The RELEVANT Podcast

This week, three-time Grammy winner Tori Kelly joins us to talk about her new album 'God Must Really Love Me,' written just weeks after she became a first-time mom. She tells us how it’s changed her approach to songwriting and her view of God.
In RELEVANT Buzz, new research finds while Gen Z is the most church-engaged generation, it’s also the least likely to pray. What? We also take a lap around the World Cup's faith stories, and Forrest Frank now has the largest arena tour in the country.
In Slices, Jesse tells us about a man who stole Smokey Bear signs and got arrested in the most humiliating way possible, and Derek has a Maryland guy who might have accidentally redefined Double Jeopardy.
Plus, a report from 11 days of adventure in Alaska, a geography fact-off that spirals into pyramid conspiracies, and your feedback on childhood things that were secretly insane.
Highlights:
00:00 — Intro: Thriving for 11 days in Alaska (unlike the Into the Wild guy) 
22:11 — The great Alaska fact-off: rainforests vs. secret pyramids 
24:18 — RELEVANT Buzz: Faith all over the World Cup — including Messi's blessed boots 
34:28 — Gen Z is in church, so why aren't they praying? 
39:45 — Forrest Frank has a top 5 tour in America 
41:00 — Tori Kelly on new motherhood and 'God Must Really Love Me' 
50:02 — Slices: The Smokey Bear sign heist 
57:16 — The worst possible time to call the police 
59:52 — Your feedback: Childhood things that were secretly insane 
1:02:32 — This week's question: What could you win a competition in? 

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This is the perfect episode for summer vacation season. First, Tiffany Hudson from Elevation Worship joins us to tell us about her new solo album ‘When You're in the Room,’ and the importance of “vertical” lyrics in worship music. Then rapper Parris Chariz joins us for the second half of the show. We talk about his new album ‘The World Is Watching,’ basketball and his unusual path to seminary.
In Slices, Jesse gives us a look at his vision for the future of politics in America (it looks a lot like jury duty), and Derek takes us to the frontlines of a DoorDash robot crashing a SWAT standoff and refusing to leave.
Then One Has to Go closes it out: croissants on trial, mashed potatoes with no defenders, and an unprovoked shot at the Eiffel Tower.
Highlights:
03:01 — Slices: the Long Island town that elected a mayor who didn't want the job 
17:52 — Slices: a DoorDash robot crashes a SWAT standoff and refuses to leave 
23:00 — RELEVANT Conversation: Tiffany Hudson on her solo album When You're in the Room 
30:15 — RELEVANT Conversation: Parris Chariz on The World Is Watching, basketball and seminary 
42:38 — One Has to Go: Paris things, Detroit things, comfort foods and more 
51:35 — Outro

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This week — after the crew discusses summer vacations, cruise classes and the Jersey Shore — we talk to Jessica Koulianos, co-founder of Jesus Image, about what it actually looks like to go deeper with God instead of just consuming more church content.
In RELEVANT Buzz, Team USA has turned the World Cup into a faith story, and we get into Steven Spielberg's new film ‘Disclosure Day’ and the surprising amount of room it gives to faith. 
In RELEVANT Recommends, we talk to Christian R&B artist Sondae, whose new album is a must-listen.
In Slices, scientists are trying to find Noah’s Ark, and a pastor preached for 96 hours straight to chase a Guinness World Record. Then your feedback closes it out with the things everyone loves that you just don't get: matcha that tastes like grass, smash burgers, Hey Dudes and yes, we get distracted by your unusual usernames.
Highlights:
00:00 — Intro: Alaska cruises, classes and Jesse's classy Jersey Shore vacation
14:03 — RELEVANT Buzz: Team USA's faith goes viral at the World Cup
21:55 — ‘Disclosure Day’ and what aliens would do to Christian belief
30:31 — RELEVANT Recommends: Sondae on his vulnerable new album 'Boy'
36:23 — RELEVANT Conversation: Jessica Koulianos on real intimacy with Jesus
50:33 — Slices: Drilling for Noah's Ark near Mount Ararat
55:29 — The pastor who preached for 96 hours
59:02 — Your Feedback: Things everyone loves that you just don't get
1:07:14 — Outro

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Andy Mineo and Wordsplayed are back as Magic and Bird, and tell us all about the sequel to their 2017 cult classic album. We also get into the state of Christian hip-hop, why nobody is vetted anymore, and spend a genuinely uncomfortable amount of time guessing Derek Minor's net worth to his face.
In RELEVANT Buzz, the SBC voted to ban women from the pulpit and it wasn't close. Victory Boyd forgave Travis Scott and ended up in the studio with him. And Pharrell started his Christian rap era with a Voices of Fire song called "The One."
In Slices, someone claimed a religious exemption from using AI at work, and Derek has decided it might be the greatest finesse in history. 
We also stop to mark World Refugee Day with an eye-opening conversation from the frontlines of Sudan about the world’s largest humanitarian crisis happening there. 
Then One Has to Go closes it out: a suspiciously cheap dollar slice, Rambo in 2026, and the case against Shaq.
Highlights:
00:00 — Intro / Derek’s frustrating tech updates 
10:42 — RELEVANT Buzz: Victory Boyd & Travis Scott go from lawsuit to collaborating
14:08 — The SBC votes to ban women in the pulpit 
17:23 — Pharrell's "The One" with Voices of Fire 
20:38 — World Refugee Day: the crisis in Sudan with World Vision’s Grace Mavhezha 
25:13 — Slices: A religious exemption to not use AI at work? 
29:36 — RELEVANT Conversation: Andy Mineo & Wordsplayed on Magic and Bird 2 
36:24 — The state of Christian hip-hop 
40:16 — Putting Derek Minor's net worth on blast 
51:51 — The five-week album rollout and why nothing breaks through anymore 
56:24 — One Has to Go
1:07:40 — Outro

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This week 2819 Church pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell joins us, the Atlanta preacher whose sermon clips have taken over your feed. He tells us why he buried his old church after losing everything during COVID and why he believes the church is running out of time to wake up.
Before that convo, the guys recap a week off the grid in Montana that turned into a grown-man sleepover built around 80s action movies. We also get into how one offhand comment on Derek's "You Can't Say That in Church" podcast set off a week-long Christian hip-hop firestorm, and the unbelievable fake commercial made in response.
In Slices, dozens of mystery people keep climbing out of New York City manholes and nobody knows why. And a cop ticketed a woman for texting on her phone, even though she had a very convincing reason why she wasn’t guilty. 
Then your feedback about hills you’re willing to die on closes it out!
Highlights:
00:00 — Intro and Montana recap: the trip turns into a grown-man sleepover 
03:10 — 80s action movies and their 45-minute dialogue-free montages 
14:50 — How Derek broke Christian hip-hop
23:33 — Derek's petty clout commercial 
29:52 — Slices: NYC manhole mystery people 
38:00 — The cop who ticketed a woman with no right hand 
47:44 — RELEVANT Conversation: Philip Anthony Mitchell of 2819 Church 
57:44 — Your Feedback: Hills you'll die on 

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