Paul VanderKlay's Podcast

In this closing plenary address from the Sacramento Estuary Conference at Living Stones CRC, Pastor Tim Blackmon delivers a moving address titled "Sold Separately: Religious Institutions, Deconstruction, and the Technologies of Consolation." Beginning with the story of a 75-year-old Michigan newsstand selling adult magazines behind cardboard to lonely patrons, Tim explores theologian Simeon Zahl’s concept of "affective technologies"—the liturgies, prayers, meals, and funeral songs that historically mediated comfort within covenant communities. Tim argues that when religious institutions deconstruct, these technologies of the heart don't disappear; instead, they come loose and are "sold separately" by the market as addictive commodities like social media feeds, substances, and AI companions. Following the address, Pastor Paul Vander Klay, Dave Busuttil, Raj, and Jared Smith join Tim for a panel discussion and audience Q&A examining creaturely comfort in Genesis, existential lament, ministering to suicidal despair, and whether independent channels risk becoming the very institutions they seek to replace. 

 

What is the TLC? ("This little corner of the Internet" also know as "the corner" https://youtu.be/Y3vqSjywot8?si=IVS3bnriwje5syPO

TLC Search tool. https://thislittlecorner.net
The Flotilla List: https://thislittlecorner.net/channels

https://www.livingstonescrc.com/give

Paul Vander Klay clips channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX0jIcadtoxELSwehCh5QTg

https://www.meetup.com/sacramento-estuary/

My Substack https://paulvanderklay.substack.com/

Bridges of meaning https://discord.gg/UKg8k93c

Estuary Hub Link https://www.estuaryhub.com/

Retro PVK Merch by his daughter a few years ago: https://www.redbubble.com/people/raindoodles1/shop 

There is a video version of this podcast on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/paulvanderklay

To listen to this on ITunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/paul-vanderklays-podcast/id1394314333 

If you need the RSS feed for your podcast player https://paulvanderklay.podbean.com/feed/ 

All Amazon links here are part of the Amazon Affiliate Program. Amazon pays me a small commission at no additional cost to you if you buy through one of the product links here. This is is one (free to you) way to support my videos. 

https://paypal.me/paulvanderklay

Blockchain backup on Lbry https://odysee.com/@paulvanderklay

https://www.patreon.com/paulvanderklay

Paul's Church Content at Living Stones Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh7bdktIALZ9Nq41oVCvW-A

To support Paul's work by supporting his church give here. https://tithe.ly/give?c=2160640

https://www.livingstonescrc.com/give

Jared participated in the Sacramento Estuary Conference. Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCucqIm7dfWU

Following Panel Discussion and Q/A Session: https://youtu.be/nSxsKldV4rM 

 

What is the TLC? ("This little corner of the Internet" also know as "the corner" https://youtu.be/Y3vqSjywot8?si=IVS3bnriwje5syPO

TLC Search tool. https://thislittlecorner.net
The Flotilla List: https://thislittlecorner.net/channels

https://www.livingstonescrc.com/give

Paul Vander Klay clips channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX0jIcadtoxELSwehCh5QTg

https://www.meetup.com/sacramento-estuary/

My Substack https://paulvanderklay.substack.com/

Bridges of meaning https://discord.gg/UKg8k93c

Estuary Hub Link https://www.estuaryhub.com/

Retro PVK Merch by his daughter a few years ago: https://www.redbubble.com/people/raindoodles1/shop 

There is a video version of this podcast on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/paulvanderklay

To listen to this on ITunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/paul-vanderklays-podcast/id1394314333 

If you need the RSS feed for your podcast player https://paulvanderklay.podbean.com/feed/ 

All Amazon links here are part of the Amazon Affiliate Program. Amazon pays me a small commission at no additional cost to you if you buy through one of the product links here. This is is one (free to you) way to support my videos. 

https://paypal.me/paulvanderklay

Blockchain backup on Lbry https://odysee.com/@paulvanderklay

https://www.patreon.com/paulvanderklay

Paul's Church Content at Living Stones Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh7bdktIALZ9Nq41oVCvW-A

To support Paul's work by supporting his church give here. https://tithe.ly/give?c=2160640

https://www.livingstonescrc.com/give

In this Saturday morning plenary address from the Sacramento Estuary Conference at Living Stones CRC, Jared Smith (creator of the Atheist Church Audit YouTube channel) delivers a thought-provoking lecture titled "Proximity, Distance, and the Task of Criticism." Drawing a striking parallel between the evolution of warfare technology—where increasing distance insulates soldiers from human face-to-face contact—and modern social media communications, Jared explains why online critique so easily devolves into dehumanizing caricatures. He shares his foundational channel rule: never criticize a community or religious tradition without sitting in their pews in person first. Following the address, Pastor Paul Vander Klay, Tim Blackmon, Dave Busuttil, and Raj join Jared for an engaging panel discussion and audience Q&A exploring Johan Huizinga’s theology of play (Homo Ludens), algorithmic incentives, Chesterton’s neighborly love, whether proximity softens necessary truth, and why seeing humanity in our opponents transforms how we critique.

00:00 Welcome & Technical Setup (Paul Vander Klay)

05:52 Plenary Address: Proximity, Distance, & Criticism (Jared Smith)

06:30 The History of Warfare: From Hand-to-Hand Contact to Atomic Distance

11:00 Communication Evolution: How Social Media Lengthens Distance

15:20 Jared’s Golden Rule: "Never Criticize What You Haven't Seen in Person"

19:30 Auditing Churches & Cults: Finding Humanity Behind Caricatures

25:00 A Motley Crew of Friends & Calling Groups After Publishing

28:45 Panel Reaction: "This Time It's Personal" (Dave Busuttil)

34:29 Johan Huizinga, Magic Circles, & Inhabiting Space (Tim Blackmon)

43:53 Boundaries, Accountability, & Constructive Critique (Raj)

52:11 Audience Q&A: The Personal Cost of Maintaining Proximity (Rod Hugen)

57:50 Algorithmic Incentives vs. Physical Presence (Neal Daedalus)

01:04:15 Handling Anger & Manipulation During Audits (Dave)

01:12:35 Does Proximity Change Your Personal Convictions? (Ray)

01:20:51 Does Proximity Lead to Soft-Pedaling Truth? (David Jacobs)

01:23:51 "Are You Really an Atheist?" (Sonny & Jared Smith)

01:27:19 Is Proximity the Goal or the Tool? (Katie)

01:30:09 Chesterton, Loving the Neighbor, & Depth vs. Breadth (Brandon)

01:34:39 The Most Emotionally Overwhelming Audit Moment (Jacob)

01:37:36 Disillusionment with Politics & Personal Reflection (John Van Donk & Jared Smith)

01:41:49 Session Wrap-Up & Announcements (Paul Vander Klay) 

What is the TLC? ("This little corner of the Internet" also know as "the corner" https://youtu.be/Y3vqSjywot8?si=IVS3bnriwje5syPO

TLC Search tool. https://thislittlecorner.net
The Flotilla List: https://thislittlecorner.net/channels

https://www.livingstonescrc.com/give

Paul Vander Klay clips channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX0jIcadtoxELSwehCh5QTg

https://www.meetup.com/sacramento-estuary/

My Substack https://paulvanderklay.substack.com/

Bridges of meaning https://discord.gg/UKg8k93c

Estuary Hub Link https://www.estuaryhub.com/

Retro PVK Merch by his daughter a few years ago: https://www.redbubble.com/people/raindoodles1/shop 

There is a video version of this podcast on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/paulvanderklay

To listen to this on ITunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/paul-vanderklays-podcast/id1394314333 

If you need the RSS feed for your podcast player https://paulvanderklay.podbean.com/feed/ 

All Amazon links here are part of the Amazon Affiliate Program. Amazon pays me a small commission at no additional cost to you if you buy through one of the product links here. This is is one (free to you) way to support my videos. 

https://paypal.me/paulvanderklay

Blockchain backup on Lbry https://odysee.com/@paulvanderklay

https://www.patreon.com/paulvanderklay

Paul's Church Content at Living Stones Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh7bdktIALZ9Nq41oVCvW-A

To support Paul's work by supporting his church give here. https://tithe.ly/give?c=2160640

https://www.livingstonescrc.com/give

In this Friday wrap-up plenary panel and audience Q&A from the Sacramento Estuary Conference at Living Stones CRC, Pastor Paul Vander Klay is joined by Tim Blackmon, Jared Smith, Raj, and Dave Busuttil to reflect on a full day of small-group Estuary conversations. The panel explores what makes Estuary space so rare: a un-curated, agenda-free environment where people from wildly different backgrounds can discuss taboo topics, test ideas without fear of cancellation or trolling, and discover shared humanity across ideological divides. The conversation covers the collapse of institutional trust, the mechanics of un-scripted dialogue, the place of fundamentalist proselytizing vs. deep listening, and why open, local community is becoming an essential antidote to modern online polarization.

Sacramento Estuary Conference Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCucqIm7dfWU

00:00 Introduction & First Impressions of Estuary (Paul Vander Klay)

02:03 Taboo Topics, Uncurated Trust, & The Freedom to Speak (Tim Blackmon)

04:02 Discovering Humanity Across Generational Divides (Jared Smith)

05:35 Why Is Honest Dialogue So Rare? (Tim Blackmon & Jared Smith)

07:44 The Ancient City Gates vs. Modern Institutional Etiquette

10:29 Beyond Red-Pilling & Inter-Faith Labels

13:14 Panel Expansion: Dave Busuttil & Raj Join the Stage

16:06 Comparing Sacramento & Midwest Estuary Dynamics

17:12 Small Groups as "Islands of Sanity" (Raj)

24:59 The Pitch & Point Protocol: Testing Ideas Without Trolling

36:57 De-escalating Online Polarization Through Local Presence

53:20 Audience Q&A: Intergenerational Dialogue & Echo Chambers (John Van Donk)

59:18 The Psychology of Estuary vs. Online Discourse (Neal Daedalus)

01:03:27 Submission and Listening in Small Groups (Rod Hugen)

01:05:24 Sales Pitches vs. Agenda-Free Listening (Sonny)

01:07:34 In Defense of Evangelism: Beggars Showing Beggars Bread (Tim Blackmon)

01:12:32 Finding Grace Outside Institutional Boxes (E J & Aaron)

01:17:29 Who Doesn't Estuary Work For? Self-Selection & Bad Faith (Dave Busuttil)

01:21:38 Institutional Failure & Pent-Up Demand for Connection (Charlie)

01:23:23 Institutional Demonic Egregores (Nate Hile)

01:24:33 Value of Conversation Without Conversion Goals & Wrap-Up (Calvin Friend & PVK)

What is the TLC? ("This little corner of the Internet" also know as "the corner" https://youtu.be/Y3vqSjywot8?si=IVS3bnriwje5syPO

TLC Search tool. https://thislittlecorner.net
The Flotilla List: https://thislittlecorner.net/channels

https://www.livingstonescrc.com/give

Paul Vander Klay clips channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX0jIcadtoxELSwehCh5QTg

https://www.meetup.com/sacramento-estuary/

My Substack https://paulvanderklay.substack.com/

Bridges of meaning https://discord.gg/UKg8k93c

Estuary Hub Link https://www.estuaryhub.com/

Retro PVK Merch by his daughter a few years ago: https://www.redbubble.com/people/raindoodles1/shop 

There is a video version of this podcast on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/paulvanderklay

To listen to this on ITunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/paul-vanderklays-podcast/id1394314333 

If you need the RSS feed for your podcast player https://paulvanderklay.podbean.com/feed/ 

All Amazon links here are part of the Amazon Affiliate Program. Amazon pays me a small commission at no additional cost to you if you buy through one of the product links here. This is is one (free to you) way to support my videos. 

https://paypal.me/paulvanderklay

Blockchain backup on Lbry https://odysee.com/@paulvanderklay

https://www.patreon.com/paulvanderklay

Paul's Church Content at Living Stones Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh7bdktIALZ9Nq41oVCvW-A

To support Paul's work by supporting his church give here. https://tithe.ly/give?c=2160640

https://www.livingstonescrc.com/give

What is the TLC? ("This little corner of the Internet" also know as "the corner" https://youtu.be/Y3vqSjywot8?si=IVS3bnriwje5syPO

TLC Search tool. https://thislittlecorner.net
The Flotilla List: https://thislittlecorner.net/channels

https://www.livingstonescrc.com/give

Paul Vander Klay clips channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX0jIcadtoxELSwehCh5QTg

https://www.meetup.com/sacramento-estuary/

My Substack https://paulvanderklay.substack.com/

Bridges of meaning https://discord.gg/UKg8k93c

Estuary Hub Link https://www.estuaryhub.com/

Retro PVK Merch by his daughter a few years ago: https://www.redbubble.com/people/raindoodles1/shop 

There is a video version of this podcast on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/paulvanderklay

To listen to this on ITunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/paul-vanderklays-podcast/id1394314333 

If you need the RSS feed for your podcast player https://paulvanderklay.podbean.com/feed/ 

All Amazon links here are part of the Amazon Affiliate Program. Amazon pays me a small commission at no additional cost to you if you buy through one of the product links here. This is is one (free to you) way to support my videos. 

https://paypal.me/paulvanderklay

Blockchain backup on Lbry https://odysee.com/@paulvanderklay

https://www.patreon.com/paulvanderklay

Paul's Church Content at Living Stones Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh7bdktIALZ9Nq41oVCvW-A

To support Paul's work by supporting his church give here. https://tithe.ly/give?c=2160640

https://www.livingstonescrc.com/give