The Judson Podcast: Recent Episodes
Judson House
The Judson Podcast is about a diverse group of Christian friends who get together to talk about faith, culture, and all the things that interest them.
The Judson crew takes a look at their nerdy side and wonder -- when was it exactly that being a nerd became popular?! We discuss all the interesting ways that Christian spirituality overlap with the values of nerd culture. It turns out the early church was pretty nerdy, guys. Maybe we need to go back to that. Secrets are divulged as it turns out we have a faker in our midst.
David, Jenni, and Scott discuss if the art of preaching truly fulfills the needs of the church in this point of time, when churches seem content to remove themselves from the most pressing issues in our world today.
We also give our takes on what makes a sermon effective. How long should a sermon be? How much scripture should a sermon cover? And what types of sermons are the most annoying? Listen to find out!
This week, Jenni and Tamara reflect on their experiences growing up homeschooled. How did homeschooling affect their worldview and their attitudes? Looking beyond the stereotypes of ultra conservative households, we find out interesting stories of what can happen when families decide to spend so much time together.
The Judson crew, joined by Tamara, reflect back on some of our favorite things from the past year. This year we decided to change things up with the categories. So this year, we shared:
- The Best Thing We Watched
- The Best Thing We Listened To
- Favorite Meme
- Most Important Cultural Moment
- Spiritual Takeaway of 2021
We surprised each other and shared encouragement, as we look ahead to God's guidance in the new year!
For this more academic topic, the Judson Crew share their knowledge on why the Bible is a historical record we can trust and rely on. What is the best way to study the Bible? And do pastors really know what they're talking about?
David, Jenni, and Scott are back to help listeners figure out at what point a church community becomes unhealthy enough to warrant moving on. In a time where pandemics, political divisions, and social mobility have made community the rarest commodity of all, what can each of us do in our lives to continue living in the Body of Christ?
Tamara, David, Jenni, and Scott share our favorite Marvel movies as we analyze the films for interesting spiritual lessons. But we also just share our love for storytelling that moves us and the passionate filmmakers behind them!
Scott, Jenni, and David take stock of what church community looks like right now. Can the church still be the church when relationships are remote? Can the church fulfill its duties if we no longer venture beyond our primary relationships? Is this a time to mourn or a time for new opportunities? Listen in and join the conversation!
The Judson crew get together to talk about the challenges we have trying to make new friends, now that most of us are in our 30s. Does growing up in the church help or exacerbate the problem of meeting new people? Plus a new segment: Favorites! Everyone shares their current favorite restaurant.
David, Jenni, and Scott talk about their experiences doing evangelism, both the good and the bad of it. Is the way in which churches and campus ministries teach evangelism truly biblical? Is it really supposed to be this awkward?! Plus: we answer the question of whether millennials really are bad at relationships.
The Judson House is joined by special guest Danielle Blocker, executive director of Young People for Progress, as we discuss God’s call for justice on our lives. Why is it that so many churches are afraid to do the right thing? And what steps can all of us make in order to turn things around?
Following the Atlanta spa shootings, Scott and Amber get together with Jenni and David to talk about their experiences of discrimination as Asian Americans, especially as it relates to the fetishization of Asian females. We discuss a lot of deep topics that go unaddressed by the news cycle, such as the tension between Asian & black communities and the prevalence of yellow fever even in today's media.
Jenni, David, and Scott get together to talk about their favorite dishes and the interesting ways that food has brought them all together over the years. Not only has learning about food helped them to broaden their cultural horizons, but scripture itself underscores food's design for authentic connections as well.
David shares a Black History Moment while Scott honors the Black Church in this very sermonic episode of the Judson Podcast!
Pastoral misconduct has been a constant headline in the news, but dig deeper and you'll see that fallouts over leadership is more common than not. We argue that leadership in the modern church has strayed very, very far from what the Bible originally prescribed. Is it time for a change?
The Judson House is joined by our special guest Pastor Phil Beatty of Hartford City Church! Pastor Phil opens up about the challenges of building a multicultural community where differences exist not only in skin color, but in theology and political viewpoints as well. Thank you to Pastor Phil for sharing so much wisdom with us in this episode!
We look back at the shows, music, and books that helped keep us sane and connected during the long months of our global pandemic. We also share what the past year was like for us spiritually, as we assess what God was trying to teach each of us throughout our trials and tribulations.
We discuss the historic attack on the US Capitol committed last week by white terrrorists. We analyze things from the perspective of Christians trying to understand a dangerous group of people that claims to be our brothers and sisters in Christ. Scott and Jenni share a prophetic word as they seek God's guidance in these tumultuous times.
In one of our earliest episodes, the Judson House discussed what it looks like to be "the ideal Christian woman." We continue the conversation as we look at where our modern definitions of manhood overlap -- and DO NOT overlap -- with the picture of masculinity we get from scripture.
The Judson crew dive into scripture to see what we can learn about ambition and success. What does it mean to be motivated in your career path, in your leadership opportunities, or even in ministry? As young men and women looking to achieve our potential, what lines should we be careful to cross?
What is the best way to stay connected to God in the midst of constant change and isolation? The Judson crew talks about fasting, prayer, and other disciplines that are trending in Christian circles. We share what has been helpful for our own spiritual growth.
We’re joined by special guest Jason Yum, who has pastored at several churches from Atlanta to the Bay to Seattle, as we discuss the important topic of spiritual burnout. What are the warning signs of spiritual burnout? And why has it become an all too common phenomenon among young minority pastors?
Tamara, David, Jenni, and Scott get together to share their hopes for this new era of our nation, but also their disappoinments in a church that continues to lack empathy for those who have been hurt during the past four years of division and hostility. As much as ever before, we need to heed Jesus' call to forgive.
When we talk about how to reform the modern church, we often forget that congregations are beholden to larger faith traditions, traditions that usually have a complicated history. Oftentimes these corporate representatives, such as the New England C&MA, have absolutely no interest in racial reconciliation.
How should Christians vote? David, Amber, Jenni and Scott all share their thoughts on why it's important to vote -- not just as a civic duty, but as a biblically sound way to love our neighbors as well. Lots of good advice and research went into this one!
The Judson crew welcomes Theda Tann as she talks about her journey to understand her Cambodian identity, as well as the struggle she faces as she seeks out a pure faith undiluted by the theology of white supremacists and white saviors. Theda is like many of us in our walks of faith, people who have come to describe themselves as "different" upon realizing that the church they were brought up in doesn't exactly match the genuine gospel lifestyle.
People perish for lack of knowledge. In this episode, Scott & David interview Kim Hewson, a long-time educator in the public school system, as they look at the ways that history has been covered up by those in power. By refusing to admit the sins of our past, we propagate a cycle of injustice that closes our ears to the cries of the oppressed.
David, Jenni, and Scott look at the long, weary summer of 2020 as they examine all the protests that have occurred this year. Has the church done enough to address the systemic inquality that has divided our nation? And what action steps would most bring the church together? Listen and find out!
Special guest Jeremy Ogunba joins the pod to talk about what it's like to be a black minister trying to live out his faith in religious spaces controlled by white men. We consider what it takes to create a truly multicultural Body of Christ.
Tamara is a scientist by trade, and she also has no problems believing in what the Bible says. In fact, science has augmented her wonder for the God of Creation! This week, the crew talks about evolution, climate change, and the destiny of humankind.
Instead of saying what we're against, it's also important to lift up what we're for. So this week we're joined by fellow podcaster Jeff Lee, as he, David, and Tamara share what it was like growing up in the black church. The black church continues to give them life as they reflect on how it made them who they are today.
In one of our most important episodes, Tamara and Scott sit down with the rest of the crew to talk openly about their battles with white supremacy and white privilege in the evangelical church. Their theology is broken. But together, we won't be.
From NASCAR to Apple to Aunt Jemima, everyone is claiming to be on the side of Black Lives Matter. Is it all just a marketing strategy, or is this a sign of more permanent social progress? And how should Christians decide to be spending their money in all this? Join our discussion!
Each member of the Judson House shares a written reflection of what our recent nationwide protests means to them. We want justice for George, justice for Breonna, and justice for Ahmaud. And we especially call on the Body of Christ to finally obey God's standard of justice!
NOTE: This episode contains strong language.
The Judson House is a group of friends who were able to find each other despite their diverse cultural backgrounds. Jenni, David, and Scott share their experiences growing up in very different churches, as they wonder what congregations can do today to build a semblance of real understanding.
Frustrated. Exhausted. Jaded. Black people are not only sick and tired of the violence being done to their bodies, but they're sick and tired of superficial expressions of support that don't ever dig deeper into the problem. David and Tamara share their grief in this important episode of the Judson Podcast.
What is the church when the church can't meet? Jenni Reilly, David Atkinson, and Scott Yi discuss the ways that churches have had to adapt, and whether it's enough to ensure the survival of Christian communities that now find themselves at a crossroads.
David, Tamara, Jenni, and Scott get together to share Bible passages that you might never hear about on a Sunday morning. They answer important questions concerning bowel movements and lovemaking styles of the Ancient Near East.
We have a full house as five members of the Judson House get together to talk about the many ways that women are devalued in modern church culture. We share incredible stories and experiences as we try to assess what a truly biblical approach to gender roles could look like.
Cohosts Jenni Reilly, David Atkinson, and Scott Yi talk about what they're doing these days to stay fresh and active during these long weeks of social isolation. They probably revealed more about themselves than they wanted as things go off the rails several times.
Evangelicals have given the church a bad rap. What can we do to reform the political reputation of the American Protestant church in the year 2020?
What do millennials think about church? It's complicated. Cohosts Jenni Reilly, David Atkinson, and Scott Yi talk about the things their generation values and what it means for the future of American religion.