Best The WADR Project Podcasts (2025)

1
Bonhoeffer 58:24

19h ago58:24

58:24

The recent feature film ‘Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin' attracted controversy for its portrayal of Europe’s most celebrated martyr of the 20th century. There are so many questions surrounding the life of Bonhoeffer - chief among them, how involved was he in the botched 20 July plot to kill Hitler? Our hosts this week share their thoughts on the…

1
The Spiritual Disciplines 1:01:19

15d ago1:01:19

1:01:19

John Mark Comer’s Practicing the Way has become a Christian bestseller since its publication last year. It’s part of a new wave of books focusing on the ‘spiritual disciplines’. This week, our hosts delve into what these disciplines are and how we can approach them in a biblical manner. Author Alex Sosler then joins the show to discuss modern appro…

1
The Election 50:03

29d ago50:03

50:03

With an Australian federal election called for May, our hosts think about how Christians should approach the ballot box and whether there is a "right" way for a believer to vote. We then hear multiple Australian Christian leaders answering the question, "What should Christians consider when casting their vote this year at the Australian federal ele…

1
Revival? 1:00:26

1M ago1:00:26

1:00:26

Is a revival breaking out in the Western world? Or is the reappraisal of Christianity - leading intellectuals like Richard Dawkins and Jordan Peterson to proclaim themselves “cultural Christians” - just a passing fad? Evangelist Glen Scrivener joins the show to discuss, before our hosts turn their attention to the latest "Catholic political thrille…

1
Social Media - Banned! 1:01:02

2M ago1:01:02

1:01:02

Last year, Australia introduced a law banning certain social media platforms for children under the age of 16 - the first of its kind in the world. This week, our hosts move the conversation offline and into real life, pondering the effects of social media and how the Bible can guide us in how to use it. Professor Andrew Campbell, Chair of the Cybe…

1
Genesis: Now 57:10

2M ago57:10

57:10

Welcome back to another season of With All Due Respect, where your hosts, Megan Powell du Toit and Michael Jensen, tackle tricky topics with respect and grace. To kick things off, celebrated author Marilynne Robinson joins the show to discuss her new book Reading Genesis, which looks at God's covenant with humanity - despite how dark things get. Ou…

1
You Asked For It 51:11

6M ago51:11

51:11

In our season finale, our hosts answer questions from the audience and give their hot takes on some thorny issues. (01:36) - - Q&A Part 1 (22:11) - - Q&A Part 2 (38:56) - - Through The WardrobeBy The WADR Project

1
Lausanne 54:54

6M ago54:54

54:54

In the aftermath of the 2024 Lausanne Congress - at which Megan was a delegate - our hosts take stock of what went on, review the Seoul Statement (and other alliterative faith declarations of past conferences), and mull over the insights of other attendees. They also discuss a documentary on the first Lausanne Congress, held way back in 1974. (01:5…

1
Masculinity 1:03:21

7M ago1:03:21

1:03:21

Is there a masculinity crisis? Or have we fundamentally misunderstood what being a man in the 21st century means? Our hosts spend some time discussing their understanding of masculinity, how they’ve seen it shift around them, and what a Christian vision of masculinity really looks like. Executive Director of the Centre for Public Christianity Simon…

1
Offence 1:05:35

7M ago1:05:35

1:05:35

Do we live in a culture that thrives on offence? Is it ever okay to intentionally offend? Michael and Megan are joined this week by Presbyterian Minister and writer Nathan Campbell to think through these questions. Our hosts also discuss the theology behind offence, and what offends them. Finally, the 2022 Psychological Thriller Tar - starring Cate…

1
Class 48:11

8M ago48:11

48:11

This week, our hosts discuss the touchy topic of class. Does Christianity have an issue with class in Australia? What class do our hosts think they belong in? For 'Through the Wardrobe', Michael and Megan share their thoughts on the hit HBO drama The Gilded Age, a show dedicated to the world of the upstairs and downstairs world of 19th century Amer…

1
Sin & Desire 59:49

8M ago59:49

59:49

This week, our hosts are grappling with the topic of sin. They discuss what sin is, and then ponder the relationship of desire to sin. In particular, is all sinful desire ... sinful? Michael and Megan don't entirely see eye to eye on this one! Writer and podcaster Elizabeth Oldfield, well-known as the host of The Sacred podcast, then joins the show…

1
All Creatures Great and Small 53:24

8M ago53:24

53:24

This week our hosts ponder the role of animals in creation. What is the standing of animals in comparison to humans in the created order? Is it ever ok to eat animals? Do they go to heaven? Ethicist and Professor of Animal Theology Clair Linzey then joins the show to ponder these questions further, before Michael and Megan turn their attention to t…

1
The Learning Creature 54:12

9M ago54:12

54:12

Humans are learning creatures. We spend our whole lives picking up new skills, improving them, and finding new areas of knowledge to explore. This week Michael and Megan think through the Biblical implications of this, and along the way are joined by Zeeshan LaalDin. Zeeshan is a Project Officer with Anglican Aid. He will be delivering a keynote ad…

1
Making Pastors 1:00:23

9M ago1:00:23

1:00:23

This week, our hosts hold up a mirror to themselves and discuss the role of the pastor. They ponder a range of questions, including the Biblical job description of a pastor and whether the modern church is equipping its pastors well enough for the job. Principal of Morling College Tim MacBride then joins the show to discuss the challenges facing th…

1
Neurodiversity 54:01

10M ago54:01

54:01

Neurodiversity is a topic that has seen an upswing of awareness in recent years. With more visibility than ever before, our hosts discuss whether neurodivergence is a good, or "fallen" condition. Writer and scholar Kate Morris then joins the show to discuss her own experiences raising a neurodivergent child, as well as her substack aimed at helping…

1
Childlike Theology 58:02

10M ago58:02

58:02

Theology. It's a term often associated with old professors and dusty books. But theology is actually crucial for the church. So, why don't more Christians take an interest in it? Why has it become so .... stale? These are the questions our hosts (and resident theologians) grapple with. Speaking of childlike - Michael and Megan are joined this week …

1
Gendered Violence 55:46

11M ago55:46

55:46

This week, Megan and Michael look at the epidemic of gendered violence sweeping through both the church and society at large. Our hosts look at what the Bible has to say on the issue and are then joined by expert consultant Carolyn Cousins for a discussion about what the church can do to help stamp it out. They then turn their attention to the prog…

1
Grief 46:54

11M ago46:54

46:54

With All Due Respect returns for its ninth season with an episode especially brought to you by Living Hope Funerals. Grief is a universal experience. We all face it at some point in our lives. So, what's a Christian framework for walking through grief? How can we grieve well? Dr Kit Barker joins our hosts to tackle these questions. Our hosts then t…

1
Fandom 39:19

12M ago39:19

39:19

Welcome to another season of With All Due Respect! Megan Powell du Toit and Michael Jensen embark on another series of podcasts tackling some potentially divisive elements of culture with nuance, grace, and - of course- respect! This week, our hosts look at the phenomena of fandom and ask - is it possible for fandom to go far? Can a Christian engag…

1
Generations 1:10:07

1y ago1:10:07

1:10:07

Welcome to the final episode of Season 8 of With All Due Respect! This week, Minister Jeri Jones Sparks and former Sydney Archbishop (and Michael's Dad!) Peter Jensen joins the show for a panel discussion on different church generations. The team look at the highs and lows of recent Australian church history, as well as what different generations o…

1
The Christian Org 57:37

1y ago57:37

57:37

This week, Michael and Megan are joined by Stephen Judd, the former CEO of HammondCare, to discuss how - if at all - an organisation can be "Christian". Our hosts then discuss whether the broader church is an organisation, and if ministers can gain anything from the world of corporate wisdom. Finally, they turn their attention to the hit drama Prop…

1
Peace in the Middle East 56:55

1+ y ago56:55

56:55

This week, Megan and Michael hash out one of the most controversial issues currently ruling the discourse; the conflict in the Israel and Gaza region. Our hosts think through how the Bible can guide Christians’ response to the conflict. A Palestinian Christian and peacemaker joins the show to discuss the challenges facing faith groups in the confli…

1
Lies and Statistics 51:28

1+ y ago51:28

51:28

Mark Twain once famously said, "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damn lies, and statistics". Our hosts this week are chatting about this third lie - statistics. With the age of social media now dictating how people access statistical data, are we literate enough to understand what we are reading when it comes to statistics? How does this affect…

1
Reforming Evangelicalism 1:04:53

1+ y ago1:04:53

1:04:53

Michael and Megan are kicking off 2024 by checking in on the state of Evangelicalism. Karen Swallow Prior returns to the show to discuss her new book The Evangelical Imagination, which provocatively claims to take stock of a "culture in crisis". Our hosts then hash out the question: does Evangelicalism need another Reformation? Finally, the pair di…

1
Is There Something About Mary? 51:05

1+ y ago51:05

51:05

It's the 2023 Christmas episode of With All Due Respect, and we're talking all things Mary this year! New Testament scholar The Rev. Dr Sarah Harris joins the show to discuss the mother of Jesus, and makes some big calls about her place in theological history. Michael and Megan then discuss the place of Mary in Protestant tradition. Should the evan…

1
Is the Bible 'plain'? 57:20

1+ y ago57:20

57:20

It's the 100th episode of With All Due Respect! To mark their century our guests chat with Mike Bird, Academic Dean of Melbourne's Ridley College, discussing the question "Is the Bible clear in what it tells us?" They also discuss the differences in church tradition when it comes to interpreting scripture. Later, our hosts discuss Sarah Polley's co…

1
Home 57:10

1+ y ago57:10

57:10

Home - it’s an evocative word and one that has instant access to our emotions, whether that’s when Dorothy knocks together her shiny red heels and says there’s no place like home or when angelic children’s choirs sing I still call Australia home on a Qantas ad. The Bible culminates with an image of God at home with humanity. Home speaks to us of fa…

1
Civic Religion 43:14

1+ y ago43:14

43:14

This week, Megan and Michael discuss the place of "civic religion" in Australian society. Defined as the implicit "religious" values of a nation - expressed through public ceremony, symbols, and rituals - our hosts ask if Australia even has a civic religion in the first place. They then turn their eyes to the place of the Welcome to / Acknowledgeme…

1
Hope 49:15

1+ y ago49:15

49:15

Leisa Aitken joins Megan and Michael to discuss her dissertation on the psychology of Hope, and why the clinical definition of the word is missing the mark. On 'For Arguments Sake', our hosts discuss whether there may be a lack of hope within the church. Have Christians in the global west lost their eschatological hope? Finally, our hosts cast thei…

1
Only Human 48:49

1+ y ago48:49

48:49

In light of the Barbie movie phenomenon, our hosts take stock of Greta Gerwig's divisive blockbuster, ponder its themes on humanity, and whether it will become an essential existential text. Old Testament expert Dr George Athas then joins the show to discuss the film, its relationship to the book of Ecclesiastes, and how death plays a role in our u…

1
The Voice: Reconciliation 22:16

1+ y ago22:16

22:16

As the voting time for the referendum approaches, Michael and Megan are joined by Bundjalung woman Karen Mundine, CEO of Reconciliation Australia, and Peter Morris, General Manager of the Reconciliation Action Plan program of Reconciliation Australia. They talk through what a 'yes' vote might mean for Australian society, its citizens, and the churc…

1
The Voice: The Constitution 51:18

1+ y ago51:18

51:18

Welcome to season 8 of With All Due Respect! As Australians prepare to vote in a referendum on an Aboriginal Voice in parliament, Michael Jensen and (newly Reverend Dr) Megan Powell du Toit speak with constitutional law expert Dr Joel Harrison about what it might mean, legally speaking. They then discuss whether or not the church should be involved…

1
The Voice 50:54

2y ago50:54

50:54

In the season finale, Megan and Michael sit down with First Nations Christian leader Uncle Pastor Ray Minniecon to discuss the upcoming referendum in Australia concerning The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice (also known as the Indigenous Voice to Parliament, or simply 'The Voice). Our hosts also sift through the responses from various gr…

1
Easter Special: Radical Grace 41:53

2y ago41:53

41:53

This week on WADR, our hosts are living up to the aim of the show (conversations with respect and grace) with an Easter special on ... GRACE! Grace is of course a concept strongly associated with the cross of Christ. It is a word Christians chuck around - but do we have a good understanding of what it means? And can grace even be immoral? 'The Secr…

1
The Adventure of Time 40:51

2y ago40:51

40:51

This week, Megan and Michael delve into the mystery of 'time', and ask the question ... is time cursed? And how are eternity and time-related? On 'Through the Wardrobe', the pair cast their critical eye over the now cancelled Amazon series Paper Girls, a time travelling adventure drama that looks at how we might feel if we met our future selves. Pl…

1
Sexual Gospel 12:05

2y ago12:05

12:05

On a special edition of 'For Argument's Sake', Michael and Megan dissect the fallout from The Gospel Coalitions' recent endorsement - and swift recant - of a controversial extract from Joshua Butler's new book Beautiful Union, which drew parallels between the saving work of Christ, and sexual intercourse between husband and wife. Our hosts then exp…

1
Finding Family 51:40

2y ago51:40

51:40

It's family week on WADR. Michael and Megan chat through different perspectives on family, and in particular, adoption. They work through the good and the bad, how it can heal - but also compound - trauma, and what the Bible has to say about it. UK-based broadcaster, author, social entrepreneur, and adoptive father Dr Krish Kandiah then joins the p…

1
Connecting with Catholics 46:06

2y ago46:06

46:06

This week, Megan and Michael deep dive into the often heated relationship between Protestantism and Roman Catholicism, examining what the recent death of former Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI means for intra-church relations, and how Protestants and Roman Catholics can walk hand-in-hand in ministry (can they?). Catholic theologian Dr Elissa Roper joins…

1
We Are Free 35:31

2y ago35:31

35:31

Megan and Michael talk about all things freedom - does true freedom exist, and are we really free in the 21st century? From overthrowing the yoke of human slavery (Israel's Exodus from Egypt) to Jesus' promise that “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free”, the concept of fre…

1
The hospitable heart 49:54

2+ y ago49:54

49:54

Hospitality is a word that conjures up images of wine glasses and silver cutlery. It's the word for the hotel trade or the type of entertaining that looks good on Instagram: themed dinner parties and pretty hand soaps for the guest toilet. Yet hospitality is also a word that occurs in the Bible. Famously, Hebrews 13:2 urges, "Do not forget to show …

1
Embodied humans 50:50

2+ y ago50:50

50:50

All of us as humans are embodied. We come into being through our bodies being formed in the womb, and when our bodies die, our lives in this world end. Christians have held different attitudes to the body over history - while the body has a central place in the Christian understanding of the life to come, at times the body has been seen as the sour…

1
Dark night of the soul 38:29

2+ y ago38:29

38:29

In this episode, Megan Powell du Toit and Michael Jensen talk about the Dark Night of the Soul. It's a common phrase - one which describes someone going through a difficult time, particularly one in which God feels either absent or unloving. The WADR team investigates where it comes from, and then asks if it's as bad as it sounds? Then Megan and Mi…

1
Better sex 50:41

2+ y ago50:41

50:41

In this episode, the WADR team talk about how to have better sex. No, this is not Megan and Michael's opportunity to present the evangelical version of the karma sutra. Rather, they want to talk about the ways Christianity has got sex right - or a lot of the time wrong - and what can be done better for everyone's sake. First up, Megan and Michael i…

1
Census: the Gospel truth 48:00

2+ y ago48:00

48:00

In 2016, following trends in many Western countries, a majority of Australians identified as Christian 52.1%. Five years later, that was down to 43.9%. Christianity is still the most common religion in the country, but for the first time no longer in the majority. Moreover, 38.9% of people now identify themselves as having no religion - a jump of a…

1
Evangelicals After Billy 51:23

2+ y ago51:23

51:23

Michael Jensen and Megan Powell du Toit ask: is evangelicalism fractured beyond repair? Or as Mark Twain might say, have reports of its death been grossly exaggerated? The WADR team are joined by Russell Moore, editor-in-chief of Christianity Today to talk about what happened to evangelical consensus. And then Michael and Megan finish with a look a…

1
Divine Comedy 42:15

2+ y ago42:15

42:15

In the final episode for this season, Michael Jensen and Megan Powell du Toit are talking comedy. Their big question: does God have a sense of humour? When humans laugh, are we doing so as people made in the image of God? Or is this only a human response to the world? Or could laughter be a link to life in the next world? The WADR team tackle each …

1
A Christian Nation? 46:10

3y ago46:10

46:10

In this episode, Megan Powell du Toit and Michael Jensen are talking about Christian Nationalism. Nationalism promotes the distinctiveness of the people of a nation. Christian nationalism goes one step further, defining a nation by its faith, and maintaining it should be protected by the state, enshrined in its laws, and actively maintained. But is…

1
The Loneliness Epidemic 45:49

3y ago45:49

45:49

While we have been dealing with a pandemic over the last couple of years, we have also been experiencing what some are calling a loneliness epidemic. Megan Powell du Toit and Michael Jensen discuss how this new struggle has been reported across many countries, particularly in their home country. The Ending Loneliness Together report says that one i…

1
Evangelicals & Race 1:00:08

3y ago1:00:08

1:00:08

In this episode, Megan Powell du Toit and Michael Jensen look at the vexed question of racism and the church. First up, they talk to African American pastor Thabiti Anaybwile about how he understands the way American evangelicalism has interacted with the question of racism. He has been a significant voice on this topic within conservative evangeli…

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