The episode centers on the idea of catharsis, its roots in Greek tragedy and how it shows up today in social media outrage, reality TV, and public emotional outbursts. Ian and Galen contrast classical and modern understandings of catharsis with Christian wisdom, arguing that while emotional release is often celebrated as healthy or therapeutic, unrestrained emotion can become destructive when detached from truth, reason, and moral order. They frame catharsis as something that, when unchecked, stands in opposition to civilization itself.

Drawing from C.S. Lewis’ The Screwtape Letters, particularly Letter 22, the hosts explore how evil reacts violently to genuine goodness. Galen explains that Screwtape’s explosive response to a wholesome woman illustrates how evil cannot tolerate what is pure, ordered, and joyful. This insight is connected to modern cultural and political reactions, where perceived wrongs often provoke irrational fury rather than thoughtful engagement. They also reference contemporary thinkers and events to show how emotional manipulation, through media, fake news, and outrage cycles, fuels chaos and societal breakdown.

The conversation concludes with a call for wise emotional restraint and civil discourse, especially among Christians. Citing Scripture such as Proverbs 29:11, Ian and Galen emphasize that wisdom governs emotion rather than venting it freely. They discuss the role of social media as a catalyst for unhealthy catharsis and stress the importance of responding with love, discernment, and truth instead of rage. The episode wraps with reflections on the mission of the podcast and the encouraging reception of their book, Confronting Evil in Our Time, reinforcing their aim to help listeners navigate a culture increasingly driven by unchecked emotion.

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Ian Faith Co-Author of Confronting Evil in Our Time provides a reading of Chapter 15, "Breaking Anxiety's Grip.”

Introduction: In the quiet of his study, C.S. Lewis leaned forward, his fingers tracing the delicate lines of the manuscript that explores one of humanity's most profound spiritual struggles. Anxiety, he understood, was not merely an emotion but a demonic strategy, a subtle weapon designed to tear humans away from the sacred present.

The demonic realm understands something crucial: when our minds are fixated on potential disasters or imagined triumphs, we miss the sacred reality of today. This letter exposes how anxiety functions as a spiritual weapon, pulling us away from where God actually meets us, right here, right now. Lewis points out that the demonic will always try to get us to go in one of two directions: either tortured fear or stupid confidence. This revelatory tactic, once identified and confronted with a biblical strategy, will change how anxiety affects your life exponentially.

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This episode is an in-depth interview with Max McLean, an award-winning actor, producer, and founder of Fellowship for Performing Arts, whose career has been devoted to bringing Christian literature and Scripture to life on stage, screen, and audio. McLean is best known for his acclaimed portrayal of Screwtape in the stage adaptation of The Screwtape Letters and for portraying C. S. Lewis in The Most Reluctant Convert. He shares his own conversion story as an adult, describing how reading Scripture, especially the Gospel of John, and Lewis’s writings profoundly shaped his faith, awakening him to both the beauty of Christ and the reality of spiritual deception.

Beyond the stage, Max's voice has become a cherished companion to countless listeners through his narration of The Listener's Bible in multiple translations, earning him multiple Audie Award nominations. He's also recorded spiritual classics like Pilgrim's Progress and Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. Max has been honored with the C.S. Lewis Foundation Award for his contributions to dramatic arts and faith-based storytelling. He lives in New York City with his wife Sharon and their two daughters, and continues to create work that bridges faith, literature, and the transformative power of live performance.

The conversation explores McLean’s creative journey, his philosophy of faithful adaptation, and the challenges of translating Lewis’s deeply word-centered works into theater and film without losing their theological weight. He explains how The Screwtape Letters was adapted as a predator–prey drama with clear spiritual arcs, remaining true to Lewis while making it accessible to modern audiences. The episode closes with reflections on Lewis’s enduring relevance, current and upcoming projects, including national tours and film development, and a shared conviction that Lewis’s work remains vital for confronting evil, cultivating humility, and pointing people toward truth in an increasingly deceptive age.

If you’re tired of pretending everything is fine, this is the book you need. Confronting Evil in Our Time - Now on Amazon https://amzn.to/3XgCodL

For tickets and show times: www.screwtapeonstage.com

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