Storymen

Sandra Maria Van Opstal joins us to settle the deadlock in this year's Bracketology. But really she's here to talk about how to take justice work seriously - in our every day lives. How can we begin chasing justice?

Bracketology is back! Even though it's not March, and we never had a Madness, your faithful Fascinating hosts bring back our annual pop culture bracket. This year is our most harrowing yet, with thrilling triumphs and devastating upsets. Who will win it all? The final choice is YOURS!

Gene Yang returns to the show with his most personal work yet: Dragon Hoops. How did a self-professed nerd end up writing a graphic novel about basketball? And what surprising connections did he find to faith? 

Jennifer Cho joins Kathy and JR. to discuss the reality dating phenomenon Love is Blind. Who did we love? Who did we hate? And does the show have anything to teach us?

With the COVID-19 quarantine in full swing, your Fascinating friends come to the rescue! We have a whole slew of books, movies and TV to keep you busy while you're trapped inside.

There are so many reasons to think the world is doomed. We investigate the signs of the times, from coronavirus to Love is Blind.

No one likes change. And few changes are harder to grieve than changes in our faith. What happens when we change - and our community doesn't? How do we change well - and how is grieving an essential aspect of that process?

In honor of Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent, we explore some of the rituals and practices that we've found helpful in reconstructing our faith. Plus: a sad update on the Flat Earth Rocket Man

When we reconstruct our faith, we draw from any number of sources. What books and films have been helpful in reconstructing our faith? PLUS: Kathy dives in on the ongoing controversy with Women of Color at a university chapel.

We're back! 2020 is a new era for the Fascinating Podcast. We kick of by recapping the Oscars - especially Parasite's big win. Then we preview what's in store for the podcast this season!

As Season 3 draws to a close, we reflect on the last decade. What are our favorite books, TV shows and films of the last ten years? Plus: the Star Trek TNG fan theory you didn't know you wanted.

Two things turned 21 this year that were major battles in the culture wars: Harry Potter and the Clinton Impeachment. What kind of perspective does a couple of decades and a year offer to these two issues? Have we learned anything in the interim?

Since it's the Advent season, we count down our favorite holiday films. Plus, a deep dive into Bong Joon Ho's sensational new film PARASITE.

For our Thanksgiving episode, presidential candidate Mark Charles joins us to uncover the Doctrine of Discovery. How did the Church's adoption of Empire pave the way for violence toward Native peoples during European colonialism? How are we still feeling its legacy today?

Mr. Rogers left an enduring legacy, as embodied in the new film A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, starring Tom Hanks. We review the film, and interview journalist Tom Junod, the real life inspiration for the film!

Editor and author Sarah Parker Rubio joins us while Kathy is away. First, we fight off some attacking turkeys. Then we dive into Sarah's journey to becoming a children's book author. Plus: could anything be more timely than a story of a refugee family?

Reverend Stephanie Lobdell joins us to talk about what ministry to Gen Z looks like. Then we dive into what happens when life doesn't turn out like we thought it would. We take a deep dive into mental illness, and how a diagnosis impacts our calling.

In the wake of JR.'s Bad Movie Birthday fundraiser, we dive in on what makes a bad movie (and why so many Christian movies tend to be bad).

We accidentally recorded a supersized Halloween episode! Kathy, Clay and JR. investigate quantum computing, women preaching and Halloween... and that's just the start!

Director Penny Lane found the Satanic Temple fascinating. Are they a religion? A political movement? A bunch of hilarious trolls? Or all of the above? She joins us to explore the nature of religion, the limits of belief and what it looks like to have faith in public.