I Read Something Bad is where spicy romantasy books meet spiritual formation and discipleship.
We're the podcast for everyone who's ever felt like they needed...
Grab your favorite “heretical” romantasy novel and settle in, because we're back for round two of theological dragon-riding shenanigans! In this episode, we're diving deeper than Violet's trust issues into everything from weaponized forgiveness to MLM boss babe venin ("Hey girl!"). Join us as we explore how Ridoc's humor is actually emotional intelligence in disguise, why Dane still needs to work on his redemption arc (sorry not sorry), and how ancient texts might be trying to tell us something about power that makes certain religious leaders nervous. Careful. You may just walk away questioning your seminary reading list, developing strong opinions about Jonathan Edwards, and an overwhelming urge to start coding secret messages into your journal for future generations. 🐉✨Timestamps:03:39 Ridoc’s Humor and Who’s the “Glue” in the Iron Squad?11:14 Sawyer, Resilience, and Internal Shame22:08 Dane’s Redemption?31:36 Weaponized Forgiveness and Relational Repair34:45 The Power of Memory and Who Shapes the Story41:26 Slaveholder Theology56:30 Theophanie and the Effect of Meeting God This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit irsbpodcast.substack.com
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005 Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros
Through the lens of Rebecca Yarros's Onyx Storm, we explore questions about faith, scripture, and community. Starting with reflections on finding surprise and delight in sacred texts (without decoding hidden messages or building conspiracy boards), we examine how fantasy literature helps us approach Scripture with fresh eyes. Through rich metaphors about divine presence and the complex ways we relate to the sacred, we tackle the critical distinction between peacekeeping and true peacemaking, examining how isolation and moral superiority often masquerade as peace while perpetuating broken systems.Warning: Side effects may include questioning your approach to community, developing strong opinions about religious isolation, and an overwhelming urge to adopt a sassy baby dragon who's always hungry. 🐉✨00:48 Initial Reactions03:55 Finding Surprise and Delight in Scripture12:04 Metaphors for God and Atonement Theories26:30 Peacekeeping vs Peacemaking40:50 Enmeshment and Differentiation49:33 Community and Found Family This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit irsbpodcast.substack.com
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004 Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros
In this episode, we're diving deeper than Violet's bond with Tairn (and that's saying something) into the deliciously complex world of War College politics, ancient texts that might be lying to us, and propaganda that hits a little too close to home.Join us as we connect the dots between dragon rider drama and real-world faith challenges, from purity culture to Christian nationalism (because apparently, fantasy books are getting a little TOO real these days). We're tackling everything from theological manipulation to female pleasure, with just enough dragon-riding action to keep your prayer group suspicious.Timestamps:02:35 Secrecy and Trust14:13 Dehumanization at Basgiath21:06 Power Dynamics and Trust22:54 Translation and Interpretation28:48 Propaganda and Media Literacy33:20 Theological Self-Protection and Exploitation34:05 Wesley's Quadrilateral and Propaganda34:45 Historical Context: Hitler's Propaganda36:10 Rapture Anxiety and Theological Propaganda39:00 Christian Nationalism and Current Politics44:30 Purity Culture and Female Pleasure51:00 Anticipating the Next Book: Onyx Storm This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit irsbpodcast.substack.com
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003 What Women Want
Today, your Matron Saints of Spice are diving into the steamy world of women's desires (don't worry - we warned the prayer chain). From purity culture to pleasure reading, we're unpacking why some fantasies are "acceptable" (looking at you, Hallmark) while others get shunned.Join us as we explore how fantasy books give women language for desire, tools for healing, (rightfully) high expectations, and permission to imagine a world where we don't have to hide any part of our selves. Timestamps:01:02 Exploring Women's Desires in Fantasy Literature03:01 The Role of Fantasy in Empowering Women04:19 Purity Culture and Fantasy Books05:38 Acceptable vs. Unacceptable Fantasy09:49 Imagination and Biblical Stories23:56 Healing Through Stories29:51 Coping Mechanisms in Literature30:33 Challenging Purity Culture32:10 Sexual Agency and Language33:56 Navigating Sexual Education38:52 Empowerment Through Fiction47:34 Fantasy as a Safe Space50:44 Reimagining Gender Roles53:00 Conclusion This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit irsbpodcast.substack.com
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002 Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
IIn anticipation of the third installment of the Empyrean Series, we’re diving deep into the book that spawned a thousand spicy romantasy book obsessed readers (and dragon riders in their hearts) … Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros.Join us as we go beyond the spice to explore how Rebecca Yarros’ books are secretly packed with spiritual wisdom (no, really!).From the Fourth Wing plotlines that took us on an emotional rollercoaster to surprisingly deep conversations about power, community, and disability representation, sometimes the holiest discussions start with a little dragon-induced swooning. Come for the spice, stay for the surprisingly profound theological insights ... and maybe a few mentions of Xaden, because honestly, who could blame us?01:04 The Book That Started It All: Fourth Wing03:03 Diving into Character Dynamics05:10 Exploring Themes of Empowerment and Control14:23 Disability Representation in Fourth Wing19:32 Culture Wars and Loyalty Tests36:52 Reframing the Holy Spirit’s Voice43:37 The Doctrine of the Trinity and Mutual Indwelling52:05 Final Thoughts and Farewell This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit irsbpodcast.substack.com
I Read Something Bad is where spicy romantasy books meet spiritual formation and discipleship.
We're the podcast for everyone who's ever felt like they needed to hide their steamy book covers from their small group or found themselves daydreaming about dragons in the middle of a women’s conference.
We think it’s time to take the shame out of your TBR pile, empower you to love what you love unapologetically, and talk about the issues that matter most to you by thoughtfully engaging with the best romantasy series. This is a book club for the folks who wonder what parts of the Bible are morally grey and what the top romantasy books can teach us about our faith.
Whether you’re here for the spicy faeries or the spiritual formation (or both — we don’t judge), this is a safe space so grab a seat. irsbpodcast.substack.com