The RELEVANT Podcast

Episode 1296: Madison Ryann Ward, American Idol Goes Full Worship & DC3's Historic Win

This week, Cameron, Derek, Emily and Marty cover a ton: American Idol's Songs of Faith Night, which was way more Jesus-heavy this year than last, British Christian rapper DC3 making MOBO Awards history, and the story of Forrest Frank's new indie band having to ditch their name days before releasing their debut album. In RELEVANT Recommends, we talk to Madison Ryann Ward — an amazing, soulful singer (and former D1 volleyball player) who walked away from Rick Rubin's label after rededicating her life to Christ, and is now showing up everywhere and absolutely thriving.  In Slices, we cover a guy who’s selling a compass that only points to the Olive Garden in Times Square, and the story of 12 tons of stolen Kit Kat bars giving some pretty great April Fool's fodder. At the end of the episode, we have a great edition of One Has to Go! Highlights: 00:00 — Intro / Derek Minor's new single "Up"  07:35 — RELEVANT Buzz: American Idol Songs of Faith Night  15:00 — RELEVANT Buzz: DC3 wins two MOBO Awards  17:30 — RELEVANT Buzz: Forrest Frank's new band  24:50 — RELEVANT Recommends: Madison Ryann Ward  33:00 — Slices: Compass pointing to the Olive Garden in Times Square  35:15 — Slices: Someone stole 12 tons of Kit Kat bars  38:30 — One Has to Go: Holidays / Florida animals / Blockbuster night / MTV cartoons / Sports video games  49:00 — Outro Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands [https://redcircle.com/brands] Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy [https://redcircle.com/privacy]

Indie Tribe, Colbert's LotR Movie, Alabama's Faith & SNL's Christian Rap Connection | Ep. 1295

Cameron, Jesse, Derek and Emily are all back together for a packed episode. In RELEVANT Recommends, we highlight Indie Tribe's new album, Who Do You Say I Am? and caught up with the guys at SXSW to talk about the making of the project and what it says about who they are as a group. In RELEVANT Buzz: Alabama's basketball team has been quietly building a faith culture all season that's worth knowing about. Then, as Stephen Colbert is wrapping up the Late Show, his next move is pretty unexpected: writing a Lord of the Rings movie with Peter Jackson. And then we highlight an unexpected connection between SNL's newest cast member and Orlando-based Christian rapper Caleb Gordon. For real. Plus we cover NCAA tournament drama, late night legends ranked, and the high school celebrity alumni rabbit hole (yes, DJ Khaled, Joey Fatone and Wayne Brady went to school together). In Slices: googly eyes are scientifically proven to deter seagulls (and lions), and the world record Big Mac guy has opinions on the Big Arch. And at the end of the show it's One Has to Go: pop icons, board games, classic Comedy Central, sneaker culture and more. We said it was packed. 0:00 — Intro / Derek's back, everybody's been sick 4:00 — The podcast economy is in trouble 11:30 — Mike Lindell gets served mid-interview 19:58 — RELEVANT Buzz 20:30 — NCAA Tournament buzzer beater & Dan Hurley headbutts a ref 23:30 — Alabama basketball's faith culture and Bible study movement 25:45 — Stephen Colbert leaving Late Show; late night legends ranked 27:25 — Colbert is co-writing a Lord of the Rings movie (Shadows of the Past) 33:00 — Unexpected celebrity connections: Snoop & Cameron Diaz, Dr. Phillips HS alumni 34:50 — SNL's Cam Patterson and Christian rapper Caleb Gordon went to school together 39:05 — Slices: Googly eyes deter seagulls (and lions in Botswana) 41:35 — Slices: The Big Mac world record holder reviews the Big Arch 44:42 — RELEVANT Recommends: Indie Tribe's Who Do You Say I Am? 47:37 — Derek on writing albums in lockdown camps 53:00 — One Has to Go: pop icons, comedians, board games, sneakers, Nickelodeon, MTV Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands [https://redcircle.com/brands] Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy [https://redcircle.com/privacy]

Episode 1294: Pat Barrett, Vince Gilligan and the March Madness Mascot Bracket

Worship leader Pat Barrett — known for "Good Good Father" and "Build My Life" — joins Cameron, Jesse and Emily to talk about his new live album 'Break Open,' why he sat on the title track for nearly a decade, and his late-in-life obsession with surfing (including an upcoming trip to Kelly Slater's Surf Ranch). He also gets honest about how his thinking on songwriting vs. worship leading has shifted, because of course we ask awkward questions. Also, Emily brings RELEVANT Buzz fresh from South by Southwest, where she sat in on a panel with Vince Gilligan — creator of Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul — who said he thinks he owes the world something better than anti-heroes. Plus: High Point University's Cinderella March Madness run, and the faith story behind Chase Johnston's #99 jersey that everyone's been talking about. And to close it out — Pat helps the crew run the Sweet 16 mascots through a no-stats, vibes-only bracket challenge to crown the real national champion. Based solely on mascots, not teams. One with a mustache may or may not have won. Highlights: * 0:00 – Why last week's episode was late * 2:30 – Starlink satellites * 9:30 – Driving gloves * 17:50 – RELEVANT Buzz: High Point University's Chase Johnston's #99 story * 27:00 – Emily's South by Southwest panel with Vince Gilligan * 31:45 – The Lost arc, the Sawyer problem, and what Vince Gilligan owes culture * 36:00 – Pat Barrett joins the show * 38:30 – Recording 'Break Open' live in a sweaty tent * 40:40 – Why the title song sat unreleased for nearly 10 years * 42:50 – Songwriting vs. worship leading — what's actually better? * 45:20 – Pat's surfing obsession * 48:15 – The March Madness Mascot Bracket Challenge Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands [https://redcircle.com/brands] Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy [https://redcircle.com/privacy]

Episode 1293: Ryan Gosling on 'Project Hail Mary,' a Christian Oscar Nod & the NFL Star Turning Missionary

Ryan Gosling joins the RELEVANT Podcast to talk about his new sci-fi film Project Hail Mary — what made him fall in love with this story and why this one might be a "core memory" film for a generation.  Before that, Emily reports from SXSW to break down the week's biggest faith-and-culture stories: a Christian animated short film made by two Pixar animators and 200 volunteers (including musician Josh Garrels) got nominated for an Oscar. Also Christian apologist Wesley Huff went on the popular podcast 'Diary of a CEO' and told Stephen Bartlett to his face he's going to hell. Plus, NFL quarterback Justin Fields reveals he wants to become a missionary after football.  Then in Slices: the Tooth Fairy economy is growing (Jesse has a lot of thoughts), a huge scandal in a camel beauty pageant, and you'll never be able to predict this week's 'What's Jesse Thinking?' segment. It's a wild ride this week. Highlights: 00:25 — SxSW breakdown: The decline from tech-and-music powerhouse  07:38 — RELEVANT BUZZ 07:43 — The Office canon errors: a deep dive nobody asked for (Michael Scott's anniversary math) 10:11 — Forevergreen: Oscar-nominated Christian animated short by two Pixar animators + 200 volunteers, featuring Josh Garrels 19:22 — Wesley Huff talks Christianity on 'Diary of a CEO' 26:07 — NFL QB Justin Fields says he wants to be a missionary after football  30:07 — SLICES 30:14 — The Tooth Fairy economy  35:34 — Camel beauty pageant scandal  37:53 — RELEVANT RECOMMENDS: Project Hail Mary  43:25 — Ryan Gosling on why he keeps making space movies and why he won't actually go to space 46:42 — Ryan Gosling on why he picked Project Hail Mary — "you would die for this rock alien" 48:54 — Ryan Gosling on Project Hail Mary as a "core memory movie" like E.T. and Back to the Future 50:01 — WHAT'S JESSE THINKING?: Should Golden Corral run the US government? 56:23 — Post-credits: Apology to the estate of Shel Silverstein Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands [https://redcircle.com/brands] Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy [https://redcircle.com/privacy]

Episode 1292: Colony House, Papa Roach Gets Saved, Iranian Christians, and Kyle Idleman on the Real Jesus

Colony House is back with a new album, and they sat down with Emily to reflect on 10 years of making music and what they want the next decade to look like.  In RELEVANT Buzz: Papa Roach lead singer Jacoby Shaddix shares his powerful faith journey — from foxhole prayer, to sobriety and a faith that sounds like the real thing. We also bring a story flying under the radar: nearly a million Christians are living inside Iran right now, and we hear directly from believers on the ground to get their thoughts on the war and religious freedom.  Plus, the backlash to the Atlanta Hawks announcing "Magic City Night" — a themed game night centered around an infamous Atlanta strip club.Then, pastor Kyle Idleman joins us to talk about how modern American Christianity has slowly turned Jesus into a therapist and self-help guru — and what we've lost in the process. It's a challenge worth sitting with. In Slices: a Turkish soccer player performs CPR on a seagull he accidentally hit mid-game, United Airlines starts banning passengers who refuse headphones, and we close with a Spring Break edition of Would You Rather. 01:00 — The crocheting trend taking over  03:48 — The appeal of old stuff 10:41 — RELEVANT BUZZ  10:41 — Papa Roach lead singer Jacoby Shaddix shares his Christian testimony. Foxhole prayers, sobriety and millennial rockers finding faith 14:25 — Marty's attempt to join the Elk Club for a Newport parking spot 22:04 — Iranian Christians: nearly 1 million believers inside Iran 28:33 — Atlanta Hawks "Magic City Night" 30:42 — Kyle Idleman interview: How American Christianity has missed the real Jesus 35:16 — SLICES 35:16 — Turkish soccer player performs CPR on a seagull he accidentally hit 41:01 — United Airlines bans passengers who won't use headphones 45:31 — RELEVANT RECOMMENDS: Colony House — 77 Part 2  50:33 — WOULD YOU RATHER: Spring Break Edition | Pullout couches, photo shoots, emo cruises, bad vibes vs. mediocre food, and Marty's 3am cockfight vacation Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands [https://redcircle.com/brands] Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy [https://redcircle.com/privacy]