PostEverything

Brad Edwards and John Houmes
  • 5.0 (49)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Biweekly

How do you move forward when norms and expectations are changing faster than you can blink? With institutional trust at an all-time low, leaders on life support, and individualism compromising every inch of society, many of us are asking if it’s even possible (or sane) to build something that lasts. Join Brad Edwards and John Houmes as they dig beneath the surface of rapidly-shifting culture and explore how leaders and the people they serve can thrive in a post-everything world. 

  1. 1d ago

    New Atheism & the Returning Tide w/ Justin Brierley

    New Atheism & the Returning Ride w/ Justin Brierley: Faith's Surprising Rebirth Episode 78 Summary: Justin Brierley spent nearly two decades hosting debates between the world's leading atheists and Christians on his show Unbelievable?. In that time he watched New Atheism rise, peak, and collapse—and then witnessed something he calls "the surprising rebirth of belief in God." In this episode of Post Everything, Brad Edwards and John Houmes talk with Justin about the renewed openness to Christianity across the West, why young men in particular are exploring faith, and what the withdrawn Quiet Revival Report does (and doesn't) tell us. Justin unpacks the difference between revival and rebirth, the limits of cultural Christianity, the rise of "lapsed atheists," the gamification of faith through apps, and why the dehumanizing effects of AI make embodied Christian community more vital than ever. A thoughtful, hopeful conversation for pastors, church leaders, and anyone trying to read the cultural moment we're living in. Quotes: "If all you're aiming for is Christian culture, sadly you won't even get that. You'll get a sub-biblical, idolatrous version of it… you can't have the effects without the source." "Cultures only get changed when human hearts get changed—and that happens through Christ, ultimately." Resources Mentioned: Unbelievable?; The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God (book & podcast); Uncommon Ground — all by Justin Brierley • Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion • the Four Horsemen (Dawkins, Hitchens, Harris, Dennett) • Tom Holland, Dominion • Matthew Arnold, "Dover Beach" • Douglas Murray • N.T. Wright • Rowan Williams • Jordan & Tammy Peterson • Bible Society's Quiet Revival Report; YouGov • Freya India, "The Commodification of Christianity" (GIRLS Substack) • Hallow, Glorify, YouVersion • Ayaan Hirsi Ali; Niall Ferguson • James Davison Hunter, Democracy and Solidarity • John Vervaeke • Mark Sayers, Rebuilders ("When the Fringe Becomes the Center") • Chris Martin, Terms of Service • The Gospel Coalition, Making Sense of Us • Brad Edwards, The Reason for Church Key words: New Atheism, surprising rebirth of belief in God, Justin Brierley, Unbelievable podcast, Christianity, apologetics, cultural apologetics, Gen Z faith, young men Christianity, Quiet Revival, cultural Christianity, meaning crisis, secularism, Tom Holland, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Richard Dawkins, Jordan Peterson, post-Christian culture, AI and faith, embodied community, church leadership, discipleship, revival, Post Everything #PostEverything #JustinBrierley #NewAtheism #SurprisingRebirth #Christianity #Apologetics #CulturalApologetics #GenZ #MeaningCrisis #Faith #Church #Discipleship #ChristianPodcast #PostChristian Chapters: 00:00 🪤 The Cultural Christianity Trap 01:25 👋 Introducing Justin Brierley 03:19 ⚔️ Inside The New Atheism Era 06:00 🔄 A Shift In The Atmosphere 10:17 🌊 The Tide Could Come Back 12:09 📊 The Quiet Revival Report 15:39 ⚠️ The Report Is Withdrawn 19:20 🐣 Rebirth Versus Revival 21:58 🚫 Settling For Christian Culture 23:36 📱 The Commodification Of Faith 26:00 🎮 Gamifying Prayer And Faith 28:21 🤖 AI Prayer Apps 29:45 ⛪ New Faces In Church 32:11 ❓ How The Questions Changed 33:43 🌱 Why Gen Z Is Open 36:10 ✝️ A Conversion Through TikTok 38:01 🥀 Losing The Christian Story 40:27 🤝 Coercion Versus Persuasion 43:03 🚩 The Christian Nationalism Question 45:28 🌾 The Wheat And The Tares 49:09 🌍 Expanding The Good Soil 50:57 🧠 What Holds Thinkers Back 54:48 🙏 Ayaan Hirsi Ali's Conversion 57:08 💭 The Meaning Crisis 59:33 👥 Faith Needs Real Community 1:01:57 📵 The Dehumanizing Pull Of AI 1:04:28 📖 Cultural Apologetics Done Well 1:08:44 🎬 Brad And John Reflect 1:11:08 📡 When The Fringe Becomes Center 1:13:11 🔮 AI And Re-Enchantment 1:17:35 ⚖️ Why Gen Z Chose Justice 1:21:19 🕹️ Counterfeit Institutions 1:23:55 🚸 Formation And The Screen 1:27:46 💡 The Church As Antidote

    1h 29m

  2. May 20

    Staying Human in an AI World w/ Jay Kim

    Brad Edwards sits down with Jay Kim, pastor of Westgate Church in Silicon Valley and author of Analog Church, to discuss the spiritual implications of artificial intelligence—and why church leaders urgently need a response. Key points: • The difference between attention economy (social media) and attachment economy (AI) • Why AI companions create relational attachment in ways social media never could • How tech workers in Silicon Valley are experiencing spiritual crisis over AI displacement • Marshall McLuhan's theory: When pushed to extremes, technology inverts on itself • The spiritual discipline of sober-mindedness in an age of endless stimulation • Why the church must become "weird" again to counter digital culture • Practical formation practices to help your congregation think deeply (not just consume) • How pastors can help disciples navigate vocational uncertainty in tech fields • The role of curiosity and meandering as countercultural spiritual practices Themes: •      Spiritual formation in digital age •      AI and human relationships •      Church in Silicon Valley •      Pastoral leadership in tech cities •      Technology ethics and faith Key words: AI companion, Spiritual formation, Church leadership, Discipleship, Silicon Valley, Artificial intelligence, Technology ethics, Sober-mindedness, Pastoral care, Formation practices, Jay Kim, PostEverything, Digital culture, Embodied community, Tech workers CHAPTERS: 🎙️ Welcome to Post Everything — 00:00 👋 John Introduces Jay Kim — 01:05 💬 Brad Welcomes Jay — 02:17 📖 Analog Church's Cosmic Irony — 04:00 🏘️ Last In-Person Gathering — 05:00 😷 Pandemic Forces Publishing Decision — 06:15 ⛪ Church Growth Model Problem — 10:44 💻 Digital Cannot Replace Embodied — 12:19 📡 Technology Shapes What's Possible — 14:30 🤖 AI Isn't Built, but Grown — 15:26 ⚡ Efficiency Over Effortful Growth — 19:05 👁️ The Attention Economy Trap — 21:22 💔 Enter the Attachment Economy — 23:18 🧠 AI Creates Relational Bond — 25:27 ❓ Is This Really Human? — 27:12 🚨 Training Your Own Replacement — 29:36 🙏 Lament Before Theological Hope — 33:03 🤔 Curiosity as Vocational Superpower — 35:03 📺 Technology Inverts at Extremes — 39:08 🧠 Brain Losing Cognitive Capacity — 42:44 ⛪ The Church Must Be Weird — 53:26 🌐 Silicon Valley Exports Culture Worldwide — 57:28

    1h 11m

  3. Apr 30

    Making Meaning by Making Enemies

    Making Meaning by Making Enemies:  Tribes, Mimetic Rivals, & Gospel Peace With John Houmes and Brad Edwards Why do we need enemies to feel like we belong?  In this conversation, John and Brad unpack Trevin Wax's article "When the Tribe Eats the Church" through the lens of René Girard's scapegoat mechanism—revealing why communities (left and right) use the same tribal pattern to maintain unity. From mimetic desire to mythological justification, from McCarthyism to cancel culture, we're watching the same mechanism play out in real-time: communities make meaning by making enemies. But the Resurrection changes everything. 🎯 What You'll Hear • How expressive individualism evolved into tribalism • Girard's mimetic desire: we learn what to want by imitating others • The scapegoat mechanism: communities uniting through accusation and expulsion • McCarthyism vs. cancel culture—same pattern, different tribes • Why mythology hides the violence of persecution • How Christ's resurrection vindicated the innocent victim • Why double imputation means Christians don't need another scapegoat • What the church must offer: belonging rooted in worship, not enemies • How gathered worship reorders our tribal identity 💡 KEY QUOTES BRAD EDWARDS: "We don't know how to exist, how to make sense of the world and make meaning without an enemy. That is an incredible enslavement that we have willingly walked into." JOHN HOUMES: "We're living in a story that's way too small. Jesus is victorious over our  deepest enemy—sin, death, and the devil. He rises from the dead in victory." 📚 RESOURCES Trevin Wax, "When the Tribe Eats the Church" (Gospel Coalition, April 9, 2026) René Girard, I See Satan Fall Like Lightning Luke Burgis, Wanting: The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life Eugene Peterson, The Pastor Michelle Margolis, From Politics to the Pews #Tribalism #Polarization #ScapegoatMechanism #RenéGirard #TrevinWax #Gospel #Church #Belonging #Identity #Discipleship #PostEverything Chapters 00:00 🎯INTRO 01:17 🏘️Trevin Wax: When Tribe Eats Church 01:44 👤What Are Tribes? Examples Everywhere 03:32 🎭Tribalism's New Function: Making Meaning 05:47 📱Eugene Peterson: Digital Ecstasy 07:30 🚫Escape Isn't Transcendence 08:51 👎Making Meaning by Making Enemies 09:15 🤖Algorithms Designed to Deliver Enemies 10:17 🏛️Digital Disembodies Everything 11:41 🐴Horseshoe Theory: Same Battlefield 14:16 💔Church Planting on Enemy Opposition 16:36 🔄Echo Chambers Refuse New Ideas 19:45 ❌Tribal Concerns Become Gospel Tests 24:24 🗳️Politics Replaced Religion as Primary 27:34 🔍Introducing René Girard 29:41 🧠Mimetic Desire: We Learn Wanting 30:52 🏆Mimetic Rivalry: Victory Over Object 34:13 🎪Scapegoat Mechanism Brings Peace 37:11 📖Mythology Justifies the Perpetrators 38:20 ☮️McCarthyism and Cancel Culture Parallel 42:30 ✝️Gospel Uniquely Sides With Victim 43:10 🙏Resurrection Breaks the Mechanism 43:55 💫Double Imputation Means No Scapegoats 45:52 📜Stories Too Small, Jeremiah Example 57:25 🤝Church: Thick Belonging, Gospel Posture

    58 min

  4. Apr 15

    Paideia, Not Perfection w/ David Cassidy

    Paideia Not Perfection: Kingdom Family Formation With Pastor David Cassidy What does it mean to disciple your children? It's not just rules and Bible verses. It's paideia—the ancient Greek word for formation, enculturation, shaping a person's reflexes, habits, and loves. In this conversation with Pastor David Cassidy from Spanish River Church, we explore: • Why behavior management isn't the goal (we don't want "chocolate soldiers") • The role of beauty, literature, and nature in forming kingdom citizens • How to start: Who's discipling YOU? • Why the dinner table is a sacred space • The difference between a family with Christian elements vs. a family enculturated in the kingdom • How to build resilient faith in your kids—faith that doesn't crumble when life disappoints David offers hope: this isn't about perfection. It's about direction. It's a slow drip over 18 years, not a weekend seminar. ⏱ CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 00:17 Welcome & Paideia overview 01:44 What is paideia? (Greek word unpacked) 04:52 Kingdom paideia vs. family with Christian elements 06:08 Theology comes at your fingertips 08:01 The centrality of love in formation 09:20 Christian worldview isn't enough 13:15 What does a resilient disciple look like? 15:40 Remember whose you are 17:11 Gospel astonishment and enjoyment of Christ 19:07 What shatters faith? 21:28 Chocolate soldiers vs. hearts of repentance 23:34 Fear of the Lord can be taught 25:12 Anti-discipleship forces 28:16 The church's role in kingdom paideia 32:34 Christian schools as an extension of discipleship 34:19 Partnership between parents, church, and school 35:05 How do we practically bring kingdom paideia home? 36:54 Who's discipling YOU? 39:11 Great classics to read 42:11 Taking trips 44:41 Slow drip, not a week-long retreat 44:53 Why the dinner table matters 47:38 Food as connector and sacred space 49:36 Three takeaways from John 📚 RESOURCES MENTIONED Ephesians 6:4 (paideia language) Edith Hamilton's Greek Mythology Augustine's Confessions Shakespearean Sonnets John Milton C.S. Lewis (The Kilns, his home) Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, Chronicles of Narnia Psalm 25 ("Remember whose you are") Westminster Shorter Catechism Heidelberg Catechism 💡 KEY QUOTES "We don't want chocolate soldiers. We want kids who have resilient faith." "Paideia is about forming reflexes, habits, loyalties, and loves. What kind of human being are we trying to produce?" "Theology comes at your fingertips—not just a statement of faith you sign your name to, but how you live." "Who's discipling YOU? That's where we start as parents." "The dinner table is not a sacrament, but it's a sacred moment." "This is about direction, not perfection. It's a slow drip over 18 years." 🎙️ ABOUT THIS CONVERSATION This is a crossover episode between PostEverything (a podcast on culture and formation) and Rooted by the River (a parenting podcast). While Rooted focuses on family discipleship, David's theology of formation through culture, beauty, literature, and everyday rhythms connects deeply to how the Church forms people in a post-Christian age. Rooted by the River is a Spanish River Church parenting podcast dedicated to equipping families to root deep in Jesus and His love. spanishriver.com | rootedbytheriver.com

    59 min

  5. Apr 1

    Compassion without Capture w/ Neil Shenvi

    Neil Shenvi on Wokeness, Truth, and the Church What does it mean to respond to wokeness without panic, caricature, or reactionary tribalism? In this episode of Post Everything, Brad Edwards and John Houmes sit down with Neil Shenvi, co-author of Post-Woke, to talk about the cultural position of Christianity in 2026, the power of contemporary critical theory, and how churches can form people who are neither ideologically captured nor politically naive. The conversation explores the complexity of our current moment: Are we in a “negative world,” an apathetic world, or something even more fragmented? How should Christians think about “woke natives,” younger generations shaped by DEI frameworks, oppressor/oppressed binaries, and moral urgency? And how do pastors offer both compassion and clarity when so much of the culture is driven by polarization, fear, and identity conflict? Shenvi argues that critical theory is not merely a tool or political lens, but a worldview with its own account of identity, justice, truth, and righteousness. But he also warns Christians against responding with simplistic anti-woke rhetoric or drifting toward equally unbiblical reactionary movements on the right. Together they discuss: Christianity’s changing cultural position Why “woke” ideas appeal to younger generations The importance of reading primary sources and steelmanning arguments The danger of raising kids with no immunity to bad ideas How critical theory reshapes identity, justice, and moral authority Why worship is essential for resisting all totalizing worldviews How the Church can remain biblical without becoming reactionary This is a conversation about formation, truth, and the future of the Church in a deeply contested cultural moment. Key Themes Negative world, apatheism, and cultural fragmentation Compassionate clarity as a Christian posture Critical theory as a worldview, not just a method The formation of Gen Z and “woke natives” Identity, social binaries, and hegemonic power Reading primary sources instead of caricatures The danger of anti-woke overreaction Worship as resistance to ideological capture Chapters 00:00 Intro 02:37 Christianity’s Cultural Position 07:03 Clarity Without Dismissal 13:36 Dialogue, Sources, Truth 18:45 Theory Becomes Religion 25:29 Four Pillars Explained 30:48 When Theory Corrupts 33:41 Poison, Not Meat 35:34 The Woke Right 40:20 Gen Z's Tension 43:39 Can't Split Jesus 47:51 Formation Without God 52:10 Trust Replaces Power 57:23 Love and Truth 01:00:40 Worship Reorients Everything 01:05:33 Pillars as Religion 01:12:44 Justice Without King 01:19:23 God First Vertically 01:28:29 Get to Church

    1h 31m

  6. Mar 18

    Secularization Isn't Gravity w/ Stefan Paas

    Secularization Isn’t Gravity Apatheism, Exile, and Mission Without Power (with Stefan Paas) Is Christianity declining in the West—or are we misunderstanding what’s happening? Missiologist Stefan Paas argues that secularization isn’t inevitable. It’s not gravity. Instead, it’s the result of millions of personal decisions—and that means its trajectory can change. In this episode of Post Everything, John Houmes talks with Paas about the rise of apatheism—a cultural moment where God isn’t rejected so much as ignored—and what it means for Christian mission in a post-Christian society. Rather than responding with panic, nostalgia, or attempts to reclaim cultural power, Paas suggests that the Church may need to rediscover something much older: faithful witness from the margins. Together they discuss: Why indifference may be a bigger challenge than hostility The surprising religious curiosity among younger generations What Christians can learn from the biblical experience of exile Why worship may be one of the most countercultural practices left How the Church can maintain its identity without resentment Why mission today may look less like conquest—and more like creating small “niches” of hope and beauty Chapters 00:00 Intro 03:50 🧐 Christianity's Current Social Position 09:20 Christian Proclamation Amidst Apatheism 11:20 ⚽️ Christians on Liverpool FC 12:00 🎙️ Proclamation through Podcasting 16:00 Worship as Rebellion 20:55 ✝️ 🇺🇸Faith Identity & National Identity 21:30 Secularization as Exile 27:30 Learning From Historic Black Church 29:00 Identity Maintenance in Exile 34:00 Formation as Preparation for Exile 35:30 ⛪️ Six Western Types of Churches 36:30 🇺🇸 American Impulses in Church Style 40:00 Love of Enemies in Exile 43:40 ⏱️ The Kingdom of God - Geography or Chronology? 44:30 Doxology & Mission Aren't Efficient 50:05 John's Favorite Paas Quote 52:53 Is God Behind Secularization? 55:00 🌎 ⛪️The Church & the World 56:00 Christian Spirituality & Identity in Exile 59:00 Secularization = Sum of a Million Decisions 1:01:45 So Many Enemies

    1h 4m

  7. Mar 4

    Faithful in the Fracture

    In this follow-up to our conversation with Dr. George Yancey, John and Brad wrestle with a pressing question: How do Christians live as holy, set-apart people—both hospitable and faithful—while navigating exile and cultural chaos? Drawing on current tensions in Minneapolis and the broader polarization shaping our moment, they explore how alienation on both the left and the right fuels entitlement, outrage, and a destructive feedback loop that makes collective problem-solving nearly impossible. But this episode isn’t just cultural analysis—it’s pastoral. Brad introduces a crucial distinction: revival chasing vs. remnant building. In a liminal age, the church’s calling may not be dramatic cultural takeover, but patient formation—becoming a people anchored in Christ, capable of loving our enemies without fear. In this episode: Why alienation is driving polarization on both sides How compassion becomes weaponized into coercion The “feedback loop” fueling culture-war escalation Why small churches may be uniquely positioned right now Revival chasing vs. remnant building Why loving our enemies is not optional Christianity Letting the Kingdom—not the culture—set the table for our faith At the heart of it all: Jesus did not come to defeat a political party. He came announcing the Kingdom of God. And He loved His enemies all the way to the cross. Hashtags: #PostEverythingPodcast #FaithfulInTheFracture #LiminalAge #ChristianLeadership #CulturalApologetics #SpiritualFormation #LoveYourEnemies #ChurchInExile Chapters: 00:00 – Intro 00:59 – Welcome Back 01:30 – The Big Question 03:39 – Beneath the Conflict 05:58 – A Human Example 07:21 – The Other Alienation 09:13 – Compassion and Power 10:53 – Entitlement Explained 13:12 – Minnesota Tensions 14:57 – The Feedback Loop 16:54 – Why It Feels Impossible 18:14 – The Small Church Moment 19:14 – Citizens in Exile 21:00 – Revival or Remnant 23:27 – Cultivating the Soil 25:09 – Human Effort, God’s Work 26:47 – Beyond the Cacophony 27:00 – The Kingdom Sets the Table 28:11 – “Are You for Us?” 29:53 – Discipleship First 30:30 – Love Your Enemies 31:47 – Closing Encouragement #FaithAndCulture #ChurchLeadership #SpiritualFormation

    32 min

  8. Feb 18

    Everything is a Litmus Test w/ George A. Yancey

    Identity Politics, Polarization & Moral Persuasion — with Dr. George Yancey Why does every political controversy feel like a Rorschach test? In this episode of Posteverything, sociologist Dr. George Yancey joins us to explore identity politics, polarization, and whether moral persuasion still works in a culture that rewards outrage over understanding. We discuss how framing everything through power and oppression reshapes public discourse, why polarization may be a crisis of moral formation rather than ideology, and what happens when shared moral language erodes. We also examine Tim Keller’s “Third Way,” the limits of political power, and the church’s role in forming people who can engage culture without being consumed by it. This is a conversation about truth, trust, leadership—and what kind of people we need to become in a liminal age. 🔍 Big Questions We Explore Is identity politics a strategy—or a substitute religion? When does moral persuasion break down? What happens when we lose shared moral language? What kind of people do we need to become in a liminal age? CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 02:15 The Cost of Identity Politics 06:59 Polarization and Its Consequences 13:38 The Evolution of Racial Dynamics 20:29 Understanding Identity Politics 28:19 Tim Keller's Third Way 34:34 Moral Persuasion and Its Challenges 40:20 The Role of the Church in Society 49:18 Navigating a Post-Secular World

    59 min
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About

How do you move forward when norms and expectations are changing faster than you can blink? With institutional trust at an all-time low, leaders on life support, and individualism compromising every inch of society, many of us are asking if it’s even possible (or sane) to build something that lasts. Join Brad Edwards and John Houmes as they dig beneath the surface of rapidly-shifting culture and explore how leaders and the people they serve can thrive in a post-everything world. 

Information

  • Creator
    Brad Edwards and John Houmes
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    81
  • Copyright
    © All Rights Reserved

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