Lady Preacher Podcast

For Black History Month, we are going back through the archives and listening to the voices of some of the incredible Black Women who have been on the show.Prolific author and speaker, Lisa Sharon Harper, joins us this week, speaking about how we are all made in God's image and called good, and how often we forget that - about ourselves and about each other. She shares her journey of discovering what the “very good Gospel” is and offers that good news to us, inviting us into the vision God has for the world, and a profound belief that God's peace is possible.About LisaFrom Ferguson to New York, and from Germany to South Africa to Australia, Lisa Sharon Harper leads trainings that increase clergy and community leaders' capacity to organize people of faith toward a just world. A prolific speaker, writer and activist, Ms. Harper is the founder and president of FreedomRoad.us, a consulting group dedicated to shrinking the narrative gap in our nation by designing forums and experiences that bring common understanding, common commitment and common action. She hosts the podcast Freedom Road which features guests who are leaders in the faith and justice movement.Ms. Harper is the author of several books, including Evangelical Does Not Equal Republican…or Democrat (The New Press, 2008); Left Right and Christ: Evangelical Faith in Politics (Elevate, 2011); Forgive Us: Confessions of a Compromised Faith (Zondervan, 2014); and the critically acclaimed, The Very Good Gospel: How Everything Wrong can be Made Right (Waterbrook, a division of Penguin Random House, 2016). The Very Good Gospel, recognized as the “2016 Book of the Year” by Englewood Review of Books, explores God's intent for the wholeness of all relationships in light of today's headlines. Her most recent book, Fortune: How Race Broke My Family and the World--and How to Repair It All, draws on her lifelong journey to know her family's history, exposes the brokenness that race has wrought in America, and casts a vision for collective repair.Connect with us!Donate today and support our work!Sign up to receive a little Gospel in your inbox every Monday Morning with our weekly devotional.Join our FREE bookclubCheck out our website for various resources - including devotionals, journaling prompts, and even curriculumGet some Lady Preacher Podcast swag!Connect with us on Instagram and Facebook

Today Pastor Kelsey turns 33, and to celebrate, she's reflecting on seven things that are saving her faith and her life. Community & letting people inWriting in my prayer journal againOne small thing for myself (special shout out to Kendra Adachi aka The Lazy Genius and her book The Lazy Genius Way)Rachel Held Evans' book Wholehearted FaithGratitude“The most helpful thing you can do for us…”The Marco Polo appCONNECT WITH US:Donate today and support our work!Sign up to receive a little Gospel in your inbox every Monday Morning with our weekly devotional.Join our FREE bookclubCheck out our website for various resources - including devotionals, journaling prompts, and even curriculumGet some Lady Preacher Podcast swag!Connect with us on Instagram and Facebook

For Black History Month, we are going back through the archives and listening to the voices of some of the incredible Black Women who have been on the show.Essence Ellis: Reproductive Justice in the Wake of Overturning Roe v Wade NOTE: This episode was recorded and published BEFORE the final Supreme Court decision was released, effectively overturning Roe v. Wade and stripping folks with a uterus of their rights. For many folks, it felt like the earth shook when Politico published the leaked draft of the Supreme Court's case on Roe v. Wade. Reproductive Justice activists turned up their microphones and voices for louder advocating for reproductive rights.There are a lot of questions we ask have about what the work of Reproductive Justice will look like if the leaked draft is accurate. There's a great deal of fear and concern, and rightly so. Thankfully, we have the wisdom of folks like Essence Ellis, a recent graduate of Yale Divinity School, whose ministry is centered at the intersection of theology, public health, and women's rights. She's on the podcast today to talk about the impending Supreme Court decision, what it means, how the work will continue, and where we can find hope.About EssenceEssence Ellis is a recent graduate of Yale Divinity School where she received her Master of Divinity. During her time at seminary, Essence participated in various extracurricular activities and worked with CHHSM as the Rev. Jerry Paul Scholar. A native of Charlottesville, Virginia, Essence works at the intersection of theology, public health, and women's rights. She is excited to be serving the UCC as the CHHSM/JLCM Fellow, working remotely from Chicago, IL.Resources and OrganizationsSister SongPlanned ParenthoodSPARK Reproductive Justice NowA more extensive, comprehensive list of national and local reproductive justice organizations can be found hereConnect with us!Donate today and support our work!Sign up to receive a little Gospel in your inbox every Monday Morning with our weekly devotional.Join our FREE bookclubCheck out our website for various resources - including devotionals, journaling prompts, and even curriculumGet some Lady Preacher Podcast swag!Connect with us on Instagram and Facebook

For Black History Month, we are going back through the archives and listening to the voices of some of the incredible Black Women who have been on the show.Rev. Mahogany Thomas: A New Love Ethic“To know God in this moment is to be grounded in a love that surpasses us and that truly shifts how we interact with the world, and that then brings us hope and healing.”Transforming what she calls the “spiritual malpractice” of harmful theologies of sin, Rev. Mahogany redefines sin as the absence of love. Too often, the theology of sin has been used to abuse and oppress people - telling them they are inherently bad, inherently unlovable. Ultimately, it has been used by people in power to keep them in power. But by redefining sin as the absence of love, Rev. Mahogany invites us into a theology that leads us towards freedom, equity, and grace.About Rev. MahoganyRev. Mahogany S. Thomas is a native of Columbia, Missouri and an ordained minister of the United Church of Christ. She has served churches around the country, from Connecticut to Chicago to San Francisco, and she has even preached in the Garden of Gethsemane in Jerusalem.Rev. Thomas is a graduate of Yale Divinity School (YDS), where she received her Master of Divinity. Her scholarship at YDS included Homiletics, Womanist Theology, and Practical Theology at the intersections of the Black Church. She was the recipient of both the Andover Newton Seminary Diploma Program and Black Church Studies Certificate. Rev. Thomas received her Bachelor of Arts from Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri and graduated summa cum laude. Her undergraduate studies focused on Religious Studies with an emphasis on sex and gender in the Christian tradition.In both her teaching and radical proclamation, Rev. Thomas is passionate about serving God and God's church. She brings gifts of administration, wisdom, and passion to her work. Ministry for Rev. Thomas is defined far beyond the pulpit as she believes in radiating the love of Jesus through both her joy and witness.Connect with us!Donate today and support our work!Sign up to receive a little Gospel in your inbox every Monday Morning with our weekly devotional.Join our FREE bookclubCheck out our website for various resources - including devotionals, journaling prompts, and even curriculumGet some Lady Preacher Podcast swag!Connect with us on Instagram and Facebook

For Black History Month, we are going back through the archives and listening to the voices of some of the incredible Black Women who have been on the show.--The Year of Dismantling: Eliminating Systems that Marginalize & Oppress with Deidra Riggs first aired in January 2021.In December 2020, Deidra Riggs posted a video on her instagram saying we are going to start 2021 strong: "This is the year we eliminate systems, theologies, practices, and traditions in the church that marginalize and disqualify people who are different from us."It was at that moment that I knew we needed to have her on the Lady Preacher podcast. Deidra is preaching a message we all need to hear, and you can hear her passion seeping through her voice.The church, which is supposed to be a place where all become one has for far too long been a place that has left people out - that has pushed them to the margins and closed the door. It has invalidated, humiliated, and disqualified anyone who doesn't fit the norm. But, as Deidra reminds us, that's not who God calls us to be. The "church" as an institution is far different than the "Church" that Christ envisioned. This is the year, Deidra says, that we eliminate all those ways that the institution has choked out the Gospel.Join us. Then after you listen, share this episode with everyone you know because it's a message everyone needs to hear.About Deidra (she/her) Deidra Riggs is an author, speaker, and unashamed disco-lover. She and her husband are the happy inhabitants of an empty nest in Bloomfield, Connecticut. Deidra has authored two books: One: Unity in a Divided Worldand Every Little Thing: Making a World of Difference Right Where You Are. Connect with us!Donate today and support our work!Sign up to receive a little Gospel in your inbox every Monday Morning with our weekly devotional.Join our FREE bookclubCheck out our website for various resources - including devotionals, journaling prompts, and even curriculumGet some Lady Preacher Podcast swag!Connect with us on Instagram and Facebook

Join Kelsey for an update on where we've been AND where we're planning to go! We've been hosting the Lady Preacher Podcast for 4.5 years now, and we are excited to be moving into the 2.0 version! Listen for more info!Connect with us!Donate today and support our work!Sign up to receive a little Gospel in your inbox every Monday Morning with our weekly devotional.Join our FREE bookclubCheck out our website for various resources - including devotionals, journaling prompts, and even curriculumGet some Lady Preacher Podcast swag!Connect with us on Instagram and Facebook

Rev. Miriam Diephouse-McMillan (she/her) is a board certified chaplain serving in a psychiatric hospital where she sees first-hand the ways that mental health and spiritual care collide. In this powerful episode, Miriam shares stories about the ways caring for people's spiritual wellbeing can come alongside the medical care folks receive, and can transform lives, offering space for healing and hope.About MiriamMiriam works and writes at the intersection of Spirituality and Mental Health.  She loves exploring big questions of meaning, hope, and connection that shape our faith and well-being.  Miriam has been a chaplain at an inpatient psychiatric hospital for over 12 years.  She provides spiritual care and counseling to people with a wide variety of mental health concerns and helps them explore how spirituality can enhance their well-being.  She is a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary, an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA), and a Board Certified Chaplain.  Her additional certificate in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy allows her to teach skills for managing difficult emotions and maintaining a fulfilling life.Be sure to check out Miriam's new book, Sacred Balance, coming May 2025 and visit her website for even more resources and webinars.Connect with us!Donate today and support our work!Sign up to receive a little Gospel in your inbox every Monday Morning with our weekly devotional.Join our FREE bookclubCheck out our website for various resources - including devotionals, journaling prompts, and even curriculumGet some Lady Preacher Podcast swag!Connect with us on Instagram and Facebook

This week I sat down with my dear friend, Val Hystek, to talk about a tender, beautiful topic: grief. Val has experienced her fair share of grief, but it took her a long time to be willing to wrestle with it. In an Instagram post she wrote, “Grief forced my faith to shift. Eventually. When I finally believed I have what it takes to sit with grief and survive.” Val came to believe in a God who loves us for all of who we are: who doesn't just want the put together version of us, but the messy, complicated, grieving, angry, whole of us. Today, she shares her story and experience of that loving God with us.

A quick prayer to center your spirit as we begin election day in the United States. 

Learn more about who God made you to be, and who God is calling you to become!This week we're sharing part two of our two-part Enneagram Series. Be sure to listen to the first episode where we offer an introduction to the Enneagram and dive into types 1-4. This week we learn about types 5-9!Today's experts include:Kevin Beebe, who helps us explore Enneagram Fives. Kevin is a pastor in the ELCA and serves as the Executive Director of Lutherwood Camp and Retreat Center. Listen to the full Enneagram Give episode with Kevin here.Emily Snowden, who dives into Enneagram Sixes. Emily is a coach, leader, and facilitator with over ten years of experience organizing groups, developing programming, and collaborating with teams.. Listen to the full Enneagram Six episode with Emily here.Jenny Sung, who helps us understand Enneagram Sevens. Jenny is an ELCA pastor serving a church in Minnesota, and is also a speaker, writer, and dancer. Listen to the full Enneagram Seven episode with Jenny here.Marlie Heberling, who helps us explore Enneagram Eights. Marlie is an enneagram coach, youth pastor, and graphic designer. Listen to the full Enneagram Eight episode with Marlie here.Michael Shahan, who teaches us all about Enneagram Nines. Michael is an enneagram coach and therapist, and the name behind the well-known Instagram account @michaelshahan_therapy. Listen to the full Enneagram Nine episode with Michael here.Learn MoreYou can read about the history of the Enneagram via the Enneagram Institute's website and explore in-depth descriptions of each of the nine Enneagram TypesFree Enneagram test (once you receive your results, you can pay to learn more, but we recommend taking a screenshot of your results and then going to the Enneagram Institute to learn more)Paid Enneagram test via the Enneagram InstituteConnect with us!Donate today and support our work!Sign up to receive a little Gospel in your inbox every Monday Morning with our weekly devotional.Join our FREE bookclubCheck out our website for various resources - including devotionals, journaling prompts, and even curriculumGet some Lady Preacher Podcast swag!Connect with us on Instagram and Facebook

Learn more about who God made you to be, and who God is calling you to become!This week we're kicking off a two-part series on the Enneagram, which is a personality typing system with roots growing back into antiquity. The two episodes are pieced together with clips from a 10-episode series we did in Fall 2022, with Enneagram experts who dove deep into each of the nine personality types found within the Enneagram. you'll get a brief history and introduction to the Enneagram and then we'll dive in with each of the experts to learn more about each personality type. In today's episode we'll explore types 1-4, and next week we'll dive into types 1-5.Today's experts include:Hazel Monae, who helps us explore Enneagram Ones. Hazel lives, works, and creates leadership development curriculum at the intersections of anti-racism/racial equity, ethical leadership, and theology. Listen to the full Enneagram One episode with Hazel here.Holly Johnson, who dives into Enneagram Twos. Holly is the pastor of Spirit Garage, a church in Minneapolis, MN. She's been a youth director, campus minister, and even an administrator. Listen to the full Enneagram Two episode with Holly here.Val Hystek, who helps us understand Enneagram Threes. Val is an author and a primary teacher at an inner-city school in Ontario, Canada, though she's currently taking a year off to write a book! Listen to the full Enneagram Three episode with Val here.Jody Thone, who helps us explore Enneagram Fours. Jody is a leadership development expert, coach, and reflective supervision practitioner who works at the intersection of spirituality, transformational growth, and creativity. Listen to the full Enneagram Four episode with Jody here.Learn MoreYou can read about the history of the Enneagram via the Enneagram Institute's website and explore in-depth descriptions of each of the nine Enneagram TypesFree Enneagram test (once you receive your results, you can pay to learn more, but we recommend taking a screenshot of your results and then going to the Enneagram Institute to learn more)Paid Enneagram test via the Enneagram InstituteConnect with us!Donate today and support our work!Sign up to receive a little Gospel in your inbox every Monday Morning with our weekly devotional.Join our FREE bookclubCheck out our website for various resources - including devotionals, journaling prompts, and even curriculumGet some Lady Preacher Podcast swag!Connect with us on Instagram and Facebook

Join Pastor Kelsey and her bestie, Britney, for a raw and real conversation about the realities of practicing faith in the throes of motherhood. We all live busy lives, so whether you are a parent or not, you'll hear reflections of your own journey - where it can feel like there's no time or space to write in a prayer journal every night for 20 minutes or wake up 30 minutes earlier to read your Bible. We often feel the pressure to practice our faith or connect with God in the "right" way. Hopefully this episode gives your permission to give yourself grace and allow your faith practice to be more grounded in the reality of this season of life for you.About BritneyBritney Gregory (she/her) is a math teacher at a catholic high school in Santa Maria, CA, where she is also involved in the theatre community doing production, set, and lighting design. She holds a BS in Math and an MFA in Dance, both from Saint Mary's College of California. She is also a wife and mom of three littles - an almost 6 year old and 3 year old twins.

Join Pastor Kelsey and Rev. Angela Tyler-Williams for a timely and important conversation about how our faith can guide our vote, particularly when it comes to values around Reproductive Justice. About SACReD: SACReD (SACReD Alliance of Communities for Reproductive Dignity) is a national alliance of multiracial, multifaith, multiethnic, mixed gender and sexual identity religious leaders, congregations, movement organizations, activists, academics, and directly impacted communities collaborating to advance Reproductive Justice through congregational education, culture change, community building, and direct service.Join SACReD for their Woven Together educational series: https://www.sacreddignity.org/2024/08/24/woven-together-registration-open/Learn more about Reproductive Justice here: http://www.sistersong.net/A note about Womanism:Womanism is a concept created by Alice Walker: The womanish girl exhibits willful, courageous, and outrageous behavior that is considered to be beyond the scope of societal norms. A woman who loves other women, sexually and/or nonsexually. Appreciates and prefers women's culture, women's emotional flexibility ... and women's strength. ... Committed to survival and wholeness of entire people, male and female. Not a separatist, except periodically, for health ... Loves music. Loves dance. Loves the moon. Loves the Spirit ... Loves struggle. Loves the folk. Loves herself. Regardless. Womanist is to feminist as purple is to lavender.About AngelaAngela Tyler-Williams (She/Her) is proud to serve as the Co-Executive Director for Movement Building at SACReD. Angela is a queer pastor ordained by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) into her call to engage people of faith to speak publicly and politically in support of reproductive health, rights, and justice and LGBTQIA+ equality. Angela holds a Master of Divinity from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. The Center for American Progress named Angela as one of the 22 Faith Leaders to Watch in 2022. Angela learned about faith-based community organizing and building people power to create positive social change from the Industrial Areas Foundation. In her free time, Angela volunteers as a clergy counselor with Faith Aloud Talkline. She finds life in experiencing music, listening to podcasts, exploring creation, and engaging in theological discussions that go off the beaten path.Connect with us!Donate today and support our work!Sign up to receive a little Gospel in your inbox every Monday Morning with our weekly devotional.Join our FREE bookclubCheck out our website for various resources - including devotionals, journaling prompts, and even curriculumGet some Lady Preacher Podcast swag!Connect with us on Instagram and Facebook

Recently, Kelsey had the opportunity to preach at First Congregational Church of Bellingham and when the Pastor told her what the scripture would be, she almost backed out.It was the story of Passover (Exodus 12 and 13), when Moses leads his people out of slavery into freedom. It's a powerful, poignant story, but it also includes the gruesome and troubling 10th plague to hit Egypt: the killing of all the first-born children and animals.While she doesn't focus primarily on that aspect of the story, Kelsey offers a perspective from Rabbi Jonathan Sacks that changed how she understood God's actions.The bulk of the sermon, shared in today's episode, focuses on how God is with us, preparing us for the difficult journeys we face in life - often with very specific (and loving) instructions.You can read more of Kelsey's thoughts on the 10th plague in Exodus 12 here. Connect with us!Donate today and support our work!Sign up to receive a little Gospel in your inbox every Monday Morning with our weekly devotional.Join our FREE bookclubCheck out our website for various resources - including devotionals, journaling prompts, and even curriculumGet some Lady Preacher Podcast swag!Connect with us on Instagram and Facebook

Close out your September and move into October with this blessing.

“Humanity was made through the outpouring of love within God. One doesn't create out of the outpouring of love something bad or unbeautiful.” - Bridget BlackIf human beings are made in the image of God, then how can we understand humans as instrinsically bad? Instead, from the beginning, God creates and calls humanity good. In this transformative conversation, spiritual director and theologian Bridget Black dives into what it means to be a human being made in God's image, what it means to bear that image in the world, and how we can experience God and the beauty of God more fully in this world.About BridgetBridget (she/her) is a perpetual wonderer and lover of people. She is constantly seeking the deeper things of life and is fascinated by and interested in who people are and the formative narratives of their lives. She is a Certified Spiritual Director and Spiritual Theologian at Soul Kin Community, where she helps people and communities heal and grow in their personal and spiritual lives, by exploring their inner world and story while learning to notice the presence and movement of God in and around them.Learn more and connect with Bridget at Soul Kin Community or on Instagram @thebridgetblack. Today's episode is sponsored byJeff Fulmer's new novel, American Prophet.American Prophet takes a fresh look at some of the problems facing America today, such as gun violence, race relations, and climate change.  “These are moral isssues that will keep plaguing us until we deal them as a society,” author, Jeff Fulmer said. “People of faith, especially Christians, could be a leading light.  Unfortunately, many are silent, or even work against positive change.   Fulmer recognizes that not all Christians will agree with the message in the book.   “A prophet is supposed to challenge people.  That's the job.”   American Prophet is on sale on Amazon, Audible, and Apple Books.  Just look for American Prophet by Jeff Fulmer.   There is more information about the author and the books at www.jefffulmer.com.  Connect with us!Donate today and support our work!Sign up to receive a little Gospel in your inbox every Monday Morning with our weekly devotional.Join our FREE bookclubCheck out our website for various resources - including devotionals, journaling prompts, and even curriculumGet some Lady Preacher Podcast swag!Connect with us on Instagram and Facebook

“All of us are God's images on earth - we are to be God's representatives of power.”It's not a bold statement to say that people in power often abuse it. We see corruption of power in leadership in all facets of society: politics, school administrations, businesses both large and small, churches, and even inside homes. But what if we approached leadership in a way that is more aligned with the God who leads us?Ann Garrido (she/her), an expert in Christian leadership, invites us to find a new way forward. She encourages us to look closely at the model God sets before us: one that is about power with instead of power over. Doing so will transform us as leaders.About AnnDr. Ann Garrido is associate professor at Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, Missouri and author of the popular Redeeming series for Christian leaders from Ave Maria Press. You can find out more about Ann at anngarrido.com and be sure to check out her latest book, Redeeming Power: Using the Gift As God Intended.**this is an affiliate link; when you purchase using this link, it costs nothing extra for you, but a small percentage of your purchase goes to support this ministry.Connect with us!Donate today and support our work!Sign up to receive a little Gospel in your inbox every Monday Morning with our weekly devotional.Join our FREE bookclubCheck out our website for various resources - including devotionals, journaling prompts, and even curriculumGet some Lady Preacher Podcast swag!Connect with us on Instagram and Facebook

As requested, we are offering a series of short sermons that will be posted once a month. They're less sermon and more pastor Kelsey reflecting on scripture alongside to, inviting us all to explore God's word together. Today we're getting curious about Matthew 14:22-33, when Jesus walks on water and invites Peter to do the same. What could the invitation to all of us be a we hear this story? What might God be saying to you?Let's find out together!Join the Movement!We are kicking off a fundraiser to raise $70K over the next 7 weeks. Support our work and give today: dancingpastor.org/giveJoin our Book Club!Visit dancingpastor.org/bookclub 

After hearing from several parents a request for podcast recommendations for progressive faith related podcasts, Rev. Lydia Posselt (she/her) decided to take matters into her own hands. Having found very little out there that fit the need, Lydia started Faith, Hope, & LOL: A Parenting and Faith Podcast. In today's episode, she talks with Kelsey about why this need is so important to fill, why the gap exists, and what support parents are asking for in the faith sphere. You can find Faith, Hope, & LOL anywhere you listen to podcasts!About LydiaRev. Lydia Posselt is a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, serving just outside Washington, D.C.Invested FaithInvested Faith is a non-profit fund supported by congregations and religious institutions who want to support the work of God beyond the church walls. With unrestricted grants, Invested Faith funds and resources faith-rooted entrepreneurs making positive change in their communities.  To learn more, go to InvestedFaith.orgConnect with us!Sign up to receive a little Gospel in your inbox every Monday Morning with our weekly devotional.Check out our website for various resources - including devotionals, journaling prompts, and even curriculumGet some Lady Preacher Podcast swag!Connect with us on Instagram and Facebook

Rabbi Brian Zachary Mayer (rB) doesn't rabbi normally. He left synagogue, mainstream Judaism to teach math to inner-city high school students and now runs ROTB.org, a worldwide, internet congregation of over 3,000 members. rB enjoys constructing small bios, making stained glass lamps, and gaining mastery on the French horn. They live in Portland, Oregon, have written Rabbi Brian's Highly Unorthodox Gospel an as of yet unpublished gospel, and are thinking a lot about pronouns these days.

A blessing as we dive into September.

"I hope my words invite children to find thesmevles in those [Bible] stories and to wonder about our great God and their whole part in this world. My whole job as a writer is to invite children into that arena of wonder." - Glenys NellistThroughout our faith's history, our scriptures have been passed down through oral storytelling. The Bible is made up of stories handed down generation to generation, and it is through these stories that we have come to know who God is and what God is like. Children's author, Glenys Nellist, has harnessed the power of storytelling to invite children into God's great story. Her new book, Gathered at the Table, welcomes children to engage their holy imagination and find themselves at the table, gathered with all of God's beloved, to experience this amazing, mysterious sacrament.About GlenysGlenys Nellist (she/her) was born and raised in a little village in northern England. The author of multiple award-winning children's books, including the bestselling ‘Twas the Evening of Christmas, The Wonder That is You, and five popular series: Love Letters from God, Snuggle Time, ‘Twas, Good News and Little Mole, her writing reflects a deep passion for helping children discover joy and hope in the world. Glenys lives in Michigan with her husband, David.Her new book, Gathered at the Table, releases September 10, 2024.Connect with Glenys via her website, Facebook, or Instagram.Invested FaithInvested Faith is a non-profit fund supported by congregations and religious institutions who want to support the work of God beyond the church walls. With unrestricted grants, Invested Faith funds and resources faith-rooted entrepreneurs making positive change in their communities.  To learn more, go to InvestedFaith.orgConnect with us!Sign up to receive a little Gospel in your inbox every Monday Morning with our weekly devotional.Check out our website for various resources - including devotionals, journaling prompts, and even curriculumGet some Lady Preacher Podcast swag!Connect with us on Instagram and Facebook

“How do we help children gain their sense of autonomy as early as they start talking… so they will carry that into their older childhood and even into adulthood. Understanding agency and autonomy over our body and voice I think is one of the most critical things we have as human beings because that's our dignity.”Nikole Lim is the founder of Freely in Hope, an organization focused on equipping survivors and advocates to lead in ending the cycle of sexual violence. Nikole believes it is imperative to systemic change to allow that change to come from the inside. The organization is made up of survivors, advocates, scholars, and leaders who serve the communities from which they come. They work every day to end sexual violence and believe fervently that hope is always present.About NikoleNikole Lim (she/her) is a speaker, educator, and consultant on leveraging dignity through the restorative art of storytelling. Nikole shifts paradigms on how stories are told by platforming voices of the oppressed—sharing stories of beauty arising out of seemingly broken situations. Her heart beats for young women whose voices are silenced by oppression and desires to see every person realize the transformative power of their own story. In 2010, Nikole founded Freely in Hope, an organization that equips survivors and advocates to lead in ending the cycle of sexual violence in Kenya and Zambia. Nikole has been deeply transformed by the powerful, tenacious, and awe-inspiring examples of survivors. Their audacious dreams have informed her philosophy for a survivor-led approach to community transformation.Invested FaithInvested Faith is a non-profit fund supported by congregations and religious institutions who want to support the work of God beyond the church walls. With unrestricted grants, Invested Faith funds and resources faith-rooted entrepreneurs making positive change in their communities.  To learn more, go to InvestedFaith.orgConnect with us!Sign up to receive a little Gospel in your inbox every Monday Morning with our weekly devotional.Check out our website for various resources - including devotionals, journaling prompts, and even curriculumGet some Lady Preacher Podcast swag!Connect with us on Instagram and Facebook

“What helps us heal is figuring out how to help other people. We've been through this crap, so how do we turn what's happened to us and use it as energy and fuel to help others.”Dr. Kit Evans-Ford (she/her) has experienced her fair share of trauma and hardship in her life, but through God's grace, has found ways to turn her pain into purpose. She believes that while no one is exempt from the suffering that is inevitable in this life, we can find healing and hope by figuring out how to use what has happened to us to help other people. Through her own experiences of sexual violence and the experience of raising autistic children, Dr. Kit Evans-Ford has developed social enterprises, Argrow's House and Autistic and Loved, to create positive change in her community and in the lives of others.About Dr. KitNational trainer, spiritual director, and professor, Dr. Kit Evans-Ford (she/her) is a woman who is passionate about nonviolence, God, and serving others.  She has been a trainer and activist for 14 years working relentlessly in the areas of nonviolence education and assisting people in healing from violence and abuse. Born in Mebane, North Carolina, education became a positive outlet for her.  Kit holds a BA in Communications Studies, a MA in Teaching: Special Education, MA in Social Justice and Community Development, MDiv degree and a Doctor of Ministry Degree in Spiritual Direction from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, IL.Dr. Kit is the founder of Argrow's House of Healing and Hope in Davenport, Iowa. Argrow's House is a safe space where free services are offered daily for women healing from violence and abuse in the greater Quad Cities area.  Argrow's House is also a successful social enterprise where women healing from violence and abuse create beautiful bath products that provide a living wage for themselves in a safe space that celebrates who they are. Dr. Kit also founded Autistic and Loved, which provides autism resources as well as chewable jewelry and special gifts affirming love for autistic children and families.Invested FaithInvested Faith is a non-profit fund supported by congregations and religious institutions who want to support the work of God beyond the church walls. With unrestricted grants, Invested Faith funds and resources faith-rooted entrepreneurs making positive change in their communities.  To learn more, go to InvestedFaith.orgConnect with us!Sign up to receive a little Gospel in your inbox every Monday Morning with our weekly devotional.Check out our website for various resources - including devotionals, journaling prompts, and even curriculumGet some Lady Preacher Podcast swag!Connect with us on Instagram and Facebook

In today's conversation Pastor Kelsey talks with the woman behind Every Woman is Worthy, Maggie. Maggie is a women's wellness advocate, business owner, writer, and coach. She recently launched a new social impact brand called Every Woman is Worthy that celebrates womens' value and gives back to marginalized and oppressed communities of women. Maggie has been featured in Shape, NBC News, Thrive Global, MyFitnessPal, The Washington Examiner, and dozens of other outlets for her holistic wellness advice through the years.Website: https://everywomanisworthy.com/

Continuing the conversation from last week with our guest today, Anna Gustafson. This conversation feels like one that is needed but this time we talk about how toxic diet culture has made it's way into church culture. In this conversation we are reminded that we are wonderfully made, and are meant to love our body.About Anna:Anna Gustafson (she/her) is a non-diet, HAES-aligned (Health At Every Size) registered dietitian on a mission to help people heal their relationship with food. With a food science background, she challenges common misconceptions about “scary” ingredients and encourages folks to think outside the “good vs. bad” binary of food. Anna believes that we are all made whole and good in God's image, and that we don't need to eat “clean” to be clean because we are made clean each and every day, thanks be to God! Connect with us!Sign up to receive a little Gospel in your inbox every Monday Morning with our weekly devotional.Check out our website for various resources - including devotionals, journaling prompts, and even curriculumGet some Lady Preacher Podcast swag!Connect with us on Instagram and Facebook

"Whether your body is small or large, aged or young, disabled or abled, toned or soft, lithe or stiff--or somewhere in-between--anti-fatness affects us all, because it is intended to. Fat Church critiques anti-fat prejudice and the Church's historic participation in it, calling for a fatphobic reckoning for the sake of God's gospel of freedom."- from the back cover of Rev. Anastasia Kidd's book, Fat Church: A Gospel of Fat Liberation. All year long we hear messages of anti-fatness. At the beginning of the new year, goals of losing weight; not eating chocolate during Lent; prepping our "summer body"; not eating too many treats over the holidays. It's relentless, and those messages seep into our church pews, too. Rev. Anastasia Kidd invites us to bring the conversation around to understanding how anti-fat bias shapes our culture, and how we, especially as Christians, can work to change that. She invites us into a liberation rooted in God's love for us. About AnastasiaRev. Anastasia Kidd (she/her) is a lecturer and director of enrollment at the Boston University School of Theology. She was ordained by the Metro Boston Association of the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ and previously served as the Chair of the Leadership Development Commission of that Conference.

Happy Pride month, beloveds! We are excited to kick off the month by talking to Rev. Dr. Angela Yarber (she/her) about her new book, Queering the American Dream. She shares about traveling the country and learning about the presence of divinity all around her.About Angela Rev. Dr. Angela Yarber (she/her) is an 8-time award-winning author and publisher at Tehom Center Publishing, a press publishing feminist and queer authors, with a commitment to elevate BIPOC writers. She holds a Ph.D. in Art and Religion and has been a seminary professor for nearly two decades. Her recent memoir, Queering the American Dream, is listed in QSpirit's Top LGBTQ Religion Books and her work has been featured in Forbes, NPR, HuffPo, Ms Magazine, the television show Tiny House Nation, and more. For more on her work and ministry, visit www.angelayarber.org and for more on Tehom Center Publishing, visit www.tehomcenter.orgConnect with us!Sign up to receive a little Gospel in your inbox every Monday Morning with our weekly devotional.Check out our website for various resources - including devotionals, journaling prompts, and even curriculumGet some Lady Preacher Podcast swag!Connect with us on Instagram and Facebook

Burn out is a universal feeling - everyone reaches their wits ends at some point. This has been especially true in the Church world lately, from pastors to volunteers. Rev. Callie Swanland addresses that head on and tackles the conversation in a new way to make us think about how best to fill our wells each and everyday.About Callie Callie Swanlund is an Episcopal priest, retreat leader, spiritual companion, and coach who helps others know their belovedness and find their Spark. Her new book, From Weary to Wholehearted, is a restorative resource for overcoming ministry burnout. Callie is a creative minister and leads individuals and groups in the work of Dr. Brené Brown as a Certified Daring Way Facilitator. Her How2charist: Digital Instructed Eucharist film has reached Christians and curious individuals around the world, and her Wholehearted Wisdom movement invites others into deeper reflection and connection across social media. Callie is an Episcopal Church Foundation Fellow and has keynoted such conferences as: Kanuga Christian Formation Conference, Episcopal Communicators Annual Conference, and Episcopal Camps and Conference Centers Annual Conference. She lives in Philadelphia with her co-dreaming partner Jeremy, their two tween/teen children, and a rescue pup named Rufus.www.callieswanlund.com Connect with us!Sign up to receive a little Gospel in your inbox every Monday Morning with our weekly devotional.Check out our website for various resources - including devotionals, journaling prompts, and even curriculumGet some Lady Preacher Podcast swag!Connect with us on Instagram and Facebook

Witnessing the war in Gaza can make us feel hopeless and like there's nothing we can do. Dr. Peter Makari (he/him), a Global Relations Minister for the Middle East and Europe, shares with us today a message of hope, justice, and peace. He offers important background information in relationships in the Middle East and lifts up voices of Palestinian partners who are on the ground doing important work. Peter reminds us to recall Jesus' message of "who is my neighbor" and how that neighbor is not just the person next door, but our global neighbor as well. This is an important conversation and we hope it encourages you to utilize the links below to continue learning and connecting, and turning hope into action.About PeterDr. Peter E. Makari (he/him), PhD, serves as Global Relations Minister for the Middle East and Europe with the Common Global Ministries Board of the United Church of Christ and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), a position he has held since July 1, 2000.He serves on the National Council of Churches' Interreligious Convening Table, of which he is a co-convener, and has been an active participant in national Jewish-Christian and Muslim-Christian dialogue initiatives.  He represents the UCC and Disciples on the Faith Forum for Middle East Policy, of which he is a co-convener, and on the board of Churches for Middle East Peace.  He also represents the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) on the Steering and Executive Committees of the Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign.An Egyptian-American, Peter has lived in the Middle East, where he worked with the Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services (CEOSS) in Cairo, Egypt (1991-1994), and then with the Middle East Council of Churches, based in Limassol, Cyprus (1997-2000). Peter earned an M.A. in Middle East Studies from the American University in Cairo (1993) and a Ph.D. in Politics and Middle East Studies from New York University (2003).  He is the author of Conflict and Cooperation: Christian-Muslim Relations in Contemporary Egypt (Syracuse University Press, 2007).Peter is a member of West Park United Church of Christ in Cleveland, OH.Important Links to Learn MoreGlobal Ministries' Middle East and Europe Homepage: https://www.globalministries.org/regions/mee/Resources, including recommended reading (under “Bookshelf”): https://www.globalministries.org/resource/mee_resources_index/Our UCC and Disciples response page to the current crisis in the Middle East: https://www.globalministries.org/the-disciples-and-ucc-address-the-crisis-in-the-middle-east/Connect with us!Sign up to receive a little Gospel in your inbox every Monday Morning with our weekly devotional.Check out our website for various resources - including devotionals, journaling prompts, and even curriculumGet some Lady Preacher Podcast swag!Connect with us on Instagram and Facebook

Sit down with a group of kindergartners and ask, "Raise you hand if you're creative!" and every single child will raise their hand. Ask a room full of adults that same question, and you'll only get a few hands. So what happens between childhood and adulthood? It's not that we are no longer creative - perhaps we have just lost touch with our creativity! Diane Harpster (she/her) is all about reminding people of their inner creative, reminding them they are made in the image of the greatest Creator. With her Zentangle art, she connects with her own faith and with God, and by teaching that artform to others, she encourages them to do the same.About Diane (she/her)As a child, Diane was surrounded by women who made beautiful things with their hands using fabric, yarn, flowers, and fruits of their gardens, and more. It was through them that she learned that creating not only brings joy to the Creator but has the potential to bless others with beauty and joy as well. Diane is a certified Zentangle teacher, an artform founded by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas. She has experienced the calming benefits of this meditative practice, and enjoys teaching others. She says, "Anyone who can hold a pen and write their name can do this!"Connect with us!Sign up to receive a little Gospel in your inbox every Monday Morning with our weekly devotional.Check out our website for various resources - including devotionals, journaling prompts, and even curriculumGet some Lady Preacher Podcast swag!Connect with us on Instagram and Facebook

Many of us spend our whole lives trying to earn and achieve, even in the realm of faith. If we just do more, we can be better Christians. But that's not what scripture teaches us. In her new book, Blessed Are the Rest of Us, Miacha Boyett (she/her) invites us to see how striving for accomplishment is a way of faith. Instead, Jesus invites us to see our belovedness simply for who we are: imperfect, beautiful human beings.About Micha (she/her) (in her own words)Hi. I'm Micha. It's pronounced “My-kah.” (Very confusing, I know.) I'm an author, youth pastor, podcaster, Down syndrome advocate, barre-enthusiast, and a lover of proper cappuccinos. I have a masters degree in poetry. My dog is big and white and fluffy. I'm the mom of three boys. I believe deeply in rest, but I'm only just learning how to live into that belief. I am against email. I am pro sunshine and TikTok dances.My new book Blessed Are the Rest of Us is about how my youngest son's disabilities taught me to recognize my own addiction to accomplishment, and how through acknowledging my limits and longings, I was invited to a new way of living in the world—a way of wholeness, the kind of flourishing life Jesus taught about.Visit Micha's website, listen to her podcast The Slow Way, or The Lucky Few.

"If we never make the mistake, we never learn from it."-Rev. Katy Miles WallaceMany of us struggle with engaging in diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts because we are afraid of getting things wrong - that we'll say the wrong thing, do the wrong thing, or mess up in some way. We attach our ego to it, thinking that if we get it wrong then we are wrong, or are a bad person. Rev. Katy Miles Wallace (they/them) assures us: the only way to do it is by doing it wrong. Because that's how we learn! In today's episode, hear Katy's encouraging words, offering wisdom and grace for those of us who struggle with perfection and need the reminder that it's okay to not get it right all the time.About KatyRev. Katy Miles-Wallace (they/them) is from South-Central Texas, having grown up on the I-35 corridor north of San Antonio and then settling in Seguin. They attended Texas Lutheran University and attained a Bachelor of Business Administration specializing in Marketing prior to attending Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary for their Master of Divinity. They specialize in preaching, pastoral care, and queer theology. They also serve on the staff of the Southwestern Texas Synod Bishop's Office as the Inclusivity, Diversity, Equity & Communications Coordinator, as well as serving the national church on the On Leave From Call Task Force. Katy and their wife Jessica have studied abroad in England, lived in Berkeley, California and Dublin/Hilliard, Ohio, and now live in Seguin, Texas with their dog and cat.

Spiritual anxiety, often the outcome of various forms of spiritual abuse and manipulation perpetuated by certain religious institutions, has become widespread among Christians. In her new book, Holy Ghosted: Spiritual Anxiety, Religious Trauma, and the Language of Abuse, Tiffany Yecke Brooks equips readers with how to identify these tactics, and offers pathways towards healing by inviting people to listen to the God who resides within.About Tiffany (she/her)Tiffany Yecke Brooks, PhD, is the lead or contributing writer for more than two dozen books. She is the coauther of Fear is a Choice: Tackling Life's Challenges with Dignity, Faith, and Determination (with NFL running back James Conner), Limitless: The Power of Hope and Resilience to Overcome Circumstance (with Paralympic gold-medalist Mallory Weggemann), and the narrative nonfiction historical thriller Espionage and Enslavement in the Revolution: The True Story of Robert Townsend and Elizabeth (with historian Claire Bellerjeau), and Gaslighted by God: Reconstructing a Disillusioned Faith. She has also published numerous articles in Smithsonian, New York Archives, and peer-reviewed journals. Tiffany has taught literature and writing at Abilene Christian University, McMurry University, and the University of South Carolina-Beaufort. She is currently completing an MA in Spiritual Formation at Portland Seminary.Connect with us!Sign up to receive a little Gospel in your inbox every Monday Morning with our weekly devotionalCheck out our website for various resources - including devotionals, journaling prompts, and even curriculumGet some Lady Preacher Podcast swagConnect with us on Instagram and Facebook

We've had a large request for smaller episodes that focus on scripture with Pastor Kelsey - so today we're throwing it back to one of our episodes just like that. We're working on getting more of these smaller episodes recorded but in the meantime enjoy one of our more popular episodes!Blessings are all around us, but if we're not careful, the theology behind the blessings can do more harm than good. Today we take a deep dive into Matthew 5:1-12 and really dissect the Beatitudes. We look at how the blessing isn't in the suffering, but in the way that God shows up and redeems our suffering. Join us: open your mind, open your heart, and fill your cup with a little Gospel.

Last week, Kelsey posted on Instagram an invitation to ask her anything, and she'd answer on the pod - and that's what this episode is! We have questions ranging from motherhood to soteriology. This was such a fun episode to do. Be on the lookout for when Kelsey posts another invitation, next time will be to her email list so be sure to join that here!Connect with us!Sign up to receive a little Gospel in your inbox every Monday Morning with our weekly devotionalCheck out our website for various resources - including devotionals, journaling prompts, and even curriculumGet some Lady Preacher Podcast swagConnect with us on Instagram and Facebook

“When Love transforms our heart, our actions align with the truth of our being and we remember that which we already are.”— Felicia Murrell When the storm is swirling, a lighthouse serves as a light guiding us safely to shore - for Felicia, that lighthouse is Love.  She shares with us in today's episode what Love truly is, and how it calls us to know who we are as beings made in the image of Love.  Felicia guides us into understanding how God sees us through eyes of Love, welcoming and accepting us fully for who we are.Buy Felicia's book, And: The Restorative Power of Love in an Either/Or World HEREAbout FeliciaFelicia Murrell is an author based in Woodbury, MN. She is a spiritual companion, speaker, certified master life coach and former ordained pastor with over twenty years of church leadership experience. She also serves the publishing industry as a freelance copy editor. With a deep understanding of what it means to be human, Felicia is dedicated to empowering individuals to embrace who they already are and who Love is inviting them to be.Connect with us!Sign up to receive a little Gospel in your inbox every Monday Morning with our weekly devotional.Check out our website for various resources - including devotionals, journaling prompts, and even curriculumGet some Lady Preacher Podcast swag!Connect with us on Instagram and Facebook

Women's voices and stories have been left out of history, but the Easter story - if told correctly - lifts them up. Women, especially Mary Magdalene, play a central role in Jesus' walk from entering Jerusalem on Palm Sunday to the Cross on Friday morning, through the Saturday vigil and in the experience and telling of the resurrection. Writer, teacher, and theologian Chelsea Kim Long takes us into the heart of why and how Mary's story is left out, and why it's so important to bring her voice back to the center of the Easter experience.For an additional faith resource this week, listen to this guided meditation by Chelsea that walks through Holy Week with Mary Magdalene: https://insighttimer.com/chelseakimlong/guided-meditations/a-journey-of-faithfulness-with-mary-magdaleneAbout ChelseaChelsea Kim Long (she/her) is a writer, creator, meditation teacher, and lay theologian. Entering motherhood catalyzed her deconstruction journey out of the white evangelical faith, and she's currently querying her first book that explores the intersections of faith deconstruction, the political and theological implications of living in a female body, and the impossible demands of modern American motherhood.Chelsea defines herself as a post-evangelical Christian mystic, drawing inspiration from the wisdom of the Bible and the life and words of Jesus as well as her 10+ years of yoga practice. She started teaching meditation in 2017 after completing a 200-hour yoga teacher training, has taken a year's worth of e-courses through the Center of Action and Contemplation, and has been co-leading her neighborhood faith community since 2019. She lives in San Diego with her husband and 3 kids. Find her most recent work at chelseakimlong.com.Connect with us!Sign up to receive a little Gospel in your inbox every Monday Morning with our weekly devotional.Check out our website for various resources - including devotionals, journaling prompts, and even curriculumGet some Lady Preacher Podcast swag!Connect with us on Instagram and Facebook

Easter is a day of joy and celebration as we welcome the good news that Jesus is alive! And - sometimes we get caught up in the stickiness of how to talk about the Easter story with kids. Meredith Miller is a children and youth ministry expert and she has a great framework for how to approach telling these stories to little hearts.Short and sweet, this episode is jam packed with great ways to talk about Easter with kids!For more resources on having these conversations with little ones, check out this substack article Meredith wrote that tackles five common Easter questions (like, “What is Easter?” and “Why did Jesus die?”) and some concrete examples on how to answer them.Connect with us!Sign up to receive a little Gospel in your inbox every Monday Morning with our weekly devotional.Check out our website for various resources - including devotionals, journaling prompts, and even curriculumGet some Lady Preacher Podcast swag!Connect with us on Instagram and Facebook

Hello friends!It has been pulling at Pastor Kelsey's heart to take a break. It won't be a long one, just a few weeks, but a needed one while she finds the ground underneath her feet.Thank you for always being here and showing up week after week. We hope that in this time you, too, consider what God might be telling you to "press pause" on. 

**Please note this episode was recorded before the Alabama Supreme Court ruling. We want to be clear that we fully support women's rights and the rights of all who wish to be parents, and we believe IVF should be accessible to all.Join Kelsey and seminarian Anne Alexis Harra for a conversation ranging from Jesus' encouragement of women's leadership, to reproductive rights, to the atrocities happening in Gaza.Books recommended during the episode: Call and Consequences: A Womanist Reading of Mark by Raquel St. ClaireA Woman Is No Man: A Read with Jenna PickAbout Anne Alexis  Anne Alexis Harra (she/her) is a Postulant for Holy Orders in the Episcopal Church, and is currently attending seminary. Anne Alexis is passionate about Jesus, the liturgy and worship of the Episcopal Church, reproductive justice, and her two cats, Laney and Nellie. When she's not "doing the Jesus thing," she can be found crocheting, lifting weights, or rewatching Bob's Burgers.

In her classes at Saint Mary's College of California, Porsia Tunzi encourages her students to bring their full selves. In a class that's all about how religion shows up in our culture and everyday lives, discussions can get heated, but Porsia insists on creating a safe and brave space for her students to talk about hard things.In this episode, Porsia shares with us why nuance is so important when it comes to religion. She encourages us all to see how we can benefit from leaning into curiosity and holding space for how all of our different lives and experiences shape our understanding of God.About PorsiaPorsia Tunzi is a professor and researcher currently teaching at Saint Mary's College in Moraga, California. Passionate about asking the hard questions concerning religion and contemporary society, Porsia brings her sociological curiosity into the classroom and public square. Her scholarly work focuses on lived religion, digital media, gender, and race, with additional teaching specializations in popular culture, authority, American religious trends, women's studies in religion, and interreligious dialogue. Porsia enjoys over 10 years of teaching experience on both the high school and college level.Connect with us!Sign up to receive a little Gospel in your inbox every Monday Morning with our weekly devotional.Check out our website for great resources, previous blog posts, and more.Get some Lady Preacher Podcast swag!Connect with us on Instagram and Facebook

In February 2024, Rev. Latishia will be embarking on a profound initiation into the Lucumí tradition, as a priest dedicated to Oshun. The Lucumí faith, also known as Santería, is a rich and vibrant Afro-Caribbean spiritual tradition that has been a source of inspiration and guidance for her on her path. From February 2024-February 2025, Rev. Latishia will undergo the Iyaworaje, commonly referred to as the "year of white." This period is a time of deep spiritual reflection, learning, and growth, marking the beginning of a new phase in her ministry.In this powerful interview, Rev. Latishia shares how understanding and incorporating the faith of her ancestors has enhanced her own faith, deepening her relationship with Christ and with her ancestors. About Rev. Latishia JamesLatishia James, MDiv (she/they) affectionately known as Rev. Pleasure is a Black queer femme, womanist, writer, facilitator of healing spaces for BIPOC women, femmes, and LGBTQIA folks, and sacral spirituality coach. A Master of Divinity and Certificate of Sexuality & Religion graduate from Pacific School of Religion she lives - and works - at the intersection of pleasure activism, sacral sanctity, spirituality, reproductive and healing justice. She is currently the Co-Director for Organizational Development at SACReD - Spiritual Alliance of Communities for Reproductive Dignity.Latishia also holds a Bachelor of Arts from Villanova University in Human Services, which is where they first understood that they could be a healing practitioner beyond a medical professional and began advocating for the wholeness of women and girls of color. Their startup spirit and ministry of presence reaches beyond the physical walls of "the church." Her service as a rape crisis counselor, LGBTQ activist, hospital and abortion-clinic chaplain, and facilitator blossomed into Empathic Solutions, LLC. Their consulting and spiritual coaching practice for people harmed by religious rhetoric and patriarchal power-based violence.Latishia is dedicated to the wholeness of Black folks, and that is at the forefront of everything she does including her care of herself. They are committed to experiencing the fullness of joy and goodness of their body for their own benefit, outside of systems of oppression, in this lifetime and wants the same for their beloveds.Connect with LatishiaInstagram: @love.latishiaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/latishiaavjames/Connect with us!Sign up to receive a little Gospel in your inbox every Monday Morning with our weekly devotional Check out our website for great resources, previous blog posts, and more.Get some Lady Preacher Podcast swag!Connect with us on Instagram and Facebook

"Don't oppress an immigrant. You know what it's like to be an immigrant, because you were immigrants in the land of Egypt." - Exodus 23:9Through her international relations work, Kerry Brodie saw firsthand the plight that immigrants face in the U.S. God put a call on her heart to make change and create opportunities for people who come to this country to not only find work, but also find community and support. She founded Emma's Torch, an organization that provides refugees with in-depth culinary training as well as employability, equity, and empowerment training. In our conversation, Kerry shares the impetus for creating the organization, how her Jewish faith drives her, and her vision for what is possible when you listen to the still small voice of God putting a call on your heart.Learn more about Emma's Torch. About Kerry  Kerry Brodie is the founder and Executive Director of Emma's Torch. Since its launch in 2016, Emma's Torch has opened multiple locations in New York City and has recently expanded operations to Washington, DC. Kerry's passion for sustainable business models has played an important role in Emma's Torch's growth. She believes in being mission-driven and data-informed. Her interest in philanthropic R.O.I. has kept the organization laser-focused on ensuring program graduates get the best possible outcomes: to pursue their own goals and attain financial freedom.Since founding Emma's Torch, Kerry has had the opportunity to grow her leadership at the intersection of culinary arts and social advocacy. She is a recipient of a Gaudium Award from the Breukelein Institute and was a 2020 JWI Woman to Watch. She has been featured on CNN Heroes, The Forward 50, City & State's 40 Under 40, and 36 Under 36–among many others.

Anne-Marie Zanzal is a self-identified later in life lesbian. When she came out, she realized how little support there was for folks like her who were coming out later in life. Being a chaplain and ordained UCC minister, when Anne-Marie saw that gaping need, she decided to do something to fill it. She started later in life mutual support groups for queer folks and eventually that grew into one-on-one coaching and support. Anne-Marie offers us the gift of sharing her story and her insight.About Anne-Marie (in her own words)I came out later in life as a lesbian. My background is in group work, training in the healthcare system, hospital and hospice chaplain, and as an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. Through my journey and experiences of coming out, getting divorced, and searching for support I saw grief and pain, as well as joyous awakenings and new self-discoveries. It can be confusing to hold these dichotomies as well as seek support solely from heterosexual sources. I realized there was a need for support, particularly for people coming out later in life.My goal is to provide compassionate support to makes the process of coming out less isolating, or provide clarity to the questioning and even someone to share the joy of newfound authenticity.  I work to hold space to process all aspects of your identity including your sexuality and your spirituality.  I seek through coaching and groups to empower my clients to find courage to authentically and boldly discover who they truly are.Learn more about Anne-Marie and her coaching & support services here, and be sure to check out her podcast, Coming Out and Beyond.Connect with us!Sign up to receive a little Gospel in your inbox every Monday Morning with our weekly devotional.Check out our website for great resources, previous blog posts, and more.Get some Lady Preacher Podcast swag!Connect with us on Instagram and Facebook

Author and faith leader Claire McKeever-Burgett is here to share about her new book, Blessed Are the Women.Through a blend of storytelling, poetry, and prayer, Blessed Are the Women invites readers to reimagine worship, embrace women's narratives, and foster healing within themselves and their communities.Buy the book here and be sure to subscribe to Claire's Substack.About ClaireClaire hails from the dry plains of West Texas, and though she's lived in Washington, D.C., Austin, TX, Louisiana, and Nashville since 2013, she still claims Texas as her home. A graduate of Baylor University with a degree in English and Professional Writing, Claire began her career working at Sojourners magazine on Jim Wallis' New York Times bestselling book tour for God's Politics. From there, Claire worked in the nonprofit sustainable food world in Austin, Texas, and then made her way to Vanderbilt Divinity School where she earned a Master of Divinity in 2011.An author, creative contemplative, and spiritual leader, Claire has dedicated her life to bridging spirituality and social justice. She has served as a clergy, led congregations, and facilitated transformative writing, movement, and liturgical practices centered on healing and embodiment. A mother, certified birth and postpartum doula, and a yoga, dance, and martial arts instructor, Claire lives with her family in Nashville, Tennessee.Connect with us!Sign up to receive a little Gospel in your inbox every Monday Morning with our weekly devotional.Check out our website for great resources, previous blog posts, and more.Get some Lady Preacher Podcast swag!Connect with us on Instagram and Facebook

Friends, we are continuing our pause through mid-January to allow Kelsey time to move back home to the Pacific Northwest with her family, but we're here with a special New Year's episode talking about looking for God's miracles and grace, even amidst heartbreak.We will be back with you on Monday, January 22nd with more interviews and all of your favorite content!Connect with us!Sign up to receive a little Gospel in your inbox every Monday Morning with our weekly devotional.Check out our website for great resources, previous blog posts, and more.Get some Lady Preacher Podcast swag!Connect with us on Instagram and Facebook