Self-promotion 🤳salesmanship 💸 commercialization 🤑 busyness 🏃‍➡️

Arguing, fighting, violence, hatred, war 💥💥💥

Why make another podcast? Won't we just add to the noise? 🔉🔉

🤲 We exist as a response to our spiritual calling.

We seek to:

🔵 Expand Consciousness

🔵 Raise the Level of Theological Conversation

🔵 Practice & Model Community and Cultural Engagement

This is God Talk. 🎧 We love you, and God does too. 🌄 ✝️ Welcome to the conversation. 👋🏽

Cradle Catholics raised on the prairie of Northwest Iowa, Connie Koeck and Beth Derr are true Midwest gals. Educators, moms, and church choir members, these women credit the influence of their parents - James' grandparents - for shaping them to be active in faith and good works. As we discuss their past, present, and future, the sacredness of life and our life stories is evident. Each of us are children of God. Each of us has gifts and talents. And each of us can learn to laugh if we know to not take ourselves too seriously!

These are James' aunties, Aunt Connie and Aunt Beth. We are grateful to them for Zooming in from Dyersville, Iowa! This is God Talk.

Medene pops off on things happening in the world. Take it or leave it, but here's his perspective! ICE, Zorhan Mamdani, Inflation, Venezuela, Fellowship, Volunteerism, and more.

Trying to balance the soul enriching formation of small town country folks with the hustle and bustle of big city adulting. James gives insight into his self and soul by exploring his vocational call to Christian ministry, his self-actualization as a gay man, and his sacred call to serve the Lord and His Church/Creation. From Kentucky to Los Angeles, James details the conscious transformation he has went through in his life. This is a story about finding your true self in Christ; discovering the confidence to choose you (accepting your whole self), and overcoming self-hatred. This is God Talk! #catholicchurch #gaycatholic #gaychristian #vocation #vocationstory #faith #faithjourney #selfactualization #lgbt #lgbtq #happinessjourney #catholicpodcast #kentuckystory #losangelesstory

How do we bring our questions to God, about God, and how do we question the “answers”? In this episode we unpack the things we are taught and told about faith, religion, and spirituality, in attempt to make sense of it all. Do we believe in God in the ways we were told we are "supposed to", and how has that changed for us over time?

Family trauma is explored; church hurt is re-examined, and our embedded theologies are deconstructed through religious education and human experience. As you watch, think about what you believe, why you believe that, and how those beliefs either add to or subtract from the quality of your life and the world around you. This is Sara's story. This is God Talk.

#evangelical #exvangelical #fundamentalist #christianity #church #familytrauma #religioustrauma #agnosticism #agnostic

So many hide who they are in the church out of fear: fear of persecution; fear of ostracism, and more! What does it look like to live without fear; without self-judgment; self-hatred? A great theological educator, Jared Anderson-Minor, of Los Angeles helps us live further into this brave and Godly proud reality, while also speaking truth to power! Listen to his story; hear his intentions, and then wonder about the areas in our own lives where we are not expressing or experiencing our most authentic selves and souls. This is God Talk!

After decades of abortion cemeteries, clinic rosaries, and trodding middle and high school students to DC marches, the Archdiocese and Archbishop of Boston have drawn a sacral line against ethical-political engagement at a simple sign pointing to the realities of ICE in 2025. The real story of Christmas is one of danger and vulnerability in the face of empire, of an out-of-town pregnant mother denied shelter as her water breaks.

Let's remind the Archbishop of Boston, and let us pray and act for the safety and humane treatment of our immigrant brothers and sisters.

Tyler Bieber, author and higher education administrator, has penned a new book detailing the life of one of America's first Catholic priests to openly minister to LGBTQ people, Fr. Tom Oddo, CSC. A capable speaker and professor, Fr. Tom's first major pastoral audience was Dignity USA, the groundbreaking national organization for LGBTQ Catholics. He served warmly and bravely, bringing light to many and capturing the attention of his superiors at a young age. The story of this shepherd turned university president is one of prophesy fulfilled yet incomplete.

Tyler's book is Against the Current: Father Tom Oddo and the New American Catholic, published by Unencumbered Press. You can order it wherever books are sold.

These four short weeks before Christmas can be for more than shopping and full calendars. Colder days and longer nights are a summons to contemplate our existence in God.

The late Pope Francis, through the ethics of Catholic Social Teaching, challenged the world often to “care for the common home (Earth)”, and engage in dialogue for how we are shaping the future of our planet. One person that does this work very well is Jill Mather, founder of Volunteers Cleaning Communities, a major community service based organization in Los Angeles County. Every single day volunteers from all over the county gather under the VCC banner to beautify their neighborhoods and other surrounding areas that need it. They help to get LA clean, creating a culture of support, friendship, civic engagement, service, and cleanliness. Listen to Jill's amazing story here on God Talk!