The RELEVANT Podcast

Comedian Anjelah Johnson-Reyes joins the show to talk about her new special "Ugly Baby" and how a joke-writing class at her church kicked off her stand-up career. Then Christian UFO researcher Timothy Alberino comes on to make sense of the Pentagon's newly declassified UFO files. The cast walks through why aliens, demons and military tech are three different conversations most people are lumping into one, where the Nephilim theory in Genesis 6 fits in and why none of this should rattle anyone's theology. Alberino's book "Birthright" is worth a read if this rabbit hole calls to you.

In RELEVANT Buzz, we also break down the American Idol finale, where all three finalists this season (Jordan McCullough, Hannah Harper and Keyla Richardson) are outspoken Christians. Plus comedian Jay Pharoah's conversation with Tamron Hall about the insane experience he had while committing to read through the Bible last year.

In Slices, Derek tells us about a black bear in Gatlinburg that clawed its way into a bakery for some cinnamon rolls, and Jesse tells us about a CPR instructor that went into cardiac arrest and was saved by the students he was teaching CPR to.

"One Has to Go" closes things out with 2000s R&B, sequels better than the original, phone-era nostalgia, all-time athletes.

Then it's the debut of the Editorial Question of the Week: Is it OK to turn down a friend's wedding party invitation just because you know it's going to be expensive? Drop your answer in the comments or @ us — we'll read our favorites on next week's episode.

It’s episode 1300! In RELEVANT Buzz, we talk about Hulu’s new Christian college dating series that you need to hear to believe. We also talk about WNBA star Sophie Cunningham's recent faith declaration, Timberwolves guard Ayo Dosunmu’s faithful pregame ritual and a new Bible movie about Daniel that’s releasing this fall.

In Slices, a Wisconsin solid waste facility has an unusual speed limit, a Harvard scientist helps build China’s AI supercomputer, and the crew finds a Guinness World Record worth actually pursuing.

The show ends with One Has to Go, and be warned there’s a lot of frisbee golf and male ponytail talk.

Highlights:

00:00 — Frisbee golf and ponytail culture 

14:23 — RELEVANT Buzz: Hulu's "Ring by Spring Break" Christian college dating show 

26:28 — Sophie Cunningham gets baptized 

28:17 — Ayo Dosunmu’s pregame Bible routine 

28:56 — "Daniel: The Fiery Furnace" is releasing on 9/11 

31:54 — Slices: An odd speed limit at a Wisconsin recycling facility 

40:45 — A Harvard scientist defects to China after prison 

43:28 — A new world record for solving a Rubik's Cube in free fall 

47:21 — One Has to Go: Old Testament epics / 90s sitcoms / Wes Anderson / boy bands / NFL fan bases / late-night snacks

This week we're joined by Hulvey, who just dropped his final album on Reach Records. He tells us why he turned down a Kanye West collab and the reason behind his new season.

In RELEVANT Buzz, Theo Von gets surprisingly vulnerable on his podcast about being stuck in destructive cycles. A new study finds that 60% of Gen Z has gone no contact with friends or family. We get into why. 

There's NBA playoff rivalries, unexpected gifts, insane 80s movies, insurance fraud, bees escaping. It's a packed, crazy episode!

Highlights:

00:00 — Intro / Magic vs Pistons and the Angel Reese love triangle

03:50 — Jesse pitches Over the Top as the greatest sports drama ever made

12:30 — Sudden Death: Van Damme plays goalie in the Stanley Cup finals

15:20 — The Taco Bell hat and the Pistons shorts gift exchange

19:14 — RELEVANT Buzz: Theo Von's vulnerable moment 28:55 — 60% of Gen Z is going no contact

32:55 — Mr. T and Ice-T's 1984 Ten Commandments

36:30 — RELEVANT Recommends: Hulvey on his final Reach album and turning down Kanye

43:00 — Slices: Operation Bear Claw

46:35 — A million bees escape on a Knoxville highway

48:30 — Would You Rather

The week, we’re joined by one of the funniest comedians going right now — Derrick Stroup, who has a fantastic new special on Netflix. He tells us how he got his start in comedy and why keeping things clean is an intentional choice.

In RELEVANT Buzz, we dive into a new Gallup study that reveals 50% more young men say religion is very important to them than did just a few years ago. There’s a lot to unpack — including why young women are going the opposite direction. We then share a clip that went viral this week of Charlie Puth breaking down his favorite gospel song and why he “loves everything Church.” Then we check out RAYE’s incredible new single “Joy,” and her faith-filled album, ‘This Music May Contain Hope.’ 

In Slices, a guy in California got caught running a nationwide LEGO scam that you won’t believe. And a 91-year-old Ohio grandma ignored her wellness checks because … she was locked in on a video game. Then Would You Rather closes it out: Horse-sized ducks, finger guns, a raccoon with a grudge.

Highlights:

04:38 — RELEVANT Buzz: 42% of young men say their faith is very important 

09:03 — Charlie Puth's gospel moment on the Terrell Show 

17:51 — RAYE's new album and her faith story 

29:59 — RELEVANT Recommends: Derrick Stroup on his Netflix special "Nostalgic"

38:05 — Slices: The Lego pasta heist 

42:44 — Slices: 91-year-old grandma blows off her wellness check to keep gaming

45:05 — Would You Rather

This week, we sit down with former Hillsong-ers Aodhan King and Benjamin William Hastings, who just announced a joint worship album dropping next month. They tell us about it — and also tell the unhinged story of how they met 15 years ago. (Lesson: Need pants? You might meet a new friend.)

In RELEVANT Buzz, this week Lecrae became the first Christian rapper on NPR's Tiny Desk Concerts (apologies to Marla) and we tell you about M.I.A.'s new faith-rooted album inspired by the Book of Revelation and the Ark of the Covenant. (Yes, we play *that* Indiana Jones scene.)

In Slices, the heroic Artemis crew had a very relatable problem during the mission, and a chimp clan in Uganda is apparently in a full civil war.

"One Has to Go" hits youth group bands, cereals, comedy movies, Disney Channel shows, sports movies, reality TV and worship era anthems. Jesse was sweating at one point.

Highlights:

00:00 — Intro / Magic game recap, documentary tangents 

16:27 — RELEVANT Buzz: Lecrae's Tiny Desk debut 

21:37 — M.I.A. announces MI7 

31:42 — Benjamin William Hastings & Aodhan King 

39:45 — Slices: Artemis & Microsoft Outlook in space 

43:25 — Chimp clan civil war 

47:00 — One Has to Go: Youth group icons / Cereals / Comedy movies / Disney Channel shows / Sports movies / Christian music / Worship anthems / Bible figures

This week, Cameron, Derek, Emily and Marty cover a ton: American Idol's Songs of Faith Night, which was way more Jesus-heavy this year than last, British Christian rapper DC3 making MOBO Awards history, and the story of Forrest Frank's new indie band having to ditch their name days before releasing their debut album.

In RELEVANT Recommends, we talk to Madison Ryann Ward — an amazing, soulful singer (and former D1 volleyball player) who walked away from Rick Rubin's label after rededicating her life to Christ, and is now showing up everywhere and absolutely thriving. 

In Slices, we cover a guy who’s selling a compass that only points to the Olive Garden in Times Square, and the story of 12 tons of stolen Kit Kat bars giving some pretty great April Fool's fodder.

At the end of the episode, we have a great edition of One Has to Go!

Highlights:

00:00 — Intro / Derek Minor's new single "Up" 

07:35 — RELEVANT Buzz: American Idol Songs of Faith Night 

15:00 — RELEVANT Buzz: DC3 wins two MOBO Awards 

17:30 — RELEVANT Buzz: Forrest Frank's new band 

24:50 — RELEVANT Recommends: Madison Ryann Ward 

33:00 — Slices: Compass pointing to the Olive Garden in Times Square 

35:15 — Slices: Someone stole 12 tons of Kit Kat bars 

38:30 — One Has to Go: Holidays / Florida animals / Blockbuster night / MTV cartoons / Sports video games 

49:00 — Outro

Cameron, Jesse, Derek and Emily are all back together for a packed episode. In RELEVANT Recommends, we highlight Indie Tribe's new album, Who Do You Say I Am? and caught up with the guys at SXSW to talk about the making of the project and what it says about who they are as a group.

In RELEVANT Buzz: Alabama's basketball team has been quietly building a faith culture all season that's worth knowing about. Then, as Stephen Colbert is wrapping up the Late Show, his next move is pretty unexpected: writing a Lord of the Rings movie with Peter Jackson. And then we highlight an unexpected connection between SNL's newest cast member and Orlando-based Christian rapper Caleb Gordon. For real.

Plus we cover NCAA tournament drama, late night legends ranked, and the high school celebrity alumni rabbit hole (yes, DJ Khaled, Joey Fatone and Wayne Brady went to school together). In Slices: googly eyes are scientifically proven to deter seagulls (and lions), and the world record Big Mac guy has opinions on the Big Arch. And at the end of the show it's One Has to Go: pop icons, board games, classic Comedy Central, sneaker culture and more. We said it was packed.

0:00 — Intro / Derek's back, everybody's been sick

4:00 — The podcast economy is in trouble

11:30 — Mike Lindell gets served mid-interview

19:58 — RELEVANT Buzz

20:30 — NCAA Tournament buzzer beater & Dan Hurley headbutts a ref

23:30 — Alabama basketball's faith culture and Bible study movement

25:45 — Stephen Colbert leaving Late Show; late night legends ranked

27:25 — Colbert is co-writing a Lord of the Rings movie (Shadows of the Past)

33:00 — Unexpected celebrity connections: Snoop & Cameron Diaz, Dr. Phillips HS alumni

34:50 — SNL's Cam Patterson and Christian rapper Caleb Gordon went to school together

39:05 — Slices: Googly eyes deter seagulls (and lions in Botswana)

41:35 — Slices: The Big Mac world record holder reviews the Big Arch

44:42 — RELEVANT Recommends: Indie Tribe's Who Do You Say I Am?

47:37 — Derek on writing albums in lockdown camps

53:00 — One Has to Go: pop icons, comedians, board games, sneakers, Nickelodeon, MTV

Worship leader Pat Barrett — known for "Good Good Father" and "Build My Life" — joins Cameron, Jesse and Emily to talk about his new live album 'Break Open,' why he sat on the title track for nearly a decade, and his late-in-life obsession with surfing (including an upcoming trip to Kelly Slater's Surf Ranch). He also gets honest about how his thinking on songwriting vs. worship leading has shifted, because of course we ask awkward questions.

Also, Emily brings RELEVANT Buzz fresh from South by Southwest, where she sat in on a panel with Vince Gilligan — creator of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul — who said he thinks he owes the world something better than anti-heroes. Plus: High Point University's Cinderella March Madness run, and the faith story behind Chase Johnston's #99 jersey that everyone's been talking about.

And to close it out — Pat helps the crew run the Sweet 16 mascots through a no-stats, vibes-only bracket challenge to crown the real national champion. Based solely on mascots, not teams. One with a mustache may or may not have won.

Highlights:

• 0:00 – Why last week's episode was late
• 2:30 – Starlink satellites
• 9:30 – Driving gloves
• 17:50 – RELEVANT Buzz: High Point University's Chase Johnston's #99 story
• 27:00 – Emily's South by Southwest panel with Vince Gilligan
• 31:45 – The Lost arc, the Sawyer problem, and what Vince Gilligan owes culture
• 36:00 – Pat Barrett joins the show
• 38:30 – Recording 'Break Open' live in a sweaty tent
• 40:40 – Why the title song sat unreleased for nearly 10 years
• 42:50 – Songwriting vs. worship leading — what's actually better?
• 45:20 – Pat's surfing obsession
• 48:15 – The March Madness Mascot Bracket Challenge

Ryan Gosling joins the RELEVANT Podcast to talk about his new sci-fi film Project Hail Mary — what made him fall in love with this story and why this one might be a "core memory" film for a generation. 

Before that, Emily reports from SXSW to break down the week's biggest faith-and-culture stories: a Christian animated short film made by two Pixar animators and 200 volunteers (including musician Josh Garrels) got nominated for an Oscar. Also Christian apologist Wesley Huff went on the popular podcast 'Diary of a CEO' and told Stephen Bartlett to his face he's going to hell. Plus, NFL quarterback Justin Fields reveals he wants to become a missionary after football. 

Then in Slices: the Tooth Fairy economy is growing (Jesse has a lot of thoughts), a huge scandal in a camel beauty pageant, and you'll never be able to predict this week's 'What's Jesse Thinking?' segment. It's a wild ride this week.

Highlights:

00:25 — SxSW breakdown: The decline from tech-and-music powerhouse 

07:38 — RELEVANT BUZZ

07:43 — The Office canon errors: a deep dive nobody asked for (Michael Scott's anniversary math)

10:11 — Forevergreen: Oscar-nominated Christian animated short by two Pixar animators + 200 volunteers, featuring Josh Garrels

19:22 — Wesley Huff talks Christianity on 'Diary of a CEO'

26:07 — NFL QB Justin Fields says he wants to be a missionary after football 

30:07 — SLICES

30:14 — The Tooth Fairy economy 

35:34 — Camel beauty pageant scandal 

37:53 — RELEVANT RECOMMENDS: Project Hail Mary 

43:25 — Ryan Gosling on why he keeps making space movies and why he won't actually go to space

46:42 — Ryan Gosling on why he picked Project Hail Mary — "you would die for this rock alien"

48:54 — Ryan Gosling on Project Hail Mary as a "core memory movie" like E.T. and Back to the Future

50:01 — WHAT'S JESSE THINKING?: Should Golden Corral run the US government?

56:23 — Post-credits: Apology to the estate of Shel Silverstein

Colony House is back with a new album, and they sat down with Emily to reflect on 10 years of making music and what they want the next decade to look like. 

In RELEVANT Buzz: Papa Roach lead singer Jacoby Shaddix shares his powerful faith journey — from foxhole prayer, to sobriety and a faith that sounds like the real thing. We also bring a story flying under the radar: nearly a million Christians are living inside Iran right now, and we hear directly from believers on the ground to get their thoughts on the war and religious freedom. 

Plus, the backlash to the Atlanta Hawks announcing "Magic City Night" — a themed game night centered around an infamous Atlanta strip club.Then, pastor Kyle Idleman joins us to talk about how modern American Christianity has slowly turned Jesus into a therapist and self-help guru — and what we've lost in the process. It's a challenge worth sitting with.

In Slices: a Turkish soccer player performs CPR on a seagull he accidentally hit mid-game, United Airlines starts banning passengers who refuse headphones, and we close with a Spring Break edition of Would You Rather.

01:00 — The crocheting trend taking over 

03:48 — The appeal of old stuff

10:41 — RELEVANT BUZZ 

10:41 — Papa Roach lead singer Jacoby Shaddix shares his Christian testimony. Foxhole prayers, sobriety and millennial rockers finding faith

14:25 — Marty's attempt to join the Elk Club for a Newport parking spot

22:04 — Iranian Christians: nearly 1 million believers inside Iran

28:33 — Atlanta Hawks "Magic City Night"

30:42 — Kyle Idleman interview: How American Christianity has missed the real Jesus

35:16 — SLICES

35:16 — Turkish soccer player performs CPR on a seagull he accidentally hit

41:01 — United Airlines bans passengers who won't use headphones

45:31 — RELEVANT RECOMMENDS: Colony House — 77 Part 2 

50:33 — WOULD YOU RATHER: Spring Break Edition | Pullout couches, photo shoots, emo cruises, bad vibes vs. mediocre food, and Marty's 3am cockfight vacation