The Fascinating Podcast

Two things turned 21 this year that were major battles in the culture wars: Harry Potter and the Clinton Impeachment. What kind of perspective does a couple of decades and a year offer to these two issues? Have we learned anything in the interim?

Since it's the Advent season, we count down our favorite holiday films. Plus, a deep dive into Bong Joon Ho's sensational new film PARASITE.

For our Thanksgiving episode, presidential candidate Mark Charles joins us to uncover the Doctrine of Discovery. How did the Church's adoption of Empire pave the way for violence toward Native peoples during European colonialism? How are we still feeling its legacy today?

Mr. Rogers left an enduring legacy, as embodied in the new film A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, starring Tom Hanks. We review the film, and interview journalist Tom Junod, the real life inspiration for the film!

Editor and author Sarah Parker Rubio joins us while Kathy is away. First, we fight off some attacking turkeys. Then we dive into Sarah's journey to becoming a children's book author. Plus: could anything be more timely than a story of a refugee family?

Reverend Stephanie Lobdell joins us to talk about what ministry to Gen Z looks like. Then we dive into what happens when life doesn't turn out like we thought it would. We take a deep dive into mental illness, and how a diagnosis impacts our calling.

In the wake of JR.'s Bad Movie Birthday fundraiser, we dive in on what makes a bad movie (and why so many Christian movies tend to be bad).

We accidentally recorded a supersized Halloween episode! Kathy, Clay and JR. investigate quantum computing, women preaching and Halloween... and that's just the start!

Director Penny Lane found the Satanic Temple fascinating. Are they a religion? A political movement? A bunch of hilarious trolls? Or all of the above? She joins us to explore the nature of religion, the limits of belief and what it looks like to have faith in public.

Pastor and author Stephanie Williams O'Brien joins us to explore how to stay curious in faith. Why is curiosity good? And how to we cultivate a faithful curiosity? PLUS: we're mad about the ACTs