Celebrating Six Years of eX-skeptic

What would it take for an atheist to become a Christian? Thirteen years ago, that question led Jana Harmon to study the lives of 50 former atheists. What she discovered were deeply human journeys shaped by relationships, experiences, evidence, and a willingness to reconsider what was true. Six years ago, those stories became the heart of eX-skeptic.

In this special anniversary episode, Jana reflects on the beginnings of the podcast, the enduring questions behind every story, and the unexpected ways people have found faith in Jesus Christ.

Whether you’ve listened from the beginning or have only recently joined us, thank you for being part of six years of honest questions, surprising discoveries, and unlikely stories of belief.

🎙️ Love the show? Support the mission and explore eX-skeptic merch here: https://ex-skeptic-shop.fourthwall.com/

Resources Mentioned:

eX-skeptic Guides — Written resources referenced by Jana: https://exskeptic.org/bookstore

eX-skeptic website — Stories, writings, and additional resources: exskeptic.org

eX-skeptic YouTube channel and playlists — Additional ways to explore the stories: www.youtube.com/@exskeptic

C.S. Lewis Institute: www.cslewisinstitute.org

The Podcast Upload: www.thepodcastupload.com

Chapters

00:00 – Celebrating Six Years of eX-skeptic 00:22 – Where the Journey Began 01:16 – Why We Started the Podcast 01:44 – The Questions That Still Matter 02:35 – Six Years of Stories and Resources 03:33 – Thank You to Our Guests, Team, and Supporters 04:29 – The Journey Continues

Connect with eX-skeptic:

Website: https://exskeptic.org/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/exskeptic

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/exskeptic

Twitter: http://x.com/exskeptic

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@exskeptic

Email info: [email protected]

Transcript

BONUS 6th Anniversary

October 30th, 2026

Celebrating Six Years of eX-skeptic

JANA HARMON: Hello and welcome to eX-skeptic, where we hear unlikely stories of belief from people who once rejected God in Christianity but changed their minds. I'm your host, Jana Harmon, and today's episode is a special one because today marks the sixth anniversary of eX-skeptic. So, I wanted to take a few minutes to look back at where this all began, and most of all, to say thank you.

Where the Journey Began

The journey actually began 13 years ago when I started doctoral research investigating the lives of 50 former atheists who become Christians. I had the question, what would it take for an atheist to become a Christian? I wanted to understand how and why they formed their beliefs against God, what caused those beliefs to change, and ultimately what they found in Christ and how their lives had changed as a result.

What I discovered was nothing short of amazing. These were deeply human journeys involving questions of relationships, experiences and evidence, doubts and desires. Each story was different, but I began to notice something.

Resistance could give way to curiosity, assumptions long held could be reconsidered, and people who had once dismissed belief in God could become willing to ask again what is actually true.

Why We Started the Podcast

So, when the C.S. Lewis Institute asked me to begin a podcast in 2020, I knew exactly what I wanted to do. These stories were simply too good to keep to myself.

I knew that skeptics and seekers could hear themselves in these stories. Christians could better understand someone they loved who didn't believe, and all of us could learn from people who had been willing to question what they believed and pursued truth wherever it led. And so, six years ago, we began telling their stories.

Questions That Still Matter

Six years later, what strikes me is that while culture changes, our deepest questions don't. Why are we here? Does my life have meaning? Is there a God? Can I know him? Is there anything true and solid enough to build my life