With a freshman in high school, Amy and Christian Piatt are getting familiar with a whole new set of doubts. This got them thinking about how much doubt we’re surrounded by every day. But a question keep nagging at them…

Is our doubt getting worse?

From AI mimicry to feel-good stories gone bad, it seems like we have to question the very reality around us. So that’s what the Piatts do in this CultureCast.

Christian also interviews Austin Fischer, author of “Faith in the Shadows: Finding Christ in the Midst of Doubt,” Amy turns our hair gray (those of us who have any) with her weekly fear, and the recommendations help you clear both your head and mind.

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Words we use – or withhold – shape our culture, opinions and identities. From media and Church to the White House, our words are at war to claim attention more than ever before.

We examine Trump’s words (and silence) regarding Sen. McCain’s death, the Vatican’s response to recent abuse allegations, what various media outlets chose to cover after the Manafort and Cohen dramas, and whether preaching is a dying craft.

Our guest is Jonathan Merritt, author of “Learning to Speak God from Scratch,” in which he argues why the loss of sacred language is important, and what can be done.

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It’s been a year since the deadly “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville took place. What has happened since then?

Amy and Christian Piatt reflect on the impact of last year’s events, consider the recent “Unite the Right 2” rally in DC and consider MSNBC’s recent “Breaking Hate” special featuring former Hammerskin Nation leader and friend of the show, Christian Picciolini.

Christian interviews Clive Thompson, writer for Wired Magazine, about his recent article about how extremist groups are taking the war for your mind to the internet and how it’s impacting our children.

Plus we review Spike Lee’s new film, BlacKKKlansman and more.

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In this episode, Christian and Amy ask why white Evangelicals support Trump in such big numbers.

As much as 77% of white Evangelicals support Trump. Why do they continue to support him? Do progressives share anything with Evangelicals besides the name Christian? They talk about the moral compromise and rationalization of supporting Trump, the perceived loss of (white) identity, support for a populist movement, and comfort with a patriarchal order.

Plus, and update and continuation from the last episode on 3D printable guns and limiting free speech for the greater good in the age of the Internet.

Christian also talks with Tripp Fuller from the Homebrewed Christianity podcast and co-star of the new film The Road to Edmond. At the heart of the movie is an exploration of the tension between those parts of your religious upbringing that have blessed you, and the need to leave it behind, and how friendship can be the bridge between the two.

Hear about the movie, where the idea came from, how the movie provokes conversation, developing a character who is antagonistic towards organized religion, faithfully depicting people of faith on screen, and the real-life inspiration behind the story.

Plus, hear about what didn’t make it in the film, and the most offensive scene in the film. Click here if you’d like to host a screening in your town.

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In this episode of the CultureCast, Amy and Christian talk about Jeff Sessions and Romans 13, Thai cave rescues and babies in cages, and free speech and feminism.

You’ll hear about how a political cartoon sparked a debate about the difference between the efforts to rescue the soccer team trapped in a cave in Thailand and the relative inaction in regards to the children detained at the US border, Jeff Session’s defense of separating children using Romans 13, and drawing the line between what is and isn’t safe to share online.

Christian is joined by Erin Wathen, pastor outside of Kansas City, friend of the podcast, and author of the new book Resist and Persist: Faith and the Fight for Equality. She also runs the Irreverin blog on Patheos.

They chat about a feminist response to a culture of deeply ingrained misogyny, how patriarchy is so deeply embedded in our daily lives that it is beyond recognition, the roots of toxic masculinity, how millennial women find traditional feminism off-putting and building brides between different generations, the cross as a symbol of empire, the intersectional effects of patriarchy, and under representation of women in politics.

• what does addressing patriarchy look like in the age of Trump?
• was Jesus a feminist?
• has the #metoo movement gone too far?

Plus, the motherhood myth, how we understand the different cultural and religious norms for women, and what the faithful response to all of this would even look like.

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This is our first ever ‘Best Of’ episode, looking back at some of the best interviews from the 6 months… ish. These are just short clips from 7 different interviews, so if you want to listen to the whole thing just click on the links:

1. Carol Howard Merritt talks about overcoming religious trauma
2. Dr. Pamela Ayo Yetunde talks a little about her Theology of Prince project
3. Dr. Daniel White Hodge and the theology of hip-hop
4. Michael Poffenberger about why contemplation and activism need to go hand in hand
5. Bishop Elizabeth Eaton reflects on the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation
6. John Kiriakou about when doing good breaks the law
7. Ira Glass talks about the portrayal of Christians in the media

As always, you can go to patreon.com/culturecast to help support the podcast, and get some sweet bonus content.

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In this week’s episode, Christian and Amy talk about autism, families, and ableism in the church. Their son, Mattias, who is on the spectrum, comes on the podcast to talk a little bit about what it’s like being on the spectrum, some of the challenges he faces, the most difficult moments in his life, what has changed, his experience in a new school environment, and about the time he told everyone in his class about being on spectrum.

Amy and Christian also share their perspective as parents and ask Mattias to share a little bit about his talents and what advice he would give parents of kids with autism.

Christian also talks with Nathanael Welch, producer of the CultureCast and Homebrewed Christianity podcasts, about life with a sibling with austism. Nathanael shares about his brother Benjamin, who is profoundly disabled, when he first noticed Ben was different, the shifts in identity that took place as a result of growing up with a disabled sibling, the struggle with resentment,and  how his experiences taking care of Ben have changed the way he sees the world, other people, and God.

Plus, they also chat about the ways in which our society is inherently ableist, the failure of the church and faith communities to address the needs of people with disabilities, and how encountering people with disabilities can reveal those things we repress as a society

Learn more about Benjamin’s situation here.

You can help support the CultureCast! Just go to patreon.com/culturecast. If you become a patron (at any level) by May 5th, you will be entered to win a set of 3 Common English Bibles (the Study Bible, Women’s Bible, and Storyteller’s Bible). So sign up to support the podcast now!

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Live from Chicago at Fourth Presbyterian Church for the Associated Church Press Conference. Gregg Brekke is Christian’s co-host with guests J. Kwest and Dr. Daniel White Hodge.

Learn a little about the history of the Associated Church Press, and our sponsor Lutheran World Relief. If you go to lwr.org/coffee and use the promo code LWRCOFFEE, you’ll get 10% off your order of fair trade coffee.

In News of the World, Gregg and Christian take a look at fake news and the responsibility and role of media in a fake news culture.

• has trust in media been misplaced?
• are we getting more realistic about the relative truth of all media?
• how do we define truth in a post-fact culture?
• how can we tell the difference between legitimate news and propaganda?

Then, Daniel White Hodge, Associate Professor of Intercultural Communications at North Park University in Chicago, talks about the relationship between urban missions and colonialism, the lack of intercultural competencies in urban mission work, the prophetic voice in hip-hop, the history of hip-hop, how it has replaced the civil rights movement, and whether mainstream recognition of hip-hop is a good thing, or just another example of being co-opted by white culture.

Plus, you’ll get to hear two live performances by J. Kwest, and the 3 (or 7) hip-hop albums everyone needs to have in their collection.

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In this episode of the CultureCast, Amy gets to share some big news about her new position in Texas, and Christian gets his nerd credentials boosted by Ira Glass.

Amy and Christian look at the state of leadership in the church today.

• what does it take to truly lead the church in the 21st century?
• what does society need from a faith leader?
• how do faith leaders best care for people today?
• how do you lead people in something that doesn’t allow for certainty?
• and what about when you feel compelled to lead in a direction that you know will not be welcomed?

Up first, Christian interviews Amy in a pre-interview interview about what it takes to be a leader, the challenges of leading people who are leaders in other contexts, the problems with and tensions of being welcoming, and the lure of certainty.

Then, Christian talks with Ira Glass about his movie Come Sunday, now available on Netflix. From IMDB: Based on an episode of the public radio series This American Life, which centers on Bishop Carlton Pearson, a rising star among evangelicals until he was ostracized by his own church and declared a heretic after he started preaching that there is no Hell. 

Hear about what drew Ira, a self-proclaimed atheist, to this story and what about it made him want to make it into a movie, what excited him about the movie, the lack of mainstream movies or shows that accurately depict Christians and the importance of correcting that (especially given our current cultural moment), the tension between relationships and ideology, intent versus impact, his philosophy behind telling any story, what makes for a good story, and the role that This American Life plays in our society. Plus:

• have Christians gotten gotten a bad rap?
• have they earned that portrayal?
• is God a God of love, or of wrath?

The very first episode of the Surviving the Bible podcast is out! You can listen to it here. Make sure to subscribe and share.

Christian will be doing a live podcast in Chicago this Wednesday, April 18th. You can get more info and tickets here.

Amy’s book recommendation – Resist and Persist: Faith and the Fight for Equality by Erin Wathen

In this week’s episode, Christian and Amy are exploring some questions about church and get a little help from some friends.

• What does the church mean in the 21st century?
• What of our identity, systems, or traditions should be preserved or continued?
• What needs to die?
• How do you think the Christian religion will look differently a generation or two from now?

Topics and themes discussed: intersectionality, that is, the overlap of the labels we use for people, how differentiation and the safety that brings plays out in the church today, the ingredients for dehumanization present in the church, and the curiosity of church for those in a post-church culture.

Plus, holding the tension of difference and the cohesion of community, the symbol of the table, the frustration of trying to include people you disagree with, redeeming the loving mother image of God, and Amy shares some big news.

Don’t miss the CultureCast live in Chicago on Wednesday, April 18th. Click here for more information and tickets.

You can help support the CultureCast (and get some sweet perks) by going to patreon.com/culturecast

This week’s theme is wrestling with resurrection, transformation, the ways people are changing the world and when our best intentions go awry.

Amy talks about how she was considering leaving the church and Christianity completely, the ways in which she has changed over the past year, and how resurrection has manifested in her life. Christian talks about resurrection as transformation from potential to actuality, his resurrection agnosticism, and how our wounds can be the site of transformation. They also discuss the response from the students in Parkland, Florida, and the historical parallels to this movement.

Later, Christian interviews Jamie Wright, best known for her blog-turned-book, The Very Worst Missionary, which comes out today! Christian and Jamie talk about how they met, the crazy process of writing a book, about growing up in an atheist and agnostic family and how she ended up going to a synagogue, about wanting to be someone else and finding her identity in Christianity, and what happened when she dissented in her women’s small group.

Jamie also talks about her time as a missionary, the experience of moving to Costa Rica with her family, the decision to be honest about missions work and how hungry many Christians are for people to speak truthfully and honestly about reality. Plus, the top 5 reasons Christian missions suck.

Last, but not least, Recommendations and Fear of the Week are back, and Christian and Amy help us avoid some of the worst words of consolation, support, or advice that we give as people of faith.

You can help support the CultureCast (and score some sweet stuff) by going to patreon.com/culturecast.