Episode 1274: Why Gen Z Women Are Leaving the Church: Sociologist Ashley LaLonde Explains

Christian researcher, sociologist and Hamilton actress Ashley LaLonde joins The RELEVANT Podcast to unpack new data revealing why more Gen Z women are walking away from church. She explains how purity culture, politics and the lack of space for single or career-focused women are reshaping faith for a generation. It's a must-listen conversation! Plus, we have RELEVANT Buzz and Slices

1:00 – The Crew Debates Big Napkin: Jesse exposes the “decorative napkin industrial complex.”

6:30 – The Dollar Tree Uprising: The cast demands rebranding to “$1.25 Tree.”

8:00 – Smooth Pivot Attempt: Cameron tries to move from napkins to faith and culture.

9:00 – RELEVANT Buzz: This week’s headlines at the intersection of faith and culture

9:15 – Frankie Muniz Finds God: The Malcolm in the Middle star’s surprising faith story

12:00 – Christian Music Chart Update: Josiah Queen, Phil Wickham, and the rise of worship on Billboard’s Hot 100

15:45 – Hip-Hop’s Chart Collapse: No rap songs in the Top 40 for the first time in 35 years

16:00 – Derek’s Deep Dive: Why hip-hop lost its cultural soul — from gatekeepers to gentrification

25:00 – Special Guest: Ashley LaLonde (Barna Group / Hamilton) joins to talk about the new Barna study on Gen Z women and faith

26:45 – Why Gen Z Women Are Leaving the Church: Ashley explains the data — 38% now religiously unaffiliated

27:30 – The Purity Culture Fallout: How sexual shame and rigid gender roles alienated a generation

28:10 – Politics and the Pulpit: How Christian nationalism and partisanship push women away

29:20 – The Marriage Idol: Are churches overvaluing family and under-serving single women?

30:45 – Solidarity and Inclusion: Why many young women leave in support of LGBTQ friends

31:50 – Social Capital Shift: Why church is still “advantageous” for men but costly for women socially

32:40 – A New Kind of Spiritual Hunger: How disengaged women are still deeply curious about faith

34:10 – The Marriage Question: How this trend could reshape Christian dating and marriage rates

35:00 – Ashley’s Challenge to the Church: How to re-engage single women and rethink discipleship

36:10 – The Urban Divide: Are cities different from suburbs? Ashley offers insight

38:00 – The Fallout of Scandal: How church abuse crises have eroded trust among women

39:15 – Reckoning with Failure: Ashley calls the Church to repent for how it’s treated women

40:00 – Ashley’s Story: From Harvard to Hamilton to Barna Group — how faith shaped her calling

42:45 – Perseverance and Purpose: Six years of rejection before booking Hamilton

43:40 – From Broadway to Research: How she now combines creativity, sociology and ministry

44:30 – The cast reacts — “That was the most insightful segment we’ve ever done.”

45:00 – SLICES:

• Jesse’s “Aggressive Research Monkeys on the Loose” story

• Derek’s real-life 'Suits' case — the fake lawyer who won 26 cases

Watch the full video episode on RELEVANT's YouTube channel!