Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Connect with Brannon:
Instagram: instagram.com/brainypixelstudio
Facebook: facebook.com/brainypixelstudio
On this episode of The Debunked Files, Carl and I sit down with Brandon Hollingsworth of Brainy Pixel, a Christian animation and comics studio Carl met at the Christian Worldview Film Festival on an AI panel, of all places. We're also making an exciting announcement: Brainy Pixel is teaming up with us on a new graphic novel project called the Gospel League, aimed squarely at that junior high through early high school age group where research shows 45 percent of kids mentally check out of church. Brandon walks us through his own journey, from writing his first short story in fifth grade to a career in IT, to co-founding Brainy Pixel almost by accident through an early YouTube channel, and the moment he and his business partner felt convicted that their creative side hustle needed to actually glorify God instead of just paying the bills.
We get into some of the incredible projects Brainy Pixel has produced, including work for Answers in Genesis, visual effects for two Angel Studios films, and multiple comic and curriculum series, and Brandon makes a case I hadn't fully considered before: that God is deeply passionate about art, pointing to Exodus 31 where Bezaleel and Oholiab were the very first people in Scripture to receive the Holy Spirit, specifically to build something beautiful for God to inhabit. We talk about why Jesus told stories in the first place, contextual, relatable stories his audience understood, and why Brandon believes too much of Christian entertainment sacrifices the story on the altar of the message, resulting in content so watered-down that nobody sticks around long enough to hear the gospel at all.
We also get into a topic that's on everyone's mind right now: AI. Brandon shares how Brainy Pixel moved from fear to a thoughtful, ethical approach to using generative AI tools, only training on public domain, licensed, or owned material, and why he believes no matter how advanced these tools get, they will never carry the Holy Spirit the way a believer's creative work can. Whether you're a Christian creative feeling alone in your industry or a parent wondering how to reach a generation raised on screens, this conversation will encourage you. Thanks for watching, and don't forget to check out our gospel message at the end of every episode.
Chapters:
00:00 – Meet Brandon Hollingsworth
04:43 – From 5th-Grade Writer to Founding Brainy Pixel
09:23 – Inside Brainy Pixel's Portfolio: Comics, Curriculum, and Film VFX
14:10 – Bezaleel, Oholiab, and Why God Loves Art
18:51 – Why Jesus Told Stories (And Why We Should Too)
23:29 – Should Christians Lead Culture or Just Consume It?
28:17 – The Cost of Playing It Safe in Christian Media
32:59 – Using AI Ethically in Christian Creative Work
37:37 – Why Story Is So Powerful (For Good and Evil)
42:22 – AI Will Never Have the Holy Spirit: Brandon's Closing Word
Whether you’re a filmmaker, artist, writer, designer, teacher, or simply someone who loves great stories, this conversation will challenge and encourage you to think differently about creativity and the Gospel.
Guest: Brannon Hollingsworth
Organization: @brainypixel
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to Like, Subscribe, and Share it with someone who wants to use their gifts to glorify God.
#ChristianCreativity #Storytelling #AI #ChristianMedia #Comics #Animation #FaithAndCulture #Apologetics #DebunkedFiles #BrainyPixel
RESOURCES:
To help get answers click here: rforh.com/rforhapp
To Book a Speaker from Reasons for Hope - rforh.com/book-a-speaker
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: bit.ly/2CJcAAb
Reasons for Hope: rforh.com
Debunked Ministries getdebunked.org
Follow us on Gab gab.com/rforh2011
Follow Debunked Ministries on Gab. gab.com/GetDebunked
Reasons for Hope Facebook: facebook.com/reasonsforhope
Debunked Ministries Facebook: facebook.com/debunkedministries
Reasons for Hope X: https://x.com/rforh
Connect with Brannon:
Instagram: instagram.com/brainypixelstudio
Facebook: facebook.com/brainypixelstudio
On this episode of The Debunked Files, Carl and I sit down with Brandon Hollingsworth of Brainy Pixel, a Christian animation and comics studio Carl met at the Christian Worldview Film Festival on an AI panel, of all places. We're also making an exciting announcement: Brainy Pixel is teaming up with us on a new graphic novel project called the Gospel League, aimed squarely at that junior high through early high school age group where research shows 45 percent of kids mentally check out of church. Brandon walks us through his own journey, from writing his first short story in fifth grade to a career in IT, to co-founding Brainy Pixel almost by accident through an early YouTube channel, and the moment he and his business partner felt convicted that their creative side hustle needed to actually glorify God instead of just paying the bills.
We get into some of the incredible projects Brainy Pixel has produced, including work for Answers in Genesis, visual effects for two Angel Studios films, and multiple comic and curriculum series, and Brandon makes a case I hadn't fully considered before: that God is deeply passionate about art, pointing to Exodus 31 where Bezaleel and Oholiab were the very first people in Scripture to receive the Holy Spirit, specifically to build something beautiful for God to inhabit. We talk about why Jesus told stories in the first place, contextual, relatable stories his audience understood, and why Brandon believes too much of Christian entertainment sacrifices the story on the altar of the message, resulting in content so watered-down that nobody sticks around long enough to hear the gospel at all.
We also get into a topic that's on everyone's mind right now: AI. Brandon shares how Brainy Pixel moved from fear to a thoughtful, ethical approach to using generative AI tools, only training on public domain, licensed, or owned material, and why he believes no matter how advanced these tools get, they will never carry the Holy Spirit the way a believer's creative work can. Whether you're a Christian creative feeling alone in your industry or a parent wondering how to reach a generation raised on screens, this conversation will encourage you. Thanks for watching, and don't forget to check out our gospel message at the end of every episode.
Chapters:
00:00 – Meet Brandon Hollingsworth
04:43 – From 5th-Grade Writer to Founding Brainy Pixel
09:23 – Inside Brainy Pixel's Portfolio: Comics, Curriculum, and Film VFX
14:10 – Bezaleel, Oholiab, and Why God Loves Art
18:51 – Why Jesus Told Stories (And Why We Should Too)
23:29 – Should Christians Lead Culture or Just Consume It?
28:17 – The Cost of Playing It Safe in Christian Media
32:59 – Using AI Ethically in Christian Creative Work
37:37 – Why Story Is So Powerful (For Good and Evil)
42:22 – AI Will Never Have the Holy Spirit: Brandon's Closing Word
Whether you’re a filmmaker, artist, writer, designer, teacher, or simply someone who loves great stories, this conversation will challenge and encourage you to think differently about creativity and the Gospel.
Guest: Brannon Hollingsworth
Organization: @brainypixel
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to Like, Subscribe, and Share it with someone who wants to use their gifts to glorify God.
#ChristianCreativity #Storytelling #AI #ChristianMedia #Comics #Animation #FaithAndCulture #Apologetics #DebunkedFiles #BrainyPixel
RESOURCES:
To help get answers click here: rforh.com/rforhapp
To Book a Speaker from Reasons for Hope - rforh.com/book-a-speaker
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: bit.ly/2CJcAAb
Reasons for Hope: rforh.com
Debunked Ministries getdebunked.org
Follow us on Gab gab.com/rforh2011
Follow Debunked Ministries on Gab. gab.com/GetDebunked
Reasons for Hope Facebook: facebook.com/reasonsforhope
Debunked Ministries Facebook: facebook.com/debunkedministries
Reasons for Hope X: https://x.com/rforh
