The most played episodes among Podcast App listeners.

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   Number 1: Episode 238: A Conversation with Dr. Ashley Boggan

   What can the history of Methodism teach us about the future of the church? In Episode 238 of Pod Have Mercy, Matt and John sit down with Dr. Ashley Boggan, General Secretary of the United Methodist General Commission on Archives and History, to talk about what she calls the “ministry of memory” and why remembering our history is very different from simply being nostalgic. The conversation centers on a pivotal moment in John Wesley’s life when he “submitted to be more vile” and began preaching outside the walls of the church to people who were often excluded from traditional religious life. Ashley explains why she sees that moment as foundational to the Methodist movement and explores how Methodism’s early willingness to challenge social and institutional boundaries gradually gave way to a pursuit of respectability, influence, and growth. Show Notes & ResourcesWesleyan Vile-tality: Reclaiming the Heart of Methodist Identity — Ashley Boggan’s book exploring Wesley’s call to “submit to be more vile” and what it means for Methodist identity today.A Not So Calm Address to American Methodists — Ashley Boggan and Andy Oliver revisit John Wesley’s A Calm Address to Our American Colonies in light of America’s 250th anniversary.General Commission on Archives and History / UM History Hub — Resources exploring Methodist history and the church’s “ministry of memory.”From Crown to Conferencing: Methodism and the New Republic — A General Commission on Archives and History series exploring Methodism alongside the birth and development of the United States.

   August 21, 2026·1h 5min
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   Number 2: Episode 240: Wine, Faith, and the Sacred Table (Justin Martindale)

   Why has wine held such a powerful place in religion for thousands of years? In this episode of Pod Have Mercy, John shares a conversation originally hosted by the Wine Scholar Guild with Justin Martindale exploring the fascinating intersection of wine, culture, history, and faith. From the ancient world to the modern table, John and Justin discuss why wine became a symbol of blessing and abundance, its central role in Jewish and Christian traditions, and the complicated relationship between Christianity and alcohol throughout history. They also explore how monasteries helped preserve viticulture after the fall of the Roman Empire and how generations of monks helped lay the groundwork for many of the vineyard traditions and regional distinctions we recognize today. The conversation also turns to the spiritual lessons found in the vineyard itself—from dormancy and pruning to new growth, harvest, stress, and old vines. John reflects on how the life cycle of the vine offers a powerful picture of growth, resilience, generosity, and the ways our lives can bear fruit for people we may never even meet. Justin Martindale MW is a wine educator, consultant, judge, and the Membership & Community Manager for the Wine Scholar Guild. Based in Edinburgh, Scotland, Justin’s path to wine began after studying music at Leeds University and briefly working as a classical musician. He entered the wine trade with Majestic in 2008 before establishing the Lothian Wine School in Edinburgh in 2013.Justin earned the prestigious Master of Wine (MW) title in 2022. In the process, he received the Madame Bollinger Award for the best tasting performance and the Quinta do Noval Award for the best research paper. His work spans wine education, broadcasting, consulting, writing, judging, food and wine pairing, and exploring the broader cultural significance of wine. Links & Resources[https://www.mastersofwine.org/justin-...][https://www.winescholarguild.com/blog...][https://www.mastersofwine.org/]

   September 04, 2026·31min
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   Number 3: Episode 239: A Conversation with Dr. Ilia Delio

   What does it mean to live faithfully in an unfinished universe - one in which creation is still evolving and Christ is still drawing all things toward communion? In today's episode, Matt sits down with Dr. Ilia Delio, Franciscan sister, theologian, Josephine C. Connelly Endowed Chair in Theology at Villanova University, founder of the Center for Christogenesis, and author of more than twenty books, including "The Christian Mutation". Drawing from the work of Bonaventure, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, Carl Jung, and modern physics, Dr. Delio explores what Christianity might look like if we took evolution, science, and the deeply relational nature of the universe seriously.Together, Matt and Dr. Delio discuss moving from original sin toward original love, why relationship may be at the very foundation of reality, and what it means to understand sin as a resistance to relationship. They also explore the decline of institutional religion, the questions younger generations are asking, artificial intelligence, the problem of evil, and whether Christianity itself must continue to evolve. At the center of the conversation is a provocative possibility: What if love isn't simply something we feel or something Christianity teaches, but something woven into the very fabric of existence? And if the universe is still becoming, what would it mean for the church to become with it?\ In this episode: - Teilhard de Chardin and the relationship between science and faith - Bonaventure, Thomas Aquinas, and two ways of understanding Christianity - Original sin versus original love - Physics, interconnectedness, and the relational nature of reality - Sin as a resistance to relationship - Why younger generations are leaving institutional religion - Whether Christianity is answering questions people are no longer asking - Artificial intelligence and the future of humanity - Love, evil, and human transformation - What the church might become if it took evolution seriously - Whether love can endure even if the universe itself eventually dies Learn more about Dr. Ilia Delio: https://wisrinstitute.org/about/ilia-delio/

   August 28, 2026·1h 5min
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   Number 4: Episode 237: AI, Human Dignity, and the Future of Being Human

   What happens when the Church weighs in on artificial intelligence? In this episode, we discuss Pope Leo XIV's recent reflections on AI, technology, and human dignity. Drawing parallels between today's AI revolution and the Industrial Revolution, they explore how technology shapes our lives, influences our relationships, and challenges our understanding of what it means to be human. The conversation touches on social media algorithms, political polarization, Christian formation, human identity, and why the most important question may not be whether technology is good or bad, but who we are becoming while we build it. Plus, the hosts discuss the dangers of reducing people to labels, the importance of seeing others as image-bearers of God, and whether AI might someday replace the voices on the other end of customer service calls.

   June 12, 2026·29min
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   Number 5: Episode 231: Curiosity, Connection & the Future of Faith (with Ericka Graham)

   In this special crossover episode, Ericka Graham joins Dr. Matt Russell for a wide-ranging conversation on faith, belonging, trauma, addiction recovery, justice, vulnerability, and the future of the church. Together, they explore why people are often longing for connection more than certainty, how curiosity can become a path toward healing, and why authenticity matters more than polished answers in an AI-driven world. Ericka shares her background in theological studies, including graduate work at Rice University focused on sexuality in the Bible and seminary research on soul-body integration and embodiment. Through her podcast, Curiously with Ericka Graham, she creates space for conversations at the intersections of faith, religion, science, mental health, and more. Website: ⁠https://curiouslywitherickagraham.simplecast.com⁠ This episode is honest, hopeful, intellectually rich, and full of moments that will stay with you long after it ends.

   April 24, 2026·55min
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