Dr. James Dobson is a clinical psychologist, founder of Christian media empire Focus on the Family, a spiritual advisor to every Republican President since Reagan, and a paragon in the Evangelical Christian movement. And he's a massive dick.
Join therapists Jake (a former Evangelical) and Brooke (who knows almost nothing about Evangelical culture) as they read and tear apart Dobson's works. Get ready to laugh, cry, and rip your hair out as we explore the very many reasons why I Hate James Dobson.
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Latest episodes
Showing 20 · updated from the feed
Episode 66: The Death of the Pastor's Wife
#7 trending · Sexuality
Howdy pardners! Today, Jake and Brooke take a dip into the world of true crime as they discuss the recent Netflix Documentary "The Death of the Pastor's Wife", and how it
Sep 14 1 h 12 min
Episode 65: I Have Hate and Contempt For This Book
We are so back, everyone. And this might be the episode that breaks Jake, or at least one where they find a new opp. Today, Jake and Brooke talk about the putrid publicat
Aug 31 1 h 53 min
Episode 64: James Dobson Wrote A Third Eugenics Novel That Isn't Nearly As Horny But Somehow That Makes It Worse
This third and final novel puts Jake and Brooke's mental fortitude to the test. We finally get the answers to questions no one was asking, like "What happens to Kevin Tol
Aug 17 1 h 27 min
Episode 63: James Dobson wrote an Even Hornier Eugenics Novel
We're unfortunately back, back, back, again with another Dobson novel. It's a sequel to his first novel, "Fatherless", and it's somehow even hornier than last time. It's
Aug 3 1 h 06 min
Episode 62: James Dobson Wrote a Horny Eugenics Novel
I feel like the title really says it all on this one, folks. Dobson wrote a novel about eugenics. It's wildly horny. It's pretty bad. Jake and Brooke will tell you all ab
Jul 20 1 h 30 min
Episode 61: The Strong-Willed Adults (feat. Kevin & Kelly)
Wowza! We have guests! Today, Jake is joined by Kevin and Kelly to talk about what comes after James Dobson. You know, ironically, James Dobson did bring my family closer
Jul 6 1 h 00 min
Episode 60: Joseph Nicolosi
Happy Pride part 2! Today, Jake and Brooke dive back into the tragic world of Bringing Up Boys to talk about the rot under the hood. While they tear apart conversion ther
Jun 22 1 h 09 min
Episode 59: The John Paulk Story
Happy Pride, Readers! This is an episode Jake has been waiting to make for a second now, so get ready as Jake and Brooke talk about the story of John Paulk, first told in
Jun 8 1 h 05 min
Episode 58: What Wives Wish Their Husbands Knew About Women
Howdy ho, readers! On this episode, Jake and Brooke discuss the finale of the Focus on the Family Film series, a movie with a title so obnoxious it was one of the first r
May 25 1 h 03 min
Episode 57: Preparing for Adolesence
Hi there readers! Ready to hear James Dobson talk about the birds and the bees? No? Too bad, that's what today's episode is. Jake and Brooke (and very special guest Josh
May 11 1 h 31 min
Episode 56: The Strong-Willed Child Part 4
Hi! Today, Jake and Brooke conclude their conversations on "The Strong-Willed Child" a series that feels like it's been going on since these books were first published. T
Apr 27 1 h 05 min
Episode 55: The Strong-Willed Child Part 3
Welcome back, readers, to another installment in everyone's least favorite Dobson work, the one that just won't end - The Strong-Willed Child. Today, Jake and Brooke watc
Apr 13 1 h 00 min
Episode 54: Twice Pardoned
Break out your tie dye shirts and make sure your latch key kids have snacks in the fridge because today, Jake & Brooke travel back to the 1980s to discuss the life and le
Mar 30 1 h 22 min
Episode 53: Emotions: Can you trust them?
Hello! Welcome and welcome back! Today, Jake and Brooke discuss an early Dobson work, back when he was still a working psychologist. What a horrifying thought. There's ti
Mar 16 1 h 24 min
Episode 52: Is It Illegal to Hate James Dobson?
Howdy readers! Today, Jake and Brooke start with an extra-exciting announcement: the launch of the official I Hate James Dobson Patreon! Then they get into less exciting
Mar 2 46 min
Episode 51: What Dads Need to Know About Fathering
Hi! Today, Jake and Brooke discuss one of Dobson's very first films "What Dads Need to Know About Fatherhood", a movie that is truly... nothing. At least we will always h
Feb 16 56 min
Episode 50: You Don't Hate the ADF Enough
Put on your best Elle Woods cosplay, readers, because today Jake and Brooke discuss the legal organization called the Alliance Defending Freedom. This Dobson creation con
Feb 2 1 h 02 min
Episode 49: Sex, Lies & ... The Truth
Put on some scrunchies and hairspray with CFCs because today Jake and Brooke time travel back to 1993 to talk about a VHS classic: "Sex, Lies & ... The Truth!". You'll be
Jan 19 1 h 41 min
Episode 48: Focus on My Family
On this very special start to 2026, Jake is joined by their parents to talk about healing and reconciliation. Eat your heart out, Esther Perel (We love you, Esther Perel)
Jan 5 1 h 10 min
Episode 47: Holly Bone Secular Christmas Spectacular
Merry Secular Holidays, readers! Today, Brooke is in charge and we actually get to have fun! Join us for some Q&A, some gift giving, some surprise guests, and plans for 2
Dec 22 2025 1 h 10 min
Chart trend
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#1#41#81JunJulAugSep
#1
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Chart positions
Where I Hate James Dobson ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Sep 16, 2026).
A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.
As a queer, trans, ex-vangelical 26 year old in school to become a queer family therapist… this feels like it is For Me. Contrary to the title of the episode, I do think I am healing and that this podcast has certainly prompted several lines of thought that I’ve been gently pushing away for a decade. I was raised by parents who lived by Dobson’s books, attended church groups to discuss them, etc. Listening to this “blog” has been such a sucker punch, and a great joy. I don’t believe my father will ever come around, but my mom has been having conversations with me and seemingly finally understands my deconstruction. I digress…. TL;DR thanks Jake for putting all this together and thanks Brooke for sitting through absolutely torturous and upsetting information new to you.
P.S. you’ve mentioned covering both Fireproof and God’s Not Dead sometime in the future… I would love this. My family owned Fireproof on DVD and I had to sit through those godforsaken hours dozens of times in my adolescence. I sent the dreaded “God’s Not Dead” text to everyone in my contacts, like the movie told me to. I would LOVE to hear Jake’s retelling and Brooke’s reaction of these.
Thank you both for doing this! I hope you’re having fun and that it doesn’t weigh too much.
vicrkenn · May 2026
Your podcast has made me nauseous, and then laugh, cry, scream and think deeply…I’m a gay guy who grew up in a homeschooled evangelical bubble. You both speak to my tortured soul! Which is why you need to cover Dr. Joseph Nicholosi. He was also a major part of my childhood, and a rant from you on him would be therapeutic to a whole new level. Thank you for all the content so far, it truly means so much to me. I felt so alone in my bubble, reading parts of these books you touch on between the ages of 7 and 12 to better understand my parents, and their sadness in my gay behavior. I was always in trouble. But now I know I wasn’t the only one being tortured by the beliefs of Dobson 🙌🏻
C.A. From the Mitten. · May 2026
Finding this podcast during my grieving period after I lost a parent helped to fill in so many gaps regarding what happened to me growing up, and why. Going through old boxes and pulling out yellowing paperback FotF parenting books while listening to careful analysis of their contents brought some unexpected clarity (and, surprisingly, levity) that I truly needed in that difficult time.
I didn't rate this then, but I had to today, on account of having found my first "chick tract" in the wild. Don't know what that means? Listen to this absolute gem of a personal growth- catalyzing podcast, and you will.
Boy howdy, do I hate James Dobson.
BeanWhutKnits · Jan 2026
I love the show and Jake and Brooke and boyfriend make this such a welcoming home for exvangelicals. My parents were tried in the blood dobsonnites and through this show (and loads of therapy and support from my wife) I have learned that what I experienced was abuse. I hate james dobson and I hate the industry that pushes his bull. But I love this podcast
MoonovrMissouri · Dec 2025
We strive to present a balanced view by showing a diverse range of reviews from Apple Podcasts.
Here you find the Apple Podcasts chart positions of I Hate James Dobson, its latest episodes to listen to directly, and reviews from listeners. Rankings are updated daily for the United States.
