Ryan Bethea – Faith, Storytelling, and Spiritual Warfare
Ryan Bethea has a gift for taking on the conversations most people shy away from. A producer, writer, and host, he’s behind The Exorcist Files—a chart-topping podcast exploring true stories of demonic deliverance—and the creative agency Assembly 72.
In this wide-ranging conversation with Jake Oswald, Ryan opens up about:
- How The Exorcist Files went from a Facebook post to an iHeartRadio hit
- Why timing and persistence matter in creative projects
- The surprising ways Protestants and Catholics agree on spiritual warfare
- What he’s learned from working with Father Carlos Martins
- His personal wrestling with church history, miracles, and Marian apparitions
- Why humility and perseverance are non-negotiables in media and faith
- Practical advice for anyone starting a podcast today
- The power of confession, forgiveness, and remembering that “you will die one day”
Ryan’s stories move from Vatican offices to mobile podcast studios, from Hollywood pitches to deeply personal lessons of faith. Whether you’re a creator, a skeptic, or a believer wrestling with big questions, this episode will leave you thinking about the unseen world—and the stories worth telling.
TIMESTAMPS
0:00 – Introducing Ryan Bethea
1:00 – The surprising origin of The Exorcist Files
5:00 – Launching Assembly 72 and the art of brand storytelling
10:00 – Rejection, timing, and what makes a producer
13:00 – Why ecumenical conversations resonate today
16:00 – Wrestling with church history and Catholic traditions
21:00 – Miracles, apparitions, and spiritual surprises
28:00 – Relics, reminders, and spiritual warfare stories
34:00 – The rise of occult fascination and cultural warfare
39:00 – How Ryan experiences spiritual opposition personally
41:00 – Lessons learned: patience, skill, and private preparation
45:00 – The challenge of forgiving yourself
48:00 – Is it too late to start a podcast? Ryan’s practical advice
51:00 – Daily guiding principles: mortality, trust, and what the tide may bring
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