That Makes Total Sense!

“We are all chasing relief.” I hadn’t really thought about it in quite the same way until I read David Zahl’s The Big Relief, but then I couldn’t unsee it. Around the same time, a friend sent me an Instagram reel of a woman just breathing in and telling herself to release her shoulders. Whatever … Continue reading Episode 305 – David Zahl

Cristina Rathbone, an American Episcopal priest from a family with immigration journeys of their own, spent time at the border between the U.S. and Mexico to learn from and minister to those who were waiting to cross. A former journalist, Cristina shares about her experiences on the border as she met and interacted with individuals … Continue reading Episode 304 – Cristina Rathbone

Destiny Magnett is part of a wonderful team at one of my favorite organizations, Churches for Middle East Peace (CMEP). Destiny has travelled extensively to the Middle East and has been personally impacted by her education and experiences with people living in the land as they are impacted by the conflict, policies, wars, and politics. … Continue reading Episode 303 – Destiny Magnett

Hosting a return guest is one of my favorite things to do (maybe especially when that guest is seated next to his piano…)! Mark Glanville is a pastor in what he names as a post-Christian context. And even though this conversation is based on his book about writing sermons, it is truly for anyone who … Continue reading Episode 302 – Mark Glanville

Welcome, Cara Meredith, back to the podcast! Cara was so kind to join me waaay back in the early months of the podcast and now she’s been brave enough to do it again! The topic in this conversation is one that is near and dear (and complicated) to both of our hearts, and maybe yours … Continue reading Episode 301 – Cara Meredith

Eek! THIS MARKS 300 EPISODES!!! First of all, THANK YOU for listening to That Makes Total Sense! It really is one of the most fun things I get to do and I am *thrilled* to share it with each of you! Second, for this conversation, I got to interview my best friend, husband, editor, and … Continue reading Episode 300 – Alexis & Seth

We’ve got something a little different (and super fun!) with this episode. Philip Marinello of The Substance invited me back on his podcast and we had a blast catching up and talking about all things faith, politics, and of course generosity and justice! Philip loves chatting about many of the same topics as me and … Continue reading Episode 299 – Philip Marinello

My kids tell me I’m a Hufflepuff. I don’t exactly deny it and encounters like the one Angela and I had might just add evidence to their label, lol! One minute we found ourselves sitting at dinner together, each invited by friends to a table where we didn’t know most of the diners, and the … Continue reading Episode 298 – Angela Williams Gorrell

A short reflection on the day after Easter…and doubt. Mentioned in this episode: Matthew 28 You might also enjoy: Ep. 191 with Alexis Busetti Ep. 150 with Jason Porterfield Ep. 140 with Alexis Busetti

A note from the producer: “I normally try to get the podcasts done over the weekend so they can release Sunday night or Monday morning. This weekend however, I was off climbing on rocks and doing professional work – noting my usual day job is not a producer. Anyways, I hope listeners don’t mind that … Continue reading Episode 296 – Young-Sam Won (replay!)

The current job situation in the U.S. right now is hard to navigate, to say the least. Whether it’s layoffs for federal employees, toxic bosses and cultures, or burnout, our work lives involve so much more than just the actual work. Thankfully, people like Meryl Herr are paying attention. Her new book, When Work Hurts … Continue reading Episode 295 – Meryl Herr

Drs. Lisa Stephenson and Ruthie Wienk are professors of systematic theology and sociology, respectively, and they have teamed up to write a wonderful, textual guide on service in the Christian community. Historically, and even now, the evangelical community in the U.S. has gone through different phases and stances on service or what some may call … Continue reading Episode 294 – Lisa Stephenson & Ruthie Wienk

Lately, the psychology section on my bookshelf has increased by a few titles, and while I have zero background in the field (except seeing a therapist, hallelujah!), it is increasingly more fascinating to me. This conversation with Todd Hall, professor of psychology, was a great addition to my novice study (though it would also be … Continue reading Episode 293 – Todd Hall

This conversation with Dr. Erin Devers was so much fun! We discussed some of the concepts from her new book, The Unbiased Self, and I found it to be fascinating. As a psychology professor, Erin brings so much insight into the world of bias, how we all operate with it, and what we can do … Continue reading Episode 292 – Erin Devers

Producer’s pick in honor of Women’s History Month! Reading Caryn Reeder‘s new book had me feeling mad, relieved, curious, and hopeful. She explores one of my all-time favorite stories in the Gospels – The Samaritan Woman in John 4. Caryn reminds readers and listeners of the classic interpretation of the story, which has remained much the same throughout … Continue reading Episode 291 – Caryn Reeder (re-release!)

I experienced so many emotions reading Andrew Bauman‘s new book, Safe Church. Among them, was the feeling of being seen. In his research, Andrew, who is a professional counselor, surveyed and interviewed women who have spent various amounts of time in evangelical churches and ministry environments in the U.S. These women reported experiences of sexism … Continue reading Episode 290 – Andrew Bauman

As you can see from the search below, Christian nationalism has been a common topic on the podcast. Professor Michael W. Austin has written a short book called simply, American Christian Nationalism, and our conversation on that text is one I am happy to have as an addition to the list. Mike gives us a … Continue reading Episode 289 – Mike Austin

As you’ll hear throughout this conversation, concepts within the field of disability theology are ones that I have struggled and wrestled with for years (even before I knew how to label them). This book, Disabling Leadership, by Andrew Draper and his co-authors is unique in that it covers, not only aspects of disability theology, but … Continue reading Episode 288 – Andrew Draper

Joel Edward Goza joined me on the podcast to talk about his newest book, Rebirth of a Nation: Reparations and Remaking America. You might recognize in the title, a take on another title, The Birth of a Nation, an incredibly harmful and racist film shown at the White House in 1915 by president Woodrow Wilson. … Continue reading Episode 287 – Joel Edward Goza

When I first started reading Heather Matthews’ new book, Confronting Sexism in the Church, I was struck (yet again) by how familiar her story is. Over and over again, I have come to realize that I’m not the only one. So many other women have been told they are less than, that they couldn’t have … Continue reading Episode 286 – Heather Matthews

The wise and hilarious Erin Hicks Moon joined me for this episode and I am thrilled to share it with you! She has written a book on deconstruction called, I’ve Got Questions, and reading it felt like collecting little pieces of home over a cup of coffee with a friend who understood right where I … Continue reading Episode 285 – Erin Hicks Moon

That Makes Total Sense! regular, the Rev. Dr. Malcolm Foley, is back on the podcast and I could not be more psyched! His new book, The Anti-Greed Gospel releases next month and I cannot wait for it to hit the shelves. If you’re as intrigued as I was, even by the title and sub-title alone, … Continue reading Episode 284 – Malcolm Foley

What a joy to host Liz Charlotte Grant (and read her book)! One of the things I have enjoyed so much in studying the bible is taking in different interpretive perspectives. Liz is a creative writer and someone who became curious about biblical interpretations from theologians she had not read or studied early in her … Continue reading Episode 283 – Liz Charlotte Grant

Phew! Hold on to your hats! We’ve got an incredible discussion for you today with Dr. Andrew Rillera, New Testament scholar. His newest book, Lamb of the Free, tackles not only the sacrifice of Jesus, but does so as part of the whole sacrificial system we see in the Bible. We start by naming a … Continue reading Episode 282 – Andrew Rillera

When Jennifer McNutt’s newest book arrived in the mail, I instantly started flipping through it (and immediately texted a friend)! What I held in my hands, was a beautiful, thoughtful, and thorough look at the person and character of Mary Magdelene and as a female theologian, it felt like a real gift. The Mary We … Continue reading Episode 281 – Jennifer McNutt

This was a wonderful conversation on church, health, justice, and community with Pricelis! Her unique perspective as someone with a background in social work and someone who has worked on staff in church settings brings something insightful and beautiful to this larger discussion around church life. For more on this topic, be sure to check … Continue reading Episode 279 – Pricelis Perreaux-Dominguez

This conversation with Lore was recorded barely a week after the presidential election. Truthfully, I was still pretty raw coming into our talk and that morning was a particularly rough one in my grieving process. What Lore’s beautiful book and our interview reminded me of in the midst of my feelings of sadness, disbelief, and … Continue reading Episode 278 – Lore Ferguson Wilbert

Dr. Chris Blumhofer is a professor of New Testament at Fuller Theological Seminary. From personal experience, I can tell you his classes are wonderful! They are insightful, thought-provoking, and challenging. One of the mindsets, and now habits, I have taken away from my instructional time with Chris is permission to wrestle with our sacred texts … Continue reading Episode 277 – Chris Blumhofer

Producer’s choice! Here’s a note from my producer (and husband) Seth Busetti about this week’s re-release. Enjoy! I thought this episode with Kaitlyn Schiess might be helpful to our listeners. When this was first recorded the political landscape was still very uncertain and Kaitlyn’s wisdom regarding how Christians can faithfully engage in civil discourse and … Continue reading Episode 276 – Kaitlyn Schiess (re-release!)

This new devotional by Tiffany Bluhm (along with some other fantastic contributors!) is one I see myself coming back to again and again. In The Women We’ve Been Waiting For, Tiffany and several women authors, bring us the stories of biblical, historical, and contemporary female figures who have resisted the status quo for the sake … Continue reading Episode 275 – Tiffany Bluhm

I know I should give some sort of explanation here. I should say all the things this episode is about, but, I’m tired. This has been a week, and instead of explaining all of the things, I am just going to say – go and listen to this conversation with Robert! He is sharing his … Continue reading Episode 274 – Robert G. Callahan, II

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 for Everyone and it is fantastic! Part of what she seeks to do in this text (and how … Continue reading Episode 273 – Amy-Jill Levine

My friend, Dr. Collin Cornell is back on the podcast! The topic we discuss is one I have always wrestled with, so it was good to pick an Old Testament scholar’s brain on it – God’s aggression. You’ll see below that Collin has recently published on the topic, but we didn’t stick to the text … Continue reading Episode 272 – Collin Cornell

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 … Continue reading Episode 271 – David Swanson

In honor of Indigenous People’s Day, we’re re-playing my conversation with Terry Wildman! Terry Wildman is the lead translator and project manager of the First Nations Version of the New Testament. In this conversation, Terry talks about the intersection of being Christian and Native and what that has meant for him as he has explored the two, … Continue reading Episode 270 – Terry Wildman (re-release!)

Confession time – I’m not a big history buff. As critical as I know it is, it’s never really been my thing, but…when I came across this title by Elesha Coffman, I knew I had to get it in my hands and read it! And I’m so glad I did! Turning Points in American Church … Continue reading Episode 269 – Elesha Coffman

A few years ago, offline, a guest mentioned a term that represented a concept that put a metaphorical pebble in my shoe – “philanthropic redlining.” I knew a bit of the history of redlining from real estate practices in the U.S., and of course I also knew, generally, what philanthropy was, but to hear them … Continue reading Episode 268 – Erin Weber-Johnson

This conversation is (checks notes) the first where I talked with a husband and wife together, in this case, co-authors! Amy Dixon and Rob Dixon joined me to celebrate the release of their illustrated children’s book, Penny Preaches, which chronicles a fictional little girl (representative of so many women who feel called to preaching ministry, … Continue reading Episode 267 – Amy Dixon & Rob Dixon

This week I was joined by theologian Grace Ji-Sun Kim. Her newest book (she’s published so many!) is When God Became White. If you’re intrigued by the title already, you’re not alone. Grace writes, not only as a scholar and theologian, but also from her perspective as a Korean immigrant who grew up in Canada … Continue reading Episode 261 – Grace Ji-Sun Kim

I am so thrilled to host Jim Wallis again on the podcast! (It’s a special bonus for me because the date of this release marks 5 YEARS THE PODCAST!) Jim and I first met in Washington D.C. at the inaugural Summer Academy at the Center on Faith & Justice at Georgetown University, though his work … Continue reading Episode 265 – Jim Wallis

Andrew Krinks has been on the podcast before and both times, he has managed to take a topic I have thought about often and deeply and add depth and breadth that I hadn’t yet considered. (His wife, Lindsey did the same thing for me with this conversation on homelessness.) The first time, Andrew and I … Continue reading Episode 264 – Andrew Krinks

This conversation is over a year in the making. When I first heard about this project last spring, I was intrigued and completely unprepared to read this book, much less do an interview. What Sarah Stankorb has done in Disobedient Women is extraordinary. For fans of Kristen Kobes Du Mez’s Jesus and John Wayne, you’ll … Continue reading Episode 263 – Sarah Stankorb

Reading through Sarah Westfall’s book, The Way of Belonging, felt like making an instant friend! It felt like making a friend who also struggles with new friendships, what it means to belong, and who is also a huge fan of Henri Nouwan (more on that in the episode!). Sarah is asking questions I think many … Continue reading Episode 262 – Sarah Westfall

Welcome back to the podcast, to my friend, Jasmine Bellamy! Jasmine has been up to a lot since the last time we chatted, including beginning a doctoral program at Fuller Theological Seminary. She is a business leader and joyful disrupter, as we’ll chat about, and she is concerned with how we can be more loving … Continue reading Episode 261 – Jasmine Bellamy

This is a vacay replay! Our fam was out on one last getaway of the summer, so we picked one of our favorites (also happens to be a fan favorite!) to replay this week. We hope you enjoy it as much as we do! It's hard to describe how I felt reading Norman Wirzba‘s book, This Sacred … Continue reading Episode 260 – Norman Wirzba (re-play!)

As a therapist and pastor, working with and ministering to women from all over the globe for years, Dieula Previlon understands trauma and the effects it can have on women and their communities. She also understands how when women begin to heal from trauma, it has a huge impact on the people around them as … Continue reading Episode 259 – Dieula Previlon

One of my absolute favorite things about studying in seminary has been the exposure to new and different theological perspectives! As members of the Body of Christ, we are truly all built in unique ways, having had different personal experiences that teach us about God, God’s world, and our place in it. Khristi Adams brings … Continue reading Episode 258 – Khristi Lauren Adams

Producer’s Pick! As some of you may know, the Houston area was hit hard this past week by a hurricane. The category 1 storm, Beryl, wreaked havoc on the infrastructure here, leaving more than 2 million homes and places of business without power. We were among those affected, having lost power for almost 6 days … Continue reading Episode 257 – Michael Wear (re-release!)

This is the very first time in the history of That Makes Total Sense! where a guest has played live music as a part of the conversation and I am here for it! Dr. Mark Glanville, pastor, author, and scholar, is also a professional jazz pianist and he can’t help but see how an exploration … Continue reading Episode 256 – Mark Glanville

With the 4th of July coming up this week, I wanted to share this conversation with you again. It is good to celebrate our country and it is also good to critique it. In this episode, Jemar and I spoke with each other literally less than a week after the insurrection on the Capitol on … Continue reading Episode 255 – Jemar Tisby (re-release!)

Growing up inside American evangelicalism, I can see now that there was definitely a taste of Christian nationalism thrown into the cultural mix (though I certainly couldn’t name it at the time). If you grew up culturally Chrisitan in the U.S., the same is probably true for you, too. What Brian Kaylor and Beau Underwood … Continue reading Episode 254 – Brian Kaylor