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.