The Esau McCaulley Podcast

Esau and Mike are celebrating Thanksgiving this week, but we still have a special treat for you all. Enjoy four episodes of Esau's HP+ series, 66 Verses to Explain the Bible. If you want to hear the all the episodes in the series, sign up for Holy Post Plus today! New and returning subscribers can get 50% off their subscription! Deal ends December 2nd

Newly released Epstein files raise fresh questions about the moral compromises of the powerful and the willingness of Christians to look away when politics makes clarity inconvenient. Esau, Malcolm, and Producer Mike examine what the emails do and don't reveal and how the church's credibility erodes when it excuses the inexcusable. Plus, a viral SNL sketch about AI-animated photos and the reveal of the villain in Toy Story 5 leads to a broader conversation about technology, the disappearing art of boredom, and whether it's possible to reclaim silence and imagination in a distracted age. Plus, Malcolm debuts his own new segment this week. Can it compete with Mike's Corner and Miller Time?   0:00 - Theme Song   2:35 - SNL AI Skit   11:40 - Toy Story 5's About Tablets?   23:55 - The Catholic Church and Immigration   32:17 - Epstein Files   47:03 - End Credits

On a recent press tour, Jennifer Lawrence recently said she's done with political outrage. Esau, Sharon Hodde Miller, and producer Mike talk about what happens when the adrenaline of activism runs out and the fatigue sets in. What does faithfulness look like after the hashtags stop trending? Then, we all know the dangers of the purity culture craze, but have overcorrected in trying not to repeat our mistakes? What do we do when the church hands people a good gift with broken handles? Also, thanks to science we may never have to load the dishwasher or eat a bad steak again.   0:00 - Theme Song   2:25 - Robot Companion   4:47 - What Could a Robot Do for You?   7:50 - Jennifer Lawrence and Internet Activism   23:23 - Sponsor - Brooklyn Bedding - For a quality mattress, go to https://www.brooklynbedding.com and use promo code ESAU to get 30% off site wide!   24:12 - Miller Time   25:46 - Purity Culture Aftermath   32:30 - Christian Sexual Ethic   36:15 - Did You Eat Cloned Steak?   41:20 - The Atomic Bomb and Cloning   48:33 - End Credits

A political fight over food assistance has sparked new debate about who deserves help in America. Esau, Justin Giboney, and Mike take a look at the SNAP situation and why Scripture consistently places God on the side of the poor and challenges us to do the same. Plus, Trump is posting about defending persecuted Christians in Nigeria, but is there more he should be doing to help? Then, Tucker Carlson's recent interview with Nick Fuentes has sparked a debate on the right about what counts as fringe beliefs these days. Also, why Justin is confused about bobbing for apples and Jennifer Lawrence.   0:00 - Theme Song   5:38 - Snap Program   17:15 - Christians in Nigeria and Nicki Minaj.   21:22 - Sponsor - Hello! My Name is Emmanuel - A Heartwarming children's book about a Haitian child learning to trust God by Emmanuel Jean Russell  https://a.co/d/8fPoRCL   30:15 - Mike's Corner: Nick Fuentes on Tucker Carlson   39:40 - Who's Jennifer Lawrence?   43:00 - End Credits   Don't Let Nobody Turn You Around: How the Black Church's Public Witness Leads Us Out of the Culture War by Justin Giboney: https://a.co/d/6dUSGTz

Esau, Skye, and Mike explore what happens when vows stop meaning anything. They discuss the Anglican Church's latest abuse allegations, the NBA's betting scandal, and the U.S. admiral who resigned rather than follow Trump's unlawful orders. What does integrity look like in an age when everyone's breaking their promises? When should one try to reform from within, and when is it time to leave? Also, Esau reveals his recurring nightmare as a kid and it involves...a pickup basketball game with the Hulk?   0:00 - Theme Song   1:30 - Skye's Scary Movies   7:05 - Anglican Church Sexual Abuse Scandal   21:08 - Sponsor - Hello! My Name is Emmanuel - A Heartwarming children's book about a Haitian child learning to trust God by Emmanuel Jean Russell  https://a.co/d/8fPoRCL   22:15 - US Attacks Boats in Caribbean Sea   34:52 - Sports Betting Scandal   50:12 - End Credits

Last week, OpenAI announced it will remove moral limits from ChatGPT and "let adults be adults," opening the door for adult content on the platform. Esau and Mike are joined by Malcolm Foley to talk about how AI is reshaping our view of relationships and making it easier to chase selfish desires resulting in destructive consequences. Then, they turn to the leaked racist group chat among young Republicans. Does it reveal anything new, or just prove that racism never disappeared—it just went underground? Finally, the "No Kings" protests drew millions last weekend, but what did they actually accomplish? Malcolm walks through Martin Luther King Jr.'s four-step process for nonviolent action and whether the No Kings protest measured up.

Critics have recently accused the Black Church of promoting "ethnic idolatry," but is that fair, or even historically accurate? Esau McCaulley is joined by Kaitlyn Schiess and producer Mike to unpack where the Black Church came from, why it exists, and what these critiques reveal about American Christianity. Then, is it ok to have joy in the midst of so much suffering and why did we talk about the Taylor Swift album when it is full of explicit material? Also, we break down the latest culture-war controversy over the Super Bowl halftime show.   0:00 - Theme Song   3:45 - Contract Demands for Holy Post   6:54 - Why is there a Black Church?   11:43 - Virality vs Conversation   16:25 - Kaitlyn Left Out of the Taylor Swift Episode?   20:30 - Is it Wrong to Be Happy?   28:16 - Talking About Secular Art   35:00 - Bad Bunny's American Half-Time   44:25 - End Credits

Federal immigration raids have swept through Chicago under "Operation Midway Blitz," leaving neighborhoods filled with fear, tear gas, and helicopters overhead. Esau McCaulley, producer Mike, and pastor Pricelis Perreaux-Domínguez ask how Christians should respond when law enforcement tactics strip away human dignity, what it means to defend the image of God in our neighbors, and how the cruelty of the Trump administration cannot be ignored. Then, what does the NFL's choice of Bad Bunny as the Super Bowl Halftime Performer say about belonging, hospitality, and who America welcomes to the stage? Also, social media usage is down everywhere but one country. Can you guess which one? And is The Princess Bride a perfect movie?   0:00 - Theme Song   0:15 - Producer Mike's Car Wreck   3:55 - What Movies Shouldn't Be Remade?   8:25 - Chicago's ICE Raids   16:37 - Apartment Raids   24:10 - Bad Bunny SuperBowl Controversy   36:13 - Social Media Use is Going Down?   Being a Sanctuary: The Radical Way for the Body of Christ to Be Sacred, Soft, and Safe by Pricelis Perreaux-Dominguez: https://a.co/d/gLSFArw

Taylor Swift just dropped her 12th studio album, and everyone's talking about it—including us. Esau, producer Mike, and our resident Swift correspondent Lindsey Goetz break down their first impressions, favorite tracks, and the themes that make the album worth more than just pop-culture buzz. What does it mean to stay tender in a world that hardens us? How do we rebuild trust after disappointment? And how can art, even from outside the church, help us recognize the beauty of grace in the rubble of our failures? Whether or not you're a Swifty, this conversation offers insight into why music matters for faith and why the questions in her songs are also questions for the people of God.   0:00 - Theme Song   1:45 - Esau's New Shirt   2:17 - Initial Impressions   8:42 - The Eras   18:53 - What's Taylor's Music About?   22:03 - Why Engage with Secular Art?   25:30 - Pushing Back on Taylor   29:57 - End Credits

Matt Forte is remembered as one of the Chicago Bears' all-time greats, but now he's tackling something different: helping people find purpose that lasts beyond their career. Esau McCaulley and producer Mike sit down with Forte to talk about his new book Staying in the Game: Making the Most of Every Season. Forte opens up about walking away from the NFL, redefining success, and why our identity can't be built on stats, fame, or jersey numbers.   0:00 - Theme Song   0:15 - Are Esau and Mike athletes?   6:15 - Why'd He Get Into Writing?   10:56 - Matt's Spiritual Development   18:20 - Sponsor - God's Colorful Kingdom Storybook Bible - Available now, a kid's storybook Bible from Esau McCaulley: https://a.co/d/hVy8aUl   19:15 - Resisting Vanity   25:17 - Ministering to Athletes   37:12 - End Credits   Stay in the Game: Making the Most of Every Season by Matt Forte: https://a.co/d/3AYKev7  

A foul ball at a Phillies game turns into a viral outrage story. Esau, Malcolm Foley, and producer Mike unpack why the internet can't tell the difference between minor annoyances and real injustice. Then, Florida decided to end the vaccine requirements for kids. What's really at stake in the parental rights debate? Also, the crew looks at how Disney has gone from a family vacation destination to now overly catering to the wealthy, and what that reveals about greed, inequality, and the middle class. And, Esau channels his inner Michael Jordan and pulls off his own flu game.   0:00 - Theme Song   6:20 - Woman Labeled, "Philly Karen"   15:56 - Sponsor - God's Colorful Kingdom Storybook Bible - Available now, a kid's storybook Bible from Esau McCaulley: https://a.co/d/hVy8aUl   18:40 - Mandated Vaccines and Regulation   26:32 - Invoking Slavery in Public Discourse   31:17 - Disney and the Middle Class   46:23 - End Credits

In the wake of Charlie Kirk's assassination, Americans are left reeling. The violence is shocking and upsetting, but it also reveals the depth of our country's divides. Esau is joined by Christina Edmondson of Truth's Table to reflect on what this moment means for the church and the wider culture. They consider the tension between honoring Kirk's dignity and confronting his harmful rhetoric, why Black Christians experience these events differently, and what it means to love enemies without excusing injustice.   0:00 - Theme Song   1:34 - Being a Pastor During the Charlie Kirk Assassination   11:38 - Threats Towards Black Schools   31:07 - Sponsor - God's Colorful Kingdom Storybook Bible - Available now, a kid's storybook Bible from Esau McCaulley: https://a.co/d/hVy8aUl   32:51 - Student Evaluations Disrupting Colleges?   48:45 - End Credits   Preorder Christina Edmondson's book now: https://a.co/d/6IVi10n

Conservative Political Activist and CEO of Turning Point USA, Charlie Kirk, was assassinated yesterday while speaking on a college campus in Utah. Esau is joined by Sharon McMahon and Justin Giboney to talk about this horrific and tragic story. They explore the history of political violence in the country, and discuss why this moment feels different and uniquely troubling. They also discuss what comes next and how both the country, and christians, should move forward in a way that tries to ratchet down the temperature and see the humanity in all. Please join us in praying for the Kirk family and all those grieving his death.

Esau is joined by New Testament scholar Paul Sloan to talk about his new book Jesus and the Law of Moses. They dig into big questions: Did Jesus and Paul disagree about the law? Did Jesus expect his Jewish followers to keep Torah? What about Gentiles? And what if our picture of the Pharisees as strict legalists is all wrong? Plus, they dive into the debate on whether we're expected to follow the commands in the Sermon on the Mount, or if it's merely supposed to show us our need for grace. Plus, old tech and old athletes.   0:00 - Theme Song   2:22 - AOL Just Got Canned?   6:20 - Do We Treat Hymns Like AOL?   18:13 - Sponsor - No Small Endeavor - Award-winning podcast where theologians, philosophers, and best-selling authors talk about faith with Lee C. Camp. Start listening today: https://pod.link/1513178238   19:22 - Is the Law Here to Make Us Want Grace?   26:40 - Jesus and Ritual Purity   41:44 - End Credits   Jesus and the Law of Moses: The Gospels and the Restoration of Israel Within First-Century Judaism by Paul T. Sloan: https://a.co/d/5gnNBBQ  

Recently, Donald Trump criticized the Smithsonian for focusing too much on slavery, insisting that America's history should be more "positive" and less "woke." But can we really tell the story of America without telling the story of human bondage? Esau and Justin Giboney dig into the politics of memory, the temptation to idolize America, and why Christians in particular must insist on telling the truth about our history, both the glory and the shame. Plus, the myth of cancel culture from Paula Deen to Colin Kaepernick, Cracker Barrel outrage, and should we all be corny like Russel Wilson?   0:00 - Theme Song   1:33 - Who gets called "Corny?" Why Russell Wilson?   8:05 - Trump on Smithsonian and Slavery   25:40 - They're rich, travel, and love to complain   33:10 - Self-Help Makes You a Jerk?   43:02 - End Credits

When the military becomes a political pawn? As Esau and Producer Mike break down Trump's decision to deploy the National Guard to D.C., Esau reflects on his family's experience in the military and the heavy cost of deployments for morale, families, and democracy itself. Then, adult summer camps are on the rise. Are they the answer to America's loneliness epidemic, or is there an easier and less expensive way to make friends after college? Plus, listener questions about faith in difficult workplaces, the value of liturgy, and the beliefs Esau has changed his mind on over time.  0:00 - Theme Song 7:30 - National Guard in DC 19:45 - Summer Camp for Adults 24:08 - Do Men Need Activity to Socialize? 29:27 - Top TV shows/movies? 33:17 - Vocation and Faith 45:22 - End Credits Enter to win a copy of Esau's Children's Bible and support the podcast! https://holypost.com/esau

Sydney Sweeney's "Great Jeans" ad sparked a culture war. Was it clever marketing, coded eugenics, or just outrage for clicks? Esau, Malcolm, and Mike break down who really wins when we fight over denim. Also, Taylor Swift has a new album, a Hollywood actor claims to have been blacklisted for his christian principles, and why old school gospel music should still be relevant today.   0:00 - Theme Song   2:00 - Making Malcolm a Swiftie   10:35 - Sydney Sweeney's Jeans   22:40 - Neil McDonough Playing the Victim?   21:55 - Sponsor - No Small Endeavor - Award-winning podcast where theologians, philosophers, and best-selling authors talk about faith with Lee C. Camp. Start listening today: https://pod.link/1513178238   34:50 - CEO Disses Gospel Music?   49:20 - End Credits

What does it mean to be Black and evangelical in a moment when both words carry so much baggage? Esau is joined by theologian and longtime Wheaton professor Dr. Vince Bacote, whose new documentary Black + Evangelical traces the overlooked history of African Americans in evangelical institutions. They talk about what it means to carry a Black church heritage into white evangelical spaces, why so many Black voices are celebrated until they speak up about race, and how many of today's tensions are echoes of the past.   0:00 - Theme Song   3:25 - Highest-Grossing Documentary   6:18 - Black and Evangelical   13:22 - Struggles Being Black and Evangelical   24:18 - Sponsor - No Small Endeavor - Award-winning podcast where theologians, philosophers, and best-selling authors talk about faith with Lee C. Camp. Start listening today: https://pod.link/1513178238   25:33 - Tom Skinner   28:30 - Tone Policing   33:33 - Emotion and Intellect   37:42 - Promise Keepers   45:45 - Hopeful Future for Black Evangelicalism   50:30 - End Credits   Black + Evangelical Documentary: https://pages.christianitytoday.com/black-evangelicals-documentary-lp

On a recent Holy Post episode, Ryan Burge claimed the data shows that Gen Z is not experiencing a revival, but Carey Nieuwhof says otherwise. Esau and Sharon Hodde Miller compare the competing narratives and reflects on what true revival looks like and why we care so much whether a revival is happening. Then, a recent New York Times piece questions the so-called "boy crisis," Are boys really falling behind or have girls just always done better in school? Plus: what food or coffee shop would make you change your last name? Why Uber's new feature for women riders is long overdue. And Esau's final question: is being mad about Halloween in July grumpy or principled?   0:00 - Theme Song   2:35 - Naming Yourself After a Brand?   7:55 - Boyhood Crisis Overblown?   19:10 - Gen Z Revival or Retreat?   27:20 - Piety vs Churchgoing Stats   35:35 - Uber Gender Policy   42:20 - Grumpy or Principled   46:15 - End Credits   God's Colorful Kingdom Storybook Bible: The Story of God's Big Diverse Family by Esau McCaulley: https://a.co/d/iQjqMeB

A Coldplay concert kiss cam became the most viral moment of the week. Esau, and bestselling author Nancy French unpack the now-infamous clip of an affair caught on camera. Was it hilarious or heartbreaking, and what does it say about our appetite for public shame? They also debate whether a World War II hero should also be remembered as a TikTok star, whether celebrity-branded Crumbl cookies are harmless fun or late-stage capitalism in dessert form, and if Walmart might actually be... beautiful. Plus, Esau discovers there's a wrong way to invite your producer to a Cubs game.   0:00 - Theme Song   4:00 - D-Day Veteran and TikTok Star   10:25 - Coldplay Outs CEO Affair—Funny or Tragedy?   21:08 - Benson Boone Cookies and Parasocial Relationships   31:24 - An Ode to Wal-Mart?   Ghosted: An American Story by Nancy French: https://a.co/d/0UhumZ5