The Esau McCaulley Podcast

The killing of Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis has become another moment where violence, misinformation, and political certainty collide. As video evidence contradicts official narratives, Esau, Malcolm Foley, and Mike wrestle with what this death reveals about power, propaganda, and the erosion of public trust. Then the three discuss Esau's recent article for the New York Times to ask a harder question: how do Christians name injustice without being consumed by rage? What does faithful witness look like when anger feels justified but spiritually dangerous?
 
0:00 - Theme Song
 
1:10 - American Girl Doll Nostalgia
 
9:36 - Dark New Normal
 
14:45 - Justifying Violence with "Woke" Accusations
 
23:52 - Sponsor - With & For: Psychology and Spirituality for Thriving Podcast. Check it out now! https://pod.link/1712333330
 
25:02 - Sponsor - Brooklyn Bedding - For a quality mattress, go to https://www.brooklynbedding.com and use promo code ESAU to get 30% off site wide!
 
25:53 - Why Do We Believe Things?
 
33:25 - Not Living with Rage
 
47:40 - End Credits

Greenland is suddenly back on the menu of American foreign policy, raising real questions about conquest, NATO, and whether Christians can ever justify taking land that isn't theirs. Then, J. Cole's fear of "the fall off" becomes a window into ambition, calling, and the strange psychology of decline. And when Druski lampoons megachurch culture, it forces an uncomfortable look at why the church keeps becoming an easy punchline, and how Christians should respond when they are the butt of the joke. Plus, will Instagram be the thing that finally tears apart Esau and Mike?
 
0:00 - Theme Song
 
0:50 - Hills to Die On
 
7:03 - Why Are We Against Invading Greenland?
 
16:05 - Sponsor - Glorify - Get full access all year for $29.00 at https://www.glorify-app.com/esau
 
18:50 - J Cole's Retiring
 
27:55 - Pastors Falling Off
 
33:53 - Satirizing Megachurches
 
48:50 - End Credits

New footage and reporting about the Minneapolis ICE shooting of Renée Good have complicated the story. Esau, Mike and Taelor Gray revisit the incident one week later and ask how political power shapes the narratives we're given, and what it means for Christians to tell the truth when the truth is inconvenient. Then, they turn to the surprising posthumous "ordination" of DMX and consider what it reveals about the nature of pastoral ministry, proximity, and presence in an age obsessed with platforms.
 
0:00 - Theme Song
 
2:25 - Wall Street Journal Complains About Sushi for Kids
 

8:15 - Renee Good and the ICE Stop
 

21:00 - Sponsor - Glorify - Get full access all year for $29.00 at https://www.glorify-app.com/Esau
 

22:19 - DMX Ordained After His Death?
 
43:44 - End Credits
 
66 Verse to Explain the Bible - Ezra:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/148221073/
 
Wall Street Journal Article on ICE and shootings:
https://www.wsj.com/us-news/videos-show-how-ice-vehicle-stops-can-escalate-to-shootings-caf17601?gaa_at=eafs&gaa_n=AWEtsqcM4suCejir2XhY_aFDJ2--sqzFMzLxUYZ4SWneBn28PnkIFR-SG7O92GaLvw%3D%3D&gaa_ts=6967c046&gaa_sig=POa3tPcvJz_pC4-M5-e4uWuWjboR_sO0jyfq1BCM0XWAAXYxeb8OSWlKQ2SbkOYLAfCMr-_WetVC1fqY1L8b3g%3D%3D

A woman is dead in Minneapolis after an encounter with ICE.  Esau McCaulley, Justin Giboney, Malcolm Foley, and producer Mike sort through what we know so far, what the law actually says about deadly force and compliance, and how Christians should think about state power and the value of a human life. The conversation wrestles with fear, responsibility, split second decisions, and the narratives forming around the shooting long before the facts are settled.

The fall of a dictator feels like good news, but what if the motive matters as much as the outcome? Esau, Mike, and Sho Baraka dig into the Venezuela raid through the lens of just war theory, Trump's own comments, and the broader unseriousness of the administration. Then Sho reflects on his recent writing about AI and efficiency, asking where the line is between using new technology wisely and setting boundaries for the sake of rest, imagination, and what it means to be human.
 
0:00 - Theme Song
 
2:35 - Hard Classes That Mattered
 
8:03 - Venezuela
 
22:30 - The Donroe Doctrine
 
30:10 - Sponsor - Brooklyn Bedding - For a quality mattress, go to https://www.brooklynbedding.com and use promo code ESAU to get 30% off site wide!
 
31:08 - AI and Utilitarianism
 
50:39 - End Credits
 
Sho Baraka's Music: https://www.shobaraka.com/
https://www.instagram.com/amishobaraka/