Spiritual, Not Religious

Grab your sunscreen and roll the windows down — it's the summertime kickoff to Spiritual, Not Religious! Hosts Shawn, James, and Mollie use the metaphor of the road trip to dig into one of the biggest questions facing young adults and emerging adults today: am I supposed to find myself, or am I meant to be found? In this episode, the trio shares personal road trip stories — from Mollie's mission t...

In this episode of Spiritual, Not Religious , Shawn, James, and Mollie explore the “gospel of fear” that often shapes culture, politics, and faith communities—and why that message can be especially harmful for young and emerging adults. Together, they reflect on the difference between healthy fear and controlling fear, the ways fear can divide us into “us” and “them,” and how Jesus continually cal...

In this episode of Spiritual, Not Religious , Shawn, James, and Mollie explore the complicated but deeply important topic of vulnerability, especially within faith communities. Together they reflect on how churches often fail to feel like safe places for honesty, with James and Shawn sharing personal experiences of church environments where openness felt risky rather than healing, while Mollie nam...

In this episode of Spiritual, Not Religious , Shawn, Mollie, and James explore the “mismatched messages” many people—especially young adults—receive from faith communities: a proclaimed gospel of love, hope, and welcome paired with exclusion, judgment, and rejection. Using real examples (including LGBTQ+ inclusion, “love the sinner/hate the sin,” Christian nationalism, and nostalgia for a “golden...

In “Guilt, Shame, and the Stories We Tell Ourselves — Part 2,” the Spiritual Not Religious team continues their deep dive into the difference between guilt and shame and explores how the church has sometimes used both for formation—and, at times, for control. Drawing on insights from Brené Brown and faith-based counseling language that frames guilt as conviction and shame as condemnation, the conv...

In this first episode of a two-part series, the Spiritual Not Religious crew explores the difference between guilt and shame—and why confusing them can quietly shape our identity, relationships, and mental health. Guilt tends to focus on behavior (“I did something bad”) and can open a path toward honesty, repair, and growth. Shame sinks deeper (“I am bad”) and often thrives in secrecy, people-plea...

In this episode of Spiritual, Not Religious , Shawn Winburn, Mollie June Miller Bachman, and cohost James Henry sit down with Dr. Tanita Maddox (Young Life’s National Director for Generational Impact and a Gen Z researcher) to explore insights from her book What Gen Z Really Wants to Know About God . With warmth and humor (including a memorable “Ghostbusters of hot chocolate” backpack), Tanita sha...

The hosts of Spiritual, Not Religious return from a two-month hiatus with a Thanksgiving-week conversation about being grateful for doubt. Shawn, James, and Mollie swap stories from their own faith upbringings—where questions were sometimes discouraged—and contrast that with the safe, curious spaces they now try to create for young and emerging adults. Drawing on biblical examples (Thomas, Peter,...

In this eleventh episode of Spiritual, Not Religious , Shawn, Mollie, and James explore why many young people say faith matters yet struggle to let it shape everyday choices. Drawing on campus ministry experience, Aramaic insights about wholeness and “shalom,” and the fruit of the Spirit, they contrast “looking spiritual” with actually loving people in concrete ways—kindness, courage, and integrit...

In this tenth episode of Spiritual, Not Religious , hosts Shawn Winburn, James Henry, and Mollie June Miller Bachman welcome their very first guest, Bridget Williams, for a thoughtful conversation on the tension between following Jesus’ teachings and worshiping him. Bridget shares her spiritual journey from a Catholic upbringing to her current work with Appalachia Service Project in Kentucky, high...

WE'RE BACK AND GLAD TO BE! In this thoughtful and spirited episode of Spiritual, Not Religious , hosts James, Mollie, and Shawn return after a springtime hiatus to explore the question that often confuses and overwhelms emerging adults: why are there so many Christian denominations, and do they help or hinder our spiritual growth? Reflecting on their own transitions—James’s move to a new church, M...

In this heartfelt and often humorous episode of Spiritual Not Religious , hosts James Henry, Mollie June Miller, and Shawn Winburn dive deep into the power and accessibility of contemplative spiritual practices—especially for young and emerging adults navigating chaotic transitions and soul-deep questions. From centering prayer to breath work, yoga, journaling, and sacred word meditation, the trio...

In this heartfelt and engaging episode, hosts James, Mollie, and Shawn explore the complexities facing young and emerging adults as they navigate the uncertain terrain of calling, purpose, and expectations. With honesty and humor, they reflect on cultural pressures around success, the challenges of student debt and cost of living, and the misconception that not having it all figured out by your 20...

The podcast episode of Spiritual Not Religious explores the deep spiritual longings of young adults and their evolving relationship with faith and church. Hosts Shawn, Mollie, and James discuss a recent study from Faith for Exiles that identifies three key desires among emerging adults: a faith that connects with their world, a belief that God is more active outside traditional church walls, and a...

In this episode of Spiritual Not Religious , hosts Shawn Winburn, Mollie June Miller, and James Henry dive into the roadblocks that hinder faith journeys, particularly for young adults navigating spirituality outside traditional religious spaces. They discuss how rigid theology, church hurt, and institutional barriers often push the spiritually curious away—and explore ways to reimagine faith comm...

In this episode of Spiritual, Not Religious , hosts Mollie June Miller, Shawn Winburn, and James Henry dive into one of the most foundational and complex topics in faith: Who is God? They explore how our understanding of God shapes every other relationship in our lives, drawing from a thought-provoking quote by Pastor Brian Erickson. The hosts discuss the many ways people perceive God—from an auth...

If you’ve ever wrestled with the question of whether God speaks—and if so, how to hear that voice amid life’s noise—this episode of Spiritual Not Religious is for you. Hosts Mollie June Miller, Shawn Winburn, and James Henry dive deep into the complexities of hearing God in a world filled with competing voices. They explore personal experiences, biblical stories, and practical spiritual practices—...

We've said we're spiritual, not religious. But just what does "religious" mean? Are our differences irreconcilable?

Figuring out who we are is a lifelong journey. In this podcast, we share some thoughts about what identity is.

Hey, we hope you will join us for our twice monthly podcast that drops live at 8:00AM Eastern on Wednesday, January 8, 2025. This is a short teaser invite. See you there!