The Esau McCaulley Podcast

How can Christians have difficult conversations about faith without turning every disagreement into an argument? Christian hip-hop artist and apologist Emmanuel "Da Truth" Lambert joins Esau to discuss his new book, Forgive Me If I Was Rude, and why defending Christianity requires more than having the right answers. They explore the difference between winning arguments and reaching people, the importance of understanding someone's doubts and experiences, and why the gospel is bigger than many Christians realize. Plus, how should Christians respond to criticism of the church, and why do so many of us abandon kindness when we get on social media? 0:00 - Theme Song 0:56 - Forgive Me if I was Rude 6:02 - Deconstruction 16:52 - Responding to Those Questioning Christianity 23:34 - Sponsor - Church at the Crossroads - Esau shares about Church at the Crossroads, a conference hosted by Palestinian Christians in Atlanta, November 5–7. The gathering offers an opportunity to meet and learn from Palestinian pastors and Christian leaders, join in worship, and enjoy Palestinian food and cultural experiences, with time for conversation and fellowship. Use code ESAU for 20% off. Register at www.churchatthecrossroads.com/atlanta 24:47 - Sponsor - Brooklyn Bedding - For a quality mattress, go to https://www.brooklynbedding.com and use promo code ESAU to get 30% off site wide! 25:47 - 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 27:06 - Respond to the Culture 43:50 - Convergence of All Time 58:48 - End Credits Forgive Me If I Was Rude: The Art of Having Complicated Faith-Based Conversations by Emmanuel Lambert: https://amzn.to/4ztEI1L

Tim Tebow is facing criticism after an investigation raised questions about a Christian financial conference where he regularly spoke and encouraged attendees to sign up for classes. Esau, Mike, and guest Justin Giboney discuss how much responsibility Christian leaders have to vet the organizations they lend their name and credibility to, and when influence starts to look like endorsement. Then, they turn to grind culture and the popular idea that success simply comes down to wanting it badly enough. Does hard work really separate the people who make it from the people who don't, or are opportunity, timing, talent, and providence part of the story too? Plus, the guys discuss how quickly the internet can turn a brief viral moment into a sweeping judgment about someone's entire life. 0:00 - Theme Song 0:17 - Mike's Man Cold 1:38 - Tim Tebow Trouble 12:22 - Kirk Franklin and GloRilla 19:42 - Sponsor - Church at the Crossroads - Esau shares about Church at the Crossroads, a conference hosted by Palestinian Christians in Atlanta, November 5–7. The gathering offers an opportunity to meet and learn from Palestinian pastors and Christian leaders, join in worship, and enjoy Palestinian food and cultural experiences, with time for conversation and fellowship. Use code ESAU for 20% off. Register at www.churchatthecrossroads.com/atlanta 20:54 - 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 22:14 - Meeting People Where They Are? 26:11 - Druski and Grind Culture 44:24 - End Credits Inside Tim Tebow's Favorite Wealth Seminar: https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/09/life-surge-the-gospel-of-high-yields-inside-tim-tebows-favorite-wealth-seminar/ Kirk Franklin and GloRilla: https://www.crosswalk.com/headlines/contributors/michael-foust/kirk-franklin-glorilla-collaboration-sparks-debate-over-her-explicit-music.html Nacho Mom: https://people.com/mom-of-the-year-carries-baby-food-at-mlb-game-defends-husband-after-viral-backlash-12143084

A Texas political candidate sees a crowd of brown students celebrating and assumes they must be foreigners. Esau, Mike, and Pricelis Perreaux-Dominguez unpack what that reaction reveals about race, belonging, and the fear of a changing America. They also talk about the growing power of AI, the tech world's obsession with overcoming human limits, and why some limitations may actually be good for us. Plus, Pricelis shares about her new book, False Peace, and why churches can confuse unity with sameness, asking people to assimilate instead of making room for genuine difference. 0:00 - Theme Song 0:20 - Esau in Español? 1:43 - Boosie's Presidential Pardon Attempt 6:20 - Community Work 19:35 - 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 20:52 - Sponsor - With God Daily - Get the daily devotional for people who hate daily devotionals in your inbox every day by signing up at: https://holypost.com/plus 22:05 - A.I. and False Promises 33:24 - False Peace by Assimilation 49:08 - End Credits False Peace: How to Reject the Lie of Sameness, Embrace Difference, and Embody True Unity (How Christians Can Go Beyond Surface-Level Agreement to Build Communities of Authentic Unity) by Priceless Perreaux-Dominguez: https://amzn.to/4yCKduC Articles Covered: Boosie Lawsuit: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/18/us/boosie-badazz-pardon-lawsuit.html New York Times on AI Tech Apocalypse: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/12/opinion/ai-tech-apocalypse-silicon-valley.html

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/

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

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

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