From Punk Rock Pastor to Spiritual Outlaw: Rob Bell’s Midlife Reinvention

What happens when one of America’s most celebrated pastors dares to question everything?

In this unfiltered conversation, Rob Bell, once dubbed the “punk rock pastor” and author of the explosive bestseller Love Wins, opens up about the controversy that made him Christianity’s most talked-about heretic, why he walked away from his megachurch at the height of fame, and how midlife pushed him to reinvent himself.

From faith and psychedelics to wisdom traditions, AI, and the art of living an unpigeonholable life, Rob’s journey is as provocative as it is inspiring. Whether you see him as a rebel, visionary, or outlaw, one thing’s clear: you won’t walk away from this episode thinking the same.

Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

00:35 Meet Rob Bell

02:08 Following a Calling & Evolving

05:16 Early Life & First Sermons

11:04 Starting Mars Hill Church

13:02 Performance Art Preaching

15:01 Controversy & Pushback

16:44 Rise to Time’s 100 Most Influential People

21:10 Leaving the Church & Midlife Transition

26:25 Reinventing in His 40s

29:58 Evolving Faith & Moving Beyond Doctrine

31:46 The Greatest Unlearning

35:00 Surfing, painting & daily rituals

38:15 Reconnecting with Spirituality

40:25 On Psychedelics & Temples

44:57 From Knowledge to Wisdom

51:16 Redefining Intelligence

54:56 Rob’s Wisdom Bumper Sticker

57:47 Closing Reflections

Chip shares key takeaways on creativity, freedom, and living beyond expectations.

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