STORIES
Josiah Hesse Articles
Highlights
Evangelical Hell Houses Are Waking Nightmares
There were angry Trump supporters shouting to our left, and enraged Black Lives Matter protesters on our right. A snide demon slithered from one side
The kids of Jesus Camp, 10 years later: ‘Was it child abuse? Yes and no’
The controversial 2006 documentary about an evangelical church camp outraged secular audiences, but its subjects have mixed memories. Ten-year-old Andrew Sommerkamp, with his shy demeanor
Apocalyptic upbringing: how I recovered from my terrifying evangelical childhood
One stormy night in the summer of 1992, I walked down the basement steps of my parents’ house to await the apocalypse. The Iowa air
Satanism and Guilt-Free Murder in Iowa
On the evening of July 18, 2013, Kathy Barlas returned to her home in Mason City, Iowa, to find her adult son waiting in the
Religion
Christian Rock Has Demonized LGBTQ People for Years. Now It Needs Them to Survive.
Queer musicians say the industry is facing a spiritual crisis: Adapt to a new generation of listeners, or die. Throughout its 50 years as a
Some US Christian schools believe religious freedom means they can fire gay teachers
Gay educators and their allies – including students and the ACLU – are fighting back When volleyball coach Inoke Tonga was called in for a
Southern Baptist Convention grapples with sexual abuse report
The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), one of the largest Christian organizations in the world, is grappling with allegations that more than 250 of its leaders
Flat Earthers keep the faith at Denver conference
“I thought the idea of a flat Earth was ridiculous,” said Robbie Davidson, a slim, hyper Canadian sporting a ginger goatee and loose fitting suit
Crime
Colorado Planned Parenthood shooting: partisan divide looms large in fallout
After an organisation executive described the incident as ‘domestic terrorism’, debate has raged over what the wider policy and justice repercussions will be In the
‘Weaponization of medicine’: police use of ketamine draws scrutiny after Elijah McClain’s death
The sedative is used more often on Black people – and justified after the fact with questionable claims of ‘excited delirium’ In the summer of
‘We don’t live in a safe world’: Boulder in shock and disbelief over shooting
The Colorado city is considered by many to be a safe oasis – but some residents say there’s a darker side that often isn’t spoken
The haunted hotel: inside the former brothel serving nightmare fetishists
An enormous growling wolf is the first of many horrors to greet visitors entering the Black Monarch Hotel in Victor, Colorado. Located in this once-abandoned mountain
DRUGS
‘We spark curiosity’: how the psychedelics industry is taking on Davos
The Psychedelic House of Davos, a satellite event happening in conjunction with the World Economic Forum, was a ‘genius strategy’ to build credibility, say experts
‘Weaponization of medicine’: police use of ketamine draws scrutiny after Elijah McClain’s death
The sedative is used more often on Black people – and justified after the fact with questionable claims of ‘excited delirium’ In the summer of
‘This isn’t the 60s again’: psychedelics business takes off amid culture clash
Experts fear if psychedelics fall exclusively into the hands of big pharma the industry will follow the same path as legal marijuana, making the rich
Pot on a plane? TSA reverses course after briefly saying it’s OK to fly with cannabis
While some travelers are overcome with paranoia at the thought of flying with weed – like the Hawaiian man who assaulted a TSA officer and tried to
Politics
Colorado Planned Parenthood shooting: partisan divide looms large in fallout
After an organisation executive described the incident as ‘domestic terrorism’, debate has raged over what the wider policy and justice repercussions will be In the
‘Weaponization of medicine’: police use of ketamine draws scrutiny after Elijah McClain’s death
The sedative is used more often on Black people – and justified after the fact with questionable claims of ‘excited delirium’ In the summer of
Gray wolves, once nearly extinct, could be coming back to Colorado
Conservationists are applauding a ballot measure to reintroduce the gray wolf to the state. But ranchers and hunters are putting up a fight The gray
‘Happily gentrifying since 2014’: Denver coffee shop sign sparks fury
The Colorado coffeehouse chain ink! became a lightning rod for economic ire on Wednesday, after one of its Denver stores displayed a message on its sidewalk sandwich-board
Technology
Can a $50 Million Funhouse Save Denver’s DIY Art Scene?
Residents of the city seem cautiously optimistic about Meow Wolf’s plan to open a new art space in a low-income neighborhood. When Game of Thrones creator George
There Is Now a Brain Implant that Can Control Emotions Wirelessly
Current methods for improving your mood are wildly inefficient. Recreational drugs can make you crazy, pharmaceuticals can erase your personality and damage your organs. Sugar
What It’s Like to be Blind in the Age of the Internet
Technology has been both a help and a massive hindrance to the blind community. As Petr Kucheryavyy scrolls through his Facebook feed, his iPhone spews
Sexuality
Christian Rock Has Demonized LGBTQ People for Years. Now It Needs Them to Survive.
Queer musicians say the industry is facing a spiritual crisis: Adapt to a new generation of listeners, or die. Throughout its 50 years as a
Some US Christian schools believe religious freedom means they can fire gay teachers
Gay educators and their allies – including students and the ACLU – are fighting back When volleyball coach Inoke Tonga was called in for a
‘Love Is Love’: media firm uses LGBT language to send anti-gay message
The “Love Is Love” video begins with a teenage girl, Emily, telling the story of coming out to her parents. “Love is not necessarily between
‘Our business is men, and men are not toxic’: Colorado strip club sign raises ire
Deborah Dunafon knew that a big sign outside her strip club that read “Toxic Masculinity Welcome Here” could land her in trouble. But she thought
Fitness
Is Freezing Your Ass Off Good for Endurance or Just Plain Reckless?
Journalist Scott Carney tried out Wim Hof’s extreme cold-weather workout regimen. Remember the line from Titanic, where Leo tells Kate that the freezing Atlantic water “hits
Runner’s high: the athletes who use marijuana to improve their training
Despite the prohibition, running on weed has become an increasingly popular trend among athletes, who use it either as a way to avoid fatigue, boredom
Arts and Entertainment
Gray wolves, once nearly extinct, could be coming back to Colorado
Conservationists are applauding a ballot measure to reintroduce the gray wolf to the state. But ranchers and hunters are putting up a fight The gray
Should We Be Laughing at Celebrities with Mental Disorders?
No one likes to be told what they should and shouldn’t laugh at. In the world of comedy, there is already a grocery list of
Jon Stewart Is Leaving ‘The Daily Show’
After a 16-year run on “The Daily Show,” during which he forever altered the role of humor in modern political discourse, it’s fair to say
Devo’s Mark Mothersbaugh Still Loves Fucking with People
Everyone pigeonholes Mark Mothersbaugh for being a punk pioneer, but he’s also been making fine-art for decades. I talked with him at his first major
Autobiographical
Apocalyptic upbringing: how I recovered from my terrifying evangelical childhood
One stormy night in the summer of 1992, I walked down the basement steps of my parents’ house to await the apocalypse. The Iowa air
Don’t Kill Your Heroes, Don’t Even Meet Them
Growing up in the tiny hamlet of Clear Lake, Iowa (population 7500), there weren’t many opportunities for me to encounter my heroes of music, film,
I Had a Giant Testicle for Two Years and Didn’t Tell Anyone
From the ages of 17 to 19, I believed that God had cursed me with a swollen left testicle that was the size and shape
I’m Terrified of Chewing Gum
I think chewing gum is the most disgusting thing you can possibly do with your face, which is just about the only thing I have