The Rising Podcast with Melanie Penn

In this powerful, long-anticipated conversation, Melanie welcomes renowned Bible scholar and former bishop N.T. Wright (Tom) to discuss the central truth of the Christian faith: the resurrection. Tom unpacks the radical, and often misunderstood, nature of Christ’s physical resurrection as a “new creation prototype” and explains why the ultimate Christian hope is not simply “going to Heaven,” but f...

In this deeply moving episode of The Rising, Melanie sits down with Bible teacher and author Nancy Guthrie for an honest conversation about grief, resurrection, and hope that doesn’t hurry pain along. Nancy shares the story of losing two children, and how walking through profound sorrow reshaped her faith, her compassion, and her understanding of what it means to truly believe in the resurrection....

Does believing in life after death actually change how you live right now? Dr. Heather Thompson Day, author of What If I’m Wrong?, joins us for a deeply personal conversation about what it means to truly live out faith, especially when life doesn’t go as planned. Heather shares the emotional story of watching her father, a dedicated minister, struggle with Alzheimer’s and financial hardship—a diff...

In this episode of The Rising Podcast, Melanie interviews Dr. Joel C. Elowsky, a distinguished theologian known for his work on the Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture. Dr. Elowsky provides a scholarly deep dive into the resurrection narrative, particularly from the Gospel of John. Listeners will gain insights into the historical and theological perspectives of early Church Fathers on the re...

In this episode of The Rising, host Melanie Penn chats with author and teacher Zach Windahl, who has an amazing knack for helping people really get the Bible in a simple, practical way that changes lives. Zach dives into his latest book, The Bible, Simplified, sharing his perspective on how the whole Bible tells one continuous, overarching story about how much God wants a personal connection with...

In this episode of The Rising, Melanie welcomes scholar Mike Glerup to help widen our understanding of how the resurrection story spread in the earliest days of the church. Together they trace how the news of Jesus’ rising didn’t remain confined to Jerusalem but moved outward quickly, taking root across Africa and shaping communities, languages, and even entire cultures long before Christianity be...

In this compelling episode of The Rising Podcast, host Melanie Penn welcomes Dr. Michael J. Kruger, a leading scholar in New Testament and Early Christianity. Their fascinating discussion goes beyond typical religious debates, exploring the historical evidence surrounding one of humanity's most extraordinary claims: the resurrection of Jesus. Dr. Kruger unpacks the common objections raised by skep...

In this episode of The Rising Podcast, Melanie Penn sits down with Dr. Vincent Bacote, Professor of Theology and Director for the Center for Applied Christian Ethics at Wheaton College. They delve into the oft-told story of “doubting” Thomas from the Bible, exploring why John included this pivotal moment in his gospel and what it reveals about Jesus's patience and understanding of human doubt. Dr....

Pastor J.D. Greear, leader of the rapidly growing Summit Church and author of Everyday Revolutionary: How to Transcend the Culture War and Transform the World, discusses faith amid today’s polarized culture. Drawing from biblical insights, he emphasizes the resurrection as the pivotal answer to doubt and suffering, stating, “Faith is accepting what you cannot understand based on what you can under...

Pastor, apologist, and author Sam Allberry joins The Rising to talk with Melanie Penn about faith, doubt, and the hope we find in the resurrection of Jesus. Sam shares his journey from skeptic to pastor, how he thinks about offering hospitality to those who struggle with belief, and why the resurrection is both the most “absurd” and the most compelling truth at the heart of Christianity. Together,...

In this captivating episode of The Rising Podcast, Melanie Penn sits down with authors Thomas West and Trevin Wax to explore the profound implications of Jesus’ ascension and the resurrection for humanity today. Drawing from their new book, The Gospel Way Catechism, Trevin and Thomas delve into how the resurrection is not merely a past event, but a “new beginning” of God’s new creation, impacting...

In this Christmas episode of The Rising, host Melanie Penn talks with acclaimed author Sally Lloyd-Jones, best known for The Jesus Storybook Bible and her latest release, Jesus Our True Friend: Stories to Fill Your Heart with Joy. Sally shares how she approaches writing about the life of Jesus in a way that’s both imaginative and true, and how the story of Christmas points forward to the hope of t...

In this episode of The Rising, Melanie interviews Pastor Saleem Shalash, founder of Jesus the King Church in Nazareth and leader of the largest Israeli-Arab humanitarian aid center, supported by the Joseph Project. Saleem discusses how his ministry bridges ethnic and religious divides by assisting both Arab and Jewish families. He emphasizes the transformative power of faith, grounded in both Old...

This week on The Rising, Melanie Penn sits down with Rev. Dr. Mark Meynell to explore the profound theological implications of Jesus’ scars and the bodily resurrection. Dr. Meynell, a distinguished pastor, writer, and former associate director of Langham Preaching, unpacks how the resurrection is not merely a historical event, but a radical redefinition of life, death, and our very embodiment. Dis...

This week on The Rising, we have a heartwarming conversation with Rev. Chris Lee and his wife, Jenny. Melanie and the Lees delve into the profound mystery of the resurrection, exploring personal moments of belief and the most compelling narratives from the Gospels. They discuss how the seemingly "wild thing to believe" in Jesus's literal resurrection is, for Chris and Jenny, a deeply personal and...

This week on The Rising Podcast, host Melanie welcomes Dr. Kelly Kapic, professor of theology at Covenant College and author of Embodied Hope and You Were Never Meant to Do It All. Kelly shares his journey of faith, his academic work, and reflections on the resurrection of Jesus. He emphasizes that theology should be both pastoral and practical, and that resurrection is not only a future promise b...

In this profound episode of The Rising Podcast, host Melanie Penn welcomes Dr. Christopher Hall, a distinguished theologian and author mentored by J.I. Packer, and former president of Renovare (founded by Richard Foster). Dr. Hall delves into the often-feared topic of death and resurrection, offering a deeply encouraging perspective rooted in the wisdom of the Church Fathers, particularly Augustin...

In this episode of The Rising Podcast, Melanie Penn continues her conversation with Joseph Yoo, diving deeper into the theological complexities of the resurrection, focusing on the often-misunderstood figure of Judas. They discuss Judas not merely as “the betrayer” but as a complex individual whose actions might have stemmed from disillusionment and a different expectation of Jesus’s messianic rol...

In this week’s episode of The Rising Podcast, Melanie Penn speaks with Joseph Yoo, an Episcopal priest known for his dynamic presence on TikTok and other social media platforms. Joseph and Melanie delve into the complexities of the resurrection and the often-overlooked period of Holy Saturday. Joseph emphasizes that it’s normal to have questions about faith, highlighting that certainty is the oppo...

This week we take another deep dive into the story of the resurrection with biblical scholar Pete Enns. Together, Melanie and Pete explore the historical context of the Bible, the varying accounts of the resurrection, and its impact on everyday life. Pete and Melanie discuss everything from the counterintuitive nature of the Easter story to the broader concept of resurrection in Jewish belief, and...

In this inspiring episode of The Rising Podcast, Melanie sits down with author and Bible teacher Margaret Feinberg to discuss what it means to live daily in the spirit of the resurrection. Margaret shares profound insights from the resurrection narrative, highlighting the significance of Christ entrusting the message to women and what that means for us today. She also introduces practical ways to...

In this episode of The Rising Podcast, join Melanie as she welcomes her long-time collaborator and friend, award-winning music producer Ben Shive. Ben, known for his incredible musical talent and insight, has produced all of Melanie’s albums, including The Rising, a resurrection album they co-wrote. They delve into their creative process, discussing how they crafted songs inspired by scripture, na...

In this compelling episode of The Rising Podcast, Ismail Youssef—also known as Ish of Arabia—is a former Muslim who left Islam to embrace Catholicism, rejecting what he sees as the contradictions, injustices, and oppressive teachings of Muhammad. On the show, Ismail shares his journey of spiritual awakening, revealing how a dream ignited a transformation from Islam to Christianity. Ismail details...

This week on The Rising Podcast, Melanie speaks with Father Ambrose Criste about the resurrection and its meaning for Christians today. Father Ambrose shares his love for the biblical accounts of Jesus’ appearances after His resurrection, including the profound meaning of Mary Magdalene’s encounter with the risen Christ. He also highlights the empty tomb as evidence of the resurrection and the hop...

Historian Molly Worthen, a former skeptic who once envied those with faith, embarked on an unexpected journey toward belief in Jesus' resurrection. Her academic work in American religious history led her to examine Christian claims more deeply. Conversations with a pastor and advice from theologian/Christian apologist Tim Keller prompted her to reconsider her skepticism, as she found the evidence...