STORIES
Josiah Hesse Articles
Highlights
‘It destroyed me’: two more men accuse Christian rock star Michael Tait of sexual assault
The founding manager of rock band Evanescence claims he was fired after reporting that Tait assaulted him. An Evanescence co-founder denies he was fired for
‘He stole a piece of our souls’: Christian music star Michael Tait accused of sexual assault by three men
Tait posted on Instagram days ago that for 20 years he lived a ‘double life’ but is working on ‘repentance and healing’ The Christian music
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
Religion
‘It destroyed me’: two more men accuse Christian rock star Michael Tait of sexual assault
The founding manager of rock band Evanescence claims he was fired after reporting that Tait assaulted him. An Evanescence co-founder denies he was fired for
‘He stole a piece of our souls’: Christian music star Michael Tait accused of sexual assault by three men
Tait posted on Instagram days ago that for 20 years he lived a ‘double life’ but is working on ‘repentance and healing’ The Christian music
Evangelical education nearly ruined me. Now the Christian right is coming for public schools
From Bible stories to the Ten Commandments, public schools are starting to look a lot like the fundamentalist system I escaped When I got the
I grew up evangelical. Terrifying rapture films scarred me for ever
Tales of wars, plagues and starvation left my friends and me fearing we’d be ‘left behind’. They haunt me to this day After millions of
Crime
‘It destroyed me’: two more men accuse Christian rock star Michael Tait of sexual assault
The founding manager of rock band Evanescence claims he was fired after reporting that Tait assaulted him. An Evanescence co-founder denies he was fired for
‘He stole a piece of our souls’: Christian music star Michael Tait accused of sexual assault by three men
Tait posted on Instagram days ago that for 20 years he lived a ‘double life’ but is working on ‘repentance and healing’ The Christian music
‘This can be done right’: how Colorado sparked a decade of marijuana reform
Not only did it create a booming avenue of tourism for Denver, but it caused a domino effect, leading to 19 states and DC legalizing
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
DRUGS
‘This can be done right’: how Colorado sparked a decade of marijuana reform
Not only did it create a booming avenue of tourism for Denver, but it caused a domino effect, leading to 19 states and DC legalizing
‘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
Politics
Evangelical education nearly ruined me. Now the Christian right is coming for public schools
From Bible stories to the Ten Commandments, public schools are starting to look a lot like the fundamentalist system I escaped When I got the
Thousands protest against Trump’s war on immigrants after Ice raids: ‘Fight for our neighbors’
Protesters in Colorado express solidarity with the undocumented after dramatic raids throughout Denver Thousands took to the streets on Wednesday and Saturday last week following
‘An incredible exaggeration’: Trump heads to Colorado town where he stoked anti-immigrant rumors
The ex-president ignited a firestorm in Aurora by amplifying a local conspiracy about Venezuelan immigrants in his debate with Harris When crossing the state line
America’s first ‘carbon positive’ hotel comes to Denver – but do its climate claims stack up?
The stylish Populus hotel boasts eco-friendly construction and tree planting for every guest. Is this the hospitality of the future – or hot air? Travelers
Technology
America’s first ‘carbon positive’ hotel comes to Denver – but do its climate claims stack up?
The stylish Populus hotel boasts eco-friendly construction and tree planting for every guest. Is this the hospitality of the future – or hot air? Travelers
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
Running in America’s worst air: ‘Like binging on a carton of cigarettes’
For a writer and runner in Denver, Colorado, the city’s severe air pollution creates a daily dilemma: do something you love, or risk your health?
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
‘It destroyed me’: two more men accuse Christian rock star Michael Tait of sexual assault
The founding manager of rock band Evanescence claims he was fired after reporting that Tait assaulted him. An Evanescence co-founder denies he was fired for
‘He stole a piece of our souls’: Christian music star Michael Tait accused of sexual assault by three men
Tait posted on Instagram days ago that for 20 years he lived a ‘double life’ but is working on ‘repentance and healing’ The Christian music
Meet the drag queen who hit No 1 on the Christian music charts – with help from a Trump ally
When an evangelical provocateur attacked Flamy Grant, he accidentally inspired a wave of support for the musician Growing up closeted while attending an evangelical church
I grew up evangelical. Terrifying rapture films scarred me for ever
Tales of wars, plagues and starvation left my friends and me fearing we’d be ‘left behind’. They haunt me to this day After millions of
Autobiographical
Evangelical education nearly ruined me. Now the Christian right is coming for public schools
From Bible stories to the Ten Commandments, public schools are starting to look a lot like the fundamentalist system I escaped When I got the
I grew up evangelical. Terrifying rapture films scarred me for ever
Tales of wars, plagues and starvation left my friends and me fearing we’d be ‘left behind’. They haunt me to this day After millions of
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,