Faith in Motion, the Podcast

“We all have mental health, just like we have medical health, physical health, financial health and wellness. We need to start normalizing that we all have it.” - Dr. Dominique Pritchett Dr. Dominique Pritchett is an exceptional licensed therapist, speaker and mental wellness consultant. After experiencing burnout and discrimination in her career, she opened Beloved Wellness Center , the first and...

On a recent trip to Hawaii, Pastor Kelsey encountered so much beauty in learning about Hawaii's history and the practices of Indigenous Hawaiians, but also the heartbreak of the impact colonialism has on the islands. Upon the recommendation of several colleagues, Kelsey reached out to Rev. Jazzy Bostock, a kanaka maoli woman who pastors two churches on Oahu. It is our privilege to hear about...

This week I sat down with Sheila Whittenberg, a children's minister in Berlin, Germany that has been at the train station welcoming in refugees from Ukraine. In this episode, she shares some heartbreaking stories, but also where she is seeing God and finding hope. . . . About Sheila in her own words: Artist, Contemplative and Advocate for children. That's me. I live in Berlin, Germany wi...

Rev. Becca Middeke-Conlin (she/her/hers) is the Director of Evangelical Mission (DEM) and Associate for Youth and Young Adult Ministry in the Arkansas Oklahoma Synod.  Pastor Becca has served congregations in Connecticut and Pennsylvania where she has developed a passion for youth ministry and social justice. Over the last few years she has been the founder and lead organizer of two events in the...

This week Pastor Kelsey sits down with Rev. Shane Montoya to discuss the many creation stories found within the bible, leading to a conservation about ecotheology, the intersection of climate change and racial justice, and how we can better care for Earth and for one another. May this conversation lead you to think about how we are all connected.  Rev. Shane Montoya (He/His) is a United Church of...

What does it look like to practice and believe in resurrection when the world around us feels bleak and dim? What does it look like to live out Easter in our lives when the powers of empire stand against us, as they did against Christ? What does it mean to practice Easter in a Good Friday world? Minister Blyth Barnow shares a message of gritty hope and resurrection, in honor of her favorite holida...

Happy Good Friday! Friend of the podcast, Rev. Krista Zimmerman, has a special treat for us and delivers a sermon on Good Friday in today's bonus episode!

 Whether you’ve been going to church your whole life or are brand new to this whole Christianity thing, we can all afford the opportunity to learn and reflect on the meaning of Holy Week. Rev. Leah Rumsey is here to break down what each of the days of Holy Week are, why they are important, and how God is still speaking to us through them. Join us in conversation about Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday,...

Mystics are not just a thing of the past. We all can embrace the mystery of God and the way of Christ in the world today. Kevin Sweeney, a pastor in Honolulu with his wife Christine, is here to share his journey within mysticism. He shares his journey of releasing ego, surrendering into God’s love, and embracing the wild journey life truly is. Kevin also shares about his new, forthcoming book, “Th...

The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) is one of the most well-known parables. Movies, musicals, plays, and books have been made and we think we have it all figured out. But today, we're going to peel back another layer. For further reading on this parable, we encourage you to check on the following resources: Short Stories by Jesus by Amy-Jill Levine (book) Love and Lostness by Debie Thomas (short...

“What I do know is that an unremarkable day can be full of wonder if we pay attention.” Take a moment to think about how you feel when you’re slouching. The word “radiant” is probably not the first word that comes to mind. But in her new book, Slouching Toward Radiance , Heidi Barr shows us that we can feel radiant even when slouching. Her words are one of comfort and blessing, allowing us to feel...

Recent studies estimate that 1 in 4 people are disabled in some way, which is an indicator that we need to bring issues of ableism and disability justice to the fore-front. This week we we have on Allison Connelly-Vetter and Bekah Maren Anderson who do a lot of amazing advocacy work around disability justice. They break down some of the harmful ways we have interpreted scripture - especially Jesus...

About Kia An unapologetic agitator, Kia Speaks creates content that pushes the conversation forward. From digital campaigns and multimedia projects to thought-provoking articles, visuals and speeches, Kia tells stories that challenge, provoke, and move audiences into action. With over 15 years of communications experience, Kia has created award-winning digital campaigns that produced national and...

If you are able, place your hands out in front of you with your palms up and open. It's a posture for both giving and receiving. It's also the posture for transformational leadership. The traditional understanding of leadership was transactional: see what I am doing, listen, and follow me. The landscape of leadership has been slowly changing over the last few decades into a more transfor...

Today is Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent. As we go into this season, remember how this past Sunday was Transformation Sunday. The day in which we remember how Jesus went to the mountain with his disciples and transformed. Even in the darkest times we are able to find God. Look for God today, whether it's in the eyes of a child, in the blooming of our spring flowers, or in the vast beauty of...

We are all made in God’s image - the imago Dei - but many folks in western culture are taught, both implicitly and explicitly, that they are not. In her new book, A Brown Girl’s Epiphany , Rev. Aurelia Dávila Pratt shares her story of embracing her belovedness with a call to all of us to work towards healing. She names the harmful theological belief systems, particularly the ones rooted in white s...

Reverend Jenny Sung is a free range Pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. We cover a multitude of topics, but we dove pretty deep into the trauma the Asian community, specifically the Asian American community, has been experiencing lately. Rev. Jenny shares her own experience and context, but does such a brilliant job of drawing a wide lens so we can see the interconnectedness of r...

What story would you tell if you were given permission to tell the truth? Anna Darian is a professional storyteller helping us discover the power of our voice and owning our story. She shares her story, and how each of us can find ourselves in the stories of others. We talk about the universality of storytelling and its value, what it means to find truth in our own story, and we even got metaphysi...

“The yoga stays the same so that you can change.” In this episode, yoga teacher Holly Hancock talks us through the various ways that yoga intersects with her faith and her striving for social justice. They may seem worlds apart, but there are a multitude of parallels of practicing yoga and practicing Christianity. Both yoga and Christianity teach us how to be in relationship with others, with ours...

People who struggle to find God in a church often find God in nature. For Rev. Corey Turnpenny, she thought, "Why can't we have both?" and started Church in the Wild , a church that worships outdoors every Sunday. They hike together, breath  in the outside air, and worship while embracing the views of God's creation. . . . Rev. Corey Turnpenny (she/her) is an ordained elder in...

Right now there is a lot of uncertainty and grief in the world. Many of us find ourselves searching for hope and longing for grace. If you feel like you are wandering around in the dark, wondering where the light is, maybe you need a reminder that God is all around you and always with you. Today's episode is a reminder of where we can find God as we search for hope and long for grace. Be sure...

Women play an integral part in history, including in biblical history. In many contexts, they are seen as mere side characters, and often aren’t even recognized with a name. However, we know that women are not just sidebars: they are main characters. They love, they birth, they lead, they prophesy, they teach, they heal, they wage war, and they testify. Author and Episcopal priest Rev. Alice Conno...

Abortion access and reproductive freedom are hot topics in the political sphere, especially among people of faith. What many folks don’t know, is that a majority of faith leaders and practitioners are in support of reproductive rights and safe access to abortion services. Rev. Angeal Williams, a lead organizer for SACReD (Spiritual Alliance of Communities for Reproductive Dignity) is on the podcas...

The start of a new year is always chock full of social media posts and conversations about “New Year, New You” but that messaging is steeped in fat-phobia and diet culture. Rev. Heidi C. Heath is doing a January series on her social media debunking this idea that we need a “new you” in the new year. Instead, she says, “We need more of you.” In her words, “Don’t you dare fall for the lie that you n...

Welcome to 12 Days of Chrstimas Blessings with the Lady Preacher Podcast! We've invited on some of our former guests on the podcast and each of them will be doing an episode for this special mini-series! They will be offering you a reflection and blessing in each episode. We know you're busy so we're keeping them short, sweet and simple. There is so much happening in our world and y...