Gravity Leadership Podcast

White boys and men are dangerous, AND white boys and men are struggling. By far, most large-scale mass shooters are white men, AND white men also die by suicide more often than any other demographic. We talked about this issue with journalist, mother, and pastor Angela Denker, who wrote Disciples of White Jesus: The Radicalization of American Boyhood, a sensitive, searing, and unsparing look at the rise in radicalization among young white men in America, especially focused on the role of right-wing Christianity in the increase of religious-based hatred and violence.Rev. Angela Denker is a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and a veteran journalist. Her first book, Red State Christians, was the silver winner in political and social sciences for the 2019 Foreword Indies Book of the Year awards. She is a columnist for the Minnesota Star Tribune and has written for many publications, including Sports Illustrated, the Washington Post, and Fortune magazine. She has also appeared on CNN, BBC, SkyNe

We talked with author and essayist Philip Christman about how, if we take the Sermon on the Mount seriously as a call to solidarity, being a Christian and being a leftist go hand-in-hand. In his book Why Christians Should Be Leftists, Christman asks believers who are already uncomfortable with how political leaders on the right leverage sexism, racism, and homophobia to take a fresh look at their own politics and "keep going" to apply their moral discernment to capitalism as they seek to follow Jesus in the 21st century.Philip Christman teaches first-year English at the University of Michigan. He is the author of Why Christians Should Be Leftists, Midwest Futures, and How to Be Normal, as well as many reviews and essays. He writes a weekly newsletter at philipchristman.substack.com.Connect with Gravity Commons:Leave us a message or ask a question about this or any other episode and we'll answer it on a future episode.Join the Gravity Community to interact with other listeners, and get our list of

We talked with Dr. Paul T. Sloan about a common misunderstanding about how Jesus related to the Law of Moses - namely that the Law is bad and Jesus comes to save us from it. Instead, Sloan argues that Jesus was announcing a restoration of the covenant, not its nullification. His book is Jesus and the Law of Moses.Paul T. Sloan is Associate Professor of Early Christianity at Houston Christian University in Houston, TX. He is the author of Mark 13 and the Return of the Shepherd and the coeditor of several books, including Son of God: Divine Sonship in Jewish and Christian Antiquity. Paul joins us today to talk about Jesus and the Law of Moses: The Gospels and the Restoration of Israel within First Century Judaism. Connect with Gravity Commons:Leave us a message or ask a question about this or any other episode and we'll answer it on a future episode.Join the Gravity Community to interact with other listeners, and get our list of curated links each week to all things edifying and interesting.Are you interest

We talked with Liz Theoharis and Charon Hribar about how prayers, rituals, and liturgies help to sustain movements for social change. Their book We Pray Freedom is full of prayers, resources, and stories that grew out of communities committed to abolishing poverty.Dr. Charon Hribar (Cha-Ron Reebar) is a visionary leader, musician, and scholar. She serves as the Director of Cultural Strategies for the Kairos Center and Co-Director of Theomusicology and Movement Arts for the Poor People's Campaign. With over two decades of experience, she empowers leaders and integrates rituals and arts into organizing efforts.Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis is the Executive Director of the Kairos Center for Religion, Rights and Social Justice and co-chair of the Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival. She teaches at educational institutions across the country, including Union Theological Seminary in New York City, Episcopal Divinity School in Austin, Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and more.SHOW NOTES:We m

We talked with theologian Hanna Reichel about their book For Such a Time as This: An Emergency Devotional, which is a guide for ordinary Christians seeking to live faithfully in our era of political polarization, eroding democratic norms, and rising authoritarianism. It is a timely resource for believers seeking spiritual grounding amid societal upheaval.Hanna Reichel is Charles Hodge Professor of Systematic Theology at Princeton Theological Seminary. Raised an ecumenical Lutheran, Reichel serves as a ruling Elder in the PC(USA) and on the Theology Working Group of the World Communion of Reformed Churches. Their work has won academic honors, including the Lautenschläger Award for Theological Promise and the Ernst Wolf award.Connect with Gravity Commons:Leave us a message or ask a question about this or any other episode and we'll answer it on a future episode.Join the Gravity Community to interact with other listeners, and get our list of curated links each week to all things edifying and interesting.Are

We talked (again!) with psychologist Hillary McBride, this time about religious trauma, spiritual abuse, and how faith-based wounds can leave lasting scars that impact every aspect of our lives. In her new book Holy Hurt: Understanding Spiritual Trauma and the Process of Healing, McBride delivers a profound message: spiritual trauma is real, widespread, and has far-reaching consequences. More importantly, she provides hope and practical guidance for those seeking healing from religious trauma and spiritual abuse. You can connect with Hillary and her work on her website hillarylmcbride.com.Hillary McBride has a PhD from the University of British Columbia and is a registered psychologist and award-winning researcher who has hosted Other People's Problems and Holy/Hurt podcasts. She has a private practice in Victoria, BC and is the author of The Wisdom of Your Body, Practices for Embodied Living, and Mothers, Daughters, and Body Image. Her work has been recognized by the American Psychological Association an

We talked with author Michelle Van Loon about why evangelical Christianity needs to shed the baggage that gets in the way of authentic faith. Her book Downsizing: Letting Go of Evangelicalism's Nonessentials encourages readers to reflect on their own experience with evangelicalism, evaluate the movement's legacy, and participate in shaping its future. You can connect with Michelle and her work at michellevanloon.comMichelle Van Loon has been a regular contributor to Christianity Today and In Touch Magazine. Her previous books include Becoming Sage: Cultivating Meaning, Purpose, and Spirituality in Midlife; Moments and Days: How our Holy Celebrations Shape our Faith; and If Only: Letting Go of Regret, which won an award of merit in the 2015 Christianity Today Book of the Year awards. Connect with Gravity Commons:Leave us a message or ask a question about this or any other episode and we'll answer it on a future episode.Join the Gravity Community to interact with other listeners, and get our list o

We talked with Episcopal priest Ben Wyatt about his book Christ and the Council: Conflict, Politics, Theology, and the Outrageous, Extraordinary Story of the Church's First Creed, which is about the complex story of how the Nicene Creed came to be, how Christians decide what is true, and what it can teach us about today's church conflicts.Ben Wyatt is an Episcopal priest, psychotherapy resident, and author. He is the writer and host of the podcasts The Road to Nicea and In Simeon's Wake, which explore the world of ancient Christianity in fresh, accessible language. He holds an M.Div. and S.T.M. from Yale Divinity School, as well as an MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Christian Theological Seminary. He is an excellent napper, a mediocre hiker, and an avid gamer.Connect with Gravity Commons:Leave us a message or ask a question about this or any other episode and we'll answer it on a future episode.Join the Gravity Community to interact with other listeners, and get our list of curat

As a pastor's wife for twenty-five years, Beth Allison Barr has lived with assumptions about what she should do and who she should be. We talked with her about her book Becoming the Pastor's Wife: How Marriage Replaced Ordination as a Woman's Path to Ministry, where she draws on that experience and her academic expertise to trace the history of the role of the pastor's wife, showing how it both helped and hurt women in conservative Protestant traditions. While they gained an important leadership role, it came at a deep cost: losing independent church leadership opportunities that existed throughout most of church history and strengthening a gender hierarchy that prioritized male careers.Beth Allison Barr is the James Vardman Endowed Chair of History at Baylor University in Waco, TX, where she specializes in medieval history, women's history, and church history. She is the author of the USA Today bestseller, The Making of Biblical Womanhood, and her work has been featured by NPR and the New

We talked with Licensed Clinical Social Worker Will Harrison, Jr. about living with Moebius Syndrome, a rare disability that affects his facial expressions and speech, and about what he has learned at the intersection of disability, faith, and deconstruction. Will reflects on his upbringing in a Southern Baptist church, the challenges he faced in pursuing a career in youth ministry, and his eventual transition to social work. Will discusses the stark differences in how his disability was perceived in the church compared to the secular world, and how his faith journey has evolved. He emphasizes the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in both church and community settings and the transformative power of relationships across differences.Will Harrison, Jr. is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. He is married with six kids. He enjoys hiking, reading, and coffee. Over the past few years Will has been working through what it looks like to be post-evangelical, navigating faith and reality.Connect with

We talked with author and activist Regina Cates about how to have brave and thoughtful conversations about difficult topics like sexual abuse, racism, religious and political corruption, abortion, and sexual orientation. Her book The Real Conversation Jesus Wants Us to Have is part memoir, part social commentary, and part call to action, and it invites all people of good faith to more fully embody Jesus's message by taking up his call to love our neighbors as ourselves. Regina V. Cates is an author, activist, podcaster, and founder of "Romancing Your Soul," an organization that helps people develop lives of love, compassion, and purpose. Her first internationally bestselling book, Lead with Your Heart, continues to be an inspiration to people who desire a more fulfilled life. You can connect with Regina at her website, reginavcates.com.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/gravity-leadership-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https:

We talked with pastor and author Isaac Villegas about his on-the-ground justice activism for immigrants. His book Migrant God: A Christian Vision for Immigrant Justice cuts a new path through worn-out talking points and bears witness to loving solidarity among Christians--both with and without US citizenship--and offers a theologically astute and politically rich vision of beloved community. You can connect with Isaac and his work on his website isaacvillegas.com.Isaac Samuel Villegas served as the pastor of Chapel Hill Mennonite Fellowship for sixteen years and served on the governing board of the NC Council of Churches for over a decade. He writes regularly as a columnist for The Christian Century and Anabaptist World magazines, and his writing has also appeared in many other publications including Commonweal, Sojourners, and Faith & Leadership. Connect with Gravity Commons:Leave us a message or ask a question about this or any other episode and we'll answer it on a future episode.Join the Gravity

Marc Alan Schelske joins us once again to talk (once again) about journaling: what it is, why it works, and how to do it in a way that facilitates spiritual growth. Marc also shared personally and vulnerably about his own spiritual journey. No matter what your history is with journaling, Marc's method (outlined in his recently re-released book Journaling for Spiritual Growth: Six Weeks to Build a Habit that Fosters Spiritual and Emotional Maturity) is eminently practical and powerfully effective for fostering spiritual formation.Marc Alan Schelske is a thinker and speaker who has served as a full-time pastor since 1995 and is currently the teaching elder of Bridge City Community Church in Portland, Oregon. He also hosts The Apprenticeship Way podcast and is the author of The Wisdom of Your Heart and Discovering Your Authentic Core Values, as well as the book we're talking about today: Journaling for Spiritual Growth. "In my writing, I focus on what it takes to nurture a healthy inner life, somethi

We talked with Presbyterian minister and author Benjamin Perry about what happens to us when we cry... and when we don't. Weeping often opens a door to connection and transformation, but many of us have been taught to suppress our emotions and hide our tears. Benjamin's book Learning to Cry: Why Our Tears Matter is the result of an experiment he undertook: to cry every day.Benjamin Perry is a Presbyterian minister and an award-winning writer whose work has appeared in outlets like The Washington Post, Slate, Sojouners, and Bustle. With a degree in psychology from SUNY Geneseo and an MDiv from Union Theological Seminary, Perry has worked as an organizer with the New York chapter of the Poor People's Campaign and as an editor at Time, Inc. Perry has appeared on MSNBC, Al Jazeera, and NY1, and is the editor of the Queer Faith photojournalism series. He and his spouse, Erin Mayer, live in Maine.Connect with Gravity Commons:Leave us a message or ask a question about this or any other episode and we'

In this episode of the Gravity Commons podcast, we explore the complexities of anger as an emotion, discussing its role in personal relationships, power dynamics, and social justice. We reflect on personal experiences with anger, the importance of navigating it with compassion, and the implications of policing anger in various contexts. Our conversation also touches on the privilege of being able to disengage from anger and the necessity of understanding its roots in injustice.Connect with Gravity Commons:Leave us a message or ask a question about this or any other episode and we'll answer it on a future episode.Join the Gravity Community to interact with other listeners, and get our list of curated links each week to all things edifying and interesting.Are you interested in advertising on the Gravity Podcast? Contact us at podcast@gravitycommons.com.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/gravity-leadership-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out:

We talked with Rick Pidcock about the role of anger in an allegation of abuse he wrote about in a progressive Christian organization, the need for self-awareness and humility, how social location affects how anger works, and the need to reform harmful hierarchies.Rick Pidcock writes for Baptist News Global. He has a master of arts degree in worship from Northern Seminary. He is also the host of the Baptist News Global podcast “Highest Power: Church + State.” And he is a stay-at-home dad.Links to resources mentioned in this episode:"Allegations against Tim Whitaker and The New Evangelicals show how hierarchy transfers to progressive ministries" by Rick Pidcock "That time I got an angry call from the subject of an article about anger and abuse" by Rick Pidcock"Comment from BNG’s editor on our coverage of The New Evangelicals" by Mark WingfieldTNE Reckoning, a site advocating for accountability, where you can download the full GRACE report.Exiles in Christendom - Rick's Substack newsl

Anger is a wily beast: easily misused, often harmful, yet also sometimes holy and good. Over the coming weeks, we'll be examining anger and the cost and benefits of being more acquainted with our anger and the anger in the world. In this episode, Christy Penley talks us through how anger could be a flag that's waving itself as an opportunity to grow in greater intimacy with God. Dr. Christy Penley is married to her husband Paul, a mom of 6, and pastor at Pulpit Rock Church in Colorado. She has spent her professional career teaching the Bible to kids, students and adults, and recently received a DMin from Denver Seminary. Christy is a facilitator for Gravity's Formation Course and offers one-on-one coaching for both pastors and lay people.Connect with Gravity Commons:Leave us a message or ask a question about this or any other episode and we'll answer it on a future episode.Join the Gravity Community to interact with other listeners, and get our list of curated links each week to all things edi

We talked with Dr. Paul Penley (yes, Christy's husband!) about how we often misunderstand what Jesus meant because we don't realize that he was participating in and responding to ancient conversations we don't have immediate access to. Paul's book What Jesus Meant: How Ancient Conversations Redefine Jesus’ Message helps us understand that Jesus was not just making points; he was making counterpoints, and this makes all the difference for how we interpret his words.Dr. Paul Penley is a New Testament scholar and former Bible professor at the college and seminary level. Paul writes books to share academic research insights which redefine our understanding of the Bible, but normally get lost in technical journals at graduate libraries. He loves seeing readers freed from the misdirection and disillusionment caused by bad Bible interpretation. Dr. Penley studied Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic on his journey to better understanding Scripture in undergraduate and post-graduate degrees. He studied biblical

Many of us embarked on our spiritual journeys filled with hope and certainty, only to find ourselves questioning the very foundation of our beliefs as life unfolded. The faith that once seemed unshakeable may falter in the face of broken trust, unanswered prayers, and the harsh realities of worldly suffering. But Catherine McNiel and Jason Hague - authors of Mid-Faith Crisis: Finding a Path Through Doubt, Disillusionment, and Dead Ends - help us understand that we're not alone in this experience. Mid-faith crises are a shared human experience that can feel isolating yet are a crucial part of our spiritual journey.Catherine McNiel is a chaplain, author, editor, and speaker. She lives in the Chicagoland area with her husband, three children, and one enormous garden. Her previous books include Fearing Bravely, All Shall Be Well, and Long Days of Small Things, which was an ECPA finalist for New Author.Jason Hague is the associate pastor of Christ's Center Church near Eugene, Oregon, and the author of Achi

We talked with theologian, writer, and ordained priest Shannon Kearns about his new book, No One Taught Me How to be A Man: What a Trans Man's Experience Reveals About Masculinity.Shannon T.L. Kearns is a transgender man who believes in the transformative power of story. He is an ordained priest, writer, and theologian whose work revolves around making meaning. He is also a sought-after speaker on transgender issues and religion, as well as a skilled workshop facilitator. Kearns' work with Brian G. Murphy at QueerTheology.com, which he co-founded, has reached more than a million people all over the world through videos, articles, and online courses. Connect with Gravity Commons:Leave us a message or ask a question about this or any other episode and we'll answer it on a future episode.Join the Gravity Community to interact with other listeners, and get our list of curated links each week to all things edifying and interesting.Are you interested in advertising on the Gravity Podcast? Contact us at