The RELEVANT Podcast

This week, Zach Williams from indie-folk band The Lone Bellow joins the show to talk about their new album — including the wild story of how their van was broken into, all their recordings were stolen, and their fans raised enough money to help them start over. In RELEVANT Buzz, we show you the ongoing worship outpouring happening at Southeastern University in Florida, where students have been in nonstop prayer, worship and confession for the last week (we talk to the campus pastor). We also break down the viral claim that Christian hip hop is the #1 rap subgenre on Spotify — and why it's not actually true. Plus, a worship pastor goes viral on American Idol, Kevin Durant gets exposed for burner accounts during All-Star Weekend, and a guy who lost a golf bet is now 23 days into eating nothing but Wendy's chili. At the end of the show, we've got Ask the Cast and Jesse and Emily confess to the one question they both regret asking in an interview. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 — Jesse's Super Bowl Spreader Event 05:46 — RELEVANT Buzz: The SEU Outpouring 18:49 — Kevin Durant's Burner Account 22:06 — Is Christian Hip Hop Really Huge on Spotify? 24:44 — Worship Pastor Goes Viral on American Idol 29:26 — RELEVANT Recommends: The Lone Bellow 34:49 — SLICES: The Wendy's Chili Bet 41:31 — AI Is Bad at Medical Advice 45:57 — ASK THE CAST: Embarrassing TikTok Purchases & Weird Google Searches Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week, actor Milo Ventimiglia — known for 'This Is Us,' 'Gilmore Girls' and 'Heroes' — tells us why he chose to star in a new Christian movie, playing real-life worship artist Tim Timmons, who was diagnosed with terminal cancer over 20 years ago and is still defying the odds today. In RELEVANT Buzz, the crew recaps the Super Bowl — including the incredible story of Seahawks coach Mike McDonald, who followed God's calling to leave the corporate world to take an unpaid internship in coaching. And now 12 years later, it's led to a Super Bowl championship. We also dig into a new study revealing that Gen Z is statistically dumber than their parents (and why that's significant). Plus, Jesse forces the crew to watch the Carman movie trailer, and at the end of the show, we have Ask the Cast! And of course Jesse and Derek have some strong thoughts on Ring cameras and drones. Highlights: 01:28 — The Olympics and Derek's New Drone 04:59 — Ring Cameras Have Ruined Jesse's Hypothetical Heist 06:18 — The Dark Knight Predicted the Ring Camera Era 09:20 — Apple Is Buying Tech That Can Hear Your Silent Speech 16:29 — RELEVANT BUZZ 19:31 — Coach Mike McDonald: From Accountant to Super Bowl Champion 23:04 — New Study: Gen Z Is Scoring Lower on IQ Tests Than Their Parents 24:40 — The Lost Art of Daydreaming & Why Boredom Matters 30:09 — Milo Ventimiglia on ‘I Can Only Imagine 2’ 33:24 — Jesse Makes the Crew Watch the Carman Movie Trailer (Live Reaction) 37:47 — SLICES 38:11 — Man Cited for Juggling Fire on a Unicycle in a Crosswalk 41:11 — Man Breaks Into Little Caesars After Hours & Starts Selling Pizzas 43:09 — ASK THE CAST 44:05 — What Belief Have You Changed Your Mind On? 45:46 — Boundaries You Didn't Know You Could Set 46:40 — What Today Would Shock Yourself 10 Years Ago? 47:18 — Podcast Voice vs. Real Voice 49:48 — Who Has the Worst Music Taste on the Crew? 51:04 — Why Jesse Is a Terrible Texter 52:55 — NBA All-Star Weekend: Does Anyone Care? 53:59 — Outro & YouTube Growth Update Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week, legendary Christian rapper Trip Lee tells us about his unexpected move into worship music with his new album. Before that, the crew swaps stories from last week's historic winter storm—Emily survived three days without power in freezing temps and Jesse narrowly avoided going to a fun Orlando Magic game with Cameron. In RELEVANT Buzz, we break down Jelly Roll's powerful Grammy acceptance moment, plus the youngest Grammy winner at just eight years old. We also dive into new research showing the vast majority of people want authentic faith representation in TV and movies, and then Emily previews two interesting new shows: Jury Duty Season 2's unexpected premise and Neighbors, HBO and A24's reality series about strangers forced to live together. Plus, Jesse announces his new podcast Target Intelligence: Psyop and Derek plugs his brand-new show, You Can't Say That in Church. Jesse of course brings his most rewatched video of the week: a Medieval Combat League warrior armed with a real axe who keeps targeting opponents from behind with hilarious headshots. Then in SLICES we cover Miami's iguana apocalypse—dinosaurs falling from trees as residents collect them by the armload (and definitely aren't disposing of them properly). And to close it out, it's Super Bowl week, so we're playing a special edition of "One Has to Go" covering everything from iconic Super Bowl commercials and halftime show moments to game-day snacks and controversial performances. Spoiler: mozzarella sticks do not survive Jesse's hot take. Highlights: 00:00 — Intro & Winter Storm Survival Stories 07:43 — RELEVANT Buzz 08:00 — Jelly Roll's Powerful Grammy Acceptance Speech 11:27 — Eight-Year-Old Becomes Youngest Grammy Winner in History 12:33 — New Study: 92% of Viewers Want Authentic Faith in TV & Movies 16:37 — Jury Duty Season 2 Preview: Hot Sauce Company Chaos 18:00 — Neighbors: HBO and A24's New Reality Series 24:00 — Medieval Combat League Axe Warrior Goes Viral 31:09 — Trip Lee 32:00 — Why Trip Lee Made a Worship Album After Years in Hip-Hop 35:00 — Trip Lee on Being a Teaching Pastor and Collaborating With Worship Leaders 37:00 — SLICES: Miami's Iguana Apocalypse 43:30 — Super Bowl Edition: "One Has to Go" Game 45:53 — Iconic Super Bowl Commercials (Doritos, Tide, QR Code) 46:21 — Controversial Super Bowl Ads (GoDaddy, Carl's Jr., Axe) 47:04 — Super Bowl Snacks Face-Off (Doritos, Lay's, Pringles) 47:30 — Soda Showdown (Coke, Pepsi, Dr. Pepper, Mountain Dew) 48:00 — Jesse's Mozzarella Stick Hot Take Sparks Chaos 49:31 — Halftime Show Showdown (Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Beyoncé) 50:01 — Most Controversial Halftime Moments (Nipplegate, Dancing Sharks) 50:52 — Halftime Props (JLo's Pole, Usher's Skates, Dr. Dre's Lowrider) Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week, we talk to ‘Mercy’ star Chris Pratt about how faith shapes his life and career. He opens up about navigating public narratives, using his platform with purpose and why he believes being open about faith matters more than ever. In RELEVANT Buzz, the crew dives into Jelly Roll’s moving moment on 'Star Search,' why Gen Z is intentionally disconnecting from their phones and whether music is actually getting sadder. Plus, stories about AI fatigue, bizarre license plate drama, a ketchup packet felony and a guy trying to create a new nation in Texas. And at the end of the show, don't miss the Best Game Ever! Highlights: 01:00 Storm prep anxiety and riding it out 03:27 The man who tried to start his own country in Texas 06:56 The confidence of mediocre white men 18:23 RELEVANT Buzz 18:53 Jelly Roll’s Gospel moment on Star Search 21:58 Study finds popular music is getting sadder 24:36 Gen Z intentionally disconnecting from phones 30:10 Chris Pratt 36:40 SLICES 38:38 Mr. Potato Head license plate controversy 39:34 Florida man charged over ketchup packet 45:14 “Best Game Ever” Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week, we sit down with Chelsea Smith to talk about dating wisely, building a resilient marriage and navigating seasons when love feels harder than usual. She shares practical advice for singles, couples and anyone wondering if what they’re experiencing is normal. In RELEVANT Buzz, we unpack the rise of political independents among Gen Z and millennials, Brandon Lake’s Good Morning America moment and why Christian hip-hop is showing up at Rolling Loud. Plus, the crew debates whether it’s easier to bowl a perfect game or hit a hole-in-one for a million dollars, discusses illegal monkeys in St. Louis and breaks down Gen Z’s newest solution to burnout: a “retirement home” in Malaysia. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode of The RELEVANT Podcast, we break down a surprisingly faith-heavy week in pop culture. In RELEVANT Buzz, Khloé Kardashian opens up in depth about her faith and prayer life, Stranger Things star Caleb McLaughlin shares why he’s returning to faith after growing up as a pastor’s kid. Then we discuss news at the other end of the spectrum: Bestselling Christian author Philip Yancey stepping away from ministry after confessing to an eight-year extramarital affair and Christian pop singer Stacie Orrico’s lawsuit alleging childhood sexual abuse by her former manager. We wrap things on an up-note, highlighting Daniel Caesar’s spiritually charged Tiny Desk performance. Plus, the crew reacts to DMX’s posthumous ordination, Jesse spirals over the murder math of NCIS, shares a wild Lamar Odom encounter and we play another round of ‘Overrated, Underrated or Just Right.’ Highlights: 03:00 Jesse’s NCIS take and the Navy murder math spiral 14:15 RELEVANT Buzz begins 17:05 Khloé Kardashian opens up about her Christian faith 28:15 Caleb McLaughlin talks faith, deconstruction and returning to God 31:55 Philip Yancey steps away from ministry after affair confession 34:35 Stacie Orrico files lawsuit alleging childhood sexual abuse 37:50 Daniel Caesar’s Tiny Desk and his spiritual journey 39:20 Slices: Lottery odds website exposes Powerball math 44:10 DMX to be posthumously recognized as a minister 46:05 Game: Overrated, Underrated or Just Right (Part 2) 47:15 Mayonnaise, squats and Chris Hemsworth 49:00 Pet fish, LaCroix and Philip Yancey books 50:00 Air fryers, motorcycles and voice notes Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week, we tackle the biggest faith questions young adults are asking right now (according to the recent Passion Conference) — from evidence for God’s existence and the tension between free will and predestination, to suffering, salvation and thoughts on hell. It’s an honest conversation about doubt, belief and why curiosity might be essential to spiritual growth. From there, Emily sits down with CITIZENS frontman Zach Bolen to talk about the band’s new album Museum, being in the Christian music bubble while feeling like an outsider and why art doesn’t need to explain itself to be meaningful. Plus, Jesse has some thoughts over the increasingly unhinged Guinness World Records, from pigs on skateboards to LEGO-related pain tolerance, and the crew plays a round of “Overrated, Underrated or Just Right,” covering reboots, word-of-the-year culture and more! Highlights: 3:10 New Year check-in 4:20 The Crown 5:25 Why New Year’s TV is terrible 9:55 Fireworks gone wrong 14:15 RELEVANT BUZZ 17:05 The top faith questions young adults are asking at the Passion Conference 31:00 Awards season highlights 38:30 Zach Bolen of CITIZENS 42:10 Faith, deconstruction, and the Nashville bubble 46:20 Curiosity as a spiritual discipline 50:10 SLICES 50:14 Guinness World Records need a reboot 56:20 OVERRATED, UNDERRATED, OR JUST RIGHT? Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

We wrap up 2025 and kick off 2026 by catching up on everything from post-holiday chaos to the optimism that comes with starting a new year. Along the way, we touch on Justin Bieber’s recent reflections on faith, how people in 1998 predicted 2025, and surprising new archeological evidence that Noah's Ark was real. From there, the episode takes a turn into full chaos as Jesse introduces his own idea for the “Patriot Games”: teams of Americans competing using everyday life skills, jury duty-style. The episode then wraps with the cast predicting the trends of 2026 — all delivered with the usual mix of humor, honesty and side-tracking that makes the show what it is. Highlights: 05:10 — Spring-free trampolines and modern parenting stress 07:40 — Childhood injuries, backyard chaos and growing up feral 12:30 — The unspoken pressure of being “the capable adult” 13:33 — SLICES: Noah’s Ark evidence 25:03 — 1998 predicts 2025 31:53 — Justin Bieber’s faith posts 30:45 — WHAT'S JESSE THINKING? Jesse introduces his Patriot Games concept 43:20 — IN OR OUT? Predicting 2026 Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In our Christmas episode, Cameron Strang, Jesse Carey, Derek Minor and Emily Brown dive into a packed RELEVANT Buzz, including NFL players putting faith into action in unexpected ways, a Christian animated film debuting near the top of the box office, Timothée Chalamet unexpectedly singing Kirk Franklin and a spontaneous worship moment from Justin Bieber that caught the internet’s attention. The crew also tackles one of the most important questions of the season: what actually makes a perfect Christmas day? From wake-up times and breakfast spreads to family expectations, church plans and evening traditions, they attempt—somewhat successfully—to agree on a Christmas schedule everyone can enjoy. Plus, it’s an Ask the Cast: Christmas Edition, with listener questions about end-of-year burnout, holiday boundaries and when it’s officially time to stop saying “Merry Christmas.” Highlights: 1:00 – Emily’s Quilt Room Setup 4:00 – RELEVANT BUZZ 4:30 – Baltimore Ravens Wash Kids Feet 8:20 – David Hits No. 2 at the Box Office 11:30 – Is Avatar Still Impressive? 14:30 – Timothée Chalamet Sings Kirk Franklin 24:30 – Justin Bieber’s Worship Moment 25:45 – Designing the Perfect Christmas Day 36:12 – SLICES: The 6-7 Meme Gets Real 44:05 – The World's Largest Gingerbread Home Alone House 46:05 – ASK THE CAST: Christmas Edition Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In the final episode of the RELEVANT Podcast Impact Conversations series, we sit down with two influential voices using their platforms to point toward something deeper. First, New England Patriots rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson shares how his faith was shaped long before the NFL spotlight. From a season-ending injury at Ohio State that led him to Jesus to helping spark faith gatherings across campus, Henderson talks about spiritual leadership, obedience over outcomes, and what it looks like to follow Christ inside high-pressure locker rooms. His story is also featured in the new docuseries Redemption, now streaming on Prime Video via The Wonder Project. Then, Lecrae, one of the most influential figures in Christian hip-hop, joins the conversation following the release of his 10th album, Reconstruction. He reflects on misunderstanding, therapy, deconstruction and why he believes Christian hip-hop is entering a new era without categories. Lecrae also opens up about legacy, leadership, and his role as a bridge between faith and culture. This episode is presented by World Vision, a global Christian humanitarian organization working to tackle the root causes of poverty and injustice worldwide. Chapters: 01:15 – Why TreVeyon Henderson uses his NFL platform for faith 02:01 – Growing up with football as a lifeline 04:24 – When faith became real during a season-ending injury 06:40 – Sleep paralysis, spiritual warfare and healing through prayer 08:28 – Faith leadership inside Ohio State football 11:33 – Carrying faith into the NFL locker room 12:58 – Spiritual disciplines and the “secret place” 16:21 – Why faith is rising among professional athletes 18:56 – Why Henderson highlighted persecuted Christians in Nigeria 22:45 – Lecrae on why Reconstruction is different 24:53 – Transparency vs vulnerability in creative work 26:08 – Therapy, confidence and owning your voice 29:25 – Why Lecrae chose the word “Reconstruction” 30:46 – Leadership, loneliness and stewardship 33:01 – The future of Christian hip-hop 34:41 – Lecrae on legacy and being a bridge between faith and culture 44:17 – How Reconstruction invites people back to faith Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Rian Johnson’s new Knives Out film, 'Wake Up Dead Man,' is sparking conversations few mainstream movies ever touch — faith, forgiveness, power and what it actually means to follow Jesus in a polarized world. In this episode, we talk with the filmmaker about growing up in the Church, walking away from faith and why Christ’s teachings — especially “love your enemy” — still shape the stories he wants to tell. Johnson opens up about wrestling with the us-versus-them mentality, the corrupting pull of power and influence, and why he wanted to portray Christian belief with empathy rather than caricature. Plus, the RELEVANT crew debates the best Christmas movie of all time in a chaotic bracket showdown, reacts to surprising year-end culture stories and discusses new research suggesting adolescence doesn’t actually end until age 32. HIGHLIGHTS: 01:40 – Why 'Wake Up Dead Man' Feels Like a Gospel Story 04:00 – Serving vs. Fighting: Faith and the Culture War 06:45 – Why Culture Is More Open to Spiritual Conversations 09:20 – Is Wake Up Dead Man the Best Knives Out Movie? 12:10 – Is Rian Johnson Done With Faith? 13:10 – Christianity vs. Church Culture 20:15 – RELEVANT Buzz 22:00 – Forrest Frank Breaks Into Google’s “Hum to Search” List 26:30 – Theo Von and Morgan Wallen’s Bible Study Revealed 32:00 – Rian Johnson on Growing Up Evangelical 34:00 – “Arms Wide Open vs. Fists Up” Faith Explained 39:00 — SLICES 39:20 – New Research Says Adolescence Lasts Until Age 32 45:15 – AI Reality TV Is Here (Unfortunately) 47:30 – Christmas Movie Bracket Challenge Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This week, Andy Mineo joins us for a hilarious and surprisingly vulnerable conversation about reinvention, perfectionism, leaving Reach Records, making his first album in four years and why he almost drove himself crazy trying to get it right. Plus, the cast dives into: – Brandon Lake dominating Billboard’s year-end charts – The ER vs The Pitt IP controversy – Ticketmaster’s takedown – TreVeyon Henderson spotlighting persecuted Christians on the field – A chaotic game of “One Has to Go” that reveals way too much (about Andy) CHAPTERS: 1:20 – '90s nostalgia, ER and the IP drama behind The Pitt 10:25 – RELEVANT Buzz: Brandon Lake ruled 2025 15:45 – Olivia Dean takes on Ticketmaster 19:50 – TreVeyon Henderson highlights persecuted Christians in Nigeria 21:50 – Andy Mineo joins the show 22:20 – Why his new album took four years 23:40 – Perfectionism, analysis paralysis and moving faster 27:10 – More new music is already loading 28:35 – Andy & Marty’s 15-year friendship origin story 32:05 – “One Has to Go” with Andy 41:55 – Parenting, nostalgia and movies that don’t hit the same 44:15 – 80s/90s PG movies were NOT PG Remember, you can watch the episode video on YouTube! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Two former Bachelor stars. Two very different, but impactful, post-show paths. One episode about what it really looks like to use your platform well. In this new installment of The RELEVANT Podcast: Impact Conversations, Emily Brown and Cameron Strang sit down with Madi Prewett Trout and Ben Higgins to talk about life after reality TV, spiritual growth, calling, purpose, and how to steward influence in a way that actually matters. First, Emily talks with Madi Prewett Trout, who has spent the last five years immersed in ministry—preaching, writing, podcasting, discipling young women, and building a life rooted deeply in Scripture and the local church. She opens up about spiritual transformation, accountability, confession, motherhood, leadership, and learning to stay true to her convictions even when it’s costly. Then Cameron sits down with Ben Higgins, who—after his time on The Bachelor—built Generous Coffee, launched multiple businesses, stepped into a major faith-centered role at iHeartRadio, and wrote a book on connection. Ben shares candidly about anxiety, purpose, fatherhood, entrepreneurship, and using business as a vehicle for generosity and Kingdom impact. If you’ve ever wondered how to live out your calling, use your platform responsibly, walk in integrity, or navigate fame and faith in a digital age—this episode is rich, honest, and deeply encouraging. Presented by World Vision. Highlights: 01:50 — Madi Prewett Trout 02:13 — Madi on how her life has changed since The Bachelor 04:57 — Moving from motivational speaking to biblical teaching 07:11 — How moving and finding a new church shaped her spiritual growth 09:57 — How Madi discerns what God is calling her to speak into 12:21 — Choosing conviction over comfort 16:53 — Breaking secret sin cycles and finding freedom 22:14 — Protecting peace and setting boundaries on social media 28:23 — Why Madi launched her podcast and how God led the timing 33:37 — Learning patience when God says “wait” 38:21 — Ben Higgins 41:28 — Life/work balance as a new dad 43:30 — What Ben does for work now 45:49 — How his role at iHeartRadio is expanding into faith initiatives 50:39 — Rethinking conferences, creativity, and reaching the disconnected 52:29 — Mike Foster’s coaching 56:03 — Restaurant ventures, investing and avoiding AI-replaceable spaces 59:16 — Why his new book is about connection (not fame) 1:02:11 — Feeling like an outsider and the moment everything changed 1:04:47 — How vulnerability unexpectedly connected him with millions 1:07:21 — Did The Bachelor change him? 1:10:06 — A friend’s advice that shifted his entire approach to fame Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Chris Llewellyn from Irish folk worship band Rend Collective joins us to talk about the band’s new album 'Christmas in Belfast,' the surprising Irish traditions behind it and what it’s like navigating life between Ireland and Nashville. We also break down the biggest stories in faith and culture, including NF’s record-setting Billboard debut, the wild rise of AI-generated music, and Patriots rookie TreVeyon Henderson’s faith-forward breakout. Plus, the crew swaps celebrity-encounter stories and brings Chris into a special holiday round of “One Has to Go.” CHAPTERS: 02:00 – Jesse spots an SNL cast member at the airport 06:30 – Marty’s celebrity encounters at LAX 08:30 – Cameron’s wild Kanye West airport story 09:40 – RELEVANT Buzz 09:55 – NF’s massive Billboard debut 12:00 – AI music platform Suno is creating 7 million songs a day 14:20 – Is AI killing creativity? The crew debates 19:10 – Patriots rookie TreVeyon Henderson’s record-breaking game & public faith 24:10 – Chris Llewellyn of Rend Collective 24:40 – The story behind Christmas in Belfast 26:40 – Irish Christmas traditions & late-night candlelit services 27:50 – Gaelic football, Welsh kickers & Jesse’s confusion 29:55 – Chris on moving from Ireland to Nashville 31:00 – How Irish political history shaped his view of division 32:15 – Holiday Edition of “One Has to Go” with Chris 35:35 – Marty’s trauma with board games 36:10 – Brunch vs. naps: the debate 38:00 – Emily vs. “crisp evenings” 39:00 – Snoopy, Peanuts, and Christmas ornament chaos 40:45 – Group prayer handholding horrors 43:30 – Emily’s tiny tabletop Christmas tree revelation Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On this episode of our Impact Conversations series, we sit down with Tara-Leigh Cobble, creator of The Bible Recap — one of the most influential Bible-reading podcasts in the world. Tara-Leigh shares how The Bible Recap started, how she built a global Bible-reading community and what she’s learned about Scripture, calling and obedience along the way. If you’re trying to understand the Bible or want to stay consistent in your Bible reading plan, this conversation is for you. We also feature a bonus interview with Christian financial expert Art Rainer, who breaks down how to approach money, generosity and financial stress from a biblical perspective. If you’re looking for Christian financial advice, how to give when money is tight or how to steward your resources well, you’ll want to hear this. Presented by World Vision. CHAPTERS: 02:37 — Tara-Leigh Cobble: How The Bible Recap Started 06:04 — Building the podcast with a $99 mic 08:45 — When the calling gets costly 10:55 — The story that kept her going 14:43 — Leadership, discernment and calling 16:49 — Feeling unqualified but called 21:09 — Advice for taking your first step 23:17 — Bonus Interview: Art Rainer 26:13 — Money is a tool, not a goal 28:10 — How to be generous when money is tight 33:31 — Giving, debt and proportional generosity 37:00 — Creative ways to be generous without money Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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 Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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. Show Highlights 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 Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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 Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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 Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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 Watch the full video episode on RELEVANT's YouTube channel! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy