Podcast
eX-skeptic
Hosted by Jana Harmon · EN
eX-skeptic is a story-driven, conversational podcast that helps listeners understand why people dismiss or believe in God and Christianity. Interviewing one former atheist or skeptic each show, host Jana Harmon encourages both Christians and skeptics to consider what motivates thoughtful, intelligent people to move from disbelief to belief.
www.exskeptic.org
14episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Life and Death – Jeremy Gronau’s Story
2w ago01:15:33Tap to summarizeWhat if the biggest barrier between you and God are the quiet lies you’ve believed about Him your entire life? Jeremy Gronau carried those lies for years, formed through trauma, loss, and a lifetime of trying to prove his worth. After growing up without a clear understanding of the gospel, Jeremy built his identity on achievement, strength, and performance, ultimately serving as an Apache helicopter pilot in Afghanistan. But beneath the surface were deeper questions about suffering, identity, and whether God could truly be good. In this conversation, Jeremy shares his journey from shallow, cultural Christianity and skepticism to a life transformed by a personal encounter with God. 🎙️ Love the show? Support the mission and explore eX-skeptic merch here: https://ex-skeptic-shop.fourthwall.com/ Want to support this channel? Tax-deductible donations available here: https://givebutter.com/CB6WoH C.S. Lewis Institute Summer Academy: https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/?event=global-event-c-s-lewis-institute-summer-academy&event_date=2026-07-12 Guest Bio: Jeremy Gronau is a former U.S. Army Apache helicopter pilot who served nearly a decade in the military, including a deployment to Afghanistan. After leaving the military due to severe physical injury, Jeremy pursued a Master’s degree in Pastoral Counseling from Liberty University, specializing in crisis and trauma intervention. He is the founder of Warriors in Christ, a Christian counseling practice dedicated to helping veterans, first responders, and individuals navigate trauma, restore relationships, and discover their God-given purpose. Jeremy is passionate about helping others experience healing, identity in Christ, and the transforming power of the gospel. Resources Mentioned: Jeremy’s Resources: • Website: Warriors for Christ - https://warriorsinchrist.one • YouTube Bible study: https://www.youtube.com/@Warriors-In-Christ Atheists Finding God: https://exskeptic.org/atheistsfindinggod/ Connect with eX-skeptic: Website: https://exskeptic.org/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/exskeptic Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/exskeptic Twitter: http://x.com/exskeptic YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@exskeptic Email info: info@exskeptic.org
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Finding Freedom from Fear and Destruction – Dr. Lisa Stanton’s Story | Ep. 144
4w ago01:08:22Tap to summarizeWhat if being brilliant, successful, and disciplined still isn’t enough to save you from fear, obsession, and self-destruction? From the outside, Lisa’s life looked enviable—PhD, postdoctoral research at a leading medical school, and a rising career in behavioral health. But beneath the surface, she was unraveling: anxiety, eating disorders, addiction, and relentless obsessive fear followed her for years. Convinced that intelligent, rational people didn’t need God, Lisa tried everything except faith. It wasn’t until desperation forced her to confront the limits of her own limits that she became open, reluctantly, to the possibility she might be wrong. 🎙️ Love the show? Support the mission and explore eX-skeptic merch here: https://ex-skeptic-shop.fourthwall.com/ Want to support this channel? Tax-deductible donations available here: https://givebutter.com/CB6WoH Guest Bio: Dr. Lisa Stanton is a social psychologist, researcher, and writer. With a PhD in social psychology and a career in behavioral health, she brings a rare blend of empirical insight and personal honesty to questions of identity, meaning, and human flourishing. Her recent work centers on her personal experiences in recovery from not only addiction, but also eating disorders, anxiety conditions, ADHD, irritable bowel syndrome, alopecia areata, and more. Lisa writes at drlisastanton.com, shares reflections on Instagram at @drlisastanton. Resources Mentioned: Lisa’s Resources: • Website: drlisastanton.com • Instagram: @drlisastanton • Book: 52 Life-Changing Lessons I Learned in Recovery: A Journey Towards Sobriety, Honesty, and Radical Forgiveness Lisa’s recommended resources: • Alpha Course – https://www.alpha.org • OCIA - https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/264519/becoming-catholic-everything-you-need-to-know-about-ocia • Bible Study Fellowship - https://www.bsfinternational.org • Wes Huff, Christian Apologist - https://www.wesleyhuff.com Atheists Finding God: https://exskeptic.org/atheistsfindinggod/ Connect with eX-skeptic: Website: https://exskeptic.org/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/exskeptic Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/exskeptic Twitter: http://x.com/exskeptic YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@exskeptic Email info: info@exskeptic.org
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An Atheist Finds Truth – Luke Thornton’s Story | Ep. 143
Apr 2400:59:19Tap to summarizeWhat happens when atheism is taken seriously all the way to its logical conclusions? For Luke Thornton, raised in a deeply secular culture in the UK, honesty about those implications led not to certainty but to discomfort and eventually to an argument he couldn’t ignore. Luke Thornton grew up in northern England in a culture where belief in God felt irrelevant at best and irrational at worst. An intellectually curious student, Luke embraced atheism not out of apathy but out of a commitment to truth. Science, progress, and reason seemed to leave no room for God. But as Luke followed atheism to its logical conclusions questions about morality, free will, meaning, and human value began to press in. When a philosophical argument for God’s existence challenged assumptions he’d long held, Luke was forced to reconsider whether disbelief was as intellectually satisfying as he once thought. 🎙️ Love the show? Support the mission and explore eX-skeptic merch here: https://ex-skeptic-shop.fourthwall.com/ Want to support this channel? Tax-deductible donations available here: https://givebutter.com/CB6WoH Guest Bio: Luke Thornton is a Christian creative entrepreneur and evangelist. Raised in Yorkshire, England, in a non-Christian home, Luke was an atheist until he embraced Christianity as an adult. He runs a marketing agency full-time while dedicating his spare time to studying apologetics and enjoying life with friends in London. Resources Mentioned: Luke’s Recommended Resources: The Bible Society Study Course: The Bible Course is an eight-session small-group resource designed to help people explore the whole Bible’s story from Genesis to Revelation. For more information, go to: https://www.biblesociety.org.uk/ The Alpha Course: The Alpha Course is a multi-week, conversational introduction to the basics of the Christian faith designed for anyone who is curious about life, meaning, and God. William Lane Craig. Reasonable Faith is the official ministry and resource hub of Christian philosopher and apologist Dr. William Lane Craig, dedicated to providing articulate, intelligent, and gracious support for the truth of the Christian faith. See: https://www.reasonablefaith.org Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukethornton___/ Connect with eX-skeptic: Website: https://exskeptic.org/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/exskeptic Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/exskeptic Twitter: http://x.com/exskeptic YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@exskeptic Email info: info@exskeptic.org
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A Skeptic Reconsiders God – Chris Wright’s Story (a/k/a Courageous Chris) | Ep. 142
Apr 1000:52:15Tap to summarizeWhat if the worldview you trusted most began to crumble under its own weight? Chris Wright grew up in a deeply Christian home, surrounded by Scripture, church life, and belief. But as he moved into adolescence, competing ideas like evolutionary theory, cultural pressure, and hidden personal struggles pulled him steadily away from the faith he knew. By the time he reached college, Chris was confronted by bold professors, each insisting that Christianity was intellectually weak, morally suspect, or simply outdated. But instead of convincing him, their hostility toward Scripture and the dismissal of the faith of his childhood awakened something unexpected: a desire to test everything for himself. Guest Bio: Chris Wright is a writer, apologist, and creator of the Allegiant Faith Network Substack, where he focuses on apologetics, theology, biblical studies, and worldview formation. After a season of deep doubt fueled by cultural pressures, academic skepticism, and personal struggles, Chris set out on a rigorous search for truth that led him back to Christianity through evidence and reason. He holds a Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary and writes to help skeptics, seekers, and believers think clearly, question well, and understand why Christianity offers a coherent, intellectually grounded view of reality. Chris is active on Substack and X, where he engages thoughtfully with skeptics and equips Christians for meaningful conversations about faith. 🎙️ Love the show? Support the mission and explore eX-skeptic merch here: https://ex-skeptic-shop.fourthwall.com/ Resources Mentioned: C.S. Lewis Institute: https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/ Chris’s recommended resources: Book: Reasons for God, Tim Keller Book: Evidence that Demands a Verdict, Josh McDowell Author/Website: Frank Turek, www.crossexamined.org Book: The Big Book of Christian Apologetics – an A to Z Guide, Norm Geisler Connect with eX-skeptic: Website: https://exskeptic.org/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/exskeptic Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/exskeptic Twitter: http://x.com/exskeptic YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@exskeptic Email info: info@exskeptic.org
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Not Interested in God – Dr. Grenville Kent’s Story | Ep. 141
Mar 2701:01:35Tap to summarize🎙️ Love the show? Support the mission and explore eX-skeptic merch here: https://ex-skeptic-shop.fourthwall.com/ What if denying Christianity felt like freedom—but that path slowly revealed itself to be hollow? In this episode of eX-skeptic, Jana Harmon sits down with Grenville Kent, an Australian theologian, filmmaker, and former skeptic who once believed Christian faith would restrict his joy rather than enrich it. Grenville shares how a hedonistic, achievement-driven worldview eventually collapsed under its own weight, and how unexpected conversations, honest doubt, atheist thinkers, and a simple prayer cracked the door open to something more. Come and hear how Grenville began to experience the personal, loving God who was already pursuing him. Guest Bio: Grenville Kent, PhD, is an Australian theologian, filmmaker, and storyteller who blends rigorous scholarship with creative, accessible communication. He holds a PhD in Old Testament from the University of Manchester, a Doctor of Ministry in Apologetics, and several additional degrees across film, commerce, and education. He is the author of God Walks Into a Bar, a lively and engaging exploration of evidence for belief, and the creator of the internationally broadcast documentary series Big Questions. Grenville has taught Old Testament and apologetics and continues to speak and write in ways that resonate deeply with skeptics, seekers, and Christians alike. Resources Mentioned: Grenville’s Resources: • Book: God Walks Into a Bar… • Film documentary series: Big Questions https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Grenville+Kent+Big+Questions • Academic research: https://morlingcollege.academia.edu/GrenvilleKent Grenville’s recommended resources: • Apologists: C.S. Lewis, Frances Schaeffer, William Lane Craig, John Lennox, Connect with eX-skeptic: Website: https://exskeptic.org/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/exskeptic Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/exskeptic Twitter: http://x.com/exskeptic YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@exskeptic Email info: info@exskeptic.org
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A Curious Mind – Matt Schmidt’s Story
Mar 1300:53:07Tap to summarizeWhat if the questions that once pulled you away from faith could be the very questions that lead you back? That’s exactly what happened to Matt Schmidt. As a naturally inquisitive kid, Matt felt the weight of questions that no one around him could answer — questions about science, origins, morality, and whether the Bible could be trusted. With no guidance or satisfying explanations, he walked away from Christianity and embraced atheism. But the same relentless curiosity that distanced him from belief slowly began to unravel the foundations of his atheism. How do you get something from nothing? Where does morality come from? Why do humans care about meaning at all? Listen to what Matt discovered through his journey. 🎙️ Love the show? Support the mission and explore eX-skeptic merch here: https://ex-skeptic-shop.fourthwall.com/ Guest Bio: Matt Schmidt is the co-founder and CEO of Engage 360, a ministry dedicated to helping everyday Christians share their faith with clarity, confidence, and compassion in everyday conversations. Matt holds a master’s degree in philosophy with studies in theology, apologetics, and biblical studies from Southern Evangelical Seminary. Resources Mentioned: Matt’s Resources: • Website: Engage 360 www.e360m.org. Engage 360 Core Training online courses and community: www.e360m.org/reset . A course track designed to help people learn to lead an investigative Bible study in their home or church: www.e360m.org/bible Matt’s recommended resources: • Alistair Begg, www.truthforlife.org • R.C. Sproul on the reliability of scripture: https://www.truthnetwork.com/show/renewing-your-mind-rc-sproul/44894/?utm_source=chatgpt.com Connect with eX-skeptic: Website: https://exskeptic.org/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/exskeptic Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/exskeptic Twitter: http://x.com/exskeptic YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@exskeptic Email info: info@exskeptic.org
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Finding Truth – Nancy Pearcey’s Story
Feb 2701:05:17Tap to summarize🎙️ Love the show? Support the mission and explore eX-skeptic merch here: https://ex-skeptic-shop.fourthwall.com/ Before she became one of today’s leading Christian thinkers, Nancy Pearcey walked away from Christianity. Disillusioned by shallow answers and a painful home life, she turned instead to atheism, relativism, and Eastern spirituality in search of something she could truly believe. After studying at Francis Schaeffer’s L’Abri in Switzerland, her search led her back to the exploration of a robust, intellectually grounded faith. Listen and hear Nancy share how rigorous thinking, honest doubt, and lived experience converged to reveal Christianity as not only true, but as the most coherent explanation of reality. Guest Bio: Nancy Pearcey is a professor and scholar in residence at Houston Christian University and a former fellow at the Discovery Institute. Once a skeptic who abandoned her childhood faith, she became convinced through careful study that Christianity offers the most rational account of reality. She is the award-winning author of Total Truth, Finding Truth, Love Thy Body, and The Toxic War on Masculinity. Her work has been described as “C. S. Lewis for the modern age,” helping believers think clearly and helping skeptics see the intellectual and moral depth of the Christian worldview. Resources Mentioned: Website: www.nancypearcey.com Mentioned Books: Total Truth: Liberating Christianity from Its Cultural Captivity Finding Truth: 5 Principles for Unmasking Atheism, Secularism, and Other God Substitutes Nancy’s recommended resources: Mere Christianity, Miracles, C.S. Lewis Escape from Reason, The God Who is There, Francis Schaeffer The Dust of Death, Os Guinness America’s Christian Credit Union (ACCU): https://americaschristiancu.com/Jana/ Connect with eX-skeptic: Website: https://exskeptic.org/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/exskeptic Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/exskeptic Twitter: http://x.com/exskeptic YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@exskeptic Email info: info@exskeptic.org
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Avoiding God – Erika Diaz-Castro’s story
Feb 1301:12:54Tap to summarizeWhat happens when faith feels like pretending, and you can’t live with the disconnect anymore? Erika Diaz-Castro, a wife, mom, and Bible teacher who once lived a double life—publicly religious but privately wrestling with doubt, shame, and the pull of self-fulfillment. Her story traces a winding path through skepticism, identity confusion, new-age spirituality, and even spiritual darkness, until a powerful encounter with God changed everything. Guest Bio: Erika Diaz-Castro is a wife, homeschooling mother, Bible teacher, and founder of Her Renewed Strength, a ministry equipping women to know God’s Word and grow in confidence through it. Once a skeptic, Erika now helps others cultivate daily spiritual discipline and find freedom in surrendering to Christ. She also hosts Her Renewed Strength Podcast and is pursuing a Master of Theology with a concentration in Apologetics and Philosophy. Resources Mentioned: 🎙️ Love the show? Support the mission and explore eX-skeptic merch here: https://ex-skeptic-shop.fourthwall.com/ Her Renewed Strength –herrenewedstrength.com Her Renewed Strength Podcast – https://herrenewedstrength.com/podcast Delighting in the Trinity by Michael Reeves Bible in a Year reading plan (YouVersion App) Through the Word & Word for Today with Chuck Smith America’s Christian Credit Union (ACCU): https://americaschristiancu.com/Jana/ Connect with eX-skeptic: Website: https://exskeptic.org/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/exskeptic Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/exskeptic Twitter: http://x.com/exskeptic YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@exskeptic Email info: info@exskeptic.org
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Leave Me Alone – Heather Sewell’s story
Jan 3001:03:20Tap to summarizeHave you ever tried to find peace by walking away from God or from the judgment and expectations that once made faith feel heavy? Heather Sewell shares her story of running from faith and searching for peace. Raised as a pastor’s daughter, Heather learned early how to wear masks and manage secrets. As her family’s struggles deepened, so did her confusion about God and truth. Searching for meaning, she embraced Eastern religions and the “Coexist” movement, calling herself a “Christian Hindu” while trying to find peace through self-discovery. But when the illusion of freedom gave way to pain and numbness, Heather encountered God in an unexpected way—a voice that simply asked, “Are you done?” Guest Bio: Heather Sewell is a ministry leader, speaker, and storyteller whose faith journey began with basic questions concerning God’s goodness in reaching secular religions. She started her ministry work at Orphan Care Alliance in Kentucky and now works at Summit Ministries in Colorado Springs. She now has the opportunity to equip parents and teens nationwide through the Summit Student Conferences and Ambassador Program, empowering families to help their teens grow in faith with clarity and confidence. With more than 10 years of experience working with children and youth, Heather has seen firsthand the questions and cultural pressures that can shake a young person’s beliefs. Her journey, rooted in her own story of God’s redemption and her passion for guiding the next generation, has shaped her calling to walk alongside families so that truth and relationship come together in everyday life. Resources Mentioned: America’s Christian Credit Union (ACCU): https://americaschristiancu.com/Jana/ Summit Ministries: https://www.summit.org/ Registration for Summer 2026 is now open, with two-week sessions in Manitou Springs, Colorado, and Anderson University, South Carolina. Visit summit.org/exskeptic to learn more. And when you register before March 31st, use code EXSKEPTIC26 to save $500 off your student’s registration. Cold-Case Christianity by J. Warner Wallace The Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson The Gospel of John — For those wanting to rediscover the person of Jesus Connect with eX-skeptic: Website: https://exskeptic.org/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/exskeptic Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/exskeptic Twitter: http://x.com/exskeptic YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@exskeptic Email info: info@exskeptic.org
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Curious about God – Dr. Jim Small’s Story
Jan 1600:50:04Tap to summarizeWhat if you’re content with life, confident in science, and still quietly curious? Dr. Jim Small, MD, PhD, pathologist, professor, and lifelong scientist was raised without faith and felt no need for God. Science explained the world well enough. But through marriage, community, and simply showing up at church, curiosity began to stir, not from crisis or doubt, but from an openness to questions he’d never felt compelled to explore. In this episode of eX-skeptic, Jim reflects on a quiet, surprising journey from confidence in science alone to faith in Christ and how curiosity slowly reshaped how he understands life, death, and truth. Guest Bio: Dr. James Small, MD, PhD, is a retired pathologist and current Professor of Microbiology at Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine. His career spans Duke, the University of Utah, and service as Medical Director of Laboratories at Porter Adventist Hospital in Denver, with research published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Raised in an atheist home, Jim was surprised to discover faith in God and Jesus during his medical training. He’s now active in the Christian Medical and Dental Associations and has served on medical mission trips abroad. Jim and his wife of 44 years have three daughters and five grandsons. Resources Mentioned: America’s Christian Credit Union (ACCU): https://americaschristiancu.com/Jana/ C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters Connect with eX-skeptic: Website: https://exskeptic.org/ Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/exskeptic Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/exskeptic Twitter: http://x.com/exskeptic YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@exskeptic Email info: info@exskeptic.org
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