Wretched Radio with Todd Friel

Fortis Institute
  • 4.8 (3.1K)
  • CHRISTIANITY
  • UPDATED DAILY

Wretched Radio is hosted by Todd Friel. On the show, you will hear live witnessing encounters, discussions of tough theological issues, and various topics in the Christian community. You might even have a laugh.

  1. Mailbag Friday: Do Jews Still Need The Gospel?

    1D AGO

    Mailbag Friday: Do Jews Still Need The Gospel?

    Segment 1 • Derek asks: If God's promise to Israel remains an active hope today, is there a need to share the gospel with Jews? • Kyla wonders: Have Christian podcasts become a breeding ground for gossip, immaturity, and “heresy hunter” celebrities disconnected from the local church? • Nate asks: What should churches do when faithful preaching feels more like a seminary lecture than shepherding hurting people? Segment 2 • Anonymous asks: Are Christians actually called to one specific local church—or is church membership mostly personal preference? • Eddie asks: Do babies who die in the womb go to heaven—and can Christians be certain about it biblically? Segment 3 • Joe asks: How do you deeply desire marriage without turning a future spouse into an idol? Segment 4 • Anonymous asks: Can praying too much for someone you’re dating become emotionally unhealthy—or even idolatrous? • Ralph asks: Why do Christians criticize Catholicism but rarely talk about the Orthodox Church? • Anonymous asks: Why does it feel like idols keep growing back in my heart no matter how hard I fight them? ___ Thanks for listening! Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!

    55 min
  2. Wretched Radio: Government Secrets, Abortion Pills, Gospel Assurance

    2D AGO

    Wretched Radio: Government Secrets, Abortion Pills, Gospel Assurance

    Segment 1 • Perry Stone has Christians panicking over UFOs again… but where’s the evidence? • Secret government meetings, reptilian creatures, and “pastors being warned” — is this prophecy teaching or fundraising theater? • Why do so many believers keep falling for sensational end-times claims that never come true? Segment 2 • The Supreme Court temporarily restores abortion pill access while states try to stop mail-order abortions. • A horrifying murder case raises an uncomfortable question: has America become too soft on violent criminals? • Germany investigates Christian YouTubers for criticizing Islam, a Canadian drag queen is convicted of sex trafficking, and Sam Allberry’s “third way” theology faces a brutal reality check. Segment 3 • Michael Knowles admits he hopes for heaven… but can’t know for sure he’s going there. • Why was assurance of salvation considered one of the “greatest heresies” during the Protestant Reformation? • If you constantly doubt your salvation, are you examining your sin correctly — or missing what Christ already accomplished? Segment 4 • Can one hymn do more to strengthen assurance than years of religious rituals? • Martin Luther reportedly confessed sins for up to six hours a day before discovering what finally gave him peace. • Why does a works-based system leave consciences exhausted, fearful, and constantly searching for relief outside of Christ? ___ Thanks for listening! Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!

    55 min
  3. Witness Wednesday: Karma vs Justice, Moral Truth, Eternal Stakes

    3D AGO

    Witness Wednesday: Karma vs Justice, Moral Truth, Eternal Stakes

    It’s Witness Wednesday! Todd talks with four students on campus, each with some kind of religious background or moral framework. Across the episode, Todd keeps pressing the same essential issue: God is just, man is guilty, and Jesus Christ is the only Savior. The gospel is not moral improvement, religious heritage, spiritual preference, or doing the best you can. It is Christ taking the punishment sinners deserve and crediting His righteousness to those who repent and trust Him. Segment 1 • Casey believes “karma” settles the score—but who’s actually keeping track of right and wrong? • If morality is just personal preference, why does guilt feel so real—and so unavoidable? • Casey admits he doesn’t know the gospel… so what happens when God judges by His standard, not yours? Segment 2 • Nathan says he believes in God—but when asked why, he can’t give a clear answer. Would you? • If you think you’re a “good person,” do you actually pass God’s test—or fail it completely? • The pieces finally connect: if Jesus died for sinners… what does that require from you right now? Segment 3 • Kevin has a Methodist background—but can’t explain what he actually believes. Does that sound familiar? • If nobody’s perfect, shouldn’t effort count? Or does God demand something far higher? • The courtroom analogy hits hard: if you’re guilty, how can justice and mercy both be satisfied? Segment 4 • A graduate student thinks grace + good works might balance out—but is that how salvation works? • What if your best deeds are still corrupted at the root—would that change everything? • Justification vs. sanctification: are you trusting Christ alone… or subtly trusting yourself? ___ Thanks for listening! Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!

    55 min
  4. They Waited Years for Baptism, Forgotten Preaching Power, Cultural Madness

    4D AGO

    They Waited Years for Baptism, Forgotten Preaching Power, Cultural Madness

    Segment 1 • What did it actually cost to join the early church—and would you qualify today? • Membership wasn’t casual: years of catechesis, believer’s baptism, and rigorous accountability defined entry. • Is your church’s view of membership and discipline a shadow of what it once was? Segment 2 • When was the last time a sermon truly gripped your soul with the beauty of Christ? • Preaching has shifted—less weighty, less piercing, less “soul-melting” than what marked earlier eras. • Do modern pulpits aim for transformation…or just information? Segment 3 • Are government institutions quietly targeting faithful churches for what they preach? • Reports surface of federal scrutiny—raising questions about religious freedom in practice, not just theory. • From Puritan practices to modern pressure: are we prepared for what may be coming? Segment 4 • Why does cultural confusion keep escalating—even in something as simple as school authority? • From bizarre identity claims to inverted values, the culture isn’t neutral—it’s discipling. • If everything feels like it’s unraveling, are Christians ignoring the obvious solution? ___ Thanks for listening! Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!

    55 min
  5. Mail-Order Abortion, Marxist Divide, Youth Ministry Crisis

    5D AGO

    Mail-Order Abortion, Marxist Divide, Youth Ministry Crisis

    Segment 1 • A federal court just disrupted abortion pill access—does this finally close the “mail-order” loophole? • Lawmakers press the uncomfortable question: if you advocate abortion, will you actually defend the methods used? • Graphic realities surface—what does it say about a nation that funds and normalizes this? Segment 2 • Are cultural elites trying to turn your kids against you—and calling it “justice”? • A new push claims older generations are the problem… but is this just recycled Marxism? • What happens when society blames grandma instead of bad policy, debt, and inflation? Segment 3 • Why are pastors apologizing for Scripture—and what does that reveal about modern preaching? • If God commands something the culture hates, who do you trust: your instincts or His authority? • One word—“likewise”—could reshape how you understand roles, submission, and obedience Segment 4 • Are churches discipling kids—or just entertaining them to keep families coming back? • What if youth ministry isn’t broken—but fundamentally misaligned with Scripture? • Could older believers—not programs—be the missing key to lasting faith in the next generation? ___ Thanks for listening! Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!

    55 min
  6. Mailbag Friday: Demons, Gambling, Abortion Regret

    MAY 1

    Mailbag Friday: Demons, Gambling, Abortion Regret

    It’s Mailbag Friday! You’ve got questions, we’ve got answers. Segment 1 • Anonymous asks: Can cutting off your parents ever be biblical—or are Christians expected to endure toxic family relationships forever? • A listener wonders: Would kneeling before King Charles during a knighthood ceremony compromise Christian convictions? • Anonymous asks: Do Christians really have authority to cast out demons today—or is modern spiritual warfare culture misleading people? • Can you be a Christian and not fear God? -Joe Segment 2 • Matt asks: Should a man become an elder or deacon if his wife may not actually be saved? • Mr. John wrestles with a massive salvation question: If repentance is required, does that secretly make salvation a work? • Anonymous asks: How do you biblically deal with someone who turns every conversation into an argument? Segment 3 • Bekah asks a heartbreaking question: After an abortion years ago, is it wrong to stop feeling guilty—and how do you heal without forgetting your child? • Eric asks: Are altar calls biblical… or have they created confusion and false conversions? • Todd tackles a difficult pastoral reality: How should churches minister to Christians carrying deep shame from past abortions? Segment 4 • Kenneth asks: Is low-stakes poker with church leaders harmless fellowship—or spiritually dangerous gambling? • A listener struggles with conscience and liberty: Can something technically permissible still become sinful for you personally? • Todd explores a bigger issue behind “harmless fun”: How close should Christians get to the line before wisdom says walk away? ___ Thanks for listening! Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!

    55 min
  7. The King’s Speech, Religious Double Standards, And Mistreatment At Work

    APR 30

    The King’s Speech, Religious Double Standards, And Mistreatment At Work

    Segment 1 • Todd reviews King Charles’ recent speech. • King Charles refers to himself as the “defender of faiths”, plural - here’s why that makes a big difference. • If tolerance is the goal, why does criticism seem aimed primarily at Christians? Segment 2 • Why are Christians told to be more accepting while persecution elsewhere goes ignored? • There’s a big double standard for different religions. For example, see what happens when someone critiques Islam in the UK. • Is “interfaith unity” masking deeper inconsistencies in how religions are treated? Segment 3 • A blunt question: If you died today… would you know where you’re going? • If someone says they’re a Christian, why would they answer that question with “I don’t know”? • One thing people add to the requirements for salvation may be what’s causing this lack of assurance. Segment 4 • What do you do when your workplace is toxic, humiliating, and draining your joy? • You’re not stuck, or there on accident - there’s a purpose there that you may not see. • How could enduring mistreatment increase your peace instead of destroying it? ___ Thanks for listening! Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!

    55 min
  8. Witness Wednesday: Purpose In Life, Intelligent Design, Truly Born Again

    APR 29

    Witness Wednesday: Purpose In Life, Intelligent Design, Truly Born Again

    It’s Witness Wednesday! Join Todd on campus at Georgia Tech to discuss faith, the gospel, and Christ with real people on the street. From neuroscience majors to student athletes, the ultimate question is asked and answered: what’s going to happen to your soul? Segment 1 • Sammy Kai admits he’s living like there’s no ultimate purpose—so what actually makes life matter if nothing is guiding it? • Can evolution and “infinite time” really explain complex design? • If everything around you looks engineered, the reasonable belief would be that there is an engineer behind it. Segment 2 • Sammy Kai thinks he’s a “good person”—and Todd applies God’s standard. • If everyone fails God’s moral test, does that mean everyone is in serious trouble? • The moment it clicks: Jesus’ death isn’t just a story—but the only way justice and mercy can both be fulfilled. Segment 3 • Kylie confidently calls herself a Christian—but can she answer the question: “Why should I become one?” • From Kylie’s POV, are all religions basically the same? • If your belief system is built on “do your best”… what happens when that’s not enough? Segment 4 • Kylie says God should weigh her “good vs bad”—but would that defense hold up in a real courtroom? • When pressed, even professing Christians struggle: do you actually understand what “being born again” means? • Student athlete Kimani is confident about faith. Can you explain it clearly? ___ Thanks for listening! Wretched Radio would not be possible without the financial support of our Gospel Partners. If you would like to support Wretched Radio we would be extremely grateful. VISIT https://fortisinstitute.org/donate/ If you are already a Gospel Partner we couldn’t be more thankful for you if we tried!

    55 min
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Hosts & Guests

4.8
out of 5
3,125 Ratings

About

Wretched Radio is hosted by Todd Friel. On the show, you will hear live witnessing encounters, discussions of tough theological issues, and various topics in the Christian community. You might even have a laugh.

Information

  • Creator
    Fortis Institute
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    522
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Fortis Institute

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