For The Rest Of Us with the Reverend Canon Megan Castellan

What exactly is a deacon—and why does the Episcopal Church have them? This week, Megan and Adam are joined by special guest the Rev. Canon Deacon David Stickley (what a fancy title!) to unpack one of the most misunderstood ministries in the Church: the vocational diaconate. Together they explore what deacons actually do, why they're called to serve at the intersection of the Church and the wor...

This episode of For the Rest of Us , Megan introduces us to one of the most important—and too often overlooked—saints in the Episcopal Church: Absalom Jones . Born into slavery, Jones fought for his freedom, became the first Black priest ordained in the Episcopal Church , helped found the first Black Episcopal parish, cared for the sick during Philadelphia's devastating yellow fever epidemic,...

This episode, Megan takes Adam on a whirlwind tour through the wonderfully weird world of Christian denominations, church friendships, and why Episcopalians seem determined to be friends with absolutely everyone. From the origins of the YMCA and “muscular Christianity” to World Wars, councils, cookies, and conversations that span centuries, they unpack what ecumenism actually is—and why it matters...

What happens when a newly elected pope drops an encyclical on AI, human dignity, war, economics, and the future of technology—and then casually quotes Gandalf? This week, Megan and Adam dive into Pope Leo XIV’s first major teaching document and unpack why it’s making waves far beyond the Roman Catholic Church. Together they explore the ethical questions surrounding artificial intelligence, the res...

This episode kicks off a new series on one of the hardest questions in faith and life: What does forgiveness actually mean—and what does it not mean? Megan and Adam dive into the messy intersection of forgiveness, repentance, accountability, confession, and repair, challenging some of the most common (and often harmful) ideas we carry about apologizing and “moving on.” A few of the things covered...

Sometimes the Church celebrates some weird things on the liturgical calendar. This episode of For the Rest of Us , Canon Megan and Adam tackle one of those: the Feast of the Ascension (the day Jesus basically pulls a superhero exit off the Mount of Olives and the disciples stand there staring at the sky like confused extras in a Marvel movie). Along the way, the conversation spirals into: Why Asce...

What does it mean to be a Palestinian Christian in the Holy Land right now? On this episode of For the Rest of Us , Canon Megan and Adam welcome Fr. Nael Rahmoun, Anglican priest in Nazareth and honorary canon at St. George’s Cathedral in Jerusalem, for a powerful conversation about faith, identity, war, hope, and the living Christian presence in Palestine. Fr. Nael shares what life is like for Pa...

What happens when the Pope starts sounding “radical”… but is actually just quoting the Bible? In this episode of For the Rest of Us , Megan andAdam unpack liberation theology —what it is, where it comes from, and why it keeps making headlines today. From the reforms of Second Vatican Council to the work of theologians like Gustavo Gutiérrez, they explore how Christianity became deeply connected to...

Megan and Adam are back just in time for Holy Week—and this one’s got everything: ancient liturgies, dramatic storytelling, a mysterious 4th-century traveler, and yes… a near run-in with the fire department. 🔥 This week, Megan takes the lead (as she should) guiding us through the Triduum —the “big three days” of the church year: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil. If you’ve ever w...

Well, hey gang! It is Adam from For the Rest of Us . Hey, you may have noticed that you haven't gotten a new episode from us in a little bit, and I wanted to apologize for that. Megan and I had recorded some episodes, and they kind of got lost in the sauce, as it were. But if you check your podcast feed right about now, you're going to get two back-to-back episodes, and you're going to notice they...

In this episode of For the Rest of Us , Megan and Adam tackle one of the most complicated and emotionally charged topics they’ve ever covered: war in the Middle East, biblical interpretation, and how some Christians connect modern geopolitics to the Second Coming. The conversation explores how certain readings of the Bible—especially promises about land and Israel—have shaped modern political and...

In this episode of For the Rest of Us , Megan and Adam take a look at some important stuff in our Anglican history: Thomas Cranmer and the Book of Common Prayer . They talk about where it came from and why Anglicans pray the way we do Megan walks us through Cranmer’s unlikely rise during the English Reformation, beginning in the turbulent reign of Henry VIII . What began as a royal marriage crisis...

In this episode of For the Rest of Us , Megan and Adam step into one of the most recognizable—and most misunderstood—days in the church year: Ash Wednesday. They unpack what’s actually happening when we walk forward to receive ashes, hear the words “Remember that you are dust,” and begin the long, slow season of Lent. Far from being a gloomy ritual about shame, Ash Wednesday is framed here as some...

When the world feels loud, chaotic, and just a bit too much, sometimes what we need most is an old prayer that knows how to hold us together. In this episode, Megan walks Adam (and all of us) through the Great Litany—one of the oldest prayers in the Episcopal Church and, honestly, one of its coziest. Often described as an “Anglican blankie,” the Great Litany is a long, responsive prayer designed t...

What does it look like to answer a call when the world is literally on fire? In this episode of For the Rest of Us , Megan and Adam introduce us to Florence Li Tim-Oi , the first known woman priest in the Anglican Communion—and a saint whose story is anything but neat, tidy, or safe. Born in Hong Kong in 1907, Florence felt called to ministry at a young age, even when there was no clear path for w...

This one is a tough one gang, but a necessary one. This episode, Megan and Adam sit with a story that has reentered the national conversation—and the life of the Episcopal Church—in a deeply sobering way: martyrdom They reflect on recent violence involving ICE, especially the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good , a 37-year-old mother of three who was killed by an ICE agent during federal immigrati...

Season 2 kicks off with Megan and Adam diving straight into one of the often overlooked—but most unsettling—stories of the Christmas season: the Feast of the Holy Innocents . This episode looks honestly at King Herod, not as a cartoon villain but as a very real ruler terrified of losing power—and what that fear costs the most vulnerable people around him. Megan and Adam explore the sharp contrast...

This episode, Megan and Adam take on one of the most misunderstood—and most emotionally charged—ideas in Christianity: the Virgin Birth . Together, they unpack what the doctrine actually claims, what it doesn’t claim, and why it’s often tangled up with purity culture in ways that do far more harm than good. Along the way, they clarify the very common confusion between the virgin birth and the Imma...

In a special crossover episode, Megan and Adam are joined by the Rev. Robyn King and the Rev. Stephanie Shockley , hosts of the podcast The Accessible Altar , for a rich and necessary conversation about faith, disability, and what the church gets wrong—and right—when it comes to inclusion. Together, they explore how disability is often misunderstood in Christian spaces, why the church tends to def...

In this cozy-yet-apocalyptic episode, Megan and Adam dive into the season of Advent : that beautiful, purple (or maybe dark blue) draped moment in the church year when we are somehow preparing for a baby and the end of the world at the same time. No pressure. They explore the history of Advent, the liturgical rhythms that shape it, and how this season asks us to acknowledge both the brokenness of...

In Part 3 of our series on Apartheid & Christianity in South Africa, Megan and Adam explore the Anglican Church's response to apartheid in South Africa, focusing on the historical context, the role of different churches, and expand on the significant influence of Desmond Tutu. The discussion highlights the church's opposition to apartheid, Tutu's theological insights, and the call for action a...

In Part II in our multi-episode series on Apartheid & Christianity in South Africa, Megan and Adam explore the significant role of the Dutch Reform Church in South Africa, particularly during the apartheid era. It highlights the church's mainstream influence and its connections to political figures, emphasizing its importance in shaping societal norms and policies. They also introduce the impo...

In this episode, Megan and Adam delve into the historical roots of apartheid in South Africa, exploring the colonial influences, the role of the Dutch Reformed Church, and the impact of the Boer Wars. They discuss how the Afrikaners developed a narrative of victimhood and divine destiny, which shaped their identity and justified the oppressive system of apartheid. The conversation draws parallels...

In this spooktacular episode, Canon Megan and Adam dig into the surprisingly Christian roots of Halloween — yes, you heard that right. They trace how trick-or-treating, costumes, and remembering the dead all connect to ancient church traditions like All Saints Day and All Souls Day . From the sweetness of candy to the solemnity of candles for the departed, Adam and Megan explore how grief, joy, an...

In this episode, Canon Megan and Adam get a little uncomfortable and talk about one of the church’s more delicate subjects—money. They explore how the American church built its financial foundation, from the days of land grants and pew rents to modern pledge drives and stewardship campaigns. Along the way, they uncover some of the stranger and darker corners of church history, including ties to sl...