The God Squad Pod

Latest Episodes:

#092: From the White House to the Octagon Jun 19, 2026

Show notes

Dillon & Desimber discuss the growing collision of politics, entertainment, and spectacle in American culture following a UFC fight at the White House. The proposed Iran deal is taking fire from both Republicans and Democrats. Is it a pathway to peace, political theater, or something else entirely? The star-studded Grand Opening of the Obama Presidential Center and the legacy President Obama leaves on America. And last but not least, Dillon breaks down the Fundamentalist Fuckwittery and upcoming debate between Matthew Distefano and Christian Nationalist Andrew Wilson.

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#091: Who Gets to Preach? Patriarchy, Power & the Price of Silence Jun 12, 2026

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This week on The God Squad, Dillon and Desimber dive headfirst into another week of breaking news, broken theology, and the ongoing collision between faith and public life. First, we'll tackle the headlines dominating the news cycle, Then we'll turn our attention to one of the biggest stories in American Christianity this week. At its annual meeting in Orlando, the Southern Baptist Convention voted overwhelmingly to advance a constitutional amendment that would formally prohibit churches with women pastors and even churches that allow women to preach, moving one step closer to a denomination-wide ban. We'll also discuss how patriarchy impacts churches, families, and communities, and whether restricting women from ministry is ultimately a theological conviction, a cultural tradition, or a struggle over power itself.

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#090: Knocking at the Sky with Author Liz Charlotte Grant Jun 05, 2026

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What happens when the faith you've inherited no longer fits the questions you're asking?

Join us this week as we welcome award-winning author and essayist Liz Charlotte Grant, author of Knock at the Sky: Seeking God in Genesis After Losing Faith in the Bible.

Together we'll explore the intersections of faith, doubt, Scripture, deconstruction, reconstruction, and what it means to keep seeking God when certainty slips through your fingers. Liz's work invites readers to approach Genesis not as a battleground in the culture wars, but as a work of art—one that still has the power to surprise, challenge, and inspire.

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#089: Faith, Flags, and False Gospels: Leigh Larson on Christian Nationalism May 29, 2026

Show notes

This week we're joined by theologian, veteran, public scholar, and cultural commentator Leigh Larson for a conversation that sits at the intersection of faith, power, patriotism, and the future of the Church.

Leigh Larson is the creator and host of Follow the Leighder, a multi-platform society and culture brand reaching more than 245,000 followers across social media. A graduate of Phillips Theological Seminary, her groundbreaking research examined Christian Nationalism within U.S. military chaplaincy through extensive interviews and original survey data. She currently serves as a 2025-2026 Disciples of Christ HELM Global Theological Fellow and was named a 2025 Stone-Campbell Journal Graduate Essay Finalist.

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#088: Saints, Sinners, & Clickers with Author Matthew Distefano May 22, 2026

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The world may be falling apart… but at least we’ve got theology, sarcasm, and mushroom zombies.

Join Dillon & Desimber Rose this week as we welcome special guest author Matthew DiStefano to discuss his latest book, Saints, Sinners, and Clickers — a deep dive into morality, humanity, survival, and what The Last of Us saga can teach us about who we become when the world breaks down.

Before we get to the clickers and cordyceps, we’ll kick off the night with our usual rundown of the latest headlines, current events, political chaos, religious absurdity, and whatever fresh madness the news cycle has coughed up this week.

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#087: A Very Special Episode of “What In God’s Name?” May 15, 2026

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The world is on fire, the headlines are unhinged, and somehow the church folks are still auditioning for the Book of Revelation.

Join Dillon & Desimber Rose this week as:

🔥 Dillon presents the Fundamentalist Fuckwittery Candidate of the Week

🔥 Desimber tackles This MF of the Week

🔥 And together they attempt to navigate the breaking news cycle with at least ONE surviving brain cell and a shred of collective sanity.

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#086: Are we Great Again Yet? May 08, 2026

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This week on The God Squad with Dillon & Desimber — we’re talking about what happens when the people in power keep rolling back rights while telling us everything is “fine.”

The Supreme Court keeps carving pieces out of the Voting Rights Act, gas prices are squeezing working families dry, another endless war machine is spinning up around Iran, and somehow the loudest voices in American Christianity still seem more concerned with culture wars than actual human suffering.

So what is the Church supposed to do in a moment like this?

What does the Body of Christ look like when democracy feels fragile, equality is under attack, and truth itself is being auctioned off for political power?

Tonight we’re diving into the headlines, the theology, the hypocrisy, and the hope.

Because following Jesus was never supposed to mean sitting quietly while empire burns the neighborhood down.

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#085: Baptized In Tear Gas - A Conversation with Author & Abolitionist Rev. Elle Dowd May 01, 2026

Show notes

Some faith conversations stay safe. This one… probably won’t.

We’re sitting down with Elle Dowd, author of Baptized in Tear Gas — a voice unafraid to wrestle with what happens when faith collides with protest, justice, and the lived realities of oppression.

Because let’s be honest…

Following Jesus has never been about comfort. It’s about courage.

This conversation will hold tension.. what happens when what is sacred becomes disruptive? What is reverent becomes unfiltered? Are we willing to show up when it actually costs something or have we gotten comfortable in the pews?

Pull up. Lean in. And maybe… let it unsettle you a little.

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#084: Quantum Faith: Expanding the Edges of Belief with Keith Giles, Mo Thomas, and Brandy Anderson Apr 24, 2026

Show notes

This week on The God Squad Podcast, Dillon sits down with author, publisher, and podcast powerhouse Keith Giles, alongside Mo Thomas and Brandy Anderson, for a conversation you don’t want to miss.

They’re diving deep into his latest thought-provoking works — Quantum Gospel of Philip and Quantum Theology Vol. 1 — exploring faith, mystery, and the intersections of theology and consciousness in ways that just might stretch your perspective.

Plus… what’s next for one of Quoir Publishing’s most prolific voices?

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#083: Power, Prophecy, and Politics: Confronting Christian Nationalism with Dr. Matthew D. Taylor Apr 17, 2026

Show notes

This week on The God Squad Podcast, Desimber Rose & Dillon Naber Cruz sit down with one of the most important voices in the conversation around faith and power—Dr. Matthew D. Taylor.

Fresh off his recent appearance on CNN with Jake Tapper, Dr. Taylor brings clarity, depth, and a much-needed reality check to the growing influence of Christian nationalism and extremist movements shaping both religion and politics in America. As a visiting scholar at Georgetown University Center on Faith and Justice and author of The Violent Take It by Force, he has spent years studying how theology gets weaponized—and what it means for democracy, justice, and the church.

This conversation goes beyond headlines. Together, we’ll unpack:

The dangerous rise of Christian extremism in modern politics

How faith is being used to justify power, control, and even violence

What it means to resist distorted theology while holding onto authentic faith

And because it’s The God Squad, we’re also bringing it back to the people, connecting these big ideas to real-life questions of faith, justice, and accountability in today’s world.

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