That Makes Total Sense!

Ben Norquist and his co-author Brian Miller draw our attention to something we live in everyday, yet most of us hardly think about: place. In Every Somewhere Sacred and this conversation with Ben, we discuss how rootlessness, living everywhere and nowhere at the same time, affects our theology and ultimately how we live with one … Continue reading Episode 371 – Ben Norquist

Sarah Stankorb is a journalist, and former evangelical, who has her finger on the pulse of women and their relationship with the church in the U.S. In her most recent book, Damned If She Does, Sarah writes about what she discovers from talking to dozens of women about their experiences with church and why they … Continue reading Episode 370 – Sarah Stankorb

Paul D. Miller is a scholar and professor at Georgetown University. He is a veteran and also served on the National Security Council. As a Christian, and deeply patriotic, Paul's is a valuable voice on the topic of Christian nationalism. His most recent book, The Religion of American Greatness is the topic of our conversation and it is … Continue reading Episode 369 – Paul D. Miller (re-release!)

Timothy McMahan King is a deacon in the Episcopal church who has written on addiction as well as drug use and its historical relationship to spirituality. Hi newest book, What are Drugs For?, covers the latter and is the topic of our conversation in this episode. Tim explores humanity’s relationship with drugs and how that … Continue reading Episode 368 – Timothy McMahan King

Rabbi Caryn Broitman has an incredible new book out called The Torah is an Open Book in which she shares insights from Jewish interpretations of the Bible and how those interpretive concepts can help broaden how we understand the text. She serves a Reformed congregation in Martha’s Vineyard and was educated and ordained in the … Continue reading Episode 367 – Caryn Broitman

Mary Fontana has written a beautiful memoir of sorts, not of a person, but of a place – Annunciation House. The home she writes of in Strangers in the Province of Joy is situated at the U.S.-Mexico border in El Paso, Texas and has provided temporary shelter and care for migrants, most often making their … Continue reading Episode 366 – Mary Fontana

Long time listeners of the podcast know that topics concerning religion and government come up quite a bit around here, so this episode is in good company! But this conversation with Wes Crawford doesn’t cover Christian Nationalism or politics, we primarily talk about civil religion and you’ll want to listen in because off all the … Continue reading Episode 365 – Wes Crawford

Rob Dixon has long been an ally to women in Christian spaces where patriarchy is often the default. In his recent book, Allies in Ministry, he has written specifically to other men who are exploring their role in supporting the women in their lives as they navigate these spaces that are not always hospitable to … Continue reading Episode 364 – Rob Dixon

It’s hard to describe this amazing conversation with David Dault or the book it was centered around, for that matter, The Accessorized Bible. One of the concepts David brings out, as a professor and someone who thinks about faith and the bible, a lot, is that we often make the bible into something it isn’t. … Continue reading Episode 363 – David Dault

The subject of trauma seems to be everywhere, and while this can be a good thing (it allows us to speak more freely and perhaps, feel more understood), it can also be challenging, especially in Christian communities where the subject has been misunderstood and often hidden (all the while potentially traumatizing events are happening with … Continue reading Episode 362 – Scot McKnight & Adrienne Gibson

There is something about Natalia Terfa‘s new book, It All Counts, that feels like coming home to me. It’s probably because, like many of us, for decades, I have been taught that being with God, experiencing the presence of the Holy Spirit, being a Christian must look a certain way. There’s a formula for how we go about … Continue reading Episode 361 – Natalia Terfa

This weekend, our nation turned 250 years old! For many, the celebration was not without complicated feelings. Yes, we are grateful, and we also grieve. So, we thought this would be the perfect time to re-release one of our favorite episodes that speaks to some of those complexities and how we can respond to them. … Continue reading Episode 360 – Andrew Whitehead (re-release!)

Scott Bessenecker has been in Christian ministry for decades which puts him in a unique position to bring a critical eye to the way our religion is practiced. For many, church hurt is recent. It is something we have experienced personally, and for which are seeking healing urgently. Scott reminds, though, that while the injuries … Continue reading Episode 359 – Scott Bessenecker

Producer’s pick! With a fun-filled (and restful) Father’s Day weekend, my husband and producer, Seth, picked one of his favorite episodes to share again! This one with journalist, Jon Ward, is still as relevant today as it was when it originally aired in 2023 (and was the top-listened episode of that year!). Seth mentioned that … Continue reading Episode 358 – Jon Ward (re-release!)

Oh my gosh! I had soooo much fun chatting with Varina for this episode! She wrote a book on prepositions and God, which is just so fabulous. Beneath and Between contains chapters featuring 15 different prepositions and how they can be used to describe our relationship to God. Highlights for me included flashbacks to the … Continue reading Episode 357 – Varina Willse

Talking with psychologist, Dr. Tiffany G. Townsend was truly a joy! One of the reasons I think I enjoyed it so much is because (by my own admission and maybe my husband’s observations, lol!) I can be a bit of a Debbie Downer sometimes. Meaning, when confronted with the realities of the world’s problems, it … Continue reading Episode 356 – Tiffany G. Townsend

MaryAnn McKibben Dana gave me words, in this conversation and her new book Better Than Normal, that I have been searching for. When questions arise like – What makes this the standard? or How can I fit in here (or is that even necessary)? we sometimes don’t realize that we are actually questioning what is … Continue reading Episode 354 – MaryAnn McKibben Dana

Editor of Sojourners magazine, Rose Marie Berger, sat down with me to talk about the magazine’s recent edited volume, Light for the Way (which is phenomenal, by the way!). This collection is compiled from essays published in the magazine over the decades and yet, it is amazing how many of them feel like they were … Continue reading Episode 354 – Rose Marie Berger

I’m already intrigued by anyone who has a skydiving story (that will *never* be me!), and Adriel Booker’s is (literally) one for the books! She opens her fabulous volume, Tethered to Hope with a story of jumping from a plane, secured to an instructor in her early twenties and the harrowing moments that followed. The … Continue reading Episode 353 – Adriel Booker

This conversation with Aimee Byrd was personal and powerful for me. Even though it has not been easy, I am so grateful to Aimee for sharing her story of the abuse she suffered in the church circles she was a part of. Her newest book, Saving Face, is a beautiful reflection not only on what has happened to … Continue reading Episode 352 – Aimee Byrd (re-release!)

Have you ever heard a phrase that sticks with you? So much so, that you find yourself turning it over again and again in your mind, discovering its relevance to new situations in your life? Sometimes those brief sentences can have massive impact on how we think and interact with the world. Well, from my … Continue reading Episode 315 – Amar Peterman

Author and scholar Jared Stacy joins me for this episode to talk about conspiracism and evangelicalism in the United States. Many of us have probably noticed that these two seem to walk hand in hand, but have we stopped to ask ourselves how they are connected and in what ways that connection might be true … Continue reading Episode 350 – Jared Stacy

Third time’s a charm with psychologist, Dr. Kelly Flanagan! (Though the first two recordings with Kelly were amazing as well!) His newest book, The Road Less Triggered, is phenomenal. We talked a lot about how to have the posture of an open heart, especially at moments when we’re so tempted to close it off. This … Continue reading Episode 349 – Kelly Flanagan

Growing up in Oklahoma (read 12 years of public school history classes), you’d think I would have taken in droves of information about our nation’s history with Indigenous peoples. After all, Oklahoma has one of the highest populations of Native Americans in the U.S. and, if you understand some of the basic history, you’ll know … Continue reading Episode 348 – L. Daniel Hawk

Happy Easter! I hope you had a wonderful holiday weekend with you and yours. Since we took some time to rest and celebrate (new episode coming next week!), we thought we’d share this favorite again. Enjoy! To say I enjoyed this conversation *and the book it was centered on* is an understatement! Dr. Amy Peeler, … Continue reading Episode 347 – Amy Peeler (re-release!)

What a joy it is to welcome Sara Billups back to the podcast! We talked about a subject that is or has been near to each of us – anxiety. Sara has written a book that brings in her experiences with anxiety, as well as many of those of her family, and how they connect … Continue reading Episode 346 – Sara Billups

Kristen Lee‘s voice is such a gift! She an incredibly gifted author (and physician! – which we totally didn’t even touch on in this conversation), and I am so thrilled she has chosen to bring her experiences and research to us through her text, We Mend with Gold. She has written the book she wishes … Continue reading Episode 345 – Kristen Lee

Talking with Laura Baghdassarian Murray was truly a delight! Even though the subject of this episode is hospitality, which is a topic that’s super familiar to me, our conversation took us through some territory that was a bit unexpected for me (that happens often when I talk to a spiritual director!). In this episode we … Continue reading Episode 344 – Laura Baghdassarian Murray

This was one of my absolute favorite conversations! I am so thrilled to be able to share it – again! Dr. Amy-Jill Levine is a professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies at Vanderbilt University. AJ is a Jewish scholar and has written extensively on the New Testament and on Jesus. Her most recent book is Jesus … Continue reading Episode 343 – Amy-Jill Levine (re-release!)

Jenn Suen Chen‘s story is so very different from mine and also holds many similarities. Her new book, Dim Sum and Faith, is one to slow down with, letting the words and ideas simmer like a wonderfully rich broth (one that can also bring some healing with its warmth). She shares about her experiences as … Continue reading Episode 342 – Jenn Suen Chen

Tatum Tricarico‘s book, Blessed is the Body, is an amazing devotional! I read it almost every morning (sipping my coffee with my beagle curled up beside me) preparing for this interview. Not only did I learn a ton, but I also connected with God in super meaningful and surprising ways. In this conversation, we talk … Continue reading Episode 341 – Tatum Tricarico

Oh my goodness! Chris and Danny were such a joy to read – and even more so to speak with! We covered super important topics like Chris’s drum circle debacle (supposedly available online somewhere), the Truth and Reconciliation Committee in Canada (and what we can learn from the process of our neighbors to the north), … Continue reading Episode 340 – Chris Hoklotubbe & Danny Zacharias

Sitting down with author and anthropology professor Christine Jeske was a joy! We talked about her newest book, Racial Justice for the Long Haul, which is all about why white Christians (the small number of them who do) participate in racial justice work and how they stay committed. For this work, Christine spent hours and … Continue reading Episode 339 – Christine Jeske

I am so thrilled to welcome *back* to the podcast, Dr. Terence Lester! (In case you missed his other appearances, they’re here, here, and here – with his daughter, and co-author, Zion!) During this conversation, we discuss race-based educational injustices in the U.S., along with Terence’s own story of experiencing the educational system as a … Continue reading Episode 338 – Terence Lester

For Christians, the topic of loving our neighbors is a familiar one. Many times, at least for me, the phrase is *so* familiar that it sometimes becomes difficult to effectively pause, reflect, and investigate what it actually requires from us in real life. Chanté Griffin brings her unique perspective to this vibrant and ongoing conversation, … Continue reading Ep. 337 – Chanté Griffin

Producer’s Pick! For MLK Jr. Day, I asked my husband and producer, Seth, to choose an episode he wanted to re-release and without hesitation, he said, “What about Malcolm’s most recent one?!” Done and done! Here ya go! That Makes Total Sense! regular, the Rev. Dr. Malcolm Foley, is back on the podcast and I could … Continue reading Episode 336 – Malcolm Foley (re-release!)

I am truly grateful for the work of Dorothy Greco. Her most recent book, For the Love of Women tackles several areas where misogyny has, and continues to have, great impacts. Trained and having worked as both a journalist and a pastor, she brings a unique perspective to patriarchy and misogyny and how our whole … Continue reading Episode 335 – Dorothy Greco

I am embarrassed to admit how recently I started to realize the effects of empire on my life. It probably wasn’t until I entered seminary that vocabulary like empire or colonialism entered my everyday consciousness, and even when it did, reckoning with it is something that still evades me most days. It’s difficult to see … Continue reading Episode 334 – Kat Armas

Producer’s pick! We’re all still recovering from holiday fun this week, so I asked my sweet husband and producer to choose an episode he wanted to re-release and he picked this favorite with Zach Lambert. Enjoy! And happy week between Christmas and New Year’s! This conversation with fellow(?) Texan (I don't exactly claim the label, … Continue reading Episode 333 – Zach Lambert (re-play!)

The birth of Jesus was, and is, disruptive to our lives. Though, with all the familiarity surrounding Christmas, sometimes it’s hard to remember how true that is. Listen along for a short, Christmas week reflection from That Makes Total Sense! host, Alexis Busetti, as she discusses how the Incarnation was and should continue to be … Continue reading Episode 332 – The Disruptive Birth

This one is becoming an annual favorite! Just this week, a friend texted asking for the name of this book – the one I gifted to about a dozen of my girlfriends the year it was released. Each year, Scott Erickson helps bring the season a little closer to home with the ideas heard in … Continue reading Episode 331 – Scott Erickson (re-play!)

This advent book (and conversation!) is not just for the Christmas season. I promise you will be blessed by Kelley Nikondeha‘s words all year long (including in our recent conversation on Jubilee)! Her new book, The First Advent in Palestine tells of some of the forgotten stories surrounding Jesus' birth. We know he was born in first century … Continue reading Episode 330 – Kelley Nikondeha (re-release!)

My friend, Collin Cornell, is back! And, I have been *waiting* for this conversation (okay, in some ways, I’ve been waiting, and in some ways, it’s been ongoing). Collin has finished his newest book, God Draws Near, and it is a game-changer; I’m so thrilled he’s here to talk with me about it! This incredibly … Continue reading Episode 329 – Collin Cornell

Lisa Colón DeLay and I had so much fun talking all about the desert elders! (I admit, there was a time when that sentence wouldn’t have made sense to me, but today, I am all about learning more from our fore parents in the faith.) Even though our world and our lives look very different, … Continue reading Episode 328 – Lisa Colón DeLay

To say I enjoyed this conversation *and the book it was centered on* is an understatement! Dr. Amy Peeler, professor, author, and pastor, shares insight from her years of research culminating in her incredible book, Women and the Gender of God. In this episode, we explore God as Father, but not gendered, Mary, the mother … Continue reading Episode 327 – Amy Peeler

As I type this, it almost feels like fall in the hill country of Texas (and I hear it’s gonna stay that way for about 48 hours, lol!). The cooler weather and the wind, as temporary as they may be, remind me of seasonal changes, and it makes me glad. The chill in the air … Continue reading Ep. 326 – Claude Atcho

One of my favorite podcast guests is back to talk about his new book! David Swanson's Plundered is absolutely beautiful. In it, he explores the history of environmental and racial injustice in the U.S. and how they are intertwined. He also shares some of his own personal and communal journey, inviting us to imagine what living in ways more … Continue reading Episode 325 – David Swanson (re-release!)

The topic of jubilee is one that sometimes has me feeling a bit…skeptical. It’s not that I don’t like the concept, I do. It’s just that it’s a tough one to talk about it in a way that seems faithful to the biblical texts and practical for real life. Enter Kelley Nikondeha! She is a … Continue reading Episode 324 – Kelley Nikondeha

Every time I catch a news headline with something tragic happening in the world, or close to home, I have a sense of grief, many times accompanied by a sense of helplessness. What can I do? is the question that haunts me. I’m not a community organizer or a formal advocate and even in the … Continue reading Episode 323 – Charon Hribar

When I think of individuals and organizations who have their work cut out for them, always, but especially with our current times, I think of Matthew Soerens and World Relief. For those who may not be familiar, World Relief is a Christian humanitarian organization who serves people who are in crisis all over the world, … Continue reading Episode 322 – IVP / Made for Pax Series: Matthew Soerens

Chats with Jenai always result in wisdom for me, so I am grateful for our conversations! (This one is no exception!) Jenai is an author and of an amazing book called Othered: Finding Belonging with the God Who Pursues the Hurt, Harmed, and Marginalized and is a cohort leader at Made for Pax. (Our first … Continue reading Episode 321 – IVP / Made for Pax Series: Jenai Auman