In this episode, Brandon, Lindsy, and cohost Jennifer Parks dive into the history and fallout of the 1980s “Satanic Panic,” focusing on the rise and fall of Christian comedian Mike Warnke. They unpack how Warnke’s book The Satan Seller and testimony about being a former Satanic high priest helped spark nationwide hysteria—and how later investigations unraveled parts of his story, leading to his public disgrace. The trio explores the broader cultural forces at play, from media manipulation and government psyops to church fear-mongering, and reflect on how believers treat fallen heroes. The conversation weaves humor, empathy, and insight into fear-based religion, false memory syndrome, and grace in the aftermath of failure.
Timestamps:
00:00:54 Welcome
00:03:13 Who was Mike Warnke?
00:05:30 Warnke’s early life and beginnings
00:07:52 His rise as a Christian comedian
00:10:18 Testimony of salvation in bootcamp
00:12:40 Did Warnke cause the Satanic Panic?
00:14:47 “Michelle Remembers” and false memory roots
00:17:10 Church mysticism and altered states
00:19:36 The rise of the Satanic Panic
00:21:55 Fear, media, and moral hysteria
00:24:17 McMartin case and guilt by association
00:26:43 Cornerstone Magazine exposes Warnke
00:29:09 Divorce, the church, and hypocrisy
00:31:30 Self-righteousness and judgment
00:33:52 How do we treat fallen believers?
00:36:16 Jeffrey Victor’s The Satanic Panic and anti-supernatural bias
00:38:39 Reason, discernment, and the Wesleyan quadrilateral
00:41:03 If Satan can’t stop you, he’ll push you too far
00:43:25 How love treats fallen heroes
00:45:52 Shame vs conviction in Christian life
00:48:16 Grace and the value of people
00:50:36 Church discipline and restoration
00:52:59 Modern fallout and confused truth
00:55:21 The Delphi murders and Odinism connection
00:57:45 Government psyops and the “deep cult”
01:00:03 CIA, media control, and discrediting SRA
01:02:28 Where is Mike Warnke now?
01:04:46 Brokenness, mercy, and redemption
01:06:51 Grace, judgment, and final reflections
