A new study suggests Americans distrust each other more than almost any other nation, and Esau, Malcolm and Mike wrestle with whether we've crossed a line we can't come back from. They dig into the deeper spiritual roots of our outrage, asking what it actually means to love your enemies in an age of constant political combat. Then the conversation turns to Hollywood's obsession with youth and what our fear of aging reveals about us. They also take on the controversy over an unqualified Surgeon General nominee and what it says about leadership, loyalty, and truth. Also this week: Mike shoots his shot, Malcolm runs late, and somehow height insecurity becomes a real topic.

0:00 - Malcolm's Too Famous

1:37 - Theme Song

4:17 - Oscars and Plastic Surgery

8:54 - Mike's Too Tall

12:17 - End Stage Polarization

24:46 - Ideological Purity

32:40 - Unqualified Surgeon General

49:24 - End Credits

Are the latest headlines about Iran a sign that the end times are near? Esau, producer Mike, and pastor Sharon Miller examine why Christians often interpret global conflict through the lens of biblical prophecy and why the book of Revelation may challenge that instinct. Then, the group talks about a viral cultural moment involving a McDonald's CEO whose awkward burger bite sparked debate about authenticity and leadership in the influencer age. What does it say about our culture when even CEOs are expected to perform relatability online? Sharon also introduces the "relationship gap," a trend suggesting dating apps may actually reduce the differences between people who end up together. Plus, defending movie trailers and more Disney debates.

0:00 - Theme Song

1:38 - Chalamet Angers Ballet Fans

8:36 - Is the Iran War God-Appointed?

16:24 - Memeification of War

27:03 - CEO Eats Hamburger Weirdly

40:04 - Dating Gaps Getting Weird?

52:33 - End Credits

The United States and Israel have launched strikes against Iran and the world is trying to figure out what happens next. Justin Giboney joins the show to help unpack the politics, the constitutional questions, and the potential fallout both overseas and at home. Also, Esau looks at how America's relationship with Israel shaped the conflict and why some Christians see events like this through the lens of biblical prophecy. Plus: we give marriage advice to Tom Holland and Zendaya.

0:00 - Theme Song

1:02 - Does Justin Know Zendaya?

6:40 - At War with Iran

11:47 - Are We Liberating Iran?

18:12 - Sponsor - With & For: Psychology and Spirituality for Thriving Podcast. Check it out now! https://pod.link/1712333330

19:21 - Sponsor - Public Good Generation - In high school and looking to lead in faith? Check out this Summer Civics Program in Washington DC: https://ccpubliclife.org/holypost

21:03 - Israel's Influence on Trump

26:19 - Prophecy ad Abraham's Sin

31:20 - Trump's Broken Promises

42:42 - End Credits

The U.S. hockey team wins gold, but the celebration sparked bigger questions. Esau, Malcolm, and Mike discuss if America become the bully to the rest of the world? Also, Ben Sasse's public reflections on his terminal cancer diagnosis bring a different kind of clarity about faith, family, and what actually matters when time runs short. Then, with the passing of Jesse Jackson, we consider how to remember leaders who shaped history by honoring real progress without pretending perfection.

0:00 - Theme Song

2:10 - Parking Spot

5:36 - Canada Vs US Hockey

9:07 - Did David Become Goliath?

17:21 - Ben Sass and Facing Mortality

21:10 - Sponsor - Nazarene Theological Seminary - Looking for a program grounded in black theology? Check out the Doctor of Ministry in Black Leadership and Ministry at https://nts.edu/podcast

22:24 - Sponsor - With & For: Psychology and Spirituality for Thriving Podcast. Check it out now! https://pod.link/1712333330

25:44 - What's Worth Our Time?

35:42 - Jesse Jackson

50:34 - End Credits

Ash Wednesday forces us to acknowledge that some day we will die. For some, that truth is abstract. For others, it is painfully personal. Esau and Mike are joined by Hannah Miller King, author of Feasting on Hope: How God Sets a Table in the Wilderness, to talk about what happens to faith when prayers for healing go unanswered. After losing her father to cancer as a teenager, Hannah began wrestling with a question many believers quietly carry: What does hope look like when God doesn't do what you asked? They explore the difference between a "transaction of goods" gospel and the communion of persons, the role of the Lord's Supper in shaping Christian imagination, and how Lent invites us to hold suffering and resurrection together. Also, can Hannah and Esau convince Mike to become anglican?

0:00 - Theme Song

1:19 - Making Mike Anglican

7:21 - King's New Book on Ash Wednesday

14:40 - The Book's Thesis

18:10 - Grief

26:07 - Community and Grief

39:22 - End Credits

Feasting on Hope: How God Sets a Table in the Wilderness by Hannah Miller King: https://amzn.to/4aHAvgh

A video shared by Donald Trump depicting Barack and Michelle Obama with a racist trope sparked outrage, swift defenses, and eventually, quiet deletion. Esau, Malcolm, and Mike explore the long history of dehumanizing imagery, the theological weight of the image of God, and why the refusal to repent may matter more than the original post. Then the conversation turns to rhetoric at the National Prayer Breakfast and the danger of blending national power with the language of the gospel. What does it mean to follow a crucified king in an age that prizes dominance?

0:00 - Theme Song

2:00 - Can You Beat Middle Schoolers at Basketball?

6:56 - Trump's Racist Obama Video

24:23 - Sponsor - With & For: Psychology and Spirituality for Thriving Podcast. Check it out now! https://pod.link/1712333330

25:26 - The Military and Religion

35:27 - What's Part of the Gospel?

46:00 - End Credits

Students aren't just using AI to finish assignments. They're using it to manage social interactions, from emails to professors to conversations on dating apps. Esau, Justin, and Mike explore how that might spare a little awkwardness, but also skips the stage of failure where real growth usually happens. Then, are small liberal arts colleges actually better at forming students, and are universities still teaching people how to think rather than what to think? Also, sports gambling continues to cause problems and why Y2K culture, including the return of CDs, is making a surprising comeback.

0:00 - Theme Song

0:18 - Black History Month Present

2:23 - CDs Are Coming Back?

9:23 - Physical Media in a Digital World

13:29 - A.I. Keeps Us from Failing

22:12 - Sponsor - Glorify - Get full access all year for $29.00 at https://www.glorify-app.com/esau

23:33 - Sponsor - With & For: Psychology and Spirituality for Thriving Podcast. Check it out now! https://pod.link/1712333330

24:50 - Avoiding A.I. Entirely?

34:09 - Liberal Art's Inefficiency is Its Strength

40:54 - Sports Betting's Return

51:50 - End Credits

Resources:

God's Colorful Easter: The Good News Is for Everyone by Esau McCaulley:

https://www.tyndale.com/p/gods-colorful-easter/9798400501029?srsltid=AfmBOopFr6DDhzFFW4jVivkDhEgT3FNiuzM1cc8xmhgBCDtMuXLNVBSZ

The killing of Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis has become another moment where violence, misinformation, and political certainty collide. As video evidence contradicts official narratives, Esau, Malcolm Foley, and Mike wrestle with what this death reveals about power, propaganda, and the erosion of public trust. Then the three discuss Esau's recent article for the New York Times to ask a harder question: how do Christians name injustice without being consumed by rage? What does faithful witness look like when anger feels justified but spiritually dangerous?

0:00 - Theme Song

1:10 - American Girl Doll Nostalgia

9:36 - Dark New Normal

14:45 - Justifying Violence with "Woke" Accusations

23:52 - Sponsor - With & For: Psychology and Spirituality for Thriving Podcast. Check it out now! https://pod.link/1712333330

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25:53 - Why Do We Believe Things?

33:25 - Not Living with Rage

47:40 - End Credits