Explore every episode of the podcast The RELEVANT Podcast

Former Hillsong NYC pastor Carl Lentz and his wife Laura stayed together, and now they've written the book on it, 'Overcoming Infidelity.' We talk about the small warning signs, when leaving is actually the right call, what they've told their kids and what Carl says to the skeptics calling this a comeback tour.

Plus, Cameron is back from NYC, where Greta Gerwig previewed 'Narnia: The Magician's Nephew.’ He went in skeptical and tells us what he saw and heard. 

In Slices, Jesse makes the case for 'You Can See Everything,' the three-hour Elizabeth Holmes movie everyone is talking about and nobody is spoiling (we won't either). Derek tells us why Hulvey canceled his Amsterdam show, and Marty asks the crew to name their favorite sin, which turns into a real conversation about Philip Anthony Mitchell and what comes after the celebrity pastor era.

Then Marty's Life Hacks closes it out with a tip so wholesome we're pretty sure city hall is paying him.

Highlights:

01:41 — Cameron's report from Greta Gerwig's Narnia preview event 

06:44 — The Aslan question 

10:06 — Derek's case against the Meryl Streep casting 

17:14 — How 'Stairway to Heaven' ended up in Narnia 

24:03 — Slices: The Elizabeth Holmes movie nobody is spoiling 

34:59 — Hulvey cancels a sold-out show over what was on the venue walls 

37:28 — Marty asks the crew to name their favorite sin 

37:46 — Philip Anthony Mitchell gets honest on The Breakfast Club 

40:29 — What comes after the celebrity pastor era? 

48:18 — Derek makes room for pastors in Jordans 

49:05 — Carl and Laura Lentz on 'Overcoming Infidelity' 

52:12 — Carl on the secrets that come before the big one 

54:13 — Laura on when leaving is the right call 

56:08 — What they've told their kids (and the phone call Carl didn't see coming) 

1:01:39 — Carl's answer for the skeptics

1:06:47 — Marty's Life Hacks: Wait, the library has 3D printers?

Jamie MacDonald, fresh off winning New Artist of the Year at the Dove Awards, joins us as her new deluxe album arrives this week. We talk about what it’s like to be the biggest thing in CCM right now, reliving her testimony on stage every night and the Alaska fudge shop that can’t stop playing her record.

In RELEVANT Buzz, Instagram admits it’s been recommending Creed’s ‘Higher’ more than it should, and we think the algorithm might be trying to heal America. Drill rapper Fivio Foreign gets honest about the hardest part of his walk with Jesus, and Pope Leo says algorithms lack “the spark of humanity,” which has us asking where all the song bridges went.

Plus, Marty’s new co-working space comes with an indoor mini golf course, and his family’s Halloween costume plan leaves the rest of us in a cold sweat. Then One Has to Go closes it out: Pastor Appreciation Month downsized to a week, one severed head too many and a turkey leg that turns grown men into cavemen.

Highlights:

01:09 — Marty’s co-working space comes with a mini golf course

08:37 — RELEVANT Buzz: Instagram can’t stop recommending Creed’s ‘Higher’

10:26 — Jesse’s theory: The algorithm wants us back at Creed’s 2001 Thanksgiving halftime show

15:56 — Derek’s plan for the first Christian rap Super Bowl halftime

17:25 — Fivio Foreign goes from drill to praising Jesus (and gets honest about what’s hardest)

21:21 — Derek’s case for Fonzworth Bentley as hip-hop’s unsung hero

23:42 — Is AI art always a little cringe? Pope Leo weighs in

25:13 — Derek wants bridges and vamps back

29:21 — The architect who felt “God pushing my pencil”

32:53 — Jamie MacDonald on the long road to becoming Christian music’s biggest new name

35:37 — Why ‘Left It in the River’ hit so hard

38:29 — Playing the Ryman a mile from where she was born

40:21 — Is the pop culture Halloween costume dead?

41:07 — Marty’s family Halloween plan

45:37 — One Has to Go

47:05 — Derek on the Black church’s honor culture

50:39 — Derek has seen enough severed heads

52:26 — Seven-year-old Cameron explains street economics to his mom

54:34 — Where do the full-size candy bar houses actually live?

Irish folk trio Kingfishr joins us right as everyone's playlist turns to fall vibes. We talk about how they went from a self-described rip-off band to leaning all the way into traditional Irish music, the old farmhouse with walls thick enough to start a band in and what's giving them hope right now.

In Slices, Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan says plainly that Jesus is his Lord and Savior and that he doesn't care what it costs him. Derek brings a new study about the surprising group of married couples that are having the best intimacy, and Jesse checks into sleep tourism, where people are paying huge amounts for a hotel room whose main attraction is being unconscious.

We also debut Marty’s Life Hack of the Week, and we bring back our annual Mascot Bracket Challenge!

Highlights:

00:52 — Diddy's prison perks and the only sneakers you can buy behind bars

04:47 — Derek's coffee-shop intervention for Cameron

06:02 — Marty's Life Hack of the Week: The accidental text on purpose

09:27 — Jesse, a leaking car and the cul-de-sac group text

10:37 — Derek explains who this will not work on

14:25 — Therapists, please diagnose Marty in the comments

15:33 — The steakhouse butter hack

18:50 — Slices: People are paying $1,700 a night just to sleep

23:53 — Aaron Rodgers and the darkness retreat

24:57 — Who's having the most sex? Derek has a study

27:01 — Wait, who paid for this survey?

29:06 — Are Billy Corgan and Bill Burr half-brothers?

31:50 — Billy Corgan calls Jesus his Lord and Savior

36:24 — Why our parents banned Smashing Pumpkins

37:45 — Kingfishr on trad Irish roots, the farmhouse and what's giving them hope

43:10 — The annual Mascot Bracket Challenge

45:36 — The spiritual round: Demon Deacon vs. Sun Devil

48:09 — We don't think about kangaroos enough

56:38 — The Final Four

Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac joins us as NBA teams kick off training camp this week. We talk about what happens when Christians put an athlete on a pedestal, the upcoming NBA season — his 10th — and how his faith-based athletic brand UNITUS has evolved over the last few years.

In Slices, Jesse found the 26-cent coin that just sold for $17,000 and has a retirement plan for whoever works at the Mint. Derek brings the new study showing Gen Z and millennials are drinking less (while Gen X picks up the slack). And Marty explains why Gen Z is buying CDs again without owning a CD player (K-pop, mostly).

Also, Marty keeps his raw denim in the freezer, started collecting Ralph Lauren stamps and is starting to worry about what California is doing to him. Derek has questions. Plus Jesse is going to a silent disco, Cameron debunks the Christopher Nolan Darth Vader rumor and we relitigate the time Derek wore a Rodman jersey in Cameron's courtside seats.

Question of the Week: What's your creative, unexpected Halloween costume idea for 2026? Drop it in the comments and we'll read the best ones next week.

Highlights:

00:30 — Marty's "life hack" that is just backing up your phone

02:55 — Derek's NBA 2K theory of why people don't take responsibility

04:39 — Marty keeps his $400 jeans in the freezer and Derek has questions

10:44 — Why we're running the whole Jonathan Isaac conversation uncut

15:26 — Cameron apologizes to a Magic coach in a Vegas casino

17:09 — Derek wore a Rodman jersey in Cameron's courtside seats

18:28 — Does Cameron need a signature courtside look?

21:44 — Slices: A 26-cent coin sold for $17,000 and Jesse has a plan for the Mint

24:58 — Marty bought a Ralph Lauren stamp collection and is worried about himself

30:54 — Jesse is going to a silent disco

34:43 — Gen Z and millennials are drinking less. Gen X is drinking a lot more

42:20 — The Christopher Nolan Darth Vader movie is not real

44:11 — CD sales are up 59% and half the buyers don't own a CD player

48:16 — Question of the Week: Halloween costume ideas for 2026

49:34 — Jonathan Isaac on year 10, faith under the spotlight and UNITUS

This week, the crew gets philosophical fast. Jesse makes the case that cornhole can cure the loneliness epidemic, Derek wants to bring back boredom and we figure out how doing nothing on a flight became an achievement. Derek also plays his new single 'Lift Me Up' and explains why he built it on the old synths instead of the easy way.

In RELEVANT Buzz, Greta Gerwig cast Meryl Streep as the voice of Aslan in the upcoming Narnia movie, and the comments did what the comments do. Jesse defends it, Derek explains it with potato salad and a text from someone who's actually seen the movie changes the conversation. 

Then Christian Bale opens a village so foster siblings don't get split up, which makes him the real Batman. Elevation Worship and Chandler Moore's 'God I'm Just Grateful' just did something a worship song hasn't done since 'Oceans.' And Jesse brings a CDC report that says most of us are exhausted, which turns into Bob Goff quitting something every Thursday and why no one ever preaches "pray for less." 

Then a new game, Take Sides, closes it out: Chick-fil-A vs. Raising Cane's, window vs. aisle, Waffle House as a life stage and Derek's very strong feelings about hot tubs.

Highlights:

01:28 — Jesse's plan to cure loneliness with cornhole

07:54 — Derek deleted social media. Bring back boredom

10:33 — Raw dogging a flight and the David Puddy origin story

17:22 — Derek's new single 'Lift Me Up' and curating Apple Music's Elevate playlist

24:09 — RELEVANT Buzz: The CDC says 3 in 4 Americans are exhausted (guess who's most tired)

29:35 — Bob Goff quits something every Thursday

32:15 — Why nobody preaches "pray for less"

34:14 — Warren Buffett hands Berkshire to his son

35:00 — The real Batman: Christian Bale's foster village opens

38:32 — Meryl Streep as Aslan? The Narnia fight

42:04 — Derek's potato salad theory of Narnia

48:34 — A text from inside the movie

50:51 — Elevation Worship & Chandler Moore crack the Hot 100

53:01 — Take Sides: Chick-fil-A vs. Raising Cane's, hot tub vs. pool

It's a special (shorter) episode this week! Andrew Garfield joins us — we talk about his new Paul Greengrass film 'The Uprising,' why he keeps coming back to characters who are searching and what he thinks faith has to do with justice.

Then pop artist Claire Rosinkranz talks with us backstage at Lollapalooza. She gets into the moment she says she heard God at 11 years old, what her therapist told her when she felt like she'd stopped hearing Him and why she grieves her younger self. (Plus some lighter stuff too.)

And then Cameron briefly takes us through the new fall digital issue of RELEVANT, which is out this week. Make sure to check it out at RELEVANTmagazine.com!

Highlights:

02:41 — Andrew Garfield on 'The Uprising'

15:35 — Claire Rosinkranz

25:01 — Inside the new issue of RELEVANT

This week Cory Asbury joins us. He walked away from worship music five years ago—we talk about what pulled him back and why it's different this time. His new worship record, Outsing the Angels, is out September 18.

In Slices, Jesse brings up the Tesla Cyber Cab, which is now driving around Austin with no steering wheel, no rearview mirror and no brake pedal, and the federal government has questions. (He also has a theory about what’s actually driving them.) Derek tells us how Skilla Baby’s prayer took over The Breakfast Club this week, and Marty tells the story of the 1986 Zelda art where Link is kneeling in a church praying to Jesus.

Also, water parks are the last lawless place in America, and somebody in Virginia Beach burned down a 50-foot gorilla named Hugh Mungus.

Then One Has to Go closes it out: find out what slow jams, Good Charlotte, and Fast and Furious have in common.

Highlights:

03:00 — Water parks: the last lawless place in America

06:22 — Hugh Mungus, the 50-foot gorilla an arsonist burned down

11:17 — Slices: Tesla's Cyber Cab shipped without a brake pedal, and the feds noticed

18:48 — Marty walks away from a Waymo wreck

21:38 — Skilla Baby's prayer alarm goes off on The Breakfast Club

26:06 — Link was praying to Jesus, and Nintendo of America took it out

31:53 — Bible Adventures, bootleg cartridges and the Christian Marvel comics

33:52 — Cory Asbury on leaving worship music and what brought him back

42:39 — One Has to Go

This week SEU Worship joins us — we talk about the SEU Outpouring and their new album 'Found in the Field.' 

In RELEVANT Buzz, 'Scary Movie' star Anna Faris opens up on Chelsea Handler's podcast about her 14-year-old son and the conversations he keeps having with her about Jesus. Then the biggest artist in music right now, Ella Langley, is rewriting the record books and getting bolder about God from the stage. We play what she said at a recent show. Then there's 'Death of the Pastor's Wife,' the new Netflix series about Mica Miller, the South Carolina pastor's wife whose death became a national story.

In Slices, a 47-year-old Bay Area pastor made a college football roster and is now a defensive end at a community college. And scientists have worked out how to turn plastic bottles into protein cookies for disaster zones and deep space crews (nobody has actually eaten one yet). 

We close the show with a bracket game ranking five years of Emily’s time at RELEVANT: the Eras Tour, girl dinner, jalapeño poppers, a church prom photo. It's her last episode with us, and we send her off the right way.

Coincidentally, we also let you know about some new job openings over at RELEVANTmediagroup.com. 

Highlights:

02:24 — Derek on teenagers again

04:52 — The lame duck era

08:59 — Derek's Dell call center exit stories

13:37 — Jesse quits Kmart

17:06 — RELEVANT Buzz: Anna Faris on her son Jack's faith

21:58 — Ella Langley's record-breaking run and her mini sermon

26:26 — 'Death of the Pastor's Wife' on Netflix

30:33 — SEU Worship on 'Found in the Field'

38:34 — Slices: a 47-year-old pastor makes a college football roster

44:09 — Slices: plastic bottles into protein cookies

47:17 — The Emily Brown Bracket Challenge

58:34 — Five years of Emily Brown

59:37 — We're hiring

This week we're joined by Michael Cochren, the soul-and-blues frontman of Cochren & Co. He talks about the eight years he spent waiting on an answer from God and why he refuses to say God is good just because things finally worked out. We spotlight the band's new album, 'Runs in the Blood.'

In RELEVANT Buzz, Cory Asbury posted and deleted a shirtless workout photo, apologized for it and then got roasted by every friend he has in Christian music. Also, survivors launched the first national database of Protestant leaders accused of abuse, years after the SBC voted to build one and then let it die. And The Promised Land, the Moses workplace mockumentary that started as a YouTube pilot, just signed Lionsgate and got a second season.

In Slices, Columbia House is finally shutting down, which mostly raises the question of how it was still open, and one of us confesses to running a stack of accounts under slightly different names to get free CDs as a teenager. And a woman in New Zealand went into cardiac arrest in a supermarket parking lot, got revived by a stranger and then got a parking ticket for it. 

Also in here: a follow-up on the resting heart rate situation, a public service announcement about energy drinks, and the actual reason last week's episode showed up five days late.

One Has to Go closes it out. And we're still taking answers to last week's question: What's something you wish you'd known going into your freshman year of college? Drop it in the comments or @ us. We're running your answers in a piece this week.

Highlights:

01:21 — Marty's new house and the California no-AC problem

04:07 — Is the house haunted

06:15 — The resting heart rate follow-up and a Celsius warning

07:48 — C4, Sour Patch Kids flavor and two hours of pins and needles

11:35 — David Blaine, stunt magic and the four kinds of magician

19:15 — Emily is podcasting from what appears to be a TJ Maxx dressing room

21:04 — Kohl's cash

22:13 — RELEVANT Buzz: Cory Asbury takes down the shirtless photo and apologizes

28:08 — Survivors launch the first national database of accused Protestant abusers

30:09 — The Promised Land gets a second season and Lionsgate

31:33 — Michael Cochren of Cochren & Co.

39:12 — Slices: Columbia House is shutting down after 71 years

43:34 — She died in a parking lot and still got a ticket

48:34 — Why last week's episode was late

50:05 — One Has to Go

This week, "This Is How We Do It" singer Montell Jordan joins us. He and his wife, Kristin, went from platinum records and world tours to planting a church, and they talk about what was missing in the middle of all that success. Also on the show, Ryan Ellis, who spent a decade writing worship music and now shows us what else he’s got. We spotlight his new album, ‘No Halo.’

In RELEVANT Buzz, Saints quarterback Drew Brees went into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and built his speech around the day Christ changed his life. In other sports news, the Chicago White Sox handed out a record-breaking number of Pope hats. A new Harvard study suggests the loneliness epidemic may not be for the reasons we assume. And Stranger Things actor Caleb McLaughlin opens up about his faith journey.

In Slices, the FAA solved its air traffic controller shortage by advertising the job to gamers, and a guy in San Francisco bought a billboard for an AI chatbot that turns out to be him. One Has to Go closes it out, and we tell you about four open positions we’ve posted at relevantmediagroup.com.

Editorial Question of the Week: What's something you wish you knew before starting your freshman year? Drop it in the comments or on our socials. We'll read the best ones on next week's show and turn them into an article at relevantmagazine.com.

Highlights:

01:53 — Derek on teenage boys 

04:15 — New York smells and we fix it

08:36 — Cameron's resting heart rate becomes a group intervention 

17:20 — RELEVANT Buzz: Drew Brees' Hall of Fame speech 

19:03 — The time Oprah tried to wipe off Drew Brees' birthmark on live TV 

23:11 — The White Sox gave away 40,000 Pope hats 

26:02 — Harvard says loneliness tracks with income, not gender 

31:05 — Caleb McLaughlin on the faith he found on his own 

34:41 — Montell and Kristin Jordan 

40:30 — Ryan Ellis 

47:34 — Slices: The FAA recruited gamers to run air traffic control 

51:26 — The San Francisco AI chatbot that is one guy typing 

59:10 — Editorial Question of the Week 

59:45 — One Has to Go

This week we're joined by Lily Hooten of Housefires, the Atlanta worship collective, to talk about their new album House Church Vol. 001. She talks with Emily about how the record came together and where the collective is going from here.

In RELEVANT Buzz, “I Took a Pill in Ibiza” singer Mike Posner is going public about finding faith, his baptism and laying out what he thinks being a Christian actually requires of him. We also get into a Gen Z trend that gives singleness a rebrand, plus the A-list artists selling mystery concert tickets for a low price to combat rising concert prices. 

In Slices, The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers says he's thinking about quitting music and points at his dad as the reason, and Cameron brings a story about maybe the real reason people are stealing those Flock surveillance cameras. Somewhere in there Jesse invents the meeting poncho, which he is convinced is a great idea. And Emily has a can’t-miss announcement at the end of the show.

Editorial Question of the Week: What's a worship song lyric you can't unhear once you notice it? Drop your answer in the comments or @ us. We're reading them on next week's episode.

Highlights:

02:52 — Jesse's home alone and after 10 hours the house is already destroyed

11:22 — The meeting shirt, and the case for a back flap

16:07 — SkyMall is somehow still online

18:19 — Sharper Image vs. Brookstone, peak capitalism

22:27 — RELEVANT Buzz: Mike Posner gets baptized

28:06 — Gen Z, dating apps and solo maxxing

33:24 — Mystery concert tickets, with one catch

36:15 — Lily Hooten of Housefires

43:36 — Slices: Brandon Flowers on quitting music

47:35 — Google's AI said Flock cameras are full of gold

52:50 — Editorial Question of the Week

53:43 — Emily has an announcement

This week, adventurer Bear Grylls joins us to tell us about The Chosen in the Wild, his new Prime Video series debuting Sunday. He takes the cast into Utah canyons and the Great Basin Desert, and tells us what Jonathan Roumie is actually like off camera.

We also have Emily’s recap of a memorable Lollapalooza this past weekend, Spider-Man: Brand New Day making U.S. box office history, and movie theaters having a record-setting comeback. We also get into the professor who found a way to catch students using AI on exams, and Arizona State announcing a new degree that’s getting a lot of ridicule, but Jesse thinks is a great idea. And we tell the tale of Katy Perry getting stuck in a human-sized inflatable water bottle at a recent concert.

This week’s question of the week: what's a random habit you picked up that's genuinely improved your life? Drop your answer in the comments or @ us. We're reading them on next week's episode.

Highlights:

01:25 — A father-sons weekend in New York

03:22 — The Devil Wears Prada 2, reviewed from the runway

05:44 — Lollapalooza recap: Grant Park is enormous

07:15 — The case for wheels on your feet

11:47 — Lorde, Olivia Dean and a very wet weekend

14:54 — The rain delay, a canceled set and The Neighbourhood's missing instruments

18:34 — Lolla fashion: vintage NBA jerseys and brat crop tops

20:29 — Charli xcx, "Rock Music" and what artists owe their fans

25:20 — Marty moves on up

27:26 — Sitcom shared universes

30:12 — RELEVANT Buzz: Spider-Man breaks the all-time box office record

36:05 — The professor who caught 32 students using AI

38:12 — Bear Grylls on The Chosen in the Wild

42:02 — Slices: Arizona State's influencer degree

46:49 — Slices: Katy Perry vs. a giant water bottle

50:56 — Question of the Week

This week we're joined by Tim Tebow and Kirk Cousins, two of the most recognizable quarterbacks in the game who have both spent years on the same fight. We talk about World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, which is this week — Tebow on what opened his eyes to the scale of it, Cousins on how his faith turned into two decades of advocacy.

In RELEVANT Buzz, new research from the Billy Graham Center Research Institute found that 48% of Gen Z adults say Christians' support of Trump has made them less likely to go to church. 

In RELEVANT Recommends we spotlight Grace Runkle, who is about as inspired by Elevation Worship as she is by Japanese House.

In Slices, the White House asked Dr. Phil to review the UFO files and gauge how the public would take the news, and he came away infuriated. And a woman in New York is suing McDonald's over fries that were too hot, which is either a legitimate grievance or the end of hot food as we know it.

Then it's your worst Christian breakup lines. Brother in Christ. Personal Eve. Unequal yokes. Then a quick round of "One Has to Go" gets into golden retrievers, communion bread and Sunday naps. 

Then it's this week’s Question of the Week: what's your go-to struggle meal? Drop your answer in the comments or @ us, we're reading them on next week's episode.

Highlights:

00:00 — Intro / episode rundown

02:40 — Black people love hibachi and Jesse's ban from the Mongolian barbecue buffet

08:46 — RELEVANT Buzz: World Day Against Trafficking in Persons with Tim Tebow

11:50 — Kirk Cousins on faith and advocacy

14:05 — Cameras off, FaceTime etiquette and the unk defense

17:48 — Cookout has the worst menu in fast food

21:21 — RELEVANT Buzz: 48% of Gen Z avoids church because of Christian support for Trump

24:50 — RELEVANT Recommends: Grace Runkle

26:57 — Slices: Dr. Phil, the UFO files and soft disclosure

38:33 — The McDonald's hot fries lawsuit

41:45 — Your Feedback: Worst Christian breakup lines

45:50 — "One Has to Go"

49:34 — Question of the Week: What’s your go-to struggle meal?

52:55 — Outro

This week, we're joined by Davide Mutendji of Elevation Rhythm, whose new album WASHED just dropped. He tells us about the heart behind the project and how Drake became a surprising inspiration for the worship group.

In RELEVANT Buzz, the trailer for ‘I Play Rocky’ arrived, and it sent us down a rabbit hole into Sylvester Stallone's faith journey — including a conversation where he calls out Christians who think they can skip church. (Rocky would never!) We also dig into a new study finding only one in three young adults are dating even though nearly all of them want to get married (the reasons are bleak). And with the new season of ‘Quarterback’ out on Netflix, we look at Baker Mayfield's road from college wild child to a real-deal faith story.

In Slices, a school district in New York is putting a humanoid robot named in classrooms, and Jesse loves it. And Derek shows us the clip of the grandpa getting flipped by a bison this week. Plus we settle once and for all whether Medusa is in ‘The Odyssey.’

Then in feedback we have your rent-free reality TV moments, and we ask this week’s Question of the Week: what's the worst Christian breakup line of all time? Drop your answer in the comments — we're reading our favorites next week.

Highlights:

00:00 — Intro / Emily reviews The Odyssey

07:41 — RELEVANT Buzz: ‘I Play Rocky’ & Stallone's church call-out

26:14 — Why two-thirds of young adults aren't dating

33:32 — ‘Quarterback’ & Baker Mayfield's faith journey

41:25 — Davide Mutendji of Elevation Rhythm

50:04 — Slices: The robot teacher coming to New York classrooms

53:08 — Grandpa vs. bison

58:08 — Your feedback: Reality TV moments living rent-free

This week, we're joined by rapper, apparel label owner and pastor KB, whose new album 'This Cannot Be Sold' is out this week. He talks about why he refuses to package Jesus for marketability and what staying loyal to Christ over politics and tribalism actually costs.

In RELEVANT Buzz, ‘Wednesday’ star Emma Myers opens up about turning to God in the hardest season of her life, Lecrae admits he spent years treating John Piper's words like Scripture, and the crew unpacks what the Reformed era of Christian hip-hop got right and wrong. Plus, the first Christian song to top a billion streams on Spotify: you will not guess it in a million years.

In Slices, Jesse investigates the disappearance of Pickles, a diaper-wearing mascot beloved by a Miami pickleball community. And Derek has news about the fresh ingredients Taco Bell is pulling off the menu, for a reason involving explosive diaherrea.

Then your feedback closes it out: Monopoly trash talk, a three-minute breath hold, Team Canada horseshoes confidence and more.

Highlights:

00:00 — Intro and Can Christopher Nolan be trusted with The Odyssey? 

22:48 — RELEVANT Buzz: Emma Myers opens up about finding God 

31:25 — Lecrae says he made John Piper an idol. Derek was there for that era 

39:32 — The first Christian song to a billion Spotify streams (you won't guess it) 

46:04 — RELEVANT Conversation: KB on why Jesus isn't for sale 

54:11 — Slices: Jesse on Pickles, the missing pickleball mascot 

59:27 — Derek's bad news for Taco Bell fans 

1:02:54 — Your feedback: competitions you're convinced you'd win 

1:05:41 — Next week's question: reality TV moments living rent-free in your head

This week, three-time Grammy winner Tori Kelly joins us to talk about her new album 'God Must Really Love Me,' written just weeks after she became a first-time mom. She tells us how it’s changed her approach to songwriting and her view of God.

In RELEVANT Buzz, new research finds while Gen Z is the most church-engaged generation, it’s also the least likely to pray. What? We also take a lap around the World Cup's faith stories, and Forrest Frank now has the largest arena tour in the country.

In Slices, Jesse tells us about a man who stole Smokey Bear signs and got arrested in the most humiliating way possible, and Derek has a Maryland guy who might have accidentally redefined Double Jeopardy.

Plus, a report from 11 days of adventure in Alaska, a geography fact-off that spirals into pyramid conspiracies, and your feedback on childhood things that were secretly insane.

Highlights:

00:00 — Intro: Thriving for 11 days in Alaska (unlike the Into the Wild guy) 

22:11 — The great Alaska fact-off: rainforests vs. secret pyramids 

24:18 — RELEVANT Buzz: Faith all over the World Cup — including Messi's blessed boots 

34:28 — Gen Z is in church, so why aren't they praying? 

39:45 — Forrest Frank has a top 5 tour in America 

41:00 — Tori Kelly on new motherhood and 'God Must Really Love Me' 

50:02 — Slices: The Smokey Bear sign heist 

57:16 — The worst possible time to call the police 

59:52 — Your feedback: Childhood things that were secretly insane 

1:02:32 — This week's question: What could you win a competition in? 

This is the perfect episode for summer vacation season. First, Tiffany Hudson from Elevation Worship joins us to tell us about her new solo album ‘When You're in the Room,’ and the importance of “vertical” lyrics in worship music. Then rapper Parris Chariz joins us for the second half of the show. We talk about his new album ‘The World Is Watching,’ basketball and his unusual path to seminary.

In Slices, Jesse gives us a look at his vision for the future of politics in America (it looks a lot like jury duty), and Derek takes us to the frontlines of a DoorDash robot crashing a SWAT standoff and refusing to leave.

Then One Has to Go closes it out: croissants on trial, mashed potatoes with no defenders, and an unprovoked shot at the Eiffel Tower.

Highlights:

03:01 — Slices: the Long Island town that elected a mayor who didn't want the job 

17:52 — Slices: a DoorDash robot crashes a SWAT standoff and refuses to leave 

23:00 — RELEVANT Conversation: Tiffany Hudson on her solo album When You're in the Room 

30:15 — RELEVANT Conversation: Parris Chariz on The World Is Watching, basketball and seminary 

42:38 — One Has to Go: Paris things, Detroit things, comfort foods and more 

51:35 — Outro

This week — after the crew discusses summer vacations, cruise classes and the Jersey Shore — we talk to Jessica Koulianos, co-founder of Jesus Image, about what it actually looks like to go deeper with God instead of just consuming more church content.

In RELEVANT Buzz, Team USA has turned the World Cup into a faith story, and we get into Steven Spielberg's new film ‘Disclosure Day’ and the surprising amount of room it gives to faith. 

In RELEVANT Recommends, we talk to Christian R&B artist Sondae, whose new album is a must-listen.

In Slices, scientists are trying to find Noah’s Ark, and a pastor preached for 96 hours straight to chase a Guinness World Record. Then your feedback closes it out with the things everyone loves that you just don't get: matcha that tastes like grass, smash burgers, Hey Dudes and yes, we get distracted by your unusual usernames.

Highlights:

00:00 — Intro: Alaska cruises, classes and Jesse's classy Jersey Shore vacation

14:03 — RELEVANT Buzz: Team USA's faith goes viral at the World Cup

21:55 — ‘Disclosure Day’ and what aliens would do to Christian belief

30:31 — RELEVANT Recommends: Sondae on his vulnerable new album 'Boy'

36:23 — RELEVANT Conversation: Jessica Koulianos on real intimacy with Jesus

50:33 — Slices: Drilling for Noah's Ark near Mount Ararat

55:29 — The pastor who preached for 96 hours

59:02 — Your Feedback: Things everyone loves that you just don't get

1:07:14 — Outro

Andy Mineo and Wordsplayed are back as Magic and Bird, and tell us all about the sequel to their 2017 cult classic album. We also get into the state of Christian hip-hop, why nobody is vetted anymore, and spend a genuinely uncomfortable amount of time guessing Derek Minor's net worth to his face.

In RELEVANT Buzz, the SBC voted to ban women from the pulpit and it wasn't close. Victory Boyd forgave Travis Scott and ended up in the studio with him. And Pharrell started his Christian rap era with a Voices of Fire song called "The One."

In Slices, someone claimed a religious exemption from using AI at work, and Derek has decided it might be the greatest finesse in history. 

We also stop to mark World Refugee Day with an eye-opening conversation from the frontlines of Sudan about the world’s largest humanitarian crisis happening there. 

Then One Has to Go closes it out: a suspiciously cheap dollar slice, Rambo in 2026, and the case against Shaq.

Highlights:

00:00 — Intro / Derek’s frustrating tech updates 

10:42 — RELEVANT Buzz: Victory Boyd & Travis Scott go from lawsuit to collaborating

14:08 — The SBC votes to ban women in the pulpit 

17:23 — Pharrell's "The One" with Voices of Fire 

20:38 — World Refugee Day: the crisis in Sudan with World Vision’s Grace Mavhezha 

25:13 — Slices: A religious exemption to not use AI at work? 

29:36 — RELEVANT Conversation: Andy Mineo & Wordsplayed on Magic and Bird 2 

36:24 — The state of Christian hip-hop 

40:16 — Putting Derek Minor's net worth on blast 

51:51 — The five-week album rollout and why nothing breaks through anymore 

56:24 — One Has to Go

1:07:40 — Outro

This week 2819 Church pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell joins us, the Atlanta preacher whose sermon clips have taken over your feed. He tells us why he buried his old church after losing everything during COVID and why he believes the church is running out of time to wake up.

Before that convo, the guys recap a week off the grid in Montana that turned into a grown-man sleepover built around 80s action movies. We also get into how one offhand comment on Derek's "You Can't Say That in Church" podcast set off a week-long Christian hip-hop firestorm, and the unbelievable fake commercial made in response.

In Slices, dozens of mystery people keep climbing out of New York City manholes and nobody knows why. And a cop ticketed a woman for texting on her phone, even though she had a very convincing reason why she wasn’t guilty. 

Then your feedback about hills you’re willing to die on closes it out!

Highlights:

00:00 — Intro and Montana recap: the trip turns into a grown-man sleepover 

03:10 — 80s action movies and their 45-minute dialogue-free montages 

14:50 — How Derek broke Christian hip-hop

23:33 — Derek's petty clout commercial 

29:52 — Slices: NYC manhole mystery people 

38:00 — The cop who ticketed a woman with no right hand 

47:44 — RELEVANT Conversation: Philip Anthony Mitchell of 2819 Church 

57:44 — Your Feedback: Hills you'll die on 

This week, Johnnyswim joins us to give an exclusive look at three major projects they’re about to release. The duo has had a very busy couple of years, and surprisingly it’s not been all about music. 

In RELEVANT Buzz, we bring the recent update on Mel Gibson's The Resurrection of the Christ and get some inspiration from PGA great Scottie Scheffler. In Slices, a Cybertruck owner tests his freedom by driving straight down a boat ramp into a lake because Elon said it could float, and Joey Chestnut got into some legal trouble after a recent eating contest win. Jesse has the latest.

Then we have your feedback on movies you saw way too young, and this week’s Question of the Week: What's a hill you'll absolutely die on that most people think is ridiculous? Drop your answer in the comments on YouTube or answer on our stories!

Highlights: 

00:00 — Intro and Emily's flu game show 

05:21 — Montana trip prep and the case for a basketball hoop 

07:30 — Pool basketball is just rugby in the water 

10:50 — Cameron's diving board vs. the insurance inspector 

13:08 — When America was a proper country: wood-paneled wagons 

14:44 — The factory-installed van bar (and mandatory roof ladder) 

17:24 — Emily wants to mod her Nissan Rogue 

19:43 — Pre-Slices slice: A Cybertruck goes for a swim 

28:53 — RELEVANT Buzz: Mel Gibson's ‘Resurrection’ movie announces a delay

33:39 — Scottie Scheffler’s faith

38:25 — Johnnyswim's year of musicals, movies and a surprise worship album 

48:45 — Slices: Joey Chestnut's bologna arrest 

51:00 — Question of the Week: movies that scarred you / the new question 

57:51 — Outro

This week, we talk to Brooke Ligertwood about her new album ‘Eat,’ which is unlike anything she's put out before. 

In RELEVANT Buzz, we break down new data that highlights where the Church has actually been growing over the last decade — and where it hasn’t. We also tell the story of the e.l.f. Cosmetics co-founder who gave away his fortune and is becoming a priest. Plus we have a look at the new Moses limited series on Prime Video starring Sir Ben Kingsley. (It’s impressive.)

In Slices, Jesse has some thoughts about kamikaze dolphins, and the cast of course opens the show with thoughts on the new Drake albums, which leads to a fascinating conversation about what’s been wrong with the music industry and our thoughts on where things are going. 

This week’s Question of the Week is based on the ‘Thief In the Night’ post we had this week: What's a movie or show you watched way too young that you now realize was completely inappropriate (and your parents probably had no idea)? Drop your answer in the comments on YouTube or reply on our Stories on social — we're reading our favorites on next week's episode.

Highlights:

00:00 — Intro / Drake drops three albums and burns down his Universal deal

20:43 — RELEVANT Buzz: Elf Cosmetics founder becomes a Catholic priest

24:11 — RELEVANT Buzz: The only churches actually growing (Pew data)

34:02 — RELEVANT Buzz: Moses limited series on Prime Video

37:43 — RELEVANT Recommends: Brooke Ligertwood, Eat

45:00 — Slices: Kamikaze dolphins and the beluga whale that defected

47:45 — Editorial Question of the Week

50:55 — Outro

Comedian Anjelah Johnson-Reyes joins the show to talk about her new special "Ugly Baby" and how a joke-writing class at her church kicked off her stand-up career. Then Christian UFO researcher Timothy Alberino comes on to make sense of the Pentagon's newly declassified UFO files. The cast walks through why aliens, demons and military tech are three different conversations most people are lumping into one, where the Nephilim theory in Genesis 6 fits in and why none of this should rattle anyone's theology. Alberino's book "Birthright" is worth a read if this rabbit hole calls to you.

In RELEVANT Buzz, we also break down the American Idol finale, where all three finalists this season (Jordan McCullough, Hannah Harper and Keyla Richardson) are outspoken Christians. Plus comedian Jay Pharoah's conversation with Tamron Hall about the insane experience he had while committing to read through the Bible last year.

In Slices, Derek tells us about a black bear in Gatlinburg that clawed its way into a bakery for some cinnamon rolls, and Jesse tells us about a CPR instructor that went into cardiac arrest and was saved by the students he was teaching CPR to.

"One Has to Go" closes things out with 2000s R&B, sequels better than the original, phone-era nostalgia, all-time athletes.

Then it's the debut of the Editorial Question of the Week: Is it OK to turn down a friend's wedding party invitation just because you know it's going to be expensive? Drop your answer in the comments or @ us — we'll read our favorites on next week's episode.

It’s episode 1300! In RELEVANT Buzz, we talk about Hulu’s new Christian college dating series that you need to hear to believe. We also talk about WNBA star Sophie Cunningham's recent faith declaration, Timberwolves guard Ayo Dosunmu’s faithful pregame ritual and a new Bible movie about Daniel that’s releasing this fall.

In Slices, a Wisconsin solid waste facility has an unusual speed limit, a Harvard scientist helps build China’s AI supercomputer, and the crew finds a Guinness World Record worth actually pursuing.

The show ends with One Has to Go, and be warned there’s a lot of frisbee golf and male ponytail talk.

Highlights:

00:00 — Frisbee golf and ponytail culture 

14:23 — RELEVANT Buzz: Hulu's "Ring by Spring Break" Christian college dating show 

26:28 — Sophie Cunningham gets baptized 

28:17 — Ayo Dosunmu’s pregame Bible routine 

28:56 — "Daniel: The Fiery Furnace" is releasing on 9/11 

31:54 — Slices: An odd speed limit at a Wisconsin recycling facility 

40:45 — A Harvard scientist defects to China after prison 

43:28 — A new world record for solving a Rubik's Cube in free fall 

47:21 — One Has to Go: Old Testament epics / 90s sitcoms / Wes Anderson / boy bands / NFL fan bases / late-night snacks

This week we're joined by Hulvey, who just dropped his final album on Reach Records. He tells us why he turned down a Kanye West collab and the reason behind his new season.

In RELEVANT Buzz, Theo Von gets surprisingly vulnerable on his podcast about being stuck in destructive cycles. A new study finds that 60% of Gen Z has gone no contact with friends or family. We get into why. 

There's NBA playoff rivalries, unexpected gifts, insane 80s movies, insurance fraud, bees escaping. It's a packed, crazy episode!

Highlights:

00:00 — Intro / Magic vs Pistons and the Angel Reese love triangle

03:50 — Jesse pitches Over the Top as the greatest sports drama ever made

12:30 — Sudden Death: Van Damme plays goalie in the Stanley Cup finals

15:20 — The Taco Bell hat and the Pistons shorts gift exchange

19:14 — RELEVANT Buzz: Theo Von's vulnerable moment 28:55 — 60% of Gen Z is going no contact

32:55 — Mr. T and Ice-T's 1984 Ten Commandments

36:30 — RELEVANT Recommends: Hulvey on his final Reach album and turning down Kanye

43:00 — Slices: Operation Bear Claw

46:35 — A million bees escape on a Knoxville highway

48:30 — Would You Rather

The week, we’re joined by one of the funniest comedians going right now — Derrick Stroup, who has a fantastic new special on Netflix. He tells us how he got his start in comedy and why keeping things clean is an intentional choice.

In RELEVANT Buzz, we dive into a new Gallup study that reveals 50% more young men say religion is very important to them than did just a few years ago. There’s a lot to unpack — including why young women are going the opposite direction. We then share a clip that went viral this week of Charlie Puth breaking down his favorite gospel song and why he “loves everything Church.” Then we check out RAYE’s incredible new single “Joy,” and her faith-filled album, ‘This Music May Contain Hope.’ 

In Slices, a guy in California got caught running a nationwide LEGO scam that you won’t believe. And a 91-year-old Ohio grandma ignored her wellness checks because … she was locked in on a video game. Then Would You Rather closes it out: Horse-sized ducks, finger guns, a raccoon with a grudge.

Highlights:

04:38 — RELEVANT Buzz: 42% of young men say their faith is very important 

09:03 — Charlie Puth's gospel moment on the Terrell Show 

17:51 — RAYE's new album and her faith story 

29:59 — RELEVANT Recommends: Derrick Stroup on his Netflix special "Nostalgic"

38:05 — Slices: The Lego pasta heist 

42:44 — Slices: 91-year-old grandma blows off her wellness check to keep gaming

45:05 — Would You Rather

This week, we sit down with former Hillsong-ers Aodhan King and Benjamin William Hastings, who just announced a joint worship album dropping next month. They tell us about it — and also tell the unhinged story of how they met 15 years ago. (Lesson: Need pants? You might meet a new friend.)

In RELEVANT Buzz, this week Lecrae became the first Christian rapper on NPR's Tiny Desk Concerts (apologies to Marla) and we tell you about M.I.A.'s new faith-rooted album inspired by the Book of Revelation and the Ark of the Covenant. (Yes, we play *that* Indiana Jones scene.)

In Slices, the heroic Artemis crew had a very relatable problem during the mission, and a chimp clan in Uganda is apparently in a full civil war.

"One Has to Go" hits youth group bands, cereals, comedy movies, Disney Channel shows, sports movies, reality TV and worship era anthems. Jesse was sweating at one point.

Highlights:

00:00 — Intro / Magic game recap, documentary tangents 

16:27 — RELEVANT Buzz: Lecrae's Tiny Desk debut 

21:37 — M.I.A. announces MI7 

31:42 — Benjamin William Hastings & Aodhan King 

39:45 — Slices: Artemis & Microsoft Outlook in space 

43:25 — Chimp clan civil war 

47:00 — One Has to Go: Youth group icons / Cereals / Comedy movies / Disney Channel shows / Sports movies / Christian music / Worship anthems / Bible figures

This week, Cameron, Derek, Emily and Marty cover a ton: American Idol's Songs of Faith Night, which was way more Jesus-heavy this year than last, British Christian rapper DC3 making MOBO Awards history, and the story of Forrest Frank's new indie band having to ditch their name days before releasing their debut album.

In RELEVANT Recommends, we talk to Madison Ryann Ward — an amazing, soulful singer (and former D1 volleyball player) who walked away from Rick Rubin's label after rededicating her life to Christ, and is now showing up everywhere and absolutely thriving. 

In Slices, we cover a guy who’s selling a compass that only points to the Olive Garden in Times Square, and the story of 12 tons of stolen Kit Kat bars giving some pretty great April Fool's fodder.

At the end of the episode, we have a great edition of One Has to Go!

Highlights:

00:00 — Intro / Derek Minor's new single "Up" 

07:35 — RELEVANT Buzz: American Idol Songs of Faith Night 

15:00 — RELEVANT Buzz: DC3 wins two MOBO Awards 

17:30 — RELEVANT Buzz: Forrest Frank's new band 

24:50 — RELEVANT Recommends: Madison Ryann Ward 

33:00 — Slices: Compass pointing to the Olive Garden in Times Square 

35:15 — Slices: Someone stole 12 tons of Kit Kat bars 

38:30 — One Has to Go: Holidays / Florida animals / Blockbuster night / MTV cartoons / Sports video games 

49:00 — Outro

Cameron, Jesse, Derek and Emily are all back together for a packed episode. In RELEVANT Recommends, we highlight Indie Tribe's new album, Who Do You Say I Am? and caught up with the guys at SXSW to talk about the making of the project and what it says about who they are as a group.

In RELEVANT Buzz: Alabama's basketball team has been quietly building a faith culture all season that's worth knowing about. Then, as Stephen Colbert is wrapping up the Late Show, his next move is pretty unexpected: writing a Lord of the Rings movie with Peter Jackson. And then we highlight an unexpected connection between SNL's newest cast member and Orlando-based Christian rapper Caleb Gordon. For real.

Plus we cover NCAA tournament drama, late night legends ranked, and the high school celebrity alumni rabbit hole (yes, DJ Khaled, Joey Fatone and Wayne Brady went to school together). In Slices: googly eyes are scientifically proven to deter seagulls (and lions), and the world record Big Mac guy has opinions on the Big Arch. And at the end of the show it's One Has to Go: pop icons, board games, classic Comedy Central, sneaker culture and more. We said it was packed.

0:00 — Intro / Derek's back, everybody's been sick

4:00 — The podcast economy is in trouble

11:30 — Mike Lindell gets served mid-interview

19:58 — RELEVANT Buzz

20:30 — NCAA Tournament buzzer beater & Dan Hurley headbutts a ref

23:30 — Alabama basketball's faith culture and Bible study movement

25:45 — Stephen Colbert leaving Late Show; late night legends ranked

27:25 — Colbert is co-writing a Lord of the Rings movie (Shadows of the Past)

33:00 — Unexpected celebrity connections: Snoop & Cameron Diaz, Dr. Phillips HS alumni

34:50 — SNL's Cam Patterson and Christian rapper Caleb Gordon went to school together

39:05 — Slices: Googly eyes deter seagulls (and lions in Botswana)

41:35 — Slices: The Big Mac world record holder reviews the Big Arch

44:42 — RELEVANT Recommends: Indie Tribe's Who Do You Say I Am?

47:37 — Derek on writing albums in lockdown camps

53:00 — One Has to Go: pop icons, comedians, board games, sneakers, Nickelodeon, MTV

Worship leader Pat Barrett — known for "Good Good Father" and "Build My Life" — joins Cameron, Jesse and Emily to talk about his new live album 'Break Open,' why he sat on the title track for nearly a decade, and his late-in-life obsession with surfing (including an upcoming trip to Kelly Slater's Surf Ranch). He also gets honest about how his thinking on songwriting vs. worship leading has shifted, because of course we ask awkward questions.

Also, Emily brings RELEVANT Buzz fresh from South by Southwest, where she sat in on a panel with Vince Gilligan — creator of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul — who said he thinks he owes the world something better than anti-heroes. Plus: High Point University's Cinderella March Madness run, and the faith story behind Chase Johnston's #99 jersey that everyone's been talking about.

And to close it out — Pat helps the crew run the Sweet 16 mascots through a no-stats, vibes-only bracket challenge to crown the real national champion. Based solely on mascots, not teams. One with a mustache may or may not have won.

Highlights:

• 0:00 – Why last week's episode was late
• 2:30 – Starlink satellites
• 9:30 – Driving gloves
• 17:50 – RELEVANT Buzz: High Point University's Chase Johnston's #99 story
• 27:00 – Emily's South by Southwest panel with Vince Gilligan
• 31:45 – The Lost arc, the Sawyer problem, and what Vince Gilligan owes culture
• 36:00 – Pat Barrett joins the show
• 38:30 – Recording 'Break Open' live in a sweaty tent
• 40:40 – Why the title song sat unreleased for nearly 10 years
• 42:50 – Songwriting vs. worship leading — what's actually better?
• 45:20 – Pat's surfing obsession
• 48:15 – The March Madness Mascot Bracket Challenge

Ryan Gosling joins the RELEVANT Podcast to talk about his new sci-fi film Project Hail Mary — what made him fall in love with this story and why this one might be a "core memory" film for a generation. 

Before that, Emily reports from SXSW to break down the week's biggest faith-and-culture stories: a Christian animated short film made by two Pixar animators and 200 volunteers (including musician Josh Garrels) got nominated for an Oscar. Also Christian apologist Wesley Huff went on the popular podcast 'Diary of a CEO' and told Stephen Bartlett to his face he's going to hell. Plus, NFL quarterback Justin Fields reveals he wants to become a missionary after football. 

Then in Slices: the Tooth Fairy economy is growing (Jesse has a lot of thoughts), a huge scandal in a camel beauty pageant, and you'll never be able to predict this week's 'What's Jesse Thinking?' segment. It's a wild ride this week.

Highlights:

00:25 — SxSW breakdown: The decline from tech-and-music powerhouse 

07:38 — RELEVANT BUZZ

07:43 — The Office canon errors: a deep dive nobody asked for (Michael Scott's anniversary math)

10:11 — Forevergreen: Oscar-nominated Christian animated short by two Pixar animators + 200 volunteers, featuring Josh Garrels

19:22 — Wesley Huff talks Christianity on 'Diary of a CEO'

26:07 — NFL QB Justin Fields says he wants to be a missionary after football 

30:07 — SLICES

30:14 — The Tooth Fairy economy 

35:34 — Camel beauty pageant scandal 

37:53 — RELEVANT RECOMMENDS: Project Hail Mary 

43:25 — Ryan Gosling on why he keeps making space movies and why he won't actually go to space

46:42 — Ryan Gosling on why he picked Project Hail Mary — "you would die for this rock alien"

48:54 — Ryan Gosling on Project Hail Mary as a "core memory movie" like E.T. and Back to the Future

50:01 — WHAT'S JESSE THINKING?: Should Golden Corral run the US government?

56:23 — Post-credits: Apology to the estate of Shel Silverstein

Colony House is back with a new album, and they sat down with Emily to reflect on 10 years of making music and what they want the next decade to look like. 

In RELEVANT Buzz: Papa Roach lead singer Jacoby Shaddix shares his powerful faith journey — from foxhole prayer, to sobriety and a faith that sounds like the real thing. We also bring a story flying under the radar: nearly a million Christians are living inside Iran right now, and we hear directly from believers on the ground to get their thoughts on the war and religious freedom. 

Plus, the backlash to the Atlanta Hawks announcing "Magic City Night" — a themed game night centered around an infamous Atlanta strip club.Then, pastor Kyle Idleman joins us to talk about how modern American Christianity has slowly turned Jesus into a therapist and self-help guru — and what we've lost in the process. It's a challenge worth sitting with.

In Slices: a Turkish soccer player performs CPR on a seagull he accidentally hit mid-game, United Airlines starts banning passengers who refuse headphones, and we close with a Spring Break edition of Would You Rather.

01:00 — The crocheting trend taking over 

03:48 — The appeal of old stuff

10:41 — RELEVANT BUZZ 

10:41 — Papa Roach lead singer Jacoby Shaddix shares his Christian testimony. Foxhole prayers, sobriety and millennial rockers finding faith

14:25 — Marty's attempt to join the Elk Club for a Newport parking spot

22:04 — Iranian Christians: nearly 1 million believers inside Iran

28:33 — Atlanta Hawks "Magic City Night"

30:42 — Kyle Idleman interview: How American Christianity has missed the real Jesus

35:16 — SLICES

35:16 — Turkish soccer player performs CPR on a seagull he accidentally hit

41:01 — United Airlines bans passengers who won't use headphones

45:31 — RELEVANT RECOMMENDS: Colony House — 77 Part 2 

50:33 — WOULD YOU RATHER: Spring Break Edition | Pullout couches, photo shoots, emo cruises, bad vibes vs. mediocre food, and Marty's 3am cockfight vacation

Zachary Levi — Chuck, Shazam, and now host of the new docu-drama David: King of Israel — joins us to talk about why the story of David is the one he keeps coming back to. It's a story of someone who's broken, who makes terrible decisions, and who somehow still gets called a man after God's own heart. Levi explains what sets this show apart from all the other David content out there right now and why he thinks everyone needs to hear this story again.

Also in this episode: We've been hearing a lot about revival — from the SEU outpouring to Asbury to rising Bible sales. But does the data actually back that up? We talked to Ryan Burge, a pastor, researcher and political analyst who's spent 20 years studying church trends, and his answer might surprise you. Plus, Gen Z is quietly bringing physical media back, why AI in the operating room is already causing problems, and Jesse drops a statistic about cats and birds that is either shocking or deeply unpopular depending on whether you own a cat.

And it's the spring edition of One Has to Go!

TIMESTAMPS

0:45 — Cameron stress-eating popcorn at the Magic game and them losing because of it 

5:45 — RELEVANT Buzz 

7:00 — Zach Levi on David: King of Israel

11:15 — DVDs and physical media are making a comeback, thanks to Gen Z 

19:00 — Is revival actually happening in America? Researcher Ryan Burge on the data 

28:15 — SLICES: Jesse's very unpopular take on cats and birds 

36:05 — Derek: AI in the operating room and why we need to pump the brakes 

41:00 — ONE HAS TO GO: Spring Edition 

This week, Elevation Worship's Chris Brown tells us why the band took an extra year off from releasing music — and what their new album ‘So Be It’ sounds like on the other side of that pause. We also hear from Portland Trail Blazers chaplain Mike Tatlock, who talked to us during NBA All-Star Weekend to share what he's seeing behind the scenes: more players showing up to chapel, more genuine conversations about faith, and a tangible spiritual shift across pro sports.

In RELEVANT Buzz, we dig into a new report revealing the alcohol industry has lost $830 billion in the last four years — largely because Gen Z just isn't drinking. Plus, the cast gets real about dealing with hateful internet comments, the Celebrity All-Star Game gets a much-needed fix, and we settle the TGIF sitcom debate once and for all. Oh, and a man at a Nashville Waffle House ordered a hash brown bowl and got bear-sprayed, tased and zip-tied instead. You know, a typical RELEVANT Podcast.

HIGHLIGHTS

01:07 — Jesse Got Roasted on YouTube and It's Eating Him Alive

08:10 — Hate Follows: Why Do People Follow Content That Triggers Them?

10:03 — Golden Rule the Comments Section

12:57 — RELEVANT Buzz: Is A Faith Revival Happening in Pro Sports?

15:12 — NBA Chaplain Mike Tatlock 

18:10 — Derek on How Christian Hip Hop Maybe Helped Fuel the Movement

19:31 — What Chaplains Are Seeing Behind the Scenes

23:23 — Jesse's Celebrity All-Star Game Fix: Danny DeVito & Tom Cruise

26:46 — The Worst National Anthems of All Time

31:26 — Gen Z Is Killing the Alcohol Industry — $830 Billion Lost

35:09 — Elevation Worship's Chris Brown on Their New Album So Be It

36:45 — Interview Clip: Why They Took Time Off for the First Time in a Decade

38:08 — SLICES: Buffalo Wild Wings Sued Over "Boneless Wings"

42:10 — A Man Got Bear-Sprayed, Tased & Zip-Tied at Waffle House Over Hash Browns

44:42 — ASK THE CAST: Has Jesse Ever Been Pranked?

45:24 — Jesse's Most Diabolical College Pranks (Alarm Clocks, Air Horns & Peanut Butter)

48:45 — Cameron Put Squirrels in a Guy's Room

49:48 — Dream Guests: The RELEVANT Mount Rushmore

50:31 — Which Cast Member Would You Want to Be Stranded With?

51:05 — Do Your Families Listen to the Podcast?

51:30 — Favorite TGIF Era Sitcom 

53:22 — If You Could Go Back to 2003 and Tell Yourself One Thing

This week, Zach Williams from indie-folk band The Lone Bellow joins the show to talk about their new album — including the wild story of how their van was broken into, all their recordings were stolen, and their fans raised enough money to help them start over.

In RELEVANT Buzz, we show you the ongoing worship outpouring happening at Southeastern University in Florida, where students have been in nonstop prayer, worship and confession for the last week (we talk to the campus pastor). We also break down the viral claim that Christian hip hop is the #1 rap subgenre on Spotify — and why it's not actually true. 

Plus, a worship pastor goes viral on American Idol, Kevin Durant gets exposed for burner accounts during All-Star Weekend, and a guy who lost a golf bet is now 23 days into eating nothing but Wendy's chili. At the end of the show, we've got Ask the Cast and Jesse and Emily confess to the one question they both regret asking in an interview.

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 — Jesse's Super Bowl Spreader Event

05:46 — RELEVANT Buzz: The SEU Outpouring

18:49 — Kevin Durant's Burner Account 

22:06 — Is Christian Hip Hop Really Huge on Spotify?

24:44 — Worship Pastor Goes Viral on American Idol

29:26 — RELEVANT Recommends: The Lone Bellow 

34:49 — SLICES: The Wendy's Chili Bet

41:31 — AI Is Bad at Medical Advice

45:57 — ASK THE CAST: Embarrassing TikTok Purchases & Weird Google Searches

This week, actor Milo Ventimiglia — known for 'This Is Us,' 'Gilmore Girls' and 'Heroes' — tells us why he chose to star in a new Christian movie, playing real-life worship artist Tim Timmons, who was diagnosed with terminal cancer over 20 years ago and is still defying the odds today. 

In RELEVANT Buzz, the crew recaps the Super Bowl — including the incredible story of Seahawks coach Mike McDonald, who followed God's calling to leave the corporate world to take an unpaid internship in coaching. And now 12 years later, it's led to a Super Bowl championship. We also dig into a new study revealing that Gen Z is statistically dumber than their parents (and why that's significant). Plus, Jesse forces the crew to watch the Carman movie trailer, and at the end of the show, we have Ask the Cast! And of course Jesse and Derek have some strong thoughts on Ring cameras and drones.

Highlights:

01:28 — The Olympics and Derek's New Drone

04:59 — Ring Cameras Have Ruined Jesse's Hypothetical Heist

06:18 — The Dark Knight Predicted the Ring Camera Era

09:20 — Apple Is Buying Tech That Can Hear Your Silent Speech

16:29 — RELEVANT BUZZ

19:31 — Coach Mike McDonald: From Accountant to Super Bowl Champion

23:04 — New Study: Gen Z Is Scoring Lower on IQ Tests Than Their Parents

24:40 — The Lost Art of Daydreaming & Why Boredom Matters

30:09 — Milo Ventimiglia on ‘I Can Only Imagine 2’

33:24 — Jesse Makes the Crew Watch the Carman Movie Trailer (Live Reaction)

37:47 — SLICES

38:11 — Man Cited for Juggling Fire on a Unicycle in a Crosswalk

41:11 — Man Breaks Into Little Caesars After Hours & Starts Selling Pizzas

43:09 — ASK THE CAST

44:05 — What Belief Have You Changed Your Mind On?

45:46 — Boundaries You Didn't Know You Could Set

46:40 — What Today Would Shock Yourself 10 Years Ago?

47:18 — Podcast Voice vs. Real Voice

49:48 — Who Has the Worst Music Taste on the Crew?

51:04 — Why Jesse Is a Terrible Texter

52:55 — NBA All-Star Weekend: Does Anyone Care?

53:59 — Outro & YouTube Growth Update

This week, legendary Christian rapper Trip Lee tells us about his unexpected move into worship music with his new album. Before that, the crew swaps stories from last week's historic winter storm—Emily survived three days without power in freezing temps and Jesse narrowly avoided going to a fun Orlando Magic game with Cameron.

In RELEVANT Buzz, we break down Jelly Roll's powerful Grammy acceptance moment, plus the youngest Grammy winner at just eight years old. We also dive into new research showing the vast majority of people want authentic faith representation in TV and movies, and then Emily previews two interesting new shows: Jury Duty Season 2's unexpected premise and Neighbors, HBO and A24's reality series about strangers forced to live together.

Plus, Jesse announces his new podcast Target Intelligence: Psyop and Derek plugs his brand-new show, You Can't Say That in Church. Jesse of course brings his most rewatched video of the week: a Medieval Combat League warrior armed with a real axe who keeps targeting opponents from behind with hilarious headshots. Then in SLICES we cover Miami's iguana apocalypse—dinosaurs falling from trees as residents collect them by the armload (and definitely aren't disposing of them properly).

And to close it out, it's Super Bowl week, so we're playing a special edition of "One Has to Go" covering everything from iconic Super Bowl commercials and halftime show moments to game-day snacks and controversial performances. Spoiler: mozzarella sticks do not survive Jesse's hot take.

Highlights:

00:00 — Intro & Winter Storm Survival Stories

07:43 — RELEVANT Buzz

08:00 — Jelly Roll's Powerful Grammy Acceptance Speech

11:27 — Eight-Year-Old Becomes Youngest Grammy Winner in History

12:33 — New Study: 92% of Viewers Want Authentic Faith in TV & Movies

16:37 — Jury Duty Season 2 Preview: Hot Sauce Company Chaos

18:00 — Neighbors: HBO and A24's New Reality Series

24:00 — Medieval Combat League Axe Warrior Goes Viral

31:09 — Trip Lee

32:00 — Why Trip Lee Made a Worship Album After Years in Hip-Hop

35:00 — Trip Lee on Being a Teaching Pastor and Collaborating With Worship Leaders

37:00 — SLICES: Miami's Iguana Apocalypse

43:30 — Super Bowl Edition: "One Has to Go" Game

45:53 — Iconic Super Bowl Commercials (Doritos, Tide, QR Code)

46:21 — Controversial Super Bowl Ads (GoDaddy, Carl's Jr., Axe)

47:04 — Super Bowl Snacks Face-Off (Doritos, Lay's, Pringles)

47:30 — Soda Showdown (Coke, Pepsi, Dr. Pepper, Mountain Dew)

48:00 — Jesse's Mozzarella Stick Hot Take Sparks Chaos

49:31 — Halftime Show Showdown (Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Beyoncé)

50:01 — Most Controversial Halftime Moments (Nipplegate, Dancing Sharks)

50:52 — Halftime Props (JLo's Pole, Usher's Skates, Dr. Dre's Lowrider)

This week, we talk to ‘Mercy’ star Chris Pratt about how faith shapes his life and career. He opens up about navigating public narratives, using his platform with purpose and why he believes being open about faith matters more than ever.

In RELEVANT Buzz, the crew dives into Jelly Roll’s moving moment on 'Star Search,' why Gen Z is intentionally disconnecting from their phones and whether music is actually getting sadder. Plus, stories about AI fatigue, bizarre license plate drama, a ketchup packet felony and a guy trying to create a new nation in Texas. And at the end of the show, don't miss the Best Game Ever!

Highlights:

01:00 Storm prep anxiety and riding it out

03:27 The man who tried to start his own country in Texas

06:56 The confidence of mediocre white men

18:23 RELEVANT Buzz 

18:53 Jelly Roll’s Gospel moment on Star Search

21:58 Study finds popular music is getting sadder

24:36 Gen Z intentionally disconnecting from phones

30:10 Chris Pratt 

36:40 SLICES 

38:38 Mr. Potato Head license plate controversy

39:34 Florida man charged over ketchup packet

45:14 “Best Game Ever” 

This week, we sit down with Chelsea Smith to talk about dating wisely, building a resilient marriage and navigating seasons when love feels harder than usual. She shares practical advice for singles, couples and anyone wondering if what they’re experiencing is normal.

In RELEVANT Buzz, we unpack the rise of political independents among Gen Z and millennials, Brandon Lake’s Good Morning America moment and why Christian hip-hop is showing up at Rolling Loud.

Plus, the crew debates whether it’s easier to bowl a perfect game or hit a hole-in-one for a million dollars, discusses illegal monkeys in St. Louis and breaks down Gen Z’s newest solution to burnout: a “retirement home” in Malaysia.

Highlights:

06:30 – Million-dollar question: perfect bowling game or hole-in-one?

16:05 – RELEVANT Buzz

16:15 – Christian hip-hop at Rolling Loud

18:10 – Brandon Lake on Good Morning America (and the Maury joke)

20:45 – Gallup: Gen Z and millennials are going independent

31:40 – Chelsea Smith on dating

33:55 – What every healthy marriage needs

35:30 – Advice for couples in hard seasons

37:55 – Our new partnership with 316 Financial + Reset Series

42:25 – Slices

42:45 – St. Louis offers amnesty for illegal monkey owners

47:05 – A Gen Z “retirement home” opens in Malaysia

To learn more about 316 Financial's $100 offer for RELEVANT listeners, check out https://www.Bank316.com/RELEVANT!

In this episode of The RELEVANT Podcast, we break down a surprisingly faith-heavy week in pop culture.

In RELEVANT Buzz, Khloé Kardashian opens up in depth about her faith and prayer life, Stranger Things star Caleb McLaughlin shares why he’s returning to faith after growing up as a pastor’s kid. Then we discuss news at the other end of the spectrum: Bestselling Christian author Philip Yancey stepping away from ministry after confessing to an eight-year extramarital affair and Christian pop singer Stacie Orrico’s lawsuit alleging childhood sexual abuse by her former manager. We wrap things on an up-note, highlighting Daniel Caesar’s spiritually charged Tiny Desk performance.

Plus, the crew reacts to DMX’s posthumous ordination, Jesse spirals over the murder math of NCIS, shares a wild Lamar Odom encounter and we play another round of ‘Overrated, Underrated or Just Right.’

Highlights:

03:00 Jesse’s NCIS take and the Navy murder math spiral

14:15 RELEVANT Buzz begins

17:05 Khloé Kardashian opens up about her Christian faith

28:15 Caleb McLaughlin talks faith, deconstruction and returning to God

31:55 Philip Yancey steps away from ministry after affair confession

34:35 Stacie Orrico files lawsuit alleging childhood sexual abuse

37:50 Daniel Caesar’s Tiny Desk and his spiritual journey

39:20 Slices: Lottery odds website exposes Powerball math

44:10 DMX to be posthumously recognized as a minister

46:05 Game: Overrated, Underrated or Just Right (Part 2)

47:15 Mayonnaise, squats and Chris Hemsworth

49:00 Pet fish, LaCroix and Philip Yancey books

50:00 Air fryers, motorcycles and voice notes

This week, we tackle the biggest faith questions young adults are asking right now (according to the recent Passion Conference) — from evidence for God’s existence and the tension between free will and predestination, to suffering, salvation and thoughts on hell. It’s an honest conversation about doubt, belief and why curiosity might be essential to spiritual growth.

From there, Emily sits down with CITIZENS frontman Zach Bolen to talk about the band’s new album Museum, being in the Christian music bubble while feeling like an outsider and why art doesn’t need to explain itself to be meaningful. 

Plus, Jesse has some thoughts over the increasingly unhinged Guinness World Records, from pigs on skateboards to LEGO-related pain tolerance, and the crew plays a round of “Overrated, Underrated or Just Right,” covering reboots, word-of-the-year culture and more!

Highlights:

3:10 New Year check-in

4:20 The Crown

5:25 Why New Year’s TV is terrible

9:55 Fireworks gone wrong

14:15 RELEVANT BUZZ

17:05 The top faith questions young adults are asking at the Passion Conference

31:00 Awards season highlights

38:30 Zach Bolen of CITIZENS

42:10 Faith, deconstruction, and the Nashville bubble

46:20 Curiosity as a spiritual discipline

50:10 SLICES

50:14 Guinness World Records need a reboot

56:20 OVERRATED, UNDERRATED, OR JUST RIGHT?

We wrap up 2025 and kick off 2026 by catching up on everything from post-holiday chaos to the optimism that comes with starting a new year. Along the way, we touch on Justin Bieber’s recent reflections on faith, how people in 1998 predicted 2025, and surprising new archeological evidence that Noah's Ark was real. 

From there, the episode takes a turn into full chaos as Jesse introduces his own idea for the “Patriot Games”: teams of Americans competing using everyday life skills, jury duty-style. The episode then wraps with the cast predicting the trends of 2026 — all delivered with the usual mix of humor, honesty and side-tracking that makes the show what it is.

Highlights:

05:10 — Spring-free trampolines and modern parenting stress

07:40 — Childhood injuries, backyard chaos and growing up feral

12:30 — The unspoken pressure of being “the capable adult”

13:33 — SLICES: Noah’s Ark evidence

25:03 — 1998 predicts 2025

31:53 — Justin Bieber’s faith posts

30:45 — WHAT'S JESSE THINKING? Jesse introduces his Patriot Games concept

43:20 — IN OR OUT? Predicting 2026 

In our Christmas episode, Cameron Strang, Jesse Carey, Derek Minor and Emily Brown dive into a packed RELEVANT Buzz, including NFL players putting faith into action in unexpected ways, a Christian animated film debuting near the top of the box office, Timothée Chalamet unexpectedly singing Kirk Franklin and a spontaneous worship moment from Justin Bieber that caught the internet’s attention.

The crew also tackles one of the most important questions of the season: what actually makes a perfect Christmas day? From wake-up times and breakfast spreads to family expectations, church plans and evening traditions, they attempt—somewhat successfully—to agree on a Christmas schedule everyone can enjoy.

Plus, it’s an Ask the Cast: Christmas Edition, with listener questions about end-of-year burnout, holiday boundaries and when it’s officially time to stop saying “Merry Christmas.”

Highlights:

1:00 – Emily’s Quilt Room Setup

4:00 – RELEVANT BUZZ

4:30 – Baltimore Ravens Wash Kids Feet

8:20 – David Hits No. 2 at the Box Office

11:30 – Is Avatar Still Impressive?

14:30 – Timothée Chalamet Sings Kirk Franklin

24:30 – Justin Bieber’s Worship Moment

25:45 – Designing the Perfect Christmas Day

36:12 – SLICES: The 6-7 Meme Gets Real 

44:05 – The World's Largest Gingerbread Home Alone House

46:05 – ASK THE CAST: Christmas Edition

In the final episode of the RELEVANT Podcast Impact Conversations series, we sit down with two influential voices using their platforms to point toward something deeper.

First, New England Patriots rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson shares how his faith was shaped long before the NFL spotlight. From a season-ending injury at Ohio State that led him to Jesus to helping spark faith gatherings across campus, Henderson talks about spiritual leadership, obedience over outcomes, and what it looks like to follow Christ inside high-pressure locker rooms. His story is also featured in the new docuseries Redemption, now streaming on Prime Video via The Wonder Project.

Then, Lecrae, one of the most influential figures in Christian hip-hop, joins the conversation following the release of his 10th album, Reconstruction. He reflects on misunderstanding, therapy, deconstruction and why he believes Christian hip-hop is entering a new era without categories. Lecrae also opens up about legacy, leadership, and his role as a bridge between faith and culture.

This episode is presented by World Vision, a global Christian humanitarian organization working to tackle the root causes of poverty and injustice worldwide.

Chapters:

01:15 – Why TreVeyon Henderson uses his NFL platform for faith

02:01 – Growing up with football as a lifeline

04:24 – When faith became real during a season-ending injury

06:40 – Sleep paralysis, spiritual warfare and healing through prayer

08:28 – Faith leadership inside Ohio State football

11:33 – Carrying faith into the NFL locker room

12:58 – Spiritual disciplines and the “secret place”

16:21 – Why faith is rising among professional athletes

18:56 – Why Henderson highlighted persecuted Christians in Nigeria

22:45 – Lecrae on why Reconstruction is different

24:53 – Transparency vs vulnerability in creative work

26:08 – Therapy, confidence and owning your voice

29:25 – Why Lecrae chose the word “Reconstruction”

30:46 – Leadership, loneliness and stewardship

33:01 – The future of Christian hip-hop

34:41 – Lecrae on legacy and being a bridge between faith and culture

44:17 – How Reconstruction invites people back to faith

Rian Johnson’s new Knives Out film, 'Wake Up Dead Man,' is sparking conversations few mainstream movies ever touch — faith, forgiveness, power and what it actually means to follow Jesus in a polarized world.

In this episode, we talk with the filmmaker about growing up in the Church, walking away from faith and why Christ’s teachings — especially “love your enemy” — still shape the stories he wants to tell. Johnson opens up about wrestling with the us-versus-them mentality, the corrupting pull of power and influence, and why he wanted to portray Christian belief with empathy rather than caricature.

Plus, the RELEVANT crew debates the best Christmas movie of all time in a chaotic bracket showdown, reacts to surprising year-end culture stories and discusses new research suggesting adolescence doesn’t actually end until age 32.

HIGHLIGHTS:

01:40 – Why 'Wake Up Dead Man' Feels Like a Gospel Story

04:00 – Serving vs. Fighting: Faith and the Culture War

06:45 – Why Culture Is More Open to Spiritual Conversations

09:20 – Is Wake Up Dead Man the Best Knives Out Movie?

12:10 – Is Rian Johnson Done With Faith?

13:10 – Christianity vs. Church Culture

20:15 – RELEVANT Buzz

22:00 – Forrest Frank Breaks Into Google’s “Hum to Search” List

26:30 – Theo Von and Morgan Wallen’s Bible Study Revealed

32:00 – Rian Johnson on Growing Up Evangelical

34:00 – “Arms Wide Open vs. Fists Up” Faith Explained

39:00 — SLICES

39:20 – New Research Says Adolescence Lasts Until Age 32

45:15 – AI Reality TV Is Here (Unfortunately)

47:30 – Christmas Movie Bracket Challenge

This week, Andy Mineo joins us for a hilarious and surprisingly vulnerable conversation about reinvention, perfectionism, leaving Reach Records, making his first album in four years and why he almost drove himself crazy trying to get it right. Plus, the cast dives into:

– Brandon Lake dominating Billboard’s year-end charts

– The ER vs The Pitt IP controversy

– Ticketmaster’s takedown

– TreVeyon Henderson spotlighting persecuted Christians on the field

– A chaotic game of “One Has to Go” that reveals way too much (about Andy)

CHAPTERS:

1:20 – '90s nostalgia, ER and the IP drama behind The Pitt

10:25 – RELEVANT Buzz: Brandon Lake ruled 2025

15:45 – Olivia Dean takes on Ticketmaster

19:50 – TreVeyon Henderson highlights persecuted Christians in Nigeria

21:50 – Andy Mineo joins the show

22:20 – Why his new album took four years

23:40 – Perfectionism, analysis paralysis and moving faster

27:10 – More new music is already loading

28:35 – Andy & Marty’s 15-year friendship origin story

32:05 – “One Has to Go” with Andy

41:55 – Parenting, nostalgia and movies that don’t hit the same

44:15 – 80s/90s PG movies were NOT PG

Remember, you can watch the episode video on YouTube!

Two former Bachelor stars. Two very different, but impactful, post-show paths. One episode about what it really looks like to use your platform well.

In this new installment of The RELEVANT Podcast: Impact Conversations, Emily Brown and Cameron Strang sit down with Madi Prewett Troutt and Ben Higgins to talk about life after reality TV, spiritual growth, calling, purpose, and how to steward influence in a way that actually matters.

First, Emily talks with Madi Prewett Troutt, who has spent the last five years immersed in ministry—preaching, writing, podcasting, discipling young women, and building a life rooted deeply in Scripture and the local church. She opens up about spiritual transformation, accountability, confession, motherhood, leadership, and learning to stay true to her convictions even when it’s costly.

Then Cameron sits down with Ben Higgins, who—after his time on The Bachelor—built Generous Coffee, launched multiple businesses, stepped into a major faith-centered role at iHeartRadio, and wrote a book on connection. Ben shares candidly about anxiety, purpose, fatherhood, entrepreneurship, and using business as a vehicle for generosity and Kingdom impact.

If you’ve ever wondered how to live out your calling, use your platform responsibly, walk in integrity, or navigate fame and faith in a digital age—this episode is rich, honest, and deeply encouraging.

Presented by World Vision.

HIGHLIGHTS:

01:50 — Madi Prewett Troutt

02:13 — Madi on how her life has changed since The Bachelor

04:57 — Moving from motivational speaking to biblical teaching

07:11 — How moving and finding a new church shaped her spiritual growth

09:57 — How Madi discerns what God is calling her to speak into

12:21 — Choosing conviction over comfort

16:53 — Breaking secret sin cycles and finding freedom

22:14 — Protecting peace and setting boundaries on social media

28:23 — Why Madi launched her podcast and how God led the timing

33:37 — Learning patience when God says “wait”

38:21 — Ben Higgins

41:28 — Life/work balance as a new dad

43:30 — What Ben does for work now

45:49 — How his role at iHeartRadio is expanding into faith initiatives

50:39 — Rethinking conferences, creativity, and reaching the disconnected

52:29 — Mike Foster’s coaching

56:03 — Restaurant ventures, investing and avoiding AI-replaceable spaces

59:16 — Why his new book is about connection (not fame)

1:02:11 — Feeling like an outsider and the moment everything changed

1:04:47 — How vulnerability unexpectedly connected him with millions

1:07:21 — Did The Bachelor change him?

1:10:06 — A friend’s advice that shifted his entire approach to fame

Chris Llewellyn from Irish folk worship band Rend Collective joins us to talk about the band’s new album 'Christmas in Belfast,' the surprising Irish traditions behind it and what it’s like navigating life between Ireland and Nashville.

We also break down the biggest stories in faith and culture, including NF’s record-setting Billboard debut, the wild rise of AI-generated music, and Patriots rookie TreVeyon Henderson’s faith-forward breakout. Plus, the crew swaps celebrity-encounter stories and brings Chris into a special holiday round of “One Has to Go.”

CHAPTERS:

02:00 – Jesse spots an SNL cast member at the airport

06:30 – Marty’s celebrity encounters at LAX

08:30 – Cameron’s wild Kanye West airport story

09:40 – RELEVANT Buzz 

09:55 – NF’s massive Billboard debut

12:00 – AI music platform Suno is creating 7 million songs a day

14:20 – Is AI killing creativity? The crew debates

19:10 – Patriots rookie TreVeyon Henderson’s record-breaking game & public faith

24:10 – Chris Llewellyn of Rend Collective

24:40 – The story behind Christmas in Belfast

26:40 – Irish Christmas traditions & late-night candlelit services

27:50 – Gaelic football, Welsh kickers & Jesse’s confusion

29:55 – Chris on moving from Ireland to Nashville

31:00 – How Irish political history shaped his view of division

32:15 – Holiday Edition of “One Has to Go” with Chris

35:35 – Marty’s trauma with board games

36:10 – Brunch vs. naps: the debate

38:00 – Emily vs. “crisp evenings”

39:00 – Snoopy, Peanuts, and Christmas ornament chaos

40:45 – Group prayer handholding horrors

43:30 – Emily’s tiny tabletop Christmas tree revelation

On this episode of our Impact Conversations series, we sit down with Tara-Leigh Cobble, creator of The Bible Recap — one of the most influential Bible-reading podcasts in the world. Tara-Leigh shares how The Bible Recap started, how she built a global Bible-reading community and what she’s learned about Scripture, calling and obedience along the way. If you’re trying to understand the Bible or want to stay consistent in your Bible reading plan, this conversation is for you.

We also feature a bonus interview with Christian financial expert Art Rainer, who breaks down how to approach money, generosity and financial stress from a biblical perspective. If you’re looking for Christian financial advice, how to give when money is tight or how to steward your resources well, you’ll want to hear this.

Presented by World Vision.

CHAPTERS:

02:37 — Tara-Leigh Cobble: How The Bible Recap Started

06:04 — Building the podcast with a $99 mic

08:45 — When the calling gets costly

10:55 — The story that kept her going

14:43 — Leadership, discernment and calling

16:49 — Feeling unqualified but called

21:09 — Advice for taking your first step

23:17 — Bonus Interview: Art Rainer

26:13 — Money is a tool, not a goal

28:10 — How to be generous when money is tight

33:31 — Giving, debt and proportional generosity

37:00 — Creative ways to be generous without money

This week on The RELEVANT Podcast, we dive into the strange new digital reality Christians are wrestling with — from AI artists topping the Christian charts to foreign troll farms shaping what we see online, even in faith spaces. Throughout the show, we keep asking one big question: can we trust anything online anymore?

Plus, we talk Kristen Bell’s surprise appearance on a Fox News Bible podcast (and her feelings about that), Nate Bargatze’s real-life theme park, weird holiday debates, outlawed pickleball, Thanksgiving pizza and a lot more. It’s a holiday-week hangout episode with Cameron, Jesse and Emily — no guest, just chaos, honesty and a lot of laughs.

0:35 – Why do our YouTube views explode days later?

6:00 – Thanksgiving: the obligation holiday?

7:30 – When do you become the “main house” for holidays?

8:30 – Jesse’s traumatic Big Lots Thanksgiving miracle

14:20 – RELEVANT Buzz: AI tops the Christian charts

24:30 – Kristen Bell accidentally starring in a Fox News Bible podcast

30:40 – Nate Bargatze is opening a theme park?!

36:30 – SLICES: Pickleball banned in California

39:30 – The Elvis Judge saga

43:00 – Thanksgiving pizza: yes or no?

44:30 – ONE HAS TO GO: Holiday Edition

50:30 – Matching Christmas pajamas

51:15 – Final thoughts