SNAP Cuts and God's Concern for the Poor

On a recent press tour, Jennifer Lawrence recently said she's done with political outrage. Esau, Sharon Hodde Miller, and producer Mike talk about what happens when the adrenaline of activism runs out and the fatigue sets in. What does faithfulness look like after the hashtags stop trending? Then, we all know the dangers of the purity culture craze, but have overcorrected in trying not to repeat our mistakes? What do we do when the church hands people a good gift with broken handles? Also, thanks to science we may never have to load the dishwasher or eat a bad steak again.   0:00 - Theme Song   2:25 - Robot Companion   4:47 - What Could a Robot Do for You?   7:50 - Jennifer Lawrence and Internet Activism   23:23 - Sponsor - Brooklyn Bedding - For a quality mattress, go to https://www.brooklynbedding.com and use promo code ESAU to get 30% off site wide!   24:12 - Miller Time   25:46 - Purity Culture Aftermath   32:30 - Christian Sexual Ethic   36:15 - Did You Eat Cloned Steak?   41:20 - The Atomic Bomb and Cloning   48:33 - End Credits

A political fight over food assistance has sparked new debate about who deserves help in America. Esau, Justin Giboney, and Mike take a look at the SNAP situation and why Scripture consistently places God on the side of the poor and challenges us to do the same. Plus, Trump is posting about defending persecuted Christians in Nigeria, but is there more he should be doing to help? Then, Tucker Carlson's recent interview with Nick Fuentes has sparked a debate on the right about what counts as fringe beliefs these days. Also, why Justin is confused about bobbing for apples and Jennifer Lawrence.   0:00 - Theme Song   5:38 - Snap Program   17:15 - Christians in Nigeria and Nicki Minaj.   21:22 - Sponsor - Hello! My Name is Emmanuel - A Heartwarming children's book about a Haitian child learning to trust God by Emmanuel Jean Russell  https://a.co/d/8fPoRCL   30:15 - Mike's Corner: Nick Fuentes on Tucker Carlson   39:40 - Who's Jennifer Lawrence?   43:00 - End Credits   Don't Let Nobody Turn You Around: How the Black Church's Public Witness Leads Us Out of the Culture War by Justin Giboney: https://a.co/d/6dUSGTz

Esau, Skye, and Mike explore what happens when vows stop meaning anything. They discuss the Anglican Church's latest abuse allegations, the NBA's betting scandal, and the U.S. admiral who resigned rather than follow Trump's unlawful orders. What does integrity look like in an age when everyone's breaking their promises? When should one try to reform from within, and when is it time to leave? Also, Esau reveals his recurring nightmare as a kid and it involves...a pickup basketball game with the Hulk?   0:00 - Theme Song   1:30 - Skye's Scary Movies   7:05 - Anglican Church Sexual Abuse Scandal   21:08 - Sponsor - Hello! My Name is Emmanuel - A Heartwarming children's book about a Haitian child learning to trust God by Emmanuel Jean Russell  https://a.co/d/8fPoRCL   22:15 - US Attacks Boats in Caribbean Sea   34:52 - Sports Betting Scandal   50:12 - End Credits

Last week, OpenAI announced it will remove moral limits from ChatGPT and "let adults be adults," opening the door for adult content on the platform. Esau and Mike are joined by Malcolm Foley to talk about how AI is reshaping our view of relationships and making it easier to chase selfish desires resulting in destructive consequences. Then, they turn to the leaked racist group chat among young Republicans. Does it reveal anything new, or just prove that racism never disappeared—it just went underground? Finally, the "No Kings" protests drew millions last weekend, but what did they actually accomplish? Malcolm walks through Martin Luther King Jr.'s four-step process for nonviolent action and whether the No Kings protest measured up.

Critics have recently accused the Black Church of promoting "ethnic idolatry," but is that fair, or even historically accurate? Esau McCaulley is joined by Kaitlyn Schiess and producer Mike to unpack where the Black Church came from, why it exists, and what these critiques reveal about American Christianity. Then, is it ok to have joy in the midst of so much suffering and why did we talk about the Taylor Swift album when it is full of explicit material? Also, we break down the latest culture-war controversy over the Super Bowl halftime show.   0:00 - Theme Song   3:45 - Contract Demands for Holy Post   6:54 - Why is there a Black Church?   11:43 - Virality vs Conversation   16:25 - Kaitlyn Left Out of the Taylor Swift Episode?   20:30 - Is it Wrong to Be Happy?   28:16 - Talking About Secular Art   35:00 - Bad Bunny's American Half-Time   44:25 - End Credits

Federal immigration raids have swept through Chicago under "Operation Midway Blitz," leaving neighborhoods filled with fear, tear gas, and helicopters overhead. Esau McCaulley, producer Mike, and pastor Pricelis Perreaux-Domínguez ask how Christians should respond when law enforcement tactics strip away human dignity, what it means to defend the image of God in our neighbors, and how the cruelty of the Trump administration cannot be ignored. Then, what does the NFL's choice of Bad Bunny as the Super Bowl Halftime Performer say about belonging, hospitality, and who America welcomes to the stage? Also, social media usage is down everywhere but one country. Can you guess which one? And is The Princess Bride a perfect movie?   0:00 - Theme Song   0:15 - Producer Mike's Car Wreck   3:55 - What Movies Shouldn't Be Remade?   8:25 - Chicago's ICE Raids   16:37 - Apartment Raids   24:10 - Bad Bunny SuperBowl Controversy   36:13 - Social Media Use is Going Down?   Being a Sanctuary: The Radical Way for the Body of Christ to Be Sacred, Soft, and Safe by Pricelis Perreaux-Dominguez: https://a.co/d/gLSFArw

Taylor Swift just dropped her 12th studio album, and everyone's talking about it—including us. Esau, producer Mike, and our resident Swift correspondent Lindsey Goetz break down their first impressions, favorite tracks, and the themes that make the album worth more than just pop-culture buzz. What does it mean to stay tender in a world that hardens us? How do we rebuild trust after disappointment? And how can art, even from outside the church, help us recognize the beauty of grace in the rubble of our failures? Whether or not you're a Swifty, this conversation offers insight into why music matters for faith and why the questions in her songs are also questions for the people of God.   0:00 - Theme Song   1:45 - Esau's New Shirt   2:17 - Initial Impressions   8:42 - The Eras   18:53 - What's Taylor's Music About?   22:03 - Why Engage with Secular Art?   25:30 - Pushing Back on Taylor   29:57 - End Credits

Matt Forte is remembered as one of the Chicago Bears' all-time greats, but now he's tackling something different: helping people find purpose that lasts beyond their career. Esau McCaulley and producer Mike sit down with Forte to talk about his new book Staying in the Game: Making the Most of Every Season. Forte opens up about walking away from the NFL, redefining success, and why our identity can't be built on stats, fame, or jersey numbers.   0:00 - Theme Song   0:15 - Are Esau and Mike athletes?   6:15 - Why'd He Get Into Writing?   10:56 - Matt's Spiritual Development   18:20 - Sponsor - God's Colorful Kingdom Storybook Bible - Available now, a kid's storybook Bible from Esau McCaulley: https://a.co/d/hVy8aUl   19:15 - Resisting Vanity   25:17 - Ministering to Athletes   37:12 - End Credits   Stay in the Game: Making the Most of Every Season by Matt Forte: https://a.co/d/3AYKev7  

A foul ball at a Phillies game turns into a viral outrage story. Esau, Malcolm Foley, and producer Mike unpack why the internet can't tell the difference between minor annoyances and real injustice. Then, Florida decided to end the vaccine requirements for kids. What's really at stake in the parental rights debate? Also, the crew looks at how Disney has gone from a family vacation destination to now overly catering to the wealthy, and what that reveals about greed, inequality, and the middle class. And, Esau channels his inner Michael Jordan and pulls off his own flu game.   0:00 - Theme Song   6:20 - Woman Labeled, "Philly Karen"   15:56 - Sponsor - God's Colorful Kingdom Storybook Bible - Available now, a kid's storybook Bible from Esau McCaulley: https://a.co/d/hVy8aUl   18:40 - Mandated Vaccines and Regulation   26:32 - Invoking Slavery in Public Discourse   31:17 - Disney and the Middle Class   46:23 - End Credits

In the wake of Charlie Kirk's assassination, Americans are left reeling. The violence is shocking and upsetting, but it also reveals the depth of our country's divides. Esau is joined by Christina Edmondson of Truth's Table to reflect on what this moment means for the church and the wider culture. They consider the tension between honoring Kirk's dignity and confronting his harmful rhetoric, why Black Christians experience these events differently, and what it means to love enemies without excusing injustice.   0:00 - Theme Song   1:34 - Being a Pastor During the Charlie Kirk Assassination   11:38 - Threats Towards Black Schools   31:07 - Sponsor - God's Colorful Kingdom Storybook Bible - Available now, a kid's storybook Bible from Esau McCaulley: https://a.co/d/hVy8aUl   32:51 - Student Evaluations Disrupting Colleges?   48:45 - End Credits   Preorder Christina Edmondson's book now: https://a.co/d/6IVi10n