Healthy Faith Episodes

Dr. Karen Swallow Prior joins Amy Fritz for a conversation about conspiracy theories and what it looks like to be responsible consumers of information. Subscribe to my newsletter (paid and unpaid options available to support the show): https://untangledfaith.substack.com In this episode we talk about What's a conspiracy theory? What's the appeal of conspiracy theories? How literature and media we consume forms our imaginations Featured Guest Dr. Karen Swallow Prior https://karenswallowprio...

Lynna Sutherland, whom Amy refers to as the "Sharon McMahon of the PCA" stops by the Untangled Faith podcast to talk about her work in her ministry Advocacy From the Presbyterian Pew Subscribe to my newsletter: https://untangledfaith.substack.com Amy and Lynna talk about What inspired Lynna Sutherland to start Advocacy from the Presbyterian Pew Complexity of the PCA How understanding the origin of the PCA helps Lynna in her work Current issues: DASA Advice for men in leadership in the deno...

Amy Fritz reflects on lessons learned in 2024, favorite books, and what's coming next. Subscribe to my newsletter: https://untangledfaith.substack.com Hire Amy to help you with your podcast. Email: amy@untangledfaithpodcast.com Episode Highlights Most downloaded episode of 2024: The episode where Amy re-recorded her part of the conversation by herself Favorite Books Lessons Learned What's Next! Resources mentioned This podcast is sponsored by Faithful Counseling. For more information an...

Natasha Smith joins Amy Fritz on the Untangled Faith podcast to share her journey through grief, faith, and the power of presence during life's hardest moments. "Grief starts when you start to let go." – Natasha Smith Subscribe to my newsletter: https://untangledfaith.substack.com In this episode we talk about The emotional rollercoaster of awaiting MRI results and the devastating news Natasha's family received. The ICU waiting room as both a heavy and holy space The honest expression of gr...

This is an episode from the Broken to Beloved podcast with Brian Lee. Brian interviews Scot Mcknight and Tommy Preson Philips about their new book Invisible Jesus: A Book about Leaving the Church and Looking for Christ Episode Resources and Links The Myth of a Christian Nation by Greg Boyd on Bookshop | Amazon Revelation for the Rest of Us by Scot McKnight & Cody Hatchett on Bookshop | on Amazon Guest Spotlight Scot has been a professor of NT for more than four decades. He is the author of mor...

Lore Wilbert joins Amy Fritz on the Untangled Faith podcast to talk about her book, "A Curious Faith," and the spiritual discipline of curiosity, revisiting themes of certainty, vulnerability, and the role of questioning within faith communities. Subscribe to my newsletter: https://untangledfaith.substack.com In this episode, we: Explore the themes and inspirations behind Lore Wilbert's book, "A Curious Faith." Discuss the societal expectation of certainty within faith communities and the ric...

Chuck DeGroat returns to the Untangled Faith podcast with host Amy Fritz to explore the transformative work of moving from self-awareness to self-regulation and how our response to shame changes everything. "I call the work that I do sometimes excavation work, because we're removing rubble. . .There's a lot of rubble that has kept me inwardly oriented and not as merciful or more prone to bitterness than prone to justice as I do my own work. And as I identify these parts of me that are self-prot...

Content Note: There is discussion regarding abuse in this episode. Please take care when listening. Author, Ryan George, joins Amy to share his personal experience of leaving a high-control religious community, and what it was like to realize, while listening to a podcast, that his dad was a serial abuser. He also shares what pulled him out of the IFB world and what that means when it comes to helping others. Buy Ryan's book: Hurt and Healed by the Church: Redemption and Reconstruction After Sp...

Becky Castle Miller joins Amy to discuss strategies for assessing the character of church leaders, the importance of being informed, and how to navigate the often-discomforting process of learning about and responding to accusations against those in power. You'll also get to listen in on some of our personal experiences—the struggle of having to reconcile conflicting information about individuals we once admired and our responsibility to inform others, while remaining sensitive to those at diff...

In this thought-provoking episode of Untangled Faith, Amy Fritz sits down with Kristen LaValley to discuss the complex and often misunderstood intersection of faith, prayer, and suffering. Kristen opens up about the emotional journey of navigating her high-risk pregnancy and the pressures of expecting specific outcomes from prayer. You'll love hearing Kristen's and Amy's conversation (including some personal anecdotes that might surprise you!) Where you can find Kristen: Website: https://www....

In this solo episode of the Untangled Faith podcast, Amy Fritz shares a deeply personal essay about the pain and process of coping with the death of a dream, specifically related to her and her husband's journey with Ramsey Solutions. "What do you do when you have a dream that dies?" – Amy Fritz Subscribe to my newsletter: https://untangledfaith.substack.com In this episode Amy talks about What it feels like to chase a dream How Jon Acuff's writings and work encouraged them to apply at Ramse...

Welcome to Untangled Faith, where we navigate the complex journey of faith and the challenges we face in our spiritual communities. In this episode we're diving deep into the world of church affiliation and the personal implications it carries for believers. Guests Nathan Fritz, Amanda Turnbull, and Melissa Anne share their comfort (or discomfort) with the idea of church membership as well as some of their backstories that have informed how they approach this topic. To follow more the Amanda a...

Have you ever had a long-lost friend reach out to connect with you on social media only to discover they really just wanted to sell you something connected to the Multi Level Marketing business they were a part of? Or maybe you're one of those folks who has been pulled into an MLM and you're drowning. Or maybe you're worried about a friend who has quit their J O B to do direct sales and you're concerned that they aren't able to pay their bills. And what in the world does this have to do with ...

Rebecca Davis joins Amy Fritz on the Untangled Faith podcast to discuss the complexities of truth, defamation, and the misuse of scripture in addressing suffering and abuse within the church. "Truth can never be considered slander, even if it's negative." – Rebecca Davis Check out Rebecca's Trauma Informed Book Coaching program Subscribe to my newsletter: https://untangledfaith.substack.com In this episode we Explore the difference between truth and accusations of slander Examine the evangel...

Dr. Karen Swallow Prior joins Amy Fritz on the Untangled Faith podcast to talk about how Stories, Metaphors, and Images have influenced the Evangelical imagination. We should always be trying to be aware of cultural influences and think about how they shape us as humans. - Karen Swallow Prior In this episode we: Discuss the cultural forces that drive evangelical norms. Learn some context and origin and development of the evangelical faith. Contend with sentimentality issues complicating the...

(If you downloaded this previously, there was a glitch with the audio. Hopefully, it's fixed now!) Just a quick note at the beginning of this episode to let you know that today's content is not safe for young children. We cover some heavy topics and I'm certain a few cuss words survived the final edit. I also wanted to let you know we cover the topic of abuse and understand this could be triggering for some listeners. Please take care while listening. In early June, Shiny Happy People: Duggar F...

Just a quick note at the beginning of this episode to let you know that today's content is not safe for young children. We cover some heavy topics and I'm certain a few cuss words survived the final edit. I also wanted to let you know we cover the topic of abuse and understand this could be triggering for some listeners. Please take care while listening. In early June, Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets debuted on Amazon Prime. It reached more viewers in its first 9 days than any Amazon ...

Have you been told to (or seen others) push through personal pain and trauma while engaging in advocacy for the health of the Church without being given the tools to manage your (or their) own emotional wellness? Are you often feeling overwhelmed and exhausted? Meet Lori Anne Thompson: a compassionate survivor, storyteller, and student. Lori Anne is a devoted wife, mother, and enthusiastic cook who loves to share her passion for sustainable rhythms and healing for those who have survived trauma...

Shannan Martin drops by the Untangled Faith podcast to talk with Amy Fritz about learning how to be a good neighbor. Amy shares how she was afraid Shannan might cause her to get in trouble with Amy's husband's former employer, Dave Ramsey. Subscribe to my newsletter: https://untangledfaith.substack.com Featured Guest Shannan Martin Resources mentioned This podcast is sponsored by Faithful Counseling. For more information and 10% off your first month, visit Faithful Counseling- https://faithf...

Katelyn Beaty joins Amy Fritz for a conversation about what Katelyn learned as she was writing her upcoming book, Celebrities for Jesus: How Personas, Platforms, and Profits Are Hurting the Church. Topics discussed: How did Katelyn decide who to reach out to for endorsements for a book like this? Proximity as an antidote to implosion. An update on my former pastor who plagiarized most of his sermons and personal stories. Ghostwriting Plagiarism What is the role of the consumer? Buy Katel...

Author, licensed therapist, spiritual director, and speaker Chuck DeGroat joins Amy Fritz on the Untangled Faith Podcast. Chuck DeGroat is the author of the book When Narcissism Comes to Church which came out in 2020. The paperback edition releases soon making this a perfect time for a conversation with him on the podcast. Amy and Chuck talk about all things narcissism including the many faces of narcissism in faith communities, what systemic narcissism looks like, and what to do when you hear...

Dr. Scot McKnight and Laura Barringer join Amy to talk about how Laura encouraged Scot to use his platform to speak up for the women who had been abused by Bill Hybels and how they later wrote a book together to advocate for healthier church communities Subscribe to my newsletter: https://untangledfaith.substack.com In this episode Bill Hybels scandal What lead Scot and Laura to write a Church Called Tov Advice for ministry leaders Culture change dynamics Wounded Resisters The cost of spe...

On Episode 2 of the Untangled Faith Podcast, Dr. Gary David Stratton joins Amy Fritz to discuss pastoral plagiarism. Mary DeMuth joins us again to talk about what healing looks like on the other side of spiritual abuse, and we hear the second part of Colleen's story of what happened after discovering that her pastor had plagiarized hundreds of sermons. Links: Episode 1: Recognizing Spiritual Abuse and Part 1 of Colleen's Story Honesty Matters: The Problem of Pastoral Plagiarism Ask Bob: What sho...

On the first episode of The Untangled Faith Podcast, Amy has a conversation with author and speaker, Mary DeMuth about the characteristics of a spiritually abusive environment. We also hear from the first in our series of wounded resisters as Colleen shares part 1 of her story of discovering her pastor was hiding a big secret from their congregation. Show links: 10 Ways to Spot Spiritual Abuse | Mary DeMuth A Church Called Tov: Forming a Goodness Culture That Resists Abuses of Power and Promot...