Sunday School Dropouts
An ex-Christian (Lauren O’Neal) and a nonbelieving sort-of Jew (Niko Bakulich) read the entire Bible, cover to cover, so you don’t have to. If you’ve ever been curious about what’s actually in the bestselling book in history but never found the time to read it, we’ve got you covered. Sunday School Dropouts is kind of like Mystery Science Theater 3000 for the Bible, or like listening to a recap of your favorite show, if your favorite show was about polygamous shepherds on very strict diets. The weird, the wacky, the wonderful—we’ll clue you in on everything they didn’t teach you in Sunday school.
76
Jonah
Lauren and Niko discuss big fish, prophetic temper tantrums, the sins of Nineveh, and everything else in the book of Jonah. Plus: Tasbeeh Herwees tells us about Jonah’s significance in Islam, and Veggie Tales!
59 min
77
Sirach
Lauren and Niko talk about personified Wisdom, the rules of friendship, praising famous men, and everything else in the apocryphal book of Sirach. Plus: how to party like a biblical patriarch and Lauren wants to eat bugs!
62 min
78
Rerun: Job
Due to travel and illness, we're rerunning a classic episode from the archives! Enjoy Job with our special guest Greg, AKA @leducviolet. - Original summary: Why do bad things happen to good people? Did Satan win his bet with God?
71 min
79
Obadiah
Niko and Lauren welcome writer and podcaster Sarah Maria Griffin to the show to talk about Irish Catholicism, the Virgin Mary, abortion, and her new YA novel Spare and Found Parts. Plus: the book of Obadiah somewhere in there!
53 min
80
Amos
Lauren and Niko discuss simple country farmers, the day of the Lord, famous cookies, and everything else in the book of Amos. Plus: everyone’s sick of hearing about the apocalypse, and cat curses!
53 min
81
Joel
Niko and Lauren welcome Let’s Not Panic cohost Maggie Tokuda-Hall to the show to discuss locusts, CrossFit, and everything else in the book of Joel. Plus: the Maccabee Games, and a bunch of pontificatin’.
56 min
82
Hosea
Lauren and Niko discuss metaphorical misogyny, literal misogyny, and all the other misogyny in the book of Hosea. Plus: Susanna and the Elders, and listener mail!
51 min
83
Daniel
Lauren and Niko discuss the lions’ den, the fiery furnace, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and everything else in the book of Daniel. Plus: guest Scott Benson tells us about Bel and the Dragon.
71 min
84
Judith
Niko and Lauren discuss iconic scams, the siege of Bethulia, the beheading of Holofernes, and everything else in the apocryphal book of Judith. Plus: Artemisia Gentileschi, and Niko is a Samantha!
53 min
85
Ezekiel
Lauren and Niko discuss bondage, zombies, wheeled angels, and everything else in the book of Ezekiel. Seriously, that’s all actually in the book of Ezekiel. Plus: guest Ironicus teaches us about ancient aliens!
71 min
86
Lamentations
Niko and Lauren welcome visual artist and director Michelle Sutherland to the show to talk about grief, responsibility, Burning Man, and everything else in the book of Lamentations. Plus: Where’s the party?
49 min
87
Jeremiah
Lauren and Niko discuss the fall of Jerusalem, the Babylonian Exile, dirty loincloths, and everything else in the book of Jeremiah. Plus: 20/20 hindsight prophecies, and listener mail!
65 min
88
Isaiah
Lauren and Niko discuss retroactive prophecies, poetry about crushing your enemies, God’s classic abuser dynamics, and everything else in the book of Isaiah. Plus: Jesus and messiahs and apocalypses and stuff.
69 min
89
Tobit
Niko and Lauren discuss the archangel Raphael, fish organs, demon rodeos, and everything else in the apocryphal book of Tobit. Plus: What’s the deal with Catholics? We halfheartedly investigate.
59 min
90
Song of Songs
Lauren and Niko discuss ghosting, Beyoncé’s visual album Lemonade, beautiful jeweled golems, and everything else in Song of Songs. Plus: Lola Prescott (@seelolago) tells us about the No Shame Movement.
61 min
91
Ecclesiastes
Niko and Lauren welcome Mallory Ortberg to the show to discuss meaninglessness, vanity, bad breakups, and all the pop music that seems like it could probably be inspired by the book of Ecclesiastes, if you think about it.
71 min
92
Enoch
Lauren and Niko discuss fallen angels, forbidden knowledge, cannibalistic giants, and everything else in the apocryphal book of Enoch. Plus: the messiah and the apocalypse and stuff!
59 min
93
Proverbs
Lauren and Niko discuss wisdom, sluggards, sparing the rod, dog vomit, and everything else in the book of Proverbs. Plus: dispatches from a podium party!
54 min
94
Psalms
Niko and Lauren discuss the best of psalms, the worst of psalms, the horniest psalm, the most passive-aggressive psalm, and all the other psalms in the book of Psalms. Plus: an extra special quiz with guest Phil Shiu.
57 min
95
Job
Why do bad things happen to good people? Did Satan win his bet with God? Are hot daughters worth more than regular ones? Lauren and Niko welcome @leducviolet (some call him “Greg”) to the show to definitively solve all the complex theological issues in...
71 min
96
Esther
Lauren and Niko discuss Cousin Mordecai, King Xerxes, the holiday of Purim, and everything else in the book of Esther. Plus: an authentic Midwestern Purim tale from Luke Dani Blue, and eunuchs!
65 min
97
Nehemiah
Lauren and Niko discuss building walls, foxes, Water Gate (not Watergate), and everything else in the book of Nehemiah. Plus: nothing else, and Lauren freaks out!
46 min
98
Ezra
Niko and Lauren discuss Persian kings, the return to Jerusalem, the building of the second temple, and everything else in the book of Ezra. Plus: the web of lies that holds our relationship together, and listener mail!
58 min
99
2 Chronicles
Lauren and Niko discuss Solomon (again), the greatest Passover of all time, and everything else in the book of 2 Chronicles. Plus: a campfire Bible song and the end of Biblical literalism.
52 min
100
1 Chronicles
Lauren and Niko discuss King David (again), Uriah the Hittite (again), Satan doing the Lord’s work, and everything else in the book of 1 Chronicles. Plus: a round of FMK and Lauren’s Etymology Corner.
55 min