Regent College Podcast

This week, we're talking with Regent alum and professor of systematic theology, Dr Barnabas Aspray, about his new book On the Significance of Religion in Immigration Policy, co-written with Dr David Elcott. Barney shares insightfully about the connection between religious identity and religious belief with immigration policy, arguing that religion significantly influences nations’ responses to immigration in ways that are not often acknowledged. Moreover, religious identification can be both compassionate and exclusionary, as demonstrated in European responses to the 2015 refugee crisis. Barney shares insights from the perspective of being an immigrant in the US himself, encouraging pastors and church leaders to have conversations around immigration in order to prevent polarisation. Barney urges us to maintain conversations across differences and identify Christian aspirations, as well as the harrowing realities of history that demonstrate the ways we have fallen short of those ideals. Barnabas's BioDr. Barnabas Aspray is a theologian and author who serves as Assistant Professor of Systematic Theology at St. Mary’s Seminary & University in Baltimore. His work bridges philosophy and theology, exploring themes of God, creation, and evil. Before entering academia, he worked as a software engineer in London. Since shifting to theology, he has pursued research in biblical studies, systematic and philosophical theology, and now he writes on topics like faith, refugees, and the ethics of belonging. Today, we’ll be talking to Barney about his new book, On the Significance of Religion in Immigration Policy.Previous Podcast AppearancesRefugee, Asylum Seeker, Migrant and the Book of Isaiah (January 2023)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

The Saint John's Bible is a work of sacred scripture and art, including more than 160 hand illuminations. A team of scribes used ancient natural inks, hand-ground pigments, and gold and silver leaf gild to create the original, which was completed in 2011. The Heritage Edition is a full-size, fine art reproduction – and we have one in the Allison Library at Regent College. In this conversation with Rev. Dr. John Ross and Colton Whelpton, we learn about the Bible’s history and craftsmanship, where you can find copies, the ways communities engage with it, and how it is used in the life and rhythms of Regent College. We consider the artfulness of corrections, the power of reading in community, and the interweaving of art with Scripture in causing us to slow down and experience Scripture in a new way. Interviewee BiosThe Reverend Dr. John F. Ross is the Executive Director of The Saint John’s Bible Heritage Program at Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota. Prior to his work at Saint John’s, John served for 18 years as the Senior Minister of Wayzata Community Church in Minnesota. John completed his Master of Divinity at the Methodist Theological School of Ohio, and a Doctor of Ministry through the Chicago Theological Seminary.Colton Whelpton has been a member of the Regent College community since 2017, graduating with an MATS in 2021 and serving as the Library Services Manager for the past 4 years. He oversees the day-to-day operations at the library, maintaining a large collection of resources and overseeing a team of student employees. Colton is currently pursuing an MLIS from the University of Alberta, and is particularly interested in topics relating to theology and technology, Indigenous spirituality, and new monasticism. LinksTurning the Pages: The Saint John's Bible Heritage Editions Around the WorldSaint John's Bible Youtube ChannelAllison Library: Book a ViewingThe Saint John’s Bible Heritage Edition at Regent College: Ancient Art for the Modern Era (Regent Vine article, Sept 2025)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

In this first episode of 2026, picture yourself in Boston in late November. It’s chilly, a little rainy, and there are scholars everywhere. Rachel is on the road, meeting Regent alums and early career researchers at the American Academy of Religion and Society of Biblical Literature Conference. In this special episode, she catches up with Madison Lyonhart, Abraham Wu, James Smoker and Rachel Wilkowski, hearing about their presentations, research projects, and perspectives on the conference. They also share about how their Regent days influenced their career trajectories and interests. We're moving through history, theology, the arts, and biblical studies, so it's a smorgasbord of topics and perspectives. We hope you enjoy this episode and it whets your appetite for an array of great conversations in 2026.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

We're finishing the year by squaring the circle and chatting again to Dr. Quentin Genuis ahead of his J-Term class at Regent on Addiction, Personhood and Christian Communities. Quentin has just released a book, Recovering People: Addiction, Personhood and the Life of the Church, distilling insights and stories from his work as an emergency doctor, his theological training and experience learning in community in the Downtown Eastside in Vancouver. Quentin speaks compassionately and insightfully about addictions, their causes and consequences, and the ways that churches and communities can attend to the underlying hunger for connection that persons with addictions fear to lose in the process of recovery. Quentin also has wise words for church leaders, family and friends of persons with addictions, and careful reflections on why an understanding of human sin and the practice of confession are levellers in creating a context of hospitality and refuge. Quentin will be launching his book in partnership with the Regent Bookstore on February 10, 2026, so look out for more information in the coming months. Quentin's BioDr. Quentin Genuis is an Emergency Physician at St. Paul's Hospital and a Scholar in Residence at Regent College. He holds a Master of Letters in Theology from the University of St. Andrews. His academic interests include palliative care, biomedical ethics, personal autonomy, and addiction. He is the author of a forthcoming book on Addiction and the Church. Previous Podcast AppearancesEthical Issues in Healthcare (May 2025)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

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