Lead Balloons: The Alchemy of Unpopular Opinions

Pondering the Pastoral Life: An Interview

Trent interviews Joel about his experience working for two decades in pastoral ministry.  They talk about sermon preparation, daily disciplines, civic engagement, suburban vs. urban contexts, the "call" to ministry, how much truth a congregation can handle, and the future of pastoral ministry in general.  If you're curious about what one unique former pastor's experience was like, check this one out.  

Crushing on Trent: An Interview

Joel is joined in this episode by his wife, Poonam, in which they interview Trent.  The focus is Trent's unique path through life: spiritual transitions, career changes, and unconventional means.  They discuss how to break out of tired, old scripts and try new things, even as they consider how to confront non-sexy challenges like paying bills and planning for retirement.  This episode should challenge you to ask why you're living the way you do.  And Trent, per usual, advocates for resisting the insane urge to become a workaholic.

Forgiveness for (Not) Dummies

Joel and Trent talk in this episode about forgiveness.  When should we forgive?  What does the process of forgiveness look like?  Is it always right to forgive?  
Trent seeks to add the terms "repair" and "reinstatement" to the discussion on forgiveness.   He notes the financial metaphor within which forgiveness exists. Joel introduces us to the work of Everett Worthington on forgiveness, in addition to talking about the problem of "spiritual bypassing" in the context of processing wrongdoing.
This episode will challenge you to think deeply about the difficult topic of forgiveness.  

Social Media: The Ruin of Us All

Trent and Joel consider the deleterious impact of social media on individuals and culture.  The backdrop is a recent article by Thom Hartmann, "Is Social Media This Generation's Heroin?" in which Hartmann examines the drug-like effects of social media.  They consider the pro's and con's of social media. Joel describes the theory of the triune brain and how our survival instinct's hyper-sensitivity to threats is being hijacked by social media algorithms.
They agree that the public should be made more aware of social media algorithms, since they are so powerfully at work in our society.  Trent talks about the differences between today's social landscape and times past when face-to-face contact entailed immediate consequences for cruel behavior.
 

Epistemology 101: How We Know What We Know

Joel and Trent delve into the philosophical branch of epistemology, which is basically the study of knowledge and how humans come to know things. They talk about the social media landscape and knowledge; establishing foundations; the varieties of ways of knowing; data vs. interpretation of data; and the importance of rigorous but open-minded skepticism in today's world.  
This episode gets a little nerdy, but it will challenge you to strive for both intellectual humility and honesty.  

Talking with a Cultural Critic: An Interview with Laura Kipnis

Trent and Joel interview Laura Kipnis, author of numerous books, including Love in the Time of Contagion; Men: Notes from an Ongoing Investigation; and Against Love.  The discussion includes topics such as love, the utopian vision, Laura's inspiration to write, cynicism about the current cultural moment, whether or not Laura acts as a prophet, etc.  She describes coming from a secular background but experiencing a unique variant of superstition.  She also talks about her ability to see cultural movements before they happen, while talking about the "elephants in the room." 
You'll appreciate Laura's candor and wit in this episode, and perhaps you'll be inspired to find and express your unique voice in a way only you know how.  

Grunge Music is Biblical Music

True kids of the 90's, Joel and Trent chat about the importance of grunge music.  They notice a dearth of lamentation and critique in what we often think of as Christian or church music, and they wonder if forms of music like grunge can help humans confront and embrace the darker aspects of our lives.  Joel and Trent both talk about each of their favorite songs, one from Pearl Jam and one from Alice in Chains.  
 
This episode will kindle your nostalgia for some of the great music of the 90's, while challenging you to think about the ways our culture can integrate greater authenticity.  You may even rethink what biblical or Christian music should be all about.  

Everyone is Lying

Joel and Trent go deep on the topic of lying.  Should we tell white lies when the truth is too hard to hear?  What is the difference between evasion and equivocation?  Are some people truly deluded, believing their own lies?  They also discuss Jordan Peterson's master class in equivocation during a discussion with Richard Dawkins that was moderated by Alex O'Connor.  

Who Made the Roles

Joel and Trent seek to better understand what it means to be masculine and feminine.  They discuss the biological realities and social inputs that make up our concept of gender.  Joel talks about how the conventional model of masculinity was limiting as he grew into a man; Trent proffers the idea that a form of individualism might help some people steer in the right direction, rather than embracing the stereotypical gender norms.  They also go into the theological terms "egalitarianism" and "complementarianism", which relate to male and female roles in the nuclear household.  

The Manosphere and Online Radicalization: An Interview with Pasha Dashtgard

Trent and Joel welcome to the podcast Pasha Dashtgard for an exciting and informative interview.  Pasha is the Director of Research for the Polarization and Extremism Research and Innovation Lab (PERIL) at American University.  Dr. Dashtgard holds the Ph.D. in Social Psychology from UC-Irvine.  
Pasha discusses how young men can fall prey to online misinformation and nefarious algorithms that can result in their becoming radicalized.  Joel and Trent ask him how he developed an interest in this work, what he is doing at PERIL to combat extremism in the manosphere, and whether there are any redeeming qualities to voices in the manosphere.  Pasha shares ideas for how men can be directed toward better resources for personal growth and finding satisfying relationships.