When Christian Labels Don't Fit - Kate Boyd, Tiffany Yecke Brooks, and Loren Richmond Jr.

On this episode of Christianity Without Compromise, originally recorded live, Kate Boyd (author and founder of The Remember Table), Tiffany Yecke Brooks (author and professor) and Loren Richmond Jr (podcaster and hospital chaplain) join host Jake Doberenz for a discussion on labels, identity, and faith.In this episode, Kate Boyd reflects on how labels both comfort and constrain, often shaping faith more through expectation than transformation. Tiffany Yecke Brooks explores how the word “Christian” has become so loaded that it distorts belief and can shut down meaningful conversation before it begins. Loren Richmond Jr. traces the shift from institutional identity to personal authenticity, showing how many believers now resist labels to avoid performative faith.Together, they offer practical clarity for navigating faith without rigid labels, helping listeners build a more grounded, authentic Christian identity that prioritizes spiritual growth over cultural expectations.Resources Mentioned:Kate Boyd’s book Untidy Faith: Journeying Back to the Joy of the Following JesusTiffany Yecke Brooks’ book To Rebehold the Stars: Reimagining Faith and Formation After DeconstructionGuest Bios:Kate Boyd is an author, speaker, and founder of The Remember Table, a space for those exploring faith outside traditional church structures. Her podcast and Substack is called Untidy Faith (after her book Untidy Faith) , where she helps readers navigate the “messy middle” of belief.Tiffany Yecke Brooks is an author, writing professor, and spiritual formation scholar who focuses on deconstruction, language, and rebuilding faith. She writes for the Substack The Lēros Project. Her most recent book is To Rebehold the Stars.Loren Richmond Jr is a pastor, podcaster and hospital chaplain. He is the host of the Future Christian podcast and writes at The Church Nerd Substack. Jake Doberenz is the host of Christianity Without Compromise podcast, writer of the weekly newsletter Smashing Idols, and founder of the podcast production company Theophany Media. Follow this show and Jake Doberenz’s writings at jakedoberenz.substack.com.