The Bad Pastor Podcast

About The Bad Pastor Podcast

After 15 years in vocational ministry and 8.5 years as a pastor, Austin walked away from it all. This podcast is for the burned-out, the doubters, the misfits — and anyone who's tired of pretending everything’s "blessed and highly favored." Expect raw conversations, uncomfortable questions, awkward laughs, and maybe, just maybe, a little hope.

Publisher

Austin Parkhurst

Category

religion & spirituality

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

5 May 2025

Latest episode

10 Dec 2025

Latest episodes

4 of 16 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   10 Dec 2025TRANSCRIPT

   Let's clear things up | Season 2 Premiere

   The Bad Pastor is back! We took a break to focus on work and other things, but we're ready to pick back up with a refreshed direction for the podcast. Before we get to that, we need to talk about a few things. If you're enjoying this content, let us know in the comments and share it with a friend. Thanks for listening, and we'll see you in the next one!

2. 

   28 Aug 2025TRANSCRIPT

   An Intro to Spiritual Warfare

   The Bad Pastor Podcast explores the subtle realities of spiritual warfare, referencing Ephesians 6 to examine the armor of God and how listeners can engage in this unseen battle.

3. 

   21 Aug 2025TRANSCRIPT

   This is my story.

   The host of The Bad Pastor Podcast shares his personal story of growing up in South Carolina and making the decision to follow Jesus 20 years ago in this episode.

4. 

   13 Aug 2025TRANSCRIPT

   The Truth about Valuing Authenticity

   The Bad Pastor explores the true meaning of authenticity within religious communities, revealing how superficiality often undermines genuine connection and loving relationships.

5. 

   16 Jul 2025

   What's the point of church? | Episode 11

   The hosts of The Bad Pastor Podcast discuss the purpose of attending church, exploring its biblical foundations and relevance in contemporary life.

6. 

   9 Jul 2025

   The Truth About the Body | Episode 10

   The hosts of The Bad Pastor Podcast discuss the church's neglect of physical and emotional health, exploring the connection between these aspects and spiritual well-being, revealing how Christians often prioritize output over self-care.

7. 

   25 Jun 2025

   How do I know it's time to leave my church?

   The hosts of "The Bad Pastor Podcast" explore reasons someone might consider leaving their church, examining red flags, toxicity, and scriptural perspectives on belonging.

8. 

   18 Jun 2025

   How to Work Past the Pain

   The host of The Bad Pastor Podcast discusses moving forward after experiencing pain caused by those closest to you, emphasizing truth and holy movement over perfect closure.

9. 

   11 Jun 2025

   The Quiet Crisis in Churches

   The Bad Pastor Podcast examines the pervasive lack of discipleship in churches, revealing how to move congregations from spiritual passivity toward intentional growth.

10. 

    4 Jun 2025

    The Truth About Marriage Culture

    The Bad Pastor Podcast discusses the unhealthy pressure surrounding marriage within the Church, examining its impact on individuals and questioning its biblical basis.

11. 

    28 May 2025

    The Truth About Faith & Politics

    Austin, host of The Bad Pastor Podcast, examines the intersection of Christian faith and political engagement, advocating for a biblically-informed approach to civic duties and rejecting the separation of faith from politics.

12. 

    21 May 2025

    The Problem with Church People

    The Bad Pastor Podcast explores the disconnect between Christian faith and real-life actions, addressing hypocrisy and the transformation of Christianity into an isolated bubble.

13. 

    14 May 2025

    The Truth About Deconstruction

    The host explores faith deconstruction, defining what it is, examining its importance, and revealing how it can either destroy or strengthen one's beliefs.

14. 

    7 May 2025

    Why Your Pastor Won’t Preach Certain Topics

    The Bad Pastor podcast explores the reasons pastors avoid certain topics in sermons, revealing the pressures and fears that hinder bold preaching within the church.

15. 

    7 May 2025

    Why I Left Ministry | The Real Reason I Quit My Job as a Pastor

    Host, (assumed) "The Bad Pastor", shares his personal journey of leaving full-time ministry, exploring the conflict between his calling and the expectations of church culture in this episode.

16. 

    5 May 2025

    Why I Left Ministry | Trailer

    The host of The Bad Pastor Podcast discusses his reasons for leaving full-time ministry, offering insight into the challenges and disillusionment that can occur.

Inside a recent episode

Let's clear things up | Season 2 Premiere

Published 10 Dec 2025 · Transcript excerpt

[…] In our world today, I could go online. I could share a divisive opinion. And there are people... that would stop talking to me because of that. There are people that would not even engage in discussion. It would just become an argument online. And what we've done is we've allowed this to invade our churches. I remember as a pastor, dude, there were times where I was so afraid to say things because I never wanted to appear as if I was unloving. I never wanted to appear as if I was intolerant, though I think there is a healthy level of intolerance. We should not tolerate the things. We should accept people Without affirming sin, like whatever. […]

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

10 ratings

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Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about The Bad Pastor Podcast