[Continuing a tradition that goes back to Christmas 2019 in episode 208 and continues in episode 272 and episode 329, Pastor With No Answers Podcast remembers those who are grieving this Christmas because of great loss]

Shonte Jones, family of this podcast suffered great loss at the beginning of the year when her 40-year old brother, "Rico" Jones, passed away due to lung complications as a result of COVID-19.   She discusses what her grief looks like not even a year later and shares the contributions therapy has made to her survival, whether she's mad at God, and the profound impact of having close connections with people who truly care.  The three also talk the puzzlement they share at those who want to rush others through the grieving process that actually never ends.   

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On Today's episode:
Shonte Jones / Facebook
Amy Alderman, host / Facebook
Joey Svendsen, host / Instagram / Twitter / Facebook / E-mail

Special Thanks to Rosie Thomas for the Christmas Music
Web / Instagram / Spotify / Apple Music

Podcast Socials
PWNA Discussion Facebook Group / YouTube

e-mail the PWNA team here.

Thanks //  Derek Minor for theme song of PWNA. 

E-mail Joey here.

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

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

Twenty-seven years since the last time they hung as friends (and classmates) at James Island High, Stoy Prioleau, Antonio "Hype" Seabrook and Joey Svendsen caught up on episode 361 - My Childhood Friends [the Black ones].  As kids, they never processed together things like racism, privilege, systemic racism, what it's like to be black, and what it's like to be white.  As adults, they reflect on their childhoods with a lot more insight and life experience.  

In this episode, the conversation continues as they reflect on being a kid at Christmas as a middle class white kid with dad at home and as a black kid growing up with a single mother trying to keep food on the table.   

Joey rakes it in annually while Stoy and "Hype" tell some "Christmas morning heartbreak" stories.  It was pretty common in the black community for their peers to get no gifts at all on Christmas.  

What was it like as a black kid, when all the best toys (G.I. Joe, He-Man) you play with are depictions of white people?   Different entertainment, different food, even different looking Christmas Trees, Stoy was always eager to come back home and report on the lavish Christmases he experienced in the families of the white girls he was hanging with at the time.  Stoy and "Hype" also share how they reflect on their absent fathers during the holidays.

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On Today's episode:
Stoy Prioleau / FB / Music (Riggy Roc - where ever you stream your music)
Antonio Seabrook / FB
Joey Svendsen (host) / Instagram / Twitter / Facebook / E-mail

Podcast Socials
PWNA Discussion Facebook Group / YouTube

e-mail the PWNA team here.

Thanks //  Derek Minor for theme song of PWNA on all other episodes.

E-mail Joey here.

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

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

Becoming a Christian as a 15-year old, KJ-52's career started when the music industry was nothing like it is now.  From the early days of opening up for acts like Tribe Called Quest and appearing on a radio show of Dj Khaled's (before he was DJ Khaled) to finding some unexpected traction in the Christian music industry with his letter to Eminem in the song "Dear Slim," Joey and KJ-52 not only reminisce about the old school Christian Rap and Tooth and Nail Records days, they talk a little faith and mental health.  KJ-52 (real name, Jonah Sorrentino) is also now a full-time Pastor. 

Go support his newest album, "Still Standing" (Kickstarter), inspired by the havoc Hurricane Ian has had on him and his people in Florida.

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On Today's episode:
KJ-52 / Kickstarter / Instagram / Website
Joey Svendsen (host) / Instagram / Twitter / Facebook / E-mail

Podcast Socials
PWNA Discussion Facebook Group / YouTube

e-mail the PWNA team here.

All music on this episode appears courtesy of KJ-52 and is from his newest album, "Still Standing."

Thanks //  Derek Minor for theme song of PWNA on all other episodes.

Send a text to the crew (we may read these on air)

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[this episode originally aired on 10/10/20]

John Mark McMillan and Joey Svendsen enjoy their time with Pastor and Author Brian Zahnd, asking him a little about everything. What does Brian Zahnd think of the POTUS (Donald Trump) and if asked, would he serve on his spiritual advisement board?

Brian Zahnd believes strongly in the church. He points out the problems with both the "Christian right" and "Christian left," highlighting how Jesus wouldn’t serve either of their agendas; because frankly, He has his own. The church, he says, is a part of the world that's “already changed by Christ.” Until we let this sink in, Zahnd concludes that Christians will continue to seek hope in what their political party can accomplish, none of this having anything to do with the more important Kingdom work we are to value above all.

Brian and John Mark also have an interesting take on why many artists are disinterested in politics. And of course, we get into some theology: atonement theories, Christian universalism, the gospel in its fullness.

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On Today's episode:
Brian Zahnd / Site / Twitter
John Mark McMillan / Site / Instagram / Store (SALE!)
Joey Svendsen (host) / Instagram / Twitter / Facebook / E-mail

Podcast Socials
PWNA Discussion Facebook Group / YouTube

e-mail the PWNA team here.

Thanks //  Derek Minor for theme song and Joel Hamilton / Joel Hamilton + friends for other music.

E-mail Joey here.

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

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

Josh Porter (formerly known as Josh Dies of the band Showbread), author of the new book "Death to Deconstruction," shares his story of christian fundamentalist upbringing and deconstruction of faith. Full of bitterness towards the church, he later discovered deep issues of personal pride (quite common for youngsters his age) that contributed greatly to being on this path. 

Having now returned to an orthodox (as in what people would describe as not progressive) faith, he is also a pastor at a non-denominational church. 

As Joey and Josh likely see faith and deconstruction very differently, they enjoyed a full's episode worth of discussing what they both agreed on,  including the needed adjustments for the church to make, in order for it to recapture the ways of Jesus.

Josh appeals to the need of having Jesus' ability to maintain convictions (and true beliefs), while still having a welcoming heart for all to "come to the table of fellowship," including those who aren't even sure where they stand with faith altogether.  He shares practically what this looks like as a pastor.   

The two may or may not have also done some reminiscing of those glorious yesteryears of discovering the "listening bliss" of punk rock music. 

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On Today's episode:
Josh Porter  / Instagram / Web / Book / Podcast
Joey Svendsen (co-host) / Instagram / Twitter / Facebook / E-mail

Podcast Socials
PWNA Discussion Facebook Group / YouTube

e-mail the PWNA team here.

Thanks //  Derek Minor for theme song and Joel Hamilton / Joel Hamilton + friends for other music.
 

E-mail Joey here.

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

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

[Please listen with caution. Lots of sexual abuse talk]

Randy, and his wife Cynthia Lail (both dear to Joey's heart), carry with them a beautiful faith that will bring back memories to many listeners who have deconstructed some and no longer see things in the light of traditional, evangelical christian lenses. 

As a child, Randy was a victim of sexual abuse [and trafficking] at the hands of one who was supposed to be his protector.  The result was a warped view of sexuality and a monstrous sexual addiction that would continue far into his marriage with Cynthia.

Desperate for healing, these two were ready with open hands for whatever means God would chose to do it.  For starters, Randy is convinced Jesus spoke to him.  His deceased mom also.  And this happened all under the influence of an 8-hour ecstasy trip (under doctor supervision) where he also discovered the extent of his sexual abuse.  The rawness and transparency demonstrated in this episode is something to aspire to.

"That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Corinthians 12:10).

Praise and glory to a Savior who rescues us from our past and redeems beyond our expectation, more than we can ask or imagine.  


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On Today's episode:
Randy Lail / Facebook
Cynthia Lail / Facebook
Joey Svendsen (co-host) / Instagram / Twitter / Facebook / E-mail

Podcast Socials
PWNA Discussion Facebook Group / YouTube

e-mail the PWNA team here.

Thanks //  Derek Minor for theme song and Joel Hamilton / Joel Hamilton + friends for other music.
 

E-mail Joey here.

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

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

Co-hosts Chip Judd (very long-time Christian) and Matt Oxley (long-time Christian, gone atheist) discuss with Joey what he finds to be an "impossible position" Christians are in when it comes to their kids and the doctrine of hell. 

If dreaded eternal separation is on the table of possibilities, fear and life-trauma [in the end] is a good thing, especially if one is scared enough to repent and avoid going there.  Right? 

Chip and Matt both agree that religious people have taken advantage of this doctrine to control people. They also agree that a fixation on eternal separation makes for lousy Christians.  Joey makes a case again for Christian Universalism and Matt proposes that Jesus failed, if everyone isn't saved. 

Why are so many Christians not able to find peace while holding a belief in hell, while others can go about their life normally, not bothered by their many friends and family perishing in the end?  Do Christians really believe in hell?  What is humanity's flaw, and what is the gospel anyway?  A hell of an episode (pun intended).

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On Today's episode:
Matt Oxley  / Web  / Twitter
Chip Judd / Website / Instagram
Joey Svendsen (co-host) / Instagram / Twitter / Facebook / E-mail

Podcast Socials
PWNA Discussion Facebook Group / YouTube

e-mail the PWNA team here.

Thanks //  Derek Minor for theme song and Joel Hamilton / Joel Hamilton + friends for other music.

E-mail Joey here.

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

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

Two marriages that ended in divorce.  One after 35 years of marriage, grandkids to show for it; the other marriage, a lot newer with no offspring. 

Why did these two men get divorces?  How much responsibility do they take?  What feelings do they currently have for their former spouses, and how did their church communities respond? 

Are divorces more accepted these days amongst Christians?  How relevant to these men are Jesus' words, "If anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery."  (Luke 16:18)

And would it not make sense for more people to seek marital advice from those who have lived through a divorce?

[This conversation was recorded in June of 2022.  Thanks, Jack and Jed.  Your willingness to be open and honest provides valuable insight for us all]

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On Today's episode:
Jack Hoey / Linked In
Jed Payne / Instagram / Podcast
Joey Svendsen (host) / Instagram / Twitter / Facebook / E-mail

Podcast Socials
PWNA Discussion Facebook Group / YouTube

e-mail the PWNA team here.

Thanks //  Derek Minor for theme song and Joel Hamilton / Joel Hamilton + friends for other music.

E-mail Joey here.

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

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

Viewer discretion is always advised, dummies, but this one is a must.

Erica Smith, sexuality educator for 22 years and creator of Purity Culture Drop Out, talks candidly and answers Joey's crazy questions about female sexuality. 

According to Erica, there's not a lot of sexual behavior (i.e. masturbation habits, being aroused by visual stimuli ) consistent to a particular gender.  In other words, "girls like stuff," just like boys.  There is however a lot of sexual tendencies/patterns in society that are affected greatly by cultural conditioning.

What's the biology behind older men remaining sexually attracted to girls in their early to mid-twenties?  What does Erica's research say about casual sex and hook-ups?  We talk porn, sado masochism, how much sex goes on in nursing homes and many more "blush inducing" topics.

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Erica Smith / Instagram / Website
Joey Svendsen, co-host / Instagram / Twitter / Facebook / E-mail

Podcast Socials
PWNA Discussion Facebook Group / YouTube

Thanks //  Joel Hamilton / Joel Hamilton + friends for music on this episode.

e-mail the PWNA team here.

E-mail Joey here.

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

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

No one is ever prepared for this sort of news.  Life is normal for Hayne Griffin and all of the sudden, he has to contemplate losing his spouse.  But this is a "Woman's Body Month," who cares about Hayne! (just kidding, Hayne).

Hayne's wife, Erica Griffin, joins the show and the two describe how breast cancer has rocked (and is rocking) their world.

As five folks on this show who have experienced significant faith-deconstruction, there's lots of discussion on our current views of God, sickness and healing in the context of Erica's cancer; and how drastically different from our pre-deconstruction thinking.   

Does losing your breasts affect how a woman feels sexually?  Why is it easier for Hayne to be an atheist sometimes?  Did Erica expect to find herself in heaven in the event she died?  And who would have thought, all breasts can be broken down into two groups: fatty or dense.  And this is actually important!  A little bit of everything on this one. 

And we figured out a way to laugh through all this.  Beauty of the human spirit.  Talking about pain and agony with friends can still include laughter.

Thanks to Erica and Hayne Griffin for sharing their story.

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Erica Griffin / Instagram
Hayne Griffin / Instagram
Liz Miller, co-host / Instagram / Memoirs
Ellen Mauro, co-host / Instagram
Joey Svendsen, co-host / Instagram / Twitter / Facebook / E-mail

Podcast Socials
PWNA Discussion Facebook Group / YouTube

Thanks //  Joel Hamilton / Joel Hamilton + friends for music on this episode.

e-mail the PWNA team here.

E-mail Joey here.

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

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