On today's episode we talk with Justin Brierley all about navigating Christianity in a secular leaning UK, embracing spiritual questions and the importance of critical thinking.   Justin is the host of the Unbelievable? radio show and podcast on Premier Christian Radio, as well as the Ask NT Wright Anything podcast. He is passionate about creating conversations around faith, science, theology and culture and has interviewed some of the greatest minds of our time - including Sam Harris, Jordan Peterson and Richard Dawkins. Through the Unbelievable? show and his book Unbelievable? Why After Ten Years of Talking with Atheists, I'm Still a Christian - Justin promotes healthy religious dialogue, challenging Christians to ask hard questions about their faith. 

On today's episode we talk with Susan Katz Miller, an interfaith child and an interfaith parent.  Susan is considered the top expert on interfaith families celebrating more than one religion, and has spoken across the country and abroad. In 2013, Beacon Press published her book Being Both: Embracing Two Religions in One Interfaith Family. In addition, she founded the first blog devoted to interfaith family communities and interfaith identity, onbeingboth.com, and also blogged at Huffington Post Religion.  Her writing has appeared in The Washington Post, Time, Slate, Utne Reader, Discover, Science, National Wildlife, Health, Moment, Jewcy.com, interfaithfamily.com, and many other publications. Her work on interfaith families has been featured on The Today Show (NBC), CBS, NPR (All Things Considered, Here & Now, and The Diane Rehm Show), on the PBS program Religion & Ethics Newsweekly, on HuffPost Live, and in dozens of other media outlets. 

On today's episode we dive into the topic of embracing doubt and finding grace with Katie Langston.  We learn more about her journey as Katie converted to orthodox (little “o”) Christianity after spending several years trying to make Mormon teaching fit a grace-based worldview, only to discover they weren’t particularly compatible.  Now, Katie is a writer, preacher, evangelist, and digital communications specialist. She’s the Director of Digital Strategy for Luther Seminary’s innovation department, where she oversees digital projects aimed a cultivating vibrant Christian spirituality in a post-modern, post-Christian cultural context. She writes and speaks to Christian audiences about Mormonism and to Mormon audiences about Christianity, and is a popular blogger, podcast guest, and presenter. She is a pastoral intern at a redevelopment congregation in the greater Twin Cities metro and is preparing for ordination in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

How did a Christian Minister end up marrying a Hindu Monk? How do we address the question of unequally yoked? How does a multi faith marriage challenge our beliefs? Can this type of relationship provide space for spiritual growth? We explore those questions and all things multi faith marriage on today's episode with Dana Trent! J. Dana Trent is a graduate of Duke Divinity School and professor of World Religions and Critical Thinking at Wake Tech Community College. An ordained Baptist minister and former hospital chaplain, her work has appeared on Time.com, and in Religion News Service, Sojourners, Religion Dispatches, and The Christian Century. She is also the award-winning author of One Breath At a Time: A Skeptic’s Guide to Christian Meditation, For Sabbath’s Sake: Embracing Your Need for Rest, Worship, and Community, and Saffron Cross: The Unlikely Story of How a Christian Minister Married a Hindu Monk. 

On today's episode, we talk with Lodro Rinzler about the power of mediation, how to establish a strong meditation routine and his latest book "Take Back Your Mind: Buddhist Advice for Anxious Times" and how the book can play a positive role for those that are feeling anxious and alone after the last 18 months of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Named one of 50 Innovators Shaping the Future of Wellness by SONIMA, Lodro's work has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, Good Morning America, CBS, and NBC. He is the author of seven meditation books including The Buddha Walks into a Bar and the brand-new Take Back Your Mind: Buddhist Advice for Anxious Times and the co-founder of MNDFL meditation studios in New York City. Lodro has taught meditation for 20 years in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition and travels frequently for his books, having spoken across the world at conferences, universities, and businesses as diverse as Google, Harvard University and the White House.

In part 2 of our conversation with Geoffrey Wallis we dive into the topic of captive organizations and mental illness within captive organizations.  Geoffrey shares more about his personal experience with depression as a P.I.M.O within the Jehovah's Witness Organization, why the process of "disfellowshipping" is so emotionally, mentally and spiritually damaging and how we can better understand Religious Trauma Syndrome, PTSD and many other symptoms those currently in the organization and ex-JW's are facing. Be sure to check out Geoffrey's new book "A Voice From Inside - Notes on Religious Trauma In a Captive Organization" at the links below: https://www.wallisbooks.com/a-voice-from-inside-religious-trauma-in-a-captive-organization https://www.amazon.com/Voice-Inside-Religious-Captive-Organization/dp/B097XFM94Z

P.I.M.O. (Physically in, mentally out.) It's a phrase not many outside of the JW organization know but is one that within the Jehovah's Witness community many secretly identify with. Including Geoffrey Wallis.   Geoffrey is an active Jehovah’s Witness who uses his unique position as a critical insider to provide commentary on the social psychology of the organization and raise awareness of how coercion in the group leads to Religious Trauma Syndrome in disillusioned members. As Wallis puts it in A Voice From Inside, he was “heavily involved in both attending and instructing specialized schools and training programs sponsored by the Watch Tower Society”. Upon disillusionment, he suffered some of the worst symptoms of Religious Trauma PTSD including depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and suicidal ideation. Now in full recovery, Wallis puts his family and community relationships in jeopardy to bring awareness to those suffering from Religious Trauma and the challenges of Physically-In-Mentally-Out (PIMO) Jehovah’s Witnesses who feel trapped by the captive policies of the organization. On part 1 of our conversation with Geoffrey we dive deep into the doctrinal beliefs of JW's, the history of the organization, JW's beliefs on shunning, Geoffrey's new book and why he, though still an elder, has decided to stay after "waking up".  You can find more of his work at: https://www.wallisbooks.com/

How does multi faith engagement promote our own personal spiritual growth?  On today's episode we're talking with Dr. Paul Louis Metzger (Ph.D.) about the concept of holy envy, the importance of multi faith engagement and leaning into the differences of various faith traditions and beliefs. Paul is the Founder and Director of The Institute for Cultural Engagement: New Wine, New Wineskins and Professor of Christian Theology & Theology of Culture at Multnomah University and Seminary. He is also the author of Beatitudes, Not Platitudes: Jesus' Invitation to the Good Life; Evangelical Zen: A Christian’s Spiritual Travels With a Buddhist Friend; Connecting Christ: How to Discuss Jesus in a World of Diverse Paths.  If you enjoy Paul's insights and thoughts, we also invite you to learn more about his son's recent traumatic brain injury. Paul has become a dear friend to us and we continue to send prayers, wishes and hope for his son's full recovery. Here is a link to learn more and other ways to support Paul's family if you feel so inclined: https://www.gofundme.com/f/christopher-metzgers-healing-and-recovery?utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet+chico96v&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer

Spiritual growth only happens when we create space for true connection and accepted vulnerability. On today's episode, we talk with Elizabeth Hagan, author of "Brave Church: Tackling Tough Topics Together".  Elizabeth is a graduate of Duke Divinity School and has been a pastor for 15 years most recently at the Palisades Community Church in Washington, DC. She saw and personally experienced the isolation, loneliness, and shame that remains unspoken when Christians shy away from difficult conversations. She knew that the church could do better to foster a sense of acceptance and belonging. So, she wrote Brave Church to open the door to the presence of God in difficult conversations.

NOTE: This podcast covers topics of sexual abuse, suicide, and other topics that might be triggering for some.  Religious abuse is no walk in the park. And we know many of our listeners are currently in their recovery journey or want to know more about what's really going on in the body of someone who has experienced religious abuse. So for today's episode we wanted to bring in Connie A. Baker.   Connie is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Trauma recovery specialist, Trained Life Coach and focuses her practice on those who are recovering from religious abuse and trauma. In this episode, we dive into Connie's own story of shifting faith, what lead her to starting her own practice and some of the ways we can begin to better understand what is going on in the brain, body and soul for those who are currently struggling with PTSD after leaving a religious structure.  If you would like to check out any of Connie's work, her recent book or connect with her you can do so at: https://connieabaker.com/