The Deconstructionists

Ep. 248 - Angela Thompson "Worst T*ts Ever" pt. 1

Angela Harger Thompson joins us for part one of a deeply honest, unexpectedly funny, and powerful conversation about survival, trauma, and reclaiming the right to tell yo

Ep. 247 - Dr. Janet Kellogg Ray "Fish With Feet: Human Evolution and the Image of God" pt. 2

In Part Two of our conversation with Dr. Janet Kellogg, we explore the growing loss of trust in medicine and science—and what happens when that distrust opens the door to

Ep. 246 - Dr. Janet Kellogg Ray "Fish With Feet: Human Evolution and the Image of God" pt. 1

What if accepting evolution didn’t require abandoning faith? Dr. Janet Kellogg Ray returns to The Deconstructionists to talk about her new book, Fish with Feet: Human Ev

What Comes Next: The Future of The Deconstructionists

After more than ten years of conversations about faith, doubt, theology, identity, and the questions that reshape us, The Deconstructionists is entering its final chapter

Ep. 245 - Rev. Sally Miller "The Modern Chaplain" pt. 2

What does it really mean to be present with another person? In Part Two of John's conversation with Rev. Sally Pelinka Miller, the discussion moves beyond defining moder

Ep. 244 - Rev. Sally Miller "The Modern Chaplain" pt. 1

What comes to mind when you hear the word "chaplain"? For many of us, it's an older Christian minister carrying a Bible into a hospital room to pray with patients. But w

Ep. 243 - Jacob & Esau: The Misunderstood Brothers

What if one of the Bible's most famous stories isn't really about a hero and a villain? For centuries, many of us have been taught to read the story of Jacob and Esau th

Ep. 242 - Shelby Forsythia "Grief, Healing, and the Stories We Carry" (Part 2)

In Part 2 of our conversation with grief coach, author, and podcaster Shelby Forsythia, we dive deeper into her brand-new book, Of Course I'm Here Right Now. Most of us

Ep. 241 - Shelby Forsythia "Grief, Healing, and the Stories We Carry" (Part 1)

What happens when grief changes not just your life… but your identity? In part one of this conversation, John sits down with author, grief guide, and speaker Shelby Fors

Ep. 240 - Dualism — The Battle Between Spirit and Matter

What if one of the most influential ideas in modern Christianity… didn’t actually come from Jesus? In this episode of The Deconstructionists Podcast, we explore the hist

Ep. 239 - Dr. Bart Ehrman "Love Thy Stranger" pt. 2

In Part 2 of our conversation, Bart Ehrman returns to discuss his latest book, Love Thy Stranger, and the lasting impact Jesus’ teachings had on moral thought in the West

Ep. 238 - Dr. Bart Ehrman "Love Thy Stranger" pt. 1

Dr. Bart Ehrman – Love Thy Stranger: How the Teachings of Jesus Transformed the Moral Conscience of the West (Part 1)In Part 1 of our conversation with renowned New Testa

Ep. 237 - Lillian Daniels "Failure, Accountability & the Future of the Church" pt. 2

In Part 2 of our conversation with Lillian Daniel, we move deeper into the tensions at the heart of her story—and the bigger questions it raises for the modern church. I

Ep. 236 - Lillian Daniel "Defrocked: Good News from a Bad Pastor for a Better Church" pt. 1

📝 Episode Summary Drawing from her new book, Defrocked: Good News from a Bad Pastor for a Better Church, Lillian shares her journey through ministry, the unexpected chal

Ep. 235 - Dr. Cristy Carr "Reclaiming the Forgotten Self" pt. 2

What happens when the version of you that survived… isn’t the version of you that’s whole? In Part 2 of our conversation with Dr. Cristy Carr, we move deeper—beyond awar

Ep. 234 - Dr. Cristy Carr "The Forgotten Self" pt. 1

🧭 Episode Summary Who were you… before you were told who to be? For many of us—especially those shaped by religious systems—identity isn’t something we discovered. It’s

Ep. 233 - Violence and the Bible

Episode: Violence and the Bible – What Do We Do With It? 🧭 Episode Summary Violence is everywhere in the Bible—and for many, it’s one of the most difficult aspects of s

Ep. 232 - Dr. Michelle Keener "Comfort in the Ashes" pt. 2

The Deconstructionists Podcast Guest: Dr. Michelle Keener In Part 2 of our conversation with Dr. Michelle Keener, we go deeper into the themes of her book, Comfort in t

Ep. 231 - Dr. Michelle Keener "Comfort in the Ashes" pt. 1

In this first part of our conversation, we’re joined by Dr. Michelle Keener, author of Comfort in the Ashes: Explorations in the Book of Job to Support Trauma Survivors.

Ep. 230 - John Dominic Crossan & Michael Okinczyc-Cruz "Jesus and Justice" pt. 2

In Part Two of our conversation with John Dominic Crossan and Michael Okinczyc-Cruz, we move from historical foundations to present-day consequences. Once Jesus is under