This is the first episode of Ill Conceived, a new podcast from Josh Boerman of The Worst of All Possible Worlds and June Sternbach of Western Kabuki. Get new episodes every Friday in your favorite podcast client:

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Josh and June take a look at Promise Keepers, the organization that massed 700,000 men on the National Mall in Washington, DC for a 1997 rally that promised to bring spiritual renewal to its attendees and a new order to the social health of the country. While they didn't quite pull off the fundamental transformation they were hoping for, Promise Keepers left a significant impact on the evangelical Christian psyche. And somehow, they're still around today, desperately trying to convince the world of their definition of fatherhood and family.

SOURCES:

• The First Promise Keepers Event: Witnessing the Power of God" by David Roadcup


• Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation by Kristin Kobes du Mez


• Seven Promises of a Promise Keeper by Bill McCartney et al.


• "Promise Keepers pledge to move from stadium rallies to the marketplace" by Adelle Banks, Religion News Service


• "New Promise Keepers CEO ready to see a revival among men" by Maina Mwaura, The Christian Index


• "Promise Keepers Pour Into The Nation's Capital" (CNN, 1997)


• "The Promise Keepers Opens Its Doors To Women" (NPR, 2009)

AUDIO CLIPS:

• 6:18 – Bill McCartney in a profile by WXYZ-TV Detroit (September 24, 1994)


• 32:46 – Norm MacDonald on Saturday Night Live Weekend Update (October 4, 1997)


• 33:23 – Joseph Garlington, Promise Keepers worship leader, at the 1997 Stand in the Gap rally


• 34:55 – Patricia Ireland, president of the National Organization for Women, on Charlie Rose (October 3, 1997)


• 36:31 – Huron Claus, Native American Christian evangelist, at the 1997 Stand in the Gap rally


• 38:00 – Bill McCartney, Promise Keepers founder, on Larry King Live (October 7, 1997)


• 47:49 – Shane Winnings, current Promise Keepers CEO, on Morning Joe (April 3, 2025)


• 50:50 – Web trailer for Wake-Up Call, the 2025 Promise Keepers in-person summit in Yakima

FOLLOW THE SHOW:

• Website: illconceivedpodcast.com


• Bluesky: @ill-conceived-pod.bsky.social


• Tumblr: @illconceivedpod

FOLLOW JOSH:

• Website: joshboerman.com


• Bluesky: @bosh.worstpossible.world


• Other podcast: The Worst of All Possible Worlds


• Stream: Traditional Scrench

FOLLOW JUNE:

• Bluesky: @junlper.beer


• Other podcast: Western Kabuki


• Writing: June's Substack