Growing Up Christian Sam & Casey

This week we're joined by Courtney Bandeko and Benjamin Ironside Koppin to discuss their brand new film, Pastor's Kid! Based on a true story, Pastor's Kid follows a young woman who, reeling from a traumatic event, finds herself parsing through her complicated feelings about faith, family, and forgiveness. The film presents a raw, honest view of what it's like to sift through the overlapping web of imparted beliefs, life experience, and relationships (familial and otherwise) that are woven into our feelings about faith. Who among us can't relate to that? We really enjoyed this movie, and I think you will too! Follow the official Pastor's Kid pages on Instagram (@pastorskidmovie) and Facebook (…/pastorskidthemovie), follow Benjamin on Instagram (@benjamin_koppin), and Courteney on Instagram (@bandekoot), and check out the trailer here [https://youtu.be/aqdYoyOpJMU?si=twaHsAgoJIPH6k7I]!

This week we're talking about ambulance-chasing billboard lawyers, the Israeli bombing of the Iranian consulate in Damascus, the retaliatory strike on Israel, and the dangerous upwelling of militarist rationale in the West. Then it's time to crack the lid and peak in at the ever-devolving toilet kingdom that Steven Crowder has ruled with an iron fist… up until recently, that is. When last we discussed our free speech warrior chieftain, he was dealing with the fallout from a leaked video where a cigar-smoking Steven berated his pregnant wife for wanting to use the family car (Dave Ramsey said they only needed one, you know). However, in the wake of this negative attention, some former employees of Louder With Crowder have spoken up about the toxic work environment and ugly, vindictive tendencies that Steven has exhibited over the years. One of the people speaking out is Jared Monroe, aka Not Gay Jared, a former friend, cohost, and "surprisingly good kisser," according to Mr. Crowder. God this is getting weird. All this and more on this week's episode of Growing Up Christian!

This week we're joined once again by scholar, activist, and all-around great guy, Dr. Luke Wilson! For those of you who haven't heard our earlier conversations with Luke, he was a fellow student at Liberty University and one of their most troublesome conversion therapy victims. He's with us this week to discuss one of the most infamous falls from grace in modern Christian history: Pastor Ted Haggard. Ted has founded multiple successful Colorado churches, helmed a couple of huge Christian organizations, shaped national and state policy and legislation, but most interestingly to us, he's practically penned the Gospel of "How Not to Handle a Scandal." This story is soooo nuts, and I'm glad we got to cover it with our buddy Luke! Follow Luke on Instagram (@lukeslamdunkwilson) and X (@wilson_fw), and for the rest of his story, check out our earlier episodes with him (Ep. 12 – Conversion Therapy Speed Dating, and Ep. 40 – "Pray Away" and the Gospel Coaltion's Persecution Complex).

This week, we're joined by Jeremiah to discuss Easter rituals, grocery store fruit theft etiquette, and the universal unpopularity of Sam's musical tastes, for starters. Then we wade into Charlie Kirk and the gang's poignant political, cultural, and spiritual assessments of the situation in Haiti. Charlie is the founder of Turning Point USA, and the host of a right wing talk show. What's he look like, you ask? Picture an early 30's youth leader that "felt called" to marry one of his parishioners on her 18th birthday. Got it? Okay, now enlarge the head, shrink the face, and slap the hind quarter of a labradoodle a little too far back on his scalp… You got it, right? All jokes aside, Charlie and his gaggle of nincompoops are a joke, and their notions of history are ridiculous. Grab a drink and prepare for some spit-takes!

Our guest this week is returning author, podcaster, and activist, our good friend Amber Viola! Aside from catching up and chatting about church gossip and missions trips, we spent some time discussing the release of her first book, "72 Hours of Hell: My Time in the VA." Amber is a Navy veteran, and we've talked at length in past episodes about her advocacy on behalf of US military veterans. When it comes to mental health and self-harm, veterans represent a particularly vulnerable community. In this jaw-dropping personal account, Amber gives readers an inside look at what it's like seeking voluntary mental health treatment from the Veterans Health Administration. It's a harrowing story that shines a light on the VA's shortcomings, and one that we think everyone should hear. Amber is one of our favorite people we've met through the show, and we are always excited to talk to her! Follow her on Instagram (@amber_viola), check out her podcast Politics But Make It Fashion on all streaming platforms, and find her new book "72 Hours of Hell: My Time in the VA" on Amazon and Kindle!

This week we're hanging out with Jeremiah and laughing about dripping dip spit from your tracheotomy hole, the Great Texas Pornhub War of 2024, and drafting a more entertaining and era-appropriate method of selecting public servants (think Most Extreme Elimination Challenge, but the winner gets to be county treasurer and the loser drowns in a big stinking porridge pond). If you like the show, leave us a review and share it with a friend, and if you haven't joined our Discord yet, you can find a link to it in our Instagram bio. Enjoy the episode!