Religion Unplugged

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Religion explored through candid conversations and original reporting. This podcast is powered by The Media Project, a network of more than 1,000 journalists worldwide. TMP acknowledges that religion is growing and becoming more, not less important in the world.

The Media Project


    • Jun 24, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 31m AVG DURATION
    • 197 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Religion Unplugged

    Thomas Becket and His World: Interview with Michael Staunton

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 24, 2025 37:02


    How did a wealthy royal advisor become one of history's most famous martyrs? Matthew Peterson interviews Michael Staunton about his recent book “Thomas Becket and His World” to understand the medieval Archbishop of Canterbury. Thomas Becket and His World: https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/distributed/T/bo248107940.html

    Biblical Art in India: Interview with Sabrina Siga

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2025 31:50


    Can biblical art find admiration in a majority Hindu Nation? The Media Project board member Jennifer Arul interviews painter Sabrina Siga about her creative journey as both a secular and sacred artist and the slow progress of biblical art in the Indian subcontinent.

    indian siga biblical art
    After The Death of God: Interview with Espen Hammer

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2025 34:31


    Is religion bound to die out, or is theism ultimately indomitable? This week, Professor Espen Hammer tells Matthew Peterson about his recent book “After The Death of God.”After The Death of God: https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/A/bo242202719.html

    Inside The News Story: Interview with Journalist/Pastor Paul Prather

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2025 35:45


    Religion Unplugged's columnist Paul Prather is on the show this week to talk with Matthew Peterson about his pastoring, his journalism career, the importance of balanced news engagement and why vulnerability has been so key to his work.Read Paul's Work: https://religionunplugged.com/news?author=62cf1597d8ba387d85eac503

    Rev. Charles Wesley: Interview with Clive Norris

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2025 26:58


    As a prolific hymn writer and preacher, Charles Wesley continues to influence modern churches around the world. This week, Dr. Clive Norris, editor of “Rev. Charles Wesley (1707–88),” speaks to Matthew Peterson about who Wesley was and what made him so influential.Rev. Charles Wesley (1707-88): https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/distributed/R/bo238311671.html

    Amarāvatī & Buddhist Visual Culture: Interview with Jaś Elsner

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2025 32:38


    Is religion strictly textual? Jaś Elsner explores the art and artifacts of one of India's most notable Buddhist monuments in his recent book, "Amarāvatī." Matthew Peterson speaks with Jaś to better understand how visuals inform theological beliefs.Amaravati: https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/distributed/A/bo214800056.html#amaravati #buddhism #stupa #amaravatistupa #jaselsner #religiousart #buddha #buddhistart

    Astrology Today: Interview with Rebecca Gordon

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2025 56:44


    For nearly as long as we've been around, humans have been looking to the stars to help make sense of the world. But what does that practice look like today? Astrologer, teacher, and author Rebecca Gordon speaks with Matthew Peterson about how she uses astrology in her everyday life and how astrology has affected different religions over the centuries.Visit Rebecca's Website: https://www.rebeccagordonastrology.comRebecca's Free Guide To Reading Your Birth Chart: https://da264.infusionsoft.app/app/form/religion-unplugged-2025

    30 Years Later: The Kidnapping of The Panchen Lama

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2025 34:03


    It has been 30 years since the Chinese government kidnapped a major Tibetan Buddhist leader. The victim, a six year-old boy, has not been seen since. Matthew Peterson investigates the disappearance and its ongoing ramifications for Tibetan autonomy.

    Pope Francis' Legacy and the Upcoming Conclave: Interview with Clemente Lisi

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2025 31:11


    On this week's episode, we interview Religion Unplugged Executive Editor Clemente Lisi about the death of Pope Francis, his legacy and what happens next with the upcoming conclave to elect a new pontiff. 

    The Unbreakable Boy: Interview with Scott LeRette

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2025 14:03


    Culture critic Joseph Holmes interviews Scott LeRette, author of the beloved memoir "The Unbreakable Boy" and executive producer of the film adaptation of the same name. Scott talks about overcoming addiction, raising a child with special challenges, and how one finds God after walking away from Him.

    Blessed Carlo Acutis: Interview with Sabrina Ferrisi

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2025 27:47


    The Media Project board member Jody Hassett Sanchez interviews journalist Sabrina Ferrisi to learn about Carlo Acutis, who will be canonized as the first millennial saint in April 2025.

    Are Faith-Based Films Now Mainstream?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2025 68:32


    "The Chosen," "House of David" and "King of Kings" are just a few of the faith-based movies and TV shows out this Easter which are garnering major publicity in mainstream trades and publications. Have faith-based films finally become mainstream? What is the future of the industry? Religion Unplugged Culture Critic Joseph Holmes, Religion Unplugged Culture Editor Jillian Cheny and The Collision Editor-in-Chief Daniel Blackaby discuss the past and future of the exciting and controversial industry.

    Redefining Heresy and Tolerance: Interview with Hung Tak Wai

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2025 23:41


    How did the Qing dynasty's treatment of Muslims and Christians shape modern Chinese political practice? Matthew Peterson speaks with Hung Tak Wai about his recent book, "Redefining Heresy and Tolerance," to explore the historical struggles of Muslims and Christians in China.

    Inside The Story: Interview with Angela Youngman

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2025 24:17


    Angela Youngman is a regular contributor to Religion Unplugged, covering everything from animals in churches to religious cyclists. Matthew Peterson sat down with Angela to learn how she finds her unique story ideas, why she likes to focus on the positive, and what she's working on next.

    The Chosen: Interview with Luke Dimyan

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2025 12:48


    Culture critic Joseph Holmes interviews actor Luke Dimyan about why he relates to his role as Judas Iscariot in "The Chosen," the smash-hit TV show about the life of Jesus. 

    Inside The Ongoing Battle Over Religion in US Public Schools

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2025 35:43


    Is religion allowed at public schools? This is one of many questions created by the simultaneous American commitments to refrain from establishing a national religion while also protecting freedom of religious expression. Matthew Peterson speaks with June Everett of After School Satan Club/HAIL and Joel Penton of LifeWise Academy to better understand how and why they have brought their religious beliefs to public school children across the nation.

    Thoreau's God: Interview with Richard Higgins

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2025 23:34


    With "Walden," Henry David Thoreau presented fresh viewpoints about materialism, independence and community which have challenged readers for well over a century. But what did the famed American writer believe about religion? Matthew Peterson speaks with Richard Higgins about his recent book, "Thoreau's God," to find out.

    The Unbreakable Boy: Interview with Kevin Downes

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2025 17:55


    Religion Unplugged's Culture Critic, Joseph Holmes, interviews Kevin Downes, CEO of Kingdom Story Company, to learn about the company's new film, "The Unbreakable Boy," starring Zachary Levi and directed by Jon Gunn.

    Before You Climb Any Higher: Interview with Jonathan McReynolds

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2025 20:22


    Grammy Award-winning gospel singer Jonathan McReynolds speaks about his new book, "Before You Climb Any Higher." Jonathan tells Matthew Peterson what he has learned about God and success on his journey to becoming a major figure in the gospel music scene.

    What is Religion's Role in The 2025 Oscars?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2025 67:37


    Culture Critic Joseph Holmes, Culture Editor Jillian Cheney, and "Theme Park Theologian" Houston Coley talk about what this year's Oscars say about religion in 2025.

    Inside The Story: Interview with Audrey Jackson

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2025 20:53


    Last year, Audrey Jackson travelled to Antakya, Turkey to document the efforts of churches and faith-based relief organisations a year after severe earthquakes shook the region. Matthew Peterson interviewed Audrey to learn more about her reporting process and the vast implications of the disaster.

    How To Think Impossibly: Interview with Jeffrey J. Kripal

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2025 37:00


    All over the world and for many years, people have claimed to see objects in the sky, prophesy the future, and speak with mythical beings. Impossible experiences happen all the time, but what do we do with them? To find out, Matthew Peterson speaks with Jeffrey J. Kripal about his recent book How to Think Impossibly: About Souls, UFOs, Time, Belief, and Everything Else.

    Between Borders: Interview with Elizabeth Tabish

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2025 26:38


    Film critic Joseph Holmes sits down with Elizabeth Tabish (Mary Magdalene from The Chosen) to discuss her career in film, how the faith-based film industry is different, and how her new film Between Borders contributes to the conversation around representation and refugees. 

    Experiments in Mystical Atheism: Interview with Dr. Brook Ziporyn

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2025 33:00


    For decades, New Atheism has been characterized by "the humanistic rejection of religion." But Dr. Brook Ziporyn's new book, Experiments in Mystical Atheism, argues instead for "the religious rejection of God." Matthew Peterson speaks to Dr. Ziporyn in order to understand what this means and how it differs from more dominant atheistic writing.

    Habits For a Sacred Home: Interview with Jennifer Pepito

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2025 24:22


    The new year brings new opportunities and new obligations by the boatload. As calendars fill up and to-do lists get longer, home life can get rocky. Matthew Peterson speaks with Jennifer Pepito about her recent book Habits For a Sacred Home to understand her views on what a healthy home might look like.

    Mary: Interview with D.J. Caruso

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2024 26:06


    Culture critic Joseph Holmes interviews director D.J. Caruso about his new Netflix film "Mary." They discuss what inspired Caruso to make a story about the mother of Jesus, why Mary is so inspirational, how one balances quality with faithfulness to the source material, and the future of faith-based films.

    Rediscovering Christmas: Interview with AJ Sherrill

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2024 21:07


    The Christmas season is often packed to the brim with parties, concerts, gift-buying, and general holiday busyness. But does it have to be that way? Religion Unplugged's Matthew Peterson interviews AJ Sherril about his recent book Rediscovering Christmas to understand his perspective on how Christians can more thoughtfully engage with the season.

    Is the Future of Christmas Movies Faith-Based?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2024 48:28


    Newsletter and Culture Editor Jillian Cheney and Film Critic Joseph Holmes discuss why there hasn't been a Christmas classic in 20 years, the rise of Christmas action movies, and if "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" signals the start of a faith-based renaissance in the Christmas movie genre.

    Should Christians Support Returning Land to Native Americans?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2024 39:46


    After centuries of oppression and mistreatment by the American government, Native Americans have had enough. In recent years the Land Back Movement has gained popularity. Land Back presents the idea that returning U.S. land to indigenous communities would be a just action. In order to understand how Christians should approach Land Back, Matthew Peterson spoke with three Native Christian leaders about their views on the topic.

    Present in Prayer: Interview with Jennifer Tucke

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2024 33:43


    The Christian life is so often a busy one. Work, family, and even church commitments can often leave believers completely burnt out. Matthew Peterson speaks with Jenn Tucker about her new book Present in Prayer to learn about Biblical meditation practices meant to bring peace and stillness to the distracted Christian.

    The Best Christmas Pageant Ever: Interview with Andrew Erwin

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2024 21:49


    Culture critic Joseph Holmes interviews faith-based filmmaker and Kingdom Story Company founder Andrew Erwin (I Can Only Imagine) about his company's new Christmas film The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, the past 20 years of faith-based filmmaking, and what comes next. 

    Joseph Smith and The Mormons: Interview with Noah Van Sciver

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2024 27:44


    Joseph Smith is one of the most controversial religious figures in American History. In an attempt to understand who he was, Matthew Peterson interviews author and illustrator Noah Van Sciver about his recent biographical graphic novel: Joseph Smith and The Mormons.

    Exhibiting Forgiveness: Interview with Titus Kaphar

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2024 22:46


    Culture Critic Joseph Holmes interviews renowned painter and filmmaker Titus Kaphar about his new film Exhibiting Forgiveness and how one balances Biblical commands of forgiveness while avoiding repeated abuse.

    Strange Religion: Interview with Nijay K. Gupta

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2024 31:27


    Despite being a cornerstone of the American establishment in the minds of many westerners, Christianity was once very much against the grain. In order to understand the complexities of Christianity in the ancient world, Religion Unplugged's Matthew Peterson speaks with Nijay K. Gupta about his recent book, Strange Religion.

    A Conversation With An Exorcist

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2024 33:52


    Exorcisms and those who perform them have become a familiar theme of numerous horror films and stories. But, what does exorcism actually look like? To find out, Religion Unplugged's Matthew Peterson interviews Exorcist Dan Todd to learn about his experiences with demons, ghosts and even a homicidal doll.

    Understanding Israel and Palestine on Campus

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2024 29:22


    A year after the October 7 attack, the war rages on in the middle east and tensions have persisted on American college campuses. In response to recent Jewish harassment at Baruch College, Religion Unplugged's Matthew Peterson speaks with Ilya Bratman of Baruch's Hillel and Ben Ginsburg and Tasneem Noor From NewGround: A Muslim-Jewish Partnership for Change.

    Staying Human In an Era of Artificial Intelligence: Interview with Dr. Joseph Vukov

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2024 29:50


    AI tells us what to write in our emails, shows us what we want to watch, and fills our social media feeds. In an increasingly computer-run world, how can society maintain its integrity and its humanity? To find out, Matthew Peterson interviews Loyola philosophy professor Dr. Joseph Vukov about his recent book Staying Human In an Era of Artificial Intelligence.

    Tips For Church Growth: Interview with Bill Tenny-Brittian

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2024 43:11


    Religion Unplugged's Matthew Peterson interviews writer and church planter Bill Tenny-Brittian about the principles found in his recent book entitled 101 Things You Can Do To Help Grow Your Church. Bill speaks on how different generations view church, problems with how churches reach out, and what individual congregation members can do to make a difference. 

    Tips For Church Growth: Interview with Bill Tenny-Brittian

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2024 43:11


    Religion Unplugged's Matthew Peterson interviews writer and church planter Bill Tenny-Brittian about the principles found in his recent book entitled 101 Things You Can Do To Help Grow Your Church. Bill speaks on how different generations view church, problems with how churches reach out, and what individual congregation members can do to make a difference. 

    God Bless Bitcoin: Interview With Brian and Kelly Estes

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2024 25:47


    Brian and Kelly Estes, creators of the new documentary God Bless Bitcoin, sit down with culture critic Joseph Holmes to discuss their view that believers of all faiths need to get behind cryptocurrency to make the world a better place.

    Can Canceled Pastors Return to Ministry?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2024 27:45


    There have been some major celebrity pastors who have been canceled. Yet, some of these men turned right around and started a new church after their scandal. In addition, many evangelicals personally know a pastor who has disqualified himself for ministry. These pastors, too, often find new jobs leading churches. But, what does the Biblical process of restoration look like, and should disqualified pastors return to ministry at all? Matthew Peterson talked to two pastors to find out.

    Raging Fire of Love: Interview with Dr. Kelly James Clark

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2024 37:43


    Matthew Peterson speaks with Dr. Kelly James Clark about his recent book, Raging Fire of Love: What I Learned From Jesus, The Jews, and The Prophet, which explores the ideas that unify the Abrahamic religions.

    Bringing Ben Home: Interview with Barbara Bradley Hagerty

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2024 29:00


    The Media Project's Jody Hassett Sanchez speaks with author and journalist Barbara Bradley Hagerty about her new book, Bringing Ben Home: A Murder, a Conviction, and the Fight to Redeem American Justice.

    fight conviction barbara bradley hagerty
    The Supreme Court and Religious Liberty: Interview with Chelsea Langston Bombino

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2024 28:45


    The Media Project's Melissa Harrison sits down with attorney, Center for Public Justice fellow, and Fetzer Institute Program Officer Chelsea Langston Bombino to discuss how recent Supreme Court decisions could impact religious freedom.

    Sing Sing: Interviews with Greg Kwedar, Coleman Domingo and Divine G

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2024 31:54


    Culture critic Joseph Holmes interviews the makers of the new film Sing Sing, including Director Greg Kwedar, star Coleman Domingo, and the real-life inspiration for the film, "Divine G." They discuss the making of the film, and the real-life Rehabilitation Through the Arts program in American prisons that the film portrays.

    Herod and Mary: Interview with Kathie Lee Gifford

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 6, 2024 13:32


    Kathie Lee Gifford speaks with Religion Unplugged's Matthew Peterson about her new book Herod and Mary: The True Story of the Tyrant King and the Mother of the Risen Savior. They cover how the book was written, why it was written, and Kathie Lee's goal to inspire hope in all of its readers.

    Shepherds for Sale: Interview with Megan Basham

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2024 24:03


    Culture critic Joseph Holmes interviews Daily Wire reporter Megan Basham on her new book Shepherds for Sale. They discuss whether secular progressive politics have taken over Evangelical institutions, whether there's a difference between conservative and progressive politics in Evangelicalism, and how Christians should navigate them.

    Loor: Interview with Founder Marcus Pittman

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2024 26:53


    Joseph Holmes interviews the founder of new faith-based streaming service "Loor" on what makes his platform different and how he's hoping to shake up the faith-based media industry.

    Gospel Graffiti Crew

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2024 50:47


     Religion Unplugged's Matthew Peterson investigates the history of Christian graffiti and speaks with members of Gospel Graffiti Crew, a community of artists seeking to spread the gospel through urban graffiti. 

    Fleur de Lis: Interview with Showrunner Ethan Hill

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2024 44:05


    Joseph Holmes interviews programmer, writer, and animator of the new faith-based TV show "Fleur de Lis". The two talk about how to make authentic Christian art, and the ethics of using AI for making art.

    Why the Bible Began: Interview with Jacob L. Wright

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2024 31:49


     Matthew Peterson speaks with Emory Professor Jacob L. Wright about peoplehood, the role of women in the Bible, and more subjects covered in his recent book Why The Bible Began. 

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