The Bad Pastor Podcast

Austin Parkhurst
  • 5.0 (10)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Weekly

After 15 years in vocational ministry and 8.5 years as a pastor, Austin walked away from it all. This podcast is for the burned-out, the doubters, the misfits — and anyone who's tired of pretending everything’s "blessed and highly favored." Expect raw conversations, uncomfortable questions, awkward laughs, and maybe, just maybe, a little hope.

  1. Let's clear things up | Season 2 Premiere

    12/10/2025

    Let's clear things up | Season 2 Premiere

    The Bad Pastor is back! We took a break to focus on work and other things, but we're ready to pick back up with a refreshed direction for the podcast. Before we get to that, we need to talk about a few things. If you're enjoying this content, let us know in the comments and share it with a friend. Thanks for listening, and we'll see you in the next one!

    30 min
  2. An Intro to Spiritual Warfare

    08/28/2025

    An Intro to Spiritual Warfare

    Spiritual warfare isn't just demons, exorcisms, and holy water. It's real, subtle, and most of us are in the middle of it without even realizing it. This episode dives into spiritual warfare and Ephesians 6 as we look at the armor of God. How do we fight spiritual warfare? What does it look like?To be honest, this is a much bigger conversation that needs more focus. We're just touching the surface in this episode, but there's more to come. We're also working on some resources and other tools to help YOU combat spiritual warfare and continue to grow as a follower of Jesus. Stay tuned. Hope you enjoy this one. Show notes available here

    40 min
  3. This is my story.

    08/21/2025

    This is my story.

    This episode takes a break from the usual content. I decided it was time to share my story of how I began to follow the Lord. It was 20 years ago this past week when I finally decided to follow Jesus. Growing up in South Carolina, I was raised in a culture where everyone knew Jesus but didn't really know Jesus.I hope this story resonates with you and encourages you. We will be back to normal episodes next week!

    30 min
  4. The Truth about Valuing Authenticity

    08/13/2025

    The Truth about Valuing Authenticity

    The Bad Pastor is back! This episode is an interesting one. We’re diving into the value of authenticity that churches often hold and Christians speak about often. What tends to happen is we forget what it actually means to be authentic. Hope this one encourages you!We make authenticity sound like this great thought and value, but we often fail to actually be real with people. Our corrections are masked by passive aggressive compliments. Our criticism is brushed under the rug of "you're so blessed." Let's get real and talk about what it means to REALLY love people. Show Notes available here

    33 min
  5. What's the point of church? | Episode 11

    07/16/2025

    What's the point of church? | Episode 11

    Why do we even go to church? Seriously. What’s the actual point?If I can read my Bible at home, worship in my car, and listen to better preaching online then what’s the value of showing up on a Sunday? What am I supposed to bring to church? Is it okay if I think I should get something out of it?In this episode, we talk about what the Bible actually says about church: what it’s supposed to be, what it’s not, and why it still matters. Show Notes available here

    38 min
  6. The Truth About the Body | Episode 10

    07/09/2025

    The Truth About the Body | Episode 10

    You can love Jesus and still treat your body like trash. You can lead small groups while emotionally imploding. You can serve others at church while silently falling apart inside.In this episode, we confront the uncomfortable truth: the Church talks a big game about purity, but ignores gluttony, stress, chronic fatigue, and emotional repression.We unpack how physical health, emotional health, and spiritual health are all connected and why too many Christians are pouring out of empty cups. This isn’t about shame. It’s about changing habits.We’re not just talking about drinking and smoking. We’re talking about sugar addiction. Emotional eating. Christian busyness. Rage-stuffed hearts. And burnout disguised as “serving the Lord.”God cares about your body. God cares about your emotions. God cares about you, not just your output. SHOW NOTES AVAILABLE HERE

    43 min
  7. How do I know it's time to leave my church?

    06/25/2025

    How do I know it's time to leave my church?

    We're asking the question everybody's asking, but nobody wants to answer. There are a lot of different reasons you might leave your church, and there are a lot of reasons it might be time to leave your church.We're going to look at some of these reasons. If you're asking this question, you're in the right place.✅ Red flags to watch for✅ The difference between discomfort and toxicity✅ What Scripture says about belonging and obedience✅ Practical steps for finding a healthier churchIf you’ve felt stuck, burned out, or deeply unsettled in your church, this episode will help you find clarity and take faithful next steps. Show Notes Available Here

    39 min
  8. How to Work Past the Pain

    06/18/2025

    How to Work Past the Pain

    Hurt doesn’t always come from enemies. Sometimes it’s the people closest to us — family, friends, pastors, spouses, or even ourselves. And most of us were never taught how to actually deal with it. We just learned to suppress, perform, or numb.In this episode, I talk honestly about what it looks like to move forward after you’ve been hurt — without faking it, rushing it, or spiritualizing it away. Healing takes time. But it also takes truth. This isn’t about perfect closure — it’s about holy movement.Show notes available here.

    32 min
See All (16)

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

After 15 years in vocational ministry and 8.5 years as a pastor, Austin walked away from it all. This podcast is for the burned-out, the doubters, the misfits — and anyone who's tired of pretending everything’s "blessed and highly favored." Expect raw conversations, uncomfortable questions, awkward laughs, and maybe, just maybe, a little hope.

Information

  • Creator
    Austin Parkhurst
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    16
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Austin Parkhurst
  • Show Website
    The Bad Pastor Podcast