The Very Rev’d Dr. Andrew McGowan, Dean of Berkeley Divinity School at Yale, joins Hannah for an Advent episode. Dean McGowan reflects on his career as a priest, academic, and administrator and shares how the Daily Office helps him maintain balance in the midst of it all. He shares the “what” and “why” behind the lectionary and reflects on the Advent readings from Luke for lectionary year C. We explore the Advent themes of death, judgment, heaven, and hell and discuss how this emphasis differs from other versions of Advent. Dean McGowan gives us a crash course on why the date of Christmas is December 25 and closing reflections on seminary education. Join us for insightful dialogue on faith, ministry, and the deeper meanings of this sacred season.

Hosts: Brandon Nappi and Hannah Black

Guest: Andrew McGowan

Production: Goodchild Media

Music: Wayfaring Stranger, Theodicy Jazz Collective

Art: Ella Landino

Instagram: @theleadersway.podcast

berkeleydivinity.yale.edu/podcast

You can support our work at https://tinyurl.com/support-transforming-leaders 

Professor Lin tells us all about her new book Immigration and Apocolypse: How the Book of Revelation Shaped American Immigration. We think about Christopher Columbus and the New World, why there's a "new" in New England, New York, and New Haven, how Revelation's words have shaped rhetoric about immigration, how Westward expansion and building a wall fit in, and more. Professor Lin helps us think about how our new understanding of Revelation and the American imagination apply to preaching on Revelation, teaching children about Thanksgiving, and making the case for why thinking about colonialism is important.

Hosts: Brandon Nappi and Hannah Black

Guest: Yii-Jan Lin

Production: Goodchild Media

Music: Wayfaring Stranger, Theodicy Jazz Collective

Art: Ella Landino

Instagram: @theleadersway.podcast

berkeleydivinity.yale.edu/podcast

You can support our work at https://tinyurl.com/support-transforming-leaders

The Rev. Dr. Danielle Tumminio Hansen joins Hannah and Brandon for an enriching discussion about teaching theology using pop culture (Harry Potter), trauma-informed spiritual care, and new frontiers in the theology of abortion.

Hosts: Brandon Nappi and Hannah Black

Guest: Danielle Tumminio Hansen

Production: Goodchild Media

Music: Wayfaring Stranger, Theodicy Jazz Collective

Art: Ella Landino

berkeleydivinity.yale.edu/podcast

Instagram: @theleadersway.podcast

Support our work: https://tinyurl.com/support-transforming-leaders

Renowned author and spiritual leader Parker Palmer joins Brandon and Hannah to explore the world of leadership and teaching. Palmer shares stories from his life, including profound mystical experiences, bouts of clinical depression, and classroom successes. The conversation underscores the importance of listening and trusting in leadership and teaching. This episode is a heartfelt exploration of the inner life of leaders, emphasizing the integration of faith, authenticity, and compassion in the practices of teaching and ministry.

Hosts: Brandon Nappi and Hannah Black

Guest: Parker Palmer

Production: Goodchild Media

Music: Wayfaring Stranger, Theodicy Jazz Collective

Instagram @theleadersway.podcast

berkeleydivinity.yale.edu/podcast

Episode links:

Center for Courage and Renewal: https://couragerenewal.org/

The Courage to Teach: Exploring the Inner Landscape of a Teacher’s Life, Parker J. Palmer: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-courage-to-teach-exploring-the-inner-landscape-of-a-teacher-s-life-parker-j-palmer/12575744?ean=9781119413042

This special Halloween episode focuses on the Salem witch trials with a focus on what church leaders can learn from this period of history. Dr. Kenneth Minkema—Executive Editor of The Works of Jonathan Edwards and of the Jonathan Edwards Center & Online Archive at Yale University—teaches us about the witch trials in New England, highlighting their religious and social contexts, the dynamics of fear and accusation, and the lasting impact on American culture. The episode explores the complexities of Puritan beliefs, the role of fear and control in the witch hunts, and reflections on how these historical events relate to contemporary issues that church leaders face daily of fear, control, and othering.

Hosts: Brandon Nappi and Hannah Black

Guest: Ken Minkema

Production: Goodchild Media

Instagram: @theleadersway.podcast

berkeleydivinity.yale.edu/podcast

Brandon and Hannah chat about why the podcast is called The Leader’s Way. We hear Brandon’s definition of leadership and talk about the courage, vulnerability, and commitment required of leaders. We hear Brandon’s vocation story and reflect on the work we do, offering continuing education to church leaders.

In part 2 of our recording with a live studio audience, Bishop Barber breaks down how spiritual leaders are either prophets of the kingdom or chaplains to empire. He takes questions from the audience about the relationship between Episcopal tradition and moral demands, interfaith leadership, and leadership amid the military-industrial complex.

Hosts: Brandon Nappi and Hannah Black

Guest: William Barber

Production: Goodchild Media

berkeleydivinity.yale.edu/podcast Instagram: @theleadersway.podcast

The Rev. Dr. William Barber joined us at the Berkeley Center with a live studio audience for this episode of The Leader's Way Podcast, which will be released in 2 parts. Barber tells his vocation story and explains how morality is the key to nonpartisan spiritual leadership in politics. He talks about the "least of these" as a central part of moral engagement in politics and takes us inside a UN conversation about poverty.

Hosts: Brandon Nappi and Hannah Black

Guest: William Barber Singer: Yara Allen

Filmed/Edited: Goodchild Media

berkeleydivinity.yale.edu/podcast

Instagram: @theleadersway.podcast

The Very Rev’d Randy Hollerith, Dean of the National Cathedral in Washington, DC, joins us as we continue thinking about leading churches through especially political times. He talks about the church’s role as being a voice for the “better way”: the promotion of values like unity and love in contrast to what we often see in the world around us. He talks about the cathedral’s role in politics as one of convening conversation and creating space for prayer and reflection.

A rare mostly unserious episode amid serious times: Brandon and Hannah take a moment one year into the show to reflect on past episodes and celebrate the new podcast art and music. We play the inaugural Golden Retriever Games: “Taylor or Dante?” and “The Question Game.”