A whites-only community has launched in Arkansas under the legal guise of a “private membership association.” The founders claim it’s about preserving culture, but Skye and Phil aren’t buying it. Then, Brent Leatherwood, head of the Southern Baptist Convention’s public policy arm, has resigned after years of pressure from hardline conservatives. What does his departure reveal about the denomination’s political realignment? And, this week’s guest is Brandon O’Brien, author of The Strategically Small Church. As American Christianity grapples with shrinking attendance and fading influence, O’Brien offers a compelling vision for why small congregations might be not just inevitable, but essential. Also Phil learns way too much about penguin poop.

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Ad-Free Version of this Episode:

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0:00 - Show Starts

3:30 - Theme Song

3:50 - Sponsor - Sundays Dog Food - Get 40% off your first order of Sundays. Go to https://www.SundaysForDogs.com/HOLYPOST or use code HOLYPOST at checkout.

4:45 - Sponsor - Hiya Health - Go to https://www.hiyahealth.com/HOLYPOST to receive 50% off your first order

6:15 - Penguin Poop Saves the World?

15:50 - Whites-Only Community in Arkansas?

28:47 - SBC Commission President Steps Down!

43:48 - Sponsor - Blueland - Get up to 25% off your first order by going to https://www.Blueland.com/HOLYPOST

44:55 - Sponsor - BetterHelp - This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/HOLYPOST and get 10% off your first month

46:05 - Sponsor - Church at the Crossroads - How should churches respond to the crisis in Gaza? Join a conference to break the silence. Go to https://www.churchatthecrossroads.com and use code HOLYPOST for 20% off!

47:21 - Interview

51:09 - Appetite for Small Churches?

59:00 - Beholden to Budget

1:09:15 - Unanxious

1:20:46 - End Credits

Links from News Segment:

All White Community in Arkansas:

https://news.sky.com/story/inside-the-whites-only-settlement-in-arkansas-the-group-building-a-fortress-for-the-white-race-13399875

Brent Leatherwood Steps Down:

https://www.christianitytoday.com/2025/07/erlc-brent-leatherwood-resign-sbc-southern-baptist-politics/

Other Resources:

The Strategically Small Church: Intimate, Authentic, and Effective by Brandon J. O’Brien: https://a.co/d/fgdjXcQ

Holy Post website: https://www.holypost.com/

Holy Post Plus: www.holypost.com/plus

Holy Post Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/holypost

Holy Post Merch Store: https://www.holypost.com/shop

The Holy Post is supported by our listeners. We may earn affiliate commissions through links listed here. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

CBS has cancelled the top-rated late-night talk show. Was it really a financial decision, or was it done to get the Trump administration to approve a corporate merger? And will Stephen Colbert now come on the Holy Post? Horrific images of starvation are coming out of Gaza as pressure builds on the Israeli government to end the war, but when does pro-Palestinian activism cross the line into antisemitism? Historian Molly Worthen’s new book, “Spellbound,” explains how charismatic political and religious movements have shaped America, and why they depend more on a compelling story than a persuasive leader. Also this week— Phil is back from his European vacation with stories of schnitzel and chicken dancing.

Holy Post Plus:

Bonus Interview with Molly Worthen:

https://www.patreon.com/posts/135231773/

Ad-Free Version of this Episode:

https://www.patreon.com/posts/135245929/

0:00 - Show Starts

2:30 - Theme Song

2:50 - Sponsor - Rocket Money - Find and cancel your old subscriptions with Rocket Money at https://www.rocketmoney.com/holypost

3:55 - Sponsor - Brooklyn Bedding - Brooklyn Bedding is offering up to 25% off sitewide for our listeners! Go to https://www.brooklynbedding.com/holypost

5:04 - Phil’s Chicken Dance Adventure

15:05 - Colbert Cancelled?

24:21 - Antisemitism and Protesting Israel

42:43 - Sponsor - Poncho - If you’ve been looking for the perfect shirt—something breathable, fits great, feels even better, and stands out in a good way—give Poncho a try. Get $10 off your first order by using this link: https://www.ponchooutdoors.com/holypost

44:23 - Interview

47:50 - Building vs Destroying Institutions

58:56 - What Charismatic Movements Succeed?

1:09:45 - Charismatic Leader vs Charismatic Story

1:16:00 - Secular yet Spiritual

1:23:19 - End Credits

Links from News Segment:

Holding Israel accountable isn’t antisemtic—harming Jews is:

https://religionnews.com/2025/07/16/holding-israel-accountable-isnt-antisemitic-harming-jews-is/

Other Resources:

Spellboard: How Charisma Shaped American History from the Puritans to Donald Trump: https://a.co/d/4IWVyNX

Holy Post website: https://www.holypost.com/

Holy Post Plus: www.holypost.com/plus

Holy Post Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/holypost

Holy Post Merch Store: https://www.holypost.com/shop

The Holy Post is supported by our listeners. We may earn affiliate commissions through links listed here. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Why is our society so fractured and angry? David Brooks’ recent article draws from the work of moral philosopher Alasdair MacIntyre to explain how we got here, but what is the solution? With the growth of A.I., some Christians think technology may be how God redeems humanity and gives us eternal life. But is this still Christianity or a strange new Silicon Valley heresy? Kaitlyn talks to Daniel Lee Hill about his latest book, “Bearing Witness: What the Church Can Learn from Early Abolitionists.” Also this week—dolphins learn to puff the magic fish.

Holy Post Plus:

Ad-Free Version of this Episode:

https://www.patreon.com/posts/134724718/

0:00 - Show Starts

2:05 - Theme Song

2:27 - Sponsor - World Relief - Join The Path as a monthly partner with World Relief! https://www.worldrelief.org/

3:30 - Sponsor - Our Place - Go to https://www.fromourplace.com and use code HOLYPOST to get 10% off site wide on beautiful cookware!

4:55 - Dolphins High Off Pufferfish Toxins

10:15 - David Brooks on Moral Philosophy

36:36 - Transhuminist Christians

52:20 - Sponsor - BetterHelp - This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/HOLYPOST and get 10% off your first month

53:20 - Sponsor - Sundays Dog Food - Get 40% off your first order of Sundays. Go to https://www.SundaysForDogs.com/HOLYPOST or use code HOLYPOST at checkout.

54:16 - Interview

56:12 - Why Write Bearing Witness?

1:03:40 - What Do We Learn from Abolitionists?

1:19:23 - Communal History in the Church

1:29:46 - End Credits

Links from News Segment:

Dolphins Doing Drugs:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/dolphins-seem-to-use-toxic-pufferfish-to-get-high-180948219/

David Brooks Article on Moral Philosophy:

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/07/trump-administration-supporters-good/683441/

Russell Moore on AI and God:

https://www.christianitytoday.com/2025/07/image-god-ai-era-artificial-intelligence-russell-moore/

Other Resources:

Bearing Witness: What the Church Can Learn from Early Abolitionists by Daniel Lee Hill: https://a.co/d/8SrFKpm

Holy Post website: https://www.holypost.com/

Holy Post Plus: www.holypost.com/plus

Holy Post Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/holypost

Holy Post Merch Store: https://www.holypost.com/shop

The Holy Post is supported by our listeners. We may earn affiliate commissions through links listed here. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.