Reclaiming My Theology

In this episode, Brandi is joined by Matt Hornbeck to talk about Christian Nationalism- what it is, how it has come to be so central in the U.S. and how it deforms our faith and view of God. They discuss how to maintain our humanity in the midst of this belief system that insists on treating people like anything other than valuable, human, and whole.  If you want to keep the podcast going, you can...

In this episode in the conitnuing series on the intersection of Christianity and Empire, Brandi is joined by author, teacher, and friend of the podcast Marty Solomon to talk about the idea of "Us vs. Them" and the any ways it distorts the focuses we take to the text, how we view each other, and our own sense of our humanity (shared and individual). They talk about antidotes to this type...

In this penultimate episode before our deeper dive into dominionism, Brandi is joined by author and theologian Kat Armas to talk about the ways that hierarchy undergirds many of our theological and structural assumptions about faith and how, when we subvert hierarchy, we can begin to see God, ourselves, and others (particularly children) anew.  Kat recently released her most recent book  Liturgies...

In this epsiode Brandi is joined by Barnabas Lin and Erna Kim Hackett to talk about state religion and the ways that empires  (throughout history) take on religious identities, co-opt them, and twist exploit them for power, privilege, and influence.  This conversation was inspired by a recent trip they took to the West Bank and work that Brandi has been doing to learn about the genocide in Gaza an...

In this episode Brandi is joined by Andrea Emerson to talk about accelerationsim (political) and the ways that pushing people and systems to rock bottom has been a historic hallmark of destructive Christian practices and how we might choose a different way.  Andrea and a group of folks have dedicated themselves to support the Ouda family, a palestinian family trying to survive and make a way for t...

In this episode, Brandi is joined by Andre Henry to talk about how we move toward social change, pressure power and systems to move, and maintain our humanity as we content for the world that we believe is possible.  You can find Andre's work here ! If you like what you hear you can subscribe, rate, review, or tell others about the show. You can help make the show happen financially on patreo...

In this episode Brandi is joined by Jarrod McKenna to lay a primer foundation about authoritarianism and fascism in the Christian worldview and what we can do to come back to the way of Jesus.  You can find Jarrod's work here and learn more about God 's Story Told By God's Children here ! If you like what you hear you can subscribe, rate, review, or tell others about the show. You c...

In this episode, Brandi is joined by Tracey Gee to talk about the necessity of knowing our desires in the midst of empire. They talk about how unlearning the theology and practices that many of our communities offered us might help us to be more healthy, free, and connected in the face of the powers and tools of empire. You can find Tracey's work here and get the book wherever books are sold!...

In this episode, Brandi is joined by poet and creative David Gate to talk about evangelism and the ways the modern western approaches to it prime Christians toward colonialism, accepting propaganda, and politically violent ideology and practice. You can find David's work at the link above and his substack here! If you like what you hear you can subscribe, rate, review, or tell others about th...

In the episode Brandi is joined by Hailey Mitsui of Soul Reparations to talk about how we can sustain and give attention the well-being of our souls in the midst of ever-loudening imperial realities. OUR 2024 ADVENT DEVOTIONAL ALL OF US, TOGETHER: NAVIGATING ADVENT UNDER THE WEIGHT OF EMPIRE  IS NOW LIVE. You can get a copy at https://www.reclaimingmytheology.org/shop . You can find Hailey's...

In this episode, Brandi sits down with activist Cassie Chee to talk about how state violence is developed, normalized, and can be resisted in the Christian imagination and in our politics. If you like what you hear you can subscribe, rate, review, or tell others about the show. You can help make the show happen financially on patreon at patreon.com/reclaimingmytheology . If you have comments, ques...

In this episode, Brandi is joined by author and storyteller Mariko Clark to talk about how we learn empire and the development of imperial values in how we raise our children and really, how we learn as adults what was never explicitly framed for us. They talk about how the bible is used as a tool to entrench children's thinking into the ways of empire and some of the ways that we can do diff...

In this episode, Brandi is joined by Barnabas Lin to talk about messiahs, kings, and rulers. They discuss the many ways that reliance on so-called sovereign leaders to save them has led not only to idolatry and dysfunction, but also greater enmeshment in systems that oppress and play God.  Barnabas will be facilitating Oriented to Love: A Dialogue about Sexual and Gender Diversity in the Church wi...

In this inaugural episode of Reclaiming [our] Theology from Empire, Brandi is joined by Scott Hall of White People Work to talk about the basics of empire in and out of scripture. This episode was recorded a few months before the 2024 U.S. General Election, so there is conversation about the impact of empire on politics in real time as well as at a more micro/individual level. If you like what you...

This episode part one of a two part Q and A session as we close out this series on purity culture. In this part, we discuss questions about attraction, sexual exploration, what the point of marriage and sex are, some questions about asexuality and the myriad of things that dovetail between. Next episode, we will talk about dating while older, parenting, and healing. You can find Erna's work a...

In this episode, Brandi is joined by Allison Sanders to talk about tradwives. They dive into the history of this broader idea and the ways that it reinforces the binaries, roles, and expectations that build what we know of as purity culture. If you like what you hear you can subscribe, rate, review, or tell others about the show. You can help make the show happen financially on patreon at patreon....

In this episode, Brandi is joined by Dr. Sara Moslener, author of Virgin Nation to do a survey of the politics and history of purity culture. They discuss that purity culture, birthed out of political movements, entrenches us more deeply in racism, social control mechanisms, and conservative politics. You can find her work here and the Pure White Podcast here. If you like what you hear you can sub...

In this epsiode, Brandi is joined by registered psychologist Dr. Hillary McBride to talk about desire. They discuss the ways the desire is tamped in Christian space in ways the stunt or delay development and ways that we can come back to ourselves and our desire as we disengage with purity culture. You can find her work here and the Holy Hurt Podcast here.  You can also find her on socials at @ hi...

In this episode, Brandi is joined by D.L. Mayfield to talk about Christian romance- the industry, the reality, and the implications. They explore the tenants and construction of Christian romance as well as some ways that we can rebuild under less oppressive and limiting ideologies. If you like what you hear you can subscribe, rate, review, or tell others about the show. You can help make the show...

In this episode, Brandi is joined by Sarah Bessey to talk about how we hold onto our spirituality and personhood when we find ourselves outside of the spaces and ideas that formed us. You can find Sarah's work, including her new book here and can find her online at @sarahbessey If you like what you hear you can subscribe, rate, review, or tell others about the show. You can help make the show...

In this episode,  Brandi is joined by Erna Kim Hackett (@liberatedtogether) to explore the concept of virginity, its cultural implications, its theological roots and how it separates us from ourselves, others, and inhibits our relationship with God...maybe just not how we thought it would. Erna Kim Hackett is the founder and leader of Liberated Together where she creates community for Women of Col...

*note- due to a technical glitch, Brandi's audio clips and cuts a bit, our apologies for the technical issues and thank you for your patience. ___ In this episode Brandi is joined by author, theologian, and poet Camille Hernandez to talk about the ways that military metaphors and ideologies shape how we are taught to engage with our own bodies, romance, and sex. They discuss the ways that vio...

In this episode, Brandi is joined by E Kole to talk about consent- what it is, how we learn it, and the places in out spirituality that keep us from being able to do it well.  If you like what you hear you can subscribe, rate, review, or tell others about the show. You can help make the show happen financially on patreon at patreon.com/reclaimingmytheology.  If you have comments, questions, or req...

In this episode Brandi is joined by psychologist, professor, and preacher Dr. Chanequa Walker-Barnes to talk about Sacred Self Care. They discuss the ways that our distorted views of God and self prevent us from being able to create spaces of care and groundedness in out lives. They specifically talk about the ways that purity culture create and perpetuates narratives that make it deeply challengi...

In this episode Brandi is joined by artist and creative Jenny Hall to talk about the role that symbols and images play in our conception of purity culture/ ourselves in it. They explore images, new and old, and ask how engaging with new or new to us images in and our of the scriptures might contribute to our healing. You can find Jenny's work and sign up for her Creative Spirituality class he...