The RELEVANT Podcast

This week, we talk to ‘Mercy’ star Chris Pratt about how faith shapes his life and career. He opens up about navigating public narratives, using his platform with purpose and why he believes being open about faith matters more than ever.
In RELEVANT Buzz, the crew dives into Jelly Roll’s moving moment on 'Star Search,' why Gen Z is intentionally disconnecting from their phones and whether music is actually getting sadder. Plus, stories about AI fatigue, bizarre license plate drama, a ketchup packet felony and a guy trying to create a new nation in Texas. And at the end of the show, don't miss the Best Game Ever!
Highlights:
01:00 Storm prep anxiety and riding it out
03:27 The man who tried to start his own country in Texas
06:56 The confidence of mediocre white men
18:23 RELEVANT Buzz 
18:53 Jelly Roll’s Gospel moment on Star Search
21:58 Study finds popular music is getting sadder
24:36 Gen Z intentionally disconnecting from phones
30:10 Chris Pratt 
36:40 SLICES 
38:38 Mr. Potato Head license plate controversy
39:34 Florida man charged over ketchup packet
45:14 “Best Game Ever” 

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This week, we sit down with Chelsea Smith to talk about dating wisely, building a resilient marriage and navigating seasons when love feels harder than usual. She shares practical advice for singles, couples and anyone wondering if what they’re experiencing is normal.
In RELEVANT Buzz, we unpack the rise of political independents among Gen Z and millennials, Brandon Lake’s Good Morning America moment and why Christian hip-hop is showing up at Rolling Loud.
Plus, the crew debates whether it’s easier to bowl a perfect game or hit a hole-in-one for a million dollars, discusses illegal monkeys in St. Louis and breaks down Gen Z’s newest solution to burnout: a “retirement home” in Malaysia.
Highlights:
06:30 – Million-dollar question: perfect bowling game or hole-in-one?
16:05 – RELEVANT Buzz
16:15 – Christian hip-hop at Rolling Loud
18:10 – Brandon Lake on Good Morning America (and the Maury joke)
20:45 – Gallup: Gen Z and millennials are going independent
31:40 – Chelsea Smith on dating
33:55 – What every healthy marriage needs
35:30 – Advice for couples in hard seasons
37:55 – Our new partnership with 316 Financial + Reset Series
42:25 – Slices
42:45 – St. Louis offers amnesty for illegal monkey owners
47:05 – A Gen Z “retirement home” opens in Malaysia

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In this episode of The RELEVANT Podcast, we break down a surprisingly faith-heavy week in pop culture.
In RELEVANT Buzz, Khloé Kardashian opens up in depth about her faith and prayer life, Stranger Things star Caleb McLaughlin shares why he’s returning to faith after growing up as a pastor’s kid. Then we discuss news at the other end of the spectrum: Bestselling Christian author Philip Yancey stepping away from ministry after confessing to an eight-year extramarital affair and Christian pop singer Stacie Orrico’s lawsuit alleging childhood sexual abuse by her former manager. We wrap things on an up-note, highlighting Daniel Caesar’s spiritually charged Tiny Desk performance.
Plus, the crew reacts to DMX’s posthumous ordination, Jesse spirals over the murder math of NCIS, shares a wild Lamar Odom encounter and we play another round of ‘Overrated, Underrated or Just Right.’
Highlights:
03:00 Jesse’s NCIS take and the Navy murder math spiral
14:15 RELEVANT Buzz begins
17:05 Khloé Kardashian opens up about her Christian faith
28:15 Caleb McLaughlin talks faith, deconstruction and returning to God
31:55 Philip Yancey steps away from ministry after affair confession
34:35 Stacie Orrico files lawsuit alleging childhood sexual abuse
37:50 Daniel Caesar’s Tiny Desk and his spiritual journey
39:20 Slices: Lottery odds website exposes Powerball math
44:10 DMX to be posthumously recognized as a minister
46:05 Game: Overrated, Underrated or Just Right (Part 2)
47:15 Mayonnaise, squats and Chris Hemsworth
49:00 Pet fish, LaCroix and Philip Yancey books
50:00 Air fryers, motorcycles and voice notes

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This week, we tackle the biggest faith questions young adults are asking right now (according to the recent Passion Conference) — from evidence for God’s existence and the tension between free will and predestination, to suffering, salvation and thoughts on hell. It’s an honest conversation about doubt, belief and why curiosity might be essential to spiritual growth.
From there, Emily sits down with CITIZENS frontman Zach Bolen to talk about the band’s new album Museum, being in the Christian music bubble while feeling like an outsider and why art doesn’t need to explain itself to be meaningful. 
Plus, Jesse has some thoughts over the increasingly unhinged Guinness World Records, from pigs on skateboards to LEGO-related pain tolerance, and the crew plays a round of “Overrated, Underrated or Just Right,” covering reboots, word-of-the-year culture and more!
Highlights:
3:10 New Year check-in
4:20 The Crown
5:25 Why New Year’s TV is terrible
9:55 Fireworks gone wrong
14:15 RELEVANT BUZZ
17:05 The top faith questions young adults are asking at the Passion Conference
31:00 Awards season highlights
38:30 Zach Bolen of CITIZENS
42:10 Faith, deconstruction, and the Nashville bubble
46:20 Curiosity as a spiritual discipline
50:10 SLICES
50:14 Guinness World Records need a reboot
56:20 OVERRATED, UNDERRATED, OR JUST RIGHT?

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We wrap up 2025 and kick off 2026 by catching up on everything from post-holiday chaos to the optimism that comes with starting a new year. Along the way, we touch on Justin Bieber’s recent reflections on faith, how people in 1998 predicted 2025, and surprising new archeological evidence that Noah's Ark was real. 
From there, the episode takes a turn into full chaos as Jesse introduces his own idea for the “Patriot Games”: teams of Americans competing using everyday life skills, jury duty-style. The episode then wraps with the cast predicting the trends of 2026 — all delivered with the usual mix of humor, honesty and side-tracking that makes the show what it is.
Highlights:
05:10 — Spring-free trampolines and modern parenting stress
07:40 — Childhood injuries, backyard chaos and growing up feral
12:30 — The unspoken pressure of being “the capable adult”
13:33 — SLICES: Noah’s Ark evidence
25:03 — 1998 predicts 2025
31:53 — Justin Bieber’s faith posts
30:45 — WHAT'S JESSE THINKING? Jesse introduces his Patriot Games concept
43:20 — IN OR OUT? Predicting 2026 

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