In this interview, I speak to Kristin Peterson, media studies professor at Boston College, about her book Unruly Souls: The Digital Activism of Muslim and Christian Feminists (https://bookshop.org/a/11130/9781978822665) . We discuss the role social media has had in creating a counterpublic that challenges the dominant cultural narratives established by white…
This week, I'm joined by Sarah Heath & Justin Gentry from the REVcovery podcast to talk about burnout. This is a long conversation, and it starts by talking about religious burnout for pastors and other highly-involved volunteers. We later transition into talking about post-religious burnout. Like any conversation, it's just…
Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg, author of the new book On Repentance and Repair: Making Amends in an Unapologetic World (https://bookshop.org/a/11130/9780807010518) . This show is not typically interfaith, but when the opportunity to read Rabbi Ruttenberg’s latest arose, I leapt at the chance. I’ve followed her on Twitter for years and admire…
Another archival episode, in light of the news from The Village Church. Matt Chandler went on indefinite leave (https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2022/august/matt-chandler-village-church-online-inappropriate-leave.html) from TVC this weekend after inappropriate messaging on Instagram, just a couple weeks after they settled with an abuse victim (https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2022/august/village-church-matt-chandler-baptist-abuse-settlement.html) while acknowledging no wrongdoing. These are longstanding issues in evangelicalism…
While I continue to work on my manuscript, here is another archival episode for you. This is from my series, Powers & Principalities. Season 1 was published in 2020 and focused on Christian nationalism, which remains painfully relevant. This episode features a conversation with Sam Perry and Andrew Whitehead, co-authors…
It's been a minute. While I'm working on my manuscript, please enjoy this 2017 interview I recorded with David Bazan from Pedro the Lion (https://davidbazan.com/) . We recorded this interview in Bazan's car, between Living Room shows. It was incredible. The original introduction of this conversation was kept for nostalgia,…
In this episode, I adapt a couple of recent essays from The Post-Evangelical Post to discuss Christian nationalism. As white evangelical hegemony ended, white Christian nationalist minority rule began (https://www.postevangelicalpost.com/p/as-white-evangelical-hegemony-ended) . Recommended Reading: Christian Nationalism on TikTok; Evangelical Lobbyists Praying with SCOTUS Justices, More (https://www.postevangelicalpost.com/p/recommended-reading-christian-nationalism) Exvangelical is a production of…
Today’s guest is Jo Luehmann. Jo and I spoke back in March this year, after arranging to chat in late January, early February, so this episode has been a long time coming. In this conversation, you’ll hear Jo talk about growing up in Colombia, her experience within evangelical circles in…
Hello, and welcome to Exvangelical. I’m your host, Blake Chastain. I know there’s a lot going on. I know that the recent Supreme Court rulings are beyond discouraging - they are harmful for so many people, and a decision that could lead to the downfall of Roe is expected as…
My guest today is Dr. Ryan Haupt. Ryan is a scientist and podcaster on the show Science...Sort of (https://open.spotify.com/show/3PIBhD7ayvqgI5jauiaLT6?si=9b3c72c63d9740ac) , and a frequent guest host on the comic book podcast iFanboy (https://open.spotify.com/show/0g9Jjqao0U4fELXEaPCfY0?si=e8501b9e5c5a415d) . iFanboy was one of the very first podcasts I ever listened to and after a couple of…
This week’s guest is Rohadi Nagassar, host of the Faith in a Fresh Vibe podcast and author of the new book When We Belong: Reclaiming Christianity on the Margins (https://bookshop.org/a/11130/9781513810355) . We talk about identity, the differences and similarities between Canadian and American churches, and much more! This interview was…
Note: there is a leveling discrepancy between the intro comments and the interview, which begins around the 10:30 mark. There's been two major shootings in the last two weeks. I try to piece together some thoughts, and combine a couple things from recent essays, in the intro to this re-released…
My guest today is Nick Ripatrizone. Nick is a writer for The Millions (https://themillions.com/) , culture editor for Image Journal and author of the new book Digital Communion: Marshall McLuhan’s Vision for a Virtual Age (https://bookshop.org/a/11130/9781506471143) . Marshall McLuhan was a "prophet of the digital age," whose prescient writings about…
I'm honored to share this conversation with Andre Henry with you today. Andre Henry is an author, musician, and activist, and author of the book All the White Friends I Couldn't Keep: Hope--and Hard Pills to Swallow--About Fighting for Black Lives (https://bookshop.org/a/11130/9780593239889) (affiliate link to Bookshop.org). We talk about Andre's…
April Ajoy joins the show! You probably know her from TikTok, where she creates at turns funny and serious videos about "humorously detoxing American Christianity." We learn about her story, about how she got started on TikTok, and more! Check out all of April's projects: TikTok (https://m.tiktok.com/h5/share/usr/6623820748208652293.html) The Evangelicalish podcast…
This was also published as an essay at The Post-Evangelical Post (https://www.postevangelicalpost.com/p/the-leaked-scotus-ruling-shows-why?s=w) . Exvangelical is a production of The Post-Evangelical Post, LLC. Learn how to support my work here (https://www.postevangelicalpost.com/about) . There are many resources about reproductive health available. If you want to approach it from an interfaith lens, start…
In this audio essay, adapted from The Post-Evangelical Post (https://www.postevangelicalpost.com/p/twitter-and-the-counterpublic-sphere?s=w) , I talk about Twitter's role in allowing "counterpublics" to flourish - and how #exvangelical relates to that. New interviews are coming - due to my recent ear surgery I am still restricted from listening to audio in both ears…
It’s been over a month since I’ve released an episode. That was not my plan nor intention. But sometimes life intervenes. Just shy of a month ago, I had surgery to repair a lifelong issue with my ear - ruptured ear drum, and the recovery took much longer than I…
Even though my relationship to religion is always shifting, some of the rituals and symbolism have more resonance than others. For me, in recent years Lent has been the most meaningful part of the Christian tradition, even if I'm not sure where I fall in relation to it. In this…
RE-RELEASE: Dr. Anthea Butler returns to the show (she was a guest on season one of Powers & Principalities) to discuss her new book, White Evangelical Racism (https://bookshop.org/a/11130/9781469661179) . Her book is of utmost importance to helping us understand both our past and our current moment. We discuss the history…
In this conversation, I speak with exvangelical Tiktokker Melissa Stewart (@lissajostewart) about her upbringing, how exvangelical spaces continue to evolve, and how platform differences (i.e. Twitter vs. TikTok) enable different conversations - and much more! As I mention in the introduction, note how Melissa talks about her experiences leaving fundamentalism,…
In this episode I chat with fellow IMG podcasters, Justin Gentry & Sarah Heath about their new show, Revcovery. Revcovery is all about the process of leaving the ministry profession. We cover a lot in the first half before turning our attention to the recent Vanity Fair profile of Jerry…
In this audio essay, Blake talks frankly about how social media exacerbated a dark day he had recently, how social media affects emotions, and how our relationship to identifiers and communities change over time. Throughout 2022 I will be experimenting more with formats and episode types in the feed. Please…
In this bonus episode of Powers & Principalities, I share my conversation with Chrissy Stroop on the inauspicious anniversary of the Jan 6 Capitol Riot. (One trigger/content note, we talk about Satanic Panic & child abuse in one section). We discuss the lead-up to Trump, the Trump administration, the insurrection,…