Ep. 235 – Adam Gustine

This conversation with Adam Gustine (and his book!) had me thinking about all kinds of things related to justice and to church. As believers in Jesus and part of the community called the Church, many of us are convinced that means embodying aspects of justice in some way, shape, or form, but what does that … Continue reading Ep. 235 – Adam Gustine

Episode 223 – Greg Garrett

Professor Dr. Greg Garrett of Baylor University has written a wonderful book on the prophet James Baldwin. For those who may not be familiar, James Baldwin was an author and civil rights leader who was born in New York and lived out his middle years and final days in Europe. While his life ended, his … Continue reading Episode 223 – Greg Garrett

Episode 208 – Adam Bucko

The contemplative life is not one solely reserved for vocational clergy or people from religious traditions that may feel largely unfamiliar. As Adam Bucko amazingly writes, practices, and encourages, contemplation is for each of us. With each page turned in his newest book, Let Heartbreak Be Your Guide, I felt my spiritual and theological imagination … Continue reading Episode 208 – Adam Bucko

Episode 201 – Terence Lester

I am so thrilled to have the newly declared Dr. Terence Lester back on the podcast (if you missed his first episode, we've got you covered!). Terence has written a beautiful book on racial solidarity through the lens of his own experience as someone who was unhoused for a season and his work for over … Continue reading Episode 201 – Terence Lester

Episode 200 – Jack Sara

Rev. Dr. Jack Sara is the President of Bethlehem Bible College. I met Jack on what was my 8th (?) trip to the Holy Land, but only my first trip to Palestine. If you think about it (and we mention it a bit in the episode), that fact alone is pretty remarkable. That someone could … Continue reading Episode 200 – Jack Sara

Episode 186 – Caryn Reeder

Reading Caryn Reeder's new book had me feeling mad, relieved, curious, and hopeful. She explores one of my all-time favorite stories in the Gospels - The Samaritan Woman in John 4. Caryn reminds readers and listeners of the classic interpretation of the story, which has remained much the same throughout history, and examines how it … Continue reading Episode 186 – Caryn Reeder

Episode 184 – Drew Jackson

I am so stoked to welcome Drew Jackson back to the podcast! His first book, and this volume two are some of my favorite books of poetry. What Drew has done by putting the Gospel of Luke in conversation with his own context is theological art at its finest. The problem is, this kind of … Continue reading Episode 184 – Drew Jackson

Episode 174 – Kelley Nikondeha

This advent book (and conversation!) is not just for the Christmas season. I promise you will be blessed by Kelley Nikondeha's words all year long! Her new book, The First Advent in Palestine tells of some of the forgotten stories surrounding Jesus' birth. We know he was born in first century occupied Palestine, but what … Continue reading Episode 174 – Kelley Nikondeha

Episode 172 – Marlena Graves

Three words at the top of Marlena Grave's website sum it up: Jesus. Formation. Justice. These are the foci of what she does as a writer, professor, thinker, mother, wife, community activist, advocate, speaker, and so much more. She and her husband, Shawn, have co-edited a book along those lines called The Gospel of Peace … Continue reading Episode 172 – Marlena Graves

Episode 169 – Soong-Chan Rah

Soong-Chan Rah is a professor at Fuller Theological Seminary (I took a course with him and it was a total blast!). He has also served in ministry as a pastor and studied American Evangelicalism. One of the topics Soong-Chan is known for is the church and social justice. In Return to Justice, he explores the … Continue reading Episode 169 – Soong-Chan Rah

Episode 167 – Jim Wallis

The one and only Jim Wallis is on the podcast! Most recently Jim came on as the director of the Center on Faith + Justice at Georgetown University. He and I met over the summer when the Center hosted its inaugural summer academy and I was blessed enough to attend. For those who may not … Continue reading Episode 167 – Jim Wallis

Episode 163 – Kat Armas

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we are re-playing this amazing episode with Kat Armas. Enjoy! Kat Armas, author of Abuelita Faith: What Women on the Margins Teach Us about Wisdom, Persistence, and Strength, is on the podcast this week! Kat is a Fuller grad, on her way to Vanderbilt Divinity School, and is a wrestler in the faith. … Continue reading Episode 163 – Kat Armas

Episode 162 – Karen González

I am so delighted to welcome Karen González back on the podcast! Her new book, Beyond Welcome, is a beautiful combination of biblical investigation, personal narrative, and the edification we need, especially in the United States, today. We hit the current news right away, with talk of Florida and Texas governors flying and bussing immigrants … Continue reading Episode 162 – Karen González

Episode 159 – Steven Harris

Steven Harris has a resume that could fill this screen, including positions at prestigious institutions you may recognize like Harvard and Georgetown, but I was first introduced to him as the guy who helped my friends and I carry our luggage after a late-night flight to D.C. As the Senior Director of Academic Programs at … Continue reading Episode 159 – Steven Harris

Episode 156 – Amy Sherman

Amy Sherman, Senior Fellow at the Sagamore Institute, has written an exquisite book called Agents of Flourishing. Looking at the biblical mandate for believers to seek the flourishing of our communities, Amy delves into half a dozen endowments, think areas or spheres, where we can focus our energies to contribute to that happening. Each section … Continue reading Episode 156 – Amy Sherman

Episode 152 – Phil Allen, Jr.

To say I am moved by this conversation and project by Phil Allen, Jr. would be an understatement. Phil Allen, Jr. is an author, speaker, filmmaker, PhD candidate, friend, and incredibly generous advocate. When, as an adult, he first heard the truth about his grandfather's tragic death that took place in 1953, he knew the … Continue reading Episode 152 – Phil Allen, Jr.

Episode 148 – Eric Costanzo

Eric Costanzo is a pastor in my home state of Oklahoma! Together with previous guest, Matt Soerens, and Daniel Yang, he has written a fantastic book called Inalienable about how imperative it is for the American church to engage and learn from the global church, especially from voices we have historically sought to marginalize. We … Continue reading Episode 148 – Eric Costanzo

Episode 147 – Amy Kenny

Amy Kenny is a disabled scholar and author of the new book, My Body Is Not a Prayer Request. I am incredibly thankful for Amy and her voice on disability, diversity, and justice in the church. From "prayerful perpetrators," to ableism, to designing spaces for disabled people actually being the more inclusive way, we covered … Continue reading Episode 147 – Amy Kenny

Episode 143 – J.W. Buck

J.W. (Josh) Buck is the Executive Director and one of the founders of Pax, a Christian organization designed to inspire and equip the next generation through slow, beautiful, Jesus-centered content created by people of color. While his first book is available for pre-order now (!), in this interview, we focused on his dissertation work on the … Continue reading Episode 143 – J.W. Buck

Episode 142 – Idelette McVicker

Idelette McVicker is a native of South Africa, currently living in Canada with her family, and ministering to Christians like me (in America and globally) on how to fight against white supremacy in our societies. She is the author of Recovering Racists, the founder of She Loves Media Society, and the Dangerous Women community. In … Continue reading Episode 142 – Idelette McVicker

Episode 141 – Stephen Mattson

For the past couple of months, I have been reading my way through an incredible book in my morning prayer time, On Love & Mercy: A Social Justice Devotional. In this beautiful work, Stephen Mattson takes the time to define social justice for Christians and touches on dozens of areas where our attention is needed. … Continue reading Episode 141 – Stephen Mattson

Episode 134 – Paul Zach

Paul Zach is a music minister who loves writing music for the church to sing. And I, for one, love singing his music! Full time, Paul serves at Christ Episcopal Church in Charlottesville, Virginia. He also collaborates with other artists, musicians, and song writers for projects like those released by The Porter's Gate. In this … Continue reading Episode 134 – Paul Zach

Episode 132 – Dennis Edwards

Dr. Dennis Edwards, professor of New Testament at North Park Seminary in Chicago, is on the podcast! His book, Might From the Margins, specifically addresses and encourages Christians who have found themselves marginalized within American Evangelicalism, including Christians of color and women. One of the things I appreciate most about this text and conversation is … Continue reading Episode 132 – Dennis Edwards

Episode 131 – Young-Sam Won

Dr. Young-Sam Won is the Associate Director of Ministry Formation and an Adjunct Professor of Old Testament at Dallas Theological Seminary. He's also a hoot to follow on Twitter! Sam loves to explore the topics of justice and ethnicity from a biblical (specifically Old Testament) perspective and I am here for it. In this conversation, … Continue reading Episode 131 – Young-Sam Won

Episode 123 – Sarah Quezada

Sarah Quezada, author of Love Undocumented joins me on the podcast this week! With Christmas coming, what better way to begin our week than with a story from the beautiful tradition of Las Posadas? If you're not familiar, it is a Latin American Christmas tradition where friends, family, and neighbors reenact Mary and Joseph looking … Continue reading Episode 123 – Sarah Quezada

Episode 112 – Terry Wildman

Terry Wildman is the lead translator and project manager of the First Nations Version of the New Testament. In this conversation, Terry talks about the intersection of being Christian and Native and what that has meant for him as he has explored the two, personally and in community. Cultural context in worship has received pushback … Continue reading Episode 112 – Terry Wildman

Episode 091 – Andrew Krinks

Andrew Krinks has a particular academic interest in topics surrounding the intersection of race, religion, and criminalization. Since completing his PhD at Vanderbilt, he is teaching and working on a project concerning how Covid-19 has effected individuals imprisoned in New Jersey. The essay we drew from for today's conversation is one Andrew wrote for a … Continue reading Episode 091 – Andrew Krinks

Episode 090 – Terence Lester

Terence Lester is the founder of Love Beyond Walls, a non-profit based in Atlanta serving people experiencing homelessness. At the beginning of the coronavirus spread early in 2020, the work Terence and his organization had been doing pivoted to meet the changing needs of the people they served. Since handwashing was high on the list … Continue reading Episode 090 – Terence Lester

Episode 077 – Lisa Sharon Harper

Lisa Sharon Harper is an author, speaker, activist, and founder of Freedom Road. She has written a beautiful book called The Very Good Gospel: How Everything Wrong Can Be Made Right which was the basis of our conversation in this episode. We talk about the importance of relationship and narrative and having a "thick" understanding … Continue reading Episode 077 – Lisa Sharon Harper

Episode 065 – Drew G.I. Hart

Dr. Drew G.I. Hart is a theology professor at Messiah University and author of the new book Who Will Be a Witness? Igniting Activism for God's Justice, Love, and Deliverance, which was the basis for much of our discussion in this episode. Ultimately, if we are taking our discipleship of Jesus seriously, we have to … Continue reading Episode 065 – Drew G.I. Hart