Ken welcomes Nate Manderson back as we close out our year and Season 5. Nate’s rich experience as a pastor, an educator, and an advocate for the working class has made him a popular writer for The Boston Globe and Salon.com. His most recent piece is entitled, How the left can get its mojo back: Listen to working-class people of faith. It’s a rich analysis of where the Democrats got it wrong in the Presidential election. Ken and Nate review the election and fill it in with Nate’s con siderable experience in Boston schools from elementary to high school to community college. He connects with the labor force and the Latino community and helps us understand how Donald Trump managed to win a high degree of unlikely support. Ken and Nate get ready for the challenges of a new year. SHOW NOTES

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Ken and Betsey usually discuss politics. Today, they set aside the political turmoil in the headlines and discuss Christmas. Ken’s most recent Substack reflects on the central scene that is the focus of the celebration of Christmas by Christians all around the world - the Nativity. Joseph. Mary. The baby Jesus. It’s a wide-ranging conversation around literalism, fundamentalism, and a contemplation of what is real and true. From Charles Dickens to Karen Armstrong, they share their childhood experiences, Ken’s performance of White Christmas in a posh restaurant with a couple of carolers in Victorian dress, and neighborhood displays of inflatable Santas, Snowmen, Grinches, Mickey and Minnie, and of course, Nativity scenes.

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Ken shares his reflections on the opening of the restored Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris after the devastating fire of April 2019.

You can follow along on his Substack Page here.

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Ken and Betsey reflect on the Late Great Planet Earth, the monster 197o best-seller by Hal Lindsey, who passed away on November 25th. The cottage industry of apocalyptic books and movies spawned by Lindsey’s book live with us to this day. While they acknowledge the need to move on from the distress and anxiety of election day, they invite their listeners into a continued conversation of some of the main headlines. President Biden issued a complete pardon for his son, Biden. The week’s political conversation focussed on the president-elect’s Cabinet pick for Department of Defense, the controversial Pete Hegseth. Hegseth’s extreme political views are rooted in his church’s doctrine. Pilgrim Hill Reformed Fellowship is a member of the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches founded by the self-described “theologian,” Douglas Wilson of Moscow, Idaho. Health insurance companies are under scrutiny in the aftermath of the horrific, cold-blooded murder of United Health Care’s CEO, Brian Thompson. The two agree it’s time to gaze at the lights all around and be reminded of the delights and wonder of the Season.

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Ken welcomes back professor, author, and activist Dr. David Dark to discuss his new book, We Become What We Normalize. David shares the recent tragedy on Belmont University's campus in the shooting of the popular freshman, accomplished musician Jillian Ludwig . He tells us about the impact of this horrible incident on his students. The entire nation took note - raising the issue of gun control. David asks a provocative question: "Am I responsible for the lies that other people voice in my presence unchallenged?" When we are silent, we normalize. The conversation picks up Part I - discussing David's assertion that all of us -because we are human - are "religious." There exists good and bad/toxic and healthy religion. We must apply critical thinking to discern. Dr. Dark agrees with Christopher Hitchens that there is a form of religion that "poisons everything." To illustrate, they consider a diverse collection of individuals including Colin Kaepernick, Howard Thurman, Rush Limbaugh, and Donald Trump. In conclusion, David shares his long-time work in the Tennessee prison system - regrettably, a for-profit enterprise.

David Dark Part I

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SPOILER ALERT: If you have not seen the movie or read the book CONCLAVE, you may not want to listen (until you've seen the film or read the book). The Two Kens take a deep dive into the symbolism and message of this highly acclaimed motion picture starring Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, Isabella Rossellini, John Lithgow, and more. There’s much to discuss, unpack, and explore in this groundbreaking film. It’s a film set in the Vatican when a fictional Pope dies, leaving the College of Cardinals to isolate themselves in the Sistine Chapel where they will elect a new Holy Father from among their ranks. BE FOREWARNED: Kemp and Fong reveal the stunning surprise ending and examine its meaning for today.

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Ken shares his latest Substack entry: Factions - Tribal Warfare Has A Long History. It’s inspired by the Apostle Paul and Robert Harris’ novel, Conclave (now a highly acclaimed feature film). As we gather, let’s embrace the gifts that surround us, even in troubled times.

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As we somehow adjust to the presidential election results, we bid farewell to an evangelical leader who stood for integrity over conformity. As Ken and Betsey connect again and share their disappointment over the election results, they begin with a lengthy reflection on the life of a powerful communicator, an inspirational influencer, a compelling professor/theologian, and an entertaining orator - Tony Campolo. We don’t know if he was alert enough in those final days to have grasped the MAGA victory on November 5th, but he would certainly have shared our despondency. In this post-election Beach Talk, Ken asks Betsey to share her reactions as the election results became clear. They go on to react to some of the nominations in the headlines: Matt Gaetz, RFK Jr., Steven Miller, Elon Musk, Pete Hegseth, Mehmet Oz, and others. The fears of a Trump victory we all noted are being realized. Ken and Betsey lament the now-documented reality that a majority of those who voted chose this path. They conclude by sharing the need to find a place for gratitude as Thanksgiving Day approaches.

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