Episodes

Aaron Armstrong joins Amy Fritz on the Untangled Faith podcast to explore the nuances of leaving a beloved church community, navigating the awkwardness of joining a new church, and the motivations and process behind his new book, Faith Simplified: What We Believe and Why We Believe It. The conversation moves from personal stories of faith transitions to honest insight into Christian publishing, endorsements, and what it means to thoughtfully engage with the important theological tenants of the C...

Bill Henson, founder and director of Posture Shift Ministries, joins Amy Fritz on the Untangled Faith podcast to talk about cultivating a posture of radical love and hospitality toward LGBTQ+ individuals and families within the church, regardless of theological position. Subscribe to my newsletter: https://untangledfaith.substack.com In this episode we: Explore the difference between a church's theological position and its posture toward LGBTQ+ individuals. Hear why Posture Shift was founded ...

Pete Singer passed away on May 1, 2025. He is missed by his many family and friends. Make a donation to GRACE: https://netgrace.org/donate Pete Singer, executive director of GRACE, shares about grooming, hidden trauma, being "overly" sensitive to abuse, and the importance of third-party investigations. "Perpetrators put a lot of effort into being the kind of person who would never do that." "Being more sensitive may be the product of having more knowledge." Pete Singer is the Executive Dire...

Subscribe to my newsletter: https://untangledfaith.substack.com Dan and Summer Watt & Melissa Hogan joined me for episode 39: The Problem with Financial Peace University and Dave Ramsey's Financial Rhetoric. ⁠ This conversation we had was made possible by the fact that those of us involved in this episode have spent the last several years processing together our experiences with the ups and downs of Financial Peace University and the rhetoric coming from the Ramsey Show.⁠ ⁠ While we all had dif...

Amy Fritz shares a brief reflection on what it's like to reckon with there being two versions of someone. What would it cost to believe a person could be kind and generous sometimes and cruel and abusive other times? Are you allowed to consider that, and what does it mean if you aren't? Subscribe to my newsletter: https://untangledfaith.substack.com Tell Your Friends! If you loved this episode, leave us a review on your favorite podcast app and share it with a friend. Tag us if you share it ...

Amy Fritz is joined by Melissa J. Hogan on the Untangled Faith podcast to discuss the lawsuit involving Johnny Hunt and the SBC, addressing misconceptions and the importance of the judge's resolution. Subscribe to my newsletter: https://untangledfaith.substack.com In this episode we: Explore the origins and developments of the Johnny Hunt lawsuit against the SBC. Unpack the significance of the Guidepost Report in uncovering abuse within the SBC. Clarify common misconceptions about defamation...

Tiffany Yecke Brooks joins Amy Fritz on the Untangled Faith podcast to discuss her book Holy Ghosted and searching for a less anxious faith Subscribe to my newsletter: https://untangledfaith.substack.com In this episode, we: Explore the concept of spiritual anxiety as a trauma response and its impact on individuals raised in legalistic religious environments. Discuss the influence of religious teachings and cultural pressures on Gen X and millennials' spiritual experiences. Examine how contr...

Dr. Diane Langberg joins Amy Fritz on the Untangled Faith podcast to discuss her insights on abuse within the church and her latest book, "When the Church Harms God's People." Subscribe to my newsletter: https://untangledfaith.substack.com In this episode, we: Explore the evolution of understanding abuse and trauma over the past five decades with Dr. Langberg. Discuss the misconceptions surrounding abuse and domestic violence within Christian communities. Examine the bravery required for vic...

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. Subscribe to my newsletter: https://untangledfaith.substack.com In this episode we talk about: 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 sto...

Caleb Campbell joins Amy Fritz on the Untangled Faith podcast to discuss his journey from pastoring to becoming an author, and how to engage lovingly with Christian nationalists. Subscribe to my newsletter: https://untangledfaith.substack.com In this episode we: Explore Caleb Campbell's background and transformation from a neo-Nazi skinhead to a church pastor. Discover the origins and motivations behind Caleb's book on Christian nationalism. Reflect on the challenges pastors face in navigati...

Dr. Beth Allison Barr joins Amy Fritz to talk about the how women's roles in church ministry have changed throughout history. Subscribe to my newsletter: https://untangledfaith.substack.com In this episode we: Dive into the origins and unexpected reactions to Barr's previous work, "The Making of Biblical Womanhood." Explore how Barr's experiences as both a historian and pastor's wife influenced her latest work. Unpack the historical context of ordination and the roles women played in early c...

Marty Duren joins Amy Fritz on the Untangled Faith podcast to explore the intersections of faith, politics, and societal issues. Subscribe to my newsletter: https://untangledfaith.substack.com In this episode Amy and Marty: Talk about Marty's journey away from the Moral Majority Discuss the impact of Christian Nationalism and how that's different than patriotism Consider how proximity changes how we understand different issues. Talk about why Marty hates the word "impactful"! Featured Gues...

Melissa J. Hogan joins Amy to talk about a talk she gave at the Restore conference in Feb 2025. What does it look like to search for safety after abuse? Subscribe to my newsletter: https://untangledfaith.substack.com What we talk about: Finding safe community Establishing stability The cocoon stage Reckoning with imperfect communities The risk of truly living Featured Guest Melissa J. Hogan (1) Res Ipsa with Melissa J. Hogan | Substack Tell Your Friends! If you loved this episode, lea...

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...

Attorney and Institutional Response Specialist Melissa J. Hogan joins Amy Fritz on the Untangled Faith podcast for a candid discussion about how communities and leaders should respond when there is a breakdown of trust in a marriage, especially when issues of abuse or infidelity are involved. What happens when we diagnose an abuse issue as a marriage issue? Subscribe to my newsletter: https://untangledfaith.substack.com In this episode we talk about What communities, leaders, and friends shoul...

How well does the 1995 hit book, Left Behind hold up? Amy Fritz is joined by author and podcaster, Jerry Dugan to talk about this cult classic. Subscribe to my newsletter: https://untangledfaith.substack.com In this episode we'll cover The origin story of Left Behind Left Behind and end times speculation Who is the anti-Christ? The impact the book had on evangelical Christians in the US Failed end-times predictions Featured Guest Jerry Dugan Resources mentioned This podcast is sponsor...

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 the 4 year anniversary of the Religion News Service article Is Dave Ramsey's Company the Best Place to Work? Say No and You're Out. Heather Fulk joins Amy to talk about going on the record for that article. Subscribe to my newsletter: https://untangledfaith.substack.com In this episode you'll find Origin of the RNS article Heather Fulk shares what it's like to go decide to go on the record. Amy reflects on the Ramsey response and the main RNS article Featured Guest H...

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...

Listener note: The content in this episode may not be suitable for young children. Also, please be aware that there is discussion of abuse in this episode. Please take care when listening. Melissa J. Hogan, joins Amy Fritz to revisit the 1986 marriage book His Needs, Needs by Dr. Willard Harley. Does it hold up? Did it ever hold up? What happens when a spouse who is struggling in their marriage and hoping for a way to save it picks up this book? Melissa's substack: Res Ipsa launches on Januar...

Amy Fritz is joined by her husband, Nathan, to discuss the year 2000 NYT Best Selling book, The Prayer of Jabez. If you liked this episode, check out these: 90: Historical & Cultural Influences on Evangelicalism. Guest: Karen Swallow Prior 75: Surviving, Healing, & The Pitfalls of Advocacy. Guest: Lori Anne Thompson Where you can find me: Subscribe to my newsletter: https://untangledfaith.substack.com @amyfritz.bsky.social https://untangledfaithpodcast.com Amy Fritz (@amyhenningfritz) on Thr...