Episode
#43 - Stephen D. Cole - The Polymath Pastor
- Podcast
- The Ethan C. Lewin Podcast
- Published
- Mar 20, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 11218
- Processing state
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- https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/ethan--lewin/episodes/43---Stephen-D--Cole---The-Polymath-Pastor-e3gfll2
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Summary
Stephen D. Cole is a jack of all trades, descended from a lineage of brilliant minds. His father, Dandridge MacFarlan Cole, was a notable rocket scientist and futurist (look him up on Wikipedia!) who focused on practical space colonization concepts like hollowed-out asteroids for human habitats. Stephen grew up out west, fell in love with the outdoors, and then moved east for his father’s work. As a kid, he commuted to Philadelphia to use early punch-card computers. At 14, his father didn’t come home, leaving behind a wife and six kids. The loss stayed with him, as did his father’s influence. Today, Stephen is a pastor-turned-professor who finds wonder in symbolic forms, cognitive science, and just about everything, really. We explored consciousness and whether AI could ever truly be conscious, linguistics, being counter-cultural, surprising ties between church history and the zodiac, and much more... I can assure you of one thing: Stephen will stretch your mind. Mine is still in recovery. I have never met someone who recalls information with such depth, accuracy, and articulation. Welcome to episode forty-three. Check Out: Stephen D. Cole Dandridge_MacFarlan_Cole Moon Landings Fake? Filmmaker Says Not! Elevate the Experience Help bring better audio, video, and filmed episodes to life: Venmo. I tithe 10% of all contributions—half to the All Secure Foundation (supporting soldiers’ transition home) and half to the Academy of the New Church High School . Stay Connected Instagram: @ethan.c.lewin A Note from Me I’m inspired by the stories people carry, the power of honest feedback, and the magic that happens when creative minds connect. If you’re a brand interested in partnering, let’s talk: LinkedIn . Thanks for being part of this journey—PEACE!