The Esau McCaulley Podcast

Former Hillsong pastor Carl Lentz is back in the spotlight with a new book about surviving infidelity, but should some sins permanently disqualify a pastor from ministry? Esau, Malcolm, and Mike discuss the difference between forgiveness and restoration, the dangers of celebrity pastors, and the Christian publishing industry's role in rehabilitating fallen leaders. Then, President Trump has developed a strange new obsession with people's backsides, and a Republican candidate in Ohio has released a political ad that takes dirty campaigning to a whole new level. What happens when Christians become so committed to political victories that they abandon their moral convictions? And is there any bottom left for American politics to hit?
 
0:00 - Theme Song
 
1:35 - Carl Lentz and Abuse of Power
 
7:20 - Monetizing Infidelity?
 
35:36 - Sponsor - World Relief - World Relief's newest guide, Beyond the Ballot, was designed to equip you with relevant facts, tools and resources to engage immigration and displacement issues with understanding, compassion and courage: https://worldrelief.org/holypost
 
36:53 - Vivek Ramaswamy Ad Controversy
 
49:25 - End Credits
 
Articles Covered:
Carl Lentz:
https://www.wsj.com/style/hillsong-carl-laura-lentz-book-22fa7c1d
 
Trump's Inappropriate Comments:
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/25/trump-nicki-minaj-mike-rogers-michigan-rally
 
Article on Vivek Ramaswamy's Ad:
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/24/us/politics/vivek-ramaswamy-ad-ohio-amy-acton.html

Power can be dangerous, especially when the people who have it don't realize just how much they wield. Sharon Miller joins Esau and Mike to discuss Kelly Clarkson's bizarre feud with a Brooklyn toy store and what it reveals about the blind spots of powerful people. Meanwhile, Elon Musk is pouring millions into the midterm elections, raising troubling questions about the influence of wealth, racism, and the issues Christians are willing to overlook for political victories. And as protests turn violent in France, are older generations protecting their own interests at the expense of the young? Plus, should Christians be worried about people turning to AI for spiritual advice, and what can a grieving mathematician teach us about the meaning of life?
 
0:00 - Theme Song
 
3:13 - Kelly and the Toy Bird
 
9:06 - Oblivious Powerful People
 
26:30 - Sponsor: The Subtext - Want to see pop-culture through the lens of faith and ethics? We've got a podcast you need to check out: https://pod.link/1835471106
 
27:48 - France's Student Riots
 
38:41 - A.I. and Preaching
 
49:31 - End Credits
 
AI Mathematician on The Meaning of Life:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfGenpmOjDQ
 
The Economist on AI and Religion:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/slFPKBdE8-Y

How can Christians have difficult conversations about faith without turning every disagreement into an argument? Christian hip-hop artist and apologist Emmanuel "Da Truth" Lambert joins Esau to discuss his new book, Forgive Me If I Was Rude, and why defending Christianity requires more than having the right answers. They explore the difference between winning arguments and reaching people, the importance of understanding someone's doubts and experiences, and why the gospel is bigger than many Christians realize. Plus, how should Christians respond to criticism of the church, and why do so many of us abandon kindness when we get on social media?
 
0:00 - Theme Song
 
0:56 - Forgive Me if I was Rude
 
6:02 - Deconstruction
 
16:52 - Responding to Those Questioning Christianity
 
23:34 - Sponsor - Church at the Crossroads - Esau shares about Church at the Crossroads, a conference hosted by Palestinian Christians in Atlanta, November 5–7. The gathering offers an opportunity to meet and learn from Palestinian pastors and Christian leaders, join in worship, and enjoy Palestinian food and cultural experiences, with time for conversation and fellowship. Use code ESAU for 20% off. Register at www.churchatthecrossroads.com/atlanta
 
24:47 - Sponsor - Brooklyn Bedding - For a quality mattress, go to https://www.brooklynbedding.com and use promo code ESAU to get 30% off site wide!
 
25:47 - Sponsor - The Subtext - Want to see pop-culture through the lens of faith and ethics? We've got a podcast you need to check out: https://pod.link/1835471106
 
27:06 - Respond to the Culture
 
43:50 - Convergence of All Time
 
58:48 - End Credits
 
Forgive Me If I Was Rude: The Art of Having Complicated Faith-Based Conversations by Emmanuel Lambert: https://amzn.to/4ztEI1L

A sexual assault case at Cornell has sparked intense debate about consent, trauma, and how we talk about victims before all the facts are known. Esau is joined by Mika Edmondson to discuss what Christian sexual ethics should say about power, exploitation, and the dignity of the body. Then, they look at new research suggesting Black Christians in multi-ethnic churches may become less civically engaged, and ask what churches lose when pastors are too afraid to address racial injustice. Plus, are kids actually getting dumber? The guys talk declining test scores, shrinking attention spans, and what happens when education becomes only a means to the next achievement.
 
0:00 - Theme Song
 
2:12 - Cornell 7 and God's Heart for Victims
 
11:55 - Church Should Be a Place of Healing
 
19:46 - Sponsor - Church at the Crossroads - Esau shares about Church at the Crossroads, a conference hosted by Palestinian Christians in Atlanta, November 5–7. The gathering offers an opportunity to meet and learn from Palestinian pastors and Christian leaders, join in worship, and enjoy Palestinian food and cultural experiences, with time for conversation and fellowship. Use code ESAU for 20% off. Register at www.churchatthecrossroads.com/atlanta
 
21:00 - Sponsor - Want to see pop-culture through the lens of faith and ethics? We've got a podcast you need to check out: https://pod.link/1835471106
 
22:18 - Myth of the Non-Political Church
 
30:11 - Pastoring a Multi-Racial Church
 
39:50 - Are Teenagers Getting Dumber?
 
53:45 - End Credits
 
The Power of Unearned Suffering by Mika Edmondson:
https://amzn.to/3Wd9qOh
 
Student Test scores going down:
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/08/us/us-reading-test-scores-pisa.html

Tim Tebow is facing criticism after an investigation raised questions about a Christian financial conference where he regularly spoke and encouraged attendees to sign up for classes. Esau, Mike, and guest Justin Giboney discuss how much responsibility Christian leaders have to vet the organizations they lend their name and credibility to, and when influence starts to look like endorsement. Then, they turn to grind culture and the popular idea that success simply comes down to wanting it badly enough. Does hard work really separate the people who make it from the people who don't, or are opportunity, timing, talent, and providence part of the story too? Plus, the guys discuss how quickly the internet can turn a brief viral moment into a sweeping judgment about someone's entire life.   
 
0:00 - Theme Song
 
0:17 - Mike's Man Cold
 
1:38 - Tim Tebow Trouble
 
12:22 - Kirk Franklin and GloRilla
 
19:42 - Sponsor  - Church at the Crossroads - Esau shares about Church at the Crossroads, a conference hosted by Palestinian Christians in Atlanta, November 5–7. The gathering offers an opportunity to meet and learn from Palestinian pastors and Christian leaders, join in worship, and enjoy Palestinian food and cultural experiences, with time for conversation and fellowship. Use code ESAU for 20% off. Register at  www.churchatthecrossroads.com/atlanta
 
20:54 - Sponsor - The Subtext - Want to see pop-culture through the lens of faith and ethics? We've got a podcast you need to check out: https://pod.link/1835471106
 
22:14 - Meeting People Where They Are?
 
26:11 - Druski and Grind Culture
 
44:24 - End Credits
 
Inside Tim Tebow's Favorite Wealth Seminar: https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/09/life-surge-the-gospel-of-high-yields-inside-tim-tebows-favorite-wealth-seminar/
 
Kirk Franklin and GloRilla:
 https://www.crosswalk.com/headlines/contributors/michael-foust/kirk-franklin-glorilla-collaboration-sparks-debate-over-her-explicit-music.html
 
Nacho Mom:
https://people.com/mom-of-the-year-carries-baby-food-at-mlb-game-defends-husband-after-viral-backlash-12143084