Maybe I'm Amazed

Dr. Howell talks with Marcia Ellis, a human development professional and author of Your Career Is Calling , about career and personal development. She shares insights from more than 30 years of helping individuals navigate career decisions, offering practical wisdom on aligning work with values, rediscovering purpose, and taking meaningful steps toward a more fulfilling professional life. Ellis ho...

Dr. Howell talks with Rev. Kate Murphy, pastor of The Grove in Charlotte and author of Lost, Hidden, Small: Finding the Way of Jesus Where We Never Think to Look. She reflects on the gap between the Jesus we meet in Scripture and the habits of the modern church, and why seeking God in discomfort, smallness, and unlikely places can reshape our faith. Rev. Murphy earned both an M.Div. and an STM fro...

Dr. Howell talks with Dr. Mary Martha Bledsoe Felkner, a beloved pediatrician and author of In the Room: A Physician's Reflections on Hurting, Healing, and Living. She shares stories from her years of caring for children and families, the lessons she learned about waiting, listening, and presence, and how those experiences shaped her writing. Dr. Felkner received her medical degree from the UNC Sc...

Dr. Howell talks with Jennifer Vollmer about the inequality and injustice in our court and justice systems, and how community support and court advocacy help people going through these difficult processes. Jennifer is the co-founder and executive director of the North Carolina Community Justice Center and works directly with the justice system to help people navigate the system.

Dr. Howell talks with Shannon Klug, an Air Force veteran, parent, and activist, about how individuals and faith communities can help prevent gun violence and build a culture of responsibility, compassion, and care. Shannon shares her experiences and highlights how thoughtful conversations and small actions can lead to real change. Shannon is the Be SMART Lead for North Carolina and a member of the...

Dr. James Howell talks with Dr. Ben Gosden, senior pastor at Trinity United Methodist Church in Savannah, GA, about recovery and his new book,  Grace Rediscovered: Finding Hope and Healing Through Faith and Recovery.  Ben earned his M.Div and D. Min at Candler School of Theology. Ben is a husband, father, and Jesus follower. He is also a person who lives to be sober one day at a time in the hope t...

Dr. Howell talks with Boris Henderson about the impacts of gentrification and displacement in communities, and how churches and other organizations can support justice, community engagement, and housing stability in vulnerable neighborhoods. Boris is the Senior Director of Community Engagement & Philanthropy at Aldersgate. He holds a Doctor of Ministry degree from Hood Theological Seminary and has...

In this special episode, Dr. Jonathan Page of the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church (VAUMC) interviews Dr. Howell about the election and spirituality as part of their series,  Voting While Christian . As the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election draws nearer, the VAUMC will share resources with their conference on topics ranging from how to have hard conversations to the impact on commu...

Dr. Howell speaks with Marty Folsom, a relational theologian and counselor, about the theology of Karl Barth and how we can find freedom through a relationship with God. Folsom holds a PhD in Theology from the University of Otago and has authored numerous books including two recent volumes of  Karl Barth's Church Dogmatics for Everyone. 

Dr. Howell discusses the state of the church, technology, and AI with Tim Dalrymple, President and CEO of Christianity Today. Dalrymple was the founder and CEO of Polymath Innovations, held multiple leadership positions at Patheos, and was a teaching fellow at Harvard University. He has degrees in Philosophy and Religious Studies from Stanford, an MDiv from Princeton Theological Seminary, and a Ph...

Dr. Howell talks with Tommy Tomlinson about his experiences in journalism and writing and his new book, Dogland: Passion, Glory, and Lots of Slobber at the Westminster Dog Show.   For 23 years, Tomlinson was a reporter and columnist for the Charlotte Observer , where he was a finalist for the 2005 Pulitzer Prize in commentary. He has written for Esquire ,  ESPN the Magazine , Sports Illustrated , ...

Dr. Howell talks with Wesley Vander Lugt, author of Beauty is Oxygen: Finding a Faith that Breathes, about how beauty can revitalize our souls and offer us hope. A pastor and theologian, Vander Lugt is the acting director of the Leighton Ford Center for Theology, the Arts, and Gospel Witness and Adjunct Professor of Theology at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He holds a PhD in Theology, Imagi...

Dr. Howell speaks with Katy Stockton about the importance of nature, her passion for climbing, and her role in search and rescue at Yosemite National Park.

Dr. Howell speaks with Dr. Rebecca Bruff, author of Trouble the Water , the award-winning book about the life of Robert Smalls, exploring how historical fiction offers a unique perspective on his motivations and relationships. Dr. Bruff  is a graduate of Texas A&M University and Southern Methodist University, where she earned her Masters and Doctorate degrees in Theology.

Dr. Howell talks with Greg Jarrell about the ongoing and historical systems of inequality that result in urban renewal and gentrification, and the role religion plays in that process. Greg is a scholar, cultural organizer, and the author of  Our Trespasses: White Churches and the Taking of American Neighborhoods. 

Dr. Howell hosts Kate Bowler, New York Times bestselling author, host of the Everything Happens podcast, and Duke University professor. Kate shares her journey of finding resilience amidst life's challenges and looks deeper into the themes of her new book, Have a Beautiful, Terrible Day !

Dr. Howell talks with Matt Miofsky about faith and the importance of spiritual practice in everyday life. Founder and Lead Pastor of The Gathering, a United Methodist Church in St. Louis, Missouri, Matt is also the author of several books, including his latest, The Methodist Book of Daily Prayer. Matt graduated from Washington University, where he played football, and completed his Master's of Div...

Dr. Howell talks with award-winning biographer and bestselling author Jonathan Eig about his recent biographies of Martin Luther King, Jr. ( King: A Life ) and Muhammad Ali ( Ali: A Life ). Eig's  books have been listed among the best of the year by  The New York Times ,  The Washington Post , and  The Wall Street Journal . Eig studied journalism at Northwestern University, and was a reporter for ...

Dr. Howell talks with Ken Howle about Lake Junaluska's rich history of hospitality and connection. Howle, executive director and a long-time leader at Lake Junaluska, oversees its preservation, development, and outreach, ensuring it will continue to be a sacred place of renewal and transformation for generations to come. 

Dr. Howell talks with Laura Belcher, President & CEO of Habitat Charlotte Region, about the history and life-changing work of Habitat for Humanity. 

In October, Dr. Howell and Dr. Mark Holland, co-founder and executive director of Mainstream UMC, an advocacy group working for unity in the Body of Christ and the United Methodist Church. Together, talked about where the United Methodist Church is right now, what is coming up at General Conference in May, when our future will be decided, what's at stake, and how we can be involved.

Dr. Howell talks with Jan and Ron Kimble about their daughter Jamie and how domestic violence changed their lives forever. Now, through the Jamie Kimble Foundation for Courage, they are sharing their story to help prevent domestic and intimate partner violence and encourage healthy relationships.

Dr. Howell talks with Rev. Dr. Clifford Matthews about his journey as a pastor and a therapist and his work on citywide initiatives to address race, affordable housing, and poverty. A graduate of Duke Divinity School, Dr. Matthews is the senior pastor of St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church and is a Licensed Clinical Social Work Associate. 

Dr. Howell talks with Jeremy Coffey, founder of Good Soles, an organization that provides steel-toed boots and non-slip shoes to our neighbors in need while they transition out of homelessness. Good Soles was born out of a random act of kindness at a stop light and has provided more than 6,500 pairs of footwear over the last five years.

Dr. Howell talks with Wil Bailey about his experiences with mission work in Costa Rica and the value of building relationships and being church together. A North Carolina Conference Missionary, Wil received his Master of Divinity degree from Duke University Divinity School in May 2003 and has been commissioned as a United Methodist Volunteers in Mission Individual Volunteer.