Church Potluck: A Smorgasbord of Christian Curiosity
A Smorgasbord of Christian Curiosity! Church Potluck serves up thoughtful, friendly, informal conversation at the intersection of Christianity and contemporary culture. Just like a church potluck, we offer variety: a variety of topics, a variety of academic disciplines, and a variety of Christian traditions. Guests are friends and colleagues who are also experts in the fields of sociology, political science, theology, philosophy, divinity, and more.
Episodes
91 episodes
ADVENT DAY 17: La Tamaleada and Las Posadas
In this warm and joyful episode of the Church Potluck Advent Calendar, Dale welcomes first-time guest Mary Ángel Castillo Obando, a Berry College student from Costa Rica, to share two beloved Christmas traditions from her home cou...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 34
•
11:01
ADVENT DAY 16: When God Came Low
What if the most audacious claim of Christmas isn’t the angels or the star—but the humility that God exhibits when taking on flesh?In this reflective solo Advent episode of Church Potluck, Dale explores the astonishing pattern that...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 33
•
11:53
ADVENT DAY 15: St. Lucy's Day
In this warm and quietly fascinating Advent conversation, Julianne Bailey introduces listeners to St. Lucy’s (St. Lucia’s) Day, a beautiful Scandinavian tradition centered on light in the darkness. Drawing on her Swedish ...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 32
•
9:30
ADVENT DAY 14: Our Lady of Guadalupe
Discover the powerful story behind Our Lady of Guadalupe and why this 16th-century apparition of Mary remains one of the most beloved symbols of faith, hope, and cultural dignity across the Americas. Dr. Michael Papazian joins Dale to ...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 31
•
11:12
ADVENT DAY 13: Live Nativity Scenes
What happens when the Christmas story is no longer something we just think about, but something we step into?In this episode of the Church Potluck Advent Calendar, Dale is joined by Ginger Binkley, a longt...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 30
•
10:40
ADVENT DAY 12: The Little Drummer Boy
What if one of the most familiar Christmas songs isn’t childish at all—but deeply, quietly profound? In this solo Advent reflection, Dale revisits The Little Drummer Boy and traces how its meaning shifted for him over his lifetime—from...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 29
•
12:02
ADVENT DAY 11: The Feast of the Seven Fishes
Dive into the rich flavors and deeper meaning behind The Feast of the Seven Fishes—an Italian-American Christmas Eve tradition rooted in Catholic fasting and joyful anticipation. In this episode, Dale is joined by Rev. Chris Barbieri<...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 28
•
8:16
ADVENT DAY 10: Feast of the Immaculate Conception
In today’s Church Potluck Advent Calendar episode, we explore one of the most beautiful—and most misunderstood—Catholic celebrations: the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Dr. Christy Snider joins us to clarify what this feast actually comme...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 27
•
9:19
ADVENT DAY 9: The Moravian Love Feast
In today’s Church Potluck Advent Calendar episode, we explore a beautiful and often-overlooked Christmas Eve tradition: the Moravian Love Feast. Rev. Chris Barbieri joins us to share both the history and the heart behind this centuries-old prac...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 26
•
9:53
ADVENT DAY 8: Saint Nicholas and Deeper Spiritual Meanings (3 of 3)
HAPPY SAINT NICHOLAS DAY! In this third and final St. Nicholas episode of the Church Potluck Advent Calendar, Dr. Jordan Rowan Fannin helps us move from shoes and stories into the deeper spiritual meaning of the saint behind the s...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 25
•
12:18
ADVENT DAY 7: The Saint Nicholas Shoe Tradition and Anonymous Generosity (2 of 3)
In this second St. Nicholas episode of the Church Potluck Advent Calendar, Dr. Jordan Rowan Fannin returns to share how her family has built meaningful Christmas traditions rooted not in Santa Claus, but in the real fourth-century...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 24
•
11:11
ADVENT DAY 6: Who is Saint Nicholas? (1 of 3)
In today’s Church Potluck Advent Calendar episode, Dr. Jordan Rowan Fannin (Religion & Philosophy) joins us for the first of a three-part series on one of her greatest passions: the real Saint Nicholas. Before there was Santa ...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 23
•
11:00
ADVENT DAY 5: Dale’s Most Sacred Advent Moment
In this deeply personal Advent reflection, Dale steps away from Church Potluck’s usual conversational format to share the most sacred Advent moment of his life. Thirteen years ago, during his wife Ingrid’s final days, the Berry College Choir a...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 22
•
8:51
ADVENT DAY 4: Handbells
Get ready for a joyful episode as we celebrate the shimmering beauty of handbells—one of the most peaceful, communal, and unmistakably Christmas sounds of the season. Join us as we talk with a real-life handbell choir member about why th...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 21
•
11:25
ADVENT DAY 3: Advent Candles and Wreaths
Welcome to the Church Potluck Advent Calendar—a daily series of short, joyful reflections exploring simple traditions that help us prepare the way of the Lord. In this episode, we welcome back Julianne Bail...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 20
•
9:32
ADVENT DAY 2: The Colors of Advent
In today’s Advent Calendar episode, Dale McConkey is joined once again by the Rev. Dr. Jonathan Huggins to explore the colors of the Advent and Christmas seasons. Why is purple traditional? Why are some churches shifting to blue...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 19
•
8:31
ADVENT DAY 1: Advent Calendars
Welcome to the Church Potluck Advent Calendar—a daily series of short, joyful reflections exploring simple traditions that help us prepare the way of the Lord. Each 5–10 minute episode highlights a different Advent or Christmas ...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 18
•
10:10
ADVENT DAY 0: Introducing Our Audio Advent Calendar!
The Church Potluck Advent Calendar is a daily, 5–10 minute journey through Advent, the 12 days of Christmas, and Epiphany. Each day offers a simple reflection on an Advent or Christmas practice—from candles and colors to wreaths...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 17
•
10:06
Thanksgiving: The Most American Holiday?
It's a special Thanksgiving crossover episode of American Angst and Church Potluck! Dr. Michael Bailey and Dale McConkey start off-topic with a quick overview of 10 dizzying days in American politics. From there,...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 16
•
1:04:36
Celebration Episode! Three Years, 10,000 Downloads, and a Plate of Gratitude
Three candles, 10,000 downloads, and a table full of friends! This milestone episode of Church Potluck celebrates three years of “a smorgasbord of Christian curiosity.” Host Dale McConkey gathers the Core Four—Christy Snider
•
Season 4
•
Episode 15
•
1:02:15
Orthodoxy Up Close: A First Visit and A Lifetime Commitment
Host Dale McConkey sits down with Michael Papazian for a lively and accessible introduction to Orthodox Christianity. Dale reflects on his recent visit to an English-speaking Orthodox Vespers service in Tennessee—incense, chanting...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 14
•
1:09:56
Pondering a "Good Death" for a Better Life
This week on Church Potluck, Dale welcomes two guests who encourage us to stare death in the face. Dr. Sam Nazione, associate professor of business communication and a health communication scholar, opens the lid on her Honors co...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 13
•
1:04:30
Christianity and College: A Conversation with President Sandeep Mazumder
Can Christian faith and scholarly inquiry coexist—and even thrive—together? In this week’s Church Potluck, we have the honor to sit down with Berry College President Sandeep Mazumder. Dr. Mazumder (Economics) shares h...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 12
•
1:07:04
Horror, Halloween, and Holiness: Are Faith and Horror Compatible?
Premiere horror and Halloween enthusiast (and fashion icon) Clint Peters joins the podcast to discuss how horror taps our primal selves. We dig into how films like The Babadook, Jaws, Nosferatu, and even <...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 11
•
1:06:38
Rethinking Intimacy: Dating, Family, Friends, and Church
Rev. Dr. Erin Moniz (Baylor chaplain and author of Knowing and Being Known) joins Church Potluck to rethink “intimacy” beyond sex and dating—into friendship, family systems, and a church that actually feels like family. Along wi...
•
Season 4
•
Episode 10
•
1:03:14