When Brit Barron fell in love with her wife, she was a pastor at an evangelical megachurch. As you might guess, it wasn't the kind of place that would've allowed, much less nurtured their relationship. She sat down to talk about that experience, and, even more, what it's like to make impossibly hard choices that lead to freedom.  To hear even more of her story, check out her new book Worth It. You can find out what she's up to at https://britbarron.com/. 

Why are Donald Trump's most loyal supporters from a group that claims to follow a non-violent, impoverished Middle Eastern man (a.k.a. Jesus)? Kristin Kobes Du Mez (Professor of History and Gender Studies at Calvin University) has a few well-researched suggestions. She unearths years of sexism, racism and militant nationalism within white American Evangelicalism that help us understand how we got here and how we can change it. We hit the highlights in this conversation, but to get the full picture, check out her book Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation. You can see more of her work at https://kristindumez.com/.

From an early age, we're wired to connect, particularly with our parents. Amy (author, advocate) and Jeffrey Olrick (psychologist) join the podcast to talk about how attachment works and how it invites us into more human ways of parenting. Whether you're in the middle of parenting or reflecting on how you were parented, their insights are eye-opening and life-giving.  To dig deeper, make sure to check out their new book The 6 Needs of Every Child: Empowering Parents and Kids Through the Science of Connection. You can find out more about their work at https://www.growingconnected.com/ and follow them on Facebook and Instagram. 

In the United States, the last three years have been catastrophic for immigrants and refugees and the systems that are meant to welcome them. With misinformation everywhere, Karen Gonzalez is here to clear a few things up. She helps us understand how “just get in line” isn’t an option for most and how refugees are being intentionally mistreated. She also gives us insights from the Hebrew and Christian scriptures and helps us answer the question, “What can I do to help?”. Make sure to check out Karen’s book The God Who Sees: Immigrants, the Bible, and the Journey to Belong and get in touch with her at https://www.karen-gonzalez.com/.

Andre Henry is about the work of social change, particularly when it comes to undoing racism. He sat down to talk about that work - push back, hope, nonviolence and more. Along the way, he gives us several history lessons, plenty of reading recommendations, and a new understanding of an old story.  To find more about Andre, visit http://www.andrerhenry.com/ and check out his podcast, Hope and Hard Pills.  Resources Mentioned in this Episode: Mothers of Massive Resistance by Elizabeth Gillespie McRae On Grand Strategy by John Lewis Gaddis Blueprint for Revolution by Srdja Popovic The Radical King by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Cornel West (Editor) This is what an antiracist America would look like. How do we get there? by Ibram X Kendi

Dr. Jennifer Kaalund (womanist scholar, Iona College faculty) helps us understand how identities are negotiated, especially for early Jesus followers. She unpacks the complex identities that made up the recipients of Hebrews and 1 Peter, seeing parallels with the African American Great Migration. Along the way, she helps us understand some of the ugliest passages in the Christian scriptures. To hear more from her, check out her book, Reading Hebrews and 1 Peter with the African American Great Migration, or find her commentaries on Working Preacher.

Lyz Lenz (journalist, author) set out after the 2016 election to explore what the hell was happening with faith and politics in middle America. What she found was complex, infuriating, deeply human and more personal than she expected. The fracture lines emerging throughout the country were undeniable in her own marriage. She sat down to talk about all of it- faith, politics and divorce. She unpacks these realities in her incredibly compelling new book God Land, which you should absolutely order.

Michael Gungor (The Liturgists, Gungor) stopped by to talk about THIS, which happens to be both the title of his new book and a way of describing what exactly is going on here. This one gets weird in all the best ways!

For Barbara Brown Taylor (best-selling author, teacher, Episcopal priest), what started as a university teaching role turned into something sacred. Exploring other religions with her students became a transformative experience. In the end, it made her a better neighbor, gave her a broader understanding of the divine and rooted her deeper in her own tradition. Barbara sat down to talk about this experience, which she writes about in Holy Envy. If you enjoy the conversation, be sure to pick up the book and visit https://barbarabrowntaylor.com/ to find out when Barbara’s book tour will be near you.

Kaya Oakes (journalist, author, professor) had a hunch that the Nones, those who don’t associate with a religion, weren’t awash in a sea of meaninglessness and immorality. A few years ago she sat down and recorded many of their stories, which became her book The Nones Are Alright. She came on to talk about what she found and the changing landscape of religion. You can find more from Kaya at http://www.oakestown.org/ and in America Magazine, The New Republic, Religion News Services and a host of other publications.