The Orthodoxical Podcast

Y'ALL. We had a legit legend on the podcast. Kyle chops it up with Dr. Vince Bantu, a key scholar in early African Christianity (and one of Kyle's favorite theological scholars!). Dr. Bantu's work on early African Christianity is nothing short of paradigm shifting; it challenges both Christian and secular narratives about the genesis, proliferation, and praxis of the Christian faith in the ancient Near East and beyond. You won't want to miss this episode, check it out ASAP!

If you started the year with a resolution to "read the Bible more", how is it going? Are you stuck in Leviticus? Reading Jeremiah 29:11 and Philippians 4:13 to yourself every day? Memorizing the original Hebrew? The Bible is a lifeline for Christians, but far too often it becomes a difficult and frustrating chore for believers. Luckily, we have boss Bible teacher and writer Yana Conner, host of the Living Single with Yana Jenay podcast, to help us out. In addition to being seminary trained, Yana has a practical and down-to-earth style to help us dive into the word in refreshing and life-giving ways. Check this episode now!

2022 feels like it's already been a whole year in just one month. The pandemic continues to march on, and we lost many notable and well-loved celebrities over the last few weeks. Death, suffering, and misery just seem to be our roommates at this point. As Christians, what does it mean for us to grieve? Is it possible to grieve "well", or is all grief necessarily difficult? What do we make of grief in light of the gospel? Amanda Held Opelt has wrestled with these questions on a very personal level. After losing her sister (beloved and well-respected Christian author Rachel Held Evans) unexpectedly, Amanda has been probing the nature of grief in Christian life, and is even writing a book about various grieving rituals from various cultures. She joins Kyle to talk about all this and more, so jump in and listen now!

There's been a reckoning over the last decade of what it means to be a "man". How do men relate to God? How do men live out their faith in a culture that consistently sabotages healthy masculinity? What do we do about patriarchy? What even is healthy masculinity? Mr. Jeff Tyler, teacher, minister, speaker, and founder of Good Men Do Exist, comes on the podcast to chat with Kyle about how we should think about these questions. Grab your headphones and listen in!

In the United States, Christianity has largely been divided into those who value orthodoxy (right belief) vs. orthopraxy (right action). However, Christians in Latin America have a rich and storied history of proclaiming both of these elements as inseparable parts of Christian faith. Dr. Robert Chao Romero, author of Brown Church: Five Centuries of Latina/o Social Justice, Theology, and Identity, stops by the podcast to chat with Kyle about the history and legacy of the the Brown church in Latin America and what Christians can learn from our siblings in this movement. Listen in now!

Social media has gone from an amusing cultural phenomenon to a world-altering entity in the span of just twenty years. Millions of people around the world are connected and able to share vast quantities of information (and memes) like never before. There are amazing upsides to social media; however, there are also tremendous risks with social media: polarization, mental health decline, addiction, etc. In light of this, how should Christians approach social media? Dr. Doug Bursch has studied and written on the phenomenon of social media, including a book called "Posting Peace" about how Christians can use this powerful medium. Doug joins Kyle to talk about all this and more. Listen in now!

We're back at it like mathematics! Season 3 of The Orthodoxical Podcast is here! And we are starting strong people. Kyle chats with Erika Brown, a biblical archaeologist and YouTube show host, about the world of the Bible, how archaeology relates to faith, and more! Grab your airpods and jump in! 

We've reached the end of season 2! And this last episode is good one. Our college age years are often pivotal for the rest of our lives in determining who we will be growing older. As such, it is absolutely crucial for the church to minister to people in this stage of life. An often overlooked demographic in the world of college ministry are those who work at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Kyle sits down with Charles Holmes, director of HBCU College Ministry for the Summit Church in the Raleigh/Durham area, to talk about ministry at HBCUs, what kind of questions students are asking, where college ministry is headed, and what it looks like to incorporate justice into college discipleship. It's a dope conversation, check it out!

In polls taken during the last election cycle, many evangelicals stated that immigration was their number 1 issue of concern. Immigration has become a highly politicized and fraught topic. Yet the topic of immigration is all over the Bible, including specific commands on how immigrants, migrants, and refugees are to be treated. Daniel Montañez talks with Kyle about the complexities of immigration, what drives people to immigrate and leave their home countries, what Christians can learn from immigrants, and practical steps churches can take to be places of welcome for migrants. This one is money, y'all. Check it out! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Immigration Links: Mygration Christian Conference Evangelical Immigration Table

Public policy ends up shaping so much of our experience of daily life, from the roads we drive on to the content we consume. So how does it affect porn consumption? Should it? It is also an overwhelming issue of discipleship in the church. Why should Christians be thinking about porn from a policy perspective? Kyle's friend Raleigh stops by the podcast to talk about the policy issues surround porn, how porn is becoming a public health issue, and more. Tune in and be ready to learn! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Resources from this episode: National Center on Sexual Exploitation @endexploitation

Pseudo-psychology, self-help, and emotional wellness are not new phenomena. Yet the advent of social media has led to a plethora of influencers and accounts pushing out scores of messaging that purports to be rooted in valid psychology. Clearly, some people hit the mark more than others. How can we navigate the vast amounts of emotional health messages out there and discern the healthy from the problematic? Should we even be getting psycho-education from social media? Life Karis Cains chats with Kyle about all things emotional wellness, social media, and how these things intersect with Christian culture. Pop your airpods in and check it out!

The church is supposed to be made up of many tribes and nations. However, too often multicultural church spaces end up reinforcing the norms and spiritual practices of white majority culture over and against the spiritual practices of other groups. Things become even trickier when trying to balance multiple minority cultures in one church body. How can Christians think through these complex issues? Kyle talks with Dr. Michelle Reyes, a writer, activist, and pastor who has just written a book called "Becoming All Things: How Small Changes Lead to Lasting Connections Across Cultures" aimed at helping Christians develop cultural fluency and humility in cross-cultural interactions. Listen in now!

The work and need of activism has come front and center in our society. Throughout history, Christians have been both at the forefront of social activism efforts and actively antagonistic towards those fighting for social concerns. How can we conceptualize what it looks like to pursue social change within the Christian framework? Kyle talks with his friend Preston Grissom, a Princeton Theological Seminary student and former admin with Faith for Justice, a non-profit justice organization in Saint Louis. Check it out now!

Over the last several years, there has been a reckoning in our society as women have spoken up about the abuse and mistreatment they've experienced and how their pain has often been swept under a rug. Sadly, the church has not only not been exempt from this type of injustice, it is often a primary source of pain. There have been numerous stories in recent years of churches and ministries that not only harmed women, but then used their institutional power and status to obscure the truth and prevent those women from telling their stories. Tiffany Bluhm talks with Kyle about what is at stake within these power dynamics, and what we can do to create institutional cultures built on truth and justice. Listen in now!

LGBTQ+ issues are one of the most important topics facing churches today. Yet most churches are unaware of how they can respond to those who find themself in this community as well as a church community. Many churches face a huge dilemma in caring and creating spaces for their LGBTQ+ members while upholding a traditional Christian theology of marriage and sexual ethics. Josh Proctor Guzman has spent his life navigating this tension and has been involved with some great work on both the podcast Life on Side B and the ministry of Posture Shift. He and Kyle have a great talk about how Christians and churches can minister and love their LGBTQ+ members well, and what the path looks like for these communities going forward. Grab your airpods and listen in!

Mental health continues to be a hot topic in Christian circles, particularly as churches and clergy deal with the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. One phenomenon in this conversation that needs more discussion is the way in which mental health ailments and disorders are often masked by Christian language and theological premises. Kyle unpacks this concept with Chris and Val Lilley of The Job Project, a podcast that deals with the intersection of mental health and church culture. It's a crucial convo, listen in!

What comes to mind when you hear the phrase "biblical womanhood"? What does the Bible actually have to say about being a woman? In what ways has the church used "biblical womanhood" as bomb instead of as a balm? Kyle talks with Jayna Duckenfield about the ways this conversation has taken form in the American church, and what Christians can do to promote a more robust version of biblical womanhood. Jayna also wrote a book, which you should get!

All humans have a culture. Yet the scope of human culture is vast and multi-faceted. Even Jesus entered history within a particular culture. So what does that mean as for as we follow Jesus in a culture much different than his own. Furthermore, what do you do when the culture you have grown up in, raised in, and learned to follow Jesus in is not openly received by the dominant culture of the spaces you operate in? Heidi Lepe, an LA blogger and theologian specializing in faith, culture, and Latinx identity, chats with Kyle on these issues, as well as about her own faith that has been shaped by Latinx theology and praxis. This is a good one y'all, tune in and tell your friends! Also, you can check out Heidi's blog here and her Instagram here.

Pursuing social justice is an important part of the Christian walk. But what happens when that becomes your idol, and your thirst for justice far outweighs your need for Jesus? Furthermore, what happens when your worldview is confronted by the truth of the risen Christ? Pastor Eric Huffman (you can read his story here) talks with Kyle about his journey from pastoring while denying the central truths of Christianity in order to pursue justice to becoming a born-again follower of Jesus and a humble servant of the gospel. This is a good one fam, check it out! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pastor Eric Huffman is the lead pastor of The Story Church Houston, host of the Maybe God Podcast, and author of “40 Days of Doubt: Devotions for the Skeptic”. He has also recently released a book called Scripture and The Skeptic, aimed at helping the cynical and the skeptical navigate the Bible as Christian scripture. Eric's passion is to lead new generations to ask their questions, to doubt their doubts, and to know the truth of God through Jesus Christ. He has been a guest contributor for the KSBJ and NGen Evening Shows, a guest speaker for Exploration 2013 in Denver, the 2015 Louisiana Annual Conference, the 2016 North Carolina Preaching Festival, the 2016 New Room Conference in Houston, and the 2016 Disciple NOW at The Woodlands United Methodist Church.

Pop culture is an invisible force that drives so much of our formation. Christians often tend to either run from it or accommodate it in unhelpful ways. How can Christians develop a healthy response to culture? What can various pop culture artifacts teach us about following Jesus? Kyle sits down with Dion Ringgold, CEO, and Editor-in-Chief of InClub Magazine, a faith and culture magazine that covers fashion, sports, music, movies, and more, to talk about all this and more. Grab your AirPods and tune in! ---------------------------------------------------------- Dion Ringgold Is native to Philadelphia born and bred and studied business at La Salle University. He is the founder and Editor in Chief of InClub Magazine, and creator of The Super Late Show. As a content creator, Dion has been credited with creating and producing podcast for other creatives as well. In Addition to being a bonafide visionary, Dion is a personal stylist, and creative director and self-proclaim movie critic, and film enthusiast. Dion has also begun to display that he is a captivating, intelligent, and passionate speaker, fully equipped with wit, and tweet-able and repost-worthy moments who connects with this generation. Dion has spoken on business panels at La Salle University, as well as spoken at Howard School of Business and has been invited back for the last several years to speak to a business class at Penn State University as well as youth conferences. Dion embodies what it means to be a millennial, traditional yet innovative, ambitious yet strategist, and always looking for ways to impact community, contribute to the culture, while being well dressed and living to hear, "Well done".

For most of us, philosophy was the confusing and boring class that we daydreamed about getting out of in college. However, philosophy impacts all of us in that it's all about asking the big questions we often would rather not face: what are humans? Why are we here? What does it mean to live a "good" life? What is "justice" and can we achieve it? Fortunately, Dr. Scott Coley is here to help us unpack philosophy, white evangelicalism, morality, and more in this episode. Grab your earbuds and tune in! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Scott Coley is a philosophy professor & Director of Global Encounters at Mount Saint Mary's University. He blogs at Faith, Philosophy, and Politics, and just started a podcast with the same name. Additionally, he has a forthcoming book on justice, politics & U.S. evangelicalism.

We are back like a vertebra! Kicking off the season is Kyle's interview with Nena Ugwuomo. Nena and Kyle talk about everyone's favorite subject: money. They touch on scripture, typical approaches to money, Nena's work with her non-profit Student Dream how Christians can approach their finances in a God-honoring way, and more. Tune in!

We made it folks! Somehow we managed to plow through this awful year. This episode is the last one of the first season of The Orthodoxical Podcast, and it is sooooo good! Kyle sat down with his good friend Micah Iverson, who was recently a finalist on NBC's The Voice! In addition to being a brilliant muscian, Micah is a wise and thoughtful dude, and you will absolutely be blessed by his insights. Check it out, and we will see you in January for the start of season 2 of The Orthodoxical Podcast!

*Note: Julia has since taken another job as a biomedical engineer (I'm telling y'all, she's super talented)* Women make up more than half of most churches, yet are often absent from most church ministry positions. And the women who are on staff with various church ministries often run into challenges that most men rarely give a second thought to. How can we create a church structure that allows women to flourish in their gifts, regardless of where one lands on the "egalitarian" or "complimentarian" spectrum. Kyle and his friend Julia Shaw, a worship director, talk about the various roles women play in church ministry, why this matters, and what we can do to great flourishing environment for all church congregants, male and female. Grab your headphones or airpods and listen in!

If you grew up in the church, it's possible that you may have gone on a mission trip at some point. Your intentions may or may not have been noble, but we must ask ourselves: is this the best way to do missions? Furthermore, the history of the Christian missionary movement is fraught with violence, colonization, and cultural erasure. How can we pursue God's call to make disciples of all nations without doing immense harm to the communities we are called to? Thankfully, Mekdes Haddis is here to help. She and Kyle talk about the history of mission movements, what many churches get wrong with how they think about missions, and what we can do to be better "missionaries" wherever we are called. Grab your headphones and listen in! ----------------------------------- Mekdes Haddis is a missions consultant and missiologist who helps churches develop a holistic and justice-centered approach to the mission work they seek to do. She runs a great Facebook group called Just Missions which you should definitely check out, and has even more great resources on her website.

Our country is extremely polarized, and the Church is no different. But what do you do when you feel like each pole is missing part of a bigger picture, particularly when it comes to the gospel? If you're Michael Agapito, you start a blog! Kyle and Michael chat about the tension they feel being theologically homeless in many respects, trying to follow Jesus as a "millennial", and what we can expect for the future of faith in the US. Listen in and be blessed! --------------------------------------------------- Michael Agapito is a seminary student and blogger over at The Confessing Millennial. In addition to his schooling, Michael also serves with a Christian housing ministry at the University of Illinois-Champagne.

Let's face it: the subject of guy/girl friendships in the church is awkward at best. Whether it's purity culture or just the different experiences we bring to the table as men and women, friendships between the opposite sex can definitely be tricky. Even worse, the Bible doesn't explicitly provide guidance on the issue. So what's a guy/gal to do? Kyle and his good friend Lauren unpack a bunch of the issues surrounding this topic, as well as speak to the goodness and importance of male/female friendships for Christians. Grab your earbuds and listen in!

Y'all get to hear from one of the greats! Kanita Benson is a missiologist and non-profit director who works runs a dope organization called She Saves a Nation which focuses on empowering young women all over the world. She drops a lot of great wisdom about working in the non-profit world, what what it looks like for the church to be "on mission" and what it means for young women to be receive the support and care they need to flourish. Check out her org., and check out this episode!

Mental health issues are quickly rising all across America and have only been made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic. Rates of depression, anxiety, suicide, and other mental illnesses have reached record highs in recent years. How can the church be responding to these issues? Kyle talks with Dr. Monique Smith Gadson about working as a counselor at a church, the ways that church both helps and hinders those struggling with their mental health, and what her hope for the church is in dealing with the mental health crisis in coming years. This episode is basically free therapy y'all. Tune in and be blessed! ----------------------------------------------- Dr. Monique Smith Gadson is a Licensed Professional Counselor with over 16 years of counseling, consulting, and program development experience. She has primarily worked in church and private agency settings. Dr. Gadson also works as a consulting therapist where she consults with churches and organizations in mental health matters and risk management, as well as hosts her own podcast called "And The Church Said".

Chances are, particularly around this election season, you've heard increased talk about abortion. For many people, abortion is the single issue that determines their vote. But what about the other factors and issues that drive abortion? Cherilyn Holloway has worked for years in a crisis pregnancy center is firmly committed to making abortion unthinkable. However, rather than the typical culture war approach, Cherilyn advocates for a holistic approach to abortion and maternal health that accounts for systemic racism and sexism, poverty, and the health of the mother and her unborn baby. She drops a lot of great knowledge in this podcast, be sure to listen in! ------------------------------------------------------------------- Cherilyn Holloway is an activist and the founder of Pro-Black Pro-Life, an organization dedicated to addressing the dual issues of racism and abortion. Cherilyn has spent the last six years on the front lines of the pro-life movement as a Development Director, Executive Director of her local pregnancy center, and currently serves as a Business Development Executive for Choose Life Marketing. She is married to the love of her life, Jay. They share eight amazing children and two grandchildren.

It's commonly said that absolute power corrupts absolutely. How then should Christians think about power? What about Christians who aren't just disempowered, but also marginalized and oppressed? Dr. Dennis Edwards has written a new book that extolls Christians who have found themselves on the margins of society because of their background, identities, and/or experiences to tap into the power of the Gospel that is already present and available within them. Kyle and Dr. Edwards talk about the nature of power, Christianity's relationship with power, and what it looks like for marginalized Christians to seek Christ and work for justice while fighting oppression and marginalization in their own lives. A prescient conversation for these tumultuous political times, be sure to check this episode out! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr. Dennis Edwards is Associate Professor of New Testament Studies at North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago. In addition to holding a Ph.D. in Biblical Studies from the Catholic University of America, Dr. Edwards has also pastored churches in Brooklyn, DC, and Minneapolis. Dr. Edward's hobbies include being decently talented at everything.

On this podcast episode, Kyle talks with Ray Chang, the president of the Asian-American Christian Collaborative. They discuss the history of Asian-American Christianity, the unique tenets of Asian-American Christianity, how Asian-Americans navigate their faith as "model minorities", and the necessity of cultural spaces. Check it out! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ray Chang is the president of the Asian American Christian Collaborative (AACC), a pastor, chaplain, and writer. Ray regularly preaches God's Word and speaks throughout the country on issues pertaining to Christianity and culture, race and faith. He has lived throughout the world (Korea, Guatemala, Panama, Spain, China), traveled to nearly 50 countries, and currently lives in Chicagoland, serving as a campus minister at Wheaton College. Prior to entering vocational ministry, Ray worked in the for-profit and nonprofit sectors, and served in the Peace Corps in Panama. He is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Higher Education from Azusa Pacific University. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The Asian American Christian Collaborative (AACC) seeks to encourage, equip, and empower Asian American Christians and friends of our community to follow Christ holistically. They are committed to amplifying the voices, issues, and histories of Asian Americans in the church and society at large. Visit their website at the link above or here --->https://www.asianamericanchristiancollaborative.com/

This was a really awesome conversation that Kyle had with Pastor Isaiah Robertson. They talk about the history, theology, and legacy of the Black church, how the Black church navigates between the intense polarities of American Christianity, and what the future of the Black church holds. Download and listen in! --------------------------------------------------- Pastor Isaiah Robertson serves as Senior Pastor of Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in Cartersville, GA. He recently authored Black Church Empowered, a book exploring the past, present, and future of the Black church in America. In addition to the book, Pastor Isaiah founded an organization (also called Black Church Empowered), which functions as a ministry consulting firm to help churches in the Black church tradition navigate the challenges they face in our ever-changing culture.

Episode 2! We in here! This episode features Terry "TJ" Stokes, a recent Princeton Seminary grad and Episcopal priest in training who writes awesome collects (liturgical prayers) on Instagram as @prayersfromterry (definitely give him a follow, it'll make your day!). TJ and Kyle talk about their worship experiences in different churches, finding the sweet spot of worship that is both formative and expressive, and how liturgy can be a fun and helpful tool for growing in our relationship with God. Check it out!

Our first episode! Kyle is joined by Krista Idowu to talk about filmmaking, watching movies as a Christian, and what movies can teach us about entering into the stories of others. ---------------------------------- Krista Idowu is a screenwriter and producer focusing on making content that educates, entertains, and encourages empathy. Krista recently wrote, produced, and directed a heart-provoking, captivating branded content video for The And Campaign which gained over 127,000 views and 1000 shares on Facebook. She was a consultant for the film Legacy Lives On, a Prudential branded documentary that tells the stories of three Black women on their journeys toward creating legacies of financial wellness, which premiered at the American Black Film Festival. Krista desires for the impact of her projects to go deep as she continues to tell emotionally intelligent and heart-provoking stories that lead to tangible, lasting social change. You can follow Krista on Instagram at @theloveactivist or on Twitter at @LoveActivist.

The podcast is releasing its first episode on Tuesday (10/6)! To give you an idea of the structure and setup for the podcast, I decided to create a brief teaser with myself as the guinea pig! I talk about my faith journey and my vision for Orthodoxical. Hope y'all enjoy it! ------------------------------------------------- I'm Kyle Bumgarner, and I recently graduated with my master's in college counseling and student affairs. I'm also a son, brother, friend, wannabe seminarian, adequate basketball player, pop culture aficionado, and follower of Christ. I created Orthodoxical to gather Christians who value good theology as well as serving and loving their neighbors. I'm passionate about equipping ordinary, everyday folks to see and experience the glory of God in every aspect of their lives. I hope this podcast blesses you, and that you are able to see the beauty of the gospel in your life more clearly because of it!

Here's the trailer for the brand new Orthodoxical podcast. Together with our esteemed guests, we'll be asking questions and having conversations about seeking balanced wisdom and integrated faith for the renewal of God's kingdom. Join us and subscribe now!