Send us a text A single billboard question haunted our childhoods and still shapes modern faith: Where will you spend eternity? We decided to take it apart—gently, honestly, and without losing the heart of the gospel. Together we trace how fear-based scripts formed our earliest images of God and how those scripts often create otherness, separation, and shame. Then we pivot to presence, asking what happens when we trade anxiety about the afterlife for the daring work of love, justice, and neig...
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Send us a text A single billboard question haunted our childhoods and still shapes modern faith: Where will you spend eternity? We decided to take it apart—gently, honestly, and without losing the heart of the gospel. Together we trace how fear-based scripts formed our earliest images of God and how those scripts often create otherness, separation, and shame. Then we pivot to presence, asking what happens when we trade anxiety about the afterlife for the daring work of love, justice, and neig...
Send us a text A single billboard question haunted our childhoods and still shapes modern faith: Where will you spend eternity? We decided to take it apart—gently, honestly, and without losing the heart of the gospel. Together we trace how fear-based scripts formed our earliest images of God and how those scripts often create otherness, separation, and shame. Then we pivot to presence, asking what happens when we trade anxiety about the afterlife for the daring work of love, justice, and neig...
Send us a text A grandmother takes a door off its hinges to make the table longer. That simple act becomes our compass for a bold claim: hospitality isn’t a niche talent—it’s a spiritual practice that can transform how we love, listen, and live together. We trace radical hospitality from the kitchen table to the inner life, challenging the idea that it belongs only to those with perfect homes or to women trained to “host.” Instead, we make room for a fuller story where the feminine and mascul...
Send us a text What does it truly mean to practice radical acceptance in a deeply divided world? This question sits at the heart of our conversation as we explore the challenging yet transformative path toward seeing the sacred in everyone. The journey begins with an uncomfortable truth—many of us struggle to extend true acceptance beyond those who think, believe, and live like we do. Yet the revolutionary power of radical love demands we go further. Through personal stories and theological ...
Send us a text Changing your mind might be the most revolutionary spiritual practice available to you right now. Heather and Shelly dive deep into the transformative power of mental flexibility and how it connects to the core teachings of Jesus. What happens when we allow ourselves to consider that our perspective might be incomplete? The hosts explore how Jesus repeatedly invited his followers to "repent" – literally to change their minds – and how this practice creates pathways for authent...
Send us a text Prayer isn't just words whispered in sacred spaces—it's marching in the streets, demanding justice from those in power, and standing in solidarity with the marginalized. This revolutionary understanding of spirituality sits at the heart of "We Pray Freedom," a groundbreaking liturgical collection from theologians Liz Theoharis and Charon Hribar. The book reimagines prayer as "the work of the people" in its most authentic sense, featuring contributions from over 80 grassroots l...
Send us a text Mary Magdalene beckons us beyond the twelve verses that mention her in scripture, inviting us into a profound reimagining of what it means to witness the divine. Shelley Shepard and Heather Drake explore this sacred friendship during Mary's feast week, diving into the transformative power of seeing resurrection through feminine eyes. What makes Mary's witness unique? The hosts suggest that witnessing isn't merely observing or repeating stories—it's embodying presence in vulner...
Send us a text What if Mary Magdalene's uncovered hair wasn't just a break from tradition, but a revolutionary act of spiritual and feminine liberation? As we approach Mary Magdalene's feast day on July 22nd, Shelley and Heather dive into one of the most overlooked yet profound aspects of her story – her hair. In ancient times, a woman's hair was simultaneously considered her "glory" and something to be hidden away from public view. The cultural mandate requiring women to cover their hair wa...
Send us a text Could Mary Magdalene be a missing part of the Christ story? This question forms the heart of our exploration as we approach her feast day on July 22nd. While neither of us come from Catholic traditions, we recognize the profound wisdom in celebrating feast days that awaken our consciousness to spiritual truth—and Mary Magdalene holds truths too long overlooked. Mary represents a pathway to transformation that embraces feminine wisdom and embodied spirituality. When the G...
Send us a text Your intuition speaks, but are you listening? In this soul-stirring conversation, Shelley and Heather explore what they call "ancient remembering" – that profound sense of recognition when something resonates deep within us, awakening wisdom we've always possessed but somehow forgotten. The hosts navigate the delicate balance between external authority and inner knowing, exploring how many of us feel caught between obedience to religious rules and trust in our own sovereignty....
Send us a text What happens when we expand our vision of God beyond Father to include Mother? Shelley Shepard and I journey into territory many find unfamiliar yet deeply healing as we explore divine motherhood and its transformative potential. This conversation travels through personal stories of our relationships with our mothers and how these experiences have colored our spiritual understanding. We examine how limiting God to masculine imagery creates barriers for many who've experienced ...
Send us a text What if everything you thought you knew about sin and separation from God was based on a misunderstanding? What if the true spiritual journey isn't about managing sin but remembering your divine nature? Shelley Shepard and Heather Drake dive into a spicy conversation about religious labels that have historically limited our spiritual experience. Through exploring Mary Magdalene as "the new Eve," they uncover a powerful alternative narrative—one where humans were never truly se...
Send us a text What happens when the sacred spaces of our childhood reveal themselves to be breeding grounds for exclusion? Cara Meredith joins us to unpack her three-decade journey through evangelical church camp culture and the awakening that led to her powerful new book. From her first experience as a 9-year-old camper in 1988 to her final speaking engagement at a family camp in 2018, Cara's relationship with Christian camping environments evolved from wholehearted participation to though...
Send us a text Imagine stepping into a story that has been told for generations, only to discover there's another way of seeing it entirely. Shelley and Heather invite us to reconsider the foundation stories that have shaped women's spiritual identity for centuries. Beginning with a delightful childhood tale of "stealing" Mary Magdalene from the Sunday school flannel graph, they explore how limiting narratives about Eve have been used to constrain women's spiritual authority and leadership th...
Send us a text What if the cosmic significance and divine orchestration of our lives were revealed in an ancient text? Together, we'll unravel the profound connection between the vast universe and our everyday experiences. Focusing on Mary 6:1-2, we'll discuss Peter's acknowledgment of Jesus' extraordinary love for Mary Magdalene and her unique spiritual perception. Moreover, we venture into the transformative role of women in early Christianity, through the lens of the Gospel of Mary....
Send us a text Its a great, great day here and we are just thrilled to share the mic with Shannon Evans. In her latest book, "The Mystics Would Like A Word," Shannon highlights the profound legacy of women mystics like Marjorie Kemp, Catherine of Siena, and Teresa of Avila who trusted their own souls despite living in deeply patriarchal contexts. Their witness offers guidance for contemporary spiritual seekers navigating questions of institutional belonging and spiritual authenticity. ...
Send us a text What if everything you thought you knew about sin was actually keeping you from experiencing true joy? In this thought-provoking episode, Shelley and Heather challenge conventional religious narratives around sin, offering a liberating perspective that centers on love rather than separation. The conversation begins with a simple yet profound question: Do we need to confess sin to experience joy? This launches us into an exploration of original blessing versus original sin, inv...
Send us a text What happens when we put down the stories that have limited us and pick up a pen to write our own? In this illuminating conversation with renowned author Laurie Beth Jones, we journey through the liberating practice of questioning inherited narratives and crafting something more authentic. Laurie Beth challenges us to recognize Jesus as the ultimate "plot twist" in spirituality—not a conquering king but a baby born to poverty who consistently broke social barriers. She invites...
Send us a text What happens when you challenge traditional beliefs and set out on a path of expansive theology? Dr. Matte Downey joins us to unravel the mysteries of faith in a world hungry for diverse narratives. Her book, "Go Wide," serves as a beacon, guiding us through the transformative power of storytelling, from biblical parables to the enchanting worlds of C.S. Lewis and Tolkien. Together, we explore how embracing broader perspectives and questioning inherited traditions can lead to a...
Send us a text Imagine if your ordinary morning coffee could serve as a conduit for divine joy. Shelley Shepard and Heather Drake invite you to explore this notion as we celebrate the Advent season by discovering joy amidst the ordinary. Through Mary's extraordinary story, we learn how everyday rituals, like savoring a cup of coffee, can become holy moments that ground us in love and holiness. Our lighthearted musings even question whether Mary had her morning brew before the angelic encounte...
Send us a text What does true peace mean in a world fraught with noise and chaos? Join us as we journey into the heart of Advent, a time rich with themes of hope, peace, love, and joy. We offer our gratitude for a year of the Expansionist Podcast by exploring the Hebrew and Greek concepts of peace—"shalom" and "irene"—which invite us to rethink peace not just as an absence of conflict, but as a vibrant state of harmony and tranquility. Through a touching narrative about a friend’s grandmother...
Send us a text A single billboard question haunted our childhoods and still shapes modern faith: Where will you spend eternity? We decided to take it apart—gently, honestly, and without losing the heart of the gospel. Together we trace how fear-based scripts formed our earliest images of God and how those scripts often create otherness, separation, and shame. Then we pivot to presence, asking what happens when we trade anxiety about the afterlife for the daring work of love, justice, and neig...
