Geekcross

Jeremy talks with podcaster and STEM advocate Shareef Jackson about diversity in STEM and spirituality in hip hop. Topics include: recognizing male privilege, growing up in a religiously diverse home, the distinctive beliefs of the Nation of Islam, life in a post-9/11 world with a Muslim name, and the origins of hip hop. @zmclearan @geekcrossshow @kylewiegand1

Jeremy sits down with author Robert Martin, co-founder of the MennoNerds blogging network, in what may be the geekiest GeekCross conversation so far. Topics include: the beliefs and theological distinctives of Anabaptism; cancer and the Beatitudes; J.R.R. Tolkien’s views on the relationship between God and creativity; why Christian movies suck; why themes in secular art resonate with Christianity; the the importance of friendship in the digital age; and what Christian churches can learn from Geekdom. @zmclearan @geekcrossshow @kylewiegand1

Jeremy sits down with Zeph McLearan, producer of GeekCross and other fine podcasts, to discuss the 1986 animated "The Transformers: The Movie." Topics include: the appeal of "Transfromers"; why the animated movie does not feel like a cynical attempt to sell toys; Zeph's thoughts on Pope Francis; online harassment; the joy of small cons; and advice on how to enjoy the Michael Bay movies by abandoning any hope for story and characters. @zmclearan @geekcrossshow @kylewiegand1

Jeremy speaks with activist Tanya DePass, creator of #INeedDiverseGames and cohost of the gaming podcast Fresh Out of Tokens. Topics include: “accidental” activism; the one year anniversary of Michael Brown’s death; race in America; the Emanuel AME shootings; the beliefs and practices of the Ásatrú faith; and representation of Norse paganism in Marvel comics and films. @zmclearan @geekcrossshow @kylewiegand1

Jeremy talks with Seventh Day Adventist minister Kevin Kakazu on Adventist beliefs, diversity in the church and the giant robots of Kevin’s childhood. Topics include: the “disappointing” origins of Adventism, representation of Japanese culture in geekdom, anime’s broad thematic range, the connection between faith and geekdom and the importance of Sabbath. @GeekCrossShow @zmclearan @KyleWiegand1

Jeremy talks with Isometric’s one and only Steve Lubitz about representation of Judaism in Geekdom. Topics include: contemporary experiences of antisemitism; Jewish stereotypes in pop culture; secular Judaism; celebrating Chanukah in a Christmas world; parenting and video games; the Jewish X-Men; and antisemitism in GamerGate. @GeekCrossShow @zmclearan @KyleWiegand1

Jeremy talks with Aleen Simms of Less Than or Equal about her podcast and advocacy for diversity in Geekdom. We also reflect on what we’ve learned as podcasters. Topics include: pastor stereotypes, the challenges of social change, the many sins of LEGO and raising girls to love both princesses and geek stuff. @GeekCrossShow @zmclearan @KyleWiegand1

Jeremy talks with his cousin Jesse Bontrager about his faith journey from the conservative Mennonites to agnosticism. Topics include: the relationship between sectarian religion and the surrounding culture, Jeremy's first encounter with "Star Trek," pacifism and support for the Iraq War, Grandpa's politics, the challenge of disagreeing with people you love and why the Delaware State Fair is a wicked, worldly place. @GeekCrossShow @zmclearan @KyleWiegand1

Jeremy follows up on Geek Cross 22 by discussing the recent Mennonite Church USA biannual convention in Kansas City. Topics include: anger and disagreement among Christians and why the Church needs to move beyond voting and Roberts Rules of Order. #mennocon15 @GeekCrossShow @zmclearan @KyleWiegand1

Jeremy prepares for a potentially contentious biannual meeting of the Mennonite Church USA in Kansas City. Jeremy talks a bit about the background of the conflict and why the issue of LGBTQ inclusion may split the church. #mennocon15 @GeekCrossShow @zmclearan @KyleWiegand1

Jeremy discusses Pixar's new film, "Inside Out." Topics include anthropomorphic emotions, the imaginative power of animation and why emotions are important. Spoiler heavy episode. @GeekCrossShow @zmclearan @KyleWiegand1

As a kind of follow up to Episode 19, Jeremy talks with his wife Maegan Yoder about her love for Joss Whedon and George R.R. Martin. Topics include Buffy the Vampire Slayer and feminist empowerment, Game of Thrones and victimization, hope in Westeros and sexual violence in storytelling. @GeekCrossShow @zmclearan @KyleWiegand1 ©McLearan Productions

Trigger Warning: Jeremy discusses the recent allegations against Josh Dugger and the issue of violence in religious communities. Topics include the Quiverfull movement,the role or power in sexual abuse, the rape of Tamar in 2 Samuel and why many evangelicals support the Duggars. @GeekCrossShow @zmclearan @KyleWiegand1

In a spoiler heavy episode, Jeremy reveals what happens when you watch "Mad Max: Fury Road" while reading theology. Jeremy focuses on the film's themes of hope and redemption in the midst of the apocalypse and draws parallels between the movie and Christian theology. @GeekCrossShow @zmclearan @KyleWiegand1

Jeremy talks with environmental lawyer Kerene Tayloe of WE ACT for Environmental Justice. Topics include: creation care and environmentalism; poverty and food access; the impact of technology on church attendance; the Sansa Stark rape controversy in "Game of Thrones"; and the relationship between pop culture and faith. Kerene also pays tribute to Edward C. Pate, former principal of Chute Middle School in Evanston, IL, where Jeremy and Kerene attended. @GeekCrossShow @zmclearan @KyleWiegand1

On this episode of GeekCross, Jeremy talks to J.P. Fairfield, co-host of Operation Cubicle and Nerdgasm Noir Network. Topics discussed include: people of color and diversity in Geekdom; safe spaces; J.P.'s deep love for her computer; casual gaming and why Korean television dramas are awesome. @GeekCrossShow @zmclearan @KyleWiegand1

Jeremy returns from a work trip to northern New Mexico and talks about the relationship between landscape and film. Topics include: Westerns and the mythology of the West; "Metropolis," German Expressionism and the urban landscape; the wilderness trope in the Bible and Jeremy's latent cowboy fantasies. @GeekCrossShow @zmclearan @KyleWiegand1

Jeremy has a bad cold this week and uses that experience as an excuse to talk about physical illness in popular culture. Topics include: "Outbreak," zombies, tuberculous, tragic death scenes in opera and physical healing in the Bible. Also, Jeremy argues why the end of "Empire Strikes Back" is operatic. @GeekCrossShow @zmclearan @KyleWiegand1

Jeremy talks with his sister Alison Kelley about Disney's classic movie "Mary Poppins" and the experience of watching a beloved children's film as an adult. Topics include: comparisons between the movie and P.L. Travers's book, the dark undercurrent of children's literature, fairy tales and moral reasoning and our intense, crippling empathy for fictional characters. @GeekCrossShow @zmclearan @KyleWiegand1

Jeremy responds to the controversy of non-white actors who depict "white" characters. Topics include: representations of Jesus Christ in art, the problem of depicting all-white societies in fantasy and the representation of God in Ray Bradbury's "Martian Chronicles." @GeekCrossShow @zmclearan @KyleWiegand1