Inverse Podcast

In light of legendary union organizer Delores Huerta's allegations of abuse at the hands of Cesar Chavez and the collective grieve we all feel as this violence comes to light; in today's episode of Inverse we host Hilary Scarcella for a conversation which explores the intersection of religion, trauma, and sexual violence, emphasizing community accountability, reforming faith communities, and engaging scripture more liberatively. It offers deep insights into how faith traditions can confront their shadow sides and foster safer, more accountable environments. Chapters (00:00:01) - Inverse Interviews Hilary Scarcella(00:02:07) - Anabaptist and the Sexual Abuse of Mennonites(00:07:28) - The Cesar Chavez Sexual Abuse Story(00:18:10) - The problem of child abuse in the Christian Church(00:22:53) - A Week in the Life of Jesus(00:24:26) - Hillary on Her Early Experiences With The Bible(00:29:30) - In the Elevator With Anabaptists(00:33:29) - Contemplating the Life of Jesus(00:39:28) - Oh My God! My 4 Year Old Says Jesus Got Stabbed(00:41:25) - Read the Bible From Your Own Life(00:48:13) - Imagine a World Without Abuse(00:54:44) - Inverse Podcast: A Different Kind of Community(00:56:41) - Community and Sexual Violence(01:02:51) - Vocarious Leadership: The Problem(01:07:42) - The Problem of Power in the Church

In today's conversation we are joined by Zach Lambert (cofounder of the Post Evangelical Collectiv) and explore themes of biblical interpretation, focusing on the pitfalls of literalism and the apocalyptic mindset prevalent in fundamentalist communities. The discussion highlights how these approaches can lead to fear-based religioin and the policing of theological boundaries, particularly regarding women's roles in ministry. Zach W. Lambert is the lead pastor and founder of Restore, a church in Austin, Texas. Under his leadership, Restore has grown from a launch team of five people in 2015 to more than 1,000 members today. He holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from Hardin-Simmons University, a Master of Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary, and is pursuing his Doctorate at Duke Divinity School. Zach is the cofounder of the Post Evangelical Collective and serves on the boards of the Austin Church Planting Network and the Multi-Faith Neighbors Network. Zach and his wife, Amy, met each other in the 6th grade, fell in love at 17, and got married at 21. They love watching live music, discovering local Mexican food places, and playing with their two boys. Chapters (00:00:01) - Interview(00:02:17) - Introducing Restoring the Kingdom(00:06:55) - Jesus on the Cross(00:11:57) - On Being kicked Out of the Southern Baptist Church(00:18:17) - Zach Struggles With The Bible(00:24:09) - The Harmful Lenses of Fundamentalism(00:28:42) - The Four Harmful Lenses of Biblical Literature(00:30:54) - Three Pillars of Flourishing the Bible(00:33:38) - The Widow's Might in Luke 21(00:39:47) - Widow Laying Down Everything for Christ(00:43:07) - Jesus on Legal Hermeneutics(00:47:13) - The Use of Bible Verses to Support Hate(00:52:15) - Stop Stealing Children: Christian theology(00:54:07) - Zach Lambert on The Bible and Public Theology

In this gripping episode, we confront the harsh realities of ongoing ICE operations in Minneapolis, as Doug Pagitt shares his firsthand experiences and insights. Explore the impact of recent events on the community and the urgent need for change. Join us as we discuss the intersection of faith, activism, and the fight for justice in a city at the forefront of national attention.

Karla Mendoza Arana (she/her/ella) is a grassroots theologian, speaker, writer, and artist. She is from Lima, Peru, and has lived in the United States for nearly 24 years. As an Afro-Peruvian woman who continues to face displacement, her work revolves around exploring illegality, citizenship, and Latinindad. Karla is currently a student of Liberation Theologies at Union Theological Seminary in Lenape land, commonly known as New York City. If you don’t find her reading, you’ll find her dancing to Bad Bunny.

A continuation of our conversation with the late Walter Brueggemann.- Brueggemann wasn’t simply a scholar, he was a prophet. This is not hyperbole. This is a precise analysis of his vocation as one who devoted his life to the Sacred Scriptures of a dangerously free God. He was a poet as are the prophets, he would insist. His “prophetic imagination” was shaped by a lifetime of dedication to the texts that demanded of him pathos, lament and a consciousness counter to empire. He was a person of the kind of prayer that undergoes the kind of grace that requires doing justice, and loving mercy and a scholarship from a deep humility before the Scriptures while walking with the God they witnessed to. I will tell my grandchildren of the three days my brother Don and I stayed with Tia and Walter Brueggemann. I will tell stories of how Elaine and Ched Myers introduced me to Walter a few years prior and how I got to have lunch with one of the greatest Hebrew Bible scholars in the world and start a friendship. I will tell of how I got to introduce my mate Jono Martin to Walter and how I snapped a cheeky moment as my friend Traci took a selfie with the Bruggz coz we are giddy fans. I will tell of his humour, humility and indomitable brilliance that was paired with a warm kind curiosity. Unquestionably one of my biggest influences, I’m always reading Walter when preparing for a sermon, and not merely in the Old Testament. I first read Walter at the age of 22 and haven’t stopped. Yet I haven’t come close to reading his over 100 books. I’ve literally led hundreds of people through his “The Prophetic Imagination” and it is in my top 5 greatest books of Christian discipleship. Walter, your life was a blaze with God’s justice and I’m thankful for the ways you set me on fire. Rest in Peace.- Jarrod McKenna

Brueggemann wasn’t simply a scholar, he was a prophet. This is not hyperbole. This is a precise analysis of his vocation as one who devoted his life to the Sacred Scriptures of a dangerously free God. He was a poet as are the prophets, he would insist. His “prophetic imagination” was shaped by a lifetime of dedication to the texts that demanded of him pathos, lament and a consciousness counter to empire. He was a person of the kind of prayer that undergoes the kind of grace that requires doing justice, and loving mercy and a scholarship from a deep humility before the Scriptures while walking with the God they witnessed to. I will tell my grandchildren of the three days my brother Don and I stayed with Tia and Walter Brueggemann. I will tell stories of how Elaine and Ched Myers introduced me to Walter a few years prior and how I got to have lunch with one of the greatest Hebrew Bible scholars in the world and start a friendship. I will tell of how I got to introduce my mate Jono Martin to Walter and how I snapped a cheeky moment as my friend Traci took a selfie with the Bruggz coz we are giddy fans. I will tell of his humour, humility and indomitable brilliance that was paired with a warm kind curiosity. Unquestionably one of my biggest influences, I’m always reading Walter when preparing for a sermon, and not merely in the Old Testament. I first read Walter at the age of 22 and haven’t stopped. Yet I haven’t come close to reading his over 100 books. I’ve literally led hundreds of people through his “The Prophetic Imagination” and it is in my top 5 greatest books of Christian discipleship. Walter, your life was a blaze with God’s justice and I’m thankful for the ways you set me on fire. Rest in Peace.- Jarrod McKenna

Internationally acclaimed writer and journalist Stan Grant – winner of three Walkley Awards and four Asian Television Awards - joins Dr Drew Hart and Pastor Jarrod McKenna in conversation on his new book, a theological meditation as Wiradjuri and Kamilaroi Aboriginal man, called Murriyang: Song of Time. Stan Grant is a Wiradjuri and Kamilaroi man. He is a public intellectual who has worked as a journalist, presenter, filmmaker and author. In his journalism he has reported from more than 80 countries, won three Walkley Awards, a Logie Award and four Asia TV Awards. As a writer he has published seven books including the bestselling Talking to My Country, which won the Walkley Book Award. In 2016, he was appointed to the Referendum Council on Indigenous recognition. In 2018, he was appointed Professor of Global Affairs at Griffith University. The full-length documentary film The Australian Dream won the2019 AACTA Award for Best Feature Documentary and the 2019 Walkley Documentary Award. In 2020, he became the International Affairs Analyst at the ABC and the Vice-Chancellor's Chair of Australian-Indigenous Belonging at Charles Sturt University. From 2022-23, Grant hosted the ABC's current affairs panel program Q+A.

In this deeply reflective episode, Drew Hart and Jarrod McKenna welcome Jenai Aumin, a Filipina American writer, artist, and author of Othered: Finding Belonging with the God Who Pursues the Hurt, Harmed, and Marginalized. Drawing on her experience in church leadership, trauma-informed training, and studies in behavioral health and spiritual formation, Jenai shares her journey of healing and rediscovery of faith after betrayal within a faith community. The conversation unpacks her book Othered, which offers insights on navigating spiritual trauma, healing wounds inflicted in the name of faith, and finding hope and belonging. Jenai discusses her evolving understanding of God, the role of scripture in addressing pain, and her use of a trauma-informed hermeneutic to reframe biblical narratives. This episode invites listeners into a vulnerable and healing dialogue about faith, resilience, and the courage to reclaim spiritual identity after loss. With honesty and compassion, Jenai's story is a testament to the power of grace, self-discovery, and community.

In this compelling episode of the Inverse Podcast, hosts Drew Hart and Jared McKenna welcome back Richard Crane, former professor of theology, attorney for employee rights, and author of the new book God's Apocalyptic Insurrection: A Salvation Theology for Evangelical Reckoning. Together, they explore the intersections of faith, justice, and scripture, unpacking how the Bible can be used to liberate or oppress. Richard discusses his lifelong commitment to tethering social justice to biblical theology, reflecting on his early experiences with faith, his evolution as a scholar, and the transformative power of scripture. The conversation delves into the challenges of navigating justice within Christian traditions often mired in historical entanglements with racism, patriarchy, and predatory capitalism. Highlighting passages from the Gospels, Crane offers insights into Jesus' mission to heal and liberate, interpreting these acts as divine insurrection against systemic evil. The episode challenges listeners to consider what it means to live out a justice-oriented faith and to embody a theology of liberation in a world shaped by oppression. Join the conversation for a thought-provoking discussion on theology, justice, and the transformative work of faith.

Rev. Andrew Wilkes, Ph.D, is a political scientist, the co-pastor of the Double Love Experience Church in Brooklyn, and the former executive director of the Drum Major Institute. His latest work is Plenty Good Room: Co-Creating An Economy of Enough for All. He is the co-author, with spouse Rev. Dr. Gabby Cudjoe-Wilkes, of Psalms for Black Lives and the author of Freedom Notes: Reflections on Faith, Justice, and the Possibility of Democracy. His work and voice have appeared in the Washington Post, New York Times, and Sojourners, among other outlets. He serves on boards for the Labor-Religion Coalition of New York, The Black Mountain School of Theology and Community, and the Institute for Christian Socialism. A graduate of Hampton University, Princeton Theological Seminary '10, and the Coro Foundation's Fellowship in Public Affairs, Dr. Wilkes recently completed his PhD in political science from the CUNY Graduate Center.

Joash Thomas is an international speaker, theologian and human rights leader. Born and raised in India, Joash ran a political consulting and lobbying firm in the United States before joining the human rights advocacy space. Based in the Toronto area, Joash has a master’s degree in Political Management from The George Washington University and is a few months away from completing a dual master’s degree in Christian Leadership & Systematic Theology. A soon-to-be ordained Deacon in the Diocese of St. Anthony, Joash is also the author of ‘The Justice of Jesus’, a forthcoming book in partnership with Brazos Press to be published in September 2025.

If you need a space, come join us as we dialogue in our post-election roundtable with Lisa Sharon Harper and Dr. David Gushee. Together, we'll consider this moment, and what it means for our faith, democracy, and commitment to pursuing shalom and the common good.

Idris Elba in his introduction to Mick Sheldrick’s new book ‘FROM IDEAS TO IMPACT: A PLAYBOOK FOR INFLUENCING AND IMPLEMENTING CHANGE IN A DIVIDED WORLD‘ writes, “To say he’s has had an impact on our life would be an understatement.” Join us live this week to find out why and how you can contribute and learn from Mick’s work that has impacted millions of people in over a hundred and fifty countries and helped secure over *40 BILLION* in support for local and regional organizations working to provide access to essential resources such as healthcare, education, and climate resilience. Michael Sheldrick is a driving force behind the efforts of Global Citizen to end extreme poverty. With a career that spans the world of pop and policy, Michael has worked with an impressive roster of international artists such as Beyoncé, Coldplay, Sabrina and Idris Elba, Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, Priyanka Chopra, Rihanna and Usher, as well as prominent political leaders including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Barbados’ Prime Minister Mia Mottley, former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and former Australian Prime Ministers Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd. As a Co-Founder and Chief Policy, Impact, and Government Affairs Officer, he leads the organization's campaigns to mobilize support from governments, businesses, and foundations. He has co-produced some of the world's most impactful social campaigns and events, including the annual Global Citizen Festival in New York, the Guinness World Record-winning virtual concert One World: Together At Home, and the Nelson Mandela 2018 centennial celebration. These initiatives have reached millions of people in over a hundred and fifty countries and helped secure over forty billion in support for local and regional organizations working to provide access to essential resources such as healthcare, education, and climate resilience.

Join us with Regent College’s Dr Mark Glanville as we discuss his new text, “Improvising Church”. Dr Drew Hart wrote of Mark’s new book, “Improvising Church is a harmony of scriptural insight and pastoral wisdom, soulfully explored. Drawing from the metaphors of jazz, Glanville calls Western churches in post-Christian contexts to embrace an improvisational journey shaped by the biblical narrative and the perception of artists within incarnational community that loves their place and its people. Like a musician in sync with our contextual rhythm, Glanville urges us to embrace our interconnectedness with creation, tying that to the need to confront the legacies of colonialism with courageous solidarity. This book resonates deeply, hits all the right notes, and will inspire you to embrace a new, transformative song to improvise with for our twenty-first-century witness." Jarrod McKenna has said, "Mark Glanville writes with a kind of humility, curiosity, creativity, and compassion that are not merely desired but required when learning from traditions that you've been graciously grafted into—be it from Moses or Miles Davis, Elijah or Ella Fitzgerald, Nathanael or Nina Simone, John Coltrane or Jesus, the Christ. Mark has experienced a 'love supreme' and is inviting us to take giant steps of communal improvisation and imagine somethin' else, an alternative to Christendom and its colonial legacy, something that looks like Jesus, something that is the shape of things to come."

Trey Ferguson is a minister, writer, and speaker, with an MDiv from the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University. He is the author of Theologizin' Bigger: Homilies on Living Freely and Loving Wholly. His thoughts on faith in an evolving world can be found on the Three Black Men: Theology, Culture, and the World around Us and New Living Treyslation podcasts, in The Son Do Move newsletter, and @pastortrey05 on social media. He lives in South Florida with his wife and three children. Learn more at pastortrey05.com

Nya Abernathy is the founder and leader of The Dignity Effect, through which she focuses on adult social-emotional learning grounded in dignity. As a writer, Nya is known for exploring wonder and awe from the intersection of space and spirituality through her publication, "Of Earth & Of Stars." Her excellent debut book, "Welcome, Wonder," is a transformative journey into self-discovery and personal growth, and it is available now at nyasabernathy.com. Within the InVerse community, Nya is beloved, and known for spreading joy. If you spend enough time with her, be prepared because she will likely have you participating in full embodied karaoke – whether in person or over Zoom!

This episode was created in collaboration with Freedom Road Podcast, hosted by Lisa Sharon Harper.The Freedom Road podcast is a forum for experiences that build common understanding, common commitment and common action. It is produced each month by FreedomRoad.us.A very special deep dive into the theo-ethical questions arising in the context of the genocide in Gaza. Join us as we hear from three leading Palestinian Christian theologians as they approach Good Friday and Easter Sunday in the context of genocide. Lisa Sharon Harper is a prolific speaker, award-winning author and internationally respected activist. Ms. Harper is the founder and president of FreedomRoad.us, a consulting group dedicated to shrinking the narrative gap in our nation by designing forums and experiences that bring common understanding, common commitment and common action. Rev. Dr Mitri Raheb is Founder and President of Dar al-Kalima University in Bethlehem. The most widely published Palestinian theologian to date, Dr. Raheb is the author and editor of 50 books including: Decolonizing Palestine: The Land, The People, The Bible; In the Eye of the Storm: Middle Eastern Christians in an Age of Empire and Faith in the Face of Empire: The Bible through Palestinian Eyes—among many, many others. Rev. Dr. Muther Isaac is Pastor of the Christmas Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bethlehem and Dean of Bethlehem Bible College. Rev. Dr. Munther is the author of The Other Side of the Wall: A Palestinian Christian Narrative of Lament and Hope. Omar Haramy, is an Arab, Palestinian, Jerusalemite, Christian, and Greek Orthodox. Since 2017, Omar has served as the director of the Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center. Sabeel is a Palestinian ecumenical grassroots liberation theology movement that deepens the faith of Palestinian Christians, promotes unity among them, and guides them to engage for justice and peace. Omar also serves on the Kairos Palestine steering committee.

On every continent (yes! Including Antarctica! ) across 145 cities the GazaCeasefirePilgrimage.com movement continues to grow in prayerful solidarity with Palestinian people during this genocide. Join us with two of Philadelphia’s leaders, Lisa Sharon Harper and Shane Claiborne to discuss what the next stage of the movement looks like.    

As the genocidal war on Gaza continues we are thankful for the generosity of friends, old and new, who continue to share their work and witness, even at tremendous personal cost. Join us as we create a space to listen to theologian, Marah Sarji.Marah Sarji is a PhD student of theology at Princeton Theological Seminary. Born and raised in Nazareth, she became passionate about justice and peace in Palestine and is active among young Palestinian Christians working on decolonizing Palestinian Christianity. Marah’s research interests include womanist theology, Palestinian liberation theology, anthropology of theology, coloniality and decolonization.

Join us as we hear from Dr Drew Hart’s co-editor of their new book 'Reparations and the Theological Disciplines: Prophetic Voices for Remembrance, Reckoning, and Repair', Dr Michael Barram. Click here to purchase Reparations and the 'Theological Disciplines: Prophetic Voices for Remembrance, Reckoning, and Repair' in Hardback and E-Book format:https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781666922462/Reparations-and-the-Theological-Disciplines-Prophetic-Voices-for-Remembrance-Reckoning-and-Repair-Dr Michael Barram earned his PhD in New Testament at Union Theological Seminary-PSCE (Richmond, VA), and since 2001 has been a professor in the Department of Theology & Religious Studies at Saint Mary’s College of California. He is a member of and regularly teaches at First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley. As a biblical scholar, Barram’s work focuses on the formative function of biblical texts for moral and economic reasoning—and on the emerging subfield of biblical interpretation known as missional hermeneutics. He is the author of Mission and Moral Reflection in Paul (Lang, 2006); Missional Economics: Biblical Justice and Christian Formation (Eerdmans, 2018); co-editor (with Drew Hart, Gimbiya Kettering, and Michael Rhodes) of the recently-released anthology, Reparations and the Theological Disciplines: Prophetic Voices for Remembrance, Reckoning, and Repair (Lexington, 2023); and co-author (with John R. Franke) of the forthcoming Liberating Scripture: An Invitation to Missional Hermeneutics (Cascade, 2024). Michael is married to Kelli; they have two daughters, aged 24 and 21.

GazaCeasefirePilgrimage.com A Kiwi named James Harris set out with a mustard seed of faith and walked the length of Gaza to fundraise for relief and refugees while calling for a ceasefire. The next day he rang me (Jarrod) and asked if I would be interested in doing a walk too. I responded, “Mate, I think the world would be interested!” I picked up the phone and soon Lisa Sharon Harper, Suzan Wahhab, Mae Cannon, James Harris and I were all in tears. Not merely because of what is happening but of how the Holy Spirit is moving. GazaCeasefirePilgrimage.com was born. 2 weeks later, *12 counties • 77 cities* have signed up. Come join Dr Drew Hart as he facilitates us hearing the story, learning about the movement and responding to the invitation to transfigure our trauma and put our compassion into action for those who are suffering. The Global Gaza Ceasefire Pilgrimage Movement Founders: Suzan Wahhab shares the living faith of her ancestors, the First Christians, and is the President of Palestinian Christians in Australia. Suzan was born in Jerusalem and grew up in Ramallah before moving to Sydney, Australia where she is also a CPA and financial strategist. Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon is the executive director of Churches for Middle East Peace, an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC), and a well-respected North American voice, author and advocate in the Middle East and at home on justice, peacebuilding, and the Holy Land. Lisa Sharon Harper is a prolific speaker, award-winning author and internationally respected activist. Ms. Harper is the founder and president of FreedomRoad.us, a consulting group dedicated to shrinking the narrative gap in our nation by designing forums and experiences that bring common understanding, common commitment and common action. Australian pastor, social change educator and activist, Jarrod McKenna, has been described by Martin Luther King Jr’s co-worker, Rev. Jim Lawson, as “an expert in nonviolent social change.” Jarrod is the Founding Director of CommonGrace.org.au, a pastor with Steeple Church in Melbourne, and the co-founder of the InVerse Collective and Podcast with Dr Drew Hart. And missing but very much the holder of the “Mustard Seed” that started the movement… James Harris is a proud West Aucklander whose passion for empowering community-based advocacy has seen him relocate to Amman, Jordan and remote Western Australia. He is currently the Director of Strategic Projects with NAYBA Australia, where he is working on projects related to community sponsorship of refugees and young people in out-of-home care.

In this special Christmas episode of Inverse, Jarrod and Drew are joined by two incredible guests, Kelley Nikondeha and Jonathan Martin, as they engage in a spirited conversation that transcends the ordinary. Together, they explore the profound intersections of faith, justice, and the Christmas season, offering fresh perspectives on timeless themes.

In this episode of InVerse Podcast, we hear from Dr Byron Smith. Byron has fifteen years’ experience in pastoral ministry with local churches, and received honours degrees in theology, philosophy and literature. His PhD in theological ethics (University of Edinburgh) focused on emotional responses to climate change in the context of Christian identity. Byron has repeatedly put his body where his faith is and been involved in nonviolent direct actions against new coal projects and in support of people seeking asylum.

Rev Dr Munther Isaac (PhD, Oxford Centre for Mission Studies) is the academic dean of Bethlehem Bible College in Palestine and director of the “Christ at the Checkpoint” conference. He is also pastor of Christmas Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bethlehem. He is the author of “From Land to Lands, from Eden to the Renewed Earth: A Christ-Centered Biblical Theology of the Promised Land”, “The Other Side of the Wall: A Palestinian Christian Narrative of Hope and Lament” and “Christ and the Checkpoint: Blessed are the Peacemakers”

On this episode of the InVerse Podcast join us as we discuss with Safina Stewart and Gershon Nimbalker from CommonGrace.org.au the upcoming vote on 14th October to change Australia’s constitution to recognise First Nations Peoples and establish a Voice to Parliament. Safina Stewart is a proud Wuthithi and Mabuiag Island woman who grew up cross-culturally in New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Australia. Safina is passionate about culture, education, the arts, justice and faith and is Common Grace's Relationships and Storytelling Coordinator. Safina lives with her family in regional Victoria on the lands of the Bunarong people.Gershon Nimbalker is the National Director of Common Grace and founder of Sojourners Social Change Consultants. He has more than 15 years of experience working in advocacy, policy and research, as well as leading and growing grass roots movements to campaign on issues of social justice. Gershon lives on the lands of Awabakal peoples in Newcastle, NSW with his young family.

In this episode of our series 'InVerse's Own: Voices From Our Community', we hear from Larissa Minniecon, Raisera McCulloch & Hannah Chapman as they explore how Indigenous women re-write, re-name and re-member our stories in a hostile environment, in the context of the [Australian] Referendum [on recognising the First Nations Peoples of Australia in the Constitution and establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament].

Noam Chomsky calls bestselling journalist Antony Loewenstein’s new book a “record of how ‘the light unto the nations’ became the purveyor of the means of violence and brutal repression from Guatemala to Myanmar and wherever else the opportunity arose”. Join us in conversation with Antony Loewenstein about the modern nation state of Israel, technology, militarisation, colonialism and how the Jewish and Christian Scriptures are [ab]used to support the business of dehumanisation & occupation.

“Walking the Red Road in an effort to decolonize and contextualize the Way of Jesus.”Join us for Sarah Quint! Sarah a citizen of the Mattaponi Nation of Tsenacommacah, Turtle Island (present-day eastern Virginia, USA). Her and her partner, Steve, pastor Monroe City Church in Monroe, MI (Potawatomi territory). She is a mother of two amazing boys, River and Reed. Sarah is a self-diagnosed nemophilist, because of her love for the forest, with a passion for plant knowledge and foraging. With the help of her Elders and the Great Spirit, Sarah has been walking the Red Road in an effort to decolonize and contextualize the Way of Jesus. These efforts have led to crafting songs in her Tribe’s traditional tongue, connecting to the land, creative writing, and oral storytelling. As she works towards reconnection in all 7 directions, Sarah is passionate about inviting others who feel disenfranchised along the way. She is proud to represent the long line of First Nations relatives who have been good hosts on their land. She is a board member of Monroe Puente, a nonprofit that works to make sure immigrants and migrant workers receive the welcome, dignity, and connections that they deserve. Wholeness to Sarah is when all creation has the freedom to live out their God-given purpose around the sacred hoop of life. Her daily prayer is, “May the Circle Be Unbroken.”

We’re continuing on with our latest series; Liberating Liturgies: Formation To Undo Domination. This week our guest is Terrance Hawkins. Terrance Hawkins is a follower of Jesus, a father, a son and practitioner of the Black Radical Church Tradition, and a life-long resident of Winston-Salem, NC. He has built in solidarity with his community as an organizer, pastor, and an artist for close to two decades. Terrance is the co-founder of a collective of local activists called the Drum Majors Alliance, the founder/director of Lit City (a youth development initiative), & currently serves as the co-director for the School of Love—an alternative spiritual community and cohort geared towards cultivating rhythms of radical discipleship. He co-authored the book “Liberating Church: A 21st Century Hush Harbor Manifesto.” In this series, we explore the witness of communal spiritualities that have provided an embodied Christ-like counter story to Christendom’s accommodation to domination, empire and colonisation. Much like our “Nonviolent Atonements” series, alongside exploring with surprising people how the Scriptures can turn our world upside down.

Join us in this special episode as we delve into the heart and soul of our incredible community. Inverse Podcast proudly presents "Inverse's Own: Voices From Our Community," where we turn the spotlight on members of our Inverse family. In this instalment, we're honoured to hear from Tamice Spencer-Helms.Tamice Spencer-Helms (she/her) has a passion for working with young adults and seeing them grow into themselves and thrive. In 2018 Tamice established the nonprofit Sub:Culture Incorporated, which seeks to remove social and economic barriers for black college students. An experienced scholar-practitioner, Tamice holds a Master of Arts in Contextual Outreach and Leadership from Wheaton College as well as a Masters of Arts in Theology from Fuller Theological seminary. In her over 15 years of campus work, Tamice has served as the Director of Student Experience and Engagement at Virginia Union University, Associate Area Director of HBCU Planting and Strategy and has taught numerous undergraduate courses and workshops. Tamice is a Hip-Hop head, a true crime/documentary enthusiast, a pizza lover, and a coffee addict. Tamice lives in Richmond with her spouse Ellison and daughter Harlym.

Much like our “Nonviolent Atonements” series, alongside exploring with surprising people how the Scriptures can turn our world upside down, this season we are also exploring “Liberating Liturgies: Formation to Undo Domination”. In this series, we will explore the witness of communal spiritualities that have provided an embodied Christ-like counter story to Christendom’s accommodation to domination, empire and colonisation. And we are kicking off with truly one of the contemporary greatest spiritual leaders, our mate Rev Dr Otis Moss III.Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III is senior pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago. He is a preacher, activist, author and filmmaker with an eye toward justice and equality, as evidenced through the gospel of Jesus Christ. Rev. Dr. Moss is ordained in the Progressive National Baptist Convention and the United Church of Christ. With civil rights advocacy in his DNA, Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III built his ministry on community advancement and social justice activism. Dr. Moss is part of a new generation of ministers committed to preaching a prophetic message of love and justice, which he believes are inseparable companions that form the foundation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Rev. Dr. Dennis R. Edwards is currently Dean and Vice President of Church Relations at North Park Theological Seminary, after having previously been Associate Professor of New Testament. He’s the author of 1 Peter in the Story of God Bible Commentary series (Zondervan), What is the Bible and How Do We Understand It? (Herald Press), Might from the Margins: The Gospel’s Power to Turn the Tables on Injustice (Herald Press), along with several academic essays. Dennis has been married to Susan Steele Edwards since 1982. They are the parents of four children and grandparents of five. Dennis has three decades of urban pastoral ministry experience. He most recently served as senior pastor of The Sanctuary Covenant Church in Minneapolis, MN. Prior to that, he was the founding pastor of Peace Fellowship Church in Washington, DC; associate and then lead pastor of Washington Community Fellowship on Capitol Hill (Washington, DC); and founding pastor of New Community Church in Brooklyn, NY. Dennis holds a Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering (Cornell University) and has been a high school science and math teacher. He also earned a Master of Divinity degree in Urban Ministry (Trinity Evangelical Divinity School) as well as a Master of Arts and Ph.D. degrees in Biblical Studies (Catholic University of America). Dennis enjoys baking, playing his flute and saxophone, as well as weightlifting and cycling—as much as his body will let him.

Wil Anderson, One of Australia’s most beloved standup comedians and TV personalities, is back on InVerse to discuss his new book, “I’m Not Fine, Thanks”, his new[er] TV show “Question Everything” (as well as continuing very excellent “Gruen” TV Show), and what a moratorium on stupidity during the pandemic might look like, as well as a Bible quiz with up and coming comedian Rowan Thambar.

Sheila Wise Rowe is a truth-teller who is passionate about matters of faith and emotional healing. She advocates for the dignity, rights, and healing of abuse and racial trauma survivors and racial conciliation. Sheila holds a Master's in counseling psychology and over twenty-eight years of experience as a Counselor, Spiritual Director, Educator, Writer, and Speaker. She’s counseled and taught counseling in Massachusetts, and Paris France. For a decade, Sheila worked with homeless and abused women and children in Johannesburg, South Africa. Sheila is a member of The Redbud Writers Guild and The International Women's Writers Guild. Her essays can be found in numerous blogs, newspapers, journals, and books such as; The Boston Sunday Globe newspaper, The Wonder Years: 40 Women Over 40 on Aging, Faith, Beauty and Strength, Voices of Lament, and The Gospel of Peace in A Violent World. In 2020 Sheila authored the award-winning book Healing Racial Trauma: The Road to Resilience and, recently, Young, Gifted, and Black: A Journey of Lament and Celebration. She is a sought-after speaker at retreats, colleges, churches, organizations, and seminaries in the USA and abroad. Sheila's also a volunteer member of the Community Ethics Committee of Harvard Medical School, a policy-review resource for its teaching hospitals. She lives in Boston, Massachusetts, with Nicholas, her husband of 31 years, and near their adult children. When she is not engaging in ministry, Sheila loves date nights with her husband and creating art, crafts and rummaging through vintage shops.   Follow Drew Hart on Instagram and Twitter @druhart. Follow Jarrod McKenna on Instagram and Twitter @jarrodmckenna. Discover our global community on Twitter and Instagram @inversepodcast. Become a Patron of Inverse at https://www.patreon.com/InVerse  Jen Kinney @iamjenkinney produces inverse Podcast

Tamice Spencer-Helms (she/her) has a passion for working with young adults and seeing them grow into themselves and thrive. In 2018 Tamice established the nonprofit Sub: Culture Incorporated, which seeks to remove social and economic barriers for Black college students. An experienced scholar-practitioner, Tamice holds a Master of Arts in Contextual Outreach and Leadership from Wheaton College as well as a Masters of Arts in Theology from Fuller Theological seminary. In her over 15 years of campus work, Tamice has served as the Director of Student Experience and Engagement at Virginia Union University, Associate Area Director of HBCU Planting and Strategy, and taught numerous undergraduate courses and workshops. Tamice is a Hip-Hop head, a true crime/documentary enthusiast, a pizza lover, and a coffee addict. Tamice lives in Richmond with her spouse Ellison and daughter Harlym. Follow Tamice: Instagram @tamicenamaespeaks Twitter @TamiceNamae Substack https://tamicenamaespeaks.substack.com and www.subcultureinc.org  Follow Drew Hart on Instagram and Twitter @druhart. Follow Jarrod McKenna on Instagram and Twitter @jarrodmckenna. Discover our global community on Twitter and Instagram @inversepodcast. Become a Patron of Inverse at https://www.patreon.com/InVerse  Jen Kinney @iamjenkinney produces inverse Podcast

Brian Albert Smith, PhD., grew up in the Midwest but has spent most of his adult life in the East Coast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the US. A brief stint in youth ministry led to seminary and a Ph.D. in Hebrew Bible and Ancient Near East studies. His work at Messiah University has been in Campus Ministries and the department of Biblical, Religious, and Philosophical Studies. In addition to teaching courses in Hebrew Bible and Hermeneutics, he co-directs Thriving Together: Congregations for Racial Justice, which challenges local churches to grapple with central Pennsylvania’s racialized past and respond with new work for justice. Brian has a deep fondness for trees and woodworking and enjoys life with his partner Jackie, whom he married this past summer.     Follow Drew Hart on Instagram and Twitter @druhart. Follow Jarrod McKenna on Instagram and Twitter @jarrodmckenna. Discover our global community on Twitter and Instagram @inversepodcast. Become a Patron of Inverse at https://www.patreon.com/InVerse  Inverse Podcast is produced by Jen Kinney @iamjenkinney

DON GOLDEN IS A HUMANITARIAN, PASTOR, AND THE FOUNDER OF JUST CAPITAL QUOTIENT, A CONSULTANCY HELPING THRIVING BUSINESSES BECOME FORCES FOR GOOD. AFTER 30 YEARS OF WORKING IN THE MOST CHALLENGING HUMANITARIAN CONTEXTS, DON IS CONVINCED THAT A NEW ECONOMY IS WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS MOST. DON AND JCQ ARE PREACHING THIS NEW ECONOMY AND THEIR CLIENTS ARE LISTENING AND BECOMING MORE COMPETITIVE AND PROFITABLE IN THE PROCESS.HE IS THE CO-AUTHOR OF JESUS WANTS TO SAVE CHRISTIANS WITH ROB BELL. YOU MAY HAVE SEEN HIM IN HUFFINGTON POST, THE NEW YORK TIMES, CNN, OR NPR. IN ADDITION TO HIS WORK WITH JCQ, HE IS THE CHIEF IMPACT OFFICER AT THREEFOLD PRIVATE EQUITY.   Follow Don on Twitter @donrgolden.    Follow Drew Hart on Instagram and Twitter @druhart. Follow Jarrod McKenna on Instagram and Twitter @jarrodmckenna. Discover our global community on Twitter and Instagram @inversepodcast. Become a Patron of Inverse at https://www.patreon.com/InVerse  Inverse Podcast is produced by Jen Kinney @iamjenkinney

Jonny Rashid has been the pastor of Circle of Hope in Philadelphia for more than 10 years. He is an abolitionist and a housing activist. He is an avid cook, who blogs at jonnyrashid.com and hosts Circle of Hope's "Resist and Restore" podcast. He studied journalism, education, and history at Temple University and completed his master's of divinity at Palmer Theological Seminary. His book "Jesus Takes A Side" is out now.     Follow Jonny on Instagram and Twitter @jonnyrashid.    Follow Drew Hart on Instagram and Twitter @druhart. Follow Jarrod McKenna on Instagram and Twitter @jarrodmckenna. Discover our global community on Twitter and Instagram @inversepodcast. Become a Patron of Inverse at https://www.patreon.com/InVerse  Inverse Podcast is produced by Jen Kinney @iamjenkinney

Birmingham native Lisa McNair is the younger sister of Denise McNair, one of the four little girls killed in 1963 in the infamous bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. After attending public and private schools, Lisa attended college at the University of Alabama, both Tuscaloosa and Birmingham campuses. She worked for 18 years at the Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau promoting tourism and was instrumental in assisting with the development of Civil Right Historic Tours in the Greater Birmingham area. Later she spent seven years working full-time in her family’s business, Chris McNair Studios & Art Gallery, and now serves as a professional photographer with her business, Posh Photographers. Lisa worked for 15 years at Hand in Paw, a local nonprofit that provides Animal Assisted Therapy. She blossomed during this time because it allowed her to express her love of serving people and animals. Currently, she is a national public speaker under her own business, Speak Lisa. Lisa shares the story of Denise’s life, her heinous murder, and how it affected her family and the city of Birmingham. As part of that work, she also conducts Anti-Racism workshops where she speaks on racial unity and how we must all remember that as human beings, we have more things in common than we have that are different. Lisa serves on several boards, including the Morgan Project, UAB’s Community and Scientific Action Board (CSAB), Four Little Girls Memorial Fund, and Faith in Action Alabama. On September 13th of this year, Lisa became a published author with her book, Dear Denise: Letters to the Sister I Never Knew, published by UA Press. In this memoir, she opens up and shares, very honestly, her life story in letters she’s written to her late sister Denise. Lisa hopes that the lessons learned from the heinous murder of her sister and others in the Civil Rights Movement will never be forgotten but will remain present to help us remember never to repeat the horrible evilness of that time.   Follow Drew Hart on Instagram and Twitter @druhart. Follow Jarrod McKenna on Instagram and Twitter @jarrodmckenna. Discover our global community on Twitter and Instagram @inversepodcast. Become a Patron of Inverse at https://www.patreon.com/InVerse  Inverse Podcast is produced by Jen Kinney @iamjenkinney

Christian de Vietri is an artist known for his large-scale artworks in public spaces and traditional sculptures related to Trika Śaivism. He graduated from the Columbia University MFA program and went on to receive training in ancient Indian Art and Architecture. His artworks have been exhibited, collected, and commissioned internationally for the past 20 years, and he has been the recipient of several awards including Citizen of the Year for his contribution to visual art in Australia. He’s also one of Jarrod’s best mates.   Follow Drew Hart on Instagram and Twitter @druhart. Follow Jarrod McKenna on Instagram and Twitter @jarrodmckenna. Discover our global community on Twitter and Instagram @inversepodcast. Become a Patron of Inverse at https://www.patreon.com/InVerse  Inverse Podcast is produced by Jen Kinney @iamjenkinney

Jonathan is the author of The Road Away from God, How to Survive a Shipwreck, and Prototype. He holds degrees from Gardner-Webb University, Pentecostal Theological Seminary (MA), and Duke University (ThM). He speaks at conferences, universities, seminaries, retreats, and churches. His work and/or words have been featured in places like the New York Times, The Atlantic, NPR, Newsweek, Vox, Sojourners, The Huffington Post, Relevant Magazine, and The Journal of Pentecostal Theology. Currently, he lives in Oklahoma City, OK where he serves as Pastor of The Table.   Follow Jonathan on Instagram @jonathanamartin and Twitter @theboyonthebike Follow Drew Hart on Instagram and Twitter @druhart. Follow Jarrod McKenna on Instagram and Twitter @jarrodmckenna. Discover our global community on Twitter and Instagram @inversepodcast. Become a Patron of Inverse at https://www.patreon.com/InVerse  Inverse Podcast is produced by Jen Kinney @iamjenkinney    

Dr. David P. Gushee (PhD, Union Theological Seminary, New York) is an ethicist, pastor, author, and advocate. He is the Distinguished University Professor of Christian Ethics at Mercer University, and Chair of Christian Social Ethics at Vrije Universiteit (“Free University”) Amsterdam, and Senior Research Fellow, International Baptist Theological Study Centre. Gushee is the elected Past-President of both the American Academy of Religion and the Society of Christian Ethics, signaling his role as one of America's leading Christian ethicists. He is the author, co-author, editor, or co-editor of more than 25 books and over 175 academic book chapters, journal articles, and reviews. His most recognized works include Introducing Christian Ethics, Righteous Gentiles of the Holocaust, Kingdom Ethics, and The Sacredness of Human Life. With his Changing Our Mind (more than 25,000 sold) and After Evangelicalism, he charts a theological and ethical course for post-evangelical Christians, a course he more personally relates in memoir, Still Christian. Altogether his books have sold over 100,000 copies and been translated into a dozen languages. Over a full 29-year career, he’s been a devoted teacher and mentor as Professor Gushee to college students, seminarians, and PhD students. He’s also led activist efforts on climate, torture, and LGBTQ inclusion, and continues to be a keynote speaker at churches, forums, and universities. For the general media, Gushee has written hundreds of opinion pieces and given interviews to scores of major outlets and podcasts. David and his beloved wife Jeanie live in Atlanta. He is a classic novel reader, world traveler, and tennis player, and awaits a call from his beloved Atlanta Braves to resume the baseball career he abandoned in college.   Follow Drew Hart on Instagram and Twitter @druhart. Follow Jarrod McKenna on Instagram and Twitter @jarrodmckenna. Discover our global community on Twitter and Instagram @inversepodcast. Become a Patron of Inverse at https://www.patreon.com/InVerse  Inverse Podcast is produced by Jen Kinney @iamjenkinney

Idelette McVicker Idelette McVicker is the author of Recovering Racists: Dismantling White Supremacy and Reclaiming Our Humanity. She is also the founder of SheLoves Media Society and the Dangerous Women community. She was born as a white, Afrikaans woman in South Africa during the apartheid years, which profoundly shaped her quest for Love, justice, liberation and repair. Before moving to Canada, she worked as a journalist in Taiwan. Idelette is married to Scott and they have three teenagers, two dogs and a restaurant. You can find her at idelette.com, on Twitter at @idelette and on Instagram at @idelettemcvicker To stay up to date on any upcoming Liberation Journeys she’s planning or her personal journey of Repair and Restitution, join Idelette’s newsletter Love Letters for Liberation at idelette.com Author of RECOVERING RACISTS (Brazos Press, Spring 2022) FOUNDER: shelovesmagazine.com and dangerouswomen.org BLOG: idelette.com FACEBOOK: Idelette TWITTER: @idelette INSTAGRAM: @idelettemcvicker Follow Drew Hart on Instagram and Twitter @druhart. Follow Jarrod McKenna on Instagram and Twitter @jarrodmckenna. Discover our global community on Twitter and Instagram @inversepodcast. Become a Patron of Inverse at https://www.patreon.com/InVerse  Inverse Podcast is produced by Jen Kinney @iamjenkinney        

KEVIN SWEENEY is co-founder and lead pastor of Imagine Church—an urban church in Honolulu that is welcoming of all people, sees imagination as the key to the future, chooses authenticity over performance, substance over hype, and quality over quantity. He is the host of the podcast “The Church Needs Therapy” and is the author of the forthcoming books, “The Making of a Mystic: My Journey with Mushrooms, My Life as a Pastor, and Why It’s Okay For Everyone to Relax,” out on May 31st, and “The Joy of Letting Go” which will be out in January 2023. Both on Quoir Publishing. He lives In Honolulu with his wife and co-founder of Imagine, Christine, and their two kids, True and Mikayla.   Follow Kevin Sweeney on Instagram @kevinsweeney1 Follow Drew Hart on Instagram and Twitter @druhart. Follow Jarrod McKenna on Instagram and Twitter @jarrodmckenna. Discover our global community on Twitter and Instagram @inversepodcast. Become a Patron of Inverse at https://www.patreon.com/InVerse  Inverse Podcast is produced by Jen Kinney @iamjenkinney

Follow Drew Hart on Instagram and Twitter @druhart. Follow Jarrod McKenna on Instagram and Twitter @jarrodmckenna. Discover our global community on Twitter and Instagram @inversepodcast. Become a Patron of Inverse at https://www.patreon.com/InVerse  Inverse Podcast is produced by Jen Kinney @iamjenkinney

The Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis—Author, Activist, and Public Theologian—is the Senior Minister at Middle Collegiate Church, a multiracial, welcoming, and inclusive congregation in New York City that is driven by Love. Period. Jacqui is the author of several books, including her latest: Fierce Love Fierce Love by Dr. Jacqui Lewis: 9780593233863 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books A Bold Path to Ferocious Courage and Rule Breaking Kindness That Can Heal the World. Middle Church and Jacqui have been featured in media such as The TODAY Show; Good Morning America; The Take Away; The Brian Lehrer Show; and in The Washington Post, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal. Her new podcast, Love.Period.http://www.jacquijlewis.com/love-period, is produced by the Center for Action and Contemplation. Follow Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis IG @revjaquilewis and Twitter @RevJacquiLewis Follow Drew Hart on Instagram and Twitter @druhart. Follow Jarrod McKenna on Instagram and Twitter @jarrodmckenna. Discover our global community on Twitter and Instagram @inversepodcast. Become a Patron of Inverse at https://www.patreon.com/InVerse  Inverse Podcast is produced by Jen Kinney @iamjenkinney        

Laura Barringer is an outspoken advocate for the wounded resisters of institutional abuse. Laura is co-author of A Church Called Tov: Forming a Goodness Culture That Resists Abuses of Power and Promotes Healing. Laura is a curriculum writer for Grow Kids, a ministry of Stuff You Can Use. She previously co-authored the children's version of The Jesus Creed and wrote a teacher's guide to accompany the book. She published articles for The Jesus Creed and The Englewood Review of Books, and her writing has been featured in Church Leaders, The Roys Report, and Converge Summit. Laura is a graduate of Wheaton College.   Follow Laura on Twitter @laurambarringer Follow Drew Hart on Instagram and Twitter @druhart. Follow Jarrod McKenna on Instagram and Twitter @jarrodmckenna. Discover our global community on Twitter and Instagram @inversepodcast. Become a Patron of Inverse at https://www.patreon.com/InVerse  Inverse Podcast is produced by Jen Kinney @iamjenkinney

We are back with season 7 and happy to kick off this new season with Cole Arthur Riley. Cole is a writer and the creator of Black Liturgies, a contemplative writing project centering Black dignity, healing, and liberation. Cole also currently serves as spiritual teacher in residence with Cornell University’s Office of Spirituality and Meaning Making. Her debut book is This Here Flesh: Spirituality, Liberation, and the Stories that Make Us.   Follow Cole Arthur Riley on IG @blackliturgies and @colearthurriley Follow Drew Hart on Instagram and Twitter @druhart. Follow Jarrod McKenna on Instagram and Twitter @jarrodmckenna. Discover our global community on Twitter and Instagram @inversepodcast. Become a Patron of Inverse at https://www.patreon.com/InVerse  Inverse Podcast is produced by Jen Kinney @iamjenkinney

Van Badham is Jordan Peterson’s favourite Marxist Christian to mock. Writer, Activist, co-host of the Weekly On Wednesday podcast and regular columnist for The Guardian, Van is a prolific voice for justice. In this episode, Drew and Jarrod discuss Luke 3:1-20 with Van, and discuss her faith, her love for Karl Marx, and her opposition to all forms of authoritarianism, as a Christian Marxist.    Follow Van Badham on [Instagram](http://https://www.instagram.com/vanbadham/) and [Twitter](http://https://twitter.com/vanbadham) @vanbadham    Follow Drew Hart on [Instagram](http://http://instagram.com/druhart) and [Twitter](http://https://twitter.com/druhart) @druhart    Follow Jarrod McKenna on [Instagram](http://https://www.instagram.com/jarrodmckenna) and [Twitter](http://jarrodmckenna) @jarrodmckenna

Brian Zahnd is the founder and lead pastor of Word of Life Church, a non-denominational Christian congregation in Saint Joseph, Missouri. Brian and his wife, Peri, founded the church in 1981. Brian is also the author of several books, including, Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God, Water to Wine, A Farewell To Mars, Beauty Will Save the World, and Unconditional?: The Call of Jesus to Radical Forgiveness.    Follow Brian on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/BrianZahnd) and [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/brianzahnd) @brianzahnd as well as [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/BrianZahnd/).    Follow Drew Hart on [Instagram](http://instagram.com/druhart) and [Twitter](http://twitter.com/druhart) @druhart.    Follow Jarrod McKenna on [Instagram](http://www.instagram.com/jarrodmckenna) and [Twitter](http://twitter.com/jarrodmckenna) @jarrodmckenna.    Discover our global community on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/inversepodcast) and [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/inversepodcast) @inversepodcast.    Become a Patron of Inverse at https://www.patreon.com/InVerse Inverse is produced by Jen Kinney @iamjenkinney with music provided by David Andrew (@davidjandrew)