Growing Up Christian

This week we’re excited to welcome back our good friend George Azar, author of “My Gay Church Days: Memoir of a Closeted Evangelical Pastor Who Eventually Had Enough,” and host of the My Gay Church Days podcast! We discuss some of his public appearances after releasing his book, the strange pushback he sometimes receives from unexpected places, what it was like growing up in the post-9/11 US as a kid of Lebanese descent, and finally we take a bite out of the Infancy Gospel of James, and one of the weirdest purity tests ever put on paper. George is the absolute best, and he’s releasing a “Born Again” revision of his book in the very near future! Follow him on Instagram, Facebook, and X (@mygaychurchdays), subscribe to the My Gay Church Days podcast (new season coming soon), and for more information about his updated book, go to www.mygaychurchdays.com!

Stand aside, Uncle Sam, because Father God (speaking directly through His chosen medium, The Gospel Coalition) wants you to take up the cross and fill out a participation form for “Bring Your Bible to School Day!” If by school, you’re referring to my aunt’s breakfast nook, then I’m in. We chat about a fascinating documentary on HBO called Telemarketers about Civic Development Group – a really gross company that Sam spent a few months working for in Virginia. Aaaand the good ol’ Catholic Church… jumping through every hoop in the world to hoard their wealth instead of compensating the victims of their disgusting clergymen. Subscribe to our YouTube channel, as we’ll be posting video versions of the podcast there regularly!

Our guest this week this week is comedian Jeremy Alder! I’d be willing to bet that you’ve seen clips from his hilarious standup special “Purity Pants,” and if not, you’re missing out. Jeremy is a homeschool kid from Texas that experienced some very interesting segments of Evangelicalism as his family’s faith developed and changed, and we had a blast trading stories! Follow Jeremy on Instagram (@jeremy.alder), TikTok, and X (@JeremyAlder), check out his comedy special “Purity Pants” available through Dry Bar Comedy, and go to www.jeremyalder.com for live dates!

This week we’re continuing our exploration of the Apocrypha with the story of Susanna, which is like an ancient Law & Order SVU episode written by a moron. BUT FIRST: we have to talk about our favorite pocket constitution-toting, gun-slinging, crotch-groping barfly of senator, Loren Boebert! Centennial State spitfire made headlines over the weekend after causing a ruckus at a Denver theater, and it’s a story too funny to gloss over… Enjoy the show, and be sure to check out Casey’s guest appearance on Childlike at Best with Mike Valdes, streaming now!

Our guest this week is musician and activist Tommy Green of Run Against Traffic! You may know Tommy from his time spent with bands xDeathstarx, Sleeping Giant, or his current project HolyName. He’s been an important figure in the metal and hardcore scene for a long time, but his primary focus nowadays is Run Against Traffic, an organization that “exists to utilize the transformational power of running & community events to Rescue, Rehabilitate, and Restore the victims of human trafficking in our world.” Trafficking has become and unnecessarily controversial topic, as of late, but Tommy and his wife Krissi Green are doing great work helping vulnerable people get the support they need to get on their feet. We are big believers in their mission, and we really enjoyed talking to Tommy! To learn more about Run Against Traffic, visit their website: www.irunagainsttraffic.com, and follow them on Instagram, YouTube, and X (@runagainsttraffic). Follow HolyName on Instagram and X (@holynamewxrship), and follow Tommy on Instagram (@tommyagainsttraffic) and X (@tommyrevgiant).

We just can’t get enough of the Apocrypha, right now, so this week we’re diving into the Book of Tobit! This is a very strange story that none of us had ever heard of, but there’s a lot of wisdom to be gleaned from it. We’ll be covering practical topics such as the medicinal and spiritual properties of aquatic offal, strange women and how to avoid them, the dangers of avian excrement, cadaver handling, and… alms? Yes, alms. There is so much to glean from this fascinating story! Someday when you’ve pieced your career, marriage, familial relationships, and finances back together utilizing the eternal principals of Tobit, remember ol’ Sam, Casey, and Jeremiah, and leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts. Go with grace, brethren.

P.S. Drop what you’re doing and listen to “I’M SO PROUD OF YOU,” the latest release from our friends in MIGHTY! Follow them on Instagram and Twitter (@mightytheband)

This week we’re joined by comedy duo Casey Grim and Adam McLaughlin, who cohost the A Couple of N3rds podcast! This conversation was one of the funniest we’ve ever had on this show, and it goes in every direction. Topics of discussion include hallmarks of a grandma house, scootering under the influence, teenage caloric intake journals, and a Catholic buyer’s guide to feline indulgences. We did a lot of giggling, and you will, too! Follow Adam and Casey on Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook (@acoupleofn3rds), stream their show on all podcast platforms, and if you’re in the Buffalo area, check out www.acoupleofn3rds.com for live shows near you!

This week we’re jumping back into the Apocrypha with The Apocalypse of Peter! Apparently this is one of the books that came the closest to being included in the Protestant Bible that we all know and love, and it centers around Peter’s visions of Heaven and Hell. You’re not going to believe this, but the vaaast majority of the book is dedicated to cataloguing elaborate tortures for specific sins, as well as a few sentences about the glorious paradise that is Heaven. And for anyone who feels like women don’t get enough screen time in the canonical Bible, you’ll be happy to know that much of The Apocalypse of Peter centers around the ladies! Enjoy this fun little devotional, but be ye warned: they that refuseth to rate, review, and share this show shalt surely be doomed to snag their ball sacks and/or labia in their pants zippers for all eternity… And all God’s people said “Amen.”

This week we’re joined by a very funny comedian, Luke Severeid! Luke grew up in the Pacific Northwest interest in heavy music eventually pulled him away from Christianity. Luke has pursued comedy for over a decade, and we absolutely love his work! Follow him on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube (@lukesevereid), and check out his upcoming live dates in Washington and Oregon!