The Esau McCaulley Podcast looks to find God in the midst of culture. Each week, Esau will bring together friends, scholars, artists, and writers to unpack the ...
The Anti-Greed Gospel: Money, Racism, and the Church
For years, we’ve been told that racism is about hate. But what if it’s actually about money? Like… a lot of money? Esau McCaulley sits down with Dr. Malcolm Foley—historian, author, and expert on racial violence—to break down how greed, not just racism, has been running the show all along. From lynchings as economic control to modern capitalism’s obsession with exploitation, we follow the money and ask: Why does nobody preach about greed? What did Ida B. Wells figure out that we keep ignoring? And how did Frederick Douglass have better jokes about injustice than we do now? Anti-Greed Gospel: Why the Love of Money Is the Root of Racism and How the Church Can Create a New Way Forward by Malcolm Foley: https://a.co/d/aMG5CNy
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Why Jackie Hill Perry Walked Away from Music—And Why She Came Back
Jackie Hill Perry pulled off the rare creative hat trick—poet, rapper, Bible teacher—and then walked away from music at her peak. Why? And why is she back now? We get into it: the tension between influence and integrity, why theology and justice aren’t enemies, and how hip-hop can be a tool for discipleship. Plus, a game of “Bar Exam” where Jackie tries (and sometimes fails) to remember her own lyrics.
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47:24
LA Fires, Climate Change, and Christian Responsibility
When disaster strikes, what should Christians do? Esau sits down with Jamie Aten, a disaster relief expert, and the Blanchard Chair of Humanitarian and Disaster Leadership at Wheaton College. They talk about the devastating wildfires in California, how climate change and policy decisions are making disasters worse, and why churches play a crucial role in relief efforts. List of Ways to Contribute: https://www.holypost.com/post/ways-to-contribute-to-la-fire-relief
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What Squid Game Says About Us (And Capitalism)
What happens when a Korean drama holds up a mirror to the world? Esau sits down with Cultural Critic, Rebecca Sun to talk about Squid Game—the Netflix phenomenon that just released its second season. Esau and Rebecca break down how the show’s brutal, beautifully shot narrative forces us to wrestle with big questions: What is the show actually saying about capitalism? What happens when art critiques its own existence? And what does Squid Game’s creator really want us to take away from all the chaos? Rebecca Sun's Articles: There’s a Reason ‘Squid Game’ Hit a Global Nerve” https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/04/opinion/squid-game-season-2-essential-twist.html ‘Squid Game’ Returns: Inside Netflix’s Darker, Terrifyingly Relevant Season 2: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-features/squid-game-season-two-creator-lee-jung-jae-interview-1236058780/
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Denzel’s Ministry and What We Want From Celebrity Christians
Denzel Washington was recently baptized and now believes he's been called to ministry. How does he compare to other celebrity Christians and do we expect too much, or not enough from the most famous believers? Also, Esau talks about a recent CT article on family estrangement drawing from his own personal experience. How do we follow the commandment to honor our mother and father when we are cut off from them? Christianity Today article on Estrangement: https://www.christianitytoday.com/2024/11/estrangement-parents-love-carrie-mckean/
The Esau McCaulley Podcast looks to find God in the midst of culture. Each week, Esau will bring together friends, scholars, artists, and writers to unpack the cultural stories that shape our lives and discuss how these stories point us back to God’s presence in the world. Whether it's literature, sports, movies, music, or politics, Esau and his guests will explore how culture reflects both human creativity and our deepest longings. They’ll also challenge the notion that spirituality and culture are at odds by showing how faith can inform our engagement with the world around us. The Esau McCaulley Podcast wants to help the church move beyond the walls of the sanctuary to meet real people where they are, in this beautiful, complex world God has made, and find the space where truth and goodness meet.