The RELEVANT Podcast

This week, Elevation Worship's Chris Brown tells us why the band took an extra year off from releasing music — and what their new album ‘So Be It’ sounds like on the other side of that pause. We also hear from Portland Trail Blazers chaplain Mike Tatlock, who talked to us during NBA All-Star Weekend to share what he's seeing behind the scenes: more players showing up to chapel, more genuine conversations about faith, and a tangible spiritual shift across pro sports.
In RELEVANT Buzz, we dig into a new report revealing the alcohol industry has lost $830 billion in the last four years — largely because Gen Z just isn't drinking. Plus, the cast gets real about dealing with hateful internet comments, the Celebrity All-Star Game gets a much-needed fix, and we settle the TGIF sitcom debate once and for all. Oh, and a man at a Nashville Waffle House ordered a hash brown bowl and got bear-sprayed, tased and zip-tied instead. You know, a typical RELEVANT Podcast.
HIGHLIGHTS
01:07 — Jesse Got Roasted on YouTube and It's Eating Him Alive
08:10 — Hate Follows: Why Do People Follow Content That Triggers Them?
10:03 — Golden Rule the Comments Section
12:57 — RELEVANT Buzz: Is A Faith Revival Happening in Pro Sports?
15:12 — NBA Chaplain Mike Tatlock 
18:10 — Derek on How Christian Hip Hop Maybe Helped Fuel the Movement
19:31 — What Chaplains Are Seeing Behind the Scenes
23:23 — Jesse's Celebrity All-Star Game Fix: Danny DeVito & Tom Cruise
26:46 — The Worst National Anthems of All Time
31:26 — Gen Z Is Killing the Alcohol Industry — $830 Billion Lost
35:09 — Elevation Worship's Chris Brown on Their New Album So Be It
36:45 — Interview Clip: Why They Took Time Off for the First Time in a Decade
38:08 — SLICES: Buffalo Wild Wings Sued Over "Boneless Wings"
42:10 — A Man Got Bear-Sprayed, Tased & Zip-Tied at Waffle House Over Hash Browns
44:42 — ASK THE CAST: Has Jesse Ever Been Pranked?
45:24 — Jesse's Most Diabolical College Pranks (Alarm Clocks, Air Horns & Peanut Butter)
48:45 — Cameron Put Squirrels in a Guy's Room
49:48 — Dream Guests: The RELEVANT Mount Rushmore
50:31 — Which Cast Member Would You Want to Be Stranded With?
51:05 — Do Your Families Listen to the Podcast?
51:30 — Favorite TGIF Era Sitcom 
53:22 — If You Could Go Back to 2003 and Tell Yourself One Thing

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This week, Zach Williams from indie-folk band The Lone Bellow joins the show to talk about their new album — including the wild story of how their van was broken into, all their recordings were stolen, and their fans raised enough money to help them start over.
In RELEVANT Buzz, we show you the ongoing worship outpouring happening at Southeastern University in Florida, where students have been in nonstop prayer, worship and confession for the last week (we talk to the campus pastor). We also break down the viral claim that Christian hip hop is the #1 rap subgenre on Spotify — and why it's not actually true. 
Plus, a worship pastor goes viral on American Idol, Kevin Durant gets exposed for burner accounts during All-Star Weekend, and a guy who lost a golf bet is now 23 days into eating nothing but Wendy's chili. At the end of the show, we've got Ask the Cast and Jesse and Emily confess to the one question they both regret asking in an interview.
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 — Jesse's Super Bowl Spreader Event
05:46 — RELEVANT Buzz: The SEU Outpouring
18:49 — Kevin Durant's Burner Account 
22:06 — Is Christian Hip Hop Really Huge on Spotify?
24:44 — Worship Pastor Goes Viral on American Idol
29:26 — RELEVANT Recommends: The Lone Bellow 
34:49 — SLICES: The Wendy's Chili Bet
41:31 — AI Is Bad at Medical Advice
45:57 — ASK THE CAST: Embarrassing TikTok Purchases & Weird Google Searches

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This week, actor Milo Ventimiglia — known for 'This Is Us,' 'Gilmore Girls' and 'Heroes' — tells us why he chose to star in a new Christian movie, playing real-life worship artist Tim Timmons, who was diagnosed with terminal cancer over 20 years ago and is still defying the odds today. 
In RELEVANT Buzz, the crew recaps the Super Bowl — including the incredible story of Seahawks coach Mike McDonald, who followed God's calling to leave the corporate world to take an unpaid internship in coaching. And now 12 years later, it's led to a Super Bowl championship. We also dig into a new study revealing that Gen Z is statistically dumber than their parents (and why that's significant). Plus, Jesse forces the crew to watch the Carman movie trailer, and at the end of the show, we have Ask the Cast! And of course Jesse and Derek have some strong thoughts on Ring cameras and drones.
Highlights:
01:28 — The Olympics and Derek's New Drone
04:59 — Ring Cameras Have Ruined Jesse's Hypothetical Heist
06:18 — The Dark Knight Predicted the Ring Camera Era
09:20 — Apple Is Buying Tech That Can Hear Your Silent Speech
16:29 — RELEVANT BUZZ
19:31 — Coach Mike McDonald: From Accountant to Super Bowl Champion
23:04 — New Study: Gen Z Is Scoring Lower on IQ Tests Than Their Parents
24:40 — The Lost Art of Daydreaming & Why Boredom Matters
30:09 — Milo Ventimiglia on ‘I Can Only Imagine 2’
33:24 — Jesse Makes the Crew Watch the Carman Movie Trailer (Live Reaction)
37:47 — SLICES
38:11 — Man Cited for Juggling Fire on a Unicycle in a Crosswalk
41:11 — Man Breaks Into Little Caesars After Hours & Starts Selling Pizzas
43:09 — ASK THE CAST
44:05 — What Belief Have You Changed Your Mind On?
45:46 — Boundaries You Didn't Know You Could Set
46:40 — What Today Would Shock Yourself 10 Years Ago?
47:18 — Podcast Voice vs. Real Voice
49:48 — Who Has the Worst Music Taste on the Crew?
51:04 — Why Jesse Is a Terrible Texter
52:55 — NBA All-Star Weekend: Does Anyone Care?
53:59 — Outro & YouTube Growth Update

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This week, legendary Christian rapper Trip Lee tells us about his unexpected move into worship music with his new album. Before that, the crew swaps stories from last week's historic winter storm—Emily survived three days without power in freezing temps and Jesse narrowly avoided going to a fun Orlando Magic game with Cameron.
In RELEVANT Buzz, we break down Jelly Roll's powerful Grammy acceptance moment, plus the youngest Grammy winner at just eight years old. We also dive into new research showing the vast majority of people want authentic faith representation in TV and movies, and then Emily previews two interesting new shows: Jury Duty Season 2's unexpected premise and Neighbors, HBO and A24's reality series about strangers forced to live together.
Plus, Jesse announces his new podcast Target Intelligence: Psyop and Derek plugs his brand-new show, You Can't Say That in Church. Jesse of course brings his most rewatched video of the week: a Medieval Combat League warrior armed with a real axe who keeps targeting opponents from behind with hilarious headshots. Then in SLICES we cover Miami's iguana apocalypse—dinosaurs falling from trees as residents collect them by the armload (and definitely aren't disposing of them properly).
And to close it out, it's Super Bowl week, so we're playing a special edition of "One Has to Go" covering everything from iconic Super Bowl commercials and halftime show moments to game-day snacks and controversial performances. Spoiler: mozzarella sticks do not survive Jesse's hot take.
Highlights:
00:00 — Intro & Winter Storm Survival Stories
07:43 — RELEVANT Buzz
08:00 — Jelly Roll's Powerful Grammy Acceptance Speech
11:27 — Eight-Year-Old Becomes Youngest Grammy Winner in History
12:33 — New Study: 92% of Viewers Want Authentic Faith in TV & Movies
16:37 — Jury Duty Season 2 Preview: Hot Sauce Company Chaos
18:00 — Neighbors: HBO and A24's New Reality Series
24:00 — Medieval Combat League Axe Warrior Goes Viral
31:09 — Trip Lee
32:00 — Why Trip Lee Made a Worship Album After Years in Hip-Hop
35:00 — Trip Lee on Being a Teaching Pastor and Collaborating With Worship Leaders
37:00 — SLICES: Miami's Iguana Apocalypse
43:30 — Super Bowl Edition: "One Has to Go" Game
45:53 — Iconic Super Bowl Commercials (Doritos, Tide, QR Code)
46:21 — Controversial Super Bowl Ads (GoDaddy, Carl's Jr., Axe)
47:04 — Super Bowl Snacks Face-Off (Doritos, Lay's, Pringles)
47:30 — Soda Showdown (Coke, Pepsi, Dr. Pepper, Mountain Dew)
48:00 — Jesse's Mozzarella Stick Hot Take Sparks Chaos
49:31 — Halftime Show Showdown (Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Beyoncé)
50:01 — Most Controversial Halftime Moments (Nipplegate, Dancing Sharks)
50:52 — Halftime Props (JLo's Pole, Usher's Skates, Dr. Dre's Lowrider)

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This week, we talk to ‘Mercy’ star Chris Pratt about how faith shapes his life and career. He opens up about navigating public narratives, using his platform with purpose and why he believes being open about faith matters more than ever.
In RELEVANT Buzz, the crew dives into Jelly Roll’s moving moment on 'Star Search,' why Gen Z is intentionally disconnecting from their phones and whether music is actually getting sadder. Plus, stories about AI fatigue, bizarre license plate drama, a ketchup packet felony and a guy trying to create a new nation in Texas. And at the end of the show, don't miss the Best Game Ever!
Highlights:
01:00 Storm prep anxiety and riding it out
03:27 The man who tried to start his own country in Texas
06:56 The confidence of mediocre white men
18:23 RELEVANT Buzz 
18:53 Jelly Roll’s Gospel moment on Star Search
21:58 Study finds popular music is getting sadder
24:36 Gen Z intentionally disconnecting from phones
30:10 Chris Pratt 
36:40 SLICES 
38:38 Mr. Potato Head license plate controversy
39:34 Florida man charged over ketchup packet
45:14 “Best Game Ever” 

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