This week we’re looking at a little local literature from our friends at the nearby church of Christ. Direct mail is a tough medium with which to elicit a response. I haven’t studied the charts and graphs, but I don’t imagine many people come to the Lord via longwinded mailers. However, I received one this week that got my attention. It’s entitled “Socialism is Not Just an Economic Theory! (The Moral Responsibility of all Mankind,” and in it brother Cleveland Reddinger lays out four compelling points on why Socialism (uh, I think you mean Communism) is an afront to God and His divine plan. Not to spoil things, but point number four is “It just doesn’t work,” so it’s riveting stuff! Listen closely and repent, ye freeloading, healthcare-deprived, droopy-bootstraped debt slaves!

Ep. 252 – “Tyranny, Bloodshed, Misery, Slavery:” The Apostle Cleveland’s Rebuke of Socialism

This week we’re joined by award-winning investigative journalist, TJ Raphael! We came across TJ’s work when we discovered her podcast series Liberty Lost which is the culmination of a two year investigation into a maternity home owned and operated by our alma mater, Liberty University. The Liberty Godparent Home is advertised as a ministry of compassion whose mission is to offer “a better choice” for pregnant young women and girls who might otherwise opt for an abortion. However, former residents describe the home as more of a nine month isolation pod where these vulnerable women are put under enormous pressure to give up their babies for adoption to “God-fearing Christian families” in exchange for basic healthcare and the promise of a clean slate/fresh start with a scholarship to Liberty University. The Liberty Godparent Home profits immensely from both donations and adoption fees while leaving behind hundreds of broken women struggling to cope with the immense guilt, shame, and despair of losing their child. Liberty Lost is a truly impactful series that we can’t recommend enough! Stream the full show today, follow TJ on Instagram (@tjraphs), and go to www.tjraphael.com [http://www.tjraphael.com/]for more information about her many other projects!

Ep. 251 – Liberty Lost: The Catastrophic Cost of Compulsory Adoption w/ Journalist TJ Raphael

EPISODE 250!!! It’s crazy to think we’ve been doing this show for almost 5 years… We’ve met so many great people and had so many interesting conversations over the last half a decade! And what better way to celebrate 250 episodes than with our friend, comedian Spencer Bland. Spencer has moved to LA, and he’s pursuing a career in standup comedy full force. We talk about life in LA, the slow radicalization of Sam, and get into some r/christiandatingadvice and “pastor arrested” stories that made us laugh. We hope you enjoy the show, and thank you so much for listening over the years!

Ep. 250 – Do You Want a Revolution?! WHOOP WHOOP w/ Spencer Bland

This week we’re looking over a little of what the algorithm has vomited onto my lap, recently! This one covers a lot of ground, folks. We’ll hear a sermon from a former white witch trying to warn the faithful about the dangers of Halloween, the plethora of Christ-centered knickknacks and doodads hawked by TikTok grifters, and finally, a truly unique group of individuals brought together by their love of God and… nature, I guess. We had a good time sorting through the digital detritus, and hope you enjoy the show. Oh and if you come across something similar that cracks you up, baffles you, or makes your blood boil, send it our way!

Ep. 249 – Prayer Walks, Warlocks, & TikTok Bric-a-Brac for the Faithful

This week we’re discussing a number of stories from across the internet, including the bizarre Sweet Home Alabama cover the current and former US ambassadors to Israel recently performed, Greg Locke continuing to be one of the worst people in the country, Dinesh D’Souza’s new documentary about the Israel/Palestine, another pastor with lavish tastes caught stealing donations, and the recent execution of Samuel Lee Smithers, a Florida fuddy-duddy sentenced to death for the murder of two women back in the 90’s. We hope you enjoy the show!

Ep. 248 – Cuckabee Slaps the Bass, Locke Grifts & Grinds, & the Deacon of Death 

This week we’re happy to welcome back our friend Burton Miller, fresh off of his recent comedy tour! Burt joins us this week to discuss our childhood bullies, BookTok literature, Joseph Smith’s magnificent holy spectacles, and look over some of the final words of persecuted prophet from the book of Mosiah, Abinadi. Burt just launched a new podcast of his own that we think a lot of you guys will enjoy! It’s called Creative Turn with Burton Miller, and his goal is to “demystify the creative process by asking professional creatives ten questions about how they are following their dreams.” Follow Burt on IG (@burtola), listen to the first episode of his podcast on all streaming platforms, and catch the final performance of his comedy show “The 40 Year Old Burton” in Cleveland on November 1!

Ep. 247 – The Book of Mormon: Don’t Tread on Abinadi w/ Burton Miller

These are stressful times, friends. We thought it might be nice to take you all on a little auditory vacation with the soothing Carribean vibes of Caucasian Christian reggae artist, Abba Alabanza! This brave artist is leading a one man revolution against the gay community… and music as an artform, it seems. Then we’re jumping into the next chapter of Mosiah, continuing our Book of Mormon odyssey with the story of King Noah, an apple that fell far from the old Zeniff tree. Enjoy!

Ep. 246 – The Book of Mormon: High Taxes & Whoredoms

This week we start off with the strange, confusing, and suspicious narrative around the Kirk assassination, and then we’re jumping into a chapter of Mosiah that discusses the strained relations between the good, wholesome, chosen Nephites, and the evil, dangerous, spiteful-for-no-reason Lamenites. It’s a book with more than a few modern parallels and a heap of repetitive language (as usual). Enjoy the show, and remember that you can weigh in on these topics with us if you join our Discord (link in our Instagram bio)!

Ep. 245 – The Book of Mormon: No Such Thing as a Lamenite Noncombatant

This week we’re discussing the assassination of Charlie Kirk and the recent raid on several compounds of the Kingdom of God International church. Pastor David Taylor and his right hand, Michelle Brannon, are facing serious criminal penalties for essentially running a forced labor cult centered around call centers where his followers were forced to solicit donations or face serious consequences. This guy is a scumbag, and he’s probably going to jail for a very long time. Good riddance!

Ep. 244 – Pastor David Taylor Rebukes the Spirit of Stinginess 

This week we’re joined once again by musicians Chris and Logan from Tan and Handsome! They just released a new EP titled 2 Tan 2 Handsome, and it goes so hard. Follow Tan and Handsome on IG and Youtube (@tanandhandsome), X (@tanandhandsome_) and check out 2 Tan 2 Handsome streaming everywhere!

Ep. 243 – Father Forgive Me, For I Have Fingerblasted w/ Tan and Handsome

Growing Up Christian is a weekly podcast hosted by Sam and Casey. Each episode they discuss the good, the bad, and the undeniably strange aspects of coming of age in the late 90’s/early 2000’s Christian culture.