Welcome back to another episode of The Collective Table podcast - the ultimate female perspective on Jesus, justice, and joy! Today’s episode both closes out season 8 AND kicks off Pride month with a conversation with Jonathan Merritt about his new children’s book, My Guncle and Me. In this inclusive and heartwarming picture book, main character Henry Higgleston struggles with being deemed an oddball by the other kids at school. But when his fabulous gay uncle arrives for a weekend with his pup Jimmy Chew in tow, Guncle is on a mission to teach Henry that what makes him different makes him special. This joyful story that celebrates family and self-acceptance will make every reader feel seen and loved.

Jonathan Merritt is one of America’s most popular writers on issues of faith and culture. He is author of several critically-acclaimed books, including Learning to Speak God from Scratch: Why Sacred Words are Vanishing - and How We Can Revive Them, named “Book of the Year” by the Englewood Review of Books. He is also a regular contributor to The Atlantic, Religion News Service, and The Week.

Discover more about Jonathan at https://www.jonathanmerritt.com/

X: https://x.com/jonathanmerritt

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JonathanMerrittWriter/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathan_merritt/

Seekers & Speakers Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/seekers-speakers/id1423339325?mt=2

Stay connected with The Collective Table on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.collective.table/

Explore the mission of The Collective Table further at https://www.thecollectivetable.org.

Episode edited by Claire Watson. Learn more at https://podswithclaire.com.

This week, join Chelsea and Dana in a conversation with Rabbi Sharon Brous as they discuss her national bestselling book, The Amen Effect: Ancient Wisdom to Mend our Broken Hearts and World. She is the senior and founding rabbi of IKAR, a leading edge Jewish community based in Los Angeles.

Learn more about Rabbi Sharon here: https://ikar.org/team/rabbi-sharon-brous/

Follow Rabbi Sharon on social media:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharonbrous/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RabbiSharonBrous/

X: https://twitter.com/sharonbrous?lang=en

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@sharonbrous

Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@weareikar

Learn more and purchase her book here: https://ikar.org/the-amen-effect/

Rabbi Sharon’s TED Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/sharon_brous_it_s_time_to_reclaim_religion?language=en

Stay connected with The Collective Table on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.collective.table/

Explore the mission of The Collective Table further at https://www.thecollectivetable.org

Episode edited by Claire Watson. Learn more at https://podswithclaire.com

This week, join Chelsea and Dana in a conversation with pastor Trey Ferguson - a thinker, theologizer, writer, speaker, teacher, preacher, and creator. His new book, Theologizin’ Bigger: Homilies on Living Freely and Loving Wholly encourages readers to re-engage their imaginations, and to construct theologies that speak to our current contexts, just as people of faith have done throughout history.

Discover more about Trey and his impactful work at https://www.pastortrey05.com/

For a closer look at Trey’s ministry and work, follow him @PastorTrey05 on socials: https://www.instagram.com/pastortrey05/?hl=en

https://www.tiktok.com/@pastortrey05

https://twitter.com/pastortrey05

https://www.facebook.com/realpastortrey05

Purchase the book, shop merch, follow Trey's podcasts, and more at https://linktr.ee/pastortrey05

Stay connected with The Collective Table on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/the.collective.table/

Explore the mission of The Collective Table further at https://www.thecollectivetable.org.

Episode edited by Claire Watson. Learn more at https://podswithclaire.com.

Welcome back to another episode of The Collective Table podcast - the ultimate female perspective on Jesus, justice, and joy! Today Chelsea and Dana are joined by Emmy Award winner Lyvonne Briggs, who is a body and sex-positive womanist spiritualist. She is a writer, pastor, preacher, spiritual life coach, and highly sought after transformational speaker and seminar leader. In today’s conversation, we discuss Lyvonne’s book, Sensual Faith: The Art of Coming Home to Your Body.

*Episode note: This is an important, necessary, and faithful conversation - that being said, sex and sensuality are heavily discussed and may not be appropriate for all listeners (especially children). Please exercise discretion when listening.

Discover more about Lyvonne Briggs and her impactful work at: https://lyvonnep.com/

Support Lyvonne on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/join/lyvonnep

Stay connected with The Collective Table on Instagram: @the.collective.table.

Explore the mission of The Collective Table further at www.thecollectivetable.org.

Episode edited by Claire Watson. Learn more at podswithclaire.com.

This week on The Collective Table podcast, join Chelsea and Dana in a conversation with Debie Thomas, author of A Faith of Many Rooms: Inhabiting a More Spacious Christianity, and Into the Mess and Other Jesus Stories: Reflections on the Life of Christ. Debie is a columnist and contributing editor for The Christian Century, and from 2014 to 2022, was a staff writer for Journey with Jesus: A Weekly Webzine for the Global Church. She studied English Literature at Wellesley College and Brown University, and earned an MFA in Creative Writing at Ohio State University. Currently, she serves as the Minister for Lifelong Formation at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Palo Alto, CA.

Discover more about Debie and her impactful work at debiethomas.com.

For a closer look at Debie's journey and insights, follow her on Instagram: @debiethomas1

Stay connected with The Collective Table on Instagram: @the_collective_table.

Explore the mission of The Collective Table further at www.thecollectivetable.org.

Episode edited by Claire Watson. Learn more at podswithclaire.com.

This is a prayer from Debie Thomas’ book, A Faith of Many Rooms: Inhabiting a More Spacious Christianity. Debie shared this poem with us during Dana and Chelsea’s recent conversation with her, which will air on Monday, April 8th! Until then, sit back and rest in these words.

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Discover more about Debie and her impactful work at debiethomas.com.

For a closer look at Debie's journey and insights, follow her on Instagram: @debiethomas1

Stay connected with The Collective Table on Instagram: @the_collective_table.

Explore the mission of The Collective Table further at www.thecollectivetable.org.

This week, join Chelsea and Dana in a conversation with Amy Kenny, an accomplished disabled scholar, writer, and advocate. Amy's critically acclaimed book, "My Body Is Not a Prayer Request: Disability Justice in the Church," skillfully blends humor, narrative, and theology. It serves as a powerful call for faith communities to re-evaluate unintentional ableism and embrace the valuable insights offered by the embodied wisdom of disabled individuals.

Discover more about Amy Kenny and her impactful work at amy-kenny.com.

For a closer look at Amy's journey and insights, follow her on Instagram: @dramykenny.

Stay connected with The Collective Table on Instagram: @the_collective_table.

Explore the mission of The Collective Table further at www.thecollectivetable.org.

Episode edited by Claire Watson. Learn more at podswithclaire.com.

Listen in on Dana & Chelsea’s conversation with Rev. Mark Feldmeir, author of Life After God: Finding Faith When You Can't Believe Anymore.

Learn more about Mark here: https://www.markfeldmeir.com/

Follow The Collective Table on Instagram @the_collective_table

Learn more about the work of The Collective Table at www.thecollectivetable.org

Episode edited by Claire Watson. Learn more at podswithclaire.com