The Esau McCaulley Podcast

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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