Faith and Feminism

What if art isn't an elite luxury, but an act of divine care? In this episode, author and Juilliard-trained musician Dr. Merideth Hite Estevez joins us to discuss her book, Art Is How God Loves Us. We explore how breaking free from perfectionism, embracing everyday beauty, and viewing ourselves as "works in progress" can dismantle spiritual shame and reconnect us to a liberating God.

For generations, women in the church have been conditioned to mistrust their bodies, silence their voices, and view God almost exclusively through a patriarchal lens. Today on Faith and Feminism, Chelsea Kim Long breaks down what it means to be a "faithfully dissident daughter." Chelsea shares her personal journey through theology, motherhood, and contemplative wisdom, shedding light on how patriarchal structures harm both women and the church at large. We discuss practical ways to unlearn harmful doctrines, reconnect with sacred bodily wisdom, and cultivate a spiritual practice rooted in justice and wholeness.

Have you ever been told your workplace is "like a family"? In this episode, sociologist Dr. Sarah Mosseri joins us to discuss her book, Trust Fall: How Workplace Relationships Fail Us. She exposes how employers leverage emotional intimacy and relational trust to mask systemic inequity, burnout, and lack of real safety nets—a trap that disproportionately impacts women and marginalized workers performing heavy emotional labor.

: From targeted social media marketing to the isolation of modern motherhood, Christian women are constantly told that a glass of wine is the ultimate reward for surviving the day. But what happens when a culturally normalized coping mechanism turns into a silent dependency? This week on Faith and Feminism, we sit down with journalist and author Ericka Andersen to discuss her groundbreaking new book, Freely Sober: Rethinking Alcohol Through the Lens of Faith. Together, we tear down the "Mommy Wine Culture" narrative and look at the structural pressures that cause so many women to over-function and self-medicate. Ericka shares her own journey into sobriety and invites us into a space free of legalism, labels, and shame. Whether you are entirely sober, completely "sober-curious," or simply trying to navigate gray-area drinking, this episode offers a refreshing, compassionate look at how true autonomy and spiritual renewal go hand in hand.

In today's episode with Elizabeth Begret, we discuss how God is like a mother and how that has been overlooked for centuries. We go into the numerous instance of the mothering God and talk about the consequences of a religion where Mother God has been left out.

We've been told that if we just "think positive" or "heal enough," our suffering will disappear. K.J. Ramsey is here to tell a different story. As a licensed counselor and chronic illness survivor, K.J. joins the show to talk about her new book and why she's done with easy answers. We dive into "holy rage," the reality of medical gaslighting, and why joy is actually more trustworthy than our trauma. This is a conversation for anyone tired of being told to "look on the bright side" while they're walking through the dark.  

Welcome to Remedial Theology: Mattie Mae and Meghan Take TheoBros Back 2 School. The TheoBros have been loud, confident, and very wrong—and Mattie Mae and Meghan are handing out syllabi. In this episode, we take on Joby, who argues that the Bible warns against nagging wives, but gets several concepts very wrong. Class is in session. Egos will be bruised. Homework is mandatory.

Parenting was never meant to feel like a constant battlefield. If you've ever found yourself caught in a cycle of yelling, power struggles, and late-night guilt—wondering why the "hand-me-down" parenting tactics of the past aren't working—this conversation is the "exhale" you've been looking for. In this episode, we sit down with Wendy Snyder, founder of Fresh Start Family and author of the highly anticipated new book, Fresh Start Your Family: Powerful Parenting to Restore Peace in Your Home. Wendy joins us to discuss how we can move away from fear-based, patriarchal control models and toward a family culture rooted in mutual respect, emotional safety, and deep connection

Inclusion is not the same thing as equity. Today on the show, sociologist Dr. Angela Simms exposes the "hidden tax" on Black excellence. We're diving into the reality of Prince George's County—where Black families have the income, but the government keeps the investment. Dr. Simms shares the jarring truth about why moving "up" doesn't always mean moving "away" from systemic harm.

Welcome to Remedial Theology: Mattie Mae and Meghan Take TheoBros Back 2 School. The TheoBros have been loud, confident, and very wrong—and Mattie Mae, Meghan, and special guest Alexiana are handing out syllabi. In this episode, we take on Mark, who argues that Esther was simply respecting her husband when she saved a nation. Class is in session. Egos will be bruised. Homework is mandatory.

"We were told that if we pulled on one thread, the whole tapestry would unravel. So we pulled. And it did. Now we're standing in a pile of yarn, wondering if there's anything left worth saving. Today, Dr. Tiffany Yecke Brooks joins the show to talk about her new book, To Rebehold the Stars. We're moving past the 'angry' phase of deconstruction and into the radical act of reimagining. We talk about the religious language that was used to keep us small, why 'traditional' formation feels like a trap, and how to find a spirituality that actually breathes. If you're tired of being told you're 'lost' just because you left the building, this episode is your roadmap to the stars."

This week on Faith and Feminism, we're digging into the fractures of the American Church with Dr. Jared Stacy, author of Reality in Ruins. We explore the "Gospel of Paranoia"—a theological and social pipeline that has turned pews into echo chambers and replaced the pursuit of truth with a obsession for "hidden" knowledge. Jared breaks down why American Evangelicalism was the perfect breeding ground for modern conspiracy theories and how these "holy" suspicions are used to protect patriarchal power structures and nationalist identities.

What if the "fall of man" was actually woman's first act of courage? Join us as we talk with B.K. O'Connor, author of Eve, about her bold feminist reimagining of the world's first woman as a heroine of curiosity rather than a scapegoat for sin. We explore how reclaiming Eve's agency can transform our understanding of faith, knowledge, and the power of choosing the unknown.  

Welcome to Remedial Theology: Mattie Mae and Meghan Take TheoBros Back 2 School. The TheoBros have been loud, confident, and very wrong—and Mattie Mae and Meghan are handing out syllabi. In this episode, we take on Mark, who argues that socialism is "anti-God" with extremely thin scriptural grounding. Class is in session. Egos will be bruised. Homework is mandatory.

What happens when a marriage isn't a partnership, but a proving ground for patriarchal power? In this episode, mental health professional Bethany Jantzi (Free From Control) joins us to expose a dark reality within high-control religious circles: the idea that a wife is a "training ground" for a man's leadership. We discuss how the domestic sphere is often used as a laboratory for men to practice "authority" and "dominion," effectively turning women's lives into stepping stones for male ego and spiritual status. We explore the psychological toll of being a "helpmate" used for a man's development, and how to break free from the cycle of religious grooming.  

Welcome to Remedial Theology: Mattie Mae and Meghan Take TheoBros Back 2 School. The TheoBros have been loud, confident, and very wrong—and Mattie Mae and Meghan are handing out syllabi. In this episode, we take on Josh, who argues that Paul is the most "gender-based guy ever" (whatever that means) and tries to make the point that naturally women should stay home and men should provide. Spoiler: the theology and science doesn't hold up. Class is in session. Egos will be bruised. Homework is mandatory.

In this episode, we sit down with author Amanda McCracken to explore the "purity to limerence pipeline"—where religious expectations of "the one" collide with the addictive rush of romantic obsession. We discuss how waiting for a soulmate can inadvertently prime us for a life of chronic longing rather than real connection. Join us as we deconstruct the spiritual and feminist implications of choosing fantasy over the grounded, messy reality of being known.

Today's episode with Halley Kim explores the intersection of birth, power, and the Divine. Moving away from the "God in control" narrative, we dive into feminist theology, spiritual trauma, and the midwifery model of "power with." It's time to stop waiting to be saved and start realizing that the power to bring forth new life—and a new world—has been within us all along.

Welcome to Remedial Theology: Mattie Mae and Meghan Take TheoBros Back 2 School. The TheoBros have been loud, confident, and very wrong—and Mattie Mae and Meghan are handing out syllabi. In this episode, we take on Dale, who argues that women shouldn't vote and tries to use the Bible to defend his position. Spoiler: the theology doesn't hold up. Class is in session. Egos will be bruised. Homework is mandatory.

Wellness, faith, and "just asking questions" have become gateways to extremism. In this episode, The Conspiracists author Noelle Cook breaks down why some women are being radicalized in plain sight—and why shame, facts, and debunking keep failing.

In this episode, I interview Katherine Douglass and Brittany Tausen of Love Your Neighbor about how psychology helps explain why so many churches struggle with empathy, accountability, and actual love—especially in times of political polarization and social harm. We talk about trauma, reactivity, power, and why unexamined theology often protects institutions instead of people.

In this episode, we speak with Sara Billups the author of Nervous Systems about anxiety as an embodied, collective experience shaping our bodies, churches, and politics. We explore spiritual and somatic practices that calm chronic stress and help us move toward grounded, compassionate, and faithful engagement with the world.

Explore a deep dive into adoption fraud and human trafficking with whistleblower Lauren Farrell. Learn how to identify red flags in nonprofits and churches, and understand the intersection of faith, exploitation, and the fight for justice.

Content warning: discussion of suicide  Rhonda Mawhood Lee is a priest, spiritual director, and daughter whose mother died by suicide. She knows about complicated grief. Having grown up in a family haunted by self-inflicted death for multiple generations, Rhonda has asked and re-asked the questions for which there are no easy answers. With clarity and candor, she reflects on the unintended consequences of many traditional Christian teachings around suicide. In search of a better way, Lee turns to the communion of saints—a theologically rich concept that Christians can draw on to reframe their relationships with people who have died by suicide, and with those who are at risk of ending their own lives.

What does it mean to say Jesus was anti-empire—and why does it matter now? Rev. Gerlyn Henry joins us for a powerful conversation about Christ's resistance to oppressive systems, the revolutionary nature of his message, and how the church today can reclaim Jesus's call to disrupt injustice and imagine a new world.

Black mothers carry the sacred work of bringing life into the world, yet they face disproportionate danger in pregnancy and childbirth. In this episode with Cessilye Smith of Abide Women's Health Services, we confront the Black maternal health crisis through a theological lens, naming how racism and medical neglect violate the dignity of those made in God's image. We explore what scripture, justice, and faith demand of us—and how communities can take faithful action to ensure Black mothers and babies can flourish.

GG Renee Hill talks to us about the transformative practice of creative self-discovery through storytelling -- treating our life experiences as creative material that we have the power to shape. 

Grace Hamman explores the surprising spiritual wisdom of medieval Christian women, revealing how figures like Hildegard of Bingen and Catherine of Siena embodied authority, love, and leadership in complex ways often lost to modern history. Drawing on their insights, we reclaim forgotten virtues—seeing love as multifaceted, anger as a tool for justice, sloth as resistance to love, and meekness as the true strength of self-control.

What does true belonging look like when the society you live in is not something you want to "belong" to? In Liturgies for Resisting Empire, Cuban American theologian and writer Kat Armas provides a roadmap for Christians seeking a countercultural way of living that prioritizes community and humanity over dominance and power.

"This is not the first end of the world. Many worlds have ended." In an era of political polarization, eroding democratic norms, and rising authoritarianism, many Christians find themselves disoriented, wondering how their faith should inform myriad daily decisions. Drawing upon both scholarship of Nazi Germany and pastoral wisdom, theologian Hanna Reichel offers a timely resource for believers seeking spiritual grounding amid societal upheaval.

Dorothy Littell Greco talks to us about in-depth research, interviews, biblical concepts, and vulnerable personal experience to explore how misogyny continues to impact six spheres of contemporary culture: healthcare, government, the workplace, media and entertainment, the church, and intimate relationships

Christian parents want to raise godly children, but what happens when popular biblical parenting methods cause more harm than good? The Myth of Good Christian Parenting exposes how the Christian parenting industry has sold families false promises for five decades, leaving a trail of religious trauma, damaged relationships, and lost faith in its wake.

Dr. Zoe Shaw guides us through healing from complex shame.

Joash Thomas and I go way back, nearly a decade, and today he is on the podcast talking to us about his new book "The Justice of Jesus: Reimagining Your Church's Life Together to Pursue Liberation and Wholeness"

On today's podcast with Brian Recker, he shares about his new book Hell Bent (coming out next week) about how a theology of hell has bent Christianity into a religion of fear and control, and how this doesn't come close to what he thinks Christ envisioned for the Church.

What do we learn about white evangelicalism from those raised by its heroes? From historian Holly Berkley Fletcher, herself a missionary kid, comes this first-of-its-kind examination of how the experiences of missionary kids illuminate broader currents in American Christianity.

The Church has long been concerned about the spiritual journey for men, neglecting women and the journey might look for them. Bekah Stewart challenges this longstanding tradition to show the way for women.

In Holy Hurt, award-winning clinical psychologist Hillary L. 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.   note* in this podcast I say Calvin woke his confessor multiple times a night, it was actually Luther, I've updated this in the audio!

Doug Wilson recently made headlines as the man whose church members want to take away women's right to vote, Pete Hegseth goes to his church. But what we know from the brief interview going viral is just the tip of the iceberg. Margaret of Deconstruction Doulas explains why.

Mary Katherine Backstrom talks to us about what happens when we are forced to reconsider the beliefs, assumptions, and stories that have always steered our course. 

What can other-than-human creatures teach us about mothering, belonging, caregiving, loss, and resiliency? Chelsea Steinauer-Scudder answers these questions in a quest to learn how to mother in incredibly challenging times.

Christians are called to care for the vulnerable, but churches have not always led the way in becoming places safe from abuse. Increasingly, organizations and churches are recognizing the importance of the field of safeguarding: training and equipping people to prevent abuse, act when abuse happens, and promote healing for survivors. Taylor Patterson talks to us about how to safeguard the church from abuse and how to heal when it happens.

In the New York Times Bestselling "Becoming the Pastor's Wife", Beth Allison Barr draws on 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.

Leyla King shares her family's story of survival as her ancestors flee war and poverty. From Haifa to Ramallah, Damascus, Beirut, and finally Texas, Leyla makes global politics deeply personal as family squabbles, ambition, mental illness, romance, and religion shape their immigrant journey. 

Jane Clair's journey into advocacy began after losing her son Asa to substance use disorder, which led her to rethink addiction, drug policy, and how we can better support families. She is determined to prevent other families from experiencing the same devastation and is passionate in advocating for approaches to addiction that reduce harm and save lives.

Two of the world's greatest crises, systemic racism and environmental destruction, share the same origin story. The two are rooted in economic forces that exploit and oppress both people and land. Pastor David Swanson shows how we have failed our God-given duty as caretakers of creation and how that failure has resulted in the exploitation of people and the extraction of natural resources.

She was known as a whore and a saint. On today's episode, Amy Frykholm talks to us about the elusive Saint Mary of Egypt, and how she can teach women to reclaim their autonomy today.

Rev. Angela Denker talks to us about 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, and how we can combat it by helping men heal.

Aimee Byrd, author or Recovering From Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, talks to us the trauma she experienced through daring to question evangelical teachings on gender, and how she is healing as she finds a way forward walking in authenticity and integrity.

Dr. Wylin D. Wilson talks to us about the disparity of healthcare when it comes to Black Women's bodies and how womanist theology can show us a way forward.