The Esau McCaulley Podcast
Esau McCaulley
Show overview
The Esau McCaulley Podcast has been publishing since 2024, and across the 2 years since has built a catalogue of 88 episodes. That works out to roughly 70 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a weekly cadence.
Episodes typically run thirty-five to sixty minutes — most land between 44 min and 50 min — and the run-time is fairly consistent across the catalogue. None of the episodes are flagged explicit by the publisher. It is catalogued as a EN-US-language Religion & Spirituality show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 1 weeks ago, with 21 episodes already out so far this year. The busiest year was 2025, with 53 episodes published. Published by Esau McCaulley.
From the publisher
The Esau McCaulley Podcast unpacks the cultural stories that shape our lives. Pop culture always reveals something about what it means to be human: both our glory and our brokenness. Rather than retreating from the culture, Esau and his friends dive in head-on, bringing theological depth, humor, and a perspective you won't find anywhere else. From movies and music to news and politics, we find what is true, good, and beautiful about the complex world we live in.
Latest Episodes
View all 88 episodesTrump's golden statue and Alien Invasions
Gutting the Voting Rights Act and Why Results Matter as Much as Intent
Another Assassination Attempt & What We're Missing About DEI
The Death of Monoculture and What Comes After
Trump as the Good Physician and Bieber's Coachella Performance
Trump's Crazy Holy Week
A government official claims God teleported him to a Waffle House, and somehow that is not the strangest part of this conversation. Esau is joined by producer Mike and Stephen Harris to discuss Holy Week at the White House, where the language of resurrection, sacrifice, and salvation was tangled up with politics, power, and some very questionable comparisons. They also wrestle with how Christians can believe in the miraculous without losing their grip on wisdom, and why performative faith keeps missing the point of the gospel. Finally, Esau and Stephen disagree about the casting of Paapa Essiedu as Snape in the new Harry Potter series, raising questions about storytelling, representation, and when creative changes actually make a story worse. 0:00 - Theme Song 1:55 - Teleporting to Waffle House! 11:38 - Comparing Trump to Christ 15:23 - Trump's Easter Tweet 20:21 - God and the State 28:42 - Sponsor - Tyndale - On The BEMA Podcast, Marty Solomon dives deep into the Bible. Learn more at https://navpress.com 30:05 - Saul and Performative Christianity 38:42 - HBO Cast a Black Actor as Snape? 55:55 - End Credits
Project Hail Mary and the Return of Optimism
A sci-fi blockbuster about the end of the world is somehow the most hopeful movie in years. What does Project Hail Mary's success say about a culture drowning in cynicism? Esau McCaulley, Malcolm Foley, and Mike Stralow dig into why audiences are craving optimism again and whether the church (and Holy Post Media) has something to learn from it. Then the conversation turns to all the recent talk about "revival." Is something actually happening, or are we just reading the signs we want to see? They unpack why Christians are so fixated on growth, what we might be measuring wrong, and whether real renewal looks less like hype and more like repentance. Plus, Holy Week reflections, what's bringing them joy right now, and a pair of red Air Force Ones. 0:00 - Theme 0:21 - Holy Week with Esau 12:22 - Revival or Not? 17:56 - Curiosity Around Religion 26:10 - Endurance and the Black Church 30:05 - Slavery is a Crime Against Humanity 46:55 - End Credits
When Even War and Death Become Content
War used to be something a nation mourned. Now it's about banger memes. Esau is joined by Natasha Sistrunk Robinson and Producer Mike to talk about why the Trump Administration seems to prioritize its social media strategy over its war strategy. They also talk about Trump's response to Robert Mueller's death and reflect on new allegations about Cesar Chavez and what they reveal about leadership, abuse, and the danger of protecting movements over people. Also this week, Esau forgets a very important day. Learn more about Natasha here - www.natashasrobinson.com 0:00 - Theme Song 4:47 - Trump's Glad Mueller's Dead 11:06 - Trump's Lasting Impact 19:31 - Pastors and Politics 24:07 - Sponsor - Brooklyn Bedding - For a quality mattress, go to https://www.brooklynbedding.com and use promo code ESAU to get 30% off site wide! 26:35 - White House War Memes 31:12 - Targeting Immature Young Men 42:03 - Caesar Chavez Scandal 53:26 - End Credits
Unqualified MAGA and the Politics of Hate
A new study suggests Americans distrust each other more than almost any other nation, and Esau, Malcolm and Mike wrestle with whether we've crossed a line we can't come back from. They dig into the deeper spiritual roots of our outrage, asking what it actually means to love your enemies in an age of constant political combat. Then the conversation turns to Hollywood's obsession with youth and what our fear of aging reveals about us. They also take on the controversy over an unqualified Surgeon General nominee and what it says about leadership, loyalty, and truth. Also this week: Mike shoots his shot, Malcolm runs late, and somehow height insecurity becomes a real topic. 0:00 - Malcolm's Too Famous 1:37 - Theme Song 4:17 - Oscars and Plastic Surgery 8:54 - Mike's Too Tall 12:17 - End Stage Polarization 24:46 - Ideological Purity 32:40 - Unqualified Surgeon General 49:24 - End Credits
Iran, End Times, and the McDonald's Bite Seen Around the World
Are the latest headlines about Iran a sign that the end times are near? Esau, producer Mike, and pastor Sharon Miller examine why Christians often interpret global conflict through the lens of biblical prophecy and why the book of Revelation may challenge that instinct. Then, the group talks about a viral cultural moment involving a McDonald's CEO whose awkward burger bite sparked debate about authenticity and leadership in the influencer age. What does it say about our culture when even CEOs are expected to perform relatability online? Sharon also introduces the "relationship gap," a trend suggesting dating apps may actually reduce the differences between people who end up together. Plus, defending movie trailers and more Disney debates. 0:00 - Theme Song 1:38 - Chalamet Angers Ballet Fans 8:36 - Is the Iran War God-Appointed? 16:24 - Memeification of War 27:03 - CEO Eats Hamburger Weirdly 40:04 - Dating Gaps Getting Weird? 52:33 - End Credits
Making Sense of the Iran War
The United States and Israel have launched strikes against Iran and the world is trying to figure out what happens next. Justin Giboney joins the show to help unpack the politics, the constitutional questions, and the potential fallout both overseas and at home. Also, Esau looks at how America's relationship with Israel shaped the conflict and why some Christians see events like this through the lens of biblical prophecy. Plus: we give marriage advice to Tom Holland and Zendaya. 0:00 - Theme Song 1:02 - Does Justin Know Zendaya? 6:40 - At War with Iran 11:47 - Are We Liberating Iran? 18:12 - Sponsor - With & For: Psychology and Spirituality for Thriving Podcast. Check it out now! https://pod.link/1712333330 19:21 - Sponsor - Public Good Generation - In high school and looking to lead in faith? Check out this Summer Civics Program in Washington DC: https://ccpubliclife.org/holypost 21:03 - Israel's Influence on Trump 26:19 - Prophecy ad Abraham's Sin 31:20 - Trump's Broken Promises 42:42 - End Credits
US Hockey, Ben Sasse, and Jesse Jackson: How We Celebrate, Die, and Remember
The U.S. hockey team wins gold, but the celebration sparked bigger questions. Esau, Malcolm, and Mike discuss if America become the bully to the rest of the world? Also, Ben Sasse's public reflections on his terminal cancer diagnosis bring a different kind of clarity about faith, family, and what actually matters when time runs short. Then, with the passing of Jesse Jackson, we consider how to remember leaders who shaped history by honoring real progress without pretending perfection. 0:00 - Theme Song 2:10 - Parking Spot 5:36 - Canada Vs US Hockey 9:07 - Did David Become Goliath? 17:21 - Ben Sass and Facing Mortality 21:10 - Sponsor - Nazarene Theological Seminary - Looking for a program grounded in black theology? Check out the Doctor of Ministry in Black Leadership and Ministry at https://nts.edu/podcast 22:24 - Sponsor - With & For: Psychology and Spirituality for Thriving Podcast. Check it out now! https://pod.link/1712333330 25:44 - What's Worth Our Time? 35:42 - Jesse Jackson 50:34 - End Credits
Lent After Loss: What Christian Hope Really Looks Like
Ash Wednesday forces us to acknowledge that some day we will die. For some, that truth is abstract. For others, it is painfully personal. Esau and Mike are joined by Hannah Miller King, author of Feasting on Hope: How God Sets a Table in the Wilderness, to talk about what happens to faith when prayers for healing go unanswered. After losing her father to cancer as a teenager, Hannah began wrestling with a question many believers quietly carry: What does hope look like when God doesn't do what you asked? They explore the difference between a "transaction of goods" gospel and the communion of persons, the role of the Lord's Supper in shaping Christian imagination, and how Lent invites us to hold suffering and resurrection together. Also, can Hannah and Esau convince Mike to become anglican? 0:00 - Theme Song 1:19 - Making Mike Anglican 7:21 - King's New Book on Ash Wednesday 14:40 - The Book's Thesis 18:10 - Grief 26:07 - Community and Grief 39:22 - End Credits Feasting on Hope: How God Sets a Table in the Wilderness by Hannah Miller King: https://amzn.to/4aHAvgh
Trump's Racist Video and the Refusal to Apologize
A video shared by Donald Trump depicting Barack and Michelle Obama with a racist trope sparked outrage, swift defenses, and eventually, quiet deletion. Esau, Malcolm, and Mike explore the long history of dehumanizing imagery, the theological weight of the image of God, and why the refusal to repent may matter more than the original post. Then the conversation turns to rhetoric at the National Prayer Breakfast and the danger of blending national power with the language of the gospel. What does it mean to follow a crucified king in an age that prizes dominance? 0:00 - Theme Song 2:00 - Can You Beat Middle Schoolers at Basketball? 6:56 - Trump's Racist Obama Video 24:23 - Sponsor - With & For: Psychology and Spirituality for Thriving Podcast. Check it out now! https://pod.link/1712333330 25:26 - The Military and Religion 35:27 - What's Part of the Gospel? 46:00 - End Credits
Outsourcing Our Social Lives to AI
Students aren't just using AI to finish assignments. They're using it to manage social interactions, from emails to professors to conversations on dating apps. Esau, Justin, and Mike explore how that might spare a little awkwardness, but also skips the stage of failure where real growth usually happens. Then, are small liberal arts colleges actually better at forming students, and are universities still teaching people how to think rather than what to think? Also, sports gambling continues to cause problems and why Y2K culture, including the return of CDs, is making a surprising comeback. 0:00 - Theme Song 0:18 - Black History Month Present 2:23 - CDs Are Coming Back? 9:23 - Physical Media in a Digital World 13:29 - A.I. Keeps Us from Failing 22:12 - Sponsor - Glorify - Get full access all year for $29.00 at https://www.glorify-app.com/esau 23:33 - Sponsor - With & For: Psychology and Spirituality for Thriving Podcast. Check it out now! https://pod.link/1712333330 24:50 - Avoiding A.I. Entirely? 34:09 - Liberal Art's Inefficiency is Its Strength 40:54 - Sports Betting's Return 51:50 - End Credits Resources: God's Colorful Easter: The Good News Is for Everyone by Esau McCaulley: https://www.tyndale.com/p/gods-colorful-easter/9798400501029?srsltid=AfmBOopFr6DDhzFFW4jVivkDhEgT3FNiuzM1cc8xmhgBCDtMuXLNVBSZ
Alex Pretti's Killing and Not Letting Rage Win
The killing of Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis has become another moment where violence, misinformation, and political certainty collide. As video evidence contradicts official narratives, Esau, Malcolm Foley, and Mike wrestle with what this death reveals about power, propaganda, and the erosion of public trust. Then the three discuss Esau's recent article for the New York Times to ask a harder question: how do Christians name injustice without being consumed by rage? What does faithful witness look like when anger feels justified but spiritually dangerous? 0:00 - Theme Song 1:10 - American Girl Doll Nostalgia 9:36 - Dark New Normal 14:45 - Justifying Violence with "Woke" Accusations 23:52 - Sponsor - With & For: Psychology and Spirituality for Thriving Podcast. Check it out now! https://pod.link/1712333330 25:02 - Sponsor - Brooklyn Bedding - For a quality mattress, go to https://www.brooklynbedding.com and use promo code ESAU to get 30% off site wide! 25:53 - Why Do We Believe Things? 33:25 - Not Living with Rage 47:40 - End Credits
Greenland, Druski, and Why the Church Keeps Getting Roasted
Greenland is suddenly back on the menu of American foreign policy, raising real questions about conquest, NATO, and whether Christians can ever justify taking land that isn't theirs. Then, J. Cole's fear of "the fall off" becomes a window into ambition, calling, and the strange psychology of decline. And when Druski lampoons megachurch culture, it forces an uncomfortable look at why the church keeps becoming an easy punchline, and how Christians should respond when they are the butt of the joke. Plus, will Instagram be the thing that finally tears apart Esau and Mike? 0:00 - Theme Song 0:50 - Hills to Die On 7:03 - Why Are We Against Invading Greenland? 16:05 - Sponsor - Glorify - Get full access all year for $29.00 at https://www.glorify-app.com/esau 18:50 - J Cole's Retiring 27:55 - Pastors Falling Off 33:53 - Satirizing Megachurches 48:50 - End Credits
ICE, the Fed, and How Power Bends the Truth
New footage and reporting about the Minneapolis ICE shooting of Renée Good have complicated the story. Esau, Mike and Taelor Gray revisit the incident one week later and ask how political power shapes the narratives we're given, and what it means for Christians to tell the truth when the truth is inconvenient. Then, they turn to the surprising posthumous "ordination" of DMX and consider what it reveals about the nature of pastoral ministry, proximity, and presence in an age obsessed with platforms. 0:00 - Theme Song 2:25 - Wall Street Journal Complains About Sushi for Kids 8:15 - Renee Good and the ICE Stop 21:00 - Sponsor - Glorify - Get full access all year for $29.00 at https://www.glorify-app.com/Esau 22:19 - DMX Ordained After His Death? 43:44 - End Credits 66 Verse to Explain the Bible - Ezra: https://www.patreon.com/posts/148221073/ Wall Street Journal Article on ICE and shootings: https://www.wsj.com/us-news/videos-show-how-ice-vehicle-stops-can-escalate-to-shootings-caf17601?gaa_at=eafs&gaa_n=AWEtsqcM4suCejir2XhY_aFDJ2--sqzFMzLxUYZ4SWneBn28PnkIFR-SG7O92GaLvw%3D%3D&gaa_ts=6967c046&gaa_sig=POa3tPcvJz_pC4-M5-e4uWuWjboR_sO0jyfq1BCM0XWAAXYxeb8OSWlKQ2SbkOYLAfCMr-_WetVC1fqY1L8b3g%3D%3D
The ICE Shooting in Minneapolis
A woman is dead in Minneapolis after an encounter with ICE. Esau McCaulley, Justin Giboney, Malcolm Foley, and producer Mike sort through what we know so far, what the law actually says about deadly force and compliance, and how Christians should think about state power and the value of a human life. The conversation wrestles with fear, responsibility, split second decisions, and the narratives forming around the shooting long before the facts are settled.
Oil, Power, and Tyrants: The Real Motive Behind the Venezuela Raid
The fall of a dictator feels like good news, but what if the motive matters as much as the outcome? Esau, Mike, and Sho Baraka dig into the Venezuela raid through the lens of just war theory, Trump's own comments, and the broader unseriousness of the administration. Then Sho reflects on his recent writing about AI and efficiency, asking where the line is between using new technology wisely and setting boundaries for the sake of rest, imagination, and what it means to be human. 0:00 - Theme Song 2:35 - Hard Classes That Mattered 8:03 - Venezuela 22:30 - The Donroe Doctrine 30:10 - Sponsor - Brooklyn Bedding - For a quality mattress, go to https://www.brooklynbedding.com and use promo code ESAU to get 30% off site wide! 31:08 - AI and Utilitarianism 50:39 - End Credits Sho Baraka's Music: https://www.shobaraka.com/ https://www.instagram.com/amishobaraka/