Growing Up Christian Sam & Casey

This week we're joined by Ryan George, author of "Hurt and Healed by the Church: Redemption and Reconstruction After Spiritual Abuse." Ryan was listening to a podcast one day when he heard a heartbreaking story of sexual abuse about a pastor, a pastor who happened to be his father. It's hard to imagine being hit with such a devastating revelation, but it set off a chain reaction that forced him to square himself with his own physical abuse at the hands of his dad. In his book, Ryan recounts the full story of his upbringing, coping with his father's crimes, doing what he can to help the victims his dad had hurt, and how he found spiritual healing in what some might think is an unlikely place: the church. We really enjoyed talking with Ryan, and we hope you enjoy the discussion (it begins at 44:00)! Find his book "Hurt and Healed by the Church: Redemption and Reconstruction After Spiritual Abuse" through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and many other book retailers, check out his podcast Everyday Adventures, and follow Ryan on Instagram (@ryplane).

Colorado is a magical place to so many people, and for so many different reasons! Some venture into the mountains to get glazed on big box weapons-grade weed in a puddle of pine sap, some scour Denver for the latest fast casual slop hut bastardizing ethnic cuisine, but me? I'm here to visit one of the last great vestiges of Christian Americana left in these United States of Tanger Outlets: the Focus on the Family world headquarters in beautiful Colorado Springs! While I was disappointed to find that Whitt's End and the Welcome Center were closed for renovations, Grandpa Dobby made sure that the bookstore was open and ready to take my money. Sam and I chat about all the fun things I found in the store, and one brand in particular that caught my attention called Hold Fast. I'm not sure how to describe their clothing other than that I expect their t-shirts will become a staple of Kid Rock's wardrobe after the terminal cirrhosis prompts him to join Greg Locke's biblical manhood Bible study. However, they are doing big things for their brave-but-beleaguered "Big Brother," Israel. We take a look at some strange organizations with vague goals supported by t-shirt purchases from Hold Fast and have a good time talking about our recent travels. Enjoy the show and have a great week!

This week we're joined by our friend Kavin to talk about his experiences as a short term foster parent! Foster care is an important service that really doesn't get the attention it deserves. The fact of the matter is that kids across the world through no fault of their own find themselves in difficult, scary situations where they are taken out of their home, away from their families, and placed in the care of strangers. The reasons vary a lot more than I was aware of. They can involve everything from respite to abuse and can last anywhere from a few days to the rest of their childhoods. Regardless of the situation, think about how you would feel to be 6 or 8 years old and suddenly be placed in a strange house with people you don't know. Could you relax? Could you go to sleep? Could you find it in yourself to trust that these people have your best interest at heart? It's a pretty frightening position for a youngster, and extremely delicate for the family taking care of them. Over the last year, Kavin and his family have cared for over 20 children through short term foster care. As you will hear, this is a labor of love that requires a lot of his family, but one that they are passionate about. I think you'll find this discussion informative! If you'd like to learn more about becoming a foster parent, the rules and requirements in your state, or simply some ways to help children in foster care, go to www.adoptuskids.org

This week Jeremiah joins us to talk about God's mightiest warrior and recent 700 Club guest, Terry Eugene Bollea, aka Hulk Hogan! We're all suckers for a juicy testimony, right? Well nobody in recent memory can spin a yarn quite like the Hulkster. Terry is on fire for God and anxious to spread the good word with what time he has left before he takes Hulkamania all the way to the Pearly Gates! He's a truly electric personality, just don't go thinking too hard about his stories…

This week we're excited welcome Andy Prince from Manchester Orchestra back to the show! Last time he was on, we talked about his upbringing in a Florida panhandle Christian community, and his involvement in an Evangelical movement know as the Brownsville Revival. This time around we discuss his early music career and change in lifestyle, as well as his work with an organization called Upward Intuition. Upward Intuition started as a group of people raising funds and support for a public skatepark in downtown Pensacola, which saw the opening of the Blake Doyle Skate Park. Now they hope to expand their reach and help create more places for kids in other communities to skate, hang out, and build friendships. It's a really cool organization, and one that Andy has poured a lot of himself into! Follow Upward Intuition and Andy on Instagram (@upwardintuition & @andyprince), and keep an eye out for new music and tour dates from Manchester Orchestra (@manchesterorchestra)!

This week, we're talking about a few different disastrous stories that we just can't look away from. First, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem continues to make headlines as journalists sift through the ridiculous claims in her upcoming book, "No Going Back: The Truth on What's Wrong with Politics and How We Move America Forward." The latest pull quotes had us in tears, and her response to criticism makes it all the more fun! Next up, we discuss the disturbing case of Mica Miller, a young woman who allegedly "unalived" herself in the midst of a messy separation from her husband, Pastor John Paul Miller of Solid Rock Ministries in Myrtle Beach, SC. There is a lot to this story, and given the possible allegations of abuse, the pastor's relationship with another woman in the church, and his absolutely bizarre behavior in the wake of his wife's tragic death, internet sleuths are working overtime trying to find out what kind of person John Paul Miller is and whether or not he had anything to do with Mica's sudden demise. Lastly, we're as captivated as everyone else is by the public war between Drake and Kendrick Lamar. Sam lays out a timeline for the attacks, and highlights some of the more ruthless portions of each diss track. We hope you enjoy the show!