Pastor With No Answers: The MIXTAPE Era

1. Praying for a Homeless Man (and Something More)
Joey shares an encounter that felt supernatural. While praying for a homeless man, it seemed like the Spirit was praying through him. That story leads into a bigger conversation about how much experience matters to faith.

2. Chick-fil-A, Confrontation, and Growing a New Muscle
Chick-fil-A got Joey's order wrong, so he battled Charleston traffic to drive back. They fixed the order but didn't do anything extra, and Joey, smiling the whole time, asked them to do a little better. From there the conversation turns to the Enneagram: what it looks like for a Nine (the Peacemaker) to start working his Eight muscle.

3. “Nice Lady, By the Way”: The Unprompted Compliment
Joey has noticed that many white people, often older white people, add a compliment whenever they mention someone of a different race: “I was talking to this Hispanic woman — very nice, by the way.” He asks two of his African American friends whether they've noticed it too. They have, and the conversation that follows is honest and eye-opening.

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PWNA Theme Song by Stoy Prioleau (aka: Riggy Roc): Apple Music

Closing song by Derek Minor and other music by Mechanical River. 

Sonny Sandoval was born and raised on the streets of Southtown, Texas, two exits from the Mexico border. He was always a behind-the-scenes person with no ambition of being the frontman for the platinum selling band, P.O.D. The band, known for their heavy music, was too Christian for the world but too secular for the Church. Sonny lives on the edge of these two worlds, a line he has attempted to walk with integrity. 

In his new autobiography, Son of Southtown, Sonny reflects on over 30 years of being a Christian in a mainstream band, playing on MTV and touring the world. 

How does one truly follow God's calling in this chaotic world? Part of the equation, according to Sonny's story, is being totally and uniquely who God made you to be, without apology and without compromise--but with passion and integrity.

Sonny Sandoval | Instagram | Book 

This is from episode 136 of the Seacoast Podcast. 

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PWNA Theme Song by Stoy Prioleau (aka: Riggy Roc): Apple Music

Closing song by Derek Minor and other music by Mechanical River. 

On top of the world, Brian Welch was being listened to by millions of heavy music listeners which meant millions of dollars in the bank.  Fast-pace living, always on tour, but always high on meth.  

As a new dad, Brian wanted off his cycle and walked away from a $25 million record contract; but to get off the drugs, he would need a miracle.  

Joey and Brian talk a lot about “the rock star life,” both of their struggles with mental illness, contentment, and some theology in light of miracles and prayer.  Lastly, Brian’s cousin Scott Box wrote a book called “Heroic Disgrace,” a true story and reflections from a worship leader who struggles with bipolar disorder.  

This episode courtesy of Seacoast's Things You Won't Hear on Sunday Podcast.  

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PWNA Theme Song by Stoy Prioleau (aka: Riggy Roc): Apple Music

Closing song by Derek Minor and other music by Mechanical River. 

Three Boomers and one sweet lady from the Silent Generation chime in on some delicate subjects that typically spark a lot of polarity in society and even in the church. How should the church look different? Is racism worse now than it was in the 1960s? Does the American flag belong in churches? These four chime in on all of the above, including whether they consider themselves to be patriotic. 

Catch the inter-generational summer series here: Seacoast Podcast

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PWNA Theme Song by Stoy Prioleau (aka: Riggy Roc): Apple Music

Closing song by Derek Minor and other music by Mechanical River. 

Mark Salomon has been in the music scene since the 80s and is a "dyed in the wool" Punk Rocker not only in music but in heart, mind, soul, and faith.  Still a Christian after all these years, in this episode he reflects on his faith, career, what he's learned and how he's changed.  One thing is for sure, he's still punk; but maybe a little softer and definitely wiser. 

Mark Salomon | Instagram 

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PWNA Theme Song by Stoy Prioleau (aka: Riggy Roc): Apple Music

Closing song by Derek Minor and other music by Mechanical River. 

Co-hosted and produced by Joey Svendsen, Mental Health + Mission of the Church Podcast regularly has discussions on how the scientific community and the church can work better together in helping people find soundness of mind.  

In this recent episode, Dr. Baron Short schools listeners on some science pertaining to mental health specifically sharing about his specialized field of brain stimulation.  Perhaps most noteworthy is the story of his recent encounter with Jesus, in his words literally seeing through His eyes.  He walked away from that encounter completely changed, healed in some broken areas of his heart and now has new lenses for his scientific practices of helping people by studying and stimulating the brain. 

Mental Health + Mission of the Church

Video of this Episode 

Joey's Substack

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PWNA Theme Song by Stoy Prioleau (aka: Riggy Roc): Apple Music

Closing song by Derek Minor and other music by Mechanical River. 

[For a written version of this episode, click here]

Special Song, Robbie Madison: Spotify | Apple Music

Jaden Ivey of the Chicago Bulls was waved for speaking out against "fake Christians," and the NBA for supporting and endorsing sin.  Here's a quick take on how it appears Mr. Ivey is opting for religion rather than walking out the glorious  path of love, that Jesus called Christians to. 

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PWNA Theme Song by Stoy Prioleau (aka: Riggy Roc): Apple Music

Closing song by Derek Minor and other music by Mechanical River. 

[On this episode: Jack Hoey III (Substack), Chip Judd (Website), Roy Jacques, Joey Svendsen]

Joey's Church Family joins for this episode to discuss beliefs, the supernatural, the bible, proof of God, and what many see as the slipperly slope of deconstruction. 

Jack, Chip and Roy listened beforehand to an episode released in January called, "That's Not How the Bible Works, God Isn't Love, Casual Christians & Pan-Handling" and respond with personal reflections about that conversation and about Joey's faith in general.  

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Support Joey's work by Being a Patron / (Venmo)

PWNA Theme Song by Stoy Prioleau (aka: Riggy Roc): Apple Music

Closing song by Derek Minor and other music by Mechanical River. 

[This episode has Hayne Griffin, Robbie Madison, Matt Oxley, Joey Svendsen]

Matt Oxley, part of the Pastor With No Answers family, grew up in a charismatic, evangelical environment where faith was vibrant and experiential—complete with things like speaking in tongues and a deep belief in the supernatural. All of his years of being part of the podcast, however, Matt’s beliefs had him in a place where he no longer believed in God at all.

Recently, Matt has had a life-altering reengagement with faith. While his beliefs don’t necessarily fit neatly into traditional Christian orthodoxy, his life and values have become strikingly aligned with the teachings and ethic of the gospel.

That shift sparks a wide-ranging conversation about God, the divinity of Jesus, and the role of church and doctrine. Joey and Robbie affirm Jesus as divine in a way that makes him uniquely distinct from other religious teachers. Matt sees Jesus more as a revolutionary—someone who fully embodied the radical love and message of the gospel and died for it. End of story.  Meanwhile, Hayne pushes the conversation further, challenging Joey and Robbie to expand what they might consider “divine” wisdom or teaching beyond traditional Christian boundaries.

It’s a dialogue about belief, doubt, and the ways people wrestle with the figure of Jesus. What does it really mean to say Jesus is divine? Can someone live the way of Jesus without believing everything the church teaches about him? And how much agreement is actually necessary for meaningful spiritual community?

Matt's Substack, "The Great Deconstruction." 

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Support Joey's work by Being a Patron / (Venmo)

PWNA Theme Song by Stoy Prioleau (aka: Riggy Roc): Apple Music

Closing song by Derek Minor and other music by Mechanical River. 

[With Amy Alderman, Hayne Griffin, Stoy Prioleau and Joey Svendsen]

So what are the moral ramifications of assassinating "leaders" before they do great harm?  What is the significance of Trump's recent caricatures of the Obamas?  What did we learn from Bad Bunny about Puerto Rico and how Puerto Ricans likely view the U.S.A.?

Along the way of discussing these questions, Stoy shares some heartfelt thoughts on his military service, Hayne articulates some thought-provoking nuances of terrorism, Amy disagrees with some of these thoughts on terrorism and Joey highlights his joy of celebrating diversity in America. 

Special song "Yes," by: Stoy Prioleau (aka: Riggy Roc): Apple Music

E-mail Joey here.

Support Joey's work by Being a Patron / (Venmo)

PWNA Theme Song by Stoy Prioleau (aka: Riggy Roc): Apple Music

Closing song by Derek Minor and other music by Mechanical River.