#085: Baptized In Tear Gas - A Conversation with Author & Abolitionist Rev. Elle Dowd

The world may be falling apart… but at least we’ve got theology, sarcasm, and mushroom zombies. Join Dillon & Desimber Rose this week as we welcome special guest author Matthew DiStefano to discuss his latest book, Saints, Sinners, and Clickers — a deep dive into morality, humanity, survival, and what The Last of Us saga can teach us about who we become when the world breaks down. Before we get to the clickers and cordyceps, we’ll kick off the night with our usual rundown of the latest headlines, current events, political chaos, religious absurdity, and whatever fresh madness the news cycle has coughed up this week. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The world is on fire, the headlines are unhinged, and somehow the church folks are still auditioning for the Book of Revelation. Join Dillon & Desimber Rose this week as: 🔥 Dillon presents the Fundamentalist Fuckwittery Candidate of the Week 🔥 Desimber tackles This MF of the Week 🔥 And together they attempt to navigate the breaking news cycle with at least ONE surviving brain cell and a shred of collective sanity. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week on The God Squad with Dillon & Desimber — we’re talking about what happens when the people in power keep rolling back rights while telling us everything is “fine.” The Supreme Court keeps carving pieces out of the Voting Rights Act, gas prices are squeezing working families dry, another endless war machine is spinning up around Iran, and somehow the loudest voices in American Christianity still seem more concerned with culture wars than actual human suffering. So what is the Church supposed to do in a moment like this? What does the Body of Christ look like when democracy feels fragile, equality is under attack, and truth itself is being auctioned off for political power? Tonight we’re diving into the headlines, the theology, the hypocrisy, and the hope. Because following Jesus was never supposed to mean sitting quietly while empire burns the neighborhood down.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Some faith conversations stay safe. This one… probably won’t. We’re sitting down with Elle Dowd, author of Baptized in Tear Gas — a voice unafraid to wrestle with what happens when faith collides with protest, justice, and the lived realities of oppression. Because let’s be honest… Following Jesus has never been about comfort. It’s about courage. This conversation will hold tension.. what happens when what is sacred becomes disruptive? What is reverent becomes unfiltered? Are we willing to show up when it actually costs something or have we gotten comfortable in the pews? Pull up. Lean in. And maybe… let it unsettle you a little. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week on The God Squad Podcast, Dillon sits down with author, publisher, and podcast powerhouse Keith Giles, alongside Mo Thomas and Brandy Anderson, for a conversation you don’t want to miss. They’re diving deep into his latest thought-provoking works — Quantum Gospel of Philip and Quantum Theology Vol. 1 — exploring faith, mystery, and the intersections of theology and consciousness in ways that just might stretch your perspective. Plus… what’s next for one of Quoir Publishing’s most prolific voices? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week on The God Squad Podcast, Desimber Rose & Dillon Naber Cruz sit down with one of the most important voices in the conversation around faith and power—Dr. Matthew D. Taylor. Fresh off his recent appearance on CNN with Jake Tapper, Dr. Taylor brings clarity, depth, and a much-needed reality check to the growing influence of Christian nationalism and extremist movements shaping both religion and politics in America. As a visiting scholar at Georgetown University Center on Faith and Justice and author of The Violent Take It by Force, he has spent years studying how theology gets weaponized—and what it means for democracy, justice, and the church. This conversation goes beyond headlines. Together, we’ll unpack: The dangerous rise of Christian extremism in modern politics How faith is being used to justify power, control, and even violence What it means to resist distorted theology while holding onto authentic faith And because it’s The God Squad, we’re also bringing it back to the people, connecting these big ideas to real-life questions of faith, justice, and accountability in today’s world. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week on The God Squad Podcast… we’re getting a little holy, a little heretical, and just uncomfortable enough to matter. Join Dillon Naber Cruz & Desimber Rose as they sit down with author Jeremy Steele to talk about his bold and timely new book, Rituals for Heretics—a guide for those who’ve outgrown rigid religion but still refuse to let go of the sacred. Let’s be honest—some of us didn’t lose our faith… we just lost our tolerance for bad theology, spiritual gatekeeping, and traditions that feel more like control than connection. So what happens next? Jeremy offers something better than deconstruction burnout: intentional, meaningful practices for rebuilding a spiritual life that actually breathes. Expect real talk about faith after certainty, spiritual habits without shame, and why being labeled a “heretic” might just mean you’re paying attention. A little snark. A lot of truth. And maybe—just maybe—a way forward. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week on The God Squad Podcast with Desimber Rose & Dillon Naber Cruz, we’re diving into a powerful listener question that gets personal, practical, and just a little uncomfortable (in the best way). Then we’re back with our signature segment: Breaking News, Bad Theology, unpacking Iran, Bondi, and Theology in the headlines that just doesn’t hold up. If you’ve ever wondered how faith intersects with the chaos of the world around us—then tune in!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week on The God Squad, we’re sitting down with one of the most provocative and inspiring voices in modern Christianity—Shane Claiborne. Shane is a best-selling author, activist, and co-founder of Red Letter Christians, a movement centered on living out the actual words of Jesus—the “red letters”—with courage, compassion, and conviction. From working alongside Mother Teresa in Calcutta to founding The Simple Way in Philadelphia, Shane has spent his life embodying a faith that refuses to stay comfortable. He’s been arrested advocating for the homeless, stood in war zones calling for peace, and challenged the Church to take Jesus seriously—not just spiritually, but socially and politically. This week's conversation will dive deep into what it really means to follow Jesus in a world shaped by nationalism, division, violence, and injustice. 🔥 Is Christianity meant to be a tool of power—or a path of sacrifice? 🔥 What happens when we actually live like Jesus meant what He said? 🔥 And how do we reclaim a faith rooted in love, justice, and radical mercy? If you’ve ever wrestled with the gap between the Church and Christ… this conversation is for you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This week on The God Squad, Dillon Naber Cruz and Desimber Rose sit down with Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg, the acclaimed Jewish scholar and author of On Repentance and Repair: Making Amends in an Unapologetic World. In a time when public apologies are often little more than PR damage control, Rabbi Ruttenberg brings ancient Jewish wisdom to a modern crisis of accountability. Drawing from the teachings of the medieval philosopher Maimonides, Rabbi Ruttenberg explains what real repentance actually requires—truth-telling, repair of harm, and meaningful transformation—not just empty words. Together, Dillon and Desimber explore how these principles apply not only to personal relationships but also to public life, politics, institutions, and faith communities. If you’ve ever wondered what genuine accountability looks like in a culture that often avoids it, this conversation offers both challenge and hope. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.