John Branyan's Comedy Sojourn Podcast

Hi, Neighbor! It's The Comedian (John), The Peaches (Amanda), and The Ninja (Luke).  Don't take it personally that Luke would rather be out building a shed than sitting here talking with us... John is a little sour today because he wasn't invited to be the Funny Guy at a certain Christian Convention. (Don't worry. He just needs to be reminded that he wouldn't have enjoyed it anyway.) Speaking of conferences we actually DO want to be part of because we actually DO like the people involved...  join us at the Fight Laugh Feast Conference, October 11-14th, at the Ark Encounter.  Details at flfnetwork.com.  Contact the Comedian's family by emailing nextdoor@johnbranyan.com 

Luke has just finished a Ghost Pepper Chicken Sandwich, and the McBabies are pretty noisy in the kitchen! (It's happy sounds, Neighbor Carl.  Don't worry.)  Some kids need company when they're doing chores, as a reminder to stay focused. But...not Silas. Now, let's talk about Luke's trouble-making ways on social media.  He posted a John MacArthur quote: "I couldn't care less what a nonbeliever wants in a church service."  Cue the offended Church Ladies.  Some of these women aren't busy enough at home, and so they have nothing to "nurse" except a grudge.  "I thought you were supposed to be LOVING...isn't that what CHRiST would do?!"   Wow, that sounds like something a Wolf would say. "Um...Wolves are only religious people. The Bible never refers to unbelievers as wolves."  Yeah, that's ALSO something a Wolf would say. Later: Luke wasn't done offending the Fairer Sex. He said somet things about education to a woman who didn't think he had the right college degree for

This is an extended episode because we have a lot to say about manipulative non-believers who take advantage of the "nice" Christians... But first, we chat for about Grandma Turbo's upcoming nuptials, yard work, and taking responsibility.  Later: -"Kind" and "intelligent" and "friendly" non-believers are even more dangerous than the militant jerks. This is especially true when this is their brand.  -We often teach Christians that they OWE IT to non-believers to reward their so-called friendliness.  ("You catch more flies with honey than vinegar.")  This makes people more vulnerable to narcissists and other predators who try very hard to be likeable.  -Here's a story about Tabby being manipulated by a royal jerk in college.  ("You're not being very Christlike...") -Moms often feel mean when they take authority in a particular situation--especially when the toddler or child says "I just want a hug!" or "I just want to snuggle."  Finally: -WOULD YOU TURN DOWN A CHANCE TO HAVE P

The Comedian, John Branyan, sits down with the Casting Crowns Musician, Juan DeVevo, to discuss the culture through the lens of memes.  We apologize for the late release of this episode. Points of interest: -God doesn't need us to defend Him from the Atheist Memes.  -Do Christians make Jesus sad enough to smoke? -Does God pitch fits and get angry like a petulant toddler? -"The Liar from the beginning was God; the Serpent told the truth."  (Yes, someone actually made a meme with these words.) -"God is not limited by the facts...choose faith instead of facts!"  (Yes, another direct quote from a really stupid meme.) AND MORE!   Visit castingcrowns.com to find out when Juan will be playing in a city near you.  Also, contact the Comedian Next Door by emailing: nextdoor@johnbranyan.com

Welcome to the CAMP GROUD of the Comedian Next Door. We're gathered around a table with our Vacay Friends, talking about our weekend retreat. It wasn't all smooth sailing, Neighbor.  We won't give spoilers in this description. But--we've been through some stuff!   Tune in as we share our stories... Contact the Comedian's family by emailing nextdoor@johnbranyan.com.  (Note: there was some corrupted audio on the first post. We think it's fixed now.)

The Comedian, John Branyan, and the Musician, Juan DeVevo of Casting Crowns, are taking a look at some popular memes. Christians keep trying to be "neutral" and to find common ground with unbelievers.  But it's not "neutral" to be a Moderate. Trying to stay in the middle is a religious position based on conviction! Come, explore this meme about Deconstruction... this meme beloved by Progressive Christians... and MORE! Contact the Comedian by emailing nextdoor@johnbranyan.com...  Also join us at the FLF Conference October 11th-14th at the Ark Encounter.  Get your tickets at flfnetwork.com! 

There are a LOT of people at the house today. If you've been wanting more insight on the Branyan/McKinney/Farkas family dynamics, here's your chance to listen to us chatter in our natural environment:  a bit of chaos.  On this episode:  John, Andrew, Tabby/Joe and Amanda/Luke are all present to tease each other a bit and try to answer the question: why does Luke feel the need to "save" stories until later?  Is this a normal male thing? Let's discuss Conversation Anxiety and how husbands and wives communicate.  (Also, why won't Andrew stay in our family group text.)  Email the Comedian's family at nextdoor@johnbranyan.com.  Join us at the FLF conference at The Ark in Kentucky. October 11th to 14th. Details at flfnetwork.com. 

Welcome to the kitchen table of the Comedian Next Door!  You're here with the Comedian (John Branyan), the Podcast Ninja (Luke McKinney), and the Peaches (Amanda McKinney) to explore the strange place that is Luke's mind...  Here's a soundbite featuring a pigeon who sounds weird. Later: Imagine trying to save the Pagans from their Idolatry and accidentally joining them in their radical skepticism.  Enter, the Flat Earthers.  They truly believe they are putting "faith in God--not faith in man."  But, their arguments sound an awful lot like the Atheist's reasoning...You can contact the Comedian and his family by emailing nextdoor@johnbranyan.com   

I don't have time to do a full summary of this episode if I'm going to publish on time.Happy Independence Weekend, and we hope you enjoy this conversation with The Comedian Next Door. nextdoor@johnbranyan.com

John is desperately injured... Sports, sore hips, and charlie horses.  But it could be worse!  We could be crushed by the ocean while riding in a tin can! There was a time when men were respected for their courage and willingness to take perilous risks for the sake of potentially great reward. But, in our current society, most people try to mitigate and avoid risk as much as possible. Someone who fails spectacularly isn't encouraged for at least TRYING... he's ridiculed for doing something "stupid" which "could have been avoided." You've got Christopher Columbus, the Apollo Missions, and Whats-her-name in that strapless gown. What do all of them have in common??? What would cause a person to attempt to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel? Or tighrope walk between skyscrapers? Later:  If you want a good example of concentrated evil, ask The Internet how it feels about Billionaires who lost their lives in a horrific accident. How can people justify SAYING these ugly, despicable things?  Here's

Please hold while we shuffle the headphones...Okay! Now Luke has a story no one has heard before! Something uncomfortable happened in bathroom at the race track.We're sorry to those who think toilet humor is lowbrow. It's not always like this!  But, since we've dragged you down already, go ahead and make suggestions for how Luke can clean up this story enough to tell on stage... Later: How can we prevent all natural disasters in the future? John has a suggestion. We're not really sure why the LGBT community was so offended by Pat Robertson's predictions, when they haven't properly tested his theory. Finally: Most of us know what's WRONG with "cults," like Bill Gothard's Anti-Rock-and-Roll community. But what's the positive side of growing up in a Bible Cult?  We haven't watched Shiny, Happy People. But the interviews with Jinger Duggar have not been the "shocking, secret-revealing" expose that everyone was promised. Reach out to the Comedian's family by emailing nextdoor@johnbranyan.com. 

If you're looking to improve your disc golf game, Neighbor, you are in luck! We have a great strategy--guaranteed to give you that "wet" shot all the athletes are aiming for! Then: we take a break to issue a boundary...    The Peaches sees everything through the lens of Mothers/Fathers raising children.   But maybe we'd all do better to pay attention to what's happening in the Real Life right in front of us... Things like people parking in the fire lane...  (There's nothing we can do except be aware that "They" exist.) Later:  Luke feels bad for breaking unwritten rules.  Meanwhile, the Peaches bonded with Mark, the Bank Guy...   Finally:  If P then Q. They don't teach logic in school anymore, and that's why people often misunderstand what the Bible is saying.  What in the world should we title this hodgepodge conversation?!  Email the Comedian's family using the address nextdoor@johnbranyan.com,  Come on vacation with us!  Details abo

There's a Houseguest at the Comedian's table. John's friend and fellow Comedian, Taylor Mason, visits to talk about editing and censoring content, in order to keep the client's happy.   (Taylor's dog also joins us in the background.)  In this episode: -People don't know how to read anymore. -Comedians often get asked to remove "offensive" things from their program. (Is Taylor a HYPOCRITE?!) -When someone hires John or Taylor to do a job--why not let John or Taylor do that job??? -The story of how gospel singer, Ben Speer, once saved Tayor's career... -The story about John's PG-13 show... -and MORE!    You can go to Taylor's website (taylormason.com) and sign up for his newsletter. Also, go to johnbranyan.com to get your tickets for VACAY WITH COMICS. Registration closes July 10th. 

This episode is a little graphic, Neighbor.  Luke has waged war against the moles in the backyard.  (Perhaps you've seen him out there, weilding sharp objects and shrieking, in a primal sort of way.)  If you've got a mole problem, let us tell you how to handle it... Then: Luke storms out of this episode.   Luke has a very soft voice, which makes it difficult for him to be heard in this (loud) family.  We try to teach him to speak from his diaphragm. But we have to hurry, because our guests are coming over to play games! Later: Don't you wish you could make divorce look as fun and cool as those people on social media?!  Rather than No-Fault divorce, maybe we should refer to all parties as "Failed-at-Marriage."  So many people are trying to find a way to "sell" their own life to the world; they want to package their story as a brand that can be consumed on social media.  If having a failed marriage is part of her story, then an Influencer's only option is to find a w

Pull up a seat, Neighbor! We're talking shop with our friend and fellow Podcaster: Hans Fiene, of Lutheran Satire.  Hans has been a pastor and content creator for a long time. But, lately, he has been itching to try his hand at stand-up comedy. So he's asking John for advice. If you want to know how to prepare for an Open Mic and how to find your voice and how to determine when your proctologist lives a double life as an interior designer, then this is the episode for you!   (Bonus: learn why Hans wishes Nancy Kerrigan had taken an iceskate to the knee muuuuuuuuch sooner.) Find Hans at Lutheran Satire on YouTube.  Email the Comedian at nextdoor@johnbranyan.com.   

Welcome to the table, Pkarghl!  Tabby is here with John, The Peaches, and the Pod Ninja (Luke).  We share some funny stories before we get down to business.  There are all sorts of Toxic Marriages we need to discuss--especially Jim and Elisabeth Elliot's.  (LOL!) Tabby doesn't know who that is--so we get to tell her one of the most powerful stories of Martyrdom in recent memory, while also breaking the news that her relationship with Joe is built on a foundation of bad things, like open dialog and forgiveness. Why are women so bad at judging the character of men they're dating?  Well...it's because they're getting terrible advice from Feminists who are trying to sell books.    Contact the Comedian's Family by emailing Nextdoor@johnbranyan.com.   Plus, it's not to late to GO ON VACATION WITH US!  If you'd like more life advice from people who like to laugh at the world's foolishness, come hang out at Vacay with Comics. Details on the website.

Hey, Neighbor!  John Branyan and the Peaches are hanging out with their friend, Bob Smiley.  He just likes to spend time with us, and he's not going to talk about his website or his new book or his tour dates... etc... Bob recently shared a meme on Facebook that was shared more than 700 times, but not everyone liked the message.  (Christians can be so hateful, you know?) John and Amanda know what it's like to upset both the unbelievers AND the "nice" Christians at the same time! Listen in to their conversation here!Contact the Comedian Next Door by emailing nextdoor@johnbranyan.com.  You can contact Bob by visiting his website, bobsmiley.com.  But, remember, it's not about Bob.

Hello, Neighbor! This is Part 2 of the Car Conversation, while John Branyan travels with The Peaches down to southern Indiana for a show.Have you read Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis?  That story provides a great analogy for how a High King needs to behave when it's time to take responsibility.   Then--a Feminist author, Sheila Wray Gregoire, shared an old video clip from the original Candid Camera show.  "Who says girls and women aren't visual creatures?!?!"  (Answer: Um, nobody.)  The young ladies are making eyes at their handsome new teacher, and it's all caught on film.  But why do the Feminists think this is helping their case at all?  Those girls are precisely the ones who need to be told not to dress provocatively just to get the teacher's attention. Later: These women clearly need to be disciplined (not whatever they have in mind when claiming "She Deserves Better").  But who's supposed to do the disciplining?  Who has authority over them?  The

The Comedian and the Peaches are in the car, taking a trip to southern Indiana.  Come along for the ride!  (Our GPS made the recorder glitch between the 13:00 and 14:00 minute mark... But it cleared up after that.) We'll kick it off with a riveting conversation about the benefits of being short--and the disorienting effect of new eye-glasses...  Then, let's talk about the evolving role of a mother as her children grow in maturity. She has to be able to shift from "agreeableness" to a more "disagreeable" framework.  What are the strengths and weaknesses of Agreeable/Disagreeable People?   Typically women are more "agreeable," because they are equipped to deal with infants--who are very needy and dependent and can't be held to a higher standard until they've grown.   It's easier to be the least mature person in a very mature system than to be the most mature person in a very immature system.   Everyone wants to be the Baby of a very stable family--and no on

Welcome, Neighbor!  John went to see "Nefarious" at the theater, and it was quite the experience... These previews are NOT approved for all audiences.  He shares his favorite quote from the movie, and admits he generally enjoyed watching Satan beat the Atheist.  The following is a much longer-than-intended discussion about the use of language, violence, and gratuitous sex in Rated R movies. (See: "Boobs and Swords") Also, on the complete opposite end of the spectrum, we reminisce about an old made-for-TV special that's near and dear to our hearts...  Later: let's talk about a book that's being promoted to Christian women, but let's pretend to censor the author's name.  "Shasta McGwire" is about to release a book called "She Deserves Better." The premise is the church uses a double standard when teaching boys and girls about sex/modesty.  (We've never heard that before, right?)  It's not faaaaaaaaaair, Neighbor! John doesn't want to call out the author by name, because he doe