Madang

Welcome to Madang.
Madang is the outdoor living room of the world. Here, we invite you to sit and tune into unreserved, remarkable conversations with renowned authors, leaders, public figures, and scholars on religion, culture, and everything in between.
This is the 55th episode featuring Rev. Wes Granberg-Michaelson is the General Secretary Emeritus of the Reformed Church in America, having served in that role for 17 years. Earlier he served as Director of Church and Society for the World Council of Churches. Wes is an author, global ecumenical leader, and widely respected voice relating faith to pressing issues of public life. Wes has authored ten books and countless articles including his new book, The Soulwork of Justice: Four Movements of Contemplative Action (Orbis Books).
On this episode of Madang Podcast hosted by Faith and Reason, Granberg-Michaelson and I talk about his book, The Soulwork of Justice: Four Movements of Contemplative Action (Orbis Books). We discuss prisons for profit, Survivors of Abuse, praying, retreat, journaling, belonging, letting go, and much more.
I am grateful to ⁠The Upper Room⁠ for sponsoring this episode of Madang Podcast. Please check out their special webpage for ⁠Madang Podcast⁠ listeners and subscribe to The Upper Room daily devotional guide. The Upper Room is a daily devotional magazine published in more than 30 languages and 100 countries around the world. The daily meditations are written by readers of the magazine and others interested in sharing their faith experiences through writing. Every day, readers of The Upper Room around the world read the same story in many different languages and pray the same prayer together.
I am grateful to Orbis Books for sponsoring this episode. Please use the discount code “MAD” to get 30% off ⁠The Soulwork of Justice⁠ by Wesley Granberg-Michaelson. Please visit ⁠www.orbisbooks.com⁠ to order this book and their recent releases. Orbis Books publishes “books that matter,” and their books are meaningful and thoughtful gifts for friends, family, and seekers of faith.
Please reach out to me if you would like to sponsor the next episode of the ⁠Madang podcast⁠⁠. Or simply ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠support me on my ⁠Substack: Loving Life⁠⁠.
Madang is presented by ⁠FaithAndReason.org⁠.

Welcome to Madang.
Madang is the outdoor living room of the world. Here, we invite you to sit and tune into unreserved, remarkable conversations with renowned authors, leaders, public figures, and scholars on religion, culture, and everything in between.
This is the 54th episode, featuring Dr. Diana Butler Bass, Ph.D. (Duke University)  who is an award-winning author of eleven books, a speaker, preacher, and a trusted commentator on religion and contemporary spirituality. Her bylines include New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, CNN Opinion, On Being, and Readers Digest. She has appeared on CBS, CNN, PBS, NPR, and other global news outlets. She currently writes The Cottage, one of the most widely-read Substack newsletters. 
On this episode of Madang Podcast hosted by Faith and Reason, Butler Bass and I talk about her book, A Beautiful Year. We discuss her Substack: The Cottage, Resurrection, Parents, Christmas, Season of Creation and much more.
I am grateful to The Upper Room for sponsoring this episode of Madang Podcast. Please check out their special webpage for Madang Podcast listeners and subscribe to The Upper Room daily devotional guide. The Upper Room is a daily devotional magazine published in more than 30 languages and 100 countries around the world. The daily meditations are written by readers of the magazine and others interested in sharing their faith experiences through writing. Every day, readers of The Upper Room around the world read the same story in many different languages and pray the same prayer together.
Please reach out to me if you would like to sponsor the next episode of the Madang podcast⁠. Or simply ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠support me on my Substack: Loving Life⁠.

Welcome to ⁠Madang⁠.
Madang is the outdoor living room of the world. Here, we invite you to sit and tune into unreserved, remarkable conversations with renowned authors, leaders, public figures, and scholars on religion, culture, and everything in between.
This is the 53rd episode, featuring Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis and Rev. Dr. Shannon Daley-Harris. Jacqui Lewis is senior minister and public theologian at Middle Church in New York City. In her activism, preaching, speaking, writing, and teaching, Jacqui advocates for racial equality, gun control, economic justice, and equal rights for people of all sexual orientations and genders. Shannon Daley-Harris is the Associate Dean of Auburn Theological Seminary. Previously, she was the director of Just Love Families and worked with Middle Church to develop its Just Love Families initiative.
On this episode of Madang Podcast hosted by Faith and Reason, Lewis, Daley-Harris, and I talk about their book, The Just Love Story Bible. We discuss storytelling, sacred texts, God’s love, justice, and much more.
I am grateful to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Homebrewed Christianity⁠, Central Seminary⁠, and Broadleaf Books for sponsoring this episode. Please join Homebrewed Christianity’s ⁠Theology Beer Camp hosted by ⁠Tripp Fuller⁠ this October. ⁠Theology Beer Camp⁠ is a unique three-day conference that brings together theology nerds and craft beer for a blend of intellectual engagement, community building, and fun.
This episode is presented by Central Seminary⁠—a historic and accredited seminary leading with the values of community, empathy, growth, and tenacity. Central offers numerous graduate degrees and certificates, including a Doctor of Ministry degree in Creative Leadership which is now offered 100 percent online. The next Doctor of Ministry cohort begins in January 2026.
Broadleaf Books publishes important works for the church and society. Please visit ⁠Broadleaf Books⁠ to view all of Broadleaf’s important, powerful, and exciting books.
Please reach out to me if you would like to sponsor the next episode of the Madang podcast⁠. Or simply ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠support me on my Substack: Loving Life⁠.

Welcome to Madang.
Madang is the outdoor living room of the world. Here, weinvite you to sit and tune into unreserved, remarkable conversations with renowned authors, leaders, public figures, and scholars on religion, culture, and everything in between.
This is the 52nd episode, featuring Brandan Robertson a noted author, activist, and public theologian, working at the intersections of spirituality, sexuality, and social renewal. He is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, serving as the Pastor of Sunnyside Reformed Church in New York City and is the founder and Executive Director of DevOUT, a non-profit challenging far-right religious narratives in both digital and traditional media. He’s widely known as the "TikTok Pastor", with a vast digital reach of nearly 300k followers and 10 millionviews engaging his inclusive theological content across social media. He is pursuing a Ph.D. in NT at Drew University.
On this episode of Madang, Robertson and I talk about hisbook, Filled to be Emptied.
We discuss privilege, Philippians 2, discipleship,kenosis, fear, love, hope and much more.
I am grateful to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Homebrewed Christianity, Central Seminary and Westminster John Knox Press for sponsoring this episode.
Please join Homebrewed Christianity’s Theology Beer Camp hosted by ⁠Tripp Fuller⁠ this October. ⁠Theology Beer Camp⁠ is a unique three-day conference that brings together theology nerds and craft beer for a blend of intellectual engagement,community building, and fun.
This episode is presented by Central Seminary – a historicand accredited seminary leading with the values of Community, Empathy, Growth and Tenacity. Central offer numerous graduate degrees and certificates including our Doctor of Ministry degree in Creative Leadership which is now offered 100% online. The next Doctor of Ministry cohort begins in January 2026. 
Westminster John Knox Press publishes scholarly and popular books in religious studies. Advancing scholarship,stimulating conversation about today’s issues, and inspiring faithful living. Check out all the books now at wjkbooks.com.
Please reach out to me if you would like to sponsor thenext episode of the Madang podcast. Or simply ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠support me onmy Substack: Loving Life.

Welcome to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Madang Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠
Madang is the outdoor living room of the world. Here, we invite you to sit and tune into unreserved, remarkable conversations with renowned authors, leaders, public figures, and scholars on religion, culture, and everything in between. This has been a dream of mine for many years, and now it is a reality. Please join me at Madang Podcast hosted by the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Christian Century⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠
This is the 51st episode, featuring GG Renee Hill, whose books have helped thousands of people overcome the emotional obstacles keeping them from living fully expressed lives. Hill’s books include two guided journals, Self-Care Check-In and A Year of Self-Reflection, as well as her debut prose book, Story Work: Field Notes on Self-Discovery and Reclaiming Your Narrative. She is a creative coach and founder of the Inner Story Writing Circle, a membership community for writers and creatives seeking guidance, support, and tools for the heart-centered work of writing about their lives (see allthemanylayers.com).
On this episode of Madang, Hill and I talk about her forthcoming book, Story Work⁠, which will be published by Broadleaf Books in November. We discuss expressive writing, mental health, a four-step creative process, how writing saved her, and much more.
I am grateful to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Homebrewed Christianity⁠⁠ and Broadleaf Books ⁠⁠⁠for sponsoring this episode.
Please join Homebrewed Christianity’s Theology Beer Camp hosted by ⁠Tripp Fuller⁠ this October. ⁠Theology Beer Camp⁠ is a unique three-day conference that brings together theology nerds and craft beer for a blend of intellectual engagement, community building, and fun.
Please visit Broadleaf Books to order Story Work and to view all of Broadleaf Books’ important, powerful and exciting books.
Please reach out to me if you would like to sponsor the next episode of the Madang podcast. Or simply ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠support me on my substack: Loving Life.