The Leader’s Way

Becca Stevens, founder and president of Thistle Farms, joins us to reflect on her mission-driven work as a “love entrepreneur.” She shares stories from Thistle Farms, her wisdom about ministry outside of the parish, what it means that “love heals,” Thistle Farms Christmas present recommendations, and more!

Sophie Grace Chappell, the first openly transgender philosophy professor in the UK, shares her profound journey of self-discovery. She discusses navigating faith as a transgender person, revealing the challenges of reconciling her identity with a conservative religious background. The conversation touches on the significance of representation in the trans community, influenced by cultural touchstones like Harry Potter. Chappell also reflects on personal healing through music and the importance of creating supportive spaces for queer individuals.

This week, the Rev'd Dr. Angela Gorrell joins us, and we talk about public theology, hybrid ministry, the Taylor Swift Eras Tour, grief, lament, and joy.

In this episode, the Rev’d Winnie Varghese, Rector of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Atlanta, Georgia, joins us to talk about parish ministry. We chat about Mariology, in-person church in the wake of the pandemic, and joy in ministry.

In this Halloween episode, the Rev’d Dr. Gabrielle Thomas and Dr. Hannah Black talk about some of their favorite people: the fourth century Cappadocians. Thomas shares what her research has uncovered about the Cappadocians’ understanding of the devil. Spoiler: He is not a red guy with horns. Rather, our fourth-century guides view him as the enemy of salvation and the church.

In this episode, hear from Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and Dean of Berkeley Divinity School Andrew McGowan on the centrality of love to Christianity. This live conversation, mediated by nationally bestselling author Deborah Royce, was recorded at the Yale Club in New York City inMay 2023. It celebrates the debut of the film, A Case for Love, a Grace-Based Films documentary about Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s teachings and writings.

Dr. Rae Jean Proeschold-Bell is a research professor at Duke Global Health Institute. In this episode, she shares research findings from the Clergy Health Initiative. She talks about the differences in behaviors between flourishing and burnt-out clergy. Rae Jean shares practical strategies for clergy to guard themselves against burnout as well as her tips for seminarians.

The doctrine of the Trinity is as foundational to Christianity as it is elusive and even confounding. While the Trinity seems to many like a distant theological formulation, writer, contemplative teacher, and therapist, Dr. Robert Jonas shares insights about just how intimate, practical, and transformative the Trinity can be in daily life. Revealing Jesus as a teacher of “non-dual” and trinitarian awareness, Jonas presents fresh ways in which the liberating core of Christianity is available to us all.

What is it like to be the spiritual leader for 75,000 people? What do the challenges of the Church look like from the perspective of an Episcopal bishop, and how does one find hope in a world with so much hardship? Bishop Andrew Doyle handles these questions and more with ease, authenticity, and copious amounts of hope in what feels like a comfortable conversation in a favorite neighborhood café.