Regent College Podcast

In this episode, Regent grad and spiritual director Carolyn Watts shares about her life and learnings from serving as an obstetrician in Afghanistan until a debilitating chronic illness (POTS) ended her medical career. Reflecting on her memoir, Risking Rest, Carolyn shares how her obstetrical training gave her images for interpreting God's intimate care for us, as well as His invitations to us to rest from our labours. Carolyn also shares about the gifts of singleness, trusting God in challenging circumstances, and living a restful life with God amid pressures, demands and personal limitations. Throughout the conversation, she conveys God's gentleness and loving kindness, which continues to meet her in her limits, enabling her to relinquish her drivenness.Carolyn's BioCarolyn Watts is an obstetrician, author, and spiritual director. She completed an MATS at Regent College, where she began working on Risking Rest: Embracing God’s Love Through Life’s Uncertainties. In her memoir, she shares her experience of living and working in Afghanistan, and her journey with chronic illness that prevented her from continuing to practice medicine, but led her deeper into the heart of God. Born in Ontario and raised in Nova Scotia, Carolyn is preparing to return to Nova Scotia after living in Vancouver for the past sixteen years.Regent College Podcast Thanks for listening. Please like, rate and review us on your podcast platform of choice and share this episode with a friend. Follow Us on Social Media Facebook Instagram Youtube Keep in Touch Regent College Summer Programs Regent College Newsletter

Dr. Carmen Joy Imes, an Old Testament expert and author, dives deep into the essence of the church as a family in Christ. She emphasizes the beauty of divine adoption and how it fosters mutual belonging. Carmen candidly addresses the messy nature of family dynamics while advocating for healthier church communities. She highlights the importance of diversity and honesty in church relationships, encouraging a balanced approach to inclusion and accountability. Ultimately, she champions the church as a force for good in the world, inviting everyone to embrace community.

Claire and Rachel caught up with Dr. Shelly Rambo, a theologian at Boston University, working in the areas of trauma, spiritual care and chaplaincy. Shelly’s book Spirit and Trauma is a seminal work in the field of trauma and theology, and she brings over twenty years of thought and exploration to the study of Scripture and the Christian tradition through the lens of trauma. We talk about the reality of trauma that remains, and how Jesus prepares us to live with the unresolved, what we can learn from Julian of Norwich about regaining inner spiritual authority, and the theological classroom as a site of post-traumatic growth. Shelly finishes by sharing insights from Howard Thurman on maintaining spiritual vitality in the midst of embodied threat. In a time when many are leaving institutional religion, Shelly brings wise insight into the reasons people leave and ways in which they can develop a sustaining spiritual community in the aftermath of harm.Shelly's BioDr. Shelly Rambo is a theologian and professor at Boston University School of Theology, whose work explores the intersections of trauma, theology, and spiritual care. Her research has shaped trauma-informed approaches to chaplaincy and theological education, particularly in seminary contexts. She is the author of Spirit and Trauma: A Theology of Remaining, and Resurrecting Wounds, and is a leading voice in rethinking how Christian theology engages suffering, survival, and the work of healing.Regent College Podcast Thanks for listening. Please like, rate and review us on your podcast platform of choice and share this episode with a friend. Follow Us on Social Media Facebook Instagram Youtube Keep in Touch Regent College Summer Programs Regent College Newsletter

Do you have questions about the Book of Daniel? What’s going on with the Daniel diet? What about linguistic issues like the use of Hebrew and Aramaic in Daniel, and what it communicates about living as exiles in an oppressive empire? How do we understand God’s deliverance in the court tales and the apocalyptic imagery that comes later? We discuss all these topics and more with Dr. Aubrey Buster, who has been collaborating on a commentary series on Daniel with Dr. John Walton. Aubrey was with us at Regent in June, teaching on Daniel. We were grateful to mine her insights from exegetical study, as well as its applications to living today as we wait for the coming of Christ. Aubrey's BioDr. Aubrey E. Buster is an Associate Professor of Old Testament at Wheaton College in Illinois, where she has been a faculty member since 2018. She earned her Ph.D. in Hebrew Bible from Emory University. Dr. Buster's research focuses on the Psalms, Chronicles, Ezra-Nehemiah, Daniel, and the Dead Sea Scrolls. She is the author of Remembering the Story of Israel: Historical Summaries and Memory Formation in Second Temple Judaism. Currently, she is co-authoring the Daniel volume for the New International Commentary on the Old Testament (NICOT) series with Dr. John H. Walton and the Ezra-Nehemiah volume for the Bible in God's World Series. Aubrey is here with us at Regent this week teaching a course on the Book of Daniel. Regent College Podcast Thanks for listening. Please like, rate and review us on your podcast platform of choice and share this episode with a friend. Follow Us on Social Media Facebook Instagram Youtube Keep in Touch Regent College Summer Programs Regent College Newsletter

Rev. Dr. Ray Aldred joins Claire and Rachel to share his journey of faith and ministry, the spiritual work of healing and reconciliation, and the significance of Truth and Reconciliation Day/Orange Shirt Day in Canada. Ray’s generous pastoral heart and years of ministry experience are reflected in his commitment to developing empathy for the pain of others. Framing reconciliation through the lens of becoming relatives, he shares Indigenous perspectives on relationality, connecting them to insights from the life and passion of Jesus. Ray encourages us to rethink our understandings of repentance and holiness, portraying an expansive view of the life we are invited to in Christ. He provides practical steps for listening well and learning about Indigenous culture and history as we work to address injustices and develop a shared plan for the future.Ray's BioRev. Dr. Ray Aldred is a Cree theologian and ordained minister from Treaty 8. He serves as Director of the Indigenous Studies Program at Vancouver School of Theology, where he helps shape theological education through an Indigenous lens. Dr. Aldred’s work focuses on healing, reconciliation, and the integration of Indigenous spirituality and Christian faith. A respected speaker and writer, he has contributed to volumes such as Buffalo Shout, Salmon Cry and Decolonizing Evangelicalism. He is deeply committed to helping the church reckon with the legacy of colonization while nurturing pathways toward justice, truth, and spiritual renewal.Regent College Podcast Thanks for listening. Please like, rate and review us on your podcast platform of choice and share this episode with a friend. Follow Us on Social Media Facebook Instagram Youtube Keep in Touch Regent College Summer Programs Regent College Newsletter

Welcome back to the Regent podcast after our summer hiatus! We are kicking off Season 7 with our new President, Dr. Paul Spilsbury. In this conversation, we take some time to learn about Paul’s connections to Regent, his holistic vision for the College’s flourishing, which he describes as “Rooted and Growing,” and his plans to build on the College's strategic goals. We especially focus on building a healthy community, deepening formation, and growing enrollment. Paul’s interview is a must-listen for current and prospective students, offering helpful insights into life at Regent in this new era, characterized by Paul’s posture of listening and learning in humility.Paul's BioDr. Paul Spilsbury is Professor of New Testament and the new President of Regent College, a role which he began July 1, 2025. Before that, he served as the Academic Dean since 2015. He holds a PhD in early Christian and Jewish history from the University of Cambridge and a Master of Christian Studies from Regent College. A respected scholar of the New Testament and ancient Jewish texts, such as Paul’s letters, Flavius Josephus, and the Book of Revelation, Paul continues to teach in these areas. Beyond academia, Paul is also a watercolour artist and an active member of Tenth Church in Vancouver.Previous Podcast AppearancesWho Was the Apostle Paul? (December 2022)Let's Talk About the Book of Revelation (March 2019)Please note: There is ongoing construction in the former parking lot at Regent. While we have tried our best to work our audio engineering magic, the complete removal of drilling sounds was not possible.Regent College Podcast Thanks for listening. Please like, rate and review us on your podcast platform of choice and share this episode with a friend. Follow Us on Social Media Facebook Instagram Youtube Keep in Touch Regent College Summer Programs Regent College Newsletter

Join Dr. James Smoker, Registrar at Regent College and expert on Samuel Taylor Coleridge, as he explores the intersection of imagination and theology. He delves into Coleridge's struggles and creativity, revealing how the poet's reflections on nature and relationships enrich our understanding of the human experience. The conversation covers the importance of storytelling, friendship, and the moral lessons embedded in mythology. Discover how Coleridge’s work can illuminate modern faith journeys and inspire deeper connections with art and spirituality.

Today we are joined by a favourite past (and future) summer professor who teaches in the Literary Arts, Dr. Karen Swallow Prior. We are focusing on her new book, You Have a Calling: Finding Your Vocation in the True, Good, and Beautiful, which releases on August 5, 2025. In our conversation, Karen dismantles some contemporary thought around calling (in the Instagram world) to present a vision of a good, true and beautiful life – even when we are not paid to do what we love. She brings years of mentoring and advising college students to her book, while drawing on her own recent experience with unexpected direction changes. Her extensive knowledge of literary characters who grapple with questions of work and vocation is also carefully woven in, giving helpful examples. Karen’s main premise is that in order to have a calling, you need to be called. She also identifies ways in which the culture around us is skewing our understanding of passion and purpose. Listen in and consider: who is calling you, and who are you calling into a true, good and beautiful life with God?Karen's BioDr. Karen Swallow Prior is a writer, speaker, and columnist for Religion News Service. Her work has appeared in The New York Times and The Washington Post, among others. She is well-known for bridging literature, faith, and ethics. A professor of English and Christian thought, she writes on the intersection of classic literature and contemporary culture. Her books include On Reading Well, Booked, and The Evangelical Imagination. Karen brings a unique voice that challenges and inspires listeners to think deeply and live with conviction. Karen taught a course on Christian Poetics here at Regent in summer 2024. Today we will be talking with her about her soon-to-be-released book You Have a Calling: Finding Your Vocation in the True, Good, and Beautiful.Regent College Podcast Thanks for listening. Please like, rate and review us on your podcast platform of choice and share this episode with a friend. Follow Us on Social Media Facebook Instagram Youtube Keep in Touch Regent College Summer Programs Regent College Newsletter

What is the Masters of Arts in Leadership, Theology and Society (MALTS)? What might it involve, how does theology integrate with the workplace, and what’s it like to study while continuing to work in a leadership context? In this episode, we catch up with Dr. David Robinson and three MALTS students, Israel, Jonathan and Zelna, to hear more about the 2-year cohort-based program. David helpfully frames the vision and ideas behind MALTS and the students bring it to life, sharing examples from their experiences of the classroom, peer support, and mentorship. They also share about their integrative projects, applied to specific contexts in New Zealand, Singapore and Australia. Join us for our broadest ever range of accents, contexts and perspectives in one podcast episode – maybe it will tempt you to be in the next cohort!Faculty and Student BiosDr. David RobinsonDr. David Robinson is the R. Paul Stevens Assistant Professor of Marketplace Theology and Leadership here at Regent College. He directs the Master of Arts in Leadership, Theology, and Society program, and his work explores the intersection of faith, work, ethics, and public life. David holds a PhD in Systematic Theology from the University of Edinburgh and an MDiv from Regent College. He’s passionate about helping people think theologically about leadership, culture, and everyday life. Israel CooperIsrael and his wife Jessica are Co-Founders of Home, a national development and construction company that is on a mission to end homelessness. He is an accountant and economist, and has worked for organisations such as PwC, Massive Software, and Rex Bionics. He lives in Christchurch with his wife Jessica and three children.Jonathan HuangJonathan Huang is the Director of Administry in Wesley Methodist Church, the oldest and largest Methodist Church in Singapore. He grew up in a minister's family and worked in an investment firm before pursuing an MDiv. He has served in the Worship, Youth and Young Adult ministries in his church.Zelna van den HeeverZelna van der Heever was born and raised in South Africa. She and her husband Philip emigrated to Australia over 20 years ago. She serves as one of the finance managers at the Pacific Group of Christian Schools where her boys attend school. She seeks to bring glory to God through the work she does there.Interested in MALTS?Contact Dr. David Robinson or Petro Kovaliv for more information.Summer Listener SurveyPlease fill out our Listener Survey before the end of July for the opportunity to win a $100 Regent College Bookstore Gift Card.Regent College Podcast Thanks for listening. Please like, rate and review us on your podcast platform of choice and share this episode with a friend. Follow Us on Social Media Facebook Instagram Youtube Keep in Touch Regent College Summer Programs Regent College Newsletter

Dr. George Kalantzis, a Professor of Theology and Director of The Wheaton Center for Early Christian Studies, shares insights from early Christianity’s complex landscape. He discusses the evolution of theological thought, the influence of Greco-Roman culture, and the significance of communal discernment. Kalantzis highlights historical controversies regarding the nature of God and the role of the Holy Spirit. He emphasizes the importance of inter-denominational unity today and advocates for compassion in refugee ministry, urging a shift towards recognizing individual journeys of faith.