People are sometimes afraid to talk about faith, but we aren't. Each week we'll have conversations on spirituality, faith, and everyday life. From work to relationships, politics to finances -- faith impacts so much of who we are and how we live. Pastor M
My guest today is Kelley Weber. Kelley is a Spiritual Director certified through Aquinas Institute of Theology. An avid learner, this summer she will be finishing studies at The Living School at the Center of Action and Contemplation in New Mexico as well as certification in the Somatic Enneagram. Kelley has been a professional actor and theater teacher in St. Louis for over 23 years. Most recently she won the 202 St.Louis Theater Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress in a comedy for her role in the Tennessee Williams Festival. She hosts the podcast, /A Prayer Practice/ for the Gathering. Website: aspiralspace.com IG: instagram.com/a_spiral_space Newsletter: https://aspiralspace.substack.com
My guests today are two pastors who conceived and launched The Collective Table - an online platform that makes progressive Christian conversations and resources accessible to people. Both United Methodist pastors in California. Learn more about The Collective Table here!
The Season of Christmas with special guests John Carney and Julie Buck!
It's the first week of advent and we're talking about HOPE. What's the difference between optimism and hope? What is Biblical hope? We talk about this and more on today's episode of The F Word.
My guest today is Bishop Karen Oliveto. She is the first openly lesbian bishop to be elected in the United Methodist Church. She was elected bishop on July 15, 2016, at the Western Jurisdictional conference. Her four-year term of service began September 1, 2016 and she currently serves as the bishop of both the UMC's Rocky Mountain and Yellowstone Conferences; she was officially installed on September 24.
So many of us are tired. Not a little tired, but really tired. We think of full schedule is a sign of importance and wear our busyness like a badge of honor. But this not how you are created to live. In this week's episode, we talk with Rabbi Amy Feder about rest and the ancient idea of Sabbath.
My guest today is Isaac Simmons. Isaac is a 23 year old openly gay drag queen who recently was certified as a candidate for ordained ministry in The United Methodist Church. He's the first openly queer person to be certified in his conference and reportedly the first drag queen to be a candidate for ministry anywhere in the world. As his alter ego Ms. Penny Cost, Isaac speaks around the country seeking to bridge the gap between queerness and spirituality.
My guest today is personal. What I mean is that Jim Harnish is not only a pastor of 42 years, a prolific author, and a top leader in the United Methodist Church - but he was influential on my own faith long before I ever got to meet him. I am happy to now call him a mentor and a friend.
Do you know the names of your neighbors? Do you want to? Adam Barlow-Thompson started off his career as a pastor but in 2016 he left the local church to become a full time neighbor. He founded the nonprofit Neighboring Movement and now dedicates his time to training people in how to be better neighbors, and why it matters.
My guest today is the Rev. Dr. Megan Rohrer, Bishop of the Sierra Pacific synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Megan is the first openly transgender Bishop in a major Christian denomination. In addition to being a Bishop, they are a pastor, filmmaker, musician, and parent. https://www.revrohrer.com/
My guest today is author and pastor Melissa Florer-Bixler. Melissa is the author of How to Have an Enemy: Righteous Anger and the Work of Peace, which looks closely at what the Bible says about enemies--who they are, what they do, and how Jesus and his followers responded to them. https://www.melissaflorerbixler.com/
Our guest this week needs no introduction to our church, The Gathering. However, if you don't know her, Charity Goodwin is the pastor of our Clayton site, a preacher, teacher, coach, and author. We talk about her book "Get Up," and the upcoming sermon series of the same name. charitygoodwin.com
My guest today is Representative Barbara Phifer, a democrat in Missouri House of Representatives for district 90. Prior to serving the Missouri legislature she was a United Methodist pastor, serving churches for 40 years. Her faith deeply roots her political activism and today I want to talk about that intersection.
In the midst of school and sports activities, lessons birthday parties, play dates, parents often wonder how they can make time for church, not just for themselves but for their kids. Many of us want to pass faith along to our kids and maybe we don't know how to do that or where to find the time. Our guest today is Kirk Weaver and he has made his life‘s mission helping families teach faith to their kids and we're going to talk about that today.
Our guest today is Rev. Dr. Dietra Wise Baker. Dr. Baker is an activist, a teacher, a community organizer, an anti-racist trainer, preacher, and now she brings all of that to bear in her new role as a professor at Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis.
Our guest this week is Colby Martin. He is an author, a podcaster, and a co-pastor of Sojourn Grace Collective. He has a story and a journey that a lot of us can resonate with. He experienced the rejection of mainstream Christianity but he found a new home in a more progressive form of Christianity. https://www.colbymartinonline.com/ https://sojourngrace.com/
Today we announce a new time for The F Word: Conversations on Faith. If you've been listening, you're used to hearing us sometime in the afternoon on Sunday. Now look for us first thing in the morning each Tuesday for your commute! We can't wait to ride along with you.
As the first openly gay black bishop in the 192 year old Episcopal Diocese of Missouri, Bishop Deon K. Johnson understands the importance of the church welcoming those it has often turned away.
Most of us struggle to get along with people whose beliefs are so different from our own. Politics, religion, and social issues divide us now more than ever. In this episode, I talk to Dr. John Inazu, the Sally D. Danforth Distinguished Professor of Law and Religion at Washington University in St. Louis. His book Confident Pluralism is all about how to build bridges with people we disagree with while holding on deeply to our own beliefs. http://carverstl.org
Pastor Matt speaks with the Rev. Bill Duvendack, author, speaker, teacher, and a 30+ year practitioner and student of the western mysteries.
A brief history of Mother's Day, and an interview with Donn Sorensen, author, speaker and healthcare executive. We talk about faith and leadership in the midst of COVID-19. https://donnsorensen.com/
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, so this week Pastor Matt is speaking with Jeff Allen, host of the podcast Simple Mental Health and a mental health advocate. Jeff also happens to be the producer of The F Word! Plus Pastor Matt answers more of your questions. Check out the podcast Simple Mental Health at http://simplementalhealth.me
In this packed episode, Pastor Matt reflects on the guilty verdict of Derek Chauvin, and talks about the difference between accountability and justice. Then we will have a conversation with Dr. Jessica Johnson about Christian nationalism and the recent (and weird) critiques of Vice President Kamala Harris from evangelical pastors.
Dr. Luther E. Smith, Jr. is Professor Emeritus of Church and Community at Candler School of Theology at Emory University. His current research focuses on the writings and correspondence of Howard Thurman, advocacy on behalf of children, and a spirituality of hope. Smith is an ordained elder in the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.
Pastor Matt talks Easter, the promise of change, and the importance of seeking and accepting help from others. He interviews author, podcaster and addiction/recovery advocate Chris Pondoff and answers listener questions.
In the wake of two mass shootings, Pastor Matt talks about how our faith ought to influence our politics around guns. And with the crisis at the border, we talk to Dr. Lauren Turek about how Christians have influenced US foreign policy.
The church ought to be resisting misogyny and patriarchy, but often it has contributed to both. This has led at various times to the demonizing of women and an unwillingness to recognize their ability to lead. In this episode, we talk to Kadi Cole about the unique challenges women face in church leadership and how to cultivate more women leaders in our communities of faith.
She is a nurse, activist, pastor, and now US Representative from Missouri's 1st District. This week I talk to Congresswoman Cori Bush about how faith has informed her work, her decision to run for office, and the policies she works for.
Many of us have had a complicated relationship with faith. Singer/songwriter and leader of a widely popular band Caedmon's Call, Derek Webb spent much time submersed in the Christian subculture of the 90s and 00s. But over time, as he pursued a solo career, his songs drifted outside the norms of what his record label wanted him to be talking about. His own relationship with faith began to be strained until he stopped identifying as Christian altogether. His story resonates with so many who find their relationship to Christianity... complicated. DerekWebb.com
So many of us have been burned, bored, or hurt by the church. If not, then we likely know someone who has. But a hurtful church experience doesn't have to mean the end of a relationship with God. In this episode, we talk to author and pastor Rev. Carol Howard Merritt about her own complicated journey with the church, her work with those with spiritual wounds, and how many have found healing and connection with God on the other side.
What is forgiveness? Is forgiveness excusing bad behavior? Does someone have to say sorry for me to forgive them? How do I forgive myself? In this episode, we tackle these questions and more with the preeminent forgiveness expert. Dr. Robert Enright has devoted 40 years to studying forgiveness, how to do it, and the ways it benefits us.
Faith is about relationships - with God, others and ourselves. But relationships are hard, fraught with conflict, and often messy - especially with those closest to us. In this Valentine's Day pod, Matt talks to marriage therapist Richard Boswell about relationship warning signs, conflict, and how to work towards healthier relationships. rbboswell.com
All of us have a story with twists and turns, and Josh Caterer is no exception. Growing up in Chicago he started a band called the Smoking Popes. After finding commercial success on the punk rock seen, Josh hit rock bottom when he overdosed after a show. That set him on a path that ultimately led to Jesus, church, and a new relationship with music.
So many of us are tired. Not a little tired, but really tired. We think of full schedule is a sign of importance and wear our busyness like a badge of honor. But this not how you are created to live. In this week's episode, we talk with Rabbi Amy Feder about rest and the ancient idea of Sabbath.
With the pandemic, an unprecedented number of people are losing their jobs, or know someone who is. Transitions like this can be scary and disorienting, but also a time of opportunity. This week's guest author and speaker Dale Kreienkamp will talk about the spiritual and emotional struggle of losing your job and how to support others who might be experiencing it. Check out Dale's website at DaleKreienkamp.com w/ John Carney & Dale Kreienkamp
This week Pastor Matt's guest is Dr. Marie Griffith of the John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics at Washington University. They're discussing why Christians have been so supportive of Donald Trump, the history of evangelical Christian involvement in partisan politics, and the dangers of mixing the two.
Pastor Matt invites radio show host John Carney back for week two to discuss failure, what we can learn from it, and how it impacts our faith. Plus, he interviews Dr. Thomas Hoerr, Scholar in Residence @ UMSL and author of Fostering Grit to explore the concept of grit and how we can develop perseverance and resiliency through failure.
Pastor Matt introduces himself and the show. He discusses New Years resolutions with long time friend and radio show host John Carney, and breaks down the keys to keeping those resolutions with Rev. Charity Goodwin.
© 2020-2025 Ivy Podcast Discovery LLC
