What’s the Contrarian Review?
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Welcome, y’all.
These posts represent unsolicited reviews of various faith-based, sports and secular content floating around the cyber ether. The theme of the reviews is simple: they’re a celebration of where content creators are hitting the bullseye, rather than microscopic analysis of where they’re missing it. These reviews are seen through and reflective of the fact that I’ve chosen to do life with God (no, I’m not a Nun). I deeply appreciate those who have made the same choice, and I appreciate their willingness to share the good, bad, challenging and cringe things that come with a full commitment to making that choice.
As well, this blog will include what I call Life Reviews: my first-hand, zoomed-out insights on lived experiences that are, at once, individual and universal. Life Reviews are purges intended to cleanse myself and constructively contribute to you. Let me know how I fare there.
I invite you to engage, disagree and debate. Or, to agree. In the words of one of my favorite teachers, “You have the right to be wrong, but I’m not gonna agree with you or we’d both be wrong.” I, of course, quote him in jest, but those closest to me know I’m #kiddingnotkidding.
My most fervent desire, however, is that you challenge yourselves to turn - and leave - critical thought switched to the 'On’ position while looking through a Biblical lens.
I challenge myself to the same thing.
“Fearless” with Jason Whitlock (Ep. 518)
It’s been a minute since my inaugural Contrarian Review of Jason Whitlock’s should-be award-winning program, “Fearless.” That review was the detonator of this blog’s content. When I sent it to Jason (before launching the blog), and received his almost immediate reply of encouragement about my writing skills, I knew he’d confirmed God’s edict to write with regularity and I sheepishly complied with a slow dribble of content.
That first “Fearless” review covered episode 251: Whitlock’s emboldened narrative about his show’s origin story, its purpose and his #notsorry, trailblazing media and culture ministry. Since then, Whitlock has offered his audience a delectable buffet of intriguing show topics, interviews and controversies. So plentiful is that bounty in fact, that I’ve been challenged with choosing which episode I will review next.
The problem is officially solved.
“Fearless” (Ep. 251)
I’m not a journalist, but I’m journalist adjacent.
For the last couple decades, I’ve worked as a communications professional in myriad capacities: PR (with all those hats), corporate comms, Influencer campaigns, writer, editor. I cite that information, not to bring attention to my skill set, but to offer context with respect to the ethos of this piece.
Divine assignments are a thing.