Andrew Nemr is an international tap artist, TED Fellow, speaker, mentor, and writer. Andrew started tapping at the age of 3 being mentored by Gregory Hines starting at a very young age. He’s a solo artist in dance, visual art and music but also travels the world as a speaker, mentor, and coach in a variety of settings and has had his life story fea…

Jaclyn Williams is a preacher, chaplain, educator, and performing artist. She is an assistant professor of the practice of preaching and chaplaincy at Fuller Seminary. She joins the podcast to talk about embodied preaching and the unique style she has of integrating her performing art skills to enhance her pedagogical practice with students. As wel…

Mark Buchanan is a professor of pastoral theology at Ambrose University. He has authored several book on spiritual formation and rhythms of the soul. He joins the podcast to talk about his book, God Walk-Moving at the Speed of Our Soul. We discuss the spiritual practice of physically walking and how formative it is for our faith when we slow down e…

Julianna Rubio Slager is the artistic director and co-founder of Ballet 5:8 dance company out of Chicago. She returns for the second time to the podcast to talk about the powerful language of the body through dance and how it can speak in ways words cannot. We discuss misconcenptions about the body and dance among church culture and the importance …

Dr. Curt Thompson is a leading psychiatrist in the field of interpersonal neurobiology and spiritual formation. We discuss why art and artists are invaluable to understanding what it means to be human and to live a purposeful life. Curt specializes in helping others seek and discover the intrinsic desire we all have to feel known, loved, and connec…

David Taylor returns to the podcast to talk about his latest book, A Body of Praise-Understanding the Role of our Physical Bodies in Worship. Click to Order A Body of Praise We discuss our five senses as the way we experience God's closeness and grace and how artists give us language and portals to engage our senses more fully in worship and life. …

Jane Boutwell is an artist who describes herself as having an inquisitive mind, a heart connected to nature and a soul yearning towards God…a child of dirt and dance…a beauty bringing blessing writer… a poetic painter and potter. Her creative work includes tactile, intuitive, and deeply-in-touch-with-nature ways of being in the world. She finds her…

Justin McRoberts returns to the podcast to talk about his newest book, Sacred Strides: The Journey to Belovedness in Work and Rest. In this episode we discuss the myth of finding balancing but rather discovering the tensions and rhythms in different seasons of life. We also talk about the significance of practicing a day of Sabbath and the pitfalls…

Week 5 of a series of audio meditations to guide you through the season of Lent. Each Lent episode is an exceprt of a more in-depth writtten series that includes movement prayer and visual art as well as poetry and scripture. Visit Lent Week 5 to go deeper Music provided by Dear Gravity Journal Prompt Questions: What are some ways you can slow down…

Week 4 of a series of audio meditations to guide you through the season of Lent. Each Lent episode is an exceprt of a more in-depth writtten series that includes movement prayer and visual art as well. Visit Lent Week 4 to go deeper Music provided by Dear Gravity Journal Prompt Questions: What are some things that make you feel securely planted? Wh…

Week 3 of a series of audio meditations to guide you through the season of Lent. Each Lent episode is an exceprt of a more in-depth writtten series that includes movement prayer and visual art as well. Visit Lent Week 3 to go deeper Music provided by Dear Gravity Journal Prompt Questions: What are the main daily influences on your imagination and y…

Week 2 of a series of audio meditations to guide you through the season of Lent with poetry, an embodied prayer practice and journal prompts. The audio recordings are an excrept of an in-depth written Lent series that also includes movment prayer and visual art. Visit Lent Week 2 to participate. Music provided by Dear Gravity Email: artandfaithconv…

Week 1 of a series of audio meditations to guide you through the season of Lent. The audio recordings are an exceprt of a more in-depth written Lent series that includes movment prayer and visual art. Visit Lent Week 1 to participate Music provided by Dear Gravity Email: artandfaithconversations@gmail.com Instagram: @artandfaithpodcast…

Melanie Penn returns to the podcast to talk about some of her latest music and how creative work is needed now more than ever. She describes beauty as an act of defiance against the dark times of the world and how artists play a significant role in healing from the events since 2020. We discuss the many changes and new norms we've all experienced i…

Bette Dickinson returns to the podcast to talk about the inspiration for her series of paintings in her new book, Make Room in Advent: 25 Devotions for a Season of Wonder. Bette appeared as a guest on the podcast in Septemeber to tell us about the book. In this episode we dive deeper into why the Church needs to integrate more art into spiritual pr…

Phaedra Jean Taylor is a visual artist exploring the disciplines of encaustic painting and watercolor. She is inspired by ideas of play, journey, memory, and belonging which we discuss as being healing concepts in her spiritual journey after being raised in a thrid generation Jehovah's Witness family. Her art making is hard to describe without hear…

Co-authors, Audrey Elledge and Elizabeth Moore, recently released their first book, Liturgies for Hope-Sixty Prayers for the Highs, Lows, and Everything in Between. Hear the story of how the prayers orginated as anchors of hope for their church in NYC in 2020 at the height of the pandemic to becoming a published book. The liturgies include everythi…

Rachel Marie Kang is an author and poet releasing her frist book, Let There Be Art: The Pleasure and Purpose of Unleashing the Creativity within You. The book serves as an invitation to create right where you are and dispels the myths that art is reserved for only an elite few. She explores the ordinary acitivities of life such as cooking, play, si…

Mike Yeager, executive pastor, producer, and songwriter at Awaken Chruch in San Diego talks about thier newest project, Move of Heaven. Mike received his PHD in structural engineering and spent time in Florence, Italy studying cultural heritage and structural assessments of buildings and monuments. We discuss how his heart was drawn back to the chu…

On 9/11 I was flying home to the United States from Switzerland when the pilot came on the intercom and said we'd be landing in Newfoundland due to attacks on the U.S. I share my story every year in written from so decided to put it in audio form on the podcast. It is one of hope and mercy on one of the darkest days in history. Please consider a do…

Bette Dickinson is a prophetic artist, writer, and speaker who invites audiences to connect with God through visual parables of the spiritual journey. Bette earned her MDiv through Grand Rapids Theological Seminary and has worked with ministries like InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, World Vision, Infinitum, and Kensington Church to awaken the sou…

A short seaon finale wrap up episode with host, Libby John, who shares some of the honest truths about keeping a podcast going. She also gives a commission to artists to be confident in their role as "border-stalkers" who don't ever feel like they quite fit in like artist, Mako Fujimura, talks about in his book Culture Care. Don't miss the special …

Gregory Andrus is a photographer, author and speaker who has a powerful story of overcoming alcoholism and homelessness. After a near death expereince, he found he'd been given a second chance at living. This became a catalyst to him discovering his artistic gifts and callings to highlight the diginity of others through sharing the portraits and st…

Michael Gatlin, along with his wife, have served as senior pastors of the Vineyard Church in Duluth, MN since 1997. Michael is also a member of the National Board of the Vineyard movement and has helped plant many churches over the years. Before his full time career in pastoral ministry, Michael worked as a designer and also had a thriving vocation…

Allison Davis is a writer and photographer who chose to embark on an adventure of photographing the west coast of the United States in 30 days. It was the height of the pandemic, her calendar of doing wedding photography was wiped clean and she was ready to take a risk. Fueled by passion and faith, she set out to capture all that she could with her…

Ryan Diaz is a writer, a poet and a theologian from Queens, NY. He talks about the deep well of cynicism he had found himself in even though he had been active in the church most of his life. It was his return to reading and writing poetry that revivied him and awakened him to the awe and wonder of God all around him. Ryan is an award winning write…

Hosts, Joy Ike and Libby John, wrap up 2021 with reflections on the year and how things have gone. They then each share a few of their favorite things they've been enjoying recently which range from a favorite album or podcast to a favorite food or spiritual practice. Links to favorite things shared in the episode: Sara Groves New Album Being Known…

An audio contemplative meditation on Advent with scripture reading, reflection and poetry. "Into the Darkness" reflects on the dark or desert places we find ourselves in, waiting for God to answer our prayers. Through this Advent meditation, we are reminded that we are witnesses to the light and the darkness has not overcome it. Poetry by Madeline …

Matt Tommey is an author, mentor and woven sculpture artist based in N. Carolina. He teaches and leads visual artists through his mentorship program, The Thriving Christian Artist, where they gain skills in their craft and business but also in co-creating with the Holy Spirit. in his new book, "Prophetic Art", he talks about what prophetic art is, …

Josh Tiessen is a visual artist based in Ontario Canada. He has coined his style as narrative hyperrealism and often juxtaposes animals in abandoned remnants of human civilization to highlight irony and parody, the hallmarks of postmodern art. As a teenager, ranked among the world’s foremost realist artists, Tiessen was juried in as the youngest me…

Carolyn Arends is a singer/songwriter, speaker, author and teacher. She also serves as Director of Education at Renovarè Institute, founded by Richard Foster who authored the transformative book, Celebration of Discipline. Carolyn joins the podcast to talk about two new recent albums she just released, stories behind the songs and how her art has b…

Justin McRoberts is an author, speaker, artist and creative coach. His newest book, It Is What You Make Of It, is about creating something great with what you've been given rather than accepting circumstances as they are. Justin has authored several books including his prayer book collaborations with illustrator, Scott Erickson which was featured i…

Ekstasis is a digital and print publication where art meets academia and kingdom meets culture. Conor Sweetman, founder and senior editor, describes the vision behind Ekstasis as publishing work that slants toward the triumphant and glorious aspects of life in Christ, framed through life, the arts and literature. Ekstasis was recently acquired by m…

Scott Sauls is a pastor and writer who talks about making Christianity beautiful again by responding to the world with the gentleness of Christ rather than perpetual anger and divisiveness we see in culture. Scott has served as a pastor to many artists while leading Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville, TN as well as during his years he served a…

Andrew Lazo joins the podcast to talk about community, creativity and what he's learned from C.S. Lewis and the historic, literary group the Inklings. We also discuss why the Narnia books are some of Lewis's most mature works and how the deep friendship between Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien influenced them both greatly in their faith, writing and creati…

Sho Baraka is a recording artist, performer, activist, and writer. He joins host, Joy Ike, to talk about his new book on the power our creativity has on repairing a broken world. The combination of his academic history and music career brings a unique perspective to the exploration of faith, creativity and justice. Sho has served as adjunct profess…

Christine Hiester is a spiritual director, artist and musician. She describes spiritual direction as more of a companionship and a journey of deep listening alongside another person in the presence of God. She talks about how she came to spiritual direction through the avenue of art making when she experienced a deep depression and felt like the ab…

Songwriter, Andrea Sandefur, joins me to talk about a role she felt called to as an encourager and caretaker of the creative souls of her church. She tells the story of when and how she felt called to that role and how she carries that out with an artists event she helps curate at her home church in Wasilla, Alaska. Andrea is a songwriter and also …

Contributing host, Joy Ike, talks about the freedom we find in the giving away of our creative gifts and the risk that it takes to realize we don't need to hoard the things we've been given. She says, "you can't add to what you have when your default is to bury it in the ground and protect it from the world." Joy is a music artist from Philadelphia…

Guest host, Joy Ike, joins the podcast with an episode about sound and how it affects the clarity of our vision. She states, "The noisier things get, the harder it is to see." She shares her thoughts and questions about the power of sound, including music, and how the things we hear can either distract us or re-orient our focus. Joy is a music arti…

Visual artist, Merna Liddawi, started out as an educator in math and science but turned to painting in her adult life. Now a full time artist, she describes her work as creating a contemplative space of stillness and beauty through sacred geometry, symbolism, and the use of pure elements and materials. Born in the Middle East in Jordan, she draws o…

Hannah Anderson is the author of several books with Turning of Days: Lessons of Nature, Seasons and Spirit being her fourth release. It's a collection of devotional essays and illustrations described as a respite for our restless, disoriented, and fatigued world. Hannah's poetic way with words paired with her husband, Nathan's detailed illustration…

Maria Fee is a painter who works with paper, canvas and paint to create work that explores fragmentation, cultural mixing referred to as mestizo, alienation and hospitality. She is the director of the national artist residency program at Brehm Cascadia which is part of the Brehm Center of Fuller Seminary. We talk about the residency and the need ar…

Caroline Cobb is a singer/songwriter who's music has been compared to the likes of Rich Mullins, Andrew Peterson and Sandra McCracken. Her newest album release, A Seed, A Sunrise, is full of songs that shape the upcoming season of Advent. Through imagination, artistry and poetic language, Caroline tells biblical narratives through her storytelling …

Author, Diana Oestreich, is a Iraq War veteran who served as a combat medic in the Army National Guard. She's an activist, sexual assault nurse and the key relationships officer at Preemtive Love, a global relief organization working to end war. Her new book, Waging Peace, is her story of going from soldier to peacemaker when she heard God's call f…

Kathleen Hudson is an oil painter based in Lexington, KY who creates landscapes in her studio and en plein air. Her style is influenced by close observation of fleeting and beautiful moments in nature which she hopes to capture in her paintings and leave the viewer with a sense of longing. To pre-order Revelations of the Artist book https://www.art…

Karisa Keasey is a studio artist who aspires to bring about change through her work. She is most known for her recent book, "When You Can't Go Home", the story of 10 refugees and their families along with 30 portraits. For every book sold, 50% of the profits goes to World Relief to help the efforts with refugees. To pre-order Revelations of the Art…

Matthew Bird is is an award winning watercolor artist, illustrator, designer and teacher. Matthew has five children's books published and his paintings have been used as greeting cards for The Smithsonian Institution, National Geographic, the National Audubon Society, and the National Wildlife Federation. He paints still life and seeks to find beau…

Jennie Kimbrough is a visual artist who works in acrylics and encaustic with mixed medium elements. Through her work she dives into questions about communication with God, living in a broken world and the contrast of our temporal nature of our bodies to the eternal nature of the soul. Through layering of transparent materials she suggests space, th…

Lori Putnam is a Contemporary American Impressionist who sees harmony, rhythms, patterns, color and shapes as her subject matter. She has served as an Artist Faculty Demonstrator for the Annual Plein Air Convention for six years and has been a keynote speaker and guest lecturer at many notable events. Lori teaches to sold out workshops and has rece…