Design and Religion

Nate and Van discuss the importance of creativity, positive change, and inclusivity in their work. They explore various topics including community engagement, selflessness, and the potential impact of current events on people's well-being, while also touching on the influence of different voices and media on their congregation. The conversation concludes with reflections on personal beliefs,...

Oxana Lesova, a User Researcher, joins Nate and Van to discuss her everyday work in diversity, equity, and inclusion, with individuals and communities with disabilities. The conversation concluded with reflections on the importance of allowing individuals to tell their own stories, the value of empathy in pastoral counseling, and the significance of unity and connection that comes when we invite e...

David Franklin an Accessibility Expert, joins Nate and Van to discuss the importance of inclusivity and accessibility. They also explore the challenges of ensuring inclusivity in web design and the importance of receiving feedback from users and audience members in a church service. The conversation touches on the importance of understanding the context and potential biases in the Bible, the need...

Edwin, Nate and Van continue the discussion with Edwin exploring the importance of diversity and authenticity in relationships, with Edwin sharing his experiences as a the first non-white senior pastor in his current church and the challenges of being an outsider in a predominantly white congregation.  Send us a text message letting us know what you think of this episode! Support the show We envis...

In this part one, of two-part episode, Rev. Edwin Estevez, joins Nate, and Van and shares his experiences growing up in diverse environments and discusses the cultural significance of sharing food, the impact of technology on human interaction, the importance of acknowledging the amygdala in understanding human behavior, and the challenges of navigating cultural differences in diverse communities....

Rev. John Molina-Moore joins Nate and Van in discussing preaching and the finer points and pitfalls of encouraging action. The conversation explored the balance between comfort and challenge in sermons, the importance of addressing contemporary issues thoughtfully, and the role of activism and personal growth in social advocacy.  Send us a text message letting us know what you think of this episod...

Van and Nate discuss Van's perspective as a designer on the art of preaching, comparing it to trial lawyers' persuasive techniques. Van begins to share his thoughts on what he believes for both clergy and design perspectives, mentioning contrasting examples from the design world. Send us a text message letting us know what you think of this episode! Support the show We envision a world w...

Rev. Dr. Adam Hearlson joins Van, and Nate to discuss the craft and challenges of preaching, the importance of balancing responsibility and creative risk-taking, and the role of storytelling in conveying lessons. They cover the importance of equipping people with the necessary tools and motivation to understand and take positive actions in their life. Send us a text message letting us know what yo...

How do listeners, participants, and colleagues receive the key points we need them to? Van wears the "participant hat" and gives feedback about what he experiences during many sermons. Nate and Van also explore the challenges of preparation, authenticity, and structured vulnerability in communication.  Send us a text message letting us know what you think of this episode! Support the sho...

Nate and Van once again welcome Rev. Dr. Jason Santos to discuss their fears and experiences, dealing with anxiety, and the concept of safety as a tangible reality of needs. They also explore the idea of redesigning religion and the balance between responsibility and faith, touching on topics such as the fear of death, the role of faith in shaping one's perspective on death, and the importanc...

Jared Spool joins Nate and Van to share his preference for atheism and they pragmatically discuss how designers and clergy rely on faith to communicate, promise results, and persevere in the average day-to-day.  Send us a text message letting us know what you think of this episode! Support the show We envision a world where design and religion work together to spread love, empathy, and charity fas...

Whitney Hess, a leadership coach, joins Nate and Van to discuss leading with love and compassion. The importance of questioning our leaders and creating hope in the face of adversity. They highlight the fear of being perceived as weak when choosing to lead with love, and the difficulty of staying connected to one's true nature in a society that seems increasingly designed to strip away humani...

Adam Ernster, a practicing Recovery Coach (for several well-known clients whose names have been omitted), joins Nate and Van to discuss his personal experiences with survival, self-awareness, trauma, and the impact of early life events on self-awareness and behavior. They also explore the role of religion and spirituality in recovery, the potential overload of information in modern times, and the...

In February of 2012, Nate preached a sermon about how Van met his wife, two months before their wedding. In this special episode, we get to hear that message of tenacity and love. Send us a text message letting us know what you think of this episode! Support the show We envision a world where design and religion work together to spread love, empathy, and charity faster than divisiveness, selfishne...

Van welcomes Rev. Philip Jones to discuss the concept of love and its application in their respective fields. Van, who facilitates groups and educates people on design and problem-solving, saw a connection between loving God and loving one's neighbor. Philip agreed with Van's perspective and emphasized the importance of love in Jesus' teachings. They both acknowledged the challenges...

Nate and Van discuss the rough plan for "redesigning" religion, focusing on the small steps and changes within the Protestant Church and the idea of breaking down the work by conducting a variety of six-week series on small topics. This would enable guests from various religious traditions to join, share ideas, and hopefully become allies. Concerns were raised about the time and manpower...

Nate and Van discuss resilience and its relationship with self-compassion and faith, and its importance in overcoming personal struggles and finding one's identity. They also touch on the challenges of self-acceptance, the role of religion in providing support, and the importance of perseverance and having a stable foundation in navigating life's changes. Send us a text message letting u...

Nate and Van discuss the importance of psychological safety in personal and professional relationships. They also explore how technology influences teamwork, technology's impact on human interaction, and the significance of creating a learning space. Additionally, they touch on the emotional challenges of religious and design leadership, the importance of acknowledging and dealing with pain,...

In this brief episode, Nate has an ambitious and inspiring idea for where this podcast should focus. Send us a text message letting us know what you think of this episode! Support the show We envision a world where design and religion work together to spread love, empathy, and charity faster than divisiveness, selfishness, and hate. To achieve this, we aim to bring the stories of those driving thi...

Christine Fischer joins Nate and Van to share how nature inspires her approach to design and design education. They cover the value of expertise, the impact of technology on design, and the importance of imagination and creativity in problem-solving for design and religious community activities.  Send us a text message letting us know what you think of this episode! Support the show We envision a...

How do we create positive human change? Where have we seen organizations and ourselves fail to change? Nate and Van discuss the complexities of change, particularly in the context of the long-term effects, the need for authenticity, and the challenges of introducing changes in small teams and large organizations. They will also reflect on the unpredictability of change, the importance of shared ow...

Rev. Dr. Jason Santos visits us to discuss the intersection of game design and practical theology, the importance of adapting strategies in both religious practices and organizational systems, and the role of identity formation for youths in a rapidly changing world.  Discussions touch on the challenges of defining right and wrong in modern society, the value of intergenerational practices in reli...

Nate and Van discuss the concept of service, its importance in religious commitments, service design, and 12-step fellowship, and its impact on personal growth and community, especially for today's youth. They explore the role of churches and the importance of education in reducing violence and abuse among youths. Lastly, they emphasized the significance of slowing down, simplifying interacti...

Nate and Van discussed the challenges of being present and attentive in unexpected and emotionally taxing situations, emphasizing the importance of self-care and preparation. They also explored using "physical keys" to guarantee listening during in-person pastoral care and creative workshops. Lastly, they touched upon reflective listening, the benefits of nonviolent communication, and th...

We recorded this on November 7th, 2024, as we were filled with thoughts and emotions about the election results. Van began by trying to urge us all to consider the story we wanted to tell 4 or 5 years from now. We discussed how we believed that storytelling didn't happen in the 2024 election.  We also talked about legendary storytellers like Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King and his "pr...