Explore every episode of the podcast Saved by the City

Were you surprised by this year's presidential election results? On this episode, Katelyn and Roxy examine some of the major stories — religion and otherwise — to come out of exit polls. Hello rightward drifting young men. We are joined by award-winning journalist and political observer, Tim Alberta, who offers us both retrospective and prospective, forensics and forecast. We ask what to expect in a second Trump administration — and where might evangelicals fit in.   GUEST: Tim Alberta is a staff writer at The Atlantic and is the author of "The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

And yet, there are so many of us who have gone through a divorce and found love again. This week, Roxy talks about the many jagged edges of divorce and the long healing process. Katelyn asks: How can you be a good friend supporting someone facing a divorce? And we are joined by Melissa Moore who shares her own story of divorce recovery and how being divorced has affected her remarriage — for better and worse. GUEST: Melissa Moore  is a writer and leader with Living Proof Ministries. She is the co-author, with her mom Beth Moore, of "Now That Faith Has Come," a study on Galatians. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the '00s, America was introduced to J.D. Vance, who pitched himself as a middle man between coastal elites and the rural white Americans he'd been raised around. Hillbilly Elegy was part memoir/part explainer and, at the time, seemed to establish Vance as a moderate conservative who wanted to bridge the partisa cultural, political and religious divide. In this episode, Tyler and journalist/critic Sam Thielman explore Hillbilly Elegy and chart Vance's strange, subsequent journey to becoming Donald Trump's running mate.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I finished a book! Where's my personal pan pizza? Katelyn and Roxy are certified bookworms — and that particular inclination goes back a long ways. In this episode, the two hosts talk about the books that shaped them as children. How reading turned into a lifelong love affair. And why reading is more than a hobby; it's a powerful worldview-shaping exercise. You are what you read, after all. Voracious reader Danté Stewart explains how reading widely — and far outside his own perspective and experience — has shaped him as a writer and human. He also drops a list of book recommendations worthy of several shelves in your bookcase. Plus, the hosts head out into the field to interview two childhood learning experts (Karen & Sharon!). GUESTS: Danté Stewart is the author of the new book "Shoutin' in the Fire: An American Epistle," a book exploring Black joy in an anti-Black world. He is a speaker and a writer whose work in the areas of race, religion and politics has been featured in Religion News Service, CNN, The Washington Post, Christianity Today, Sojourners and The Witness. E. Karen Beaty is a retired children's librarian and early childhood education director. (She is also Katelyn's mom.) Sharon Stone is a pre-K and kindergarten teacher with more than 50 years' experience. (And she's Roxy's mom.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"That's what she prayed." Who doesn't love a good inside joke? Even better when a couple hundred, or a couple thousand, people are in on it. Welcome to Weird Christian Twitter: a group of evangelical and exvangelical misfits who share a lifetime of common memories and cultural touchpoints — from sword drills, to youth group lock-ins, to CCM crushes and True Love Waits pledges. On this episode, we do a deep dive into #WCT and the online community that's formed via a collective, albeit mostly good natured, side-eyeing of evangelicalism. We are joined by Matthew Pierce, "The King of Weird Christian Twitter" (so says Christianity Today) and #WCT's resident awkward, hormonal boy from youth group. Or, at least, that's his online persona, even though he swears he lives a normal, boring, adult life irl. And Kate Shellnutt, senior news editor for Christianity Today magazine and self-described "lurker" on Weird Christian Twitter, gives us some backstory on this oddball Twitter subculture and "the movement" it's formed.  GUESTS: Matthew Pierce is co-host of the Fun Sexy Bible Time podcast and the author of the new book "Evangelical Thought Leader: The Liturgy of Radically Engaging the Culture of Paradigm Shifts." Kate Shellnutt is senior news editor for Christianity Today magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oh baby, baby it's the Queen of Christian pop. Saved By the City returns for season two! So grab your leopard print blazer, roll down your windows and get ready to be all up in your feels. It's been 30 years since Amy Grant released Heart in Motion – the chart-topping album that marked the musician's crossover from contemporary Christian artist to mainstream pop icon. Katelyn and Roxy catch up with the artist at her Nashville farm and talk to their childhood icon about living life in the public eye — through all its ups and downs. The hosts also reflect on the expectations put on women — especially Christian women — who have achieved fame. And how the pressure to live their lives on display places even our most beloved women stars at the mercy of the mob. GUEST: Amy Grant is a singer songwriter and so much more. She is celebrating the 30 year anniversary of her album “Heart in Motion,” which was certified platinum 5 times, making it the best selling Christian album of all time. It spent weeks on the Billboard top 10, as did a number of its songs. Including the classic Baby Baby which reached no 1 on Billboard, Several songs from Amy Grant's Heart in Motion are featured on the episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're back! Hang on to your WWJD bracelets, and strap in for Season Two! We'll be tackling everything from Christian fame, to making friends and fighting loneliness, and an oral history of modern evangelical culture - complete with seashells! Join us every Wednesday as we tromp through the ups and downs of Big City Christianity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Put on your fancy pants and join us at the Grand Ole Opry! We're headed south to Nashville, Tennessee: country music Mecca and Christian hipster capital of the world. In a bonus summer series, Roxy goes on a journey to see what's what for seekers in other great cities, exploring the spiritual side of four favorite metropolises. Our final city is Nashville and our master of ceremonies is Kat Armas. Kat is a fresh transplant to Nashville and gives us her first impressions of the Music City. We talk about the significance of place and what it takes to put down roots in a new one — from getting to know the literal dirt to intentionally building community. Plus, we are joined by a special guest and host our own neighborly "meet cute." GUESTS: Kat Armas is the author of the new book "Abuelita Faith" and the host of Protagonistas, a podcast highlighting the stories and experiences of Black, Indigenous and other women of color among communities of faith. Tyler Huckabee is the senior editor of Relevant magazine and the co-host of CapeTown, a podcast about superheroes and superhero things. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a bonus summer series, Roxy goes on a journey to see what's what for seekers in other great cities, exploring the spiritual side of four favorite metropolises. This week we're off to Melbourne with Devi Abraham, who gives us the lowdown on the Land Down Under. Devi takes us on a tour of the oft-voted "most livable city in the world" and its richly diverse population — and food scene. We compare notes on evangelicalism, purity culture and finding community in a new city. And, yeah, we talk Hillsong. GUESTS: Devi Abraham is a writer, thinker and podcaster. She is co-host of "Where Do We Go From Here?," a weekly podcast untangling sexual ethics for a generation of Christians detoxing from purity culture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let's head west — on the iconic American road trip over the mountains and through the desert to that magical land of the silver screen and the swaying palms: Los Angeles. In a bonus summer series, Roxy goes on a journey to see what's what for seekers in other great cities, exploring the spiritual side of four favorite metropolises. This week we hit up Hollywood, and the star of our show is Laura Tremaine. Laura takes us behind the scenes of one of America's most storied cities as we explore both the myths and realities that shape her City of Angels. Plus, our hosts switch roles and Laura wastes no time getting to the good stuff. GUESTS: Laura Tremaine is the author of the new book "Share Your Stuff: I'll Go First" and the host of the podcast "10 Things to Tell You." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Take a trip with us across the pond to the Swinging City, the Old Smoke, London Town. In a bonus summer series, Roxy goes on a journey to see what's what for seekers in other great cities, exploring the spiritual side of four favorite metropolises. First up is London, hosted by our top-notch tour guide, Chine McDonald. Chine takes us through some of the twists and turns (and down a few of the dark alleys) of Christianity — and evangelicalism — in England. She gives us a glimpse into navigating race and racism in London as a Black woman and Nigerian immigrant. And we get a front row seat at a poetry reading. Oh, yeah, and naturally we spill some tea on Harry and Meghan. GUESTS: Chine McDonald is the author of the new book "God Is Not a White Man" and is the head of community fundraising and public engagement at Christian Aid. Azariah France-Williams is a priest in the Church of England and is the author of "Ghost Ship: Institutional Racism and the Church of England." He is also a co-host of the podcast "(G)race." The poem below is featured on the show and is written by Azariah France-Williams, who performs and writes under the name BraveSlave. There is an old Jewish tale, Which enriches my own of Honi the circle maker, who sees, A man who planting the seed of a carob tree. Honi the circle maker asks why, why plant something which will benefit those who live after you have expired? The man replied, I received the fruit for which my ancestors fought, so for my descendants this seed, this thought will feed them when I am its soil, Hence I plant, I labour, I toil ... The government's racial disparity report, Arrived on April first, but I am not a fool, The African child is divided from the Caribbean, in their school, Just another example, of divide and rule. An separation of an undivided identity ... leads to split personalities ... Altered destinies ... broken harmonies ... Racial crimes of the past are said only to haunt black people, So we should stop reciting, stop inviting .... the ghouls of yesteryear! That’s gaslighting! The problems of racism are still evidently here. The authors argue against terms like white privilege, And white fragility, instead it is simply, a bias of affinity. The power imbalance, is hidden from the light, As white dominance and prominence are hidden out of sight If whiteness becomes an airborne pathogen, black and brown folx gonna need some anti-racist Sanatogen, The report indicates we can see the upside of slavery, Because look at the product, it produced me. The new narrative of how we came over to make Britain Great, the empire! It is that which should inspire, so Let’s air brush, the gold rush, for the sugar rush, Black gold, were the authors of the report Stone cold sober? This was no mere foreign exchange, Transatlantic slavery only one side gained. The report says institutional racism is not a big factor, In the heart of the matter, Geography, religion, socio-economics is the cause, job done, racism gone, cue the applause, Except My mother could not freely choose the place where she could reside, Her qualifications nullified, so diminished what she could provide, As for the church this is where it hurts, religion simply lied, It said she was welcome, but left her outside, This report leaves black and brown people's deeper needs unattended, The state shield is removed, and we are all left undefended, But my faith is in the ones whose pursuit of justice may led to their execution, martyrs for the cause, Of a cosmic solution, a pride of lions prepared to roar, exit every tomb, walk through walls and locked doors. The universal energy, love defeats all enemies. Even if they kill you, and you never get to see How the seed of your courage became a Carob tree. —Azariah France-Williams, 2021 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Life is long. Spiritual journeys are winding. Sometimes there are mushrooms. Plenty has been written about the rise of the so-called nones, those who are unaffiliated with any faith tradition. Many of them were once Christians. But behind the stats are millions of stories and spiritual journeys. Behind the stats are more than a few of our friends. In this episode, we reflect on those who have left the faith: why they left, how to learn from them and what it takes to stay friends. Audrey Assad joins us to share her own spiritual journey from Plymouth Brethren, to Catholic, to no longer a practicing Christian.  GUEST: Audrey Assad is a multiple Dove Award nominee singer-songwriter based in Nashville, Tennessee. Her newest album, "Eden," explores "the distance between Audrey’s old ideas about God and her freshly gained perspective." You can find more of her music on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify or wherever you listen to music. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We pledged the pledge. We made the promise. Purity culture failed to deliver. What now? Purity culture was at its height while we were growing up — and the teachings made an impact. But what to do now, decades later, when the promises and threats of purity culture no longer hold the same sway? And when the harms appear to so dramatically outweigh any good? In this episode, we wrestle with what a "Christian" sexual ethic really looks like — long after the teenage hormones have abated. Christine Emba joins the episode to unflinchingly look at the impacts of purity culture — but also to imagine where to go from here. Purity culture felt like an end all. So how do we imagine what's beyond? GUESTS: Christine Emba is an editor and columnist for the Washington Post. She is the author of the forthcoming "Rethinking Sex: A Provocation" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we’re wrapping up the special SBTC summer series, “Tell Katelyn What to Do with Her Life,” and Katelyn’s going out with a bang by asking the Beaty Brain Trust about the joys and challenges of parenthood. SBTC diehards will likely remember Roxy and Katelyn’s great conversation with Annie Parsons last fall. Annie shared her journey of becoming a single mother by choice. At the time, Roxy and Katelyn agreed they wouldn’t likely go down the path as single people. We reserve the right to change our minds (and marital status!). This week, Katelyn wonders aloud what it might be like to become a mom as a single person. Once again she’s joined by author and podcaster Elizabeth Oldfield, who reminds us all that we’re called to relinquish some control and let life unfold for the mysterious gift it is. (Bonus: We have POETRY.) GUESTS: The Beaty Brain Trust: Richard Clark; Sarah Scherf; Chuck DeGroat; E. Karen and Tim Beaty; Roxy Stone Elizabeth Oldfield is author of the book Fully Alive: Tending to the Soul in Turbulent Times and hosts The Sacred podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How come nobody has a 'meet cute' anymore? Gone it seems are the days of accidentally brushing a stranger's hand while you both reach for the single copy of the same book at the library, only to lock eyes and "just know." Algorithms have replaced butterflies. And swiping right so rarely leads to starry eyes. In this episode, Katelyn and Roxy ask: is it even possible to meet someone in real life anymore? Enter: Heather Thompson Day, the "queen of matchmaking," who weighs in with some much needed optimism and more than a few surprising stats. And Katelyn and Roxy play a round of their own matchmaking game. GUESTS: Dr. Heather Thompson Day is an associate professor of communication and rhetoric at Colorado Christian University. She is the author of six books, including the forthcoming It's Not Your Turn: What to Do While You're Waiting for Your Breakthrough. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christians will listen to a woman on TV but not a woman in the pulpit. What's up with that? We grew up seeing plenty of examples of women in power suits — from Hollywood to Wall Street, they were shattering glass ceilings and defying expectations. This new cultural norm fed big dreams and big ambitions for girls coming of age in the 1980s and '90s. But the 2000s have revealed a darker reality — from wage gaps to sexual harassment, the workplace for women is still far from ideal. Beyond that, the myth women can have it all — domestic bliss and career success — has proved as much paralyzing pressure as endless potential. Not to mention the conflicting messages we hear from church and culture. After all, one place many women are still not allowed is the pulpit. What's an ambitious woman to do? In this episode, Fox News host Shannon Bream joins us to talk ambition and devotion — and how the women of the Bible have offered her guidance and inspiration. And The Rev. Dr. LaKeesha Walrond offers a glimpse into her journey from small-town Texas to big-city pastor. GUESTS: Shannon Bream is an American journalist and lawyer. She is the host of FOX News @ Night and author of The Women of the Bible Speak The Rev. Dr. LaKeesha Walrond is president of New York Theological Seminary and the executive pastor and chief of staff at First Corinthian Baptist Church in Harlem, New York Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wife? Nope. Mother? Nope. Great cook? Well ... working on it. We both grew up in homes that felt more egalitarian — there wasn't an emphasis on gender roles or an elevation of a "traditional" family model. However, somewhere along the way, we began to encounter ideas from church and Christian culture about what a "godly" woman looked like. This maven of domesticity kept a clean home, a well-fed brood and a satisfied spouse. She was queen of her home but submissive to her husband. And she was smoking hot. In this episode, we unpack some of our own lingering baggage around this female Christian ideal and talk to author and historian Beth Allison Barr about why "biblical womanhood" isn't really all that biblical. Plus, a special appearance from a fan-favorite guest. Feminism and Christianity are often pitted against each other. But the Bible isn't the reason why. GUESTS: Beth Allison Barr, author of "The Making of Biblical Womanhood" and professor of history at Baylor University The Rev. Ben DeHart, vicar of The Parish of Calvary-St.George’s and co-host of the podcast "Our Triune Pod" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Things NYC is: fast, impatient, loud, exciting, sparkly, instantly gratifying. Things it is not: a monastery. When we moved here, we heard from a lot of evangelical friends and family that New York City could be damaging to our faith. Most of their warnings had to do with how secular and hedonistic the city is — all those worldly temptations. But, honestly, what we've found most wearing on our faith is the pace and noise of the city. Both of us long for and value a robust interior spiritual life. But New York is such an exterior city — a show-off city. Who has time for devotions amid all this distraction? We talk to fellow New Yorker Father James Martin about how he manages to cultivate quiet, spiritual disciplines that seem so at odds with the energy of the city. Plus, we learn all about the practice of "sound bathing," from religion journalist Liz Kineke. Talking to God in Gotham isn't impossible. It just takes a lot of intentionality. And maybe a gong. Our guests this week: The Rev. James Martin: Jesuit priest, editor at large for America Magazine, author of "Learning to Pray" and "Jesus: A Pilgrimage," consultor to the Dicastery for Communication Liz Kineke: Broadcast and print journalist on the faith and religion beat, formerly with CBS Religion. Read Liz's article that inspired her interview on the podcast: Joyful noise or meditative hum, sound resets the mind for faith. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

NYC is an incredibly diverse city — it's also an incredibly divided one. In the wake of so much racial reckoning in this country, Katelyn and Roxy wrestle with their role as white women. What does it mean for white women to be good allies in anti-racist work (without centering themselves)? The hosts speak with author, activist and teacher Lisa Sharon Harper about how to “show up” for conversations on race and Katelyn and Roxy take on her assignment to understand their own family history. Every step toward anti-racism is an important step. Lisa Sharon Harper has wisdom to hear, and Roxy and Katelyn have whiteness to explore. Honored Guest: The Ruby Woo Pilgrimage — a sacred journey through the intersectional story of the struggle of women for equality in the U.S. Check it out: @RubyWooPilgrim and the #RubyWooPilgrimage Also Lisa Sharon Harper of Freedom Road — former chief church engagement officer of Sojourners and prolific writer, speaker and grass-tops organizer. She founded Freedom Road in 2017 and set out to assemble an equally prolific and diverse team of leading experts, advocates and trainers dedicated to shrinking “The Narrative Gap” And David Favarolo — Director of Curatorial Affairs at Lower East Side Tenement Museum There are so many voices to learn from as you seek to understand racism and the role of whiteness in society — and in our own lives — here are 15 BIPOC Christian women Katelyn and Roxy have been listening to and learning from: Austin Channing Brown Anthea Butler Kaitlin Curtice Karen Gonzalez Marlena Graves Lisa Sharon Harper Kathy Khang Jacqui Lewis Latasha Morrison Trillia Newbell Sandra Maria Van Opstal Michelle Ami Reyes Micky ScottBey Jones Heather Thompson Day Nikki Toyama-Szeto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In New York, it's easy to feel behind on all the fashion trends. (Even during a pandemic, some people out walking their dog have way cooler sweats than you.) NYC fashion is certainly fabulous, but is it as meaningless as chasing after the wind? Fashion journalist Whitney Bauck tells us why clothing is about so much more than the runway — and why thrifting might be the future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There's a stereotype out there that NYC is a secular, godless, pothole. The 80 percent of New Yorkers who believe in God would disagree. We talk to two women, one Jewish, one Muslim, about how they embody their own faiths, before nerding out on some numbers. Check out this exploration of the markers that attend women of faith - and how deeply misunderstood they are. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From Jesus Freak to freaked out. In this episode, we grapple with "the e-word" and why we struggle to claim the evangelical label. Having grown up fully immersed in that culture and going on to dedicate much of our careers to the movement, we examine our disillusionment and disappointment with its trajectory — and where we go next. The past five years revealed fractures and hypocrisies that betrayed so much of what we — and a generation of millennial Christians — grew up being taught. Now we wonder: Is evangelicalism worth saving? Plus: We go on an adventure to Washington Square Park to hear what some of our New York City neighbors think about the word "evangelical." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's a question both of us have gotten sometimes on dates! But it's a good question, one we ask ourselves a lot. We hear Robert Monson's quite unusual path into Christian faith (hint: a voice speaks) and unpack the problem of Christianese. In the end it’s about how a condescending question asked in a less than kind way can still lead to a bit of soul-searching. GUESTS: Robert J Monson - co-host of the 3 Black Men Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We've had our fair share of first dates in NYC--some good, some kind of terrible. We talk to journalist Jon Birger about why women like us might need to ditch the online dating apps. Then we talk to a priest about *his* dating life. This episode addresses the natural tension between a culture that encourages experimentation and adventurousness, with an upbringing of ingrained reticence and 'purity'. GUESTS: Jon Birger, author of Make Your Move, The New Science of Dating and why Women Are In Charge The Reverend Ben DeHart, Associate Pastor of The Parish Of Calvary-St.George's Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Meeting a man. Moving apartments. Literally just moving. Maybe it’s a product of living in NYC, but it seems like you can’t walk outside your door these days without dropping mad cash. It has recently occurred to Katelyn that, whatever big life decisions she makes, they will assuredly require some financial investment. Experts say by age 40, you should have an emergency fund, be debt-free, and have a retirement nest egg. Gulp. That’s why episode 3 of the SBTC summer series, “Tell Katelyn What to Do with Her Life,” is about the thing we’re not supposed to talk about (besides religion and politics): money. Thankfully, there’s nothing more Amber Hacker, CFO of Interfaith America and fellow RNS podcast host, likes to discuss. Katelyn also fields financial advice from her 4-year-old nephew and brings back Elizabeth Oldfield for a spiritual slant on the topic the Bible talks about the most. GUESTS: Luther Beaty is unofficial CEO of the Beaty family and is passionate about Legos, fighting baddies, and hanging out with his Aunt Kiki Amber Hacker, aka the “Budget Hacker,” is CFO of Interfaith America and co-hosts the podcast Money, Meet Meaning Elizabeth Oldfield is author of the book Fully Alive: Tending to the Soul in Turbulent Times and hosts The Sacred podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Katelyn and Roxy talk about the messages they received from fellow Christians when they decided to move to NYC. They heard fear… that they’d lose their faith or be indoctrinated with secular progressive culture. What they found in NYC as Christians is more complex. This episode addresses deep-seated beliefs among evangelicals, about big cities, secular culture, and their neighbors. GUESTS: Dr. Phillip Jenkins, Distinguished Professor of History and Co-Director, Program on Historical Studies of Religion Rev. Dr. LaKeesha Walrond of the New York Theological Seminary Karen Beaty & Sharon Stone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A sneak peek at the upcoming podcast from RNS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Behold…the power of man-ifesting. She’s been on the apps. She’s been to church events. She even went to a speed dating mixer with Roxy back in the day. So maybe it’s time Katelyn mix up her straight in her search for romance. Manifesting—the belief that our thoughts determine our futures—grows out of the positive thinking movement and has a distinctly American bent. Is it all hooey, or is there something to it? In episode 2 of our SBTC summer series, Katelyn asks the Beaty Brain Trust for tips and tricks on finding romance. Then she hits the streets of New York City to see if this whole manifesting idea has any merit. (Hint: It ends in a bar called “Up Stairs,” with a free drink and some chicken tendies.) She also welcomes back Elizabeth Oldfield for a conversation on finding God amid longings deferred. GUESTS: • The Beaty Brain Trust: Richard Clark; Chuck DeGroat; Sarah Baldwin Scherf; E. Karen and Tim Beaty; and Roxy Stone • Elizabeth Oldfield is author of the book Fully Alive: Tending to the Soul in Turbulent Times and hosts The Sacred podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Remember when people used to throw “over the hill” parties when folks turned 40? Katelyn doesn’t feel over the hill, but she’s also aging out of the young adult church group, if you know what we mean. A milestone birthday is a great time to reflect on the life you’ve built and the person you’re becoming and want to become. That’s what this SBTC special summer series is all about. We’re calling it: “Tell Katelyn What to Do with Her Life.” Katelyn has gathered the Beaty Brain Trust to help her find answers in four key areas of discernment. This first week, she’s asking, “Where should I live?” She’s joined by family and friends as well as author and podcaster Elizabeth Oldfield (who has the best British accent) to imagine what life might be like beyond New York City, and how to build a rich life with others wherever you end up. GUESTS: The Beaty Brain Trust: Richard Clark; Chuck DeGroat; Sarah Baldwin Scherf; E. Karen and Tim Beaty; and Roxy Stone Elizabeth Oldfield is author of the book Fully Alive: Tending to the Soul in Turbulent Times and hosts The Sacred podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the late '80s, a historical romance pro named Francine Rivers became a Christian, and decided to combine her creative interests with her newfound faith. The result is Redeeming Love, a runaway hit that repackaged a few verses from the Book of Hosea into a historical romance complete with trauma, betrayal, sex and more trauma. Tyler is joined by novelist Liz Riggs (who is, full disclosure, also his wife) to break down bodice-ripping, slut-shaming epic.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After you have spent most of your adult life single, as we have, you recognize the importance of building a network of friends who are more than just brunch buddies. You need those friends who send you soup when you're sick and offer their couch for days on end after a breakup and are more than happy to sit in the hospital waiting room while you recover from anesthesia. When you're married, these are the expected role of the spouse, but that's not the reality for many of us today. And maybe it was always too much for one person to bear anyway. On this episode, Katelyn and Roxy take another look at the early church in Acts and ask: What if they had it right all along and why have we so persistently ignored their model? Plus, we talk with Rhaina Cohen and imagine what it could look like to elevate the role of friendship in our lives. GUEST: Rhaina Cohen is a journalist based in D.C. and the author of the bestselling book "The Other Significant Others: Reimagining Life With Friendship at the Center," and a producer and editor for NPR’s "Embedded." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why is it a tough time to be a pastor? Let's count the ways: a pandemic, a racial justice uprising, an insurrection, hyper partisanship in the pews, cataclysmic global wars. This is not to mention all the normal pulpit pressures, like blurry boundaries, pastoral care, complaining stakeholders, etc, etc. etc. Being a pastor is hard y'all! That's why Katelyn and Roxy wanted to talk with seasoned New York pastor, Rich Villodas, who has been pastoring an incredibly diverse church in Queens for 16 years. We wanted to hear what unique pressures pastors face and how congregants can offer true support. GUEST:  Rich Villodas is a life-long New Yorker and the lead pastor of New Life Fellowship in Queens, a multiracial church with more than seventy-five countries represented in its pews. Rich is the author of several books including the forthcoming, "The Narrow Path: How the Subversive Way of Jesus Satisfies Our Souls." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Of course there's one for women, too. In this episode, Katelyn joins Tyler to discuss Captivating, John and Stasi Eldredge's attempt to do Wild at Heart for girls. We dig into the flipside of the evangelical gender binary of the early '00s to explore what the Christian Macho Man playbook meant for all the damsels they were supposed to be rescuing. Also: quite a bit more Lord of the Rings content than we expected!  APOCRYFUN returns, now as a monthly series as part of the expanding Saved By the City Auditory Multiverse! On each episode of this show, we talk about a popular, influential — or at least lucrative — Christian book from the 90s or 2000s (you know, our era). We discuss how the book shaped American Christianity, our own personal faith journeys, and how it has aged in our current dystopian Christian Nationalist hellscape. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A dozen religion journalists walk into a karaoke bar... On this episode, Katelyn and Roxy bring you all the hot takes from the world of Religion News Association. And believe you me, there are some real spicy stories to tell. We've got Julie Roys, from the Roys Report, talking investigative reporting on scandalous religion. Kate Shellnutt, of Christianity Today, with a daring provocation. And Sarah Riccardi-Swartz, professor of religion at Northeastern University, delivering the receipts on Eastern Orthodoxy in the manosphere. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Life is no straight and narrow path and we've taken a few ill-advised turns. On this episode, Katelyn and Roxy reflect on our smallest and biggest whoopsie daisies. Well, not all of them. We have a few categories to guide us. For example: what’s your “I shouldn’t have said that regret," and “biggest regret from 1998-2002” and “a memorable fashion regret.” But also, it won’t be that bad, because of course, everyone has regrets. Even Katelyn's 5-year-old nephew — who you will hear from and who has some sage wisdom for what to do when you make a boo boo. And that's the question really — how do you move on and make the most from your mistakes? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A synod on synodality? Sign us up! For the past three years, the global Catholic Church has been undergoing a period of discernment. One of the main issues of contention? Women's ordination. Given our interest in women's leadership in Protestant churches, we've been very curious how that conversation happens on the Catholic side. And now that we seem to have some clarity on where the Church will land on the issue, at least in the near term, we wanted to have RNS's Vatican reporter, Claire Giangravé, give us the inside scoop. Plus, some popcorn with the pope. GUEST:  Claire Giangravéis a Rome-based reporter for RNS, covering the Catholic Church and the Vatican. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Limits. Schlimits. On this episode, Katelyn and Roxy have a lot to discuss. Like how a certain subset of evangelical Christians decided purity culture was for the birds and swapped it for "real American beauty" (aka: big boobs, apparently?). Or how the KJV is the best complement to the American Constitution (ironic, no?).  But, really, we're here to talk limits — and why we're embracing them — with friend and author, Micha Boyett.  GUEST: Micha Boyett is an author, youth pastor, podcaster and Down syndrome advocate. She is the author of the new book "Blessed Are the Rest of Us: How Limits and Longing Make Us Whole" and host of the podcast "The Slow Way" and co-host of "The Lucky Few." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you think you’d like the person your parents picked for you? Parents being a part of the dating or courting or marriage process is a pretty old idea that has a history in most cultures. But we’ve dropped it almost completely in the U.S. in favor of finding true love ourselves. In fact, our families — and our churches and our communities and our friends — mostly avoid meddling in our dating lives at all. When did dating get so anonymous? And what have we lost along the way? Those are the questions Katelyn and Roxy tackle in this week’s episode. And they’re joined by Richa Karmarkar, RNS’s Hinduism reporter, who gives a little peek into the revival of Indian matchmaking in the diaspora — with an American twist. GUEST: Richa Karmarkar is a RNS national reporter covering all things Hindu. She is a graduate of Columbia University with Master’s degrees in Religion and in Journalism. She also holds three Bachelor’s degrees in Religious Studies, History, and Journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode, Katelyn and Roxy are joined by the GOAT, the legend who arguably started the spiritual podcasting genre, the longtime host of On Being, Krista Tippett. This wide-ranging conversation lingers on some of the more salient questions of our time: What is the role of faith in a technological era? Does religion only divide? How can spiritual practices make a difference in a world that needs action? GUEST: Krista Tippett is a journalist and Peabody Award-winning broadcaster. She created and hosts the podcast On Being and is the author of several books, including "Becoming Wise." She was awarded the National Humanities Medal by Barack Obama in 2014. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Another year. Another election heckscape. Would you talk politics on a first date? Nope. No, definitely not. What about on a 10th? Heck no. In this economy? Americans are not happy with the political landscape at the moment and the general mood going into the 2024 election is, to put it mildly, dread. We're exhausted and this presidential race is a rinse and repeat cycle that it seems no one really wants. On this episode, Katelyn and Roxy wade into the shark infested waters of partisan politics — and, we ask, did we go wrong somewhere? Author Michael Wear joins us to say: yes, we did. But maybe not where you think. Wear challenges us to a more soulful politics that, gasp, takes Christianity seriously. GUEST: Michael Wear is the founder and president of The Center for Christianity and Public Life. He was a former White House staffer under the Obama administration and is the author of "The Spirit of Our Politics: Spiritual Formation and the Renovation of Public Life." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Maybe the real soulmates are the friends we met along the way. As marriage has become the end-all, be-all relationship, friendships have been relegated to the "nice to have" category. But at a time when loneliness is being labeled an epidemic, we wonder if this paradigm hasn't stranded us all on islands of our own making. Katelyn and Roxy look at the significant role friendships have played in our lives — especially as single adult women — and ask how we can continue to cultivate intentional community. We are joined by Laura Tremaine (whose husband is definitely not her best friend) for a look at how different types of friends can contribute to our lives (and us to theirs!). Plus, the 10 things we learned about friendship from TV shows set in NYC. GUEST:  Laura Tremaine is the author of "The Life Council: 10 Friends Every Woman Needs" and is the host of the podcast, "10 Things To Tell You." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're all living inside the code. On this episode, Katelyn and Roxy recount their brushes with the evangelical bro code — that malignant workplace milieu of religion mixed with patriarchy mixed with entitlement. We discuss the nearly two hundred responses women sent to Katelyn on the topic and unpack the Three B's of the Evangelical Bro Code: Breadwinner Bias, The Billy Graham Rule and Bullying. In the end, we wonder: should women even work in male-led evangelical spaces? Is it worth it? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

That's poog spelled backward. The wellness industry has scope creep. Is it about health? Self-care? Spirituality? Mud masks? Yes, yes, yes, yes — and so much more. One thing it all seems to have in common though is that it costs money. Marketed primarily to women and promising solutions to every woe, wellness is more in the category of faith than science, but that doesn't keep millions of Americans from seeking their salvation in it ... to the tune of $4.4 trillion a year. On this episode, Katelyn and Roxy discuss the appeal of wellness products and the promises they offer — and why they inevitably fall short. Plus, we hear from guest Rina Raphael who, to her surprise, found that organized religion has the corner on the wellness market. GUEST Rina Raphael is a journalist writing on health, wellness, tech, and women’s issues. She is the author of the recent book "The Gospel of Wellness: Gyms, Gurus, Goop, and the False Promise of Self-Care." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Jesus thing always gets in the way. Did you ever think Rob Reiner — director of such favorites as "When Harry Met Sally," "Princess Bride" and "Spinal Tap" — would make a movie about Christian nationalism? Inconceivable, right? Well, that word doesn't mean what you think it means and yes, he did. The documentary, "God & Country," directed by Dan Partland and produced by Reiner, is based on the book "Power Worshipers" by Katherine Stewart and features a who's who of Christian thinkers (left, middle and slightly right of the ever-shifting center). On this episode, Katelyn and Roxy talk to Partland and Reiner about why Christian nationalism is, in fact, distinct from Christianity. And we wonder when an American flag next to the pulpit crosses over into the danger zone.  GUESTS: Dan Partland is a veteran documentary producer and director. He has won two Emmys, for American High and Intervention. Rob Reiner is the acclaimed director for many of America's favorite films, including "When Harry Met Sally," "Princess Bride" and "Stand By Me." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The son has come and you've been ... On each episode of this show, we talk about a popular, influential — or at least lucrative — Christian book from the 90s or 2000s (you know, our era). We discuss how the book shaped American Christianity, our own personal faith journeys, and how it has aged in our current dystopian Christian Nationalist hellscape. In this episode, Roxy reads Left Behind for the first time and reports back to Tyler. We dig into a word salad of eschatological terms and an absolute feast of evangelical 1990s tropes — Californians and their new age mumbo jumbo, amirite? — as we look at the legacy of this apocalyptic juggernaut on evangelicalism and its politics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What's spookier than a coffee hour full of strangers? Katelyn is on the road toward the midwest and a new city means a new church. But how to find the perfect match? It's no easy task and Roxy is here to help — with a super clarifying set of potential church scenarios. Red light: flee and don't look back. Yellow light: take a beat. Green light: go forth in peace. But, for real, what is it people look for when they look for a church? What makes a church good? We are joined this week by veteran religion reporter Adelle M. Banks who shares insights she's gleaned from congregations around the country who are trying to answer those questions — for today and tomorrow. GUEST: Adelle M. Banks is the projects editor and a national reporter for RNS. An award-winning journalist, Adelle is the co-author of “Becoming a Future-Ready Church: 8 Shifts to Encourage and Empower the Next Generation of Leaders.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you happy enough? On each episode of this show, we talk about a popular, influential — or at least lucrative — Christian book from the 90s or 2000s (you know, our era). We discuss how the book shaped American Christianity, our own personal faith journeys, and how it has aged in our current dystopian Christian Nationalist hellscape. In this episode, Tyler and Roxy wonder who is the most hedonistic of them all — like, in a Christian sense. In 1986, John Piper wrote Desiring God and introduced the American church to "Christian hedonism," a phrase that has not lasted nearly as long as his famous farewell to Rob Bell. Even so, it was a book that loomed large over Christian publishing and launched Piper as an early voice in the neo-Reformed space. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This podcast will change your life. On each episode of this show, we talk about a popular, influential — or at least lucrative — Christian book from the 90s or 2000s (you know, our era). We discuss how the book shaped American Christianity, our own personal faith journeys, and how it has aged in our current dystopian Christian Nationalist hellscape. In this episode, Tyler and Roxy travel back in time to an era of 5 step growth strategies, acronyms for all things and Hawaiian shirts. AKA Southern California in 2002. It's the year the mega-bestseller Purpose Driven Life hit the shelves and the pews — and everywhere in between — offering a message to counteract middle class ennui and promising eternal significance to boot. How does this apolitical, seeker-sensitive, self-help influenced approach stand up now? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paintball never looked so holy. On each episode of this show, we talk about a popular, influential — or at least lucrative — Christian book from the 90s or 2000s (you know, our era). We discuss how the book shaped American Christianity, our own personal faith journeys, and how it has aged in our current dystopian Christian Nationalist hellscape. In this episode, Tyler and Roxy become the men God created them to be with Wild at Heart, John Eldredge’s 2001 bestseller that challenged dudes to rock for Jesus and destroy anyone who got in their way. Squint just a little and you can see the direct through line from this book to modern evangelical ideas around gender, masculinity and Jordan Peterson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cozy up for this time traveling book club. On each episode of this show, we talk about a popular, influential — or at least lucrative — Christian book from the 90s or 2000s (you know, our era). We discuss how the book shaped American Christianity, our own personal faith journeys, and how it has aged in our current dystopian Christian Nationalist hellscape. This episode, Tyler and Roxy move into the liminal faith space of Blue Like Jazz, Donald Miller’s 2003 word-of-mouth bestseller that introduced young Gen Xers and elder Millennial evangelicals to the idea of embracing doubt, being OK with not knowing everything, drinking beer and also Mark Driscoll.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices