Growing Up Christian

Our guest this week is comedian, actor, writer, and producer, Nick Thune! As a young man, Nick was very involved in a large Seattle church. He held a leadership position within the youth program, but an appearance on a reality tv show lead to his ouster from the youth group, and prompted his move to Hollywood.

Nick’s story is one of a kind, and we were absolutely thrilled to talk to him! Find his most recent comedy special “Good Guy” on YouTube or Amazon Prime, follow him on Twitter @nickthune, and check out upcoming dates for his Velvet Loafers Tour at www.nickthune.com.

If  you're a coffee lover, you owe it to yourself to check out our beloved sponsor, Captain Cecil's Coffee! They have an all new selection of single source artisan roasts for 2022, and they are offering our listeners 20% off when you enter the promo code "growingupchristian" at checkout. Plus, orders over $50 get free shipping! Find your favorite blend at www.captaincecilscoffee.com. 

This week, Sam and Casey discuss the recent Vanity Fair interview with former Liberty University president and Baptist edgelord idiot failure, Jerry Falwell Jr. At last, Jerry and his wife Becky are telling “their side” of the seedy story, and needless to say, it differs slightly from the established narrative… Poor ol’ Jerry is ready to torch the whole family in order to provide some context for his behavior, and Becky is with him all the way! Read the full article here: https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2022/01/inside-jerry-falwell-jr-unlikely-rise-and-precipitous-fall/amp

Later, friend of the show and discord ride or die, Antony, joins in to talk about his upbringing in a small, insular northern Michigan religious community. His outlook on Christianity as a young guy was a lot different than ours, and we had a great time talking to him!

If you're a coffee lover, you owe it to yourself to check out our beloved sponsor, Captain Cecil's Coffee! They have an all new selection of single source artisan roasts for 2022, and they are offering our listeners 20% off when you enter the promo code "growingupchristian" at checkout. Plus, orders over $50 get free shipping! Find your favorite blend at www.captaincecilscoffee.com. 

This week we're joined by musician and TikToker, Seth David. Seth is a former home schooler and Liberty University student turned composer, producer, pianist and absurdist. Follow Seth on TikTok @ivorytowercontent, and enjoy the episode!

Check out our first merch! You can pre-order the "Born Again Virgin" t-shirt at www.growing-up-christian.storenvy.com

If you're a coffee lover, you owe it to yourself to check out our beloved sponsor, Captain Cecil's Coffee! They have an all new selection of single source artisan roasts for 2022, and they are offering our listeners 20% off when you enter the promo code "growingupchristian" at checkout. Plus, orders over $50 get free shipping! Find your favorite blend at www.captaincecilscoffee.com. 

This week we’re joined by author and podcaster, Erin Hosier! Erin’s memoir, “Don’t Let Me Down,” delves into her experiences navigating complex family relationships, and her eventual escape from the small town where she grew up. She also hosts a podcast called “Tell Me About Your Father,” which is an ongoing discussion about dads and father figures. One of her recent guests is our buddy Christian Nightmares, and it’s definitely worth checking out! For more information about Erin’s work, visit www.erinhosier.com.

Check out our first merch! You can pre-order the "Born Again Virgin" t-shirt at www.growing-up-christian.storenvy.com

If you're a coffee lover, you owe it to yourself to check out our beloved sponsor, Captain Cecil's Coffee! They have an all new selection of single source artisan roasts for 2022, and they are offering our listeners 20% off when you enter the promo code "growingupchristian" at checkout. Plus, orders over $50 get free shipping! Find your favorite blend at www.captaincecilscoffee.com. 

This week we’re joined by our friends Bonnie & Karen, hosts of the hilarious podcast, Deconversion Therapy! We tackled some fun topics, and explored some theories about Joel Osteen’s toilet fund. If you’re not following them on social media, you’re missing out! Find them on Instagram and TikTok @deconversiontherapy, and enjoy their fantastic show wherever you listen to podcasts!

Check out our first merch! You can pre-order the "Born Again Virgin" t-shirt at www.growing-up-christian.storenvy.com

If you're a coffee lover, you owe it to yourself to check out our beloved sponsor, Captain Cecil's Coffee! They have an all new selection of single source artisan roasts for 2022, and they are offering our listeners 20% off when you enter the promo code "growingupchristian" at checkout. Plus, orders over $50 get free shipping! Find your favorite blend at www.captaincecilscoffee.com. 

Our first merch item is available for preorder, and it's a doozy... Get yours at https://growing-up-christian.storenvy.com/

This week we're joined by author, CPA, and podcaster, George Azar! George was heavily involved in the church as a young man, all while struggling to understand and overcome his sexuality. He went so far as to get involved with Exodus International (the organization covered in "Pray Away"), undergo conversion therapy, become a pastor, and even cooperate with church leadership as they attempted to arrange a straight relationship for him. We barely scratched the surface of George's story, but you're in luck! His autobiography "My Gay Church Days" will be available February 14, and you're going to love it! For more information, go to www.mygaychurchdays.com, follow him on social media @mygaychurchdays, and listen to the My Gay Church Days Podcast.

If you're a coffee lover, you owe it to yourself to check out our beloved sponsor, Captain Cecil's Coffee! They have an all new selection of single source artisan roasts for 2022, and they are offering our listeners 20% off when you enter the promo code "growingupchristian" at checkout. Plus, orders over $50 get free shipping! Find your favorite blend at www.captaincecilscoffee.com.

Happy holidays, everyone! We're taking a break from interviews, this week, and discussing important subjects like sustainable octopus(octopi?) farming, racist food humor, and the music we wanted people to think that we liked. Enjoy this laid-back episode, and join us next week for a very exciting guest: former pastor and author of My Gay Church Days, George Azar!

Don't forget to check out our sponsor, Captain Cecil's Coffee, for excellent single-source blends that are sure to brighten your holiday season! For our listeners, Captain Cecil's is offering 20% off when you enter the promo code "growingupchristian" at checkout. Go to www.captaincecilscoffee.com and stuff your families stockings with delicious beans!

Our guest this week is a fascinating person who’s been a supporter of the show since the very beginning, Amber Viola! Amber is the Human Resources Director and mayoral cabinet member for the city of Scranton, and she’s also the first black director in the city’s history. She’s also a Navy veteran, social worker, and the first black commander of the Gouldsboro American Legion. But that’s not all… Amber also has an evangelical resume a mile long – A.C.E., AWANA, True Love Waits, Masters Commission, and the list goes on! Over the years, Amber found herself feeling more and more out of place among her Christian peers, and she eventually left the faith, all together. She has such an interesting story, and we had a blast hearing about the many twists and turns of her religious upbringing! You can find out more about her advocacy on behalf of our nation's veterans at www.amberviola.com!

Don't forget to check out our sponsor, Captain Cecil's Coffee, for excellent single-source blends that are sure to brighten your holiday season! From now until Christmas, Captain Cecil's is offering 20% off when you enter the promo code "growingupchristian" at checkout. Go to www.captaincecilscoffee.com and stuff your families stockings with delicious beans!

What a year it's been! Since posting our first episode on December 17, 2020, we've met so many cool people, had a ton of great conversations, and published a total of 59 episodes. This is a long-winded thank you to everyone who has downloaded the show, and all of the great guests who took time out of their schedule to talk to us! We truly didn't expect for the show to take off the way it has, and we're really excited to show you some of the things we've got planned for next year. Sam and I want to wish all of you happy holidays, and a New Year that's the best of your life, thus far!

Your brothers in Christ,

Casey & Sam