#138: Relational Resilience for the Exhausted (with Heather Thompson Day)

Professor, author, speaker and all-around delightful person Heather Thompson Day is our guest on The Puddcast—something I’ve been hoping to make happen for 3 years. Dr. Heather is Associate Professor of Communication at Andrews University, and the author of 8 books; including her latest, I'll See You Tomorrow: Building Relational Resilience When You Want to Quit. Heather shared her perspective that all relationship is sacred, and that ministering the gospel is often as simple as reflecting people’s human dignity back to them. We reflected on living with delight and purpose, inside the mundane limits of our actual lives. Heather unpacked the myth of self-reliance and explained how not all relationships have to be strong, intimate ones to still have profound value and sacred impact. If you’re tired and have not much left to give right now, this one is for you.

Jonathan PuddleJune 27, 2023communication, boundaries, relationships, community, faithComment

#130: The Soul of the Helper (with Dr. Holly Oxhandler)

Professor, researcher and podcaster Dr. Holly Oxhandler is my guest, talking about the supports that helpers need to keep on helping. Whether we’re talking about parents, therapists, pastors, teachers or literally anyone else who helps, Holly’s research has shown the importance of seeing the divine inside ourselves so that we can connect with the divine in others. Her book, The Soul of the Helper: Seven Stages to Seeing the Sacred Within Yourself So You Can See It in Others, has been very impactful in my life and we unpacked her social work research, what she’s found, and why it works. This is gentle and vulnerable and practical, like all good Puddcasts should be. Get in!

Jonathan PuddleSeptember 16, 2022mental health, emotions, pride, namaste, faithComment

#129-B: Debriefing Jonathan Martin on the road away from God

Time for another B-Side! Tryphena and I kept the mics rolling after we bid farewell to Jonathan Martin, and we leaned into his thoughts on God walking with us, even as we think we’re walking away. We riff on the divine power revealed in human agency, finding peace in the knowledge that God is present in everything, discerning the simple next steps in front of us, and walking life out in community.

Jonathan PuddleJuly 18, 2022b-side, deconstruction, jonathan martin, god's love, faith, hope, holy spirit, community, freedomComment

#129: Finding hope on the road away from God (with Jonathan Martin)

Pastor, writer and social leader Jonathan Martin returns to the show to explain how the journey that we’re each on is the journey we need to be on. Using the story of the disciples leaving Jerusalem on the road to Emmaus, Jonathan explains that even when we think we’re walking away from God, love finds us on the road. Tryphena and I ask him about the risky nature of doubt, of how granting freedom works as a pastor, and how to be honest about the harm done to us, while holding on to hope that perhaps healing is possible after all. It’s beautiful and raw and real, if you’ve felt at all disillusioned by God or church or the world in the last few years then I commend this to you wholeheartedly.

Jonathan PuddleJune 28, 2022deconstruction, god's love, faith, hope, holy spirit, suffering, life, community, jonathan martinComment

#120: When Everything's on Fire (with Brian Zahnd)

This week, pastor and author Brian Zahnd returns to The Puddcast to discuss his new book, When Everything’s On Fire. This helpful and timely book is a sort of field guide to maintaining faith in a secular age, and so we unpacked deconstruction, modernism as a framework for secular society, Nietzsche’s predictions about the death of God, postmodernism and more. I asked Brian some very pointed questions about faith leaders espousing a faith we can’t support and why that’s led so many to deconstruction.

Jonathan PuddleOctober 28, 2021jesus, deconstruction, faith, postmodernism, brian zahnd, pastoringComment

#118: When all you want to do is to give up (with Christine Caine)

This week I am honoured to welcome Christine Caine to The Puddcast. Christine and her husband Nick founded the A21 Campaign, a global anti human trafficking organization, and Christine is a much sought-after speaker, writer and activist. We discussed how to keep our faith anchored in Jesus in the context of doing hard, exhausting work. When we know that the mission before us is costly and painful, and we are tempted to call it a day, how do we continue in faithfulness? Especially when we know that God still loves us if we tap out. Christine’s insights are hard-won and she explores them all in her latest book, How Did I Get Here?: Finding Your Way Back to God When Everything is Pulling You Away. This is my last episode for the next few months, as I head into my summer vacation.

#114: Embracing an authentic spiritual life (with Liz Milani)

Liz Milani is a writer and seeker who runs The Practice Co app and Instagram, and joins me this week to talk about daily spiritual practices that are authentic to our self of sense. We talked about leaving church when our bodies break down, deconstructing and reconfiguring our faith, and reconnecting to our bodies and a more holistic, sustainable spirituality. Liz and her husband Jesse were formerly pastors at a megachurch in Australia—we have loads in common, this was a really refreshing discussion for me personally, and there’s loads of hope and practical wisdom in here for anyone wrestling with God, church and their sense of self.

Jonathan PuddleMay 20, 2021deconstruction, church, pastoring, faith, spiritual practicesComment

#92: Religion, faith and authenticity (with Lecrae)

It’s a great honour to welcome multi Grammy award-winning, platinum-selling artist, Lecrae, to the show. We discussed his journey of learning to live authentically as his true self within a culture that didn’t celebrate him for who he was. That journey affected his relationships, his faith, his music and more. Lecrae shared vulnerably about things the evangelical church has been unwilling to discuss, to the pain and devastation of those seeking to live whole lives with robust faith. He also explained how deeply objectification is built into Christian culture. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with him and hope that you’ll check out the interview. Much more in the show notes below.

Jonathan PuddleOctober 29, 2020lecrae, race, faith, authenticity, social justice, deconstructionComment

#71: Andrew & Norine Brunson's Story

In October 2016, Andrew & Norine Brunson were arrested and jailed in Turkey. Andrew was ultimately held for 2 years. I had the privilege of sitting down in person with Andrew and Norine and hearing their story. They shared about the persecution they experienced, the trial of faith he endured and how Andrew ultimately learned to stand in the darkest place of his life and press into God for strength every day. I was inspired and challenged!

Jonathan PuddleMarch 5, 2020suffering, faith, perseverance, persecution, prison, storyComment

#70: Wholeness and Suffering (with Stephanie Tait)

My guest this week is author, speaker and disability advocate Stephanie Tait. We had a profoundly deep conversation on the theology of suffering, faith, trust, disabilities and ableism, and community. I may have cried real tears. I strongly urge every one of you to take the time to listen to this, Stephanie’s wisdom and grace are remarkable and every one of us have something to learn from her.

Jonathan PuddleFebruary 27, 2020suffering, loss, healing, disabilities, equality, deconstruction, faithComment

#60: Miracles and other Reasonable Things (with Sarah Bessey)

The one and only Sarah Bessey joined me on the Puddcast this week. We had a rich and tender dialogue on pain, grief, the tension between where we’ve come from, where we are, and where we’re going… and how to find safety along that road. We talked about making room for the stories that don’t get told as well as how to honour the legacy of Rachel Held Evans while being faithful to our own callings as well.

Jonathan PuddleDecember 5, 2019deconstruction, faith, healing, restoration, grief, sufferingComment

#18: Natural Worship (with Andy Hunter)

Andy Hunter is a DJ and film score composer. We discussed the idea of God placing passions in our lives, and how it should be no surprise that when we do the things we’re passionate about, worship flows as a result.

Jonathan PuddleOctober 31, 2018worship, worship leading, faith, freedom, expressionComment

#17: Building faith through Worship (with Melissa Joy Boerger)

Melissa Joy Boerger is the worship pastor at Catch The Fire Kitchener. With over 20 years experience, she is one of the most honest, genuine lovers of God that I know. We discussed how to be OK with simple worship in a world dominated by Bethel Music, how to involve kids in your worship band and loads more.

Jonathan PuddleSeptember 20, 2018worship, worship leading, family, faith, melissajoyboerger, catch the fire, kids churchComment