The RELEVANT Podcast (Subscriber Edition)

This week on The RELEVANT Podcast, we dive into the strange new digital reality Christians are wrestling with — from AI artists topping the Christian charts to foreign troll farms shaping what we see online, even in faith spaces. Throughout the show, we keep asking one big question: can we trust anything online anymore?

Plus, we talk Kristen Bell’s surprise appearance on a Fox News Bible podcast (and her feelings about that), Nate Bargatze’s real-life theme park, weird holiday debates, outlawed pickleball, Thanksgiving pizza and a lot more. It’s a holiday-week hangout episode with Cameron, Jesse and Emily — no guest, just chaos, honesty and a lot of laughs.

0:35 – Why do our YouTube views explode days later?

6:00 – Thanksgiving: the obligation holiday?

7:30 – When do you become the “main house” for holidays?

8:30 – Jesse’s traumatic Big Lots Thanksgiving miracle

14:20 – RELEVANT Buzz: AI tops the Christian charts

24:30 – Kristen Bell accidentally starring in a Fox News Bible podcast

30:40 – Nate Bargatze is opening a theme park?!

36:30 – SLICES: Pickleball banned in California

39:30 – The Elvis Judge saga

43:00 – Thanksgiving pizza: yes or no?

44:30 – ONE HAS TO GO: Holiday Edition

50:30 – Matching Christmas pajamas

51:15 – Final thoughts

Worship leader and Passion artist Kristian Stanfill joins us to talk about the long road from addiction to five years of sobriety, the moment everything changed and how his new album 'Come to Jesus' was born from real healing and real joy.

Cameron, Jesse, Derek and Emily also bring RELEVANT Buzz, our weekly breakdown of the latest at the intersection of faith and culture — and of course, we close the show with Slices, where the crew dives into the funniest, weirdest and most unexpected stories the internet has to offer.

01:25 — Denver altitude, sinus infections & Cameron’s Chap Stick disaster

04:36 — The Colorado horse-ride saga and Derek’s conspiracy theories

08:55 — RELEVANT Buzz 

09:00 — Daniel Caesar’s faith-filled album hits the charts

11:00 — The wild bike-prank video Jesse found on his cursed algorithm

12:05 — Vine is officially coming back… sort of

16:20 — Jenna Jameson gets baptized and shares her story

18:15 — Guest: Kristian Stanfill joins the show

18:45 — Why he made a solo album (Come to Jesus)

21:00 — “I needed a revelation of Jesus” — Kristian on what actually changed him

26:15 — What year four to year five of sobriety taught him

27:20 — The power of community, vulnerability and refusing isolation

28:15 — Advice for pastors, leaders and anyone afraid to ask for help

31:20 — Does he get tired of talking about his darkest season?

33:55 — Slices: A horse falls into a family’s backyard pool

39:20 — An AI song hits No. 1 on the country charts

45:55 — Congress quietly bans Delta-8 and similar THC products

48:20 — The dark side of unregulated synthetic drugs

In this episode of the RELEVANT Podcast Impact Conversation Series, we sit down with two leaders who have shaped the faith lives of billions.

First, adventurer and global TV icon Bear Grylls opens up about how the wilderness taught him about spiritual survival. It’s one of Bear’s most personal and honest conversations ever — covering doubt, faith, courage and why he believes Jesus’ life is the greatest adventure of all.

Then, YouVersion founder Bobby Gruenewald joins us fresh off a historic milestone: one billion downloads of the Bible App. He shares the wild origin story of YouVersion, how God exceeded every expectation, how to steward faith in a tech-driven world and why Gen Z is turning to Scripture like never before.

This episode is part of our special Impact Series sponsored by World Vision, whose community-focused work is changing lives around the globe. Learn more and get involved at WorldVision.org/RELEVANT.

CHAPTERS

00:00 — Introduction from Cameron Strang
02:19 — Emily Brown sits down with Bear Grylls
02:30 — Writing Jesus’ story as a thriller (and why no one had done it)
05:13 — How his new book began in the middle of the jungle
07:33 — Physical survival and spiritual survival: where they intersect
09:22 — Faith, doubt, fear and the courage to keep going
11:19 — What surprised Bear most after rereading the Bible three times
13:23 — Working with The Chosen and making “Chosen in the Wild”
16:07 — Why faith is breaking through in entertainment right now
18:20 — The first time Bear spoke publicly about faith (yes, including Obama)
20:07 — Cameron wraps Bear’s segment and introduces Bobby Gruenewald of YouVersion
21:49 — How a security line in Chicago sparked the Bible App
23:57 — Launching on Day 1 of the App Store… with zero Apple contacts
27:59 — What surprised him about global Bible engagement
30:48 — Balancing ministry and data while staying donor-supported
33:20 — From serial entrepreneur to lifelong ministry calling
37:26 — Where faith and technology are headed next
41:52 — AI, ethics and why YouVersion refuses to rush a chatbot
44:09 — What Bobby hopes YouVersion’s legacy will be 50 years from now
49:22 — Gen Z’s surprising hunger for Scripture

This week, Kings Kaleidoscope’s Chad Gardner joins us to talk about the band’s new album, “Asaph's Arrows II,” a return to their roots reimagining classic hymns. He opens up about creative integrity, the lessons of Mars Hill, and how the band’s journey has reshaped his view of worship and art. Plus, the cast tackles haircut horror stories, the SNAP funding freeze, Mike Todd’s viral Breakfast Club interview and this year’s weirdest scientific discoveries.

Highlights:

1:00 – Intros

10:45 – The Great Hair Debate: Who has the courage to stop a bad haircut in progress?

11:00 – RELEVANT Buzz: This week’s headlines at the intersection of faith and culture

11:15 – SNAP Funding Freeze: 42 million Americans face a food crisis — what Christians can actually do to help

12:15 – Church vs. State: Who’s really responsible for feeding the hungry?

17:30 – Mike Todd on The Breakfast Club: Why he went viral (again)

25:20 – Special Guest: Kings Kaleidoscope’s Chad Gardner joins to talk about the band’s new album, “Asaph’s Arrows II”

26:00 – Back to the Beginning: Why Kings is remaking hymns after a decade of experimentation

30:10 – “The rose that grew from concrete”: How Mars Hill shaped Kings Kaleidoscope’s DNA

36:15 – The Future of Kings Kaleidoscope: How Kings might return to leading church worship

42:00 – SLICES:

• Jesse’s “Ig Nobel Awards” — scientists prove drunk bats fly worse and cows painted like zebras get fewer fly bites

• Marty’s Vintage Gaming Corner — a Russian Sims 2 love story gone terribly wrong

52:46 — Marty tells us about his exciting new project

Christian researcher, sociologist and Hamilton actress Ashley LaLonde joins The RELEVANT Podcast to unpack new data revealing why more Gen Z women are walking away from church. She explains how purity culture, politics and the lack of space for single or career-focused women are reshaping faith for a generation. It's a must-listen conversation! Plus, we have RELEVANT Buzz and Slices

1:00 – The Crew Debates Big Napkin: Jesse exposes the “decorative napkin industrial complex.”
6:30 – The Dollar Tree Uprising: The cast demands rebranding to “$1.25 Tree.”
8:00 – Smooth Pivot Attempt: Cameron tries to move from napkins to faith and culture.

9:00 – RELEVANT Buzz: This week’s headlines at the intersection of faith and culture
9:15 – Frankie Muniz Finds God: The Malcolm in the Middle star’s surprising faith story
12:00 – Christian Music Chart Update: Josiah Queen, Phil Wickham, and the rise of worship on Billboard’s Hot 100
15:45 – Hip-Hop’s Chart Collapse: No rap songs in the Top 40 for the first time in 35 years
16:00 – Derek’s Deep Dive: Why hip-hop lost its cultural soul — from gatekeepers to gentrification

25:00 – Special Guest: Ashley LaLonde (Barna Group / Hamilton) joins to talk about the new Barna study on Gen Z women and faith
26:45 – Why Gen Z Women Are Leaving the Church: Ashley explains the data — 38% now religiously unaffiliated
27:30 – The Purity Culture Fallout: How sexual shame and rigid gender roles alienated a generation
28:10 – Politics and the Pulpit: How Christian nationalism and partisanship push women away
29:20 – The Marriage Idol: Are churches overvaluing family and under-serving single women?
30:45 – Solidarity and Inclusion: Why many young women leave in support of LGBTQ friends
31:50 – Social Capital Shift: Why church is still “advantageous” for men but costly for women socially
32:40 – A New Kind of Spiritual Hunger: How disengaged women are still deeply curious about faith
34:10 – The Marriage Question: How this trend could reshape Christian dating and marriage rates
35:00 – Ashley’s Challenge to the Church: How to re-engage single women and rethink discipleship
36:10 – The Urban Divide: Are cities different from suburbs? Ashley offers insight
38:00 – The Fallout of Scandal: How church abuse crises have eroded trust among women
39:15 – Reckoning with Failure: Ashley calls the Church to repent for how it’s treated women
40:00 – Ashley’s Story: From Harvard to Hamilton to Barna Group — how faith shaped her calling
42:45 – Perseverance and Purpose: Six years of rejection before booking Hamilton
43:40 – From Broadway to Research: How she now combines creativity, sociology and ministry
44:30 – The cast reacts — “That was the most insightful segment we’ve ever done.”
45:00 – SLICES:
 • Jesse’s “Aggressive Research Monkeys on the Loose” story
 • Derek’s real-life 'Suits' case — the fake lawyer who won 26 cases

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🗞 Read the article: RELEVANTmagazine.com/faith/genz-women-church
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In this episode of our IMPACT Conversation Series, entrepreneur David Meltzer shares how losing everything led him to redefine success through faith, gratitude and purpose. Then, pastor and author Mark Batterson unpacks the message behind his new book Gradually Then Suddenly — why breakthroughs happen slowly, then all at once. Hosted by Cameron Strang and presented by World Vision, these conversations explore what it really means to make an impact through business, ministry and everyday faith.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 — Introduction with Cameron Strang

01:18 — World Vision partnership + mission spotlight

02:30 — David Meltzer joins the conversation

04:00 — Losing everything and redefining success

07:10 — Rebuilding faith, gratitude, and purpose

10:45 — How business can be a tool for impact

14:20 — The balance between ambition and surrender

18:05 — Closing thoughts from Cameron

21:25 — Introduction to Mark Batterson

21:40 — “Gradually Then Suddenly”: the meaning behind the title

23:00 — The myth of overnight success

24:20 — Why faith often moves at the speed of a seed

25:55 — Persistence: the bridge between failure and breakthrough

28:30 — Discerning when to persist and when to pivot

30:50 — How to stay faithful in the “gradually” seasons

32:45 — Encouragement for those still waiting for their “suddenly”

35:40 — Final reflections from Mark Batterson

36:54 — Cameron Strang outro + next episode tease

This week the crew breaks down the NBA’s shocking gambling scandal, Daniel Caesar’s unexpected faith journey, and what actually happens after we die. Plus, Jelly Roll launches a free rehab center, Emily questions if Florida makes the cut for the New Earth and Jesse warns us about smart beds gone rogue.

CHAPTERS

00:00  Intro 

01:15  The NBA Gambling Scandal → Chauncey Billups, the mafia & a Walter White theory

15:00  RELEVANT Buzz: Daniel Caesar’s Faith Journey & New Album

22:00  Jelly Roll’s Free Rehab Center

24:00  Faith Charting Again on Prime Video + Hollywood vs. Christian Storytelling

27:00  “What Happens When We Die?” — Cameron Breaks Down Heaven, The Good Place & the Bible’s Timeline

35:00  Afterlife Debate → New Earth, Time & Purpose in Eternity

45:00  SLICES: Smart Beds Gone Wild & The Robot Uprising

New video episodes of The RELEVANT Podcast drop every Tuesday on the RELEVANT Podcast Youtube channel!

After reflecting on their recent conversation with viral creator Jimmy Darts, the crew dives into what living out real faith actually looks like — not just believing the right things, but showing compassion and generosity in everyday life. Then they tackle the big October question: should Christians celebrate Halloween, or skip the costumes altogether?

In RELEVANT Buzz, they unpack Mel Gibson’s questionable new Resurrection of the Christ casting, AI’s takeover of the internet, and Miley Cyrus’ surprising thoughts on sobriety. Plus, in Slices, wild stories about speeding tickets, Switzerland’s $100K fines, and self-driving cars gone rogue.

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Cameron’s New Setup

05:44 A Serious Discussion About Facial Hair

10:23 Reflecting on Our ‘Impact Series’ Conversation With Jimmy Darts

16:28 Showing Compassion in Everyday Life

18:32 Shaming for Generosity: A New Approach

18:56 RELEVANT Buzz

19:07 Mel Gibson Recast Jesus

24:28 The Internet Is Now 50% AI-Generated Content

32:06 Why Miley Cyrus Got Sober

35:26 SLICES

35:38 Don’t Get a Ticket in Switzerland

41:57 But Can You Ticket a Robot?

45:31 Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?

59:10 ASK THE CAST

01:00:10 What Would Your 16-Year-Old Self Think of You Now?

01:02:16 What Cringey Christian Thing Do You Secretly Still Love?

01:06:29 What’s an Unexpected Hill You’ll Die On?

We believe every follower of Jesus is called to make a difference — and in this special bonus series, we’re sitting down with creators, leaders and dreamers who are doing just that.

In this episode, we kick things off with Jimmy Darts — GoFundMe’s top creator, known for surprising strangers with life-changing generosity. His videos have reached hundreds of millions, but behind it all is a simple mission: to show the world what God’s love looks like in action.

The RELEVANT Podcast IMPACT Series is presented by World Vision, a Christian humanitarian organization serving children and communities around the globe. Learn more at worldvision.org/RELEVANT.

New episodes drop here throughout the fall. Make sure to watch on YouTube!

Pastor Chris Durso joins us to talk about the shifting landscape of modern Christianity — why flashy churches are losing their influence, how Gen Z is reshaping faith communities, and what authenticity really looks like in a post-celebrity-pastor era.

Plus, the crew breaks down the biggest stories at the intersection of faith and culture, including Chandler Moore’s lawsuit against Maverick City Music's CEO, Project Pat's stunning salvation moment at a Memphis concert, the Taco Bell Ultra Marathon and the viral “Jericho dating strategy” at ORU. (FYI, it's glorious.)

Chapters:

05:00 – RELEVANT BUZZ Returns: The Maverick City Music lawsuit explained

12:20 – Project Pat leads a prayer of repentance in Memphis

15:15 – SLICES: The Taco Bell Ultra Marathon (why would anyone do this?)

22:30 – ORU freshmen attempt a “Jericho dating” stunt

27:00 – GUEST: Pastor Chris Durso joins the show

28:00 – Launching Good Company Church in NYC

32:00 – Why the showmanship era of church is over

35:30 – How COVID changed what people want from faith

38:40 – The danger of “celebrity Christianity”

41:00 – Building an honest, mature church culture

44:00 – Navigating politics and social issues from the pulpit

46:00 – Faith and the NBA: behind the scenes with team chaplains

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