Skip to content
The Deep Dish podcast artwork

PODCAST · religion

The Deep Dish

by The Gospel Coalition

The Deep Dish is a new podcast from TGC hosted by Melissa Kruger and Courtney Doctor that invites women into deep conversations about the deep truths of God. These discussions (which are always better served up with a slice of deep-dish pizza!) will equip women to engage in richer discipleship relationships in their local contexts. Tune in for warm conversations among friends—including special guests along the way—to dig deeper into God’s Word and explore how it applies to every area of our lives.

Publisher-supplied feed metadata · PodParley refreshed Oct 15, 2026 · Source feed

Episodes

  1. Heaven: Do We Know Enough to Want to Go? (with Randy Alcorn)

    Melissa and Courtney talk with Randy Alcorn about what we can and can’t know about the life to come. They talk about the importance of understanding the new earth and its continuity with this world and they discuss what we know about the state of those who die in Christ before they receive...

  2. The Deep Dish Live: Endurance in the Faith (with Nancy Guthrie and Jen Wilkin)

    In this live recording from TGCW26, Courtney and Melissa talk with Nancy Guthrie and Jen Wilkin about how to persevere in faith for the rest of your life.They make the point that we shouldn’t give up on something just because it is hard, and they discuss how to cling to faith through suffering,...

  3. Why Kids' Books Matter (with Jen Wilkin)

    Melissa and Courtney talk with Jen Wilkin about their mutual love of children’s books and why reading to children can be a key part of discipleship (as well as a delight!). They talk about what books they loved as children as well as the ones they read to their own kids. They consider the…

    more
  4. God-Given Tools for Fighting Anxiety (with Blair Linne)

    Courtney and Melissa talk to Blair Linne about her struggle with anxiety and panic attacks and the tools that have helped her to fight anxiety. They discuss the mind/body/spirit complexities of anxiety, when anxiety becomes sinful, and how to listen with compassion and wisdom to others who are...

  5. Overcoming Fear and Perfectionism in Bible Reading (with Tara Leigh Cobble)

    Courtney and Melissa talk to Tara-Leigh Cobble about how she got over her lack of desire to read the Bible, and how, over time, reading the Bible made her fall in love with its author. They talk about the transformative impact that can come from giving just 20 minutes to Bible reading each day…

    more
  6. The One Where We Offend Everyone

    Courtney and Melissa discuss why Christians should not be quick to take offense and how we should live in a world of people who are. They talk about how to resist a victim mentality by getting your eyes off yourself. They commend overlooking and absorbing offenses when possible. They discuss why…

    more
  7. Union with Christ and Why It Matters (with Rory Shiner and Kyle Worley)

    Courtney Doctor talks with Rory Shiner and Kyle Worley about the difference the doctrine of union with Christ makes in how we understand our relationship to God and how we live our lives day to day. They provide analogies to help us understand this seemingly abstract concept as well as examples…

    more
  8. Self-Care vs. Self-Sacrifice

    Courtney and Melissa discuss how to apply biblical discernment to the question of when to prioritize wise self-care and when to put aside your needs for the sake of others. They emphasize the need to know yourself and whether you naturally tend to protect yourself or to allow your own needs to go...

  9. Passing Our Faith to the Next Generation (with Laura Wifler and Amy Gannett)

    Melissa talks with Amy Gannett and Laura Wifler about how to parent in a way that passes on the Christian faith. They talk about the atmosphere in their own homes growing up and the importance of passing on—in addition to knowledge—a delight in the things of God. They encourage moms who might…

    more
  10. Rerun: Kitchen Table Counseling

    Melissa Kruger and Courtney Doctor talk about how to seek out the counsel of wise friends and how to respond well when friends seek your counsel. They discuss how to ask good questions, how to deliver a gentle rebuke when necessary, how to follow up on requests for accountability, and how to…

    more
  11. Don't Take a Vacation from Spiritual Growth

    Courtney and Melissa discuss the importance of pursuing spiritual growth during the summer, despite disrupted routines. They talk about practices and strategies that have helped them grow during the summer and on vacation. They recommend lots of resources for summer drop-in Bible studies and...

  12. AI: Friend or Foe? (with Michael Graham)

    Melissa Kruger and Courtney Doctor talk with Michael Graham about what Christians should know about artificial intelligence. They discuss the benefits it could bring to society and how they personally use it. They consider theological categories and questions for how to evaluate which uses are...

  13. When You (or a Friend) Face Unwanted Divorce (with Vaneetha Risner and Wendy Alsup)

    Courtney Doctor talks with Wendy Alsup and Vaneetha Rendall Risner about their experiences of divorce. They share the Scripture passages that helped them keep going and talk honestly about what to say (and what not to say) to someone going through a divorce. They explain why it can be hard for a...

  14. Worship Is More than a Playlist (with Emily Jensen)

    Melissa and Courtney talk with Emily Jensen about how to broaden our understanding of worship to think of it as a response to God’s worth. Worship is more than singing on Sunday morning, but corporate worship is an essential part of the worship God desires. They talk about the role our feelings...

  15. Recognizing Our Own Marks of Righteousness

    Courtney and Melissa talk about how to recognize and repent of the ways we may be relying on self-righteousness rather than the righteousness of Christ. They talk about tribalism, what happens when debatable issues are treated as primary, and how, paradoxically, the areas where we feel despair…

    more
  16. Why We Can Trust the Resurrection

    Courtney and Melissa talk with New Testament scholar (and Melissa’s husband) Mike Kruger about the excellent evidence that Jesus physically rose from the dead and the difference that makes for our lives. Dr. Kruger points out that because Jesus predicted his own resurrection, it validates his...

  17. A Deep Dish Birthday Party (with Special Guests)!

    To celebrate the first birthday of The Deep Dish, Courtney and Melissa welcome special surprise guests to answer tough questions sent in by listeners. They talk about the difference between shame and the Spirit's conviction, how to seek advice about a conflict without gossiping, how to sit with…

    more
  18. Kickstart Your Prayer Life

    Courtney and Melissa discuss helpful practices they’ve used in their prayer lives, including developing regular rhythms, alternating prayer with Scripture reading, and incorporating confession of sin as a part of personal prayer. They talk about how to be faithful to a promise to pray for someone...

  19. Fighting Materialism in a Materialistic World

    Melissa and Courtney talk with Jen Oshman about the lie that our worth is measured by what we possess. They discuss why we try to fill a God-shaped hole with earthly things and how to recognize materialism in our lives. They talk about strategies to combat materialism, including inviting trusted...

  20. Remembering Death Teaches Us to Live

    Courtney Doctor talks with Colleen Chao about how her faith has grown and flourished through living with a terminal cancer diagnosis. They discuss the difficulty of knowing she may not live to see her son grow up, what keeps her clinging to Jesus, and what excites her about the life to come....

  21. How to Make Friends in Real Life

    Courtney and Melissa talk with Christine Hoover about why we need friends and how to make them. They discuss how to get over the awkwardness of walking into a room where you don’t know anyone, why our friendships may shift in different life stages, how our friends shape us, and how an idealized...

  22. Siblings, Young and Old

    Courtney and Melissa talk with Jen Wilkin about how they each related to their siblings while growing up, how those relationships have changed over the years, and how to foster a healthy relationship with adult siblings. In this laughter-filled conversation, they talk about how they dealt with...

  23. The Bible Is for You

    Melissa and Courtney talk with Raechel Myers and Amanda Bible Williams about how they learned to love the Bible. They discuss both the challenges and rewards of studying Scripture, memorizing it, and learning to interpret it in community. They explain the difference in thinking the Bible is…

    more
  24. Bonus: Preparing for a Holiday That Will Disappoint

    Courtney and Melissa talk about the gap between our high expectations for the holidays and the disappointment we often feel in others or in ourselves. They discuss how to be pro-active in preparing our hearts to hope in the Lord rather than in perfection, how to bear the fruit of the Spirit while...

  25. When You Want to Change Your Husband

    Melissa talks with Ann Wilson about the power of words in marriage and the importance of speaking life to one's spouse. Ann recounts a memorable turning point in her 45-year marriage when she realized her many attempts to help or “tweak” her husband were having the opposite effect than intended....

  26. Conversational Bridges to Evangelism

    Melissa and Courtney talk with Becky Pippert about how to develop godly confidence to engage in evangelistic conversations with love. Becky tells stories about sharing her faith with her own parents and talks about how to go from a natural conversation to a spiritual one. She emphasizes the need…

    more
  27. Going to Church When It Hurts

    Melissa and Courtney talk with Megan Hill about how God’s Word helps us understand the deep hurts that can come from God’s own people. They discuss why church hurt is so painful as well as why we shouldn’t run from church when we’ve been hurt. They talk about how to know when it might be right to...

  28. Covetousness: The Sin Behind the Sin

    Melissa and Courtney talk with Jackie Hill Perry about the sin of covetousness and why it’s so hard to recognize and admit. They discuss signposts that tip them off that they are coveting, the relationship between covetousness and other sins, and why we desire for others to covet what we have....

  29. Becoming Good Stewards of Our Bodies

    Melissa and Courtney talk with Lisa Whittle about how a whole body theology can keep us from obsessing or neglecting our bodies. They discuss the need for a foundational view of our bodies drawn from the whole of Scripture rather than isolated verses. Whether we struggle with accepting...

  30. The Dish on Gossip

    When we treat gossip as an “excusable sin,” we ignore the corrosive power it has in our lives and relationships. In this conversation, Melissa Kruger and Courtney Doctor talk about why we’re so drawn to gossip, how to avoid it, and how to repent of it when you fail. They discuss some telltale...

  31. Making Decisions with Our Limits in Mind

    Melissa Kruger and Courtney Doctor talk with Jen Wilkin about how to make decisions regarding good opportunities in light of our finiteness. They talk about why quitting is sometimes wise, how to think about decisions that will affect your family, and why it’s better to think of God's will as a...

  32. Waiting for God in the Gaps

    Melissa and Courtney talk with Mark Vroegop about the gap moments of our lives when we have to wait. They discuss why waiting is so frustrating, what it means to wait on the Lord, what the Bible says about waiting, and how to recognize the sinful patterns we should avoid in times of waiting. No…

    more
  33. Live: Bible Study in the Local Church Matters

    Recommended Resources Chosen Together (TGC25 keynote by John Piper on Ephesians 1:3–14) In View of God’s Mercies by Courtney Doctor (Bible study book) Related Content How to Organize and Orchestrate a Bible Study 3 Questions to Ask When Choosing a Bible Study Four Types of Questions NOT to Ask in...

  34. Social Media: Wisdom and Warnings

    Melissa Kruger talks with her friends Hunter Beless and Laura Wifler about the role social media has played in their lives, both positive and negative. They talk about temptations that can arise from social media—from neglecting other good pursuits to inspiring covetousness. They discuss why it…

    more
  35. Why Can We Trust the Bible?

    Melissa Kruger and Courtney Doctor talk with Vanessa Hawkins about the Bible’s trustworthiness. They discuss why things like apparent inconsistencies and many different authors can actually point to the truth of the Christian Scriptures.They recommend resources to help listeners become familiar...

  36. Summer Reading with Melissa and Collin (from TGC's Gospelbound Podcast)

    We’re sharing this episode of our Gospelbound podcast as a bonus episode for Deep Dish listeners because we know you love to read! In it, Melissa Kruger and Collin Hansen talk about what’s on their own summer reading list and share recommendations of other books they believe our listeners will...

  37. Grief, Loss, and Gratitude in the Christian Life

    Courtney Doctor talks with Whitney Pipkin and Wendy Alsup, two of her friends who have known deep grief. They talk about why grief can be so surprising, why God allows it, and how to talk to a friend who is grieving (hint: it’s better to listen). Whitney talks about why we shouldn’t rush through...

  38. Season 1: Your Questions, Our Answers

    Melissa Kruger and Courtney Doctor respond to questions submitted by listeners such as what advice they have for newlyweds, how women can thoughtfully have relationships with their pastors and elders, their go-to verses for lonely times, and last but not least, their favorite pizza toppings! New...

  39. Kitchen Table Counseling Within Your Local Church

    Melissa Kruger and Courtney Doctor talk about how to seek out the counsel of wise friends and how to respond well when friends seek your counsel. They discuss how to ask good questions, how to deliver a gentle rebuke when necessary, how to follow up on requests for accountability, and how to…

    more
  40. Romans 8 Deserves a Deep Dive

    Melissa Kruger and Courtney Doctor talk with Trillia Newbell about the depth and richness of Romans 8. They explain how to understand Romans 8 in the context of the previous chapters, why there’s no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, how to let that truth make a difference in your...

  41. Your Church Needs You to Show Up

    Melissa Kruger and Courtney Doctor talk with Vanessa Hawkins about the vital and beautiful role church should have in the life of every Christian. They discuss what keeps people from regular church attendance and how to move beyond church hurt. They talk about why your church attendance and...

  42. Sacrificial Yeses and Necessary Nos: Discern the Difference

    Courtney Doctor and Melissa Kruger discuss how to make decisions about using your time. They they talk about how to think of yourself with sober judgment, the wrong reasons to say “yes” and “no,” and how to recognize which callings in your life must be prioritized. Although there is no formula…

    more
  43. Married for Good

    Courtney Doctor, Melissa Kruger, Vanessa Hawkins, and Jen Wilkin have each been married for more than 25 years. In this conversation, they talk about how marriage was different from what they expected, what practices have strengthened their marriage through life's ebbs and flows, and they debunk...

  44. Work Well with All Types of People

    Melissa Kruger and Courtney Doctor talk with their colleague Ann Westrate about how understanding each others’ gifts has enhanced their work as a team. They talk about how much the Working Genius assessment helped them understand why what might be easy for one of them is hard for someone else....

  45. Choosing Contentment

    Courtney Doctor talks with Melissa Kruger, and Elizabeth Woodson about the true meaning of contentment and how to find it. They discuss how discontentment springs from the attitude of our hearts rather than our circumstances and will only be overcome by trusting God’s goodness. They talk about…

    more
  46. What Your Teenagers Need from You

    Melissa Kruger talks with Sandi Taylor and Ruth Chou Simon about parenting teenagers. They reflect on the principles of their parenting that have stayed the same even though their practices have changed as their children age. They discuss how to pick the right battles, why you shouldn’t look...

  47. Aging Is a Discipleship Issue

    Melissa Kruger and Courtney Doctor talk with Jen Wilkin about how to embrace a more beautiful and biblical view on bodies, aging, beauty, and youth. They discuss why we should see aging as a gift rather than a disease, and how we can prepare our spirits for the decline of our bodies. This...

  48. Making Sense of God’s Sovereignty

    Melissa Kruger and Courtney Doctor talk about the mysterious tension between the doctrine of God’s sovereignty and human responsibility. They discuss what implications God’s sovereignty has for our prayer lives and why it shouldn’t cool our passion for evangelism. Although it may be hard to...

  49. Conversations with God

    Courtney and Melissa talk with Nancy Guthrie about their prayer lives. They talk about why it makes sense to pray, even when we believe God has already determined what is going to happen, and why it makes sense to let God’s Word shape our prayers. Listen to this deep and honest conversation if…

    more
  50. Mentoring in Real Life

    Courtney Doctor, Melissa Kruger, Vanessa Hawkins, and Jen Wilkin share their experiences of mentoring and being mentored. They discuss the biblical impetus for life-on-life discipleship and how to overcome the intimidation factor when someone asks you to mentor her. They give practical advice on...

Type above to search every episode's transcript for a word or phrase. Matches are scoped to this podcast.

Searching…

We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.

No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.

Showing of matches

No topics indexed yet for this podcast.

Loading reviews...

ABOUT THIS SHOW

The Deep Dish is a new podcast from TGC hosted by Melissa Kruger and Courtney Doctor that invites women into deep conversations about the deep truths of God. These discussions (which are always better served up with a slice of deep-dish pizza!) will equip women to engage in richer discipleship relationships in their local contexts. Tune in for warm conversations among friends—including special guests along the way—to dig deeper into God’s Word and explore how it applies to every area of our lives.

HOSTED BY

The Gospel Coalition

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does The Deep Dish have?

The Deep Dish currently has 52 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is The Deep Dish about?

The Deep Dish is a new podcast from TGC hosted by Melissa Kruger and Courtney Doctor that invites women into deep conversations about the deep truths of God. These discussions (which are always better served up with a slice of deep-dish pizza!) will equip women to engage in richer discipleship...

How often does The Deep Dish release new episodes?

The Deep Dish has 52 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.

Where can I listen to The Deep Dish?

You can listen to The Deep Dish 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 The Deep Dish?

The Deep Dish is created and hosted by The Gospel Coalition.
URL copied to clipboard!