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PODCAST

The Stand-Up Theologian

James Cary, BBC comedy writer, author and touring stand-up theologian is on a never-ending quest to understand comedy, the Bible, culture and the church.

religion & spirituality christianity

All Episodes

42:22

Why do we keep mentioning The War?

The Stand-Up Theologian ·

2025/11/10

In this solo episode, I connect my long-running fascinations with comedy, World War II, and Indiana Jones — exploring why one scene in my favourite Indy film falls flat, why Armstrong and Miller’s RAF sketches are so funny (and a bit sad) and how The Producers got away with being in such poor taste. Timed around Remembrance Sunday and Armistice Day, it’s a reflection on humour, history, and why we’re so captivated by the wars that shaped the modern world - and that man at the heart of it. Am ...

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46:08

Where is all this tech leading us?

The Stand-Up Theologian ·

2025/11/03

In this episode, James talks Aaron Edwards from That Good Fight and Pod of the Gaps podcast about 'The Machine' as laid out by Paul Kingsnorth, who as written Against the Machine which I recommend listening to on Audible - and here's an affiliate link to THAT BOOK. We also talk about Jacques Ellul and The Technological Society, CR Wiley and The Household and The War for the Cosmos, Paul Vanderklay and Joel Sallaton, The Lunatic Farmer and author of The Marvellous Pigness of Pigs! Get in touch...

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45:03

Can a joke be a crime?

The Stand-Up Theologian ·

2025/10/27

Graham Linehan is frequently in the news because of jokes and comments on Twitter. This is one that won't go away, so let's talk about it. I already talked about it with Glen Scrivener on his podcast, Speak Life. Listen to those - and the original HERE. We talk about whether sins are crimes and how sins can be worse than crimes; freedom, what we want to be from from, and what that freedom is for; and how words our actually more powerful than we realise. Sticks and stones may break our bones -...

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50:20

Was this a good idea?

The Stand-Up Theologian ·

2025/10/20

This is a solo episode! Does that excite you? Or fill you with dread, like meeting The Dread Pirate Roberts? A reflective, rambling solo episode recorded on a morning walk in which I talk about why this show is audio-first, whyI'm making it, and how he thinks about cadence, audience and membership communities and Christian comedy among the crunching leaves and a cameo from some geese. How should this podcast work? Best weekly with seasons - or weekly with more solo episodes? I also expl...

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46:59

Why are we so weird about reading the Bible?

The Stand-Up Theologian ·

2025/10/13

The Bible is a rich and stunning tapestry of woven wisdom and truth - and yet we are bizarrely resistant to reading it. Why is that? And why do we treat it differently from other books and media? How can we read it more, and dig deeper? James Cary, the stand-up theologian, talks to Andrew Sach, author of: Dig Deeper into 1 & 2 Kings by Andrew Sach, Alasdair HendersonWhy not join the podcast's new and experimental Facebook Group? The Wycliffe Papers on Facebook And please consider be...

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49:58

Why can't we be friends?

The Stand-Up Theologian ·

2025/10/06

James has a chat with pastor and author Ed Shaw about friendship, intimacy and his old school reports. Do we change? Can we change? And how can we be intimate with God? Check out The Intimacy Deficit by Ed Shaw The Wycliffe Papers on Facebook Why not join the podcast's new and experimental Facebook Group? And consider becoming a Loyal Lollard for the extended version of this podcast. Go on over to The Wycliffe Papers and Upgrade to Paid.

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50:44

Why let the truth get in the way of a good story?

The Stand-Up Theologian ·

2025/09/29

James Cary talks to comedian Andy Kind, author of a new book, The Wayfarer, a laugh-out-loud memoir about his third attempt to walk the Pennine Way. They also talks about the state of stand-up, the impact of the pandemic and the line - or salty path - between truth and storytelling. Why not join the podcast's new and experimental Facebook Group? And consider become a Loyal Lollard for the extended version of this podcast. Go on over to The Wycliffe Paper and Upgrade to Paid.

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55:41

Why don't the English take themselves seriously?

The Stand-Up Theologian ·

2025/09/22

What is England's founding myth? Does anyone get excited about 1066? Which English nationalism on the march, people are getting nervous. Why do the English get queasy about flying the flag. And why do we keep making a joke of it? James Cary, Stand-Up Theologian, talks to Rhys Laverty about all of the above, and the even more awkward idea about being a Christian country. Can open. Worms everywhere! Enjoy! And comment. Why not join the podcast's new and experimental Facebook Group? Clips from t...

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58:09

What is the Gospel according to (the Life of) Brian?

The Stand-Up Theologian ·

2025/09/15

The really controversial message of the Life of Brian is not what we think it is. Can we talk about the gospel that Brian actually preaches, which seems to be gospel the Pythons believed. How as that stood the test of time? In this episode, James Cary talks to evangelist, author and YouTuber, Glen Scrivener, one of the few men who can quote Life of Brian, Douglas Adams and Aquinas in the same breath. It turns out that Life of Brian comes from the same era as Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. ...

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47:57

Is Atheism Funny Any More?

The Stand-Up Theologian ·

2025/09/08

Stand Up Theologian, James Cary asks Dr. Andy Bannister: Is atheism funny anymore? In returning to his book The Atheist Who Didn’t Exist for a 10th anniversary edition, Andy reflects on how things have changed since the days of Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, and the “new atheism.” What can we learn from comedy landmarks like Life of Brian, Father Ted, Ricky Gervais, or the contrast between The Simpsons and Family Guy? Why are comedians so often drawn to religion, and can humour r...

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48:53

Is Your Life a Movie or a Sitcom?

The Stand-Up Theologian ·

2025/09/01

In the very first episode, James Cary, the Stand-Up Theologian, is joined by former Popcorn Parenting podcast co-host Nate Morgan Locke for a lively conversation that jumps from Back to the Futureand Star Wars Episode I to sitcoms, storytelling, and even evangelistic preaching. Along the way, James confesses he only cares about story for the jokes—one reason he became a comedy writer—and explains why he loves jazz but not Charlie Parker. Nate tackles the monomyth, Into the Woods, and Save the...

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1:38

The Stand-Up Theologian?

The Stand-Up Theologian ·

2025/08/16

Welcome to the Stand-Up Theologian podcast with James Cary. Find James's professional writing credits HERE. And read the latest headlines from the Wycliffe Papers HERE.

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12 results

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