Kindreds

What does being Christian even mean anyway? Who gets to decide what a Christian is? That's what we discuss in this episode and how we've evolved in our understanding of how the label "Christian" feels to us. We talk about evangelicalism, Jesus, deconstruction, Christian nationalism, and how we understand our ever-changing spirituality these days. In short, it's complicated. We will be taking a break from recording episodes this fall. Stay tuned for more in our "Tackling the Taboo" series toward the end of 2023!

What do the Bachelor, Love is Blind, the Ultimatum, and all of the other competition dating reality TV shows have in common? Really problematic narratives about marriage! We break down some of our most "precious illusions" (thanks, Alanis Morissette) about finding "the one," tying the knot, and having a "successful" marriage. We discuss the conveyor belt narratives that leave so many of us miserable, dissatisfied, and lost in the relationships we are told will fulfill us completely.

We take a break from our Tackling the Taboo series to celebrate the beginning of summer by talking about what we're enjoying these days. We talk about some of the books, movies, creative projects, and practices that we are loving right now. Full shownotes: https://kindredspodcast.com/2023/06/05/episode-74-what-were-enjoying-these-days/

Being a parent of an only child comes with all kinds of baggage and inappropriate comments and questions. We discuss the ways that only children are stigmatized and dispel some of the cultural myths surrounding this family structure. Shownotes: https://kindredspodcast.com/2023/05/08/episode-73-tackling-taboo-one-and-done/

CW: we discuss alcohol and drinking on this episode. How has our relationship with alcohol changed over the course of our lives? And are "wine moms" really a thing or are we just failing parents of young children? Shownotes https://kindredspodcast.com/2023/02/27/episode-72-tackling-taboo-are-we-wine-moms/

Welcome to our seventh year of recording Kindreds! This year we are tackling some taboo topics that until now we were a little too fearful to talk about on the show at the length. This episode we start a conversation about sex and sexuality with a focus on what we learned at church, school, and in the culture as young people and how we're unlearning and re-educating ourselves about sex and sexuality in our 30s.

We wrap up 2022 with some life updates from the fall, some of our favorite things from the year, and how we are making the end of this year. And of course, we included our annual Spotify playlist. Link to playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4aPDl74PcN9dAKSVblUCFr?si=0a9aba471abd446b Shownotes: https://kindredspodcast.com/2022/12/19/episode-70-wrapping-up-2022/

We explore the age-old question of what happens when we die. We return to our evangelical roots and discuss theologies of salvation, atonement, and baptism—and how those things are portrayed in church culture (hell house, anyone?). Is Hell even a biblical concept at all? Then we move into talking about where we land these days. In short, we have a lot of questions, and we're just fine with that.

What does it mean to heal from grief? Is it something we do alone, or is healing a communal effort? What does support look like for grieving people, and where do we go for that support? How do we support people we love who are grieving? These are some of the things we talk about in this second conversation about grief. Some of the areas we discuss are the ways that churches show up (and don't) when we are suffering a loss, how grief connects to the rituals of different religious seasons and practices, and some of the worst things people say in the face of a person's loss. Resources: How to Process our Collective Grief (https://www.yesmagazine.org/opinion/2022/06/23/how-to-process-our-collective-grief) Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times by Katherine May (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52623750-wintering) Marked by Covid (https://www.markedbycovid.com/) Black Liturgies on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/blackliturgies/)

For a long time we've been saying that we need to record an episode about this heavy topic, but we've just been too mired in it ourselves to talk about it publicly. We're finally ready, and we have so much to say that we're making it a two-parter. In this episode we talk about what exactly grief is, what some of the different types are, and how no matter the source, your grief is valid. Things We Mention: Brene Brown's Atlas of the Heart Columbia Center for Complicated Grief Webinar: Healing the Brain After Loss

We talk about our reactions to the post-Roe reality that we are making our way through, how we are navigating our own grief journeys this year, and what we are turning to for comfort in these hard days. Ashley shares about the compounded grief her family is experiencing, and Katey shares about coming out about being queer. Resources We Mention: -AbortionsWelcome.org, our pro-choice spiritual companion for before, during, and after abortion -National Network of Abortion Funds -ineedana.com for abortion seekers -Emergent Strategy by adrienne marie brown Our Comforts - Rebecca Campbell's community Sancutary - Hacks on HBO - Harry Styles's album, Harry's House

Katey and Ashley share life updates, some big lows and some inspiring highs, and they share some of their inspiring, fun reads on their currently-reading lists: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Come As You Are, The Once and Future Witches, and The Firekeeper's Daughter. Be sure to check out www.abortionswelcome.org and pick up a copy of Katey's book A Complicated Choice at our online bookstore! https://bookshop.org/shop/kindreds

Ashley sits down with Katey to discuss her new book A Complicated Choice: Making Space for Grief and Healing in the Pro-Choice Movement. We talk about how this wasn't the book Katey intended to write, how the process of writing it taught her a lot about burnout, and how we can all learn to be more compassionate in the ways that we talk about abortion, especially in how we show up for people who are experiencing it. Buy the book: www.bookshop.org/shop/kindreds Check out the show notes: http://kindredspodcast.com/2022/02/16/episode-64-a-complicated-choice-by-katey-zeh/

What would it look like to meet the full human needs of people who experience abortion? That's what this episode is all about. Ashley and Katey talk about their year-long joint effort to create Abortions Welcome, a virtual space dedicated to providing spiritual support and accurate information to anyone who is preparing for, experiencing, or processing an abortion. We also talk about Katey's new book A Complicated Choice: Making Space for Grief and Healing in the Pro-Choice Movement. This story-telling book explores the personal and systemic nuance of abortion and calls on people of faith to engage in sacred listening and compassionate response. Buy Katey's Book: https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506473499/A-Complicated-Choice

We take a look at the last year(what we refer to as 2020 Part 2), revisit the joys and the sorrows, and share what's next for us. Check out our 2021 playlist on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4HajWmGv01HyNcRfFDFeM5?si=2579bcd8e791457f.

Quick note: If you haven't listened yet to episode 60 with Sheila Katz, the CEO of the National Council of Jewish Women, about religious freedom, reproductive rights and abortion access, and anti-Semitism, go back and check it out. Building off of our last episode about anti-Semitism, we take on the topic of Christian hegemony and how pervasive it is in our culture, from workplaces to schools to the ways we celebrate milestones. We also talk specifically about the ways anti-Judaism has shaped the interpretation of Christian sacred texts that reinforce anti-Semitism. We wrap up the episode with some practical ideas for how to dismantle Christian supremacy in our thinking and practices as well as how to learn more about religious traditions that are different from our own.

We welcome our friend and colleague, Sheila Katz, to the show. Sheila Katz is the CEO of the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW), a network of 180,000 advocates across the U.S. and Israel advancing the rights of women, children, and families. Since her start as CEO, Sheila has overseen the founding of the “Rabbis for Repro” campaign, building a network of over 1,000 Rabbis and Jewish clergy promoting reproductive health, rights, and justice. Additionally, under Sheila's leadership, NCJW has made advancing anti-racism efforts at the national and local levels a priority, showing the intersectionality of racial justice in all of the organization's main advocacy issues. We talk about religious freedom, abortion access, and the rise of antisemitism in the United States.

We interview author Meghan Tschanz, author of a new book entitled Women Rising: Learning to Listen, Reclaiming Our Voice. Meghan is a writer, speaker, and former missionary who is passionate about empowering women and reclaiming feminism for the Christian faith. She's a prolific blogger, host of the Faith and Feminism podcast, and an avid traveler. She and her husband, Dustin, live in northeast Georgia. Meghan's Website: https://www.meghantschanz.com/ Follow her on Twitter: @meghantschanz Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meghantschanz/

We sit down with friend of the pod and Intuition Coach Ashley Easter about how to access our intuition, how to discern our intuitive voice, and how the science makes it all make sense. Check out Ashley's upcoming class Intuitive AF, May 31-June 2nd. https://www.ashleyeaster.com/intuitiveaf Check out her free Ego vs. Intuition toolkit: https://www.ashleyeaster.com/toolkit And check out her course Intuition Mastery: https://www.ashleyeaster.com/intuition-mastery Find Ashley on the internet: http://www.ashleyeaster.com/links

We get real about burnout, how it shows up for us professionally and personally, who is most at risk, and how we are finding ways to move through it: with a lot of compassion, self-love, and some good professional help. Resources we mention: Coaching with Kerry Connelly (https://www.mysticjusticepodcast.com/welcome) Daring Compassion Movement Chaplaincy (https://www.faithmattersnetwork.org/daringcompassion) Vicarious Traumatization (https://proqol.org/uploads/VT_Handout_3.2018.pdf) Compassion Fatigue (http://www.compassionfatigue.org/index.html) Burnout Symptoms (https://traumastewardship.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/when-experiencing-overrwhelm-and-trauma-trauma-stewardship-institute.pdf )

We speak with author Sue Monk Kidd about The Book of Longings, a story of an ancient woman claiming her calling to speak truth. We also talk about our sacred practices outside of patriarchal religion and what spiritual community looks like outside of the institutional church. This is a conversation you will not want to miss. The Book of Longings is now available in paperback. We encourage you to pick up a copy at your favorite independent bookstore or on Bookshop.org.

Episode Summary: We take on one of the big questions of the Christian faith: who is Jesus (to us)? We go back to childhood nativity stories and Easter mornings and bring it to current day, exploring everything we were taught about Jesus the baby, the man, and the divine savior. We talk about theology, pop culture, the pressure to fit in, what salvation is al about, and what it means for us to follow Jesus now (or not). Full show notes: http://kindredspodcast.com/2021/02/18/episode-55-who-jesus-is-to-us/

We look over the last (nearly) four years of recording, share some of our favorite moments in podcasting and in life, and talk about our plans for 2021. We're going to focus on what we do best: looking at the intersections of faith and feminism. We want to talk aboutJesus and who he is to us, what do we mean when we say Christian supremacy, what does liberation mean for ourselves and for everyone? We want to talk about compassion fatigue and burnout, accountability and cancel culture and leave space for some fun stuff too. Stay tuned. As always, we’d love to hear from you, either on our Instagram (@kindredspodcast), or send us an email at team@kindredspodcast.com.

Our 2020 Spotify playlist is up! Check it out. https://open.spotify.com/playlist/03rK0YYMxtGp8xp4hmiu7i Special thanks to our newest patron, Adelaide, and a bit thanks to all of our patrons who keep the show going. Sign up on www.patreon.com/kindreds. We answer these big questions from y'all: 1. Magic vs miracles vs science. Is it all the same, just different names? 2. How can you talk to someone who is so entrenched in right-wing media as to deny reality? 3. Who is your new favorite elected official and why? And we share our 2020 faves like Schitt's Creek, The OA, The City We Became, and a particularly delightful and moving episode of the Reply All podcast. We’d love to hear from you, either on our Instagram @kindredspodcast, or send us an email at team@kindredspodcast.com. See ya in 2021!

"I exist in a body." This sounds so simple, but it's actually something that Ashley and Katey have recently been exploring and owning. Maybe you can relate. Do you feel like you're just a talking head? Do you feel like the only way to know something is in your mind? Were you taught your body wasn't to be trusted? You'll want to tune into our conversation about how to reconnect body + mind + spirit. Full show notes: http://kindredspodcast.com/2020/11/13/episode-52-embodiment-waking-up-to-our-bodies/

Some fun news to start: Sue Monk Kidd shared about our show on her Instagram! Welcome to our new listeners who found us through her post. We’re glad to have you. Honestly, we tried two other times to record an episode, and we finally got the space and energy to talk about what’s getting us through this ever-changing and wild time. We get real about boundaries, schedules, therapy, lowering our expectations, and being honest with ourselves. And we talk about some fun things that are bringing us everything from comfort and distraction to joy and levity. Here’s what has been getting us through. The full show notes are here: http://kindredspodcast.com/2020/10/08/episode-51-whats-getting-us-through

Y’all probably know how much we *love* Sue Monk Kidd from some of our previous episodes, but this time we dive into our deep appreciation of her journey exploring the divine feminine through all of her books, and in particular her latest book The Book of Longings. We talk about Ana, the fictional wife of Jesus, and how her prayer has rekindled our passion for exploring the divine within ourselves. http://kindredspodcast.com/2020/09/09/kindreds-picks-the-book-of-longings/

We take it way back to childhood...and back to the present with a discussion of The Babysitters Club, both the book series from the '90s and the Netflix adaption. We also share our current struggles with childcare, particularly in the times of COVID-19. http://kindredspodcast.com/2020/08/10/kindreds-picks-the-babysitters-club/

Many of our public libraries, at least the buildings, have been closed for the last few months which has made us mindful of just how much we love them. What might our libraries have to do with defunding the police? Full shownotes: http://kindredspodcast.com/2020/07/27/episode-48-what-do-libraries-have-to-do-with-police-abolition/

Kindreds Picks is where we talk about anything we didn't have time to mention on the show. This episode we are exploring the concept of disenfranchised grief and sharing wisdom from Captain Awkward's online advice column.

Who gets to be creative? What does your creative process look like? And how is creativity different from productivity? We discuss discovering process art and free writing, and we talk about what gets in the way of creativity--and how we overcome it. Shownotes: http://kindredspodcast.com/2020/06/15/episode-47-creativity/

Black Lives Matter. Right now, police brutality, white supremacy, and state-sanctioned militarism are on full display in this country, and we will not be silent. Not now, not ever. We say their names: Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Tony McDade, and countless others. Their lives matter. And at Kindreds, we are committed to doing the work of anti-racism-- and dismantling white supremacy--in our own lives, in our work as non-profit leaders, and on this show. Let's get to work.

On Kindreds Picks, we discuss some of our favorite recommendations that we didn’t have time to get to in our regular episode. Ashley’s Pick: Eloheh Indigenous Center for Earth Justice After studying the Lenten guide Drawing Closer to Creator and Creation: And Indigenous Journey Through Lent, Ashley shares about the Eloheh Center, co-founded by Edith and Randy Woodley in 1999 out of concern that neither the government nor the church was addressing the many needs in Native American communities. The Woodleys believe that our response to climate change should be rooted in learning from those who have long practiced a value for creation and listened to the voice of Creator in this area. For decades, Randy and Edith Woodley have cultivated Eloheh as a community, farm, seed bank, and learning center. For over 30 years, the Woodleys have been teaching Native and non-Native peoples to deepen their commitment to preserving humanity’s role as good earth-keepers by understanding Creator’s invitation to harmony and shalom. Through their summits, camps, ceremony, conferences and teachings, the Woodleys offer an opportunity for all to learn a new way to live on the land and respond to the climate crisis. Learn more at eloheh.org. Katey’s Pick: The Intuitive Way by Penney Pierce Similar in style to The Artist's Way, The Intuitive Way is a workbook with lessons and exercises designed to help you hone in in on and develop your inner wisdom. It has questions to journal, meditations to practice, and free writing prompts all around how we experience that sense of knowing. For example, the book asks you to think about the way that you recall one of your favorite experiences in the past. Do you hear it most? See it? Feel it? Even smell it? If you’re looking for something to help you tune into your inner guide, pick up The Intuitive Way.

What does community look like when we can’t be in person? How do we see community changing and evolving in our lives right now, and how might we reimagine community for the future? We talk about the upsides and downsides of virtual community, navigating work online, and our hopes for how the lessons of COVID-19 will shape us for the better. Full shownotes at: http://kindredspodcast.com/2020/05/13/episode-45-reimagining-community/

On Kindreds Picks, we discuss some of our favorite recommendations that we didn’t have time to get to in our regular episode. This episode we discuss Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid and the Hulu adaption of Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng.

Have you been questioning the place of productivity in your life or in our culture as a whole? Is productivity something you cling to or repel from in times of stress? Ashley and Katey are rethinking their relationships with getting things done and how self-quarantining has impacted their feelings about our cultural obsession with output and efficiency. We explore the ways that white supremacy culture show up in our work and faith circles in ways that we often fail to recognize and share a bit about the thoughtful leaders who are showing us a new way of being in the world that isn't all about being productive. Full shownotes: http://kindredspodcast.com/2020/04/14/episode-44-the-cult-of-productivity/

In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, we take a time out from our regular podcast schedule to talk about how we're coping (and not), how we're stayed connected with ourselves and one another in the age of physical distancing, and how we're more committed than ever to dismantling the patriarchy. Full shownotes: http://kindredspodcast.com/2020/03/23/episode-43-in-this-together/

Do you believe in soul mates? In this episode we explore the notion of soul mates, both the more common understandings in terms of romantic partnerships and the more expansive ideas of kindred spirits and soul families. Full shownotes: http://kindredspodcast.com/2020/03/16/episode-42-soul-mates-or-soul-families/

On Kindreds Picks, we discuss some of our favorite recommendations that we didn’t have time to get to in our regular episode. This episode Katey recommends Richard Rohr's The Universal Christ and Ashely shares about the website MommaStrong. Full shownotes http://kindredspodcast.com/2020/03/02/kindreds-picks-the-universal-christ-and-mommastrong/

The stats don't lie. • 1 in 4 U.S. women will have an abortion by the time she turns 45.  • Up to 1 in 4 pregnancies end in miscarriage. • 10% of all couples experience some form of infertility. Reproductive loss is common. Incredibly common. So why don't we talk about it more? Because we're uncomfortable with embodiment. With death. With grief. And so in our silence, we isolate those who are suffering in solitude. That's why we decided to dedicate this episode to reproductive loss: to explain what it is (it's way more than miscarriage) and share ways to journey alongside those who are hurting. We can't make anyone's grief go away, but we can help someone feel less alone. Full shownotes: http://kindredspodcast.com/2020/02/17/episode-41-reproductive-loss/

We discuss some of our favorite recommendations that we didn’t have time to get to in our regular episode on mysticism and inner wisdom. Ashley's Pick E-book: Christ Our Black Mother Speaks by Christena Cleveland, activist and public theologian, director of the Center for Justice and Renewal. This is a collection of art, essays, questions and practices to deepen our connection to the Dark Divine Feminine. http://www.christenacleveland.com/shop/christourblackmotherspeaks Katey's Pick Guided Meditation: Meeting an Unexpected Healing Guide by Michael Sealey. "This hypnotic sleep meditation will allow you to take an inner journey into your self awareness and deepest consciousness, where you will imagine meeting a surprising type of healing guide, who will bring you many positive messages and insights into your total self healing - in mind, body, and spirit." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfKSOasvRL8&t=17s Visit www.kindredspodcast.com for more information.  Look out for our full-length episode on reproductive loss coming in a few weeks.

Have you ever been interested in the witchy side of spirituality? You’re in luck! We are talking all about the mystical aspects of our spirituality that we don’t usually tap into during traditional religious services. How do we go about discovering our inner voice? And when we’ve uncovered it, how do we honor it? In this episode we explore different definitions of mysticism, distinguish it from the term “New Age, ” and talk about how we can all be mystics. We look into ancient sacred texts that didn’t make it into the Christian canon, share our thoughts on the gaining popularity of witchcraft, and try to connect the dots between mysticism, sexism, and racism. For the full shownotes, visit http://kindredspodcast.com/2020/01/20/episode-40-mysticism-and-inner-wisdom/

We absolutely love our listeners, and that's why we dedicate our last episode of the year to your questions, comments, and ideas.  This one is chock full of listener thoughtfulness--way more than we could fit into a single episode! But, we did our best to weigh in on a number of topics including deconstructing and reconstructing our faith, reclaiming "blessed" as a theological term, and the complexities surrounding reproductive dignity and freedom, including miscarriage, adoption, and child marriage. We also do a quick recap of where we were at the beginning of this decade and how we're ending it now. (Hint: we're rocking it!)

#Blessed. What about this public display of gratitude makes us cringe? In this episode about gratitude, Ashley and Katey share their thoughts on the perfunctory “thank you” we were taught as kids, what blessings are all about, and the performative nature of #blessed. It goes without saying, but in this season of giving thanks, we are incredibly thankful for our patrons, listeners, and supporters. Y’all are the best! (Want to help us keep making new episodes? Head on over to patreon.com/kindreds to support us today.) Check out the full show notes: http://kindredspodcast.com/2019/11/26/episode-38-gratitude-blessed-and-blessings/

In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness month, we discuss gender-based violence and what we can do to end it. GBV can take many forms, affects marginalized groups at higher rates, and starts when folks are young. We talk about how difficult it can be for survivors to come forward, how the church has failed survivors, and how we can access resources to help us become better advocates for ending GBV in all its forms. For the full shownotes: http://kindredspodcast.com/2019/10/31/episode-37-ending-gender-based-violence/

From "life-hacking" productivity and personality tests, to relationship advice gurus and Christian based self-improvement, the genre of self-help is vast and wide. In this episode we dive into the self-help atmosphere with reflections on some of the best self-help books we've read, tried, and continue to live by.  We also explore the ways in which we have been taught that self-help is and isn't compatible with faith. Read the full show notes: http://kindredspodcast.com/2019/09/30/episode-37-adventures-in-self-help/

What brings joy, even for a moment? What do we turn to when life is getting us down? Ashley and Katey share some of their favorite things, from books and podcasts to hair towels and face sprays, that are keeping them going during a tough season of work stress, parenting woes, and political chaos.

Abortion. We're talking all about it in this episode. We dive into the history of Christianity and abortion and how that showed up in our church upbringings. We discuss the state of abortion access today and how abortion fits within the broader framework of reproductive justice. And, we talk about how we are Christians who support abortion and why we need to talk about it more.  Full show notes: http://kindredspodcast.com/2019/07/29/episode-34-the-abortion-episode/

As the old saying goes, "It's lonely at the top." We explore life as non-profit executive directors and how we cope with the isolation and pressure of being the primary decision-makers for our organizations. We also talk about what makes leadership awesome and what strategies we use to sustain their work at the top. (Big shout out to Shine Theory!) And of course, we talk about the models of strong female leadership we saw (or didn't see) in church and beyond.

On this special episode Ashley interviews Katey about her newly released book Women Rise Up: Sacred Stories of Resistance for Today's Revolution. It's a timely take on the tenacious women of the Bible and a fresh look at how to discuss ancient texts in the context of today's struggle for gender justice Women Rise Up is a great option for summer book clubs, bible studies, and youth group gatherings. There's even a free discussion guide available on Katey's website. www.kateyzeh.com/women-rise-up We honor the legacy of Rachel Held Evans who touched us both with her writing and her generous spirit. We are so saddened by her tragic death, and we are challenged to honor her legacy of curiosity, generosity, and community in the ways that we move through the world. Read the full show notes: http://kindredspodcast.com/2019/05/22/episode-32-women-rise-up/

On this episode we ask, "Can men even be feminists? And if they can, why would they *want* to be feminists?" We talk about patriarchy, toxic and tender masculinities, and displays of allyship from men and boys that we celebrate.  For the full show notes, visit http://kindredspodcast.com/2019/04/23/episode-31-men-and-feminism/