Black mothers carry the sacred work of bringing life into the world, yet they face disproportionate danger in pregnancy and childbirth. In this episode with Cessilye Smith of Abide Women's Health Services, we confront the Black maternal health crisis through a theological lens, naming how racism and medical neglect violate the dignity of those made in God's image. We explore what scripture, justice, and faith demand of us—and how communities can take faithful action to ensure Black mothers and babies can flourish.
GG Renee Hill talks to us about the transformative practice of creative self-discovery through storytelling -- treating our life experiences as creative material that we have the power to shape.
Grace Hamman explores the surprising spiritual wisdom of medieval Christian women, revealing how figures like Hildegard of Bingen and Catherine of Siena embodied authority, love, and leadership in complex ways often lost to modern history. Drawing on their insights, we reclaim forgotten virtues—seeing love as multifaceted, anger as a tool for justice, sloth as resistance to love, and meekness as the true strength of self-control.
What does true belonging look like when the society you live in is not something you want to "belong" to? In Liturgies for Resisting Empire, Cuban American theologian and writer Kat Armas provides a roadmap for Christians seeking a countercultural way of living that prioritizes community and humanity over dominance and power.
"This is not the first end of the world. Many worlds have ended." In an era of political polarization, eroding democratic norms, and rising authoritarianism, many Christians find themselves disoriented, wondering how their faith should inform myriad daily decisions. Drawing upon both scholarship of Nazi Germany and pastoral wisdom, theologian Hanna Reichel offers a timely resource for believers seeking spiritual grounding amid societal upheaval.
Dorothy Littell Greco talks to us about in-depth research, interviews, biblical concepts, and vulnerable personal experience to explore how misogyny continues to impact six spheres of contemporary culture: healthcare, government, the workplace, media and entertainment, the church, and intimate relationships
Christian parents want to raise godly children, but what happens when popular biblical parenting methods cause more harm than good? The Myth of Good Christian Parenting exposes how the Christian parenting industry has sold families false promises for five decades, leaving a trail of religious trauma, damaged relationships, and lost faith in its wake.
Joash Thomas and I go way back, nearly a decade, and today he is on the podcast talking to us about his new book "The Justice of Jesus: Reimagining Your Church's Life Together to Pursue Liberation and Wholeness"
On today's podcast with Brian Recker, he shares about his new book Hell Bent (coming out next week) about how a theology of hell has bent Christianity into a religion of fear and control, and how this doesn't come close to what he thinks Christ envisioned for the Church.
What do we learn about white evangelicalism from those raised by its heroes? From historian Holly Berkley Fletcher, herself a missionary kid, comes this first-of-its-kind examination of how the experiences of missionary kids illuminate broader currents in American Christianity.
The Church has long been concerned about the spiritual journey for men, neglecting women and the journey might look for them. Bekah Stewart challenges this longstanding tradition to show the way for women.
In Holy Hurt, award-winning clinical psychologist Hillary L. McBride delivers a profound message: spiritual trauma is real, widespread, and has far-reaching consequences. More importantly, she provides hope and practical guidance for those seeking healing from religious trauma and spiritual abuse. note* in this podcast I say Calvin woke his confessor multiple times a night, it was actually Luther, I've updated this in the audio!
Doug Wilson recently made headlines as the man whose church members want to take away women's right to vote, Pete Hegseth goes to his church. But what we know from the brief interview going viral is just the tip of the iceberg. Margaret of Deconstruction Doulas explains why.
Mary Katherine Backstrom talks to us about what happens when we are forced to reconsider the beliefs, assumptions, and stories that have always steered our course.
What can other-than-human creatures teach us about mothering, belonging, caregiving, loss, and resiliency? Chelsea Steinauer-Scudder answers these questions in a quest to learn how to mother in incredibly challenging times.
Christians are called to care for the vulnerable, but churches have not always led the way in becoming places safe from abuse. Increasingly, organizations and churches are recognizing the importance of the field of safeguarding: training and equipping people to prevent abuse, act when abuse happens, and promote healing for survivors. Taylor Patterson talks to us about how to safeguard the church from abuse and how to heal when it happens.
In the New York Times Bestselling "Becoming the Pastor's Wife", Beth Allison Barr draws on her academic expertise to trace the history of the role of the pastor's wife, showing how it both helped and hurt women in conservative Protestant traditions. While they gained an important leadership role, it came at a deep cost: losing independent church leadership opportunities that existed throughout most of church history and strengthening a gender hierarchy that prioritized male careers.
Leyla King shares her family's story of survival as her ancestors flee war and poverty. From Haifa to Ramallah, Damascus, Beirut, and finally Texas, Leyla makes global politics deeply personal as family squabbles, ambition, mental illness, romance, and religion shape their immigrant journey.
Jane Clair's journey into advocacy began after losing her son Asa to substance use disorder, which led her to rethink addiction, drug policy, and how we can better support families. She is determined to prevent other families from experiencing the same devastation and is passionate in advocating for approaches to addiction that reduce harm and save lives.
Toni Brandt
❤️❤️❤️
VP
what is your book about??
Emily Hamilton
the audio for most of this podcast is missing. 😢