John Branyan's Comedy Sojourn Podcast

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

Hey, Neighbor! We're glad you came for a visit today!  Should we get a new theme song?  Nah... never mind...Nobody is prepared to talk about anything specific--so we punted to The Peaches.   The ability to....articulate....a...uh, problem... is....well, I mean... Words are hard. The Peaches is here to help you express your thoughts better.   But first, we need to talk about shoe shelves and magnets that look like guns and trigger discipline. (Don't even THINK about ALMOST putting your finger NEAR the trigger when you're not ready to shoot, Pkarghl!  That will be the STUPIDEST thing you've ever done in your WHOLE LIFE, and the Internet will not forget.) It doesn't matter how much knowledge you have on subject, it's useless if you can't communicate it in a way others will understand.  People who are grating and annoying aren't making the world a better place. Their Big Important Information will die with them. If you'd like to reach out to the Comedian Next Door, ema

After fairly heavy conversations the last few weeks, we're just shooting the breeze at The Comedian's House... Did you know the bathrooms are the most dangerous rooms in the house? Comedians often hurt themselves in strange ways...  (And we have several friends with strangely appropriate last names.) Later: Listen to John's Noah Webster joke!  Then:  Weigh in on a family scandal...Luke thinks our comedy work/business is the same as Poker Night! It's a fun hobby--not really work!!!! What's the tangible outpur of a comedian's labor??? Are we just eating junk food and gambling over here??? Maybe comedian isn't a legitimate career choice.  Write to the Comedian Next Door by emailing nextdoor@johnbranyan.com.  Watch the Starving Comics Show on the John Branyan YouTube channel. (It's a lot like a poker game.)   Also, come on vacation with us in July! Visit johnbranyan.com for details about Vacay With Comics.   

Welcome to the table, Neighbor Pkarghl!  How do you feel about John twirking as part of his show?  No, don't answer that. What's your earliest childhood memory?  Here's one of Uncle David's!  Please take our poll by emailing nextdoor@johnbranyan.com, but address the note TO JOHN, because The Peaches doesn't support this scientific endeavor.    If you want to email the Peaches, let the subject be regarding the weirdest thing you've ever heard of someone recycling.  Next: John shares the lesson he taught the youth group at Lighthouse.   Later: We get down to business explaining why the more you try to take yourself seriously, the more of a punchline you become.  It's Natural Law! There are some folks in the Fight Laugh Feast group going on and on and on and on and on and on about Full Preterism (for weeks!!!).  No matter how many times they are assured everyone agrees about the seriousness of heresy--they have made it their personal mission to be as loud an

Hello, Neighbor!  The Peaches and the Pod Ninja are having a little marital dispute about smoking cigars in the middle of the kitchen.  Who's being the joy-killer here?Next: If we had any respect for your opinion, we would adopt the opinion for ourselves... But we don't respect opinions we don't share. Boy-oh-boy, Pkarlgh, this statement really gave some people heartburn. What is it about the concept of "respecting opinions" that people are so willing to fight over it?   We think the phrasing is unclear, and we need to stop telling people we respect their opinion when we actual mean: "We respect your humanity no matter what opinions you hold."We respect the individual who is created in God's image, despite the fact that he or she holds an opinion that we DON'T respect.   And what about where Paul tells us (in 1 Corinthians) that some things aren't worth fighting about? Well, we share that opinion--and so we respect it. Finally: This boils down to an authority issue.  Wh

Hello, Neighbor! You're jumping into this conversation that's already underway between the Comedian Next Door (John Branyan) and his good buddy, Juan DeVevo. (It's okay. Just pull up a chair and make yourself comfortable. They'll make room for you.)  If you'd like to hear Part 1, go back to last week's episode! Juan often drops by the Comedian's house to chat about the cultural things on his mind.  What does it mean to be a good person? What does Christian living look like?  (Flip to the book of Philemon for spoilers.)  What's wrong with the so-called "Purity Movement"?  Guys, these questions come up in just the first 10 minutes...  What's Juan thinking today? To contact the Comedian Next Door, email nextdoor@johnbranyan.com . To find out where Juan is touring, visit Castingcrowns.com 

Hi, Neighbor! Welcome to the conversation with a comedian and his friend. Juan DeVevo has some things on his mind.  Let's process some of it with him...   You can contact the Comedian Next Door, John Branyan, by emailing nextdoor@johnbranyan.com  

Hey, Neighbor Pkarlgh! The Podcast Ninja is here with John and The Peaches again, to remind you that God can use ANYTHING for His glory!Therefore, if you ever criticize any Christian ad campaign or organization for any reason, you're just a Negative Nancy who lacks faith in God.This conversation covers all kinds of things...  He Gets Us and The Chosen series...  Luke smashing an expensive appliance... Kids calling for their bedroom light to be turned off...  And, eventually, the Asbury Revival. (Or, should we call it the "Asbury Annual Revival.")   Send us an email: Nextdoor@johnbranyan.com.   Also, come on vacation with our family and several comedian friends!  Details about Vacay with Comics are on the website, johnbranyan.com. 

Guess what, Pkarlgh?  Did you guess the Podcast Ninja (Luke McKinney) is on the mic with us today?!   The Pod Ninja doesn't listen to The Comedian Next Door episodes. So, sometimes we need him to sit at the table while we talk, just so he knows what we've been talking about... There's CONTROVERSY! (But when isn't that the case?) It's a good thing we are part of the Fight Laugh Feast Network, where upsetting people on the internet doesn't neessarily mean the end of our career. We've upset the nurses and the LGBT mob (multiple times), and now we've got the teachers worked up. John maintains the belief that children should not have access to every, single book ever written.  Some people tried to make the case that Song of Solomon is just as smutty as the raunchy romance novels being discovered in children's libraries--and that's HILARIOUS. Later: Even good intentions can lead to disastrous outcomes when teachers try to "save" kids from their own parents.    Finally:  That

Well, hello, Neighbor! Amanda (The Peaches) is back, and boy has she missed you!  Really, she's the Brett Cooper of the Fight Laugh Feast Network.  After a long hiatus, we're back at the kitchen table and trying desperately to organize all our many, many thoughts. Let's talk about those anonymously-run Facebook groups that exist solely to "call out" a particular person or organization.  There's something unhealthy about spending all your time thinking and talking about the so-called sins of a particular individual. That's the sort of obsession that tends to make a person crazy--which could explain how, after a few years, they may end up doxxing a teenaged boy and not realizing how insane that looks to normal people.  Later:  John has spent many days attracting hate comments on social media (hundreds of them) because he just keeps repeating his belief that children should not be groomed with sexually explicit material at their government school...   John's posts are, of cours

Hey, Neighbor!  This is PART TWO of this conversation with founding member of Casting Crowns, Juan DeVevo.   For some reason, he hasn't yet moved his family to Indiana in order to live in our backyard.  Sooooo, our long distance conversations tend to get pretty lengthy. Why are people so quick to leave their churches? The vast majority don't have any loyalty or sense of family-commitment.  Pull up a seat and let's see if these two brothers are able to fix all the problems with the Church in the next 60 minutes...  Find Juan DeVevo at castingcrowns.com and John Branyan at johnbranyan.com.  Email us at nextdoor@johnbranyan.com

Hey, Neighbor!  Please enjoy Part 1 of this conversation with founding member of Casting Crowns, Juan DeVevo.   For some reason, he hasn't yet moved his family to Indiana in order to live in our backyard.  Sooooo, our long distance conversations tend to get pretty lengthy. John wants to talk about drama he started on Facebook recently by suggesting that Christians shouldn't be so quick to leave their churches... People don't read well; they think in memes. But, worse still, they treat church attendance like consumers treat a bad interaction with the manager of a restaurant... Juan sums it up nicely mid-episode: "You're drawing a line between, 'This is the place I get my oil changed' and 'This is my FAMILY.'" Pull up a seat and let's see if these two brothers are able to fix all the problems with the Church in the next 60 minutes...  Please forgive the abrupt ending! haha. Find Juan DeVevo at castingcrowns.com and John Branyan at johnbranyan.com.  Email us at nextdo

Welcome to the Comedian Next Door. Have you ever wondered what sort of friends and counselors are needed to form and raise a Christian Comedian?   Meet Al Serhal--one of John's most faithful sparring partners.  He's a pastor and very (very) old mentor.   Be a fly on the wall as they tread familiar ground surrounding theology, culture, and the need to sharpen iron.  Take Pastor Serhal's advice:  love God and love people--but don't always be nice. 

Welcome to the Comedian Next Door!  Jeff Hicks is a pastor and friend-of-a-friend.  This is his first conversation with John outside of social media. Get to know the two of them as they get to know each other! We'll see whether there's any truth to the idea that having Christ is common makes two men brothers, even when they're strangers... First, John shares bits of his testimony from early college days, listening to church leaders spar and debate. He quickly learned not every Christian was tough enough to sharpen iron.   Later, why do pastors seems to talk differently with their peers than they talk when they're with the rest of the Church?

Welcome to the table, Neighbor. When you're listening to this podcast, we call you "Pkarlgh." On this FIRST episode of 2023, The Comedian (John Branyan) interviews Jason Farley! You've heard him on Knox Unplugged and CrossPolitic. This is Part Two of their conversation about "deconstructionism." "What are you even saying to me right now?!" That's what the guys feel like shouting when they're talking to Deconstructionists. Atheists and other Postmodern Deconstructionists only want to UN-define words--never define them. Pull up a chair and join the conversation. You're visiting the Comedian Next Door. (If you missed part 1, what's wrong with you?! Go back to last week and listen!) Email us at nextdoor@johnbranyan.com.  

Welcome to the table, Neighbor. When you're listening to this podcast, we call you "Pkarlgh." On this FIRST episode of 2023, The Comedian (John Branyan) interviews Jason Farley!  You've heard him on Knox Unplugged and CrossPolitic.  Deconstruction. What is it? Why is everyone doing it?  Even the people who are practicing "deconstruction" don't seem to know how to define it.  Jason helps John understand why nothing is really understandable... or something?  Pull up a chair and join the conversation. You're visiting the Comedian Next Door.  Email us at nextdoor@johnbranyan.com.