Veterans of Culture Wars

Lost & Found in the Cathedral of Cinema: A Spiritual Journey Can movies be a spiritual discipline? Film critic Jeffrey Overstreet shares how cinema led him from fear-based faith to deeper experiences of beauty, imagination, and God. Through personal stories and...

Pre-order Jeffrey's book here: www.broadleafbooks.com/store/produc...

Veterans of Culture Wars Christianity Podcast · Conversation on the beliefs, history, culture and personal stories from Evangelical Christianity as engaged by veteran culture warriors and friends.

We're back for our annual pre-Oscars special episode covering our favorite movies of the year with Six-Timer Club guest @overstreet.bsky.social, who has a new memoir about art and movies and faith called Lost & Found in the Cathedral of Cinema: A Spiritual Journey. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/v...

Jeffrey Overstreet A novelist, creative writing professor, and film critic at the intersection of film, music, writing, faith, and love.

...I'll post my list at jeffreyoverstreet.com on Sunday around Oscar time. But some of my faves that didn't make that list show up on Zach's and/or Dave's—so don't miss the podcast. We could have easily gone an hour on almost any title (but we contain our discussion to less than 3 hours this year).

... Was surprised to realize, as I announced my own list, that only one of the ten films nominated for Best Picture is on my list. Not because some of those films aren't great (several are), but because there were so many others that moved and changed me even more than those. ...

Just wrapped the annual Oscar podcast with Zach Malm (@muzach.bsky.social) and Dave Lester (@davelester80.bsky.social) on Veterans of Culture Wars @vcwpod.bsky.social, where we each revealed our top 10 favorite films of 2025. It'll be available soon. ...

It will be out...tomorrow!

Follow Joanna on Instagram: @tistheseasontv

Check out her work and buy a book at www.christmastvhistory.com

Pick up The Triple Dog dare if you want to read about her A Christmas Story Marathon, or The Christmas TV Companion if you're looking for for weird and wonderful things to watch.

129: Tis the Season for Christmas TV with Joanna Wilson Podcast Episode · Veterans of Culture Wars · 12/16/2025 · 1h 18m

It's the most wonderful 'sode of the year! We're joined by Christmas tv historian Joanna Wilson to talk about classic specials, the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special and that time she watched the entire 24-hour A Christmas Story marathon and wrote a book about it.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1...

Better Ways to Read the Bible How can we read the Bible in ways that lead to healing and wholeness?"A wide-ranging and cogent guide to seeing scripture in a new light. Disenchanted Christians will be energized."--Publishers Weekly...

Buy a copy of the book here: bakerbookhouse.com/products/978...

128: Zach Lambert's Better Ways to Read the Bible Podcast Episode · Veterans of Culture Wars · 11/18/2025 · 1h 12m

New! In our first-ever double Zach episode, pastor @zachwlambert.bsky.social stops by to talk about his new book Better Ways to Read the Bible: Transforming a Weapon of Harm Into a Tool of Healing, and the various lenses through which people approach the text. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1...

Theology should be sexy! - On Your Knees Pre-order your copy today!

Buy @transvangelical.com's book here (autographed copies are available for at least a few more days, fyi): www.transvangelical.com/on-your-knees

127: David Was Doing WHAT in Rapid Succession? Transvangelical Returns!

Jesus didn't come back last week, but @transvangelical.com came back...to the VCW to discuss her new book On Your Knees: The 69-Day Irreverent Devotional! It's equal parts funny and serious linguistic scholarship. She even got Zach asking theology questions. open.spotify.com/episode/7a6V...

126: Hoard Questions: Paul and Billie Hoard Podcast Episode · Veterans of Culture Wars · 08/26/2025 · 1h 34m

We've been quiet for a bit, but the podcast continues! Our friends @billieiswriting.bsky.social and @paulhoard.bsky.social have each been on the show a couple times in the past, discussing concepts that led to their brand-new book Eucontamination. Check it out!

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1...

They do not.

Wild Faith Esquire Best Nonfiction Books of 2024The acclaimed author of Culture Warlords investigates the rise of the Christian Right over the last half-century that la...

The book is fantastic. Even though Talia wasn't raised in this culture, what she writes rings true and powerful. She talked to so many exvangelicals while researching and writing it, which if you listen to VCW you definitely appreciate. Buy it here: www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/talia...

125: Talia Lavin on Wild Faith and the Ritualized Violence of Evangelical Childhood Podcast Episode · Veterans of Culture Wars · 03/25/2025 · 1h 24m

New Episode! @swordsjew.bsky.social joins to discuss her new book Wild Faith: How the Christian Right Is Taking Over America. We talk about the Satanic Panic, Dr Dobson's families built on ritualized violence, and how that has led to so many Americans embracing authoritarianism
tinyurl.com/yjeufevn

Money, Lies, and God INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER "An eerily prescient guide to the phantasmagoria of our political moment."–The New York Times Book Review"Metic…

Buy Money, Lies, and God here (and if you like it, check out her other books, The Power Worshippers and The Good News Club): www.bloomsbury.com/us/money-lie...

124: Katherine Stewart: Money, Lies, and God Podcast Episode · Veterans of Culture Wars · 03/11/2025 · 1h 9m

New Episode! @katherinestewart.bsky.social returns to the VCW to discuss her new book Money, Lies, and God: Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy. We discuss the anti-democracy movement on the right, Claremont, Elon and nazi salutes, and more.

podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1...

A great listen with good film-going friends!

We have not seen Sound of Freedom but we are definitely excited to name it best picture again. We are all in agreement. This is your Q drop. Listen to @muzach.bsky.social on the episode for hidden messages.

"And our #1 movie of the year is...Sound of Freedom again!"

Huge fan of that IP and the whole Sound of Freedom Expanded Universe. Can't wait for the Q-Coaster to open up at the Museum of the Bible.

In which I finally give in to peer pressure and reveal my Top Ten Favorite Films of 2024… only to learn from Zach, Dave, and the great Melissa Tamminga (@oneaprilday.bluesky.social) that I missed some great movies!

123: Our Favorite Movies of 2024 with Jeffrey Overstreet and Melissa Tamminga Veterans of Culture Wars · Episode

It's Oscar time again, which means it's also time for our 5th annual movie megapod, looking back on our favorite films of 2024 with @overstreet.bsky.social and @oneaprilday.bsky.social. Engaging with art is a great way to resist fascism. Watch great films! open.spotify.com/episode/4Eyw...

122: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and DOGE with Tori Williams Douglass Podcast Episode · Veterans of Culture Wars · 02/19/2025 · 1h 23m

We are back, and the always wonderful and insightful @toriglass.bsky.social is back with us this week to help process this first month of Trump back in office. Take a listen, take a breath, hell, take a nap if you need it. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/v...

Suprise for the west coast night owls and east coast early risers: our first new episode since November will be out in about 90 minutes.

So much good stuff in this episode.

We didn't get to make a Christmas episode this year due to me switching jobs, but this episode about international Christmas folklore with Benito Cereno is worth revisiting, as are the other episodes in this thread.

Meg was such a great guest, we loved this conversation. Check it out here:
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Sanctuary: On the Border Between Church and State History Podcast · 11 Episodes · Series

Check out their podcast here: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s...