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Artwork for A Pastor and a Philosopher Walk into a Bar

A Pastor and a Philosopher Walk into a Bar

Randy Knie & Kyle Whitaker
Christianity
Inclusion
Spirituality
Advent
Christmas
Post Evangelical Collective
Patriarchy
Willow Creek
Alcohol
Theology
Nonviolence
The Pastor, A Crisis
Justice
Philosophy
Materialism
Ethics
Atheism For Lent
LGBTQ Issues
Race
Isaiah

Mixing a cocktail of philosophy, theology, and spirituality.

We're a pastor and a philosopher who have discovered that sometimes pastors need philosophy, and sometimes philosophers need pastors. We tackle topics and interview guests that straddle the divide between our interests.

Who we are:

Randy Knie (Co-Host) - Randy is the founding and Lead Pastor of Brew City Church in Milwaukee, WI. Ran... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes146Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Religion & SpiritualitySociety & CulturePhilosophy

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Artwork for A Pastor and a Philosopher Walk into a Bar

Latest Episodes

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Bart Ehrman, an atheist New Testament scholar with a penchant for annoying evangelicals, now claims that the teachings of Jesus determined the moral instincts of the West. Bart joins us to talk about his new book Love Thy Str... more

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AI can now generate essays, photos, songs, and video that look real enough to fool experts. This impacts how and whether humans can trust one another, and it’s already reshaping how we learn, create, and relate to each other.... more

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We recorded this live gathering in Chicago with the Post Evangelical Collective, and it still feels uncomfortably current. Alongside Dr. David Gushee and Keri Ladouceur (director of the PEC), we sit with a question that haunt... more

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We're still here! Stay tuned.

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Recent Guests

Micah Voraritskul
Author of Human Is the New Vinyl; founder of Verified Human
Verified Human; author of the book
Episode: Human Is The New Vinyl: Micah Voraritskul
Tom Oord
Theologian and author known for open and relational theology.
Episode: Power, Love, and What God Can’t Do: More on Omnipotence With Tom Oord and Chris Lilley
Chris Lilley
Postulant for holy orders in the Episcopal Church.
Episcopal Church
Episode: Power, Love, and What God Can’t Do: More on Omnipotence With Tom Oord and Chris Lilley
Jeff Cook
Expert on the Enneagram and podcast host
Around the Circle Podcast
Episode: Motives, Meaning, and the Enneagram with Jeff Cook
Miroslav Volf
A name within the church and within theology, author of Exclusion and Embrace and The Cost of Ambition
Yale University
Episode: Miroslav Volf: How Striving to Be Better Than Others Makes Us Worse
Mike Madrid
Republican strategist and author
Author of 'The Latino Century'
Episode: How Latino Voters Are Reshaping American Politics
Dawne Moon
Sociologist at Marquette University
Marquette University
Episode: What Conservative LGBTQ+ Christians Can Teach Us About Love
Theresa Tobin
Philosopher at Marquette University
Marquette University
Episode: What Conservative LGBTQ+ Christians Can Teach Us About Love
Dr. Laurie Johnson
Political philosopher at Kansas State University and author of The Gap in God's Country.
Kansas State University
Episode: Deconstructing the Culture Wars with Laurie Johnson

Hosts

Randy Knie
Lead Pastor of Brew City Church; Co-Host. Known for hosting, pastoral leadership, and engaging dialogue on faith.
Kyle Whitaker
Philosophy PhD; Co-Host. Specializes in disagreement and philosophy of religion.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 292 ratings
  • Thought provoking, humble, honest

    Thank you for this show. I regularly share it with friends and fellow pastors. I’m a woman who grew up in very conservative evangelical circles that taught me that women can’t preach, or lead men, “good” Christians can’t love people who are in the LGBTQ+ community, and if you have doubts about God or the things you find in scripture, you clearly don’t have enough faith and probably aren’t a “real” Christian.”

    I first found your podcast because of the Beth Allison Barr interview. Like her, I wre... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SayrahW
    Canada2 years ago
  • Life-changing, favorite podcast of 2024

    Found myself blowing through these podcasts, going all the way back to the beginning and working my way upwards. They cover so many topics I have questions about, and do so graciously and humbly. My favorite podcast I’ve discovered this year.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Drew_Flynn
    United States2 years ago
  • Heart and mind walk into a bar

    I really like this podcast. It features pastor Randy and philosopher Kyle openly navigating their post-evangelical trauma throughout the bizarre political and spiritual landscape of the United States.

    It is an intriguing mix of EQ and IQ, compassion and clarity. I’ve listened to almost all the episodes by now. Biases and blind spots are constantly being exposed and challenged, and the personal growth of both hosts over these four years is fascinating. Randy’s patriotism has metamorphosed into a... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Patrick of Finland
    United States2 years ago
  • Yes to a pastor and a philosopher 🙌🏼

    Your podcast is the one I keep coming back to. The people you interview, the questions you all ask, it’s all so good. You keep things real and I like that. I have listened to a few interviews with people talking about sex and purity culture, but none were as informative and thorough as your interview with Sheila Gregoire you had on in May 2023. That was the best! Keep on doing what you do please! With or without tastings.

    Honestly, I always enjoyed your tastings of whiskeys and bourbons, but st... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Snazzimagic
    United States2 years ago
  • Not Lonely Anymore

    I just dropped by via a reference by a friend. She posted your link.

    WOWOWOW, great podcast! Great information and opinion and it’s nice when you have a guest.

    Thank you for talking about the things I’ve wondered about .

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sr Julian
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the hosts' humility and willingness to challenge each other and guests, with a tone described as thoughtful and hopeful.
Thought-provoking, humble, honest—listeners value open, respectful dialogues and diverse guest perspectives.
Life-changing, highly recommended—fans praise breadth of topics and accessible depth.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

A Live Conversation on the Church, Healing, and Truth-Telling With David Gushee and Keri Ladouceur
Q: How can we construct a positive vision for masculinity and femininity in a way that serves greater human flourishing and mutuality?
They propose a vision of gender fluidity and mutual empowerment, arguing for a theology and social practice that allow individuals to express authentic selves while building inclusive communities.
A Live Conversation on the Church, Healing, and Truth-Telling With David Gushee and Keri Ladouceur
Q: What does it mean to be a church across the kind of divide we are currently witnessing, especially in light of political polarization?
The hosts and guests discuss sustaining relationships, resisting the impulse to cut people off, and fostering dialogue that preserves shared humanity and democratic norms while remaining critical of harmful actions.
A Live Conversation on the Church, Healing, and Truth-Telling With David Gushee and Keri Ladouceur
Q: Why do you still, why have you not given up on this idea and dream of the church when you've been hurt by her?
Both guests articulate a deep conviction in the redemptive potential of the church, describing experiences of grace, moments of inclusion, and the belief that the church remains a locus for healing and transformation despite wounded pasts.
Miroslav Volf: How Striving to Be Better Than Others Makes Us Worse
Q: How should the incarnation shape the life of individual Christians and the church at large?
The life of Christ ought to be the measure of what we do, showing that love and humility are central to the Christian experience.
Miroslav Volf: How Striving to Be Better Than Others Makes Us Worse
Q: What drove you to write this book? What was that process like?
A personal experience observing culture made me puzzled about the idea that we strive for superiority, which is often viewed as a means to progress.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A pastor and a philosopher host thoughtful conversations that bridge philosophy, theology, and spirituality. Episodes feature guests from theology, biblical interpretation, LGBTQ faith, politics, and cultural critique, with a focus on humility, open dialogue, and challenging received wisdom. The show stands out for welcoming disagreement, probing tough questions, and bringing academic rigor to accessible discussions, often paired with personal stories and practical applications for everyday faith and life.

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Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. The Bible For Normal People
2. Religion on the Mind
3. Homebrewed Christianity
4. The Convocation Unscripted
5. The Holy Post

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 6 years ago and published 146 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Micah Voraritskul
2. Tom Oord
3. Chris Lilley
4. Jeff Cook
5. Miroslav Volf
6. Mike Madrid
7. Dawne Moon
8. Theresa Tobin

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