eX-skeptic

What would it take for an atheist to become a Christian? Thirteen years ago, that question led Jana Harmon to study the lives of 50 former atheists. What she discovered were deeply human journeys shaped by relationships, experiences, evidence, and a willingness to reconsider what was true. Six years ago, those stories became the heart of eX-skeptic.

In this special anniversary episode, Jana reflects on the beginnings of the podcast, the enduring questions behind every story, and the unexpected ways people have found faith in Jesus Christ. 

Whether you’ve listened from the beginning or have only recently joined us, thank you for being part of six years of honest questions, surprising discoveries, and unlikely stories of belief.

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00:00 – Celebrating Six Years of eX-skeptic

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BONUS 6th Anniversary

October 30th, 2026

JANA HARMON: Hello and welcome to eX-skeptic, where we hear unlikely stories of belief from people who once rejected God in Christianity but changed their minds. I'm your host, Jana Harmon, and today's episode is a special one because today marks the sixth anniversary of eX-skeptic. So, I wanted to take a few minutes to look back at where this all began, and most of all, to say thank you.

The journey actually began 13 years ago when I started doctoral research investigating the lives of 50 former atheists who become Christians. I had the question, what would it take for an atheist to become a Christian? I wanted to understand how and why they formed their beliefs against God, what caused those beliefs to change, and ultimately what they found in Christ and how their lives had changed as a result.

What I discovered was nothing short of amazing. These were deeply human journeys involving questions of relationships, experiences and evidence, doubts and desires. Each story was different, but I began to notice something.

Resistance could give way to curiosity, assumptions long held could be reconsidered, and people who had once dismissed belief in God could become willing to ask again what is actually true.

So, when the C.S. Lewis Institute asked me to begin a podcast in 2020, I knew exactly what I wanted to do. These stories were simply too good to keep to myself.

I knew that skeptics and seekers could hear themselves in these stories. Christians could better understand someone they loved who didn't believe, and all of us could learn from people who had been willing to question what they believed and pursued truth wherever it led. And so, six years ago, we began telling their stories.

Six years later, what strikes me is that while culture changes, our deepest questions don't. Why are we here? Does my life have meaning? Is there a God? Can I know him? Is there anything true and solid enough to build my life upon? Again and again, we've heard people wrestle honestly with those questions and find something or someone they didn't expect.

Augustine famously wrote that our hearts are restless until they find their rest in God, and in many ways, that's what these stories have shown us. We've seen restless hearts finding rest. We've seen searching minds finding truth. We've seen people discovering a story large enough to make sense of the world around them and the longings within them.

And that's why eX-skeptic still exists today: to commend faith in Jesus Christ through the stories and advice of those who once rejected it. When I recorded the first episode six years ago, I certainly didn't know where all of this would lead. What began as a podcast has grown into a broader platform of stories and resources through YouTube, our website, and writings such as The eX-skeptic Guides and Playlists.

And there's something remarkable to celebrate. Of roughly 1 million podcasts that began in 2020, only about 2.5% of podcasts are still actively publishing today. And thanks to you, eX-skeptic is among them and has remained among the top 1% of all podcasts globally over the past five years. That is according to Listen Notes.

I'm deeply grateful to every guest who has trusted us with their story, and to every one of you who have listened, watched, read, and shared them.

I'm also grateful for the people who make it possible. Ashley Kelfer, our producer, Wendy Grounds, and Lori Burleson, the eX-skeptic team. We're thankful to our partners at the CS Lewis Institute Podcast Network, and we're so grateful for Caleb, Isabella, and Sean at The Podcast Upload who make all of the production and promotion possible.

And above all, I'm grateful to God because behind each of these stories is the One who knows us and loves us, who meets us in our questions, draws us towards himself, and guides us into knowing what is true and real.

A lot has changed in six years, but what matters most has not. The truth has not changed. Jesus hasn't changed, and people are still searching.

So, thank you for being a part of six years of questions, journeys, doubts, discoveries, and unlikely stories of belief. There are still so many stories left to tell, and we hope you'll continue to journey with us. And if eX-skeptic has encouraged you, challenged you, helped you, or someone you love, we'd love to hear from you.

Please email us at [email protected]. Thank you so much for being a part of eX-skeptic, and we look forward to seeing you next time, where we'll hear another unlikely story of belief.

What if the reason you struggle to believe is because life has taught you not to trust?

Dr. Jana Harmon sits down with Robert Hotchkin, a former skeptic and spiritual seeker, whose journey took him far beyond traditional religion. Raised in a loving but largely non-religious home, Robert eventually embraced a worldview marked by cynicism, intellectualism, and deep disappointment. Determined to find meaning and transcendence, he explored the New Age movement, Eastern philosophies, meditation, altered states of consciousness, and countless spiritual practices.

Yet no experience could satisfy the longing that remained. 

Then, in the solitude of the Montana mountains, after years of searching and a lifetime of hidden pain, Robert encountered something he could neither explain away nor forget, the overwhelming love of God. Listen to learn how Robert explored the goodness and truth of God.

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Guest Bio:

Robert Hotchkin is an author, speaker, and ministry leader dedicated to helping believers walk in the supernatural realities of life in Christ. With more than twenty years in full-time ministry, Robert focuses on equipping Christians to experience the fruit, gifts, and power of the Holy Spirit in everyday life.

Based in Arizona with his wife, Robert ministers internationally through teaching, media, and discipleship, encouraging believers to reveal the reality of Jesus to the world around them.

Resources Mentioned:

00:00 – Introduction: A Skeptic's Encounter with God

Connect with eX-skeptic:

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Email info: [email protected]

Ep. 155

October 23, 2026

For years, Nate Hanson was deeply committed to Christianity. Influenced by voices like Francis Chan and immersed in ministry, he devoted his life to radical discipleship and church planting. But after years of burnout, disappointment, and difficult questions, cracks began to appear in the faith he had always known. What followed was nearly a decade of public deconstruction through his podcast Almost Heretical, where he wrestled honestly with doubt, theology, and whether Christianity could withstand serious scrutiny.

Yet what Nate expected to be the end of faith became the beginning of a new search for truth.

In this episode, Nate shares how engaging skeptical arguments, historical scholarship, and the evidence surrounding Jesus led him to reconsider the very faith he thought he had left behind.

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Nate Hanson is the co-host of Faith Lab, a podcast dedicated to exploring thoughtful Christianity and helping people wrestle honestly with questions of faith. For nearly a decade, he hosted the popular podcast Almost Heretical, where he openly chronicled his own journey through deconstruction and engaged in conversations surrounding doubt, theology, and spirituality.

Today, Nate seeks to create space for gracious conversations and to help skeptics, doubters, and seekers thoughtfully engage the truth claims of Christianity.

Nate is also a tech professional, specializing in AI and coding. He lives in Oregon with his wife and children.

eX-skeptic Guides: https://exskeptic.org/bookstore/

Nate’s Resources:

Nate’s Recommended Resources:

00:00 Why Nate Returned to Christianity

Website: https://exskeptic.org/

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What happens when the scientific story you're given seems to leave no room for God?

Dr. Brian Miller grew up with a belief in God, but everything changed when he entered MIT and later pursued a PhD in physics at Duke University. Surrounded by a scientific culture that viewed God as unnecessary and influenced by thinkers like Richard Dawkins, Brian gradually embraced a materialistic view of reality.

But the deeper he explored science, the more questions emerged.

Could naturalism explain meaning, consciousness, or the origin of life? Why did the universe appear so finely tuned? And what if the story he had accepted about science and faith was itself incomplete?

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Dr. Brian Miller is a physicist who studied physics and engineering at MIT and earned his PhD in complex systems physics from Duke University. He serves as a researcher with the Discovery Institute, where his work focuses on intelligent design, the origin of life, and the evidence for purpose and engineering in biology.

Dr. Miller was also a lead technical consultant for Stephen Meyer’s bestselling book The Return of the God Hypothesis. Passionate about helping people think deeply about faith and science, he speaks and writes on topics including cosmology, biology, philosophy, and the historical reliability of Christianity.

eX-skeptic Guides: https://exskeptic.org/bookstore/

Brian’s Resources:

•        Book: The God Hypothesis, Stephen Meyer (Brian Miller, lead technical consultant)

•        Book: God’s Not Dead, Rice Broocks (Brian Miller, technical consultant)

Brian’s Recommended Resources:

•        Website: https://intelligentdesign.org/

•        Website: Discovery Institute: www.discovery.org

•        Website: Reasons to Believe, Hugh Ross: www.reasons.org

•        David Snoke: www.christianscientific.org

•        Craig Blomberg: https://theopedia.com/craig-blomberg

•        Jonathan McLatchie: www.jonathanmclatchie.com

•        Talk about Doubts: www.talkaboutdoubts.com

•        Lydia McGrew: www.lydiamcgrew.com

•        William Lane Craig: www.reasonablefaith.org

•        Rice Broocks, SALT training: https://www.thegodtest.org

0:00 – Can Science Lead You to God?

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What happens when suffering shapes your picture of God?

For Paul Snyder, the God he rejected as a young boy seemed harsh, distant, and impossible to please. Growing up amid fear, family brokenness, rejection, and disappointment, he concluded that if God existed at all, He certainly wasn't good.

By the age of twelve, Paul had reached a point of despair. Filled with anger and skepticism, he did something many people secretly feel but rarely admit. He challenged God directly.What happened next changed everything.

Paul shares how an unexpected encounter with the love of Christ transformed his understanding of God and set him on a lifelong journey of faith and service. 

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Paul Snyder is the president of Global Bridges, an international ministry serving persecuted believers, vulnerable children, and marginalized communities in some of the world's most restricted nations. Continuing a legacy of gospel ministry that spans generations, Paul is passionate about demonstrating the love of Christ through practical compassion and humanitarian aid. He is also the co-author of Love Shines, a book highlighting the importance of Scripture and the extraordinary story behind the ministry's work among persecuted Christians around the world. Once an atheist shaped by suffering and disappointment, Paul now dedicates his life to helping others encounter the hope and love he found in Jesus. 

eX-skeptic Guides: https://exskeptic.org/bookstore/

00:00 Paul’s “Liquid Love” Encounter

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Growing up in a deeply Christian home, Shayla Perez assumed that faith was simply part of her family tradition. But as she entered her teenage years, skepticism began to grow. Questions about suffering and whether Christianity was actually true led her into online atheist communities and eventually to reject the faith she grew up around.

What began as rebellion soon became a sincere search for truth. As Shayla wrestled with the claims of atheism and the intellectual foundations of Christianity, she discovered something she had never expected.

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Guest Bio:

Shayla Perez is a Christian speaker and content creator passionate about helping the next generation discover the truth of Christianity. After a season of skepticism and involvement in online atheist communities as a teenager, she returned to faith through apologetics, philosophy, and a personal encounter with Christ. Today, she reaches Gen Z and Gen Alpha through social media, youth events, and churches, engaging honest questions about faith and culture.

 Resources Mentioned:

eX-skeptic Guides: https://exskeptic.org/bookstore/

Shayla’s Recommended Resources:

Shayla’s Social Resources:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shayla_j_perez/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Shayla_Perez

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shayla_j_perez

Connect with eX-skeptic:

Website: https://exskeptic.org/

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00:00 Introduction: "God, If You're Real..."

For decades, Charles Murray assumed what many educated people quietly assume - that religion belonged to an earlier age and that science had rendered belief in God unnecessary. He wasn't hostile to faith. He simply left it behind.

But over time, questions he had never fully examined began pressing in. Why is there something rather than nothing? Why does the universe appear so finely tuned for life? Can consciousness really be reduced to the brain? And what should we make of the historical claims surrounding Jesus?

In this conversation, author and social scientist Charles Murray shares the long, intellectual journey that led him to reconsider the reality of God and the claims of Christianity.

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Charles Murray is a social scientist, author, and public intellectual known for his work on culture, social policy, and human flourishing. A longtime scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, he has written widely discussed books including Coming Apart, The Bell Curve, and Losing Ground. His recent book, Taking Religion Seriously, reflects on his intellectual journey from secular indifference toward a growing openness to belief in God and the significance of religion in human life.

eX-skeptic Guides: https://exskeptic.org/bookstore/

Charles’ Resources:

Charles Recommended Resources:

Website: https://exskeptic.org/

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00:00 The Fine-Tuning Argument for God

Is Christianity true because it works, or does it work because it's true?

For years, Ellie Long was convinced that Christianity was nothing more than a story people used to cope with life. Raised in a secular environment and embracing atheism at a young age, she wrestled with despair, depression, and the belief that life ultimately had no purpose beyond birth and death.

But when she began encountering Christians whose lives were marked by joy, authenticity, forgiveness, and hope, a question emerged that she could no longer ignore:

Was Christianity merely helpful, or was it actually true?

🎙️ Love the show? Support the mission and explore eX-skeptic merch here: https://ex-skeptic-shop.fourthwall.com/

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 Guest Bio:

Ellie Long is a young missionary from Allentown, Pennsylvania. She grew up in a post-Christian culture and did not have experiences with Christians in her everyday life. She unexpectedly encountered God halfway through her time at the University of Alabama, and after a period of hesitancy and questioning, believed and began working in a local church and pursuing the mission field after her graduation in 2024. She recently spent time in Southeast Asia, working with an unreached people group in a Muslim culture, and is now considering where she is going to bring the gospel to next. 

Resources Mentioned: 

eX-skeptic Guides: https://exskeptic.org/bookstore/

Ellie’s Recommended Resources:

•        Wes Huff (www.wesleyhuff.com) on Joe Rogan’s podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwyAX69xG1Q

•        Gavin Ortlund, Truth Unites (https://truthunites.org)

•        Book: Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus, Nabeel Quereshi

 Connect with eX-skeptic:

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00:00 Is Christianity Helpful—or True?

What happens when anger, disappointment, and painful family experiences shape your understanding of God?

For Rich Robison, faith wasn't something he was searching for. Raised in a fractured home and moving 26 times before graduating high school, Rich eventually rejected God altogether. His anger toward his earthly father became anger toward any heavenly Father, and atheism seemed like the obvious conclusion.

But an unexpected encounter during a concert changed everything.

What followed was a journey through different world religions, hard intellectual questions, and a growing fascination with the person of Jesus. Along the way, Rich discovered that Christianity's message was unlike anything else he encountered, not a story of striving to reach God, but the story of God coming to us.

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Guest Bio:

Rich Robison blends engineering leadership, entrepreneurship, and faith. For the past two decades, he’s been navigating the software industry through tech companies big and small. A serial cofounder, Rich has helped launch multiple companies with successful exits. He sees his work as a mission field in itself.  Based in Northern Colorado, Rich has been married for 22 years, and he’s the proud dad of two daughters, Abby and Chloe, and the owner of three dogs, Porter, Stout, and Hefeweizen. 2026 year marks his 30th spiritual birthday!

 Resources Mentioned:

Rich’s Resources:

•        LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richrobison/

•        Email: [email protected]

 Connect with eX-skeptic:

Website: https://exskeptic.org/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/exskeptic

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/exskeptic

Twitter: http://x.com/exskeptic

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Email info: [email protected]

00:00 The Moment I Knew God Was Real