That Makes Total Sense!

Dr. Lamar Hardwick is back on the podcast! If you happened to miss our first conversation, I highly recommend you go back and listen. Lamar’s book, Disability and the Church, was the topic and it challenged my theology (in all kinds of good ways!). This time around we talked about his most recent book, How Ableism … Continue reading Ep. 234 – Lamar Hardwick

And the most played episode of 2023 was…my conversation with Jon Ward! Jon Ward is a journalist who has spent the last twenty years covering American politics. He’s also a Christian. And, like so many of us, he was raised in the evangelical culture that is continuing to supply ample obstacles in the terrain as we … Continue reading Ep. 233 – Jon Ward (Top Episodes of 2023: #1)

The countdown continues with the #2 episode of 2023 – Dr. Phuc Luu! In the West, the Christian tradition we have inherited involves certain views of the God of the Bible and violence. It’s something many, if not most, of us have taken for granted in our discipleship. But what about the rich heritage of … Continue reading Ep. 232 – Phuc Luu (Top Episodes of 2023: #2)

I am pumped to continue the top five countdown from 2023 with this amazing conversation with Karen Swallow Prior! Even though the student in me was initially a bit nervous (she is an English professor after all!), I had an absolute blast talking with Karen Swallow Prior for this episode! Her newest book, and our conversation, explore the … Continue reading Episode 231 – Karen Swallow P...

We’re continuing the release of the top 5 episodes of 2023! Up this week, my conversation with Dr. Collin Cornell about his (newly published!) article on God and fellowship. Dr. Collin Cornell is a professor of Bible and Mission at Fuller Theological Seminary. Our conversation for this episode is based on a forthcoming article by Collin … Continue reading Ep. 230 – Collin Cornell...

To start off 2024, I am pleased to re-release the top 5, most listened to episodes of 2023! I just know you’ll enjoy this first installment with Dr. Jen Rosner of Fuller Theological Seminary! It is always a joy to welcome one of my professors to the podcast! This conversation with Jen Rosner was a true gem. … Continue reading Ep. 229 – Jen Rosner (Top Episodes of 2023: #5)

Merry Christmas from our home to yours! How can Mary’s example, help us work toward God’s kingdom when, as Mary, what we speak doesn’t line up with what we see? Luke 1, the commonly read Christmas morning text, contains Mary’s song, her Magnificat. The prophetess sang of the promise of God’s coming kingdom. That the … Continue reading Episode 228 – The Mag...

This one is becoming an annual favorite! Just this week, a friend texted asking for the name of this book – the one I gifted to about a dozen of my girlfriends the year it was released. Each year, Scott Erickson helps bring the season a little closer to home with the ideas heard in … Continue reading Episode 227 – Scott Erickson (re-release!)

It is such a joy for me every time I get to chat with Rev. Dr. Dennis Edwards! (Here are our first two conversations for the podcast.) When I saw the title of his newest book, I knew A.) I *had* to read it! and B.) that I *had* to ask him back on the … Continue reading Episode 226 – Dennis Edwards

This advent book (and conversation!) is not just for the Christmas season. I promise, Kelley Nikondeha‘s words will minister to you all year long! Her book, The First Advent in Palestine tells of some of the forgotten stories surrounding Jesus’ birth. We know he was born in first century occupied Palestine, but what was the political climate … Continue reading Episode 225 – Kelly Nikon...

Woohoo! Dr. Matthew Kaemingk is back on the podcast! And this time, he is talking about the incredibly important subjects of work and worship. Conversations concerning work and worship have abounded in my house for decades. How do we view work? What’s in a calling? What about ministry as a vocation? Where do we see … Continue reading Ep. 224 – Matthew Kaemingk

Professor Dr. Greg Garrett of Baylor University has written a wonderful book on the prophet James Baldwin. For those who may not be familiar, James Baldwin was an author and civil rights leader who was born in New York and lived out his middle years and final days in Europe. While his life ended, his … Continue reading Episode 223 – Greg Garrett

It was a wonderful privilege to chat with Dr. Jennifer Holberg. If you listened to my conversation with (the Notorious) Karen Swallow Prior, you’ll remember that I get a little nervous talking with English professors, haha!, but, like KSP, Jennifer was a delight! Jennifer teaches at Calvin University where she is the chair of the … Continue reading Episode 222 – Jennifer Holberg

Robert P. Jones is the president and founder of Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) and the author of several books, including his most recent The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy, which is the topic of this conversation. In it, Robert connects the founding of the U.S., specifically the genocide and removal of Native peoples, with … Continue reading Episode 221 – Robert P. Jones

I did not know this book (and this conversation!) with Dr. Chanequa was exactly what I needed right now. Dr. Chanequa, as a psychologist, professor, and preacher, encourages and challenges that self-care ought not be an afterthought in our daily lives. Also being true, self-care doesn’t only consist of the things we’ve been socialized to … Continue reading Episode 220 – Dr....

This conversation with Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon was originally released in December of 2021. In it, Mae gives a brief, but rich, balanced, and incredibly well-informed explanation of the history of the Israel/Palestinian conflict. Mae is the executive director of Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP), a coalition working to promote sound U.S. policy as … Continue reading Episode 219 &#...

It was a pleasure to host Alicia Akins again on the podcast! If you missed her the first time around, I encourage you to go back and take a listen. This time, we chatted about her new book, The Gift of the Outsider. As someone who identifies as an outsider in many ways and in … Continue reading Episode 218 – Alicia Akins

I’ll take any excuse I can get to talk with Shannan Martin! This time we chatted about her most recent book release, Start With Hello, about being neighbors. (Last time we chatted about her first book, Falling Free, which celebrated its book birthday the day we recorded this interview!) On the surface, it seems simple … Continue reading Episode 217 – Shannan Martin

In the West, the Christian tradition we have inherited involves certain views of the God of the Bible and violence. It’s something many, if not most, of us have taken for granted in our discipleship. But what about the rich heritage of Christians in Eastern traditions? How do they teach and learn and experience God … Continue reading Episode 216 – Phuc Luu

Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove’s 2019 release, Revolution of Values, is just as pertinent and applicable as it was when he was writing it. He had me from page 1! Jonathan presents that over the last several decades, white conservative Christians have framed certain issues as the main ones that warrant our concern to the neglect of others. … Continue reading Episode 215 – Jonathan Wils...

Dr. Collin Cornell is a professor of Bible and Mission at Fuller Theological Seminary. Our conversation for this episode is based on a forthcoming article by Collin that puts some question marks over the grand biblical narrative many of us have come to take for granted. For me, the topic of fellowship as it relates … Continue reading Episode 214 – Collin Cornell

Scot McKnight is on the podcast! His new release Revelation for the Rest of Us hit home for me. Turns out, Scot and I grew up in church communities that were teaching similar things about this mysterious book. The “literal” interpretations of Revelation often led to great (and scary!) speculations about what the end of … Continue reading Episode 213 – Scot McKnight

Dr. Dennis Edwards is back! If you missed our first conversation, be sure to go back and listen – you’ll be glad you did! This time we chatted about a book that was just released, edited by Dennis and Lisa Bowens called Do Black Lives Matter? In this conversation, we talk about a few of … Continue reading Episode 212 – Dennis Edwards

Talking with professors is just about one of my favorite things to do (both on and off the podcast) and this conversation with Dr. Carmen Joy Imes definitely reinforced that joy for me! We chatted about her most recent book release, Being God’s Image. Literally, from Genesis to Revelation, Carmen writes on what it means … Continue reading Episode 211 – Carmen Joy Imes

Andrew Whitehead has researched and written extensively on Christian nationalism. His most recent book, American Idolatry, defines Christian nationalism and explains why it is so problematic. While he does have other academic resources on the topic, this text is directed toward us – the lay Christian in America (don’t worry – there are still plenty … Continue reading Episod...