In this podcast, our host Michael Mendoza will cover philosophy, psychology, religion, science, and touch on politics. Tune in as he shares his own spiritual journey through research and personal experience.

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2025/12/16/14/8aa99eca-4b5f-4c1f-869f-3ef6512751e6_part_2___dec_13__2025_001_michael_s_studio__1_.mp3

Is the story of man being expelled from the Garden of Eden really just the story of when we started farming?

Episode 12 - The Agriculture Revolution and The Garden of Eden

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The first episode in a series exploring the overlap between archeological evidence and the Biblical Narrative - in an effort to break down the false barriers between science and faith.

Episode 11 - Archeological Evidence and the Biblical Narrative (Part 1)

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A deep dive into Jesus&#39;s opening of his ministry and how it challenges our heart today.

Episode 10 - Luke 4 (For Thursday Morning)

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We wrap up season one by connecting all the dots from our previous 8 episodes. The chaos dragon is in your heart and conquering your old brain is a spiritual exercise, not a psychological one. We also de-construct the idea of &#34;hell&#34; as a place of fire and brimstone and show that, just like the external chaos dragon in your heart connects the physical and spiritual realms, Christian belief says that our decisions in this life decide what we experience in the next one. We close with a challenge - go start your own Reconciliation Project. <a href="https://bibleproject.com/podcast/series/heaven-hell/" rel="nofollow">Heaven and Hell podcast series from the Bible Project</a>

Salvation (Season 1 Finale)

We wrap up season one by connecting all the dots from our previous 8 episodes. The chaos dragon is in your heart and conquering your old brain is a spiritual exercise, not a psychological one. We also de-construct the idea of &#34;hell&#34; as a place of fire and brimstone and show that, just like the external chaos dragon in your heart connects the physical and spiritual realms, Christian belief says that our decisions in this life decide what we experience in the next one.

We close with a challenge - go start your own Reconciliation Project.

Heaven and Hell podcast series from the Bible Project

Episode 09: Salvation (Season 1 Finale)

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We build on our discussion of ancient dragon myths and show how the Bible took the external chaos dragon and personalized it within the human heart. The spiritual world and our physical reality are not separate but rather one reflects the other. <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sunday-school-is-out/id1614080541" rel="nofollow">Sunday School is out Podcast</a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Mountain-Nations-Explorations-Civilizations/dp/1575064790/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1ROFRFVURSACX&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.jaWnqN76s1VE6Q-Ti-RZMFgmM5mZ_94gfxtewQKknmODsw2g279o5XL5kknGx_dmHY4yO-2-7Cag2r4U2BuyjEHOBoAi5eomtnhisPYhAEJ1F8yFGjsQyv_pWYrjobIF0VmPjOClRV_gNf1ZJHbOeIRf8PYfM_G1-PitQAA97dyxuLFMnuqcKWjYryb5ihlNKcnSa0ALXkj3SK2CXIrN1cPQqEOMSNjjSuikeaLKwXs.83SQNfWQfBPf1Q6-hvGKbDSvTNqyZhDIId5gXzku3Qg&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+dragon+the+myth+and+the+mountains&qid=1712164480&sprefix=the+dargon+the+myth+and+the+mountains%2Caps%2C87&sr=8-1" rel="nofollow">The Dragon, the Mountain, and the Nations by Robert D Miller II</a><a href="https://bibleproject.com/podcast/series/chaos-dragon/" rel="nofollow">Chaos Dragon Podcast Series by the Bible Project</a>

Evil as "Anti-Creation" Part 2 of 2

We build on our discussion of ancient dragon myths and show how the Bible took the external chaos dragon and personalized it within the human heart.  The spiritual world and our physical reality are not separate but rather one reflects the other.

Sunday School is out Podcast
The Dragon, the Mountain, and the Nations by Robert D Miller II
Chaos Dragon Podcast Series by the Bible Project

Episode 08: Evil as "Anti-Creation" Part 2 of 2

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Listen in as we continue our journey as point out that the God of Bible allows for free will among humans and start to explore the Ancient Dragon Myths of the 1st and 2nd century BCE that would have been the mythical and cultural context for the story of evil in the Bible.  <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Mountain-Nations-Explorations-Civilizations/dp/1575064790/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1ROFRFVURSACX&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.jaWnqN76s1VE6Q-Ti-RZMFgmM5mZ_94gfxtewQKknmODsw2g279o5XL5kknGx_dmHY4yO-2-7Cag2r4U2BuyjEHOBoAi5eomtnhisPYhAEJ1F8yFGjsQyv_pWYrjobIF0VmPjOClRV_gNf1ZJHbOeIRf8PYfM_G1-PitQAA97dyxuLFMnuqcKWjYryb5ihlNKcnSa0ALXkj3SK2CXIrN1cPQqEOMSNjjSuikeaLKwXs.83SQNfWQfBPf1Q6-hvGKbDSvTNqyZhDIId5gXzku3Qg&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+dragon+the+myth+and+the+mountains&qid=1712164480&sprefix=the+dargon+the+myth+and+the+mountains%2Caps%2C87&sr=8-1" rel="nofollow">The Dragon, the Mountain, and the Nations by Robert D Miller II</a><a href="https://bibleproject.com/podcast/series/chaos-dragon/" rel="nofollow">Chaos Dragon Podcast Series by the Bible Project</a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/The-Unseen-Realm-audiobook/dp/B019HI25I0/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1X364WNHH9RDK&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.AIYyGOz4bAzDKDE1DKMA7TGd8WyU_qpBR9ZBwOQYJlNdMGOjOhDOF_TU-0QbngFumLWoxdRSBrrngqHHy15vjvSczeziUgQhiJmtbEMaGspuDQxrURUdt_AGaQpiB37dUtKzdfyHaeL0BWFL54nml1cHW_taVWW7AbiVDDAm6U3I-VO7y_RQMl2P64bE1Je__9Wm5U9z7zfgwrtB8Vf_bDtYyGv31OmBiWNxYKbgojg.ZEfXA8_TpVMalTC42DUJfHdowuUMuoIMhGEa-cNgyp4&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+unseen+realm+by+dr.+michael+heiser&qid=1712164566&sprefix=The+unseen+%2Caps%2C97&sr=8-1" rel="nofollow">The Unseen Realm by Michael Heiser</a>

Evil as "Anti-Creation" Part 1 of 2

Listen in as we continue our journey as point out that the God of Bible allows for free will among humans and start to explore the Ancient Dragon Myths of the 1st and 2nd century BCE that would have been the mythical and cultural context for the story of evil in the Bible. 



The Dragon, the Mountain, and the Nations by Robert D Miller II

Chaos Dragon Podcast Series by the Bible Project

The Unseen Realm by Michael Heiser

Episode 07: Evil as "Anti-Creation" Part 1 of 2

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2024/4/23/19/473f361f-aa1f-468e-bf4a-ea31d4e60e0e_stream.mp3

Our final episode in the 3 part series on &#34;self&#34; we dive into the biblical story of Adam and Eve, illuminate what Christians mean when they say we are &#34;born in sin&#34;, and discuss a specific teaching of Jesus around losing your life to save it. At the end, we visit the end state of evolutionary psychology and mindfulness meditation - a &#34;default state of consciousness&#34; that seems quite a lot like seeing God within creation. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Why-Buddhism-Is-True-audiobook/dp/B073XT51R3/ref=sr_1_1?crid=21I87V22OJN6V&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.EFhSBce4xh_2v4dfQHTPclDLAltWoFWGQcIT0EmMmg-uaQh9grdnPY20czhqmJMto7Jc2fmtkriZ-Iy-2BomuP-qcfa0VegesKj2DAWdMPNbjWjEVW9WkVRGrwmStNx7nJVl7qQbDTysYYi-3OaQPmYvz1oi7_s6v2qEUnku0Hy6mUctvzuZiqT00BlkNM0jO5Ht6zQ9U46h0-UAK8KLwTDbDu0kyoEqK9W9f1OYvD8.jFFBRJ0l1oqLtwHlbwnIgkCZoHp02armGMOKHHr_1eQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=why+buddhism+is+true&qid=1710252455&sprefix=Why+buddh%2Caps%2C160&sr=8-1" rel="nofollow">﻿Why Buddhism is True</a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Book-Genesis-Dr-Arnold-Fruchtenbaum/dp/1935174002/ref=sr_1_1?crid=EBNB5JN8H0B8&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.0kkYdLGdP7sTDekkDfyLSUtpvKZ0j8suizITLAdTOMUqsQt9n8vDWat4jWAIkd-ly1TvYw4a3r0-gdGxrfQF_g.DcrYLyg4c2nmNBFQ7YBC5vohu3B-jziz3fKeiuK713M&dib_tag=se&keywords=ariels+bible+commentary+genesis&qid=1710252684&sprefix=ariels+bible+commentary+genesis%2Caps%2C84&sr=8-1" rel="nofollow">Genesis commentary </a>

Our final episode in the 3 part series on &#34;self&#34; we dive into the biblical story of Adam and Eve, illuminate what Christians mean when they say we are &#34;born in sin&#34;, and discuss a specific teaching of Jesus around losing your life to save it. At the end, we visit the end state of evolutionary psychology and mindfulness meditation - a &#34;default state of consciousness&#34; that seems quite a lot like seeing God within creation.



Why Buddhism is True

Genesis commentary

Episode 06: Self 3 ways: Part 3 - Christianity

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Listen in as we build on our theme &#34;The greatest obstacle in life is yourself&#34; with a discussion of Buddhism and &#34;non-self&#34;. We&#39;ll cover the three mental poisons of anger, greed, and delusion, how Buddhism positions mindfulness meditation as the path to Nirvana, and start to build the philosophical bridges to Christianity, which we&#39;ll cover in the following episode.

Self 3 ways: Part 2 - Buddhism

Listen in as we build on our theme &#34;The greatest obstacle in life is yourself&#34; with a discussion of Buddhism and &#34;non-self&#34;. We&#39;ll cover the three mental poisons of anger, greed, and delusion, how Buddhism positions mindfulness meditation as the path to Nirvana, and start to build the philosophical bridges to Christianity, which we&#39;ll cover in the following episode.

Why Buddhism is True
Thinking Fast and Slow

Episode 05: Self 3 ways: Part 2 - Buddhism

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2024/4/23/19/ced1080b-2c2b-4dd9-a291-ccd4aa5c1a2a_stream.mp3

If there is an all powerful creator, a God, then why do human brains have so much in common with the brains of our genetic relatives in the animal kingdom? What happens when we define &#34;self&#34; through the lens of evolution? Listen in as we discuss psychological research, how it frames the concept of &#34;self&#34;, and set the stage for discussing both the Buddhist and Christian description of the human condition. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sweet-Spot-Pleasures-Suffering-Meaning-ebook/dp/B08VMX8G6Y/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.7PVHLtF5HtC7yRBGY8PZARdf5ufvkVvnqxu9pIzJJukpqFIR8Uz5bcEEqNXwvDG7dAdA3zRZ4uVxz1SugzyYFA.dTCWxW2fHEpfb7ZRGwQU8uBWHpbY4KjgO7Olue-C7HY&dib_tag=se&keywords=The+sweet+spot+by+Paul+Bloom&qid=1710252310&sr=8-1" rel="nofollow">﻿&#34;The Sweet Spot&#34; by Paul Bloom</a><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0133093/" rel="nofollow">The Matrix movie</a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Why-Buddhism-Is-True-audiobook/dp/B073XT51R3/ref=sr_1_1?crid=21I87V22OJN6V&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.EFhSBce4xh_2v4dfQHTPclDLAltWoFWGQcIT0EmMmg-uaQh9grdnPY20czhqmJMto7Jc2fmtkriZ-Iy-2BomuP-qcfa0VegesKj2DAWdMPNbjWjEVW9WkVRGrwmStNx7nJVl7qQbDTysYYi-3OaQPmYvz1oi7_s6v2qEUnku0Hy6mUctvzuZiqT00BlkNM0jO5Ht6zQ9U46h0-UAK8KLwTDbDu0kyoEqK9W9f1OYvD8.jFFBRJ0l1oqLtwHlbwnIgkCZoHp02armGMOKHHr_1eQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=why+buddhism+is+true&qid=1710252455&sprefix=Why+buddh%2Caps%2C160&sr=8-1" rel="nofollow">Why Buddhism is True</a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Fast-and-Slow-audiobook/dp/B005Z9GAJG/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1DJLV5AOXS3WW&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.KP7SbRzcre9DpN2LWPIgYeuUQQSnHrRQrcy8gnDT93DSF5X1AZzQaU6fVQmIVI2QX2cWpO5ol--wawtin13JRfaT4ayHmirU4TrU6__eX2Z00Yo6279n370DslSAM0geUY-Hi6PBwRkHChl1ca9Qq4lk83LtLzHwhJpu9XPQQAktVgeG4q6UMTQb6xHng5jpcYd2Ka4M-IyDx2Q9uyrqGjja4vzQG9P2GkZdsvmrxK4.mMoSWBT9OhIjoW0wKZevA0scXNlYwx27M9o8I8mMSo8&dib_tag=se&keywords=thinking+fast+and+slow+by+daniel+kahneman&qid=1710252599&sprefix=Thinkkn%2Caps%2C172&sr=8-1" rel="nofollow">Thinking Fast and Slow</a>

If there is an all powerful creator, a God, then why do human brains have so much in common with the brains of our genetic relatives in the animal kingdom? What happens when we define &#34;self&#34; through the lens of evolution? Listen in as we discuss psychological research, how it frames the concept of &#34;self&#34;, and set the stage for discussing both the Buddhist and Christian description of the human condition.



&#34;The Sweet Spot&#34; by Paul Bloom

The Matrix movie

Why Buddhism is True

Thinking Fast and Slow

Episode 04: Self 3 ways: Part 1 - Psychology

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What does it mean to find true &#34;rest&#34; in our hyper-busy culture? How does this tie to the idea that all life is connected and creation? And what does it mean for structural inequality in America? <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Fast-Slow-Daniel-Kahneman/dp/0374533555/ref=sr_1_1?crid=14SNBDGK8GQ5V&keywords=thinking+fast+and+slow&qid=1704479580&sprefix=Thinking+fa%2Caps%2C98&sr=8-1" rel="nofollow">Book - Thinking Fast and slow </a> <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-to-think-about-implicit-bias/" rel="nofollow">Scientific America on structural inequality</a> <a href="https://www.bemadiscipleship.com/1" rel="nofollow">BEMA Podcast episode 1</a>

Episode 03: Disconnected through burn-out.

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Throughout human history and across cultures, different words have been used to communicate the same idea - all of life is connected. Here are some source podcasts and a book by Joseph Campbell. <a href="https://bibleproject.com/podcast/series/genesis-scroll/" rel="nofollow">Bible Project Genesis podcast</a> <a href="https://www.bemadiscipleship.com/1" rel="nofollow">BEMA Season 1 Episode 1</a> Podcast <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Power-Myth-Joseph-Campbell/dp/0385418868/ref=sr_1_1?crid=AL4U3OZ1CD44&keywords=joseph+cambell%2C+the+power+of+myth&qid=1704479399&sprefix=Joseph+camb%2Caps%2C105&sr=8-1" rel="nofollow">Joseph Campbell Book - the Power of Myth</a>

Episode 02: Connected through creation

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Both Love and God can be described as &#34;unexplainable&#34; forces, we explore how the two are connected and one proves the other. The episode leans on two books: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Love-You-Want-Couples/dp/1250310539/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=getting+the+love+you+want&qid=1704479021&sr=8-1" rel="nofollow">Getting the love you want</a> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Other-Half-Church-Overcoming-Stagnation/dp/0802419631/ref=sr_1_1?crid=36XJT82ED3WWJ&keywords=The+Other+Half+of+Church&qid=1704479059&sprefix=the+other+half+of+church%2Caps%2C91&sr=8-1" rel="nofollow">The Other Half of Church</a>

Episode 01: How Love proves there is a God

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How months of fervent prayer led to a spiritual encounter and kick-started a reconciliation process.

Episode 0 (Trailer): Why Reconciliation

In this podcast, our host Michael Mendoza will cover philosophy, psychology, religion, science, and touch on politics. Tune in as he shares his own spiritual journey through research and personal experience.