Couch Communion: Recent Episodes
Sara Kaufmann & Jordyn Manczyk
Are we theologians? No. But are we experts on life and culture? Also no. What we are is a podcast featuring two progressive, southern, (almost) 30 year olds who just want to rant about faith, church culture, modern issues, and our D&D characters (sometimes).
Do you need something to listen to while you clean your house or drive to work? Do you like hearing people rant and then ranting about those things to yourself later in the shower? Us too. Join us.
Happy 2023 friends! We're back for a fun game of Christian Music Trivia with our favorite podcast pals Anna and April from Reclaiming the Garden! So grab a pen and paper, play along with us, and let us know how you do! We hope that you all have had a wonderful start to the New Year!
The Spotify playlist -> https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3NcvG34RT7XJsQzCFL5opj?si=0fb039dee7f0415e
Check out RTG! -> https://open.spotify.com/show/5C3uStSbsLPAOxa2YM1OKk?si=b9e3d61c768a40e6
Oh hey there! Been a bit, but we're back! And if you thought we skipped episode 39, don't worry! We didn't. It's around here...somewhere...
On today's episode, we're talking about the "gender" of God, or if God has a gender at all. We also have a little fun playing Deconstruction Bingo, appreciating fall, and wondering what kind of enchilada God would be. Also we cry a little. Hope you enjoy!
Anyone else obsessed with cult documentaries? Just us? Well, we recently watched Keep Sweet: Pray and Obey on Netflix and it's inspired us to dig deep into the FLDS and its (awful? creepy? evil genius?) leader, Warren Jeffs. We also talk about songs that sound like worship songs but aren't, and Jordyn's scary trip to Grande Escalante National Park.
TW: domestic abuse, child sexual abuse
Topic: The first half of 2022, Roe v. Wade, and things we're annoyed about.
TW: Sexual abuse
In this episode, Jordyn and Sara discuss recent events in the United States Supreme Court, as well as the recent scandals in the Southern Baptist Convention. There's a lot of lamenting, and this episode is a bit more free-form as we try to grapple with the current weight of the world, where God may be, and macaroni and cheese.
Topic: The book of Job, and why it might not be so bad? Or at least, how it's been misunderstood.
Y'all, we have to admit... we were feeling a little silly on this one. We do eventually get to talking about the book of Job, how it's been taught over the years, and what lessons we can learn from it. We also talk about the wisdom(?) of shouting at God and demanding to put him on trial. We also touch on our own personal struggles with tragedy, lessons from therapy, and secret feminism. But first, we get the giggles.
Topic: Missions and Service
In this (especially long) episode, Jordyn and Sara talk about what it means to serve people well. We discuss how in order to love people, to truly serve them, we must hold back from doing, see them, acknowledge them for who they are, and just stand witness.
TW: sexual abuse, child abuse, death
Topic: The Way Down: God, Greed, and the Cult of Gwen Shamblin.
In this episode, Sara and Jordyn talk about the recent HBO docu-series The Way Down, which covers Gwen Shamblin Lara and the Remnant Church. This isn't technically a Cult Communion episode, but it sure could be. This story has everything: plane crashes, big hair, crazy diets, murder, and the strange country music career of a man who also played Tarzan in a made-for-tv movie. Yeah... it's a lot. But have a listen!
Topic: The Kennedy V. Bermerton Supreme Court Case
In this episode, Sara and Jordyn discuss a lot of Spare Change before they get to the topic of the day: the first amendment and praying on football fields. They wrestle with the two sides of the Kennedy v. Bermerton supreme court case and the gray lines between public and private in our faith lives.
Surprise! We've brought you a little something extra this week that we hope you enjoy. Sara and Jordyn sit down to chat about recent events in their lives, upcoming topic ideas, and much more!
Welcome to our second Cult Communion episode! There is so much that we could say about IBLP and ATI, but we would be talking for days. So we've covered some of the basics of the IBLP beliefs, Bill Gothard being creepy, and how the ATI program compares to the other homeschool curriculum we've looked at.
Enjoy!
We're continuing our journey into the world of Christian homeschooling curriculum with this part two, all about the ACE Academy. If you haven't heard last week's episode, I would definitely go back and give it a listen. Hope you enjoy!
And Happy Easter weekend!
Topic: Christian Homeschooling
This week we have a shorter (than usual) episode for you - we just had a whole lot to say! In this episode, we discuss different Christian-based homeschool curriculum, the origins of homeschooling, and why we probably should have payed more attention to learning memory verses... This part one covers the BJU Press and Abeka Academy curriculum, while part two will cover the A.C.E. program. We hope you enjoy!
Topic: Online/Virtual Church Services
In today's episode, Sara and Jordyn discuss the growth in the amount of virtual church services that are available to people now, especially since the pandemic began. How do these services differ from in-person church, and is one better than the other? They also discuss the importance of biscuits, sponsorships, and John Cooper's "war on deconstruction".
Topic: Salvation philosophies, the nature of sin, what happens when you die, and…you know…the point of it all?
Jordyn and Sara take a dive into some theological standpoints on salvation and the afterlife and stumble their way through the ideas of universalism, annihilationism, and other theories that deconstructing TikTok creators have thrown their way. You know, just a casual, lighthearted episode…
We're back, and it's officially season 2! We wanted to ease back into the couch cushions by hanging out and browsing Reddit. We read through some Christian-related dilemmas, including sisters who don't believe in dinosaurs, petty email feuds, and offensive D&D characters. And ultimately, we will judge who is really the a*hole. Also included in this episode is the story of Ellie's Christmas Eve ER visit and Jordyn's family tradition of bird related violence.
Hope you enjoy!
Since it's our last episode before we take a break for the holidays, we wanted to do something chill and fun. And who better to do chill fun things with than friends? So we invited our podcast pals Anna and April from the podcast Reclaiming The Garden to come chill on the couch and show off their Bible knowledge with us! You can listen to their pod, check out their merch, ad follow them on all their social media with the links below:
https://anchor.fm/reclaimingthegarden
linktr.ee/reclaimingthegarden
BDE MERCH! - https://reclaiming-the-garden.creator-spring.com/
In a continuation of last week’s episode, Jordyn and Sara talk about the history of Christian cancelling, the "War on Christmas" and why One Million Moms thinks Twix is attempting to destroy all of western society by destroying gender norms. And so is Avocado Mattresses. And Credit Karma. And Sonic. The list goes on and on.
Topic: Cancel Culture
In this episode, Jordyn and Sara begin a 2-part discussion on cancel culture and its place in Christian circles. This episode lays the groundwork of what cancel culture is, how we have seen it appear in popular culture and in society, and what the Christian response to cancelling should be.
Topic: Christmas Traditions and Their Origins
Grab your cozy slippers, eat a gingerbread cookie, and brace yourselves for a long one! In this episode, Sara and Jordyn discuss the holidays to come, mainly Christmas, the traditions they hold dear, and where our western traditions surrounding Christmas originate. They also spend a long time discussing Kenny G, Reba, and Alan Jackson's late 90's Christmas albums and that one time Jordyn's dad strangled an ostrich. No big deal.
Topic: Multi-Level Marketing
Hey y'all, it's time for a part 2! This week, Sara dives further into the world of MLMs, specifically Amway and Young Living. These two companies have a strong Christian following, and we want to understand why. It's bananas. It's infuriating. It's a good time. Listen and enjoy! And don't join an MLM.
Topic: Multi-Level Marketing
Hey Girlie!! I was taking a look at your podcast feed, and it looks like we might have a lot of the same interests! I wanted to share more about this wonderful, amazing, podcast opportunity! Today on the show, Sara and Jordyn dive into the world of Multi-Level Marketing, aka MLMs, aka legal pyramid schemes. What are they? Why do people buy into them? And how does faith play a role? Listen to find out!
Topic: Halloween
HAPPY HALLOWEEN! We're celebrating the end of spooky season by talking all about Halloween, and why (or why not) Christians still celebrate it. In this episode we discuss the history of Halloween, the best and worst kinds of candy, and how Sara and Jordyn both accidentally over-sexualized their costumes at the 7th grade Halloween party. Yes, you read that right.
Hope you all have a safe and happy spooky weekend, however you celebrate!
Topic: Exorcisms - It's a spooky one!
[TW: discussions of spiritual warfare, and some depictions of ritualistic sacrifice and the effects of demonic possession]
In this, our first-ever "spooky-sode," we prepare for the last weeks of the Halloween season with the height of spiritual spookiness: exorcisms and demonic possession. Specifically, we discuss some of the major teachings about exorcisms from different faith traditions (leaning heavily on Roman Catholic tradition) and our takes on whether or not Christians should be weary of being "inflicted by a diabolical."
It's the first episode of CULT Communion! We'll talk about definite cults, possible cults, and what makes things culty or not. For today's episode, we'll be talking about Youth With A Mission AKA YWAM. It's hard to say whether or not this organization can be called a cult or not, but we dive into the history, influence and practices in the group to see what we can determine. Join us!
Topic: Christian Kids Shows
In this episode, Jordyn and Sara discuss the wonders of a few beloved (and maybe notorious?) Christian shows for kids. Let's be honest, it's mostly about Veggie Tales, but Bibleman, 321 Penguins, and Adventures in Odyssey also make an appearance--as well as a mid-episode vegetable salvation crisis that Jordyn and Sara will never get over...
Guys, we're just feeling led by the spirit to share our testimony with all of you, especially in this season where the abiding presence of God is moving us to fellowship and to grow in our mission opportunities and.....um... kinda lost where we were going with that.
Anyway, we're talking about "Christianese", the lingo that many Christians use every day. Is it always a bad thing? Of course not! But we need to remember to be genuine when we talk about our faith. Also, there are definitely a few words and phrases that we could probably retire.
Topic: Diverse Friendships
In this episode, we discuss the importance (and the benefits) of having genuine, unconditionally loving friendships and relationships with people who look, think, and believe differently than you. We dive into some of the interpersonal and cognitive benefits to being friends--even when common ground might be hard to find.
TW: Discussions of mental health, suicide/suicidal ideation
So, we can all admit the church isn't always a great place to talk about mental health, right? But hopefully one day it will get better! In this episode, Sara and Jordyn discuss myths surrounding mental health, the difference between mental illness and possession, and why you can't just cure depression with a bible verse and a positive attitude, Deborah!!
Topic: Potlucks, food, and the spirituality of a meal together
In this episode, Jordyn and Sara talk about the many ways food connects with their spiritual lives. They discuss the importance of making and sharing meals with those you love--and they share some KFC in the process. Warning: this episode may make you hungry!
Hiya, babes! It's our first minisode! We read some of the stories you sent to us, clarify some points, tie up loose ends, and try out our Love Island accents. Hope you enjoy!
Topic: Biblical Womanhood and Gender Roles
In this episode, we discuss a little bit about the women who have inspired us, women's roles in church, and some of the biblical ladies who didn't wait around for men to tell them what to do. If Yael wanted to drive a tent stake through a man's head to save Israel, then she was gonna do it, okay?
Topic: Church Hopping
In this episode, we discuss some of the difficulties (and sometimes serendipity) surrounding hopping from one church to the next. We also discuss why it is so difficult and important to find community as young adults today.
Topic: Questions and Doubt
Have you ever wondered why there is suffering in the world if God is loving? Have you ever read your bible and wondered how it could possibly all be true? Have questions about your faith ever made you feel scared and alone? US TOO! So let's talk about it! Having questions and doubts isn't just normal - it's straight up biblical. God can handle our doubts and questions, so lets just get them all out on the table.
Topic: Purity Culture [TW: sexual assault and sexual abuse---At the end of this episode we have provided some information and resources if you or someone you love has been impacted by these difficult topics. For those resources, skip to 1:06:50.] Our second of two episodes concerning purity culture, sexual ethics, and the perception and placement of women in the church. We discuss how different sexualities are perceived in purity culture, racism and fetishization of POC, and what we can take away from the purity movement.
Topic: Purity Culture
[TW: sexual assault and sexual abuse---At the end of this episode we have provided some information and resources if you or someone you love has been impacted by these difficult topics. For those resources, skip to 1:06:37.]
Our first of two episodes concerning purity culture, sexual ethics, and the perception and placement of women in the church. We discuss the recent history of the purity culture movement and start to dig into the reasons why the toxic focus on how women are perceived is harmful to not only women, but everyone.
Topic: Stuff Christians Like! (by Jon Acuff) In this episode, Jordyn and Sara record until almost 1 am, get really slap-happy, and talk about some of the weird things that Christians like to do, including "improving" worship songs with bad sign language, rubbing people's necks, and making cringey covers of pop songs. It's a good time all around! Take a listen!
TW: Discussion of child sexual abuse cases. Although the cases discussed in this episode have been debunked or overturned, we recognize the sensitivity of this topic overall.
Topic: The Satanic Panic
In this episode we discuss the history and continued impacts of the American cultural and religious phenomenon dubbed the "Satanic Panic," that led faith communities everywhere to deem various topics and activities (like rock music, Dungeons and Dragons, and Harry Potter) as satanic or dangerous for children to interact with due to perceived connections to occult practices.
Topic: The Prosperity Gospel
[TW: discussions of terminal illness, death, and spiritual abuse]
We've got an extra long, extra spicy episode for you today! You know what we really hate? Bad theology, spiritual manipulation, and rich people who profit off of those who are less fortunate. And unfortunately, this episode involves all those things. We're discussing the prosperity gospel and all the toxicity of the Word of Faith movement. Come rage with us!
Topic: Church Youth Groups, Church Camp, & the "Cry Night"
In this episode we talk about youth group culture in our early years, the manipulation of young people in the church, and how "Cry Night" is really not the best way to prepare young Christians to have a strong, ever-evolving faith.
Topic: Conspiracy theories in Christian communities
TW: Discussions of gun violence
In this episode, we discuss some prevalent conspiracy theories that circulate in Christian communities, how they started, and why we think people cling to bizarre (and often damaging) stories despite widespread evidence to the contrary.
Topic: Weird things Christians believe
In this episode, we talk about some of the weirder main beliefs of the Christian faith, including the bodily resurrection and the Virgin birth. We discuss how sometimes believing (or not believing) some things can cause tension in the Christian community, but ultimately, what we learn about God through weird beliefs is what matters.
Want to know what this podcast is and who these wonderful ladies are? This is the place to start. In this trailer, we talk a little bit about ourselves, our backgrounds, and what our hopes are for Couch Communion the podcast.