Though the sex abuse scandal involving Ravi Zacharias broke three years ago, a recent and vulnerable podcast from a former RZIM director topped our most popular podcasts of 2023, attracting nearly 40,000 listens.
The talk by Carson Weitnauer was one of three talks from our Restore Conference included in the top 10 podcasts for The Roys Report (TRR). Others were a very personal testimony from TRR founder, Julie Roys, on “Why Not Quit?” — and a talk by author and researcher Wade Mullen on “Responding Well to a Scandal.”
While most of the popular podcasts centered on spiritual abuse and recovery, a couple top episodes—one about the film Jesus Revolution and another about worship music trends—dealt with current culture-and-theology topics in evangelical circles.
With over 140 episodes produced, TRR attracts tens of thousands of listeners with a blend of expert analysis, hard-hitting reporting, and compassionate and insightful discussion. Episodes frequently build on, or summarize, TRR’s in-depth investigations as a news outlet.
In the wider media landscape, podcasting has continued to gain ground. The majority of Americans ages 12 to 54 (53%) have listened to a podcast in the past month, according to Edison Research. The firm also reports that, over the past year, the average number of podcast episodes that U.S. listeners engage with has increased from eight to nine per week.
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Podcast subscribers of TRR regularly share how much the podcast means to them, such as a listener named Katie who recently gave the show a five-star review. “I feel validated and empowered, and it is surprisingly healing,” she wrote. Another listener, Colby, said the podcast “shines a light in the darkness (with) fair and balanced interviews.”
Here are the top 10 most popular editions of TRR from the past year, based on total listens and views (when posted as videos).
The Roys Report Top 10 Podcasts of 2023
What do you do when the spiritual leader you looked up to is exposed as a fraud and top leaders lie to cover up his wrongdoing? For Carson Weitnauer, his dream job working for Ravi Zacharias became a nightmare when he realized the truth about Zacharias’ abuse and lies. In this vulnerable Restore Conference talk, Weitnauer reveals new details about what happened on the inside at RZIM, and how the betrayal of trusted leaders almost caused him to lose his faith. But he also shares how despite this, he found hope.
Inspirational drama Jesus Revolution was a box office sensation last spring—but is it accurate? Documentarian David Di Sabatino unpacks how the lives of Lonnie Frisbee and megachurch pastor Greg Laurie really intersected, which differs from what’s seen on-screen. He and Julie Roys also discuss what they appreciated about the biopic’s loving depiction of the “Jesus People.”
After a grueling season of investigative reporting and personal attacks against her, many asked editor Julie Roys: Why not quit? In this Restore Conference talk, she explains why she’s stayed the course. “I’ve definitely thought about (quitting), as I’m sure many who do similar work have. But I remain committed to exposing abuse and corruption,” she explains in this talk.
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Pastor John MacArthur
Why are Christians drawn to abusive and harsh pastors? And why do appeals to love and serve often gain less traction than fire and brimstone? Julie discussed this phenomenon with Redeemer University Professor Raymond Chiu, who has done extensive research on this topic.
For 12 years, Ken Garrett and his family belonged to a cultic, abusive church. His former pastor seemed to preach correct doctrine, but the minister was a fraud abusing his flock. Garrett, now a pastor and abuse recovery expert, shares the tell-tale signs of abuse he’s learned over the years.
It’s not Christianity that has failed in this present age. Instead, it’s evangelicalism that has failed to behave Christianly. So contends Constantine Campbell, author of Jesus v. Evangelicals—who makes his case in this in-depth discussion.
Spiritual abuse has become a hot topic as more stories of bully pastors and hyper-controlling churches have grabbed headlines. United Kingdom-based expert and author, Justin Humpheys, reveals key features and stages of spiritual abuse, and how it differs from other abuse.
When faced with a scandal, many Christian ministries (such as the International House of Prayer Kansas City) hire spin doctors to try to control the narrative. In this Restore Conference session, author and researcher Wade Mullen defines how organizations can respond well during crises—with listening, openness, humility, and truth.
Moriah Smothers, a victim of adult clergy sexual abuse, says her first wound—abuse by her pastor—was awful. But the second wound—how her church responded—was even worse. She and her husband, Jack Smothers, recount the lessons they’ve learned. And they plea with the church to deal rightly with adult clergy abuse, an often-misunderstood issue.
A study published last year found that songwriters linked to four megachurches—Hillsong Church, Elevation Church, Passion City Church, and Bethel Church—essentially have a monopoly on what most evangelical churches sing. Two contributors with Worship Leader Research discuss how churches and worship leaders can navigate the current music landscape—including whether to stop singing certain songs.
You can listen to TRR episodes online or read interview transcripts, by following the links above to each episode page. Look for The Roys Report on all major podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts. Thank you for listening, and we look forward to sharing more soon.
Freelance journalist Josh Shepherd writes on faith, culture, and public policy for several media outlets. He and his family live in the Washington, D.C. area.
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