In this episode, Jack Rhoades confronts the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti — a Minnesota ICU nurse killed by federal agents amid protests — and the national reaction that followed. Rather than offering tidy answers, Jack invites listeners into the struggle of holding courage, compassion, and conviction together in a moment that feels as raw as it is urgent.

In today’s political climate, certainty is loud and doubt is treated like a liability. The same has always held true in the religious realm.

In this inaugural episode of CrossRhoades, Jack Rhoades introduces himself not as an expert with answers, but as a fellow traveler asking better questions. A former United Methodist minister turned agnostic, Jack reflects on politics, faith, and the complicated ways they shape our lives and public conversations.

This episode sets the tone for what CrossRhoades is and is not. It’s not a debate stage or an outrage machine. It’s a space for thoughtful people who feel uneasy with absolutism, wary of slogans, and hungry for honest reflection. Here, belief is examined, doubt is welcomed, and curiosity is the engine of depth and growth.

If you’ve ever felt caught between what you were taught and what you now see playing out around you, this is your invitation to step into the conversation.