This Is Not Church Podcast

In this episode we chat with Chris Kratzer. Chris Kratzer is a pastor and author of 25 years. His transition away from conservative Evangelicalism has served thousands around the world in discovering a faith that doesn't require one to lose their mind, heart, and self in the process. Chris purposes his writing on being a voice for the spiritually oppressed that they may know they are loved, affirm...

In this episode we chat with Carolyn Whitney-Brown. Dr. Carolyn Whitney-Brown lived at L'Arche Daybreak in Richmond Hill for seven years, and since then has completed projects for L'Arche Canada and L'Arche International. Whitney-Brown completed her B.A. at Victoria College (University of Toronto), and her M.A. and Ph. D. at Brown University (Rhode Island). Carolyn's latest book Flying, Falling, C...

In part 2 we continue our chat with Diana Butler Bass. Diana Butler Bass is an award-winning author, popular speaker, inspiring preacher, and one of America’s most trusted commentators on religion and contemporary spirituality, especially where faith intersects with politics and culture. She holds a doctorate in religious studies from Duke University. Her bylines include The New York Times, the Wa...

In this episode we chat with Diana Butler Bass. Diana Butler Bass is an award-winning author, popular speaker, inspiring preacher, and one of America’s most trusted commentators on religion and contemporary spirituality, especially where faith intersects with politics and culture. She holds a doctorate in religious studies from Duke University. Her bylines include The New York Times, the Washingto...

In this episode we chat with James Early Here is James' bio in his own words. I am a Bible teacher, speaker, blogger, podcaster, soon-to-be author. And I am a “Jesus mindset”coach.  Since October 2008 I have conducted weekly Bible studies at the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, CT. I give talks and conduct workshops on the Bible covering a wide range of topics to churches and groups as...

In this episode we chat with Matthew Korpman. Matthew J. Korpman is a rising biblical scholar, itinerant preacher, and theological arsonist. Currently pursuing his Master of Arts in Religion at Yale Divinity School, he holds four bachelor degrees in Theology, Archaeology, Philosophy, and Screenwriting. He has traveled and excavated in Israel and Jordan, and is proud to call San Diego, California h...

We are honored to have back with us - Alexander John Shaia. Born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, Alexander John was part of a large extended family that had emigrated from Lebanon a generation previously. He grew up immersed in the ancient traditions of Middle Eastern Christianity (Maronite Catholicism) and was expected to become a priest, a family tradition since the year 1300. He was led othe...

In this second part episode we dive deeper into Lisa Sharon Harper's new book Fortune Ms. Harper is the author of several books, including Evangelical Does Not Equal Republican…or Democrat (The New Press, 2008); Left Right and Christ: Evangelical Faith in Politics (Elevate, 2011); Forgive Us: Confessions of a Compromised Faith (Zondervan, 2014); and the critically acclaimed, The Very Good Gospel:...

In this episode we chat with Lisa Sharon Harper Ms. Harper is the author of several books, including Evangelical Does Not Equal Republican…or Democrat (The New Press, 2008); Left Right and Christ: Evangelical Faith in Politics (Elevate, 2011); Forgive Us: Confessions of a Compromised Faith (Zondervan, 2014); and the critically acclaimed, The Very Good Gospel: How Everything Wrong can be Made Right...

In this episode we chat with Susan Cottrell. SUSAN COTTRELL is an international speaker whose TEDx talk has 1.5 million views.  OutSmart  magazine called her “The Mother of All MamaBears.”  The Advocate  dubbed her “our favorite affirming matriarch.” She is a prominent voice for the LGBTQ community and their faith parents who has been featured on ABC’s  20/20 ,  Nightline  and  Good Morning Americ...

In this episode we chat with Carol Wimmer. After twenty-two years of church ministry, as a director of music and artistic ministries, Carol Wimmer felt a call that led her away from the institutional model of the church. From 1996 to 2000, she experienced an intense time of spiritual growth. The new insights opened the door to fresh theological perspectives in three areas of human concern: time, l...

In this episode we chat with Sara Cunningham. Sara Cunningham is an author, activist, and founder of the non-profit organization Free Mom Hugs. Her journey is a surprising one that began in conservative Oklahoma, when her son, Parker, came out as gay. As a woman of faith, Sara wrestled with the news until she began to study, research, and reconcile the two worlds. This journey resulted in her book...

In this episode we chat with Sandhya Jah. Sandhya Jha (she/they) is an anti-oppression consultant who particularly loves helping organizations get Diversity/Equity/Inclusion teams off the ground. Sandhya is the founder and former executive director of the Oakland Peace Center, a collective of 40 organizations working to create equity, access, and dignity as the means of creating peace in Oakland a...

In this episode we chat with...no one but each other. Nat & I thought it would be good to start the new year off with a look back at the last year of the podcast. Chat about the things that caught us off guard. We chat about the guests we had on. We chat about what we were and were not prepared for. We chat about how humbling this experience has been. But mostly, it was just another excuse for us...

In this episode we chat with Hemant Mehta (AKA The Friendly Atheist) Hemant Mehta is the editor of Friendly Atheist, appears on the Atheist Voice channel on YouTube, and co-hosts the uniquely-named Friendly Atheist Podcast. He is a former National Board Certified high school math teacher in the suburbs of Chicago, where he taught for for seven years. He continues to coach their Speech/forensics te...

In this episode we chat with Jonathan Foster. Jonathan Foster is the award-winning author of the following books… • Where Was God on the Worst Day of My Life • Death, Hope, and the Laughter of God: An Unlikely Title About the Unlikely Path Where God Finds Us • Questions about Sexuality that Got Me Uninvited from My Denomination • The Hope and Melvin of Humanity and Other Surprising Short Stories T...

In This episode we chat with Eric Howell & Jason Elam. Eric is a husband a father of two, and audio wizard. He is the man behind the curtain of deconstruction podcast.  Producing shows such as Heretic Happy Hour, The Messy Spirituality Podcast, The Reconstruction Podcast, and this very show - This Is Not Church. He hails from Arab, Alabama. He dislikes Brussel sprouts and legalism. This is Jason’s...

In This episode we chat with Bayo Akomolafe. Bayo Akomolafe is the grateful life-partner to ‘EJ’, father to Alethea Aanya and Kyah Jayden Abayomi, son of Olufunmilayo Ibidapo Akomolafe and Ignatius Abayomi Akomolafe, and descendant of Yoruba fields of archetypal becomings and mythopoeic landscapes. He is an author, celebrated speaker, teacher, and self-styled  trans-public intellectual  (a concept...

In This episode we chat with Josh Lawson. Josh Lawson lives with his family in Wheelersburg Ohio, where he serves his community in a variety of roles as recovery program coordinator for the Shawnee State University Kricker Innovation Hub. He works to connect people in recovery with entrepreneurial skills and services that will help them succeed in life. He also chairs the faith-based sub community...

In this Episode we chat with Jeff Chu. Here is Jeff's bio in his own words. I wear several different hats to cover my coarse Chinese hair, which requires too much product to tame: Writer, reporter, editor. Co-curator and co-host, with Sarah Bessey, Of Evolving Faith. Editor-at-large at Travel & Leisure. Occasional preacher. Teacher in residence at Crosspointe Church. Ordinand in the Reformed Churc...

In this Episode we chat with David Gungor. David is a musician, a pastor at Trinity Grace Tribeca, the Director of Partnerships for a peacemaking organization called Telos, and the CEO of Higher Love.  David is also a producer and songwriter, and is in a band called The Brilliance. David is involved with Narrative $, a global organization headed up by some of the world's most renowned and influent...

In this Episode we chat with Peri Zahnd. Peri Zahn is the co-pastor of Word of Life Church in St. Joseph MO. Along with her husband Brian. They have committed their entire adult life to this calling and Word of life just celebrated 40 years. She was trained in spiritual direction by Benedictine Sisters and is completing a master’s in ministry now through St. Stephens University in New Brunswick Ca...

In this episode we talk with Brian Zahnd. Brian Zahnd is the founder and lead pastor of Word Of Life Church, a non-denominational Christian congregation in Saint Joseph, Missouri. Brian and his wife, Peri, founded the church in 1981. Brian is also the author of several books, including, Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God ,  Water to Wine ,  A Farewell To Mars ,  Beauty Will Save the World , Unco...

In this episode we talk with Todd Vick. Todd is a husband, father, grandfather, bestselling author, award-winning writer, podcaster, and conference speaker. His first book,  The Renewing of Your Mind,  debuted as #1 New Release and #1 Bestseller on Amazon. His next book,  The Reconstructing of Your Mind,  is available NOW. His podcast,  The Reconstruction Rebel,  is available wherever you stream y...

In this episode we get the honor to once again chat with Wm Paul Young. Wm Paul Young, is a Canadian author. He wrote the novels The Shack, Cross Roads, Eve  , and the non-fiction book  Lies We Believe About God.  Paul also co-authored the recent release  The Pastor: A Crisis  With Brad Jersak.  You can connect With Paul Young on: Facebook       Twitter       Instagram You can order all of Paul's...