PODCAST · religion
The Unlearning Podcast
by Ashley Lynn Hengst
Learning to love Jesus and my neighbor with healthy, life-giving Christian theology. Tune in each week for another episode of "The Unlearning Podcast" with Ashley Lynn Hengst.
Episodes
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103: JOHN 20:19-31 | Artemis Launch
On April 1st of this year, the Artemis 2 spacecraft launched into space with four astronauts, marking humanity’s first trip BACK to the moon in more than 50 years. The goal of this mission was to take astronauts back to the moon and complete a full orbit to photograph the dark side of the moon....
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102: 1st PETER 1:3-9 | Our Sacred Responsibility
On today's episode, Ashley draws upon the great Lewis and Clark adventure, proposing the idea that the Christian life is even greater. She takes a look at Doubting Thomas and the challenges of having faith when what we see all around us incites fear. To learn more about Ashley's work, you can…
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101: SEX & PATRIACHY: Power & Status in Romance
On today's episode, Ashley invites listeners to consider how patriarchy influences romantic relationships. This episode was originally presented at the Queer Christian Fellowship conference from January 2026, in Portland Oregon. To learn more about QCF and their amazing work, please visit...
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100: EXODUS 17:1-17 | General Washington 250 Years
This year marks 250 years since the declaration of independence for the United States of American from British colonial rule. In order to celebrate, Ashley unpacks a key moment in revolutionary history against the backdrop of Exodus 17. For more information on Ashley, please visit ashleylhengst.com
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99: PSALM 112 | Fear Not
It is really hard to live without fear in today’s world. A brief glance at the current news cycle reminds us that there is so much to fear. Psalm 112, has a lot to teach us on this topic. As a companion psalm to Psalm 111, Psalm 112 reminds us that the world and its challenges will pass away but...
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98: PHILIPPIANS 2:1-11 | Toxic Unity
On today’s episode, Ashley unpacks the ideas the ways Philippians 2 has been used to unify people in an unhealthy way. Instead of calling people to unite under Christ, this passage is often used to pressure parishioners to obey clergy - especially when there is a challenge in the church, some...
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97: LUKE 18:9-14 | Sarcastic Gratitude
One of the biggest lies of our American culture today is the idea that judging others is our civil right. Especially if we do so “quietly” on social media or at church. On today’s episode, Ashley unpacks the sarcastic gratitude of the pharisee in Jesus’ parable in Luke 18 on humility. The parable...
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96: ISAIAH 49:1-7 | I have labored in vain
On today’s episode, Ashley provides encouragement for anyone who believes they are laboring in vain. By looking at Isaiah chapter 49, listeners can find inspiration in remembering God’s promises. To learn more about Ashley, check out her website at ashleylhengst.com
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95: PRIDE 2026 | MATTHEW 14:22-33 (Intro with Ruthie)
On today’s episode, Ashley shares a talk she gave at the spiritual event for Altadena PRIDE 2026. To learn more about the queer community in Altadena, CA check out https://altadenapride.org/. In this episode, Ashley unpacks hows Peter walking on water towards Jesus reflects the excitement and...
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94: Stop Dating the Church
On today’s episode, Ashley proposes the idea of “church membership,” and encourages a deep commitment to a healthy local church. Ashley discusses CS Lewis’ book “The Screwtape Letters” and shares a reading of 1st Corinthians 13, read by the members of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church of Altadena, CA....
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93: LUKE 17:11-19 | Learning from the Outsider
On today’s episode, Ashley unpacks the gift of being an “outsider” and the blessings we can receive when we see one another through the eyes of Christ. For more information on Ashley, check out her website at ashleylhengst.com
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92: JOHN 11:1-44 | The Raising of Lazarus
On today’s episode, Ashley deconstructs our evangelical theology of necessary suffering by unpacking Mary and Martha’s anger at Jesus in the death of Lazarus. She offers up a different way of understanding that moment in Scripture and makes the case for suffering and the miracle of the…
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91: 1st CORINTHIANS 13 | The Gift of Love
Today’s episode is a special reading of Paul’s chapter on love to the Corinthian church, found in his first letter to the Corinthians. Paul’s words are read by members of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Altadena, CA.
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90: JOHN 13:1-17 | Do you know what I have done to you? (Maundy Thursday)
On today’s episode, Ashley takes us back to the moment where Jesus washed the disciples’ feet in the Gospel of John. She centers our attention on Jesus’ question: “Do you know what I have done to you?” For more information on Ashley’s ministry, please visit ashleylhengst.com.
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89: LUKE: 9:28-36 | Listen to Christ
Living in a Trump 2.0 world can be incredibly difficult. On today’s episode, Ashley unpacks the transfiguration moment in the life of Christ to offer some insight on how we might cope with our challenging political climate. For more information, check out Ashley’s work at ashleylhengst.com
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88: LUKE 21:25-36 | God with us
On today’s episode, Ashley begins the advent season by helping us to prepare for Christmas while deconstructing an apocalyptic passage. To learn more about Ashley, visit her on ashleylhengst.com
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87: Christian Mysticism (Original Goodness)
On today’s episode, Ashley deconstructs the doctrine of Original Sin by offering up Richard Rohr’s theology around our “Original Goodness.” To learn more about Father Rohr, please visit the Center for Action and Contemplation website. To learn more about Ashley’s work, visit her at ashleylhengst.com
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86: Christian Mysticism (False Self)
On today's episode, Ashley continues her series on Christian Mysticism by exploring the topic of sin or the false self. To learn more about Ashley you can find her on Instagram or Threads at @ashleylhengst or online at ashleylhengst.com
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85: Myths & Stereotypes of Bisexuality
On today's episode, Ashley deconstructs the myths and stereotypes that many people hold, even in the queer Christian community, about bisexual people. Ashley deconstructs those myths helping listeners understand how their roots of patriarchal and purity culture thinking. To learn more about…
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84: PRIDE 2024 - The Sacred Rebellion of Christ
This sermon was originally preached at the Altadena PRIDE Spiritual Exploration event on Saturday, June 8th at the Altadena Baptist Church. Check out these links for more information about the Altadena PRIDE and the Baptist Church. You can connect with Ashley on Instagram and Threads at...
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83: Christian Mysticism (Everything & Everywhere)
On today's podcast, Ashley provides a brief introduction to Christian mysticism and contemplative spirituality through unpacking Vincent Pizzutto's wonderful book "Contemplating Christ: The Gospels and the Interior Life." To learn more about Ashley's work, you can find her on Instagram and…
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82: Friday Field Notes: Real Authority
On today's Friday Field Notes, Ashley offers a critical examination on how we define authority as Christians. Who has authority over our lives? How do they exercise that authority? Is authority that is demanding and forceful God's will? This episode is another episode in her series on sexual...
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81: Love & Respect?
On today's podcast, Ashley unpacks Emmerson Eggerich's book "Love & Respect: The Love She Most Desires and the Respect He Desperately Needs." She deconstructs the theology around Eggerichs' work and offers up a different definition of love inspired by Cater Heyward's book "Touching Our Strength:...
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80: Sexual Confusion
On today's episode, Ashley unpacks the term "sexual confusion" and offers up a more positive way of understanding mystery in sex and romance using Episcopal Priest, Carter Heyward's book "Touching Our Strength: The Erotic as Power and the Love of God." Instead of being ashamed of what we don’t...
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79: Friday Field Notes: Love Without Judgement
On today's episode, Ashley discusses the idea of loving others (and yourself) without judgement. To learn more about Ashley's work you can find her at @ashleylhengst or on Instagram at @ashleylhengst.
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78: Audre Lorde - The Erotic as Power
After a brief hiatus, Ashley is back with another episode on renewing sex, helping listeners to build a sexual theology that is healthy and life giving. Today's episode features a clip from an interview with Audre Lorde from 1982 and highlights her essay "Uses of the Erotic: The Erotic as Power."...
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77: Renewing Sex: A New Way of Looking at Sex and Intimacy
On today's episode, Ashley records what she shared at her break out session at this past January at the annual Queer Christian Conference 2024 in Albuquerque, NM. To learn more about a healthy understanding of sex and intimacy, be sure to check out Carter Heyward's book "Touching Our Strength…
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76: Compassion & San Suu Kyi
On today's episode, Ashley unpacks compassion by looking at the life of San Suu Kyi and the writings of John Philip Newell. Ashley refers to the book "The Rebirthing of God" by Newell and explores what compassion means in light of Jesus' teachings to love our enemies. You can learn more about...
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75: LUKE 5:1-11 | Callings: The Dark Blossoming of Chaos
On today's podcast, Ashley unpacks Jesus' call of the first disciples and helps listeners reimagine their own calling upon their lives. She deconstructs how we understand the Great Commission and talks through passages from Gregg Levoy's book "Callings: Finding and Following an Authentic Life."…
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74: "The Grown-Woman Theology" of Brittney Cooper
On today's episode, Ashley unpacks Brittney Cooper's womanist theology in her book "Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower." Cooper's analysis of the evangelical purity culture of the 1990s and the "True Love Waits" campaign provides readers with an understanding of how...
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73: JEN HENGST: On Pregnancy & Becoming a Mother
On today's episode, Ashley sits down with her lovely wife, Jen Hengst, to talk about their pregnancy journey and all of our dreams for the future. To learn more about Ashley, you can connect with her on Instagram and Twitter at @ashleylhengst or online at ashleylhengst.com
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72: The Feminist Eros of Carter Heyward
Carter Heyward is an American feminist theologian and priest in the Episcopal Church who has is known as one of the Philadelphia Eleven, eleven women whose ordinations eventually paved the way for the recognition of women as priests in the Episcopal Church in 1976. Heyward has written extensively...
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71: Parenting After Deconstruction with Sarah Swartzendruber
On today's episode, Ashley sits down with Sarah Swartzendruber, creator of "Parenting After Deconstruction" and co-pastor of Cascade Church in Portland, OR. Sarah is passionate about empowering parents in deconstruction to create spiritual practices for their kids. You can learn more about…
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70: DAMON GARCIA: The God Who Riots - Taking Back the Radical Jesus
On today's episode, Ashley sits down with Damon Garcia, a writer, video essayist, and public theologian. His work is centered around the intersection between liberation and faith. He is the author of The God Who Riots: Taking Back the Radical Jesus . He lives in Santa Maria, California. Follow...
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69: Friday Field Notes: Psalm 51: Born in Sin?
Lent is finally here and with the lenten season comes a lot of wonderful opportunities for personal examination and introspection. David's Psalm 51 is often used to guide people into a spirit of repentance but we hardly ever think about the context or what David's words truly mean. On today's...
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68: Oriented to Love: Side B Conversations
On today's episode, Ashley talks about a recent Oriented to Love panel that she attended at Evergreen Baptists church were the panelists discussed a Side B theology. To learn more about Ashley and to find more of her work, you can connect with her on Instagram and Twitter @ashleylhengst or online...
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67: Five Things the Bible Does NOT Say About Sex
On today's episode, Ashley unpacks 5 common misconceptions about sex and romance from Paul Carter's article in the Gospel Coalition. She unpacks the term "biblical sexuality" and helps listeners to understand the danger of misleading interpretations of Scripture. You can connect with Ashley on...
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66: My Coming Out Journey, Advice & "The L Word"
On today's episode, Ashley shares the ups and downs of her own coming out journey. She also describes the powerful impact "The L Word" (2004-2009) show had on her own life and offers encouraging advice for Queer Christians seeking wisdom on how to come out safely. You can connect with Ashley at...
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65: Friday Field Notes: Breaking the Rules
On today's episode, Ashley helps deconstruct toxic cultural rules given to us by society and the church. Instead, she offers up Melody Beattie's rules for healthy living found in her book "Beyond Codependency." Below is her list of rules: 1. It’s okay to feel my feelings and talk about them when…
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64: Queer Christian Conference & Bishop O.C. Allen
Earlier this month I had the privilege of attending the Queer Christian Conference in Washington, DC. where I heard Bishop O.C. Allen preach for the first time. Check out more information on the conference and on Bishop Allen here. Here is a link to the Bishop Allen's commandments for 2023. For...
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Season 1: Trailer - Pleasure & Purity
For the next few months, all of the episodes on the Unlearning Podcast will be dedicated to the deconstruction of the evangelical purity culture while reconstructing a healthy Christian sexual ethic. Be sure to hit the subscribe button so that you never miss any episodes on the Unlearning Podcast...
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63: How To Respond When Your Child Comes Out As LGBT
What is the best, most-Christ-like way to respond to your child when they come out as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered? As evangelicals we’ve been taught to believe that love and judgement go hand in hand and to love the sinner but hate the sin. This kind of theology is incredibly…
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62: Christ-Centered Pastoral Care
Does the purpose and function of pastoral ministry change the more theologically progressive we become? On today's episode, listeners are invited to consider the meaning of pastoral care. Ashley makes the case for a Christ-centered pastoral ministry, a ministry that reflects attending to the…
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61: Friday Field Notes | Resistance and Fundamentalism
The Friday Field Notes segment of "The Unlearning Podcast" is here to help you reconstruct your faith after a season of deconstruction. On today's episode, Ashley reads the chapter "Resistance and Fundamentalism" from Steven Pressfield's book "The Art of War." Ashley will be leading a break out...
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60: A Literal Resurrection?
Did Jesus really resurrect from the dead? Do we have to believe in a literal resurrection in order to go to heaven? On today's episode, Ashley unpacks all of the toxic thinking surrounding the doctrine of the resurrection of Christ. In this episode, she features the opening line of Rev. Mike...
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59: Friday Field Notes | The Power of Detachment
As we go through our deconstruction journey, we sometimes feel guilty in leaving communities and friend groups that no longer serve us. As we unlearn toxic theology, we sometimes feel guilty over no longer being friends with people who still hold onto evangelical beliefs. And because we’ve taken...
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58: LUKE 4:38-41 | Healing & the Well- Being of Middle-Aged Women
Luke could have begun his gospel narrative with the healing of a very important Roman centurion or of a rich young ruler. But instead of choosing the most respected people in society, Luke described Jesus as moving to the margins, particularly when it came to the intersectional realities of age…
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57: Dealing with Emotions (No Bad Parts)
As evangelicals, we’ve been taught to believe that our heart and our emotions and even our very minds cannot be trusted. Evangelicals have used a variety of bible verses to support this idea, that we are inherently evil and that we should "crucify" the bad parts of ourselves or our flesh. On...
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56: LUKE 4:31-37 | Forces Hidden in Mystery
Many of us received our understanding of demons from the (1973) move "The Exorcist." We believe demons to be part of a moral army of oppressive spirits that recruit humans into an evil force, possessing them with an evil energy, not unlike the death eaters in Harry Potter. But bible scholar Fred…
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55: THE BRIEFING | August 2022 Edition with Dr. Tracey Shenell & Pastor Hannah Sims
Welcome to our monthly on the Unlearning Podcast called “The Briefing: News and Events from a Progressive Christian world view.” In our August episode, I interview Dr. Tracey Shenell and Pastor Hannah Sims on all of their thoughts concerning recent news and events. The Briefing on the Unlearning...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Learning to love Jesus and my neighbor with healthy, life-giving Christian theology. Tune in each week for another episode of "The Unlearning Podcast" with Ashley Lynn Hengst.
HOSTED BY
Ashley Lynn Hengst
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Unlearning Podcast have?
The Unlearning Podcast currently has 105 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Unlearning Podcast about?
Learning to love Jesus and my neighbor with healthy, life-giving Christian theology. Tune in each week for another episode of "The Unlearning Podcast" with Ashley Lynn Hengst.
How often does The Unlearning Podcast release new episodes?
The Unlearning Podcast publishes regularly with 105 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
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You can listen to The Unlearning Podcast 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 Unlearning Podcast?
The Unlearning Podcast is created and hosted by Ashley Lynn Hengst.
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