27:21

“It’s Part of God’s Plan”

“God has a plan for your life.” “It’s all part of God’s plan.” How do we decode common religious sentiments like these? Are they sources of hope? Affirmations of a loving and caring God? Sources …

The Orange Wave, Ep. 6: Non-Biblical Christian Manhood

May 10th, 2022

5:00

Since the mid-twentieth century, evangelicals and others on the Religious Right have looked to Hollywood, rather than the Bible, to construct their …

The Orange Wave, Ep. 4: It's Not Democracy. It's War

May 10th, 2022

3:47

In the wake of the 1964 Goldwater campaign, three young men decided to start the Council for National Policy in order to take back the country for …

The Orange Wave, Ep. 2: Every End is a Beginning

May 10th, 2022

4:08

On this installment of the Orange Wave: A History of the Religious Right Since 1960, Brad traces two intertwined histories. First, the Sun Belt …

The Orange Wave, Ep. 1: Oranges and Peanuts

May 10th, 2022

42:31

The Religious Right has not always existed. White evangelicals have not always been the guardians of far-right immigration policies and patriarchal …

The Orange Wave Ep. 9: This is How it Ends

May 10th, 2022

5:03

Some just want to watch the world burn. But for others, the end of the world is an opportunity to rebuild it in their image. On this penultimate …

The Orange Wave Ep. 3: From the Goldrush to the Tea Party

May 10th, 2022

4:06

In the early 1960s, Orange County became the hub for both white evangelical Christianity and libertarian politics. It was the epicenter of the John …

The Orange Wave, Ep. 7: Sexless Ed

May 10th, 2022

5:19

You might be surprised to learn that the history of sex ed in the USA is a religious history. Christians were not always the enemies of science-based sex education programs. But during the 1960s, the Religious Right …

The Orange Wave, Ep. 8: Old School

May 10th, 2022

4:34

If you want to take the country back for God, if you want to have dominion over every level of society, if you want to ensure a white Christian …

The Orange Wave, Ep. 5: Putin's Russia: City on a Hill

May 10th, 2022

5:54

Brad explores the alliance between the alt-right and the Religious Right in and through Trump's presidency. In tracing this story, he uncovers how and why the Religious Right now looks to Putin's Russia, Orban's …

The Orange Wave, Ep 10: The Orange Curtain

May 10th, 2022

1:07:48

On the series finale, Brad reflects on his departure from Orange County and evangelicalism. This provides a jumping off point for reflecting on what we've learned through the series, and, perhaps most importantly, how …

Abortion, the War on Women, and the Crusade to Save the "Unborn" (re-release)

May 9th, 2022

52:13

Many evangelicals are single-issue voters when it comes to abortion. Brad and Dan discuss the historical development of this trend, and why it represents more than just a concern for the unborn. Dan goes through the …

Weekly Roundup: Religion, Roe, and What's Next

May 7th, 2022

55:36

In the wake of news that Roe v. Wade will likely be overturned, Brad and Dan begin this episode with a history of how evangelicals have transformed on the issue of abortion. In the 1960s and 1970s many evangelical …

It's in the Code, Ep. 2: Bible Church

May 4th, 2022

23:19

The American Christian landscape is littered with “Bible churches.” It is full of churches that use the word “Bible” in their name, or that claim to …

The Gospel of Climate Skepticism (re-release)

May 2nd, 2022

33:15

Why are white evangelicals the most skeptical major religious group in America regarding climate change? Previous scholarship has pointed to …

Weekly Roundup: J6 Pence None the Wiser

April 29th, 2022

54:54

Brad and Dan begin this episode with a prolonged discussion of the newly released audio of Kevin McCarthy calling for Trump's resignation and the …

It's in the Code, Ep. 1: "Planting Flags"

April 27th, 2022

23:54

New Series: It’s in the Code

American Christians speak in a bewildering array of different “codes” that mark their identities, signaling to others who is welcome among them and who isn’t. This series explores how to …

The Psychological Stages of Deconstruction

April 25th, 2022

44:09

What are the psychological stages of leaving religion? How can mourning religion lead to new forms of faith, meaning, and community?

David Morris, …

Weekly Roundup: Masculine Grooming for God and Country

April 22nd, 2022

55:54

Brad is joined by special guest co-host Dr. Sara Moslener. They begin by discussing the hilarious trailer for Tucker Carlson's new original show, "The End of Men," which among other things touts the practice of tanning …

We are the Dones. Not the Never Were's (Re-Release)

April 20th, 2022

20:24

Return episode following a great thread by @CaitlinJStout, Brad discusses why the people who leave evangelicalism are often the ones who devoted …

The Reverend Moon, the AR 15 Church, and the Republican Party

April 18th, 2022

35:35

Back in the early 1990s, the Unification Church demanded an apology from a brash real-estate mogul they accused of using the church as “a scare …

Weekly Roundup: City on a Hillsong

April 15th, 2022

52:57

Brad and Dan begin by discussing the new Hillsong documentary, "Hillsong: A Megachurch Exposed," and the various sexual abuse and infidelity scandals that have rocked the church of the stars. They draw on work by Dr. …

You're Not Welcome Here, Ep.15: "But Not All…”

April 13th, 2022

27:50

In this final series episode, Dan tries to understand why well-meaning liberals and progressives so often experience identity politics as a threat, …

Andre Henry on Breaking Up with White Jesus

April 11th, 2022

41:15

When the rallying cry “Black Lives Matter” was heard across the world in 2013, Andre Henry was one of the millions for whom the movement caused a …

Weekly Roundup: Disney World: The Wokest Place on Earth

April 8th, 2022

50:33

It's a small world after all. So small we can go from Florida to Alaska to Arizona to California in one episode. A magically tragic journey through …

You’re Not Welcome Here, Ep. 14: “It Doesn’t Just Happen”

April 6th, 2022

26:28

One of the fallacies that often arises when we think about diverse identities, marginalization, and exclusion, is that all those groups who have experience marginalization or exclusion will naturally or organically come …

Christians Against Christian Nationalism

April 4th, 2022

44:08

"Christian nationalism seeks to merge Christian and American identities, distorting both the Christian faith and America’s constitutional democracy. Christian nationalism demands Christianity be privileged by the State …

Weekly Roundup: The Rise of Donald Crow

April 1st, 2022

52:27

Brad and Dan begin by discussing how Madison Cawthorn's claims about cocaine and orgies sounded like youth group scare tactics.

They then dig into the significance of the texts between Ginni Thomas and Mark Meadows, …

You're Not Welcome Here, Ep. 13: "But it’s really about politics, right?”

March 30th, 2022

27:06

How do we understand a complex social and political phenomenon like Christian nationalism? Does it represent a strategic coalition of different …

Work, Pray, Code: How Big Tech is Replacing Religion

March 28th, 2022

41:11

Dr. Carolyn Chen is Associate Professor of Ethnic Studies and Co-Director of the Program for the Study of Religion at Berkeley. Her new book, Work, …

Weekly Roundup: Ketanji Brown Jackson Under the White Christian Nationalist Gaze

March 25th, 2022

52:53

Brad and Dan are joined by special guest host Dr. Sara Moslener, the professor for our May 2022 seminar: Purity Culture, Race, and Embodiment. The …

You're Not Welcome Here, Ep. 12: “Why Don’t They Ever Change?”

March 23rd, 2022

26:14

If individual identity and group identity are deeply intertwined, why does it seem that group identity shapes individual identity, but not the other way around? Why are group identities so hard to change, even when …

The Flag and the Cross Part II with Sam Perry and Phil Gorski

March 21st, 2022

33:16

In Part 2 of a two-part interview, Brad speaks with Philip Gorski (Yale) and Sam Perry (Oklahoma University) about their new book, the Flag and the Cross: White Christian Nationalism and the Threat to American …

The Flag and the Cross with Sam Perry and Phil Gorski

March 18th, 2022

38:22

In Part 1 of a two-part interview, Brad speaks with Philip Gorski (Yale) and Sam Perry (Oklahoma University) about their new book, the Flag and the Cross: White Christian Nationalism and the Threat to American …

You're Not Welcome Here, Ep 11: “You’re Not a Real Fan”

March 16th, 2022

25:59

We often think of individual and groups identities as separate, or as incompatible in some way. But in this episode, we consider the ways in which our group identities determine and shape our individual identities, and …

What Don't Say Gay Means in the Classroom

March 14th, 2022

47:06

While the bill in Florida has received more attention, South Carolina has its own Don't Say Gay bill on the docket. The bill would prevent …

Weekly Roundup: “Woke Corrupt Democratic Thugs”

March 11th, 2022

1:00:33

Brad and Dan discuss a wide range of topics— from GOP voter fraud to Madison Cawthorn calling Zelenskyy a thug, to Don’t Say Gay Bills—through the …

You're Not Welcome Here, Ep 10: "My Identity Has Nothing to Do With It"

March 9th, 2022

28:59

Why can it be so apparent to us that people’s political behavior or social views are a reflection of their group identity, but they will insist that …

Between Heaven and Russia

March 7th, 2022

43:44

Why are American Christians rooting for Putin? How did the Russian autocrat become the ideal leader in their eyes? Brad speaks to Dr. Sara Riccard Swartz, an expert on Russian Orthodoxy and American religions, about her …

Weekly Roundup: Putin, Neo-Nazis, and the American Right

March 5th, 2022

57:46

Brad and Dan begin by discussing the recent AFPAC conference, where the far-right figure Nick Fuentes compared Putin to Hitler in a positive way, …

You're Not Welcome Here, Ep. 9: "Don't Tell Me Who I Am."

March 2nd, 2022

27:08

What do we mean when we talk about “recognition”? What is it to recognize someone in their identity? What is it to recognize ourselves in a …

Danté Stewart on Leaving the White Church to Follow Jesus

February 28th, 2022

42:11

Brad speaks with the Danté Stewart about his journey into, and then out of, the White Church. Stewart grew up a Black Pentecostal until he reached university. There he began attending a White megachurch. He spent years …

Weekly Roundup: Putin's Christian Values

February 26th, 2022

1:03:18

Brad and Dan discuss Putin's war on Ukraine and the Christian nationalist/GOP responses at home. They focus the first segment on how the only people on the global stage defending Putin openly are Donald Trump and select …

You're Not Welcome Here, Ep. 8:“They’re Acting Against Their Interests”

February 23rd, 2022

25:37

This episode explores the concern that people act against their own social or political interests because of their identity. Because they privilege …

Special Episode: Undercover at Greg Locke's Book Burning

February 22nd, 2022

31:32

*Correction*: "Jeff" says that Locke's church is in McMinnville, TN. It is in fact in Mt. Juliet TN. Brad didn't catch it in the conversation. Both …

Steve Bannon's War on Democracy, Christianity, and You

February 21st, 2022

42:49

Steve Bannon is a familiar figure by now. One of the super villains from the Trump administration, he is still a force in right-wing politics in the …

Weekly Roundup: All Aboard the Sexual Anarchy Freedom Convoy

February 18th, 2022

1:01:23

Brad and Dan begin by discussing the Jericho Marches connected to the "Freedom Convoy" protests in Ottawa. Drawing on work by the writer Chrissy …

You're Not Welcome Here, Ep. 7: "What About Class?"

February 16th, 2022

28:54

What is the relation to class and identity? Does a focus on identity and identity politics overlook, trivialize, or eliminate the significance of …

The Far-Right Microtargeting Platform Radicalizing Churches + QAnon Yoga Moms

February 14th, 2022

43:19

Brad speaks to filmmaker Kat Gellein Viken who is the co-creator of two recent documentaries on churches, conspiracy, and the war on democracy. In 2020's People You May Know, Gellein and her co-creator Charles Kriel …

Weekly Roundup: Legitimate Fascist Discourse

February 12th, 2022

1:00:16

Brad and Dan begin by discussing the RNC calling J6 "legitimate political discourse." While it may seem like a blip in a busy news cycle, Dan relates …

You’re Not Welcome Here, Ep. 6: "You’re Not Who You Think You Are”

February 9th, 2022

30:47

This episode revisits the idea that identity is about recognition and explores the significance of this. Because identity is not only about how I recognize myself, but also about how others recognize me, identity is …

J6 ONE YEAR LATER, Ep. 6: This Was a Dress Rehearsal - with Anne Nelson

February 7th, 2022

39:54

What if J6 and the Anti-CRT movements trace back to the same secretive organization? What if J6 was the result of years of planning and organizing? …

Weekly Roundup: Patriarchal Safe Spaces Aren't Safe

February 4th, 2022

54:25

Brad and Dan begin with a discussion about the new bill in Florida that would outlaw referencing gender and sexual identity. This new "Don't Say Gay …

You’re Not Welcome Here Ep. 5: “It’s Not Like Social Media”

February 2nd, 2022

29:17

Contemporary critics on both the right and the left essentially accuse those who politically mobilize around social identities of being fundamentally …

J6 ONE YEAR LATER, Ep. 5: The Violence of Playing Indian

January 31st, 2022

30:14

Dr. Dana Lloyd is an expert on Native American religious traditions and faculty at Villanova University. She speaks to Brad about how the QAnon …

Weekly Roundup: Falwell's Fall and America's Backlash

January 29th, 2022

59:27

Brad and Dan begin this episode with a discussion of the new profile of Jerry Falwell Jr. at Vanity Fair. In their view, Falwell is a type for …

You're Not Welcome Here, Ep. 4: “Why Now?”

January 26th, 2022

32:30

If all of politics involves “identity,” and if we all possess identities, why do so many feel like contemporary “identity politics” is something new …

J6 ONE YEAR LATER, Ep. 4: Shofars, Flags, and a Declaration of War

January 24th, 2022

51:54

Dr. Leah Payne is a historian of Pentecostalism and other Christian traditions in the United States. She speaks with Brad about the overwhelming presence of charismatic Christians at the Insurrection. Drawing on her …

Weekly Round Up: Party of Lincoln and Election Fraud

January 22nd, 2022

1:05:28

Brad and Dan lay out the timeline and details of the fake electors the Trump campaign organized in order to overthrow the election. If you thought …

You're Not Welcome Here, Ep. 3: "Identities are like elbows and a**holes."

January 19th, 2022

29:39

What is identity? It isn’t something limited to particular social groups claiming equal rights or something that only applies to minority groups of …

J6 One Year Later, Ep 3: It’s Us Against Them

January 17th, 2022

43:34

Brad interviews Phil Gorski, Professor of Sociology at Yale, and the author of the new co-authored book with Sam Perry, The Flag and the Cross: White …

Weekly Round Up: The Civility Rights Movement

January 16th, 2022

1:06:41

Brad and Dan begin this MLK weekend show by going over the outlines of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, the Selma marches, and King’s missives to White moderates. They link this to the current fight for voting rights and the …

You’re Not Welcome Here: Religion, Politics, Identity Ep. 2

January 12th, 2022

25:05

What do politicians like Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, and Bernie Sanders have in common? They’re critical of “identity politics.” In this episode, …

J6 One Year Later, Ep 2: The Radical Right Shows Up

January 10th, 2022

48:16

Brad speaks with journalist and researcher Teddy Wilson, who has spent a decade covering the Radical Right in the United States. Teddy describes the J6 rioter network map he has built, showing the connections among the …

Weekly Round Up: J6 Past, Present, Future

January 8th, 2022

1:03:23

Brad and Dan begin this J6 anniversary episode by zooming in on certain religious elements manifest at the Insurrection. Dan decodes the various Braveheart references and signs on display, connecting them to a form of …

You Don't Belong Here: Religion, Politics, Identity Ep. 1

January 6th, 2022

21:44

On the first episode in this series, Dan Miller explains why identity politics gets a bad rap and why that's a mistake. He introduces basic concepts …

J6 ONE YEAR LATER, Ep. 1: Christian Supremacy and Holy War - with Sarah Posner

January 3rd, 2022

41:06

In the first installment of J6 One Year Later, Brad speaks with the journalist Sarah Posner. Sarah discusses the various aspects of Christian supremacy and myth that provided a basis for the religious dimensions of the …

Weekly Roundup: Alpha Male Anti Vaxxers

January 1st, 2022

1:05:45

Brad and Dan kickoff this New Year's Day roundup with a look at the false binary anti-vaxxers use to criticize the COVID vaccine and put forth a bad …

Christian Nationalism: The Principles, the Statistics, the Threat- with Samuel Perry

December 30th, 2021

51:12

In an interview from early 2020, Brad talks with Dr. Samuel Perry, co-author of Taking America Back for God and a leading scholar on the phenomenon …

The Evangelical Anti-Vaccine Movement 50 Years in the Making

December 28th, 2021

38:07

Brad speaks with scholar Mark Fugitt whose recent work explores the various sources and factors in evangelical opposition to the COVID vaccine. He …

Weekly Roundup: Mad Mirth and the War on Christmas

December 24th, 2021

53:28

Brad and Dan begin by discussing how Joe Manchin is giving everyone coal for Christmas, even though coal workers want him to vote for the Build Back Better Act. It shows that his actions are based on corporate lobbying, …

The Proto-History of the Religious Right: the KKK

December 23rd, 2021

52:44

In an interview recorded in 2019, Brad talks with Dr. Kelly J. Baker, author of the award-winning book "Gospel According to the Klan." They talk about how and why the Klan's story is THE story of white Protestant …

White Evangelicals and Mass Incarceration

December 21st, 2021

47:27

Brad speaks with Aaron Griffith, Assistant Professor of History at Whitworth University. They discuss his book, God's Law and Order: The Politics of …

Weekly Roundup: Texting to Stop a Coup

December 18th, 2021

1:00:20

Brad and Dan begin by discussing the text messages to Mark Meadows revealed by the J6 Select Committee. They dig into why this confirms all the worries we had about the plot to overthrow the election. They also …

Deconstruction: 2021's Hottest Sexy AF Trend

December 16th, 2021

33:03

Brad responds to pastor Matt Chandler's claim that deconstruction is only for those who were never real Christians in the first place. Brad dissects Chandler's blithe reference to Derrida (and moral relativism), …

Law, Order, and Romans 13

December 14th, 2021

36:37

Robert Mason is a biblical scholar whose recent work focuses on Romans 13. This passage of the New Testament has been frequently used (and abused) by …

Weekly Roundup: Christmas Wars

December 11th, 2021

1:01:25

Brad begins by reviewing the bombshell document on Trump's plan to commandeer a recount of the 2020 election by using the military and other government agencies. He links this to comments this week by Matt Gaetz about …

Mild at Heart: Love, Sex, and Masculinity After Purity Culture: Ep 9

December 9th, 2021

33:17

On the final installment of Mild at Heart Brad discusses how purity culture taught him to treat his body as an enemy that his mind was in charge of …

Undercover in MAGA Nation

December 6th, 2021

48:57

Amanda Moore spent a year undercover attending rallies, events, and conferences in the trenches of MAGA Nation. She hung out with Proud Boys, got up close and personal with QAnon grifters, and got invited to join a …

Weekly Roundup: Dying on the Altar of Handheld Killing Machines

December 4th, 2021

59:00

Brad and Dan are back after a week off. They begin by discussing SCOTUS and the very real possibility of Roe v. Wade being overturned. Dan distills the arguments of the Trump appointed judges. Brad points to the …

God Save the Men: Evangelical (Toxic) Masculinity with Professor Kristin Kobes du Mez

November 30th, 2021

48:13

Brad and Dan are joined by Professor Kristin Kobes du Mez, author of Jesus and John Wayne, and an expert on evangelical masculinity and culture. They …

The Myth of the Persecuted Christian and the Inverted Golden Rule

November 26th, 2021

44:25

Brad speaks with Dennison University political scientist Paul Djupe. They discuss Djupe's findings that those Christians who live in homogenous …

The Myth of the Christian Nation

November 24th, 2021

44:39

Dan speaks with author and constitutional lawyer Andrew Seidel. They discuss his new book, "The Founding Myth," and dissect the idea that the USA is a Christian nation.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

Confronting the Sh*ttiness of Paul

November 23rd, 2021

40:38

In his new book, Profaning Paul, USC Professor Cavan Concannon takes an unflinching look at the letters of Paul through the metaphor of excrement--or …

Weekly Roundup: One God, One Country, One Leader - On Leaving the Realm of Democracy

November 20th, 2021

1:05:22

Brad and Dan discuss the censuring of Rep. Paul Gosar for his tweet depicting him as an anime character killing Rep AOC. This leads to a bold, but …

Mild at Heart: Love, Sex, and Masculinity After Purity Culture: Ep 8

November 17th, 2021

18:49

On Mourning the One and the lessons about love you never learn in church.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://swaj.supportingcast.fm

Christians Against Christian Supremacy -with Dr. Obery Hendricks

November 16th, 2021

45:08

A life long social activist, Obery Hendricks is one of the foremost commentators on the intersection of religion and political economy in America. He …

Weekly Roundup: Big Bird Was Immunized

November 13th, 2021

58:45

Brad and Dan begin by discussing the case of Aaron Rodgers, who was recently found out not to have been vaccinated. They discuss the various components at play in the case--from becoming an anti-vaxxer wiithout …

Mild at Heart: Love, Sex, and Masculinity After Purity Culture: Ep 8

November 11th, 2021

27:04

Brad uses recent comments by Josh Hawley to talk about what people mean when they say that the country (and the church) needs to return to …

Reading Evangelicals

November 8th, 2021

48:38

Brad's spirited and at times contentious interview with Daniel Silliman, the news editor for Christianity Today and the author of Reading …

Weekly Roundup: Trumpism Without Trump

November 6th, 2021

1:03:31

Brad and Dan begin by debating the fallout of the gubernatorial election in Virginia. Dan points out that historically the party in power doesn't perform well in midterm and off-year elections. This is especially true …

Parenting After Purity Culture

November 4th, 2021

40:03

Brad takes a break from Mild at Heart to talk to writer, podcaster, and organizer Cindy Wang Brandt, the person behind Parenting Forward. Cindy discusses her journey from Evangelical convert to the go-to person helping …

Gay Activism and the Christian Gaze

November 1st, 2021

42:04

Dr. Brett Krutsch is the editor of the Revealer and the Director of the Center for Religion and Media at NYU, He speaks to Brad about his book, "Dying to Be Normal: Gay Martyrs and the Transformation of American Sexual …

Weekly Roundup: America on Trial

October 30th, 2021

50:42

Brad and Dan begin by discussing three trials happening right now: the Charlottesville Unite the Right Trial, the Kenosha Shooter Trial, and the Murder of Amaud Arbery. They analyze the racial, legal, and historical …

Mild at Heart: Love, Sex, and Masculinity After Purity Culture: Ep 7

October 28th, 2021

24:47

Why does love feel like death? Brad continues to reflect on the soulmate myth and purity culture's vision of love. He analyzes how the model of love …

The Denomination Manufacturing the Culture Wars

October 26th, 2021

46:01

Calvary Chapel started in Southern California in the 1960s. From the beginning, the aesthetic was laid-back, casual, and welcoming--the type of place …

Weekly Roundup: Bad Fathers, Nation-Building, and the End of the World

October 23rd, 2021

56:30

Brad and Dan begin discussing the MAGA freakout over Mayor Pete's paternity leave. They use this to ask what kind of families and what kind of fathers conservatives envision when they talk endlessly about family values. …

Mild at Heart: Love, Sex, and Masculinity After Purity Culture: Ep 6

October 20th, 2021

23:59

Brad shifts to the theme of love and explains the toxicity of the soulmate myth in purity culture.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit

The Real and Present Danger of Male Supremacist Terrorism

October 18th, 2021

34:57

Alex DiBranco is Executive Director and Founder at Institute for Research on Male Supremacism. Alex stops by to discuss "Male Supremacist Terrorism as a Rising Threat". According to Dibranco, male supremacism is a …

Weekly Roundup: Pledge Allegiance to the January 6th Insurrection Flag

October 16th, 2021

58:41

Brad and Dan begin by discussing a rally for VA gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin where supporters pledged allegiance to a flag carried at the January 6th Insurrection. To top it off, Steve Bannon--who is ignoring …

Mild at Heart: Love, Sex, and Masculinity After Purity Culture: Ep 5

October 13th, 2021

21:05

Brad discusses the fact that masculinity is often a performance for other men. Men fear what other men think of them, creating the need to constantly …

The Rise and Fall of the Mars Hill Podcast

October 11th, 2021

36:51

Brad speaks with Dr. Jessica Johnson, research fellow at the College of William and Mary and author of Biblical Porn: Affect, Labor, and Pastor Mark …

Weekly Roundup: MAGA Conservatives vs "Non American Americans"

October 9th, 2021

1:01:13

Brad and Dan begin by discussing the Senate Judiciary Committee's findings on how Trump sought to overturn the election by pressuring the DOJ. Dan …

Mild at Heart: Love, Sex, and Masculinity After Purity Culture: Ep 4

October 6th, 2021

26:24

Brad shares an episode from his deconstruction when he began to date again. It was the first time he was out of church and single since he converted. …

Why Will No One Listen to Ex-Evangelicals?

October 4th, 2021

40:55

Blake Chastain, host of #Exvangelical and Powers and Principalities, and the author of a recent piece on the recent Christianity Today podcast on the downfall of Mars Hill, stops by to talk about why religious leaders …

Weekly Roundup: White Discomfort is a Powerful Weapon

October 2nd, 2021

56:54

Brad and Dan discuss American values in relation to the ongoing debates among Democrats about the Biden administration's infrastructure bill. They discuss why Joe Manchin has been willing to vote for 9 trillion in …

Mild at Heart: Love, Sex, and Masculinity After Purity Culture: Ep 3

September 29th, 2021

26:07

Brad continues his analysis of sex and masculinity in purity culture. He focuses on how it teaches men to hate themselves twice.

First, they hate …

Kissing Cousins: Biblical Inerrancy + Constitutional Originalism

September 27th, 2021

40:53

Constitutional Originalism is the idea that one should read the Constitution, not interpret it. It endeavors to implement the "original" intent of …

Weekly Roundup: The Blueprint for a Coup

September 24th, 2021

53:18

Brad and Dan begin by discussing Trump and why exploring the ongoing revelations of the January 6th is more than just archival mining.

The second major topic is the reclaiming of abortion as a religious right. Brad draws …

Mild at Heart: Love, Sex, and Masculinity After Purity Culture: Ep 2

September 22nd, 2021

25:23

Brad discusses the strange contradiction at the heart of purity culture's vision of masculinity: You are a sexual savage that has a near …

Weekly Roundup: Justice for J6 and Moral Responsibility

September 18th, 2021

1:00:58

For an ad-free premium feed, click here. 


Use code SWAJ for 60% off the monthly rate! 


Use code SWAJyear for $12 off the annual membership! 


All patrons receive an ad-free experience too!


Mild at Heart: Love, Sex, and Masculinity After Purity Culture: Intro and Ep. 1

September 15th, 2021

18:27

For an ad-free premium feed, https://irreverent.supportingcast.fm/straight-white-american-jesus-premium.

Use code SWAJ for 60% off the monthly rate!

Use code SWAJyear for $12 off the annual membership!

All patrons

Satanic Panic, Then and Now

September 13th, 2021

36:25

For an ad-free premium feed, https://irreverent.supportingcast.fm/straight-white-american-jesus-premium.

Use code SWAJ for 60% off the monthly rate!

Use code SWAJyear for $12 off the annual membership!

All patrons

Weekly Roundup: 9/11, COVID, and American Freedom

September 11th, 2021

58:13

For an ad-free premium feed, click here.

Use code SWAJ for 60% off the monthly rate!

Use code SWAJyear for $12 off the annual membership!

All patrons receive an ad-free experience too!

Ex-Evangelical Apologetics: Vaccines

September 9th, 2021

22:58

For an ad-free premium feed, click here.

Use code SWAJ for 60% off the monthly rate!

Use code SWAJyear for $12 off the annual membership!

All patrons receive an ad-free experience too!

Free Britney (from the Evangelicals)!

September 6th, 2021

39:23

Brad speak with Ryan Stollar, expert on child protection and a Christian homeschooling survivor. Ryan shares his research on the evangelical and …

Weekly Roundup: The Antebellum South

September 4th, 2021

57:13

For an ad-free premium feed, click here.

Use code SWAJ for 60% off the monthly rate!

Use code SWAJyear for $12 off the annual membership!

All patrons receive an ad-free experience too!

Emergency Re-Release: Abortion, Religion, and Texas

September 3rd, 2021

33:58

A re-release of Dan’s interview with Professor R. Marie Griffith, author of Moral Combat: How Sex Divided American Christians and Fractured American …

Ex-Evangelical Apologetics: Stand for the Flag, Kneel for the Cross

September 2nd, 2021

23:39

For an ad-free premium feed, click here.

Use code SWAJ for 60% off the monthly rate!

Use cod SWAJyear for $12 off the annual membership!


On another …

White Christian Supremacy vs. Multi-Racial Democracy

August 30th, 2021

32:00

For an ad-free premium feed, click here.

Use code SWAJ for 60% off the monthly rate!

Use cod SWAJyear for $12 off the annual membership!


Dr. Liliana …

Weekly Roundup: God's Empire

August 28th, 2021

56:30

For an ad-free premium feed, click here.

Use code SWAJ for 60% off the monthly rate!

Use cod SWAJyear for $12 off the annual membership!

Brad and Dan discuss the dangerous rhetoric coming from the right that frames the …

Ex-Evangelical Apologetics: Christianity and Capitalism

August 25th, 2021

33:37

Brad discusses the idea that capitalism and Christianity go together from two angles. First, he outlines how in the mid-twentieth century big business actors infiltrated church spaces with the ideas that free market …

Race, Xenophobia, and the History of White Evangelicalism with Randall Balmer

August 24th, 2021

36:49

Dartmouth professor and pre-eminent scholar of Evangelicalism Dr. Randall Balmer returns to talk about his new book, Bad Faith: Race and the Rise of …

Weekly Roundup: Bombing for God and Country

August 21st, 2021

59:03

Brad and Dan discuss the vehement support for the Iraq War and the invasion of Afghanistan during the Bush years and comment briefly on the ills of American Empire.

They then discuss the dangers and implications of the …

Ex-Evangelical Apologetics: "There Are Only Two Genders" + "Pronouns?"

August 19th, 2021

27:35

Brad continues the Exvie Apologetics series with a retort to those who would say that there are only two genders and that the idea of pronouns is a …

On "Pray Away" -the New Documentary on "Conversion Therapy"

August 16th, 2021

36:21

Luke Wilson is a survivor of "conversion therapy." He has written about his experiences at Liberty University for Religion Dispatches, Queerty, and other outlets. In this conversation, Luke provides his response to the …

Weekly Roundup: The Make America Great Again Migration

August 14th, 2021

49:19

Brad begins this solo roundup by discussing how provocateur worship leader Sean Feucht provoked conflict in Portland Sunday. His security team was …

Religious Trauma and Purity Culture: Part II

August 12th, 2021

35:46

Brad speaks with Emily Torres, who is behind the Life She Wrote blog and podcast. Emily tells her story of growing up--and eventually leaving--Evangelicalism and describes the religious trauma that ensued from her …

Sexual Purity and Religious Trauma: Part I

August 10th, 2021

34:33

Brad speaks with Dr. Laura Anderson, founder of the Center for Trauma Resolution and Recovery and co-founder of the Religious Trauma Institute. They …

Weekly Roundup: Patriarchal Nationalism is a Helluva Drug

August 7th, 2021

57:57

Brad and Dan discuss Tucker Carlson's trip to Hungary and interview with Orban as part of a decades-long pattern of White nationalists and White Christian nationalists looking to autocratic strongmen as the models of …

Ex-Evangelical Apologetics: "Racism is a Heart Issue" + "Not of This World"

August 5th, 2021

27:53

Brad addresses two common refrains about racism and social issues--the "racism is a heart issue" response and the "not of this world" response. He …

There's Less of Them, But They're More Violent

August 2nd, 2021

34:56

Brad speaks with Matthew Sheffield, the editor and publisher of the new media outlet Flux. They discuss his article, "Republicans are banking on a …

Weekly Roundup: This is America

July 30th, 2021

59:50

Brad and Dan begin with extended analysis of the testimony of the Capitol Police officers before the 1/6 committee. Their words are shocking and …

Ex-Evangelical Apologetics: Are Leavers Broken and/or Just Giving Up?

July 28th, 2021

34:50

Brad revisits the idea that exvangelicals are just broke and giving up on faith. He responds to an interview at the Remnant Radio with Skillet's John …

New Age Spirituality, MAGA Nation, and Conspirituality

July 26th, 2021

39:29

Brad speaks once again with Dr. Susannah Crockford. They discuss her new book, Ripples of the Universe, which provides an ethnographic account of New Age spiritual practitioners in Sedona, Arizona. Dr. Crockford …

Weekly Roundup: COVID, Conspiracies, and Anti-Vaxxers

July 23rd, 2021

54:50

Brad and Dan begin by discussing what's behind the anti-vax attitudes of many Americans, especially White Christians. After reviewing the staggering …

Biblical Commas? On Controlling Textual, National, and Physical Bodies

July 21st, 2021

35:06

Last weekend theologian and former head of the Council for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood Owen Strachan tweeted that taking away even one comma from …

White Feminine Innocence, the Body Politic, and Contraceptive Nationalism

July 20th, 2021

40:44

Dr. Megan Goodwin is the author of Abusing Religion, which explores how White Christians and their influence in our "secular" institutions have …

Weekly Roundup: The Country is at Stake

July 16th, 2021

1:04:59

Brad and Dan begin with a discussion of the revelations from the new book, "I Alone Can Fix It," including General Mark Milley's preparing for Trump's Reichstag Moment, Pence's belief that his Secret Service detail was …

Why Non-Denominational Churches Scare Me

July 14th, 2021

27:17

Brad discusses a new article at WaPo on the Trumpism and Christian nationalism of non-denominational churches.

  • He points out that this is not a new …

The Maliciousness of Christian Xenophobia

July 12th, 2021

42:10

Brad speaks with Dr. Lucas Kwong of CUNY about the far-reaching implications of Christian xenophobia. They discuss the explicit White nationalism of …

Weekly Roundup: Genocide is Not Good Actually

July 9th, 2021

46:15

"Whatever natural good was present in the piety and community of the pagan past is an infinitesimal fraction of the grace rendered unto those pagans’ descendants who have been received into the Church of Christ. …

The Bible, the Constitution, and the Confederacy: A Response to Josh Mandel and Matt Walsh

July 7th, 2021

29:19

Brad begins by responding to Pennsylvania Senate candidate Josh Mandel who claimed last week that the Bible and the Constitution were "not supposed …

Mormon MAGA Nation

July 5th, 2021

29:55

Dr. Benjamin E. Park is a historian who has become a national voice on issues related to religion and politics, particularly as they relate to the …

Weekly Roundup: The Cold Civil War Heats Up

July 2nd, 2021

56:55

Brad and Dan begin this 4th of July weekend episode with thoughts from James Baldwin, who discussed his love for America as a "lover's quarrel."

They …

Modest is Hottest is Rape Culture

June 30th, 2021

41:12

Brad speaks with author and pastor Ruth Everhart about her new book, "The #MeToo Reckoning: Facing the Church's Complicity in Sexual Abuse and …

The Catholic Bishops vs. Joe Biden

June 28th, 2021

31:29

The Catholic Church is officially against abortion. But there are millions of Catholics around the world--including President Joe Biden--who are …

Weekly Roundup: The Witch Hunt Begins

June 25th, 2021

58:53

Brad and Dan do close readings of statements made by Insurrectionist Senator Josh Hawley and Representative Matt Gaetz in order to deconstruct the logic of their attacks on CRT, their resistance to facing the …

Out of the Closet . . . and Into the Pews

June 23rd, 2021

27:53

We are thrilled to announce Straight White American Jesus's first affiliate podcast: Out of the Closet and Into the Pews, a show by Rachael Borthwick that asks what it means for religion to be a vehicle for liberation …

Trying to Save a Sinking Ship: Race, Power, and White American Christianity

June 21st, 2021

30:43

Brad speaks with Kyle J. Howard, a theologian and counselor trained at a Southern Baptist Seminary. He discusses his conversion at 18 at a Black …

Weekly Roundup: White Panic is Destroying the Country

June 19th, 2021

57:24

Brad asks Dan to explain how the Southern Baptist Convention is a barometer for White American Christianity and what it means moving forward. They then discuss how the White panic over CRT has led to dangerous …

A House Divided: Dispatches From SBC 2021

June 16th, 2021

40:57

Brad speaks again with journalist Jonathan Krohn who is covering the Southern Baptist Convention for the New Republic. Krohn takes Brad through all the major events at the convention:

From an SBC presidential candidate …

The Opportunistic Radicalism of Charlie Kirk

June 14th, 2021

39:51

Brad talks with Dr. Matthew Boedy, Associate Professor of English at the University of North Georgia, about the rising young star of Christian nationalist circles and the GOP writ large--Charlie Kirk. Dr. Boedy traces …

Weekly Roundup: On the Road to Minority Rule

June 11th, 2021

56:15

Brad and Dan begin with insight from Prof. Jason Stanley: “History shows that propaganda can make a dominant group mad with panic and fear about the threat of a small minority subjugating them, supposedly by seizing the …

Patriarchy, Critical Race Theory, and Christian Nationalism

June 9th, 2021

42:02

Brad speaks with Jonathan Krohn ahead of the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting. Jonathan is an investigative journalist and essayist whose work has appeared at Mother Jones, the Washington Post, and many …

Radicalized at Home

June 7th, 2021

45:42

Brad speak with R.L. Stollar, a writer and advocate for homeschooled children. As someone homescholed from Kindergarten to high school graduation, …

Weekly Roundup: A New Jim Crow or Reconstruction 3.0?

June 4th, 2021

44:54

Brad makes a big announcement regarding the show and a new direction in his professional life . . . with Dan on vacation he then discusses the long list of cases wherein Trump and Trump allies signal their desire to …

Comparing the 1/6 Coup to George Floyd Protests

June 2nd, 2021

37:40

Brad is joined on a special Wednesday episode by co-host Dan Miller to discuss a question that many will be hearing at BBQs and on social media:

Why is the 1/6 insurrection bad but you have nothing to say about the BLM …

Unmaking Biblical Womanhood

May 31st, 2021

35:50

Brad speaks with Dr. Jill Hicks Keeton about her critical review of Beth Allison Barr's popular new book "The Making of Biblical Womanhood."

Here is …

Weekly Roundup: Why Are We Not Allowed to Remember?

May 28th, 2021

53:55

Brad and Dan begin this Memorial Day episode by discussing the theme of memory and erasure. They point out that there are some things we can't stop remembering--that's how trauma works. The replay of certain events …

Christian Nationalist Nostalgia, Violence, and Resistance to Change (Re-release)

May 26th, 2021

45:03

In a re-release from 2019, Dan and Brad discuss how evangelicalism is a fundamentalist worldview. They draw on scholarship on global fundamentalisms …

The Bad Faith War on Critical Race Theory

May 24th, 2021

47:55

Brad speaks with Dr. Charles McKinney, a historian of the Civil Rights Movement and the Black Church in the South. Dr. McKinney puts the conservative war on Critical Race Theory in historical perspective, explaining how …

Weekly Roundup: Don't Believe Your Eyes

May 21st, 2021

54:11

Brad and Dan discuss the GOP's opposition to 1/6 commission and how the GOP is doing myth making in real time to change the perception and memory of the Insurrection. They then discuss SCOTUS' decision to hear a case …

Re-Release: A Historical View of Evangelical Views on Abortion

May 19th, 2021

33:58

In light of the Supreme Court agreeing to hear a case that could lead to the overturning of Roe v. Wade, we are re-releasing Dan's interview with …

The Eugenicist Origins of Evangelical Family Values

May 17th, 2021

32:34

Dr. Audrey Clare Farley stops by to discuss her article, "The Eugenics Roots of Evangelical Family Values," which outlines how the family values …

Weekly Roundup: Their Only Truth is the Big Lie

May 14th, 2021

58:03

Brad and Dan demonstrate how the only standard of Republican orthodoxy left is whether or not one supports Trump's Big Lie. Through examples from Liz …

Check Your Worldview, Bro.

May 13th, 2021

30:10

Brad discusses something that has been bothering him since his Twitter spat with Timothy Keller: Why are all the Reformed Theo-Bros always talking about worldviews. Brad unpacks the buzz words they use to uncover the …

The Long History of a National Menace

May 10th, 2021

44:04

Brad speaks with Dr. Philip Gorski, Professor of Sociology and Religious Studies at Yale University. They preview his new co-authored book (with Sam …

Weekly Roundup: Extremism is the Virtue

May 7th, 2021

59:46

Brad and Dan examine the competing ideals often put forth by the GOP: 1) Be an individualist who thinks for herself vs. 2) work to unite the country behind a common cause.

They discuss how these ideals are often …

The Rise of the Illiberals

May 5th, 2021

26:16

Where is the GOP headed four months after an attempted coup? Even further down the rabbit hole of authoritarianism. In the wake of his jarring …

"I'm a Fascist"

May 3rd, 2021

40:12

Brad speaks with Dr. Sarah Riccardi-Swartz, Postdoctoral Fellow at the Recovering Truth Project (Arizona State University) about her recent article,

Weekly Roundup: This is Not Not a Racist Country

April 30th, 2021

59:27

Brad and Dan discuss how racism and patriarchy stem from a desire for power and control. They relate this to comments by Rick Santorum on Native …

The Museum of the Bible

April 26th, 2021

38:22

Brad speaks with Dr. Jill Hicks-Keeton, Associate Professor of Religion at Oklahoma University and co-editor of The Museum of the Bible: A Critical Introduction, about the Museum of the Bible in Washington DC. Started …

Weekly Roundup: The Civil War Never Ended

April 24th, 2021

57:20

Brad and Dan connect the threads of the Chauvin murder conviction, the proposed America First caucus, and racialized violence across the country. …

Police Brutality, Family Values, and White Supremacist Christianity

April 21st, 2021

32:11

In the wake of the conviction of former police officer Derek Chauvin for the murder of George Floyd, Brad argues that family values have been used …

Teaching Creationism = Gateway for LGBTQ+ Bigotry

April 19th, 2021

32:59

Brad speaks with Andrew Seidel, constitutional lawyer at the Freedom From Religion Foundation and author of The Founding Myth: Why Christian Nationalism is Un-American. He explains how the Arkansas state legislature's …

Weekly Roundup: Tragically Back to Normal

April 16th, 2021

56:26

Brad and Dan discuss how returning to normal after the pandemic is tragic in contemporary America: from the murder of Daunte Wright during the Derek Chauvin murder trial to the propagation of White replacement theory by …

Satisfying Yourself

April 14th, 2021

31:46

Brad's second (and hopefully final) response to Timothy Keller. Brad discusses Keller's reductionist view of modern conceptions of selfhood; the …

Weekly Roundup: The Problem with the Focus on the Family

April 9th, 2021

57:53

Brad and Dan draw on Sophie Bjork-James' new book, the Divine Institution, to demonstrate how Evangelicals use the nuclear family in order to both attack members of the LGBTQ+ community and draw attention away from …

The Christian Soulmate Fallacy--Response to Timothy Keller

April 5th, 2021

39:08

Brad responds to a Twitter thread by Timothy Keller, pastor at Redeemer Presbyterian Church. Keller argues for sex in a lifelong covenant marked by deep permanent union. He calls this biblical. Brad points out that the …

Weekly Roundup: Why Are They Trying Write Trans People Out of Existence?

April 2nd, 2021

58:48

Brad and Dan are happy to announce that SWAJ is joining the Irreverent Media Group--a collective of podcasts that offers content on deconstruction, …

Being a Woman of Color in Purity Culture with Asha Dahya

March 31st, 2021

41:49

TEDx speaker and author Asha Dahya is the Creator and Editor in Chief of GIRLTALKHQ. She was born in the UK, raised in Australia, and now lives in the USA. Of Indian descent, Asha grew up in Evangelical churches and was …

Focus on Your Own Family: Response to Focus on the Family's Jim Daly

March 29th, 2021

33:17

Brad’s response to Focus on the Family head Jim Daly, who mentioned him in a recent article. In the article Daly tried to deflect the analyses that …

Weekly Roundup: Is There Anything Wrong with Christian Nationalism? (Hint: Yes)

March 26th, 2021

55:48

Dan provides a detailed rebuttal to a piece claiming that there the concern about Christian nationalism is an overblown conspiracy by liberals and celebrities. Brad links this to the draconian voter-suppression law …

Ravi Zacharias, the Atlanta Shooter, Anti-Asian Hate, and Misogyny

March 25th, 2021

31:05

Brad talks with Adrian Gibbs, co-host of the Dirty Rotten Church Kids and an ex-evangelical of Filipino descent, about the connections between Ravi Zacharias' abuse of spa workers of Asian descent and the killing of six …

Sex, Theology, Purity--Response to Al Mohler

March 22nd, 2021

31:26

Brad was featured in a NYT article about purity culture and its affect on the Atlanta shooter along with other academics and advocates including Sam …

Weekly Roundup: A Massacre in Atlanta

March 20th, 2021

56:54

Brad and Dan discuss the various threads connecting the massacre in Atlanta: from the history of anti-Asian racism, to the various dimensions of …

Anti-Asian Hate, Purity Culture, and Christian Nationalism

March 17th, 2021

31:05

In the wake of the mass shooting of 8 people, 6 of whom were Asian women, Brad ties together the threads of anti-Asian hate, purity culture, and …

Faith After Evangelicalism

March 16th, 2021

16:58

Brad explains how evangelicalism destroys faith, because it destroys any sense of uncertainty and unpredictability. By working in a register of …

Weekly Roundup: Jim Crow in a Suit and Tie

March 12th, 2021

53:40

Voter suppression laws are Christian nationalist policy. They are part of a long lineage of movements that see White Protestants as the only …

Inside the World of Christian Nationalism with Katherine Stewart (Re-release)

March 10th, 2021

48:17

This is a re-release of an episode from last year. Brad talks to journalist Katherine Stewart, author of the Power Worshipers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism. Her reporting takes us inside the world …

The Church Where Defying COVID Orders Takes on a Holy Aura with Sam Kestenbaum

March 9th, 2021

31:07

Sam Kestenbaum is an award-winning freelance journalist who regularly contributes to the New York Times. He recently wrote a feature on Godspeak, a …

Weekly Roundup: The Seuss Potato Head Party

March 5th, 2021

55:20

Brad compares the current moment to other times in American history when crisis and conflict led to a new normal. What will be our new normal after …

The Atrocity of "Gay Conversion Therapy"

March 2nd, 2021

29:56

 "Conversion therapy" is a discredited practice of trying to change an individual's sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Lucas Wilson is a Liberty University grad who took part in the university's ongoing …

Weekly Roundup: Trump is Still King of the GOP

February 26th, 2021

56:47

At CPAC this week, there is a golden calf, um, statue of Trump making the rounds. Brad and Dan explore how this emblematizes Trump's continuing reign …

Why REvangelical is Not Deconstruction

February 24th, 2021

42:45

Brad lays out the case as to why the REvangelical movement coming from The Gospel Coalition and other voices in the Evangelical universe should not …

The Nostalgic Myths that Drive MAGA Nation with Dr. Ruth Braunstein

February 22nd, 2021

43:17

Brad talk to Dr. Ruth Braunstein, Professor of Sociology at the University of Connecticut, about the nostalgic myths that drive MAGA Nation. Their …

Weekly Roundup: Abandon the Snowflakes

February 19th, 2021

59:56

What is the point of government? Is is capitalist profit or the common good? Brad and Dan explain how these questions connect notable events from this week--from Rush Limbaugh's death, to the energy disaster in Texas, …

S1.Ep.9 (Re-release): Genderqueer and Exvangelical Pastor Ann Reilly

February 17th, 2021

36:22

Brad and Dan's interview with Reilly, Associate Pastor at Presbyterian New England Church in Saratoga Springs NY. Reilly shares how she grew up evangelical, realized she was gay right about the time she received the …

On Sexual Abuse and the Jezebel Type

February 16th, 2021

28:36

Brad discusses the Ravi Zacharias scandal and why sexual abuse is so rampant in Evangelical spaces: authoritarian leadership structures, patriarchal …

Weekly Roundup: Who is the Demon Now?

February 12th, 2021

1:01:27

Is talking about Christian nationalism akin to demonizing White Christians? Some right-wing theologians and leaders would like you to think it is. …

S1.Ep8 (Re-release) If You Believe in Gay People, Please Leave! -with David Gushee

February 11th, 2021

34:26

Dan's 2018 interview with ethicist and former AAR president David Gushee, who left evangelicalism after changing his views of LGBTQ relationships.

--- Send in a voice message:

Christian Nationalism at the 2021 Super Bowl

February 8th, 2021

27:09

Brad talks about: 

  • Christian nationalism and Bruce Springsteen's Meet in the Middle ad 
  • Tom Brady's friendship with Donald Trump and White Privilege 

Weekly Roundup: The Greene New Deal

February 5th, 2021

58:10

Brad and Dan talk about the false equivalence the GOP tried to draw this week between Marjorie Taylor Greene and Ilhan Omar. This takes place in the …

S1.E7 (Re-Release): Dating Jesus

February 4th, 2021

50:02
On an episode from fall of 2018 Brad and Dan share stories from their experiences with purity culture and provide a primer on gender and sexuality in …

I Would Have Been at the Capitol Insurrection with author Monica Rodden

February 2nd, 2021

43:23

Monica Rodden is a novelist and ex-evangelical. She wrote this recent piece in the Boston Globe about how she would have been the type of Christian …

Weekly Roundup: White Supremacist Christians Are Christians

January 29th, 2021

59:36

Brad and Dan unpack how religions are what people do. The same goes for political parties. This means that White Supremacist Christians and QAnon …

S1.Ep.6 (Re-release): Evangelical Cultures of Life and Angel Babies

January 28th, 2021

50:42

In an episode from fall of 2018, Brad and Dan discuss the issue of abortion in Evangelical culture and how it became a litmus test for who is a "real …

Religion at the Capitol Siege with Peter Manseau

January 25th, 2021

38:04

Dr. Peter Manseau is a curator of American religious history at the Smithsonian and the author of ten books. He started #capitolsiegereligion soon …

Weekly Roundup: Biden Takes Office While MAGA Nation Wonders What's Next

January 22nd, 2021

54:35

Brad and Dan discuss the inauguration, including the theological aspects of Biden's speech and the civil religiosity of Biden's approach. 

They then …

S1.Ep.5 (Re-release): White Evangelicalism, Nationalism, and Populism

January 20th, 2021

30:58

An episode from Season 1 where Brad and Dan discuss nationalism and populism in the White Evangelical subculture. This is a nice primer for …

Hitler, Trump, and the Danger of Failed Coups

January 18th, 2021

55:16

Brad is joined by Dr. Richard Steigmann-Gall, a historian and expert in Nazi Germany. They compare Hitler's failed coup of 1923 and the Jan. 6 …

Weekly Roundup: They Told Us Civil War Was Coming

January 15th, 2021

1:01:53

Brad and Dan begin by recalling their episode from the eve of Trump's first impeachment, when the quoted a number of Evangelical leaders threatening/predicting civil war if Trump was impeached. Then, it seemed …

S1.Ep.4 White Jesus (Re-release)

January 12th, 2021

45:41

In an interview from 2018, Brad and Dan talk to Dr. Glenn Bracey of Villanova University about his experiences in White churches as a Black man. Dr. …

A White Christian Nationalist Coup Long in the Making - with Dr. Kelly J. Baker

January 11th, 2021

53:51

Dr. Kelly J. Baker, author of Gospel According to the Klan: The KKK’s Appeal to Protestant America, 1915-1930, stops by to discuss how the January 6 insurrection was long in the making. Using the 1920s Klan as a …

Weekly Roundup: Trump's Insurrection

January 8th, 2021

1:05:14

Brad and Dan analyze the January 6 Insurrection at the United States Capitol. 

They begin by discussing the unprecedented aspects of the events. 

Then, …

S1.Ep3 (Re-Release): The History of the Religious Right

January 5th, 2021

58:58

What if I told you the Religious Right formed on the basis of racism and not abortion? What if segregation was the real issue and the unborn were …

S1.Ep.2 (Re-release): 81% WTF

December 29th, 2020

42:49

Think of this as a SWAJ primer. We cover many of the major themes of the show in a relatively brief conversation. 

On our second ever episode, we put the White Evangelical support for Trump in historical perspective. …

S1.Ep.1 (Re-Release): Why Straight White American Jesus?

December 22nd, 2020

35:45

After many requests, we begin the re-release of Season 1! On this first episode Brad and Dan introduce themselves and tell their stories of being evangelical youth group kids, ministers, and seminarians, and then …

Weekly Roundup: American Insurrection and Beth Moore's Anti-Christian Nationalism

December 18th, 2020

48:57

On the last Weekly Roundup of the year, Brad and Dan discuss: 1) the myth of the stolen election and how it has gained legitimacy through support …

Ken Kemp on White People Doing the Work

December 15th, 2020

44:56

Ken Kemp is not the person you'd expect to be leading small groups and table talks helping White folks understand the histories of racism and …

Weekly Roundup: Christian Privilege and Raced Religion

December 4th, 2020

1:03:44

Brad and Dan briefly touch on three stories: MAGA rebellion in Georgia, Obama on "Defund the Police," and the federal government's abandonment of the …

Sophie Bjork-James on the Similarities Between White Nationalists and Christian Nationalists

December 1st, 2020

44:33

Dr. Sophie Bjork-James is an anthropologist at Vanderbilt University. She is a specialist in race, gender, and religion with a focus on White …

Anne Nelson on the Shadow Network Behind Trump's Coup, ACB's nomination, and the Coming Cold Civil War

November 24th, 2020

47:11

Brad speaks with journalist Anne Nelson whose book Shadow Network: Media, Money, and the Secret Hub of the Radical Right outlines in vivid detail the network of organizations, media empires, and churches that sync the …

Weekly Roundup: Frederick Douglass on a Divided Nation, Whose Faith Counts as Really American?, and American Exceptionalism in Religious Terms

November 20th, 2020

50:28

Brad and Dan begin by drawing on a famous speech by Frederick Douglass in order to put the nail in the coffin on the idea that it is the Democrats' job to reach across the aisle. They then explain why Republicans think …

Sarah Posner on the Secession of MAGA Nation

November 17th, 2020

48:38

Brad speaks with Sarah Posner, author of Unholy: Why White Evangelicals Worship at the Altar of Donald Trump. They discuss how Trump is the result of …

Weekly Roundup: Reviving the Lost Cause - the Real Meaning of Trump's Refusal to Concede + Biden's Religious Voters + SCOTUS and Obama Care

November 13th, 2020

1:00:34

Dan begins by explaining why Biden didn't underperform and why emotionally this should feel like a big win 

He and Brad also discuss the White …

The Brown Church: 500 Years of Resistance and Organizing - with Robert Chao Romero, PhD, JD

November 10th, 2020

48:14
In his new book, The Brown Church, Robert Chao Romero speaks from spiritual borderlands. As a Latino pastor and scholar trained in critical race …

Weekly Roundup: A Historic Election, the Religious Left's Huge Impact, and the Religious Right Remains the Religious White

November 6th, 2020

1:00:57

As we process the unfolding events related to the election, Brad and Dan discuss: 

  • why Tuesday night felt so dismaying, despite knowing it would be …

Religion, Roots, and Black National Identity with Richard Newton

November 2nd, 2020

1:06:06
In an episode recorded as part of a public lecture at Skidmore College, Brad speak with Dr. Richard Newton about his new book, Identifying Roots: …

Weekly Roundup: America's Tense Moment

October 30th, 2020

53:40

In the week before the election, Brad and Dan begin with another chapter of Falwell's Follies. Dan then explains why the polls are similar, but …

After Evangelcalism with David Gushee

October 27th, 2020

59:32

Dan speaks with Dr. David Gushee, Professor of Ethics and Director of the Center for Theology and Public Life at Mercer University. The former …

Weekly Roundup: Hunter Biden Explained, Pope and Civil Unions, and the American Values Survey

October 23rd, 2020

1:01:43

Opener: Brad and Dan each get 2 minutes uninterrupted on the last debate 

Explainer: Hunter Biden non-scandal mularkey 

Explainer: Pope announces he …

81% WTF (Re-release): The Historical Receipts on Evangelical Leaders Hypocritical Support for Trump

October 20th, 2020

42:49

The episode that started it all! On one of our very first shows, we went to the historical record to quote all the evangelical leaders who did everything possible to decry Bill Clinton after his sex scandal/impeachment. …

Weekly Roundup: Constitutional Originalism and Biblical Literalism

October 16th, 2020

52:04

Dan briefs us on the dueling presidential town halls before he and Brad explain the tenets of Constitutional Originalism, a legal philosophy Amy …

Sarah Levin, Co-Chair of the DNC Interfaith Council and Founder of Secular Strategies

October 13th, 2020

46:54

Brad speaks with Sarah Levin, the Co-Chair of the DNC's Interfaith Committee and the Founder of Secular Strategies, a firm dedicated to mobilizing …

Weekly Roundup: Pretty Fly for a White Guy

October 9th, 2020

49:57

Some major announcements! We are now a proud partner of the Capps Center at UCSB! Capps is dedicated to ethics, religion, and public life in a way that matches up seamlessly with our approach on SWAJ. Check out their …

Trump's COVID Diagnosis, the ACB "Celebration of Life," and White Evangelical Racism with Prof. Anthea Butler

October 5th, 2020

56:51

Brad speaks to Professor Anthea Butler, a captain in the Biden campaign's "Catholics for Biden" initiative, and chair of the Religious Studies …

Weekly Roundup: Trump's Debate Coup and How the Office Warned us About 2020

October 1st, 2020

26:44

On an abbreviated Weekly Roundup Brad discusses the first presidential debate, the media's inability to call out Trump's threats of violence and …

America First vs. the American Dream

September 29th, 2020

59:56

Sarah Churchwell is Professor of American Literature and Chair of Public Understanding of the Humanities at the School of Advanced Study, University …

Weekly Roundup: RBG. Amy Coney Barrett. Breonna Taylor. And, Respectable Evangelicalism?

September 25th, 2020

58:19

Brad and Dan discuss four main stories on this week's roundup: 

1. The passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg has led to Amy Coney Barrett as the frontrunner to replace her. Brad outlines the history and contours of the …

Christian Nazis, the Third Reich, and Our Current Political Moment

September 22nd, 2020

55:29

Brad speaks with historian Ricard Steigmann-Gall, author of the Holy Reich: Nazi Conceptions of Christianity 1919-1945. They discuss how the Nazi …

Weekly Roundup: Patriotic Miseducation

September 18th, 2020

55:51

Brad and Dan discuss a coterie of stories at the intersection of race, nation, and religion. First, they dissect the president's announcement of a new commission on "patriotic education" as a thoroughly Christian …

Purity Culture, National Security, and Racism

September 15th, 2020

49:20

Brad speaks with Dr. Sara Moslener, author of Virgin Nation: Sexual Purity and American Adolescence from Oxford University Press. Dr. Moslener …

Weekly Roundup: 9/11, COVID, and the Promises and Perils of Civil Religion

September 11th, 2020

55:55

Brad and Dan begin by discussing how 9/11 is an event marked by acts of civil religion--ceremonies, rituals, and symbols that enable the nation to …

Racism at the Start: History of the Religious Right (re-issue)

September 8th, 2020

58:58

During the first half of this episode Brad and Dan trace the racist and nationalistic origins of white evangelical politics. On the second half, Brad …

Weekly Roundup September 4, 2020: Man. Woman. Losers. Suckers. Soldiers.

September 5th, 2020

1:14:08

Dan confesses that 1st grade on Zoom is more intimidating than translating French philosophy or reading Hebrew. He and Brad then discuss the …

Fascism Draped in the Flag

August 29th, 2020

1:09:29

Brad and Dan discuss the vagaries of the new semester and the apocalyptic challenges posed by Zoom and Outlook. They then dissect the events in Kenosha, WI during the last week--from the shooting of Jacob Blake, the …

Dating Jesus: Purity Culture, Male Savagery, and Female Passivity (re-release)

August 25th, 2020

50:02
On this re-released episode, which takes on new significance in light of the Falwell scandal, Brad and Dan discuss how sexuality and gender are …

Weekly Roundup" Catholic Convention/ Kamala Criticized/ Corrupt Cronies / QAnon Candidates

August 21st, 2020

1:15:11

Brad and Dan discuss the latest of Falwell's Follies. They then analyze the presence of religion and faith at the Democratic convention, the fallout …

Weekly Roundup: A Coup in Plain Sight

August 15th, 2020

1:15:57

Dan laments the end of our favorite segment, Falwell's Follies. Then he and Brad discuss the interfaith and mixed-race background of Kamal Harris, …

Falwell's Fall . . . and Redemption with Diana Butler Bass

August 11th, 2020

58:24
Brad talks to Dr. Diana Butler Bass, distinguished scholar of American Christianity, about Jerry Falwell Jr's. demise. Last week, racy pictures …

Evangelicals, QAnon, and Conspiracy Theories (Re-Issue)

August 4th, 2020

44:42
Brad speaks with Marc-André Argentino, a PhD candidate and public scholar at Concordia University in Quebec, and an Associate Fellow with the Global …

Weekly Roundup: Suburban Dream Demon Sperm

July 31st, 2020

1:11:40
Brad tells a story about a mishap during a colonoscopy. He and Dan then cover the myriad of stories from a crazy news week: -Eric Metaxas thinks …

Weekly Roundup: I Can't Kneel - I'm a Christian

July 24th, 2020

1:06:45
Dan talks about his house, or at least television, being struck by lightning. He and Brad then discuss Trump's messaging failures, Biden's candidacy as an appetizing saltine cracker, the scary situation in Portland, a …

The Orange Wave: Live Q+A Session

July 1st, 2020

1:31:44
Use JESUS20 for 20% off at Swanson.com! Dan and Brad hosted a live meeting with SWAJ listeners. We had a great discussion of important questions. They are listed below: Questions for SWAJ Q+A, June 30, 2020: …

Weekly Roundup: The SCOTUS Surprise and the POTUS Demise

June 19th, 2020

52:30
Brad and Dan discuss the expanded recognition of Juneteenth and its significance for American history, the surprising new from SCOTUS on discrimination against LGBTQ people in the workplace and DACA, Louie Giglio's …

Weekly Roundup: Trump's Adding Insult to Tear Gas

June 13th, 2020

53:54
Brad and Dan discuss Trump's decision to hold a rally in Tulsa on June 19. They dig into the historical significance of the 1921 Tulsa Massacre and …

What Do Religion Scholars Think of Trump's Violent Bible Photo Op?

June 4th, 2020

1:33:39
On this emergency episode, Brad asks religion scholars to weigh in on Trump’s violent Bible photo op. He speaks with first with Dr. Richard …

Weekly Roundup: The COVID Info Wars

May 15th, 2020

52:03
Brad and Dan discuss recent data that shows White Evangelicals are the only group who believes Trump's response to the pandemic has been appropriate. They connect this to recent studies that show how Trump supporters …

Weekly Roundup: Justice is Barred

May 8th, 2020

1:01:19
Brad tells a story of an encounter with a French philosopher and . . . marshmallows. Then Dan and Brad discuss the DOJ decision to drop the case against Michael Flynn (4:00), William Barr's dominionist win-at-all-costs …

QAnon, Evangelicals, and COVID-19

May 5th, 2020

44:42
Brad speaks with Marc-André Argentino, a PhD candidate and public scholar at Concordia University in Quebec, and an Associate Fellow with the Global …

Weekly Roundup: The COVID Culture Wars

May 1st, 2020

51:17
Brad and Dan discuss the COVID culture wars: the armed "protest" at the Michigan capitol, the masculinity of face masks, in-person church meetings, …

Evangelicals, Individualism, and COVID Re-Open Protests

April 28th, 2020

15:20
Brad discusses the correspondence between libertarian politics and evangelicalism. He points out that the stay at home orders undercut the central …

Weekly Roundup: President Lysol, Mark of the Beast Conspiracies, and Reporters Kidnapped

April 24th, 2020

57:50
Brad tells the story of buying an heiress a crepe in France. Then he and Dan discuss the president's remarks on using disinfectant to help with COVID, the conspiracy theories about vaccines and the Mark of the Beast, a …

Evangelicals and Inoculation

April 22nd, 2020

23:34
Brad discusses the "re-open" protests happening at state capitols through the historical episode of the Puritans and their protests to inoculation …

Weekly Roundup: COVID-19 Protests, Confederate Flags, and Stimulus $ Going to Churches

April 17th, 2020

57:42
Brad begins with another story of hijinks and nostalgia from Oxford. Then Brad and and Dan discuss a long list of religion, politics, and COVID-19 …

Weekly Roundup: Is COVID-19 a Punishment from God?

April 10th, 2020

45:26
Brad and Dan begin by discussing a the demand for in-person church meetings in Kansas, Liberty University's attack on the press, and Bill O'Reilly's comment that most of those who have died from COVID-19 were "on their …

Freedom from Religion Enables Freedom of Religion

April 7th, 2020

42:06
During the COVID-19 pandemic many are discussing the liberty to hold religious gatherings despite the public health risks. In an interview from 2019, …

Weekly Roundup: Pastors Endanger Lives by Holding Services: Masculinity, Anti-Intellectualism, and Ecclesiology

April 3rd, 2020

58:05
Brad and Dan begin by adding some humor to the mix--they tell stories of how they didn't fit in at Oxford and the hijinks that ensued (00:30). They …

The Entangled Histories of Christianity, Atheism, and Racism

April 1st, 2020

38:52
Brad speaks to Dr. Nathan Alexander about his new book on the entangled histories of Christianity, atheism, and racism in the 19th and 20th centuries. They try to answer some compelling questions: Are non-religious …

Weekly Roundup: Trump, Evangelicals, and Covid-19

March 27th, 2020

58:39
Religion was in full view this week as it relates to COVID-19. Brad and Dan discuss evangelical leaders and politicians resisting shelter in place …

From Evangelical Leader to Feminist Superhero

March 24th, 2020

44:54

Asha Dahya was a happy evangelical when she moved to LA from Australia. But the politics of the Religious Right led her out of the faith. Indian by …

SWAJ Daily: All the Made-Up Things

March 24th, 2020

7:46
" . . only the invented part of life was satisfying." -Gerald Murphy to F. Scott Fitzgerald. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/straightwhiteamericanjesu/message Support this podcast:

Weekly Roundup: Bernie Sanders and American Civil (Non) Religion

March 20th, 2020

1:04:08
Brad and Dan discuss why in this sort of crisis everyone's a socialist (2:55), the fallout from the Burr/Loeffler revelations (7:35), and then spend …

SWAJ Daily: Burr Should Resign, Fact-Checking Cornyn, How to Avoid Turning Anxiety to Racism

March 20th, 2020

23:56
Brad discusses the moral failing of Senator Richard Burr and calls on him to resign, fact checks Sen. Cornyn on China, viruses, and more, and challenges us not to allow our fear to transform into racism and …

A White Southern Pentecostal Bernie Voter

March 18th, 2020

1:05:59

Aaron Simmons has been asked to leave numerous churches over the last decade. Not over theology or the Bible. But because he votes the wrong way and …

SWAJ Daily: Trump's COVID Dog-Whistle and Christian Nationalism, Elections in Ohio, and Space Force!

March 17th, 2020

21:39
On today's daily dispatch, Brad discusses why Trump labeling COVID-19 the "Chinese virus" is part of a long lineage of anti-Asian xenophobia and part of the Christian nationalism held by his supporters (4:00). He …

Weekly Roundup: Conspiracy and Corona Virus, Title IX and Discrimination, and the Appeal of Biden

March 14th, 2020

1:08:10
Brad and Dan discuss the conspiracy theories Evangelicals and the President are pushing about Corona Virus (0:30), Title IX exemptions for universities that discriminate against LGBT+ people (17:50), the surprising …

The Christians Who Want to Rule the World -with André Gagné

February 12th, 2020

48:29

Dominionists are shaping your life: from your kid's sex-ed program, to local gun laws, and national elections. They see themselves as called to rule …

Weekly Roundup: Romney vs Trump, Evangelicals vs. LDS, the National Prayer Breakfast, and More

February 8th, 2020

49:15
Brad and Dan discuss how we should interpret Mitt Romney's vote to convict Trump as an expression of how the Latter Day Saints view the president, …

Her Name Was Hisao: On Love, Loss, and the Lakers

February 1st, 2020

17:28
Brad's audio essay on his great grandmother, Hisao, a picture-bride who couldn't speak English, but who became an American, a Californian, and an …

Weekly Roundup: Paula White, Satanic Pregnancies, and the Prosperity Gospel

January 31st, 2020

58:27
Brad and Dan talk about Jerry Falwell's call for secession, harmful transgender treatment bills, and Paula White, Trump's spiritual advisor, the …

Weekly Roundup: Funding Anti-LGBT Schools with Tax $, the Radical MLK, and the March for "Life"

January 24th, 2020

49:00
On the Weekly Roundup Brad and Dan discuss Espinoza vs. Montana, a supreme court case that will determine if states must fund private schools. They …

Escaping Abuse at a Fundamentalist Boot Camp

January 23rd, 2020

38:25
Brad talks with Deirdre Sugiuchi about her story of leaving a fundamentalist boot camp in the Dominican Republic. Deirdre, a writer whose work has been featured at Electric Literature, Guernica, and who contributed an …

Weekly Roundup: Catholic Trumpism, Brave Heart Christianity, and the Two Popes

January 17th, 2020

51:26
On the weekly roundup, Dan and Brad focus on a Politico story about the Trump campaign reaching out to Catholic voters. They explain how a sizable …

Weekly Roundup: Praying for War (video available on Youtube)

January 11th, 2020

44:09
Brad and Dan discuss how Mike Pence and Mike Pompeo brought their end-times theology to bear on American foreign policy through the assassination of …

Dating Jesus

January 29th, 2019

50:02
Our discussion of purity culture, gender complementarianism, and our interview with the Revernd Sarah Buteux, Associate Pastor of First Churches in …

If You Believe in Gay People Please Leave Part II: Dr. David Gushee,

January 10th, 2019

34:26
Part II of our three-part series on white evangelicalism and LGBTQ+ issues. Dan's interview with ethicist and former AAR president David Gushee, who left evangelicalism after changing his views of LGBTQ …

Episode 7.2: Motherhood, Womanhood, and Angel Babies

December 21st, 2018

49:55
THIS INTERVIEW IS EYE OPENING! Brad's interview with his Skidmore colleague Dr. Myev Rees. Dr. Rees is an expert in evangelical culture, …
Loading ...

Listen to Straight White American Jesus

RadioPublic

A free podcast app for iPhone and Android

  • User-created playlists and collections
  • Download episodes while on WiFi to listen without using mobile data
  • Stream podcast episodes without waiting for a download
  • Queue episodes to create a personal continuous playlist
RadioPublic on iOS and Android
Or by RSS
RSS feed
https://feeds-origin.megaphone.fm/PPY9950636314

Connect with listeners

Podcasters use the RadioPublic listener relationship platform to build lasting connections with fans

Yes, let's begin connecting
Browser window

Find new listeners

  • A dedicated website for your podcast
  • Web embed players designed to convert visitors to listeners in the RadioPublic apps for iPhone and Android
Clicking mouse cursor

Understand your audience

  • Capture listener activity with affinity scores
  • Measure your promotional campaigns and integrate with Google and Facebook analytics
Graph of increasing value

Engage your fanbase

  • Deliver timely Calls To Action, including email acquistion for your mailing list
  • Share exactly the right moment in an episode via text, email, and social media
Icon of cellphone with money

Make money

  • Tip and transfer funds directly to podcastsers
  • Earn money for qualified plays in the RadioPublic apps with Paid Listens