The Expansionist Podcast

Send us Fan Mail Imagine stepping into a story that has been told for generations, only to discover there's another way of seeing it entirely. Shelley and Heather invite us to reconsider the foundation stories that have shaped women's spiritual identity for centuries. Beginning with a delightful childhood tale of "stealing" Mary Magdalene from the Sunday school flannel graph, t...

Send us Fan Mail What if the cosmic significance and divine orchestration of our lives were revealed in an ancient text? Together, we'll unravel the profound connection between the vast universe and our everyday experiences. Focusing on Mary 6:1-2, we'll discuss Peter's acknowledgment of Jesus' extraordinary love for Mary Magdalene and her unique spiritual perception.  Moreover...

Send us Fan Mail Its a great, great day here and we are just thrilled to share the mic with Shannon Evans. In her latest book, "The Mystics Would Like A Word," Shannon highlights the profound legacy of women mystics like Marjorie Kemp, Catherine of Siena, and Teresa of Avila who trusted their own souls despite living in deeply patriarchal contexts. Their witness offers guidance for conte...

Send us Fan Mail What if everything you thought you knew about sin was actually keeping you from experiencing true joy? In this thought-provoking episode, Shelley and Heather challenge conventional religious narratives around sin, offering a liberating perspective that centers on love rather than separation. The conversation begins with a simple yet profound question: Do we need to confess sin to...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when we put down the stories that have limited us and pick up a pen to write our own? In this illuminating conversation with renowned author Laurie Beth Jones, we journey through the liberating practice of questioning inherited narratives and crafting something more authentic. Laurie Beth challenges us to recognize Jesus as the ultimate "plot twist" in spiri...

Send us Fan Mail What happens when you challenge traditional beliefs and set out on a path of expansive theology? Dr. Matte Downey joins us to unravel the mysteries of faith in a world hungry for diverse narratives. Her book, "Go Wide," serves as a beacon, guiding us through the transformative power of storytelling, from biblical parables to the enchanting worlds of C.S. Lewis and Tolkie...

Send us Fan Mail Imagine if your ordinary morning coffee could serve as a conduit for divine joy. Shelley Shepard and Heather Drake invite you to explore this notion as we celebrate the Advent season by discovering joy amidst the ordinary. Through Mary's extraordinary story, we learn how everyday rituals, like savoring a cup of coffee, can become holy moments that ground us in love and holine...

Send us Fan Mail What does true peace mean in a world fraught with noise and chaos? Join us as we journey into the heart of Advent, a time rich with themes of hope, peace, love, and joy. We offer our gratitude for a year of the Expansionist Podcast by exploring the Hebrew and Greek concepts of peace—"shalom" and "irene"—which invite us to rethink peace not just as an absence of...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever wondered how hope can be both a gentle feather and a gritty sewer rat? That's exactly what we explore in this thought-provoking episode of the Expansionist Podcast. We start with two powerful poems: Emily Dickinson's "Hope is the Thing with Feathers" and Caitlin Sudea's contemporary reimagining, "Hope is Not a Bird, Emily, it's a Se...

Send us Fan Mail What if a simple shift in perspective could turn your life from scarcity to abundance? Join us as we uncover the incredible power of gratitude with insights from our guests, Shelley Shepard and Heather Drake. Through spiritual texts, studies, and poetry, we explore how gratitude not only aligns us with promises of abundance but also enhances our mental and physical well-being. Our...

Send us Fan Mail Discover the profound lessons of faith and leadership with the insightful Laurie Beth Jones, celebrated author of "Jesus CEO," "The Path," and "Jesus in Blue Jeans." Join us as we explore Laurie Beth's innovative perspectives on Jesus, moving beyond traditional portrayals to uncover his compassionate and revolutionary nature. Through an engaging...

Send us Fan Mail What if the biblical stories we've known all our lives missed crucial voices—particularly those of women? Join us as we sit down with Dr. Froswa Booker-Drew to uncover the forgotten female leaders of the Bible and discover how reinterpreting these stories can empower the next generation of women in leadership. Heather Drake also weighs in on Jesus' revolutionary inclusiv...

Send us Fan Mail Could Mary's gospel offer a more profound understanding of love and faith? On this thought-provoking episode of the Expansionist Podcast, embark on an exploration of Mary Magdalene's life and her unique relationship with Jesus. By reflecting on her actions, like anointing Jesus and proclaiming his resurrection, we invite you to consider how her teachings might inspire ne...

Send us Fan Mail What if your words could break free from societal norms and connect souls on a deeper level? Together, we are exploring how renaming sorrow can become a direct path to divine connection. In our latest episode, we explore this and more with the extraordinary poet Chelan Harkin, whose upcoming book, "The Prophetess," is already making waves. Often compared to the legendary...

Send us Fan Mail Can you truly understand the essence of compassion and how to seamlessly incorporate it into your everyday life? Join us as we explore the profound depths of compassion, distinguishing it from emotions that often masquerade as its kin.  Have you ever considered the question, "Who told you that?" as a compassionate invitation rather than a critique? Together, we challenge...

Send us Fan Mail This stirring episode join a continuing conversation exploring longings and how they shape, our human experience and our divine connections, and have the potential to illuminate our life's true calling. Personal narratives that resonate with anyone who's ever sought something just out of reach, Heather Drake shares how a childhood longing for paternal presence bloomed in...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever felt the echo of ancient patriarchal structures within your faith experience? Liz Cooledge Jenkins joins us with a treasure trove of insights from her book "Nice Churchy, Patriarchy," guiding us through the labyrinth of tradition to spotlight the Divine Feminine.   The conversation takes an enlightening turn as we explore the significance of diverse voices...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever wondered if there's more to spirituality than traditional practices? Join Shelly Shepherd and Heather Drake on a personal and historical journey, where we unearth the divine in the unexpected — from the beauty of a desert drive to the peak of a mountain hike. We weave tales of Joan of Arc, Jesus, and childhood mysticism, inviting you to rediscover the sacred voi...

Send us Fan Mail Embark on a transformative exploration of spirituality with us, as we uncover the untold stories of women mystics who defied the confines of patriarchal traditions to connect with the divine.  Shelly Shepherd and Heather Drake delve into the teachings of Mary Magdalene's gospel, revealing the presence of the divine within each of us. This narrative is not just a tale from the...

Send us Fan Mail Awakening to a vast inner realm, we invite you to listen to our conversation where we  discuss the interplay of wisdom, spirit, and love as the bedrock of our faith journey. Throughout our dialogue, we reflect on how the spirit has been accessible to us in every season of life, emphasizing the vital role of hope in rekindling a connection with the divine, especially when our spiri...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever wondered about the power of the stories you tell yourself? Our latest episode guides you through a tapestry of narratives, love, and the spiritual journey of rewriting our life stories. Bathed in the themes of belovedness and innocence, we tap into the wellspring of love and worthiness that can transform our personal tales into beacons of hope and redemption. We draw...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever felt a tug at your heart, gently reminding you of a truth long forgotten—that you are inherently beloved? We warmly invite you into a heartfelt conversation that explores this very idea, revealing how embracing our belovedness can profoundly enrich our self-perception and divine connection. We unravel the tangled narratives that have for too long obscured this truth,...

Send us Fan Mail Discover your inherent worth and the life-altering power of divine love as we traverse the concept of 'belovedness' in our latest Expansionist Podcast episode. We delve into the transformative impact of understanding ourselves as 'beloved,' a term that signifies our deep connection to divine love and our own intrinsic value. By examining scriptural stories, lik...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever sensed a whisper of wisdom or a nurturing presence guiding you through life's complexities? Today's heartfelt episode draws back the veil on the often overlooked feminine divine, a force that has silently shaped the spiritual landscape across cultures and eras. In this conversation we journey into the sacred interplay between masculine and feminine aspects...

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever considered the true significance of women in the story of Christ's birth? How two women, Mary and Elizabeth, brought a sense of belonging and community to the narrative? Join us, Shelly Shepherd and Heather Drake, as we embark on a journey through the Advent season, spotlighting the often-underestimated roles of Mary and Elizabeth. We discuss their bond and how...