
I Hate James Dobson
Dr. James Dobson is a clinical psychologist, founder of Christian media empire Focus on the Family, a spiritual advisor to every Republican President since Reagan, and a paragon in the Evangelical Christian movement. And he's a massive dick.Join therapists Jake (a former Evangelical) and Brooke (who knows almost nothing about Evangelical culture) as they read and tear apart Dobson's works. Get ready to laugh, cry, and rip your hair out as we explore the very many reasons why I Hate James Dobson. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Latest episodes

Mar 3, 2025 • 1h 25min
Episode 26: Marriage Under Fire
Love is in the air - and crosshairs. Today, Brooke and Jake take a dive into the mailbag, and then discuss Dobson's hateful and unhinged 2004 book "Marriage Under Fire". It's bad, y'all. It is bigoted, dumb, and full of a surprising amount of WWII references for some reason. To quote Lana Ja'Rae, at this point all you can do is laugh.References:Canada Bill C-16 (2016): https://www.parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/42-1/bill/c-16/royal-assentCanada Bill C-250 (2004): https://www.parl.ca/DocumentViewer/en/37-3/bill/C-250/royal-assentEtymology of Homophobia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homophobia#EtymologyFulton v. City of Philadelphia: https://www.oyez.org/cases/2020/19-123Lawrence v. Texas: https://www.oyez.org/cases/2002/02-102LGBT Adoption Laws in the US: https://www.lgbtmap.org/equality-maps/foster_and_adoption_lawsMatthew Shephard Foundation: https://www.matthewshepard.org/Norway & the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Better Life Index: https://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.org/countries/norway/Norway's parental benefits: https://www.norden.org/en/info-norden/parental-benefit-and-parental-leave-norwayObergefell v. Hodges: https://www.oyez.org/cases/2014/14-556Sheerin, J. (2018). Matthew Shephard: The murder that changed America. BBC.com. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-45968606Yurcaba & Sopelsa (2025): Lawmakers in 9 states propose measures to undermine same-sex marriage rights. NBCNews.com. https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-politics-and-policy/lawmakers-9-states-propose-measures-undermine-sex-marriage-rights-rcna193743Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetterLicense code: 9OT2MTBHWWSRZP5S Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 17, 2025 • 58min
Episode 25: Hide and Seek
It's back to the Dobson literature this episode and today we are talking about psychology and therapy! Jake and Brooke read through (an updated version of) Dobson's second-ever book. We see again how Dobson is not only a bad person, but he's also lazy and wrong as he takes us through his greatest "hits" of obviously-fake-stories. Wanna see Dobson 'in his lane'? That's what this book is.References:Coopersmith, S. (1967). The Antecedents of Self-Esteem. W. H. Freeman and Company.Dr. Becky Kennedy: https://www.goodinside.com/about/Dunn, J. (2018). How not to hate your husband after kids. Little, Brown and Company. Gershoff, E. T., & Grogan-Kaylor, A. (2016). Spanking and child outcomes: Old controversies and new meta-analyses. Journal of family psychology, 30(4), 453.Laska, K. M., Gurman, A. S., & Wampold, B. E. (2014). Expanding the lens of evidence-based practice in psychotherapy: a common factors perspective. Psychotherapy, 51(4), 467.Ms. Rachel: https://www.youtube.com/@msrachelPayne Bryson, T) & Siegel, D. J. (2011). The Whole-Brain Child. Bantam.Dobson's Copy/Paste Q&ADobson, J. (1995, July 26). Disciplining an infant; nurturing self-confidence in home. The Western Star. https://ohiomemory.org/digital/collection/p16007coll84/id/147492/Dobson, J. (1999, November 24). How do deal with a strong-willed child. The Western Star. https://ohiomemory.org/digital/collection/p16007coll84/id/152815/Dobson, J. (2006, January 26). Focus on the Family. Daily Local News. https://www.dailylocal.com/2006/01/26/focus-on-the-family-79/Dobson, J. (2006, February 1). Focus on the Family. Carroll County Comet. https://www.carrollcountycomet.com/articles/focus-on-the-family-23/Dobson, J. (2009, May 21). Discipline helps kids. Red Deer Advocate. https://www.reddeeradvocate.com/columns/discipline-helps-kids-7015178Dobson, J. (2009, May 27), Children Raised With Discipline Appreciation Turn Out Best. The Leader-Tribune. https://gahistoricnewspapers.galileo.usg.edu/lccn/sn84007013/2009-05-27/ed-1/seq-6/ocr/Dobson, J. (2014, November 18). Raising Kids with Healthy Attitudes. Dr. James Dobson Family Institute. https://www.drjamesdobson.org/blogs/raising-kids-with-healthy-attitudesMusic from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetterLicense code: 9OT2MTBHWWSRZP5S Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 3, 2025 • 1h 9min
Episode 24: I Respect Talia Lavin
Quick, go vacuum and make your bed - because today we have a guest! Jake is joined by Talia Lavin, author of "Wild Faith: How the Christian Right is Taking Over America". They talk about Talia's book, deconstructing from fundamentalist religions, surviving fascism, and sandwiches.Links to find Talia's work!Buy Wild Faith: How the Christian Right is Taking Over AmericaBuy Culture Warlords: My Journey into the Dark Web of White SupremacySubscribe to Talia's newsletter: The Sword and the SandwichFind Talia on BlueSky: @swordsjew.bsky.socialMusic from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetterLicense code: 9OT2MTBHWWSRZP5S Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 20, 2025 • 56min
Episode 23: Wild Faith
Well today sucks! But you're not alone. Join Jake & Brooke as they read Talia Lavin's incredible book: "Wild Faith: How the Christian Right is Taking Over America" and discuss how we got here, what comes next, and what to do about it. It's a good time! Well, not good. It's a fun time! No, fun isn't exactly the right word either. It's a time! But I hope you enjoy it nevertheless :)Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetterLicense code: 9OT2MTBHWWSRZP5S Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 6, 2025 • 1h 1min
Episode 22: Left Behinder
We now return to our regularly scheduled sadness as Jake and Brooke examine 3 different adaptations of "Left Behind" to see what they tell us about Evangelicalism's evolving relationship to the end of the world.Also, Nicholas Cage.References:Mendoza, Francisco G. III (2021) "The End of the World According to Q," PANDION: The Osprey Journal of Research and Ideas: Vol. 2: No. 1, Article 12. About LaHaye's lawsuit: https://web.archive.org/web/20080817074214/http://christianfilmnews.com/1007/left-behind-author-sues/"Mike Huckabee as Israeli Ambassador would be a disaster of biblical proportions" from FreedomFromReligionFoundationMusic from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetterLicense code: 9OT2MTBHWWSRZP5S Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 23, 2024 • 53min
Episode 21: Brooke's Secular Christmas
Happy Holidays, readers! Today, Brooke takes over to teach Jake how to take the Christ out of Christmas. Make some hot chocolate, grab a blanket, and get cozy as we build traditions that are new and gay.References:BrookeMusic from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetterLicense code: 9OT2MTBHWWSRZP5S Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 9, 2024 • 59min
Episode 20: Left Behind
Hello fellow sinners, today Jake and Brooke discuss the 1995 classic book "Left Behind". They talk about the rapture and the tribulation, and they both become stans for Hattie. Let's dig into childhood trauma shared by many! Well, another one, at least.References:"A Chronological Timeline of End Times" from One Thing MinistriesStatement from James Dobson on the death of Tim LaHaye"Left Behind and the Translation of God" by Renegade CutMendoza, Francisco G. III (2021) "The End of the World According to Q," PANDION: The Osprey Journal of Research and Ideas: Vol. 2: No. 1, Article 12.Available at: https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/pandion_unf/vol2/iss1/12Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetterLicense code: 9OT2MTBHWWSRZP5S Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 25, 2024 • 1h 8min
Episode 19: Therapists Processing the Election
I know we are all exhausted talking about the election, but we haven't given our takes yet! Today, Jake is joined by the extra-special guest Cat to talk about the election, where we go from here, and why it's all James Dobson's fault. It's not a good time per se, but it is a time.Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetterLicense code: 9OT2MTBHWWSRZP5S Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 11, 2024 • 1h 6min
Episode 18: Preparing for Adolescence
This one is pretty straight forward, y'all. It's been a tough and weird week, so sit back, relax, and enjoy a palate cleanser of cringe. Who doesn't want to hear Dobson give 'the talk'? That sounds like my kind of party.Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetterLicense code: 9OT2MTBHWWSRZP5S Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 7, 2024 • 9min
Well this sucks
I don't know who this is for. Sometimes you just need to vent to a thousand of your closest strangers, you know?Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetterLicense code: 9OT2MTBHWWSRZP5S Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.