{"podcast":{"title":"The Bible Difficulties and Answers Podcast","slug":"the-bible-difficulties-and-answers-podcast-6715880","podcast_index_feed_id":6715880,"rss_url":"https://feed.podbean.com/bibledifficultiesandanswers/feed.xml","website_url":"https://bibledifficultiesandanswers.podbean.com","image_url":"https://pbcdn1.podbean.com/imglogo/image-logo/17496768/New_Podcast_Logo_ey6s7t.jpg","author":"bibledifficultiesandanswers","episode_count":276,"summary":"I’m your host Lance Smith. Join us each week as we dive headfirst into the most perplexing, intriguing, and downright baffling passages of the Bible—from the chaotic beginnings in Genesis to the mind-bending visions of Revelation. We’re not just reading; we’re unraveling, exploring, and making sense of it all in a way that’s as entertaining as it is enlightening. Whether you’re a scripture novice or a seasoned theologian, get ready for a journey that promises to be anything but ordinary. Fasten your seatbelts; your scriptural adventure awaits!","last_synced_at":"2026-07-24T14:23:23.343816+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-bible-difficulties-and-answers-podcast-6715880"},"episode":{"title":"Sidebar Episode -- Mid-Year Check-In: Growth, Numbers, and What’s Next","slug":"sidebar-episode-mid-year-check-in-growth-numbers-and-what-s-next","published_at":"2026-07-01T14:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-bible-difficulties-and-answers-podcast-6715880/sidebar-episode-mid-year-check-in-growth-numbers-and-what-s-next","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-bible-difficulties-and-answers-podcast-6715880","url":"https://bibledifficultiesandanswers.podbean.com/e/mid-year-check-in-growth-numbers-and-what-s-next/","audio_url":"https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/cfsi8zumskchxgss/Sidebar_Episode_2026_Midyear_Review6he7z-56vfwp-Optimized.mp3","summary":"Sidebar Episode: 2026 Midyear Review (Episode 266) Hello again, everybody! Join host Lance Smith for a special midyear check-in on the Bible Difficulties and Answers Podcast. Whether you’ve been listening since our 2023 trailer or you’re just joining us, this episode is packed with encouragement, gratitude, and the latest numbers showing how God continues to use this little podcast. We take a honest look back at the first half of 2026: • 11,755 downloads — a strong 70.8% increase over the first half of 2025 • Average ~1,959 downloads per month and ~245 downloads per episode (up from 143 last year) • On pace for over 23,000 downloads in full-year 2026 • International growth exploding: U.S. at 65.17%, with big surges from Singapore (13.94%) and Canada (10.70%), plus listeners across the UK, Germany, Hong Kong, and many more countries • Desktop listening surging (Windows at 29.77%, Google Chrome leading sources at 27.72%) alongside strong mobile numbers We also celebrate the ongoing Tuesday Contradictions series (born from your feedback) and the well-loved Sunday series walking through C.S. Lewis’ Mere Christianity. Plus, Lance shares listener patterns, favorite moments, and why these “numbers” really represent people opening their Bibles and wrestling with God’s Word. This episode is full of gratitude, honest reflection, and excitement for what’s ahead in the second half of 2026. Slow thinking still beats fast answers—thank you for being part of this community! Links & Ways to Connect: • Website: https://bibledifficultiesandanswers.podbean.com • Email questions: bibledifficultiesandanswers@gmail.com • Facebook Group: Bible Difficulties and Answers (great conversations happen here!) • Support (optional): https://buymeacoffee.com/lancesmith If this podcast has encourag…","meta_description":"Sidebar Episode: 2026 Midyear Review (Episode 266) Hello again, everybody! Join host Lance Smith for a special midyear check-in on the Bible Difficulties…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":951,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-bible-difficulties-and-answers-podcast-6715880/episodes/sidebar-episode-mid-year-check-in-growth-numbers-and-what-s-next/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-bible-difficulties-and-answers-podcast-6715880/sidebar-episode-mid-year-check-in-growth-numbers-and-what-s-next.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}