The Women Scholars and Professionals Podcast

“We are worthy to be listened to and attuned to. That is a valid and necessary human need. And the beauty is that it actually makes us able to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.” — Aundi Kolber Therapist Aundi Kolber returns to talk with us about cultivating inner strength, paying attention to our needs, and ways to stay grounded in God's love. Many of us have been raised with the idea that s...

“Scripture and the gospel — they're so much bigger than the categories we use….I want people to open their hearts and minds to what God is saying — not just what they ‘think’ that God is saying.” — Nijay Gupta New Testament professor Nijay Gupta talks with us about women leaders in the early church, the context and culture of these first-century Christians, and what we can learn from these women t...

"Let’s not be afraid to ask questions of the text. God will not be harmed by our questions. Our God is bigger than those questions. So let’s never stop asking tough questions about the Bible." — Love Lazarus Sechrest Womanist biblical scholar Love Sechrest sits down with us to talk about reading Scripture with a disciplined exploration of culture, both in ancient times and today. Let me invite you...

"I think the points of failure are the points where I see God most clearly stepping in and reorienting." — Kendall Vanderslice Baker and theologian Kendall Vanderslice chats with us about the struggles of disordered eating, the search for vocation, her experience as a single woman, and God's presence through it all as we discuss her new memoir. Today I’m excited to share a conversation with Kendal...

"I hope it's a useful text, a text that helps us think about God .. someone with whom we can fall in love." — Bonnie Smith Whitehouse Bonnie Smith Whitehouse talks with us about her professional calling into academia, the wonder of God's created world, and creative habits for spiritual reflection from her new book. I’m excited to invite you into a conversation with Bonnie Smith Whitehouse, English...

"All of the little habits — these urges to check our phones, to check our platforms — those are shaping us." — Felicia Wu Song Listen in on an exclusive peek into our fall book club interview as Women Scholars and Professionals book club host Jasmine Obeyesekere conducts an online discussion with author and sociologist Dr. Felicia Wu Song where they discuss digital habits, community, and spiritual...

Embracing a New Year: Part 5 This year, as we’ve been talking with women in academia, we’ve heard one thing loud and clear: taking time for reflection is the first step in crafting a life that is satisfying, sustainable, and focused on the work God has called us to do. To that end, we’re exploring a practice of short, manageable reflections together this Advent which you can enjoy in audio or writ...

Letting Go: Part 4 This year, as we’ve been talking with women in academia, we’ve heard one thing loud and clear: taking time for reflection is the first step in crafting a life that is satisfying, sustainable, and focused on the work God has called us to do. To that end, we’re exploring a practice of short, manageable reflections together this Advent which you can enjoy in audio or written form,...

Staying Present: Part 3 This year, as we’ve been talking with women in academia, we’ve heard one thing loud and clear: taking time for reflection is the first step in crafting a life that is satisfying, sustainable, and focused on the work God has called us to do. To that end, we’re exploring a practice of short, manageable reflections together this Advent which you can enjoy in audio or written f...

Looking Ahead: Part 2 This year, as we’ve been talking with women in academia, we’ve heard one thing loud and clear: taking time for reflection is the first step in crafting a life that is satisfying, sustainable, and focused on the work God has called us to do. To that end, we’re exploring a practice of short, manageable reflections together this Advent which you can enjoy in audio or written for...

This year, as we’ve been talking with women in academia, we’ve heard one thing loud and clear: taking time for reflection is the first step in crafting a life that is satisfying, sustainable, and focused on the work God has called us to do. To that end, we’re exploring a practice of short, manageable reflections together this Advent which you can enjoy in audio or written form, receiving them in t...

"It’s okay to acknowledge that I have human limits and I can’t do it all." — Bette Dickinson Bette Dickinson talks with us about observing Advent when schedules are full, the spiritual power of art, and the joy of embracing our human limits. Let me invite you into a conversation with Bette Dickinson, artist and author of  Making Room in Advent: 25 Devotions for a Season of Wonder . In this beautif...

"The best place for anything in our inner world to be experienced is with Jesus." — Janice McWilliams Janice McWilliams talks with us about sustainable self-care, cultivating restorative practices for our mental health, and looking to Jesus as an example of a life well-lived. Let me invite you into a conversation with Janice McWilliams, therapist and author of  Restore My Soul: Reimagining Self-Ca...

"What works right now, in this season?" — Cynthia Prescott How do you live well in the midst of a busy season? Three faculty women weigh in with their best practices in this Dear Mentor episode. How do you live well when you’re in a busy season? What practices can help nourish you when there is very little white space at the edges of your life? In this special episode, we’re continuing our series...

"Can there be a place for all of our different styles?" — Eeva Sallinen Simard Authors Beth Birmingham and Eeva Sallinen Simard talk with us about the ways workplace cultures can inhibit the flourishing of women, the strategic importance of women’s contributions, and a framework for repair. A joyful announcement: this is our 100th episode of the podcast! Will you celebrate with us by rating and re...

“We know that the Lord meets our deepest needs and has the ability to heal our deepest hurts, but also — most of the time the Lord uses other people. And so we really need each other.”  — Sheila Wise Rowe Sheila Wise Rowe talks with us about the importance of mental health, the unlikely pairing of lament and celebration, and the complexities of growing up gifted and Black. Let me invite you into a...

"What if the greatest theologians the world has ever known are those whom the world wouldn’t consider theologians at all?" — Kat Armas Kat Armas chats with us about the navigating seminary, grieving over research, and discovering wisdom in unexpected places.  Let me invite you into a conversation with Kat Armas, theologian and author of  Abuelita Faith: What Women on the Margins Teach Us About Wis...

"The problem isn’t with God. The problem is with flawed people — and this is why we need Jesus." — Beth Allison Barr Beth Allison Barr talks with us about speaking up, leaning into questions, and thriving as a woman in academia. Let me invite you into a conversation with Dr. Beth Allison Barr, history professor and author of  The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Go...

"I start off with trying to make sure the student knows someone is looking forward to seeing them." — Jana Young How do you prepare to successfully kick off a new school year? Listen in on our first in a series of episodes where we answer some of your Dear Mentor questions. Let me invite you into a special episode, our first in a series of episodes where we answer some of your Dear Mentor question...

"God has given us the gift of ethnic differences as a conduit to his witness and to the growth of his church." — Helen Lee Join us for this conversation with author Helen Lee as we talk about ways we can cultivate safe environments that support families and church communities leaning into discussions about race. Let me invite you into a conversation with Helen Lee, author and director of product i...

"We're not going to be able to intellectualize our way out of the principality of racism." — Christina Edmondson Join us for this conversation with author and educator Christina Edmondson as we discuss the work of fighting racism in academic contexts and the tools needed for this important task. Let me invite you into a conversation with Christina Edmondson, educator and co-author of  Faithful Ant...

"Only Jesus completes us. Only Jesus can meet us in the deepest places and in the ways that we most need and want and long for in terms of intimacy and wholeness and hope." — Dr. Lisa Sung Listen in on a remarkable roundtable conversation where we hear four thoughtful, faithful women respond to questions about living a full Christian life as a single woman. Let me invite you into a special episode...

"I truly believe that a failure to act on climate change is a failure to love." — Katharine Hayhoe Earth Day is on April 22, 2022! Allow this conversation with climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe to inspire the stewardship of our beautiful planet. Welcome to our special episode honoring Earth Day! Our interview with climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe is so appropriate for this week that we wanted t...

"We have to do this work of discerning, 'What is ours to do?'"​​ — Holly Oxhandler Join us for this conversation with author and professor Holly Oxhandler as we discuss the image of God in each of us, its importance for our own flourishing, and the tools we can harness to learn more about it. Let me invite you into a conversation with Dr. Holly Oxhandler, social work professor and researcher at Ba...

“What we want so much of the time is to have a roadmap, but I think what God is saying is, ‘Walk with me.’”​ — Susan Maros Join us for this conversation with author and professor Susan Maros as we discuss the process of discerning God's calling and the ways our unique contexts inform that journey. Let me invite you into a conversation with Dr. Susan Maros — professor, researcher and leadership coa...