It is an absolute joy to share space with Ashlee Eiland! She was brave enough to come on the podcast during my first year and gracious enough to join me again. This time our conversation centered around her newest book, Say Good. We all know we’re navigating (often, whether we like it or not) difficult … Continue reading Episode 247 – Ashlee Eiland
April marks genocide awareness month, bringing attention to all the atrocities the world has witnessed in the past and offering a collective never again to any present or future threats. This April also marks 30 years since the Rwandan genocide, which began in April of 1994 where one million Tutsi people lost their lives at … Continue reading Episode 246 – Henriette Mutegwaraba
What a pleasure to have the chance to talk with Jenny McGee, the founder of Starfish Project! A few pieces from the jewelry collection at Starfish Project have found their way into my personal collection over the years (okay, I specifically picked them out and asked for them for Christmases, birthdays, etc.) and ever since … Continue reading Episode 245 – Jenny McGee
This conversation with Pastor Trey Ferguson easily and quickly became one of my favorites. Not did our time together feel life-giving, akin to having a cup (or many cups) of coffee with a dear friend, but his theological explorations were encouraging and, in some instances, challenging. Trey’s new book, Theologizin’ Bigger is not your typical … Continue reading Episode 244 – Trey Ferguson
It’s not very often that I ask my kids to preview a book I receive for the podcast, but it’s also not very often that I am preparing to interview the authors of a children’s book (including a teenage co-author)! Zion Learns to See by Zion Lester and her father Terence covers the difficult topic … Continue reading Episode 243 – Zion Lester & Terence Lester
A short reflection on the day after Easter…and doubt. Mentioned in this episode: Matthew 28 You might also enjoy: Ep. 191 with Alexis Busetti Ep. 150 with Jason Porterfield Ep. 140 with Alexis Busetti
Dr. Dwight Radcliff is the academic dean for the William E. Pannell Center for Black Church Studies at Fuller Seminary (and one of my favorite professors!). In the spring of 2022, I took his class on the Theology of Hip Hop Culture and it was life-altering (I don’t say that lightly!). As Christians, not just those … Continue reading Episode 241 – Dwight Radcliff (re-release!)
Okay. I hope you have *half* as much fun listening to this episode as Malcolm and I had recording it! We went in with no notes, no background reading material, and (almost) no filters. Malcolm first came on the podcast in 2020 and we talked about his dissertation work on the history of lynching in … Continue reading Episode 240 – Malcolm Foley
Michael Wear is one of the voices I’ve been listening to, regarding politics and the Christian faith, for years now. I first heard him on a podcast (linked below) where he and his friend, Justin Giboney, were speaking about politics in ways that A. resonated deeply with me and B. I hadn’t heard many, if … Continue reading Episode 239 – Michael Wear
When you think about your community or the neighborhoods around you, how many church buildings do you think you pass by on a daily basis? What takes place in those buildings, both on Sundays and throughout the week? And how do those spaces serve the people in close proximity? These are questions that Mark Elsdon … Continue reading Ep. 238 – Mark Elsdon
It’s hard to describe how I felt reading Norman Wirzba‘s book, This Sacred Life. He offers a thick theological insight on how we live in the world and some opportunities for growing into how we could not only shape the world around us, but be shaped by it. As people, sometimes it’s easy to believe … Continue reading Ep. 237 – Norman Wirzba
David Fitch is a professor at Northern Seminary and the author of several books, the latest of which is on a topic I dare say most Christians have pondered, especially in the last few years…power. In Reckoning with Power David presents a brief history of how we have come to view power, especially in the … Continue reading Ep. 236 – David Fitch
This conversation with Adam Gustine (and his book!) had me thinking about all kinds of things related to justice and to church. As believers in Jesus and part of the community called the Church, many of us are convinced that means embodying aspects of justice in some way, shape, or form, but what does that … Continue reading Ep. 235 – Adam Gustine
Dr. Lamar Hardwick is back on the podcast! If you happened to miss our first conversation, I highly recommend you go back and listen. Lamar’s book, Disability and the Church, was the topic and it challenged my theology (in all kinds of good ways!). This time around we talked about his most recent book, How Ableism … Continue reading Ep. 234 – Lamar Hardwick
And the most played episode of 2023 was…my conversation with Jon Ward! Jon Ward is a journalist who has spent the last twenty years covering American politics. He’s also a Christian. And, like so many of us, he was raised in the evangelical culture that is continuing to supply ample obstacles in the terrain as we … Continue reading Ep. 233 – Jon Ward (Top Episodes of 2023: #1)
The countdown continues with the #2 episode of 2023 – Dr. Phuc Luu! In the West, the Christian tradition we have inherited involves certain views of the God of the Bible and violence. It’s something many, if not most, of us have taken for granted in our discipleship. But what about the rich heritage of … Continue reading Ep. 232 – Phuc Luu (Top Episodes of 2023: #2)
I am pumped to continue the top five countdown from 2023 with this amazing conversation with Karen Swallow Prior! Even though the student in me was initially a bit nervous (she is an English professor after all!), I had an absolute blast talking with Karen Swallow Prior for this episode! Her newest book, and our conversation, explore the … Continue reading Episode 231 – Karen Swallow Prior (Top Episodes of 2023: #3)...
We’re continuing the release of the top 5 episodes of 2023! Up this week, my conversation with Dr. Collin Cornell about his (newly published!) article on God and fellowship. Dr. Collin Cornell is a professor of Bible and Mission at Fuller Theological Seminary. Our conversation for this episode is based on a forthcoming article by Collin … Continue reading Ep. 230 – Collin Cornell (Top Episodes of 2023: #4)...
To start off 2024, I am pleased to re-release the top 5, most listened to episodes of 2023! I just know you’ll enjoy this first installment with Dr. Jen Rosner of Fuller Theological Seminary! It is always a joy to welcome one of my professors to the podcast! This conversation with Jen Rosner was a true gem. … Continue reading Ep. 229 – Jen Rosner (Top Episodes of 2023: #5)
Merry Christmas from our home to yours! How can Mary’s example, help us work toward God’s kingdom when, as Mary, what we speak doesn’t line up with what we see? Luke 1, the commonly read Christmas morning text, contains Mary’s song, her Magnificat. The prophetess sang of the promise of God’s coming kingdom. That the … Continue reading Episode 228 – The Magnificat
This one is becoming an annual favorite! Just this week, a friend texted asking for the name of this book – the one I gifted to about a dozen of my girlfriends the year it was released. Each year, Scott Erickson helps bring the season a little closer to home with the ideas heard in … Continue reading Episode 227 – Scott Erickson (re-release!)
It is such a joy for me every time I get to chat with Rev. Dr. Dennis Edwards! (Here are our first two conversations for the podcast.) When I saw the title of his newest book, I knew A.) I *had* to read it! and B.) that I *had* to ask him back on the … Continue reading Episode 226 – Dennis Edwards
This advent book (and conversation!) is not just for the Christmas season. I promise, Kelley Nikondeha‘s words will minister to you all year long! Her book, The First Advent in Palestine tells of some of the forgotten stories surrounding Jesus’ birth. We know he was born in first century occupied Palestine, but what was the political climate … Continue reading Episode 225 – Kelly Nikondeha (re-release!)
Woohoo! Dr. Matthew Kaemingk is back on the podcast! And this time, he is talking about the incredibly important subjects of work and worship. Conversations concerning work and worship have abounded in my house for decades. How do we view work? What’s in a calling? What about ministry as a vocation? Where do we see … Continue reading Ep. 224 – Matthew Kaemingk
Professor Dr. Greg Garrett of Baylor University has written a wonderful book on the prophet James Baldwin. For those who may not be familiar, James Baldwin was an author and civil rights leader who was born in New York and lived out his middle years and final days in Europe. While his life ended, his … Continue reading Episode 223 – Greg Garrett
It was a wonderful privilege to chat with Dr. Jennifer Holberg. If you listened to my conversation with (the Notorious) Karen Swallow Prior, you’ll remember that I get a little nervous talking with English professors, haha!, but, like KSP, Jennifer was a delight! Jennifer teaches at Calvin University where she is the chair of the … Continue reading Episode 222 – Jennifer Holberg
Robert P. Jones is the president and founder of Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) and the author of several books, including his most recent The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy, which is the topic of this conversation. In it, Robert connects the founding of the U.S., specifically the genocide and removal of Native peoples, with … Continue reading Episode 221 – Robert P. Jones
I did not know this book (and this conversation!) with Dr. Chanequa was exactly what I needed right now. Dr. Chanequa, as a psychologist, professor, and preacher, encourages and challenges that self-care ought not be an afterthought in our daily lives. Also being true, self-care doesn’t only consist of the things we’ve been socialized to … Continue reading Episode 220 – Dr. Chanequa Walker-Barnes
This conversation with Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon was originally released in December of 2021. In it, Mae gives a brief, but rich, balanced, and incredibly well-informed explanation of the history of the Israel/Palestinian conflict. Mae is the executive director of Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP), a coalition working to promote sound U.S. policy as … Continue reading Episode 219 – Mae Elise Cannon (re-release!)...
It was a pleasure to host Alicia Akins again on the podcast! If you missed her the first time around, I encourage you to go back and take a listen. This time, we chatted about her new book, The Gift of the Outsider. As someone who identifies as an outsider in many ways and in … Continue reading Episode 218 – Alicia Akins
