What If Project

By Dr. Glenn SiepertReligion & Spirituality Christianity Spirituality

What If Project episodes

May 04 Episode 361: Better Than Normal w/ MaryAnn McKibben Dana
Most of us were handed a script, right? THIS is what success looks like. THIS is what a good life is. THIS is what it means to be normal.
BUT.
What happens when that script starts to crack, when it just doesn't work anymore?
In this episode, I’m joined by MaryAnn McKibben Dana, author of the amazing book, Better Than Normal; and we talk about what it means to step off that script - especially when that might be scary, costly, or misunderstood.
We get into topics like anxiety, parenting, deconstruction, and the quiet courage it takes to live a life that actually fits who you are… instead of who you were told to be.
Yes.
What if “better than normal” isn’t out there somewhere, but begins the moment we stop trying to be what we think everyone expects us to be?
SHOW NOTES:
MARYANN MCKIBBEN DANA: https://substack.com/@maryannmckibbendana
BETTER THAN NORMAL: https://amzn.to/4eIXQll
MY NEW BOOK: https://a.co/d/fsUTllj
ART STUDIO: https://www.whatifproject.net/art
EBAY ART: https://www.ebay.com/usr/what_if_project
SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.whatifproject.net/support
(**NOTE: these show notes contain Amazon affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something I may earn a small commission)

52 min
April 05 Episode 360: Liza Rankow - Soul Medicine for a Fractured World
Today we are talking to Liza Rankow about some things that just might hold the power to change the world.
Liza J. Rankow, PhD, MHS, is an interfaith minister, educator, activist, and author. Her lifework centers the deep healing that is essential to personal and social transformation.
Liza is the founder and former executive director of OneLife Institute, which for almost 20 years supported the well-being of frontline changemakers. She has been a spiritual counselor and teacher for more than three decades, working with individual clients, facilitating healing retreats, and offering classes and workshops in a variety of community and academic settings.
Liza is the producer and co-editor of The Living Wisdom of Howard Thurman audio collection. Her new book is Soul Medicine for a Fractured World: Healing, Justice, and the Path of Wholeness and she's joining us today to talk a bit about it. Enjoy!
SHOW NOTES:
LIZA RANKOW: https://www.lizarankow.org
SOUL MEDICINE FOR A FRACTURED WORLD: https://amzn.to/3Qc4RAP
MY NEW BOOK: https://a.co/d/fsUTllj
ART STUDIO: https://www.whatifproject.net/art
EBAY ART: https://www.ebay.com/usr/what_if_project
SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.whatifproject.net/support
(**NOTE: these show notes contain Amazon affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something I may earn a small commission)
1 hr 5 min
March 03 Episode 359: Scott Gelfand - Ethics, Morality, and a New Way Forward in Divisive Times
What happens to morality when the old rules no longer work?
For many of us raised in Evangelical or fundamentalist Christianity, ethics once felt clear: follow God’s commands, trust the Bible, and do the right thing. But when that framework begins to fall apart, moral decision-making can suddenly feel confusing ... even frightening.
In this episode of the What If Project, I’m joined by Dr. Scott Gelfand, author of Thinking Ethically: A Handbook for Making Moral Choices, to explore what it means to think ethically after certainty and obedience.
We talk about why moral choices so often live in gray areas, how ethical frameworks can help, how we (as a whole) are much more similar than we are different, and how the Political System we have built thrives when we are divided.
This conversation is especially for those navigating deconstruction or life after faith — and who are trying to rebuild a moral framework rooted in humility, compassion, and responsibility.
What if ethics isn’t about the certainty of one side being right and the other being wrong, but about learning how to live well together in the gray?
SHOW NOTES:
SCOTT GELFAND: https://scottgelfand.com
THINKING ETHICALLY: https://amzn.to/4tmx4UZ
MY NEW BOOK: https://a.co/d/fsUTllj
ART STUDIO: https://www.whatifproject.net/art
EBAY ART: https://www.ebay.com/usr/what_if_project
SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.whatifproject.net/support
(**NOTE: these show notes contain Amazon affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something I may earn a small commission)
1 hr
February 23 Episode 358: Michael Leach - Faith Over Fear and Pursuing Unity Without Compromising Our Values
This week we are talking to Michael Leach. Michael served as Assistant to the Head Coach for the Chicago Bears, managed Labor Operations at NFL Headquarters, and become the first ever Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer for the White House under President Joe Biden. He recently released a wonderful book called "Faith Over Fear: Harnessing Resilience in the Face of Uncertainty" and he's joined us today to talk about it. We talk about the fear that comes with major life changes, navigating the complexities of childhood wounds, and how we can be a people who pursue unity without sacrificing our values.
SHOW NOTES:
MICHAEL LEACH: http://mrmichaelleach.com
FAITH OVER FEAR: https://www.myfaithoverfear.com
MY NEW BOOK: https://a.co/d/fsUTllj
ART STUDIO: https://www.whatifproject.net/art
EBAY ART: https://www.ebay.com/usr/what_if_project
SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.whatifproject.net/support
53 min
February 02Episode 357: NT Wright - God’s Homecoming and the Forgotten Promise of Future Renewal
This week NT Wright joins me to explore the vision behind his new book, God’s Homecoming: The Forgotten Promise of Future Renewal.
Many of us were raised with an end-times story that was focused on escape—going to heaven when we die, the rapture, and the destruction of the world.
BUT.
What if that was never the Christian hope?
In this conversation, NT Wright challenges fear-based eschatology and invites us into a different future: not leaving creation behind, but God renewing it. We talk about heaven, resurrection, new creation, and what the Bible actually says about the end times.
We also explore how this vision of hope speaks to real-world issues like political polarization, anxiety around "end times", and healing from evangelical and fundamentalist Christianity.
Are you deconstructing, rethinking faith, or searching for a way to imagine God without fear? This episode is for you!
In this episode, we discuss:
Why “going to heaven when you die” became the dominant story
What the Bible says about resurrection and new creation
How fear-based end-times theology shaped evangelical Christianity
What God’s “homecoming” means for how we live now
(**Below are Amazon affiliate links. If you use these links to buy the product I may earn a small commission)
SHOW NOTES:
NT WRIGHT: https://ntwrightpage.com
GOD'S HOMECOMING: https://amzn.to/3M01bAC
MY NEW BOOK: https://a.co/d/fsUTllj
ART STUDIO: https://www.whatifproject.net/art
EBAY ART: https://www.ebay.com/usr/what_if_project
SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.whatifproject.net/support
53 min
January 25 Episode 356: My New Book Is Out Today, Let's Talk About It
Friends, today is my birthday AND the release of my new book, "Letters From My Soul". In this episode I share a bit about the book, read some chapter titles to you along with the Introduction. Give it a listen and head over to Amazon to pick one up for $14.99. If that's too steep, I get it - email me at [email protected] and I'll send you one for FREE. I am also happy to mail a signed copy for $20 or signed copies of all 3 of my books for $50 ... or whatever prices work for your budget.

Thanks for your love and support - my family and I are grateful. Sending you all much love!

SHOW NOTES:

NEW BOOK: https://a.co/d/9uQIgT3

SUBSTACK / BLOG: https://whatifproject.substack.com/

ART STUDIO: https://www.whatifproject.net/art

EBAY ART: https://www.ebay.com/usr/what_if_project

SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.whatifproject.net/support
26 min
January 05 Episode 355: Hugo Mendez - John's Gospel And The Invitation To Become
Friends, welcome to SEASON NINE of the podcast. To kick off a new season and a NEW YEAR (Happy New Year!) we're talking to a brand new guest - Dr. Hugo Mendez. Hugo is an associate professor in Ancient Mediterranean Religions at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He recently wrote a book called "The Gospel of John: A New History" and it is FANTASTIC - a must read if you want to know more about the Jesus story told (in particular) from the vantage point of John's Gospel. We talk about the background of the Gospel and the radical (very radical!) theology of the Gospel that doesn't always seem to make its way into churches today. Buckle up and enjoy!

(**Below are Amazon affiliate links. If you use these links to buy the product I may earn a small commission)

SHOW NOTES:

HUGO MENDEZ: https://www.hugomendez.com

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN: https://amzn.to/4pi7Cwg

MY BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/Emerging-Rubble-Stories-Shattered-Relationships/dp/B0C7T5TJD4/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2B051GGV2WCSI&keywords=glenn+siepert&qid=1700157759&sprefix=glenn+%2Caps%2C399&sr=8-1

SUBSTACK / BLOG: https://whatifproject.substack.com/

ART STUDIO: https://www.whatifproject.net/art

EBAY ART: https://www.ebay.com/usr/what_if_project

SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.whatifproject.net/support
58 min
December 15, 2025 Episode 354: Amelia Hruby - Reclaiming Our Attention From Social Media In 2026
Friends, welcome to the final episode of 2025. We're bringing the year (and season 8 of the podcast!) to a close with a new friend of the show - Amelia Hruby. Amelia wrote a book called "Your Attention is Sacred (Except on Social Media)" and she's on the show today to talk to us about some things we might not realize about social media and the way it impacts our everyday lives. I really set out to reform my social media use in 2025 and will do so even more in 2026. If you're in a place where you're realizing that how you currently use social media is having a negative impact on your soul ... this one is for you and will give you LOTS of practical things to ponder. Enjoy!
SHOW NOTES:
AMELIA HRUBY: https://offthegrid.fun
YOUR ATTENTION IS SACRED: https://offthegrid.fun/attention
MY BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/Emerging-Rubble-Stories-Shattered-Relationships/dp/B0C7T5TJD4/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2B051GGV2WCSI&keywords=glenn+siepert&qid=1700157759&sprefix=glenn+%2Caps%2C399&sr=8-1
SUBSTACK / BLOG: https://whatifproject.substack.com/
ART STUDIO: https://www.whatifproject.net/art
EBAY ART: https://www.ebay.com/usr/what_if_project
SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.whatifproject.net/support
MUSIC: track created in GarageBand :)
58 min
December 01, 2025 Episode 353: Stefanie Caponi - Tarot As A Tool For Manifestion And Shadow Work
Friends, this week we are talking to the official tarot reader and astrologer of the What If Project, my friend - Stefanie Caponi. I love the work that Stefanie is doing in the world as she breaks down and presents ideas and topics that many were raised to fear (!) in profound and non-threatening ways. Today we revisit the topic of "tarot" and how it ties into manifestation and shadow work and can help us on our journey of growth. Enjoy!
SHOW NOTES:
STEFANIE CAPONI: https://moonvoidtarot.com
TAROT FOR MANIFESTATION: https://amzn.to/49vMyOQ
MY BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/Emerging-Rubble-Stories-Shattered-Relationships/dp/B0C7T5TJD4/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2B051GGV2WCSI&keywords=glenn+siepert&qid=1700157759&sprefix=glenn+%2Caps%2C399&sr=8-1
SUBSTACK / BLOG: https://whatifproject.substack.com/
ART STUDIO: https://www.whatifproject.net/art
EBAY ART: https://www.ebay.com/usr/what_if_project
SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.whatifproject.net/support
44 min
November 17, 2025 Episode 352: Mory Fontanez - Meeting Our Higher Self And The Realization That There Is No 'Other'
Friends. This week we are talking to Mory Fontanez about her book, "Higher Self: Reclaiming the Power of Your Intuition" and, let me tell you - this book is scratching me right where I itch.
I was raised in a world where I was told to DISTRUST the voice inside. Heck, I was even told it was a DEMON that needed to be CAST OUT and sent to the pits of hell.
You too?
Just me?
Anyways - Mory helps those of us who have been disconnected from that voice to reconnect with it so that we can hear and live from the deep wisdom it has to share.
We cover a lot of ground in this one - buckle up and ENJOY.
SHOW NOTES:
MORY FONTANEZ: https://www.moryfontanez.com/
HIGHER SELF: https://a.co/d/gtoc8os
MY BOOK: https://www.amazon.com/Emerging-Rubble-Stories-Shattered-Relationships/dp/B0C7T5TJD4/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2B051GGV2WCSI&keywords=glenn+siepert&qid=1700157759&sprefix=glenn+%2Caps%2C399&sr=8-1
SUBSTACK / BLOG: https://whatifproject.substack.com/
ART STUDIO: https://www.whatifproject.net/art
EBAY ART: https://www.ebay.com/usr/what_if_project
SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.whatifproject.net/support
49 min