Best Matthew Bates Podcasts (2025)

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Every Killer Leaves A Trace - Dennis Carson 50:43

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2d ago50:43

50:43

They blended in. They raised families, held steady jobs, and hid in plain sight. But behind the mask of normalcy, they were monsters—responsible for decades of terror, pain, and death. Every Killer Leaves A Trace is a chilling narrative nonfiction thriller that exposes moments that led to the shocking unmasking and ultimate capture of twenty-six of…

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25 FROZEN, 1 THAWED—Bob Cyphers 1:07:41

9d ago1:07:41

1:07:41

25 Frozen, 1 Thawed: Murder and Mayhem in the Midwest takes readers deep into the heart of unsolved mysteries and chilling crimes that have haunted communities across the Midwest. From small towns shattered by sudden disappearances to cities rocked by violent acts, each chapter brings a different story—twenty-five cases left frozen in time, still w…

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Episode 184: Drew Martin - "Grimké on the Christian Life" 49:48

10d ago49:48

49:48

On this episode, Chad is joined again by his friend Dr. Drew Martin to discuss his recent book on the 19th-century American theologian who is gaining fresh attention, "Grimké on the Christian Life: Christian Vitality for the Church and World," published by Crossway. Dr. Martin served for over 15 years as a pastor and church planter before joining t…

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GREG SCARPA, LEGENDARY EVIL—Jonathan Dyer 1:13:30

16d ago1:13:30

1:13:30

Goodfellow, capo, killer, thief. A man so diabolically evil that he ordered his eldest son to murder his closest associate, and his youngest son to murder his best friend. When Greg Scarpa was in his early twenties he became a goodfellow in the Profaci family by swearing a blood oath to the Mafia, at the time the country’s largest organized-crime s…

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The Justice of Jesus with Joash P. Thomas 41:44

20d ago41:44

41:44

In this episode, Cody Matchett talks with Joash P. Thomas about his book, The Justice of Jesus: Reimagining Your Church’s Life Together to Pursue Liberation and Wholeness. Joash P. Thomas (MACL, Dallas Theological Seminary; MACS, Dallas Theological Seminary; MPS, The George Washington University) is a public theologian and a highly sought-after int…

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THE MURDER OF DEBBIE GAMA—Justin Dombrowski 1:12:03

23d ago1:12:03

1:12:03

The murder that still haunts a Pennsylvania city. On the morning of August 8, 1975, sixteen-year-old Debbie Gama disappeared after leaving her home in Erie, only to be found raped and strangled days later in a creek nearly thirty miles from her home. What followed was an investigation that lacked suspects or even evidence pointing to a viable suspe…

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Jesus Was: Not What We Expected but Better Than We Imagined 43:03

27d ago43:03

43:03

In this episode, Cody Matchett talks with Susy Flory and Scott Johanningsmeier about their book, Jesus Was: Not What We Expected but Better Than We Imagined. Susy Flory is a New York Times best-selling author or coauthor of eighteen books, directs West Coast Christian Writers, and is the founder of Everything Memoir. Her book The Unbreakable Boy be…

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31 MURDERS-—Alvin A.J. Esau 1:00:38

1M ago1:00:38

1:00:38

Many decades before Ted Bundy roamed the country there was serial killer Earle Nelson. During the 1920s, this geographically mobile killer went from city to city. His modus operandi involved getting into a house by pretending to be a person looking for a room to rent or inspecting a house that was for sale, and then strangling the landlady, often f…

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Episode 183: Tzvi Novick - "Judaism: A Guide for Christians" 1:02:39

1M ago1:02:39

1:02:39

Today on the podcast, Chad sits down with Dr. Tzvi Novick, the Abrams Jewish Thought and Culture Professor of Theology at the University of Notre Dame. Dr. Novick’s research focuses on early Jewish law and ethics. His latest book, and the focus of today's conversation, is titled "Judaism: A Guide for Christians," out now with Eerdmans Press. He and…

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EXPERT WITNESS—Ann Burgess 57:57

1M ago57:57

57:57

From the author of the critically-acclaimed true crime account, A Killer By Design (the inspiration behind Hulu's original docuseries, Mastermind), a groundbreaking look into the crucial role played by expert witnesses in the most high-profile criminal cases, based on Dr. Ann Burgess’ personal experiences within the criminal justice system. Written…

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THE SERIAL KILLER TRAVEL GUIDE ACROSS AMERICA—Johnny Trevisani 51:08

1M ago51:08

51:08

The Serial Killer Travel Guide Across America isn’t your typical road trip companion. This darkly fascinating guide is quirky and unconventional and takes readers on a dark journey through the United States, exploring notorious locations linked to infamous and not-so infamous serial killers. From the shadowy forests of the Pacific Northwest to the …

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MADMAN—M.F. Gross 1:32:32

2M ago1:32:32

1:32:32

A Crime That Shattered Paradise... A Chase That Became Legend. Crystal Beach, Florida—1949. A peaceful seaside haven where crime was unheard of. Until one early morning, a brutal act of violence changed everything. John Calvin "Rastus" Russell, a drifter, thug, and small-time car thief, committed an unthinkable crime—the torture and murder of Norma…

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A MONSTER IN MOUNT PLEASANT—CJ Williams 59:36

2M ago59:36

59:36

In the quiet town of Mount Pleasant, Iowa, the idyllic calm of 1978 was shattered by a series of brutal murders. Karol Beavers, a vivacious high school junior, and her mother, Clementine, became the unsuspecting victims of a heinous act of violence that left the community reeling. For six months, the case went cold, fear gripping a town unaccustome…

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A FATHER'S FIGHT—Robbie Parker 1:07:15

2M ago1:07:15

1:07:15

How one father, determined to reclaim his daughter's memory, brought down Alex Jones.On December 14, 2012, Robbie Parker's daughter Emilie was killed at Sandy Hook Elementary, a tragedy that changed Robbie's life and the country forever. By the next day, Alex Jones was on air claiming the shooting was a hoax. So begins Parker's David and Goliath st…

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Episode 183: Episode 182: Ephraim Radner- "Mortal Goods" 52:35

2M ago52:35

52:35

Welcome back to A History of Christian Theology! This week, Chad sits down with Rev. Dr. Ephraim Radner to discuss his latest book, "Mortal Goods: Reimagining Christian Political Duty" (Baker Academic). Chad recently used the book in a Sunday school class on Christianity and politics. Dr. Radner is Professor Emeritus of Historical Theology at Wycli…

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THE RENT COLLECTORS-—Jesse Katz 1:08:25

2M ago1:08:25

1:08:25

Baby-faced teen Giovanni Macedo is desperate to find belonging in one of LA’s most predatory gangs, the Columbia Lil Cycos—so desperate that he agrees to kill an undocumented Mexican street vendor. The vendor, Francisco Clemente, had been refusing to give in to the gang’s shakedown demands. But Giovanni botches the hit, accidentally killing a newbo…

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Paul, A Traumatized Apostle with Scot McKnight and Cody Matchett 42:39

3M ago42:39

42:39

In this episode, Scot McKnight and Cody Matchett talk about Paul as a traumatized Apostle. Ethereal Vistas by Denis BrodovskyiBy Kingdom Roots

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Bonus – Announcements ("Birth Announcment & Prayer Request") 0:49

3M ago0:49

0:49

Some family news and a prayer request

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HITMAN-Julian Sher and Lisa Fitterman 56:18

3M ago56:18

56:18

For Yves Trudeau, the blood was all business. An assassin for the Hells Angels in the ’70s and ’80s, Trudeau was known as Apache, the Mad Bumper, and the Mad Bomber. As a contract killer, he did his job so well that the bikers sometimes lent him out to other organized-crime empires in Montreal, including the east-end French gangs led by the deadly …

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SOMETHING BIG- Patrick Wohl 58:23

3M ago58:23

58:23

Something Big tells the story of the infamous Brown’s Chicken massacre, a brutal case that captivated Chicagoland after remaining unsolved for nearly a decade. Customers know Brown's Chicken for its crispy buttermilk fried chicken and flaky biscuits. The Illinois-based franchise has a reputation for delicious but simple comfort food. But through no…

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Episode 182: Episode 181: Hans Madueme- "Defending Sin" 1:01:05

3M ago1:01:05

1:01:05

This week on the podcast, Chad is joined by Dr. Hans Madueme, Professor of Theological Studies at Covenant College, to discuss his award-winning book “Defending Sin: A Response to the Challenges of Evolution and the Natural Sciences” with Baker Academic Press. Drawing from his deep engagement with the intersection of faith and science, Dr. Madueme …

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Episode 181: Ordinary Lives in Evil Days: Politics and the Christian Life Week 1 57:36

3M ago57:36

57:36

If you would like the handout and the remaining episodes, please become a Patreon member: patreon.com/AHOCT. This is week 1 of a class I designed on the relationship between Christianity and Politics. Only the first episode will be available on Patreon.

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Jesus and His Promised Second Coming with Dr. Tucker S. Ferda 43:53

3M ago43:53

43:53

In this episode, Scot McKnight and Cody Matchett talk with Dr. Tucker S. Ferda about his recent monograph, Jesus and His Promised Second Coming: Jewish Eschatology and Christian Origins. Tucker S. Ferda is associate professor of New Testament at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. His research interests include the Gospels, the historical Jesus, the h…

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S8E35 – Finale – "Season 8 Wrap-Up" 56:39

3M ago56:39

56:39

It's time to say our goodbyes until October when we begin Season 9 and "The Abolition of Man!" [Show Notes]

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SHALLOW GRAVES-Michael Benson 57:34

3M ago57:34

57:34

The latest collection from true crime master Michael Benson looks at some of the ghastliest murders in Rochester, N.Y., history. One of them takes place in Genesee County, but it's a good one. Stories include: The Davis Street Fiend: The Murder of Tessie Keating; Shallow Grave at Holy Sepulchre: The Murder of Anna Schumacher; The Linden Lunatic: Th…

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S8E34 – TWHF – "Till We Have Faces Primer", After Hours with Andrew, David, and Matt 1:16:37

3M ago1:16:37

1:16:37

What advice do you have for someone who is about to read "Till We Have Faces" for the first time? The gang respond... [Show Notes]

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MURDERLAND-Caroline Fraser 58:53

3M ago58:53

58:53

Caroline Fraser grew up in the shadow of Ted Bundy, the most notorious serial murderer of women in American history, surrounded by his hunting grounds and mountain body dumps, in the brooding landscape of the Pacific Northwest. But in the 1970s and ’80s, Bundy was just one perpetrator amid an uncanny explosion of serial rape and murder across the r…

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Episode 180: Michael Lamb - "A Commonwealth of Hope" 45:00

3M ago45:00

45:00

Today, Chad is joined by Dr. Michael Lamb, political philosopher, ethicist, and author of the new book "A Commonwealth of Hope: Augustine’s Political Thought, published by Princeton University Press." In this episode, they dive into Dr. Lamb’s work, which challenges the prevailing view of Augustine as a purely pessimistic thinker. Instead, A Common…

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Bonus – Announcements ("Future Plans & The Inklings Project") 4:12

4M ago4:12

4:12

As we wrap up Season 8, David has a few announcements... [Show Notes]

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S8E33 – Narnia – "Narnia and the Fields of Arbol", After Hours with Dr. Matthew Dickerson S8E33 – Narnia – "Narnia Month: Narnia and the Fields of Arbol", After Hours with Dr. Matthew Dickerson 54:32

4M ago54:32

54:32

Dr. Matthew Dickerson comes on the show to discuss the ecology of J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis. [Show Notes]

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DOWN TO THE BONE—Caitlin Rother 57:20

4M ago57:20

57:20

A twisting, deeply engrossing investigation into the many lingering questions surrounding the sudden disappearance of the McStays, a family of four who vanished from their suburban San Diego home without a trace—until their skeletal remains were found in the Mojave Desert nearly four years later—from New York Times bestselling author Caitlin Rother…

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S8E32 – Narnia – "Narnia Month: Literary Narnia", After Hours with Dr. Jem Bloomfield 51:34

4M ago51:34

51:34

Dr. Jem Bloomfield joins the show to discuss his books on the literary allusions that Lewis scattered throughout the Narniad. [Show Notes]

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ANATOMY OF A COVERUP-Paul Palango 1:26:10

4M ago1:26:10

1:26:10

FOLLOW-UP TO THE #1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER 22 MURDERS The truth about the deadliest criminal incident in Canadian history has remained untold—until now. Investigative journalist Paul Palango’s 22 Murders examined the April 2020 shooting spree committed by Gabriel Wortman that began in Portapique, Nova Scotia, and ended thirteen and a half hours later …