Welcome to the High Minds Podcast, where hosts Andy Colenzo and Matthew J. Distefano (me!) are bringing a new kind of conversation to your screen. Streaming live every Tuesday and Friday at 6 PM PST on the QuoirCast YouTube channel starting November 8, High Minds invites you to explore the culture at large. We’ll cover everything from sports and entertainment to the deeper questions of philosophy and spirituality. Why Tune In to High Minds? There’s no shortage of voices out... Read more
The journey of faith can be, at its best, a grounding experience, but when faith itself crumbles, we’re left treading water in what feels like an endless sea of doubt, fear, and self-questioning. That’s the heart of the story Michelle Collins and I dive into in Learning to Float. In this book, we talk about what it really means to “deconstruct”—a term many use loosely without acknowledging its often devastating, exhausting, and emotionally taxing reality. Why Deconstruction Is Not Just... Read more
Another day, another so-called “comedian” trying to pass off blatant racism as “comedy.” Tony Hinchcliffe, who I could have sworn was just trolling MAGA for a new bit, has made headlines once more, not for his comedic genius (a term I’m using very loosely here), but for cringe-worthy remarks about Puerto Rico and—brace yourselves—Black people eating watermelon on Halloween. Really, Tony? This is the gold you thought we were all waiting for? The Definition of Comedy: What Happened? Comedy, by... Read more
I didn’t plan to write this, but it’s one of those moments where you feel compelled by something deep inside—something telling you that this has to be said. It’s not comfortable, and it’s not easy. But for the sake of honesty, for the sake of the people I care about, and for the sake of the future, I need to put this on record. This is a message for friends, family, readers, and especially for those still considering a vote... Read more
At first glance, J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings and Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us might seem worlds apart. Tolkien’s work is filled with elements of faerie and moments of joy, while The Last of Us is defined by horror and trauma. Yet, beneath the surface, both stories share a central theme of sacrificial burden through the characters of Frodo Baggins and Ellie Williams, both of whom are scapegoats tasked with saving their communities. Frodo’s journey begins at... Read more
During a recent episode of The God Squad, we dove into a topic that has been on all our minds for a while: the cult-like nature of the MAGA movement. And, as the conversation unfolded, it became abundantly clear that I wasn’t the only one seeing the parallels. We’ve all seen how cults operate. They create an environment where critical thinking is not just discouraged, but outright punished. Anyone who questions the leader is excommunicated—cut off, shamed, and silenced. That’s... Read more
Well, well, well. I was all set, pumped up, ready to engage in what I can only imagine would have been the debate of the century (at least in my own mind): “Does the Bible Condemn Practicing Homosexuality?” Yes, you heard that right. I, Matthew J. Distefano, a queer-affirming, divine-violence-denying, post-Christian Universalist (not sure if you’ve heard, but I wrote a book), was invited to debate some Christian who thought I needed to be enlightened about how the Bible condemns... Read more
Short answer: No. A somewhat longer answer: No, because it can’t. The question itself—”Does the Bible teach that practicing homosexuality is a sin?”—is laden with problems from the start. It’s not just the odd phrasing of “practicing homosexuality,” but the entire concept is steeped in misunderstandings about the Bible, sexuality, and the way ancient cultures approached relationships. To dive into this, we must first recognize that the Bible doesn’t “teach” anything in the way people often assume. What we have... Read more
Leslie Nease’s Honoring the Journey: The Deconstruction of Sister Christian offers an intimate glimpse into a deeply personal and spiritual unraveling. As someone who has walked the path from fervent evangelical to a compassionate, questioning deconstructionist, Nease invites readers on a raw, vulnerable exploration of what it means to shed toxic beliefs in favor of a more expansive love. It’s a narrative that blends memoir, theology, and a deep dive into the emotional landscape of someone who grew up in... Read more
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Why Satire Fails in Today’s Absurd Reality
Satire used to be a joy. I could sit down, spin out a story about a time-traveling anti-vaxxer or a pastor’s absurd “accidental” run-ins with risqué toys, and readers would laugh knowingly, finding solace in the sharp humor of an alternate reality that felt plausible—but never too real. Yet, as the last few years have taught us, sometimes reality outdoes our wildest imagination. For someone who used to thrive on absurd satire, I can hardly keep up. Consider this: I... Read more