Nathan Apffel - Inside the Dark World of Megachurches and Corrupt Pastors
The Shawn Ryan Show
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10 min
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2:00
4:00
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1:00:00
2:00:00
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Nathan Apffel Links
- The Religion Business Website
- Instagram: @nathan_apffel
- Instagram: @religionbusiness
- YouTube: @thereligionbusiness
Raw Description
<p>Nathan Apffel is a Christian, filmmaker, entrepreneur, and director of The Religion Business, a multi-part docuseries that exposes the financial practices and lack of accountability in Western religion, particularly Christianity. Drawing from personal experiences with church scandals and abuse, Apffel investigates how religious institutions accumulate vast wealth, estimated at $2 trillion in the U.S. alone, while often prioritizing internal spending over community impact, with 94 cents of every donated dollar staying within church walls. Co-produced with Chris Ayoub, the series features interviews with experts like Joel Osteen and highlights issues like the religious exemption from financial reporting.</p> <p>Apffel is developing tech solutions to promote transparency and community-driven reform in religious organizations. He advocates for ethical governance, victim support, and redirecting resources to solve global issues like poverty and homelessness. Based in the U.S., Apffel blends storytelling, technology, and faith to challenge the status quo and foster meaningful change in the "nonprofit Goliath" of organized religion.</p> <p><br></p> <p><strong>Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors:</strong></p> <p><a href="https://blackbuffalo.com">https://blackbuffalo.com</a></p> <p><a href="https://prizepicks.onelink.me/lmeo/srs">https://prizepicks.onelink.me/lmeo/srs</a></p> <p><a href="https://americanfinancing.net/srs">https://americanfinancing.net/srs</a></p> <p>NMLS 182334, nmlsconsumeraccess.org. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.327% for well qualified borrowers. Call 866-781-8900, for details about credit costs and terms.</p> <p><a href="https://tryarmra.com/srs">https://tryarmra.com/srs</a></p> <p><a href="https://betterhelp.com/srs">https://betterhelp.com/srs</a></p> <p>This episode is sponsored. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/srs and get on your way to being your best self.</p> <p><a href="https://bunkr.life">https://bunkr.life</a> – USE CODE SRS</p> <p>Go to https://bunkr.life/SRS and use code “SRS” to get 25% off your family plan.</p> <p><a href="https://shawnlikesgold.com">https://shawnlikesgold.com</a></p> <p><a href="https://hillsdale.edu/srs">https://hillsdale.edu/srs</a></p> <p><a href="https://ketone.com/srs">https://ketone.com/srs</a></p> <p>Visit https://ketone.com/srs for 30% OFF your subscription order.</p> <p><a href="https://rocketmoney.com/srs">https://rocketmoney.com/srs</a></p> <p><a href="https://ROKA.com">https://ROKA.com</a> – USE CODE SRS</p> <p><a href="https://simplisafe.com/srs">https://simplisafe.com/srs</a></p> <p><br></p> <p><strong>Nathan Apffel Links:</strong></p> <p>The Religion Business Website - <a href="https://www.thereligionbusiness.com">https://www.thereligionbusiness.com</a></p> <p>IG - <a href="https://www.instagram.com/nathan_apffel">https://www.instagram.com/nathan_apffel</a></p> <p>IG - <a href="https://www.instagram.com/religionbusiness">https://www.instagram.com/religionbusiness</a></p> <p>YT - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@thereligionbusiness">https://www.youtube.com/@thereligionbusiness</a></p><p> </p><p>Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a></p>
Show Notes
Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors
- Black Buffalo
- PrizePicks
- American Financing
- NMLS 182334, nmlsconsumeraccess.org. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.327% for well qualified borrowers. Call 866-781-8900, for details about credit costs and terms.
- ARMRA
- BetterHelp — Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/srs and get on your way to being your best self.
- Bunkr — Use code "SRS" to get 25% off your family plan.
- Shawn Likes Gold
- Hillsdale
- Ketone — Visit for 30% OFF your subscription order.
- Rocket Money
- ROKA — Use code SRS
- SimpliSafe
Nathan Apffel Links
- The Religion Business Website
- Instagram: @nathan_apffel
- Instagram: @religionbusiness
- YouTube: @thereligionbusiness
Raw Description
<p>Nathan Apffel is a Christian, filmmaker, entrepreneur, and director of The Religion Business, a multi-part docuseries that exposes the financial practices and lack of accountability in Western religion, particularly Christianity. Drawing from personal experiences with church scandals and abuse, Apffel investigates how religious institutions accumulate vast wealth, estimated at $2 trillion in the U.S. alone, while often prioritizing internal spending over community impact, with 94 cents of every donated dollar staying within church walls. Co-produced with Chris Ayoub, the series features interviews with experts like Joel Osteen and highlights issues like the religious exemption from financial reporting.</p> <p>Apffel is developing tech solutions to promote transparency and community-driven reform in religious organizations. He advocates for ethical governance, victim support, and redirecting resources to solve global issues like poverty and homelessness. Based in the U.S., Apffel blends storytelling, technology, and faith to challenge the status quo and foster meaningful change in the "nonprofit Goliath" of organized religion.</p> <p><br></p> <p><strong>Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors:</strong></p> <p><a href="https://blackbuffalo.com">https://blackbuffalo.com</a></p> <p><a href="https://prizepicks.onelink.me/lmeo/srs">https://prizepicks.onelink.me/lmeo/srs</a></p> <p><a href="https://americanfinancing.net/srs">https://americanfinancing.net/srs</a></p> <p>NMLS 182334, nmlsconsumeraccess.org. APR for rates in the 5s start at 6.327% for well qualified borrowers. Call 866-781-8900, for details about credit costs and terms.</p> <p><a href="https://tryarmra.com/srs">https://tryarmra.com/srs</a></p> <p><a href="https://betterhelp.com/srs">https://betterhelp.com/srs</a></p> <p>This episode is sponsored. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/srs and get on your way to being your best self.</p> <p><a href="https://bunkr.life">https://bunkr.life</a> – USE CODE SRS</p> <p>Go to https://bunkr.life/SRS and use code “SRS” to get 25% off your family plan.</p> <p><a href="https://shawnlikesgold.com">https://shawnlikesgold.com</a></p> <p><a href="https://hillsdale.edu/srs">https://hillsdale.edu/srs</a></p> <p><a href="https://ketone.com/srs">https://ketone.com/srs</a></p> <p>Visit https://ketone.com/srs for 30% OFF your subscription order.</p> <p><a href="https://rocketmoney.com/srs">https://rocketmoney.com/srs</a></p> <p><a href="https://ROKA.com">https://ROKA.com</a> – USE CODE SRS</p> <p><a href="https://simplisafe.com/srs">https://simplisafe.com/srs</a></p> <p><br></p> <p><strong>Nathan Apffel Links:</strong></p> <p>The Religion Business Website - <a href="https://www.thereligionbusiness.com">https://www.thereligionbusiness.com</a></p> <p>IG - <a href="https://www.instagram.com/nathan_apffel">https://www.instagram.com/nathan_apffel</a></p> <p>IG - <a href="https://www.instagram.com/religionbusiness">https://www.instagram.com/religionbusiness</a></p> <p>YT - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@thereligionbusiness">https://www.youtube.com/@thereligionbusiness</a></p><p> </p><p>Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a></p>