Best Mark Formans Podcasts (2025)

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Reimagining Christianity for the Mystics on the Margins with Dr. Robert KC Forman 50:43

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21h ago50:43

50:43

In this episode, Kelly talks with Dr. Robert K.C. Forman, author of “Christianity Imagined,” about how Christianity drew him in, what’s meaningful to him about Christian practice, and what many modern Christians miss about Jesus’ message. Dr. Forman shares his journey through various spiritual practices, describes the church experience that changed…

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PART 2 Attention Outcasts! God is Calling You In: with John S. Suarez 1:04:45

9d ago1:04:45

1:04:45

John Suarez, author of The Outsider’s Banquet (Quoir Publishing) is a sweet, beautiful soul with a wildly creative imagination. Through his semi-autobiographical novel that walks the line between fantasy and philosophy, Suarez takes us on a dreamlike odyssey into his understanding of God’s love. We are so grateful for the chance to meet and talk wi…

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Julian Galluzzo: Dropping Out at 13, Building Agencies, and the Reality of AI Coding | Ep. 91 1:39:14

14d ago1:39:14

1:39:14

⚡Want to build a business that actually works? My team at Motive11 can help—websites, systems, and strategy for modern entrepreneurs → https://motive11.com Julian Galluzzo shares how dropping out of school at 13, building agencies, and embracing AI-driven development reshaped his career — and why speed, curiosity, and progress matter more than cred…

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Attention Outcasts! God is Calling You In: with John S. Suarez 45:01

15d ago45:01

45:01

John Suarez, author of The Outsider’s Banquet (Quoir Publishing) is a sweet, beautiful soul with a wildly creative imagination. Through his semi-autobiographical novel that walks the line between fantasy and philosophy, Suarez takes us on a dreamlike odyssey into his understanding of God’s love. We are so grateful for the chance to meet and talk wi…

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Facing Life on Life's Terms: What Sobriety Teaches Us About Spirituality 45:01

22d ago45:01

45:01

In a candid and self-revelatory conversation, Mark and Kelly reveal their own unique stories of spiritual awakening as a result of choosing the path of sobriety. While our journeys have been different, we share our genuine experiences with gratitude, community, acceptance, balancing joy and anger, and the challenging but rewarding work of coping wi…

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Stephanie Hudson: Surviving a Coma, FocusWP & Why Every Freelancer Needs a Continuity Plan | Ep. 90 2:06:50

24d ago2:06:50

2:06:50

⚡Want to build a business that actually works? My team at Motive11 can help—websites, systems, and strategy for modern entrepreneurs → https://motive11.com Stephanie Hudson shares her journey from freelance web developer to FocusWP founder, including how surviving a coma taught her the critical importance of business continuity planning that most s…

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Love vs Judgment: What It Means to Love Unconditionally | Radical Love Live EP237 50:28

29d ago50:28

50:28

What are we talking about when we talk about Radical Love? Are we talking about the unconditional love of the Prodigal Son’s father, who rejoices to have his child back, no matter what he’s done? Or are we talking about love that condemns and restrains others’ behavior, to protect them from ultimate Divine Judgment? In this episode, we explore the …

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Spencer Forman: Identity, Money, and the State of WordPress Today | Ep. 89 1:41:18

1M ago1:41:18

1:41:18

⚡Want to build a business that actually works? My team at Motive11 can help—websites, systems, and strategy for modern entrepreneurs → https://motive11.com A deep, raw conversation with Spencer Forman about the real state of WordPress, the entrepreneurial mindset, the cycles of reinvention, and how to build a life and business that actually makes s…

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PART 2 Jon Carl Lewis: Masculinity Outside the "Man Box" | Radical Love Live 234 40:43

1M ago40:43

40:43

What does it mean to be a man? The eye-opening second half of this animated three-way conversation with Mark, Kelly, and our returning guest Jon Carl Lewis, talking about spirituality, sexuality, and the embodiment of masculinity—whether straight, queer, or trans. We explore the paradox of being simultaneously men of the world and “children of God,…

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Jon Carl Lewis: Masculinity Outside the "Man Box" 41:30

1M ago41:30

41:30

What does it mean to be a man? This is a lively and revealing three-way conversation with Mark, Kelly, and our returning guest Jon Carl Lewis (and our first episode in a long time in which we’ve had the pleasure of a guest in-studio with us!) that spans a wide range of topics related to the spirituality and embodiment of masculinity—whether straigh…

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Chris LaFay: How He Built a $1.3M Web Agency from a Small Town | Ep. 88 1:08:41

2M ago1:08:41

1:08:41

⚡Want to build a business that actually works? My team at Motive11 can help—websites, systems, and strategy for modern entrepreneurs → https://motive11.com Agency founder Chris LaFay joins me to talk about growing a web business from small-town freelancing to seven figures, the power of sharing experience instead of advice, and what it really takes…

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Writing the Revolution: Unrepentant and the Future of Sacred Justice | Radical Love Live 233 33:18

2M ago33:18

33:18

Kelly and Mark sit down to discuss Unrepentant: Our Manifesto of Queer Divinity and Sacred Justice — a revolutionary text calling faith communities to end religious abuse and bring accountability into the Church. Mark opens up about the creative process, the vision behind the manifesto, and the courage required to confront systems that wound. Hear …

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Andy Milligan: From College Golfer to $15K/mo Agency (No Code, No WordPress) | Ep. 87 2:02:42

2M ago2:02:42

2:02:42

⚡Want to build a business that actually works? My team at Motive11 can help—websites, systems, and strategy for modern entrepreneurs → https://motive11.com In this episode, 24-year-old agency founder Andy Milligan reveals why he ditched WordPress, built 30+ sites on Webflow + Framer, and publicly tracks every dollar of revenue. 🔗 Connect with Andy …

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Who Are The “Real” Christians?: Who do We Reject and Who do We Correct? 54:39

2M ago54:39

54:39

In this era when politics and Christian identity are so tightly wrapped around one another, it’s common to see people arguing that the people across the aisle aren’t “real” Christians—because of what or who they support or defend. But is this division between Christians helpful, or even true? What if they ARE real Christians—and they are our respon…

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Fueled By Progress Is Back From The Dead | Ep. 86 21:32

2M ago21:32

21:32

Fueled By Progress is back. New studio, fresh clarity, same mission: candid conversations that document the journey and help us all move forward. In this solo relaunch, I share why “MJS Podcast” never fully resonated, the story behind the FBP name (and why I’m proud to bring it back), how my year reshaped my direction, and what’s coming next—guests…

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John Fugelsang: "The Separation of Church and Hate" 40:56

3M ago40:56

40:56

John Fugelsang is a fierce advocate for the “separation of church and hate.” This week, the irreverent host of Sirius XM’s “Tell Me Everything” takes on Christianity in the US, which he says has been hijacked by those who misunderstand or misuse the Bible in ways that are controlling, oppressive, and destructive. With sharp humor and intellect, Fug…

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A Conversation with Brian E. Pearson Part 2 53:13

3M ago53:13

53:13

In this two-part adventure, Mark talks with Brian E. Pearson, priest, musician, and author, for a deep and wide-ranging conversation about vocation, soul, and joy. Brian reflects on his years of ministry in the Anglican Church of Canada, including his time as rector of St. Stephen’s in Calgary—and the moment that nearly cost him his calling when he…

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Brian E. Pearson: Joy, Vocation, and Talking to the Trees 46:25

4M ago46:25

46:25

In this two-part adventure, Mark talks with Brian E. Pearson, priest, musician, and author, for a deep and wide-ranging conversation about vocation, soul, and joy. Brian reflects on his years of ministry in the Anglican Church of Canada, including his time as rector of St. Stephen’s in Calgary—and the moment that nearly cost him his calling when he…

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What it Really Means to Focus on the Family | Radical Love Live 129 56:19

4M ago56:19

56:19

What should “family” look like within the context of Christianity? How could a godly parent reject their own child for not meeting their community’s standard of “goodness?" Mark and Kelly reflect on their own enriching experiences with inclusive Christian communities—the "family of God," so to speak—but also comment on the devastating legacy of the…

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Bradley Jersak: God's Love, With Nobody's "BUT" In the Way 47:17

4M ago47:17

47:17

How many times has somebody's “BUT” gotten in the way of God’s love? "God loves us BUT”…He is also Just. But we can’t affirm that behavior. But we can't just accept that sinner. What if...God's love is "BUT"-less? Kelly talks with author/teacher Bradley Jersak about a love that is not the opposite of mercy, a love that is not retributive, a love th…

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Oh My [BLEEP]: Who is this God Person Anyway? 1:02:26

4M ago1:02:26

1:02:26

Who or what is God? When one says “Oh, my God” in awe, or mutters “Jesus…” in a moment of trouble, what power are they invoking? Is it a curse, a prayer, an invitation to co-create with the divine? This week, Mark and Kelly examine what we are talking about when we talk about God. Is God close or distant? Powerful or codependent? Intelligent or int…

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Love beyond tolerance: The true meaning of giving “grace" 1:00:58

5M ago1:00:58

1:00:58

What is “Grace,” and can we humans offer it to one another in a divided, cutthroat world? Can we love those of whose behavior we do not agree or approve? Can we love without agreement or approval? Mark and Kelly delve into the multifaceted concept of grace, exploring its definitions, implications in personal growth, and its role in navigating socia…

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Jon Carl Lewis: the Gospel of Erotic Love Part 2 | Radical Love Live 124 48:49

5M ago48:49

48:49

CONTENT Alert: Explicit talk about sex. What are churches saying about robust, spirit-led erotic love and sexual flourishing? (If they talk about it at all.) Beyond talk of sexual purity versus fornication or enforcing heteronormativity versus embracing queerness, Queer/Liberative theologian Jon Carl Lewis opens the door to grander conversations to…

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Jon Carl Lewis: the Gospel of Erotic Love | Radical Love Live 124 48:08

5M ago48:08

48:08

What are churches saying about robust, spirit-led erotic love and sexual flourishing? (If they talk about it at all.) Beyond talk of sexual purity versus fornication or enforcing heteronormativity versus embracing queerness, Queer/Liberative theologian Jon Carl Lewis opens the door to grander conversations to be had about the complexity of human se…

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Josh Patterson Part 2 41:23

5M ago41:23

41:23

Kelly gets a chance to talk with Josh Patterson, host of the "[Re] Thinking Faith" podcast and scholar of Process/Relational Theology about a whole range of topics about how theology and belief intersect with this current moment. In Part 1, we focus on division--how ideas about theology and politics drive a wedge between us, and ways we can intenti…

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Josh Patterson: Finding common ground, joining our collective becoming 37:20

6M ago37:20

37:20

Kelly gets a chance to talk with Josh Patterson, host of the "[Re] Thinking Faith" podcast and scholar of Process/Relational Theology about a whole range of topics about how theology and belief intersect with this current moment. In Part 1, we focus on division--how ideas about theology and politics drive a wedge between us, and ways we can intenti…

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Billie Hoard: Part 2 Contaminated by Goodness 1:11:36

6M ago1:11:36

1:11:36

Is there a good kind of contamination? The energy and emotion get turned up in this 2nd part of our conversation with teacher and author Bille Hoard about disgust and "eucontamination.". This week we also introduce our new "Bible Moment" segment with Bible Teacher Amanda Pence, MA, who provides valuable context, history, and insight into how passag…

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Billie Hoard: Contaminated by Goodness -- PART 1 42:04

6M ago42:04

42:04

Disgust is powerful. If our body believes something we ingest is contaminated, we will throw it up before our mind even knows what happened. But is there a good kind of contamination? Teacher and author Bille Hoard makes the case that disgust can make us reject “euconaminants,” too—the people and qualities that can “infect” us with goodness. Billie…

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Amanda Pence PART 2: Understand your hermeneutic (yes, you’re using one right now!) 50:31

7M ago50:31

50:31

Bible Teacher Amanda Pence wants you to know your hermeneutic—that is, what lens you’re looking through when you read the Bible. There is no perfect “plain reading” of scripture. We all interpret our way through this library, written by many people in various times, places, & situations—& bring much of our own context to the page. Amanda tells us h…

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Amanda Pence: Understand your hermeneutic (yes, you’re using one right now!) Part 1 43:42

7M ago43:42

43:42

Bible Teacher Amanda Pence wants you to know your hermeneutic—that is, what lens you’re looking through when you read the Bible. There is no perfect “plain reading” of scripture. We all interpret our way through this library, written by many people in various times, places, & situations—& bring much of our own context to the page. Amanda tells us h…

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Bruce Epperly: What Would Jesus (not Trump) Do? Part 2 1:11:34

7M ago1:11:34

1:11:34

As Bruce Epperly regularly writes to the Speaker Mike Johnson , "Please consider what Jesus, not Trump, would do." Using this petition as a starting point, we talk with Epperly, who is a theologian, spiritual guide, pastor, professor, and prolific author, about Christianity and US politics today. Listen as he explains how conservative efforts to ho…

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Bruce Epperly: What Would Jesus (not Trump) Do? PART 1 43:49

7M ago43:49

43:49

As Bruce Epperly regularly writes to the Speaker Mike Johnson , "Please consider what Jesus, not Trump, would do." Using this petition as a starting point, we talk with Epperly, who is a theologian, spiritual guide, pastor, professor, and prolific author, about Christianity and US politics today. Listen as he explains how conservative efforts to ho…

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Jay Bakker: Fight Better with Each Other (it's the Christian thing to do) 57:20

8M ago57:20

57:20

Bakker is back, and he wants you to argue better! "Can't we all get along?" sounds like one of the most naive questions in the world, but in truth, it's one of the most Christlike things we can do. Our guest Jay Bakker, punk-rock pastor, author, and independent scholar, has long been a champion of arguing well, giving others grace, and also calling…

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Nick Saraev: Building High-ROI Services & Ruthless Effectiveness | Ep. 85 1:13:46

8M ago1:13:46

1:13:46

Join me for a conversation with Nick Saraev, AI automation expert, agency owner, and content creator who scaled his service business to $72K/month. In this episode, we explore the intersection of technology, business mindset, and content creation strategy. Nick shares his journey into AI automation, revealing why focusing ruthlessly on revenue-gene…

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Dr Mark Karris: Healing Religious Trauma and Rediscovering Yourself 43:08

8M ago43:08

43:08

There is a growing awareness of the impact that religious trauma—damaging things we’ve been told, that have been done to us, and that we’ve believed in negative religious environments—can have a lasting affects on our self-esteem, our relationships, and can even get down into our very nervous systems. This is a heartfelt conversation with Dr Mark K…

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Starlette Thomas: The Apocalypse of White Body Supremacy 53:31

8M ago53:31

53:31

On March 10, a demolition crew tore up the pavement of Black Lives Matter Plaza in Washington DC, and Reverend Starlette Thomas was there to bear witness. With this moment of government-ordered erasure as our starting point, we talk with Thomas about the protest and community that happened on that very ground after the killing of George Floyd in 20…

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Matt Medeiros: Building Digital Assets, Personal Branding & Playing the Long Game | Ep. 84 1:02:42

8M ago1:02:42

1:02:42

Join me for an enlightening conversation with Matt Medeiros, the "Podfather of WordPress" and creator of The WP Minute, as we dive deep into the world of content creation, personal branding, and playing the long game in the digital space. In this episode, Matt shares his 15+ years of experience as a digital professional and reveals why he conscious…

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Melanie Hood-Wilson: They're saying the quiet part out loud about DEI 47:33

8M ago47:33

47:33

What’s so crazy about diversity, equity, and inclusion? We are so glad to welcome back Melanie Hood-Wilson, DEI consultant and educator, to talk about her work and mission in the midst of the current administration’s attacks on programs it calls “Radical and Wasteful.” Melanie is incisive, bold, and clearly lays out the issues we’re facing as Ameri…

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Tamice Spencer-Helms: Experiencing an Unleavened Faith 1:02:23

9M ago1:02:23

1:02:23

Tamice Spencer-Helms (they/she) riffs on wisdom. They take us on a vast, universe-spanning theological journey that is rooted in our bodies, our ancestry, and our feet right here on the ground. In the church and in our culture in America, there is something hidden and pervasive, Tamice says, and it will continue to eat at us until we find it, name …

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I Started A Podcast (And This Is The First Episode) | Ep. 83 18:46

9M ago18:46

18:46

Welcome to the first episode of the MJS Podcast! I'm Mark Szymanski, and in this introduction, I share why I'm starting this podcast journey to have authentic conversations with interesting minds who have mentored and influenced me. I explain my background in WordPress, digital marketing, and content creation, plus my previous podcasting experience…

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Kevin Sweeney: Where Cosmic Christ meets The Concrete Jesus 54:31

9M ago54:31

54:31

For Kevin Sweeney (author, speaker, spiritual director), Christian faith is all about experiencing God, not in having abstract beliefs about God. And the experiences that have kept him a Christian, even after his first dogmatic teachings about the Bible fell by the wayside, have been at the intersection of the great, transcendent, mystical Cosmic C…

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Dillon Naber Cruz: Speaking truth to "F@$%wittery" for the Kingdom of God 58:27

9M ago58:27

58:27

“The Tattooed Theologian” has something to say about all of it: racism, LGBTQIA bigotry, ecology, capitalism, fundamentalism, Christian nationalism, “F*CKWITTERY” & the questions — and revelations — that drive his work. This week’s conversation with public theologian Dillon Naber Cruz covers the gamut of his musings about theology through the lens …

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Matthew Distefano & Keith Giles: Reading Romans Right 48:44

9M ago48:44

48:44

The authors, Matthew Distefano and Keith Giles, are both accomplished writers and teachers in their own right, as well as being the hosts of the popular Heretic Happy Hour podcast. They are also the co-publishers at Quoir Publishing, an author-focused publishing company that publishes work about life, the universe, and everything. They are also the…

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Dina Nina Martinez: Can't erase us--Trans people are here & getting stronger 48:44

10M ago48:44

48:44

In the USA right now, every day brings another attack on transgender identities, lives, and existence. We were eager to check in with Dina Nina Martinez--public servant, activist, comedian, queer minster, and so much more--to understand the current crisis from her point of view. Moreso, we wanted to know where she is turning for hope, community, an…

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Faith Under Fire? The Truth About Christianity in America Today 54:59

10M ago54:59

54:59

Has the US become a bad place to be a Christian? In a recent NY Times feature, writer Aaron Renn, who has been called the "Malcolm Gladwell of Conservative Christianity," claims that America has shifted into a "negative world" where Christianity is a social liability. In this episode, Mark and Kelly wrestle with this idea that Christianity is losin…

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Jon Turney: When grace is too big for the church to hold (PART 2) 50:59

10M ago50:59

50:59

(Part 2 of 2) Sometimes faith just doesn’t fit within the church walls—or it even breaks those walls down. This week we talk with Jon Turney, co-host of the popular THIS IS NOT CHURCH podcast, which challenges mainstream religious narratives and flips a few tables along the way. We talk about so many things we needed two episodes (!), including dec…

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Jon Turney: When grace is too big for the church to hold 55:17

10M ago55:17

55:17

(Part 1 of 2) Sometimes faith just doesn’t fit within the church walls—or it even breaks those walls down. This week we talk with Jon Turney, co-host of the popular THIS IS NOT CHURCH podcast, which challenges mainstream religious narratives and flips a few tables along the way. We talk about so many things we needed two episodes (!), including dec…

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Liz Charlotte Grant: Losing Faith in the Bible (But Learning to Love it Again) 50:48

11M ago50:48

50:48

How does one learn to love the Bible again? For Liz Charlotte Grant, it is almost like a story from a movie: girl meets Bible, falls in love, discovers Bible’s secret past, falls out of love with Bible, but eventually realizes she was really in love the whole time, once she learned how to look at the Bible in a new way. This is an eye-opening conve…

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Dana Hicks: Connecting with the Divine After Deconstruction 54:49

11M ago54:49

54:49

Is there spirituality after deconstruction? Public theologian and “ecclesiastical disrupter” Dana Hicks shares the story of his exploration of the ways in which the post-deconstruction or post-Christian soul can find those “thin places”—areas in our lives where we can connect with the divine without dogma or fundamentalism—where practices such as m…

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PART 2 The State of Faith Today (& Imagining the Faith of Tomorrow): A 100th Episode Special 50:31

11M ago50:31

50:31

In this episode we delve into such topics as how we continue to search for meaning and purpose in a post-truth world, how humans often find something to worship even in the absence of God, and how the power of imagination and story can help us find that which is true as we face each new day. Maria Francesca French is the author of Safer than the Kn…