Heretic Happy Hour
191 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 days ago - ★★★★★ - 325 ratingsHeretic Happy Hour is an unapologetically irreverent, crass, and sometimes profound conversation about the intersection of culture and the Christian faith. Hosts Keith Giles and Matthew J. Distefano, alongside a rotating panel of guest hosts that include theologians and therapists, professors and prophets, mystics and misfits, pull no punches and leave no stones unturned. For some serious sacred cow-tipping, there’s nothing better than spending an hour of your time with us.
New shows every Tuesday, with bonus episodes on Fridays and Sundays. Relaunching May 7!
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Episodes
#088: The Valentine Day Hostile Takeover!
October 27, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 63.3 MBKaty Valentine and Derrick Day take over this special episode of the Heretic Happy Hour podcast to discuss their spiritual journeys and their books: For You Were Bought with a Price: Sex, Slavery, and Self-Control in a Pauline Community (GlossaHouse) and Deconstructing Religion.
#087: JFK, 9/11, and the Illuminati (HOTW: Blake Mundell)
October 13, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 67 MBIn our final Conspiracy Theory episode, the gang explores: Who shot JFK? Was 9-11 an inside job? Are the Illuminati running the world? All this and more will be revealed. Plus, Blake Mundell is our Heretic of the Week.
#086: QAnon, 5G, and Covid! (HOTW: Rita Nakashima Brock)
September 29, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 77.9 MBAre we immune to common sense? It's time to retire your tinfoil hats and get real about QAnon, 5G, and the Covid conspiracies. Plus, Rita Nakashima Brock, author of Proverbs of Ashes : Violence, Redemptive Suffering, and the Search for What Saves Us, is our Heretic of the Week!
#085: The Truth Is Out There (HOTW: Sara Moslener)
September 15, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 82.1 MBOur "Conspiracy Theory" series continues with Aliens, UFOs, and the Moon Landing. Plus, Sara Moslener, author of Virgin Nation: Sexual Purity and American Adolescence, as our Heretic of the Week!
#084: Sasquatch, Flat Earth, and HAARP! (HOTW: John Zada)
September 01, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 74.2 MBIs Sasquatch real? Could the earth indeed be flat? Is HAARP causing earthquakes through a so-called innocent study of the ionosphere? Join us for the kick-off episode of our “Conspiracy Theory” series. Plus, John Zada, author of In the Valleys of the Noble Beyond: In Search of the Sasquatch, joins us as our Heretic of the Week!
#083: Abolish or Fulfill? (HOTW: Dillon Naber Cruz)
August 18, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 78.7 MBIn our final episode of the Sermon on the Mount series, we look at whether Jesus contradicts, fulfills, or abolishes the Old Covenant. Plus, what Jesus says about divorce and the Golden Rule. Featuring Dillon Naber Cruz, author of Go Golden: Applying a Universal Religious Teaching and the Ethics of Permaculture to Create a Sustainable, Just, Happier Society, as our Heretic of the Week!
#082: Let Us Pray (HOTW: Jeremy Courtney from Preemptive Love Coalition)
August 04, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 68.1 MBMost of us think we already know what the Lord's Prayer is all about. But most of us are wrong. So wrong. Let us set you sinners straight. Plus, Jeremy Courtney, from Preemptive Love Coalition, is our Heretic of the Week!
#081: Staying Salty (HOTW: Ron Stallworth, The Black Klansman)
July 21, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 64.2 MBWhy does Jesus talk about being salt, light, and a city on the hill? Plus, Ron Stallworth, The Black Klansman, is our Heretic of the Week!
#080: Blessed Be? (HOTW: Kevin Miller)
July 07, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 75.3 MBOur 4 co-hosts kick off a new "Sermon On The Mount" series by examining what Jesus means when he blesses the poor, the meek, and the peacemakers. Plus, Kevin Miller, director of the amazing J.E.S.U.S.A. documentary, is our Heretic of the Week! Big thanks to Wild Foods for sponsoring the show and offering our listeners 12% off with coupon code HAPPYHOUR12.
#079: A PSA on PSA (and introducing our new co-hosts)
June 23, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 58.9 MBPenal Substitutionary Atonement theory is not only a distorted view of the cross, it's also completely false. Listen as our hosts dissect, dismantle, and disembowel one of the worst Christian doctrines anyone ever dreamed up. Plus, big news about the identity of our new co-hosts! Big thanks to Wild Foods for sponsoring the show and offering our listeners 12% off with coupon code HAPPYHOUR12.
#078: Jamal Has An Announcement (HOTW: Barrett Johnson)
June 09, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 74.4 MBJamal has an important announcement, but this time it's for real. Don't miss this game-changing episode. Nothing will ever be the same after this one. Seriously. Plus, Barrett Johnson is our Heretic of the Week and talks about his new single, "Desert Island Living Room." Big thanks to Wild Foods for sponsoring the show and offering our listeners 12% off with coupon code HAPPYHOUR12.
#077: The Self (HOTW: Kyle Butler)
May 26, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 66.4 MBWho are we? What makes you, you? Are we physical beings having a spiritual experience? Or is it the other way around? How do we know? Plus, Kyle Butler is our Heretic of the Week. Big thanks to Wild Foods for sponsoring the show and offering our listeners 12% off with coupon code HAPPYHOUR12.
#076: Energy, Frequencies, and Healing (HOTW: Kevin Garcia)
May 12, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 70.3 MBEnergy, vibes, and frequency are popular concepts, but what do they mean? Can we tap into the wavelength of heaven, or is it just New Age nonsense? Plus, Kevin Garcia, author of Bad Theology Kills: Undoing Toxic Belief & Reclaiming Your Spiritual Authority, is our Heretic of the Week! Big thanks to Wild Foods for sponsoring the show and offering our listeners 12% off with coupon code HAPPYHOUR12.
#075: Quantum Spirituality (HOTW: Steve McVey)
April 28, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 71.2 MBHas science finally discovered proof of the mystical reality of the Universal Christ? If so, our Heretic of the Week, Steve McVey, has a secret about the quantum realm you need to hear. This episode will blow your mind and restore your soul. Big thanks to Wild Foods for sponsoring the show and offering our listeners 12% off with coupon code HAPPYHOUR12.
#074: Angels and Demons and Satan, Oh My! (HOTW: Richard Murray)
April 14, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 79 MBIs Satan an actual being, or just a spiritual projection of our own evil tendencies? What about angels and demons? Listen as we explore the nature of supernatural beings, plus Richard Murray as our Heretic of the Week! Big thanks to Wild Foods for sponsoring the show and offering our listeners 12% off with coupon code HAPPYHOUR12.
#073: Head Towards the Light (HOTW: Andre and Mary-Anne Rabe)
March 31, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 72 MBNear-death experiences are more common and similar than most realize. What do these NDEs tell us about the afterlife? Are they chemically-induced brain events or spiritual realities that reveal what happens in the next life? Plus, Andre and Mary-Anne Rabe join us as our Heretics of the Week! Big thanks to Wild Foods for sponsoring the show and offering our listeners 12% off with coupon code HAPPYHOUR12.
#072: Reincarnation (HOTW: Dr. Katy Valentine)
March 17, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 71.3 MBHave we been here before? Is this life just a re-run of your previous one? Does it matter? Listen as we debate our past lives and welcome Dr. Katy Valentine as our Heretic of the Week! Big thanks to Wild Foods for sponsoring the show and offering our listeners 12% off with coupon code HAPPYHOUR12.
#071: Who Needs A Miracle? (HOTW: Michael Petroni, creator of the Netflix show, Messiah)
March 03, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 63.6 MBIn the first episode of our "Let's Get Metaphysical" series, the guys explore miracles and wonder why they don't happen all the time. Plus, Michael Petroni, creator of the hit Netflix show, Messiah, is our Heretic of the Week! Big thanks to Wild Foods for sponsoring the show and offering our listeners 12% off with coupon code HAPPYHOUR12.
#070: Shame, Shame, Go Away (HOTW: Josh Roggie)
February 18, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 65.2 MBIs shame a tool of religion used to manipulate us? How can we live a life free of guilt and embarrassment? And what does shame have to do with Superbowl LIV? Plus, Josh Roggie, author of Shame: An Unconventional Memoir, is our Heretic of the Week. Big thanks to Wild Foods for sponsoring the show and offering our listeners 12% off with coupon code HAPPYHOUR12.
#069: Just War (HOTW: Martin Brooks of Peace Catalyst International)
February 04, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 60.6 MBWar! What is it good for? Absolutely nothing? Is "Just War" theory compatible with Christianity? Plus, Martin Brooks, President of Peace Catalyst International, is our Heretic of the Week! Big thanks to Wild Foods for sponsoring the show and offering our listeners 12% off with coupon code HAPPYHOUR12.
#068: Celebrity Christianity LIVE Part 2
January 21, 2020 11:00 - 57 minutes - 52.9 MBListen as we answer audience questions about Christian celebrity, the universal Christ, deconstruction, reconstruction, and Kanye. Big thanks to Wild Foods for sponsoring the show and offering our listeners 12% off with coupon code HAPPYHOUR12.
#067: Celebrity Christianity LIVE Part 1
January 07, 2020 16:03 - 57 minutes - 52.3 MBIn our first-ever, 7th live show, we explore famous conversions (we're looking at you, Kanye), what Mimetic Theory has to say about our obsession with celebrities, and whether they help or hinder the cause of Christ. Big thanks to Wild Foods for sponsoring the show and offering our listeners 12% off with coupon code HAPPYHOUR12.
#066: Resistance Isn't Futile (HOTW: Matthew J. Korpman)
December 24, 2019 11:00 - 1 hour - 71.6 MBWe explore the power of nonviolent protest and rules for Christian radicals. Plus, Matthew J. Korpman, author of Saying No to God, is our Heretic of the Week! Big thanks to Wild Foods for sponsoring the show and offering our listeners 12% off with coupon code HAPPYHOUR12.
#065: Self-Care 101 (HOTW: Meggie Lee Calvin)
December 10, 2019 11:00 - 1 hour - 69 MBWhy is it so difficult to love ourselves? How has toxic religion crippled our ability to love, and how can we stop feeling guilty about prioritizing our emotional and spiritual well-being? Plus, Meggie Lee Calvin, author of I Am My Own Sanctuary, is our Heretic of the Week!
#064: Canceling Cancel Culture (HOTW: Becky Yates)
November 26, 2019 11:00 - 1 hour - 79.8 MBDoes Cancel Culture eliminate grace, forgiveness, and the potential for personal growth? Is it a necessary correction, or just another side of extreme intolerance? Plus, Becky Yates is our Heretic of the Week.
#063: Poverty...Problem, Illusion, or Blessing? (HOTW: Thomas Crisp)
November 12, 2019 11:00 - 1 hour - 75.9 MBHow should we respond to hunger, homelessness, and suffering in our world? Plus, Thomas Crisp, professor of philosophy, is our Heretic of the Week.
#062: Crime and Punishment (HOTW: Deshonna Collier-Goubil)
October 29, 2019 11:00 - 1 hour - 73.2 MBWhy does the "Land of the Free" have the highest incarceration rate? Let's examine our Criminal Justice System with our Heretic of the Week, Deshonna Collier-Goubil.
#061: Politics (HOTW: Brad Jersak)
October 15, 2019 11:00 - 1 hour - 63.6 MBPolitics and faith...are they compatible? Do Christianity and Government go together like ice cream and poop, or do Christians need to be more politically active? Let's discuss. Plus, the return of Brad Jersak as our Heretic of the Week.
#060: Mental Health (HOTW: Joshua Lawson)
October 01, 2019 11:00 - 1 hour - 74 MBWhy is the church so afraid to talk about (and provide support for) mental health? Are prayer and faith enough to "fix" the problem? Plus, Joshua Lawson is our Heretic of the Week.
#059: Let's Get Racist (HOTW: Dr. Sam Kline)
September 17, 2019 11:00 - 1 hour - 83.6 MBThe ugly truth is that racism still dominates our culture. How can we escape this bigotry and truly break free from it? Plus, Heretic of the Week, Dr. Sam Kline.
#058: We Have A Hotline! (Part 2)
September 03, 2019 11:00 - 59 minutes - 54 MBHave you heard about our Hotline? Listen as the guys take your calls and answer your texts about God, the Bible, Hell, and other burning questions.
#057: The God of Abundance LIVE Part 2
August 20, 2019 11:05 - 58 minutes - 53.5 MBThe Q&A Session brings the heat at our 2nd anniversary live show! Listen as we discuss whether our intentions are always accurate, if we can miss our calling and purpose, if God should get the credit for our success, if our podcast is part of the problem or the solution, and more!
#056: The God of Abundance LIVE Part 1
August 20, 2019 11:00 - 1 hour - 59.8 MBCelebrate our 2nd Anniversary with us as we dissect the concept of “Jehovah Jireh.” Does God provide for everyone? Why are some blessed and others not? Do we create our own abundance? Or is this a Divine attribute? Plus, Saint Francis of Assisi is our Heretic of the Week!
#055: Is God Violent? (HOTW: Derek Flood)
August 06, 2019 11:00 - 1 hour - 74 MBSometimes it seems like God is violent, but Jesus paints a different picture of a God who would rather die than respond with violence. So, which is it? Plus, Derek Flood, author of Disarming Scripture, is our Heretic of the Week!
#054: The Omni God (HOTW: Dustin Kensrue of Thrice)
July 23, 2019 11:00 - 1 hour - 74.6 MBIs the all-knowing, ever-present, and all-powerful God an expansion of our own human limitations? Plus, Dustin Kensrue of Thrice is our Heretic of the Week!
#053: Divine Parenthood (HOTW: Karl Forehand)
July 09, 2019 11:00 - 1 hour - 67.1 MBWhat does it mean to say that God is our "Abba" or even our "Mother"? Let's explore our identity as Children of God and hear from Heretic of the Week, Karl Forehand (author of Apparent Faith), on this week's podcast.
#052: Kenotic Love (HOTW: Marg Mowczko)
June 25, 2019 11:00 - 1 hour - 66 MBWhat do you do if you've got all the power in the Universe? If you're God, you give everything away for the sake of those you love, and that's everybody! Plus Marg Mowczko is our Heretic of the Week!
#051: The Incarnation (HOTW: Jim Palmer)
June 11, 2019 11:00 - 1 hour - 72.1 MBThe Word (Logos) became flesh and dwelt among us. But are we the ongoing Incarnation of Christ in the world today, or is that heresy? Plus, Heretic of the Week Jim Palmer shares his genius with us.
#050: Universal Reconciliation (HOTW: David Bentley Hart)
May 28, 2019 11:00 - 1 hour - 78.6 MBThe false doctrine of Eternal Suffering needs to die. Did you know that Universalism was one of the dominant views of the Church for the first 500 years? Yeah, let's bring that back. Plus, New Testament Scholar and translator, David Bentley Hart is our Heretic of the Week!
#049: The Problem of Suffering (HOTW: Thomas Jay Oord)
May 14, 2019 11:00 - 1 hour - 67.8 MBWhy does God allow evil? Is God too weak? Does God use suffering, or is there more to the story? Plus, Thomas Jay Oord, author of God Can't, is our Heretic of the Week.
#048: The Atonement (HOTW: Brian Zahnd)
April 30, 2019 11:00 - 1 hour - 67.4 MBWhat are the different theories surrounding the Atonement? Why did Jesus die on the cross? Who killed him and why? And who decided to Substitute their Penal? Plus, Brian Zahnd (author of Postcards from Babylon, Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God, and A Farewell to Mars) is our Heretic of the Week!
#047: Good, Good Lovin' (HOTW: Lucas and Christa Gifford)
April 16, 2019 11:00 - 1 hour - 69.2 MBIt's time for the "climax" of our sex series. Listen as the Heretics discuss what good sex looks like in a healthy relationship. Plus, Lucas and Christa Gifford are our Heretics of the Week.
#046: Shaking Hands with the Unemployed (HOTW: Cindy Wang Brandt)
April 02, 2019 14:00 - 1 hour - 64.9 MBMasturbation can be a "touchy" subject. But is it a sin to rub one out? Listen as the Heretics explore the theology of pleasure without shame. Plus, Cindy Wang Brandt, author of Parenting Forward, is our Heretic of the Week!
#045: Shacking Up LIVE Part 2
March 19, 2019 14:00 - 59 minutes - 54.8 MBListen as your favorite heretics answer questions about sex, marriage, parenting, and BDSM.
#044: Shacking Up (HOTW: Mike Machuga) LIVE Part 1
March 05, 2019 14:00 - 1 hour - 55.8 MBWhat about premarital sex? Is it a sin to sleep together before marriage? What does the Bible say about marriage and sex? What makes us "married?" Plus, Mike Machuga is our Heretic of the Week.
#043: For God So Loved His Gay Sons and Daughters (HOTW: Eric Reitan)
February 19, 2019 14:00 - 1 hour - 72.4 MBDid God make Adam, Eve, and Steve? What about those clobber verses in the Bible that "clearly" condemn homosexuality? Should Christians embrace and affirm the LGBTQ Community? Plus, Eric Reitan, author of The Triumph of Love: Same-Sex Marriage and the Christian Love Ethic, as our Heretic of the Week.
#042: Along Came Polyamory (HOTW: Chuck McKnight)
February 05, 2019 14:00 - 1 hour - 81.3 MBIs polyamory a good idea or a trainwreck waiting to happen? Is it even biblical? We discuss open marriages with our Heretic of the Week, Chuck McKnight, in what may be our most controversial episode yet!
#041: Sidehugs, Modesty, and Purity Culture (HOTW: Teighlor Polendo)
January 22, 2019 14:00 - 1 hour - 68.5 MBWhat's wrong with side hugs and modesty? Why do Christians play the purity game and how does it create more problems? Plus, Teighlor Polendo of Quoir is our Heretic of the Week.
#040: Porn in the USA (HOTW: Danielle Kingstrom)
January 08, 2019 14:00 - 1 hour - 74.1 MBPornography: Is it always bad? Can we learn anything useful from it? Is it at odds with our spiritual life? Plus, Danielle Kingstrom as our Heretic of the Week.
#039: Missionary Madness (HOTW: Arianna Caligiuri)
December 25, 2018 14:00 - 1 hour - 66.8 MBWhat happens when evangelism hurts? How do missionary organizations serve as instruments of the State? What's the best way to share the Gospel? Plus, Arianna Caligiuri as our Heretic of the Week.