Host James Howell talks to Kaley Crawford, park ranger at the Reconstruction Era National Park in Beaufort, SC. Kaley tells the incredible story of Robert Smalls, who was born under bondage in Beaufort, but managed to free himself by commandeering a Confederate transport ship and sailing it to Union territory. He would become be a key figure in convincing Abraham Lincoln to enlist African-Americans in the military. Smalls would eventually go back to Beaufort, purchase his former slave owner's ho...
Jan 04, 2022•35 min
To celebrate and better observe the season of Advent, host James Howell reaches out to longtime friend and colleague Rev. Alisa Lasater Wailoo to discuss Mary, the Mother of Jesus. James and Alisa talk about the history of Mary, but also why she matters today - and in what ways. They engage her depictions throughout testaments to identify what makes her such a unique and significant character in our modern landscape, particularly around the holiday season.
Dec 09, 2021•41 min
Barbara McKay is an author, TV personality, fashion and design maven, and former neighbor of host James Howell. McKay joins James on today's episode of Maybe I'm Amazed for a conversation that touches on some of Barbara's favorite topics including cooking, fashion and faith. Barbara has interviewed plenty of famous people, James asks what commonality she sees between them. James and Barbara also discuss some of the recipes, specifically her brownies, she includes in her new southern cuisine cook...
Nov 30, 2021•37 min
Pastor, teacher and author Rev. Dr. Jason Byassee joins host Dr. James Howell on today's episode of Maybe I'm Amazed. Rev. Byassee has deep ties to North Carolina, having studied at Davidson College and Duke Divinity, and having spent several years as the senior pastor at Boone UMC. James and Jason's conversation covers many theological and concepts. Jason speaks about how God appears to groups of three people as if they were one, and why it matters. James and Jason address some of the misconcep...
Nov 23, 2021•42 min
Frederick Christian "Fritz" Bauerschmidt joins host James Howell on today's episode of Maybe I'm Amazed. Fritz is a professor of theology at Loyola University Maryland, permanent deacon of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, and has published books on great theologians like Julian or Norwich and Thomas Aquinas, and is a popular teacher and speaker. Fritz and James have a conversation about Fritz’s latest book , The Love That is God, how profound and wonderful that love really is, proving Christianity ...
Nov 05, 2021•41 min
A pastor, author and longtime friend of James Howell joins James on the podcast today. Pastor Harnish served for more than 40 years at the Florida Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. He now enjoys retirement, although he stays busy authoring books like Make a Difference and A Disciple's Heart. Jim and James talk about many of the themes of Jim's books, including how one can find their place in this world and make a difference. Jim also shows how a lack of orientation in life can co...
Oct 13, 2021•42 min
Everywhere we look, conflict seems to be around us. Clearly in the political realm, but also the religious world and our own personal space too. Author Amanda Ripley claims that conflict that is healthy is both good but necessary, but far too often falls victim to the emotional and ideological context surrounding it. On today's episode of Maybe I'm Amazed, host James Howell sits down with Amanda to talk about her new book High Conflict, and the ways in which miscommunication can lead to volatile...
Sep 16, 2021•42 min
Author, poet and educator Clint Smith joins host James Howell on today's episode of Maybe I'm Amazed to talk about the still very present impacts of slavery in modern society, and why the concept of slavery is much more recent in history than we generally believe it to be. Clint Smith is the author of #1 NY Times Bestseller How the Word is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America, a book of poetry called Counting Descent, and is a staff writer at the Atlantic....
Sep 09, 2021•33 min
Old Testament scholar and Anglican clergyman John Goldingay joins James Howell to break down the book of Isaiah.
Aug 31, 2021•28 min
Scholar AJ Levine breaks down the history, language, and meaning of the Lord's Prayer, and what it can mean for today's community of believers. She and host James Howell talk about how sometimes scholarship can actually be misleading when it comes to the meaning, and how to understand the language of the lord's prayer and biblical language in our own lives.
Aug 10, 2021•34 min
Amy Brittain has a voracious appetite for reading. She reads more than 100 books per year, and has worked as a publisher both for a major publishing company and on her own as a freelancer. As an outlet for her reading obsession, Amy created The Bossy Bookworm , a website dedicated to reviewing books that Amy reads. In today's episode of Maybe I'm Amazed, host Dr. James Howell sits down with Amy to talk about their shared love of the written word, how they discover new books and what drives their...
Jul 20, 2021•38 min
There's a part of building a legacy that has a bit of bittersweetness to it. When you plant a tree, you know you may not live long enough to enjoy the fruit it produces, or the shade it creates. When you build something meant to last for generations or millenniums, you can be sure you'll only see a small fraction of your vision. Today's guest on Maybe I'm Amazed is Allen Walworth. Allen has worked with many churches, including Myers Park UMC in Charlotte, on building lasting relationships with d...
Jun 08, 2021•32 min
In honor of Memorial Day and to help remember all those who gave their lives at war serving the United States, today's guest on Maybe I'm Amazed is Rufus Dalton, a 96 year-old veteran of WW2. Despite being technically too young to enlist at the time, Rufus was able to join the forces and fight on the front lines in southern France. Rufus talks to James Howell about the clever way in which he was able to enlist, his service on the ground and what life was like in the trenches, and getting injured...
May 30, 2021•18 min
"Money Rock" is what friends of Belton Platt used to call him when he was selling large amounts of cocaine in Charlotte, NC in the 1980s. The endeavors that earned Platt that nickname also landed him in federal prison for more than 20 years. Since that time, Platt has reformed himself, become a pastor, and has even started several mentorship programs. Money Rock isn't just a nickname, it's also the title of a 2018 book written about Platt's life and urban gentrification in Charlotte written by P...
May 25, 2021•41 min
Frequent listeners of the podcast know what kind of affinity host James Howell has for books and reading. With an appetite for information as voracious as ever, James is never far from a good book. Today's guest on Maybe I'm Amazed is an author, historian and an old friend of James: Frye Gaillard. Frye, who now lives and teaches in his home state of Alabama, was once neighbors with James in Charlotte, NC. Gaillard's work, including his newest book "A Hard Rain," focus on the civil rights movemen...
May 18, 2021•40 min
One of the questions that Maybe I'm Amazed host James Howell gets asked most often is what is the best translation of the Bible? Is it King James? Revised Standard? Or do we need a translation with a more modern version? James' guest on today's show is professional translator Sarah Ruden, who has translated everything from ancient novels and hymns to Plato. James and Sarah talk about how Sarah got into her professional (hint: it takes lots of studying different languages), what the benefits are ...
May 11, 2021•40 min
Normally, when James speaks to people on this podcast, it's someone with whom he's had a long friendship, a deep personal knowledge of, or a proud working relationship. However, today's guest is speaking with James for the first time: violinist and concertmaster for the Philadelphia Orchestra David Kim. Through a relationship with Kim's mother, James Howell was able to connect to the immensely accomplished Kim for today's episode of Maybe I'm Amazed. In their conversation, Kim talks about the di...
May 04, 2021•36 min
The American South has a well-earned reputation for things like heritage, pride and storytelling. But many of those points are being revisited as part of a reexamination of what they meant in context to the African slave trade, reconstruction, Jim Crow and how they manifest themselves today. To help get proper context on these stories, James Howell's guest of today's episode of Maybe I'm Amazed is Vernon Burton. Vernon is a professor of history at Clemson University, as well as a prolific author...
Apr 27, 2021•53 min
In today's episode of Maybe I'm Amazed, Myers Park UMC Youth Ministry leader Jason Rhymer talks about how God uses the people who show up. That's certainly not just something he preaches, Jason Rhymer epitomizes the philosophy of showing up. Jason has been an athlete, a certified personal trainer, a mentor, a youth leader and even an actor. James Howell talks to Jason about his various roles in life and how they've all influenced one another. He asks Jason where he sees divinity in athletic move...
Apr 20, 2021•47 min
As a pastor, James Howell has worked with many community members suffering from dementia. Today's guest has a particularly close experience with this often misunderstood disease. Leading theologian Bishop Kenneth Carder's wife Linda bravely battled with dementia before passing away. In today's episode of Maybe I'm Amazed, James and Kenneth talk about how theology views dementia, why the disease didn't change who Linda was in God's eyes, why no loving act goes to waste, and how an old pocket knif...
Apr 13, 2021•50 min
Savvy diners in Charlotte are familiar with restaurateurs Jamie Brown and Jeff Tonidandel's lineup of high quality restaurants concentrated in the NoDa area: Haberdish, Crepe Cellar, Growlers and Reigning Doughnuts have all been lauded by eaters and critics alike. During the pandemic, when many restaurants were forced to close or pivot, the couple turned their attention to opening a new concept in Plaza Midwood called Supperland. On today's episode of Maybe I'm Amazed, host James Howell talks to...
Apr 06, 2021•35 min
Poet and spoken word artist Hannah Hasan joins Dr. James Howell on today's episode of Maybe I'm Amazed. James talks to Hannah about white privilege and its misconceptions and juxtapositions, her work in the community with her Muddy Turtle Talks, her upbringing in Wilkesboro and how her father's death inspired a beautiful moment for her.
Mar 30, 2021•46 min
Legendary musical theatre writer and author Tim Rice joins Dr. James Howell for today's episode of Maybe I'm Amazed. Tim's work speaks for itself, having co-written classics like Jesus Christ Superstar, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Evita alongside Andrew Lloyd Weber. Dr. Howell speaks to Mr. Rice about working with Andrew Lloyd Weber, the emotion and purpose that their music portrayed, what influences Christianity had on their work, the meanings behind some of his most famous...
Mar 22, 2021•30 min
Renowned theologian and prolific author Walter Bruggemann joins Dr. James Howell on today's episode of Maybe I'm Amazed.Walter has published more than 50 books (almost all of which Dr. Howell has read), and is regarded as one of the world's greatest Old Testament theologian. Walter and Dr. Howell's conversation covers a wide range of topics, including the importance of praise, the dangers of idolatry, the functions of quality poetry and much more.
Mar 16, 2021•38 min
On this week's episode of Maybe I’m Amazed, Dr. James Howell is joined by professor Amy-Jill Levine. She grew up loving and knowing many aspects of the Christian traditions—although she is herself an Orthodox Jew. Her perspective is unique and intriguing: she is Jewish, and has a lifelong love and appreciation for things Christian. No surprise she’s one of the world’s greatest New Testament scholars.
Mar 09, 2021•42 min
You know Roy Williams the basketball coach. Since 2003, Roy Williams has been the head coach of the North Carolina Tar Heels, and has enjoyed plenty of success, including three national championships. In today's episode of Maybe I'm Amazed, you'll get to meet Roy beyond the basketball court. Roy joins host Dr. James Howell, who have been close friends for many years. Roy talks about the recent passing of his father in law, and the lessons he learned from him about being a good husband, father an...
Mar 02, 2021•41 min
Being a Pastor is no easy task. Particularly when you're tasked with local, national and even global outreach for your church. But that's what Nathan Arledge does for Myers Park UMC as Pastor of Missions and Community Engagement. Pastor Arledge embodies the global mindset. He's travelled all over the US and the world on mission trips and community engagement projects. He's met thousands of diverse people in his travels, and impacted countless others with his tireless work. He also has a keen sen...
Feb 23, 2021•42 min
Part of the purpose of this podcast is to highlight things that we find amazing. But what is amazing, and how do we define it? Surely a picturesque sunset is pretty to look at, but does it capture true beauty and amazement? To help us answer that question, we turn to author and theologian Wendy Farley. Wendy has written extensively about truth, divinity and beauty, and in today's episode of Maybe I'm Amazed, speaks eloquently to that and more. Dr. James Howell speaks to Wendy about what beauty i...
Feb 16, 2021•53 min
In September 1957, Dorothy Counts Scoggins made a walk into Harding High School in Charlotte, NC that would forever change public schooling and racial segregation. Scoggins was one of four African-American students to be admitted into an all-white school as a result of the Pearsall Plan. Dorothy's walk from her father's car to the front door of the high school would only take a few minutes, but the effects of her actions are still being felt today. In today's episode of Maybe I'm Amazed, host Dr...
Feb 09, 2021•47 min
