The Esau McCaulley Podcast

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, and producer Mike talk about the booming youth sports industry, the pressure to keep up, and how parents can tell the difference between investing in their kids and trying to maximize them. Then they turn to the new TV show, Lanterns and its surprisingly thoughtful exploration of race, fear, parenting, and the pressure placed on Black children to be exceptional. And finally, they ask why Donald Trump has to make even superheroes about himself.
 
0:00 - Theme Song
 
0:21 - Youth Sports
 
11:28 - What's Worth Youth Sports?
 
16:57- Fear and the Black Experience
 
24:13 - Sponsor - The Subtext - Want to see pop-culture through the lens of faith and ethics? We've got a podcast you need to check out: https://pod.link/1835471106
 
25:24 - Sponsor - Curiously, Kaitlyn - Ever had a question about God, the Bible, or Theology that you're embarrassed to ask? Chances are, a kid has already asked Kaitlyn that question! Check out Curiously, Kaitlyn: https://pod.link/1739169925
 
26:36 - Parenthood and Black Fear
 
36:42 - Trump's Green Lantern Post
 
48:53 - End Credits
 
Articles Covered:
https://www.denverpost.com/2026/08/23/pay-to-play-youth-sports/

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 experiences with the healthcare system, and why Christians should care more about truth than winning an argument. They also discuss the rise of AI-assisted cheating and why forming people of integrity may matter more than creating better rules. Plus, how much privacy should we be willing to sacrifice for safety as surveillance technology becomes increasingly common?
 
0:00 - The Height of Deception
 
1:20 - Theme Song
 
1:40 - Daejon Love and Being Duped
 
9:41 - Vaccines and the Medical System's Failings
 
25:33 - Sponsor - The Subtext - Want to see pop-culture through the lens of faith and ethics? We've got a podcast you need to check out: https://pod.link/1835471106
 
26:44 - Sponsor - Renovare Book Club - Spiritual formation through books! What else could you ask for? Learn more at https://renovare.org/bookclub
 
27:54 - Sponsor - Holy Post Plus - Want full episodes of the SkyePod? Wanna get schooled by Kaitlyn Schiess? What about a daily devotional for people who hate daily devotionals? Sign up for Holy Post Plus: https://substack.com/@holypostmedia
 
31:45 - Academic Cheating on the Rise
 
42:35 - Flock Cameras
 
53:53 - End Credit
 
Articles Mentioned:
Vaccines Custody Battle Article:
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2026/09/07/the-maha-custody-battle
 
Students Cheating with AI:
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/26/opinion/students-cheating-ai.html
 
Flock Cameras:
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/31/podcasts/the-daily/flock-cameras-surveillance-america.html

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