The God Squad Pod

Dillon and Desimber dive headfirst into another week where the headlines apparently looked at “normal” and said, nah, we’re good. From Republicans reportedly dodging Trump’s big midterm convention while he makes the election all about himself, to Iran-war damage control, ICE controversy, and a new Trump administration attack on DEI—there’s a whole lot of politics desperately searching for some sanity.

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And Another Thing... is a new monologue spin-off from The God Squad, featuring Desimber Rose, Co-Host of The God Squad. In this episode, Desimber explores moral disengagement, privilege blindness, and psychological distance through the stories of Milo Yiannopoulos and Charlie Kirk—asking what happens when the consequences we accept for “other people” suddenly become personal. It’s a provocative reflection on empathy, politics, gun violence, immigration, privilege, and the moral cost of treating human suffering as an abstraction.

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Apparently America’s biggest problem was… Lake Ontario having the wrong name. Donald Trump officially signed an executive order renaming it “Lake America” as his feud with Canada escalates. Meanwhile, he’s telling voters to “pretend I’m on the ballot,” Republicans are catching heat from their own side, and somehow we’re expected to treat all of this like normal politics. We will not. Dillon Naber Cruz and Desimber Rose break down the headlines, the chaos, and the kitchen-table realities shaping America right now. Plus, Dillon is back with Fundamentalist Fuckwittery, and Desimber names her latest This MF of the Week!

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Author Daniel Henderson joins The God Squad to discuss his newest book, Reflections of a Recovered Evangelical: Love Plus Nothing Else. We explore what comes after deconstruction, the difference between “recovering” and “recovered,” and Dan’s journey toward a faith centered on radical love rather than doctrine, dogma, or religious certainty.  It’s a conversation about questioning what we inherited, making peace with doubt, and discovering whether, when everything else is stripped away, love really can be enough.

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What happens when Christianity becomes entangled with political power?  The God Squad sits down with Pastor Cody Deese of Vinings Lake Church for a no-nonsense conversation about Christian Nationalism, MAGA, Donald Trump, and activism from the pulpit. We discuss  what it means to be an activist in the pulpit, why Cody refuses to remain silent about injustice and harmful political ideology, the danger of confusing political loyalty with following Jesus, and the role of the Church in this moment. 

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This week on The God Squad, Dillon and Desimber welcome historian, writer, speaker, and New York Times bestselling author Dr. Kristin Kobes Du Mez, author of Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation. Du Mez joins us for a fascinating conversation about the history of White Evangelicalism and the intersection of religion, gender, masculinity, political power, and Christian Nationalism in America. We explore how cultural ideas about strength, authority, manhood, and “Christian America” helped shape modern evangelical politics—and why understanding that history matters in our current political moment. We’ll also look ahead to Du Mez’s forthcoming book, Live Laugh Love: The Secret History of White Christian Women and the World They Made, and discuss the often-overlooked role of women in shaping American evangelical culture.

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What happens when the faith you've always known no longer looks like the Jesus you love? This week on The God Squad Podcast, Dillon and Desimber welcome Amy Hawk, author of The Judas Effect: How Evangelicals Betrayed Jesus for Power, for an honest conversation about faith, politics, and spiritual transformation. Amy shares the deeply personal journey that inspired her book, why she believes the American evangelical movement lost sight of Jesus, and how she found hope on the other side of disappointment. 

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In this episode of The God Squad Podcast, Dillon and Desimber welcome Fr. Joash P. Thomas—priest, public theologian, author, and educator—for a compelling conversation about his book, The Justice of Jesus. Together they explore what biblical justice really means, why peacemaking is central to the Gospel, and how Christians can faithfully embody the teachings of Jesus in a divided world. Fr. Joash shares his vision for a Church that moves beyond belief into courageous action, inviting listeners to rediscover a faith rooted in compassion, justice, reconciliation, and hope.

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This week on The God Squad, Dillon and Desimber dive into the biggest headlines shaping faith, politics, and justice in Breaking News and Broken Theology. Dillon names Doug Wilson as his Fundamentalist Fuckwit of the Week, while Desimber spotlights Pastor Dale Partridge as This MF of the Week, unpacking the influence of White Christian Nationalism and its impact on the Church and society. The conversation also celebrates encouraging Supreme Court and appellate court victories, examines the week's top news stories, and offers the snark, substance, and theological perspective listeners have come to expect. Faith. Sanity. Politics. No sacred cows—just honest conversations.

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Rev. Dr. Mark Sandlin joins Dillon and Desimber for a thoughtful conversation about Progressive Christianity and its relevance in today's world. Together they explore what Progressive Christianity is, the mission of the modern church, and the role Christians can play in pursuing justice, compassion, and reconciliation. Dr. Sandlin also shares what he believes is his calling in these tumultuous times and offers insight into how faith can remain both intellectually honest and deeply rooted in the teachings of Jesus. 

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