The SkyePod – Air Mail (January 9, 2026)

Host: Skye Jethani
Producer: Mike Strehlo

Episode Overview

In this “Air Mail” episode of The SkyePod, Skye Jethani and producer Mike Strehlo answer listener questions on some of the sticky issues at the intersection of faith and daily life: public versus private education, the complexities of interfaith community service, and who Jesus meant when he spoke of “the least of these.” The conversation is candid, humorous, and rooted in both personal experience and theological reflection, with Skye giving thoughtful, nuanced answers and Mike challenging and clarifying throughout.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Public vs. Private Education: Changing Perspectives and Realities

Timestamps: 01:55–09:59

• Listener Question: Why does Skye advocate public education yet say he’d consider private school if starting over?
• Skye Clarifies:
  • He has always attended public institutions and sent his kids to public school, mainly due to financial reasons and the quality of their local schools.
  • The decision wasn’t thoroughly deliberated 20 years ago; if he had young kids today, he would discuss it more because public education and its environment have changed.
• Key Concerns:
  • Educational Quality: “It’s just weird to me that kids get to retake tests all the time... it feels like we have so lowered the bar.” — Skye Jethani [04:38]
  • Culture & Agendas: Notes specific experiences where political or social agendas overtake the core purpose of education, e.g., schools banning all religious symbols but displaying other value-related decor.
• Broad Take:
  • No Prescription: He does not prescribe any approach for everyone, emphasizing discernment and individual family needs.
  • Value of Public Education: Public schools are critical as one of the few shared civic institutions in the U.S.

    “If the public education system in this country collapses, we are in huge trouble as a country.” — Skye Jethani [05:52]

  • On Private vs. Public School Comparisons: Private schools select students and often have resource advantages, making comparisons unfair.
• Both Hosts Empathize with public educators, highlighting the diversity of school experiences and the challenges of being caught in culture wars.

2. Interfaith Outreach: Partnering Without Compromising Faith

Timestamps: 10:10–15:50

• Listener Question: Should Christians partner with groups like the LDS Church in community outreach, or act independently for greater doctrinal purity?
• Skye’s Position:
  • Strong Support for Partnership:

    “I think 100% you should partner...I think it’s great to partner with anyone—believer, non-believer, Christian, Jew, Muslim, Hindu, atheist, I don’t care—who [is] committed to the well-being of their neighbors.” — Skye Jethani [11:43]

  • Love is Not Transactional:
    • Christians shouldn’t serve with the motive of “PR for the gospel,” but because love is an intrinsic good reflecting God’s character.

    “We don’t love people because of the outcome. We love people because of who we are in Christ. End of story.” — Skye Jethani [12:44]

  • On Watering Down the Gospel:
    • Affirms anything in another religion that aligns with the character of God. Doing good together is not an endorsement of all beliefs but an affirmation of shared values.

    “When a Muslim loves their neighbor, you are reflecting the truth of who Jesus is.” — Skye Jethani [14:39]

  • Evangelizing Through Service:
    • Build sincere relationships; don’t use service as a conversion tactic.

    “As that relationship deepens, if you have conversations about faith...great, wonderful...” — Skye Jethani [15:27]

3. Matthew 25: Who Are “The Least of These”?

Timestamps: 16:12–25:35

• Listener Question: Is Jesus in Matthew 25 (“as you did to the least of these, my brothers...”) referring only to Christians or all people in need?
• Historical and Scriptural Context:
  • Early Church Interpreters: All major church fathers (Augustine, Origen, John Chrysostom, etc.) interpreted it expansively—as referring to anyone in need, not just Christians. [18:20–19:00]
  • Jewish Roots: Jesus echoes Torah commands to care for the suffering regardless of community or faith (e.g., foreigner, stranger).
  • Consistency with Jesus’ Broader Teaching: The Good Samaritan parable and other teachings advocate indiscriminate, universal compassion.

    “It would be just bizarre for Jesus to say, ‘I’m just talking about people who share your religious identity.’” — Skye Jethani [19:45]

  • Why Some Want a Narrow Definition:
    • The phrase “my brothers” gets interpreted as “disciples,” but context and broader scripture support a wider meaning.
    • There is an unconscious desire to feel “special” by limiting the objects of God’s love and mercy.

    “If God’s love is really as indiscriminate as Matthew 25… then I’m not as special as I thought I was.” — Skye Jethani [22:32] “Don’t put yourself on a pedestal... it’s not because you’re special.” — Skye Jethani [23:48]

• Mike Adds:
  • Christians often prefer making Jesus’ teachings easier, focusing on insiders, perhaps out of a desire for purity or comfort.
• Skye’s Bottom Line:
  • The message of Jesus is radical, indiscriminate love, challenging the desire for exclusivity in receiving and giving love.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Returning from the Holidays:

  “I just have a sick mind. So we're all back in the saddle, back.” — Skye Jethani [00:42]

• Jokes About Podcast Ownership:

  “You don't care? You just do it. … It's for my own amusement.” — Skye Jethani [00:36]

• On School Decisions:

  “Every kid's different needs, different needs. ... This is—no, I'm not prescribing this for anybody.” — Skye Jethani [04:05]

• On Transactional Love:

  “A lot of evangelicalism in particular is so transactionally focused. It's so much about the return on investment,... we've actually made love into a secondary value rather than a primary value.” — Skye Jethani [13:10]

• On the Human Desire to Be Special:

  “We want to believe that I'm special, my group is special. … This is the same hubris that the Israelites had.” — Skye Jethani [22:32]

• Bumper Sticker Anecdote:

  “Jesus loves you. Then again, Jesus loves everybody.” — Skye Jethani [24:38]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:55–09:59 – Education Decisions, State of Public Schools, and Impact of Policy/Culture
• 10:10–15:50 – Interfaith Outreach, Motivations, and Theological Implications
• 16:12–25:35 – Matthew 25: Expansive vs. Narrow Interpretation, Historical Consensus, and Human Motivation

Tone & Atmosphere

• Candid and Reflective: Skye is transparent about past decisions and the need for present discernment.
• Witty and Warm: Friendly banter, self-deprecating humor, and a conversational style dominate.
• Thoughtful and Engaged: Deep engagement with questions from personal, scriptural, and historical lenses.

For More: To hear the rest of this episode and enjoy other subscriber-only content, visit holypost.com/skyepod.