Guest Info/Bio: Tyler Merritt is an actor, comedian, viral sensation, activist, founder of The Tyler Merritt Project, and author of the memoir, I Take My Coffee Black: Reflections on Tupac, Musical Theater, Faith, and Being Black in America. As a 6’2” dreadlocked black man living in the South, Merritt is well aware of stereotypes and their potentially dangerous consequences. In response, Merritt has devoted his creativity to bringing his ethos of “Love. Learn. Create.” to life through his words and videos as part of The Tyler Merritt Project. His viral videos, “Before You Call the Cops” and “Walking While Black” have been viewed by millions and caught the attention of The New York Times, Jimmy Kimmel, and Sports Illustrated. Merritt takes his audiences along with him on a journey of contradictions: at turns both funny and sad, mysterious, and relatable, commonplace, and dangerous, he shines a light on “full-spectrum humanity” (The New York Times) that makes an impactful and relevant message. Merritt’s emphasis on humility and connection provides an urgent roadmap during turbulent times, challenging audiences to see our differences as a unifying force for humankind and to “get to know me before you call the cops,” as he says in his video. In his talks and lectures, Merritt infuses his core beliefs of unity, empathy, compassion, and inclusion with humor, making his message relatable and accessible to wide-ranging audiences from corporations, non-profits, community groups, colleges and universities, and youth audiences worldwide. Guest Website/Social Media:  https://thetylermerrittproject.com  Instagram: @TTMProject  Facebook: @thetylermerrittproject  Twitter: @TTMProject  YouTube: https://youtubee.com/channel/UCPB48_JfK-VMnYQPTYyMX5Q This week’s episode is brought to you by Better Help online therapy. For 10% off your first month go to www.betterhelp.com/deconstructionists  Theme Music by: Forrest Clay  “This Water I am Treading & You Must Go” found on the brand new EP, Recover. You can find Forrest Clay's music on iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube, or anywhere good music is found! This episode of the Deconstructionists Podcast was edited, mixed, and produced by John Williamson  Stay on top of all of the latest at www.thedeconstructionists.com Go there to check out our blog, snag a t-shirt, or follow us on social media Join our Patreon family here: www.patreon.com/deconstructionists  Website by Ryan Battles All photos by Jared Hevron Logos designed by Joseph Ernst & Stephen Pfluig T-shirt designs by Joseph Ernst, Chad Flannigan, Colin Rigsby, and Jason Turner.  Starting your own podcast? Try Riverside! https://riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_1&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=john-williamson Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-deconstructionists/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Guest Info/Bio: Guest Bio: This week I kick off a two-part series on race with Andre Henry. Andre is an award-winning musician, writer, and activist. He is a columnist for Religion New Service and the author of the newsletter “Hope and Hard Pills.” He is a student of nonviolent struggle, having organized protests in Los Angeles, where he lives, and studied under international movement leaders through the Harvard Kennedy School. His work in pursuit of racial justice has been featured in The New Yorker and The Nation and he has a brand new book out, “All the White Friends I Couldn’t Keep: Hope—and Hard Pills to Swallow — About Fighting for Black Lives.”  Guest Website/Social Media:  www.andrehenry.co  Facebook: @theandrehenry Twitter: @andrehenry Instagram: @theandrehenry SoundCloud: https://m.soundcloud.com/andrehenrymusic  This week’s episode is brought to you by Better Help online therapy. For 10% off your first month go to www.betterhelp.com/deconstructionists  Theme Music by: Forrest Clay  “This Water I am Treading & You Must Go” found on the brand new EP, Recover. You can find Forrest Clay's music on iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube, or anywhere good music is found! This episode of the Deconstructionists Podcast was edited, mixed, and produced by John Williamson  Stay on top of all of the latest at www.thedeconstructionists.com Go there to check out our blog, snag a t-shirt, or follow us on social media Join our Patreon family here: www.patreon.com/deconstructionists  Website by Ryan Battles All photos by Jared Hevron Logos designed by Joseph Ernst & Stephen Pfluig T-shirt designs by Joseph Ernst, Chad Flannigan, Colin Rigsby, and Jason Turner.  Starting your own podcast? Try Riverside! https://riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_1&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=john-williamson Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-deconstructionists/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Guest Info/Bio: Guest Bio: This week I welcome back John Dominic Crossan! Dr. Crossan is one of the preeminent New Testament scholars and historian of early Christianity. He is known for his contemporary historical Jesus research and he has written both popular and academic books on an array of topics. Dr. Crossan received his Doctor of Divinity at St. Patrick’s College, Maynooth, the Irish national seminary and completed two additional years of study in biblical languages at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome. He completed two additional years of study in archeology at the Ecole Biblique in Jordanian East Jerusalem. He served as co-chair of the Jesus Seminar and also served as president of the Chicago Society of Biblical Research from 1978-1979, and as president of the Society of Biblical Literature in 2012.  (Selected) Published Works: The Historical Jesus: The Life of a Mediterranean Jewish Peasant; Jesus: A Revolutionary Biography; Who Killed Jesus? Exposing the Roots of Anti-Semitism in the Gospel Story of the Death of Jesus; In Search of Paul: How Jesus’s Apostle Opposed Rome’s Empire with God’s Kingdom; God and Empire: Jesus Against Rome, Then and Now; The First Paul: Reclaiming the Radical Visionary Behind the Church’s Conservative Icon; The Power of Parable: How Fiction by Jesus became fiction about Jesus; How to Read the Bible and Still Be a Christian: Struggling with Divine Violence from Genesis Through Revelation; and Resurrecting Easter: How the West Lost and the East Kept the Original Easter Vision.  Guest Website/Social Media:  www.johndominiccrossan.com  Facebook: @johndominiccrossan  Theme Music by: Forrest Clay  “This Water I am Treading & You Must Go” found on the brand new EP, Recover. You can find Forrest Clay's music on iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube, or anywhere good music is found! This episode of the Deconstructionists Podcast was edited, mixed, and produced by John Williamson  Stay on top of all of the latest at www.thedeconstructionists.com Go there to check out our blog, snag a t-shirt, or follow us on social media Join our Patreon family here: www.patreon.com/deconstructionists  Website by Ryan Battles All photos by Jared Hevron Logos designed by Joseph Ernst & Stephen Pfluig T-shirt designs by Joseph Ernst, Chad Flannigan, Colin Rigsby, and Jason Turner.  Starting your own podcast? Try Riverside! https://riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_1&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=john-williamson Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-deconstructionists/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Guest Info/Bio: This week I welcome back our good friend Jonathan Martin! Jonathan is a pastor at The Table and author of two critically acclaimed books, Prototype and How to Survive a Shipwreck, and a brand new book, The Road Away from God: How Love Finds Us Even As We Walk Away” out now.  He holds degrees from Gardner-Webb University, Pentecostal Theological Seminary (MA) and Duke University (ThM). Jonathan’s work and/or words have been featured in places like the New York Times, The Atlantic, NPR, Newsweek, Vox, Sojourners, The Huffington Post, and Relevant Magazine, and he has published in scholarly journals like The Journal of Pentecostal Theology.  Guest Publications:  Prototype: What Happens When You Discover You’re More Like Jesus Than You Think?, How to Survive A Shipwreck: Help is On the Way and Love is Already Here, and The Road Away from God: How Love Finds Us Even As We Walk Away Guest Links: www.jonathanmartinwords.com  Twitter: @theboyonthebike  Podcast: The Zeitcast with Jonathan Martin  Listen to The Zeitcast with Jonathan Martin on Apple Podcasts. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-zeitcast-with-jonathan-martin/id1474849938 Theme Music by: Forrest Clay  “This Water I am Treading & You Must Go” found on the brand new EP, Recover. You can find Forrest Clay's music on iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube, or anywhere good music is found! This episode of the Deconstructionists Podcast was edited, mixed, and produced by John Williamson  Stay on top of all of the latest at www.thedeconstructionists.com Go there to check out our blog, snag a t-shirt, or follow us on social media Join our Patreon family here: www.patreon.com/deconstructionists  Website by Ryan Battles All photos by Jared Hevron Logos designed by Joseph Ernst & Stephen Pfluig T-shirt designs by Joseph Ernst, Chad Flannigan, Colin Rigsby, and Jason Turner.  Starting your own podcast? Try Riverside! https://riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_1&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=john-williamson Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-deconstructionists/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

uest Info/Bio: Forrest Clay is a singer/songwriter and good friend of the pod! Clay joined me to discuss the inspiration behind his Recover EP. We break down each song followed by a snippet of that particular track for your listening pleasure.  Guest Links: Twitter: @clay_k Instagram: @forrestclaymusic  Music by: Forrest Clay  “Burning Bush, This Water I am Treading, Does God, Oh Church, You Must Go, and Recover” all found on the brand new EP, Recover and the brand new single, “Child of War.”  You can find Forrest Clay's music on iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube, or anywhere good music is found! This episode of the Deconstructionists Podcast was edited, mixed, and produced by John Williamson  Stay on top of all of the latest at www.thedeconstructionists.com Go there to check out our blog, snag a t-shirt, or follow us on social media Join our Patreon family here: www.patreon.com/deconstructionists  Website by Ryan Battles All photos by Jared Hevron Logos designed by Joseph Ernst & Stephen Pfluig T-shirt designs by Joseph Ernst, Chad Flannigan, Colin Rigsby, and Jason Turner.  Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-deconstructionists/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Guest Info/Bio: This week I welcome Staci Frenes. Staci is a Christian music artist, speaker, author, and mom of an LGBTQ+ daughter. A former English teacher, she has turned her love of music into a full-time vocation, forming her own publishing company and record label and landing multiple film and television placements. We talk all about Staci’s new book, “Love Makes Room: And Other Things I learned When My Daughter Came Out.”  Guest (Select) Publications: Love Makes Room: And Other Things I learned When My Daughter Came Out. Guest Links: www.stacifrenes.com  Twitter: @stacifrenes  Instagram: @stacifrenes Facebook: @stacifrenes  Theme music by: Forrest Clay  “This Water I am Treading” & “You Must Go” can be found on the brand new EP, Recover  You can find Forrest Clay's music on iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube, or anywhere good music is found! This episode of the Deconstructionists Podcast was edited, mixed, and produced by John Williamson  Stay on top of all of the latest at www.thedeconstructionists.com Go there to check out our blog, snag a t-shirt, or follow us on social media Join our Patreon family here: www.patreon.com/deconstructionists  Website by Ryan Battles All photos by Jared Hevron Logos designed by Joseph Ernst & Stephen Pfluig T-shirt designs by Joseph Ernst, Chad Flannigan, Colin Rigsby, and Jason Turner.  Need to record some audio or start your own podcast? Check out the best recording program out there with Riverside.fm : https://riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_1&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=john-williamson Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-deconstructionists/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Guest Info/Bio: This week I welcome Candice Marie Benbow. Candice is a multi-genre theologian who situates her work at the intersections of beauty, faith, feminism and culture, giving voice to Black women’s shared experiences of healing and journeying toward wholeness. Reimagining how faith can be a tool of liberation and transformation for women and girls, she challenges Black women to think critically about how they see God and the world. Named by Sojourners as one of “10 Christian Women Shaping the Church in 2020”, Candice has written for various outlets including ESSENCE Magazine, Glamour Magazine, The Root, VICE, Shondaland, MadameNoire and the Me Too Movement. Guest (Select) Publications: Red Lip Theology: For Church Girls Who’ve Considered Tithing to the Beauty Supply Store When Sunday Morning Isn’t Enough  Guest Links: www.candicebenbow.com  Twitter: @candicebenbow Instagram: @cadicebenbow Theme music by: Forrest Clay  “This Water I am Treading” & “You Must Go” can be found on the brand new EP, Recover  You can find Forrest Clay's music on iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube, or anywhere good music is found! This episode of the Deconstructionists Podcast was edited, mixed, and produced by John Williamson  Stay on top of all of the latest at www.thedeconstructionists.com Go there to check out our blog, snag a t-shirt, or follow us on social media Join our Patreon family here: www.patreon.com/deconstructionists  Website by Ryan Battles All photos by Jared Hevron Logos designed by Joseph Ernst & Stephen Pfluig T-shirt designs by Joseph Ernst, Chad Flannigan, Colin Rigsby, and Jason Turner.  Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-deconstructionists/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Guest Bio: Thomas Jay Oord is a theologian, philosopher, and scholar of multi-disciplinary studies. He is an award-winning author, and he has written or edited more than twenty books. Oord has won the Outstanding Faculty Award twelve times as professor of Northwest Nazarene University, Nampa, Idaho. Oord is known for his contributions to research on love, relational theology, science and religion, and Wesleyan/Holiness/Church of the Nazarene thought. (Select) Guest Publications: The Nature of Love: A Theology; The Uncontrolling Love of God: An Open and Relational Account of Providence; God Can't: How to Believe in God and Love After Tragedy, Abuse, and Other Evils; and God Can't Q&A. Pluriform Love: An Open and Relational Theology of Well-Being. Guest Links: www.thomasjayoord.com Twitter: @thomasjayoord Theme music by Forrest Clay. Check out the Recover EP anywhere good music is sold. Stay on top of all the latest at www.thedeconstructionists.com Go there to read our blog, grab a tee shirt, snag a pint glass or mug, follow us on social media, or join our Patreon family. The Deconstructionists Podcast is edited, mixed, and produced by John Williamson. Website by Ryan Battles All Photos by Jared Hevron Logos designed by Joseph Ernst & Stephen Pfluig T-Shirt designs by Joseph Ernst, Chad Flannigan, Colin Rigsby, and Jason Turner Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-deconstructionists/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Guest Info/Bio: This week I welcome Kirsten Powers! Kirsten Powers is a CNN senior political analyst and NYT bestselling author whose forthcoming book is "Saving Grace: Speak Your Truth, Stay Centered and Learn to Coexist with People Who Drive You Nuts," publishing on Nov. 2, 2021. Kirsten formerly was a columnist for USA Today, The Daily Beast, American Prospect Online and the New York Post. The Columbia Journalism Review called her "an outspoken liberal journalist" in a sea of opposition at Fox News, where she previously served as a political analyst. Her writing has been published in the Washington Post, Elle magazine, Slate, the Wall Street Journal, and Salon.com. Guest (Select) Publications: The Silencing: How the Left is Killing Free Speech, Saving Grace: Speak Your Truth, Stay Centered, and Learn to Coexist with People Who Drive You Nuts  Guest Links: Twitter: @kirstenpowers Instagram: @kirstenpowers  Theme music by: Forrest Clay  “This Water I am Treading” & “You Must Go” can be found on the brand new EP, Recover  You can find Forrest Clay's music on iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube, or anywhere good music is found! This episode of the Deconstructionists Podcast was edited, mixed, and produced by John Williamson  Stay on top of all of the latest at www.thedeconstructionists.com Go there to check out our blog, snag a t-shirt, or follow us on social media Join our Patreon family here: www.patreon.com/deconstructionists  Website by Ryan Battles All photos by Jared Hevron Logos designed by Joseph Ernst & Stephen Pfluig T-shirt designs by Joseph Ernst, Chad Flannigan, Colin Rigsby, and Jason Turner.  Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-deconstructionists/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Guest Info/Bio: No, your ears do not deceive you! Long-time listeners asking where Adam went…well….I found him! Adam is a live and well! I packed up the recording gear, set up in Adam’s bourbon room, and we sat down to talk all about what Deconstruction means to us 6 years after starting this crazy project. This week I welcome back my friend and co-founder of The Deconstructionists Podcast, Adam “freaking” Narloch!  Theme music by: Forrest Clay  “This Water I am Treading” & “You Must Go” can be found on the brand new EP, Recover  You can find Forrest Clay's music on iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube, or anywhere good music is found! This episode of the Deconstructionists Podcast was edited, mixed, and produced by John Williamson  Stay on top of all of the latest at www.thedeconstructionists.com Go there to check out our blog, snag a t-shirt, or follow us on social media Join our Patreon family here: www.patreon.com/deconstructionists  Website by Ryan Battles All photos by Jared Hevron Logos designed by Joseph Ernst & Stephen Pfluig T-shirt designs by Joseph Ernst, Chad Flannigan, Colin Rigsby, and Jason Turner.  Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-deconstructionists/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy