The RELEVANT Podcast

This week, we sit down with former Hillsong-ers Aodhan King and Benjamin William Hastings, who just announced a joint worship album dropping next month. They tell us about it — and also tell the unhinged story of how they met 15 years ago. (Lesson: Need pants? You might meet a new friend.)
In RELEVANT Buzz, this week Lecrae became the first Christian rapper on NPR's Tiny Desk Concerts (apologies to Marla) and we tell you about M.I.A.'s new faith-rooted album inspired by the Book of Revelation and the Ark of the Covenant. (Yes, we play *that* Indiana Jones scene.)
In Slices, the heroic Artemis crew had a very relatable problem during the mission, and a chimp clan in Uganda is apparently in a full civil war.
"One Has to Go" hits youth group bands, cereals, comedy movies, Disney Channel shows, sports movies, reality TV and worship era anthems. Jesse was sweating at one point.
Highlights:
00:00 — Intro / Magic game recap, documentary tangents 
16:27 — RELEVANT Buzz: Lecrae's Tiny Desk debut 
21:37 — M.I.A. announces MI7 
31:42 — Benjamin William Hastings & Aodhan King 
39:45 — Slices: Artemis & Microsoft Outlook in space 
43:25 — Chimp clan civil war 
47:00 — One Has to Go: Youth group icons / Cereals / Comedy movies / Disney Channel shows / Sports movies / Christian music / Worship anthems / Bible figures

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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

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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

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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

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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

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