(A)Theist Podcast

Cathleen Falsani is an award winning journalist and author. Writing at the intersection of religion, spirituality, faith and culture, Cathleen is the author of several books including The God Factor: Inside the Spiritual Lives of Public People, The Dude Abides: The Gospel According to the Cohen Brothers, and Belieber!: Fame, Faith and the Heart of Justin Bieber. Cathleen has also worked as both a reporter and columnist for the Chicago Sun Time, Chicago Tribune, and Sojourners magazine. Cathleen spends her time on (A)Theist reflecting on famous interviews she’s done over the years, namely interviews in which she gets individuals like Barack Obama, Bono, Hugh Hefner, and Anne Rice. After the episode, be sure to check out Cathleen’s latest writings on your Substack: www.cathleenfalsani.com – – –  We welcome your feedback, show suggestions and questions!  Contact us at atheist@stlpodcasts.com. Be sure to check us out at http://www.atheistpodcast.com and follow us on our socials: Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/stlpodcasts Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Atheist-Podcast/61563145584140/ (A)theist is produced by Trend Media STL.  Musical credit: "Better" Anno Domini Beats.

We've already learned about faith deconstruction - a process in which a person steps away from the religious context in which they were raised, questions the doctrines, and arrives at new conclusions about their beliefs. (Ep. 32) In this episode, Kelley and Erin meet Chelsea, someone who went through her own deconstruction and has since developed a faith that is non-traditional, progressive, and very rooted in both classical religious practice and anthropological human community building.  Chelsea Kim Long is a lay theologian, Cyristian mystic, meditation teacher, and a neighborhood faith practitioner.  Above all, she identifies as a mother. In this conversation, she openly discusses her own spiritual journey, the impact that motherhood had on her deconstruction, the impact of politics on the female body, and the benefits of practicing her faith in an intentionally small group. Chelsea writes at the intersection of faith deconstruction, the political and theological implications of living in a female body, and the impossible demands on modern American mothers. Be sure to examine her blog at www.chelseakimlong.com!  SIDE NOTE: The community-based church that Chelsea describes sounds a lot like the home church described by Linda Pieczynski in Episode 19 (Women in the Church Part 2). – – –  We welcome your feedback, show suggestions and questions!  Contact us at atheist@stlpodcasts.com. Be sure to check us out at www.atheistpodcast.com and follow us on our socials…Instagram: @stlpodcasts Facebook: The Atheist Podcast (A)theist is produced by Trend Media STL.  Musical credit: "Better" Anno Domini Beats.

Erin and Kelley discuss Stillness is the Key by Ryan Holiday. This New York Times Bestseller from 2019 explores Stoic and Buddhist philosophy, arguing that slowing down is actually the key to success. Holiday draws from Confucius, Seneca, Marcus Aurellius, John Stuart Mill, Nietzsche, and many others to identify the approach that’s allowed some of the most famous people in modern history to succeed despite intense pressures. Erin also takes this opportunity to teach us about some of her own philosophical beliefs, namely that of stoicism. Originating in Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome, the philosophy is that the path to a well-lived life is through practicing four virtues: wisdom, courage, moderation, and justice. In short: that developing self-control allows one to overcome destructive emotions and allows the thinker to understand the world around them with rationality, clarity, and calm. Ryan Holiday has an elaborate YouTube channel that’s great for YouTube’s primary audience: teenagers. Kelley and Erin argue that teaching stoicism to young people may be hugely beneficial to their mental and physical well-being in the modern age. Check it out HERE!  You can also find Holiday’s website HERE. *Correction: Just after 19 minutes, you’ll hear Kelley state that she thinks “when I say life is senseless.” She meant to say “when I say death is senseless” as a follow up to her statement on death about a minute earlier. – – –  We welcome your feedback, show suggestions and questions!  Contact us at atheist@stlpodcasts.com. Be sure to check us out at www.atheistpodcast.com and follow us on our socials…Instagram: @stlpodcasts Facebook: The Atheist PodcastYouTube: @AthiestPodcastSTL

What connections are drawn between Alcoholics Anonymous (Episode 31), Open & Relational Theology (Episode 32), and Mimetic Theory (Episode 33)? Believe it or not, quite a bit! Meet Rich and Jim - two individuals who met decades ago through 12 Step work in Alcoholics Anonymous. These gentlemen have focused heavily on using contemplative practice to work through the 11th Step of AA. Commonly thought of as meditation, this practice offers a way of “centering” one’s thoughts and emotions on a regular basis. When applied in a religious context, this is frequently known as centering prayer, allowing God to enter one’s thoughts. In other words, consenting to God’s love. Others - like Erin - take it from a more atheistic approach as a restorative personal practice, sometimes thought of as an inward journey. Atheist, theist, or somewhere in between, contemplative practice has brought tremendous growth and comfort to thousands of individuals! After the episode, be sure to check out Contemplative Outreach at www.centeringprayerstl.org. We also have a bunch of other contemplative practice links to check out on our website: www.atheistpodcast.com/episodes/34. – – –  We welcome your feedback, show suggestions and questions!  Contact us at atheist@stlpodcasts.com. Be sure to check us out at www.atheistpodcast.com and follow us on Instagram: @stlpodcasts (A)theist is produced by Trend Media Productions.   Musical credit: "Better" Anno Domini Beats

Dr. Jonathan Foster joins the (A)Theist Podcast to help hosts Kelley and Erin learn about Mimetic Theory, an explanation made by philosopher René Girard. Mimetic theory posits that human behavior and culture are driven by desire, and that desire itself is driven my what we see in others and wish to imitate (or "mimic"). Dr. Foster's research falls at the intersection of Mimetic Theory, Open and Relational Theology (Episode #32), Grief (Episodes 9, 10, and 11), and Love as an expression of consent. He starts with a big question: Why did Jesus have to die? Be sure to check out Dr. Foster’s website: https://www.jonathanfosteronline.com/ He also has an awesome podcast that you can find here:  https://open.spotify.com/show/4Te7QTWl4WP6IMVi86T3pB?si=4fd7ed8b66ce4576 And you can find indigo: the color of grief and his other books on Amazon! – – –  We welcome your feedback, show suggestions and questions!  Contact us at atheist@stlpodcasts.com. Be sure to check us out at www.atheistpodcast.com and follow us on our socials: Instagram: @stlpodcasts Facebook: The Atheist Podcast (A)theist is produced by Trend Media STL.   Musical credit: "Better" Anno Domini Beats.

**HEADS UP!** We recorded this interview with Thomas Jay Oord several weeks before releasing it. You'll hear references to a trial in which members of the Church of the Nazarene have charged Dr. Oord with promoting doctrines out of harmony with the doctrinal statements of the Church. This accusation and trial are the result of Dr. Oord's continued affirmation of LGBTQ+ individuals. This trial occurred on July 25th. On July 31st, Dr. Oord will be sharing the results via a livestream with other theologians. If you'd like to learn more or join the livestream, you can find information on Instagram at www.instagram.com/thomasjayoord and register on Homebrewed Christianity's website HERE. ******** Thomas Jay Oord is a theologian well known for his scholarly work researching love, open theism, process theism, the relationship between religion and science, and most relevant to this episode: Open and Relational Theology. This concept posits that God gives and receives in relation to creation. In other words, that God is a powerful force, but not necessarily all-powerful in the way many religions claim. Open and Relational Theologists come from many different religions and denominations - Christian, Buddhist, Jewish, Muslim, Pagan, Spiritual but not Religious, and many more. It’s a fascinating cross-section of religious scholars! Thomas Jay Oord has published many books and is a prolific blogger. Be sure to check out his work here:  www.thomasjayoord.com. You should also check out www.c4ort.com for more information about Open and Relational Theology. – – –  We welcome your feedback, show suggestions and questions!  Contact us at atheist@stlpodcasts.com. Be sure to check us out at www.atheistpodcast.com and follow us on Instagram: @stlpodcasts (A)theist is produced by Trend Media Productions.   Musical credit: "Better" Anno Domini Beats

Alcoholics Anonymous is a well-known fellowship of people dedicated to the abstinence-based recovery from alcohol addiction. While the 12 Step program is deeply based in spirituality, the organization is non-denominational and open to anyone regardless of faith.  Erin and Kelley invite David to the show to discuss his experience working the 12 steps, even as someone who has a complicated history with traditional Christian theology. David articulates the idea that AA has essentially taken the very best of all religions, neutralized the organized religion part, and given people the ability to create their own form of higher power.  For many, this process has led to lifelong recovery from an otherwise debilitating disease. If you’d like to read more about Alcoholics Anonymous, please visit www.aa.org. For those of you in the St. Louis area, you can find local meetings at www.aastl.org.  ALSO - Kelley and David discuss the play Octet during the episode. You can learn more about it here: www.octetmusical.com.  Links to other references made in the show can be found at www.atheistpodcast.com/episodes/31. – – –  We welcome your feedback, show suggestions and questions!  Contact us at atheist@stlpodcasts.com. Be sure to check us out at www.atheistpodcast.com and follow us on Instagram: @stlpodcasts (A)theist is produced by Trend Media Productions.   Musical credit: "Better" Anno Domini Beats

You hear Kelley talk about the “7’s” all the time on the show. What does that mean?  To celebrate ONE YEAR of (A)Theist episodes, Erin and Kelley put together this explainer on the ENNEAGRAM.  What is the enneagram? It’s a system of personality archetypes that when explored give insights into our own fixated patterns and a pathway towards softening and growth. Kelley walks us through and gives us a toe dip into this fascinating system.  For more information and to take the Enneagram test to discover your type we suggest visiting https://www.enneagraminstitute.com.  Production Note: If you want a visual of the Enneagram chart, visit www.atheistpodcast.com/episodes/30. You can listen to the episode and follow along on the pictures we have posted there! – We welcome your feedback, show suggestions and questions!  Contact us at atheist@stlpodcasts.com or on Instagram on @stlpodcasts!  (A)theist is produced by Trend Media Productions.   Musical credit: "Better" Anno Domini Beats

Dr. Jonathan Haidt, author of The Righteous Mind (2012) and The Coddling of the American Mind (2018) is frequently mentioned on the show. His newest book, published in 2024, is The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness. Kelley and Erin dive into Haidt's new research where he makes the case that the rise of smartphones and overprotective parenting have led to an epidemic of mental illness in kids. After listening to the episode, be sure to check out more about Dr. Haidt's research (as well as his own podcast) at www.jonathanhaidt.com. --- We welcome your feedback, show suggestions, and questions! Find us at www.atheistpodcast.com or email us at atheist@stlpodcasts.com! (A)Theist is produced by Trend Media STL. Musical credit: "Better" Anno Domni Beats.

Erin and Kelley continue the three-part series on “Witches” (women in healing roles) by talking with Katie Wedding.  Katie is a certified Grief Educator and Medium. In this episode, Katie goes into great detail about her journey to become a Medium, how she conducts her practice, and how her work provides a valuable service to those in need.  After listening to this episode, be sure to check out Katie’s website at www.katiewedding.com. Note: Katie frequently works with Amy Rush, whom we met in Episode 27. Several portions of this episode refer back to that episode, so you’ll want to listen to Amy’s interview as well! We welcome your feedback, show suggestions and questions!  Contact us at atheist@stlpodcasts.com or on Instagram on @stlpodcasts!  (A)theist is produced by Trend Media Productions.   Musical credit: "Better" Anno Domini Beats

Our “Witches” series is focusing on women who heal, often in what may be considered ‘non-traditional’ ways. The concept of ‘death’ brings up strong emotions, but did you know there’s a group of legitimate healers who can guide individuals and their families through the grief and dying process?  For Part 2, Erin and Kelley meet Amy Rush, a certified Medium and Death Doula. Is a medium what you think it is? What’s a death doula? This is a truly FASCINATING episode!  After the episode, check out Amy’s website at www.inspireddying.com. We welcome your feedback, show suggestions and questions!  Contact us at atheist@stlpodcasts.com or on Instagram on @stlpodcasts!  (A)theist is produced by Trend Media Productions.   Musical credit: "Better" Anno Domini Beats

The term “witch” has deep historical connotations. In most cases, the term was used to vilify a woman who had some gift or talent for healing others. As humanity evolved, the term was further weaponized in ways that hurt and killed women. In this three (or more) part series, Erin and Kelley CELEBRATE three separate women who are all healers in one way or another.  In this episode, meet Dr. Lauren Sucher-O’Grady - a brilliant emergency physician and history buff. Dr. Sucher-O’Grady is a descendant of a woman accused of witchcraft in Pennsylvania during the same period as the Salem Witch Trials.  (She also happens to be Erin’s wife!) (A)theist is produced by Trend Media STL.  Comments, questions, topic suggestions, or anything else you want to say can be sent to atheist@stlpodcasts.com.  Follow (A)Theist on Instagram: @stlpodcasts. Musical credit: "Better" Anno Domini Beats.

In the final part of the “How to Know a Person” series, Erin & Kelley (and their producer Justin) play a game designed to build powerful relationships.  Note that these three people have been close friends for well over a decade, but you’ll STILL hear them learning more about each other and strengthening their friendship! The game is called “Where Should We Begin: A Game of Stories” by Esther Perel.  Check it out here: https://game.estherperel.com/. At one point in the episode, Justin mentions a NYTimes editorial called “The 36 Questions that Lead to Love” which you can find here: https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/09/style/no-37-big-wedding-or-small.html.  Don’t have a subscription? You can find the same questions here. (A)theist is produced by Trend Media STL.  Comments, questions, topic suggestions, or anything else you want to say can be sent to atheist@stlpodcasts.com.  Follow (A)Theist on Instagram: @stlpodcasts. Musical credit: "Better" Anno Domini Beats.

Following our series on making change in local communities, Erin and Kelley got to thinking - how do we really know a person?  Join us for a special two part series where we discuss what goes into really getting to know somebody else! This episode features the book "How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen" by David Brooks (2023). You can find it HERE. We welcome your feedback, show suggestions and questions!  Contact us at atheist@stlpodcasts.com or on Instagram on @stlpodcasts!  After the episode, don’t forget to check out Erin and Kelley’s personal blogs! Erin’s Substack: https://missivesfromaluddite.substack.com/  Kelley’s Substack:  https://aspiralspace.substack.com/  (A)theist is produced by Trend Media STL.   Musical credit: "Better" Anno Domini Beats.

As a follow up to Episode #22, Erin and Kelley reflect on Bridge of Hope Ministries - what did we learn?  How is change currently happening?  Where might we all get involved to create meaningful change at the community level? We welcome your feedback, show suggestions and questions!  Contact us at atheist@stlpodcasts.com or on Instagram on @stlpodcasts!  (A)theist is produced by Trend Media STL.   Musical credit: "Better" Anno Domini Beats.

Join Kelley and Erin as they talk about local change efforts with Bridge of Hope St. Louis.  Joining us in this episode are Kelli Braggs, Executive Director of Bridge of Hope, and Debra Wiens, the Board President of Bridge of Hope.   Bridge of Hope was founded in St. Louis in 2001.  In 2020, the focus of the organization evolved into a strong effort to bring medical respite care into St. Louis.  Medical respite - also known as recuperative care - provides acute and post-acute medical care for unhoused individuals.  This care includes meals, daily medical care, transportation, and general case management.  As Kelli Braggs and Debra Wiens explain in the episode, providing medical respite to St. Louis’ unhoused population not only dramatically decreases tax-payer costs throughout the region, but also provides individuals the footing to dramatically improve their current situations. Bridge of Hope is always looking for donations, volunteer efforts, and general advocacy.  Please read more about the organization at www.bridgeofhopestl.org.  Financial contributions are always appreciated, but if volunteer work is more your speed, Bridge of Hope needs volunteers to fill roles in: Marketing and Communications Fundraising / Event Planning Human Resources IT Organizational and Program Development Medical / Behavioral Health Care Dietary and Food Services Light Construction Landscaping and Patio Design Become a volunteer today!  https://bridgeofhopestl.org/become-volunteer/  We welcome your feedback, show suggestions and questions!  Contact us at atheist@stlpodcasts.com or on Instagram on @stlpodcasts!  (A)theist is produced by Trend Media STL.   Musical credit: "Better" Anno Domini Beats.

Change is a constant in our lives.   Sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s bad.  Sometimes it’s because of individuals looking to make a positive impact; sometimes it’s because of individuals seeking to socially engineer how you think.  The social media landscape often encourages us to advocate for change at a large scale.  The reality is that the majority of change happens when a small group of people work hard in their local community.  Kelley and Erin kick off the “How Does Change Happen” three part miniseries exploring the nature of change on multiple levels. We welcome your feedback, show suggestions and questions!  Contact us at atheist@stlpodcasts.com or on Instagram on @stlpodcasts!  (A)theist is produced by Trend Media STL.   Musical credit: "Better" Anno Domini Beats.

In the final segment of this three part series, Kelley and Erin discuss what we’ve learned about the role of women in the church and feminist theology.  If you haven’t listened to Part 2, you’ll really want to check that episode out first. As a reminder, we know some of the content in this segment may be troubling for some people.  We have a few important links you should absolutely check out after listening to this episode: Call to Action (https://www.cta-usa.org/) - A group championing the progressive Catholic movement by challenging Catholics to act for justice and build inclusive communities, including the ordination of women, trans, and non-binary folks. Dignity USA (https://www.dignityusa.org/) - A group that works for respect and justice for people of all sexual orientations, genders, and gender identities in the Catholic Church. SNAP (https://www.snapnetwork.org/) - The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests is the largest support group for women and men wounded by religious and institutional authorities. Corrections:  At one point during this episode, Erin mentions that most newspapers are having financial trouble with the exception of the New York Times.  This episode was recorded on December 16, 2023. In January of 2024 - before the publication of this episode - the New York Times announced layoffs to stabilize its financial situation.  While (A)Theist is not attempting to represent itself as a journalistic publication, we do want to make sure we are as accurate as possible when sharing fact-based, non-opinionated information. We welcome your feedback, show suggestions and questions!  Contact us at atheist@stlpodcasts.com or on Instagram on @stlpodcasts!  (A)theist is produced by Trend Media STL.   Musical credit: "Better" Anno Domini Beats.

In the second part of our series on Women in the Church, Erin and Kelley interview Linda Pieczynski. Linda is a retired lawyer who served as the President for Call to Action - a group advocating for women’s rights in the Catholic Church. Linda also served as a Board Member for Dignity USA, which advocated for LGBT rights in the Catholic Church. In this episode, Linda shares the story and her ‘why’ behind leading the charge in the Church’s progressive movement. Linda served as the media spokesperson for Call to Action in 2002 when the Boston Globe brought the sexual abuse scandal of the Catholic Church to the national spotlight. Linda appeared CNN’s Crossfire, Fox’s Hannity & Colmes, and others where she advocated for the rights of survivors. Portions of this interview include mention of priests who were found guilty of sexual abuse of minors. No specific or graphic details are shared during the course of the interview. We have a few important links you should absolutely check out after listening to this episode: Call to Action (https://www.cta-usa.org/) - A group championing the progressive Catholic movement by challenging Catholics to act for justice and build inclusive communities, including the ordination of women, trans, and non-binary folks. Dignity USA (https://www.dignityusa.org/) - A group that works for respect and justice for people of all sexual orientations, genders, and gender identities in the Catholic Church. SNAP (https://www.snapnetwork.org/) - The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests is the largest support group for women and men wounded by religious and institutional authorities. We welcome your feedback, show suggestions and questions!  Contact us at atheist@stlpodcasts.com or on Instagram on @stlpodcasts!  (A)theist is produced by Trend Media STL.   Musical credit: "Better" Anno Domini Beats

In the first of a three part mini-series, Erin and Kelley discuss the role of women in organized religion. What role have women played in the past? What is the status quo? What does the bible say about the role of women? These are questions we start to explore in this episode! When you're finished with this episode, we encourage you to check out a few links: Kelley's Substack Erin's Substack We welcoe your feedback, topic suggestions and questions! Contact us at atheist@stlpodcasts.com or on Instagram on @stlpodcasts. (A)Theist is produced by Trend Media STL. Musical credit: "Better" by Anno Domini Beats