Church Potluck: 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
55 episodes
What's Christianity Really All About?
In this episode of Church Potluck, host Dale McConkey welcomes Rev. Dr. Jonathan Huggins for a hearty and humorous conversation about his new book, What’s Christianity Really All About? A Guide to E...
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Season 3
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Episode 13
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52:26
Intimacy in the Age of Isolation
How do we form meaningful relationships in an age of ghosting, digital overload, and chronic loneliness? In this episode, we explore the themes of Knowing and Being Known: Hope for All Our Intimate Relationships, the new book by chapla...
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Season 3
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Episode 12
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1:07:25
Happy 1700th Birthday, Nicene Creed! Part 2: The Meaning of the Creed
We've covered the history and the politics of the Nicene Creed in the previous episode -- now let's explore it's meaning! This episode of Church Potluck dives deep into the text of the Nicene Creed on its 1700th birthday. Dale McConkey...
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Season 3
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Episode 11
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1:23:35
Happy 1700th Birthday, Nicene Creed! Part 1: History and Context
The Nicene Creed may be 1700 years old, but its relevance has never fully faded. In this episode of Church Potluck, host Dale McConkey gathers with Dr. Michael Papazian (philosopher/theologian) and Dr. Larry Marvin (historian) to explo...
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Season 3
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Episode 10
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53:56
Movie Review: "Sinners" and Other Horror Films with Christian Themes
The Core Four return for a post-finals horror-themed episode of Church Potluck! After a movie night together, Dale and his guests (Christy, Mike, and Michael) discuss Sinners, a new horror film with bold religious and cultural...
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Season 3
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Episode 9
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1:06:56
An American Pope: Early Reactions to Leo XIV
In this special Church Potluck episode, host Dale McConkey welcomes a lively panel of guests—including longtime podcast contributor Dr. Michael Papazian, first-time guest and Catholic partisan Rita Lawler, and a bo...
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Season 3
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Episode 8
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56:23
Conclave, The Movie: A Papal-Picking Primer
In this episode of Church Potluck, we dive into the critically acclaimed movie Conclave (eight Oscar nominations, one win), the visually stunning, slow-burning thriller about Vatican ritual, political intrigue, and a surprisin...
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Season 3
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Episode 7
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59:15
Red Robes and White Smoke: Selecting a New Pope
What really happens when the world’s most powerful religious leaders lock themselves in a room to choose the next pope? In this episode, we unpack the mystery and meaning of the papal conclave following the death of Pope Francis. With in...
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Season 3
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Episode 6
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53:01
Pastors as Priests and Prophets: Bishop Budde's Challenge to Trump
Navigating the roles of pastor as both priest and prophet presents a unique dynamic within church ministry. Our panel, all pulpit preachers, explores the complexities of speaking truth to power, particularly in light of recent events surroundin...
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Season 3
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Episode 5
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1:05:20
Jimmy Carter's Faith-Full Legacy
What was it about Jimmy Carter's legacy that touched so many lives beyond his presidency? Join us on Church Potluck as we share a captivating discussion with Mike, Christy, and newcomer Dr. Steve Terry, who braved the weather to be with us. Tog...
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Season 3
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Episode 4
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1:08:47
Deifying Politicians, Hearing God's Voice, and Age Gaps in Middle-East Views
In this episode of Church Potluck, we dive into three thought-provoking themes with Dr. Christy Snider and Dr. Michael Bailey. First, we explore whether it is fair to say that some Republicans are deifying Trump, drawing from Thomas Ed...
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Season 3
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Episode 3
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57:34
Jewish-Christian Dialogue: A Navy Chaplain's Mission
In this episode of Church Potluck: A Smorgasbord of Christian Curiosity, Rabbi Albert Slomovitz shares his journey from chaplaincy to interfaith scholar, offering insights on bridging Jewish-Christian relations. The conversation explor...
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Season 3
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Episode 2
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51:13
What We Did This Summer
In this episode, we’re joined by Michael Papazian, Professor of Philosophy, and Michael Bailey, Associate Professor of Political Science, for a lively and personal discussion of their summer experiences and reflections.Michael Bailey ope...
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Season 3
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Episode 1
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58:24
Jesus Christ, Moviestar: "The Chosen" and the Movie Messiah
Explore the life of Jesus as it's represented in the modern film series, The Chosen. Join Rev. Dr. Jonathan Huggins and the exuberant Gabrielle Roes along with host Dale McConkey as we discuss the merits of this cinematic blockbuster w...
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Season 2
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Episode 8
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1:03:02
Transgender Clergy and the Quest for Inclusive Faith
As Church Potluck makes its return from an extended break, we're setting the table to feast on a diversity of Christian experiences and insights. Our latest episode serves up an intimate look at the complex and controversial intersection of fai...
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Season 2
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Episode 7
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1:05:03
Parentless Embryos? Faith Meets BioEthics
Weeeee'rrre Baaaack!!! After an extended hiatus, Church Potluck has returned! In this episode (recorded a few months ago), brace yourself for a journey through the ethical labyrinth of modern science with Dr. Michael Bailey and Dr. Michael Papa...
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Season 2
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Episode 6
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1:08:02
Oppenheimer, the Bomb, and the Ethics of War
It's the long-awaited Oppenheimer episode! We explore the man, the myth, the movie: J. Robert Oppenheimer, the “father of the atomic bomb." Our esteemed guests are Drs. Todd Timberlake (physics), Kirsten Taylor (international relations, and Cli...
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Season 2
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Episode 5
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1:03:56
The Complexity of the Crusades
Crusades = Bad. It's that simple, isn't it? Join us for a deep dive as we explore the Crusades from multiple angles from three historians. First, Larry Marvin explores how the Crusades were not primarily an attempt to convert Muslims. Next, Kel...
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Season 2
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Episode 4
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58:36
Losing Our Religion: The Decline of Church Affiliation and the Rise of the "Nones"
Is America losing its religion? Statistics indicate yes, with a rapid decrease in church affiliation and a marked increase in people who don't identify with organized religion. This episode of Church Potluck features Curt Hersey (Communication)...
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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1:04:08
Horror and Christianity in Film: Haunting or Holy?
Brace yourselves for a chilling journey as we traverse the shadowy realms of horror and Christianity in the latest season of Church Potluck. Picture this: you're plunged into a world where spine-tingling tension meets a quest for spiritual insi...
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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1:14:23
Navigating the Intersection of Artificial Intelligence and Faith
Season 2 of Church Potluck has officially begun! To kick off the new season, we are exploring the potential impact of Artificial Intelligence on religious faith. Join Christy Snider (history), Michael Papazian (philosophy), Michael Bailey (poli...
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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1:14:28
Buddhism and Christianity: An Enlightening Conversation
Buddhism and Christianity. How do they differ? How are they similar? Our esteemed guest, Dr. Jeffrey Lidke (religious studies), shares his personal experiences as well as his academic explorations of Buddhism. Drs. Bailey (political science) an...
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Season 1
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Episode 34
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1:18:24
Southern Baptists and Female Preachers: Pondering the Prohibition
Is it time for the Southern Baptist Convention to reevaluate its traditional views on women serving as pastors? In an eye-opening conversation, we tackle the question of whether these views reflect sound biblical theology or are simply remnants...
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Season 1
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Episode 33
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1:02:51
Shiny Happy People: Patriarchy, Authority, and Abuse in the Duggar Family Documentary
On this week's episode, we discuss the four-part documentary Shiny Happy People: Secrets of the Duggar Family (Amazon Prime, Freevee). We address sexual scandals, abuses of authority, gender roles, parenting styles, and more. Our guests are Drs...
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Season 1
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Episode 32
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57:19
A Monk's Life: Ancient Wisdom for Modern People
Is monasticism an outdated concept or can its principles still be of value in today's fast-paced world? We had a riveting discussion about monasticism and contemplative Christianity with our esteemed guests, Drs. Michael Papazian (philosophy), ...
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Season 1
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Episode 31
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1:04:19