People are searching for rituals, but often in places the church has abandoned. Esau, Mike, and Rochelle Scheuermann talk about whether friendship can survive political disagreement, why people are inventing new rituals for belonging and meaning, and what churches lose when they trade formation for efficiency. Then, Rochelle discusses her new book, Disability and Evangelism, and why disability is not a problem for churches to solve but a gift the body of Christ needs to receive. She shares how her son with Down syndrome changed her understanding of discipleship, evangelism, and the kingdom of God.

0:00 - Theme Song

0:42 - Drake's Triple Album Drop

2:24 - Friendship Across Political Divide

10:08 - Rituals

19:33 - Disability and Evangelism

22:17 - Disability Theology

34:33 - Signs a Church is Accommodating

40:02 - End Credits

Disability and Evangelism: The Good News of the Fullness of God's Kingdom (Center For Disability and Ministry Books) by Rochelle Scheuermann: https://a.co/d/0d4aOT2t

A group of pastors prayed over a golden statue of President Trump, but they insist it was not a "golden calf" situation. Esau, Malcolm and Mike discuss what the Trump statue reveals about power, idolatry, and the church's temptation to bless empire. Then, they discuss the recent release of government files on UFOs and question of whether the discovery of aliens would change Christian theology, while a discussion about conspiracy theories somehow leads to spies, mayors, and the CIA. Also this week: anti-DEI politics and sewage infrastructure in rural Alabama, companies cutting paid family leave, and is Mike becoming internationally famous?

0:00 - Theme Song

2:12 - Graduation Advice

11:01 - Trump's Golden Statue

22:33 - Sponsor - OneAccord - Get 3 Hours of free, live translation for your church by visiting: https://www.oneaccord.ai/ESAU

24:58 - Aliens!

37:40 - DEI Cuts Causing Plumbing Problems

50:20 - End Credits

Preorder Esau's New Children's Book:

https://esaumccaulley.com/books/isaiah-johnson-and-the-big-game/

The Supreme Court's latest Voting Rights Act decision has reignited an old debate: does discrimination only matter when racist intent can be proven, or do the results matter too? Esau McCaulley, Skye Jethani and Producer Mike break down the history behind the Voting Rights Act, why this Louisiana redistricting case matters, and what it could mean for Black political representation across the South. They also wrestle with whether America's institutions are actually progressing on race or simply finding new ways to protect power.

Then, Sharon Hodde Miller joins the show to unpack the Newsboys lawsuit and the uncomfortable questions it raises about Christian music, nonprofit partnerships, and money in evangelical culture.

0:00 - Theme Song

0:33 - Esau's New Book!

2:00 - Voting Rights Act Supreme Court Decision

8:47 - Moral Progress and Original Sin

23:09 - Newsboys Suing Charities

40:38 - Downsizing Friendships?

53:42 - End Credits

After another assassination attempt on President Trump, Esau McCaulley, Malcolm Foley and Mike Stralow wrestle with what it means that political violence is starting to feel normal, and why Christians must reject any attempt to justify it in Jesus' name. They unpack the so-called "Christian" logic behind the attacker's manifesto, and explain why the story of Jesus fundamentally undermines violence as a tool for change. Then the conversation turns to the backlash around DEI, where real concerns, bad ideas, and political overreactions have all been thrown into one messy debate. Also this week: why people quietly leave churches, and Producer Mike might need a new nickname.

0:00 - Theme Song

3:02 - Assassination Attempt

6:11 - Christian Non-Violence

9:05 - Identifying with the State

17:35 - Conspiracy Theories

20:53 - Where DEI Backfires

29:48 - The "DEI Bundle"

34:52 - Critiquing DEI Without Being MAGA

39:00 - Pastors and Congregation Numbers

55:24 - End Credits

We used to all watch the same thing, but now our entertainment options to our church options are more dived and fragmented than ever. Justin Giboney joins Esau McCaulley and Mike Stralow to discuss the collapse of monoculture.

Then, Dave Chappelle recently took criticism for performing at a comedy festival in Saudi Arabia, but he made the claim that there is no such thing as clean money anymore. The crew discusses if that's true and how should Christians think about spending, giving, and participating in a system that's already broken. Also, is it fair to tax the rich and does it actually improve society if we do?

P Lewis Art Collection:

https://www.instagram.com/plewiscollection/

0:00 - Theme Song

1:45 - The Love of Missing Out, LOMO

7:45 - Is Monoculture Dead?

12:28 - Ideology and Entertainment

22:45 - Sponsor - Tyndale - On The BEMA Podcast, Marty Solomon dives deep into the Bible. Learn more at https://navpress.com

23:56 - Sponsor - Brooklyn Bedding - For a quality mattress, go to https://www.brooklynbedding.com and use promo code ESAU to get 30% off site wide!

24:46 - Dave Chappell and Clear Money

37:10 - Mamdani and Housing Taxes in New York City

49:50 - End Credits

It was the AI image heard around the world. Esau and Mike are joined by Christine Jeske to talk about Trump's infamous AI image depicting him as a Christ figure, and whether it signals a real shift in his evangelical support or just a passing blip. They also dig into Justin Bieber's Coachella performance, asking whether it tapped into something deeper about longing, vulnerability, and public faith. Then the conversation turns to Anthropic's gathering of Christian leaders to explore whether AI could ever be considered a child of God. Finally, Christine shares about her new book, Racial Justice for the Long Haul, and what gives her hope in the midst of so much turmoil right now.

0:00 - Theme Song

2:00 - Justin Bieber's Coachella Laptop Performance

12:13 - The Pope Vs. the President

25:38 - Sponsor - Tyndale - On The BEMA Podcast, Marty Solomon dives deep into the Bible. Learn more at https://navpress.com

26:56 - Can AI Have a Soul?

31:18 - AI and Human Value

55:33 - End Credits

A government official claims God teleported him to a Waffle House, and somehow that is not the strangest part of this conversation. Esau is joined by producer Mike and Stephen Harris to discuss Holy Week at the White House, where the language of resurrection, sacrifice, and salvation was tangled up with politics, power, and some very questionable comparisons. They also wrestle with how Christians can believe in the miraculous without losing their grip on wisdom, and why performative faith keeps missing the point of the gospel. Finally, Esau and Stephen disagree about the casting of Paapa Essiedu as Snape in the new Harry Potter series, raising questions about storytelling, representation, and when creative changes actually make a story worse.

0:00 - Theme Song

1:55 - Teleporting to Waffle House!

11:38 - Comparing Trump to Christ

15:23 - Trump's Easter Tweet

20:21 - God and the State

28:42 - Sponsor - Tyndale - On The BEMA Podcast, Marty Solomon dives deep into the Bible. Learn more at https://navpress.com

30:05 - Saul and Performative Christianity

38:42 - HBO Cast a Black Actor as Snape?

55:55 - End Credits

A sci-fi blockbuster about the end of the world is somehow the most hopeful movie in years. What does Project Hail Mary's success say about a culture drowning in cynicism? Esau McCaulley, Malcolm Foley, and Mike Stralow dig into why audiences are craving optimism again and whether the church (and Holy Post Media) has something to learn from it. Then the conversation turns to all the recent talk about "revival." Is something actually happening, or are we just reading the signs we want to see? They unpack why Christians are so fixated on growth, what we might be measuring wrong, and whether real renewal looks less like hype and more like repentance. Plus, Holy Week reflections, what's bringing them joy right now, and a pair of red Air Force Ones.

0:00 - Theme

0:21 - Holy Week with Esau

12:22 - Revival or Not?

17:56 - Curiosity Around Religion

26:10 - Endurance and the Black Church

30:05 - Slavery is a Crime Against Humanity

46:55 - End Credits