This week, legendary Christian rapper Trip Lee tells us about his unexpected move into worship music with his new album. Before that, the crew swaps stories from last week's historic winter storm—Emily survived three days without power in freezing temps and Jesse narrowly avoided going to a fun Orlando Magic game with Cameron.

In RELEVANT Buzz, we break down Jelly Roll's powerful Grammy acceptance moment, plus the youngest Grammy winner at just eight years old. We also dive into new research showing the vast majority of people want authentic faith representation in TV and movies, and then Emily previews two interesting new shows: Jury Duty Season 2's unexpected premise and Neighbors, HBO and A24's reality series about strangers forced to live together.

Plus, Jesse announces his new podcast Target Intelligence: Psyop and Derek plugs his brand-new show, You Can't Say That in Church. Jesse of course brings his most rewatched video of the week: a Medieval Combat League warrior armed with a real axe who keeps targeting opponents from behind with hilarious headshots. Then in SLICES we cover Miami's iguana apocalypse—dinosaurs falling from trees as residents collect them by the armload (and definitely aren't disposing of them properly).

And to close it out, it's Super Bowl week, so we're playing a special edition of "One Has to Go" covering everything from iconic Super Bowl commercials and halftime show moments to game-day snacks and controversial performances. Spoiler: mozzarella sticks do not survive Jesse's hot take.

Highlights:

00:00 — Intro & Winter Storm Survival Stories

07:43 — RELEVANT Buzz

08:00 — Jelly Roll's Powerful Grammy Acceptance Speech

11:27 — Eight-Year-Old Becomes Youngest Grammy Winner in History

12:33 — New Study: 92% of Viewers Want Authentic Faith in TV & Movies

16:37 — Jury Duty Season 2 Preview: Hot Sauce Company Chaos

18:00 — Neighbors: HBO and A24's New Reality Series

24:00 — Medieval Combat League Axe Warrior Goes Viral

31:09 — Trip Lee

32:00 — Why Trip Lee Made a Worship Album After Years in Hip-Hop

35:00 — Trip Lee on Being a Teaching Pastor and Collaborating With Worship Leaders

37:00 — SLICES: Miami's Iguana Apocalypse

43:30 — Super Bowl Edition: "One Has to Go" Game

45:53 — Iconic Super Bowl Commercials (Doritos, Tide, QR Code)

46:21 — Controversial Super Bowl Ads (GoDaddy, Carl's Jr., Axe)

47:04 — Super Bowl Snacks Face-Off (Doritos, Lay's, Pringles)

47:30 — Soda Showdown (Coke, Pepsi, Dr. Pepper, Mountain Dew)

48:00 — Jesse's Mozzarella Stick Hot Take Sparks Chaos

49:31 — Halftime Show Showdown (Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Beyoncé)

50:01 — Most Controversial Halftime Moments (Nipplegate, Dancing Sharks)

50:52 — Halftime Props (JLo's Pole, Usher's Skates, Dr. Dre's Lowrider)

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This week, we talk to ‘Mercy’ star Chris Pratt about how faith shapes his life and career. He opens up about navigating public narratives, using his platform with purpose and why he believes being open about faith matters more than ever.

In RELEVANT Buzz, the crew dives into Jelly Roll’s moving moment on 'Star Search,' why Gen Z is intentionally disconnecting from their phones and whether music is actually getting sadder. Plus, stories about AI fatigue, bizarre license plate drama, a ketchup packet felony and a guy trying to create a new nation in Texas. And at the end of the show, don't miss the Best Game Ever!

Highlights:

01:00 Storm prep anxiety and riding it out

03:27 The man who tried to start his own country in Texas

06:56 The confidence of mediocre white men

18:23 RELEVANT Buzz 

18:53 Jelly Roll’s Gospel moment on Star Search

21:58 Study finds popular music is getting sadder

24:36 Gen Z intentionally disconnecting from phones

30:10 Chris Pratt 

36:40 SLICES 

38:38 Mr. Potato Head license plate controversy

39:34 Florida man charged over ketchup packet

45:14 “Best Game Ever” 

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This week, we sit down with Chelsea Smith to talk about dating wisely, building a resilient marriage and navigating seasons when love feels harder than usual. She shares practical advice for singles, couples and anyone wondering if what they’re experiencing is normal.

In RELEVANT Buzz, we unpack the rise of political independents among Gen Z and millennials, Brandon Lake’s Good Morning America moment and why Christian hip-hop is showing up at Rolling Loud.

Plus, the crew debates whether it’s easier to bowl a perfect game or hit a hole-in-one for a million dollars, discusses illegal monkeys in St. Louis and breaks down Gen Z’s newest solution to burnout: a “retirement home” in Malaysia.

Highlights:

06:30 – Million-dollar question: perfect bowling game or hole-in-one?

16:05 – RELEVANT Buzz

16:15 – Christian hip-hop at Rolling Loud

18:10 – Brandon Lake on Good Morning America (and the Maury joke)

20:45 – Gallup: Gen Z and millennials are going independent

31:40 – Chelsea Smith on dating

33:55 – What every healthy marriage needs

35:30 – Advice for couples in hard seasons

37:55 – Our new partnership with 316 Financial + Reset Series

42:25 – Slices

42:45 – St. Louis offers amnesty for illegal monkey owners

47:05 – A Gen Z “retirement home” opens in Malaysia

To learn more about 316 Financial's $100 offer for RELEVANT listeners, check out https://www.Bank316.com/RELEVANT!

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In this episode of The RELEVANT Podcast, we break down a surprisingly faith-heavy week in pop culture.

In RELEVANT Buzz, Khloé Kardashian opens up in depth about her faith and prayer life, Stranger Things star Caleb McLaughlin shares why he’s returning to faith after growing up as a pastor’s kid. Then we discuss news at the other end of the spectrum: Bestselling Christian author Philip Yancey stepping away from ministry after confessing to an eight-year extramarital affair and Christian pop singer Stacie Orrico’s lawsuit alleging childhood sexual abuse by her former manager. We wrap things on an up-note, highlighting Daniel Caesar’s spiritually charged Tiny Desk performance.

Plus, the crew reacts to DMX’s posthumous ordination, Jesse spirals over the murder math of NCIS, shares a wild Lamar Odom encounter and we play another round of ‘Overrated, Underrated or Just Right.’

Highlights:

03:00 Jesse’s NCIS take and the Navy murder math spiral

14:15 RELEVANT Buzz begins

17:05 Khloé Kardashian opens up about her Christian faith

28:15 Caleb McLaughlin talks faith, deconstruction and returning to God

31:55 Philip Yancey steps away from ministry after affair confession

34:35 Stacie Orrico files lawsuit alleging childhood sexual abuse

37:50 Daniel Caesar’s Tiny Desk and his spiritual journey

39:20 Slices: Lottery odds website exposes Powerball math

44:10 DMX to be posthumously recognized as a minister

46:05 Game: Overrated, Underrated or Just Right (Part 2)

47:15 Mayonnaise, squats and Chris Hemsworth

49:00 Pet fish, LaCroix and Philip Yancey books

50:00 Air fryers, motorcycles and voice notes

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This week, we tackle the biggest faith questions young adults are asking right now (according to the recent Passion Conference) — from evidence for God’s existence and the tension between free will and predestination, to suffering, salvation and thoughts on hell. It’s an honest conversation about doubt, belief and why curiosity might be essential to spiritual growth.

From there, Emily sits down with CITIZENS frontman Zach Bolen to talk about the band’s new album Museum, being in the Christian music bubble while feeling like an outsider and why art doesn’t need to explain itself to be meaningful. 

Plus, Jesse has some thoughts over the increasingly unhinged Guinness World Records, from pigs on skateboards to LEGO-related pain tolerance, and the crew plays a round of “Overrated, Underrated or Just Right,” covering reboots, word-of-the-year culture and more!

Highlights:

3:10 New Year check-in

4:20 The Crown

5:25 Why New Year’s TV is terrible

9:55 Fireworks gone wrong

14:15 RELEVANT BUZZ

17:05 The top faith questions young adults are asking at the Passion Conference

31:00 Awards season highlights

38:30 Zach Bolen of CITIZENS

42:10 Faith, deconstruction, and the Nashville bubble

46:20 Curiosity as a spiritual discipline

50:10 SLICES

50:14 Guinness World Records need a reboot

56:20 OVERRATED, UNDERRATED, OR JUST RIGHT?

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We wrap up 2025 and kick off 2026 by catching up on everything from post-holiday chaos to the optimism that comes with starting a new year. Along the way, we touch on Justin Bieber’s recent reflections on faith, how people in 1998 predicted 2025, and surprising new archeological evidence that Noah's Ark was real. 

From there, the episode takes a turn into full chaos as Jesse introduces his own idea for the “Patriot Games”: teams of Americans competing using everyday life skills, jury duty-style. The episode then wraps with the cast predicting the trends of 2026 — all delivered with the usual mix of humor, honesty and side-tracking that makes the show what it is.

Highlights:

05:10 — Spring-free trampolines and modern parenting stress

07:40 — Childhood injuries, backyard chaos and growing up feral

12:30 — The unspoken pressure of being “the capable adult”

13:33 — SLICES: Noah’s Ark evidence

25:03 — 1998 predicts 2025

31:53 — Justin Bieber’s faith posts

30:45 — WHAT'S JESSE THINKING? Jesse introduces his Patriot Games concept

43:20 — IN OR OUT? Predicting 2026 

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In our Christmas episode, Cameron Strang, Jesse Carey, Derek Minor and Emily Brown dive into a packed RELEVANT Buzz, including NFL players putting faith into action in unexpected ways, a Christian animated film debuting near the top of the box office, Timothée Chalamet unexpectedly singing Kirk Franklin and a spontaneous worship moment from Justin Bieber that caught the internet’s attention.

The crew also tackles one of the most important questions of the season: what actually makes a perfect Christmas day? From wake-up times and breakfast spreads to family expectations, church plans and evening traditions, they attempt—somewhat successfully—to agree on a Christmas schedule everyone can enjoy.

Plus, it’s an Ask the Cast: Christmas Edition, with listener questions about end-of-year burnout, holiday boundaries and when it’s officially time to stop saying “Merry Christmas.”

Highlights:

1:00 – Emily’s Quilt Room Setup

4:00 – RELEVANT BUZZ

4:30 – Baltimore Ravens Wash Kids Feet

8:20 – David Hits No. 2 at the Box Office

11:30 – Is Avatar Still Impressive?

14:30 – Timothée Chalamet Sings Kirk Franklin

24:30 – Justin Bieber’s Worship Moment

25:45 – Designing the Perfect Christmas Day

36:12 – SLICES: The 6-7 Meme Gets Real 

44:05 – The World's Largest Gingerbread Home Alone House

46:05 – ASK THE CAST: Christmas Edition

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In the final episode of the RELEVANT Podcast Impact Conversations series, we sit down with two influential voices using their platforms to point toward something deeper.

First, New England Patriots rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson shares how his faith was shaped long before the NFL spotlight. From a season-ending injury at Ohio State that led him to Jesus to helping spark faith gatherings across campus, Henderson talks about spiritual leadership, obedience over outcomes, and what it looks like to follow Christ inside high-pressure locker rooms. His story is also featured in the new docuseries Redemption, now streaming on Prime Video via The Wonder Project.

Then, Lecrae, one of the most influential figures in Christian hip-hop, joins the conversation following the release of his 10th album, Reconstruction. He reflects on misunderstanding, therapy, deconstruction and why he believes Christian hip-hop is entering a new era without categories. Lecrae also opens up about legacy, leadership, and his role as a bridge between faith and culture.

This episode is presented by World Vision, a global Christian humanitarian organization working to tackle the root causes of poverty and injustice worldwide.

Chapters:

01:15 – Why TreVeyon Henderson uses his NFL platform for faith

02:01 – Growing up with football as a lifeline

04:24 – When faith became real during a season-ending injury

06:40 – Sleep paralysis, spiritual warfare and healing through prayer

08:28 – Faith leadership inside Ohio State football

11:33 – Carrying faith into the NFL locker room

12:58 – Spiritual disciplines and the “secret place”

16:21 – Why faith is rising among professional athletes

18:56 – Why Henderson highlighted persecuted Christians in Nigeria

22:45 – Lecrae on why Reconstruction is different

24:53 – Transparency vs vulnerability in creative work

26:08 – Therapy, confidence and owning your voice

29:25 – Why Lecrae chose the word “Reconstruction”

30:46 – Leadership, loneliness and stewardship

33:01 – The future of Christian hip-hop

34:41 – Lecrae on legacy and being a bridge between faith and culture

44:17 – How Reconstruction invites people back to faith

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Rian Johnson’s new Knives Out film, 'Wake Up Dead Man,' is sparking conversations few mainstream movies ever touch — faith, forgiveness, power and what it actually means to follow Jesus in a polarized world.

In this episode, we talk with the filmmaker about growing up in the Church, walking away from faith and why Christ’s teachings — especially “love your enemy” — still shape the stories he wants to tell. Johnson opens up about wrestling with the us-versus-them mentality, the corrupting pull of power and influence, and why he wanted to portray Christian belief with empathy rather than caricature.

Plus, the RELEVANT crew debates the best Christmas movie of all time in a chaotic bracket showdown, reacts to surprising year-end culture stories and discusses new research suggesting adolescence doesn’t actually end until age 32.

HIGHLIGHTS:

01:40 – Why 'Wake Up Dead Man' Feels Like a Gospel Story

04:00 – Serving vs. Fighting: Faith and the Culture War

06:45 – Why Culture Is More Open to Spiritual Conversations

09:20 – Is Wake Up Dead Man the Best Knives Out Movie?

12:10 – Is Rian Johnson Done With Faith?

13:10 – Christianity vs. Church Culture

20:15 – RELEVANT Buzz

22:00 – Forrest Frank Breaks Into Google’s “Hum to Search” List

26:30 – Theo Von and Morgan Wallen’s Bible Study Revealed

32:00 – Rian Johnson on Growing Up Evangelical

34:00 – “Arms Wide Open vs. Fists Up” Faith Explained

39:00 — SLICES

39:20 – New Research Says Adolescence Lasts Until Age 32

45:15 – AI Reality TV Is Here (Unfortunately)

47:30 – Christmas Movie Bracket Challenge

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This week, Andy Mineo joins us for a hilarious and surprisingly vulnerable conversation about reinvention, perfectionism, leaving Reach Records, making his first album in four years and why he almost drove himself crazy trying to get it right. Plus, the cast dives into:

– Brandon Lake dominating Billboard’s year-end charts

– The ER vs The Pitt IP controversy

– Ticketmaster’s takedown

– TreVeyon Henderson spotlighting persecuted Christians on the field

– A chaotic game of “One Has to Go” that reveals way too much (about Andy)

CHAPTERS:

1:20 – '90s nostalgia, ER and the IP drama behind The Pitt

10:25 – RELEVANT Buzz: Brandon Lake ruled 2025

15:45 – Olivia Dean takes on Ticketmaster

19:50 – TreVeyon Henderson highlights persecuted Christians in Nigeria

21:50 – Andy Mineo joins the show

22:20 – Why his new album took four years

23:40 – Perfectionism, analysis paralysis and moving faster

27:10 – More new music is already loading

28:35 – Andy & Marty’s 15-year friendship origin story

32:05 – “One Has to Go” with Andy

41:55 – Parenting, nostalgia and movies that don’t hit the same

44:15 – 80s/90s PG movies were NOT PG

Remember, you can watch the episode video on YouTube!

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