The guy behind the legendary Marble Collegiate Church ad campaign on growing up Catholic, selling church, and the rising trend of the “Nones” leaving God behind as documented in his award-winning film "Leaving God".

8chan creator Fredrick Brennan on the cult of free speech that has infected much of the internet.

"Strange Arrivals" host Toby Ball on what the UFO phenomenon tells us about our culture.

John joins #KeanuClub hosts Joey Lewandowski and Mike Manzi after a 5 year break to talk about The Matrix once again

The story of John Masefield and his enduring Christmas classic, "The Box of Delights"

Everything that has a beginning has an end

The are two doors

There is no spoon.1

Getting to know Krampus, Belsnickel, and the rest of the lesser-known (and sometimes more murderous) friends of good Ol' St. Nick!

We look at the stories of Saint Nicholas and ask an important question - are any of their claims, including that of his very existence, true?

"Scandal in the Shadows" author Margaret O'Connor on her fight for the ordination of women in the Catholic priesthood.

Matthew J. Cressler joins to discuss the portrayal of Catholicism in Daredevil and the character of Matt Murdock.

Author Mark Ryall on his novel "Age-Decoded" and the implications of the anti-aging genetic engineering.

How Mary Shelley created a monster from the disparate, assembled parts of her own lived horror.

A conversation about religion, horror, and human nature in Mike Flanagan's "Midnight Mass".

We take a look at End of Days, the second of two weird religious thrillers Gabriel Byrne made in 1999!

Brandan Robertson talks about the Gospel of Inclusion, alien life, and whether we're living in a simulation

Acclaimed mathematician Dr. Jonathan Farley on how we should and should not think about and teach mathematics.

We take a look at Stigmata, one of two weird religious thrillers Gabriel Byrne made in 1999!

Rolling Stone's Alex Morris on the youth environmentalist movement emerging with evangelical Christianity.

Dr. Kelly J. Baker, author of "The Gospel According to the Klan", on the past, present, and future of the Klan, Christianity, and Trumpism

Stalin, Trump, and the making of a deception-based domestic and foreign policy.

Authors and translators Helen Azar and George Hawkins discuss their work translating the writings of the Romanovs and their book about Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna.

Tyler Birth joins John to talk about Polybius, the biggest video game hoax of all time.

Civil rights attorney and Episcopal priest Marcia Ledford talks about the state of religious freedom and the future of the religious left in America.

Author Michael Blanding on his book exploring Dennis McCarthy's investigation into the Shakespeare-Thomas North connection.

American Hysteria's Chelsey Weber-Smith joins John to explore the killer clown trope.

Joey Lewandowski and Teddy Smith join to talk about the delightfully absurd tale of Nicolas Cage's attempt to find the mythical cup of Christ.

"Octavia of Earth" cocreator Anand Kalra on the life, work, and legacy of Octavia Butler and the work of adapting her story into a musical.

Fred Grewe eases John into talking about his least-favorite subject outside of calculus: death.

John joins Aislinn and Tobin of The Contenders to discuss "Shirley" (2020)

Pontifacts host Bry Jensen talks about the first three years of covering every pope in the Church's history.

John is joined by his colleague and frequent guest Teddy Smith to unpack Cullen Hoback's "Q: Into the Storm"

Hilary Whitmore, Kanani Soleil, and Courtney Weber of That Witch Life join to discuss the world of modern witchcraft

Robin Wilkins joins John to discuss Alison Gopnik, the wide world of parenting philosophies, and why so many of them are dumb and terrible.

A short conversation between John and Sebastian Major on Shakespeare authorship.

John and Steven Sabel, host of the Don't Quill the Messenger podcast, layout the evidence for the Oxfordian Shakespeare authorship case and talk about their shared love of the author's work.

The truth behind the lies that rewrote the stories of Grigori Rasputin and Anastasia Romanov.

Christ Kluwe talks being banned from the NFL on account of being a decent person, his love of books. his writing process, and his sci-fi novel "Otaku"

Sebastian Major on teaching history, real and fake, to high schoolers and on his podcast, "Our Fake History".

Nina MacLaughlin on her own metamorphosis, and Ovid's "Metamorphoses"

John, Joey, and Nico talk about Netflix's two "Haunting of..." series.

How the "lie that wouldn't die" gave birth to the modern Conspiracy Industrial Complex

John is joined by "Behind the Curve" director Daniel J. Clark to discuss the subculture of Flat Earth conspiracy theorists

A discussion of our strange times through the lens of "The Leftovers", "Watchmen", "The Man in the High Castle", and more.

Gerry Bowler on Santa Claus

Gil Bar-Sela on a life marked by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and how we can find peace in ourselves and others.

Dr. Lisa Vox joins the podcast to talk about the past, present, and future of the apocalypse, and what changes when the ability to destroy humanity lies in our own hands.

Joseph Laycock, associate professor of religious studies at Texas State University, joins John to talk Satanic Panics, Satanism, and the fight for the freedom of and from religion.

John and three guests sacrifice their time and any and all hope for humanity by exploring the terrifying and increasingly ubiquitous QAnon phenomenon. Take the red pill and learn the TRUTH!

Crowley's biographer helps correct the record on his life and legacy

Pastor June Joplin on coming out, opening up, and moving forward.

Liza Richardson, Emmy-nominated music supervisor for "Watchmen", talks to us about music, "The Leftovers", and how she approaches her work.

Cultural theologian Greg Garrett talks U2, zombies, and Hollywood's race problem

Black Nonbelievers founder Mandisa Thomas on being Black and atheist, Christianity's white supremacy, and keeping momentum alive.

Philosophy professor Kevin S. Decker joins John and Nico Vasilo to discuss how he teaches philosophy through the lens of science fiction and pop culture.

H.P. Lovecraft biographer S.T. Joshi on the life, work, and philosophy of America's greatest and most enigmatic horror writer.

Author JW Rinzler on his work covering Star Wars, Alien, and his love of all things space.

John and Jess Collins learn all about the...um...interesting history of cats in religion!

Journalist Tony Ortega on how Scientology got to where it is today, what new scandals mean for its future, and the real deal with Lord Xenu

Historian Roger Moorhouse on the legacy of Stauffenberg, Tresckow, and Hitler's other would-be assassins

A brief history of Claus von Stauffenberg and the July 20th plot.

The history and beliefs of the Cathars and their lingering influence.

How did we come to believe myths that don’t square with history?

Discussion about the cultural traditions and myths of the Pacific islands.

Bonus episode!

How did coffee go from the Devil’s Drink to the Nectar of the Gods in just four short centuries?

What really happened to the Ninth?

Bonus episode!

An in-depth interview about the evangelical purity movement.

Exploring the films and philosophy of Terrence Malick.

Why does everyone think the Antichrist will become the President of the United States?

The legacy of The X-Files.