Faith in Motion, the Podcast

In a world that feels so divided, it can be hard to imagine what could ever possibly bridge the gap. The necessary conversations feel impossible, so we avoid them. Rev. Elizabeth Hagan is here to say, “Nope. Not anymore.” In her book, “Brave Church: Tackling Tough Topics Together,” Rev. Elizabeth gives a beautiful framework for how we can create safe and brave space to have tough conversations tha...

Christians around the world are all responding to the COVID-19 pandemic in a variety of ways. There is a lot of harmful misinformation rooted in harmful and unhealthy theology and Rev. Kerri Parker, the Executive Director of the Wisconsin Council of Churches is here today to help us untangle some of that theology. She and her colleagues at the Wisconsin Council of Churches have been working incred...

IMPORTANT NOTE: Since the time that we recorded this episode, our guest has shared that their name is Rev. Dr. Ciarán Osborn. In the recording you will hear them referred to as Rev. Dr. Megan Snell, but please note that the correct name for them is Rev. Dr. Ciarán Osborn. Rev. Dr. Ciarán Osborn’s work sits at the intersection of mental health conditions and the Christian faith. They focus their at...

For a long time, therapy has been taboo among Christians. There was a belief - both spoken and unspoken - that you can’t “have Jesus and a therapist.” But you can!! And therapist Julie Hall is here to help us understand why. She brilliantly untangles some of the myths many Christians encounter around therapy and helps demystify it a bit. Julie also shares some of her own story of her first experie...

Welcome back! We sure have missed you all and are so excited to be jumping into our new series on relationships! Britney and Kelsey have been best friends since college and have weathered a lot of life together, especially as Britney prepares to welcome two beautiful twins into the world in addition to her toddler! They got together for this first episode in our series about relationships to talk...

Minister Blyth Barnow  went to seminary to learn how to hold spiritual space for the communities she comes from. People deemed “too much” for the church. Too difficult, too poor, too “addicted”, too queer, too sexual, too political. These are the people who raised her. These are the people who taught her about the sacred.  Now Blyth is a harm reduction specialist who is here to talk with us about...

We are wrapping up this Sermon On The Mount series that we've started! This is our second to last Monday episode before our month long break! When we come back our interviews will be focusing towards relationships and faith. 

When Rev. April Casperson and Pastor Kelsey first sat down, Rev. April asked the question, “Can the overwhelmingly white church be redeemed from racism?” We flipped the script and Kelsey asked April that very question in this episode! We dig into the intersectionality of race and the church, as well as all other aspects of diversity and inclusion. As Rev. April tells us, diversity is not just abou...

Did you know that the opposite of judgement is curiosity? You know those moments when someone cuts you off on the freeway and your immediate reaction is to call them a jerk? What if the next time you're on the road you turn it into a curiosity, why are they cutting you off? Are they running to the hospital? Are they late to pick up their child from the sitter? It will help you to take the log...

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit. - Psalm 34:18 Rev. Jonathan Barker has become known around southeast Wisconsin as a pastor with a heart for justice and caring for God's beloved creation. He regularly fasts for climate justice, he has played a large part in advocating for justice for Jacob Blake in Kenosha, WI, and, as pastor of Grace Lutheran Church in...

This week we discuss something that we all can relate to - worry. It's easy to get wrapped up in our day to day worry, about our loved ones, about finances, about jobs. But we need to remember one simple thing. God knows our needs, cares for us, loves us, and remembers us.

Everybody loves happy mail! You know, the things that come via snail mail that just bring you a whole lot of joy. It's not junk mail or bills, but something that fills your heart and reminds you of the goodness of life. Today we are chatting with Rev. Ruth Hetland, the creator of ConseCrate Subscription Box. It's a box specifically curated for ministers (though all people are welcome to...

This week we dig into what treasure we will be leaving behind. Not in the materialistic way, but in the way of our legacy. 

The Rev. Jonathan Favors-Grimes is a native of Atlanta, Ga where he resides with his family. Jonathan's ministry first began in the Methodist (AME) Church but now has an Ecumenical status. Jonathan has been a Pastor, Chaplain, and Church planter. Prior to being a minister, Jonathan is also a Certified Teacher having taught ESL, English, and Science. His studies consist of Full Sail University...

This week we untangle prayer. Prayer is something that can be intimidating to some, but at the end of the day everything we do can be prayer. Whether you pray through dancing, pray through cooking or baking, pray through a walk around your block. There is no right or wrong way to pray, God is with you always and knows what is on your heart. God hears you. God is with you. 

Heather Lea Kenison is founder and CEO of Women in Youth Ministry. What started as a small Facebook group to support and connect women in youth ministry has grown to a community of over 3,000 people. Heather is here with us today to share what it's like to "lead like a girl" and come alongside other women in ministry.  If you are a woman doing youth ministry, be sure to get connecte...

We are continuing our Sermon On The Mount Series and digging into more commandments and untangling the theology around them. This week is a reminder that we are ALL made in God's image. Even those we deem our enemies.

A few months ago, we asked what topics you wanted to hear about. What were your theological questions? What are you wrestling with and wondering about? One of the responses we received was about Judas. Did he act out of his own volition? Or was God guiding his decisions? We are so excited to have Rev. Jack Perkins Davidson (who, in his words, has "strong opinions" on this topic!) here wi...

Continue digging into The Sermon On The Mount with us. This week we dive into scripture that can be harmful, if read the wrong way. We discuss some controversial issues in this one - particularly Jesus' statements on anger, adultery, and divorce.

“The question isn’t are you praying, but what will you do after saying amen?” - Emelda De Coteau. Being a Christian isn’t just about the fact that we believe in Christ; it is about how we embody that faith in our daily lives. Our guests today are co-hosts of the podcast Pray with Our Feet which uplifts the intersection of progressive Christian faith and social justice / activism. They are passiona...

You are the salt of the Earth. God has called you to bring out the God flavor of the world. By just being you, you are fulfilling God's purpose for you. Salt, and light, can not not be salt (sorry for the double negative). And just like salt and like, you can not not be you. And that's exactly how God wants it to be. 

One of the most popular questions I get asked is, "Can I practice yoga as a Christian?" The short answer: YES! There is of course much more to it than that, but my friend and beloved yoga teacher, Johanna Burke , is here today to help us untangle this question. In this episode, we dive deep into the history of yoga and its roots in India. Johanna teaches us about how yoga is not just asa...

Blessings are all around us, but if we're not careful, the theology behind the blessings can do more harm than good. Today we take a deep dive into Matthew 5:1-12 and really dissect the Beatitudes. We look at how the blessing isn't in the suffering, but in the way that God shows up and redeems our suffering. Join us: open your mind, open your heart, and fill your cup with a little Gospel...

Calling all arts lovers - especially dancers - this one is for you! But it is also for anyone who has a passion that has fallen away because they “need to be an adult.” Rev. Julie Hoplamazian is here to talk to us about her work with Faith on Pointe; a ministry that lives at the intersection of ballet and theology. She is here to offer us a good word about the connection between our bodies and spi...

This message is a reminder that even when we fall, even when we doubt, even when we don't feel as though we are well equipped - you have been called by God. God has your back. You don't have to be perfect, you don't have to know the answers to everything. God will always have your back.