Benton and Elane dive into a provocative discussion about the ultimate endgame of religious faith. They explore whether the primary goal of religion is to avoid eternal punishment and appease a capricious God, or if it is simply a framework for becoming a decent human being. From the eternal prosperity gospel of seeking heaven to the relief of suffering found in Buddhist ideals, they analyze the diverse motivations that drive spiritual practice.

Cocktail: The Rolls Royce

Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton's songs wherever you listen to music online.

Benton and Elane sip on a surprising Guava Daiquiri while considering what we mean when we use the phrase "acts of God". Tornadoes and typhoons? Desert blooms and natural beauty? Or something else? God's actions often look much different than we expect....so how do we know when God's at work in the world....?

Cocktail: Guava Daiquiri

Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton's songs wherever you listen to music online.

Benton and Elane explore the difference between hair-trigger outrage and well-ordered anger. They unpack the harmful religious conditioning that taught many to suppress their anger and offer practical advice on how to combat political exhaustion by channeling frustration into a single, constructive cause to effect real change. All while sipping a mezcal-based cocktail.

Cocktail: La Ultima Palabra

Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton's songs wherever you listen to music online.

As a society, it seems we are constantly on the verge of outrage. Benton and Elane talk about how a loss of everyday civility and humor keeps us all on guard instead of being open to proactively stepping into conversations. They offer some practical advice on how to lower the temperature and see the humanity in everyone while sipping an imperfect cocktail.

Cocktail: Smoked Cherry Margarita

Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton's songs wherever you listen to music online.

NEW EPISODE! Benton and Elane have a conversation sparked by Benton's brand-new song, "Take the Throne," which leads them to unpack traditional Christian imagery about kingship, power, and the maturity it takes to surrender control. It's a thoughtful discussion on the ongoing process of deconstruction, the dangers of making yourself the final arbiter of your own kingdom, and learning how to hold onto the foundational pieces of your religious past without throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

Cocktail: Basil Smash

Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton's songs wherever you listen to music online.

"Take The Throne" Words & music by Benton Stokes ©2026 Songs From The Basement/BMI. All Rights Reserved. Used By Permission.

NEW EPISODE! Elane and Benton respond to a listener's letter expressing her trouble with worshipping God. She poses the question, "Does God need our constant fawning?" Which leads to the question, "Is God a narcissist?" A lively conversation about what worship is (and isn't), what makes someone a narcissist, and why lime and artichoke work so well together in a cocktail.

Cocktail: The Lime & The Artichoke

Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton's songs wherever you listen to music online.

NEW EPISODE! Benton and Elane open Season 7 with a conversation about Jesus' Resurrection. Why didn't everyone recognize Jesus after he left the tomb? How could he walk through walls? How important is the Resurrection to what happened on the Cross? All these questions and more, plus a tasty rum cocktail.

Cocktail: The Lazarus Soul

Note: When they recorded this episode, Benton and Elane thought this would be The Season Of Video Podcasting. They found that having the camera on made them less honest and spontaneous, so ditched the idea. Let your visual imaginations run wild instead!

Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton's songs wherever you listen to music online.

Elane and Benton reflect on what Christmas means to them this year while enjoying a classic holiday cocktail.

Cocktail: Tom & Jerry

Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton's songs wherever you listen to music online.

What is purpose, where does it come from, and why is it so important? Has it already been chosen for us? Are our life stories already written down in God's Big Book Of Everything? Elane and Benton ponder purpose, callings, and the will of God while sipping a new cocktail.

Cocktail: The Inglenook

Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton's songs wherever you listen to music online.

There's only one reality, but each of us experiences it differently. That can be a useful—even a beautiful—thing. But it can also be a barrier to consensus, even conversation. And can wreak havoc around holiday tables. Benton and Elane chat about the reality of…reality.

Cocktail: Thanksgiving Cocktail

Theme song: "Moving On (Feels Pretty Good)" recorded by Benton Stokes. Find Benton's songs wherever you listen to music online.