The RELEVANT Podcast

Worship leader Pat Barrett — known for "Good Good Father" and "Build My Life" — joins Cameron, Jesse and Emily to talk about his new live album 'Break Open,' why he sat on the title track for nearly a decade, and his late-in-life obsession with surfing (including an upcoming trip to Kelly Slater's Surf Ranch). He also gets honest about how his thinking on songwriting vs. worship leading has shifted, because of course we ask awkward questions.Also, Emily brings RELEVANT Buzz fresh from South by Southwest, where she sat in on a panel with Vince Gilligan — creator of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul — who said he thinks he owes the world something better than anti-heroes. Plus: High Point University's Cinderella March Madness run, and the faith story behind Chase Johnston's #99 jersey that everyone's been talking about.And to close it out — Pat helps the crew run the Sweet 16 mascots through a no-stats, vibes-only bracket challenge to crown the real national champion. Based solely on mascots, not teams. One with a mustache may or may not have won.Highlights:0:00 – Why last week's episode was late2:30 – Starlink satellites9:30 – Driving gloves17:50 – RELEVANT Buzz: High Point University's Chase Johnston's #99 story27:00 – Emily's South by Southwest panel with Vince Gilligan31:45 – The Lost arc, the Sawyer problem, and what Vince Gilligan owes culture36:00 – Pat Barrett joins the show38:30 – Recording 'Break Open' live in a sweaty tent40:40 – Why the title song sat unreleased for nearly 10 years42:50 – Songwriting vs. worship leading — what's actually better?45:20 – Pat's surfing obsession48:15 – The March Madness Mascot Bracket ChallengeAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Ryan Gosling joins the RELEVANT Podcast to talk about his new sci-fi film Project Hail Mary — what made him fall in love with this story and why this one might be a "core memory" film for a generation. Before that, Emily reports from SXSW to break down the week's biggest faith-and-culture stories: a Christian animated short film made by two Pixar animators and 200 volunteers (including musician Josh Garrels) got nominated for an Oscar. Also Christian apologist Wesley Huff went on the popular podcast 'Diary of a CEO' and told Stephen Bartlett to his face he's going to hell. Plus, NFL quarterback Justin Fields reveals he wants to become a missionary after football. Then in Slices: the Tooth Fairy economy is growing (Jesse has a lot of thoughts), a huge scandal in a camel beauty pageant, and you'll never be able to predict this week's 'What's Jesse Thinking?' segment. It's a wild ride this week.Highlights:00:25 — SxSW breakdown: The decline from tech-and-music powerhouse 07:38 — RELEVANT BUZZ07:43 — The Office canon errors: a deep dive nobody asked for (Michael Scott's anniversary math)10:11 — Forevergreen: Oscar-nominated Christian animated short by two Pixar animators + 200 volunteers, featuring Josh Garrels19:22 — Wesley Huff talks Christianity on 'Diary of a CEO'26:07 — NFL QB Justin Fields says he wants to be a missionary after football 30:07 — SLICES30:14 — The Tooth Fairy economy 35:34 — Camel beauty pageant scandal 37:53 — RELEVANT RECOMMENDS: Project Hail Mary 43:25 — Ryan Gosling on why he keeps making space movies and why he won't actually go to space46:42 — Ryan Gosling on why he picked Project Hail Mary — "you would die for this rock alien"48:54 — Ryan Gosling on Project Hail Mary as a "core memory movie" like E.T. and Back to the Future50:01 — WHAT'S JESSE THINKING?: Should Golden Corral run the US government?56:23 — Post-credits: Apology to the estate of Shel SilversteinAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Colony House is back with a new album, and they sat down with Emily to reflect on 10 years of making music and what they want the next decade to look like. In RELEVANT Buzz: Papa Roach lead singer Jacoby Shaddix shares his powerful faith journey — from foxhole prayer, to sobriety and a faith that sounds like the real thing. We also bring a story flying under the radar: nearly a million Christians are living inside Iran right now, and we hear directly from believers on the ground to get their thoughts on the war and religious freedom. Plus, the backlash to the Atlanta Hawks announcing "Magic City Night" — a themed game night centered around an infamous Atlanta strip club.Then, pastor Kyle Idleman joins us to talk about how modern American Christianity has slowly turned Jesus into a therapist and self-help guru — and what we've lost in the process. It's a challenge worth sitting with.In Slices: a Turkish soccer player performs CPR on a seagull he accidentally hit mid-game, United Airlines starts banning passengers who refuse headphones, and we close with a Spring Break edition of Would You Rather.01:00 — The crocheting trend taking over 03:48 — The appeal of old stuff10:41 — RELEVANT BUZZ 10:41 — Papa Roach lead singer Jacoby Shaddix shares his Christian testimony. Foxhole prayers, sobriety and millennial rockers finding faith14:25 — Marty's attempt to join the Elk Club for a Newport parking spot22:04 — Iranian Christians: nearly 1 million believers inside Iran28:33 — Atlanta Hawks "Magic City Night"30:42 — Kyle Idleman interview: How American Christianity has missed the real Jesus35:16 — SLICES35:16 — Turkish soccer player performs CPR on a seagull he accidentally hit41:01 — United Airlines bans passengers who won't use headphones45:31 — RELEVANT RECOMMENDS: Colony House — 77 Part 2 50:33 — WOULD YOU RATHER: Spring Break Edition | Pullout couches, photo shoots, emo cruises, bad vibes vs. mediocre food, and Marty's 3am cockfight vacationAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

An actor discusses why the biblical story of David keeps drawing him back and how a new docu-drama approaches the material. A researcher examines whether recent outpourings and rising Bible sales actually amount to national revival. Conversation about Gen Z reviving DVDs and vinyl as collectible items. A segment on AI risks in operating rooms and a surprising statistic about cats and birds.

A look at a rising faith movement in pro sports and chaplains noticing more players attending chapel and sharing faith. A convo about why a major worship band took a year off and the sound of their new album. Quick culture bites: Gen Z sipping less and tanking the alcohol industry, a bizarre Waffle House bear-spray incident, and playful takes on celebrity games and TGIF sitcoms.

A musician recounts a van break-in that wiped their recordings and how fans rallied to help rebuild the album. Students at a Florida university have been in nonstop worship, prayer and confession for days. A viral claim about Christian hip hop on Spotify is debunked. A worship leader goes viral on a singing competition and odd pop-culture stories round out the show.

A candid chat about why a well-known actor chose to star in a faith-based biopic. A surprising Super Bowl story about a coach who quit corporate life for an unpaid internship and rose to the top. A heated take on a study claiming Gen Z scores lower on IQ tests. Plus live reactions to a movie trailer and quirky news bites like juggling unicyclists and after-hours pizza vendors.

This week, legendary Christian rapper Trip Lee tells us about his unexpected move into worship music with his new album. Before that, the crew swaps stories from last week's historic winter storm—Emily survived three days without power in freezing temps and Jesse narrowly avoided going to a fun Orlando Magic game with Cameron.In RELEVANT Buzz, we break down Jelly Roll's powerful Grammy acceptance moment, plus the youngest Grammy winner at just eight years old. We also dive into new research showing the vast majority of people want authentic faith representation in TV and movies, and then Emily previews two interesting new shows: Jury Duty Season 2's unexpected premise and Neighbors, HBO and A24's reality series about strangers forced to live together.Plus, Jesse announces his new podcast Target Intelligence: Psyop and Derek plugs his brand-new show, You Can't Say That in Church. Jesse of course brings his most rewatched video of the week: a Medieval Combat League warrior armed with a real axe who keeps targeting opponents from behind with hilarious headshots. Then in SLICES we cover Miami's iguana apocalypse—dinosaurs falling from trees as residents collect them by the armload (and definitely aren't disposing of them properly).And to close it out, it's Super Bowl week, so we're playing a special edition of "One Has to Go" covering everything from iconic Super Bowl commercials and halftime show moments to game-day snacks and controversial performances. Spoiler: mozzarella sticks do not survive Jesse's hot take.Highlights:00:00 — Intro & Winter Storm Survival Stories07:43 — RELEVANT Buzz08:00 — Jelly Roll's Powerful Grammy Acceptance Speech11:27 — Eight-Year-Old Becomes Youngest Grammy Winner in History12:33 — New Study: 92% of Viewers Want Authentic Faith in TV & Movies16:37 — Jury Duty Season 2 Preview: Hot Sauce Company Chaos18:00 — Neighbors: HBO and A24's New Reality Series24:00 — Medieval Combat League Axe Warrior Goes Viral31:09 — Trip Lee 32:00 — Why Trip Lee Made a Worship Album After Years in Hip-Hop35:00 — Trip Lee on Being a Teaching Pastor and Collaborating With Worship Leaders37:00 — SLICES: Miami's Iguana Apocalypse43:30 — Super Bowl Edition: "One Has to Go" Game45:53 — Iconic Super Bowl Commercials (Doritos, Tide, QR Code)46:21 — Controversial Super Bowl Ads (GoDaddy, Carl's Jr., Axe)47:04 — Super Bowl Snacks Face-Off (Doritos, Lay's, Pringles)47:30 — Soda Showdown (Coke, Pepsi, Dr. Pepper, Mountain Dew)48:00 — Jesse's Mozzarella Stick Hot Take Sparks Chaos49:31 — Halftime Show Showdown (Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Beyoncé)50:01 — Most Controversial Halftime Moments (Nipplegate, Dancing Sharks)50:52 — Halftime Props (JLo's Pole, Usher's Skates, Dr. Dre's Lowrider)Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

A candid conversation about faith shaping career choices and using public platforms with intention. A cultural round-up explores Jelly Roll's gospel moment, whether popular music is getting sadder, and why Gen Z is unplugging from phones. Quick bites include AI fatigue, a bizarre Texas sovereignty stunt, a license plate kerfuffle, and a ketchup packet legal oddity.

This week, we sit down with Chelsea Smith to talk about dating wisely, building a resilient marriage and navigating seasons when love feels harder than usual. She shares practical advice for singles, couples and anyone wondering if what they’re experiencing is normal.In RELEVANT Buzz, we unpack the rise of political independents among Gen Z and millennials, Brandon Lake’s Good Morning America moment and why Christian hip-hop is showing up at Rolling Loud.Plus, the crew debates whether it’s easier to bowl a perfect game or hit a hole-in-one for a million dollars, discusses illegal monkeys in St. Louis and breaks down Gen Z’s newest solution to burnout: a “retirement home” in Malaysia.Highlights:06:30 – Million-dollar question: perfect bowling game or hole-in-one?16:05 – RELEVANT Buzz16:15 – Christian hip-hop at Rolling Loud18:10 – Brandon Lake on Good Morning America (and the Maury joke)20:45 – Gallup: Gen Z and millennials are going independent31:40 – Chelsea Smith on dating33:55 – What every healthy marriage needs35:30 – Advice for couples in hard seasons37:55 – Our new partnership with 316 Financial + Reset Series42:25 – Slices 42:45 – St. Louis offers amnesty for illegal monkey owners47:05 – A Gen Z “retirement home” opens in MalaysiaTo learn more about 316 Financial's $100 offer for RELEVANT listeners, check out https://www.Bank316.com/RELEVANT!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy