Lights Like Us

Ryan and Heidi wrap up Season One with some last words on… the church experience and system. A book-end of sorts to The Other Side. After a few conversations with some listeners, one more look at the topic felt important - to hopefully clarify, hopefully reconstruct some of the deconstruct, even get fired up - and all and all put this season (and topic) to bed. Any regrets? Any clarifications? Any...

Busses, planes, religion and life. Ryan and Heidi talk about the yuck factor of Easter Sunday (ugh), atonement theories (what?), agnosticism (cool), tribes (hmmm) and how Nietzsche thought that Christianity was the "one immortal blemish upon the human race" (yikes).

Books, oh wonderful books. A very chill (aloha) conversation from Oahu's North Shore about three good (really really good) books Ryan just finished. They've provoked all kinds of new thoughts - most of which are still in process and forming but Ryan and Heidi talk through some of those initial stages. And let's talk more about all of this stuff, okay?

The one, the only, Janice Leaf… aka Heidi's mom. After an upbringing like hers, it's hard to imagine someone coming out as strong, as powerful, and as beautiful as Janice. But, she did. She does. She shines bright. And her words are empowering for all of us, because of what she's experienced, become, and becoming.

Oh, the critics. Don't worry, Ryan and Heidi talk critics, along with help from Gambino, Kendrick, and more. Stay bright, stay big, and don't let those voices get you small. You could say this is almost an anthem to sing back to the critics.

The kids are back for round two. Answering questions from you, about college, dating, rules and, of course, tinder. And Post Malone.

Speaking of systems… how about the medical system? The effervescent Dr. Jonathan Pasma (a.k.a. Ferris Pier and creator of the Lights Like Us song we get to use on the podcast) talks with Ryan and Heidi about old medicine vs new medicine, surgery, pain, and more!

There is this lamppost in Spain. A gallows used to be there. Ryan and Heidi saw it a couple of months ago and it got them thinking and processing all kinds of things, including a little more of why this podcast exists. And systems.

Ryan spills the secrets in this juicy tell-all! Not really. But, Heidi did feel compelled to ask Ryan some questions and he tried his best to answer them… about his time as a pastor, how he sees things now, how to treat leaders, guides, hope, mantras, and more.

Ryan and Heidi interview their kids: Isaac, Abbey, and even some Anna. They talk a little about growing up, spirituality, religion, Sweden, Seattle, body parts, jobs, friends, millennials, worried parents… and more…

Jumping out of the plane. Floating in space. Landing somewhere. There's so much to talk about - as you can tell - so consider this a first taste on some Ryan and Heidi stories and inspirations.

It's all about the love… not in the romantic Valentine's Day sense… in the bigger all encompassing life sense - and what Ryan and Heidi have learned about it after 25 years of marriage. And why 25 is a cool number, of course.

Ryan and Heidi talk all about the transition - moving from one side to the other, from church to non-church, from pastor to non-pastor, and from one more christian worldview to another. And what that means for them, for us, and for where we're trying to go together.

Here we go. Ryan and Heidi are kicking off a new podcast (and more) and this is a little of what it's going to be about. We think. Welcome!

The audio of the live event "Lights Like Us" recorded at The Bing Theatre on May 3, 2018. Setting the stage, in a sense, for what is to come… this has been edited slightly to exclude the introduction of the event.