The Excommunication Station 219. The Michael Tait Situation: An Interview W/ Josiah Hesse
Aug 13, 2025
Journalist Josiah Hesse discusses the serious allegations against Michael Tait and the urgent need to support victims within the evangelical music community. The conversation covers the emotional weight of personal stories, the complicity of church leadership, and the dynamics of trust and safety. Hesse reflects on his own upbringing, the complexities of faith and fatherhood, and the psychological toll of spiritual trauma. The dialogue emphasizes accountability, the healing power of music, and the importance of voicing silenced experiences in a culture grappling with its past.
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Snowballing Reporting Unlocked Victim Voices
- Survivors initially feared speaking because of reputational and legal power around CCM figures.
- Josiah Hesse describes a slow build where trust and a snowball effect produced more disclosures.
Reporter From Inside The Culture
- Josiah grew up inside the same evangelical youth-culture he reported on, giving him access and empathy.
- He leveraged personal familiarity with events and bands to connect with sources and verify claims.
Male Victimization Is Underreported
- Sexual assaults against men are severely underreported compared with women for social and stigma reasons.
- Hesse cites studies and cultural stigma that suppress male reporting and shape responses.
