Best Mark Dilcom Podcasts (2025)

1
Bruce Epperly: What Would Jesus (not Trump) Do? PART 1 43:49

3d ago43:49

43:49

As Bruce Epperly regularly writes to the Speaker Mike Johnson , "Please consider what Jesus, not Trump, would do." Using this petition as a starting point, we talk with Epperly, who is a theologian, spiritual guide, pastor, professor, and prolific author, about Christianity and US politics today. Listen as he explains how conservative efforts to ho…

1
Jay Bakker: Fight Better with Each Other (it's the Christian thing to do) 57:20

12d ago57:20

57:20

Bakker is back, and he wants you to argue better! "Can't we all get along?" sounds like one of the most naive questions in the world, but in truth, it's one of the most Christlike things we can do. Our guest Jay Bakker, punk-rock pastor, author, and independent scholar, has long been a champion of arguing well, giving others grace, and also calling…

1
Dr Mark Karris: Healing Religious Trauma and Rediscovering Yourself 43:08

19d ago43:08

43:08

There is a growing awareness of the impact that religious trauma—damaging things we’ve been told, that have been done to us, and that we’ve believed in negative religious environments—can have a lasting affects on our self-esteem, our relationships, and can even get down into our very nervous systems. This is a heartfelt conversation with Dr Mark K…

1
Starlette Thomas: The Apocalypse of White Body Supremacy 53:31

25d ago53:31

53:31

On March 10, a demolition crew tore up the pavement of Black Lives Matter Plaza in Washington DC, and Reverend Starlette Thomas was there to bear witness. With this moment of government-ordered erasure as our starting point, we talk with Thomas about the protest and community that happened on that very ground after the killing of George Floyd in 20…

1
Melanie Hood-Wilson: They're saying the quiet part out loud about DEI 47:33

1M ago47:33

47:33

What’s so crazy about diversity, equity, and inclusion? We are so glad to welcome back Melanie Hood-Wilson, DEI consultant and educator, to talk about her work and mission in the midst of the current administration’s attacks on programs it calls “Radical and Wasteful.” Melanie is incisive, bold, and clearly lays out the issues we’re facing as Ameri…

1
Tamice Spencer-Helms: Experiencing an Unleavened Faith 1:02:23

1M ago1:02:23

1:02:23

Tamice Spencer-Helms (they/she) riffs on wisdom. They take us on a vast, universe-spanning theological journey that is rooted in our bodies, our ancestry, and our feet right here on the ground. In the church and in our culture in America, there is something hidden and pervasive, Tamice says, and it will continue to eat at us until we find it, name …

1
Kevin Sweeney: Where Cosmic Christ meets The Concrete Jesus 54:31

2M ago54:31

54:31

For Kevin Sweeney (author, speaker, spiritual director), Christian faith is all about experiencing God, not in having abstract beliefs about God. And the experiences that have kept him a Christian, even after his first dogmatic teachings about the Bible fell by the wayside, have been at the intersection of the great, transcendent, mystical Cosmic C…

1
Dillon Naber Cruz: Speaking truth to "F@$%wittery" for the Kingdom of God 58:27

2M ago58:27

58:27

“The Tattooed Theologian” has something to say about all of it: racism, LGBTQIA bigotry, ecology, capitalism, fundamentalism, Christian nationalism, “F*CKWITTERY” & the questions — and revelations — that drive his work. This week’s conversation with public theologian Dillon Naber Cruz covers the gamut of his musings about theology through the lens …

1
Matthew Distefano & Keith Giles: Reading Romans Right 48:44

2M ago48:44

48:44

The authors, Matthew Distefano and Keith Giles, are both accomplished writers and teachers in their own right, as well as being the hosts of the popular Heretic Happy Hour podcast. They are also the co-publishers at Quoir Publishing, an author-focused publishing company that publishes work about life, the universe, and everything. They are also the…

1
Dina Nina Martinez: Can't erase us--Trans people are here & getting stronger 48:44

2M ago48:44

48:44

In the USA right now, every day brings another attack on transgender identities, lives, and existence. We were eager to check in with Dina Nina Martinez--public servant, activist, comedian, queer minster, and so much more--to understand the current crisis from her point of view. Moreso, we wanted to know where she is turning for hope, community, an…

1
Faith Under Fire? The Truth About Christianity in America Today 54:59

3M ago54:59

54:59

Has the US become a bad place to be a Christian? In a recent NY Times feature, writer Aaron Renn, who has been called the "Malcolm Gladwell of Conservative Christianity," claims that America has shifted into a "negative world" where Christianity is a social liability. In this episode, Mark and Kelly wrestle with this idea that Christianity is losin…

1
Jon Turney: When grace is too big for the church to hold (PART 2) 50:59

3M ago50:59

50:59

(Part 2 of 2) Sometimes faith just doesn’t fit within the church walls—or it even breaks those walls down. This week we talk with Jon Turney, co-host of the popular THIS IS NOT CHURCH podcast, which challenges mainstream religious narratives and flips a few tables along the way. We talk about so many things we needed two episodes (!), including dec…

1
Jon Turney: When grace is too big for the church to hold 55:17

3M ago55:17

55:17

(Part 1 of 2) Sometimes faith just doesn’t fit within the church walls—or it even breaks those walls down. This week we talk with Jon Turney, co-host of the popular THIS IS NOT CHURCH podcast, which challenges mainstream religious narratives and flips a few tables along the way. We talk about so many things we needed two episodes (!), including dec…

1
Liz Charlotte Grant: Losing Faith in the Bible (But Learning to Love it Again) 50:48

3M ago50:48

50:48

How does one learn to love the Bible again? For Liz Charlotte Grant, it is almost like a story from a movie: girl meets Bible, falls in love, discovers Bible’s secret past, falls out of love with Bible, but eventually realizes she was really in love the whole time, once she learned how to look at the Bible in a new way. This is an eye-opening conve…

1
Dana Hicks: Connecting with the Divine After Deconstruction 54:49

3M ago54:49

54:49

Is there spirituality after deconstruction? Public theologian and “ecclesiastical disrupter” Dana Hicks shares the story of his exploration of the ways in which the post-deconstruction or post-Christian soul can find those “thin places”—areas in our lives where we can connect with the divine without dogma or fundamentalism—where practices such as m…

1
PART 2 The State of Faith Today (& Imagining the Faith of Tomorrow): A 100th Episode Special 50:31

4M ago50:31

50:31

In this episode we delve into such topics as how we continue to search for meaning and purpose in a post-truth world, how humans often find something to worship even in the absence of God, and how the power of imagination and story can help us find that which is true as we face each new day. Maria Francesca French is the author of Safer than the Kn…

1
The State of Faith Today (& Imagining the Faith of Tomorrow): A 100th Episode Special 52:14

4M ago52:14

52:14

It’s our 100th episode! We celebrate this milestone with a lively conversation with our first guest speakers, two innovative spiritual thinkers who helped us launch the first Radical Love Live event 5 years ago. We welcome back author, minister, and post-Christian thinker Maria Francesca French and scholar, author, theologian, and minister John Tha…

1
Faith, Deconstruction, and Redemption: Blair Coyle’s Journey | Radical Love Live 44:07

4M ago44:07

44:07

🎙️ Welcome to Radical Love Live with Kelly Wilson and Mark Dilcom! In this episode, we sit down with indie-folk musician Blair Coyle, whose deep baritone voice and poetic storytelling reflect a profound journey of faith, deconstruction, and redemption.🌟 Highlights:Kelly and Mark share their hopes and reflections for the new year.Blair opens up abou…

1
What About the Children: Nicole Doyley on Growing Up Biracial and the Courage to Talk About Race 45:31

5M ago45:31

45:31

In this compelling episode of Radical Love Live, hosts Mark Dilcom and Kelly Wilson sit down with Nicole Doyley, author of What About the Children, to discuss her powerful journey as a biracial child of a Black father and a White mother during a time when interracial marriage was still illegal in parts of the United States. Nicole shares intimate r…

1
Breaking Free: Paul Darminio on Radical Love, Queer Inclusion, and Leaving the Nazarene Church 1:15:50

5M ago1:15:50

1:15:50

In this powerful episode of Radical Love Live, we sit down with Paul Darminio, an ordained minister (for now) in the Church of the Nazarene, chaplain at an inpatient behavioral health center in New Jersey, and PhD candidate at Northwind Theological Seminary. As a cisgender hetero man, married with two teenagers, Paul shares his evolving faith journ…

1
Gender, Madness, and Theology: A Conversation with Charlotte Dalwood 46:11

5M ago46:11

46:11

Charlotte Dalwood has written a fantastic new book, Until at Dawn We Wake, (Now Available from Quoir publishing) which takes us on a revealing, bold, raw journey through the experience of psychosis, gender dysphoria, and Christian faith. In this bold, honest conversation, Charlotte shares her journey with us and how it has urged her to reexamine cr…

1
Can Reviving Progressive Christianity Save the World? 57:45

6M ago57:45

57:45

Rev. Dr. Bruce Epperly believes it can! Join us for this groundbreaking discussion about doubling down on the power of Jesus and the Holy Spirit as forces for good in our nation and the world. In the dark aftermath of the January 2020 storming of the US Capitol, Epperly was inspired to fly to his writing desk to lay out a sweeping vision for healin…

1
M.E. Young: Let Your Silenced Voice Grow Wild PART 2 46:50

6M ago46:50

46:50

[Part 2 of 2] M.E. Young has led a varied and abundant life, with so much wildness and experience we needed two episodes to even begin to scratch the surface. Through this lively conversation we cover a range of lessons she has learned through her spiritual journey, including her vocation as a Catholic Missionary Sister and Music Minister who chall…

1
M.E. Young: Let Your Silenced Voice Grow Wild 37:04

6M ago37:04

37:04

[Part 1 of 2] M.E. Young has led a varied and abundant life, with so much wildness and experience we needed two episodes to even begin to scratch the surface. Through this lively conversation we cover a range of lessons she has learned through her spiritual journey, including her vocation as a Catholic Missionary Sister and Music Minister who chall…

1
God, Sex, & Rich People: Confessions of an Ex-Evangelical 50:57

6M ago50:57

50:57

An eye-opening (and VERY candid) conversation about one woman’s discovery that not everything she learned about God and Sex growing up was necessarily what Jesus said, OR how things are done in the big city. We are grateful to Mattie Jo Cowsert, author of the new book God, Sex, and Rich People (Quoir Publishing), for taking the time to share her st…

1
Tahtianna Fermin: Fostering hope for gender-nonconforming community and beyond 52:17

6M ago52:17

52:17

Tahtianna Fermin (she/her) has many roles, including being an ordained minister, community activist, and founder of Bridges4Life, an organization that helps the Transgender Non-Conforming (TGNC) community—work that is so essential in this current political climate that seeks to restrict care and protections for transgender/non-conforming people. In…

1
Luke Healy – From Conservative Roots to a New Era of Mystical Christianity 45:45

7M ago45:45

45:45

In this episode, Mark sits down with Luke Healy, cofounder of the Integral Christian Network (ICN), to explore Luke’s journey from a conservative Christian background to becoming a pioneer in mystical, integral Christianity. Luke shares how his evolving faith led him to connect with Paul Smith, a significant figure in progressive Christianity, and …

1
Discovering Fire: Spiritual Practices that Spark Souls with Roger Wolsey 56:41

7M ago56:41

56:41

Roger Wolsey wants to set your soul on fire! We've been huge fans of Wolsey's "Kissing Fish Book" Facebook fan page for years, (inspired by his book "Kissing Fish: Christianity for People who Don't Like Christianity") where he curates a Progressive Christian forum that challenges fixed ideas about Christianity, so we were so grateful go get to talk…

1
Honoring the Journey from "Sister Christian" to Authenticity 50:38

7M ago50:38

50:38

Leslie Nease, author of "Honoring the Journey: The Deconstruction of Sister Christian," has been on an amazing journey, and we were blessed to be able to talk with her about it. Former Christian Radio Personality? Survivor Contestant? Publicly Celebrating People's Deconstruction Journeys? Life & Faith Transitions Coach? Yep, she is all of those and…

1
The devoted atheist who wants us see each other's (God-given) humanity 54:51

8M ago54:51

54:51

What is the connection between religion and radicalization? When either one turns into dehumanizing others, there is quite an overlap between the two. This week we talk with online personality The Fallen Ape-Theist (formerly known as the Faithiest Atheist) about his spiritual journey that led him to a kind of faith-friendly-atheism that frustrates …

1
Talking Across the Cultural Divide (And how to do it better) with Justin Lee 45:07

8M ago45:07

45:07

How do we talk with the people with whom we disagree the most? Especially in today's toxic social, religious, and political environment, where disagreement is seen as treason and we're all on the edge of being canceled? This week, we had our eyes opened when Justin Lee gave us some practical advice for how to communicate with those across the aisle…

1
What the Bible REALLY Says about Marriage...and More Surprises! with Dr. Jennifer Bird 1:06:28

8M ago1:06:28

1:06:28

Jennifer Bird,PhD, knows a lot about the Christian Bible--including what's in it and also what isn't in it. This eye-opening conversation covers both ends of that spectrum, using Bird's book "Permission Granted: Take the Bible Into Your Own Hands" as a launching off point about what she discovered about the Bible, how our reading of the Bible impac…

1
Showing White People the Pathway to Anti-Racism (and Other Spiritual Journeys) 52:27

8M ago52:27

52:27

Daniel Henderson, the author of "The Spiritual Journey to Anti-Racism: A Travel Guide for White People" (Quoir Press) embodies the idea that solving racism is a White People problem, not a People Of Color problem. While many well-meaning White liberals have relied on People of Color for racial education and pathways to reconciliation, Henderson has…

1
Tattoos, taboos, and theology with Justin Scoggins, author of Inking Christ 52:28

9M ago52:28

52:28

Justin Scoggins has a passion for tattoos, and a passion for an authentic Christian faith, and finds an intersection of the two in his new book "Inking Christ: A Theological Approach to Faith." In a discussion that goes way beyond the surface discussion of ink and skin, we talk about what it means to be a true Christian witness, the status of our b…

1
Can Mysticism Save America? with Dr. Bruce Epperly 54:43

9M ago54:43

54:43

This week we talk with Rev. Dr. Bruce Epperly, the multi-talented theologian, minister, professor, author, and pioneer in process/relational theology about one of his latest books, "Homegrown Mystics: Restoring Our Nation with the Healing Wisdom of America's Visionaries." We talk about what mysticism is, what it means to be a mystic in the Christia…

1
The Many Lives of Dina Nina Part 2 | Radical Love Live S3E28 49:18

9M ago49:18

49:18

(Part 2 of 2) More more more! What can we say about Dina Nina? This was an incredible conversation, so jam-packed we made it a two-part episode, with the fabulous Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford, whose bio includes Performer, Speaker, Politician, Queer Clergy, and "a little woo woo." We cover a wide range of topics from her conservative upbringing to…

1
The Many Lives of Dina Nina: A Journey of Faith, Courage, Resilience, and Joy 48:32

9M ago48:32

48:32

(Part 1 of 2) Oh my gosh, what can we say about Dina Nina? This was an incredible conversation, so jam-packed we made it a two-part episode, with the fabulous Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford, whose bio includes Performer, Speaker, Politician, Queer Clergy, and "a little woo woo." We cover a wide range of topics from her conservative upbringing to her…

1
Brother Timothy Jolley: A Monk’s Devotion to Love and Action | Radical Love Live S3E19 52:49

10M ago52:49

52:49

Mark talks with Brother Timothy Jolley, a life professed monk of the Order of the Holy Cross, an Anglican Benedictine monastic community of men, associated with The Episcopal Church, located in West Park, New York. Br. Timothy joined the monastery over 50 years ago with a calling to serve a vocation dedicated to children’s education, spiritual evol…

1
The Raceless Gospel": A Call to New Baptism with Rev Starlette Thomas 51:46

10M ago51:46

51:46

This week we have a prophet in the house! Mark and Kelly have an eye opening conversation with Rev Starlette Thomas--author, artist, race abolitionist--that we hope will stir you to action as much as it did for us. The topic of conversation is "The Raceless Gospel," the concept that the church in North America is built on a caste system called race…

1
What the Jewish Jesus can teach all of us, with Amy-Jill Levine 50:07

10M ago50:07

50:07

This week we have a lively conversation with Amy-Jill Levine, who is a distinguished scholar of the New Testament and Jewish Studies (and who is Jewish herself), about Jesus and the New Testament in the light of how he would be understood in the Jewish context of the first century--as well as what Jesus has to offer to the world now, even to people…

1
Crisis, Control, and Christian Nationalism: Tim Whitaker on How We Got Here 50:07

10M ago50:07

50:07

We're excited to welcome Tim Whitaker (founder of The New Evangelicals) to share his expertise on Christian Nationalism--how it started, how it is growing, and what those who are driving this movement are saying behind closed doors. Tim is a podcaster and frequent commentator on the state of evangelicalism and the intersection of politics and relig…

1
Faith, Politics, and the Christian Nationalist "Project": An Update with Keith Giles 54:20

10M ago54:20

54:20

Christian Nationalism is all over the news today, from revelations about Project 2025 to recent SCOTUS rulings to mandating the 10 Commandments on the schoolroom walls. We are pleased to talk with author/publisher/commenter Keith Giles, who has been using the platform of his God Squad podcast (and others--he's a busy man!) to examine the history, a…

1
Pierce Marks and the Modern Meaning of Life 52:27

11M ago52:27

52:27

We are thinking big thoughts with author and philosopher Pierce Marks, as we talk about the modern crisis of meaning, how the concept of a moral paradigm can re-establish a sense of meaning, and how a few of the deep, elemental visions of Christianity, including love of being and the intrinsic value of creation, led Marks to see life in a new and m…

1
The Truth about Mary Magdalene--and why it matters! With Rita L. Houlihan 47:10

11M ago47:10

47:10

We are honored to have a visit from Rita L. Houlihan, who is a passionate advocate for telling the true story about the life and ministry of the "mysterious" Mary Magdalene--and why it matters for the modern church's understanding of the Gospels. She is also on the Board of Directors of FutureChurch, an organization dedicated to seeking "changes th…

1
The BIBLE and LGBTQ+ Inclusion: Love as the Interpretive Lens 33:59

11M ago33:59

33:59

PART 4 of 4: Many Christians wonder how it is possible to be LGBTQ+ affirming in light of what most people assume to be a clear anti-Gay message in the bible. This episode summarizes all the verses we've studied so far, and weighs them against the larger backdrop of the Biblical principles of Love, Grace, and how we are called to treat others. Love…

1
The BIBLE and LGBTQ+ Inclusion: The Idolatry of Romans and The Vice Lists (Part 3 of 4) 45:23

11M ago45:23

45:23

PART 3 of 4: Many Christians wonder how it is possible to be LGBTQ+ affirming in light of what most people assume to be a clear anti-Gay message in the bible. This episode wrestles with ROMANS 1, and the VICE LISTS in 1 Corinthians and 1 TIMOTHY. In this special 4-part series, Kelly examines how affirming Bible scholars view the 6 verses in the Bib…

1
The BIBLE and LGBTQ+ Inclusion: Navigating Sodom and the Abominations (Part 2 of 4) 31:18

11M ago31:18

31:18

PART 2 of 4: Many Christians wonder how it is possible to be LGBTQ+ affirming in light of what most people assume to be a clear anti-Gay message in the bible. This episode continues this exploration by taking on the story of Sodom, and investigating what are the "abominations" in the laws of Leviticus. In this special 4-part series, Kelly examines …

1
The BIBLE and LGBTQ+ Inclusion: How Affirming Christians Got Here from There (Part 1 of 4) 40:56

11M ago40:56

40:56

PART 1 of 4: Many Christians wonder how it is possible to be LGBTQ+ affirming in light of what most people assume to be a clear anti-Gay message in the bible. In this special 4-part series, Kelly examines how affirming Bible scholars view the 6 verses in the Bible that deal with same-sex relationships in the context of their time and place, and ask…

1
Preaching the Uncontrolling Love of God 59:09

11M ago59:09

59:09

We talk with the editors of the volume “ Preaching the Uncontrolling Love of God: Sermons, Essays, and Worship Elements from the Perspective of Open, Relational, and Process Theology” about what process (or open and relational) theology is, how it answers many questions that modern believers struggle with, and how this rich collection of writings c…

1
Lori Adams-Brown: Surviving and Thriving After Church Abuse 49:50

12M ago49:50

49:50

This week Kelly talks with Lori Adams-Brown, who has an amazing story of resilience and healing after religious abuse from her work in a prominent megachurch. As this podcast is launching, the Southern Baptist Convention is having their annual meeting to talk about, among other things, the role of women in the church (and honestly, the role of wome…

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Mark Dilcom Podcasts

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