Fantastical Truth

Latest Episodes:

315. How Do Incensepunk Stories Imagine the Church’s Future? Jun 04, 2026

Show notes

Zackary Russell invites Jon James, Yuval Kordov, and Andrew Gillsmith to explore this subgenre in which priests forge faith into new centuries.

314. How Can Your Family Read Better Fantastical Novels This Summer? May 26, 2026

Show notes

E. Stephen Burnett surveys practical tips to find the best fantastical novels and focus on gaining the most from these literary worlds.

313. Should Christian-Made Stories Evangelize Nonbelievers? May 19, 2026

Show notes

Jesus Christ’s Great Commission applies to all believers, but Christian-made stories are free to share Him in many different creative ways.

312. Why Do Christians Believe These Top Seven Myths About Heaven? May 12, 2026

Show notes

Just in time for Ascension Day, Stephen reviews old notions about New Earth, like "it will never be physical" or "it's best not to think about it."

311. How Do Great Stories Help Us Return to Factory Settings? May 07, 2026

Show notes

When new game “Pragmata” teamed up a space soldier man and adorable android girl, many players found themselves feeling parental.

310. Why Do Young Men Crave LitRPG Action Adventures? | with Jonathan Shuerger Apr 28, 2026

Show notes

While some readers and religious folk prefer safer stories, other fans pursue tales of honor in hopes of leveling up as warriors.

309. Why Do Many Astronauts Fly Their Faith Out of This World? Apr 21, 2026

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Apollo pioneers like Buzz Aldrin and modern explorers like Victor Glover show that only faith in God inspires us to travel beyond Earth.

308. Why Do Worldwide Fans Love Japanese and Korean Stories? Apr 14, 2026

Show notes

Even before AI-powered universal translators, fantastical tales have been crossing culture barriers to help us celebrate shared values.

307. Can True Fans Bring Dead Franchises Back to Life? Apr 07, 2026

Show notes

Critics are writing off famous fantasies, and we concede their demise. We also believe in an Author who surprises us with epic resurrection.

306. Why Do Fiction Fans Fight Over ‘Optimism’ vs. ‘Realism’? Mar 31, 2026

Show notes

Project Hail Mary reminds us how much we love earnest virtue-based stories more than false “sincerity” or “cool” grimdarkness.