Thanks Be To Pod

In this episode, we explore the potential impact of the coronavirus on religious communities and ask what the responsibility of religious practitioners is. Nate speaks with Matthew David Morris a transitional deacon in the Episcopal Church who lives and works in Portland Oregon.

In this episode, Nate speaks with Sarah Bowen, a multi-faith spiritual educator and speaker. Sarah is a faculty member of One Spirit Interfaith Seminary in NYC where Sarah helps others explore the the depths of inter spirituality. Most recently she authored the book Spiritual Rebel, in which she brings together insights from a wide range of traditions―from Taoism to Jediism to Yoga to Science and more. Throughout her book, Sarah encourages readers to explore their own personal spiritual style and life purpose.

After months of choosing brunch over Church, Colby finally decides to give Gracepointe, a progressive faith community in Nashville, TN, a try. Is it enough to make this former pastor turned breakfast burrito connoisseur into a regular church goer? Find out in this episode of "Pass the Plate."

Kipp Nelson is one of the few openly gay ministers in the United Methodist Church. Nate and Colby had the privilege of sitting down with Kipp at Q Christian's 2020 conference.

In this episode, we share the story of Maria Michonski, a queer woman who identifies as Catholic. Even though Maria has, in the past, taken time away from the Church because of its unaffirming stance, she continuously feels a draw to Catholicism and its rituals. Ultimately, by separating her Catholic identity from the institutional Church, Maria is able to reconcile her sexuality with her Catholicism.

Hearing a sermon, or a homily, requires going to church, and we know that many of our listeners have been hurt by church and might be taking a break, or might have left entirely. So, we thought we would try an experiment: homilies for the openly deconstructing.

In the fifth episode of Thanks Be To Pod, Kevin Garcia — a public theologian, mystic, and activist — shares their story and their perspective on Churches that refuse to make their policies on LGBTQ+ inclusion clear.

In the fourth episode of Thanks Be To Pod, Colby heads out on the road, both digitally and literally, to interview three Progressive Christians about their deconstruction experience. What Colby learns is that, although there are a ton of reasons to have beef with the Church, there are just as many reasons to believe that Christian community can be a catalyst for good in our world.

Relevant magazine has been accused of breeding a racially insensitive and toxic culture. In the third episode of Thanks Be To Pod, Rebecca Marie Jo, a former editor at the magazine, shares her thoughts about Relevant and the hopes that she has for the future of Christian community.

Did you take a religion or philosophy class in college? Did it impact the way that you think about God? If so, you're not alone. In the second episode of Thanks Be To Pod, Nate and Colby think through the ways that the college experience prompts deconstruction. Nate, whose own narrative of deconstruction largely involves the academy, speaks with his college friend Wilson Greene.

On this special release of “Wait, What?!,” Nate and Colby discuss the recent drama surrounding Bethel Church and their partnership with an organization that believes you can, “leave homosexuality behind.” Nate and Colby sit down with Zack Eccleston and ask questions like: what should our response be as progressive Christians? How far do the effects of this message go? And what can we do to support our LGBTQ family in the wake of Bethel’s newly publicized stance.

In the first episode of Thanks Be To Pod, Nate and Colby discuss deconstruction and the impact that it has had on their lives. The big question for them: why do the vast majority of the churches that welcome "deconstructing" Christians appear stuck in a time warp?