Episodes

President Ford pardoned Richard Nixon of all his crimes. This prevented a long, drawn-out, contentious trial, and national healing started early. Should Donald Trump be pardoned for the same reason? What about other politi...

Dave tells the story of how American companies and the federal government (CIA, military) stole the resources of the rich land of Guatemala, trapping the country into violence and poverty. We often celebrate the greatness of...

Discussion of " Men are lost: here's a map out of the wilderness " by Christine Emba. The crisis of masculinity is real, it's complicated, but we end up with some good practical advice. Then, wrapping up a season of …

A summary and review of On Getting out Bed , by Alan Noble, with discussion on utilizing vs. wasting your suffering. Then, Dave discuss a recent bout of sickness and the relationship between his gut health and his anxiety. T...

Some churches are really toxic: 10 signs you're in a toxic church. Did Chat GPT get it right? Well... Then, Top 5 Draft of non-bar candies. Vote for your favorite team on the Facebook group. Facebook group thehopperpodcast...

Some of us work too much; others are lazy. Some people bounce from one extreme to the other. Work is a gift, rest is a gift. Practical advice from 2 Christians who have learned from many mistakes. Then, what is …

Is it ok to be fat? How do we avoid fat shaming without normalizing obesity. We should not make fun of fat people for being fat, but neither should we pretend that obesity is healthy. How can we navigate this …

The Chosen TV Show about the life of Jesus has earned much praise from the Christian community, but William and Dave have a more nuanced view; should Christians watch it? Yes, and no; it depends. Then, a draft of a …

Multilevel Marketing (MLM's) are terrible, William thinks they should be banned altogether. Tons of people fall for these schemes, even Dave. What does freedom and justice look like for MLM's? Then, do you know the horrors ...

Listener Matthew McCravy asks about the struggles of multiethnic churches. Willy and Dave respond. Then, Dave is going to Guatemala "I am art" thehopperpodcast.org Support us here, find the Bonus Episodes Write us: thehopper...

Did the writers of Rogue One (Star Wars) get their characters from the Old Testament? Maybe yes. The characters and storyline of both can teach us how to respect people who engage with culture in different ways. Do you know...

Swimsuit season is here. The Bible calls us all to modesty, but what does that mean practically? Let's fire the "Dress Code Police," but let's not neglect common sense modesty. Practical advice ahead. Then, a twisting, tur...

We live in a disrespectful culture, which is poisoning our society, and our hearts. How can we recover respect? Then, Dave recounts his whiskey-based 50th birthday celebration. thehopperpodcast.org Bonus Episodes here Leave ...

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs have gone off the rails. The general goals of these efforts are admirable, but the strategies have been disastrous. Most of us recognize the damage done by these efforts, but compan...

Watch this first, What are we doing to White People? Our reaction to this young man's mega-viral and provocative video essay on racism against white people. Beavers dropping from the sky! thehopperpodcast.org Bonus Episodes h...

Does Artificial Intelligence threaten or save us? Or both? Huge leaps in technology come with all sorts of ethical complications requiring clear, level-headed thinking in a time of disorientation. Let's think about it toge...

Comedian Emo Phillips introduces a topic on the joys and pains of relationships. Marriage, friendships, church relationships. Healthy relationships are painful, but life is meaningless without them. We walk through this topic...

Every society needs both conservatives and progressives to be healthy. Brains of conservative people are measurably different from brains of progressive people. What are the fundamental differences between conservatives and...

The extreme right and the extreme left have gone crazy! They are both trying to eliminate the rights of parents to raise their "transgender" or "gender confused" children. Both sides cry out, "Child abuse!" to the other sid...

Religious social media companies are harvesting your prayers and selling them to the highest bidder. If you are not paying for it, you are the product! Then, the (small, but) growing movement to allow prisoners to sell their...

Part 2 of our conversation with Sociologist Matt Vos -- on the role of scapegoats in societies, and in our own relationships . . . with a powerful story to illustrate the evils of scapegoating. We also discuss how this …

We talk with sociologist Matt Vos about the role of the "stranger" in every society. What should/can we do with "outsiders" or those on the margins? Theology and sociology in dialogue about this important topic. Then, anoth...

On commercial flights do you lean your seat back? Airlines use this feature to focus the frustration of travelers to each other rather than the airlines themselves. They sell the same space twice on every seat for every fli...

As we approach the "Final Four," how does money affect college athletics? Men's basketball and football make buckets of money for schools, but the athletes don't see any of the money. New changes allow athletes to sell thei...