Transforming Engagement: The Podcast

In this deeply meaningful conversation, host Rose Madrid Swetman speaks with Romanita Hairston, CEO of the M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust. Drawing from her vantage point leading a major philanthropic institution and her lifelong experience in the Pacific Northwest, Romanita helps us see grief not only as an emotional experience but as a necessary communal practice that can strengthen relationships...

In this episode, Rose Madrid Swetman interviews Martin Jimenez from Pivot Northwest, discussing the organization's mission to engage young adults in church leadership and community. Joi Drawing from nearly a decade of research and application, Martin shares five key practices for meaningful intergenerational ministry:  Creating dedicated young adult spaces  Facilitating storytelling between genera...

What does it mean to truly find your voice as a preacher? Rev. Dr. Teresa Fry Brown has spent a lifetime exploring that question. A powerhouse in the world of preaching and a trailblazing scholar at Emory's Candler School of Theology, Dr. Fry Brown brings her expertise in homiletics, womanism, and even speech pathology to this conversation on what it really means to find—and own—your authentic pre...

Who gets to preach in your congregation? Is the pulpit reserved for just one voice, or could it be a place of shared storytelling and wisdom? This week on Transforming Engagement: The Podcast, we continue our Reimagining Preaching series with the Rev. Dr. Shauna Hannan, a professor, author, and preacher who is passionate about equipping the whole congregation for the ministry of proclamation. Dr....

If you're a pastor wrestling with how to address social issues from the pulpit without dividing your congregation – or putting your job at risk – this episode is for you.  Rev. Dr. Leah Schade brings practical wisdom and thoughtful insights on how to preach with courage and compassion in today's polarized climate. Drawing from her extensive research and her new book Preaching and Social Issues: To...

Hope isn't just for Easter Sunday—it's a rhythm we're invited to live into every day. But in times like these, how do we hold onto hope—and bring it to our congregations and communities? In the first episode of our new season of Transforming Engagement: the Podcast, host Rev. Dr. Seth Thomas sits down with Dr. Mark Lloyd Taylor, author of So Fill Our Imaginations: The Work and Play of a Year in Pr...

As we wrap up our series Advent: a Season of Waiting, Brian McLaren and Rose Madrid Swetman explore the theme of love, especially the challenge and beauty of loving across differences.  The conversation delves into what it means to embody love amidst uncertainty and polarization. Rose and Brian discuss how love can hold space for shared humanity, allowing for connection even in disagreement.  You'...

This week, Rev. Dr. Angela Parker joins Dr. Rose Madrid Swetman to explore how joy can coexist with sorrow, lament, and adversity. Their conversation reminds us that joy isn't just possible in difficult seasons — it's essential for resilience and shared hope. Embodying joy is a vital part of practicing a "faithful resistance." We hope this episode inspires you to embrace the transformative power o...

Dr. J.P. Kang and Rev. Dr. Charlene Lee delve into the theme of peace amidst chaos, grief, and division. Their timely discussion, set against the backdrop of a contentious post-election season in the United States, explores the biblical concept of peace as communal, relational, and deeply rooted in God's promises. With candid insights and theological depth, this episode invites us to consider: How...

How do we hold on to hope in a world that feels heavy with pain and disillusionment? Dr. Dan Allender and Dr. J. Derek McNeil invite us into an honest conversation about navigating the tension between hope and despair during the Advent season.  In this episode, Dan and Derek explore the vulnerability of waiting and the struggle between wanting quick fixes and trusting in a bigger story. They talk...

In our first episode of this 5-part series, Advent: A Season of Waiting, Stephanie Bulthuis and Dr. Danielle Zurinsky dive into the transformative power of gratitude. Drawing on research from positive psychology and their own experiences as parents, professionals, and long-time friends, they explore how gratitude can shift our perspectives, build resilience, and deepen empathy. Join us as we uncov...

We're back with a special bonus episode! In this episode of Transforming Engagement: The Podcast, Dr. Rose Madrid Swetman sits down with Shannon Sigler, Executive Director of Brehm Center, to explore how the arts can uniquely bridge divides and foster community—especially in polarized times. We hope this conversation inspires you to think about ways you can bring art, creativity, and imagination i...

This season, we've had the pleasure of speaking with so many wise women in ministry and engaging in enriching conversations with them. Now, Rose and Jenni sit down to reflect and wrap up the season by sharing their biggest takeaways and personal insights. If you've missed any episodes, don't worry! This recap will give you a quick overview of each one and hopefully inspire you to dive into the epi...

In this episode, co-hosts Rose and Jenni invite two young women serving in different ministry contexts across the United States: Rev. Cassie Carroll, head pastor of Palisades Presbyterian Church in San Diego, California, and Natalia Guzmán, Missions Faith Partnership Coordinator at National Community Church in Washington, D.C. Rev. Cassie Carroll is the first female pastor of a 135-year-old church...

If you've ever felt emotionally drained from caring for others, especially during tough times, this conversation is for you. Mary Kathryn Nader, Ph. D., LPC-S, PMH-C, is a licensed professional counselor in Texas who specializes in women's mental health, including postpartum depression, anxiety, grief, infertility, mom guilt, perfectionism, post-divorce, perinatal mental health, compassion fatigue...

This week, we're joined by Inés Velásquez-McBryde, a pastor, preacher, reconciler, and mujerista theologian from Nicaragua and now residing in Southern California. She is the lead pastor and founder of The Church We Hope For.  As a third-generation pastor, Inés shares her powerful journey of becoming the first female pastor in her family's lineage, drawing deeply from her Nicaraguan roots and the...

For those navigating the joys and challenges of co-leading with a partner or pursuing ministry alongside your family, you don't want to miss this episode! We're thrilled to talk with The Rev. Jeanette Salguero as she shares her inspiring calling as a wife, mother, pastor, and advocate. Growing up in a ministerial family, Jeanette felt a deep calling to serve. This calling extends to her family as...

Join us as Faith Eury Cho shares her inspiring journey from a young girl seeking God to following her calling to become a preacher and leader in ministry. As the CEO and founder of The Honor Summit , a nonprofit organization that equips and activates Asian American women for the mission of God, Faith brings a wealth of experience and wisdom. Alongside her husband, Pastor David Cho, she is also the...

Join us this week for an inspiring conversation with Tara Beth Leach, senior pastor at Good Shepherd Church in Naperville, Illinois, co-founder of Propel Ecclesia, and co-host of the Pastor's Table podcast. Tara Beth opens up about her journey as the first female millennial pastor of a mega church in Southern California, the resistance she has faced as a woman in ministry, and the invaluable suppo...

With a profound commitment to social justice, Rev. Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil advocates for reconciliation that transcends superficial diversity and inclusion efforts, highlighting the necessity of reparations as a critical step towards genuine reconciliation.  In this conversation co-hosted by Dr. Rose Madrid Swetman and Jenni Wong Clayville, Rev. Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil reflects on her personal j...

Welcome to a new season of Transforming Engagement: the Podcast! For the next few episodes, we're talking about women in ministry. Each season, we focus our conversations on a single topic and take a deep dive into learning its complexities by inviting perspectives from diverse backgrounds and expertise. In this series, we will explore women in ministry with a diverse group of women leaders. We wi...

Join us for a special bonus episode as Dr. Kate Rae Davis reflects on the theme of the inaugural Christ & Cascadia Gathering held last month. Ministry leaders from diverse contexts across the Pacific Northwest convened to explore what makes ministry unique in the Cascadia region.  Despite facing distinct challenges, there was a prevailing sense of hope and resilience—a shared belief that collabora...

Rev. Ron Werner, Jr. joins Dr. Kate Rae Davis to share his take on ministry in Cascadia and how the musical and cultural influences of the Pacific Northwest have shaped his identity and approach to leadership. Rooted in Oregon since 2005, Ron is the founding Director of Together Lab, where he weaves together people of faith and fierce love to cultivate leader-full movements and ministries.  The co...

Join us for an enriching conversation with Tim Soerens, co-founding executive director of The Parish Collective, as we explore the distinctiveness of ministry in the vibrant Cascadia region. From its breathtaking landscapes to its unique cultural fabric, Cascadia offers a fertile ground for holistic neighborhood flourishing. In this episode, you'll discover: The essence of holistic neighborhood fl...

As we continue our conversation about the distinctiveness of ministry in the Cascadia region, we're joined by Rev. Melissa Skelton. Currently serving as the Bishop Provisional in the Diocese of Olympia, Melissa shares her journey from the East Coast to the Cascadia region, offering a wealth of insights into the distinct cultural and environmental differences she encountered along the way. In this...