Jimmy Akin Podcast

Were the Nephilim of Genesis 6 aliens or human-alien hybrids? Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli re-visit one of the strangest passages in the Bible to consider some more theories about who they were.

A ruthless tycoon, a masked fanatic, and Spectrox stakes. Dom Bettinelli and Jimmy Akin discuss whether “Caves of Androzani” is good send-off—does the Fifth Doctor's choice redefine heroism?

A shape-shifting “soft weapon,” Kzinti honor, and billion-year tech—are some powers too dangerous to exist? Dom Bettinelli and Jimmy Akin connect TAS's “The Slaver Weapon” to Larry Niven's Known Space.

Was Kenneth Arnold's 1947 sighting evidence of extraterrestrial craft? Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli revisit the case, weigh rival explanations, and assess why his measurements still unsettle skeptics.

What if the “colonists” aren't who they think they are? Dom Bettinelli and Jimmy Akin assess e-Space, Adric's rocky debut, mistfall's biology, and the Deciders' big lie. Bold takes, sharp lore chat, plus listener feedback.

A sinister “free” fix hides a brutal price. Is brain-harvesting the real currency? Too cheap can be deadly. Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Jason Tyler debate ethics, AI parallels, and horror tropes in “Dead Stop.”

Parasites, pain, and ethics: Was McCoy's cure a betrayal? Should Kirk have tried talking to a hive mind bent on torture? Dom Bettinelli, Father Jason Tyler, and Jimmy Akin tackle TOS's “Operation—Annihilate!”

Are demons real beings or just symbols of evil? Jimmy Akin and Cy Kellett of Catholic Answers Live tackle questions on their nature, powers, why they fell, and how to resist them. Possession, oppression, obsession—what's the difference?

Learn more and sign up for the course: https://rhineedu.org/

Are demons liars who can never be trusted? Can possession stem from more than the demonic? Jimmy Akin continues his conversation with Alexander Eth from Glitch Bottle podcast and tackles grimoires, exorcism, Hermetic texts, divine hiddenness, and how the Catholic faith understands magic.

An AI-run Exxilon city kills power, forcing Humans and Daleks into a fraught pact for a plague cure. With Dom Bettinelli and Jimmy Akin, we ask: Is AI a false god? Do ends justify Galloway's means?

Cosmic destiny or narrative shortcut? Dom Bettinelli, Fr. Jason Tyler, and Jimmy Akin test the SNW S3 finale's bold claims—Batel's fate, Vezda stakes, and a Kirk–Spock mind meld that sparks big questions. Are godlike foes killing drama?

Are demons just fallen angels—or something more? Jimmy Akin joins Alexander Eth of Glitch Bottle to unpack Catholic teaching on magic, exorcism, grimoires, and the “clerical necromantic underworld.” Can holiness itself drive demons out?

Holograms or hauntings? Dom Bettinelli and Jimmy Akin weigh the 10th Doctor and River in Ghosts: AI survival, memory firewalls, and a chilling choice—is ending a holo-life “death”? How much mystery should writers leave?

Can empathy with a Gorn change Trek's future? Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Jason Tyler unpack “Terrarium”—Metrons, La'an's shot, and Ortegas' trauma—plus fiery feedback on Trek comedy.

From bones turned into art to relics made of game consoles, Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli answer questions from participants on their recent Italy pilgrimage on faith, death, relics, simulation theory, saints, and even gelato. The first live recording of Mysterious World with a studio audience!

A tuneful, messy OK Corral? Dom Bettinelli and Jimmy Akin assess the First Doctor's “Gunfighters”—ballads, comedy, and history-bending choices. Are Dodo and Doc Holliday the real standouts?

Identity, ethics, and comedy collide as SNW turns the crew Vulcan. Dom Bettinelli, Fr. Jason Tyler, and Jimmy Akin ask: Is logic a skill or a serum? Was Uhura's mind-meld fair play?

It's a fifth Friday, so Cy Kellett of Catholic Answers Live is asking Jimmy Akin weird questions from listeners, about topics like what we will be doing after the Resurrection; the morality of Catholics colonizing Mars; why Lucifer rebelled; and more.

Is Starfleet an empire in disguise—or humanity's best defense? Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Jason Tyler unpack Strange New Worlds' What is Starfleet? as a documentary questions militarism, morality, and the Federation's true nature.

Could a layperson on a desert island take on the role of a priest? It's time for more listener weird questions with Jimmy Akin and Cy Kellett of Catholic Answers Live, including topics like aerial toll booths in the afterlife, whether Balaam's donkey had a rational soul, whether God could have become incarnate as multiple races in Middle Earth, and more.

Demonic possession, eyes destroyed, and a prison of ancient evil—how far can Trek lean into horror? Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Jason Tyler unpack the terror and theology of “Through the Lens of Time.”

A Death Star-like ship, lost humans turned monsters, and Kirk's trial by fire—Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Jason Tyler debate leadership, morality, and hidden Easter eggs in Strange New Worlds: The Sehlat Who Ate Its Tail.

A rural Oklahoma family faced nightly terror—food theft, rock attacks, and prowlers peering in windows. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli weigh Bigfoot vs. bear, hidden motives, and eerie mimicry. Could this siege change what we believe?

A sentient cactus steals a sacred power source, sparking a clash of faith vs. science. Dom Bettinelli and Jimmy Akin unpack 4th Doctor Tom Baker's double role, Jacqueline Hill's surprising return, and a weapon that could wipe out worlds.

From Klingon honor to Ortegas' mutiny, we debate Strange New Worlds' take on moral duty, PTSD, and withheld truths. Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin & Fr. Jason Tyler dissect zombie tropes, Spock's mind-meld, and Number One's sidelining.

Is A Space Adventure Hour bold homage or tired holodeck retread? Dom Bettinelli, Fr. Jason Tyler, and Jimmy Akin debate TOS nostalgia, meta-humor, and a mystery that may miss the mark.

Can we sense the future—before it happens? Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli confront the scientific chaos sparked by Daryl Bem's mind-bending 2011 precognition study and unpack the data, the fury, and what it all means.

Should Starfleet risk war to save Earth colonists outside its borders? Pike faces impossible orders, Scotty doubts himself, and Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Jason Tyler debate morality, canon, and faith in a tense Gorn standoff.

Is this character truly a Q? Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Jason Tyler unpack revelations about continuity, canon, and character growth—while also debating marriage law, PTSD symbolism, and why Spock's heartbreak hits harder than ever.

Fireballs. Scorch marks. Dizzy spells. A haunted house—or something worse? Jimmy Akin, Dom Bettinelli, and paranormal expert Lloyd Auerbach unravel the shocking truth behind a 1980s California mystery.

Susan's reunion with the Doctor sparks deep questions—can post-Dalek Earth be trusted to stand on its own? Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli unpack the politics, alien paranoia, and family tension in An Earthly Child.

If Bigfoot exists, what kind of animal would it be? Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli analyze eyewitness reports, biological clues, and statistical patterns to sketch the creature's anatomy and behavior.

Gelatinous blobs fell from the sky in Oakville, Washington—then people got sick. Was it rain, jellyfish, or a secret government bioweapon test? Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli dissect the evidence and theories.

What if your obsession could rewrite reality—but never restore what you love most? Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Jason Tyler discuss how Voyager faces a year of hell in a broken timeline, and Janeway matches wits with a temporal zealot.

The 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy has been investigated time and again, but in 2025, the US Congress held new hearings on the latest release of government files. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli discuss whatwas revealed including new testimony from 6 witnesses.

Is Earth alone? Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli unpack the Drake Equation's quest to count alien civilizations. Is 50 million potential galactic neighbors realistic—or just hopeful math?

Big Finish's “Fast Times” kicks off the Fugitive Doctor era, and Dom Bettinelli and Jimmy Akin unpack its roots in The Prisoner, The Fugitive, and Star Wars, debate its place in Who lore, and question whether secrets define the Doctor.

A Cardassian seeks trial for crimes he didn't commit—to force his people to face their past. Kira must question her hatred and what justice really means. Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Jason Tyler break down this complex DS9 episode.

Telepathy among non-speaking autistic kids? Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli unpack the claims from the #1 podcast The Telepathy Tapes, from spelling boards to psychic abilities, how credible are the claims that are made?

Can technology make a society forget how to survive? Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Jason Tyler unpack “When the Bough Breaks,” asking: What happens when a utopia kidnaps for continuity?

For some people who have profound difficulties speaking, alternative communications systems known as Facilitated Communication and Spelling to Communicate have been developed and the results appear miraculous. Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli examine the methods, the claimed results, and the controversy surrounding them.

What makes a good Star Trek movie—and does Beyond deliver? Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Jason Tyler break down its hits, misses, and mysteries. Does Krall's rage make sense? Why blow up the Enterprise—again?

Did the 12th century Irish bishop St. Malachy predict the popes through the end of the world? And did we just get the last one? Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli discuss the prophecy of the popes, its accuracy, and what light that recent events shed on it.

What if words had power—and could kill? Dom Bettinelli and Jimmy Akin unpack the chilling concept of a Word Lord who turns everyday speech into deadly traps. From ancient name magic to clever dialogue mechanics, they unravel the story's intricate use of language and its ties to Doctor Who lore.

Is peace always the right path? In this powerful analysis of one of the most popular Trek episodes, Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Jason Tyler weigh Kirk's impossible choice, Harlan Ellison's bitter script battle, and the moral limits of pacifism.

We regularly give Patrons the opportunity to ask Jimmy Akin and Dom Bettinelli their mysterious questions and make them available exclusively to Patrons first and then later to the whole audience. We have more answers from Patrons' children and then more from the Patrons themselves.

Reality glitches, plot holes widen, and beloved characters are left hanging. In this deep-dive discussion, Dom Bettinelli, Fr. Chip Hines, and Jimmy Akin critique the rushed defeat of Omega, the wasted return of the Rani, Anita's sidelining, and Susan's unresolved arc. Was this truly a fitting end—or just spectacle masking a structural collapse?

What makes a hero? A cloaked mine traps Malcolm Reed outside the Enterprise, and Archer risks it all to save him. Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Jason Tyler critique the ethics, logic holes, and missed opportunities.

It's a fifth Friday, so Cy Kellett of Catholic Answers Live is asking Jimmy Akin weird questions from listeners, about topics like why lunch meat is round but bread is square; how much loot the Magi gave the Holy Family; and more.

A perfect world crumbles as the Rani manipulates doubt to unlock the Underverse. Can Time Lord uncertainty crack reality wide open? Dom Bettinelli, Jimmy Akin, and Fr. Chip Hines unravel the truth in this chilling setup for the finale.