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Youth Group Chronicles

Youth Group Chronicles

Unbelievable, hilarious, and sometimes horrifying stories from youth group — shared by listeners from around the world every week.


Have a story for us? Email it to stories@ygcpodcast.com

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  • 22 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 47 min
  • English

Episodes 22

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  • S10 · E244
    Wednesday · 44 min

    244: Camp’s Got Talent (Buddy Jenkins & Mackenzie Smolin)

    Sign up for the Culture Translator at https://axis.org/YGC. The Culture Translator is one of the easiest ways to stay informed and equipped. It's free, arrives every Friday, and gives you practical insight into the world teenagers are growing up in, along with conversation starters you can use right away. Sam is joined by Buddy Jenkins and Mackenzie Smolin for an episode packed with youth ministry stories that somehow keep getting more unhinged. The main event takes us back to summer camp for a talent show performance that started with a bedsheet, a spotlight, and a bucket—and ended with the entire room realizing the student on stage may have taken his act a little too seriously. Along the way, they get into a sound guy’s shocking last week at camp, one youth group’s bizarre approach to relationship conflict, a preschool résumé disaster, a bonfire that spiraled wildly out of control, an unfortunate sermon catchphrase, and a camp activity involving some very questionable balloons. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  • S10 · E243
    August 19 · 51 min

    243: Three Inches of Regret (Cole Clark & Gabe Cuomo)

    http://johncristcomedy.com/tour, for tour dates and tickets. Sam is joined by Cole Clark and Gabe Cuomo for an episode packed with youth ministry decisions that went very, very wrong. The featured story, “Three Inches of Regret,” takes us to a mission trip in Mexico where one student’s attempt to help build a house turns into a medical emergency nobody saw coming. Plus, a youth trip with a bus driver who keeps missing exits raises some serious questions, a stolen hat returns to youth group with a disturbing backstory, a dirt bike racer has an unforgettable gas station disaster, one pastor sends possibly the worst-timed text imaginable, a late-night TP mission reveals way more than anyone bargained for, and a youth pastor gets pushed to his breaking point on the side of the road. Cole and Gabe join Sam to break down another collection of youth ministry stories you truly couldn’t make up. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  • S10 · E242
    August 12 · 41 min

    242: Silence of the Geese (Buddy Jenkins & Mackenzie Smolin)

    Sign up for the Culture Translator at http://axis.org/YGC. The Culture Translator is one of the easiest ways to stay informed and equipped. It's free, arrives every Friday, and gives you practical insight into the world teenagers are growing up in, along with conversation starters you can use right away. This week on Youth Group Chronicles, Sam is joined by Buddy Jenkins and Mackenzie Smolin for an episode packed with youth ministry moments that went completely off the rails. A youth camp’s growing goose problem inspires a group of students to take matters into their own hands in “Silence of the Geese,” leading to a solution no leader could have possibly approved. Plus, a worship song gets taken way too literally, a harmless volleyball challenge ends in damage control, a church lock-in leaves behind a disgusting secret, and a staff member’s summer camp tradition goes painfully wrong. From an awkward interview answer and a case of mistaken identity to ghosts, Crocs, and a student claiming to be Jesus, this episode is another reminder that you never really know what’s going to happen in youth ministry. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  • S9 · E241
    August 5 · 32 min

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

    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.

  • S9 · E240
    July 29 · 48 min

    240: Sole Searching (Sha Racks & George Johnson)

    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.

  • S9 · E239
    July 22 · 40 min

    239: Chemical Warfare (John Scarborough & Dustin Coe)

    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.

  • S9 · E238
    July 15 · 41 min

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

    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.

  • S9 · E237
    July 8 · 34 min

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

    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.

  • S9 · E236
    July 1 · 35 min

    236: The Crucifixions (John Scarborough & Dustin Coe)

    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.

  • S9 · E235
    June 24 · 50 min

    235: The Second Coming (Cory Asbury)

    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.

  • S9 · E234
    June 17 · 46 min

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

    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.

  • S9 · E233
    June 10 · 43 min

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

    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.

  • S9 · E232
    June 6 · 1 hr 47 min

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

    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.

  • S9 · E231
    June 3 · 40 min

    231: Tree Rizz (Buddy Jenkins & George Johnson)

    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.

  • S9 · E230
    May 27 · 39 min

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

    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.

  • S9 · E229
    May 20 · 34 min

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

    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.

  • S9 · E228
    May 13 · 1 hr 2 min

    228: The Urgent Prayer Request (Ruslan)

    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.

  • S9 · E227
    May 6 · 51 min

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

    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.

  • S9 · E226
    May 2 · 1 hr 21 min

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

    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.

  • S9 · E225
    April 29 · 36 min

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

    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.

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