Raise your hand if you've had a clip from James Talarico come across your page in the past year 🤚
We've been following this race closely, and now that he won the Democratic nomination, we have a lot of thoughts. His unique use of Christianity and Christian language in politics has set him apart. It's brought a lot of momentum, but it's also brought a lot of hate - even from the president. We're here to adress this question - Why is the Right so afraid of James Talarico?

Timestamps:
0:00 - Cold Open/ Come To Our Baseball Game!
1:29 - Intro/ The World
5:00 - Why Do They Hate Talarico?
30:00 - Of Course Race Is A Part Of This
33:20 - Jasmine Crockett
43:30 - Break
45:00 - Trevor Noah On Religious Imagination
1:02:00 - The Audacity Of Hope
1:12:40 - Good News!

Show Notes:
- Baptist News On Talarico - https://baptistnews.com/article/why-are-evangelicals-freaking-out-over-james-talarico/
- Religion Unplugged on Talarico - https://religionunplugged.com/news/james-talarico-and-the-struggle-over-christianity-in-us-politics
- Trevor Noah on Religion - https://lizbucar.substack.com/p/what-if-trevor-noah-is-right-about
- The Prophetic Imagination by Walter Brueggeman - https://www.fortresspress.com/store/product/9781506449302/The-Prophetic-Imagination
- Imagining Argentina by Lawrench Thornton - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/178530/imagining-argentina-by-lawrence-thornton/
- Beloved by Toni Morrison - https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/117647/beloved-pulitzer-prize-winner-by-toni-morrison/
- Mills drops out - https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/30/janet-mills-maine-senate-dropout-00899664

The Progressive Christians Podcast is available on all podcast platforms, TikTok, and Instagram. You can find the links and the links to the host's social media here: https://linktr.ee/theprogressivechristians

Please subscribe to the Love Your Neighbor newsletter, an outgrowth of this podcast community. It will be a way for us to create new relationships and deepen existing ones with people of faith who want to learn how to practice their faith in ways that align with their values of love, justice, and compassion. We hope to see you on Substack!

If you love the show, please sign up to become a supporter of The Progressive Christians Podcast! You can choose to make a one-time or monthly donation, and your support is tax-deductible. We need your support to continue and grow this outreach ministry. You can sign up to support us here: https://secure.myvanco.com/YGTN/campaign/C-168BG?access=tile_direct

The Progressive Christians Podcast is a ministry of The Loft, a worship community of Westwood United Methodist Church. If you have an idea for the show or want to connect with us, please email us at progressivechristians@theloftla.org.

#progressivechristianity #progressive #faith #politics #popculture #religion

After the newest assassination attempt, we noticed that the manifesto of the perpetrator had a lot of Bible references. Between this, the Trump admin's use of the Bible to justify violence, and the new trend of abusive men bringing their bibles to court, we wanted to speak on violence, nonviolence, and where Jesus fits in all of it.

Show Notes:

- The manifesto: https://www.instagram.com/p/DXpoVeOE5sk/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

- Erica Chenowith: Why Civil Resistance Works: https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/why-civil-resistance-works-the-strategic-logic-of-nonviolent-conflict_erica-chenoweth_maria-j-stephan/3292394/item/26513110/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_new_condition_books_high_14637440387&utm_adgroup=&utm_term=&utm_content=545679999522&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=14637440387&gbraid=0AAAAADwY45iwsuDihZsb4ADJDPDwD0CZ9&gclid=Cj0KCQjw2MbPBhCSARIsAP3jP9x1VoRUqR9jDTeQ2xRir0ZN09Cf_5On32MExb4wmliEsdsHv36JDWkaArFxEALw_wcB#idiq=26513110&edition=7970609

- Russell Brand can't find a passage in the bible: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QCIqF7K3lE

- Gerlyn Henry on the abusive man to Christian pipeline: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVjLmdzDSEC/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==

- Guatemala stops oil drilling in the Maya Biosphere Reserve: https://peterschulte.org/good-news/guatemala-maya-forest-rewilding-oil-fields/

- Rhinos Return to Uganda: https://peterschulte.org/good-news/uganda-rhino-reintroduction-wild-kidep

The Progressive Christians Podcast is available on all podcast platforms, TikTok, and Instagram. You can find the links and the links to the host's social media here: https://linktr.ee/theprogressivechristians

Please subscribe to the Love Your Neighbor newsletter, an outgrowth of this podcast community. It will be a way for us to create new relationships and deepen existing ones with people of faith who want to learn how to practice their faith in ways that align with their values of love, justice, and compassion. We hope to see you on Substack!

If you love the show, please sign up to become a supporter of The Progressive Christians Podcast! You can choose to make a one-time or monthly donation, and your support is tax-deductible. We need your support to continue and grow this outreach ministry. You can sign up to support us here: https://secure.myvanco.com/YGTN/campaign/C-168BG?access=tile_direct

The Progressive Christians Podcast is a ministry of The Loft, a worship community of Westwood United Methodist Church. If you have an idea for the show or want to connect with us, please email us at progressivechristians@theloftla.org.

#progressivechristianity #progressive #faith #politics #popculture #religion

As Americans, we tend to focus a lot on an American perspective - so this week, we are blessed to be joined by a friend who is helping to provide a wider angle! Jonty Langley is co-host and founder of the Beer Christianity podcast, as well as editor of S(h)ibboleth Magazine. Jonty joined us from across the pond to talk about The American Imperial Boomerang, how leftism and Christianity intertwine, and what to understand about America's role in the wider world.

Show Notes:
- AOC Quote: "I thought that fascist takeover attempts were going to be architected by evil geniuses. I was not expecting how unearned, nepotistic, mediocre and just dumb so many of the people architecting this were going to be"
- Shibboleth Magazine: https://shibbolethmag.com/
- Beer Christianity Podcast: https://www.beerchristianity.co.uk/
- Hope Without Optimism: Terry Eagleton https://www.upress.virginia.edu/title/4948/
- Greenbelt Festival- https://www.greenbelt.org.uk/
- The North Sea Energy Network:
https://www.cleanenergywire.org/news/north-sea-states-aim-worlds-largest-energy-hub-major-offshore-wind-investment-plan

The Progressive Christians Podcast is available on all podcast platforms, TikTok, and Instagram. You can find the links and the links to the host's social media here: https://linktr.ee/theprogressivechristians

Please subscribe to the Love Your Neighbor newsletter, an outgrowth of this podcast community. It will be a way for us to create new relationships and deepen existing ones with people of faith who want to learn how to practice their faith in ways that align with their values of love, justice, and compassion. We hope to see you on Substack!

If you love the show, please sign up to become a supporter of The Progressive Christians Podcast! You can choose to make a one-time or monthly donation, and your support is tax-deductible. We need your support to continue and grow this outreach ministry. You can sign up to support us here: https://secure.myvanco.com/YGTN/campaign/C-168BG?access=tile_direct

The Progressive Christians Podcast is a ministry of The Loft, a worship community of Westwood United Methodist Church. If you have an idea for the show or want to connect with us, please email us at progressivechristians@theloftla.org.

#progressivechristianity #progressive #faith #politics #popculture #religion

This week, the Pope Leo vs. Trump news has been insane. How did this happen in an administration that claims to be deeply Christian and Catholic? We discuss the historical precedent of political popes, the wild escalation of conflict that has happened, and where the theology simply doesn't make sense.

Show Notes:
- Hungarian Election:
https://www.cnn.com/2026/04/12/world/live-news/hungary-election-orban-magyar
- Cardinals Speak Out: https://www.americamagazine.org/news/2026/04/13/us-cardinals-60-minutes-trump/
- Our "Biblical vs. Christian" episode:
https://youtu.be/MqJgG5JXDiM
- Belle Hooks Communion:
https://bookshop.org/p/books/communion-the-female-search-for-love-bell-hooks/f218116ab5383b77?ean=9780060938291&next=t
- Belle Hooks "Appalachian Elegy":
https://bookshop.org/p/books/appalachian-elegy-poetry-and-place-bell-hooks/9bfc4384a9d46ab6?ean=9780813136691&next=t
- Pope's Plane:
https://cruxnow.com/church/2015/09/fun-facts-and-more-about-life-aboard-the-papal-plane

The Progressive Christians Podcast is available on all podcast platforms, TikTok, and Instagram. You can find the links and the links to the host's social media here: https://linktr.ee/theprogressivechristians

Please subscribe to the Love Your Neighbor newsletter, an outgrowth of this podcast community. It will be a way for us to create new relationships and deepen existing ones with people of faith who want to learn how to practice their faith in ways that align with their values of love, justice, and compassion. We hope to see you on Substack!

If you love the show, please sign up to become a supporter of The Progressive Christians Podcast! You can choose to make a one-time or monthly donation, and your support is tax-deductible. We need your support to continue and grow this outreach ministry. You can sign up to support us here: https://secure.myvanco.com/YGTN/campaign/C-168BG?access=tile_direct

The Progressive Christians Podcast is a ministry of The Loft, a worship community of Westwood United Methodist Church. If you have an idea for the show or want to connect with us, please email us at progressivechristians@theloftla.org.

#progressivechristianity #progressive #faith #politics #popculture #religion

We've got the whole team back for this one! As you may have heard, this week Paula White likened Trump to Jesus (we know, right?). This outrageous statement sparked so much backlash from Christians, it was impossible for us to miss. This week, we don't just want to talk about her words, but WHY Evangelicals find it so important to do something so explicitly blasphemous.

We also want to take this holy week to do some theological construction - where does Easter land in all this chaos? How can we use this time of spiritual rebirth as Progressive Christians? We hope this episode brings you some joy in these trying, yet holy, times.

Show Notes:
- Paula White Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iHjbG3jtHM (1:47-2:48 (end of the video))
- Artemis Mission Names Craters:
https://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/2026/04/06/artemis-ii-nasa-astronaut-names-moon-crater-for-late-wife/89488427007/
- Mamdani's Real Cost of Living Plan:
https://www.nyc.gov/mayors-office/news/2026/04/mayor-mamdani-releases-preliminary-citywide-racial-equity-plan-a

The Progressive Christians Podcast is available on all podcast platforms, TikTok, and Instagram. You can find the links and the links to the host's social media here: https://linktr.ee/theprogressivechristians

Please subscribe to the Love Your Neighbor newsletter, an outgrowth of this podcast community. It will be a way for us to create new relationships and deepen existing ones with people of faith who want to learn how to practice their faith in ways that align with their values of love, justice, and compassion. We hope to see you on Substack!

If you love the show, please sign up to become a supporter of The Progressive Christians Podcast! You can choose to make a one-time or monthly donation, and your support is tax-deductible. We need your support to continue and grow this outreach ministry. You can sign up to support us here: https://secure.myvanco.com/YGTN/campaign/C-168BG?access=tile_direct

The Progressive Christians Podcast is a ministry of The Loft, a worship community of Westwood United Methodist Church. If you have an idea for the show or want to connect with us, please email us at progressivechristians@theloftla.org.

#progressivechristianity #progressive #faith #politics #popculture #religion

We are thrilled to be joined by Pastor Joe Smith this week! We originally found Joe because of his work on Instagram, and quickly realized that his work combating White Christian Nationalism is essential to the work of Progressive Christianity.

We had Joe on to discuss his journey as an Exvangelical pastor, his thoughts about the state of American Christian Nationalism, and how we can move forward with bringing the message of a homeless Palestinian socialist to the people who refuse to hear it.

Show Notes:
Find Joe - https://www.instagram.com/therealjoe.smith/
The Slippery Slope - https://slipperyslope.shop/
Homeowner calls ICE -
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/maryland-homeowner-accused-calling-aiding-181658420.html
No Kings Protests -
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2026/03/28/no-kings-protests-marches-record-turnout/
The passage on the Syrophoenician woman -
https://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Mark%207:24%E2%80%9330&version=nrsv
Dr Carter preaches on the Syrophoenician woman -
https://theloftla.libsyn.com/loft-gathering-breaking-the-patriarchal-reading-of-the-bible

The Progressive Christians Podcast is available on all podcast platforms, TikTok, and Instagram. You can find the links and the links to the host's social media here: https://linktr.ee/theprogressivechristians

Please subscribe to the Love Your Neighbor newsletter, an outgrowth of this podcast community. It will be a way for us to create new relationships and deepen existing ones with people of faith who want to learn how to practice their faith in ways that align with their values of love, justice, and compassion. We hope to see you on Substack!

If you love the show, please sign up to become a supporter of The Progressive Christians Podcast! You can choose to make a one-time or monthly donation, and your support is tax-deductible. We need your support to continue and grow this outreach ministry. You can sign up to support us here: https://secure.myvanco.com/YGTN/campaign/C-168BG?access=tile_direct

The Progressive Christians Podcast is a ministry of The Loft, a worship community of Westwood United Methodist Church. If you have an idea for the show or want to connect with us, please email us at progressivechristians@theloftla.org.

#progressivechristianity #progressive #faith #politics #popculture #religion

We've been promising bonus content… Here it is!

We were inspired to make this episode by Rev. Katie with the Young Adult group at Hyde Park Community UMC in Cincinnati, Ohio, who reached out to tell us they had been using our podcasts for some of their lessons. In honor of how much this means to us, this episode is dedicated to all of them! They wrote us some great questions that they've been dealing with while trying to deconstruct and reconstruct their Christianity into something that more closely mirrors Jesus. Please join us on this fun, less formal dive into our personal beliefs on some of the most difficult Progressive Christian topics.

Show Notes:
- This is the episode playlist that Rev. Kate Smith used with the young adult group:

28: Do Progressive Christians Believe in the Bible?
29: What is Sin and Why Do Most Conservatives Get it Wrong?
36: Failing the Group Project: The Problem with Evil with Dr. Becky Copeland
19: What Do Progressives Believe About Evangelism?
34: What Do Progressive Christians Believe About Salvation?
23: Women, Patriarchy, and the Bible with Claire McKeever-Burgett
3: What does progressive Christian masculinity look like
27: Sex, Gender, and Christian Theology
54: I Was a Christian Nationalist and Didn't Know It w/ April Ajoy
47: Debunking MAGA's Biblical Argument Against a Government Social Safety Net
38: How Do We Hold On to Hope in Times of Crisis?
40: Why Are You (Still) A Christian?

- Dr. Prathia Hall Biography:
https://www.ugapress.org/9780820361710/freedom-faith/
- Dr Prathia Hall Sermons:
https://herringbonebooks.indielite.org/book/9780820361772
- Elephant Seals:
https://news.mongabay.com/2026/02/southern-elephant-seals-recover-in-southern-africa-but-global-picture-is-mixed/
- UK Geothermal Power:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cewzg77k721o

The Progressive Christians Podcast is available on all podcast platforms, TikTok, and Instagram. You can find the links and the links to the host's social media here: https://linktr.ee/theprogressivechristians

Please subscribe to the Love Your Neighbor newsletter, an outgrowth of this podcast community. It will be a way for us to create new relationships and deepen existing ones with people of faith who want to learn how to practice their faith in ways that align with their values of love, justice, and compassion. We hope to see you on Substack!

If you love the show, please sign up to become a supporter of The Progressive Christians Podcast! You can choose to make a one-time or monthly donation, and your support is tax-deductible. We need your support to continue and grow this outreach ministry. You can sign up to support us here: https://secure.myvanco.com/YGTN/campaign/C-168BG?access=tile_direct

The Progressive Christians Podcast is a ministry of The Loft, a worship community of Westwood United Methodist Church. If you have an idea for the show or want to connect with us, please email us at progressivechristians@theloftla.org.

#progressivechristianity #progressive #faith #politics #popculture #religion

When the Trump administration began its immigration crackdown in Chicago, teenage brothers Ben and Sam Luhmann became a part of a rapid-response network of volunteers that documents ICE raids and assists families of those detained in the arrests.
In the first half of this episode we talk with Ben and Sam about their activism and the role that their Christian faith played in inspiring them to put their faith into action. Then we chat with their mother Audrey and discuss how their faith journey and growing awareness of injustice led them all to reimagine what it means to love your neighbor as you love yourself.

Show Notes:
- "Teens Tracking Ice" News Coverage:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yKSgM0G1xQ
https://www.wbez.org/immigration/2026/01/31/suburban-teen-brothers-on-ice-watch-in-minneapolis-this-is-nothing-like-chicago-this-is-so-much-worse
https://religionnews.com/2025/11/25/how-one-conservative-christian-family-is-pushing-back-against-ice/
- Audrey's Social Media:
https://x.com/LuhmannAudrey
https://www.instagram.com/audreyluhmann/
- Caste:
https://www.isabelwilkerson.com/
- The Tears of Things
https://thetearsofthings.com/
- EU bans destroying unsold clothes:
https://environment.ec.europa.eu/news/new-eu-rules-stop-destruction-unsold-clothes-and-shoes-2026-02-09_en

The Progressive Christians Podcast is available on all podcast platforms, TikTok, and Instagram. You can find the links and the links to the host's social media here: https://linktr.ee/theprogressivechristians

Please subscribe to the Love Your Neighbor newsletter, an outgrowth of this podcast community. It will be a way for us to create new relationships and deepen existing ones with people of faith who want to learn how to practice their faith in ways that align with their values of love, justice, and compassion. We hope to see you on Substack!

If you love the show, please sign up to become a supporter of The Progressive Christians Podcast! You can choose to make a one-time or monthly donation, and your support is tax-deductible. We need your support to continue and grow this outreach ministry. You can sign up to support us here: https://secure.myvanco.com/YGTN/campaign/C-168BG?access=tile_direct

The Progressive Christians Podcast is a ministry of The Loft, a worship community of Westwood United Methodist Church. If you have an idea for the show or want to connect with us, please email us at progressivechristians@theloftla.org.

#progressivechristianity #progressive #faith #politics #popculture #religion