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
Peace, I Guess with Rishi Arya
August 28, 2016 07:00 - 1 hour - 56.1 MBRishi Arya chooses his own religion! Rishi is a Los Angeles actor and standup comic from Montreal, Canada, and he grew up “Hindu, but not really.” In this episode we talk about forgiveness, apologizing, dating religious people, fidelity, monogamy, volunteering, and spirituality as an invisible code. Check out Rishi wherever you can see him perform in Los Angeles!
Heckling From the Back Pew with Colton Simmons
August 21, 2016 07:00 - 57 minutes - 47.3 MBColton Simmons chooses his own religion! Colton is the co-host of the podcast, “The Back Pew”, and a graduate of Fuller Theological Seminary. In this episode we talk on the fringes of Christianity, including the Holy Spirit vs. our gut, expectations, mysticism, meditation, gurus, and the relationship between religion and comedy. Check out “The Back Pew” on iTunes, Stitcher, and more!
Hindu Summer Camp with Sujata Day
August 14, 2016 07:36 - 1 hour - 50.2 MBSujata Day chooses her own religion! Sujata is an actress from Pittsburgh who’s on the upcoming HBO show “Insecure”, and she came to tell me about growing up with Hinduism. We talk about going to Catholic school as a Hindu, types of yoga, staging protests in Hindu summer camp, Bharatanatyam dancing, and the current standing of women in Hinduism. Look out for “Insecure” on October 9th, and check out more Sujata at sujataday.com!
8 Habits of Love with Rev. Ed Bacon
August 07, 2016 07:16 - 1 hour - 47.1 MBReverend Ed Bacon chooses his own religion! Ed was the rector of All Saints Church, Pasadena, for the past twenty years. He’s the author of “8 Habits of Love” and was recently named as one of Oprah’s Soul Teachers as part of her Super Soul 100. In this episode, we talk about those 8 habits and how you don’t have to be a Christian to use them. We also talk about fear, ego, and whether everybody needs religion or not. Check out Ed on Facebook & Twitter and buy “8 Habits of Love”! Ed on the...
The Authentic Community with Joel Spence
July 31, 2016 07:00 - 1 hour - 62.3 MBJoel Spence chooses his own religion! Joel is an actor and director currently on HBO’s “Big Little Lies” and ABC’s digital series “Boondoggle”. He’s also an old improv teacher of mine at UCB LA, and in this episode I finally find out more about his life. We talk about improv and the ego, zen, Quaker ettiquette, how U2 was the first cool Christian band, and so much more. Joel then makes up a religion focused on bringing out our realest and best selves, which sounds pretty damn cool! Check ou...
The Christian Sex Comic with Rachel Mac
July 24, 2016 15:35 - 1 hour - 56.5 MBRachel Mac chooses her own religion! Rachel is a comedian from Wisconsin and despite having sex, still calls herself a Christian. In this episode, we talk about the intersection of sex and Christianity and why the two together shouldn't be so bad! We also talked about the Apostle Paul, speaking in tongues, and Rachel’s faith journey from her female Christian rock band to Wheaton College to doing standup to now. Check out more Rachel at yourrachelmac.com!
Circle with Greg Edwards
July 17, 2016 15:24 - 59 minutes - 46.5 MBGreg Edwards chooses his own religion! Greg is a comedian based in Los Angeles from Virginia and best known for “Thug Notes” on YouTube, but also runs some great standup comedy shows here in Los Angeles. In this episode, Greg talks about his journey growing up Southern Baptist. We also talk about gratitude, prayer, judging or victimizing ourselves, our relationship with our emotions, and if religions were modes of transportation. Greg then makes up a religion about helping others--on the be...
Mourning for Easter with Erin Michele Gabbard
July 10, 2016 07:00 - 1 hour - 54.1 MBErin Michele Gabbard chooses her own religion! Erin is an actress and improviser in LA from the podcast, “Comics Reading Comics”. In this episode we talk about our struggles with Christianity and our hopes for it to embrace Sadness. We also talk about therapy, dark art, balance vs. harmony, and including and welcoming sad, but not defining yourself by your pain. Check out “Comics Reading Comics” on Stitcher, iTunes, and more!
Ethical Epson Printers with Jon Danforth-Appell
July 03, 2016 07:00 - 1 hour - 76.5 MBJon Danforth-Appell chooses his own religion! Jon is a writer/producer at Fullscreen who was raised Jewish, and he came to talk about the intersection of religion and capitalism. We also get into cultural Judaism, spiritual materialism, and the religion we would raise our kids before Jon makes up his own religion about a certain special printer company.
Bless Your Heart with Rivers Langley
June 26, 2016 07:04 - 1 hour - 74.1 MBRivers Langley chooses his own religion! Rivers is a comedian from Auburn, Alabama and is a Southern unicorn: he was raised an atheist! In this episode, Rivers tells stories about Southern eccentrics, open mics at funerals, and a Methodist church’s attempts to seduce youth. We also talk about bluegrass and gospel music, college football, Satan, heaven, and how to be in polite company. Check out Rivers’ podcast “The Goods From the Woods” on Stitcher & iTunes!
Moderatism with Will Hines
June 19, 2016 07:00 - 1 hour - 72.1 MBWill Hines chooses his own religion! Will is an improv teacher at UCB LA and just released his first book, “How To Be the Greatest Improviser On Earth”, which you can buy at improvnonsense.com. In this episode, Will talks about AA and the concept of a “higher power” within the program, as well as growing up Methodist and Catholic. We also talk about the historical accuracy of holy books, the possibility that spirituality is bullshit, status obsession, and consciousness. Will then creates a p...
Communitarianism with Katelyn Hempstead
June 12, 2016 07:00 - 1 hour - 74.3 MBKatelyn Hempstead chooses her own religion! Katelyn is a comedian and host of the conspiracy theory podcast “Lizard People”. She grew up Unitarian and she’s the most pleasant skeptic you’ll ever meet. We talk about doubts, sex ed, church arguments, trying to follow a great preacher, whether to raise your kids to be religious, affirmations, gratitude, and the beautiful art of vulnerability. I also preach about heartbreak and “sing”. Check out “Lizard People” on Stitcher and iTunes!
Move With The Times with Greg Hollander
June 05, 2016 07:00 - 1 hour - 62.8 MBGreg Hollander chooses his own religion! Spoiler: it’s Christianity! Greg is an editor from Michigan who just finished working on the Lonely Island movie “Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping”. On this ep, Greg talks about the life of a Christian in the entertainment industry. We also talk editing in different genres, Game of Thrones, praise bands, pushing your faith on people, dating within your religion, and Hell. On. Earth. Watch “Popstar” and check out Greg’s sketch group Zamboni Grenade ...
The Religion of Kindness with David Zwick
May 29, 2016 15:26 - 1 hour - 64.4 MBDavid Zwick chooses his own religion! David is a comedic writer, improviser and director from a heavily Jewish suburb of Chicago. In this episode he opened up about his experiences growing up in a Jewish community and where that's taken him now. We talked about failed bar mitzvahs, birthright trips, seeking justice, and something called kugel. Look out for David directing videos for the UCB digital team Sancho in summer 2016!
Guns N' Spirit with Fernando Ramos Sosa
May 22, 2016 07:00 - 1 hour - 63.1 MBFernando Ramos Sosa chooses his own religion! Fernando is a standup comedian from Texas, but he got his start doing improv in Chicago. We talk about Chicago comedy, figuring ourselves out in our 20s, transitioning from improv to standup, religious judgment, prayer, seeing ourselves in others, and creating a brand new downloadable religion. Follow Fernando on Twitter @FernandoRSosa!
The Missionary's Son with Dan Prevette
May 15, 2016 07:23 - 1 hour - 66.6 MBDan Prevette chooses his own religion! Dan is a comedian based in Los Angeles and yet is still a Christian. He opens up about his faith, growing up the son of missionaries, and his own transformative religious experiences in the face of extreme skepticism. We talk about Biblical translations, comedy, depression, and all the different ways that we come to know Love.
The Universe is Waking Up with Miles K
May 08, 2016 07:00 - 1 hour - 69.1 MBMiles K chooses his own religion! Miles is a standup from San Diego who was raised an atheist with a moral compass. We talk about standup comedy changing the way we think, music as the last frontier of mystery, the innovation of cooperation, and the budding consciousness of the universe. If you’re in Los Angeles, check out Miles on the show Babe Island every Sunday night at 9pm at the Bigfoot Lodge!
The Church of Pie Chart with Haley Hepworth
May 02, 2016 05:17 - 1 hour - 70.9 MBHaley Hepworth chooses her own religion! Haley is an actor, writer and improviser from Boise, Idaho and currently co-writes the show “Sun Valley” at UCB Franklin. More importantly, Haley is my improv coach! In this episode, Haley talks about growing up Methodist with a really strong family identity and the challenge of creating our own wolfpacks as adults. We also talk about selfless service, wearing jeans to church, liberal Christianity in conservative areas, and our younger bohemian fantas...
Just "Father Joe" It with Lorraine DeGraffenreidt
April 24, 2016 07:00 - 1 hour - 59.1 MBLorraine DeGraffenreidt chooses her own religion! Lorraine is a comedian from Baltimore, MD who came to speak about her Catholic experience at St. Matthew’s in Baltimore. We talked about comedy, guilt, living from your head vs. your heart, emotions, practical & accessible religion, and the pervading question of what else nuns wear. Check out Lorraine at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in Los Angeles, where she hosts and produces The Murry Show and is a writer for the Maude team The Bus!...
God-Shaped Hole with Patrick Ehlers
April 17, 2016 07:00 - 1 hour - 64 MBPatrick Ehlers chooses his own religion! Patrick is a writer and improviser and the host of the podcast “My Name Is Weezer”. In this episode, we talked about...Weezer! The band, their albums, and how following bands and obsessing over fictional worlds has led to experimentation, community, and good ol’ spirituality. Check out “My Name is Weezer” on iTunes and Stitcher!
Little Bear with Nina Concepción
April 10, 2016 07:00 - 58 minutes - 54.4 MBNina Concepción chooses her own religion! Nina is an improviser from NYC now in LA performing on the UCB Harold team Zoo Zoo. In this episode, we talked about our collegiate Christianity and our relationship with it now before inventing a pretty cool new blanket-heavy religion. If you're in Los Angeles, check out Nina on Harold night at the UCB Theatre!
Atheist Comic-Con with Luke Jensen
April 03, 2016 07:00 - 1 hour - 66.9 MBLuke Jensen chooses his own religion! Luke is a standup comedian from North Dakota who co-hosts the podcast “What Did You Learn?” and is part of the sketch team Hush Money. Luke grew up Lutheran, but this episode is all about skepticism. We talk about our eerily parallel biographies, the historical Jesus, learning about sex, the vacuum of existence, and Bill Nye. Check out more Luke on “What Did You Learn?” on iTunes and Stitcher, and find Hush Money on YouTube and Funny or Die!
Across the UUniverse with Emily Durrett
March 20, 2016 07:00 - 53 minutes - 50.2 MBEmily Durrett chooses her own religion! Emily is an actress and improviser based in Los Angeles via South Florida. She’s on the UCB Harold team Knucklepuck and stars in the webseries “One Month Later”. On this ep, she came to give the lowdown on growing up Unitarian Universalist. We talked about improv, acting, our hearts, our disdain of certainty, and our church camps. Check out Emily on Harold Night at UCB LA and check out the channel for “One Month Later” on YouTube. Find more Emily at em...
Don't Get Bored with Dustin Hahn
March 13, 2016 08:00 - 1 hour - 67.9 MBDustin Hahn chooses his own religion! Dustin is a comedy writer, filmmaker, and animator who worked on the Sundance Grand Jury winner, “Thunder Road”, and is writing and producing “MINUTES” for Fullscreen. In this ep we talked about skepticism, opinions, hunting, legacy, intentions, and of course, the ego. Go to www.contactdustinhahn.com for more Dustin!
Outsiders with Robin Whitney
March 06, 2016 08:10 - 1 hour - 68.8 MBRobin Whitney chooses her own religion! Robin is a digital writer for Fusion’s “No You Shut Up!”, the Interactive Content Manager for UCB Comedy, and a true pal from the Chicago suburbs. On this episode she opened up about her half-Catholic, half-Jewish heritage from an artistic family heavily involved in the old Chicago improv scene. We talk about feeling like outsiders, discovering your narrative, and embracing all of our damn emotions. Watch “No, You Shut Up!” on Fusion and follow Robin o...
The Relationship with Michael Gardner
February 28, 2016 08:00 - 1 hour - 59.8 MBMichael Gardner chooses his own religion! Michael is an improviser and musician based in Los Angeles and in this episode opens up about his Christianity. We talk about church camp, comedy and religion, being saved, heaven and hell, judgment, and having a relationship with Jesus, God, and each other. Check out Michael’s improv team Funk Shuffle wherever they perform, including at the Clubhouse on March 1st at 10:30pm for “Funk Shuffle Presents”.
Thrive with Andrew Yanker
February 21, 2016 08:00 - 55 minutes - 32.8 MBAndrew Yanker chooses his own religion! Andrew is a comedian based in Los Angeles who runs the podcast “Morning Yoga”, the sketch series “You Just Missed”, and the LA standup show Party’s On. In this ‘sode we get into the spirituality of yoga and its parallels with comedy. We also talk about delaying happiness, being passive vs. active, healing, personal narratives, emotions vs. rationality, and good ol’ ENERGY. Check out all of his projects on www.andrewyanker.com and find Mount Yanke...
Community of Good with Chris Duce
February 14, 2016 08:00 - 1 hour - 50.6 MBChris Duce chooses his own religion! Chris Duce is an improviser, filmmaker and photographer based in Los Angeles. On this episode, Chris shares his fascinating journey from growing up Mormon in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and going on a mission... to where he is now. Check out his work at www.chrisduce.com.
Believe in People with Peter Banachowski
February 07, 2016 08:10 - 1 hour - 38.7 MBPeter Banachowski chooses his own religion! Peter is a standup comedian from Michigan and grew up Catholic. Not just Catholic, but “worked at a nun rehab center and fasted” Catholic. We get deep into our doubts and losing our religion, the Problem of Evil, our issues with saying “should”, the power structures of religion, math & science, Taoism, and the paradox of being selfless. Peter will be opening for Todd Glass on March 11th & 12th at Fantasy Springs in Indio, CA. Check out his site ...
Not Just A Phish Show with Erin Lampart
January 31, 2016 08:00 - 1 hour - 39.5 MBErin Lampart chooses her own religion! Erin is a standup comedian from Pennsylvania and my favorite person in the comedy world to talk to about Phish--the greatest band in history. Much of this episode is about how Phish has been our religion and drove me to sell pancakes in parking lots, but we also wound up talking about self-love, relationships, living with an SO, dancing, and haters (and what to do about them). Go to erinlampart.com and follow in love!
Turnt Up with EIleen Soong
January 24, 2016 16:26 - 1 hour - 37.9 MBEileen Soong chooses her own religion! Eileen Soong is an actor, writer, dancer and UCB employee born and raised in Los Angeles. She’s a Catholic, and boy is this episode Catholic! We talk about confession, prayer, gratitude, guilt vs. humility, teaching and criticism. We also talk about UCB classes, finding balance, the deathgrip of technology on our lives, and infectious energy. Then we mash all that together and come up with our own sick religion. Check out @EILEENsoong on Twitter and ...
Become What You Are with Rick Wood
January 17, 2016 09:33 - 1 hour - 40.9 MBRick Wood chooses his own religion! Rick Wood is a Los Angeles standup comedian and musician originally from Virginia, by way of Wisconsin and Utah. Rick hosts the podcast “15 Minutes with Rick Wood” and just released a new music album, “In the Evening of an Empire”, which you can get at rickwood.bandcamp.com. Rick is a fascinating dude who has lived several lives, including time in the Air Force and growing up in a church where they spoke in tongues. We talked about following the rule...
Choose Your Own Meaning with Chris Dunham
January 10, 2016 10:05 - 1 hour - 60 MBChris Dunham chooses his own religion! Chris Dunham is a Los Angeles-based standup comedian and someone I've had these conversations with over the years, in many ways spawning this podcast. In this ep we talk about standup, sobriety, alcoholism, religious freedom, prayer, clarity, community, and creating your own meaning in the vacuum of nihilism (!). Follow Chris on Twitter: @chrisdunhamlive
Rebecca's Foot with Kiran Deol
January 03, 2016 08:00 - 1 hour - 39 MBKiran Deol chooses her own religion! Kiran Deol is a standup comedian from Boca Raton, Florida. She co-hosts the show “DIRT: A Fully Transparent Comedy Show” at UCB Franklin. In this ep, Kiran talks about growing up Sikh and Sikhs being mistaken for Muslims and Hindus. We also talk about Scientology, The East vs. The West, cool religious symbols, gratitude, and the importance of intention. Go see Dirt and follow her on Twitter!
Thanksgiving with Talia Bernstein
December 26, 2015 14:21 - 1 hour - 35.6 MBTalia Bernstein chooses her own religion! Talia Bernstein is an improviser, podcaster, and former college athlete from Miami. She runs the podcast “What the F**K Do I Do With My Jewish Hair”, which you should check out even if you know exactly what you’ll do with yours. In this ep, Talia talks about her birthright trip, Jewish Community Centers, parents, and a lot about Shabbot (the Sabbath). She also teaches me a lot of Jewish words I didn’t know, and of course, we talk about her hair...
Libraism with Bethany Radloff
December 20, 2015 09:32 - 1 hour - 54.8 MBBethany Radloff chooses her own religion! Beth is a visual media artist in all sorts of mediums for some amazing clients--including Choose Your Own Religion! She’s also a fellow improviser, a non-fellow Michigander, a vlogger, and co-host of the YouTube show “Fresh Plays”. Don’t take my word on how talented she is, check out her site beradloff.com. I loved talking to Beth about her creative process, how she works in one art form versus another, and how art relates to spirituality. We a...
The Empath with Jeff Zuschlag
December 13, 2015 10:20 - 1 hour - 56.5 MBJeff Zuschlag chooses his own religion! Jeff is a screenwriter and improviser from small-town Michigan and the co-host of YouTube show “Fresh Plays”. On this ep, we talk about Jeff’s upbringing in the Episcopalian church and all the rituals that come with it. We get deep into the spirituality of writing and art as empathy, weigh the importance of individuality versus community, and discuss whether you can really do religion a-la-carte (is the premise of this show valid?). Before wrapping ...
Slain By The Spirit with Scott Luhrs
December 06, 2015 08:33 - 1 hour - 53.6 MBScott Luhrs is a standup comedian from New Jersey and one of my oldest LA friends. He produces several comedy shows, including Chatterbox Comedy Night, In VIno Veritas, and Belly Room East, as well as co-hosting the podcast “Respect the Danger of Knives”. Scott grew up in the Pentecostal church and went to a Christian college before morphing into an alt-comedy party beast. He came over and told me about the long, strange trip that took him from speaking in tongues to speaking in microphon...
What Makes You Happy with Sarah Franklin
November 29, 2015 09:08 - 1 hour - 52.7 MBSarah Franklin was here and she chose her own religion! Sarah is an improviser from all over this great nation and is one of my dearest friends. Warning: highly infectious personality. She’s the co-host of the podcast Under the Top Part of a Boat, which is barely about season three--and only season three--of Bravo’s reality show “Below Deck”. Sarah grew up going to an all-girls Catholic school, so she breaks it down to a Protestant what it was like growing up in the ORIGINAL Christian ...
Daddy Nature with Kasey Koop
November 22, 2015 08:00 - 1 hour - 39.8 MBKasey Koop chooses her own religion! Kasey is a standup comedian from Oregon and a long-time hiking friend. She grew up as a Seventh Day Adventist and lived next to a preacher’s kid (not me). Kasey and I talk about her life as a celibate stripper, sobriety, and the differences between feminine and masculine energy. She comes up with a religion that we struggle to name, but is as embedded into the fabric of nature as her spirit. Discover her wonder! Follow her on Twitter!
The Church of Huh? with Ryan Middledorf
November 11, 2015 06:07 - 56 minutes - 33.6 MBWelcome to the debut episode of “Choose Your Own Religion”! In this episode, Joe runs the Voodoo down on his full origin story--where he came from (North Carolina), what his spiritual journey as a Presbyterian preacher’s kid has been like (a long, strange buffet), why he’s doing this (cult leadership), and his overall philosophies on sex, drugs, and theme songs. Guest Ryan Middledorf (producer of the WhatsaCreative Podcast Network and host of podcasts Cheers, Stomps & Whistles and Under t...