Growing Up Christian

Boy, the last two weeks have been insane on both a personal and a national level! So we’re discussing the details and implications of the latest Epstein files drop, and then taking a look at a scandal that is threatening the careers of several “trad” conservative grifters, as well as the voracious predator that stocks them day and night… Milo.

This week we’re excited to welcome back author, CPA, and bastion of positive vibes, our friend George Azar! George joins us to revisit one of our favorite news stories of the last year, that of Kendrick Oakley – pastor, candid photographer, and general pervert who was arrested after repeatedly taking upskirt photos of women in a Hobby Lobby in Tulsa. Then we’ll revisit our favorite subreddit, r/christiandatingadvice. George is a financial wizard and has started a new page dedicated to his CPA work. Follow him on Instagram (@georgethe.cpa) and check out his book My Gay Church Days!

This week we’re taking a look at one of the most annoying “pick me” grifters I’ve found in a while: Melonie Mac. She got her start as a gaming streamer and got a little traction in the industry hosting for IGN, but sometime in the late 2010’s she made a hard shift into a red-pilled, antifeminist, Christian conservative and managed to get herself blackballed from that community. Since then, she has declined in viewership and relevance, desperately trying to stay visible on the internet with clickbait headlines, thirst traps, and of course mediocre Christian brainrot. There’s a lot to unpack about her, but we’re going to focus on one video in particular that made my blood boil… Enjoy the show!

Hark the herald, Christian Nightmares is back! It’s been a few years since we last talked to the premier purveyor of Christian cringe, and does he have a treat for all of us… In this episode, we’ll be examining his list of the top 5 halleluiah hucksters of the year! There are a lot of familiar faces in the mix, but we sprinkle in a couple of oddities, too. We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we did, and if you’re interested in hearing more from Christian Nightmares, you can follow his Substack where he writes more in-depth articles about events, support him on Patreon, and of course, follow one of the best accounts on IG, @christian_nightmares!

Happy New Year, everyone, and what a lovely year it’s going to be! Peace, prosperity, goodwill to all, no blockbuster sequels, my cousin said they’re bringing back Rice Crispy Treat Cereal…. Surely this will be America’s best year yet! So to kick it off we’re going back to one of our favorite watering holes where all the freaks come to drink, and like a couple of hungry crocodiles, we’ve snatched a two christian studs from the bank. That’s right – it’s r/christiandating. We have a little contest to see who can dig up the biggest psychopath on the board, and the competition was steep. Hope you enjoy, and have a great start to the year!

This week we’re diving into a multifaceted tunesmith known as Peyton Parrish! Peyton has had a diverse career, starting with his smash hit country album “Cowboy Man,” then making his bones in Viking cosplay folk metal, and finally arriving at the genre where he’s sure to make it big: Christian rock. Ol’ Peyton has ruffled a few feathers along the way what with his abrupt identity swaps, but he stands firm knowing that all those who oppose him are demonic. A man of resolve, a man of conviction, a man of John Cooper-esque talent, Peyton Parrish is sure to be one of your top artists in 2026!

This week we’re diving into a few different stories! We’re starting out with one of our favorite subreddits, r/christiandatingadvice. Then we discuss the arrest of a California pastor and recent Congressional candidate who was duped by a youtube predator catcher called “Big Bad Wolf.” Finally, we talk about an less-than-ambitious attempt to create a “straight, white only” conclave in the mountains of rural Arkansas called Return to the Land. This collection of weirdos have constructed a shanty town where you’re just as likely to contract a medieval ailment as grow a little corn and beans. Enjoy the show!

This week, we’re taking a look at a twisted ongoing story out of Indianapolis surrounding a megachurch called Life Church. When the son of prominent pastor Nathan Peternel with close personal ties to Lt. Governor Micah Beckwith is arrested for distributing CSAM, it raised more than a few eyebrows. As it turns out, Jonathan Peternel isn’t the only one with skeletons in his closet… The domino effect has embroiled the whole family in a massive scandal that may shake up more than just church leadership. This is a wild story that is far from over, and we hope that these pricks get what’s coming to them!

This week we’re looking at a little local literature from our friends at the nearby church of Christ. Direct mail is a tough medium with which to elicit a response. I haven’t studied the charts and graphs, but I don’t imagine many people come to the Lord via longwinded mailers. However, I received one this week that got my attention. It’s entitled “Socialism is Not Just an Economic Theory! (The Moral Responsibility of all Mankind,” and in it brother Cleveland Reddinger lays out four compelling points on why Socialism (uh, I think you mean Communism) is an afront to God and His divine plan. Not to spoil things, but point number four is “It just doesn’t work,” so it’s riveting stuff! Listen closely and repent, ye freeloading, healthcare-deprived, droopy-bootstraped debt slaves!

This week we’re joined by award-winning investigative journalist, TJ Raphael! We came across TJ’s work when we discovered her podcast series Liberty Lost which is the culmination of a two year investigation into a maternity home owned and operated by our alma mater, Liberty University. The Liberty Godparent Home is advertised as a ministry of compassion whose mission is to offer “a better choice” for pregnant young women and girls who might otherwise opt for an abortion. However, former residents describe the home as more of a nine month isolation pod where these vulnerable women are put under enormous pressure to give up their babies for adoption to “God-fearing Christian families” in exchange for basic healthcare and the promise of a clean slate/fresh start with a scholarship to Liberty University. The Liberty Godparent Home profits immensely from both donations and adoption fees while leaving behind hundreds of broken women struggling to cope with the immense guilt, shame, and despair of losing their child. Liberty Lost is a truly impactful series that we can’t recommend enough! Stream the full show today, follow TJ on Instagram (@tjraphs), and go to www.tjraphael.comfor more information about her many other projects!