PODCAST · religion
That Makes Total Sense!
by Alexis Busetti
Welcome to That Makes Total Sense! A podcast about exploring God’s generosity and justice. I’m Alexis Busetti - a Christian aiming to ask good questions and encourage you to do the same.Every one of us is wired by God to live out generosity and justice, but sometimes the how eludes us. That Makes Total Sense! is a way for us to get together, posture ourselves as learners, and challenge one other to practice generosity and justice in a tangible way everyday.
Episodes
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Episode 374 – Chris Hoklotubbe & Danny Zacharias (replay!)
Celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day! This episode with Native theologians, Chris Hoklotubbe and Danny Zacharias was super fun to record. As a bonus, check out the Payton Lectures, where Chris and Danny were the keynote speakers at Fuller Seminary just a few weeks after we spoke. Oh my goodness!...
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Episode 373 – Munther Isaac
It was an honor to host Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac, Palestinian pastor, author, and Director of Bethlehem Institute for Peace & Justice. We spent our time talking about Christian Zionism, a view that is prevalent in many Christian, especially evangelical, circles though many congregants and pastors…
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Episode 372 – Kira Ganga Kieffer
Kira Kieffer (PhD, Boston University) is a scholar of religion and has written a book on the intersection of vaccine hesitancy and religion called Unvaccinated Under God. The book covers my lifespan (so it’s hard for me to call it a history, lol), but it is not just a survey of the past, it is …...
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Episode 371 – Ben Norquist
Ben Norquist and his co-author Brian Miller draw our attention to something we live in everyday, yet most of us hardly think about: place. In Every Somewhere Sacred and this conversation with Ben, we discuss how rootlessness, living everywhere and nowhere at the same time, affects our theology…
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Episode 370 – Sarah Stankorb
Sarah Stankorb is a journalist, and former evangelical, who has her finger on the pulse of women and their relationship with the church in the U.S. In her most recent book, Damned If She Does, Sarah writes about what she discovers from talking to dozens of women about their experiences with…
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Episode 369 – Paul D. Miller (re-release!)
Paul D. Miller is a scholar and professor at Georgetown University. He is a veteran and also served on the National Security Council. As a Christian, and deeply patriotic, Paul’s is a valuable voice on the topic of Christian nationalism. His most recent book, The Religion of American Greatness is...
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Episode 368 – Timothy McMahan King
Timothy McMahan King is a deacon in the Episcopal church who has written on addiction as well as drug use and its historical relationship to spirituality. Hi newest book, What are Drugs For?, covers the latter and is the topic of our conversation in this episode. Tim explores humanity’s...
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Episode 367 – Caryn Broitman
Rabbi Caryn Broitman has an incredible new book out called The Torah is an Open Book in which she shares insights from Jewish interpretations of the Bible and how those interpretive concepts can help broaden how we understand the text. She serves a Reformed congregation in Martha’s Vineyard and…
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Episode 366 – Mary Fontana
Mary Fontana has written a beautiful memoir of sorts, not of a person, but of a place – Annunciation House. The home she writes of in Strangers in the Province of Joy is situated at the U.S.-Mexico border in El Paso, Texas and has provided temporary shelter and care for migrants, most often…
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Episode 365 – Wes Crawford
Long time listeners of the podcast know that topics concerning religion and government come up quite a bit around here, so this episode is in good company! But this conversation with Wes Crawford doesn’t cover Christian Nationalism or politics, we primarily talk about civil religion and you’ll…
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Episode 364 – Rob Dixon
Rob Dixon has long been an ally to women in Christian spaces where patriarchy is often the default. In his recent book, Allies in Ministry, he has written specifically to other men who are exploring their role in supporting the women in their lives as they navigate these spaces that are not…
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Episode 363 – David Dault
It’s hard to describe this amazing conversation with David Dault or the book it was centered around, for that matter, The Accessorized Bible. One of the concepts David brings out, as a professor and someone who thinks about faith and the bible, a lot, is that we often make the bible into…
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Episode 362 – Scot McKnight & Adrienne Gibson
The subject of trauma seems to be everywhere, and while this can be a good thing (it allows us to speak more freely and perhaps, feel more understood), it can also be challenging, especially in Christian communities where the subject has been misunderstood and often hidden (all the while...
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Episode 361 – Natalia Terfa
There is something about Natalia Terfa‘s new book, It All Counts, that feels like coming home to me. It’s probably because, like many of us, for decades, I have been taught that being with God, experiencing the presence of the Holy Spirit, being a Christian must look a certain way. There’s a...
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Episode 360 – Andrew Whitehead (re-release!)
This weekend, our nation turned 250 years old! For many, the celebration was not without complicated feelings. Yes, we are grateful, and we also grieve. So, we thought this would be the perfect time to re-release one of our favorite episodes that speaks to some of those complexities and how we…
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Episode 359 – Scott Bessenecker
Scott Bessenecker has been in Christian ministry for decades which puts him in a unique position to bring a critical eye to the way our religion is practiced. For many, church hurt is recent. It is something we have experienced personally, and for which are seeking healing urgently. Scott…
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Episode 358 – Jon Ward (re-release!)
Producer’s pick! With a fun-filled (and restful) Father’s Day weekend, my husband and producer, Seth, picked one of his favorite episodes to share again! This one with journalist, Jon Ward, is still as relevant today as it was when it originally aired in 2023 (and was the top-listened episode of...
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Episode 357 – Varina Willse
Oh my gosh! I had soooo much fun chatting with Varina for this episode! She wrote a book on prepositions and God, which is just so fabulous. Beneath and Between contains chapters featuring 15 different prepositions and how they can be used to describe our relationship to God. Highlights for me...
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Episode 356 – Tiffany G. Townsend
Talking with psychologist, Dr. Tiffany G. Townsend was truly a joy! One of the reasons I think I enjoyed it so much is because (by my own admission and maybe my husband’s observations, lol!) I can be a bit of a Debbie Downer sometimes. Meaning, when confronted with the realities of the world’s...
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Episode 354 – MaryAnn McKibben Dana
MaryAnn McKibben Dana gave me words, in this conversation and her new book Better Than Normal, that I have been searching for. When questions arise like – What makes this the standard? or How can I fit in here (or is that even necessary)? we sometimes don’t realize that we are actually…
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Episode 354 – Rose Marie Berger
Editor of Sojourners magazine, Rose Marie Berger, sat down with me to talk about the magazine’s recent edited volume, Light for the Way (which is phenomenal, by the way!). This collection is compiled from essays published in the magazine over the decades and yet, it is amazing how many of them…
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Episode 353 – Adriel Booker
I’m already intrigued by anyone who has a skydiving story (that will *never* be me!), and Adriel Booker’s is (literally) one for the books! She opens her fabulous volume, Tethered to Hope with a story of jumping from a plane, secured to an instructor in her early twenties and the harrowing…
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Episode 352 – Aimee Byrd (re-release!)
This conversation with Aimee Byrd was personal and powerful for me. Even though it has not been easy, I am so grateful to Aimee for sharing her story of the abuse she suffered in the church circles she was a part of. Her newest book, Saving Face, is a beautiful reflection not only on what has...
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Episode 315 – Amar Peterman
Have you ever heard a phrase that sticks with you? So much so, that you find yourself turning it over again and again in your mind, discovering its relevance to new situations in your life? Sometimes those brief sentences can have massive impact on how we think and interact with the world. Well,...
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Episode 350 – Jared Stacy
Author and scholar Jared Stacy joins me for this episode to talk about conspiracism and evangelicalism in the United States. Many of us have probably noticed that these two seem to walk hand in hand, but have we stopped to ask ourselves how they are connected and in what ways that connection…
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Episode 349 – Kelly Flanagan
Third time’s a charm with psychologist, Dr. Kelly Flanagan! (Though the first two recordings with Kelly were amazing as well!) His newest book, The Road Less Triggered, is phenomenal. We talked a lot about how to have the posture of an open heart, especially at moments when we’re so tempted to...
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Episode 348 – L. Daniel Hawk
Growing up in Oklahoma (read 12 years of public school history classes), you’d think I would have taken in droves of information about our nation’s history with Indigenous peoples. After all, Oklahoma has one of the highest populations of Native Americans in the U.S. and, if you understand some…
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Episode 347 – Amy Peeler (re-release!)
Happy Easter! I hope you had a wonderful holiday weekend with you and yours. Since we took some time to rest and celebrate (new episode coming next week!), we thought we’d share this favorite again. Enjoy! To say I enjoyed this conversation *and the book it was centered on* is an understatement!...
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Episode 346 – Sara Billups
What a joy it is to welcome Sara Billups back to the podcast! We talked about a subject that is or has been near to each of us – anxiety. Sara has written a book that brings in her experiences with anxiety, as well as many of those of her family, and how they connect … Continue reading Episode…
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Episode 345 – Kristen Lee
Kristen Lee‘s voice is such a gift! She an incredibly gifted author (and physician! – which we totally didn’t even touch on in this conversation), and I am so thrilled she has chosen to bring her experiences and research to us through her text, We Mend with Gold. She has written the book she…
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Episode 344 – Laura Baghdassarian Murray
Talking with Laura Baghdassarian Murray was truly a delight! Even though the subject of this episode is hospitality, which is a topic that’s super familiar to me, our conversation took us through some territory that was a bit unexpected for me (that happens often when I talk to a spiritual...
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Episode 343 – Amy-Jill Levine (re-release!)
This was one of my absolute favorite conversations! I am so thrilled to be able to share it – again! Dr. Amy-Jill Levine is a professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies at Vanderbilt University. AJ is a Jewish scholar and has written extensively on the New Testament and on Jesus. Her most…
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Episode 342 – Jenn Suen Chen
Jenn Suen Chen‘s story is so very different from mine and also holds many similarities. Her new book, Dim Sum and Faith, is one to slow down with, letting the words and ideas simmer like a wonderfully rich broth (one that can also bring some healing with its warmth). She shares about her...
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Episode 341 – Tatum Tricarico
Tatum Tricarico‘s book, Blessed is the Body, is an amazing devotional! I read it almost every morning (sipping my coffee with my beagle curled up beside me) preparing for this interview. Not only did I learn a ton, but I also connected with God in super meaningful and surprising ways. In this...
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Episode 340 – Chris Hoklotubbe & Danny Zacharias
Oh my goodness! Chris and Danny were such a joy to read – and even more so to speak with! We covered super important topics like Chris’s drum circle debacle (supposedly available online somewhere), the Truth and Reconciliation Committee in Canada (and what we can learn from the process of our...
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Episode 339 – Christine Jeske
Sitting down with author and anthropology professor Christine Jeske was a joy! We talked about her newest book, Racial Justice for the Long Haul, which is all about why white Christians (the small number of them who do) participate in racial justice work and how they stay committed. For this…
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Episode 338 – Terence Lester
I am so thrilled to welcome *back* to the podcast, Dr. Terence Lester! (In case you missed his other appearances, they’re here, here, and here – with his daughter, and co-author, Zion!) During this conversation, we discuss race-based educational injustices in the U.S., along with Terence’s own...
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Ep. 337 – Chanté Griffin
For Christians, the topic of loving our neighbors is a familiar one. Many times, at least for me, the phrase is *so* familiar that it sometimes becomes difficult to effectively pause, reflect, and investigate what it actually requires from us in real life. Chanté Griffin brings her unique...
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Episode 336 – Malcolm Foley (re-release!)
Producer’s Pick! For MLK Jr. Day, I asked my husband and producer, Seth, to choose an episode he wanted to re-release and without hesitation, he said, “What about Malcolm’s most recent one?!” Done and done! Here ya go! That Makes Total Sense! regular, the Rev. Dr. Malcolm Foley, is back on the...
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Episode 335 – Dorothy Greco
I am truly grateful for the work of Dorothy Greco. Her most recent book, For the Love of Women tackles several areas where misogyny has, and continues to have, great impacts. Trained and having worked as both a journalist and a pastor, she brings a unique perspective to patriarchy and misogyny…
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Episode 334 – Kat Armas
I am embarrassed to admit how recently I started to realize the effects of empire on my life. It probably wasn’t until I entered seminary that vocabulary like empire or colonialism entered my everyday consciousness, and even when it did, reckoning with it is something that still evades me most...
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Episode 333 – Zach Lambert (re-play!)
Producer’s pick! We’re all still recovering from holiday fun this week, so I asked my sweet husband and producer to choose an episode he wanted to re-release and he picked this favorite with Zach Lambert. Enjoy! And happy week between Christmas and New Year’s! This conversation with fellow(?)…
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Episode 332 – The Disruptive Birth
The birth of Jesus was, and is, disruptive to our lives. Though, with all the familiarity surrounding Christmas, sometimes it’s hard to remember how true that is. Listen along for a short, Christmas week reflection from That Makes Total Sense! host, Alexis Busetti, as she discusses how the...
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Episode 331 – Scott Erickson (re-play!)
This one is becoming an annual favorite! Just this week, a friend texted asking for the name of this book – the one I gifted to about a dozen of my girlfriends the year it was released. Each year, Scott Erickson helps bring the season a little closer to home with the ideas heard in … Continue...
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Episode 330 – Kelley Nikondeha (re-release!)
This advent book (and conversation!) is not just for the Christmas season. I promise you will be blessed by Kelley Nikondeha‘s words all year long (including in our recent conversation on Jubilee)! Her new book, The First Advent in Palestine tells of some of the forgotten stories surrounding…
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Episode 329 – Collin Cornell
My friend, Collin Cornell, is back! And, I have been *waiting* for this conversation (okay, in some ways, I’ve been waiting, and in some ways, it’s been ongoing). Collin has finished his newest book, God Draws Near, and it is a game-changer; I’m so thrilled he’s here to talk with me about it!…
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Episode 328 – Lisa Colón DeLay
Lisa Colón DeLay and I had so much fun talking all about the desert elders! (I admit, there was a time when that sentence wouldn’t have made sense to me, but today, I am all about learning more from our fore parents in the faith.) Even though our world and our lives look very different, ……
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Episode 327 – Amy Peeler
To say I enjoyed this conversation *and the book it was centered on* is an understatement! Dr. Amy Peeler, professor, author, and pastor, shares insight from her years of research culminating in her incredible book, Women and the Gender of God. In this episode, we explore God as Father, but not...
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Ep. 326 – Claude Atcho
As I type this, it almost feels like fall in the hill country of Texas (and I hear it’s gonna stay that way for about 48 hours, lol!). The cooler weather and the wind, as temporary as they may be, remind me of seasonal changes, and it makes me glad. The chill in the air … Continue reading Ep. 326…
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Episode 325 – David Swanson (re-release!)
One of my favorite podcast guests is back to talk about his new book! David Swanson’s Plundered is absolutely beautiful. In it, he explores the history of environmental and racial injustice in the U.S. and how they are intertwined. He also shares some of his own personal and communal journey,...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Welcome to That Makes Total Sense! A podcast about exploring God’s generosity and justice. I’m Alexis Busetti - a Christian aiming to ask good questions and encourage you to do the same.Every one of us is wired by God to live out generosity and justice, but sometimes the how eludes us. That Makes Total Sense! is a way for us to get together, posture ourselves as learners, and challenge one other to practice generosity and justice in a tangible way everyday.
HOSTED BY
Alexis Busetti
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does That Makes Total Sense! have?
That Makes Total Sense! currently has 199 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is That Makes Total Sense! about?
Welcome to That Makes Total Sense! A podcast about exploring God’s generosity and justice. I’m Alexis Busetti - a Christian aiming to ask good questions and encourage you to do the same.Every one of us is wired by God to live out generosity and justice, but sometimes the how eludes us. That Makes...
How often does That Makes Total Sense! release new episodes?
That Makes Total Sense! publishes regularly with 199 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to That Makes Total Sense!?
You can listen to That Makes Total Sense! on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts That Makes Total Sense!?
That Makes Total Sense! is created and hosted by Alexis Busetti.
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