In this episode, Megan and Adam take on the often uncomfortable topic of evangelism in the Episcopal Church. They talk about why the word makes so many Episcopalians squirm, explore its historical baggage, and reimagine what it could look like when approached with authenticity and love.

Megan and Adam also discuss how sharing faith isn’t about coercion or conversion—it’s about embodying the good news through how we live, speak, and care for others. 

Takeaways:

• Evangelism is about sharing good news, not coercion.
• The Episcopal Church has historically been hesitant about evangelism.
• Authenticity is essential when communicating faith.
• Reclaiming the language of Christianity matters.
• Living the gospel can be just as powerful as speaking it, but is has to be both.
• We’re called to empathy, clarity, and love in how we share faith.

Here's a chance for us to reclaim the language of Christianity and maybe even make it a little weird again.

What’s really happening when someone is baptized? In this episode, Canon Megan and Adam take a deep dive into one of the most central sacraments of the Christian faith: baptism.

They explore where baptism comes from—starting with Jewish purification rituals—and how it grew into a practice that marks new life, identity, and belonging in Christ. Along the way, they unpack the baptismal covenant, the tension between infant baptism and believers’ baptism, and the role of the whole community in supporting the baptized.

With humor, personal stories, and theological insight, Megan and Adam remind us that baptism isn’t just about what happens at the font—it’s about how we live out God’s grace every single day.

What You’ll Walk Away With

• Baptism is the entry point into Christian community and the life of faith.
• The baptismal covenant sets a framework for living as followers of Jesus.
• The roots of baptism lie in Jewish purification rituals, transformed in Christ.
• Baptism is about identity—who we are in Christ—not just a ritual.
• Infant baptism highlights God’s grace as the starting point of faith.
• The community promises to walk alongside the baptized in faith and life.
• Adults can reaffirm their baptismal vows, claiming them as their own.
• Baptism isn’t about “heaven insurance”—it’s about how we live here and now.
• God’s action, not ours, is at the heart of baptism.
• Every baptism is a reminder that God’s grace goes before us.

If you’ve ever wondered what baptism means in the Episcopal tradition—or why it matters so much—this episode offers both clarity and inspiration.

In this episode of For the Rest of Us, Canon Megan and Adam take a good, hard look at one of the most complicated and misunderstood figures of the New Testament: Saint Paul.

Paul is often remembered as the author of verses that have been used to prop up conservative Christianity—“wives obey your husbands,” “slaves obey your masters,” and “women be silent in church.” But who was Paul really? What did he actually write? And how did his letters go from problem-solving notes to scripture that shaped entire traditions?

Megan and Adam explore:

• Why Paul often gets a bad reputation as Christianity’s “buzzkill.”
• Which letters Paul actually wrote—and which were written in his name.
• How Paul’s Roman citizenship gave him privilege and power he wielded strategically.
• The mismatch between Acts’ version of Paul and Paul’s own letters.
• Paul’s cultural comfort with exaggeration, rhetoric, and hyperbole.
• His partnership with women leaders like Lydia, Phoebe, and Junia.
• How his letters, dictated aloud, were never intended to be systematic theology.
  

Along the way, they talk about Willem Dafoe as Jesus (and the Green Goblin), diner coffee, carnivorous seals, and why it helps our faith to remember that Paul was human—zealous, flawed, inconsistent, and yet deeply convinced of God’s overwhelming love.

This episode, Canon Megan and Adam tackle a topic that’s equal parts fascinating and misunderstood: exorcisms.

From the ministry of Jesus to modern-day Episcopal practice, they explore where exorcisms come from, what they mean, and—maybe most importantly—what they are not. Along the way, they unpack cultural perspectives, biblical roots, and the ways ritual and truth-telling can be part of real healing.

But don’t worry—this isn’t Hollywood horror. Megan and Adam keep the conversation grounded, thoughtful, and full of insights about how the Church approaches healing in body, mind, and spirit.

What You’ll Walk Away With:

• Exorcisms are part of the Anglican tradition—but they’re used with great care.
• The practice is rooted in the ministry of Jesus and biblical teaching.
• Cultural views of exorcism differ around the world, especially outside the West.
• Truth-telling is often the key to healing and freedom.
• Misuse of exorcisms—especially against marginalized people—can cause deep harm.
• Rituals can be powerful when approached with respect and wisdom.
• Healing always happens best with community support, not isolation.
• Exorcisms aren’t quick fixes—they require discernment and pastoral care.
• The Church seeks to help people integrate their truth, not suppress it.
• True healing engages the whole person: spiritually, psychologically, and communally.
  

If you’ve ever wondered what exorcisms look like beyond the movie screen—or how they actually fit into Anglican life and theology—this episode is for you.

Links Mentioned This Episode:

Lent Madness: https://www.lentmadness.org/

DIO CNY Podcast Network: https://cnyepiscopal.org/dio-cny-podcasts/

This time, Canon Megan leads the way as she and Adam dive into the remarkable life of Maria Skobtsova—a Russian Orthodox nun, poet, and activist who lived out her theology in radical and courageous ways during the occupation of Paris.

From her early years as an atheist and artist to her transformation into a fierce advocate for the marginalized, Maria’s story challenges us to ask: What does it really mean to live a Christian life? Megan and Adam reflect on how Maria’s life—marked by service, suffering, and ultimately martyrdom—calls today’s Christians to respond to injustice with action, compassion, and faith.

If you’ve ever wondered what radical Christian love looks like in practice—or how ordinary faith can lead to extraordinary courage—this episode is for you.

AI Disclosure: To support our staff in their limited time, many of our episode summaries are first generated by AI and then edited by the Communications Director to accurately reflect and preview our podcast episodes.

This episode, Canon Megan and Adam tackle a big, thorny question: Can there ever be such a thing as a “just” war?

They dig into the history of Just War Theory, how it emerged from Christian thought, and what it says about ethics, responsibility, and the real human cost of conflict. From ancient philosophy to the realities of modern military technology, this episode explores how faith and morality intersect with some of the hardest choices nations and individuals ever face.

It’s a thoughtful, honest look at a tough topic—and a reminder that even in the fog of war, theology and ethics still matter.

Whether you’re a history buff, a person of faith, or just wondering how Christians think about violence and peace, this episode will give you tools to wrestle with the questions that don’t have easy answers.

AI Disclosure: To support our staff in their limited time, many of our episode summaries are first generated by AI and then edited by the Communications Director to accurately reflect and preview our podcast episodes.

This episode, Canon Megan and Adam get into the movement of worship—literally. From crossing yourself to bowing to sharing the peace, they explore all the little physical gestures you see (and maybe wonder about) during Episcopal services.

They break down where these traditions come from, what they mean, and why they matter—not as rigid rules, but as opportunities for personal expression, reverence, and connection to God.

Whether you’re someone who’s never made the sign of the cross or you’ve been doing it since you were in the nursery, this is a great reminder that our bodies can be part of our prayer—and that how we worship is just as personal as why.

AI Disclosure: To support our staff in their limited time, many of our episode summaries are first generated by AI and then edited by the Communications Director to accurately reflect and preview our podcast episodes.

Canon Megan and Adam are back for round two of one of the hardest questions in the Christian life: Why do bad things happen to good people?  This time, they turn to the Book of Job—not for easy answers, but for real, pastoral wisdom.

Together, they unpack what Job’s story teaches us about presence, suffering, and what not to say when someone’s in pain. They reflect on how faith doesn’t always mean fixing—it can mean sitting in the ashes with someone and refusing to look away.

Along the way, they talk about finding joy in the midst of grief, how suffering can be transformative, and why being with someone is more powerful than explaining their pain away.

What You’ll Walk Away With:

• Just because an answer makes intellectual sense doesn’t mean it feels good when you’re hurting.
• Pastoral care isn’t about fixing suffering—it’s about showing up and staying present.
• Job’s friends are great… until they start talking. Sometimes silence is the best support.
• God’s presence with us matters more than God’s reasons for us.
• Suffering can lead to transformation and even redemption—but not without honesty.
• Grief and joy can sit side by side—both are part of the human experience.
• Healing starts with acknowledging pain, not ignoring it.
• The person who’s suffering should guide the conversation—not the one trying to explain it.
• The church is at its best when it centers people in pain, not theological debates.
• Searching for meaning in suffering is sacred work—and it takes time.

This episode is for anyone who’s ever felt helpless in the face of someone else’s pain—or carried grief themselves and wondered where God might be in it.

AI Disclosure: To support our staff in their limited time, many of our episode summaries are first generated by AI and then edited by the Communications Director to accurately reflect and preview our podcast episodes.

This episode, Canon Megan leads the charge into one of the oldest and hardest questions out there: If God is good, why do bad things happen to good people? Adam’s along for the ride as they unpack what philosophy, theology, and real life have to say about suffering.

They explore different ways Christians have tried to make sense of evil, from the ancient to the modern—and why those answers often feel deeply unsatisfying when you're the one hurting.

Instead of offering a tidy solution, this episode leans into the mystery, highlighting how presence, empathy, and compassion matter more than perfect logic. It’s not about having the right answer—it’s about showing up with love.

What You’ll Walk Away With:

• The question of suffering is one every human wrestles with—across time, cultures, and faiths.
• Philosophical “solutions” can sometimes create more distance than comfort.
• The classic theological problem: how do we believe in a good God in a world with evil?
• The “Veil of Soul-Making” theory suggests that suffering helps shape our virtues—but it still leaves hard questions.
• Christianity teaches that God is with us in suffering—not watching from a distance.
• Conversations about evil and suffering get real fast—and need more compassion than cleverness.
• God gives humans moral freedom, which means the possibility of real harm.
• Natural disasters and illness—“natural evil”—make the problem even more complex.
• Scripture shows us a God who doesn’t avoid suffering, but enters into it with us.
• When words fail, presence, empathy, and support are often the best theology we’ve got.

If you’ve ever struggled to find meaning in the midst of pain—or tried to comfort someone who’s suffering—this episode offers grace, honesty, and a space to breathe.

AI Disclosure: To support our staff in their limited time, many of our episode summaries are first generated by AI and then edited by the Communications Director to accurately reflect and preview our podcast episodes.

In this episode, Canon Megan and Adam take on one of the trickiest theological questions out there: What does it really mean to say that God is sovereign?

They dive into the influence of Arthur Pink’s writing and it's influence modern Reformed theology, the challenges of hyper-Calvinism, and how different traditions—including Episcopalians (and Anglicanism) —understand God’s power, justice, and love. Spoiler: not everyone sees God as a puppet master pulling every string.

Instead, Megan and Adam offer a vision of a God who chooses relationship over control—and who gives us freedom not in spite of divine sovereignty, but because of it.

What You’ll Walk Away With:

• God’s sovereignty is one of the most debated concepts in Christianity—and there’s more than one way to understand it.
• Arthur Pink’s take has shaped a lot of modern evangelical thought, especially in more rigid theological circles.
• Hyper-Calvinism can make God seem distant, coercive, or even unloving—but that’s not the only option.
• The Anglican tradition sees sovereignty through the lens of love, not domination.
• Free will isn’t a threat to God’s power—it’s a gift from God that makes relationship possible.
• You can’t talk about sovereignty without also talking about God’s justice, mercy, and character.
• Theology doesn’t happen in a vacuum—history and context matter.
• True power doesn’t need to control everything. Sometimes, power looks like choosing to let others choose.
• God isn’t a puppet master—God is a partner in love and liberation.
• When we talk about God, the words we use really matter—and so does the story we’re telling with them.

If you’ve ever wondered how to make sense of God’s will, human freedom, or whether everything really “happens for a reason”—this episode is for you.

AI Disclosure: To support our staff in their limited time, many of our episode summaries are first generated by AI and then edited by the Communications Director to accurately reflect and preview our podcast episodes.