104 episodes

Mixing a cocktail of philosophy, theology, and spirituality. 
We're a pastor and a philosopher who have discovered that sometimes pastors need philosophy, and sometimes philosophers need pastors. We tackle topics and interview guests that straddle the divide between our interests. 
 Who we are: 
 Randy Knie (Co-Host) - Randy is the founding and Lead Pastor of Brew City Church in Milwaukee, WI. Randy loves his family, the Church, cooking, and the sound of his own voice. He drinks boring pilsners. 
 Kyle Whitaker (Co-Host) - Kyle is a philosophy PhD and an expert in disagreement and philosophy of religion. Kyle loves his wife, sarcasm, kindness, and making fun of pop psychology. He drinks childish slushy beers. 
 Elliot Lund (Producer) - Elliot is a recovering fundamentalist. His favorite people are his wife and three boys, and his favorite things are computers and hamburgers. Elliot loves mixing with a variety of ingredients, including rye, compression, EQ, and bitters. 

A Pastor and a Philosopher Walk into a Bar Randy Knie & Kyle Whitaker

    • Religion & Spirituality
    • 4.8 • 131 Ratings

Mixing a cocktail of philosophy, theology, and spirituality. 
We're a pastor and a philosopher who have discovered that sometimes pastors need philosophy, and sometimes philosophers need pastors. We tackle topics and interview guests that straddle the divide between our interests. 
 Who we are: 
 Randy Knie (Co-Host) - Randy is the founding and Lead Pastor of Brew City Church in Milwaukee, WI. Randy loves his family, the Church, cooking, and the sound of his own voice. He drinks boring pilsners. 
 Kyle Whitaker (Co-Host) - Kyle is a philosophy PhD and an expert in disagreement and philosophy of religion. Kyle loves his wife, sarcasm, kindness, and making fun of pop psychology. He drinks childish slushy beers. 
 Elliot Lund (Producer) - Elliot is a recovering fundamentalist. His favorite people are his wife and three boys, and his favorite things are computers and hamburgers. Elliot loves mixing with a variety of ingredients, including rye, compression, EQ, and bitters. 

    Is Your Theology Too Small? A Conversation with Trey Ferguson

    Is Your Theology Too Small? A Conversation with Trey Ferguson

    Trey Ferguson of the New Living Treyslation and Three Black Men podcasts joins us to discuss his new book Theologizin' Bigger: Homilies on Living Freely and Loving Wholly. We talk about the Bible, the difference between "theologizin'" and theology, the racial dynamics of deconstruction, why evangelicals are so obsessed with "facts," why they're prone to grifters, white theology vs. Black theology, shame, heresy, Twitter (I refuse to call it X), and what "Michael vs. LeBron" has in common with theological frameworks. Trey is insightful, hilarious, gregarious, and humble. We hope you love this conversation as much as we did.

    You can find the transcript for this episode here.
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    Want to support us?

    The best way is to subscribe to our Patreon. Annual memberships are available for a 10% discount.

    If you'd rather make a one-time donation, you can contribute through our PayPal.

    Other important info:
    Rate & review us on Apple & Spotify Follow us on social media at @PPWBPodcast Watch & comment on YouTube Email us at pastorandphilosopher@gmail.com Cheers!

    • 1 hr 26 min
    Is There a Soul?

    Is There a Soul?

    In this episode, Kyle and Randy discuss the philosophy of the soul and its implications for religious belief, the lived experience of faith, and even ethics. Kyle is a materialist, which means he thinks humans are physical objects, and Randy leans towards dualism, which involves belief in a soul or non-physical part of a human being. Are there any good arguments either way? What do most philosophers think? What are the implications for religion? Does any of it matter? What does it have to do with Donald Trump? This one is definitely on the headier, more philosophical side, so strap in and try to check your assumptions at the door.

    The bourbon we tasted in this episode is the exquisite cinnamon bomb RD1 Brazilian amburana-finished straight bourbon.

    To skip to the interview, go to 8:40. You can find the transcript for this episode here.

    Content note: this episode contains some profanity.
    =====

    Want to support us?

    The best way is to subscribe to our Patreon. Annual memberships are available for a 10% discount.

    If you'd rather make a one-time donation, you can contribute through our PayPal.

    Other important info:
    Rate & review us on Apple & Spotify Follow us on social media at @PPWBPodcast Watch & comment on YouTube Email us at pastorandphilosopher@gmail.com Cheers!

    • 1 hr 4 min
    Randy Quit

    Randy Quit

    ... drinking.

    This is a more personal episode for us, particularly for Randy. As you know, we like alcohol around here, especially whiskey. In this episode, we chat about that and the presence it's had on our podcast and in our lives.

    Can we have a "healthy relationship" with alcohol? What does that look like? How does that question get answered for each of us in honest ways? How do we responsibly balance our autonomy with the example we want to set for others?

    Also, what kinds of conversations do we want to cultivate? (Hint: they're not necessarily churchy conversations or purely academic conversations, but conversations you might have in a bar.) What does this mean for the show going forward? And maybe most importantly, is there such a thing as a good mocktail?

    The NA spirits we mixed in this episode are Monday "whiskey" and Martini Rossi Vibrante.

    You can find the transcript for this episode here.

    Content note: this episode contains some mild profanity.
    =====

    Want to support us?

    The best way is to subscribe to our Patreon. Annual memberships are available for a 10% discount.

    If you'd rather make a one-time donation, you can contribute through our PayPal.

    Other important info:
    Rate & review us on Apple & Spotify Follow us on social media at @PPWBPodcast Watch & comment on YouTube Email us at pastorandphilosopher@gmail.com Cheers!

    • 59 min
    Changing Our Mind with David Gushee

    Changing Our Mind with David Gushee

    David Gushee is an influential Christian ethicist who famously changed his mind about LGBTQ Christians. His 2014 book Changing Our Mind (now in its third edition) has been celebrated and widely recommended as an honest and forceful reckoning with the ethical issues surrounding LGBTQ Christians and the church's complicity in their exclusion, neglect, and abuse. It is a powerful and well-researched chronicle of David's journey from a traditional stance to an inclusive one, a journey that he completed while remaining theologically conservative. We are honored that David agreed to speak with us about this important book, and we look forward to more conversations about his many others in the near future!

    The bourbon we tasted in this episode is Hardin's Creek Clermont.

    To skip to the interview, go to 11:32. You can find the transcript for this episode here.
    =====

    Want to support us?

    The best way is to subscribe to our Patreon. Annual memberships are available for a 10% discount.

    If you'd rather make a one-time donation, you can contribute through our PayPal.

    Other important info:
    Rate & review us on Apple & Spotify Follow us on social media at @PPWBPodcast Watch & comment on YouTube Email us at pastorandphilosopher@gmail.com Cheers!

    • 1 hr 18 min
    Philosophy in the Wild: Aaron Simmons

    Philosophy in the Wild: Aaron Simmons

    Philosopher Aaron Simmons joins us to discuss his new book Camping with Kierkegaard. It's all about living life in a way that is "worthy of your finitude," avoiding becoming an "asshole capitalist," and learning how to value the things in your life with the help of folks like Kierkegaard and Simone de Beauvoir. We discuss living faithfully, being present, living on purpose toward something you've chosen, and a lot more. There's a LOT to unpack in this one, and a couple interesting tangents that didn't make it into the final cut, so Patreon supporters, look out for those.

    The whiskey we tasted in this episode is the Fercullen Irish Whiskey Blend from Bardstown Bourbon Company.

    Content note: this episode contains some mild profanity. But it's philosophy, so it's fine.

    To skip the alcohol tasting, go to 6:46. You can find the transcript for this episode here.
    =====

    Want to support us?

    The best way is to subscribe to our Patreon. Annual memberships are available for a 10% discount.

    If you'd rather make a one-time donation, you can contribute through our PayPal.

    Other important info:
    Rate & review us on Apple & Spotify Follow us on social media at @PPWBPodcast Watch & comment on YouTube Email us at pastorandphilosopher@gmail.com Cheers!

    • 1 hr 19 min
    After Evangelicalism with Keri Ladouceur

    After Evangelicalism with Keri Ladouceur

    Where do we engage when we're done with evangelicalism, but we don't want to be done with the church? Thanks be to God, there are new signs of life springing up in the post-evangelical wasteland, and we're so here for it.

    Keri Ladouceur leads one of those hopeful spaces called the Post Evangelical Collective. Keri is the Executive Director of the PEC, has been leading in influential church spaces for years, and she has some stories to tell. Keri's journey is one that's been marked by abuse, patriarchy, and sexism, but also by healing, goodness, beauty, and so much redemption. We're so excited about the work she is doing with the Post Evangelical Collective and can't wait to share Keri and the PEC with you.

    The whiskey we tasted in this episode is Wild Turkey 101 12 Year Japanese Edition.

    To skip the alcohol tasting, go to the 8:35. You can find the transcript for this episode here.

    Cheers!
    =====

    Want to support us?

    The best way is to subscribe to our Patreon. Annual memberships are available for a 10% discount.

    If you'd rather make a one-time donation, you can contribute through our PayPal.

    Other important info:
    Rate & review us on Apple & Spotify Follow us on social media at @PPWBPodcast Watch & comment on YouTube Email us at pastorandphilosopher@gmail.com Cheers!

    • 1 hr 19 min

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5
131 Ratings

131 Ratings

Sr Julian ,

Not Lonely Anymore

I just dropped by via a reference by a friend. She posted your link.
WOWOWOW, great podcast! Great information and opinion and it’s nice when you have a guest.
Thank you for talking about the things I’ve wondered about .

scienceteacher603 ,

Brian Maclaren Nailed It

Brian Maclaren nailed it when he said this about the podcast,”It is eavesdropping on intelligent conversation.” That’s why I love listening to these guys!

Ronthew ,

Thought-provoking and necessary dialogue

I’ve been listening to the podcast for a month or so now, and am really glad that I found it. The podcast does a really good job of dialoguing necessary, challenging, and divisive topics in Christianity that are often unaddressed or questioned. Go into it with an open mind, and know that the point isn’t to agree on everything that is expressed, but to be challenged by it to do your own work as you grow in each topic.

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