The Esau McCaulley Podcast

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 after school shootings. They discuss new research showing how pro-gun political spending surges after deadly shootings, what that reveals about money and power in American politics, and how our culture of violence shapes everyday life. Then, they turn to Gary, Indiana, to examine how decades of disinvestment and systemic racism still leave some communities more vulnerable than others. Finally, they ask whether avoiding conflict actually creates peace, and why healthy friendships, churches, and communities sometimes require us to say the hard thing.
 
0:00 - Theme Song
 
2:58 - Peacocks
 
8:44 - Pro-Gun Pac Increases After School Shootings
 
22:13 - Sponsor - Brooklyn Bedding - For a quality mattress, go to https://www.brooklynbedding.com and use promo code ESAU to get 30% off site wide!
 
23:13 - Gary, Indiana
 
38:33 - Conflict is Good for Relationships?
 
49:32 - End Credits
 
Resources:
Isaiah Johnson and the Big Game by Esau McCaulley: https://amzn.to/46lZ8gD
 
How Far to the Promised Land: One Black Family's Story of Survival in the American South by Esau McCaulley:
https://amzn.to/4ca7Kug

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 about what gets lost when churches emphasize biblical faithfulness without public justice, or justice without biblical righteousness. Dates explains why he believes evangelicalism has become more American than Christian, how the Black church has historically joined preaching with community action, and why pastors have a responsibility to prepare their congregations before the next cultural crisis hits. They also look back at the very different responses of Martin Luther King Jr. and Billy Graham to the civil rights movement, and what their choices reveal about Christian witness.
 
0:00 - Theme Song
 
0:06 - Advice for Pastors
 
8:31 - Evangelicalism is too American
 
18:15 - Sponsor - Tyndale - The Life Application Study Bible is here to give you resources to help you understand why scripture matters and how it applies today! Check it out now at: https://sites.tyndale.com/lasb/
 
19:14 - Legacy of Chicago
 
28:30 - How Black Churches Equip Students
 
47:00 - End Credits

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 struggle with isolation, and how the church can respond to our growing need for belonging. Then the conversation turns to America's story. They discuss whether they identify as "patriotic," how to hold the nation's ideals alongside its painful history of injustice, and what Paul can teach Christians about faithfully challenging the empire. Also, is Malcolm's superhero Mount Rushmore really the worst of all time?
00:00 - Introduction & Warm-Up
01:31 - Theme Song
01:44 - Superhero Mount Rushmore & Favorite Pop Culture Icons
05:17 - Spider-Man, Thunderbolts, and the Epidemic of Loneliness
12:49 - Overcoming Isolation & Building Real Community
19:25 - Sponsor - Tyndale - To celebrate the NLT's 30th anniversary, Use code ESAU30 to receive 30% off any NLT Bible! https://tyndale.com
20:38 - America's Story: History, Patriotism, and Identity
26:13 - Faith, Culture, and Higher Allegiances
41:55 - Finding Meaning, Belonging, and Hope Today
44:57 - End Credits

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 getting different people into the same room is not the same as creating a community where everyone truly belongs. Then, Ike shares the central idea behind his new book, Theology That Heals: salvation is not merely a transaction that forgives our guilt, but a lifelong process of restoring us to God, to one another, and to ourselves. Also, can Ike survive Esau's version of the newlywed game?
 
0:00 - Theme Song
 
0:43 - How Well Does Ike Know His Wife?
 
6:33 - Are Megachurches More Diverse?
 
13:45 - Preaching That Ignores Racial Divide
 
24:45 - Sponsor - Brooklyn Bedding - For a quality mattress, go to https://www.brooklynbedding.com and use promo code ESAU to get 30% off site wide!
 
25:48 - Aware of Your Identity
 
35:20 - Jesus the Healer
 
49:33 - End Credits
 
Check out more from Ike Miller at: https://ikemiller.com/

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 reveals about the church's political witness, while also asking whether some young adults have become unwilling to worship beside anyone who votes differently. Then, they examine the latest viral social media trend and why so many people think their lives should be a documentary. Also, why are mega churches growing, but small churches are struggling, and Esau found another new favorite team.
 
0:00 - Theme Song
 
1:53 - Are Curses Real?
 
8:56 - Is Trump Keeping Gen Z Out of Church?
 
16:54 - The Church's Witness
 
32:05 - Sponsor - InterVarsity Press - Truth's Table has a Bible study on the Book of John, featuring Esau McCaulley! Check it out at: https://www.ivpress.com/studytheword and use code ESAU30 to get 30% off!
 
33:05 - Sponsor - Tyndale - To celebrate the NLT's 30th anniversary, listeners of this podcast can use the code ESAU30 to receive 30% off any NLT Bible at this link: https://hubs.la/Q04n6dQn0
 
34:13 - Pastoring Among People
 
38:46 - Megachurches Keep Growing
 
55:44 - Esau Explains it All
 
58:38 - End Credits