Exvangelical

I’ve got a wide-ranging interview with Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg to share with you today. It’s been a few years since I spoke with her, and the geopolitical landscape has changed considerably in that time. In the first half of the conversation, we talk about the ongoing war and genocide in Gaza, and broadly about how Jewish communities in the US have responded. We also talk touch on Iran, as well as how the revelations of the Epstein Files and how to ensure that antisemitism doesn’t creep into our reactions to these stories coming to light. We also talk about how certain terms and language may no longer be adequate and the challenges of speaking on these hot-button issues at all, online or elsewhere. In the second half, we talk about Rabbi Danya’s work at her online publication, Life is a Sacred Text, the concept of moral injury, and how she works with people of differing beliefs through her work. Rabbi Danya speaks with compassion, care, nuance, and solidarity and I hope that this conversation is received in that spirit. Note: I made a newbie mistake and my audio recorded from the wrong mic - I did the best I could to clean it up! As always, you can support this show by subscribing across social media & YouTube, and most directly by purchasing my book or a paid subscription at blakechastain.com. I donate 25% of net revenue annually. Buy my book, Exvangelical & Beyond: https://bookshop.org/a/11130/9780593717073 Sign up for all my content at blakechastain.com Visit Life is a Sacred Text: https://www.lifeisasacredtext.com/ "The Antisemitism Post" at Life is a Sacred Text: https://www.lifeisasacredtext.com/the-antisemitism-post/ "Moral Injury" at Life is a Sacred Text: https://www.lifeisasacredtext.com/moral-injury/ Recommended Reading List on Palestine & Israel: https://bookshop.org/lists/palestine-and-israel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://www.postevangelicalpost.com/about

Jenny Booth Potter, author and Minneapolis–St. Paul resident known for on-the-ground reporting and mutual aid work. She describes daily vigilance and community watch rituals. She traces sustained resistance back to 2020 organizing. She reveals covert tactics used to target immigrants. She urges small, sustained acts of solidarity and mutual aid.

Katherine Stewart, journalist and author focused on Christian nationalism and anti‑democratic networks. She outlines five groups driving anti‑democratic movements. They trace shifts since 2016, the mindsets that fuel identitarian and authoritarian politics, the role of elite influence and media ecosystems, and connections to recent revelations like the Epstein files.

This week I'm happy to share my interview with Josiah Hesse, author of the new book On Fire for God: Fear, Shame, Poverty, and the Making of the Christian Right. Josiah was a guest on Exvangelical back in 2018, and we met up in Chicago last week to discuss his new book. I'm also going to be appearing alongside Josiah in just over a month in Brooklyn for an event at Urbane Arts Club. That event, called From Pews to Prose, will also feature Mattie Jo Cowsert & B.K. O'Connor and is happening on Sunday March 8th. Be sure to subscribe to my newsletter, The Post-Evangelical Post, at blakechastain.com to keep up with all my work. 25% of net proceeds from direct support are donated each year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://www.postevangelicalpost.com/about

This week I’m happy to share with you the pilot episode of the new show, Reign of Error with Sarah Posner (Apple Podcasts link), produced by our friends over at Axis Mundi Media. Longtime listeners will know Sara Posner from her 2020 appearance in my series, Powers & Principalities, where she discussed her book Unholy: How White Christian Nationalists Powered the Trump Presidency, and the Devastating Legacy They Left Behind.  The state of play in the United States is in constant flux. This conversation between Sarah and Brad Onishi covers a lot of what happened in the fall and winter in places like Chicago, prior to all that is now unfolding as ICE attempts to occupy Minneapolis.  Sarah is a longtime observer and journalist and I’m glad that she is now producing a weekly show to provide context and commentary for what is happening in America. I hope you enjoy this conversation and be sure to subscribe wherever you get podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://www.postevangelicalpost.com/about

This week I’m happy to share with you the pilot episode of the new show, Reign of Error with Sarah Posner (Apple Podcasts link), produced by our friends over at Axis Mundi Media. Longtime listeners will know Sara Posner from her 2020 appearance in my series, Powers & Principalities, where she discussed her book Unholy: How White Christian Nationalists Powered the Trump Presidency, and the Devastating Legacy They Left Behind.  The state of play in the United States is in constant flux. This conversation between Sarah and Brad Onishi covers a lot of what happened in the fall and winter in places like Chicago, prior to all that is now unfolding as ICE attempts to occupy Minneapolis.  Sarah is a longtime observer and journalist and I’m glad that she is now producing a weekly show to provide context and commentary for what is happening in America. I hope you enjoy this conversation and be sure to subscribe wherever you get podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://www.postevangelicalpost.com/about

In the first interview of 2026, I talk to Sara Moslener about her latest book, After Purity: Race, Sex, and Religion in White Christian America. (Buy the book from bookshop.org here & support the show) Learn more about Sara's work at https://saramoslener.com/ Support this channel at https://www.blakechastain.com; 25% of net proceeds from direct support are donated. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome 01:00 Sarah's Religious Upbringing 04:53 The Influence of Pro-Life Movement 07:16 College and Theater: A Path to Self-Discovery 16:25 Pursuing Academia and Feminist Theology 21:10 The Concept of Purity and Its Implications 26:24 Racial Dynamics in Purity Culture 35:50 Connecting Sexual Purity to Racial Identity 37:28 The Importance of Historical Context 38:17 Teaching Religion, Race, and Discrimination 39:53 How to Support the Show 41:18 The Process of Academic Research 45:09 Challenges and Ethics in Purity Culture Research 49:39 The Intersection of Academia and Therapy 54:44 Lightning Round: Author's Preferences and Insights 01:04:54 The Value of Education and Final Thoughts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://www.postevangelicalpost.com/about

This episode was originally released on The Good Books. In this episode, I chat with author Angela Denker about her latest book, ⁠Disciples of White Jesus⁠. Subscribe to Angela's ⁠newsletter⁠. Support the show via my newsletter: ⁠postevangelicalpost.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://www.postevangelicalpost.com/about

In this latest interview, I speak with Lucas FW Wilson about the anthology Shame-Sex Attraction: Survivors' Stories of Conversion Therapy. The interview starts about 5:00 minutes in after a long intro/update. This episode was originally released last week in the new feed for The Good Books, which you can follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. Purchase the book via Bookshop.org [affiliate link]: ⁠https://bookshop.org/a/11130/9781805011323⁠ Follow Lucas on Instagram & Threads: ⁠https://www.threads.com/@lukeslamdunkwilson⁠ Subscribe to my newsletter: ⁠postevangelicalpost.com⁠ Buy my book, Exvangelical & Beyond: How American Christianity Went Radical and the Movement That's Fighting Back: ⁠https://bookshop.org/a/11130/9780593717073 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://www.postevangelicalpost.com/about

Originally published on YouTube on 3/7/2025. I'm between author interviews, and March is traditionally a difficult month for me. Here is a brief minisode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://www.postevangelicalpost.com/about