TikTok, Muppets, and spiritual lessons from pop culture (184)

How Pop Culture Points Us to God with Dr. Rachel Kessler (The Nerdy Priest) on Compass: Finding spirituality in the everyday.What do Star Wars, the Muppets, and Farscape have to do with faith? In this episode, Dr. Rachel Kessler—known online as The Nerdy Priest—joins Ryan to explore the surprising intersections between pop culture and spirituality. We dive into how shared stories from books, movies, and fandoms can spark meaningful conversations about faith, belonging, and the journey of spiritual curiosity. Discover why nerd culture sometimes mirrors church community—for better and for worse—and how online spaces can help break down barriers to faith. Dr. Rachel Kessler wears many hats: Episcopal priest, chaplain, professor, and author of "Nerd Faith: 60 Second Sprints of Spiritual Guidance for the Occassionally Uncool". Her unique ministry began when a student set up her TikTok account, propelling her into a digital community hungry for honest engagement about God, deconstruction, and what it really means to be Christian. Whether discussing universal salvation, spiritual skepticism, or gatekeeping in both church and fandom, Dr. Rachel Kessler brings a rare blend of humor, depth, and authenticity.In this episode:(00:00) Introduction to Rev Rachel Kessler(05:08) Birth of The Nerdy Priest(08:15) Engaging spirituality through pop culture(11:07) Navigating controversial questions in faith(14:05) Handling criticism and online engagement(17:04) Exploring nerd faith and community(20:02) Lessons from nerd culture for the church(22:52) Personal journey and mentorship in faith(25:52) Fictional narratives as faith allegories(29:00) Final thoughts and connectionsConnect with Dr. Rachel Kessler (The Nerdy Priest) on TikTok, Instagram, and Threads @nerdypriest. Be sure to check out her book "Nerd Faith" for more bite-sized reflections that blend faith and fandom.