Beloved Journal

The Rev. Dr. Malcolm Guite is a famed British poet, Anglican priest, and scholar of the English language. His work has garnered the attention of His Majesty King Charles III and Archbishops of Canterbury both former and present. An avid pipe smoker and Tolkien enthusiast, he stops by Beloved Journal to speak with the Rev. Dr. Robert W. Lee on all the above mentioned subjects, along with so much more.

Today we welcome the Rev. Dr. Durrell Watkins to the podcast. Dr. Watkins is the Senior Pastor of the Sunshine Cathedral in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Sunshine Cathedral is an open and affirming community of faith that is predominately made up of LGBTQ+ folk in the greater Fort Lauderdale area. Join us as we discuss his work and viewpoint from where he sits as pastor and public theologian of the church.

Join us as we welcome Brooke Stanford to the podcast. Brooke is a designer, fashion and style brand developer, and fashion buyer. We talk about what it takes to see beauty in things that others would appreciate, and how that plays into our everyday lives.

Today on the podcast we welcome the Rev. Dr. Greg DeLoach to the podcast. Dean DeLoach is currently serving as Dean of the McAfee School of Theology at Mercer University. He is a native of Eatonton, Georgia, and has pastored congregations throughout the state for nearly three decades, including places like Mansfield, Chickamauga, Marietta, and Augusta.

Following 10 years as senior pastor of First Baptist Church Augusta, he became executive director of Development Disabilities Ministries, an Atlanta-based nonprofit that serves adults with developmental disabilities and their families through operation of 19 homes across Georgia.

In February 2017, he joined the development staff at Mercer, having previously served on the University’s Board of Trustees. He was named Interim Dean in 2018, and appointed Dean in 2021.

Recently many have been captivated with his Tik Toks on the subject of death and dying for the course he’s teaching in the spring for Mercer University. You can audit this hybrid class whether you’re in Georgia or beyond so be sure to reach out to him if what we talk about today interests you.

Dr. Gary Scott Smith is Professor of History, Emeritus at Grove City College where he taught from 1978-2017. He chaired the History Department while at the college. He holds a Master of Divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, along with a Master of Arts and PhD from Johns Hopkins University. He has written extensively on the faith of the United States Presidents and its considered an expert in the field. He’s also written books on Jackie Robinson’s, Winston Churchill’s, and Hillary Clinton’s faith. 

Dr. Smith currently serves on my dissertation committee at Pacific School of Religion, as my doctoral work is on the faith of the American presidency. I certainly felt like I was sitting at the feet of a master in this podcast so I hope you enjoy it. With that in mind, let’s listen in.

Rabbi Michael Siegel is Senior Rabbi at Anshe Emet Synagogue in Chicago. Anshe Emet is a large synagogue that he has served in a rabbinic capacity since 1982 when he first came on staff, over 40 years ago. He is a gifted Rabbi and the fruits of his labor shows with the hard work he puts in for the synagogue.

Today we have the Rabbi on to discuss Adam Sandler’s new movie “You Are So Not Invited to my Bat Mitzvah” which you can stream on Netflix now, and we encourage you to do so. The Rabbi and Rev. Rob Lee will discuss how the movie impacted each of them from their perspectives. We will say there are some spoilers but they are light and don’t ruin the overall narrative arc, so we feel like you’re safe to listen regardless of whether you’ve seen it or not.

On the 2nd anniversary of the Lee girls' legal adoption and becoming a forever family, host of Beloved Journal and aspiring SuperDad sits down with the girls to discuss their likes, dislike, passions, and interests as they round the corner on the second year of their family being complete.

Note: Unlike other episodes of Beloved Journal, at the end of the interview section our host returns to tell his side of the adoption story along with offering suggestions for those who might be interested in the work and life of adopting children from his perspective.

Athena Lee, rising first grader and the daughter of the Rev. Rob and Stephanie Lee stops by for a conversation in Oakwood Park with her dad. Additionally, at the end of today's short podcast you hear a preview for Beloved Journal's new podcast in partnership with Pacific School of Religion's doctoral program, "So Help me Pod." It's a podcast that explores the relationship between theology and the American presidency. You don't want to miss this episode!

Cheers!!

The Rev. Mandy McDow interviews the Rev. Rob Lee for World Bipolar Day (March 30th). Together they grapple with the illness and seek to create understanding as we all work to de-stigmatize the illness.

On the 1 year anniversary of becoming a forever family, Rev. Rob Lee sits down with his oldest daughter,  4 year old Athena Lee for a short, 5 minute interview.

The Rev. James A. Harnish joins Beloved Journal to talk about his new book Finding Your Bearings along with his 22 year ministry at Hyde Park United Methodist Church in Tampa, Florida. Jim brings a wealth of wisdom and compassion to his ministry and we were grateful that he stopped by. 

Professor Erin L. Thompson, author of the new book "Smashing Statues" sits down with Rob Lee for a conversation on public memory and understanding surrounding statues in our public squares. 

On Beloved Journal the Rev. Rob Lee sits down with the 98th Archbishop of York, the Most Reverend and Right Honorable Stephen Cottrell. They discuss everything from the pandemic to Cottrell's new book, Dear England.

The Rev. Dr. Luke Powery is Dean of Duke Chapel and a national leader in the field of preaching. He is also a professor at Duke Divinity School. He sits down with Beloved Journal to talk preaching in the age of COVID-19, the important issues of our time, and the necessity to be one's self in the pulpit. 

Dr. Peter A. Singer is the Special Advisor to the Director-General of the World Health Organization, a group on the frontlines of fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. He takes time to speak with Mandy and Rob about the Delta Variant and vaccine equality across the world.

Today we have the Rev. Dr. Karoline Lewis. She is the Marbury E. Anderson Chair in Biblical Preaching at Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota. She talks with host Rob Lee on the importance of preaching in the time which we find ourselves. Don’t miss this!

Elizabeth Hagan is a pastor and author. She has been a pastor for 15 years and graduated from Duke Divinity School. Never shying away from difficult conversations, she joins Mandy and Rob to talk about her new book, Brave Church.

Melanie Vaughn is a Christian Educator in North Carolina actively dying of cancer. She sat down with the Rev. Rob Lee to discuss death, life, and things in between. This podcast aired on her 58th birthday (June 29th 2021).

Jim Winkler is the President of the National Council of Churches. Founded in 1950, this organization seeks to foster understanding and build friendships across denominational lines. Jim has been president of the organization since 2014—before that having served as General Secretary of the United Methodist General Board of Church and Society in Washington D.C. He is the son a Methodist preacher and has deep roots in the church as an active layperson.

The Rev. Jim Keat is Digital Minister at the Riverside Church located in New York City. He talks about his work and its importance even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic but especially in the midst of it. 

Dr. Chi Huang is the Executive Director of General Medicine at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and an Associate Professor at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. He joins Rob and Mandy to talk about the rise in Asian American and Pacific Islander discrimination, harassment, and attacks. Join us for this important episode. 

The daughter of famed comedian George Carlin is a force to be reckoned with in her own right. She sits down with the Revs. Rob Lee and Mandy McDow to talk about her dad, her spirituality, and her hopes for the world. 

Rabbi Emily Cohen of the West End Synagogue in New York, New York stops by for a chat with the Rev. Rob Lee. Join us for this meaningful interfaith conversation!

The son of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker is now making his own way as a very different type of pastoral presence on the landscape of Christendom. Today we sit down with Jay Bakker to discuss his famous (or infamous) televangelist parents and his own coping with ministry during a pandemic. 

Larissa May, founder of Half the Story shares with us about social media empathy, mental health on a screen, and how we all need to be having this conversation. 

The Very Rev. Canon Gary Hall, PhD is the Interim  Dean of the Bloy House and the former Dean of Washington National Cathedral. He speaks of the need to asses theology and how we do it well in the 21st century, his time in Washington, and his confidence to do the right thing when it counts.

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) discusses the Biden Administration's infrastructure plan, the push for DC statehood, and other important issues on today's episode of Beloved Journal.

Today on Beloved Journal, the Rev. Rob Lee talks to Illa Garcia, the founder of the Millennial Nutritionist. She is committed to a healthy and better lifestyle for the Millennial generation and has garnered a following that attests to her important work. 

CNN Anchor Don Lemon joins the Rev. Rob Lee to talk about Don's new book, "This is the Fire: How I Talk to My Friends About Racism." 

Erica Smith is running to be the Democratic nominee for the Senate seat being vacated by North Carolina Republican Senator Richard Burr due to his retirement in 2022. Today she sits down with the Rev. Rob Lee to talk her platform and policy implications for North Carolinians.

English producer, director, and screenwriter Stuart Hazeldine sits down with the Rev. Rob Lee to talk filmmaking and the broader conversation that it invokes.