The SkyePod

  Republican candidate Bo French in Texas created a controversy when he reacted to a photo of college students at the University of Texas football game. Many in the photo were of South Asian descent. He called it a "problem." David French (no relation) talks with Skye Jethani about the unmasked racism that MAGA has unleashed and what has led to the emergence of "heritage Americans" as a way of demoting immigrants and racial minorities. They also discuss the vacuum created efforts to diminish or remove American history from schools, and why overwhelming dissatisfaction with the two major political parties has failed to create a reform movement in the U.S.   0:00 - Theme Song   0:34 - Sports Catch-Up   2:36 - Bo French's Open racism   15:25 - 17 Million vs. 77 Million   25:09 - "Heritage Americans"   40:20 - Progressive Smugness   48:50 - Why Do Third Parties Keep Failing?   1:01:40 - End Credits   David French on Bo French: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/17/opinion/bo-french-university-texas-longhorns.html

Drew Dyck is back with another roundup of stories from the web. Is a "tsunami" really coming for the American church? How many of your favorite sermon illustrations are completely made up? Are parents raising successful young men who are boring to talk to? Skye and Drew also discuss the Gen Z stare, why worship leaders are burning out, and why women may be more suspicious of AI than men. Plus, if the people building AI think there's a chance it could destroy humanity, should the rest of us be a little more worried?   0:03 - Theme Song   6:13 - Can We Predict Church Change?   18:10 - Bogus Sermon Illustrations   25:45 - How to Raise an Unattractive Son   28:41 - This episode is available only for Holy Post Plus subscribers. Not a subscriber? Head on over to: https://holypost.substack.com/p/e0a58469-27ba-49a7-9cd2-b88d13a18252?postPreview=free&updated=2026-09-17T21%3A36%3A38.704Z&audience=only_paid&free_preview=true&freemail=true

We are two months away from the midterm elections, and with multiple clergy running for office, faith is playing a larger role. Are evangelicals souring on MAGA? Will the Democrats close the "God gap?" Skye is joined by former chief political analyst for NBC News and moderator of Meet the Press, Chuck Todd, to discuss the intersection of faith and politics. Their conversation also turns to their diverse religious upbringings, the role of public education, backlash against big tech, and how to repair our broken, corrupt political system. Once named "The Most Powerful Journalist in Washington" by GQ magazine, Todd now hosts The Chuck ToddCast, featuring in-depth interviews with political figures, experts, and thought leaders.   0:00 - Theme Song   0:26 - Empty Nesters   2:16 - Clergy Running as Democrats   16:06 - Inflection Point in Evangelicalism   27:36 - Importance of Pluralism   36:48 - This episode is available only for Holy Post Plus subscribers. Not a subscriber? Head on over to: https://holypost.substack.com/p/93204b4f-df70-496e-ab96-8f9ce2a9cca8?postPreview=free&updated=2026-09-10T18%3A46%3A02.325Z&audience=only_paid&free_preview=true&freemail=true

It's back to school and off to college season. Sociologists and master of "Graphs About Religion," Ryan Burge, is back with new data about which college majors are the most and least devoted to Christianity. He also has stats about declining birth rates even among religious groups, and why some kids raised with and without faith switch their beliefs as adults.   0:11 - Theme Song   2:17 - Religiosity Among Different College Majors   10:42 - Finance Bros are Major Church-Goers   20:14 - Deconstruction and College   27:32 - This episode is available only for Holy Post Plus subscribers. Not a subscriber? Head on over to: https://holypost.substack.com/p/so-you-want-your-child-to-keep-the  

New data finds that almost half of Gen Z adults won't consider going to church because of Christians' support for Donald Trump. David French and Skye Jethani wonder what the research means for the majority of evangelical churches that avoid anything political, and why that may actually be part of the problem. They also discuss the rise of socialism on the political left and why JD Vance's recent memoir suggests socialism may be just as popular on the political right. Plus, what America can learn from the goodness of Dolly Parton.   0:00 - Theme Song   0:17 - Mourning Dolly Parton   9:23 - Is Polarization Keeping Gen Z Out of Church?   21:02 - Should the Church Be Political?   31:04 - The Rise of Socialists   50:21 - Can the Middle Hold Together?   1:04:32 - End Credits