The Will Spencer Podcast

Dr. Brian J. Crawford is the Director of Digital Evangelism for Chosen People Ministries and the author of The Scandal of a Divine Messiah: A Response to Maimonidean and Kabbalistic Challenges to the Incarnation. This is part two of two.In part one, Brian shared his 20-year journey from a beach in Tel Aviv to the streets of Orthodox Brooklyn. In this episode, we get into his book — and the two philosophical traditions that have walled Jewish people off from considering Jesus as Messiah for centuries.The first is Maimonides, the towering 12th-century Jewish philosopher who used Aristotelian logic to argue that it is metaphysically impossible for God to take on human flesh. The second is Kabbalah, the Jewish mystical tradition rooted in Neoplatonism and Gnosticism, which argues the incarnation is redundant because everything is already divine.Brian explains how both traditions imported Greek philosophical ideas into Judaism — often without realizing it — and how those ideas, not the Hebrew scriptures, became the real foundation for Jewish objections to Jesus. In this conversation we discuss:Why Orthodox Jews consider the incarnation idolatrousHow Maimonides used Aristotle to argue God cannot become manHow Kabbalah's Neoplatonic mysticism makes the incarnation redundantThe hidden Greek philosophical foundations of Orthodox JudaismHow the New Testament uses Greek categories without importing Greek errorsWhy Brian kept the New Testament out of the first two-thirds of his bookThe incarnation as the singular crossover between God and the worldHow the book has been received by Orthodox Jewish readersBrian's current PhD work on Maimonides' 13 PrinciplesBook recommendations for Reformed Christians on Israel🔥 MEN'S GROUP — 3 SEATS OPENReformed Christian men. Every other Tuesday on Zoom.$90/month, 3-month commitment. Starts with a screening call.https://willspencer.co/groupGUEST LINKSChosen People Ministries — https://chosenpeople.comChosen People Answers — https://chosenpeopleanswers.comAbout Messiah — https://aboutmessiah.comThe Scandal of a Divine Messiah — https://chosenpeopleanswers.com/the-scandal-of-a-divine-messiah/Support Brian's ministry — https://chosenpeople.com/pray4brianBOOKS MENTIONEDThe Scandal of a Divine Messiah — Brian J. CrawfordFuture Israel — Barry HornerThe Guide for the Perplexed — MaimonidesAgainst Heresies — IrenaeusThe Will Spencer Podcast was formerly known as "The Renaissance of Men."EXITING THE NEW AGE COURSEI spent twenty years in the New Age. This is what I learned on the way out.13 chapters, study guide, practices inventory, 30+ book bibliography.A new section on Christian apologetics to the New Age is in production. Buy now at $29 and get the upgrade free when the price goes to $49.https://willspencer.co/exitMENTORSHIP FOR MENI mentor men one-on-one through 12 weeks of biblical mentorship, with daily accountability.If you've built something real but you're stuck at a transition that competence alone can't solve, book a free clarity call:https://willspencer.co/mentorshipCONNECTYouTubeTwitter/XSubstackInstagramWebsiteSPONSORS

Dr. Brian J. Crawford is the Director of Digital Evangelism for Chosen People Ministries, which has been evangelizing Jewish people for more than 130 years. He is also the author of The Scandal of a Divine Messiah: A Response to Maimonidean and Kabbalistic Challenges to the Incarnation.In 2005, a Jewish man on a Tel Aviv beach told Brian he had no business explaining the Hebrew Bible to Jews. That challenge sent a structural engineer from Southern California on a 20-year journey into the heart of Orthodox Brooklyn — learning Hebrew, studying the Talmud, and building relationships with one of the most unreached people groups in America.👉 Biblical mentorship for men: https://willspencer.co/mentorshipTopics DiscussedHow a stranger's challenge launched Brian's calling to Jewish missionsWhat the Talmud actually is and why most Christians misunderstand itThe lost history of Jewish sub-denominations within Protestant churchesHow 20th century liberalism killed Jewish evangelismWhy becoming a Christian historically meant dying as a JewMartin Luther's antisemitism vs. Puritan philosemitismWhy Orthodox Jews in Brooklyn are an unreached people groupThis is part one of two. Next week in part two, we get into Brian's book and the philosophical traditions — Maimonides and Kabbalah — that have walled Jews off from considering Jesus for centuries.GUEST LINKSChosen People Ministries — https://chosenpeople.comChosen People Answers — https://chosenpeopleanswers.comAbout Messiah — https://aboutmessiah.comThe Scandal of a Divine Messiah — https://chosenpeopleanswers.com/the-scandal-of-a-divine-messiah/Support Brian's ministry — https://chosenpeople.com/pray4brianBOOKS MENTIONEDThe Scandal of a Divine Messiah — Brian J. CrawfordThe Conflict of the Church and the Synagogue — James ParkesA Century of Jewish Missions — A.E. ThompsonChristianity and Liberalism — J. Gresham MachenFuture Israel — Barry HornerWarrant for Genocide — Norman CohnThe Will Spencer Podcast was formerly known as "The Renaissance of Men."EXITING THE NEW AGE COURSEI spent twenty years in the New Age. This is what I learned on the way out.13 chapters, study guide, practices inventory, 30+ book bibliography.A new section on Christian apologetics to the New Age is in production. Buy now at $29 and get the upgrade free when the price goes to $49.https://willspencer.co/exitMENTORSHIP FOR MENI mentor men one-on-one through 12 weeks of biblical mentorship, with daily accountability.If you've built something real but you're stuck at a transition that competence alone can't solve, book a free clarity call:https://willspencer.co/mentorshipCONNECTYouTubeTwitter/XSubstackInstagramWebsiteSPONSORS

This isn't fringe. It's in your feed. White power music, Nazi Satanism, and a fake Christian theology are targeting young men — and most churches can't see it. Black Sun Session 5.In this episode, Will Spencer walks through three of the darkest chapters in Black Sun by historian Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke — and connects each one to what is spreading online right now.Chapter 10 documents how neo-Nazis deliberately infiltrated youth music culture to radicalize alienated young men — through concerts, recordings, and fan magazines. The delivery mechanism has changed. The strategy has not.Chapter 11 goes deeper. Behind the skinhead bands lurked an international network of extremist groups practicing ritual magic, invoking Hitler as a satanic archetype, and writing guidelines for human sacrifice as spiritual initiation. This is where the will to power, stripped of all moral constraint, actually ends.Chapter 12 — Christian Identity — should disturb Christians most. It is a theological system claiming white Aryans are the true Israel, Jews are the literal offspring of Satan, and every non-white person is a pre-Adamic "mud person." It wraps racial hatred in biblical language — and its ideas are bleeding into Christian spaces today through podcasters and influencers who may not know where their language comes from.Will also announces the next book club selection: Warrant for Genocide by Norman Cohn, the definitive history of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion — a forged document that has poisoned minds for over a century and is still circulating today.Purchase Black Sun by Nicholas Goodrick-ClarkeAmazon - https://a.co/d/06mG32IXTopics CoveredThe transition from Lucifer to Satan in post-war neo-NazismHow neo-Nazis infiltrated youth music as deliberate strategyBronze Age Pervert and social Darwinism laundered into memesColumbine and the black metal undergroundCrowley, LaVey, and Aquino: three types of SatanismDavid Myatt, the Order of Nine Angles, and human sacrificeChristian Identity: British Israelism corrupted by the ProtocolsThe serpent seed doctrine and pre-Adamic "mud people"Robert Matthews, the Order, and the Brinks robberyBen Klassen, the Church of the Creator, and RAHOWAWhy self-marginalizing communities incubate extremismThe Protocols of the Elders of Zion: still circulating todayAbout the Book ClubThe Book Club is a private reading group where we work through serious books slowly and carefully — not for hot takes or outrage, but for Christian spiritual and intellectual formation.Learn more and join here:https://www.willspencer.blog/7a2894cdMentorshipIf you're interested in working together, you can book a clarity call here:https://willspencer.co/mentorshipThe Will Spencer Podcast was formerly known as "The Renaissance of Men."EXITING THE NEW AGE COURSEI spent twenty years in the New Age. This is what I learned on the way out.13 chapters, study guide, practices inventory, 30+ book bibliography.A new section on Christian apologetics to the New Age is in production. Buy now at $29 and get the upgrade free when the price goes to $49.https://willspencer.co/exitMENTORSHIP FOR MENI mentor men one-on-one through 12 weeks of biblical mentorship, with daily accountability.If you've built something real but you're stuck at a transition that competence alone can't solve, book a free clarity call:https://willspencer.co/mentorshipCONNECTYouTubeTwitter/XSubstackInstagramWebsiteSPONSORS

Joel and Mary Beeke have spent decades studying, teaching, and living what the Bible says about marriage.In this conversation we explore the biblical foundation of a strong marriage, why many couples slowly drift apart, and how Scripture provides a model for love, respect, friendship, and lifelong commitment.Joel Beeke is a pastor, theologian, and author of more than 100 books. Mary Beeke is a teacher, writer, and longtime pastor’s wife who has helped generations of women and families cultivate strong Christian homes.Together they wrote How to Build a Godly Marriage: 12 Principles for Flourishing and Lasting.We discuss the biblical pattern of marriage found in Ephesians 5, the Puritan vision of joyful family life, and why holiness — not emotional intensity — is the true foundation of lasting happiness.If you want to build a strong Christian marriage, lead your household well, and recover the deeper wisdom of the Christian tradition, this conversation offers practical guidance and time-tested insight.👉 Mentorship for men:https://willspencer.co/mentorshipTOPICS DISCUSSEDThe biblical foundation of marriageWhy couples slowly drift apartSacrificial love and respect in marriageThe Puritan vision of joyful marriageWhy holiness produces happinessThe importance of kindness and encouragementBuilding trust and unity in marriageRaising children with responsibility and faithGUEST LINKSHow to Build a Godly Marriage: 12 Principles for Flourishing and LastingJoel BeekePuritan Reformed Theological Seminary — https://prts.eduReformation Heritage Books — https://heritagebooks.orgMary BeekeThe Law of KindnessTeach Them to WorkThe Will Spencer Podcast was formerly known as "The Renaissance of Men."EXITING THE NEW AGE COURSEI spent twenty years in the New Age. This is what I learned on the way out.13 chapters, study guide, practices inventory, 30+ book bibliography.A new section on Christian apologetics to the New Age is in production. Buy now at $29 and get the upgrade free when the price goes to $49.https://willspencer.co/exitMENTORSHIP FOR MENI mentor men one-on-one through 12 weeks of biblical mentorship, with daily accountability.If you've built something real but you're stuck at a transition that competence alone can't solve, book a free clarity call:https://willspencer.co/mentorshipCONNECTYouTubeTwitter/XSubstackInstagramWebsiteSPONSORS

What looks like conspiracy theories or internet extremism often has deeper roots.In this episode, Will Spencer explores Nazi mysticism, Esoteric Hitlerism, and the occult mythology that emerged around Nazi UFOs after World War II.This session is part of his Book Club reading of Black Sun by historian Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke, examining how Nazi ideology survived defeat by transforming itself into a mystical religious system.The discussion traces the development of post-war Nazi mythology — from secret SS bases and UFO conspiracies to the elaborate spiritual cosmology created by Chilean diplomat Miguel Serrano.Serrano’s doctrine, known as Esoteric Hitlerism, blended Nazism with Hindu mythology, Jungian archetypes, Gnosticism, occult initiation, and extraterrestrial cosmology. In this system, Hitler becomes an avatar figure in a cosmic spiritual struggle.Understanding these ideas matters because they reveal something often misunderstood in modern discourse: many extremist movements are not merely political.They are religious.Purchase Black Sun by Nicholas Goodrick-ClarkeThe book examined in this series.Amazon - https://a.co/d/06mG32IXTopics CoveredHow Nazi mythology survived defeat after World War IIWilhelm Landig and the creation of polar-base mythologyThe origins of Nazi UFO conspiracy literatureThe fusion of Nazism with occult cosmologyMiguel Serrano and the creation of “Esoteric Hitlerism”Hindu mythology, Jungian archetypes, and Gnostic cosmologyHitler as a divine avatar figureHow political extremism transformed into mystical religionAbout the Book ClubThe Book Club is a private reading group where we work through serious books slowly and carefully — not for hot takes or outrage, but for Christian spiritual and intellectual formation.Learn more and join here:https://www.willspencer.blog/7a2894cdMentorshipIf you're interested in working together, you can book a clarity call here:https://willspencer.co/mentorshipThe Will Spencer Podcast was formerly known as "The Renaissance of Men."EXITING THE NEW AGE COURSEI spent twenty years in the New Age. This is what I learned on the way out.13 chapters, study guide, practices inventory, 30+ book bibliography.A new section on Christian apologetics to the New Age is in production. Buy now at $29 and get the upgrade free when the price goes to $49.https://willspencer.co/exitMENTORSHIP FOR MENI mentor men one-on-one through 12 weeks of biblical mentorship, with daily accountability.If you've built something real but you're stuck at a transition that competence alone can't solve, book a free clarity call:https://willspencer.co/mentorshipCONNECTYouTubeTwitter/XSubstackInstagramWebsiteSPONSORS

How do Christians remain faithful when suspicion, conspiracy narratives, and cultural pressure reshape how they see Israel, history, and their neighbors?In this episode, I speak with Luke Moon — pastor, activist, and one of our guides during a recent study trip to Israel — about the religious, historical, and cultural tensions shaping how Christians understand Israel, the Jewish people, and their own faith.Our conversation moves beyond headlines and memes to examine the deeper spiritual and intellectual currents influencing Christian thought today: conspiracy thinking, historical distortion, loss of charity, and the subtle ways ideological narratives reshape how believers read Scripture and relate to others.Drawing from firsthand experience in Israel, Luke shares how travel, relationships, and serious engagement with history changed his own views — and why many Christians today find themselves pulled toward suspicion, hostility, and simplified explanations for complex realities.This is not a political conversation. It is a conversation about formation: how Christians think, what shapes their convictions, and how drift in one area of belief often spreads into others.In this episodeWhy travel and firsthand investigation challenge inherited narrativesThe relationship between Christianity, Israel, and Jewish historyHow conspiracy thinking reshapes theological imaginationThe psychological and spiritual roots of hostility within Christian spacesThe role of scripture, tradition, and historical awareness in resisting driftHow ideological narratives influence discipleship, family leadership, and personal directionAbout Luke MoonLuke Moon is a Christian pastor and activist involved in religious and political advocacy, with extensive experience engaging the religious landscape of Israel and the broader Middle East. His work focuses on the intersection of faith, public life, and Christian engagement with Israel and Jewish communities.https://2hammers.com/MentorshipIf this conversation surfaced questions about your own formation — how you think, what shapes your convictions, or where you may have drifted without realizing it — I offer one-on-one mentorship oriented toward clarity, direction, and spiritual formation rooted in Scripture.The next step is a clarity call: a short conversation to explore where you are and whether working together makes sense.Book a Clarity Call: https://willspencer.co/mentorshipBook ClubIn my private Book Club, we read difficult and formative books slowly and seriously in community.We're currently finishing Black Sun by Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke, a study of the occult and ideological currents that shaped modern extremism. Our next book is Warrant for Genocide by Norman Cohn, which traces the origins and influence of The Protocols of the Elders of Zion and explores how conspiracy narratives spread — including within Christian spaces.Subscribers receive access to live sessions and can participate in discussion in real time.Join the Book Club: https://willspencer.blog The Will Spencer Podcast was formerly known as "The Renaissance of Men."EXITING THE NEW AGE COURSEI spent twenty years in the New Age. This is what I learned on the way out.13 chapters, study guide, practices inventory, 30+ book bibliography.A new section on Christian apologetics to the New Age is in production. Buy now at $29 and get the upgrade free when the price goes to $49.https://willspencer.co/exitMENTORSHIP FOR MENI mentor men one-on-one through 12 weeks of biblical mentorship, with daily accountability.If you've built something real but you're stuck at a transition that competence alone can't solve, book a free clarity call:https://willspencer.co/mentorshipCONNECTYouTubeTwitter/XSubstackInstagramWebsiteSPONSORS

Dr. J. Stephen Yuille joins Will Spencer for a conversation on one of the most misunderstood traditions in Christian history: the Puritans.Often caricatured as cold moralists, the Puritans were in fact pastors of the heart — “physicians of the soul” who endured suffering, cultivated the affections, and pursued holiness with seriousness that still challenges believers today.In this episode we explore Puritan spirituality, the role of suffering in spiritual formation, mentorship across generations, and the importance of devotional reading from past centuries. We also discuss why many modern Christians instinctively sense something missing in contemporary faith and how the Puritan tradition offers a deeper inheritance.If you are seeking a faith that is thoughtful, lived, and capable of bearing the weight of suffering, this conversation offers a rich introduction to Puritan theology and spirituality.Mentorship and clarity for men: https://willspencer.co/mentorshipTopics DiscussedThe Puritans and the life of the affectionsPastors as “physicians of the soul”Suffering and spiritual formationMentorship across generationsDevotional reading and learning from “dead men”GUEST LINKSReformation Heritage Books — https://www.rhb.orgThe Heart Taken Up - BUY HEREHoly Meditation by Thomas Manton - BUY HERERESOURCES MENTIONEDGeorge Swinnock — The Blessed and Boundless GodPuritan Treasures for Today BundleThe Will Spencer Podcast was formerly known as "The Renaissance of Men."EXITING THE NEW AGE COURSEI spent twenty years in the New Age. This is what I learned on the way out.13 chapters, study guide, practices inventory, 30+ book bibliography.A new section on Christian apologetics to the New Age is in production. Buy now at $29 and get the upgrade free when the price goes to $49.https://willspencer.co/exitMENTORSHIP FOR MENI mentor men one-on-one through 12 weeks of biblical mentorship, with daily accountability.If you've built something real but you're stuck at a transition that competence alone can't solve, book a free clarity call:https://willspencer.co/mentorshipCONNECTYouTubeTwitter/XSubstackInstagramWebsiteSPONSORS

Modern extremism did not survive by remaining political. It survived by becoming mystical.In this episode, Will Spencer examines how post-war extremist movements transformed themselves into a religious worldview built on myth, mysticism, and occult hierarchy.Rather than remaining tied to historical regimes or discredited ideologies, these movements deliberately rebuilt themselves through myth, mysticism, and occult spirituality—rejecting Christianity while absorbing pagan mythology, cyclical cosmology, and hierarchical visions of reality.Continuing the Book Club reading of Black Sun by historian Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke, this session explores how post-war figures reshaped extremism into a transnational religious system; how symbolism and ritual replaced politics; and how popular culture later helped mythologize and sanitize these ideas, allowing them to persist beneath the surface of modern life.Will also reflects on why many Christians misdiagnosed this phenomenon as merely political or reactionary, failing to recognize it as a rival spiritual framework—and why that failure of discernment mattered.This episode is part of an ongoing Book Club devoted to slow, serious reading for Christian spiritual and intellectual formation in an increasingly disordered culture.In this episode, you’ll hear:How modern extremism survived after World War II by becoming mystical rather than politicalWhy myth, symbolism, and occult hierarchy replaced ideology and policyHow pagan mythology and cyclical cosmology displaced biblical creation and linear historyThe role of post-war figures who reshaped extremism into a transnational religious worldviewHow popular culture helped mythologize and sanitize evil for later generationsWhy many Christians misdiagnosed these movements as merely political or reactionaryWhat it means to recognize extremism as a rival spiritual framework, not just an ideologyWhy discernment requires asking what spirit is animating this, not simply who is in powerPurchase Black SunAmazon: https://a.co/d/06mG32IXJoin the Book ClubIf this episode resonates, the full discussion continues in my Book Club, where we read difficult books slowly and seriously for Christian spiritual and intellectual formation.You can learn more and join at willspencer.blogThe Will Spencer Podcast was formerly known as "The Renaissance of Men."EXITING THE NEW AGE COURSEI spent twenty years in the New Age. This is what I learned on the way out.13 chapters, study guide, practices inventory, 30+ book bibliography.A new section on Christian apologetics to the New Age is in production. Buy now at $29 and get the upgrade free when the price goes to $49.https://willspencer.co/exitMENTORSHIP FOR MENI mentor men one-on-one through 12 weeks of biblical mentorship, with daily accountability.If you've built something real but you're stuck at a transition that competence alone can't solve, book a free clarity call:https://willspencer.co/mentorshipCONNECTYouTubeTwitter/XSubstackInstagramWebsiteSPONSORS

What happens when therapy has no way to say a goal is wrong?In this episode, Will Spencer is joined by Dr. Greg Gifford to examine a foundational assumption of modern therapy: that counseling exists to help clients achieve their chosen goals, but without a shared account of moral truth.The conversation begins with a simple but unsettling question: What if a client’s goal is immoral, destructive, or sinful? If therapy cannot judge goals, what kind of formation is actually taking place?From there, Will and Greg explore the difference between mind and brain, the rise of diagnosis-based identity, the authority of the DSM, and why Christians often adopt therapeutic categories without examining the worldview beneath them.This is not an argument against care or compassion. It is a call for discernment, and for recovering a moral and biblical account of the inner life that modern therapy is structurally unable to provide.CONNECT WITH DR. GIFFORDListen to Transformed on Fortis+ or wherever you get your podcasts:https://fortisplus.org/tabs/listen/podcasts/34123Buy "Lies My Therapist Told Me": https://a.co/d/01NGgZk5Check out the Fortis Institute YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/@Fortis.InstituteLearn more about Transformed Biblical Counseling Centers:https://transformedbc.com/The Will Spencer Podcast was formerly known as "The Renaissance of Men."EXITING THE NEW AGE COURSEI spent twenty years in the New Age. This is what I learned on the way out.13 chapters, study guide, practices inventory, 30+ book bibliography.A new section on Christian apologetics to the New Age is in production. Buy now at $29 and get the upgrade free when the price goes to $49.https://willspencer.co/exitMENTORSHIP FOR MENI mentor men one-on-one through 12 weeks of biblical mentorship, with daily accountability.If you've built something real but you're stuck at a transition that competence alone can't solve, book a free clarity call:https://willspencer.co/mentorshipCONNECTYouTubeTwitter/XSubstackInstagramWebsiteSPONSORS

What looks like online extremism, grievance politics, or internet trolling is something much older, and much darker.In this episode, Will Spencer shares audio from the first two sessions of his Book Club reading Black Sun: Aryan Cults, Esoteric Nazism, and the Politics of Identity by historian Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke. The discussion explores how Nazism functioned not merely as a political movement, but as a religious system, complete with ritual, myth, demonology, and a vision of racial salvation.Drawing from history, theology, and personal experience, Will explains how neo-Nazi movements reorganized almost immediately after World War II, how figures like George Lincoln Rockwell and Julius Evola fused politics with occult spirituality, and why many modern online movements cannot be understood politically alone.This conversation is about spiritual formation, discernment, and clarity—and why Christians must take the religious roots of extremist ideologies seriously.Topics CoveredWhy Nazism functioned as a religious system, not just a political ideologyHow extremist movements regrouped immediately after World War IIGeorge Lincoln Rockwell’s mystical “conversion” and American neo-NazismJulius Evola, occult philosophy, and anti-Christian spiritual elitismHow grievance politics distorts spiritual developmentWhy these ideas persist in modern online masculinity cultureThe personal and relational cost of extremist belief systemsBooks MentionedBlack Sun — Nicholas Goodrick-ClarkeAmerican Veda — Philip GoldbergThe Myth of Mental Illness — Thomas SzaszThe Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment — Jeremiah BurroughsThe Christian Mind — Henry BlamiresWeird Scenes Inside the Canyon — Dave McGowanAbout the Book ClubThe Book Club is a private reading group where we work through serious books slowly and carefully, not for hot takes, but for Christian spiritual and intellectual formation. The goal isn’t information alone, but depth, clarity, and long-term stability in a culture designed to keep us reactive and distracted.Learn more and join at willspencer.blogProduction NoteThese conversations were recorded live on Zoom and lightly edited to remove long pauses. Audio quality is not studio-perfect. The substance of the discussion is the focus.

What happens after you leave the Manosphere? And why did the movement collapse in the first place?In this episode, Bob the Baptist continues his conversation with Will Spencer about what followed his departure from the Manosphere, and how the online masculinity ecosystem began to fracture and mutate in the years that followed.The discussion moves beyond personal story into cultural and spiritual diagnosis. Will explains how figures like Andrew Tate vacuumed attention and monetized grievance, how ideological energy migrated into more radical online communities, and why movements built on technique, resentment, and audience capture inevitably fail to produce real moral formation.Bob and Will also examine the deeper questions beneath the phenomenon: the difference between power and authority, the limits of psychology and biology as moral frameworks, the cost of public accountability, and why Christian leaders cannot simply borrow the aesthetics of masculinity without inheriting its distortions.Bob and Will explore:Why the Manosphere effectively collapsed after 2022How influencer culture rewards grievance and extremityThe migration of Red Pill ideas into more radical online movementsThe difference between power, authority, and moral formationWhy performative masculinity cannot sustain meaning or disciplineThe social and spiritual cost of leaving identity-driven communitiesWhat a Christian account of masculinity offers insteadPart 1 traced how men are drawn into the Manosphere and why it initially felt compelling. Part 2 examines what ultimately exposed its limits — and what replaces it when men pursue ordered responsibility, truth, and accountability rather than dominance or resentment.The Will Spencer Podcast was formerly known as "The Renaissance of Men."EXITING THE NEW AGE COURSEI spent twenty years in the New Age. This is what I learned on the way out.13 chapters, study guide, practices inventory, 30+ book bibliography.A new section on Christian apologetics to the New Age is in production. Buy now at $29 and get the upgrade free when the price goes to $49.https://willspencer.co/exitMENTORSHIP FOR MENI mentor men one-on-one through 12 weeks of biblical mentorship, with daily accountability.If you've built something real but you're stuck at a transition that competence alone can't solve, book a free clarity call:https://willspencer.co/mentorshipCONNECTYouTubeTwitter/XSubstackInstagramWebsiteSPONSORS

What is the Manosphere, and why are so many men drawn to it?In this episode, Bob the Baptist interviews Will Spencer about his journey into — and ultimately out of — the Manosphere, the sprawling online ecosystem of male self-improvement, dating advice, and cultural commentary.The conversation traces how online communities offering guidance on confidence, fitness, success, and identity increasingly became substitutes for real-world formation and authority. From the influence of figures like Jordan Peterson to the rise of influencer-driven masculinity models, the Manosphere reflects a deeper hunger among men for structure, meaning, and direction.Bob and Will explore:How the Manosphere developed and why it expanded so rapidlyThe divide between “inner work” psychology culture and performance-driven masculinityWhy algorithm-driven communities create ideological silosThe dangers of personality-centered authorityWhy biology and psychology alone cannot sustain a moral vision of manhoodPart 2 (coming next week) continues the conversation by examining what ultimately exposed the limits of the Manosphere and what a Christian account of masculinity offers instead.CONNECT WITH BOB THE BAPTISTYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BraveNewTubeVideo: The Dark Trajectory of New Calvinism Video: How the Manosphere Became MainstreamThe Will Spencer Podcast was formerly known as "The Renaissance of Men."EXITING THE NEW AGE COURSEI spent twenty years in the New Age. This is what I learned on the way out.13 chapters, study guide, practices inventory, 30+ book bibliography.A new section on Christian apologetics to the New Age is in production. Buy now at $29 and get the upgrade free when the price goes to $49.https://willspencer.co/exitMENTORSHIP FOR MENI mentor men one-on-one through 12 weeks of biblical mentorship, with daily accountability.If you've built something real but you're stuck at a transition that competence alone can't solve, book a free clarity call:https://willspencer.co/mentorshipCONNECTYouTubeTwitter/XSubstackInstagramWebsiteSPONSORS

Former pastor Caleb Bobrycki aka "Bob the Baptist" joins Will Spencer to unpack how theology, politics, and culture collided inside modern evangelicalism — and why so many faithful Christians feel stuck in the middle.Description:Former pastor and YouTube creator Bob the Baptist (Caleb Bobrycki) joins Will Spencer for a wide-ranging conversation about how modern Reformed evangelicalism arrived at its current crisis — and why sincere believers are often caught between bad leadership and bad political options.They trace the influence of the Young, Restless, and Reformed movement, purity culture, and American Reconstructionism, and discuss how theological shortcuts and reactionary politics have replaced deeper confessional grounding. Along the way, they examine figures like John Piper, Machen, Van Til, and Rushdoony, and why responding to cultural chaos without first principles leads to repeated mistakes.Rather than choosing sides in today’s church culture wars, this episode asks a harder question: What would real theological reform actually require?Discussion HighlightsWhy sincere Christians often follow bad leadershipHow theology — not just politics — shaped today’s crisisThe legacy of Young, Restless, and ReformedPurity culture as a reaction to cultural driftWhy reactionary movements repeat old errorsThe danger of tribal theologyWhy confessional depth matters for cultural engagementAbout Bob the BaptistCaleb Bobrycki, known as Bob the Baptist, is a former associate pastor and creator of the YouTube channel Brave New Tube, where he explores evangelical theology, church culture, and political theology through in-depth video essays.His work focuses on helping Christians understand the deeper roots of today’s church controversies while remaining grounded in confessional faith.YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bravenewtubeT-Shirts: https://bobthebaptist.printful.me/Patreon: https://patreon.com/bobthebaptist X: https://x.com/BobTheBaptist Email: CanvidFilms‪@gmail.com‬Watch my viral video with Bob: The Dark Trajectory of New CalvinismMentioned in this episode:Biblical Mentorship for MenI mentor men one-on-one through 12 weeks of biblical mentorship with daily accountability. If you've built something real but you're stuck at a transition that competence alone can't solve, book a free clarity call.https://willspencer.co/mentorship

Eddie LaRow joins Will Spencer for a wide-ranging conversation about masculinity, rootlessness, and the collapse of moral authority in modern life.Rather than reacting to headlines or personalities, this episode examines a recurring historical pattern: when men lose roots in family, church, and community, power rushes in to replace authority. Drawing on thinkers such as Max Picard, Robert Nisbet, Philip Rieff, and Augustine, Will and Eddie explore why Gen Z men are drawn toward radical politics — and why this crisis did not begin online.The conversation moves through history, theology, and culture to clarify the difference between authority and power, how modern speed distorts the inner life, and why formation requires discipline, community, and time. This is a discussion about responsibility, rootedness, and how men can recover moral clarity in a disordered age.Topics DiscussedWhy many young men feel rootlessAuthority vs. power and why the difference mattersHistorical patterns behind modern radicalizationSpeed, chaos, and the modern inner lifeMasculinity, formation, and disciplineThe Church’s role in restoring moral authorityGuestEddie LaRow is an editor and writer whose work has appeared in First Things, Modern Age, and The American Mind. He writes on history, theology, culture, and Generation Z, with a focus on authority, community, and formation.Eddie's LinksSubstack — https://eddielarow.substack.com/ First Things: — https://firstthings.com/archive/?_author=eddie-larowThe Will Spencer Podcast was formerly known as "The Renaissance of Men."EXITING THE NEW AGE COURSEI spent twenty years in the New Age. This is what I learned on the way out.13 chapters, study guide, practices inventory, 30+ book bibliography.A new section on Christian apologetics to the New Age is in production. Buy now at $29 and get the upgrade free when the price goes to $49.https://willspencer.co/exitMENTORSHIP FOR MENI mentor men one-on-one through 12 weeks of biblical mentorship, with daily accountability.If you've built something real but you're stuck at a transition that competence alone can't solve, book a free clarity call:https://willspencer.co/mentorshipCONNECTYouTubeTwitter/XSubstackInstagramWebsiteSPONSORS

In this episode, I share why I’m changing how The Will Spencer Podcast works—and where it’s headed next.After five years of interviews, something has shifted. I talk about moving from a posture of learning into a season of teaching, why interviews will become less frequent, and what kind of original content I’ll be creating going forward.I also introduce a new book club launching in January, explain why I’m investing more deeply in Substack, and share what led me to begin mentoring men directly.This is a short, honest update about growth, responsibility, and what it looks like to build something with intention over time.Thanks for being here.LINKSSubscribe on Substack:👉 https://willspencer.blogBasic: $60/year • Book Club • Solo Essays • Four Doors book chaptersSignature: $297 one time • Personalized Message • Four Doors full bookBook Club (starts January 7, 2026):Black Sun: Aryan Cults, Esoteric Nazism, and the Politics of Identityby Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke📘 https://www.willspencer.blog/p/this-isnt-a-political-problemMentorship (Free Clarity Call):👉 https://willspencer.co/mentorship

Public school did not fail by accident. It did exactly what it was designed to do.Robert Bortins—CEO of Classical Conversations and co-author of Woke and Weaponized—joins me to explain why education is never neutral, how parental authority was displaced by the state, and why efforts to reform public schooling consistently miss the point.We trace the historical and ideological roots of the modern education system, discuss social-emotional learning, AI, homeschooling, and classical education, and examine what happens to families, faith, and culture when formation is outsourced.This is not a rant or a political argument. It’s an explanation of how education actually works—and who it ultimately serves.If you’re a parent, a father, or anyone trying to understand why education feels increasingly disconnected from truth and responsibility, this conversation will bring clarity.CONNECT WITH ROBERT BORTINShttps://classicalconversations.comhttps://robertbortins.com/woke-and-weaponized/https://x.com/TheRobertBshowhttps://refiningrhetoric.com/The Will Spencer Podcast was formerly known as "The Renaissance of Men."EXITING THE NEW AGE COURSEI spent twenty years in the New Age. This is what I learned on the way out.13 chapters, study guide, practices inventory, 30+ book bibliography.A new section on Christian apologetics to the New Age is in production. Buy now at $29 and get the upgrade free when the price goes to $49.https://willspencer.co/exitMENTORSHIP FOR MENI mentor men one-on-one through 12 weeks of biblical mentorship, with daily accountability.If you've built something real but you're stuck at a transition that competence alone can't solve, book a free clarity call:https://willspencer.co/mentorshipCONNECTYouTubeTwitter/XSubstackInstagramWebsiteSPONSORS

Pastor Matthew Statler is an Army veteran with four Iraq deployments, a former cavalry scout, and a biblical counselor who knows the trauma system from the inside. After years of PTSD diagnoses, alcoholism, and failed therapeutic models, Matthew encountered a biblical theology of suffering that radically transformed his life.In this conversation, we confront the rise of the “Trauma Mindset” as a counterfeit gospel — one that dissolves responsibility, cannot handle guilt or shame, and increasingly turns to psychedelics as a false path to healing and revelation.We explore why Scripture offers a deeper, more honest account of suffering than modern psychology, how psychedelics function as a pseudo-sacrament, and why true healing requires repentance, endurance, and hope in Christ rather than therapeutic escape.This is a serious conversation for men seeking clarity, strength, and a worldview capable of bearing real suffering.📌 Guest LinksPastor Matthew StatlerX: https://x.com/StatlerMatthewSubstack: https://matthewstatler.substack.comSierra Vista Baptist Church: https://sierravista.churchThe Will Spencer Podcast was formerly known as "The Renaissance of Men."EXITING THE NEW AGE COURSEI spent twenty years in the New Age. This is what I learned on the way out.13 chapters, study guide, practices inventory, 30+ book bibliography.A new section on Christian apologetics to the New Age is in production. Buy now at $29 and get the upgrade free when the price goes to $49.https://willspencer.co/exitMENTORSHIP FOR MENI mentor men one-on-one through 12 weeks of biblical mentorship, with daily accountability.If you've built something real but you're stuck at a transition that competence alone can't solve, book a free clarity call:https://willspencer.co/mentorshipCONNECTYouTubeTwitter/XSubstackInstagramWebsiteSPONSORS

Andrew Crapuchettes is a pioneer in labor market analytics and the visionary founder of Red Balloon, a job platform connecting freedom-loving employers with employees who won't compromise their values. In this conversation, he shares how he transformed from a Silicon Valley entrepreneur to building a company that rejects woke ideology in the workplace. The episode explores the false promise of workplace neutrality, the $800,000 difference between A-level and B-level engineers, and why young men must reject the lie that prosperity ladders have been pulled up.CONNECT WITH ANDREW CRAPUCHETTESRed Balloon - https://redballoon.workLinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/acrapuchettes

Andy Felton is a former nuclear submarine officer and author of "Nourished by Design," exploring faith, food and health from a Christian worldview. His journey from personal health struggles to writing a comprehensive theology of nutrition reveals how the secular wellness space has captured territory the church abandoned.The conversation challenges both progressive food co-op culture and conservative McDonald's Christianity, arguing that neither understands God's design for human flourishing through food.CONNECT WITH ANDY FELTONhttps://NourishedByDesignBook.comBuy on Amazon: https://a.co/d/2WajhsmThe Will Spencer Podcast was formerly known as "The Renaissance of Men."EXITING THE NEW AGE COURSEI spent twenty years in the New Age. This is what I learned on the way out.13 chapters, study guide, practices inventory, 30+ book bibliography.A new section on Christian apologetics to the New Age is in production. Buy now at $29 and get the upgrade free when the price goes to $49.https://willspencer.co/exitMENTORSHIP FOR MENI mentor men one-on-one through 12 weeks of biblical mentorship, with daily accountability.If you've built something real but you're stuck at a transition that competence alone can't solve, book a free clarity call:https://willspencer.co/mentorshipCONNECTYouTubeTwitter/XSubstackInstagramWebsiteSPONSORS

Doug Wilson is a Reformed pastor in Moscow, Idaho, and author of over 100 books on theology, culture, and family. In this conversation, he discusses his recent whirlwind of mainstream media appearances including CNN, The New York Times, and his conversation with Sam Harris.Wilson explains why the media's panic reveals a shifted Overton window, shares wisdom on generational faithfulness from his first-generation Christian parents to his fifth great-grandchild, and offers practical advice to young men navigating the modern dating landscape while critiquing both big-box evangelical feminization and toxic incel resentment.CONNECT WITH DOUG WILSONhttps://noquarternovember.comhttps://douglaswils.comThe Will Spencer Podcast was formerly known as "The Renaissance of Men."EXITING THE NEW AGE COURSEI spent twenty years in the New Age. This is what I learned on the way out.13 chapters, study guide, practices inventory, 30+ book bibliography.A new section on Christian apologetics to the New Age is in production. Buy now at $29 and get the upgrade free when the price goes to $49.https://willspencer.co/exitMENTORSHIP FOR MENI mentor men one-on-one through 12 weeks of biblical mentorship, with daily accountability.If you've built something real but you're stuck at a transition that competence alone can't solve, book a free clarity call:https://willspencer.co/mentorshipCONNECTYouTubeTwitter/XSubstackInstagramWebsiteSPONSORS

Legendary pastors Joel Beeke, Geoffrey Thomas, Rick Phillips, and Paul Smalley unite to discuss their groundbreaking collaborative work "The Redeemed Man" - a comprehensive guide addressing biblical masculinity across every domain of life.The conversation features powerful testimonies spanning seven decades of faithful ministry, from Thomas's 1950 conversion to Phillips's dramatic transformation at age 30. These four distinguished Reformed pastors reveal the vision behind creating a book that equips men not just spiritually, but in work, family, physical health, and finishing well.The discussion emphasizes that true manhood flows from redemption in Christ and must permeate every area of life.BUY "THE REDEEMED MAN"At Reformation Heritage Books - CLICK HEREPre-Order on Amazon.com - CLICK HERE CONNECT WITH MY GUESTSReformation Heritage Books: https://rhb.orgJoel Beeke Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joelbeeke/Rick Phillips' Church: https://spcgreenville.orgThe Will Spencer Podcast was formerly known as "The Renaissance of Men."EXITING THE NEW AGE COURSEI spent twenty years in the New Age. This is what I learned on the way out.13 chapters, study guide, practices inventory, 30+ book bibliography.A new section on Christian apologetics to the New Age is in production. Buy now at $29 and get the upgrade free when the price goes to $49.https://willspencer.co/exitMENTORSHIP FOR MENI mentor men one-on-one through 12 weeks of biblical mentorship, with daily accountability.If you've built something real but you're stuck at a transition that competence alone can't solve, book a free clarity call:https://willspencer.co/mentorshipCONNECTYouTubeTwitter/XSubstackInstagramWebsiteSPONSORS

Adam Coleman is a husband, father and author of The Children We Left Behind who speaks openly about fatherlessness, marriage and masculinity. In this conversation, Coleman exposes the growing problem of Christians In Name Only (CINOs), where people weaponize Christian rhetoric without living out the faith, driving seekers away from Christ. The discussion challenges victim ideologies in both feminism and the Manosphere, reveals why online dating creates resentment toward the opposite sex, and demonstrates what genuine biblical marriage actually looks like in practice.KEY TAKEAWAYS1. Victim ideologies render you helpless by blaming external forces instead of building internal strength2. Online dating's stranger-based format creates massive failure rates and opposite-sex resentment3. Christians In Name Only drive people from Christ through brow-beating and theological narcissism4. Biblical marriage requires the wife to trust her husband's leadership even through failures5. Show don't tell works better than preaching when advocating for marriage and family6. Win the man not the argument when engaging skeptics about Christianity onlineCONNECT WITH ADAM COLEMANhttps://substack.com/@adambcolemanhttps://x.com/wrong_speakBuy "The Children We Left Behind" - https://a.co/d/aO2Be0mThe Will Spencer Podcast was formerly known as "The Renaissance of Men."EXITING THE NEW AGE COURSEI spent twenty years in the New Age. This is what I learned on the way out.13 chapters, study guide, practices inventory, 30+ book bibliography.A new section on Christian apologetics to the New Age is in production. Buy now at $29 and get the upgrade free when the price goes to $49.https://willspencer.co/exitMENTORSHIP FOR MENI mentor men one-on-one through 12 weeks of biblical mentorship, with daily accountability.If you've built something real but you're stuck at a transition that competence alone can't solve, book a free clarity call:https://willspencer.co/mentorshipCONNECTYouTubeTwitter/XSubstackInstagramWebsiteSPONSORS

Rob Ager is a film analyst who reveals Hollywood's deliberate destruction of classic cinema culture. In this conversation he exposes how modern filmmakers no longer care about making good movies but instead seek to destroy traditional storytelling and values. The episode explores how scientists in the 1960s sought God through AI and alien contact, paralleling themes in Kubrick's 2001. Ager also discusses how Hollywood accepts negative spirituality like demons while rejecting positive religious themes.KEY TAKEAWAYSModern filmmakers increasingly reject spiritual and narrative depth, aiming to dismantle classic cinematic conventions and heroes.Science fiction frequently reflects humanity's spiritual yearning, displacing God with AI, alien contact, or technological utopias.Many classic films used subtle spirituality, allowing viewers to interpret deeper meanings rather than providing explicit answers.Old movies encouraged audience engagement with ambiguity, while today's films often over-explain and avoid challenging mysteries.Social engineering in cinema is complex; propaganda can originate from both top-level institutions and individual creators' biases.Negative spirituality—demons, possession, dystopian technology—is widely accepted in film, while positive redemption stories often face skepticism.The destruction of traditional narratives and values on screen mirrors broader cultural attempts to erase inherited social frameworks.CONNECT WITH ROB AGERhttps://collativelearning.com

Melissa Dougherty is a Christian apologist with nearly 400,000 YouTube subscribers and over 18 million video views. In this conversation, she unpacks her groundbreaking book "Happy Lies" which exposes the New Thought movement—a spiritual philosophy most Christians have never heard of yet encounter constantly. Melissa reveals how this century-old movement has infiltrated American evangelicalism, progressive Christianity, and secular self-help culture while masquerading as biblical truth. Her personal journey from New Thought deception to authentic Christianity provides urgent warnings for believers navigating today's spiritually confused landscape.KEY TAKEAWAYSNew Thought disguises itself as Christianity while promoting self-deification and manifestation theologyMost Christians unknowingly encounter New Thought beliefs in churches, self-help books, and worship musicUnity churches exist in most cities yet few believers recognize them as New Thought centersThe "living your truth" movement has direct roots in transcendental and New Thought philosophyProgressive Christianity shares significant theological overlap with New Thought's rejection of biblical authorityTrue wholeness comes only through Christ's blood, not recognizing supposed divinity within yourselfCONNECT WITH MELISSAhttps://www.melissadougherty.co/https://www.instagram.com/melissaldougherty/https://www.facebook.com/NewAgeToChristianityBuy "Happy Lies" on Amazon

Nathan Spearing is a 13-year U.S. Army Special Operations veteran and founder of a tactical training facility in North Carolina. In this conversation he breaks down Pete Hegseth's explosive speech to military generals, shares his analysis of the Charlie Kirk assassination using construction modeling software, discusses the crisis of emotional masculinity in conspiracy theories, and calls for young Christian men to step up while older leaders step back. The episode tackles military standards, church hierarchy, submission, and why Christians need to pursue truth over conspiracy when tragedy strikes.KEY TAKEAWAYSPete Hegseth's military speech represents long-overdue return to merit-based standardsMilitary had become dangerously top-heavy with unfit general officersWomen in combat units fundamentally compromise male unit effectivenessConspiracy theories often stem from male emotional dysregulation, not evidenceYoung Christian men need meaningful responsibility, not busy workSubmission applies to men in church hierarchy, not just womenMENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE"Principles of War" - Jim WilsonCONNECT WITH NATHANhttps://spearing.coThe Will Spencer Podcast was formerly known as "The Renaissance of Men."EXITING THE NEW AGE COURSEI spent twenty years in the New Age. This is what I learned on the way out.13 chapters, study guide, practices inventory, 30+ book bibliography.A new section on Christian apologetics to the New Age is in production. Buy now at $29 and get the upgrade free when the price goes to $49.https://willspencer.co/exitMENTORSHIP FOR MENI mentor men one-on-one through 12 weeks of biblical mentorship, with daily accountability.If you've built something real but you're stuck at a transition that competence alone can't solve, book a free clarity call:https://willspencer.co/mentorshipCONNECTYouTubeTwitter/XSubstackInstagramWebsiteSPONSORS

Tanner Guzy is a men's style coach and author of The Appearance of Power, helping high-achieving men align their external appearance with internal identity. As a single father of seven running a seven-figure business for eight years, Tanner has completed a half Ironman, earned Jiu-Jitsu medals, and conquered Spartan races. In this conversation marking five years since his first appearance on the show, Tanner discusses sovereignty, the collapse of the manosphere, and why most men's approach to style undermines their masculinity.KEY TAKEAWAYSMost men wear a "uniform of apathy" that signals lack of sovereignty over their livesThe manosphere failed because it worshiped autonomy instead of healthy interdependence"Extegrity" means aligning who you are externally with who you are internallyGrowth gluttons pursue progress at expense of presence and meaningful relationshipsRomance maxing creates fulfilling life experiences instead of waiting for circumstances to changeTrue masculinity holds tension between competing values rather than choosing extremesCONNECT WITH TANNERhttps://masculine-style.com/https://x.com/tannerguzyThe Appearance of Power: https://a.co/d/eBl3OphThe Will Spencer Podcast was formerly known as "The Renaissance of Men."EXITING THE NEW AGE COURSEI spent twenty years in the New Age. This is what I learned on the way out.13 chapters, study guide, practices inventory, 30+ book bibliography.A new section on Christian apologetics to the New Age is in production. Buy now at $29 and get the upgrade free when the price goes to $49.https://willspencer.co/exitMENTORSHIP FOR MENI mentor men one-on-one through 12 weeks of biblical mentorship, with daily accountability.If you've built something real but you're stuck at a transition that competence alone can't solve, book a free clarity call:https://willspencer.co/mentorshipCONNECTYouTubeTwitter/XSubstackInstagramWebsiteSPONSORS

Jason Mironchuck is the creator and host of Mironchuck Now, a channel devoted to challenging political and social narratives. Recently beginning his catechism in the Russian Orthodox Church, Jason has developed a prophetic framework called "The Vengeful Son" that predicts a coming wave of youth violence born from spiritual emptiness and systemic betrayal. This conversation explores how 250 years of liberal revolution has produced a generation of nihilistic young people primed for destruction, and why returning to Christ may be our only hope.KEY TAKEAWAYSThe Vengeful Son represents angry youth discovering they've been systematically lied toTransgender youth on puberty blockers may become tomorrow's domestic terror cellsLiberal ideologies are Luciferian inversions of God's virtues that exalt passionsViolence feels good but young men lack moral brakes to know when to stopOrthodox prophecies predict children born with "dead souls" unable to pursue sainthoodThe church is a hospital where ideologies die and Christ enters the heartCONNECT WITH JASON MIRONCHUCKYouTube ChannelX/TwitterSupport Jason's ChannelMENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST"Nihilism" - Father Seraphim Rose"The Great Awakening vs. The Great Reset" - Alexander Dugan"Jesus and John Wayne" - Kristin Kobes Du Mez"The Christian Mind" - Harry Blamires"The Screwtape Letters" - C.S. Lewis"The Great Divorce" - C.S. Lewis

Lana Silk serves as Transform Iran's Chief Executive Officer, leading efforts to bring freedom to the Iranian people through ministry and humanitarian aid. In this conversation, she shares her family's supernatural calling to flee Iran in 1988 and establish a missions organization from outside the country. The episode explores Iran's explosive underground church growth, with potentially 2-3 million Christians in a nation of 89 million, and the strategic preparation needed for Iran's anticipated freedom.KEY TAKEAWAYSIran may have fastest growing church globally with 19.6% growth rateTransform Iran operates in 19 countries supporting underground house churches78+ people groups in Iran need Bible translation beyond FarsiGovernment paranoia post-12 Day War has intensified Christian persecutionRevival concentrated in Farsi-speakers while ethnic minorities remain largely unreachedIran's geopolitical influence could transform Middle East if turned toward goodCONNECT WITH TRANSFORM IRANhttps://transformiran.com

This week, I hosted a memorial livestream following Charlie Kirk's assassination. I was joined by Cody Lawrence (Spare No Arrows), Hitler Hated Christ, journalist Mikale Olson, and Pastor Darren DePaul. In this stream, I argued that our nation experienced collective trauma from witnessing graphic violence, identifying four problematic responses: leftists celebrating the death, right-wingers calling for retaliation, conspiracy theorists blaming various actors, and high-level influencers engaging in divisive arguments. And my guests and I discussed challenges with radical ideologies infiltrating conservative Christian spaces and the need for pastoral mentorship. I concluded that the majority response has been people turning toward faith and spiritual renewal in Charlie Kirk's memory.KEY TAKEAWAYS1. Pastoral care is essential during crisis - Pastor Darren emphasized the need for churches to provide real mentorship and life-on-life discipleship rather than just Sunday services.2. Violent imagery can be traumatizing - The widespread circulation of graphic footage created shock and grief for many Americans unaccustomed to witnessing such violence.3. Multiple factions are exploiting the tragedy - Various groups are using Kirk's death to advance their own agendas rather than focusing on healing.4. Cultural Christianity lacks depth - Several of us noted that surface-level Christian identity without genuine faith leads to inconsistent behavior and eventual rebellion.5. Young men need wisdom and mentorship - Our discussion highlighted how young men's lack of discernment makes them vulnerable to extremist ideologies from various directions.6. Charlie Kirk's legacy was dialogue over force - We agreed his approach of engaging opponents through conversation rather than violence should be emulated.CONNECT WITH TPUSAhttps://tpusa.orgCONNECT WITH MY GUESTSCody LawrenceMikale OlsonHitler Hated ChristDarren Depaul

Katie Faust is the founder and president of Them Before Us, a global movement defending children's right to their mother and father. In this conversation she reveals her bold plan to overturn gay marriage through the courts by focusing on children's rights rather than adult perspectives. The episode explores how marriage redefinition has created a legal framework that commodifies children through surrogacy, IVF, and intent-based parenthood. Katie also discusses her controversial "one tool" for evaluating family decisions and her surprising work as a Christian matchmaker.KEY TAKEAWAYSEither adults do the hard thing or children do the hard thing in every family situationGay marriage legally weakened every parent's claim to their own biological childrenNo-fault divorce was the original redefinition of marriage that prioritized adult happiness over childrenIVF and surrogacy create mass production and commodification of children through intent-based parenthoodNatural rights exist pre-government, require no provision, and everyone gets equal measureChristians historically protected children first, then dealt with adult comfort secondCONNECT WITH KATY FAUSThttps://thembeforeus.com/https://thembeforeus.substack.com/https://x.com/advo_katyhttps://x.com/ThemBeforeUs

Dr. Yoram Hazony is chairman of the Edmund Burke Foundation and author of The Virtue of Nationalism. In this conversation, he explains how liberal imperialism disguised as "tolerance" destroys nations from within, argues that America's founding as a Christian nation offers the only path back from cultural collapse, and warns that China represents the greatest existential threat to Western civilization while young men waste energy fighting imaginary enemies.KEY TAKEAWAYSLiberal "neutrality" creates a cultural vacuum that gets filled by neo-Marxism and chaosHitler was an imperialist, not a nationalist - nationalism means independent nations coexistingHuman obligations are inherited, not chosen through consent - loyalty bonds create nationsAmerica was legally recognized as a Christian nation until 1947's separation doctrineChina is the only real threat to America while conservatives fight phantom battlesOrthodox Jews and serious Christians are natural allies against liberal imperialismMENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST"The Dangerous Secret Young Men Are Keeping: Neo-Nazi Thought Has Entered the Church" - by Will Spencer (Christ Over All)CONNECT WITH DR. HAZONY"The Virtue of Nationalism" - https://a.co/d/10D22tz"Conservatism: A Rediscovery" - https://a.co/d/10D22tzhttps://natcon.orghttps://x.com/yhazonyhttps://nationalconservatism.org/https://burkefoundation.org/The Will Spencer Podcast was formerly known as "The Renaissance of Men."EXITING THE NEW AGE COURSEI spent twenty years in the New Age. This is what I learned on the way out.13 chapters, study guide, practices inventory, 30+ book bibliography.A new section on Christian apologetics to the New Age is in production. Buy now at $29 and get the upgrade free when the price goes to $49.https://willspencer.co/exitMENTORSHIP FOR MENI mentor men one-on-one through 12 weeks of biblical mentorship, with daily accountability.If you've built something real but you're stuck at a transition that competence alone can't solve, book a free clarity call:https://willspencer.co/mentorshipCONNECTYouTubeTwitter/XSubstackInstagramWebsiteSPONSORS

Dr. Cal Beisner is the founder of the Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation and a Reformed theologian who challenges mainstream climate orthodoxy from a biblical worldview. In this conversation, he reveals how climate models consistently overpredict warming by 2-4 times actual observations and argues that net zero emissions would kill half the world's population. The episode explores why biblical stewardship contradicts both secular environmentalism and population control ideologies, while defending fossil fuels as essential for lifting the global poor out of poverty.KEY TAKEAWAYSNet zero fossil fuel policies would kill half the world's populationClimate models overpredict warming by 2-4 times actual observations Only one of 120+ climate model families accurately simulates past temperaturesBiblical worldview rejects catastrophic feedback loops in God's creationWealthier societies maintain cleaner, healthier environments than poor onesNew Age environmentalism leads to anti-human population control ideologyMENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE"Shepherds for Sale" - Megan Basham"Prospects for Growth: A Biblical View of Population Resources and the Future" - Cal BeisnerCONNECT WITH CAL BEISNER & CORNWALLhttps://CornwallAlliance.org/anniversary 20th anniversary campaign with matching funds up to $100,000!https://CornwallAlliance.org https://CornwallAlliance.org/donatehttps://x.com/@CornwallSteward

Courtenay Turner and Carl Teichrib return to expose the hidden influence of Ken Wilber, the "Christian Joe Rogan's" philosophical inspiration who has shaped globalist movements for decades.Turner and Teichrib reveal how Wilber's "integral theory" serves as the intellectual foundation for movements like Game B, interfaith syncretism, and the UN's one-world religion agenda. The conversation uncovers shocking connections between New Age spirituality, technocracy, and the systematic infiltration of Christianity through progressive theology.KEY TAKEAWAYS:Ken Wilber's integral theory provides philosophical foundation for globalist movements and UN initiativesGame B movement represents "technological Age of Aquarius" merging spirituality with technocracyWilber influenced emerging church leaders like Brian McLaren to syncretize Christianity with mysticismEsalen Institute served as CIA-monitored bridge between Soviet Union and American spiritual movements"All is one" religions ultimately worship the divine feminine/goddess, contradicting masculine ChristianityTrack Two diplomacy uses cultural/religious networks to bypass traditional government channelsMENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE"Religion of Tomorrow" - Ken Wilber"A New Narrative for a New World" - Lighthouse Trails Publishing"Changing Images of Man" - Stanford Research InstituteCONNECT WITH CARL & COURTENAYhttps://www.gameofgods.ca/https://courtenayturner.com/

Paul Brown is the founder and co-owner of Wasson Watch Company, a Christian entrepreneur who started his business in 2018. In this conversation he shares how building a luxury watch company led him into information warfare on X, where he discovered the growing threat of antisemitism within conservative circles. The episode explores his decision to take a public stand against Nazis and Groypers, the massive backlash he faced, and why he believes silence in the face of evil is complicity.KEY TAKEAWAYSBuilding authentic products requires refusing to compromise on standardsInformation warfare on X targets minds through coordinated manipulation campaigns Antisemitism has infiltrated conservative spaces through "woke right" ideologySpeaking truth about evil will cost you followers and salesMass formation psychosis can spread dangerous ideas rapidly through societyNo amount of social capital justifies staying silent about moral issuesMENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE"Lord of the Flies" - William Golding"Black Sun" - Nicholas Goodrick-Clark"Nazi Ecology" - Dr. Mark MusserCONNECT WITH PAUL / WASSONhttps://wassonwatch.com/https://x.com/WassonWatchThe Will Spencer Podcast was formerly known as "The Renaissance of Men."EXITING THE NEW AGE COURSEI spent twenty years in the New Age. This is what I learned on the way out.13 chapters, study guide, practices inventory, 30+ book bibliography.A new section on Christian apologetics to the New Age is in production. Buy now at $29 and get the upgrade free when the price goes to $49.https://willspencer.co/exitMENTORSHIP FOR MENI mentor men one-on-one through 12 weeks of biblical mentorship, with daily accountability.If you've built something real but you're stuck at a transition that competence alone can't solve, book a free clarity call:https://willspencer.co/mentorshipCONNECTYouTubeTwitter/XSubstackInstagramWebsiteSPONSORS

Mary Weller is a researcher and writer for truthXchange, specializing in contemporary cultural issues including yoga, the Enneagram, and transgender ideologies from a Christian worldview. She discovered firsthand how yoga infiltrated her son's public school in California, leading to a major legal battle. Her work helps Christians understand how Eastern mysticism has penetrated American education and culture, while her ministry supports families navigating gender confusion with biblical truth and practical wisdom.KEY TAKEAWAYSYoga in schools teaches children to worship the sun and embrace divine spark theology"Secular" yoga still maintains its Hindu religious foundation and evangelistic purposeRapid onset gender dysphoria spreads through social contagion in friend groupsTruth Exchange equips everyday Christians to recognize and counter gnostic worldviewsChristians defending biblical truth often face intense backlash even from church membersPronoun hospitality actually enables medical harm rather than preventing suicideMENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE"American Veda" - Philip Goldberg"Irreversible Damage" - Abigail Shrier"When Harry Became Sally" - Ryan T. Anderson"Embodied" - Preston Sprinkle"Cracking Da Vinci's Code" - Peter Jones & Jim GarlowCONNECT WITH MARY WELLERhttps://x.com/MWellertXchttps://x.com/truthxchangehttps://truthxchange.comIntensives: [email protected] Will Spencer Podcast was formerly known as "The Renaissance of Men."EXITING THE NEW AGE COURSEI spent twenty years in the New Age. This is what I learned on the way out.13 chapters, study guide, practices inventory, 30+ book bibliography.A new section on Christian apologetics to the New Age is in production. Buy now at $29 and get the upgrade free when the price goes to $49.https://willspencer.co/exitMENTORSHIP FOR MENI mentor men one-on-one through 12 weeks of biblical mentorship, with daily accountability.If you've built something real but you're stuck at a transition that competence alone can't solve, book a free clarity call:https://willspencer.co/mentorshipCONNECTYouTubeTwitter/XSubstackInstagramWebsiteSPONSORS

Dr. John West is the Vice President at the Discovery Institute and author of "Stockholm Syndrome Christianity." In this conversation, he exposes how prominent evangelical leaders have compromised biblical truth for cultural acceptance. The discussion reveals shocking examples including Francis Collins using tax dollars to harvest aborted baby parts and evangelical institutions abandoning biblical marriage.KEY TAKEAWAYSFrancis Collins funded harvesting aborted baby parts from 8-42 weeks with tax dollarsOver 70% of Seattle Pacific University faculty voted against biblical marriageStockholm Syndrome Christians look more like secularists than historic ChristianityThe biggest predictor of intergenerational poverty is broken familiesSupreme Court gay marriage ruling came from a devout Catholic, not an atheistChristian boards often fail by lacking courage to uphold biblical standardsMENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE"The Mark of a Christian" - Francis Schaeffer"The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind" - Mark KnollCONNECT WITH DR. WESThttps://JohnGWest.com https://stockholmsyndromechristianity.comThe Will Spencer Podcast was formerly known as "The Renaissance of Men."EXITING THE NEW AGE COURSEI spent twenty years in the New Age. This is what I learned on the way out.13 chapters, study guide, practices inventory, 30+ book bibliography.A new section on Christian apologetics to the New Age is in production. Buy now at $29 and get the upgrade free when the price goes to $49.https://willspencer.co/exitMENTORSHIP FOR MENI mentor men one-on-one through 12 weeks of biblical mentorship, with daily accountability.If you've built something real but you're stuck at a transition that competence alone can't solve, book a free clarity call:https://willspencer.co/mentorshipCONNECTYouTubeTwitter/XSubstackInstagramWebsiteSPONSORS

Rob Ager is a culture, film and video game critic with more than 280,000 subscribers on YouTube who specializes in deep psychological analysis of classic films. In this conversation he reveals how his early study of hypnosis led him to discover hidden layers in movies by directors like Stanley Kubrick and Alfred Hitchcock. The episode explores how filmmakers use subliminal techniques to manipulate audience consciousness and why modern cinema has declined in artistic depth compared to classics from the 1970s-80s.KEY TAKEAWAYSHypnosis techniques overlap significantly with cinematic storytelling methods used by master directorsKubrick encoded multiple layers of meaning using visual symbols, spatial design, and psychological manipulationThe monolith in 2001 represents the movie screen itself, not an alien artifactThe Shining depicts generational cycles of family abuse rather than supernatural horrorModern films rely on CGI spectacle over practical effects and genuine psychological depthPolitical correctness has created conformity that stifles creative originality in contemporary cinemaMENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE"Codebreakers" by David KahnCONNECT WITH ROB AGERhttps://collativelearning.comhttps://www.youtube.com/@collativelearninghttps://www.youtube.com/@robag555The Will Spencer Podcast was formerly known as "The Renaissance of Men."EXITING THE NEW AGE COURSEI spent twenty years in the New Age. This is what I learned on the way out.13 chapters, study guide, practices inventory, 30+ book bibliography.A new section on Christian apologetics to the New Age is in production. Buy now at $29 and get the upgrade free when the price goes to $49.https://willspencer.co/exitMENTORSHIP FOR MENI mentor men one-on-one through 12 weeks of biblical mentorship, with daily accountability.If you've built something real but you're stuck at a transition that competence alone can't solve, book a free clarity call:https://willspencer.co/mentorshipCONNECTYouTubeTwitter/XSubstackInstagramWebsiteSPONSORS

Dr. Joel Beeke is chancellor of Puritan Reformed Seminary, pastor, and prolific author who has written over 100 books on Reformed theology and Christian living. In this conversation, he shares his revolutionary approach to biblical manhood through the offices of prophet, priest, and king in the home. Dr. Beeke reveals how daily family worship and passionate prayer can transform families, drawing from his experience growing a seminary from 4 to 530 students and raising three children who remained faithful to Christ.KEY TAKEAWAYSFathers must be prophets, priests, and kings to their wives and childrenDaily family worship is non-negotiable for Christian householdsCouples who pray together passionately stay together spirituallyMost men fail at family leadership because they don't know how to startChildren need to see their father's soul-love through earnest prayerDiscipline done in love, not anger, builds loyalty rather than rebellionCONNECT WITH DR. BEEKEhttps://heritagebooks.orgMENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE"How to Lead Your Family: A Guide for Men Wanting to Be More" - Joel Beeke "Family Worship Bible Guide" - Joel Beeke "How to Cultivate Private Prayer" - Joel Beeke"Reformed Systematic Theology" (4 volumes) - Joel Beeke"Meet the Puritans" - Joel Beeke"Shepherding a Child's Heart" - Ted Tripp"Valley of Vision" - Arthur Bennett

Dr. Michael Egnor is a professor of neurosurgery at Stony Brook University who has performed over 7,000 brain operations throughout his 40+ year career. In this conversation, he shares groundbreaking evidence from neuroscience that challenges materialist assumptions about consciousness and provides scientific support for the existence of the human soul. The episode explores split-brain surgery, near-death experiences, and how his own conversion from atheism to Christianity was informed by what he observed in the operating room.KEY TAKEAWAYSBrain surgery can remove major portions without affecting abstract thought or consciousnessSplit-brain patients remain unified persons despite severed hemispheresChildren missing two-thirds of their brain can develop completely normallyNear-death experiences show consciousness operating independently of brain functionMaterialism fails to explain how perfect concepts emerge from imperfect brainsArtificial intelligence cannot achieve true consciousness because machines lack soulsCONNECT WITH DR. EGNORBuy "The Immortal Mind" on Amazonhttps://mindmatters.ai/https://evolutionnews.org/https://www.discovery.org/p/egnor/The Will Spencer Podcast was formerly known as "The Renaissance of Men."EXITING THE NEW AGE COURSEI spent twenty years in the New Age. This is what I learned on the way out.13 chapters, study guide, practices inventory, 30+ book bibliography.A new section on Christian apologetics to the New Age is in production. Buy now at $29 and get the upgrade free when the price goes to $49.https://willspencer.co/exitMENTORSHIP FOR MENI mentor men one-on-one through 12 weeks of biblical mentorship, with daily accountability.If you've built something real but you're stuck at a transition that competence alone can't solve, book a free clarity call:https://willspencer.co/mentorshipCONNECTYouTubeTwitter/XSubstackInstagramWebsiteSPONSORS

Jon Root is a conservative sports commentator who built his career as one of the youngest hosts in major professional sports before joining Turning Point USA. In this conversation, he exposes the increasing politicization destroying American sports culture, from Pride Night mandates to the shocking treatment of WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark. Root reveals how woke ideology has infected everything from player empowerment to the racial targeting of the league's biggest draw, while calling for a return to sports as America's great unifying force.KEY TAKEAWAYSPride Nights evolved from marriage equality celebrations to drag queen performances targeting childrenCaitlin Clark receives unprecedented hatred despite being the WNBA's greatest economic asset"Load management" culture disconnects millionaire athletes from working-class American fansChristian athletes are leading a quiet revival through bold faith declarationsThe NBA facilitated a suspicious trade sending Luka Doncic to the LakersSports card collecting has returned as a major investment opportunityCONNECT WITH JON ROOTWebsite: https://www.jonrootlive.com/X: https://x.com/JonnyRoot_Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/JONNYROOT_YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JONROOTThe Will Spencer Podcast was formerly known as "The Renaissance of Men."EXITING THE NEW AGE COURSEI spent twenty years in the New Age. This is what I learned on the way out.13 chapters, study guide, practices inventory, 30+ book bibliography.A new section on Christian apologetics to the New Age is in production. Buy now at $29 and get the upgrade free when the price goes to $49.https://willspencer.co/exitMENTORSHIP FOR MENI mentor men one-on-one through 12 weeks of biblical mentorship, with daily accountability.If you've built something real but you're stuck at a transition that competence alone can't solve, book a free clarity call:https://willspencer.co/mentorshipCONNECTYouTubeTwitter/XSubstackInstagramWebsiteSPONSORS

Seth Troutt is the teaching pastor at Ironwood Church in Phoenix and holds a doctorate focused on digital technology, Generation Z, and gender identity. In this conversation, he shares his powerful "masculinity pyramid" framework and reveals how God transformed him from an arrogant high school athlete into a humble pastor through painful but necessary humiliation. The episode tackles controversial topics like TRT abuse among Christian men and offers biblical alternatives to toxic masculinity culture.KEY TAKEAWAYSTrue masculinity starts with humility - recognizing you are not GodToxic masculinity is often the absence of virtue, not excess of itTRT creates psychoactive changes that damage relationships and characterPassive men cause as much relational damage as aggressive onesThe masculinity pyramid: humility, discipline, responsibility, chivalryPersonal transformation requires receiving correction from loving mentorsMENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST"Humility" by Andrew MurrayCONNECT WITH SETH TROUTThttps://sethtroutt.comThe Will Spencer Podcast was formerly known as "The Renaissance of Men."EXITING THE NEW AGE COURSEI spent twenty years in the New Age. This is what I learned on the way out.13 chapters, study guide, practices inventory, 30+ book bibliography.A new section on Christian apologetics to the New Age is in production. Buy now at $29 and get the upgrade free when the price goes to $49.https://willspencer.co/exitMENTORSHIP FOR MENI mentor men one-on-one through 12 weeks of biblical mentorship, with daily accountability.If you've built something real but you're stuck at a transition that competence alone can't solve, book a free clarity call:https://willspencer.co/mentorshipCONNECTYouTubeTwitter/XSubstackInstagramWebsiteSPONSORS

Reverend Dr. Uri Brito serves as Senior Pastor of Providence Church and was elected Presiding Minister of the CREC in 2023. In this conversation he shares his recent 17-day journey through Asia, visiting CREC church plants in the Philippines and Japan while exploring how Reformed liturgical worship translates across wildly different cultures. The episode reveals surprising insights about global Christianity's future and the strategic church plant launching in Washington D.C.KEY TAKEAWAYSThe CREC has grown to 153 churches worldwide with surprising international expansionReformed liturgical worship translates effectively across diverse cultural contextsJapanese culture shows remarkable openness to Western Christian influence among youthBecoming Protestant often means family rejection in non-Western culturesCommon grace in Japan may be preparing ground for redemptive graceThe CREC is launching strategic church plant in Washington D.C. in June 2024MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE"How Should We Then Live" - Francis SchaefferCONNECT WITH URI BRITOWebsite: https://www.uribrito.com/The Will Spencer Podcast was formerly known as "The Renaissance of Men."EXITING THE NEW AGE COURSEI spent twenty years in the New Age. This is what I learned on the way out.13 chapters, study guide, practices inventory, 30+ book bibliography.A new section on Christian apologetics to the New Age is in production. Buy now at $29 and get the upgrade free when the price goes to $49.https://willspencer.co/exitMENTORSHIP FOR MENI mentor men one-on-one through 12 weeks of biblical mentorship, with daily accountability.If you've built something real but you're stuck at a transition that competence alone can't solve, book a free clarity call:https://willspencer.co/mentorshipCONNECTYouTubeTwitter/XSubstackInstagramWebsiteSPONSORS

Sam Rotman is a classically trained pianist who graduated from the Juilliard School and has performed over 3,400 concerts in 62 countries. In our conversation he shares his dramatic conversion from Orthodox Judaism to Christianity in 1971, which transformed not just his faith but his entire approach to music and performance. The episode explores how his newfound faith led him to play concerts everywhere from prestigious concert halls to jungle villages, always with the goal of sharing the gospel through classical music excellence.KEY TAKEAWAYSTrue heart transformation can only come through Jesus Christ, not through religious activity or moral behaviorExcellence in your craft creates the platform to share what matters most in your lifeServing Jesus means playing any piano, staying anywhere, going wherever He opens doorsFamily relationships may suffer when choosing Christ, but God's faithfulness endures through difficult seasonsProfessional practice requires dedication - Rotman practiced 10 hours daily at Juilliard for five years straightReal ministry happens when you're willing to go to places others won't consider beneath themCONNECT WITH SAM ROTMANhttps://samrotman.com The Will Spencer Podcast was formerly known as "The Renaissance of Men."EXITING THE NEW AGE COURSEI spent twenty years in the New Age. This is what I learned on the way out.13 chapters, study guide, practices inventory, 30+ book bibliography.A new section on Christian apologetics to the New Age is in production. Buy now at $29 and get the upgrade free when the price goes to $49.https://willspencer.co/exitMENTORSHIP FOR MENI mentor men one-on-one through 12 weeks of biblical mentorship, with daily accountability.If you've built something real but you're stuck at a transition that competence alone can't solve, book a free clarity call:https://willspencer.co/mentorshipCONNECTYouTubeTwitter/XSubstackInstagramWebsiteSPONSORS

Lucas Curcio is the pastor of The Mission Church in New Jersey, and the host of the Method Ministries podcast.In our conversation, he shares his journey from an aimless young man to finding purpose through reading Scripture and accepting Christ at age 18. The episode discusses how true Christian masculinity requires taking responsibility for your life instead of blaming others, and why many modern movements targeting young men miss the simple gospel message. Lucas emphasizes that real revival comes through prayer and holiness rather than political power, and that a quiet, faithful life often brings more eternal reward than internet fame.KEY TAKEAWAYS:True masculinity requires taking responsibility, not victimizing yourself or blaming others for your circumstances.Men must reconcile with their earthly fathers to understand their relationship with God the Father.Revival comes through prayer, holiness, and God's power, not political movements or human strategies.The gospel calls men to die to themselves, not pursue power and glory through worldly means.Online ministry should never replace real-world relationships, evangelism, and serving your local church community.A quiet, faithful life devoted to Scripture and prayer often brings more eternal rewards than public fame.CONNECT WITH LUCASYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@methodministriesX/Twitter: https://x.com/MethodMinistryInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/method_ministries/The Will Spencer Podcast was formerly known as "The Renaissance of Men."EXITING THE NEW AGE COURSEI spent twenty years in the New Age. This is what I learned on the way out.13 chapters, study guide, practices inventory, 30+ book bibliography.A new section on Christian apologetics to the New Age is in production. Buy now at $29 and get the upgrade free when the price goes to $49.https://willspencer.co/exitMENTORSHIP FOR MENI mentor men one-on-one through 12 weeks of biblical mentorship, with daily accountability.If you've built something real but you're stuck at a transition that competence alone can't solve, book a free clarity call:https://willspencer.co/mentorshipCONNECTYouTubeTwitter/XSubstackInstagramWebsiteSPONSORS

Dr. Joe Rigney is a Fellow of Theology at New Saint Andrews College. In his controversial bestselling book "The Sin of Empathy" (Canon Press) he argues that empathy becomes sinful when divorced from truth and biblical standards. In our conversation, Dr. Rigney explains how weaponized empathy manipulates through emotional validation demands rather than genuine care. He describes how many Christians have internalized a "progressive gaze" that judges their faithfulness by secular approval rather than biblical standards. The episode explores practical alternatives to toxic empathy, including Christ-centered compassion that stays anchored to truth while genuinely caring for hurting people.KEY TAKEAWAYSEmpathy becomes sinful when untethered from truth and biblical standards of compassion.Weaponized empathy manipulates through emotional blackmail, demanding validation over truth-seeking.Christians must resist the progressive gaze that judges faithfulness by secular approval.True compassion involves staying anchored to reality while helping those who suffer.Playing the victim differs from being a victim - Christ suffered without self-pity.Good pretending means acting as your Spirit-filled self would in difficult situations. CONNECT WITH DR. RIGNEY"The Sin of Empathy" - https://a.co/d/fKGbwti"Leadership and Emotional Sabotage" - https://a.co/d/9C2obRX"Live Like a Narnian" - https://a.co/d/bFfV1rD"Lewis on the Christian Life" - https://a.co/d/bKPdHeahttps://canonplus.com/ - use code WADE for $0.99 first monthMENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE"A Failure of Nerve" by Edwin Friedman - https://a.co/d/iOlbrzf"Against Empathy" by Paul Bloom - https://a.co/d/2gTyntc"Toxic Empathy" by Allie Beth Stuckey - https://a.co/d/2gTyntc"Shepherds for Sale" by Meg Basham - https://a.co/d/aD7uiLyThe Will Spencer Podcast was formerly known as "The Renaissance of Men."EXITING THE NEW AGE COURSEI spent twenty years in the New Age. This is what I learned on the way out.13 chapters, study guide, practices inventory, 30+ book bibliography.A new section on Christian apologetics to the New Age is in production. Buy now at $29 and get the upgrade free when the price goes to $49.https://willspencer.co/exitMENTORSHIP FOR MENI mentor men one-on-one through 12 weeks of biblical mentorship, with daily accountability.If you've built something real but you're stuck at a transition that competence alone can't solve, book a free clarity call:https://willspencer.co/mentorshipCONNECTYouTubeTwitter/XSubstackInstagramWebsiteSPONSORS