Spiritual Misfits Podcast

About This Series Over six weeks, we're sharing keynote talks and discussions from the second Future Church Conference, held at the Tram Sheds in Glebe. This gathering brought together church leaders, pastors, and Jesus-followers passionate about creating safer, more inclusive faith communities. Whether you're leading church, leaving church, unsure about the whole thing, or just curious...

About This Series Over six weeks, we're sharing keynote talks and discussions from the second Future Church Conference, held at the Tram Sheds in Glebe. This gathering brought together church leaders, pastors, and Jesus-followers passionate about creating safer, more inclusive faith communities. Whether you're leading church, leaving church, unsure about the whole thing, or just curious...

About This Series Over six weeks, we're sharing keynote talks and discussions from the second Future Church Conference, held at the Tram Sheds in Glebe. This gathering brought together church leaders, pastors, and Jesus-followers passionate about creating safer, more inclusive faith communities. Whether you're leading church, leaving church, unsure about the whole thing, or just curious...

What might it mean to meet God in the darkness, as well as the light?  Carolyn Meers guides us through a contemplative and poetic reflection coinciding with the winter solstice.  Want to reach out and let us know your thoughts or suggestions for the show? Send us a message here; we’d love to hear from you. The Spiritual Misfits Survival Guide (FREE): https://www.spiritualmisfits.com.au/survivalgui...

About This Series Over six weeks, we're sharing keynote talks and discussions from the second Future Church Conference, held at the Tram Sheds in Glebe. This gathering brought together church leaders, pastors, and Jesus-followers passionate about creating safer, more inclusive faith communities. Whether you're leading church, leaving church, unsure about the whole thing, or just curious...

About This Series Over six weeks, we're sharing keynote talks and discussions from the second Future Church Conference, held at the Tram Sheds in Glebe. This gathering brought together church leaders, pastors, and Jesus-followers passionate about creating safer, more inclusive faith communities. Whether you're leading church, leaving church, unsure about the whole thing, or just curious...

About This Series   Over six weeks, we're sharing keynote talks and discussions from the second Future Church Conference , held at the Tram Sheds in Glebe. This gathering brought together church leaders, pastors, and Jesus-followers passionate about creating safer, more inclusive faith communities. Whether you're leading church, leaving church, unsure about the whole thing, or just curio...

In this episode of Spiritual Misfits, Will Small continues his "Reclaiming the Language" series with Karina Kreminski, exploring whether the word "mission" is still helpful for progressive Christians or too entangled with colonising mindsets. Karina shares her journey of integrating missiology and mysticism. Together they explore how mystical practices might offer a more humble...

What happens when women speak up about gender inequality in Christian spaces? In this powerful conversation, Dr. Tracy McEwan, Dr. Rosie Clare Shorter, and Dr. Tanya Riches discuss their research on "feminist complaint collectives" across Catholic, Anglican, and Pentecostal traditions. Drawing on Sara Ahmed's work, they explore how women who raise concerns about sexism often "b...

In this powerful conversation, Will Small sits down with Andrew Dodd and Scott Higgins from Hamilton Baptist Church following their historic disaffiliation from the NSW/ACT Baptist Association after 99 years of membership (the first time this has happened in the 150+ year history of the Association). After a six-year bureaucratic process, Hamilton Baptist and Canberra Baptist were formally removed...

In this illuminating conversation, Will Small speaks with Jana Holland, founder of Celu Selah Wellness, about the powerful intersection of neuroscience, spirituality, and somatic healing.  In this episode: Jana shares her fascinating backstory of traveling as a nomadic folk family band through 26 countries over 12 years, and how this experience shaped her understanding of spiritual connection The...

In this episode of Spiritual Misfits, Will Small interviews Robyn Whitaker, a biblical scholar specialising in the Book of Revelation. They discuss Robyn's journey of faith, her experiences as a spiritual misfit, and the relevance of apocalyptic literature in today's world. The conversation delves into the political implications of Revelation, the nature of divine violence, and the hopef...

In this special Easter episode, Will Small and Mitch Forbes explore the meaning of Jesus' death and resurrection beyond traditional frameworks. They discuss alternative understandings of atonement, René Girard's scapegoat theory, and how the Easter story reveals God's non-violent love rather than divine wrath. Key Topics: Rethinking traditional atonement theories The problem with vi...

 In this thought-provoking episode Will Small welcomes back Karl Hand to explore the often misunderstood concepts of sin and grace. As part of our series examining challenging theological concepts, this conversation offers fresh perspectives on terms that have sometimes been weaponised against marginalised communities. About Karl Hand Karl Hand is a pastor with the Metropolitan Community Church an...

In this episode, Will talks with Kevin Sweeney about his new book "The Cosmic Christ and the Concrete Jesus: Mystics, the Black Prophetic Tradition, and Why I'm Still a Christian." Kevin shares how the mystics gave him the Cosmic Christ, while the Black prophetic tradition offered him the Concrete Jesus. Together, these traditions help us embrace both the universal presence of divin...

What happens when the word "salvation" drops out of your vocabulary? In this thoughtful conversation, Will Small is joined by Becca De Souza and Carolyn Meers to explore how our understanding of salvation can evolve beyond formulas and altar calls toward something more communal, justice-oriented, and present. Together they wrestle with questions of what we're being saved from, who&a...

Welcome back to another Pub Theology episode! Will Small reunites with the good Rev Mitch Forbes to revisit a spicy topic: hell and the afterlife.  "Is justice in God's realm retributive or restorative? That's the whole question." What We Cover: The three main theological perspectives on hell and the afterlife Why Mitch and Will have both embraced Christian universalism How our...

In this powerful episode Will Small welcomes Chalise van Wyngaardt (they/them), also known as Boy Renaissance, for a deeply moving conversation about faith, queerness, and finding belonging in spirituality and expression through poetry. Episode Highlights: Chalise's Journey : From growing up in Baptist and Pentecostal churches to discovering their queer identity at 16, Chalise shares their ex...

LIVE: Is Christianity Still Good News? (Panel Discussion from 2023) Originally recorded June 2023 In this timely replay from our archives, we revisit a powerful live panel discussion that feels more relevant than ever. As we navigate 2025's challenging landscape of rising Christian nationalism and global uncertainty, four thoughtful voices offer alternative perspectives on Christianity's...

The conversation revolves around the Religious Trauma Collective, a group formed by Jane Kennedy, Samantha Sellers and Elise Heerde. They discuss the importance of recognising and addressing religious trauma, the context of this issue in Australia and New Zealand, and the differences between healthy and unhealthy religious environments. The Collective aims to provide resources, support, and commun...

Join Will and Marla Taviano for a wholefarted conversation about creativity, authenticity, and finding freedom beyond religious labels. From writing conservative marriage books to creating protest art from James Dobson literature, Marla shares her journey of unlearning and discovering what it means to truly come alive. In this episode we discuss: The origin story of "living whole farted"...

Mikenzie Ling shares her journey as a proud Wiradjuri woman navigating her identity and faith. She discusses her roles in community engagement and Indigenous theology, reflecting on her experiences growing up with challenges at home and a strong sense of emerging spirituality. Mikenzie explores the complexities of her relationship with God, the impact of her cultural background, and the integratio...

In this conversation, Jonathan Cornford discusses his journey of living simply and the implications of faith on economics. The discussion explores the historical context of Christianity's relationship with capitalism, the importance of community, and the challenges of navigating guilt and shame in economic choices. In this conversation, Will and Jonathan explore the complexities of economic s...

Sarah Bacaller is the editor of 'Apostate: Stories of Deconversion.' In this conversation Sarah and Will explore themes of apostasy, the fragility of fundamentalist faith, and the importance of listening to personal stories of deconstruction and/or loss of faith. They discuss the cultural contexts of Christianity in the US and Australia, the challenges of engaging with differing beliefs,...

In this conversation, Geoff Bullock shares his profound journey of faith, music, and the complexities of his time with Hillsong. He reflects on his early days in the church, the creation of the Hillsong music team, and the pivotal moments that shaped his spiritual life. Bullock discusses the rise and fall of Hillsong, expressing his grief over its trajectory while emphasizing the importance of sep...