Storymen

It's the last episode of the season - and the year! On our season finale, we count down our favorite books, movies and more. Plus, we share some of YOUR picks!

Surrogacy is an act of service for another, one that involves a whole body, and two families. What are the ethics of surrogacy? And why don't our laws reflect the modern science of surrogacy? How can surrogacy be unjust? Dr. Grace Kao joins us to explore the complexity of this act. PLUS: some of our least favorite Christmas traditions!Connect with Dr. Grace KaoWebsite | Instagram

The surprise hit of December is GODZILLA MINUS ONE, the latest Japanese Godzilla movie. Since we all saw it, we do a spoiler-free reflection on why it's so great - and why you should try to see it if you can! Plus, since Christmas is approaching, we explore some of our Christmas favorites. 

The author of 1 Timothy says he doesn't permits a woman to teach or have authority. He also says women are saved through childbirth. So does that mean women can't preach? Does it mean women can only be saved by having babies? Um... probably not. Dr. Sandra Glahn returns to the show to take us to the ancient city of Ephesus. What do we need to know about Artemis of the Ephesians to make sense out of these otherwise bizarre, contradictory instructions.

The Marvels is the latest film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and it's been a box office flop. So why do our three co-hosts like it so much? We review the film, including what worked for us and what didn't so much. 

For decades, science fiction writers imagined a future where religion had gone extinct. But in M. V. Melcer's new sci-fi thriller REFRACTIONS, religion is alive and... if not exactly well, then thriving. She joins us to explore why religion isn't going anywhere - even as technology continues to advance. PLUS: time-travelling telescopes and more!M. V. Melcer's Website

The F.B.I. played a key role in the development of White Christian Nationalism. Sound like a tinfoil hat conspiracy theory? Dr. Lerone A. Martin joins us to share the receipts. His new book THE GOSPEL OF J. EDGAR HOOVER shows how F.B.I. Director Hoover worked with evangelical leaders like Billy Graham a generation before the Moral Majority and the rise of the Religious Right. Hoover wrote essays for Christianity Today that Evangelical pastors and Sunday school teachers used for sermons and lessons across the country - and that's just the beginning. Listen in; you won't believe how wild this interview is!

Should Christians watch horror movies? What about movies about demonic possession? Film critic Josh Larsen returns to the show to take us into his new book FEAR NOT. We explore the role horror can play in creating spiritual conversations and even in spiritual formation!Episode Links:Larsen on Film (website)Josh on LetterboxThink Christian (website)Filmspotting (podcast)

Our own JR. is a contestant on Season 5 of Press Your Luck! He takes us behind the scenes from how he got on the show to the extensive casting process to the filming - and yeah, getting to meet the host, Elizabeth Banks. 

It's time for another Fascinating-on-Fascinating interview! With the launch of their new book, Kathy and Matt share the hot seat to dish on what it looks like to disagree well. How did their book on civility turn into a meditation on the fruit of the Spirit? Why is civility too low a bar? Plus: a deep dive into kindness, because nice isn't a fruit of the Spirit!

Alex Shvartsman returns to the podcast! The new book in the Conradverse features Conrad Brent, the magic Batman, facing off against his most challenging adversary yet: bureaucratic incompetence! We take the opportunity to reflect on why leadership so often fails to govern well, including a look at the historic removal of Kevin McCarthy as the Speaker of the House. PLUS: Which horror movie monster does your Ennagram number suggest you are?

Why hasn't America ever faced its original sins of chattel slavery or genocide against Native Americans? What's at stake if we were to face those sins? What might confession look like? What about repenting or repair? On the season premier of the Fascinating Podcast, Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg joins us to frame this conversation for us. How does she find hope in the face of our national reluctance? PLUS: an historic moment in the Fascinating Universe happened this summer, and we've got the full story!

What happens when you tell a story that turns out to be an echo of some ancient wisdom? Graci Kim returns to the show for a special deep dive into the conclusion to her Korean-mythology-inspired fantasy trilogy. We explore how Korean mythology evolved, how she chose which versions of the various myths to recontextualize and how she discovered her legacy as a storyteller. Plus, we meditate on what it means to be Korean diaspora and how we reconnect with the loving mystery at the heart of the universe.

What would happen if churches dedicated ourselves to healing our communities? Jose Humphreys returns to the podcast to take us through his new co-authored book ECOSYSTEMS OF JUBILEE. We explore how Sabbath is good news for everyone - and why it means so much more than just going to church on Sundays. 

What does it mean to belong? As a woman of two worlds, Tasha Jun was never quite sure where she fit. But again and again, she returned to the dream her mother had - Tasha as a fierce tiger. Tasha's book is an exploration of identity, ethnicity and belonging. She takes us into the ideas she explores and what it looks like to make a home between two worlds.

What does it take to fit into US culture? Gene Luen Yang first asked that question in 2006 with his groundbreaking graphic novel AMERICAN BORN CHINESE. Now it has become a show on Disney+. We welcome Gene back to the show, and he brings the show's composer Wendy Wang. We explore how their faith shapes their art, and the surprising ways it shows up in the show. It's a season finale you won't want to miss!

Who gets to tell a story? Can a white person write black or Asian characters? Can a person of color play a traditionally white role? We dive into this perennial conversation. We're informed by R. F. Kuang's new bestseller YELLOWFACE, Halle Bailey's Little Mermaid and Miles Morales as Spider-man. PLUS: our non-spoiler thoughts on ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE!

What do we mean when we say the Bible is "inspired"? Zack Hunt, author of GODBREATHED, joins us to explore why we're so hung up on inspiration. We dive into issues like who wrote the books of the Bible, how much it matters, and who decided what made it in, or not. Oh and also Dan Brown because why not?

Christian mission work has a long, dark history of colonialism and decimation of indigenous cultures. Despite some reforms, the problems haven't disappeared. Author and activist Mekdes Haddis joins us to offer a vision of a Just Mission. She shares how growing up in Ethiopia shaped her experience of mission, and some of her vision for how we can fulfill Jesus' great commission without sacrificing justice and holiness. 

The debate about immigration feels like it's at an impasse. What does it mean for our perspective to be just? Karen Gonzales challenges us to change the conversation by centering the very people who are already in the middle: immigrants. How does the our perspective on this issue change when we listen to the people we usually just talk about?