Irenicast - A Progressive Christian Podcast

North Carolina's "Bathroom Bill" HB2 is at the center of a national conversation over gender inclusive bathrooms, gender discrimination and public safety. States are facing economic retaliation, people are getting ejected from restrooms, and it seems doing our"business" is quickly becoming everyone's business. So where do we land when things like transgender suicide hotlines take in more than doub...

This week Jeff, Mona and Allen have a conversation with Benjamin L. Corey.   Benjamin is a leading voice among post-evangelical and progressive Christians, the author of both the blog Formerly Fundie and the book Undiluted: Rediscovering the Radical Message of Jesus , as well as a co-host for his own podcast That God Show with Matthew Paul Turner.  In this episode Ben shares with us his personal j...

The cross has to be one of the most talked about, debated and sacred aspects of the life of Jesus.  Why Did Jesus Die?  Amazingly enough, Irenicast has yet to dip it's proverbial toe into the pool that is the "Atonement," so hosts Jeff, Mona and Allen jump in. They discuss different views and theories and conclude with surprising cohesion on what the death of Jesus means for them personally.  Then...

In a slight change of course from their usual approach to discussions on faith and culture, the Irenicast team gives a movie analysis and review of Inside Out .  The conversation digs into elements of filmmaking, emotional intelligence, and the roles that faith communities sometimes play in shaping emotional pathways.  The segment this week features each host's cast and script for the hypothetical...

This week Mona brings an interview with her friend Kayla Michelle.  Kayla is a former runway model who became a fitness expert and competitive bodybuilder through an amazing journey of self discovery.  The two share a vulnerable conversation about body image.  Particularly the ways women are taught to see and treat their own form.  They talk about what has been meaningful in learning how to accept...

When we discuss faith and culture long enough, we'll inevitably have  a conversation about food.  This is that conversation.  Food not only provides us with the physical stuff that keeps us moving and breathing, it can bring a mysterious depth to our way of life.  Food is art, culture and community.  There is power in breaking bread with one another.  This week's conversation ends with a Knowin' J...

Does a concept of humility help or ultimately hurt people? Is humility antiquated?  Jeff, Mona and Allen explore different definitions of the classic virtue, wonder aloud if the word should be decommissioned, share a little bit about their own relationship to it, and end up with much to think about. After the conversation, the co-hosts indulge in the new segment Title Me This .   Is Humility Antiq...

Social transformation might look like an accident to less scrutinizing observers, but there are always people behind the issues, behind the transformation. Professional community organizers Joe and Seth join Irenicast for this episode to share about their work in community organizing.   RELEVANT LINKS   Leadership Development Initiative (Organization) Interfaith Worker Justice (Organization) Worke...

Scientists, theologians and philosophers have wrestled for millennia over questions of determinism and the freedom of the human person. The Irenicast co-hosts, on the other hand, sidestep most of this in order to discuss the effects of embracing one view or another. Do our thoughts on free will matter? Do our views on this specific topic influence the way we live? In any case, Jeff, Mona & Allen e...

A super episode for Super Tuesday 2016! Jeff, Mona and Allen discuss the place of politics in the church, the way politics has polarized people of faith, and the promise of dialogue for doing things differently. In the spirit of public discourse, each of them have needlessly censored a soundbite from politicians in their new segment Out of Context .   Church in Politics Conversation ( 00:24 ) Out...

The topic of immigration has become more polarizing than ever during this year's election cycle.  To help gain some clarity and perspective Jeff sits down with immigration lawyer, Amber Heffner.  She sheds light on some of the myths and misunderstandings about this issue and reminds us that there are real people, good people, behind the political rhetoric, headlines and facebook updates. RELEVANT...

In honor of our fiftieth episode, we have opened the floodgates for listener feedback and questions. By happenstance, all of the questions have theological themes around scripture, the nature of salvation, and faith reconstruction and deconstruction. The hosts dive into a personal discussion of these issues and conclude with a hard conversation on both the death of Justice Scalia and what it means...

In this episode Allen interviews the one and only Joey Aszterbaum. You may have heard Joey playing guitar for the Christian band Skypark in the 90's, or read his work on faith, art, and justice at the Charismanglican, or saw him on television marching against the anti-immigration protesters in Murrieta, CA - Joey has been an outspoken advocate of peace, family, and (more recently) Bernie Sanders a...

Is it moral to be grateful for privilege? This week the hosts try to answer what seems to be a paradox: gratitude and privilege. Covering topics from thankfulness, entitlement, wealth and leisure, wonder and a theology of being, Jeff, Mona and Allen try to get to the bottom of this unsettling question. The episode ends with a game called Good News, Bad News where they may or may not tease out a hy...

Anyone who has spent significant time in the Christian Church, of any background or denomination, has probably held opinions about their Christian worship experience.  "The music was too loud." "Did the preacher just really say…?!" "I should have skipped out with the children!" "That really spoke to me."  During this episode, Jeff, Mona and Allen discuss various aspects of the worship service whil...

How do we have a meaningful response to the global environmental crisis? Jeff, Mona and Allen wade through a challenging question this week. From their own skepticisms and personal journeys in relating ethically to the earth, they discuss pandas, waste, animal agriculture, calorie costs, and oceans. They try to wrap their minds around the impact we all have as creatures and consumers within larger...

  Perhaps it's time to leave behind our "Left Behind" theology?  This week Jeff, Mona and Allen talk all things apocalyptic; the end of the world, rapture, tribulation, Revelation, and more are covered in this eschatological conversation.  One thing not left behind, however, is a segment from the past that always makes Allen angry, Sorta Scattergories .     End of the World Conversation ( 01:38 )...

For the first episode of 2016, Jeff, Mona and Allen attempt to answer the question: Is the world getting better or worse? What is the purpose of history, humans, and the future? Otherwise known as the 'Myth of Progress,' the team touches on philosophy, theology, calculus, and disobedient robots in this week's somewhat contentious conversation. The episode finishes with a segment where the hosts di...

All under one roof for the first time since the podcast began, Jeff, Mona & Allen talk about family… with their family.  The guests at this family reunion consists of Kat (Jeff's wife), Amy (Mona's mother and Allen's aunt) and Vicky (Allen's wife and Jeff's Sister).  There are even a couple appearances from Jeff & Kat's twin girls.  End your 2015 by joining us in the living room for some thoughts...

The first annual Irenicast Christmas episode is a super-sized massive mishmash holiday extravaganza. This week the three hosts play a Christmas Cheer quiz, talk about magic and the "feeling" of Christmas, discuss favorite gift memories, analyze the "War" on Christmas (apparently, it's over?), chat about favorite Christmas music and movies, and talk about what Biblical mistranslations in the Luke n...

This week Mona has a conversation with her friend Stomp NYC cast member Jesse Armerding. Jesse talks about the importance of creativity in his own life and career. The conversation muses about who is "creative," the importance of being in the present moment, our human capacity to wander and wonder, and the idea of art as a search for God.   Interview with Stomp NYC Cast Member Jesse Armerding ( 00...

The holidays are here and they're bringing cheer! But maybe not for everyone - feelings of loneliness and isolation are sometimes most acute this time of year. So what exactly is loneliness? Are there different kinds of loneliness? Is it avoidable and can we address it? Jeff, Mona & Allen discuss the elements of isolation, open up about their own struggles with feeling alone, and share some helpfu...

A fourth voice, Katie, joins our conversation on family relationships.  Specifically family systems theory and internal family systems theory.  Katie, M.Div., M.S.W., has served as the Director of Children and Youth Ministries at Fourth Presbyterian Church in South Boston since 2013.  Prior to serving at Fourth, she worked as a community organizer with the Greater Boston Interfaith Organzation (GB...

With a show hosted by all youth group kids and two former youth pastors we were bound to have an episode on the joys of adolescence eventually.  Understanding teenagers can be a difficult undertaking, especially the further we are removed from our own youth.  This week we look at what adolescence is, how it has changed and how we can help be a part of creating a space for the emerging generation t...

In a 24 hour period there were terrorist attacks in Baghdad, Beirut and Paris by suicide bombers and shooters in what are being attributed to the work of ISIS terrorists. The world is reeling. Countries are debating closing their borders to refugees, communities are dealing with the strains of fear, and we are all left with hard questions. What is going on? What are we going to do about it? What d...