Best Starlette Thomas Podcasts (2024)

1
Can Mysticism Save America? with Dr. Bruce Epperly 49:18

8h ago49:18

49:18

This week we talk with Rev. Dr. Bruce Epperly, the multi-talented theologian, minister, professor, author, and pioneer in process/relational theology about one of his latest books, "Homegrown Mystics: Restoring Our Nation with the Healing Wisdom of America's Visionaries." We talk about what mysticism is, what it means to be a mystic in the Christia…

1
Season 5 Episode 1: Cash Cow 25:37

7h ago25:37

25:37

It's season five of "The Raceless Gospel" podcast, and this time it's "A Love Offering" -- an examination of the North American church's questionable relationship with money and an excoriation of flock-fleecing shepherds and modern-day money changers who turn a dollar into health and wealth and call it ministry. Rev. Starlette Thomas, director of t…

1
The Many Lives of Dina Nina Part 2 | Radical Love Live S3E28 49:18

1d ago49:18

49:18

(Part 2 of 2) More more more! What can we say about Dina Nina? This was an incredible conversation, so jam-packed we made it a two-part episode, with the fabulous Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford, whose bio includes Performer, Speaker, Politician, Queer Clergy, and "a little woo woo." We cover a wide range of topics from her conservative upbringing to…

1
The Many Lives of Dina Nina: A Journey of Faith, Courage, Resilience, and Joy 48:32

5d ago48:32

48:32

(Part 1 of 2) Oh my gosh, what can we say about Dina Nina? This was an incredible conversation, so jam-packed we made it a two-part episode, with the fabulous Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford, whose bio includes Performer, Speaker, Politician, Queer Clergy, and "a little woo woo." We cover a wide range of topics from her conservative upbringing to her…

1
Season 5 Trailer: A Love Offering 1:57

17d ago1:57

1:57

It's season five of "The Raceless Gospel" podcast, and this time it's "A Love Offering" -- an examination of the North American church's questionable relationship with money and an excoriation of flock-fleecing shepherds and modern-day money changers who turn a dollar into health and wealth and call it ministry. Rev. Starlette Thomas, director of t…

1
Brother Timothy Jolley: A Monk’s Devotion to Love and Action | Radical Love Live S3E19 52:49

8d ago52:49

52:49

Mark talks with Brother Timothy Jolley, a life professed monk of the Order of the Holy Cross, an Anglican Benedictine monastic community of men, associated with The Episcopal Church, located in West Park, New York. Br. Timothy joined the monastery over 50 years ago with a calling to serve a vocation dedicated to children’s education, spiritual evol…

1
The Raceless Gospel": A Call to New Baptism with Rev Starlette Thomas 48:55

15d ago48:55

48:55

This week we have a prophet in the house! Mark and Kelly have an eye opening conversation with Rev Starlette Thomas--author, artist, race abolitionist--that we hope will stir you to action as much as it did for us. The topic of conversation is "The Raceless Gospel," the concept that the church in North America is built on a caste system called race…

1
What the Jewish Jesus can teach all of us, with Amy-Jill Levine 50:07

22d ago50:07

50:07

This week we have a lively conversation with Amy-Jill Levine, who is a distinguished scholar of the New Testament and Jewish Studies (and who is Jewish herself), about Jesus and the New Testament in the light of how he would be understood in the Jewish context of the first century--as well as what Jesus has to offer to the world now, even to people…

1
Crisis, Control, and Christian Nationalism: Tim Whitaker on How We Got Here 50:07

29d ago50:07

50:07

We're excited to welcome Tim Whitaker (founder of The New Evangelicals) to share his expertise on Christian Nationalism--how it started, how it is growing, and what those who are driving this movement are saying behind closed doors. Tim is a podcaster and frequent commentator on the state of evangelicalism and the intersection of politics and relig…

1
Faith, Politics, and the Christian Nationalist "Project": An Update with Keith Giles 54:20

1M ago54:20

54:20

Christian Nationalism is all over the news today, from revelations about Project 2025 to recent SCOTUS rulings to mandating the 10 Commandments on the schoolroom walls. We are pleased to talk with author/publisher/commenter Keith Giles, who has been using the platform of his God Squad podcast (and others--he's a busy man!) to examine the history, a…

1
Pierce Marks and the Modern Meaning of Life 52:27

1M ago52:27

52:27

We are thinking big thoughts with author and philosopher Pierce Marks, as we talk about the modern crisis of meaning, how the concept of a moral paradigm can re-establish a sense of meaning, and how a few of the deep, elemental visions of Christianity, including love of being and the intrinsic value of creation, led Marks to see life in a new and m…

1
The Truth about Mary Magdalene--and why it matters! With Rita L. Houlihan 47:10

2M ago47:10

47:10

We are honored to have a visit from Rita L. Houlihan, who is a passionate advocate for telling the true story about the life and ministry of the "mysterious" Mary Magdalene--and why it matters for the modern church's understanding of the Gospels. She is also on the Board of Directors of FutureChurch, an organization dedicated to seeking "changes th…

1
The BIBLE and LGBTQ+ Inclusion: Love as the Interpretive Lens 33:59

2M ago33:59

33:59

PART 4 of 4: Many Christians wonder how it is possible to be LGBTQ+ affirming in light of what most people assume to be a clear anti-Gay message in the bible. This episode summarizes all the verses we've studied so far, and weighs them against the larger backdrop of the Biblical principles of Love, Grace, and how we are called to treat others. Love…

1
The BIBLE and LGBTQ+ Inclusion: The Idolatry of Romans and The Vice Lists (Part 3 of 4) 45:23

2M ago45:23

45:23

PART 3 of 4: Many Christians wonder how it is possible to be LGBTQ+ affirming in light of what most people assume to be a clear anti-Gay message in the bible. This episode wrestles with ROMANS 1, and the VICE LISTS in 1 Corinthians and 1 TIMOTHY. In this special 4-part series, Kelly examines how affirming Bible scholars view the 6 verses in the Bib…

1
The BIBLE and LGBTQ+ Inclusion: Navigating Sodom and the Abominations (Part 2 of 4) 31:18

2M ago31:18

31:18

PART 2 of 4: Many Christians wonder how it is possible to be LGBTQ+ affirming in light of what most people assume to be a clear anti-Gay message in the bible. This episode continues this exploration by taking on the story of Sodom, and investigating what are the "abominations" in the laws of Leviticus. In this special 4-part series, Kelly examines …

1
The BIBLE and LGBTQ+ Inclusion: How Affirming Christians Got Here from There (Part 1 of 4) 40:56

2M ago40:56

40:56

PART 1 of 4: Many Christians wonder how it is possible to be LGBTQ+ affirming in light of what most people assume to be a clear anti-Gay message in the bible. In this special 4-part series, Kelly examines how affirming Bible scholars view the 6 verses in the Bible that deal with same-sex relationships in the context of their time and place, and ask…

1
Preaching the Uncontrolling Love of God 59:09

2M ago59:09

59:09

We talk with the editors of the volume “ Preaching the Uncontrolling Love of God: Sermons, Essays, and Worship Elements from the Perspective of Open, Relational, and Process Theology” about what process (or open and relational) theology is, how it answers many questions that modern believers struggle with, and how this rich collection of writings c…

1
Brother Timothy Jolley: A Monk’s Devotion to Love and Action 56:45

2M ago56:45

56:45

Mark talks with Brother Timothy Jolley, a life professed monk of the Order of the Holy Cross, an Anglican Benedictine monastic community of men, associated with The Episcopal Church, located in West Park, New York. Br. Timothy joined the monastery over 50 years ago with a calling to serve a vocation dedicated to children’s education, spiritual evol…

1
Lori Adams-Brown: Surviving and Thriving After Church Abuse 49:50

2M ago49:50

49:50

This week Kelly talks with Lori Adams-Brown, who has an amazing story of resilience and healing after religious abuse from her work in a prominent megachurch. As this podcast is launching, the Southern Baptist Convention is having their annual meeting to talk about, among other things, the role of women in the church (and honestly, the role of wome…

1
Drugs, Sex, and...God? A talk with Ryan Joseph Allen about Transformation 1:00:29

3M ago1:00:29

1:00:29

Dr. Ryan Joseph Allen, Author, Speaker, and Transformational Coach, talks with us about his life's journey, which began with depression, addiction, shame, and alienation, and led him through a rollercoaster of ups and downs before he connected with God through the most unlikely of evangelists: His drug dealer. Dr. Allen shares with us how his exper…

1
Into the Mystic: How meditation and mysticism inform faith (in ways intellect can’t) 38:08

3M ago38:08

38:08

Using Mark’s recent retreat at Holy Cross Monastery as a launching off place, we explore how mysticism, meditation, and contemplative traditions like monasticism can help answer questions, inform our beliefs, and offer insights into the divine that are deeper and more profound than those we find everyday churchgoing or scripture study alone.…

1
Thomas J. Oord: Relating to God Again After Deconstruction 1:01:40

3M ago1:01:40

1:01:40

How do you re-engage with God after deconstruction? How do you get over some of those major hurdles--the violence, exclusion, injustice and other problems that make traditional theology hard to swallow? Thomas Oord--theologian, writer, professor, and director of the Center for Open and Relational Theology--talks with us about the book that he and T…

1
Dr. Thema: Mental Health, Faith, and Reclaiming Yourself 51:32

3M ago51:32

51:32

We are so blessed to talk with Dr. Thema Bryant, psychologist, minister, and sacred artist, about the connections between mental health and faith, and how both can work together to help us reclaim our authentic selves! We cover a LOT of ground, from religious trauma to ADHD to sexual intimacy to the power of prayer and, ultimately what it means to …

1
The Gospel of Not being an A-Hole 46:03

5M ago46:03

46:03

This week we talk with none other than Rhett Wilson: layman, craftsman, family man, and the inheritor of a rich religious legacy of "the Donalds," a family of ministers, missionaries, and devout believers (all of whom in this case share a name)--and the expectations that come from a family heritage of deep devotion. (Side note: Rhett is also Kelly'…

1
Keith Giles: Taking a Quantum Leap with the Sayings of Jesus 58:39

5M ago58:39

58:39

We talk with Keith Giles, a former pastor who "left the church to follow Jesus," and author of "The Quantum Sayings of Jesus" and several other books that challenge our understanding of the gospels. Keith talks with us about his journey into faithful uncertainty, the scholarship that helped him open up a new window into some of the otherwise myster…

1
Getting Schooled by the Internet’s Youth Pastor 48:50

4M ago48:50

48:50

Mark and Kelly talk with Mason Mennenga, “the Internet’s Youth Pastor,” about his journey from Evangelical purity culture through his seminary and theological training that brought him to some radical new understandings of Christianity—and we talk about all the work he does on social media and his podcasts to share his studied theology—in an often …

1
Meg Calvin: The Spirituality of Telling Your Story 55:00

5M ago55:00

55:00

We had an energetic and inspiring conversation with Meg Calvin, author, speaker, and coach who works with "Spiritually Attuned Go-getters" to write, publish, and market best-selling books on Amazon and Audible. We talk about her spiritual background, her life in ministry and why she moved on to do this work, her 5 RULES of writing (VERY deep stuff …

1
DIVINE All Along: Fighting to End Religious Abuse of our Queer Family 39:43

5M ago39:43

39:43

We talk with our own Mark Dilcom about the new non-profit human rights organization that he founded and is Executive Director of, DIVINE All Along. DIVINE All Along was founded based on the premise that everyone is part of the divine--no matter where they are in life's journey or their personal development--but that flawed theology has separated pe…

1
Unity through Diversity: Jay Bakker on Peacemaking in an Angry World 50:55

6M ago50:55

50:55

The return of Jay Bakker, punk-rock pastor of Revolution Church, author, speaker, and son of famed televangelists Jim Bakker and Tammy Faye (Bakker) Messner. Jay blasts open the idea of a right/wrong side of the partisan divide, arguing for a radical and very literal acceptance of "Love your Enemy." It's an energetic adventure through the Book of G…

1
Who Would Jesus Include?: Testimony from the front lines of DEI 1:04:46

6M ago1:04:46

1:04:46

We talk with a dear friend Melanie Hood-Wilson, longtime educator and advocate on the front lines of the fight for diversity, equity, and inclusion. In a political and religious environment that wants to brand efforts at inclusivity as "too woke," we continue our "Words into Action" series and dive right in on who benefits from the status quo, who …

1
Action, Not Just Words 48:18

6M ago48:18

48:18

Mark and Kelly challenge one another to talk about how we put our beliefs into action. Is it with our time? Our money? What organizations we support? Is it one-on-one, or community-based? Does talking, writing, or teaching count? (One thing we KNOW it is not is yelling at other people on Facebook and X-Twitter). We've talked a lot over the last cou…

1
The Shift from Clobbering to Compassion with Colby Martin 59:29

6M ago59:29

59:29

We welcome the return of our friend Colby Martin, pastor, writer, coach, and LGBTQ+ advocate. This conversation leads off with a heartfelt and personal one-on-one conversation with Mark and Colby about the latter's work in fighting for LGBTQ+ inclusion and greater compassion within religious spaces, then once Kelly gets out of traffic, all 3 of us …

1
Podcasting and Deconstruction: Are Podcasts the New Spiritual Communities? (A panel discussion) 45:27

7M ago45:27

45:27

At last week's God After Deconstruction event at Drew University, Mark and Kelly had the opportunity to join podcasters Tripp Fuller (Homebrewed Christianity), Josh Patterson (ReThinking Faith), and Tim Whitaker (The New Evangelicals) for a moving (and sometimes salty) panel discussion about the inspiration and drivers--personally, spiritually, the…

1
Finding God after Deconstruction 1:15:58

7M ago1:15:58

1:15:58

We have talked a lot about deconstruction and the reasons that people question, test, and sometimes leave their faith. Inspired by this weekend's God After Deconstruction event, Mark and Kelly and special guest Josh Patterson (from the (Re) Thinking Faith podcast) talk about what our individual journeys looked like after deconstruction, and the win…

1
4-3-2-1-0: On our 4th Anniversary, kicking off Season 3 with 2 guys having 1 wild conversation about "Nones"--& then we go on from there! 1:07:47

7M ago1:07:47

1:07:47

On the 4th anniversary of the first Radical Love Live live event back in 2020, Mark and Kelly reflect on the state of Christianity and religion in general in America, and on the trends that moved us in 2020 that are still impacting American spirituality now. In light of the recent Pew Research study about people with "No religious affiliation" (AKA…

1
John Thatamanil: Home is Where Your Desires Are 1:20:24

8M ago1:20:24

1:20:24

We talk with theologian, professor, and writer John Thatamanil, in a conversation that covers the depth and breadth of religious diversity, how our desires shape and are shaped by what we worship, and how modern spirituality may be expanding beyond the walls of the institutions in which we have tried to contain it. John Thatamanil is a professor at…

1
When Narcissism Comes to Church: With Chuck DeGroat 50:51

8M ago50:51

50:51

Over the last few years, there has been a lot of discussion about narcissism and the destruction it can do: in politics, in organizations, and unfortunately, in churches. Is narcissism self-love or does it disguise something deeper? Why are the qualities of a narcissist often praised in leaders? How can we encourage cultures of humility, vulnerabil…

1
Thomas Jay Oord: Does God have to be all-powerful...or is all-loving enough? 54:04

8M ago54:04

54:04

We had a mind-blowing conversation with Thomas Jay Oord--theologian, best-selling author of "God Can't" and others, and director of the doctoral program at Northwind Seminary and the Center for Open and Relational Theology. We talk about God's power (or relative lack thereof), about the future of the Church and some of the reasons it doesn't fit an…

1
Unclobber: Rethinking the Bible and LGBTQ+ Folx with Colby Martin 48:26

8M ago48:26

48:26

We are talking with Colby Martin, digital pastor, spiritual coach, and author of "Unclobber: Rethinking Our Misuse of the Bible on Homosexuality" and "The Shift: Surviving and Thriving after Moving from Conservative to Progressive Christianity." We jump right into the ways that the church's interpretation of scripture and treatment of LGBTQ+ people…

1
Love Without Shame: Amber Cantorna-Wylde’s liberating work for LGBTQ+ folx and other spiritual nomads 54:33

9M ago54:33

54:33

This week we talk with Amber Cantorna-Wylde, author of three books, including Unashamed (the first coming-out guide for LGBTQ people of faith). Her newest book is Out of Focus: My Story of Sexuality, Shame, and Toxic Evangelicalism. She is also the creator and host of the Unashamed Love Collective~a beautifully diverse and inclusive online communit…

1
Advent 2023 Episode 4: Walk Together Children 5:25

9M ago5:25

5:25

“Your ‘Kin-dom’ Come” is an Advent podcast series from Good Faith Media and a proclamation of the "kin-dom" that is coming. It's hosted by Rev. Starlette Thomas, director of the Raceless Gospel Initiative at Good Faith Media and host of “The Raceless Gospel” podcast. Episode 4. "Walk Together Children." Lectionary Text: Luke 1:26-38. Favored by God…

1
Barry Taylor: Technology, Radical Theology, and the Future of Belief 59:42

9M ago59:42

59:42

We talk with our friend Barry Taylor, an artist, rock & roll theologian, pop philosopher, and futurist thinker, about the future of faith, the impact of technology on what we believe (and vice versa), and other provocative notions about the everyday expressions of our biggest questions. https://www.instagram.com/ukbloke https://patreon.com/barrytay…

1
Advent 2023 Episode 3: I Got My Ticket 4:51

9M ago4:51

4:51

“Your ‘Kin-dom’ Come” is an Advent podcast series from Good Faith Media and a proclamation of the "kin-dom" that is coming. It's hosted by Rev. Starlette Thomas, director of the Raceless Gospel Initiative at Good Faith Media and host of “The Raceless Gospel” podcast. Episode 3. "I Got My Ticket." Lectionary Text: Luke 1:46b-55. Sing Mary! But this …

1
Camille Hernandez: A Trauma-Informed Faith 46:28

9M ago46:28

46:28

This week we talk with Camille Hernandez, author of The Hero and the Whore: Reclaiming Healing and Liberation through the Stories of Sexual Exploitation in the Bible. In her book, trauma-informed educator and minister Camille Hernandez dives deep into the Bible’s stories of exploitation and abuse to name the difficult truths buried in Scripture, ad…

1
Advent 2023 Episode 2: Take Me to the Water 5:20

9M ago5:20

5:20

“Your ‘Kin-dom’ Come” is an Advent podcast series from Good Faith Media and a proclamation of the "kin-dom" that is coming. It's hosted by Rev. Starlette Thomas, director of the Raceless Gospel Initiative at Good Faith Media and host of “The Raceless Gospel” podcast. Episode 2. "Take Me to the Water." Lectionary Text: Mark 1:1-8. John the Baptist i…

1
Deconstructing the Straight White Male: A Conversation with Chris Furr 58:39

9M ago58:39

58:39

Is it OK to be a Straight White Male today? What does it mean for a straight White male to look critically at his identity while still being true to himself? Does he have something to lose, or something to gain? This week we talk with Chris Furr, the author of Straight White Male: A faith-based guide to deconstructing your privilege and living with…

1
Advent 2023 Episode 1: Keep Your Eyes on the Prize 5:29

9M ago5:29

5:29

“Your ‘Kin-dom’ Come” is an Advent podcast series from Good Faith Media and a proclamation of the "kin-dom" that is coming. It's hosted by Rev. Starlette Thomas, director of the Raceless Gospel Initiative at Good Faith Media and host of “The Raceless Gospel” podcast. Episode 1. "Keep Your Eyes on the Prize." Lectionary Text: Mark 13:24-37. When the…

1
Rev. Dr. Robert R.A.Turner: Racial Healing and Creating a Culture of Repair 55:45

9M ago55:45

55:45

Many people are aware of the injustices Black Americans have suffered over the centuries but feel powerless when it comes to repairing the harm done. This week, Mark talks with Rev. Dr. Robert Turner about his personal journey and experiences; racial healing through peaceful means; his upcoming Book, Creating A Culture of Repair - Taking Action on …

1
Advent 2023 Trailer: Your 'Kin-dom' Come 1:41

9M ago1:41

1:41

“Your ‘Kin-dom’ Come” is an Advent podcast series from Good Faith Media and a proclamation of the "kin-dom" that is coming. It's hosted by Rev. Dr. Starlette Thomas, director of the Raceless Gospel Initiative at Good Faith Media and host of “The Raceless Gospel” podcast. Four episodes are coming -- one for each Sunday of Advent -- on the Fridays of…

1
American Idolatry: Talking About Christian Nationalism with Andrew Whitehead 1:04:10

10M ago1:04:10

1:04:10

Christian Nationalism has been coming up a lot in our national dialogue, along with the fear, violence, and power struggles that come with it. This week, we talk with Andrew Whitehead, who a leading scholar on Christian nationalism in America and speaks widely on its effects within Christian communities. In this book "American Idolatry: How Christi…

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Starlette Thomas Podcasts

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