Soul Boom

What happens when your faith no longer makes sense? Brian McLaren, author of Faith After Doubt and Life After Doom, joins Rainn Wilson for a deep dive into the personal and societal crises of faith that many are facing today. They explore the psychological impact of religious trauma, why so many struggle with the rigid dogma of organized religion, and how doubt can actually lead to a more profound, harmonious spirituality. The conversation also tackles the intersection of fundamentalist theology, climate change, and capitalism—unpacking how our deepest beliefs shape the world we live in. Thank you to our sponsors! Calm (40% OFF a Premium Subscription!): https://calm.com/soulboom [https://calm.com/soulboom] MERCH OUT NOW! https://soulboom.com/store [https://soulboom.com/store] God-Shaped Hole Mug: https://bit.ly/GodShapedHoleMug [https://bit.ly/GodShapedHoleMug] Sign up for our newsletter! https://soulboom.substack.com [https://soulboom.substack.com] SUBSCRIBE to Soul Boom!! https://bit.ly/Subscribe2SoulBoom [https://bit.ly/Subscribe2SoulBoom] Watch our Clips: https://bit.ly/SoulBoomCLIPS [https://bit.ly/SoulBoomCLIPS] Watch WISDOM DUMP: https://bit.ly/WISDOMDUMP [https://bit.ly/WISDOMDUMP] Follow us! Instagram: http://instagram.com/soulboom [http://instagram.com/soulboom] TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@soulboom [http://tiktok.com/@soulboom] Sponsor Soul Boom: partnerships@voicingchange.media [partnerships@voicingchange.media] Work with Soul Boom: business@soulboom.com [business@soulboom.com] Send Fan Creations, Questions, Comments: hello@soulboom.com [hello@soulboom.com] Produced by: Kartik Chainani [https://www.instagram.com/kartikchainani] Executive Produced by: Ford Bowers, Samah Tokmachi Companion Arts Production Supervisor: Mike O'Brien Voicing Change Media Theme Music by: Marcos Moscat

Comedian Ari Shaffir (America's Sweetheart, JEW) joins Rainn Wilson for an unfiltered conversation about faith, comedy, and mental health. Known for his no-holds-barred stand-up, Ari shares his journey from being an Orthodox Jewish yeshiva student to an outspoken atheist. They dive into his personal battle with depression, how psychedelics shifted his perspective on existence, and why he believes the concept of a soul is a mystery. Plus, Rainn and Ari debate whether religion is a force for good—or just another human-made construct. Ari hosts The Skeptic Tank podcast and his latest Netflix special America’s Sweetheart tackles taboo topics with his signature irreverence, following up his previous special YouTube special 'JEW,' which explored his Orthodox upbringing and departure from faith. Thank you to our sponsors! Calm (40% OFF a Premium Subscription!): https://calm.com/soulboom [https://calm.com/soulboom] MERCH OUT NOW! https://soulboomstore.myshopify.com/ [https://soulboomstore.myshopify.com/] God-Shaped Hole Mug: https://bit.ly/GodShapedHoleMug [https://bit.ly/GodShapedHoleMug] Sign up for our newsletter! https://soulboom.substack.com [https://soulboom.substack.com] SUBSCRIBE to Soul Boom!! https://bit.ly/Subscribe2SoulBoom [https://bit.ly/Subscribe2SoulBoom] Watch our Clips: https://bit.ly/SoulBoomCLIPS [https://bit.ly/SoulBoomCLIPS] Watch WISDOM DUMP: https://bit.ly/WISDOMDUMP [https://bit.ly/WISDOMDUMP] Follow us! Instagram: http://instagram.com/soulboom [http://instagram.com/soulboom] TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@soulboom [http://tiktok.com/@soulboom] Sponsor Soul Boom: partnerships@voicingchange.media [partnerships@voicingchange.media] Work with Soul Boom: business@soulboom.com [business@soulboom.com] Send Fan Creations, Questions, Comments: hello@soulboom.com [hello@soulboom.com] Produced by: Kartik Chainani [https://www.instagram.com/kartikchainani] Executive Produced by: Ford Bowers, Samah Tokmachi Companion Arts Production Supervisor: Mike O'Brien Voicing Change Media Theme Music by: Marcos Moscat

Lutheran pastor and best-selling author Nadia Bolz-Weber joins Rainn Wilson to discuss why modern life feels so disconnected and overwhelming. They explore the paradoxes of faith, the crisis of community in America, and how the pursuit of comfort and convenience might be eroding our humanity. Nadia shares her radical insights on grace, forgiveness, and why she still believes in organized religion despite its flaws. Plus, they dive into the spiritual consequences of the algorithm-driven world we live in and why true healing requires something greater than ourselves. Nadia Bolz-Weber is a Lutheran pastor, New York Times best-selling author, and the founder of House for All Sinners and Saints, a progressive church in Denver. Known for her unfiltered, no-nonsense approach to theology, she speaks and writes about faith, grace, addiction, and the power of community with raw honesty and humor. More Nadia: Substack: https://thecorners.substack.com [https://thecorners.substack.com] Instagram: https://instagram.com/sarcasticlutheran [https://instagram.com/sarcasticlutheran] Website: https://www.nadiabolz-weber.com/ [https://www.nadiabolz-weber.com/] MERCH OUT NOW! https://soulboom.com/store [https://soulboom.com/store] God-Shaped Hole Mug: https://bit.ly/GodShapedHoleMug [https://bit.ly/GodShapedHoleMug] Sign up for our newsletter! https://soulboom.substack.com [https://soulboom.substack.com] SUBSCRIBE to Soul Boom!! https://bit.ly/Subscribe2SoulBoom [https://bit.ly/Subscribe2SoulBoom] Watch our Clips: https://bit.ly/SoulBoomCLIPS [https://bit.ly/SoulBoomCLIPS] Watch WISDOM DUMP: https://bit.ly/WISDOMDUMP [https://bit.ly/WISDOMDUMP] Follow us! Instagram: http://instagram.com/soulboom [http://instagram.com/soulboom] TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@soulboom [http://tiktok.com/@soulboom] Sponsor Soul Boom: partnerships@voicingchange.media [partnerships@voicingchange.media] Work with Soul Boom: business@soulboom.com [business@soulboom.com] Send Fan Creations, Questions, Comments: hello@soulboom.com [hello@soulboom.com] Produced by: Kartik Chainani [https://www.instagram.com/kartikchainani] Executive Produced by: Ford Bowers, Samah Tokmachi Companion Arts Production Supervisor: Mike O'Brien Voicing Change Media Theme Music by: Marcos Moscat

Alex O’Connor ( @CosmicSkeptic  [https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UC7kIy8fZavEni8Gzl8NLjOQ]), known for his nuanced critiques of religion and discussions on morality, reflects on why the Bible captivates him as an atheist, the historical resonance of Jesus, and the philosophical limits of materialism. Alex recently participated in a Jubilee debate that went viral, where his fascination with Christianity was put to the test (Jubilee's 1 Atheist vs. 25 Christians). Together he and Rainn explore the mysteries of consciousness, the science behind near-death experiences, and whether love is just neurons firing or something more profound. Alex O’Connor is a prominent atheist thinker, YouTuber, and philosopher known for his channel Cosmic Skeptic, where he explores questions of morality, religion, and consciousness. A graduate of theology and philosophy at Oxford, Alex has engaged millions in thoughtful debates on belief and the human experience. Thank you to our sponsors! Stamps.com: Get a 4-week trial, free postage, and a digital scale at https://www.stamps.com/soulboom [https://www.stamps.com/soulboom]. Thanks to Stamps.com for sponsoring the show! Pretty Litter: (20% OFF & free cat toy!): https://www.prettylitter.com/soulboom [https://www.prettylitter.com/soulboom] MERCH OUT NOW! https://soulboomstore.myshopify.com/ [https://soulboomstore.myshopify.com/] God-Shaped Hole Mug: https://bit.ly/GodShapedHoleMug [https://bit.ly/GodShapedHoleMug] Sign up for our newsletter! https://soulboom.substack.com [https://soulboom.substack.com] SUBSCRIBE to Soul Boom!! https://bit.ly/Subscribe2SoulBoom [https://bit.ly/Subscribe2SoulBoom] Watch our Clips: https://bit.ly/SoulBoomCLIPS [https://bit.ly/SoulBoomCLIPS] Watch WISDOM DUMP: https://bit.ly/WISDOMDUMP [https://bit.ly/WISDOMDUMP] Follow us! Instagram: http://instagram.com/soulboom [http://instagram.com/soulboom] TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@soulboom [http://tiktok.com/@soulboom] Sponsor Soul Boom: partnerships@voicingchange.media [partnerships@voicingchange.media] Work with Soul Boom: business@soulboom.com [business@soulboom.com] Send Fan Creations, Questions, Comments: hello@soulboom.com [hello@soulboom.com] Produced by: Kartik Chainani [https://www.instagram.com/kartikchainani] Executive Produced by: Ford Bowers, Samah Tokmachi Companion Arts Production Supervisor: Mike O'Brien Voicing Change Media Theme Music by: Marcos Moscat

Dr. Vivek Murthy, the now former U.S. Surgeon General, joins Rainn Wilson in this powerful episode of Soul Boom to explore the loneliness epidemic and its profound effects on mental and physical health. They discuss the societal shift from community-centered values to hustle culture and the dangers of social media, offering practical ways to reconnect with ourselves and others. Dr. Murthy shares insights on the triad of fulfillment—relationships, purpose, and service—and why these are key to rebuilding community and finding meaning in modern life. Thank you to our sponsors! Calm (40% OFF a Premium Subscription!): https://calm.com/soulboom [https://calm.com/soulboom] MERCH OUT NOW! https://soulboomstore.myshopify.com/ [https://soulboomstore.myshopify.com/] God-Shaped Hole Mug: https://bit.ly/GodShapedHoleMug [https://bit.ly/GodShapedHoleMug] Sign up for our newsletter! https://soulboom.substack.com [https://soulboom.substack.com] SUBSCRIBE to Soul Boom!! https://bit.ly/Subscribe2SoulBoom [https://bit.ly/Subscribe2SoulBoom] Watch our Clips: https://bit.ly/SoulBoomCLIPS [https://bit.ly/SoulBoomCLIPS] Watch WISDOM DUMP: https://bit.ly/WISDOMDUMP [https://bit.ly/WISDOMDUMP] Follow us! Instagram: http://instagram.com/soulboom [http://instagram.com/soulboom] TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@soulboom [http://tiktok.com/@soulboom] Sponsor Soul Boom: partnerships@voicingchange.media [partnerships@voicingchange.media] Work with Soul Boom: business@soulboom.com [business@soulboom.com] Send Fan Creations, Questions, Comments: hello@soulboom.com [hello@soulboom.com] Produced by: Kartik Chainani [https://www.instagram.com/kartikchainani] Executive Produced by: Ford Bowers, Samah Tokmachi Companion Arts Production Supervisor: Mike O'Brien Voicing Change Media Theme Music by: Marcos Moscat