Best Faithshift Podcasts (2025)

1
Joy Brooks - Faith’s Shadow Side: Facing Spiritual Bypassing (N347) 1:32:09

Play Pause

11d ago1:32:09

1:32:09

In this episode, we speak with therapist Joy Brooks about spiritual bypassing—how well-meaning spiritual beliefs and practices can sometimes mask or avoid the difficult emotions and wounds we all carry. Drawing on psychology, contemplative traditions, and Joy’s own journey out of charismatic Christianity, the conversation uncovers why confronting p…

1
Rowan Williams - Christianity After Certainty (N346) 1:35:57

25d ago1:35:57

1:35:57

In this episode, we speak with former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams about his vision of faith as attentiveness, not answers — a path not of mastery, but of mystery. Drawing on themes from his book Discovering Christianity, Rowan reflects on the difference between faith and toxic religion, and explores how trust, not certainty, might be th…

1
Lamorna Ash - Faith on the Edges (N345) 1:41:54

1M ago1:41:54

1:41:54

In this episode, we speak with writer Lamorna Ash about her two-year immersion in Christianity—an unexpected journey that took her from conservative Bible studies and charismatic worship to Quaker silence, Jesuit retreats, and the poetry of mystical experience. Inspired by the sudden conversions of two close friends, Lamorna set out to understand w…

1
Dan McClellan - Does the Bible Say Jesus is God? (N344) 1:47:16

2M ago1:47:16

1:47:16

In this episode we speak with Bible scholar Dan McClellan about one of Christianity’s most foundational claims: the divinity of Jesus. Drawing from his deep engagement with biblical scholarship, Dan invites us to consider whether the Bible actually presents Jesus as God in the way later doctrine insists. He explores how early Christian texts reflec…

1
Gareth Higgins - A Little Lower Than the Angels (N343) 51:56

3M ago51:56

51:56

In this special Easter meditation, writer and storyteller Gareth Higgins invites us into a deeper experience of reality—one rooted not in fear, despair, or division, but in love. With characteristic warmth and clarity, Gareth reflects on the challenges of our time: overwhelming empathy, collapsing certainties, and the temptation to believe that lov…

1
Shane Meyer-Holt - Unlearning Capitalism: Learning to Care, and Be Cared For (N342) 1:57:07

3M ago1:57:07

1:57:07

In this episode we speak with Shane Meyer-Holt—writer, speaker, and co-host of In the Shift podcast—about the impact of capitalism on our understanding of ourselves, our relationships and our need for care. Drawing from his own experiences of parenting, community and faith shifting, Shane reflects on the way neoliberal values have colonised our liv…

1
Chine McDonald - Unmaking Motherhood: Faith, Family, and Feminism (N341) 1:34:09

3M ago1:34:09

1:34:09

What happens when the idealised image of motherhood meets the lived reality? In this episode, we sit down with Director of Theos, Chine McDonald to explore the complexities of motherhood and faith. Chine shares her personal journey, from growing up in evangelical churches with rigid gender roles to navigating the expectations and challenges of moth…

1
Helen Bond - Jesus: The Man, The Myth (N340) 1:29:29

4M ago1:29:29

1:29:29

Join us for a thought-provoking conversation with Dr. Helen Bond, Professor of Christian Origins and New Testament, as we explore the complex relationship between the Jesus of history and the Christ of faith. Helen unpacks the challenges of reconstructing Jesus’ life from the Gospels, revealing how early Christian communities shaped his story. We d…

1
Justin Lee - Conversations for a Divided World (N339) 1:32:01

4M ago1:32:01

1:32:01

In this episode, we speak with Justin Lee about navigating difference and division in a polarised world. Justin shares his journey reconciling his identity as a gay man with his evangelical Christian upbringing, a path that led to his work fostering dialogue across divides. He explores the challenges of echo chambers, the instinct to fight or avoid…

1
Jennifer Bird - Deconstructing Biblical Sex and Marriage (N338) 1:45:34

5M ago1:45:34

1:45:34

In this episode, we sit down with biblical scholar Dr. Jennifer Bird to explore the Bible’s complex portrayals of marriage and sexuality. Jennifer shares her journey from conservative evangelicalism to a more nuanced, humanistic perspective, and helps us unpack, among other things, Jesus and Paul’s lack of enthusiasm for marriage, the Bible’s limit…

1
Munther Isaac - Gaza, God and Genocide (N337) 1:30:17

6M ago1:30:17

1:30:17

In this episode, we speak with Munther Isaac about the history of the Israel-Palestine conflict, and what led to the current crisis in Gaza. Munther, a Palestinian pastor and theologian, reflects on the intersection of theology and politics, and what faith, hope and love might mean in the face of such terrible suffering. Following the interview Nom…

1
Sally Douglas - Jesus Sophia (N336) 1:40:01

6M ago1:40:01

1:40:01

In this episode, we’re joined by theologian and minister, Sally Douglas. Sally helps us explore the idea of Jesus as Sophia, the embodiment of the female divine. Together, we unpack themes like righteous anger, justice, and the sacredness of all creation. Sally shares how reclaiming Sophia’s presence in the Gospels challenges patriarchal structures…

1
Noel Moules - Creation as Incarnation: A Christian Animist Perspective (N335) 52:30

7M ago52:30

52:30

In this special devotional episode, anabaptist, anarchist and animist Noel Moules explores the profound mystery of incarnation from his unique perspective as a Christian animist. He considers the interconnectedness of all things—seeing the sacredness in both creation and spirit, and how personhood extends beyond humanity to the entire cosmos. Noel …

1
Christmas Q&A (N334) 1:37:44

7M ago1:37:44

1:37:44

In this special seasonal episode, your Nomad hosts come together for a Q&A session filled with festive cheer and thoughtful reflections. As a heartfelt thank-you to our amazing supporters—whose generosity has made this year’s Nomadic journey possible—we’re diving into their most pressing (and quirky) questions. While our answers may not always be t…

1
Brian Zahnd – Christians in the Age of Trump [Revisited] (N333) 1:21:27

7M ago1:21:27

1:21:27

Back in 2019, Tim Nash and David Blower sat down with Brian Zahnd to explore the toxic entanglement between Church and Empire, and the resulting religion Zahnd calls "Americanism." From rethinking how we read Scripture to the deeply political implications of the cross, Zahnd offers a vision of living as citizens of God’s kindom amidst worldly empir…

1
Karen O’Donnell - Radical Practices for Remaking the Self (N332) 1:28:32

8M ago1:28:32

1:28:32

No stranger to loss and trauma, feminist theologian, Karen O'Donnell helps us to reconsider some commonly held perspectives around spiritual practice. Sharing from research and lived experience, she offers insight into how we might benefit from reimagining our approach to rebuilding and remaking ourselves in the aftermath of difficult, or damaging,…

1
Dave Tomlinson - The Bad Christian’s Guide to Prayer (N331) 1:35:16

8M ago1:35:16

1:35:16

Dave Tomlinson joins us to reflect on his faith journey and how his evolving understanding of God has profoundly reshaped his approach to prayer. He explores the idea that prayer is for everyone, regardless of belief, advocating for the "democratisation" of prayer and sacraments. For Dave, these spiritual practices aren't confined to religious ritu…

1
Joanna Leidenhag - The Consciousness of All Things (N330) 1:34:52

9M ago1:34:52

1:34:52

In this episode Joanna Leidenhag explores the fascinating nature of consciousness and its implications for how we understand ourselves and the world around us. She challenges traditional views that separate mind and body, and instead advocates for panpsychism, an understanding that she believes better fosters environmental awareness, deeper respect…

1
Brian McLaren - Wisdom and Courage for a World Falling Apart (N329) 1:29:14

9M ago1:29:14

1:29:14

Author and activist Brian McLaren joins us again, this time to explore how we navigate the many current crises humanity is facing. He reflects on the role of art, spirituality, and indigenous teaching in fostering the wisdom and resilience we’ll need as we try to imagine a new world. It’s a profound reflection on how we can confront humanity’s grea…

1
Thomas Oord - Reimagining the Divine After Omnipotence (N328) 1:33:08

10M ago1:33:08

1:33:08

Theologian Thomas Oord joins us again to explore a vision of God as radically loving but not omnipotent. We look at the implications of challenging this traditional notion of divine control and how it has reshaped Tom’s understanding of creation, evolution, suffering, liberation, the nature of God's power and the potential for hope without guarante…

1
Jon Bilbrough (aka Wilderthorn) - Soundscapes and Sacred Spaces (N327) 1:10:34

11M ago1:10:34

1:10:34

In this episode artist and musician Jon Bilbrough reflects on his spiritual and creative heritage and how it shaped his unique musical journey. From early memories of communal singing to the experimental sounds of the 90s, Jon shares his deep connection with music, nature, and place. He discusses the contemplative approach of his recent work, the r…

1
Elizabeth Oldfield - Tending to the Soul in Turbulent Times (N326) 1:38:31

11M ago1:38:31

1:38:31

On this episode Elizabeth Oldfield joins us to talk about what it means to tend to our souls during turbulent times. Elizabeth shares the practices that are helping her become a depolarising presence in a culture of outrage, tribalism, and division, and forming intentional community in an age of disconnection and isolation. She also reflects on wha…

1
Keith Giles - The Secret Sayings of Jesus (N325) 1:34:02

12M ago1:34:02

1:34:02

In the canonical gospels, we’re told that Jesus met privately with his disciples to “explain everything”. Ever wondered what those teachings were? Teacher and author Keith Giles believes that the Gospel of Thomas could unveil these private teachings of Jesus. According to Keith, this gospel centres on non-duality and divine oneness, and might hold …

1
Sophie Grace Chappell - Trans Figured (N324) 1:38:08

12M ago1:38:08

1:38:08

In this episode we welcome professor Sophie Grace Chappell, who shares her profound journey of faith, gender identity, and self-acceptance. Identified male at birth, Sophie Grace reflects on her early sense of being female, her experience of the evangelical church, and the reconciliation of her faith with her transgender identity. With compassion a…

1
Therapist Q&A (N323) 1:42:55

1y ago1:42:55

1:42:55

Host Joy Brooks has gathered a group of psychotherapists from the Nomad therapy network to see how they answer questions from members of the Beloved Listener Lounge. Considering questions such as "what makes therapy transformational?”, "what would you say to someone who was told to trust the bible not feelings?", “how can I function while feeling l…