Choose Your Own Religion
142 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 3 years ago - ★★★★★ - 27 ratingsA podcast featuring real conversations, true stories, and more questions than answers. Join Joe Welker as he explores modern-day spirituality with storytellers, seminarians, comedians, pastors, academics, musicians, artists, atheists, believers, and all kinds of ordinary mystics to talk about their relationship with truth, authenticity, and mystery.
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Episodes
Naturally with Jen Curcio
August 20, 2017 07:00 - 1 hour - 42.7 MBJen Curcio chooses her own religion! Jen is a storyteller, standup, and improviser in Los Angeles who came to tell me about her time as a Quaker and her experience coming out to religious family members. She then makes up her own beautiful, natural religion. Follow Jen on Instagram @jencurcio!
Choosing the Chosen People with Jenny Young
August 13, 2017 07:00 - 48 minutes - 35 MBJenny Young chooses her own religion! Jenny is a comedian in New York who also runs the YouTube series “Cooking with a Sex Addict”, and we met up in New York to talk about her conversion to Judaism as an Asian-American. She tells me why she picked her synagogue, why Judaism, and we also talk about sex and love addiction. Follow Jenny on Twitter and Instagram @heyjennyyoung and check out Cooking with a “Sex Addict” on Youtube!
Schindler’s List Sucks with Ethan Stanislawski
August 06, 2017 07:00 - 57 minutes - 50.2 MBEthan Stanislawski chooses his own religion! Ethan is a standup comedian and storyteller in Los Angeles, but grew up as a conservative Jew in New York City. In this episode, Ethan talks about his problems with Judaism that he feels he’s been unable to say. We also talk about studying religion academically, commodifying tragedy, the moments we left our faith, and why Schindler’s List actually sucks. Follow Ethan on Twitter and Instagram @EthanStanComedy and check out Nightchurch at the Pack T...
The Magic of Magic Mike with Barbara Gray
July 30, 2017 07:00 - 59 minutes - 48.7 MBBarbara Gray chooses her own religion! Barbara is a standup comedian from Salt Lake City and co-host of the Lady to Lady podcast, and today she came to talk about growing up around Mormons as a non-Mormon, and ended up talking about much more. We talked about whether the comedy community is a community, sex and love addiction, displacing your co-dependency, finding a church, fun egotism, pure agnostism, and Barbara invented her own religion based on the holiest of holies, Magic Mike XXL. Lis...
Soul Government with Max Lasser
July 23, 2017 07:00 - 1 hour - 67.3 MBMax Lasser chooses his own religion! Max is a comedian from South Carolina who has a new podcast coming out called “The Calories” about weightloss. In this episode, we talked about Max growing up Jewish, going “angry atheist”, and then how psychedelics led him back to a sense of spirituality. We also talk about our bad trips, flow states, and what makes a religion a cult or not. Follow Max on Instagram @lassermax and check out The Calories in August 2017!
Celibate Polyamory with Aubrey Jacobowitz
July 09, 2017 07:00 - 1 hour - 57.7 MBAubrey Jacobowitz chooses her own religion! Aubrey is a Los Angeles comedian who grew up Jewish AND Catholic, but has since turned to Eastern philosophy. She also told me about recently choosing to be celibate, and how that has played into her polyamory. We also talked about psychedelics, attachment, and co-dependency, and I helped Aubrey create a religion of chilling out and making out. Follow Aubrey on Twitter @femmist!
The Former Latter Day Saint with Virginia Jones
July 02, 2017 07:00 - 1 hour - 49.3 MBVirginia Jones chooses her own religion! Virginia is a comedian from Portland, OR who came to talk about growing up Mormon. She lays out some of the weirder parts of Mormon theology, what South Park and Book of Mormon got right and wrong, and we also talk about comedy and relationships. Check out Virginia’s album “Gothic American Live!” on iTunes and follow her on Twitter @badiniadones and Instagram @badinia!
Briana Hansen is Metaphysical
June 18, 2017 16:08 - 1 hour - 66.6 MBBriana Hansen chooses her own religion! Briana is a Los Angeles comedian who runs the Metaphysical Comedy Show, and on this episode we got into what exactly metaphysical contains. We also talk about astrology, her growing up Unitarian Universalist, the four paths of yoga, love languages, psychedelics, feminine and masculine energy, ceremony, and what it is about nature that we love. Check out Metaphysical Comedy on iTunes, go to brianahansen.com, and follow her @briana_comedy on instagram an...
Jonathan Rowell Is Smizing
June 11, 2017 07:00 - 1 hour - 53.4 MBJonathan Rowell chooses his own religion! Jonathan is a standup comic in Los Angeles who grew up culturally Catholic until he went to a religious school, where he became super Christian right as he was realizing he was gay. We talk about our issues with Christianity and homosexuality, death, and how losing our faith affected our approach to comedy. Follow Jonathan on Twitter @JonRowell!
Nat Baimel Knows Nothing
June 04, 2017 07:00 - 57 minutes - 72.4 MBNat Baimel chooses his own religion! Nat is a standup comic from Cooper City, FL and came on to talk about growing up Jewish in South Florida in the Reformed tradition. We also talk about meditation, Alan Watts, cognitive dissonance, the afterlife, and what connects all religions. Check out Nat at natbaimel.com and follow him on Twitter @NatBaimel!
Putting the Chapel in Chapel Hill with John Rogers
May 28, 2017 16:05 - 40 minutes - 30 MBJohn Rogers chooses his own religion! John is the campus minister of University Presbyterian Church, leading Presbyterian Campus Ministry in Chapel Hill, NC, serving students of the University of North Carolina. In this episode, I talk to John about me leaving PCM back in the day, and about the challenges college campus ministries face as well as the church at large.
Is-ness with Lyssa Mandel
May 21, 2017 14:51 - 1 hour - 71.2 MBLyssa Mandel chooses her own religion! Lyssa is an actor, comedian, writer, and host of “The Bitch Seat” at the Nerdmelt Showroom. In this episode we talked about psychedelics, enneagrams, manifesting, fulfillment, storytelling, community, and all other vaguely hippie things in between. Check her out at lyssamandel.com and follow her on Twitter @lyssaisaperson!
Good Vibes with Christine Medrano
May 14, 2017 07:00 - 1 hour - 62.7 MBChristine Medrano chooses her own religion! Christine is a standup comedian based in Los Angeles and came to tell me about healing crystals! She has them, she uses them, and she is aware of how it can sound. I didn’t know anything about them and she was willing to share. We also talked about vision boards, affirmations, meditation, and invented a new religion. Go to christinemedrano.com, follow her on Twitter @ChrissyMeds, and follow her on Instagram @christinemed!
Killing the Dalai Lama with Jason Van Glass
May 07, 2017 07:00 - 59 minutes - 50.5 MBJason Van Glass chooses his own religion! Jason is a comedian from the Bay Area who now lives and performs in Los Angeles, and he came to tell me about his meditation practice at the Kadampa Buddhist Temple. We also talk about comedy, passion, and dealing with ADD. Follow him on Twitter @JasonVanGlass!
Jung Thug with Noah Lampert
April 30, 2017 14:12 - 1 hour - 51.4 MBNoah Lampert chooses his own religion! Noah is the founder of the Mindpod Network and host of the Synchronicity podcast, and in this episode he told me about his path to starting his network and creating his own community of like-minded folks. We also talked about psychedelics, the role of conversations, learning to surrender, and good ol’ Carl Jung. Follow Noah on Twitter @noahlampert and check out mindpodnetwork.com for all of their great podcasts!
Woo-Woo with Dayna Bowers
April 23, 2017 07:00 - 1 hour - 72.9 MBDayna Bowers chooses her own religion! Dayna is a comedian and folk artist from High Point, North Carolina and is the host of the ìWho We Used to Beî podcast. She is also a fellow alumnus of the UNC Religious Studies department, and in this episode we talked at length about how that experience affected our faith lives. We also talked about Quakers, our college Christian groups, Richard Rohr, Ram Dass, Southern fake-nice culture, and how much we hate Paul. We even sang a couple church camp so...
Bonus Episode: Easter Sunday II
April 16, 2017 07:45 - 9 minutes - 8.77 MBJoe preaches his second Easter sermon.
Lillytarianism with Ross Blocher and Carrie Poppy
April 09, 2017 07:00 - 1 hour - 78.4 MBRoss and Carrie choose their own religion! Ross Blocher and Carrie Poppy are the hosts of “Oh No, Ross and Carrie!”, a podcast where they investigate religion, fringe science, and other spiritual events by immersing themselves in them. On this episode, we talked about what they’ve learned from their investigations, what has turned out to be surprisingly true, and their own journeys from evangelical Christian backgrounds to the skeptics they are today (even though Carrie hates that term). We ...
Quakerterian with David LaMotte
April 02, 2017 04:39 - 1 hour - 51.8 MBDavid Lamotte chooses his own religion! David is a songwriter, speaker and writer from Black Mountain, NC who just released his 12th album, “The Other Way Around”, and is also the co-founder and President of PEG Partners, a non-profit organization that supports Guatemalan schools. In this episode, I caught up with David about our strangely intertwining lives in the Presbyterian world, as well as his own journey into Quaker-dom. We also talk about his life as a touring musician, how to help k...
The Story with Kaytlin Bailey
March 26, 2017 13:48 - 1 hour - 55.6 MBKaytlin Bailey chooses her own religion! Kaytlin is a New York-based standup comedian who I have known since our days in Raleigh, NC, before moving to separate coasts. In this episode, we catch up on starting out in comedy before talking about religion and sexuality. We also talk about her brief stints in Unitarianism and summer camp, rituals, yoga, and sex work, before she makes up her own beautiful religion. Check out Kaytlin’s touring group CAKE Comedy whenever they’re in your city and fo...
God Is the Internet with Omar Nava
March 19, 2017 07:00 - 1 hour - 52.4 MBOmar Nava chooses his own religion! Omar is a standup comedian from El Paso, Texas, and he told me about his experience growing up Catholic. We also talked about Christian idolatry, non-literalism, dressing up for church, the evils of advertising, and our concepts of God beyond a dude in the sky. Check out www.omarnava.com and follow him on Twitter @omarxnava!
Rad Dudes Express (Not Just For Guys) with Zach Sims
March 12, 2017 08:00 - 1 hour - 58.3 MBZach Sims chooses his own religion! Zach is a standup comedian from New Orleans, and in this episode he told me about growing up a Southern Baptist and where he veered off. We also got into discipline, self-help, philosophy classes, and the benefits of shame. Follow him on Twitter @zacharysims!
Church of the Stray Dogs with Finn Straley
March 05, 2017 08:00 - 1 hour - 65.4 MBFinn Straley chooses his own religion! Finn is a standup comedian from Alaska and in this episode he came to talk to me about how sick koans are. We also talk about Zen, Buddhism, Taoism, and how we deal with conflict. Check out Finn wherever he performs and follow him on Twitter @finnstraley!
Friendly Jewish Baby Jesus with Julia Meltzer
February 26, 2017 08:40 - 59 minutes - 49.7 MBJulia Meltzer chooses her own religion! Julia is a writer, performer, and podcaster in Los Angeles who performs on the UCB Harold team Queen George and hosts her own podcast called “Honey”! In this episode, we talk about a lot about relationships, working on yourself, fighting off codependence, being more child-like, and the all-time classic “what do we do when bad things happen to good people”. Find her on Instagram and Twitter @drunkactress!
Supper Club with Winston Carter
February 19, 2017 08:00 - 1 hour - 63.2 MBWinston Carter chooses his own religion! Winston is an actor and improviser from Tulsa, OK. In this episode he talks about going to a Catholic church where his priest had a family. We also talk about impactful church moments, the spirituality of performance, the beauty of jamming, and small groups, before he makes up a meal-based religion. Check out Winston drumming in Drac and the Swamp Rats and check out the movie Spaghettiman on iTunes and Amazon!
Presbyterian Discernment with Rev. Howard Dudley
February 12, 2017 08:27 - 1 hour - 56.9 MBRev. Howard Dudley chooses his own religion! Howard is the Pastor and Head of Staff at First Presbyterian Church in Dunn, North Carolina, and is an old friend of mine from my previous Presbyterian life. We first met at youth conferences in Massanetta Springs, VA and Montreat, NC and it was awesome to catch up with him about our respective divergent faith paths. We talk about the Presbyterian concept of discernment, church and politics, authenticity, cutting through tribalism, gratitude, and ...
Love and Fabulousness with Donzell Lewis
February 05, 2017 08:00 - 1 hour - 51.9 MBDonzell Lewis chooses his own religion! Donzell is an actor, improviser, and martial artist who grew up in the Church of God in Christ, a Pentecostal church. He told me about his experience as a gay teen in the church and how that has affected his relationship with his family and God. We also talked about what we love about church, worship & sex, loving ourselves, and loving others. Follow Donzell on Twitter @just_donzell!
Noah Did, In Fact, Build the Ark with Noah Findling
January 29, 2017 18:15 - 1 hour - 49.6 MBNoah Findling chooses his own religion! Noah is a comedian from New Jersey and came to talk about growing up in Conservative Judaism, going to Hebrew School, and about what it means to him now. Lots of talk about family, tradition, anti-Semitism, and learning Jewish vocab. Follow Noah on Twitter @NoahBuiltTheARK!
Bonus Episode: Greg Kashmanian
January 25, 2017 08:00 - 36 minutes - 30 MBGreg Kashmanian chooses his own religion! Greg is a comedian who just released his debut album, “Let’s Just Be Friends” available on iTunes. In this episode (shortened due to technical error! bummer!!) Greg talks about growing up a Jehovah’s Witness and promptly leaving it. Follow Greg on Twitter @ReadySetGreg and check out “Let’s Just Be Friends”!
No Title But All Titles with Rian Kountz
January 22, 2017 15:52 - 1 hour - 66.7 MBRian Kountz chooses his own religion! Rian is a comedian from Virginia who in addition to comedy, manages The Clubhouse in Los Angeles. In this episode Rian told me about growing up Lutheran, and we also talked about improv, heaven and hell, loving your enemies, anger, artistic spaces, and community. Check out Rian performing anywhere and check out The Clubhouse!
Me Too with George Barber
January 15, 2017 08:00 - 1 hour - 55.5 MBGeorge Barber chooses his own religion! George is a comedian from Cape Cod--specifically, Sandwich, Massachusetts. George grew up Catholic in Massachusetts during the middle of the Spotlight scandal, and we talk about how that rocked the community. George also talked about his time as a substitute teacher, going to punk shows, coaching improv, growing up working-class, and cultivating beautiful shared experiences. Follow George on Twitter @george_barber!
Be Blessed with James Austin Johnson
January 08, 2017 16:53 - 1 hour - 58.2 MBJames Austin Johnson chooses his own religion! James is a comedian from Tennessee and grew up in the Church of the Nazarene. In this episode, we talked about bridging the gap between two Americas, relationships, universalism, and all things about the South and Southern Christianity. Follow James on Twitter @chamesaustin!
Craving with Alex Hooper
January 01, 2017 17:41 - 1 hour - 64.1 MBAlex Hooper chooses his own religion! Alex is a standup comedian from Baltimore and has been on Comedy Central’s Roast Battle, The Meltdown, New Girl, and he came on to talk to me about CRAVE, a comedy show/dance party/Burning Man event that he created. We also talked about gratitude, Phish, standup, and generating positivity. For more Alex, go to hoopercomedy.com, for more on CRAVE, go to cravecomedy.com, and follow Alex on Twitter @HooperHairPuff!
Bonus Episode - A Christmas Story
December 24, 2016 08:00 - 22 minutes - 19.8 MBJoe tells a Christmas story to the gang of the Goods from the Woods podcast.
Hawaiian Zen with Tony Ridenour
December 18, 2016 10:18 - 1 hour - 54.4 MBTony Ridenour chooses his own religion! Tony is a standup comedian in Hawaii and a practitioner of zen for a decade. In this episode we talked about what zen actually is and what a modern day zen practice actually looks like. We also talked about meditation, emptiness, the importance of a community, and of course, life on the Big Island.
Pan-Communalism with Devin Blake
December 11, 2016 08:46 - 1 hour - 56.8 MBDevin Blake chooses his own religion! Devin is a standup comedian from the San Fernando Valley and came to talk about his experiences going to Quaker meetings and fighting homelessness. We also debated the usefulness of standup to society, compared methods of spirituality, and then he made up a beautiful religion where you are your only non-God.
The Big Bluegrass Om with The Sex Actually Podcast
December 04, 2016 08:00 - 57 minutes - 46 MBDave Neal and Tasha Courtney choose their own religion! Dave and Tasha are the hosts of the “Sex Actually” podcast and we did a crossover sex-and-religion episode, and you can find part one on their feed. Dave grew up Catholic and Tasha non-denominational, and we talked about sexual shame, improvising prayers, rich preachers, highly produced worship, and the beautiful sound of AHHHH. Check out my interview on the Sex Actually podcast on iTunes/Stitcher, @dnealz on Instagram, @tashatv on Snap...
Loveism with Jessica Michelle Singleton
November 27, 2016 08:00 - 1 hour - 58.8 MBJessica Michelle Singleton chooses her own religion! Jessica is a comedian from Anchorage, Alaska with a #1 iTunes comedy album “Please. Don’t. Leave. Me.”, and hosts the podcast “Ignorance is #Blessed”. We talk about southern Christianity, tribalism, Gnostic Christianity, comedy, making beliefs your identity, and the place of disagreement within communities. Go to iTunes to buy “Please. Don’t. Leave. Me.” and check out jessicamichellesingleton.com for more Jessica!
The Growth Gang with Greg Smith
November 20, 2016 08:00 - 1 hour - 66.9 MBGreg Smith chooses his own religion! Greg is a writer and improviser on The Pickup and Quick and Funny Musicals at UCB. Greg played a lot of music for his Lutheran church and told me about where his faith journey has landed him now. We talked about trying to please our parents, "Children's Time", the dark side of youth group, dancing, authenticity, and inviting your jealousy in for a cup of tea. Follow Greg on Twitter @smithlgreg and check out both The Pickup and Quick and Funny Musicals at ...
Do Not Think About This Religion with Claudio Saavedra
November 13, 2016 08:00 - 55 minutes - 46.8 MBClaudio Saavedra chooses his own religion! Claudio is an improviser from Granada Hills and a dear old pal. He grew up Catholic and I praise him for the spirituality of his non-spirituality. Then he made up a religion that defies this podcast. Nobody fact check this episode!
Preacher’s Kids with Kimberly Clark
November 06, 2016 07:00 - 1 hour - 49.9 MBKimberly Clark chooses her own religion! Kimberly is a standup comedian and the co-host of the podcast “The Goosedown”, and she is also a fellow preacher’s kid. We talk about growing up with minister fathers--the expectations, the having moms as the “First Lady” of the church, and all other things PK’s deal with. We also talk about our love of jazz, dealing with loss, house cursing, and talking about religion onstage. Check out The Goosedown on iTunes and Soundcloud, and follow Kimberly on ...
Om with Ahmed Bharoocha
October 30, 2016 07:00 - 1 hour - 49.7 MBAhmed Bharoocha chooses his own religion! Ahmed is a standup comedian from Rhode Island who just released his first Comedy Central Half Hour as well as his debut album, "Almond Badoody". Ahmed was raised by a Muslim father and an Irish Catholic mother, and in this episode he shares his interfaith story and where he's at with religion now. We also talk about misrepresentations of Islam, his time in Catholic school, marriage, following rules, family, and love, before making up a religion that ...
Sidewalk Sundays with Tyler Meznarich
October 23, 2016 07:00 - 1 hour - 57.1 MBTyler Meznarich chooses his own religion! Tyler is a comedian from Montana and a former Catholic turned atheist. On this episode, Tyler tells me about his journey away from the Church and into the arms of Nietzschean existentialism. We also talk about Gnostic Christianity, William Blake, and whether the concept of Grace is actually messed up. Follow Tyler on Twitter @TylerMez!
The PTA with Patrick McDonald
October 16, 2016 07:00 - 1 hour - 55.4 MBPatrick McDonald chooses his own religion! Patrick is a writer and performer from Texas currently writing for the UCB LA Maude sketch team “The Bus”. In this episode, Patrick tells me about growing up with parents that made him more of a Jimmy Buffett fan than a Jesus fan while still singing in the choir. We also talk about what we don’t like about evangelism, faith vs. belief, and Biblical literalism before making up a religion that worships at a coffee cafetorium. Follow Patrick on Twitter...
The McGodlin Group with Stuart Thompson
October 09, 2016 07:00 - 1 hour - 60.3 MBStuart Thompson chooses his own religion! Stuart is a standup comic from the Bay Area and the host of The Late Night Show at the Hollywood Improv. On this episode, Stuart tells me about being raised a moral atheist, changing his life path from Economics to comedy, and the religiosity of soccer. We also talk about standup, linguistics, being a model older brother, and feelings vs. truth, then we invent a panel-show religion that must be seen in person. Check out The Late Night Show at the Hol...
Erotically Woke with Dan & Dawn (and Bethany Radloff)
October 03, 2016 03:47 - 1 hour - 58.2 MBDan & Dawn choose their own religion! Dan & Dawn are the co-hosts of the Erotic Awakening Podcast as well as the authors of the book Living M/s, and they came on the show to talk about the spirituality of the dark art known as BDSM. We talk about their origin story and how their own religious views inform their sexuality. I also had my amazingly talented friend, graphics artist, YouTuber, and feminist Bethany Radloff to help me talk about my own experience in BDSM. For more Dan & Dawn, check...
Hey Everybody, Let’s Try Together with Kale Hills
September 25, 2016 07:19 - 1 hour - 63.5 MBKale Hills chooses his own religion! Kale is an improviser on Harold Night at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in Los Angeles, and he came to talk about growing up conservative Baptist and left having made up a new religion of understanding! We also talk about comedy, intention, intellectual vs. emotional spirituality, Quakers, service, and whether it’s even possible to hate the sin but love the sinner. Check out Kale on Harold Night at UCBLA!
Untitled Religion with Leah Kayajanian
September 18, 2016 18:35 - 1 hour - 55.6 MBLeah Kayajanian chooses her own religion! Leah is a standup comedian from Oklahoma and has appeared on Comedy Central, the Bridgetown Comedy Festival, and hosting at the Hollywood Improv. In this episode we talked about her time as part of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the spirituality of writing, being too serious, narcissism, forgiveness, and what is happening on those days where we’re FEELING IT. Go to leahkayajanian.com for more Leah!
Sunday Funday with Krystal the Pistol
September 11, 2016 07:25 - 1 hour - 55.3 MBKrystal the Pistol chooses her own religion! Krystal is a standup comedian from Chicago, was raised in an Assembly of God congregation, and her uncle even made up a religion like he was planning to come on the podcast! We had a great conversation talking about comedy, theories of reincarnation, flow state, the lenses of fear and love, and feeling worthy. For more Krystal check out krystalthepistol.com!
Cruisism with Bear Stevens
September 04, 2016 07:00 - 1 hour - 55.1 MBBear Stevens chooses his own religion! Bear is a musician from North Carolina and old, dear friend from my Presybterian days. In this episode we relive some glory days working together at conference centers and where we’re at with our faith now. We also talk about the connection in performance, the differences between standups and musicians, and Bear details working on a cruise ship, making up the perfect religion to commemorate it. Check out Bear at www.bearstevens.com!