Interviews with experts, writers, psychologists and more on the intersection between psychology, religion and spirituality… with a little bit of cussing. dan@religiononthemind.com
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Sep 28, 2026 · 1:33:26
Returning Guest: John Van Deusen (Bandcamp) Listen to this episode's playlist Topics: Genre-bending worship music (3:36) Holy misfits (13:15) Alternative Christian music scene…
Sep 21, 2026 · 1:45:52
Guest: Brad Johnson (Paradox Coaching) Topics: Pastor's kid in Texas (3:07) Christian music career (11:15) Losing the church job (33:21) The tree of knowledge (37:45) Terror…
Sep 8, 2026 · 1:23:41
Guests: Josh Gilbert and Kristen Tideman Topics: Therapy vs. coaching (3:48) Licensure and regulation (11:20) Scope of practice (20:47) Actionable plans (38:00) Existential…
Aug 31, 2026 · 1:18:32
Guest: Tyler Huckabee | Sojourners, RELEVANT Megazine Tyler's Article | Reckoning With the Youth Group That Raised Us Topics: • Adolescent development (8:36) • Columbine and…
Aug 24, 2026 · 46:59
Guest: Tripp Fuller (Homebrewed Christianity) Topics: • Cognitive-existential therapy (11:56) • Self-deception & “ultimate concern” (27:06) • ADHD & embodiment (31:09) Patron…
Aug 17, 2026 · 1:27:11
**Participate in my next Spiritual Abuse Research Study** Guest: Jay Michaelson (Both/And) Topics: Why "spirituality" makes a bad communicator (3:07) Reb Zalman…
Aug 10, 2026 · 38:25
Guests: Tony Jones & Josh Gilbert (Generation Gap Culture Hour returns!) Topics: Culture roundup: alliteration bios, Son of Helena, dude lit & Lonesome Dove (1:58) The Odyssey:…
Aug 3, 2026 · 1:41:41
Episode #370 | Trusting Yourself After Religious Change *Original Description * To Trust Your Experience (Dustin Kensrue) (#38) Is experience potentially a direct pathway to the…
Jul 27, 2026 · 1:21:39
**Participate in my next Spiritual Abuse Research Study** Guest: Jenn Mason (WinkWink Boutique) Topics: Growing up Jewish in a small rural town and rediscovering Judaism as an…
Jul 20, 2026 · 40:12
**Participate in my next Spiritual Abuse Research Study** Guest: Valerie Martin (Gaia Center / But For Real Podcast) Topics: Tarot, astrology, and Valerie's path into new age…
Jul 13, 2026 · 1:07:06
**Participate in my next Spiritual Abuse Research Study** Guest: Daryl Van Tongeren Returns! (Hope College / "Done") Topics: What is existentialism and existential…
Jul 6, 2026 · 1:07:00
**Participate in my next Spiritual Abuse Research Study** Guests: Victoria Jackson & Terry Shoemaker Topics: Religion, sport, and the sacred — evangelical baggage and finite…
Jun 29, 2026 · 50:36
Guests: Tony Jones & Josh Gilbert (Generation Gap Culture Hour returns!) Topics: Culture roundup: All the Pretty Horses, Dave on Hulu, The Strokes (3:28) Streaming piracy & the…
Jun 22, 2026 · 1:06:54
Guest: Daryl Van Tongeren Returns! (Hope College / "Done") Topics: Are most people living in a kind of illusion? (0:00) How people spend their time (17:14) What makes humans…
Jun 15, 2026 · 1:07:28
Guest: Daryl Van Tongeren Returns! (Hope College / "Done") Topics: What is existentialism and existential psychology? (5:25) Does life have a predetermined purpose, or do we make…
Jun 8, 2026 · 1:25:03
Guest: Barrabas! (Tim Burnette returns) Topics: • Religion after religion (7:04) • In-group Religion (10:58) • Is there moral and spiritual progress? (25:04) • Haidt's Rider &…
Jun 1, 2026 · 40:06
Sex drive, religious formation, and the stubborn residue of purity culture — welcome back to Study Hall, where I bring you along as I cram for my licensure exam and connect to…
May 25, 2026 · 1:19:44
Licensed therapist and trauma specialist Ryan Kuja joins me to examine the surprising parallels between Christian fundamentalism and new age spirituality — particularly how both…
May 21, 2026 · 47:08
In this episode, comedian and podcaster Jordan Morris describes growing up as a youth group kid in Orange County, and how those experiences informed his new graphic novel Youth…
May 18, 2026 · 1:29:10
Psychologist Dr. Pamela Epstein King returns to explore how religious systems provide purpose, calling, and meaning — and what happens to those foundations when people go through…
May 11, 2026 · 42:30
I sit down with Rabbi Dr. Simcha Raphael and learn about his remarkably wide-ranging spiritual journey. From a traditional Montreal Hebrew education through India, the San…
May 4, 2026 · 34:29
The nature vs. nurture debate is largely settled (spoiler alert: it's both), but the implications for how and when religious identity forms are striking. The research points to a…
Apr 27, 2026 · 1:25:44
Meredith Miller returns to talk about something many of us have been navigating in our personal lives: how do you raise kids with a meaningful faith after your own…
Apr 20, 2026 · 1:43:06
Brad Strawn of Fuller Seminary returns to unpack the four clinical and theological influences that shape his work as a therapist, pastor, and professor (Wesleyan theology,…
Apr 15, 2026 · 34:57
Things are, objectively, pretty rough right now! But honestly? We can't stop laughing at the "Trump AI Jesus" memes. Religion on the News is back with Mason Mennenga (A People's…
Apr 13, 2026 · 1:22:12
Lillian Daniel returns after five years to discuss her new book Defrocked: Good News from a Bad Pastor for a Better Church — a candid, often funny, and deeply human account of…
Apr 9, 2026 · 44:34
This is the fifth and final installment of the Anxious Times series, and we're bringing it home by exploring what existential psychology has to say about community, belonging,…
Apr 6, 2026 · 1:26:34
Religion on the News is back with Mason Mennenga, and today we're tackling some heavy hitters: the Supreme Court's 8-1 ruling striking down Colorado's conversion therapy ban, the…
Apr 2, 2026 · 30:54
Co-host Kristen Tideman and I work through the final two legs of Emmy van Dersen's triad — the impossible and the desirable — using Kristen's new motherhood, MS diagnosis, and…
Mar 30, 2026 · 1:07:57
I sit down with clinical psychologist and author Dr. Jeffrey Rubin to explore his concept of meditative psychotherapy — a genuinely reciprocal integration of Western…
Mar 26, 2026 · 32:06
I'm joined by my co-host Kristen Tideman for the third installment of the Anxious Times series. We dig into Emmy van Dersen's concept of "the necessary" — the hard limits baked…
Mar 23, 2026 · 1:41:18
I sit down with theologian and ethicist Dr. Jared Stacey to unpack his new book Reality in Ruins: How Conspiracy Theory Became an Evangelical Crisis, exploring what actually…
Mar 16, 2026 · 1:15:48
We're not just individually stressed — we're living through a historic collision of crises that existential psychology has a name for. In this second episode of our Anxious Times…
Mar 12, 2026 · 36:42
In this episode, I sit down with Harper’s Magazine Editor Christopher Beha to explore why neither scientific materialism nor romantic idealism fully satisfies — and what a third…
Mar 9, 2026 · 1:24:59
Introducing a NEW five-part series called Anxious Times, focused on practical insights from existential psychology for navigating intense periods like the one we’re living…
Mar 5, 2026 · 44:43
…In this sociopolitical economy, that is. I’m joined in today’s Generation Gap Culture Hour by regulars Josh Gilbert, Tony Jones, and we hear all about the newest generation to…
Mar 2, 2026 · 1:22:35
In this episode, I sit down with Tim Burnette — founder of The Way Collective in Santa Barbara — to explore what it looks like to build a psychologically astute, contemplative…
Feb 23, 2026 · 1:26:40
In this conversation, Ryan Burge joins me to explore the evolving landscape of religion in America, focusing on the concepts of “nones” and “dones”—those who identify as…
Feb 19, 2026 · 27:15
This is it — the finale of our four-part series on C.S. Lewis's The Great Divorce, and Kristen Tideman and I go out with a bang. We work through chapters 10-14, where Lewis's…
Feb 16, 2026 · 1:10:30
I invite previous guest Heather Patton Griffin back to the pod to discuss biblical counseling—but this time through the lens of AI. After our previous conversation about white…
Feb 13, 2026 · 30:37
I'm back with Kristen Tideman for Part 3 of our conversation about C.S. Lewis's 'The Great Divorce,' and honestly, I wasn't prepared for how much these chapters would make me…
Feb 9, 2026 · 1:23:31
In this conversation, Minnesotan and friend of the pod, Tony Jones, joins me for another look at the complex dynamics happening below the surface in Minnesota right now. We…
Feb 5, 2026 · 41:11
Kristen Tideman is back for Part 2 of our conversation about C.S. Lewis's 'The Great Divorce,' and we get right into discussing some of the uncomfortable questions Chapter 5…
Feb 2, 2026 · 1:22:39
In this episode, recurring guest Kristen Tideman and I discuss C.S. Lewis's The Great Divorce, examining how its exploration of hell, isolation, and human flaws speaks to modern…
Jan 26, 2026 · 1:16:05
In this episode of "Religion on the Mind," Mason Mennenga joins me to discuss what it’s like to be in Minneapolis right now, amid intense immigration enforcement and community…
Jan 19, 2026 · 1:11:50
In this live episode of Religion on the Mind, recorded at Theology Beer Camp in October 2025, I sit down with friend and philosopher Myron A. Penner to explore the naturalness of…
Jan 12, 2026 · 1:00:59
I sit down with returning guest Bonnie Kristian, deputy editor at Christianity Today, to examine tensions in contemporary evangelicalism in light of her upcoming book, In Defense…
Jan 8, 2026 · 37:18
I reconnect with my friend Brian Hall to explore his family's move from Portland to rural Oregon—driven by their kids' special needs, exhaustion with sociopolitical polarization,…
Jan 5, 2026 · 1:34:24
These are the notes I just worked on: I sit down with our friend Kristen Tideman for one of those conversations that starts heavy and somehow leaves you feeling more alive.…
Dec 29, 2025 · 1:10:14
In today’s episode, I’m joined by licensed professional counselor Monica DiCristina to explore the question that haunts so many people leaving conservative religious…
Dec 22, 2025 · 1:22:45
Religion on the News is back — (thanks to our patron Samantha for suggesting that series title!) Mason Mennenga joins me to round up the latest stories from faith, culture, and…
Dec 15, 2025 · 1:23:15
In today’s episode, I’m joined by social psychologist Dr. James Pennebaker from UT Austin to explore an uncomfortable truth: we don't use language to tell the truth—we use it to…
Dec 11, 2025 · 33:51
Welcome to a special episode of GenDERation Gap Culture Hour with Joy Vetterlein bringing a female perspective to the conversation with me, Josh Gilbert and Tony Jones. We launch…
Dec 8, 2025 · 1:46:26
In today’s episode, I’m joined by writer, rabbi, journalist and fellow “weird religious person” Jay Michaelson for a thought-provoking conversation that already has me scheming…
Dec 4, 2025 · 33:08
I sit down with Dr. Nathan Carlin, professor of medical humanities and author of The Secularization of Medicine, to explore his fascinating thesis that doctors have become the…
Dec 1, 2025 · 1:10:34
We ease into today’s topic with a Top of Mind segment on two competing narratives: does having children make the future better? Or worse? From right-leaning fears of population…
Nov 24, 2025 · 1:39:37
In the continuation of this series examining how cognitive distortions impact our religious beliefs and experiences, I'm diving into one of the most pervasive distortions with…
Nov 20, 2025 · 39:18
We’re back with another Generation Gap Culture Hour featuring myself, Tony Jones and Josh Gilbert all representing our different generational viewpoints. As is our regular…
Nov 17, 2025 · 1:11:52
Definitely don’t play this one with kids around! I’m sitting down with journalist Ellen Huet to explore the rise and fall of OneTaste, a San Francisco wellness startup that built…
Nov 13, 2025 · 41:49
Matthew Burdette—Episcopal priest, theologian, and editor—joins me for a wide-ranging conversation about theology and culture. We cover a little bit of everything in this one!…
Nov 10, 2025 · 1:20:05
I'm sitting down with my friend of 12 years, Sara Billups, to talk about her brand new book Nervous Systems—and all the many meanings implied in its title. We start with how…
Nov 6, 2025 · 27:55
Today I’m joined by my brother-in-law Cameron Reed and fellow therapist Gabe Cortez to explore fiction through the lens of psychology and spirituality. We’re planning a series of…
Nov 3, 2025 · 1:31:38
It’s a Religion News Roundup with podcaster and theologian Mason Mennenga, where we discuss the latest in religion-related current events. In this first episode trying out this…
Oct 27, 2025 · 1:23:33
I sit down with musician John Mark McMillan for an exclusive conversation about something I never thought I'd see—one of contemporary Christian music's most boundary-pushing…
Oct 23, 2025 · 11:07
Here's a little update after our weekend in St. Paul, MN for Theology Beer Camp 2025. See you on Monday with our regular episode! ___________________________________________…
Oct 20, 2025 · 1:51:07
I'm launching a new series diving deep into cognitive distortions—those sneaky thinking errors we all fall into—and exploring how they show up at the intersection of psychology…
Oct 13, 2025 · 1:18:50
I sit down with John Hawthorne, retired Christian university sociology professor and author of The Fearless Christian University, to unpack the troubling martyrdom narrative…
Oct 6, 2025 · 50:20
You Have Permission is now Religion on the Mind! Look for our updated artwork in your podcast feed and listen to this episode for more about what you can expect with the new…
Oct 2, 2025 · 32:30
It’s a new name, new art… and the rest is pretty much the same content you know and love on the overlap of psychology, religion and spirituality. My teammates Josh Gilbert and…
Sep 29, 2025 · 2:55:30
Friend of the pod Tripp Fuller joins me in full Dodgers gear (the audacity!) to discuss why the doctrine of original sin desperately needs a comeback—not the toxic version that…
Sep 22, 2025 · 1:35:01
Attention YHP Listeners: Starting in October, the podcast You Have Permission will change its name to Religion on the Mind. This rebrand will come with new artwork and focus more…
Sep 18, 2025 · 1:04:23
In this week’s Top of Mind segment, I address the Charlie Kirk assassination through cognitive distortions, calling out the all-or-nothing thinking that's turning him into either…
Sep 15, 2025 · 1:20:02
My fellow Beach Boys fan and returning guest David Zahl is back to discuss his provocative critique of self-optimization culture in his Plough Quarterly piece "Against…
Sep 8, 2025 · 1:30:14
I sit down with licensed therapist Emily Maynard—herself a product of Dobson-influenced parenting—to unpack what I'm calling one of the most consequential psychological disasters…
Sep 4, 2025 · 38:11
He’s out from behind the green curtain! In this episode, my guest is none other than my producer and audio/editor wizard, Josh Gilbert. Josh spends about 23 hours per week…
Sep 2, 2025 · 1:13:11
In this week’s episode of You Have Permission, I sit down with Dr. Richard B. Miller, Professor Emeritus from the University of Chicago Divinity School, to tackle his blunt…
Aug 28, 2025 · 36:49
Last week I hosted a live Q&A session for our Patrons—one of the perks that comes with a YHP Patreon membership (now on sale for 42% off an annual subscription with code…
Aug 25, 2025 · 1:31:09
It’s the last week of my 42nd birthday sale! Become an Annual Member of my Patreon now for just around $4 a month. Also, I'm now taking therapy clients in Washington State and…
Aug 21, 2025 · 36:25
My 42nd birthday sale is LIVE! Join as an Annual Member of my Patreon to get 42% off through September 1 and enjoy ad-free access to Patron-exclusive content like this! In…
Aug 18, 2025 · 1:47:19
Get 42% off a YHP annual Patreon membership, while we celebrate Dan’s 42nd birthday! (Ends Sept 1st) ~Use code “BIRTHDAY”~ It’s time for another Generation Gap Culture Hour (Full…
Aug 11, 2025 · 1:33:04
My friend James Wightman joins me to tell me about What Would Jesus Sell? a documentary he's been working on for eight years about the Christian music industry. We get into how…
Aug 7, 2025 · 36:11
Sarah Lane Ritchie is back for our final Shiny Happy People discussion from Season 2 of the Amazon docuseries. Sarah opens with a delightfully unhinged question about whether…
Aug 4, 2025 · 56:35
Top of Mind: I start this episode by addressing the recent report from Baptist News Global regarding former guest Dr. Laura E. Anderson, a well-known therapist and coach in the…
Jul 31, 2025 · 31:36
In today's episode, I'm diving back into the deep end with theologian and philosopher of science Sarah Lane Ritchie for part two of our response to the Shiny Happy People…
Jul 28, 2025 · 1:34:10
I'm joined again by my dear friend Sarah Lane Ritchie, theologian and scholar of science and religion, for the first of three episodes responding to the new season of Amazon's…
Jul 21, 2025 · 1:16:41
Dan kicks off the episode with a new segment, Top of Mind, focused this week on former President Obama’s entry into the discourse around struggles currently faced by men and boys…
Jul 17, 2025 · 45:43
In this special "after hours" episode, I dive deep with my friend Chase Willett into the surprising abundance of religious and spiritual themes running through the New York…
Jul 14, 2025 · 1:08:00
A spiritual sequel of sorts to episode #330 on youth pastors, I’m joined by Casey and Sam from the Growing Up Christian Podcast to explore their experiences as ex-vangelicals and…
Jul 10, 2025 · 43:56
It’s time for another Generation Gap Culture Hour, where I sit down with Josh Gilbert and Tony Jones to peel back the layers of personal stories, health struggles, and shifting…
Jul 7, 2025 · 53:16
I chat with journalist Julia Hotz about her book The Connection Cure: The Prescriptive Power of Movement, Nature, Art, Service, and Belonging. Julia introduces me to the…
Jun 30, 2025 · 2:21:05
I'm joined by David Zahl, returning YHP guest and editor-in-chief of Mockingbird's online magazine. David is also a massive Beach Boys/Brian Wilson fan like myself, so I knew he…
Jun 26, 2025 · 29:43
Last week I hosted a Q&A session for You Have Permission Patreon subscribers, and we had a great time! Topics included: Christianity's anthropological influence on Western…
Jun 23, 2025 · 1:29:03
Joy Vetterlein joins me at the top of the episode to discuss the latest round of allegations against Michael Tait, and our evolving reactions and perspectives through this…
Jun 16, 2025 · 1:05:47
In this episode of You Have Permission, I'm checking in with youth pastors to see how they're really doing—and the answer is, “Not great.” My guest Joel Foster, who serves at…
Jun 9, 2025 · 1:21:10
This special live episode was recorded with one of the pod’s favorite friends, Daryl Van Tongeren, back in October at Theology Beer Camp. We talked about how people make faith…
Jun 5, 2025 · 56:15
This emergency podcast responds to a new Roys Report article alleging sexual assault by Michael Tait of dc Talk and Newsboys, with my guest Tyson Motsenbocker joining to discuss…
Jun 2, 2025 · 53:18
It’s time for another Generation Gap Culture Hour, where I sit down with Josh Gilbert and Tony Jones to unpack everything from personal stories to shifting generational trends.…
May 26, 2025 · 1:21:50
In this roundtable conversation, I reconnect with Joy Vetterlein and Jon Steingard (former Hawk Nelson frontman) to explore their parallel journeys of leaving Christian ministry…
May 19, 2025 · 47:29
My dear friend Ben Bishop, author of The Garden House Substack, joins me to discuss how fiction can help us imagine how people from different times and places experienced the…
May 13, 2025 · 1:14:53
I’m joined by my longtime friend Joe Rose, a partner at the law firm Gibson Dunn, for a wide-ranging and grounded conversation on the selection of Pope Leo XIV, the first ever…
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