Jesus vs the Bad Guys? - Jared Neusch and Connor Shram
"In the end, Jesus proved that forgiveness is more powerful than punches and kicks. And in the end, love wins over hate." - Jared Neusch and Connor Shram in their book: Jesus vs. the Bad GuysOur episode this week is with two dads, one a corn hole champion and Biblical scholar (Dr. Jared Neusch) and the other a comedian and change-maker (Connor Shram), both authors of a new book perfect for this time of year, Jesus Vs. the Bad Guys: a Story of Love and Forgiveness.On this episode, we talk with Jared and Connor about reconsidering the Easter story in light of active peace-making and non-violence.We chat through these questions:1. How do we introduce children to the person of Jesus without reinforcing the fear-based, dualistic messages many of us were taught in high-control religious environments? (We are thinking of good guys vs bad guys here) Do you believe there are good guys and bad guys?2. Why does it feel important to you that kids have a love of Scripture? What is it about Scripture that feels valuable to you?3. Can the stories of Jesus’ arrest, conviction, and crucifixion be shared with young children in age-appropriate ways that honor both their emotional development and spiritual curiosity?4. Your book emphasizes Jesus’ “weapons” of forgiveness, peacemaking, nonviolence, and love—how might these values challenge the cultural parenting norms we inherited from high-control religious systems?Jared and Connor were gentle, wise, funny and so easy to talk with. We didn't want the conversation to end. If you have the desire to reconsider Easter this year and perhaps discover new ways to engage with your kids and this very complicated story, this podcast episode is for you.You can find Jared here:Instagram: @jaredneuschYou can find Connor here:Instagram: @connorshram
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54:31
Reimagining Easter - Sarah Swartzendruber
You don’t have to the answers to why Jesus died to talk about Easter with your kids. (Sarah Swartzendruber)Our episode this week is with our resident Children's Pastor, childhood development expert, mom to two and Bible scholar, Sarah Swartzendruber.On this episode, we talk with Sarah about reimagining the Easter story by diving into atonement theories and practical ways we can talk about it with our littles, middles and bigs.We chat through these questions:1. What's your current take on the Easter story? What do you personally believe?2. What are the seven main atonement theories (reasons people believe Jesus died)?3. What do we do about Easter and our kids? How can we navigate the complicated adult themes that the Easter story holds?4. Can you share with us specific age appropriate ways we might be able to study the Easter story with our kids?5. Are there themes or ideas that you stay away from when you’re teaching the Easter story?6. How do we create an environment where our kids feel safe to ask hard questions and also encourage them to honor differing beliefs? Sarah is brilliant and funny, always a welcome guest at our podcast table. If you are struggling with how to celebrate (or NOT) Easter this year and what the heck to do with your kids and the messy, complicated themes surrounding it, this podcast episode is for you.You can find the Sarah in these spaces:Instagram: @parentingafterdeconstructionWebsite: www.parentingafterdeconstuction.com
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1:03:50
Aligning Faith with Soul - Chelan Harkin
The worst thing we ever did is pretend God isn’t the easiest thing in this Universe available to every soul in every breath. (Chelan Harkin)Our episode this week is with Chelan Harkin, mama to two and mystical poet extraordinaire.On this episode, we talk with Chelan about growing up in the Baha'i faith, the courage it takes to question what you've been told all your life, how our faith can align with our soul and especially how this all fleshes out in our parenting.We chat through these questions:1. Your poetry invites readers to redefine traditional concepts of God and spirituality. How has your personal journey with spirituality influenced this mission, and what impact do you hope it has on your audience?2. You once embarked on a 30-day “bad poem” experiment to break free from perfectionism. Can you talk about how that creative challenge helped you dismantle the rigid expectations imposed by high-control systems, religious or otherwise?3. You have a poem that calls children "life’s great revolutionaries," challenging us to overturn our ingrained habits and expectations. Can you share an experience where your child’s unfiltered perspective radically shifted the way you view success and the meaning of life?4. Your words remind us that children invite us to let go of our obsession with perfectionism and to instead embrace the beautiful mess of each moment. How has your child’s spontaneous, raw energy helped you see the sacred in everyday imperfection?5. Rejecting a God of fear in favor of one who delights in joy—symbolized by putting extra whipped cream on things—your poem reimagines divinity as a source of wonder and playfulness. In what ways has your relationship with your child reshaped your understanding of faith and inspired you to live more joyfully?We found Chelan to be gentle, authentic, and very in tune with her soul. We laughed a lot, talked about ice cream, and also took a deep dive into some difficult questions.You can find Chelan here:Instagram: @chelanharkinFacebook: Chelan Harkin
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1:06:59
Highly Unorthodox Gospel - Rabbi Brian Zachary Mayer
With regard to the question, “Do you believe in God?” I do not care much about your answer. But if I were to ask the last five people with whom you’ve interacted if you were kind, about those answers I care very much. (Rabbi Brian Zachary Mayer)Our episode this week is with Rabbi Brian Zachary Mayer, dad, author of the brilliant book, Highly Unorthodox Gospel, (also known as HUG), French Horn player and our very first Rabbi.On this episode, we talk with rB (as he refers to himself) about all things related to kindness, compassion and love when it comes to our ever-evolving faith. We chat through these questions:1. Tell us about the word “spiritualigiuos” on your website called “Religion Outside the Box.” We are so intrigued. Can you tell us what this means to you? How is it different from mainstream practice?2. We love the title of your new book with the acronym HUG (not lost on us), Highly Unorthodox Gospel. What’s your gospel like and why is it highly unorthodox?3. One of your reviews on the book said this: “Hi rB, You had me at page fricking one!! I absolutely loved the book and couldn’t put it down. I finished it in one day. I am going to read it again and again. Loved the bacon cheese burger on matzah during Passover.” Can you just indulge us with this taste of what your book might be like for those who might be just a bit skeptical?4. We are a parenting podcast. The themes of compassion, kindness, and love are central to the book. How can parents incorporate these values into their daily lives with their children that may be different than the way they might have grown up in high-control religion? Why these three?5. How do you think we can challenge the idea of "right and wrong", “black and white” , what we might deem as orthodoxy in our faiths while still raising children with values that matter?6. In what ways can we nurture both our own spiritual growth and our children’s spiritual development in a world full of competing beliefs?We found rB to be hilarious, genuine, knowledgable and humble. We laughed a lot and also dove deep into some difficult questions.You can find rB here:Websites: rabbibrian.comrotb.orgInstagram: @rabbi_brian_afFacebook: Rabbi Brian Zachary MayerNewsletter: https://rotb.org/subscribe/
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57:39
Ancestors, Art & Ancient Texts - Liz Charlotte Grant
Doubt is another word for imagination. (Liz Charlotte Grant)Our episode this week is with Liz Charlotte Grant, mom, author of the new brilliant book, Knock at the Sky: Seeking God in Genesis After Losing Faith in the Bible, artist and lover of the Bible.On this episode, we talk with Liz about all things related to seeking God through Scripture even as our faith continues to evolve. We chat through these questions:1. What made you do a deep dive into Genesis specifically?2. How do you continue to see Scripture as sacred even when you no longer believe in its literal interpretation?3. What is a fresh way to read Genesis that moves beyond traditional interpretations and the culture wars?4. The Old Testament is often the last part of the Bible that people come back to. What beauty and wisdom can we find in these books outside of this vengeful God that many of us have known? 5. What does it look like to view the Bible as a work of art, and how can this perspective reshape our relationship with Scripture and faith?6. What role has parenting played in your fresh way of viewing Scripture and the ways you’ve re structured your faith? 7. In the process of examining and teasing out our beliefs, how can we teach our children that the seeking itself is the point, and that it’s okay to question sacred texts?We found Liz to be funny, knowledgeable and ever-so-relatable. We laughed a lot and also dove deep into some difficult questions.You can find Liz here:Website: lizcharlotte.comInstagram: @lizcharlottegrantFacebook: Liz Charlotte GrantThreads: @lizcharlottegrantSubstack: https://substack.com/@lizcharlotte
If you are trying to figure out how to navigate the tricky tightrope of parenting while you have questions, doubts and wonderings about your spiritual journey, this podcast is for you. It doesn't matter if your kids are smalls, middles, or bigs. We will explore what and how we are deconstructing from churchianity, harmful belief systems, and diving deep into the ways we can work this out in parenthood. We will also work through ideas for reconstructing a space for our families to thrive under new systems of love and freedom. We can't wait to bring you some hope that you are not alone and that it's really okay, even good, to explore all the possibilities that may have felt closed off in the past. This podcast will offer you grace and space to be exactly where you are and who you are. We are glad you are here.
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