The Progressive Christians Podcast

As Americans, we tend to focus a lot on an American perspective - so this week, we are blessed to be joined by a friend who is helping to provide a wider angle! Jonty Langley is co-host and founder of the Beer Christianity podcast, as well as editor of S(h)ibboleth Magazine. Jonty joined us from across the pond to talk about The American Imperial Boomerang, how leftism and Christianity intertwine, and what to understand about America's role in the wider world.

Show Notes:
- AOC Quote: "I thought that fascist takeover attempts were going...

This week, the Pope Leo vs. Trump news has been insane. How did this happen in an administration that claims to be deeply Christian and Catholic? We discuss the historical precedent of political popes, the wild escalation of conflict that has happened, and where the theology simply doesn't make sense.

Show Notes:
- Hungarian Election: 
https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/12/world/live-news/hungary-election-orban-magyar 
- Cardinals Speak Out:  https://www.americamagazine.org/news/2026/04/13/us-cardinals-60-minutes-trump/
- Our "Biblical vs. Christian" episode: 
https://youtu.be/MqJgG5JXDiM 
- Belle Hooks Communion: 
https://bookshop.org/p...

We've got the whole team back for this one! As you may have heard, this week Paula White likened Trump to Jesus (we know, right?). This outrageous statement sparked so much backlash from Christians, it was impossible for us to miss. This week, we don't just want to talk about her words, but WHY Evangelicals find it so important to do something so explicitly blasphemous. 

We also want to take this holy week to do some theological construction - where does Easter land in all this chaos? How can we use this time of spiritual rebirth as P...

We are thrilled to be joined by Pastor Joe Smith this week! We originally found Joe because of his work on Instagram, and quickly realized that his work combating White Christian Nationalism is essential to the work of Progressive Christianity. 

We had Joe on to discuss his journey as an Exvangelical pastor, his thoughts about the state of American Christian Nationalism, and how we can move forward with bringing the message of a homeless Palestinian socialist to the people who refuse to hear it.

Show Notes:
Find Joe - https://www.instagram.com/therealjoe.s...

We've been promising bonus content… Here it is! 

We were inspired to make this episode by Rev. Katie with the Young Adult group at Hyde Park Community UMC in Cincinnati, Ohio, who reached out to tell us they had been using our podcasts for some of their lessons. In honor of how much this means to us, this episode is dedicated to all of them! They wrote us some great questions that they've been dealing with while trying to deconstruct and reconstruct their Christianity into something that more closely mirrors Jesus. Please join us on this fun, les...

When the Trump administration began its immigration crackdown in Chicago, teenage brothers Ben and Sam Luhmann became a part of a rapid-response network of volunteers that documents ICE raids and assists families of those detained in the arrests.
In the first half of this episode we talk with Ben and Sam about their activism and the role that their Christian faith played in inspiring them to put their faith into action. Then we chat with their mother Audrey and discuss how their faith journey and growing awareness of injustice led them all to reimagine what it means to...

If you grew up in certain Christian circles, there is a specific type of music that we all know by heart. But why? Where did it come from? What messages might have been hidden inside this music? This week, we meet with Dr. Leah Payne, author of "God Gave Rock and Roll to You," to discuss the surprisingly long, dark, and conservative history of our modern "Contemporary Christian Music" genre.

If you love the show, please sign up to become a supporter of The Progressive Christians Podcast! You can choose to make a one-time or monthly donation...

We just launched the Love Your Neighbor Newsletter on Substack! Scroll down for more info!

As if we didn't mention it enough, here is your periodic reminder that we are based in Los Angeles, California... And the Oscars are this week! This year, themes of faith and Christianity were huge for the biggest nominees. Julia and Blair, our most movie-connected hosts, invited some filmmakers from our congregation to have a passionate discussion about movies, faith, and these best picture nominees in particular. (spoiler alert: we're OBSESSED with Sinners!)

Also, for real spoiler alert: there will...

A lot of times we discuss the disturbing rise of MAGA Christian Nationalism on this podcast - but today, we are featuring a progressive politician that has literally flipped that narrative. Joanna Whaley was formerly a conservative evangelical pastor, but had a spiritual journey that culminated in a bid for Michigan State Representative - where she could be the first openly transgender representative in Michigan's history.

How does a story like this unfold? How did Joanna's religious experience lead her to run for office? What does she stand for, and how would she represent the people of...

It's the beginning of the Lenten season! Dr. Carter is gone, so Everest is leading us on a journey through the history of Lent all the way to the modern political implications of the holiday. Join us for an especially meditative and spiritual episode of exploring discipline, tradition, and why we practice Christianity the way we do.

If you love the show, please sign up to become a supporter of The Progressive Christians Podcast! You can choose to make a one-time or monthly donation, and your support is tax-deductible. We need your support to continue and grow...

There's been a lot of talk about "deconstruction" in Progressive Christian circles, but we've been hearing that y'all want more talk of "constructing" beliefs. A major philosophy that serves as constructive for many Progressive Christians is known as Liberation Theology. Stemming from marginalized communities in the Americas, Liberation Theology focuses on Jesus' teachings on "the least of these."

Join us for a fun, educational breakdown of this philosophy! We discuss the many origins, the biblical basis, the ways it has been modernized, and even some criticisms of Liberation Theology. 

And don't forget to let us k...

Project 2025 was all over the news when Trump was first elected. But now that we're a year in - what about Project 2026? The Heritage Foundation hasn't released an official "Project 2026," but they have put out their political priorities for the year, and they look about as bad as you would expect. 

This episode, we go through all nine of them, and focus on the ways that the Trump administration is coming after women. From attacking voting rights, to medical autonomy, to trying to force women to be nothing but baby incubators - it's no doubt that they a...

The massive political polarization of today can make fighting for change seem impossible, but there is an extra layer when you're someone responsible for kids. This week, our friend Claire McKeever-Burgett returns to discuss parenting in our Fascist reality. We discuss children's radically empathetic nature, ways to help them (and you) find their place in the resistance, and the importance of keeping an open mind - especially in the last places you would think. This episode is for everyone, not just parents. As Blair says: "everyone is in relationship with children, because children are a part of society." Take...

We have all been flooded with the horrifying stories out of Minnesota recently. This week, we discuss Alex Pretti and the children who have been kidnapped, along with some of the incredible stories of resistance and community from Minneapolis. Join us to rage, cry, grieve, hope, and plan. And remember, in a world full of evil - Be Good.

Show Notes:

Anti-trans riders COMPLETELY removed from final house appropriations bill. Everyone say thank you Sarah!!!

https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/anti-transgender-provisions-stripped

Judge threatens contempt ruling to...

You've asked for it, and it's here! Our first ever Q+A! But first, we have a big announcement. We have decided to adopt a donation (rather than subscription) model to support the podcast. You can find more information about how to support the podcast further down in the show notes!

This episode is quite out of the ordinary for our podcast, and we tried to keep it very light and fun.

Potential topics include: Our views on Heaven and Hell, our favorite (and least favorite) movies and TV shows, why we are...

Only two weeks into 2026, things already feel overwhelming and out of control. In this episode, we discuss how the conservative evangelical understanding of sin as a failure to be obedient to authority figures is being weaponized to justify the shooting of Renee Nicole Good and ICE's violent treatment of protestors and innocent bystanders. Through the lens of the Just War Theory, we try to understand the mindset that allows someone to justify - and even champion - the murder of this young poet.

- Ice Shootings Tracker: https://www.thetrace.org/2025/12/immigration-ice-shootings-guns-tracker/

- White Property...

Christians should not believe IN the bible, we are called to believe in the living God revealed to us THROUGH the bible.

This week, we're releasing a special video minisode to celebrate the New Year (and let our hosts take a vacation)! Join Dr. Carter for a discussion on the similarities - and differences - between being "Biblical" and being "Christian." Is following and/or doing what you believe the bible tells you to do, enough to call an action or policy, or a position on a social subject, Christian?

Remember, the devil can quote...

Time is running out to submit your questions for the Q&A! Comment below or email us to have your questions answered. We encourage silly and personal questions too, not exclusively "serious" or "theological" ones!

This week, we continue our discussion from last week about Artificial Intelligence. In our previous episode, we focused more on the material impacts of AI. This week, we shifted to a more spiritual and metaphorical investigation. We also addressed Everest's original question - is AI ANTI CHRISTIAN? Don't worry, we make sure to look at all angles, and even end with some...

Have y'all heard about this crazy new thing called Artificial Intelligence? Just kidding, of course you have - it's been impossible to avoid for the last few years. Our co-host Everest felt inspired to talk about the ethics of AI because of a discussion they led during Sunday School a few weeks ago, and oh boy, did we get into it - so much that we had to split the episode into two parts!

This week, we tackle the more "worldly" concerns - AI's impact on ecosystems, people's neighborhoods, people's livelihoods, copyright, education, and the way that...

This episode goes out to everyone who is feeling anxious about going home for the holidays this week. We get you, and we are you! Here are our thoughts on how to handle toxic family dynamics and ideally improve family communication on contentious topics. We discuss the cognitive dissonance around loving people who hate you, how to stay in community and conversation with them, and even break down specific techniques for the types of conversations you might be having. We finish with a sample conversation and getting to the root of what causes all this tension in the first...

On this week's episode, we wanted to talk about some of the current stressors on our queer listeners. We discuss the Oklahoma University "bible essay" situation with Samantha Fulnecky, and the way that Conservative Christian grifters use the bible to leverage hatred for profit. We answer listener questions on how to talk to family members with regressive social views during the holidays. Finally, we talk to our queer listeners and make sure everyone in our community knows how beloved they are. And, as a bonus - this episode has all of the podcast super friends!

Show Notes:<...

In today's episode, Rev. Blair and Rev. Dr. Carter talk with Ben Stringer - an attorney and pastor in Springfield, Missouri. In 2024, Trump won Missouri with almost 20% over Harris. Though Springfield is often referred to as "having a church on every street," Progressive Christianity has often struggled to find advocates in the area. 

We talk with Stringer about his experience growing up in a Conservative Baptist family, becoming a Civil Rights Lawyer to live out his calling as a Christian, how the courts are being used to help and hurt people in this turbulent time, and how h...

If you're a Christian and you're American, you've probably been taught that socialism is unbiblical. That capitalism is God's chosen economic system. That Jesus would be against redistributing wealth, and the early church in the book of Acts was nothing more than a group of friends sharing their stuff. The election of Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani and Rev. Blair's viral TikTok in response to Mamdani's election, which appeared on Jesse Watters' nightly Fox News show, prompted us to ask: Should Christians be socialist? Are Christian ethics really at odds with socialism? Or have many of us been taught a...

Conservative figures like podcast host Allie Beth Stuckey and theologian Joe Rigney are leading a campaign against a feeling they consider dangerous and are weaponizing against Christians—empathy. They argue that empathy has been hijacked and can become toxic and sinful. In this episode, we'll explore their distinction between what they call "toxic empathy" and "biblical compassion." We analyze their arguments, their use of the Bible, and how they overlook the teachings and ministry of Jesus to justify their claims. Ultimately, the conservative opposition to empathy helps explain some of the cruelty emerging from the Trump administration and their wi...

Vice President JD Vance wants to be the next leader of the MAGA movement. Speaking during a recent Turning Point USA event at Ole Miss, he cast a vision for America that blends Christian Nationalism, white supremacy, and conservative populism. In this episode, we discuss Vance's beliefs about immigration, how his wife, Usha Vance, got caught up in the rhetoric, and how Pope Francis and Pope Leo offer a very different Roman Catholic perspective on how we are to love our immigrant neighbors.

The Progressive Christians Podcast is available on all podcast platforms, TikTok, and Instagram. You...

This is the second episode in a three-part series on Christian Nationalism and its role in Donald Trump's White House. In this episode, we discuss Pete Hegseth and how his theology is influencing the Department of Defense. Hegseth was affiliated with the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC) in Nashville before his appointment, and he has stated that he affirms the teachings of Doug Wilson, a pastor and co-founder of the CREC. Wilson openly endorses Christian Nationalism and believes that America, and indeed the entire world, should be governed by biblical principles—specifically, his own interpretation of those principles.

This is the first of a three-episode series on Christian nationalism and its influence in Donald Trump's White House. In this episode, we define Christian Nationalism and describe how Christian Nationalists use religion to shape American politics. We specifically discuss the impact of Stephen Miller and Russ Vought and how their policies on immigration, border protection, the government shutdown, and public services cannot, in good faith, be called Christian. 

The Progressive Christians Podcast is available on all podcast platforms, TikTok, and Instagram. You can find the links and the links to the host's social media here: https://l...

In this episode, we are joined by Claire McKeever-Burgett, author of In the Beginning Were the Women, to explore some of the well-known and lesser-known women in the Bible. From the mystics to the brave to the misunderstood and overlooked, these women played essential roles in their communities and our faith tradition. Throughout our conversation, you will gain a deeper understanding of how these stories are relevant to our lives today.

Show Notes:

"A Progressive Christian is an oxymoron" is probably the most popular (simple-minded and incorrect) critique that we receive from people trolling our YouTube comments and Apple Music reviews. Given the frequency of the comments, we figured that our amazing listeners probably hear the same comments from people in their own community. So, in this episode, we address five common myths about progressive Christianity. From the bible, to sin and salvation, we wanted to bring some clarity to the conversation.

We have discussed a lot of these topics already, and we have listed each myth and the corresponding...

Join us as we delve into a nuanced discussion on purity, shame, and "biblical" marriage—topics often surrounded by controversy and misinformation, especially within traditional religious circles. Using the perspectives of liberation, feminist, and womanist theologies, we analyze how religion, economics, and politics have always intertwined, shaping our views on purity, marriage, and divorce.

As progressive Christians, we aim to approach this conversation with empathy and understanding, acknowledging the damage that shame and judgment can cause to individuals, particularly women and members of the LGBTQ community. Whether you're seeking to unlearn purity culture, engage in conversations with co...

In this episode, we explore the complex factors that lead individuals to depart from their faith communities and the experiences and desires that ultimately bring them back. We explain why progressive Churches are well-equipped to meet the needs of people who are searching for an authentic faith community that engages the social and political realities of our time. We close out the show by answering questions from listeners on gender roles and progressive views of the afterlife.

The Progressive Christians Podcast is available on all podcast platforms, TikTok, and Instagram. You can find the links and the...

In a society saturated with violence, how do we, as Christians, process ongoing trauma? In this important yet heavy episode, we explore the concept of moral injury with insights from a combat veteran. We confront the dangerous "myth of redemptive violence," examining how it normalizes harm in our culture and even in our faith. This discussion offers an honest look at the widespread trauma we all carry, from personal experiences to the psychological violence caused by living in a culture of misinformation, disinformation, and outright lies

The Progressive Christians Podcast is a ministry of The Loft, a...

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Dr. James Dobson's death triggered an onslaught of social, digital, and print media reflections. While some mourned his death, most of the reflections were about the traumatic impact of their parents following his advice, which encouraged practices such as corporal punishment and queer "conversion therapy." In this episode we explore the legacy of James Dobson, Focus On The Family, and how a generation of children raised under Dobson-like rules are f...

Have you ever wondered what motivates someone to become a Christian Nationalist and what it takes to recognize you're not truly practicing the teachings of Jesus and to leave high-control religion? Then this episode is just for you! We were joined by April Ajoy, author of Star Spangled Jesus: Leaving Christian Nationalism and Finding a True Faith, for a compelling discussion about her book, her role in the Amazon documentary Shiny, Happy People, and how we can help guide people who are questioning out of Christian Nationalism.

Click on the link below to learn more about April's...

The Progressive Christians Podcast - New Episodes Available Every Friday - On All Platforms

We're the love your neighbor kind of Christians, not the storm the capitol kind. So, if you're curious about what a socially and politically progressive Christianity looks like, this podcast is for you! In each episode, we discuss politics, pop culture, and anything else we find interesting from the perspective of progressive Christianity.

The Progressive Christians Podcast is a ministry of The Loft, a worship community of Westwood United Methodist Church.

Cynthia Erivo's portrayal of Jesus in "Jesus Christ Superstar" at the Hollywood Bowl has been widely praised as powerful, transcendent, and unsurprisingly criticized by religious conservatives. How could a woman, and especially a Black queer woman, play the role of Jesus? Julia, Rev. Blair, and Everest were in attendance on opening night. In this episode, we discuss Erivo's performance, the role of art in unsettling assumptions and critiquing power, and what it means to see the spark of the Divine in all of us. We end the episode by celebrating the one-year anniversary of our podcast.

Thank...

Are you struggling to reconcile your faith with the headlines about the human-made famine that is causing the deaths of innocent civilians in Gaza? You're not alone. All people of good conscience should feel unease. When Jesus wept, it was for the suffering of all humanity. What if we applied that same deep empathy to the heartbreaking crisis unfolding right now? In this episode, we are joined by Rev. Dr. Timothy Murphy, the senior pastor at Plymouth Congregational Church in Fort Wayne, Indiana, to discuss the war in Gaza, his hunger strike to raise awareness about the famine, and...

What is biblical or traditional marriage, and how have Christian understandings of marriage been shaped by economics, politics, and faith? In this week's episode, we explore the rise of the Trad-Wife phenomenon and shed light on the propaganda that pushes this image of family life as normative. We conclude by re-examining our sacred texts to craft a vision of partnership that honors the sacred worth of human beings and the progressive values of relationality and freedom, without abandoning our faith.

The Progressive Christians Podcast is a ministry of The Loft, a worship community of Westwood United Methodist...

Has Christianity lost its positive public perception? The season premiere of South Park revealed a lot about our current political and religious climate. Their portrayal of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount exposes the hypocrisy that an increasing number of non-religious people see within our tradition. In this week's episode, we discuss the declining public image of Christianity, the role evangelical, conservative, and mainline churches have played in speeding up that decline, and what Christians can do to start changing that perception one relationship at a time.

The Progressive Christians Podcast is a ministry of The Loft, a...