Pastor With No Answers: The MIXTAPE Era

Latest Episodes:

382 - "Black Men Just Need to Stop Selling Drugs, Start Being Fathers." Right? Jan 16, 2023

Show notes

Why is it not this simple? Why is "not knowing any better" a legitimate excuse? Or is it? Is the "absentee father" even a black problem? Joey discusses these questions with three black friends (regulars on the show) and hears two of their stories of not being cut out for drug dealing, one of them losing an incredible career opportunity due to his color, and one heart-breaking story of divorce, child support and jail time. The three also reflect on the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and what he means to them personally.
We also talk about when white people try to talk "black things" to black people, including Joey trying to talk basketball to black men he's meeting for the first time.
Get The Bear Feed (exclusive podcast for patrons of the show)
Robbie Madison / Web / Instagram
Stoy Prioleau / FB / Music (Riggy Roc - where ever you stream your music)
Antonio Seabrook / FB
Joey Svendsen / Instagram / Twitter / Facebook / E-mail
Podcast Socials
PWNA Discussion Facebook Group / YouTube
e-mail the PWNA team here.
Thanks // Derek Minor for theme song of PWNA and Joel Hamilton / Joel Hamilton + friends for music in this episode.

E-mail Joey here.

Support Joey's work by Being a Patron / (Venmo)

PWNA Theme Song by Stoy Prioleau (aka: Riggy Roc): Apple Music

Closing song by Derek Minor and other music by Mechanical River.

381 - Middle Finger to My Old Church, What's Love Got to Do With It? Jan 10, 2023

Show notes

[chapter markers are listed at bottom & inserted in audio for your listening convenience]
As the topic of conversation centers around a specific instagram post by a specific person, this is a general conversation about “spitfire social media Christians," why their words don’t resemble love, and if a militant tone is the most loving approach when one believes vehemently that opposing positions are not only wrong but also endangering the health and/or rights of a whole demographic of people by the billions (babies, women, etc).
We get into some abortion talk, dissect how evangelicals typically view the theology behind "homosexuality being a sin," but the main topic at hand? Where is the fine-line between speaking boldly from convictions and letting anger compromise the beauty of Jesus' teachings to "love our neighbor," and to "bless those who curse me."
Get The Bear Feed (exclusive podcast for patrons of the show)
Liz Miller / Instagram / Memoirs
Amy Alderman / Facebook
Ellen Mauro / Instagram
Jed Payne / Instagram / Podcast
Hayne Griffin / Instagram
Matt Oxley / Web / Twitter
Joey Svendsen / Instagram / Twitter / Facebook / E-mail
Podcast Socials
PWNA Discussion Facebook Group / YouTube
e-mail the PWNA team here.
Thanks // Derek Minor for theme song of PWNA and Joel Hamilton / Joel Hamilton + friends for music in this episode.
0:06
A "mini sermon" / "joey rant"
6:06
intro to episode

10:55
description of Bear Feed

11:38
The Bear Feed commercial

14:10
description of Bear Feed II

16:20
Middle Finger to My Old Church, What's Love Got to Do With It

49:26
clips of exclusive content common on the Bear Feed.

E-mail Joey here.

Support Joey's work by Being a Patron / (Venmo)

PWNA Theme Song by Stoy Prioleau (aka: Riggy Roc): Apple Music

Closing song by Derek Minor and other music by Mechanical River.

380 - You'll Die Sooner Without Good Community. (It's Science) Jan 03, 2023

Show notes

Maybe the best New Year's Resolution one can make: Get good friendships.
Elizabeth Gillespie, licensed therapist of 11 years, focusses her practices on helping people find healing for trauma, through healthy human connection. She did a Tedx Talks (2022) that outlines the scientific data behind this bold statement she made in this episode: “You are probably going to die sooner, faster, and be far less healthy if you don’t have close relationships.”
You heard her. It’s a matter of survival, folks.
We talk through this innate need and discuss why finding healthy relationships is so challenging for people. She outlines the ingredients of life-giving relationships, explains why giving someone their space is usually not a good thing, and differentiates between having a healthy need for people and being co-dependent.

So, eat better, exercise, keep track of that cholesterol, get regular mammograms and maintain good relationships with people. Your life literally depends on it.
Love the show? We would love your support as a patron.
*All patrons have optional access to the Bear W/ Community.
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On Today's episode:
Elizabeth Gillespie / Website / TEDx Talk / Facebook
Joey Svendsen, host / Instagram / Twitter / Facebook / E-mail
Podcast Socials
PWNA Discussion Facebook Group / YouTube
e-mail the PWNA team here.
Thanks // Derek Minor for theme song of PWNA and Joel Hamilton / Joel Hamilton + friends for other music in this episode.

E-mail Joey here.

Support Joey's work by Being a Patron / (Venmo)

PWNA Theme Song by Stoy Prioleau (aka: Riggy Roc): Apple Music

Closing song by Derek Minor and other music by Mechanical River.

379 - Entering the Holidays for the First Time without Your Brother Dec 20, 2022

Show notes

[Continuing a tradition that goes back to Christmas 2019 in episode 208 and continues in episode 272 and episode 329, Pastor With No Answers Podcast remembers those who are grieving this Christmas because of great loss]
Shonte Jones, family of this podcast suffered great loss at the beginning of the year when her 40-year old brother, "Rico" Jones, passed away due to lung complications as a result of COVID-19. She discusses what her grief looks like not even a year later and shares the contributions therapy has made to her survival, whether she's mad at God, and the profound impact of having close connections with people who truly care. The three also talk the puzzlement they share at those who want to rush others through the grieving process that actually never ends.
Love the show? We would love your support as a patron.
*All patrons have optional access to the Bear W/ Community.
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On Today's episode:
Shonte Jones / Facebook
Amy Alderman, host / Facebook
Joey Svendsen, host / Instagram / Twitter / Facebook / E-mail
Special Thanks to Rosie Thomas for the Christmas Music
Web / Instagram / Spotify / Apple Music
Podcast Socials
PWNA Discussion Facebook Group / YouTube
e-mail the PWNA team here.
Thanks // Derek Minor for theme song of PWNA.

E-mail Joey here.

Support Joey's work by Being a Patron / (Venmo)

PWNA Theme Song by Stoy Prioleau (aka: Riggy Roc): Apple Music

Closing song by Derek Minor and other music by Mechanical River.

378 - Christmas For Me and My Friends ("the Black Ones" Part II) Dec 13, 2022

Show notes

Twenty-seven years since the last time they hung as friends (and classmates) at James Island High, Stoy Prioleau, Antonio "Hype" Seabrook and Joey Svendsen caught up on episode 361 - My Childhood Friends [the Black ones]. As kids, they never processed together things like racism, privilege, systemic racism, what it's like to be black, and what it's like to be white. As adults, they reflect on their childhoods with a lot more insight and life experience.
In this episode, the conversation continues as they reflect on being a kid at Christmas as a middle class white kid with dad at home and as a black kid growing up with a single mother trying to keep food on the table.
Joey rakes it in annually while Stoy and "Hype" tell some "Christmas morning heartbreak" stories. It was pretty common in the black community for their peers to get no gifts at all on Christmas.
What was it like as a black kid, when all the best toys (G.I. Joe, He-Man) you play with are depictions of white people? Different entertainment, different food, even different looking Christmas Trees, Stoy was always eager to come back home and report on the lavish Christmases he experienced in the families of the white girls he was hanging with at the time. Stoy and "Hype" also share how they reflect on their absent fathers during the holidays.

Love the show? We would love your support as a patron.
*All patrons have optional access to the Bear W/ Community.
About / Video / Join
On Today's episode:
Stoy Prioleau / FB / Music (Riggy Roc - where ever you stream your music)
Antonio Seabrook / FB
Joey Svendsen (host) / Instagram / Twitter / Facebook / E-mail
Podcast Socials
PWNA Discussion Facebook Group / YouTube
e-mail the PWNA team here.
Thanks // Derek Minor for theme song of PWNA on all other episodes.

E-mail Joey here.

Support Joey's work by Being a Patron / (Venmo)

PWNA Theme Song by Stoy Prioleau (aka: Riggy Roc): Apple Music

Closing song by Derek Minor and other music by Mechanical River.

376 - Brian Zahnd and John Mark McMillan (God and Country ) Nov 29, 2022

Show notes

[this episode originally aired on 10/10/20]
John Mark McMillan and Joey Svendsen enjoy their time with Pastor and Author Brian Zahnd, asking him a little about everything. What does Brian Zahnd think of the POTUS (Donald Trump) and if asked, would he serve on his spiritual advisement board?
Brian Zahnd believes strongly in the church. He points out the problems with both the "Christian right" and "Christian left," highlighting how Jesus wouldn’t serve either of their agendas; because frankly, He has his own. The church, he says, is a part of the world that's “already changed by Christ.” Until we let this sink in, Zahnd concludes that Christians will continue to seek hope in what their political party can accomplish, none of this having anything to do with the more important Kingdom work we are to value above all.
Brian and John Mark also have an interesting take on why many artists are disinterested in politics. And of course, we get into some theology: atonement theories, Christian universalism, the gospel in its fullness.
Love the show? We would love your support as a patron.
*All patrons have optional access to the Bear W/ Community.
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On Today's episode:
Brian Zahnd / Site / Twitter
John Mark McMillan / Site / Instagram / Store (SALE!)
Joey Svendsen (host) / Instagram / Twitter / Facebook / E-mail
Podcast Socials
PWNA Discussion Facebook Group / YouTube
e-mail the PWNA team here.
Thanks // Derek Minor for theme song and Joel Hamilton / Joel Hamilton + friends for other music.

E-mail Joey here.

Support Joey's work by Being a Patron / (Venmo)

PWNA Theme Song by Stoy Prioleau (aka: Riggy Roc): Apple Music

Closing song by Derek Minor and other music by Mechanical River.

375 - "Death to Deconstruction" (w/ Josh Porter of Showbread) Nov 18, 2022

Show notes

Josh Porter (formerly known as Josh Dies of the band Showbread), author of the new book "Death to Deconstruction," shares his story of christian fundamentalist upbringing and deconstruction of faith. Full of bitterness towards the church, he later discovered deep issues of personal pride (quite common for youngsters his age) that contributed greatly to being on this path.
Having now returned to an orthodox (as in what people would describe as not progressive) faith, he is also a pastor at a non-denominational church.
As Joey and Josh likely see faith and deconstruction very differently, they enjoyed a full's episode worth of discussing what they both agreed on, including the needed adjustments for the church to make, in order for it to recapture the ways of Jesus.
Josh appeals to the need of having Jesus' ability to maintain convictions (and true beliefs), while still having a welcoming heart for all to "come to the table of fellowship," including those who aren't even sure where they stand with faith altogether. He shares practically what this looks like as a pastor.
The two may or may not have also done some reminiscing of those glorious yesteryears of discovering the "listening bliss" of punk rock music.
Love the show? We would love your support as a patron.
*All patrons have optional access to the Bear W/ Community.
About / Video / Join
On Today's episode:
Josh Porter / Instagram / Web / Book / Podcast
Joey Svendsen (co-host) / Instagram / Twitter / Facebook / E-mail
Podcast Socials
PWNA Discussion Facebook Group / YouTube
e-mail the PWNA team here.
Thanks // Derek Minor for theme song and Joel Hamilton / Joel Hamilton + friends for other music.

E-mail Joey here.

Support Joey's work by Being a Patron / (Venmo)

PWNA Theme Song by Stoy Prioleau (aka: Riggy Roc): Apple Music

Closing song by Derek Minor and other music by Mechanical River.

374 - An Unexpected Remedy to a Childhood of Sexual Abuse and Trafficking Nov 15, 2022

Show notes

[Please listen with caution. Lots of sexual abuse talk]

Randy, and his wife Cynthia Lail (both dear to Joey's heart), carry with them a beautiful faith that will bring back memories to many listeners who have deconstructed some and no longer see things in the light of traditional, evangelical christian lenses.
As a child, Randy was a victim of sexual abuse [and trafficking] at the hands of one who was supposed to be his protector. The result was a warped view of sexuality and a monstrous sexual addiction that would continue far into his marriage with Cynthia.
Desperate for healing, these two were ready with open hands for whatever means God would chose to do it. For starters, Randy is convinced Jesus spoke to him. His deceased mom also. And this happened all under the influence of an 8-hour ecstasy trip (under doctor supervision) where he also discovered the extent of his sexual abuse. The rawness and transparency demonstrated in this episode is something to aspire to.
"That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Corinthians 12:10).
Praise and glory to a Savior who rescues us from our past and redeems beyond our expectation, more than we can ask or imagine.
Love the show? We would love your support as a patron.
*All patrons have optional access to the Bear W/ Community.
About / Video / Join
On Today's episode:
Randy Lail / Facebook
Cynthia Lail / Facebook
Joey Svendsen (co-host) / Instagram / Twitter / Facebook / E-mail
Podcast Socials
PWNA Discussion Facebook Group / YouTube
e-mail the PWNA team here.
Thanks // Derek Minor for theme song and Joel Hamilton / Joel Hamilton + friends for other music.

E-mail Joey here.

Support Joey's work by Being a Patron / (Venmo)

PWNA Theme Song by Stoy Prioleau (aka: Riggy Roc): Apple Music

Closing song by Derek Minor and other music by Mechanical River.

373 -The Dilemma of a Belief in Eternal Punishment (w/ Two Pastors and an Atheist) Nov 08, 2022

Show notes

Co-hosts Chip Judd (very long-time Christian) and Matt Oxley (long-time Christian, gone atheist) discuss with Joey what he finds to be an "impossible position" Christians are in when it comes to their kids and the doctrine of hell.
If dreaded eternal separation is on the table of possibilities, fear and life-trauma [in the end] is a good thing, especially if one is scared enough to repent and avoid going there. Right?
Chip and Matt both agree that religious people have taken advantage of this doctrine to control people. They also agree that a fixation on eternal separation makes for lousy Christians. Joey makes a case again for Christian Universalism and Matt proposes that Jesus failed, if everyone isn't saved.
Why are so many Christians not able to find peace while holding a belief in hell, while others can go about their life normally, not bothered by their many friends and family perishing in the end? Do Christians really believe in hell? What is humanity's flaw, and what is the gospel anyway? A hell of an episode (pun intended).
Love the show? We would love your support as a patron.
*All patrons have optional access to the Bear W/ Community.
About / Video / Join
On Today's episode:
Matt Oxley / Web / Twitter
Chip Judd / Website / Instagram
Joey Svendsen (co-host) / Instagram / Twitter / Facebook / E-mail
Podcast Socials
PWNA Discussion Facebook Group / YouTube
e-mail the PWNA team here.
Thanks // Derek Minor for theme song and Joel Hamilton / Joel Hamilton + friends for other music.

E-mail Joey here.

Support Joey's work by Being a Patron / (Venmo)

PWNA Theme Song by Stoy Prioleau (aka: Riggy Roc): Apple Music

Closing song by Derek Minor and other music by Mechanical River.

372 - Two Divorced Men: Their Stories, Reflections, Convictions Nov 01, 2022

Show notes

Two marriages that ended in divorce. One after 35 years of marriage, grandkids to show for it; the other marriage, a lot newer with no offspring.
Why did these two men get divorces? How much responsibility do they take? What feelings do they currently have for their former spouses, and how did their church communities respond?
Are divorces more accepted these days amongst Christians? How relevant to these men are Jesus' words, "If anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery." (Luke 16:18)
And would it not make sense for more people to seek marital advice from those who have lived through a divorce?
[This conversation was recorded in June of 2022. Thanks, Jack and Jed. Your willingness to be open and honest provides valuable insight for us all]
Love the show? We would love your support as a patron.
*All patrons have optional access to the Bear W/ Community.
About / Video / Join
On Today's episode:
Jack Hoey / Linked In
Jed Payne / Instagram / Podcast
Joey Svendsen (host) / Instagram / Twitter / Facebook / E-mail
Podcast Socials
PWNA Discussion Facebook Group / YouTube
e-mail the PWNA team here.
Thanks // Derek Minor for theme song and Joel Hamilton / Joel Hamilton + friends for other music.

E-mail Joey here.

Support Joey's work by Being a Patron / (Venmo)

PWNA Theme Song by Stoy Prioleau (aka: Riggy Roc): Apple Music

Closing song by Derek Minor and other music by Mechanical River.

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