Professor, author, speaker and all-around delightful person Heather Thompson Day is our guest on The Puddcast—something I’ve been hoping to make happen for 3 years. Dr. Heather is Associate Professor of Communication at Andrews University, and

Creating suicide-safe churches (Steve Austin tribute)

May 26th, 2023 57m 48s

Two years ago, my friend Steve Austin, an author, mental health advocate and former pastor, died by suicide. Ever since then, I’ve intended to dedicate an episode to his memory and his work, and this is that episode. Including a powerful interv

Reflecting on Aundi Kolber and self-compassionate survival

Apr 12th, 2023 51m 43s

Tryphena and I kept the mics rolling right after our interview with Aundi Kolber, and let me tell you… it’s a wild ride! We discussed the provocativeness of wholeness, including a physics lesson and a reflection on quantum physics… Why? Because

Flexible strength—compassionate survival (with Aundi Kolber)

Mar 17th, 2023 1h 1m

My good friend Aundi Kolber returns to the show to discuss her brand new book, Strong Like Water: Finding the Freedom, Safety, and Compassion to Move through Hard Things—and Experience True Flourishing. Our conversation revolves around reframin

Unpacking Brad Jersak and the idol smashing of deconstruction

Mar 2nd, 2023 1h 2m

Here’s a new Puddcast B-Side, unpacking idol smashing and how to create a welcoming, forgiving space as we deconstruct from toxic theology. My pastor, Amy Ryan, joined Tryphena and I to discuss our takeaways from Brad Jersak’s thoughts on the n

The necessity, perils and possibilities of deconstruction (with Brad Jersak)

Feb 15th, 2023 1h 26m

The wonderfully wise and gentle Brad Jersak returns to the show, with a guest co-host! This special episode was recorded live when I was visiting Jonathan Martin recently, and we co-interviewed Brad about his latest book, Out of the Embers: Fai

Exploring Dave Connis on laughter, silliness and work

Feb 9th, 2023 52m 55s

Here’s the latest Puddcast B-Side, exploring themes of laughter and silliness and the value of everything, from our interview with Dave Connis. When Dave said, “Everything counts” something inside me exploded, or clarified, or whatever… it’s be

A theology of laughter and co-creation (with Dave Connis)

Jan 20th, 2023 58m 22s

Children’s and Young Adult author Dave Connis comes to The Puddcast to teach us the importance of laughter (and more). Dave’s hilarious and meaningful storybooks, The Inventions of God (and Eva), and The Stories of God (and Kiki) both captured

Debriefing Lisa Sharon Harper on race, monarchy & forgiveness

Dec 22nd, 2022 52m 54s

Just in time for Christmas comes a wild ride of a B-Side. Looking back at our interview with Lisa Sharon Harper, Tryphena and I reflected on themes of forgiveness and reparations, the gift of tongues as Indigenous celebration, how the monarcy d

How race broke the world (with Lisa Sharon Harper)

Dec 7th, 2022 58m 55s

Acclaimed speaker, activist, playwright, and the author of several books, Lisa Sharon Harper is on The Puddcast! Recognized as one of the most important and powerful voices speaking to matters of justice and religion today, Lisa joined us to ta

Unpacking Katie Gaddini on single women leaving the church

Nov 24th, 2022 45m 2s

The B-Side is back! Katie Gaddini’s evocative book unveiling the factors that cause single women to feel alienated in the church triggered some THOUGHTS from both Tryphena and myself. Having both served in churches for many years, we each share

Why single women are leaving the church (with Dr. Katie Gaddini)

Nov 11th, 2022 54m 17s

Sociologist and author Dr. Katie Gaddini joins us to talk about the factors forcing single evangelical women out of the church. Rather than a focus on faith deconstruction, we talked about power structures and cultural norms, such as “the ideal

Men's devotionals are terrible (but Jesus isn't)

Oct 13th, 2022 1h 11m

To commemorate the launch (and the irony) of my latest book (a men’s Bible devotional), my friend Anthony McLean returns to host the show and interview me! We talked about men’s mental health, overworking ourselves, permitted male emotions, and

The Soul of the Helper (with Dr. Holly Oxhandler)

Sep 16th, 2022 51m 11s

Professor, researcher and podcaster Dr. Holly Oxhandler is my guest, talking about the supports that helpers need to keep on helping. Whether we’re talking about parents, therapists, pastors, teachers or literally anyone else who helps, Holly’s

Debriefing Jonathan Martin on the road away from God

Jul 18th, 2022 43m 36s

Time for another B-Side! Tryphena and I kept the mics rolling after we bid farewell to Jonathan Martin, and we leaned into his thoughts on God walking with us, even as we think we’re walking away. We riff on the divine power revealed in human a

#129: Finding hope on the road away from God (with Jonathan Martin)

Jun 28th, 2022 1h 1m

Pastor, writer and social leader Jonathan Martin returns to the show to explain how the journey that we’re each on is the journey we need to be on. Using the story of the disciples leaving Jerusalem on the road to Emmaus, Jonathan explains that

Unpacking Kevin Sweeney on mystics + mushrooms

May 17th, 2022 32m 58s

This here’s a B-Side, folks! As Tryphena and I walked back through our interview with Kevin Sweeney about mystics, mushrooms and the power of letting go, we found ourselves camped out discussing our value and worth when we’re not productive. Tr

Mystics, mushrooms and the power of letting go (with Kevin Sweeney)

May 5th, 2022 1h 1m

Pastor, poet and mystic Kevin Sweeney comes to The Puddcast this month to share about his journey of encountering God while high on mushrooms. And that’s just the beginning! Starting this episode, we welcome Tryphena Perumalla-Gagnon as a co-ho

Discussing Bridget Eileen Rivera on what gay Christians experience in church

Apr 21st, 2022 57m 37s

BONUS EPISODE! I’m away on vacation so instead of a fresh interview, Tryphena and I decided to share our B-Side from episode 127 (back in the days of episode 127 the B-Sides were exclusive to patrons only). Tryphena echoed the question of many

What gay Christians experience in church (with Bridget Eileen Rivera)

Apr 8th, 2022 1h 7m

Bridget Eileen Rivera comes to The Puddcast this month to share what it’s like for LGBTQ Christians in the church today. Her book, Heavy Burdens: Seven Ways LGBTQ Christians Experience Harm in the Church, is a compassionate, heartbreaking expos

Love, freedom and conflict (with Ashley Abercrombie)

Mar 25th, 2022 58m 14s

This month I got to interview a true kindred spirit, Ashley Abercrombie. Ashley’s message of embracing transformative love by bravely facing disagreement and conflict was challenging to me in all the best ways. Ashley grew up in the American So

Bitter & Sweet — the journey of Lent (with Tsh Oxenreider)

Feb 18th, 2022 59m 53s

This month I connected with long-time blogger and author Tsh Oxenreider all about Lent. Tsh grew up big Bible church and after living abroad for many years found herself drawn to the Catholic church. Her new book, Bitter & Sweet: A Journey into

The wisdom of your body (with Hillary McBride, PhD)

Dec 9th, 2021 52m 42s

I had the great joy of welcoming author, psychologist, researcher and podcaster Hillary L. McBride, PhD to the show this week. We discussed the idea that our bodies are a source of wisdom and truth, the topic of her critically important new boo

The gifts of neurodiversity (with Daniel Bowman Jr.)

Dec 2nd, 2021 55m 5s

My new friend Daniel Bowman Jr. is my guest this week, and he shares his story of learning he was autistic as an adult. Daniel is an English professor and poet, and he shares the importance of understanding the different ways brains work, the g

The embodied faith of our grandmothers (with Kat Armas)

Nov 11th, 2021 50m 30s

Kat Armas comes to the show this week to discuss embodiment, the sacredness of survival, and the faith of our grandmothers. Kat argues that our grandmothers, especially abuelitas in Latine cultures, function as live-in ministers particularly be