The Esau McCaulley Podcast

Can Pastors Be Disqualified & Trump's Strange New Obsession

Former Hillsong pastor Carl Lentz is back in the spotlight with a new book about surviving infidelity, but should some sins permanently disqualify a pastor from ministry?

The Problem of Power: From Elon Musk to Kelly Clarkson

Power can be dangerous, especially when the people who have it don't realize just how much they wield. Sharon Miller joins Esau and Mike to discuss Kelly Clarkson's bizar

The Art of Having Complicated, Faith-Based Conversations

How can Christians have difficult conversations about faith without turning every disagreement into an argument? Christian hip-hop artist and apologist Emmanuel "Da Truth

The Cornell Case, Multi-Ethnic Churches & Are Kids Getting Dumber?

A sexual assault case at Cornell has sparked intense debate about consent, trauma, and how we talk about victims before all the facts are known. Esau is joined by Mika Ed

Tim Tebow's Bad Endorsement & The Myth of Grind Culture

Tim Tebow is facing criticism after an investigation raised questions about a Christian financial conference where he regularly spoke and encouraged attendees to sign up

Aslan's New (Feminine) Voice & Pete Hegseth Turns Isaiah Into a Recruiting Pitch

Meryl Streep is the new voice of Aslan, and Christians have plenty of opinions about it. Esau, Malcolm, and Producer Mike talk about the outrage over Greta Gerwig's Narni

When Racism Ruins Everything

A Texas political candidate sees a crowd of brown students celebrating and assumes they must be foreigners. Esau, Mike, and Pricelis Perreaux-Dominguez unpack what that r

Black Liberation Theology: What It Gets Right and Wrong | with the Church Politics Podcast

Esau joins Justin Giboney and Christopher Butler of the Church Politics Podcast for a special crossover conversation about Black liberation theology, James Cone, and the

Green Lantern and the Weight of Black Excellence

Youth sports are supposed to be good for kids, but what happens when giving your child every opportunity starts costing your family more than money? Esau, Malcolm Foley,

Broken Healthcare, Mass Surveillance, and What We're Willing to Sacrifice for Safety

What happens when trust begins to break down between people and the institutions meant to serve them? Esau, Mike, and Sharon Miller talk about vaccine skepticism, bad exp

Why You Should Care About What's Happening in Gary, IN

For the 100th episode of The Esau McCaulley Podcast, Esau, Malcolm Foley, and Mike look at why America seems incapable of making meaningful progress on gun violence, even

Charlie Dates on Justice, Righteousness, and Why the Church Needs Both

Charlie Dates grew up in a Black church tradition where justice and righteousness were never competing ideas. Esau sits down with the Chicago pastor and author to talk ab

Spider-Man, Loneliness & the Search for Meaning

Why is Spider-Man: Brand New Day resonating so deeply right now? Esau, Malcolm, and Sho Baraka unpack the loneliness at the heart of the film, why even superheroes strugg

Multi-Ethnic Churches and a Theology That Heals

Churches in America are becoming more racially diverse, but many pastors are talking less about racial reconciliation. Esau, Mike, and guest Ike Miller explore why gettin

Is Trump Keeping Gen Z Out of Church?

Nearly half of Gen Z says Christian support for Donald Trump has made them less likely to attend church. Esau, Mike, and Sharon Hodde Miller discuss what the finding reve

The Odyssey, A.I. Death bots, and the Cost of Victory

Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey asks what happens when you win the war but destroy the world you hoped to return to. Esau, Malcolm, and Mike discuss the cost of victory,

Making Sense of the Deaths of Lindsey Graham and Nolan Wells

How should Christians respond when a complicated or controversial person dies? Esau, Sho Baraka, and Mike reflect on Lindsey Graham's political legacy and the challenge o

America's Weird Birthday and Trump's Bad Vibes

America turned 250, but the celebration felt less like a shared national moment and more like another exhausting chapter in the Trump era. Esau, Malcolm Foley, and Mike d

Texas Wants More Bible, America Wants Fewer Kids

Texas is adding Bible passages to its public school reading standards, continuing the endless debate over the Bible in schools. Esau, Kaitlyn, and Mike discuss why Bible

Is America Better Than We Think?

World Cup visitors are discovering America, and somehow ranch dressing, air conditioning, Walmart have become ambassadors for the nation. Esau, Mike, and Nancy French ask