Church Chatter Podcast

Dr. Samantha Bise and Rev. Dillon Epler discuss metaphor as it relates to the Enlightenment, fundamentalism, God, the Bible, and church.

Dr. Samantha Bise and Rev. Dillon Epler discuss the “pastor’s wife.”

Dr. Samantha Bise and Rev. Dillon Epler discuss the Jubilee.

Dr. Samantha Bise and Rev. Dillon Epler discuss the ways Roman politics and the Jesus movement are intertwined.

Dr. Samantha Bise and Rev. Dillon Epler discuss the season of Lent.

Dr. Samantha Bise and Rev. Dillon Epler talk about how the Christian story flips our notions of power.

Dr. Samantha Bise and Rev. Dillon Epler discuss the history and theological implications of Jesus being portrayed with white skin, blonde hair, and blue eyes.

Dr. Samantha Bise and Rev. Dillon Epler discuss the word “love.” We discuss the four Greek words for “love,” how translations for “love” got William Tyndale killed, what Jesus meant when he asked Peter if he loved him three times, and how loving unconditionally can be the most radical and dangerous thing we can do in the face of oppression.

Dr. Samantha Bise and Rev. Dillon Epler discuss the history of the Sabbath and its connections to liberation, freedom, and resistance.

Dillon interviews Samantha. Samantha discusses why she is obsessed with learning about religious language, her book coming out in 2026, her strange reaction the moment she became “Dr. Bise,” and her decision not to go to seminary.

In this bonus episode, Samantha interviews Dillon. Dillon discusses his switch from law school to seminary, his years when he would not have considered himself a Christian, and the ways his job as a pastor is more about caring for people than convincing people.

Dr. Samantha Bise and Rev. Dillon Epler discuss the word “kenosis” and what it means for Jesus’ identity.

Dr. Samantha Bise and Rev. Dillon Epler discuss the meaning behind the sign of the cross.

Dr. Samantha Bise and Rev. Dillon Epler discuss Jesus’ supposed occupation as a “carpenter” and how it relates to labor rights, the growing gap between the wealthy and the poor, and money as an energy that flows in and out of our lives.

Dr. Samantha Bise and Rev. Dillon Epler discuss the “magi” in the story of Jesus’ birth.

Dr. Samantha Bise and Rev. Dillon Epler discuss what the “inn” in the nativity story actually is and how it relates to immigration and refugee issues.

Dr. Samantha Bise and Rev. Dillon Epler discuss the translation history of the word “virgin” in the Bible, Mary’s virginity, and the cultural context behind virginity throughout Christian history.

Samantha and Dillon have a lot to say about the word “salvation.”

Samantha and Dillon talk about the linguistic, political, and religious origins of the word “Advent”—and, of course, it revolves around the Roman Empire.

Samantha and Dillon explain the cultural importance of rituals, the meaning of “liturgy,” and what it means to live a liturgical life.

Samantha and Dillon discuss the context of what a sacrifice meant for the newly liberated Hebrew people wandering the desert and the many ways Christians today understand Jesus’ sacrifice.

Samantha and Dillon talk about the evolution of marriage and family life throughout Christianity.

Samantha and Dillon discuss what Jesus meant in the Sermon on the Mount when he told his followers to turn the other cheek, give the clothes off your back, and go the extra mile.

Samantha and Dillon discuss baptism’s original purpose, linguistic origins, and evolving meanings.

Samantha and Dillon talk about the word “Protestant” and how it relates to power structures, authority, and literacy.