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Brad discusses the growing trend of young men, particularly in the 18-35 age group, trending conservative and the impact of radicalization on masculinity and gender roles. He is joined by Reverend Angela Denker, author of 'Disciples of White Jesus: The Radicalization of American Boyhood,' to explore how young men are being influenced by online spaces, conservative churches, and retrograde masculinities.

The conversation includes insights into narratives shaping young men, experiences of radicalization, and the intersection of these issues with Christian nationalism. The episode also touches on personal stories, such as that of Dylann Roof, who committed a white supremacist massacre, and Caleb, a former white supremacist turned pastor, highlighting the complex pathways of radicalization and de-radicalization.

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Brad and Dan dive into Cory Booker's historic filibuster, analyzed in the context of the Democrats' struggles to regroup, the election of a liberal judge in Wisconsin despite significant funding from Elon Musk, and the broader political landscape. Additionally, personal anecdotes and light-hearted conversations interweave with the heavier topics, offering listeners a mix of economic policies, political strategies, and cultural reflections.

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In the first episode of 'Red State Religions,' host Dr. Gillian Frank explores the progressive religious communities in conservative areas, focusing on the Unitarian Universalist ministers and LGBTQ couples who participated in same-sex marriage ceremonies in Birmingham, Alabama. The episode highlights Reverend Luna Jensen Boad's and Reverend Lne Broussard's roles in these historic events, detailing the political and religious struggles leading to and following the legalization of same-sex marriage. Personal stories from Kay and Andrew illustrate the impact of finding liberal religious spaces in a conservative environment. The episode examines the intersection of faith and social justice, unraveling the complex history of marriage equality and the enduring presence of liberal religion in the Bible Belt.

• 00:00 Introduction to Red State Religions
• 00:51 A Historic Day in Alabama
• 05:30 The Path to Marriage Equality
• 15:53 Personal Stories of Love and Struggle
• 25:27 Finding Community in Unitarian Universalism
• 33:10 Conclusion and Next Episode Preview

Red State Religions is produced by the Institute for Religion, Media, and Civic Engagement with generous funding from the Henry Luce Foundation.

• Created by Dr. Gillian Frank
• Producer: Andrew Gill
• Executive Producer: Dr. Bradley Onishi
• Audio Engineer and Music: R. Scott Okamoto
• Production Assistance: Kari Onishi
• 
  

For more research-based podcasts and public scholarship visit www.axismundi.us.

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Practitioners of high-control Christianity present the “core” teachings of the tradition as being about God’s unconditional love and acceptance of human beings. This is the “public-facing” presentation of high-control Christianity. But when we take a deeper look within high-control Christianity, we encounter a bait-and-switch. This accepting, affirming Christian vision is replaced by one focused on obligation structured around emotions like fear and guilt. How does this take place? And how does this serve the purposes of high-control Christianity? Take a listen to this week’s episode to find out!

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In this final installment of the series, Brad discusses the concept of 'toxic empathy' as introduced by Ali Beth Stuckey in her book and critiques its impact on empathy within Christian and nationalistic contexts. He explores how empathy is being demonized by figures such as Elon Musk and Joe Rigney, and addresses the broader implications of reducing empathy in society, particularly towards marginalized groups. The episode also highlights the importance of critical thinking and the humanities in fostering a more empathetic and understanding society.

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This episode of 'Straight White American Jesus' explores recent major political scandals, specifically the SignalGate scandal involving members of the Trump administration inadvertently adding journalist Jeffrey Goldberg to a Signal chat containing sensitive military information.

Brad and Dan analyze the implications of this incident on national security, foreign policy, and Trump's leadership. They also discuss how this reflects broader issues of competence and loyalty within the administration.

Additionally, they draw connections between this scandal and themes of Christian masculinity and governance models. The episode concludes with updates on related deportation scandals and reflections on sources of hope amidst current events.

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On April 16th of 2021, Clay Clark, a far-right conspiracy theorist and self-proclaimed "alpha toxic male," from Tulsa, Oklahoma held his first "ReAwaken America" tour—an event that began in Oklahoma as a protest against COVID-19 restrictions and quickly grew into a nationwide platform for nationalism, so-called "patriotic streetfighters," and prophetic politics. In the buckle of the proverbial Bible belt, Clark created a cavalcade of Trumpian support, attracting actor Jim Caviezel, former U.S. national security advisor, Michael Flynn, Eric Trump, son of President Donald J. Trump, and many more Republican luminaries. When you think of international media hubs, you might think of Los Angeles, California, or New York City. When you think of places that are political powerhouses, Washington, DC, is an obvious choice. This week, Dr. Leah Payne speaks with award-winning journalist and professor Caleb Gayle and Dr. Daniel Isgrigg about a media center and political force that may not be top of mind: Tulsa, Oklahoma. Long known for its oil wealth, Black Wall Street, and the 1921 massacre, Tulsa is also an unappreciated epicenter of the global Charismatic and Pentecostal movement. It’s a city where televangelists built empires, where charismatic theology shaped politics, and where spiritual power and political influence are deeply intertwined. But how did a landlocked city known for oil become a transnational hub for charismatic media making and far right political action? Find out on the Season 2 finale of Spirit & Power.

Links:

• We Refuse to Forget: A True Story of Black Creeks, American Identity, and Power, by Caleb Gayle
• Pentecost In Tulsa: The Revivals and Race Massacre that Shaped the Pentecostal Movement in Tulsa, by Daniel Isgrigg
• “‘I Think All the Christians Get Slaughtered’: Inside the MAGA Road Show Barnstorming America” by Sam Kestenbaum
• Join Leah & many other scholars, activists, and artists considering music the rise of Pentecostal and charismatic Christianity at the 2025 Summer Institute for Global Charismatic & Pentecostal Studies at Candler School of Theology at Emory University, May 21-23 in Decatur, GA. Registration is free!

Join Leah & many other scholars, activists, and artists considering music the rise of Pentecostal and charismatic Christianity at the 2025 Summer Institute for Global Charismatic & Pentecostal Studies at Candler School of Theology at Emory University, May 21-23 in Decatur, GA. Registration is free!

Spirit and Power is produced by the Institute for Religion, Media, and Civic Engagement with generous funding from the Henry Luce Foundation.

• Created by Dr. Leah Payne
• Producer: Andrew Gill
• Executive Producer: Dr. Bradley Onishi
• Audio Engineer and Music: R. Scott Okamoto
• Production Assistance: Kari Onishi

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What is “love-bombing,” and how does it operate to reinforce high-control Christianity? How is it used in an attempt to discredit those undergoing faith deconstruction, whose questions and critiques threaten to undue high-control religion? And how does it operate to insulate preserve the institutions and practices of high-control religion? Listen to this week’s episode to here Dan’s answers to these and other questions.

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In this episode of Straight White American Jesus, we explore the troubling idea—promoted in some evangelical circles—that empathy is a sin. The conversation centers around Joe Rigney’s book The Sin of Empathy, unpacking its flawed biblical and theological claims. We examine how this perspective targets women in particular, framing empathy as a weakness that leads believers astray.

The episode also connects this mindset to broader cultural issues such as feminism, emotional intelligence, and traditional gender roles within Christian communities. Finally, we discuss the implications of this view on topics like transgender rights and abortion—and point out the striking absence of New Testament support in Rigney’s arguments.

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Brad speaks to Professor Anthea Butler, a captain in the Biden campaign's "Catholics for Biden" initiative, and chair of the Religious Studies department at the University of Pennsylvania. They discuss the details of Trump's COVID diagnosis and how his recklessness is fueled by four things: 

• Prosperity Gospel positive thinking, 
• racism, 
• capitalism, 
• hypermasculinity. 

These themes ground a conversation that ranges from Trump's lack of empathy for Americans, especially BIPOC, who have contracted the virus, his supporters' call for empathy after telling the nation that it was okay if "grandma dies" to save the economy, the conservative Evangelicals and Catholics who held a superspreader prayer rally at the Lincoln Memorial, and the belief that whiteness is a shield against the iniquities that plague other people.

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In this episode of Straight White American Jesus, Brad and Dan discuss a range of controversial issues. They start with the ongoing mass deportations of Venezuelan nationals under the Trump administration, ignoring a judge's injunction.

They talk about the use of tattoos as markers for gang affiliation, comparing the treatment of Venezuelan migrants to that of Pete Hegseth, who has Crusader tattoos associated with white nationalism.

The episode also covers the recent removal of historical references, including tributes to Jackie Robinson and the Navajo code talkers, from government websites under Pete Hegseth's directive. Finally, they discuss Trump's latest interactions with Vladimir Putin, highlighting Trump's continued excessively amiable stance.

The guys wrap up with reasons for hope, including a court ruling preventing the deportation of an Indian-born Georgetown fellow and a middle school teacher's brave stand against mandated content-neutral posters in Idaho.

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