721: Easy Optimism vs Durable Hope with Sharon McMahon
The Holy Post
Phil Vischer
4.5 • 4.4K Ratings
🗓️ 20 May 2026
⏱️ 86 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
MAGA politicians, pastors, and influencers gathered on the National Mall this weekend to rededicate America to God. Unlike biblical ceremonies of rededication, however, this one included no repentance or lament. Elon Musk is upset that a black woman was cast as Helen of Troy in Christopher Nolan's upcoming film "The Odyssey." Sharon McMahon is back to explain how political backlash and violent threats canceled her commencement speech at Utah Valley University, and why the message she planned to deliver is more relevant than ever. Also this week—religious skeptics used to ask, "Why do bad things happen to good people?" So, why is Gen Z asking a different question, "Why don't bad things happen to bad people?"
Holy Post Plus:
Ad-Free Version of this Episode:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/721-easy-vs-hope-158706698/
Bonus Interview with Sharon McMahon:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/158708712/
0:00 - Theme Song
3:14 - Sponsor - PolicyGenius - Secure your family's tomorrow so you have peace of mind today. Go to https://www.policygenius.com/HOLYPOST to find the right life insurance for you
4:13 - Sponsor - BetterHelp - This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://www.betterhelp.com/HOLYPOST and get 10% off your first month!
5:58 - Rededication of America
21:06 - Sponsor - Rocket Money - Find and cancel your old subscriptions with Rocket Money at https://www.rocketmoney.com/HOLYPOST
22:06 - Sponsor - Feeding America - Feeding America, led by neighbors! Give now to end hunger at https://www.feedingamerica.org
22:40 - Sponsor - Garrett Theological Seminary - Garrett has a program for you! Apply by July 15 to start a master's degree this fall! https://www.garrett.edu/holypost
50:06 - Interview
52:11 - Commencement Speech Cancellation
1:12:14 - Durable Hope
1:25:14 - End Credit
Links Mentioned in News Segment:
Gen Z Asks Why Bad Things Don't Happen to Bad People:
Other Resources:
Holy Post website: https://www.holypost.com/
Holy Post Plus: www.holypost.com/plus
Holy Post Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/holypost
Holy Post Merch Store: https://www.holypost.com/shop
The Holy Post is supported by our listeners. We may earn affiliate commissions through links listed here. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Welcome to the Holy Post. Maga politicians, pastors, and influencers gathered on the National |
| 0:05.8 | Mall this weekend to rededicate America to God. Unlike biblical ceremonies of rededication, |
| 0:11.6 | however, this one included no repentance or lament. Then Elon Musk is upset that a black woman |
| 0:17.6 | has been cast as Helen of Troy in Christopher Nolan's upcoming film The Odyssey. |
| 0:22.3 | And Sharon McMahon is back to explain how political backlash and violent threats canceled her |
| 0:27.1 | commencement speech at Utah Valley University and why the message she planned to deliver is more |
| 0:32.9 | relevant than ever. Also this week, religious skeptics used to ask, why do bad things happen to good people? |
| 0:39.7 | But Gen Z is asking a different question. Why don't bad things happen to bad people? |
| 0:46.0 | On Holy Post Plus this week, as always, we have a boatload of exclusive subscriber-only content. |
| 0:51.4 | But let me highlight just two things. First, Caitlin has done a bonus interview with |
| 0:55.4 | Sharon McMahon about how both those who idolize American history and those who demonize American |
| 1:00.4 | history get it wrong. And why it's more important than ever for us to think wisely about our |
| 1:05.4 | history if we're going to fix the challenges we're currently facing. And then secondly, we have a new |
| 1:10.8 | episode of getting |
| 1:11.6 | schooled where Caitlin and I discussed a theology of tattoos. That conversation goes in some |
| 1:17.1 | surprising directions. It's definitely going to spark a lot of comments, so don't miss it. But of course, |
| 1:22.4 | if you don't have Holy Post Plus, then you are going to miss it, along with everything else that |
| 1:26.3 | we're doing, like Sharon McMahon's bonus interview, full episodes of the SkyPod every Friday, the Holy Post |
| 1:31.5 | Book Club, and a whole lot more. |
| 1:33.8 | So if you want smart, pro-nebber Christian content, head on over to holypost.com and sign up |
| 1:39.1 | for Holy Post Plus today. |
| 1:41.0 | Here is episode 721. |
... |
Transcript will be available on the free plan in 9 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Phil Vischer, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of Phil Vischer and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.