Rock That Doesn't Roll: The Story of Christian Music cover art

Rock That Doesn't Roll: The Story of Christian Music

Rock That Doesn't Roll: The Story of Christian Music

By: Andrew Gill and Leah Payne
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About this listen

Rock That Doesn’t Roll looks at how Christian music shaped the world we're living in now by telling individual stories from the peak era of the contemporary Christian music industry. In the 80s, 90s and early 2000s CCM grew into a billion dollar business that affected millions of evangelical young people. Through interviews with artists, industry players and average fans Dr. Leah Payne and Andrew Gill trace the long-lasting personal, cultural and political impact of sometimes cringe-worthy music. Expect hilarious moments and heartfelt yearning, purity culture and conservative politics- all in equal measure. Whether you’ve deconstructed, come out or renegotiated your faith, we hope you feel seen. If you’ve never given Christian music any thought beyond a punchline, we hope you’ll gain a deeper understanding of a subculture that’s shaping the world around us now.

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Content © Leah Payne and Andrew Gill. All pre-released media is used under fair use provisions. Music
Episodes
  • Live From The Trenches: Leah and Andrew Check In

    Live From The Trenches: Leah and Andrew Check In
    Oct 8 2025

    After 15 weekly episodes in season 3, Leah and Andrew chat about what else they've been up to this fall, what episodes they've especially enjoyed this season, and what they're looking forward to in upcoming episodes.

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    Register for Theology Beer Camp with our promo code RTDR for $75 off.

    Do you have a Christian rock story to tell? Want to respond to this episode? Leave us a message at (629) 777-6336.

    If Rock That Doesn’t Roll is important to you, support us on Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/rtdr (join via the website, not the iOS app for a 30% discount)

    Or make a one-time donation: https://coff.ee/rtdr

    If you can't afford a donation, please tell five friends about the show.

    You can connect with us on Instagram or by emailing RTDRpod@gmail.com

    Sign up for our Substack to keep up with show developments.

    Buy RTDR merch here.
    Show More Show Less
    34 mins
  • The Discourse Meets Carman (ft. Chris DeVille)

    The Discourse Meets Carman (ft. Chris DeVille)
    Oct 1 2025

    Chris DeVille wrote the book on the indie rock boom (Such Great Heights: The Complete Cultural History of the Indie Rock Explosion), but before he became a self-confessed "indie snob" he was a willing listener of Christian rock. In this conversation we discuss the influence of Pitchfork on musical tastes and how specific signifiers could have an outsized impact on critical coverage in the blog era. Artists discussed include 4Him, Stavesacre, Sufjan Stevens, Pedro The Lion, Cameron Winter, Neutral Milk Hotel and, of course, Carman.

    ---

    Register for Theology Beer Camp with our promo code RTDR for $75 off.

    Do you have a Christian rock story to tell? Want to respond to this episode? Leave us a message at (629) 777-6336.

    If Rock That Doesn’t Roll is important to you, support us on Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/rtdr (join via the website, not the iOS app for a 30% discount)

    Or make a one-time donation: https://coff.ee/rtdr

    If you can't afford a donation, please tell five friends about the show.

    You can connect with us on Instagram or by emailing RTDRpod@gmail.com

    Sign up for our Substack to keep up with show developments.

    Buy RTDR merch here.
    Show More Show Less
    59 mins
  • 1985: The Critical Year of CCM (ft. Tim Dillinger)

    1985: The Critical Year of CCM (ft. Tim Dillinger)
    Sep 24 2025

    In 1985 the Contemporary Christian Music industry reached a cultural height it would never regain. That's the basic case that Tim Dillinger has been making lately in his Substack, God's Music Is My Life. With artists like Amy Grant, Leslie Phillips, Sheila Walsh, Tramaine Hawkins and Rez Band pushing the boundaries of CCM from the inside, and mainstream acts like Maria Muldour and Mr. Mister pushing into CCM from the outside, 1985 was a year like no other, according to Tim. Would you believe that the downfall of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker's PTL empire in 1987 would reshape the Christian landscape for the worse?

    ---

    Register for Theology Beer Camp with our promo code RTDR for $75 off.

    Do you have a Christian rock story to tell? Want to respond to this episode? Leave us a message at (629) 777-6336.

    If Rock That Doesn’t Roll is important to you, support us on Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/rtdr (join via the website, not the iOS app for a 30% discount)

    Or make a one-time donation: https://coff.ee/rtdr

    If you can't afford a donation, please tell five friends about the show.

    You can connect with us on Instagram or by emailing RTDRpod@gmail.com

    Sign up for our Substack to keep up with show developments.

    Buy RTDR merch here.
    Show More Show Less
    55 mins
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