Church Potluck: A Smorgasbord of Christian Curiosity

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In today’s Advent Calendar episode, Dale McConkey is joined once again by the Rev. Dr. Jonathan Huggins to explore the colors of the Advent and Christmas seasons. Why is purple traditional? Why are some churches shifting to blue? And what do the other liturgical colors—white, rose, gold, green, and even red—teach us about preparation, hope, and the rhythms of the Christian year?
In just a few minutes, you’ll gain a fresh appreciation for how color can deepen worship and help us prepare our hearts for Christ’s coming. 

The views expressed on Church Potluck are solely those of the participants and do not represent any organization.

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Welcome to the Church Potluck Advent Calendar—a daily series of short, joyful reflections exploring simple traditions that help us prepare the way of the Lord. Each 5–10 minute episode highlights a different Advent or Christmas ritual, mixing heartwarming personal stories with gentle spiritual insight. A light, cozy way to slow down, savor the season, and rediscover the hope of Advent.

In this episode, we kick things off with special guest Julianne Bailey, who shares her childhood memories of Advent calendars, how they became part of her own family’s traditions, and how reconnecting with her Methodist roots deepened their meaning. From dry European chocolates to homemade Hershey Kiss countdown ribbons, Julianne brings warmth, humor, and heartfelt reflection as we explore how these simple countdown practices help us prepare for Christmas—both practically and spiritually.

The views expressed on Church Potluck are solely those of the participants and do not represent any organization.

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The Church Potluck Advent Calendar is a daily, 5–10 minute journey through Advent, the 12 days of Christmas, and Epiphany. Each day offers a simple reflection on an Advent or Christmas practice—from candles and colors to wreaths, rituals, and global traditions. Some days include guests; other days offer a brief devotional moment at the table.
This introductory episode features host Dale McConkey joined by Rev. Dr. Jonathan Huggins, chaplain of Berry College, to help us begin the season well.
If you want a small, meaningful way to slow down and prepare for Christ’s arrival—past, present, and future—subscribe so you don’t miss a day. 

The views expressed on Church Potluck are solely those of the participants and do not represent any organization.

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It's a special Thanksgiving crossover episode of American Angst and Church Potluck! Dr. Michael Bailey and Dale McConkey start off-topic with a quick overview of 10 dizzying days in American politics. From there, they pivot to something far older, quieter, and deeper: Thanksgiving! Michael makes a bold claim—that Thanksgiving is the most American of all holidays—and builds his case like a true political theorist, tracing four different “foundings” of America (Puritan, Revolutionary, Civil War, and New Deal) and showing how Thanksgiving brushes up against each one. Along the way, they talk football and Black Friday, parades and turkey pardons, Friendsgiving and “family plus,” Lincoln’s Thanksgiving proclamation and the Gettysburg Address, and why humility and gratitude might be our best hope in an anxious age.

The episode is equal parts engaging civics lesson and cozy kitchen-table conversation. Dale and Michael swap their favorite and least favorite Thanksgiving traditions (including Dale’s “House of Dreams” potlucks and Michael’s annual Birmingham adventure day), lament the commercialization creeping into the holiday, and still find reasons to be stubbornly hopeful about America also previews an upcoming Church Potluck plan: an audio Advent & Christmas "calendar," inviting listeners to share their favorite Advent traditions from around the world. It’s politics and prayer, football and philosophy, social critique and sincere gratitude—seasoned with humor, affection, and a genuine desire to live more thoughtfully in a messy country they still love.

The views expressed on Church Potluck are solely those of the participants and do not represent any organization.

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Three candles, 10,000 downloads, and a table full of friends! This milestone episode of Church Potluck celebrates three years of “a smorgasbord of Christian curiosity.” Host Dale McConkey gathers the Core Four—Christy Snider, Michael Bailey, and Michael Papazian—for cupcakes, playful celebratory jingles, and a listener-powered reflection on what makes the show tick: variety, convivial conversation, thoughtful faith, and a game show that won’t quit. We swap favorite themes (sports & faith, science & wonder, good death, ancient history), share a few nerdy stats (70+ episodes, listeners in 61 countries—Hi, Singapore!), and dream about what’s next: deeper audience interaction, more science spotlights, occasional live potlucks, and welcoming a wider range of voices. If you’ve ever wanted church-basement warmth with classroom curiosity—and a dash of applause button—pull up a chair. 

The views expressed on Church Potluck are solely those of the participants and do not represent any organization.

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Host Dale McConkey sits down with Michael Papazian for a lively and accessible introduction to Orthodox Christianity. Dale reflects on his recent visit to an English-speaking Orthodox Vespers service in Tennessee—incense, chanting, icons, and a surprisingly young and growing congregation—while Dr. Papazian speaks from his dual vantage point as both a scholar of theology and philosophy and a lifelong member of the Armenian Apostolic (Orthodox) Church. His insight is rooted not only in study, but in prayer, worship, and a deep personal love for the tradition.

Together, they explore questions many Protestants and Catholics have wondered about: What’s the difference between Eastern and Oriental Orthodoxy? Why are icons venerated? Why so much chanting? What is theosis? And why does Orthodoxy place such emphasis on mystery, beauty, and embodied worship?

This episode balances curiosity and depth—equal parts firsthand experience and historically grounded clarity—while also acknowledging challenges such as ethnic nationalism and the ongoing hope for Christian unity. Whether you’ve never stepped inside an Orthodox church or have long been intrigued from afar, this conversation offers a warm, thoughtful, and engaging guide to a tradition many Christians know far too little about.

The views expressed on Church Potluck are solely those of the participants and do not represent any organization.

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This week on Church Potluck, Dale welcomes two guests who encourage us to stare death in the face. Dr. Sam Nazione, associate professor of business communication and a health communication scholar, opens the lid on her Honors course “A Good Death”—why she built it, what students learn, and how talking about death actually teaches us to live better. Rev. Chris Barbieri, a hospital chaplain and United Methodist minister who assists with the course, brings nine years of bedside wisdom, explaining the difference between palliative care and hospice, how families navigate chronic illness and death, and the spiritual practices that turn hospital rooms into sacred places of transcendence.

Together we explore:

• What makes a “good death” (and why there’s no one-size-fits-all answer).
• The power of clear, compassionate communication with loved ones and clinicians, including advance-care wishes.
• Media myths vs. medical realities.
• Grief before death (lost plans, new realities) and why humor sometimes helps.
• How spirituality, social support, and community (church, clubs, even pet companions) shape end-of-life wellbeing.
• Health disparities and pain management—why listening and representation matter.
• Practical ways friends can help without overwhelming the family (“What does support look like for you right now?”).
• Famous “Last Words” in our signature game show format.

It's a cornucopia of Christian curiosity. Feast!

The views expressed on Church Potluck are solely those of the participants and do not represent any organization.

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Can Christian faith and scholarly inquiry coexist—and even thrive—together?
In this week’s Church Potluck, we have the honor to sit down with Berry College President Sandeep Mazumder. Dr. Mazumder (Economics) shares his faith journey from a Hindu upbringing in London to embracing Christian faith in graduate school, and reflects on how that experience shapes his vision for Berry College and academia more broadly.

Dr. Kathryn Heidelberger (Religion and Philosophy) explores how wrestling with other religious traditions can strengthen, rather than weaken, our faith. Dr. Michael Bailey brings insights on the relationship between faith, academic freedom, moral formation, and the value of pluralism. And Dr. Dale McConkey drives the bus and shares experiences from his time as Berry’s chaplain.

Together, they explore the education of head, heart, and hands—and what it means for a college to hold faith and intellect in creative tension. Feast!

The views expressed on Church Potluck are solely those of the participants and do not represent any organization.

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Premiere horror and Halloween enthusiast (and fashion icon) Clint Peters joins the podcast to discuss how horror taps our primal selves. We dig into how films like The Babadook, Jaws, Nosferatu, and even Midnight Mass reveal what we value, how fear works, and why the genre often takes the supernatural—and the Church—more seriously than most “serious” films.

Perennial guest and bud Michael Bailey argues Christianity is inherently spooky, pushes back on the “horror desensitizes us” worry, and compares horror’s moral mirror to the real cultural rot: vanity, greed, and tribalism.

And host Dale McConkey jumps in with questions about liminality and the connections between Halloween, All Saint's Day, All Soul's Day, and Mexico's Day of the Dead. Enjoy!

The views expressed on Church Potluck are solely those of the participants and do not represent any organization.

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Rev. Dr. Erin Moniz (Baylor chaplain and author of Knowing and Being Known) joins Church Potluck to rethink “intimacy” beyond sex and dating—into friendship, family systems, and a church that actually feels like family. Along with Dr. Margaret Ndwandwe (digital media specialist), Erin unpacks purity culture 2.0, attachment theory, boundaries vs. vulnerability, and why technology (yes, even AI chatbots) can’t replace embodied relationships. And Margaret shares stories from her personal life: a cross-cultural newlywed story and how chosen family and clear, kind boundaries make room for real closeness. Host Dale McConkey steers the table talk toward church practice: intergenerational care, small-group honesty, and a gospel vision where friends become “mother, brothers, and sisters.” Plus: a playful “Then or Now?” dating-advice game and practical ways churches can move from polite proximity to genuine community. Join us around the table and dig in!

The views expressed on Church Potluck are solely those of the participants and do not represent any organization.