Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

General Christian

Weird Religion

033 THE NOSTALGIA (Stranger Things, Cold War, child abductions) [AUGUST 2019] episode / season 8

Your browser does not support the HTML5 Audio element.

Rebroadcasting because we are jonesing for a new season of Stranger Things. Monsters, the 1980s, neon clothes, loaded memories of teenage drama, and a time when malls ruled supreme over the lives of adolescents. We talk about the Cold War and the child abduction fear craze in the 1980s and wonder: Why are we looking back on this era with fondness, exactly? UPDATED SHOW NOTE Stranger Things Season 5 (the final season) updates: https://www.popbuzz.com/tv-film/stranger-things/season-5-release-date-cast-plot-trailer/ ( Terminator legend Linda Hamilton joins the cast in an undisclosed role; production suspended currently due to strike; was scheduled to begin filming in June 2023; S5E1 titled The Crawl; S5 storyline will take place entirely in Hawkins, with Will Byers as the main focus)

Season 1 Season 2 Season 3 Season 4 Season 5 Season 6 Season 7 Season 8 Season 9

episodes

126 THE LEGITIMACY (has Christian television finally arrived)

125 THE MUTATIONS (battle on: Precious Moments vs. Precious Mutations)

124 THE IMPOSSIBLE (is it OK now to believe in every miracle?)

123 THE MICROFEMINISTS (you are not alone at the end of the year)

122 THE SPIRIT (why is that man running and yelling)

121 THE OLIGARCHS (the Swiss create a new way to confess sins)

120 THE DECHURCHING (the stunning story of why people have left church)

119 THE FIRSTSTONE (news roundup: Bible quoting courtroom antics and living forever)

118 THE COTTON (academic conference attire, Cotton Mather, and the Bible in America)

117 THE BOOKS (live episode! books that have changed our lives)

116 THE MH370 (this year's weirdest airplane-UFO conspiracy so far)

115 THE SCARIES (movies were watching and NOT WATCHING this Halloween)

114 THE AYNRAND (what is it like to grow up in an Objectivist household?)

085 THE DEMONTIME (Kathryn Krick, your local exorcist in the park; guest Sam Kestenbaum) [April 2022]

038 THE TRUTH (Ancient Aliens, the History Channel, and all of the possibilities) [September 2019]

113 THE X (why are the clothes on floor and Real Talk Kim)

PLEASANT SUMMER INTERLUDE (everything is permissible, a note on episode rhythm, and mustache musings)

112 THE GOLD (news roundup: miracle gold dust, huge UFOs, Aspen woo, Seven Mountains theology)

081 THE WILEYMAN (The Late Great Planet Earth and Vladimir Putin's spirituality) [March 2022]

111 THE PARENTS (what does sociology tell us about whether kids carry on with the faith of parents?)

THE CULT SWAP (Is my church a cult? Saved by the City interviews Sam Kestenbaum)

110 THE ENNEAGRAM (we confront the personality mob and take a Bible character Enneagram test)

THE SWAP (Saved by the City: Amy Grant and What We Demand of Famous Women)

109 THE EXPERIENCERS (shocking developments in the UFO community)

108 THE SANCE (News Roundup: bringing back the dead; Rainn Wilson is Bahai; Pope's exorcist)

034 THE CONGREGATION (Ultra Star Wars Fandom and Authorial Intent) [August 2019]

107 THE LANADELREY (an annotated commentary on the track "Judah Smith Interlude")

106 THE HIGHLIGHTER (on reading and erasing the Bible)

105 THE PAPERCLIPALYPSE (pre-existent AI spirituality and doom scenarios)

057 THE QISAPPOINTMENT (failed QAnon prophecies, prediction disappointment) [January 2021]

104 THE CALLMEMAYBE (Third Eagle of the Apocalypse rises with Carly Rae Jepson analysis)

032 THE CREATOR (Elizabeth Holmes gender smackdown) [August 2019]

103 THE INDIANA (...Jones, that is!!)

102 THE CONSULTANT (does Jesus look at you with compassion...or anger!)

101 THE DECAPITATED (the Wind tells me I'm a ghost; Tucker says Trump is demonic)

100 THE NATIONALISTS (Deuteronomy ch. 32, Moses sings, and Republicans want a Christian nation)

099 THE DOMINION (a new Christian dating site, and the Gospel Coalition sex article scandal)

098 THE BREAKFAST (Brian scores an exclusive and mysterious invitation)

097 THE REVIVAL (examining debate about the "revival" at Asbury University)

096 THE SUPERBOWL (wealthy people selling Jesus to Americans during a football game)

095 THE NEPHILIM (who are they, and why did they create the Federal Reserve?)

094 THE GIANT (conspiracies about long-dead giants on YouTube)

093 THE MIDTERMS (on voting as a religious act and who loves Israel most)

092 THE SKULLS (creepy but maybe comforting neolithic plastered skulls from Jericho)

PROGRAMMING NOTE (summer break)

091 THE MARDEVIL (reviving a soap operas weirdly religious moment)

090 THE PROFESSOR (the sage, the mentor, the crush, the villain)

089 THE MITHRADITES (news roundup: weird Army video; Mithradites of Fond du Lac; AI goes sentient)

088 THE NRSVUE (we review a new Bible translation to fight about)

087 THE HOARD (News Roundup--Brian offers a stunning confession)

086 THE AIGOD (bringing an imaginary friend to life through AI, and playing God)

085 THE DEMONTIME (Kathryn Krick, your local TikTok exorcist in the park; guest Sam Kestenbaum)

084 THE BSG (Battlestar Galactica and the politics of polytheism)

083 THE SLAP (Denzel advises Will; QAnon growing; worlds most boring person; animal heads)

082 THE WARGOD (a hair-raising biblical story of war, prompted by Wonder Woman)

081 THE WILEYMAN (Late Great Planet Earth, Russian religions, Vladimir Putin's spiritual space)

080 THE VOID (News Roundup: God is dope and heckling the pope)

079 THE MALLPUNK (Blink-182 and UFOs)

Programming Note for a New Season (2022)

CHRISTMAS NEWS ROUNDUP SPECIAL (Jesus applies for job; feeble green children; $600K in the bathroom; Cheesecake factory)

BONUS: Ambush Session on Megachurch Pastor Comparing Jesus to "Old Town Road"

BONUS: Checking in on Battlestar, Lost, Leo as Jim Jones, QAnon is back

BONUS: Popeye joke, theory of humor

BONUS: Season in Review, Thank Yous, Mini News Roundup

078 THE CHRISTIANHAIRMETAL (Chris White, director of the new film Electric Jesus)

077 THE FACECHURCH (Should anyone be going to church on Facebook?)

076 THE NEWS (#6: genocide romance, too cold for jihad, confessions without confessor)

075 THE FORGERIES (Biblical controversy around the Shapira Scroll and Gospel of Jesus' Wife)

074 THE FLEABAG (transgressive devotion and Fleabag with author Natalie Wigg-Stevenson)

073 THE NEWS (#5: Damon-Affleck curse, Britney goes Catholic, beyond yoga)

NON-OMINOUS PROGRAMMING NOTE

WEIRD RELIGION SEASON TWO TRAILER

BONUS: Interview with House Hunter Molly Oberheide

BONUS: Interview with Dr. James Byrd

026 KURT COBAIN (a Weird Religion check-in)

BONUS: Interview with Dr. Michael Wood

BONUS: Interview with the Spouses

BONUS: Interview with Prof. Tim Timmerman

SEASON 3 TRAILER: NORMCORE VERSION

BONUS: Interview with Dr. Roger Nam

SEASON 3 TRAILER: BLACK LODGE VERSION

BONUS EP: THE HERO (Jessica Jones with Special Guest David Dault of Things Not Seen Radio)

BONUS: ANNA MERLAN ON REPUBLIC OF LIES

039 THE PREMIUM (class war; bigfoot; Jordache jeans; expensive shirts; sneakers; mean girls)

TRAILER: WEIRD RELIGION IN THE AGE OF THE VIRUS (PASS THE MIC)

052 THE RETREAT (the Kitsch Corner is back, with two personal accounts of a men's retreat)

053 THE UPLOAD (crossover with Bioethics for the People on the Amazon show Upload)

051 THE GRANDPA (Grandpa Kitchen, food memories, death ritual, Orientalism)

049 THE MILITIAS (Rick Joyner's call for new militia-based wars based on a dream)

050 THE FIANC (90 Day Fiance, Biblical marriage patterns, "hot ladies" and "dumpy dudes")

054 THE HEX (witches hex trump, Paula White-Cain summons African angels)

056 THE BUFFALO (Capitol riot, Jake Angeli, QAnon, apocalypse, epiphany, and iconography of the insurrection)

055 THE SOUND (The Sound of Music is a Christmas movie fight us)

057 THE QISAPPOINTMENT (failed QAnon prophecies, prediction disappointment)

INTRODUCING WEIRD RELIGION

Episode 1

016 THE HOUSE (Home Mythologies and Rituals: HGTV, House Hunters, Property Brothers, Fixer Upper)

Episode 1

027 THE HEAVENS (The Good Place, the afterlife, and the point system)

Episode 1

040 THE DREAM (LIVIN IN THE LAND OF NOD)

Episode 1

058 THE CROWN (death of Prince Philip, religious dimensions of monarchies ancient and modern, royal etiquette)

Episode 1

001 THE AFTERLIFE (Black Mirror)

Episode 2

017 THE CONSPIRACY (Trump Prophecies, QAnon, Revelation, psychology of conspiracy theories)

Episode 2

028 THE FATES (Russian Doll, mid-life crises, and Nietzsche's myth of eternal return)

Episode 2

041 THE COMFORTS (WHAT WE WATCH IN TROUBLED TIMES)

Episode 2

059 THE LICENSE (X-Files maybe-psychic killer sings a song that is sort of like another song)

Episode 2

002 THE MONSTER (The Walking Dead)

Episode 3

018 THE WAR (Ken Burns' Vietnam Documentary; professor James Byrd; rapture paintball)

Episode 3

029 THE CASTLE (Man in the High Castle, revolutionary religious violence, and the historical Jesus)

Episode 3

042 THE TEACHOUT (WE'RE WORKING FROM HOME NOW)

Episode 3

060 THE REVIEW (internet review culture invades the classroom)

Episode 3

005 THE WOMEN (Handmaid's Tale)

Episode 4

019 THE HALLMARK (Hallmark Christmas romance, marriage, dating a ghost, and kissing dating goodbye)

Episode 4

030 THE ANOINTING (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, school shootings, and being chosen)

Episode 4

043 THE GROCERIES (RUSH THE STORE SCRATCH YOUR EYE)

Episode 4

061 THE NEWS (Roundup #1: Foxmania, halal tacos, mummified bodies, politics as religion, and emotional men)

Episode 4

003 THE CULT (Wild Wild Country)

Episode 5

020 THE TEACHER (Dangerous Minds, Teaching Fails, artist Tim Timmerman, Gurus)

Episode 5

031 THE EVIL (Twin Peaks, good and evil, moral progress, and Lynchian style)

Episode 5

044 THE EXCITEMENT (THINGS ARE HAPPENING FILL YOUR LAMP WITH OIL)

Episode 5

062 THE MARK (Vaccine passports and Marjorie Taylor Greene's Mark of the Beast)

Episode 5

004 THE KINDNESS (Won't You Be My Neighbor)

Episode 6

021 THE FOOD (Ugly Delicious, Food, Identity, and Community with Roger Nam)

Episode 6

032 THE CREATOR (The Dropout, Elizabeth Holmes, gender smackdown)

Episode 6

045 THE CHARACTERS (BRIAN REVEALS THAT HE HATES MOST BATTLESTAR CHARACTERS SO FAR)

Episode 6

063 THE CONSPIRACY (toucans are fake, interview with psychologist Dr. Michael Wood)

Episode 6

006 THE HERETIC (The Heretic)

Episode 7

022 THE BACHELOR (TV romance, Bach Nation fan fav Tenley Molzahn, and Christian dating games)

Episode 7

033 THE NOSTALGIA (Stranger Things, the Cold War, and child abductions)

Episode 7

046 THE CARPET (A DREAM INVOLVING HERACLITUS)

Episode 7

064 THE ERUV (was Mother Theresa a cult leader, and an 18 mile wire above Manhattan)

Episode 7

007 THE GAMERS (King of Kong)

Episode 8

023 THE BIBLE (Bible Quiz, Eve Feinstein on Jewish interpretation, and Biblezines)

Episode 8

034 THE CONGREGATION (The People Vs. George Lucas, ultra Star Wars fandom, and authorial intent)

Episode 8

047 THE COUNTERPART (LEAH SHARES A NEW FAV SHOW)

Episode 8

065 THE HAPPYCLOUDS (a postmodern capitalist horror show about disrespecting Bob Ross' ghost)

Episode 8

066 THE BAPTISTS (newsdesk deep dive: SBC convention, history, gender, #metoo, voting)

Episode 9

008 THE AUDIENCE (Audience of One)

Episode 9

024 THE SCIENTIST (Science Fair, bioethicist Devan Stahl, and the Creation Museum)

Episode 9

035 THE BELIEVERS (McMinnville UFO Festival, Bob Lazar, Roswell)

Episode 9

048 THE DICTATOR (BRIAN AND LEAH DISCUSS HOT NEW CAREER FIELDS IN THE 2020S)

Episode 9

067 THE KADDISH (the spirituality of the biggest financial scam in history in A Kaddish for Bernie Madoff)

Episode 10

010 THE REVELATION (Come Sunday)

Episode 10

025 THE THANKS (Stand-up comedy, Nihilist Arby’s, and Instagram)

Episode 10

036 THE HORROR (Twilight Zone revival, stand-up comedy, and creepy doll horror)

Episode 10

009 THE MOUNTAIN (Meru)

Episode 11

037 THE AUTHORITIES (Blackout podcast, parenting as a dictatorship, churches and technology)

Episode 11

069 THE MOTHER! (Darren Aronofsky's 2017 film mother!, Leah not impressed, Joel Mayward enlightens us)

Episode 12

011 BONUS MATERIAL: IHOB

Episode 12

038 THE TRUTH (Ancient Aliens, the History Channel and all of the possibilities)

Episode 12

070 THE NEWS (#4: marrying God, TikTok translators, Instagram SkyMall)

Episode 13

012 BONUS MATERIAL: BRIDE OF CHRIST

Episode 13

071 THE XFILES (superfan and radio host David Dault on Mulder and Scully)

Episode 14

015 BONUS MATERIAL: RAPTURE PAINTBALL

Episode 14

072 THE LAMB (Brian subjects Leah to an intriguing art-horror film trailer)

Episode 15

014 BONUS MATERIAL: CHRISTIAN BUMPER STICKERS

Episode 15

013 EXTRA: ROSE CITY COMIC CON

Episode 16

See all Podcasts

Patheos Logo Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Subscription Support Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In

Follow Patheos