"Jesus & John Wayne" w/author Kristin Kobes Du Mez

When you think about the image of masculinity, what comes to mind? Many, and I mean many, people think of William Wallace from Braveheart, others think of folks like Oliver North, and even some think of John Wayne, the movie legend, who has brought us films like "Sands of Iwo Jima" or "the Green Berets". But why is it that those are the figures we conjure up, and why are they all white? This week Josh and Will get a chance to speak with author, professor, and all around super woman, Kristin Kobes Du Mez (Du Mez=‘do’ ‘may’) about her most recent book 'Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation'. They answer some of the aforementioned questions by examining her book and learn more about the role that evangelicals played in crafting this idea of manhood.

Guest Bio:

Kristin Kobes Du Mez is Professor of History and Gender Studies at Calvin University. She holds a PhD from the University of Notre Dame and her research focuses on the intersection of gender, religion, and politics. She has written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, NBC News, Religion News Service, and Christianity Today, and has been interviewed on NPR, CBS, and the BBC, among other outlets. Her most recent book is Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation.

To learn more or buy a copy of her book, please visit

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