The Crusades have officially begun, and let's be honest: the crusaders have let us down a little bit. The People's Crusade was a nightmare, and the pillaging of Jewish communities in Rhineland was also not great. Okay it was pretty awful.

But what happens when an army of crusaders is led by a man with pious character, integrity, and (apparently) a head of flowing, golden locks? Well, we get today's feature: Godfrey of Bouillon. A key military figure of the First Crusade and first political leader of Jerusalem. 

Speaking of the Crusades, we want to hear from the people: How are you enjoying the Crusades series so far? Should we stay the pace, or take a break and cover some different topics? Let us know in the comments!!

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The stage is finally set: the Western Christians have heard the call to the Holy Land, and have responded with resounding affirmation.

The first of the waves of Europeans to head for Jerusalem wasn't quite what you'd imagine though. Led by the charismatic open-air preacher Peter the Hermit, a band of thousands of untrained soldiers headed East to participate in the early crusade. The results were...mixed to say the least. 

Join us as we explore the honestly kind of terrible People's Crusade. We'll also discuss whether we've been kind to the Anabaptists, what our next Chump Talk should be, and whether Taylor's mom needs to wear sunglasses. 

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Blah blah Byzantines, blah blah Seljuks, when do we get to the FIGHTING???

How about NOW. 

Well, sorta. 

Finally our story finds us back in the West, where Pope Urban II will stir affections far and wide, compelling the feudal Franks to storm the Holy Land. 

But what were the motivations of these war-hungry comrades? Fame? Piety? Dollar bills?? You'll have to tune in to find out.

You'll also find out all about skull shavers, Myrtle Beach, and whether golfing is cool yet (it's not). 

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Everyone loves a romance story. The initial flirting, then falling in love, then holding an ecumenical council where you promise to always love each other. 

But alas, then comes...the breakup. 

As we continue to set the stage for the Crusades, we are forced to answer one crucial question. Why don't the Byzantines and Western Christians like each other anymore? :( 

The answer is (probably) more complex than you'd think. So grab some popcorn and buckle up as we guide you through the messiest breakup in church history. 

Also, John talks about his new favorite theology teacher, Gavin Ortlund. Gavin if you're reading this, please be a guest on our show. You're a cool guy. 

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You know what they say: if you can't join them, beat them. 

And we're not taking any more cohosts on our show unfortunately. So if you want to get into the CRAZY LUCRATIVE world of church history, you're gonna have to start your own podcast. 

But don't actually do that, we can't really afford any more competition if we want to be financially stable anytime soon...

Anyways. 

This episode of chump talk dives into how we go about researching our topics, from finding reputable sources to sifting through the propaganda that pretends that it's real history. 

Also we talk about boy dinner, which sounds weird when you say it, Taylor. 

Bon appetit! 

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Today we discuss the third major character of our series on the Crusades, the mighty Byzantine Empire. 

Well...once mighty, that is. 

For centuries, the Byzantines have been tied up in military skirmishes with foes such as the Persians, Franks, and Seljuk Turks. 

Join us as Tom leads the gang through the highs and lows in the story of the Eastern Christian empire as we continue marching towards the dawn of the Crusades. 

We're always proud to be your favorite podcast to do laundry to. Thanks for listening! 

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Welcome to Islamic History for Chumps!

Wait a second, that's not right. *checks notes*

Welcome to week two of our long, loooong journey into the Crusades This week we'll discuss the second major character of this era, the Islamic armies. 

As we'll discuss in the episode, it's not quite as simple as discussing one Islamic group, as they existed across a wide spectrum ethnically, theologically, and culturally. So we've got a lot of ground to cover.

Be sure to head back to Episode 110 to hear the first episode of our Crusades series if you haven't already. 

And drop us a comment if you feel like being nice! 

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OUR CRUSADES SERIES IS HERE. 

They said we'd never do it. They said it couldn't happen. And they were almost right. 

Today, we set the stage for the massive undertaking of exploring the Crusades. We begin with an exploration of one of the three major characters in the Crusades, the Western European church.

We'll begin with a quick recap of the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and blitz through a few hundred years up to the fateful call-to-arms made by Pope Urban II in 1095.

It's a doozy. But we're psyched to explore this with you guys. 

And check us out on Youtube!

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Happy New Years, Chump Nation!

We haven't forgotten about the Crusades, trust us. 

But we wanted to bring in the new year with a good friend of ours, the mind behind Inspiring Philosophy, Mike Jones. 

We walk through his insights on the current state of Islam, whether secularism is working out for the Western world, and how apologetics can still work in 2026.

It's a good time! We promise you'll enjoy it. Thank you again to Mike and the Inspiring Philosophy team for all the sweet work that you do. 

Thank you so much for listening, we love you guys! 

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Rarely is one so compelled to gaze upward than when they enter the majestic Sistine Chapel. 

Featuring historically renowned art pieces such as the Creation of Adam and the Last Judgment, the Pope's private chapel is a spectacle that millions travel to witness every year. 

But did you know how it was built? Or how Michelangelo got roped into (sort of against his will) painting his now-famous ceiling? 

It's a pretty sweet story, and we're excited to share it with you. 

Join John, Tom, and Tay as we share the interesting lore behind Rome's beloved residence. Also, we'll talk about our Christmas gifts (shoutout to humidifiers) and whether zen gardens are kosher or not. 

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