Anita Lustrea

Carrie Newcomer joins me on the podcast this week to talk about her most recent album, The Point of Arrival. We dive into her love for words, when she knew music was her calling, and we hear clips of several songs from her latest project.

Carrie and Parker Palmer do shows and retreats together and we talk about what that collaboration is like. She also mentions several books that I've linked below if you are interested in checking them out. It is a thoughtful and delightful conversation.

Two dear friends join me on the podcast this week. My long time former radio co-host, Melinda Schmidt, and new neighbor, author Michelle Van Loon. They are both conversation specialists and it was a delight to record with them.

We looked back at a former topic I had received emails about having to do with spiritual growth and development and how there are conferences and churches for everyone at all stages. It's never one-stop shopping for the spiritual life. We also discussed books we are reading as well as movies we've watched this summer.

Rozella Haydée White joins me on the podcast to talk about how to Love Big. Rozella is such an engaging communicator. She is a public theologian as well as a coach, writer, and speaker. She digs down into love and how revolutionary relationships are the key to healing the world. She has a message worth listening to and I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did!

This week it was nice to have my guests around my kitchen table. Michelle Van Loon, recent transplant to my neighborhood, and my husband, Mike Murphy, joined me. We batted around a couple of topics and took them deeper. We started out talking about the Christian mind, and for the second half of our conversation we focused on an article recently written by Michelle for Christianity Today (CT) online magazine.

Jeffrey Tacklind joins me on the podcast this week as we look at The Winding Path of Transformation. It's the title of his new book, and it's also a truth that we understand when we are on that path. Tacklind describes spiritual transformation as an invitation to paradox. It includes suffering, and through that, we find joy. Sometimes—even often—the transformational path is a downward path, and hence, a paradox. Tacklind says that it's about finding yourself between glory and humility.

Shawn Smucker joins me again on the podcast. Check out his first time on Faith Conversations. This time around it's all about fiction and writing. Shawn's latest book, Light from Distant Stars, recently released and it's well worth reading. Shawn gives a thumbnail sketch of the storyline and we dive in and talk about writing, specifically fiction. Shawn also lets us know what he's reading these days.

Kendall Vanderslice is a writer and baker who studies the intersection of food and theology. Win-Win! I loved my conversation with Kendall and I think you will, too. She has authored the book We Will Feast: Rethinking Dinner, Worship, and the Community of God. Kendall visited dinner churches. And, yes, that is a thing—and an interesting thing at that. Kendall also has a newsletter you might want to sign up for on her website.

Pulitzer Prize winner, Jennifer Berry Hawes, joins me on the podcast to talk about her powerful book, Grace Will Lead Us Home: The Charleston Church Massacre and the Hard, Inspiring Journey to Forgiveness. Many of us remember, and certainly the Charleston, S.C., community remembers, when they heard the news that 9...

The podcast gets a refresher this week. I hope you like it! I’m excited to have Karen Gonzalez join me to talk about Immigration. Karen works for World Relief and she has a unique viewpoint because she is an immigrant. She arrived in the United States from Guatemala when she...

Mike Murphy joins me on the podcast this week after a 2-week hiatus—after the passing and memorial service for my dad. We talk about life, death, transition, and eventually focus in on a couple of Mike's Rumblings from this past week. The Rumblings are in the show notes for those who don't get them on Facebook.