Exploring religious and cultural topics from the vantage point of insider and outsider. Joel and Trent have extensive theological training and have experienced life inside and outside the Church. Lead Balloons conversations seek to amuse, provoke, delight, and unsettle. Joel and Trent may be right, they may be wrong, and they like their opinions like they like their whiskey: hot to the taste, yet earthy - rooted like an oak.
Lead Balloons: The Alchemy of Unpopular Opinions
Claim This Podcastby trentonkc
5.0(2 reviews)
61 episodes
Updated Daily
Accepts GuestsHas SponsorsLocation 🇺🇸
30
Podcast Authority
BetaPoorBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality48
Social0
YouTube0
Engagement32
Podcast Overview
Exploring religious and cultural topics from the vantage point of insider and outsider. Joel and Trent have extensive theological training and have experienced life inside and outside the Church. Lead Balloons conversations seek to amuse, provoke, delight, and unsettle. Joel and Trent may be right, they may be wrong, and they like their opinions like they like their whiskey: hot to the taste, yet earthy - rooted like an oak.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
8/28/2023
Unlock The Full Podcast Authority Score Report
See how your podcast performs across key metrics
30
Podcast Authority
BetaPoorBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality48
Social0
YouTube0
Engagement32
5
Excellent Areas
3
Good Performance
11
Growth Opportunities
excellent
Episode Length
1h 3m
Performing excellently!
good
Publishing Consistency
Every 11 days
Recommendations available
Unlock the full report to see detailed tips
poor
Episode Thumbnails
Recommendations available
Unlock the full report to see detailed tips
+16 More Metrics
Unlock comprehensive insights including:
- • YouTube presence analysis
- • Social media reach metrics
- • RSS compliance scoring
- • Podcast 2.0 features
- • Technical standards
What's Included in Your Full Report
Detailed Analytics
- Complete breakdown of all 19 authority metrics
- Personalized recommendations for each metric
- Industry benchmarks and comparisons
- Technical RSS feed analysis and compliance scoring
Growth Strategies
- Step-by-step action plans for improvement
- Quick wins to boost your score immediately
- Pro tips from successful podcasters
Get your free podcast insights report
See how your show performs across every key metric
Instant delivery
No spam
Attract Better Guests
High authority scores make your podcast more attractive to industry leaders and influencers who want to appear on credible shows.
Secure Sponsorships
Sponsors look for podcasts with proven authority and engagement. Your score demonstrates your podcast's value to potential partners.
Grow Your Audience
Understanding your strengths and weaknesses helps you make data-driven decisions to expand your listener base effectively.
Reach the team behind Lead Balloons: The Alchemy of Unpopular Opinions
Verified contact details for this show aren't on file yet — sign up to get notified when they land.
Recent Episodes
June 17, 2025
The Leadiest of Lead Balloons
Trent and Joel are closing a chapter. Maybe the Leadiest of Lead Balloons. The poet William Blake inspires their conversation with the Proverbs of Hell. They discuss Blake's challenge to conventional morality and religious dogma. They revel in the repression of desire. And they glory in the distinction between wisdom and folly. What a bang to go out on!?
June 4, 2025
Is Theology Even Possible?
Trent and Joel discuss the difficulties of doing theology. Joel gives an important backdrop of the transmission of the biblical text through the centuries and its relative reliability; Trent shows how systematic theology often fails to read biblical texts within their contexts. They also discuss why great literature, the Bible included, tends to invite further debate while repelling clarity and closure. Finally, Joel dishes on his experiences in presenting biblical ambiguities to his parishioners.
May 21, 2025
Censorship & Free Thought in Academia
This episode features an interview with Miriam Thompson, Ph.D. Miriam is Assistant Teaching Professor at UCSB in the Department of Counseling, Clinical, and School Psychology. She wrote an essay titled “The Courage to Disagree in Academia”, published in Journal of Free Black Thought. This essay grabbed Trent and Joel’s attention.In this discussion, Miriam argues for the need for free expression and facing disagreement in academic settings. She talks about why she disagrees with the claim that impact matters more than intent. She also discusses why tenure matters for professors and how she guides her students practically towards challenging their own belief systems. Joel and Trent ask her about her background, what led her to her perspectives on free speech, and where things are headed in the future with respect to free speech in academia.Join us for this riveting interview that will make you consider the importance of confronting new ideas in one’s education.
61 total episodes available
Deep-dive analytics for Lead Balloons: The Alchemy of Unpopular Opinions
Frequently asked questions
Have a different question and can't find the answer you're looking for? Reach out to our support team by sending us an email and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
- What is Lead Balloons: The Alchemy of Unpopular Opinions?
- How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
Legal Disclaimer
Pod Engine is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected with any of the podcasts displayed on this platform. We operate independently as a podcast discovery and analytics service.
All podcast artwork, thumbnails, and content displayed on this page are the property of their respective owners and are protected by applicable copyright laws. This includes, but is not limited to, podcast cover art, episode artwork, show descriptions, episode titles, transcripts, audio snippets, and any other content originating from the podcast creators or their licensors.
We display this content under fair use principles and/or implied license for the purpose of podcast discovery, information, and commentary. We make no claim of ownership over any podcast content, artwork, or related materials shown on this platform. All trademarks, service marks, and trade names are the property of their respective owners.
While we strive to ensure all content usage is properly authorized, if you are a rights holder and believe your content is being used inappropriately or without proper authorization, please contact us immediately at hey@podengine.ai for prompt review and appropriate action, which may include content removal or proper attribution.
By accessing and using this platform, you acknowledge and agree to respect all applicable copyright laws and intellectual property rights of content owners. Any unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or commercial use of the content displayed on this platform is strictly prohibited.