In this episode of Mortification of Spin, Todd and Carl welcome back Neil Shenvi and Patrick Sawyer to discuss their new book, Post Woke: Asserting a Biblical Vision of Race, Gender, and Sexuality. A follow up to their earlier book, Critical Dilemma, Neil and Pat wrote Post Woke to help Christians understand how ideas drawn from critical theory have shaped cultural conversations and practices that are in direct conflict with a Christian worldview.

"We wanted to point Christians to embracing a fully orbed, deep understanding of race, gender and sexuality from the Bible's perspective."

They delve into the implications of critical theory within the Church and explore how Christians can navigate the complexities of race, gender, and sexuality through a biblical lens. With insights on the current cultural climate and the ongoing influence of wokeness, this conversation is both timely and essential for anyone seeking to understand and respond to these pressing issues.

We are pleased to offer three copies of Post Woke to our listeners, thanks to the generosity of Harvest Apologetics. Enter here to win.

Show Notes:

Post Woke by Neil Shenvi and Patrick Sawyer: https://www.harvestapologetics.com/books/post-woke/

Critical Dilemma by Neil Shenvi and Patrick Sawyer: https://criticaldilemma.com/

Carl and Todd welcome Chris Castaldo back to the podcast to shed some light on the apparent trend of young evangelicals converting to Roman Catholicism. Chris, lead pastor of New Covenant Church in Naperville, Illinois, and author of Why Do Protestants Convert?, has some excellent insights into this movement. Together they explore the factors influencing this shift, including the appeal of liturgy, historical rootedness, and the search for intellectual depth in faith.

We do hear people talking about a desire for more textured liturgy, more historical rootedness, you know, a personal faith that is embodied. – Chris Castaldo

Tune in for insights on how pastors can better equip their congregations to understand these dynamics and build and maintain a strong foundation in their churches.

We are pleased to offer three copies of Chris Castaldo’s book, Why Do Protestants Convert?, to our listeners, thanks to the generosity of Davenant Publishing. Enter here to win.

Show Notes:

Chris Castaldo’s Substack: https://chriscastaldo.substack.com/

Article by Chris:

https://chriscastaldo.substack.com/p/what-mamaw-knew?utm_source=activity_item

Article about conversions in other countries: https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2026/04/23/catholicism-has-lost-people-to-religious-switching-in-many-countries-while-protestantism-has-gained-in-some/

Why Do Protestants Convert? https://davenantinstitute.org/davenant-press/why-do-protestants-convert/

A new form of relationship estrangement is afoot. Whereas, in the past, relationships tended to rupture over issues like abuse, today, people are increasingly estranged because of politics.

On today’s episode of Mortification of Spin, Carl and Todd engage in a thought-provoking discussion with author Noelle Mering about her book, No Contact: How a Seductive Ideology Broke Families and Friendships and How We Can Repair Them. They explore the rising phenomenon of estrangement among families and friends, particularly among young adults cutting ties over ideological differences.

The no contact movement is mostly young adults cutting off their parents over politics and ideology. -- Noelle Mering

Certainly, the emotional toll this has on families is immeasurable, but Noelle offers guidance for those navigating these complex relationships. According to Noelle, if we cannot hold fast to one another in the face of disagreement, we risk losing not only our most intimate bonds but also the foundation of a free and humane society.

We are pleased to offer three copies of No Contact to our listeners, thanks to the generosity of Forum Books. Enter here to win.

Show Notes:

Awake, Not Woke by Noelle Mering