Talking God on the Pod Arkansas United Methodists use podcasts to reach a new audience
By Caleb Hennington Digital Content Editor, @arumceditor
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odcasts have become sort of a worldwide entertainment phenomenon in the past decade. The shows, which are similar to radio talk shows but available on the internet and downloadable for on-demand listening, can cover a wide-range of niche
topics. Love hearing award-winning long form stories? Tune in to This American Life. Interested in historical documentaries with a unique perspective and masterful narration? Check out Hardcore History. Want to know more about your favorite serial killers or cult leaders? Try the aptly named Serial Killers or Cults podcasts. Even Christian leaders are getting in on the podcast craze, with shows dedicated to right-leaning, left-leaning and centrist theologies covering a wide range of hotly debated religious topics. For United Methodists in Arkansas, podcasts create an outlet for reaching more people in the conference – and oftentimes outside of Arkansas – in ways that were never possible before. “We started the show to have fun, but the overall goal is one of inspiration. We try to interview people that are doing positive things in the world and inspire other people to go out and do it,” said the Rev. Bill Sardin, co-host of the Happy Hippie Jesus Show podcast. Sardin, along with the Rev. Jeremy Pressgrove, set out to create a show that could spread some positivity in a world 29
overrun by harsh and negative thoughts. The Happy Hippie Jesus Show came out of talks that Sardin and Pressgrove had about the current state of the world. “Bill asked me what kind of show I wanted this podcast to be. I said all I know is I’m sick of all of the negativity. I’m bored with it,” Pressgrove said. “He said to me, ‘so you basically want the happy hippie Jesus show?’ And that’s where the name came from.” On every episode, Sardin and Pressgrove interview a new guest; typically, someone who has an inspirational story or an amazing idea for empowering and growing the church. Their first guest was the Rev. Jonathan Griesse, senior pastor at Elm Springs United Methodist Church, but many of their guests also come from outside the Arkansas Conference. Lisa Hess -- professor of practical theology and contextual ministries at United Seminary and author of “The Companionable Way” -- and Brandon Clements -- pastor at a Midtown Fellowship in Columbia, South Carolina and co-author of “The Simplest Way to Change the World” -- have both been guests on the podcast. For Sardin and Pressgrove, the goal is not to seek out people in the United Methodist Church who think and believe the same way they do; they are simply interested in telling positive stories. Stephen Copley, executive director of Interfaith Arkansas, also chooses to look outside the United Methodist Church for guests on his podcast, We Are Arkansas. Much like Interfaith Arkansas, which seeks to connect believers from all faith traditions toward a common goal of unity and celebration of diversity, Copley’s podcast invites believers
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