The Problem of Power: From Elon Musk to Kelly Clarkson

Former Hillsong pastor Carl Lentz is back in the spotlight with a new book about surviving infidelity, but should some sins permanently disqualify a pastor from ministry? Esau, Malcolm, and Mike discuss the difference between forgiveness and restoration, the dangers of celebrity pastors, and the Christian publishing industry's role in rehabilitating fallen leaders. Then, President Trump has developed a strange new obsession with people's backsides, and a Republican candidate in Ohio has released a political ad that takes dirty campaigning to a whole new level. What happens when Christians become so committed to political victories that they abandon their moral convictions? And is there any bottom left for American politics to hit?   0:00 - Theme Song   1:35 - Carl Lentz and Abuse of Power   7:20 - Monetizing Infidelity?   35:36 - Sponsor - World Relief - World Relief's newest guide, Beyond the Ballot, was designed to equip you with relevant facts, tools and resources to engage immigration and displacement issues with understanding, compassion and courage: https://worldrelief.org/holypost   36:53 - Vivek Ramaswamy Ad Controversy   49:25 - End Credits   Articles Covered: Carl Lentz: https://www.wsj.com/style/hillsong-carl-laura-lentz-book-22fa7c1d   Trump's Inappropriate Comments: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/25/trump-nicki-minaj-mike-rogers-michigan-rally   Article on Vivek Ramaswamy's Ad: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/24/us/politics/vivek-ramaswamy-ad-ohio-amy-acton.html

Power can be dangerous, especially when the people who have it don't realize just how much they wield. Sharon Miller joins Esau and Mike to discuss Kelly Clarkson's bizarre feud with a Brooklyn toy store and what it reveals about the blind spots of powerful people. Meanwhile, Elon Musk is pouring millions into the midterm elections, raising troubling questions about the influence of wealth, racism, and the issues Christians are willing to overlook for political victories. And as protests turn violent in France, are older generations protecting their own interests at the expense of the young? Plus, should Christians be worried about people turning to AI for spiritual advice, and what can a grieving mathematician teach us about the meaning of life?   0:00 - Theme Song   3:13 - Kelly and the Toy Bird   9:06 - Oblivious Powerful People   26:30 - Sponsor: The Subtext - Want to see pop-culture through the lens of faith and ethics? We've got a podcast you need to check out: https://pod.link/1835471106   27:48 - France's Student Riots   38:41 - A.I. and Preaching   49:31 - End Credits   AI Mathematician on The Meaning of Life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfGenpmOjDQ   The Economist on AI and Religion: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/slFPKBdE8-Y    

How can Christians have difficult conversations about faith without turning every disagreement into an argument? Christian hip-hop artist and apologist Emmanuel "Da Truth" Lambert joins Esau to discuss his new book, Forgive Me If I Was Rude, and why defending Christianity requires more than having the right answers. They explore the difference between winning arguments and reaching people, the importance of understanding someone's doubts and experiences, and why the gospel is bigger than many Christians realize. Plus, how should Christians respond to criticism of the church, and why do so many of us abandon kindness when we get on social media?   0:00 - Theme Song   0:56 - Forgive Me if I was Rude   6:02 - Deconstruction   16:52 - Responding to Those Questioning Christianity   23:34 - Sponsor - Church at the Crossroads - Esau shares about Church at the Crossroads, a conference hosted by Palestinian Christians in Atlanta, November 5–7. The gathering offers an opportunity to meet and learn from Palestinian pastors and Christian leaders, join in worship, and enjoy Palestinian food and cultural experiences, with time for conversation and fellowship. Use code ESAU for 20% off. Register at www.churchatthecrossroads.com/atlanta   24:47 - Sponsor - Brooklyn Bedding - For a quality mattress, go to https://www.brooklynbedding.com and use promo code ESAU to get 30% off site wide!   25:47 - Sponsor - The Subtext - Want to see pop-culture through the lens of faith and ethics? We've got a podcast you need to check out: https://pod.link/1835471106   27:06 - Respond to the Culture   43:50 - Convergence of All Time   58:48 - End Credits   Forgive Me If I Was Rude: The Art of Having Complicated Faith-Based Conversations by Emmanuel Lambert: https://amzn.to/4ztEI1L

A sexual assault case at Cornell has sparked intense debate about consent, trauma, and how we talk about victims before all the facts are known. Esau is joined by Mika Edmondson to discuss what Christian sexual ethics should say about power, exploitation, and the dignity of the body. Then, they look at new research suggesting Black Christians in multi-ethnic churches may become less civically engaged, and ask what churches lose when pastors are too afraid to address racial injustice. Plus, are kids actually getting dumber? The guys talk declining test scores, shrinking attention spans, and what happens when education becomes only a means to the next achievement.   0:00 - Theme Song   2:12 - Cornell 7 and God's Heart for Victims   11:55 - Church Should Be a Place of Healing   19:46 - Sponsor - Church at the Crossroads - Esau shares about Church at the Crossroads, a conference hosted by Palestinian Christians in Atlanta, November 5–7. The gathering offers an opportunity to meet and learn from Palestinian pastors and Christian leaders, join in worship, and enjoy Palestinian food and cultural experiences, with time for conversation and fellowship. Use code ESAU for 20% off. Register at www.churchatthecrossroads.com/atlanta   21:00 - Sponsor - Want to see pop-culture through the lens of faith and ethics? We've got a podcast you need to check out: https://pod.link/1835471106   22:18 - Myth of the Non-Political Church   30:11 - Pastoring a Multi-Racial Church   39:50 - Are Teenagers Getting Dumber?   53:45 - End Credits   The Power of Unearned Suffering by Mika Edmondson: https://amzn.to/3Wd9qOh   Student Test scores going down: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/08/us/us-reading-test-scores-pisa.html

Tim Tebow is facing criticism after an investigation raised questions about a Christian financial conference where he regularly spoke and encouraged attendees to sign up for classes. Esau, Mike, and guest Justin Giboney discuss how much responsibility Christian leaders have to vet the organizations they lend their name and credibility to, and when influence starts to look like endorsement. Then, they turn to grind culture and the popular idea that success simply comes down to wanting it badly enough. Does hard work really separate the people who make it from the people who don't, or are opportunity, timing, talent, and providence part of the story too? Plus, the guys discuss how quickly the internet can turn a brief viral moment into a sweeping judgment about someone's entire life.      0:00 - Theme Song   0:17 - Mike's Man Cold   1:38 - Tim Tebow Trouble   12:22 - Kirk Franklin and GloRilla   19:42 - Sponsor  - Church at the Crossroads - Esau shares about Church at the Crossroads, a conference hosted by Palestinian Christians in Atlanta, November 5–7. The gathering offers an opportunity to meet and learn from Palestinian pastors and Christian leaders, join in worship, and enjoy Palestinian food and cultural experiences, with time for conversation and fellowship. Use code ESAU for 20% off. Register at  www.churchatthecrossroads.com/atlanta   20:54 - Sponsor - The Subtext - Want to see pop-culture through the lens of faith and ethics? We've got a podcast you need to check out: https://pod.link/1835471106   22:14 - Meeting People Where They Are?   26:11 - Druski and Grind Culture   44:24 - End Credits   Inside Tim Tebow's Favorite Wealth Seminar: https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/09/life-surge-the-gospel-of-high-yields-inside-tim-tebows-favorite-wealth-seminar/   Kirk Franklin and GloRilla:  https://www.crosswalk.com/headlines/contributors/michael-foust/kirk-franklin-glorilla-collaboration-sparks-debate-over-her-explicit-music.html   Nacho Mom: https://people.com/mom-of-the-year-carries-baby-food-at-mlb-game-defends-husband-after-viral-backlash-12143084

Meryl Streep is the new voice of Aslan, and Christians have plenty of opinions about it. Esau, Malcolm, and Producer Mike talk about the outrage over Greta Gerwig's Narnia casting choice and what it reveals about the things Christians choose to treat as sacred. They also discuss Nicole Hannah-Jones's reflections on sending her daughter to public school and the difficult question of whether our children should have to bear the cost of our convictions. Plus, Esau breaks down Pete Hegseth's use of Isaiah 6 on his "Send Me" military tour and why turning a prophetic calling into a recruiting message badly distorts the text.   0:00 - Theme Song   0:32 - Malcolm Foley   5:34 - Pete Hegseth and Isaiah 6   17:44 - Sending Kids to Private or Public School?   31:23 - Sponsor - Brooklyn Bedding - For a quality mattress, go to https://www.brooklynbedding.com and use promo code ESAU to get 30% off site wide!   32:15 - Sponsor - The Subtext - Want to see pop-culture through the lens of faith and ethics? We've got a podcast you need to check out: https://pod.link/1835471106   33:27 - Sponsor - The Center for Christianity and Public Life - Come to Washington, D.C. on October 5-7 to join the Good of the Public Summit. Go to https://www.ccpubliclife.org and use code BETTERSTORY for 20% off at registration   35:00 - Parental Failure   37:34 - Meryl Streep as Aslan   51:23 - End Credits   Pete Hegseth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0VynQFRJRs   Can I Kick My Dog out of Bed? https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/22/well/get-pet-out-of-bed.html   Greta Gerwig's Narnia Casting Choice: https://deadline.com/2026/09/greta-gerwig-chose-meryl-streep-voice-aslan-narnia-1237107096/   Public Schools https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/20/magazine/ny-public-schools-black-students-segregation.html

A Texas political candidate sees a crowd of brown students celebrating and assumes they must be foreigners. Esau, Mike, and Pricelis Perreaux-Dominguez unpack what that reaction reveals about race, belonging, and the fear of a changing America. They also talk about the growing power of AI, the tech world's obsession with overcoming human limits, and why some limitations may actually be good for us. Plus, Pricelis shares about her new book, False Peace, and why churches can confuse unity with sameness, asking people to assimilate instead of making room for genuine difference.   0:00 - Theme Song   0:20 - Esau in Español?   1:43 - Boosie's Presidential Pardon Attempt   6:20 - Community Work   19:35 - Sponsor - The Subtext - Want to see pop-culture through the lens of faith and ethics? We've got a podcast you need to check out: https://pod.link/1835471106   20:52 - Sponsor - With God Daily - Get the daily devotional for people who hate daily devotionals in your inbox every day by signing up at: https://holypost.com/plus   22:05 - A.I. and False Promises   33:24 - False Peace by Assimilation   49:08 - End Credits   False Peace: How to Reject the Lie of Sameness, Embrace Difference, and Embody True Unity (How Christians Can Go Beyond Surface-Level Agreement to Build Communities of Authentic Unity) by Priceless Perreaux-Dominguez: https://amzn.to/4yCKduC   Articles Covered: Boosie Lawsuit: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/18/us/boosie-badazz-pardon-lawsuit.html   New York Times on AI Tech Apocalypse: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/12/opinion/ai-tech-apocalypse-silicon-valley.html  

Esau joins Justin Giboney and Christopher Butler of the Church Politics Podcast for a special crossover conversation about Black liberation theology, James Cone, and the relationship between justice and the gospel. Together, they explore what Cone got right about the church's failures on race and oppression, where liberation theology can become too narrow, and why Christians need a gospel that transforms both people and society. They also discuss the resurrection, the authority of Scripture, the danger of reducing Christianity to a political program, and what faithful public witness should actually look like.   0:00 - Theme Song   2:10 - Chance the Rapper on Liberation Theology   5:21 - James Cone's Books   20:56 - The Errors of Liberation Theology   39:52 - Trusting God, Not People   57:22 - End Credits

Youth sports are supposed to be good for kids, but what happens when giving your child every opportunity starts costing your family more than money? Esau, Malcolm Foley, and producer Mike talk about the booming youth sports industry, the pressure to keep up, and how parents can tell the difference between investing in their kids and trying to maximize them. Then they turn to the new TV show, Lanterns and its surprisingly thoughtful exploration of race, fear, parenting, and the pressure placed on Black children to be exceptional. And finally, they ask why Donald Trump has to make even superheroes about himself.   0:00 - Theme Song   0:21 - Youth Sports   11:28 - What's Worth Youth Sports?   16:57- Fear and the Black Experience   24:13 - Sponsor - The Subtext - Want to see pop-culture through the lens of faith and ethics? We've got a podcast you need to check out: https://pod.link/1835471106   25:24 - Sponsor - Curiously, Kaitlyn - Ever had a question about God, the Bible, or Theology that you're embarrassed to ask? Chances are, a kid has already asked Kaitlyn that question! Check out Curiously, Kaitlyn: https://pod.link/1739169925   26:36 - Parenthood and Black Fear   36:42 - Trump's Green Lantern Post   48:53 - End Credits   Articles Covered: https://www.denverpost.com/2026/08/23/pay-to-play-youth-sports/

What happens when trust begins to break down between people and the institutions meant to serve them? Esau, Mike, and Sharon Miller talk about vaccine skepticism, bad experiences with the healthcare system, and why Christians should care more about truth than winning an argument. They also discuss the rise of AI-assisted cheating and why forming people of integrity may matter more than creating better rules. Plus, how much privacy should we be willing to sacrifice for safety as surveillance technology becomes increasingly common?   0:00 - The Height of Deception   1:20 - Theme Song   1:40 - Daejon Love and Being Duped   9:41 - Vaccines and the Medical System's Failings   25:33 - Sponsor - The Subtext - Want to see pop-culture through the lens of faith and ethics? We've got a podcast you need to check out: https://pod.link/1835471106   26:44 - Sponsor - Renovare Book Club - Spiritual formation through books! What else could you ask for? Learn more at https://renovare.org/bookclub   27:54 - Sponsor - Holy Post Plus - Want full episodes of the SkyePod? Wanna get schooled by Kaitlyn Schiess? What about a daily devotional for people who hate daily devotionals? Sign up for Holy Post Plus: https://substack.com/@holypostmedia   31:45 - Academic Cheating on the Rise   42:35 - Flock Cameras   53:53 - End Credit   Articles Mentioned: Vaccines Custody Battle Article: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2026/09/07/the-maha-custody-battle   Students Cheating with AI: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/26/opinion/students-cheating-ai.html   Flock Cameras: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/31/podcasts/the-daily/flock-cameras-surveillance-america.html