Youth Group Chronicles

Recent episodes

1. 241: Porta Potty Confusion (LIVE at Uproar Conference Indiana 2026)

   Aug 5, 202632 min

   This week, Sam is joined LIVE from Uproar Conference Indiana 2026 for an episode packed with the kind of youth ministry stories you truly couldn't make up. From a first-time porta potty experience that leaves everyone speechless, to a camp snack discovery that changes an entire week's menu, a church game that got way more dangerous than anyone expected, and a youth leader who accidentally spent the morning with the wrong person, the stories just keep getting wilder. Add in a church hide-and-seek game with an unexpected twist, a painful sunburn "remedy," a hike gone terribly wrong, and several more unforgettable camp and church moments, and you've got another hilarious collection of youth ministry chaos that proves truth really is stranger than fiction. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

2. 240: Sole Searching (Sha Racks & George Johnson)

   Jul 29, 202648 min

   This week, Sam is joined by Sha Racks and George Johnson for an episode full of unforgettable youth ministry moments, headlined by a story that starts with one student waking up in the middle of the night to a cabin experience they definitely never signed up for. Along the way, they react to a youth conference crush confession that goes sideways in front of hundreds of students, a prank 911 text that brings the police to Bible study, a funeral mishap that left youth volunteers struggling to keep a straight face, a camp tradition that ended with someone unexpectedly unconscious, a sledding trip involving a very unfortunate frozen squirrel, a secret nose piercing during youth service, and a fishing trip where one family member took wildlife management into his own hands. It's another hilarious episode packed with the kind of stories that make youth ministry completely unpredictable. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

3. 239: Chemical Warfare (John Scarborough & Dustin Coe)

   Jul 22, 202640 min

   This week on the Youth Group Chronicles podcast, Sam is joined by John Scarborough and Dustin Coe for another round of unbelievable youth ministry stories, led by the unforgettable "The Text Offender." From a youth leader accidentally giving an entire amusement park full of students the wrong phone number, to a pastor whose sermon upload attracted all the wrong attention, to a camp game that ended in an unforgettable hair mishap, this episode is packed with moments that are equal parts hilarious, chaotic, and completely real. You'll also hear about a staged church arrest that terrified students, an altar call rescue gone very wrong, camp pranks that crossed every line, and plenty more stories that prove youth ministry is never boring. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

4. 238: The Text Offender (Sha Racks & George Johnson)

   Jul 15, 202641 min

   JohnCristComedy.com/tour , for tour dates and tickets. Sam is joined by Sha Racks and George Johnson for an episode full of youth ministry moments that prove reality is stranger than fiction. The guys kick things off by revisiting the infamous Episode 225 story of the boy caught spying on kids changing in a cabin, leading into another unforgettable camp story featuring "The Text Offender," where a leader's phone falls into the wrong hands with consequences no one saw coming. Along the way they react to a camp leader whose bizarre behavior had a shocking explanation, a volunteer who accidentally said one of the worst possible things before youth group, an entire mission team overcome by paint fumes, a retreat that ended with an unexpected lawsuit, a mysterious late-night encounter in the woods, one of the strangest moments ever to happen during worship, and a camp prank that quickly got completely out of hand. It's another episode of unbelievable stories, hilarious reactions, and the kind of youth ministry chaos you couldn't make up if you tried. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

5. 237: Forbidden Cheese (LIVE at Uproar Conference Maine 2026)

   Jul 8, 202634 min

   Recorded live at Uproar Conference in Charleston, Maine, Sam is joined by Tim Stearns and Buddy Jenkins for an episode packed with unbelievable youth ministry stories. From the legendary tale of the "Forbidden Cheese" to a pastor whose sermon illustration goes horribly wrong, a camp game that takes gross to a whole new level, a youth group survival experiment that may have gone too far, and plenty more stories involving conferences, camps, road trips, and questionable leadership decisions, this live episode delivers nonstop laughs and unforgettable moments. If you've ever wondered how youth ministry can go from inspiring to absolute chaos in a matter of seconds, this episode is for you. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

6. 236: The Crucifixions (John Scarborough & Dustin Coe)

   Jul 1, 202635 min

   Text YGC to 64000 for your 2 free gifts with the purchase of any Pocket Hose Ballistic hose. By Texting 64000, you agree to receive recurring automated marketing messages from Pocket Hose. Message frequency varies and data rates may apply. Text STOP at any time to opt out. Text HELP for additional Information. No purchase required. Terms apply, available at PocketHose.com/terms. This week, Sam is joined by John Scarborough and Dustin Coe for another round of unbelievable youth ministry stories. They kick things off with one of the wildest Easter production mishaps you'll ever hear, when an emotional crucifixion reenactment in front of thousands of students took a completely unexpected turn. Plus, there's the youth pastor who convinced an entire room they'd been exposed to a deadly amoeba, the breakfast apology involving a machete that left everyone speechless, a camper determined to escape with a homemade grappling hook, an awkward prayer request that no one saw coming, a Bible verse that perfectly matched one student's attitude, a camp moment that accidentally made Christianity look like a cult, a student with a bizarre popcorn seasoning obsession, and the small group discussion that somehow ended with the church being evacuated. As always, these stories prove that youth ministry is never boring. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

7. 235: The Second Coming (Cory Asbury)

   Jun 24, 202650 min

   This week on Youth Group Chronicles, Sam is joined by Cory Asbury for one of the wildest church stories we've ever heard—a late-night encounter involving a mysterious "Jesus dude" that had an entire church unsure of what was going to happen next. Along the way, you'll hear about a lock-in interrupted by an unexpected visitor wandering through the church, a middle schooler's fiery attempt at improving a Pop-Tart, a camp speaker whose illustration brought actual police officers to the scene, a sleepwalking student who created absolute chaos on retreat, a youth game that nearly ended in arrests, and several other stories that prove youth ministry is never boring. From hilarious misunderstandings to moments that left leaders questioning everything, this episode is packed with the kind of unforgettable stories only youth ministry can produce. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

8. 234: Trippin’ and Strippin’ (Sha Racks & George Johnson)

   Jun 17, 202646 min

   JohnCristComedy.com/tour , for tour dates and tickets. This week on Youth Group Chronicles, Sam is joined by Sha Racks and George Johnson for an episode full of youth ministry chaos, questionable field trips, and moments that went sideways fast. The main story follows a youth group trip that became unforgettable when one student secretly made a dangerous decision in the city and things quickly spiraled back at the hotel. The episode also includes a trash pickup outreach that turned terrifying, an icebreaker that ended in instant regret, a church mascot incident that went way too far, a summer camp injury no one saw coming, a Christmas party quote with the worst possible timing, and a youth leader’s idea of a “fun” field trip that left the entire group traumatized. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

9. 233: The Sacrificial Middle Schooler (John Scarborough & Dustin Coe)

   Jun 10, 202643 min

   Text YGC to 64000 for your 2 free gifts with the purchase of any Pocket Hose Ballistic hose. By Texting 64000, you agree to receive recurring automated marketing messages from Pocket Hose. Message frequency varies and data rates may apply. Text STOP at any time to opt out. Text HELP for additional Information. No purchase required. Terms apply, available at PocketHose.com/terms. This week on Youth Group Chronicles, Sam is joined by John Scarborough and Dustin Coe for a collection of stories that prove middle schoolers are capable of almost anything. From a bizarre camp “sacrifice” that somehow went unchecked, to a youth group prank that spiraled much further than intended, to a longboard disaster during worship and a retreat bathroom mistake no one can ever unhear, this episode is packed with the kind of chaos only student ministry can produce. If you've ever worked with teenagers, survived a youth retreat, or wondered how some students make it to adulthood, this episode is for you. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

10. 232: Christian Red Flags & The Worst Church Traditions | After Hour Series (Cole Clark & Buddy Jenkins)

    Jun 6, 20261 hr 47 min

    In this After Hours episode, Sam hangs out with Buddy and Cole for a completely unfiltered conversation that somehow covers everything from wisdom teeth removals and past surgeries to hunting, sports, hobbies, and trying to hit your daily protein goals. The guys also debate Christian red flags, rank bands against bands, discuss the worst Christian traditions they’ve experienced, and chase plenty of random rabbit trails along the way. It’s the kind of conversation you’d have sitting around after an event with friends—part serious, part ridiculous, and all over the place in the best way possible. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

11. 231: Tree Rizz (Buddy Jenkins & George Johnson)

    Jun 3, 202640 min

    Visit https://grace.edu/landing-page/YGC , fill out the form, and they’ll send you a starter box of Grace merch and info, including a gift for the youth pastor. This week, Sam is joined by Buddy and Geo for stories that somehow keep getting weirder. A youth pastor spends an entire night guarding a cabin only for one student to sneak out the second he leaves, a game of hide-and-seek at camp turns into a full-blown search operation, a church festival costume goes horribly wrong, and a student’s shocking confession years later completely changes a story everyone thought they knew. Plus, a worship service comes to a screeching halt, a youth leader accidentally gets the police involved, and one winter retreat prank explains why certain rules have to exist in the first place. If you've ever wondered how youth ministry stories keep topping themselves, this episode is a pretty good example. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

12. 230: Four Lanes of Chaos (Cole Clark and John Cuomo)

    May 27, 202639 min

    Text YGC to 64000 for your 2 free gifts with the purchase of any Pocket Hose Ballistic hose. By Texting 64000, you agree to receive recurring automated marketing messages from Pocket Hose. Message frequency varies and data rates may apply. Text STOP at any time to opt out. Text HELP for additional Information. No purchase required. Terms apply, available at PocketHose.com/terms. Sam is joined by John Cuomo and Cole Clark for an episode full of stories that somehow keep escalating every few minutes. From a homemade mission trip trailer turning into an interstate disaster, to a youth group accidentally leaving a student alone in the woods at night, to a youth leader receiving a text that definitely wasn’t meant for him, this episode is complete chaos from start to finish. Plus, the guys react to a student bringing a gun to youth group, a brutally awkward eyepatch interaction, a mission trip hotel that should’ve been condemned, and several moments that left everyone involved questioning every decision that led them there… See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

13. 229: The Baptism Attack (Buddy Jenkins & George Johnson)

    May 20, 202634 min

    Visit https://www.grace.edu/landing-page/ygc/ , fill out the form, and they’ll send you a starter box of Grace merch and info, including a gift for the youth pastor. Sam is joined by Buddy Jenkins and George Johnson for an episode full of absolute youth ministry chaos, including the now-infamous “Baptism Attack” story where a late-night spontaneous lake baptism takes a completely unexpected turn. Along the way, the guys react to stories of a wedding sermon that ended with a dollhouse getting obliterated by a baseball bat, a youth pastor crashing a motorcycle onto the church stage, a donut game gone horribly wrong, and one camp prank that escalated way beyond what anyone expected. From awkward moments to unbelievable camp stories and near-disasters, this episode is nonstop proof that no one survives youth ministry with their dignity fully intact. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

14. 228: The Urgent Prayer Request (Ruslan)

    May 13, 20261 hr 2 min

    Text YGC to 64000 for your 2 free gifts with the purchase of any Pocket Hose Ballistic hose. By Texting 64000, you agree to receive recurring automated marketing messages from Pocket Hose. Message frequency varies and data rates may apply. Text STOP at any time to opt out. Text HELP for additional Information. No purchase required. Terms apply, available at PocketHose.com/terms. Cole Clark joins Sam Moss for a chaotic episode recorded four stories underground in a New York City greenroom with special guest Ruslan. From a camp prank involving a fake bear attack that sent students into full panic mode, to a youth pastor accidentally traumatizing an entire Christmas caroling group, to one student learning the hard way why hot pepper challenges come with very specific safety precautions… this episode somehow keeps getting worse in the best possible way. Plus, a sermon illustration goes horribly wrong, a leader accidentally creates the most uncomfortable parent meeting imaginable, and one camp director gets blindsided by a newlywed couple with very unexpected news… See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

15. 227: Response Rate: Zero (Cole Clark & John Cuomo)

    May 6, 202651 min

    Visit https://go.grace.edu/YGC , fill out the form, and they’ll send you a starter box of Grace merch and info, including a gift for the youth pastor. This week, Sam is joined by Cole Clark and John Cuomo for an episode packed with the kind of youth group stories you truly couldn’t script—even if you tried. From a chaotic game of Mafia that takes an unexpected romantic turn, to a service moment that goes completely off the rails, the stories just keep escalating. There’s a well-meaning student sermon that derails an altar call, a camp tradition that comes back in the most unfortunate way, and a mission trip decision that would never fly today. Along the way, Cole shares a personal story about finances that hits a little too close to home, while John helps process the absurdity of it all. It’s equal parts hilarious, uncomfortable, and wildly unforgettable—basically everything you’d expect when youth ministry stories go off script. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

16. 226: Gentle Parenting, Controversial Takes and Prison Debates | After Hours Series (Sha Racks, Ciara Moss & Cole Clark)

    May 2, 20261 hr 21 min

    In this After Hours bonus episode, Sam is joined by Sha, Ciara and Cole for a chaotic, hilarious, and surprisingly thoughtful conversation you didn’t know you needed. From bold personal hot takes to debating what actually counts as a “sheltered life,” nothing is off limits. The crew imagines future YGC guests, guesses what people would assume Sam went to jail for (it gets wild), and settles the ultimate nostalgia battle: Club Penguin vs. Webkinz. They also share their favorite piece of fan mail, drop their number one tip for starting a youth group, confess their weirdest favorite food combos, and dive into their honest thoughts on gentle parenting. It’s unfiltered, unpredictable, and packed with laughs from start to finish. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

17. 225: Confirmation Received. (Buddy Jenkins & George Johnson)

    Apr 29, 202636 min

    Text YGC to 64000 for your 2 free gifts with the purchase of any Pocket Hose Ballistic hose. By Texting 64000, you agree to receive recurring automated marketing messages from Pocket Hose. Message frequency varies and data rates may apply. Text STOP at any time to opt out. Text HELP for additional Information. No purchase required. Terms apply, available at PocketHose.com/terms. This week on Youth Group Chronicles , Sam is joined by guests as they dive into a lineup of stories that escalate fast, starting with a church service moment that takes a turn no one saw coming and leaves the entire room in shock. From a windy roadside stop that goes horribly wrong, to a youth group game that gets a little too intense, to a camp mystery involving a hole in the cabin wall that people definitely shouldn’t have messed with, the chaos keeps stacking. Throw in an Easter production that doesn’t go according to plan, a live mic moment that should’ve stayed private, and a ski trip that puts everyone in an unexpectedly awkward situation, and this episode just keeps getting more unhinged by the minute… See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

18. 224: Aim for the Bushes (Cole Clark & John Cuomo)

    Apr 22, 202644 min

    Text YGC to 64000 for your 2 free gifts with the purchase of any Pocket Hose Ballistic hose. By Texting 64000, you agree to receive recurring automated marketing messages from Pocket Hose. Message frequency varies and data rates may apply. Text STOP at any time to opt out. Text HELP for additional Information. No purchase required. Terms apply, available at PocketHose.com/terms. This week on Youth Group Chronicles , Sam is joined by guests as they dive into a lineup of stories that spiral from awkward to completely unhinged, including one moment during a scavenger hunt that felt like a scene straight out of The Other Guys—until reality hit way harder than expected. From a youth group accidentally inserting themselves into a situation they absolutely didn’t understand, to a camp incident that led to a shocking discovery in a church parking lot, to a Navy listener having the worst possible public listening experience, the chaos doesn’t let up. Add in a student sermon that goes completely off the rails, a lock-in snack situation that turns your stomach, and a prank call that goes from funny to regrettable in seconds, and you’ve got an episode that keeps escalating in the best (and worst) ways… See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

19. 223: 4,000 Problems (John Scarborough & Mackenzie Smolin)

    Apr 15, 202636 min

    This week, Sam is joined by John Scarborough and Mackenzie Smolin for an episode that spirals from chaotic camp pranks to stories that should’ve never made it past someone’s first idea, including one youth pastor who took revenge way too far and created a situation involving thousands of unexpected “guests” that no one in the cabin was prepared for… Along the way, a harmless flashlight game turns into full-blown survival mode, a summer prank instantly backfires in the worst possible way, a water park lunch decision leads to a moment of instant regret, and a late-night camp scare sends an entire group into panic over something that wasn’t what it seemed… It’s one of those episodes where every story somehow escalates past the last, and you realize way too late that it probably could’ve all been avoided… See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

20. 222: The Silent Struggle (Cole Clark and George Johnson)

    Apr 8, 202655 min

    In this episode, Sam is joined by Cole Clark and George Johnson for a lineup of stories that somehow keep escalating in chaos, with one particularly heavy moment at the center that sets the tone for everything else. What starts with a seemingly harmless church event quickly spirals into a frozen disaster no one saw coming, while a youth trip fireworks show takes a turn that nearly ends in catastrophe. There’s a bizarre medical situation at camp that had been quietly building all week, a story of ignored warnings that leads to devastating consequences, and a chain of events involving food poisoning that somehow turns into one of the strangest moments ever witnessed in a chapel. Add in a hotel stay with unexpected dangers, a nursing home visit that takes an awkward turn, and a speaker who probably shouldn’t have been trusted with props, and you get an episode that swings from hilarious to unsettling without ever letting up… See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .