Today’s guest is Peter Wehner — Vice President and Senior Fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, contributing opinion writer for the New York Times, and a contributing editor for The Atlantic magazine. He served in the Reagan and George

Evangelicalism’s Racial Blindspot, Explained

Mar 25th, 2019 1h 12m

This one is a doozy! And it’s both here and in the You Have Permission Podcast feed because it’s just that good. Sociologist Michael O. Emerson breaks down his and Christian Smith’s argument as to why White Evangelical Christians have such a ba

How to Resist the Mob (on the Left and Right)

Mar 4th, 2019 1h 18m

(This episode is appearing on both the You Have Permission and Depolarize! Podcast feeds.) How do we know that we aren’t caught up in a “mob mentality” on social, political, or theological issues? Can universities be places where we teach young

Dan’s New Podcast / Season 3 Update

Jan 14th, 2019 13m 8s

You Have Permission, Dan’s new faith-focused podcast, is out now, with 4 full length episodes launching from the get-go. Search for it on your favorite podcast app, or head to youhavepermissionpod.com to listen now, or listen to the trailer/int

Breaking Mid-Season for Holidays / New Show Coming!

Dec 18th, 2018 39s

We are taking the holiday season off, and will return with the remainder of Season 3 after New Year’s. Dan’s new show You Have Permission will be launching Jan 14th! Sign up for occasional updates at dankochwords.com

“Majority World” Christians & How They Help Us

Nov 19th, 2018 1h 26m

Dr. Allen Yeh (Biola University) joins Dan and Ellen to talk about 1) the fact that most Christians in the world do not live in the West (Europe, North America), and 2) the difference between Orthodoxy (right thinking) and Orthopraxy (right act

While You Were Evangelizing: Science (with Keith Ward)

Nov 15th, 2018 57m 23s

Another installment of “While You Were Evangelizing,” where Dan and Ellen consider what was going on in less separatist, non-Evangelical Christian contexts over the previous 70 years or so. Were other types of Christians raised to be suspicious

Tribalism: Power, Bias, Performance

Nov 5th, 2018 58m 33s

The first of two episodes (non-consecutive) focusing directly on the phenomenon of tribalism. Dan and Ellen hear from and respond to Donna Freitas (2:00), Michael Blake (15:00), and Christena Cleveland (37:00). Donna: https://www.donnafreitas.c

The Beauty of a Good Argument with Walter Sinnott-Armstrong

Oct 29th, 2018 1h 32m

We are fortunate to have philosopher Walter Sinnott-Armstrong (Duke University) on the podcast today, talking about arguments — not the kind you have when you’re angry, but the kind you construct in favor of a position or policy. Arguments resp

#ChurchToo & More with Karen Swallow Prior

Oct 22nd, 2018 1h 9m

Karen Swallow Prior is an author and literature professor at Liberty University — yes, THAT Liberty University. Her contribution to the InterVarsity Press essay collection “Still Evangelical?” explores why she is sticking with Evangelicalism, b

Should You Stay (Evangelical) Or Should You Go?

Oct 15th, 2018 1h 21m

As we discussed last episode, it is indeed a crazy moment to be an Evangelical Christian. Then again, so what? Does that mean Evangelicals should leave their churches or their tradition to search for greener pastures? As we hear from authors

It’s a Crazy Moment for Evangelicalism

Oct 8th, 2018 1h 5m

What a time to be an Evangelical in America, or to have been raised as one: there’s all the politics, racial tension, “parallel institutions,” and culture wars that continue to rage, but there is also evidence of serious benefits for churchgoer

While You Were Evangelizing: Hell (with Dale B. Martin)

Oct 1st, 2018 1h 2m

Welcome to a new season of Depolarize! Dan and Ellen are excited to be back in the saddle, and this week we are debuting a new episode style: While You Were Evangelizing. What was going on in the more liberal-leaning Mainline Protestant church

Season 3 Update & New Bonus Episodes

Aug 30th, 2018 5m 24s

Quick update about the upcoming third season of Depolarize (yes, Ellen will be back, too!), and an announcement of a new feature for Patrons of the show: two exclusive episodes per month!Topics will range all over the place: theology, science,

A Catholic, a Mennonite & an Orthodox Priest Walk Into a Podcast, Part 2

Jun 25th, 2018 1h 21m

Part 2 of our episode featuring Mary, Jennifer and Father Tom, and also our last of Season 2! Thank you for your continued support, and we are already looking forward to Season 3. Depolarize! is produced by Dan Koch, edited by Scott Cangemi &

A Catholic, a Mennonite & an Orthodox Priest Walk Into a Podcast, Part 1

Jun 18th, 2018 56m 50s

The first of a two-part episode wherein Dan Koch and Ellen Mauro consider the worldviews and stories of Mary (Roman Catholic), Tom (Greek Orthodox), and Jennifer (Mennonite). This is part of our series on Christian voters who do not consider th

An Alternative to Evangelicalism? (Liberal Mainline Pt 2)

Jun 4th, 2018 1h 12m

Dan & Ellen continue their deep dive into Liberal Mainline Protestantism, hearing from voters Jack & Debbie Holloway, as well as experts Dr. Tripp Fuller (Homebrewed Christianity Podcast) and Dr. James Wellman (University of Washington). Tripp’

What is a Liberal Mainline Protestant?

May 28th, 2018 1h 4m

This week and next, Dan walks Ellen (and the rest of us) through the world of Liberal Mainline Protestants: Methodists, Episcopalians, some Lutherans, some Presbyterians, United Church of Christ, and others. This is Part 1, which includes a lot

Who Really Thinks Trump is a Christian?

May 21st, 2018 1h 2m

Dan and Ellen confront the worry that has been nagging at Dan more than any other, since Trump’s nomination and election: did all those Christian voters *actually believe* that Trump was a Christian? 2:55- Are Trump supporters gullible, or simp

Candice Clem Hijacked Her Interview And It Was Great

May 14th, 2018 53m 16s

Candice was originally interviewed as one of our five Christians of Color, but our conversation went far enough afield, and was interesting and entertaining enough that we decided to give Candice her own episode. She breaks down her experience

Going Deeper with Christians of Color

May 7th, 2018 1h 15m

On our previous episode, Dan & Ellen took a backseat to the stories of five Christians of color, told in their own words. This episode is a more standard Depolarize approach: dissecting and responding to these voters’ answers to Dan’s question

*Simply Listening* to Christians of Color

Apr 30th, 2018 57m 10s

We're back to our voters this week, introducing five new voices. But this episode is also different: no reaction commentary from Dan & Ellen, and only minimal narration from Dan for context. Rather, we are going to practice the discipline of

Get Off Social Media?

Apr 23rd, 2018 1h 3m

Zombies? The Rapture? A country song *about* the Rapture? Check, check, and check. This week, Dan & Ellen take a break from voter-based episodes to discuss some more personal matters: anxiety and social media use, both of which are related to v

White Evangelical Trump Supporters, Pt 2

Apr 16th, 2018 1h 9m

Dan & Ellen continue their interviews of White Evangelical Trump voters. This episode is best listened to after Part 1. Timeline: 3:16- How political is your church environment? 5:05- “Information super MYway”: News sources and accepted bias 12

White Evangelical Trump Supporters, Pt 1

Apr 9th, 2018 1h 13m

The first of two episodes centered on interviews with 10 White Evangelical Trump voters. Timeline: 0:00- Intro/”Family Therapist Soapbox Time” 10:00- Why did you vote for Donald Trump? 13:40- How central was abortion to your vote for Trump? 15: