This week on the podcast Katy shares a powerful conversation with New York Times Best Selling Author Beth Allison Barr about her new book Becoming the Pastor’s Wife. Beth defines both patriarchy and complementarian theology, as well as provides an explanation as to why the roles of women have become limited in certain religious spaces. Beth also provides advice for women that find themselves in a church context that doesn’t affirm women in leadership roles.
Make sure you check out our continued conversation with Beth on our Second Service bonus episode available on Substack.
Purchase The Making of Biblical Womanhood by clicking here.
Purchase Becoming the Pastor’s Wife by clicking here.
Make sure you rate, review and subscribe to the podcast anywhere you listen and please follow us on Instagram @thetheologygirls
This week on the podcast Katy discusses what Protestants can learn from Catholics with Mary Varni. Mary works for the Archdiocese of St. Louis in their Respect Life office and is wealth of knowledge on Catholic social teaching and doctrine. Mary debunks a common misconception about whether or not Catholics pray “to” Saints and also what determines whether or not someone is truly pro-life or not.
Learn more about the Respect Life Apostolate in St. Louis by clicking here.
Read the Gospel of Life by here.
Make sure you rate, review and subscribe to the podcast anywhere you listen and follow us on Instagram @thetheologygirl
This week we chatted with Jessica LM Jenkins about how reimagining a more historically accurate nativity can impact both how we elevate the voices of women as well as our faith and theology.
Make sure you check our bonus Second Service episode on Substack where we discuss the nativity as an act of resistance and also how Mary’s story can give women hope today.
Below we’ve included Jessica’s links so make sure you follow her and grab some of her nativity paper dolls for Christmas.
Historically Accurate Nativity Explanation
Podcast Episodes:
#13 Historically Accurate Nativity Part 1
#14 Historically Accurate Nativity Part 2
#31 Presence Over Power: The Nativity as God's Answer to Trauma
Visit Jessica’s website: www.wewhothirst.com
Follow @jessicalmjenkins (Instagram, Threads, Facebook)
Listen to Women of the Bible in Context: Her God, Her Story, Her Voice
Today we’ve got a special bonus LIVE recording to share with you from our quarterly in-person event “Magnify the Lord” where Pastor Angela Beise of The Crossing Grant’s Trail takes us on a deep dive into the Magnificat (otherwise known as Mary’s song).
We hope this message encourages you and that you find hope in Mary’s story.
Please make sure you share this episode with a friend, and don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe anywhere you listen.
To visit The Crossing or find a campus near you, click the link here.
This week on the podcast Katy chats with Stephanie Kramer about her exodus from the Independent Fundamental Baptist Church. Stephanie shares about her faith practices inside the IFB, divorce, leaving the church and finding grace on the other side. If you have little ones with you, this might be opposite if you want to save for later, as we discussed pretty culture and sexual assault allegations within the church.
You can learn more about the IFB and its dangerous teachings by checking out any of the resources we’ve listed below:
“The Well Trained Wife” by Tia Levings
“The Myth of Good Christian Parenting” by Kelsey Kramer McGinnis and Marissa Franks Burt
Check out the related documentary “Shiny Happy People” to learn more about the IBLP
And to listen to our bonus “Second Service” episode with Stephanie where we discuss sexual assault within the IFB and hard complementarian churches, head to Substack and join our community for just $8 a month.
Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe and follow us on Instagram @thetheologygirls
This week on the podcast Katy chats with author Maddie Fischer about her new 60 day devotional Rest + Rely. They dive deep into Maddie’s personal struggle with anxiety and depression, as well as how the church often over spiritualizes mental health struggles but the world often minimizes the power of prayer and community.
Maddie also leads a group called LO Local, which is affiliated with Live Original and Sadie Robertson. You’ll get a chance to hear how she got involved with the organization and how you can plug into a local chapter.
Make sure you follow Maddie on Instagram @maddie_joy and purchase Rest & Rely here or anywhere books are sold.
This week on the podcast we’ve got a special Giving Tuesday edition featuring Mikaela Garth, Executive Director and Founder of Powerful Purpose, an organization designed to help kids thrive, not just survive.
Katy and Mikaela discuss what exactly her organization does and specific stories of children who’ve been impacted by Powerful Purpose. Mikaela also gives tips on what it might look like to live a more generous life in 2026 and how her faith impacts how operates in the world.
Make a monetary donation and learn more about Powerful Purpose on their website www.powerfulpurpose.org and make sure you follow them on Instagram @power.fulpurpose
Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast anywhere you listen and follow us on Instagram @thetheologygirls
On this bonus “Black Friday” episode of the podcast, we are talking to Cory Ball and Danny Lybarger about inerrancy and infallibility and how the way we interpret scripture impacts the way we do church. Cory is a theologically conservative pastor and Danny is a theologically progressive pastor. While they both disagree on a variety of topics, Cory and Danny are wonderful examples of how we can extend grace to those on the other side of the aisle. We discuss ways Christian’s from vastly different faith traditions can participate in ecumenical work and work together to make a positive impact.
In a polarized world where everything feels high stakes and politicized, we hope this episode helps you turn down the temperature. And while you may not agree with someone, we hope you’re able to understand how or why they might hold the convictions they do.
Follow Danny on Instagram @danny_Lybarger and visit his church The Well in St. Charles, Missouri.
Follow Cory on Instagram @coryball and visit his church Redemption Church in Kirkwood (St. Louis), Missouri.
Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast anywhere you listen.
This week on the podcast Katy shares a conversation she had with worship leader, writer and activist Hannah Herum to talk about Christian ethics and why they’re important for us today.
What are ethics? Why do American Christians seem mainly concerned with issues like abortion and traditional marriage values but turn a blind eye to issues like gun violence, war, racism, or climate change?
Hannah recommended a variety of resources that we will link below, but also encourages listeners to lean into the book of Deuteronomy, the minor prophets and the Sermon on the Mount.
Any books written by Dietrich Bonhoeffer or Shane Claiborne
Make sure you check out our bonus “Second Service” episode on Substack where Katy and Hannah discuss the ethical concerns of using AI.
This week on the podcast Katy talks with Marissa Franks Burt and Kelsey Kramer McGinnis about their new book, “The Myth of Good Christian Parenting,” and how the parenting techniques of past betrayed an entire generation of families. Below you’ll find some helpful links and more information about Marissa and Kelsey.
Please make sure you rate, review and subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen and follow @thetheologygirls on Instagram.
Marissa Franks Burt (MA in Theological Studies, Columbia International University) is a novelist, editor, teacher, and cohost of the At Home with the Lectionary and In the Church Library podcasts. She lives in a small town in Washington's Snoqualmie Valley with her husband, six children, and heaps of books.
Kelsey Kramer McGinnis (PhD, University of Iowa) is a musicologist, educator, and correspondent for Christianity Today, writing on worship practices and Christian subculture. She is an adjunct professor at Grand View University in Des Moines and previously worked at the University of Iowa Center for Human Rights.
You can purchase the book on Amazon or anywhere you buy books, as well as Audible or audiobook.
Connect with Marissa and Kelsey below:
Instagram: @mburtwrites | @kelseykmcginnis
Threads: @mburtwrites | @kelseykmcginnis
Facebook: @mburtwrites | @kelsey.kramermcginnis
Bluesky: @mburtwrites | @kkramermcginnis
TikTok: @mburtwrites | @kelseykmcg
Substack: @mburtwrites | @kelseykramermcginnis
YouTube: @mburtwrites
And check out their limited series podcast called “In the Church Library”
This week Katy invites her best friend Rachael to sit down for retelling of their very own friendship break up and reconciliation process. They talk about what happened and what things contributed to the break down of their relationship as well as what it took to rebuild trust and commitment for the long haul.
In this episode Katy and Rachael discuss the COVID-19 pandemic, politics, mask mandates and vaccines as some of what originally caused tension in their relationship. Neither Katy nor Rachael are presenting their stances on these topics as a means to convince you of right or wrong but to simply show that it is possible to be friends with someone who sees the world differently than you do.
Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast anywhere you listen and make sure you follow us on Instagram @thetheologygirls
This week on the podcast Katy talks with Adina O’Neal about how to live on mission in your community. They talk through tangible ways to interact with those who live in proximity to you, the problems with small groups and where the modern evangelical church gets it wrong, in addition to the way Jesus lived among the lost and brought hope to people who desperately needed it.
Adina recommends two different books for listeners to read on the topic of missional living:
Brave Cities by Taylor McCall and Hugh Halter
The Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne
Remember to rate, review and subscribe to the show where you listen to podcasts, and follow us on Instagram @thetheologygirls
This week on the podcast Katy sits down with fellow worship leaders Anitra McKenny and Cassaundra Eden to talk about the value of corporate worship, why singing together with the body of Christ matters and what female worship leaders bring to the table specifically. Whether you’re a worship leader, a worship enthusiast or even someone who is skeptical of the musical portion of our Sunday gatherings - this episode is for you.
Below you’ll find several books and resources that were listed in the podcast:
Bob Hartley - Adoration Prayer Book
Robert S. McGee - The Search for Significance
Don’t forget to rate, review and subscribe to the podcast anywhere you listen and follow us on Instagram @thetheologygirls
This week on the podcast, Katy sits down for an interview with Jennifer Powell McNutt, author of the book “The Mary We Forgot” to discuss all things Mary Magdalene. Who was she? Who wasn’t she? What can we learn about faith from her example?
This is a conversation you will not want to miss out on. Make sure you share it with a friend, and please rate, review and subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts.
Follow Jennifer on Instagram @jpowellmcnutt and you can keep up with her on her website https://jenniferpowellmcnutt.com
Check out the ministry she and her husband David started together https://www.mcnuttshellministries.com
Buy “The Mary We Forgot” by clicking here.
This week Katy interviewed artist and author, Kellie Bick about her journey through discovering her love for art, imposter syndrome, postpartum and motherhood. They discuss the intersection of faith and creating, as well as why it’s important for women to explore their creativity.
Kellie also created a beautiful watercolor painting to kick off Mary Magdalene week that you can view on Instagram.
Make sure you follow Kellie on Instagram @created.by.kellie
And if you’re more interested in learning about Hutchmoot, you can click here.
Make sure you rate, review and subscribe to the podcast and follow us on Instagram @thetheologygirls
This week Katy and Jocelynn discuss all things denominations and do a brief overview of church history. They also talk through a recent experience they had after being invited to participate in an interdenominational cohort called Oikos in St. Louis, Missouri.
You can learn more about the Oikos group by clicking the link below:
https://www.oikosgroup.org
Katy referenced two different books in this episode, the first being “Strange Religion” by Nijay Gupta and the second being “What’s a Christian Anyway?” by Glenn Packiam. Both are available to purchase on Amazon.
Don’t forget to write, review, and subscribe to the podcast anywhere you listen to podcasts and follow us on Instagram @thetheologygirls
On the podcast this week, Katy talks with song writer, producer, musician and worship leader Russ Mohr about the intersection of music, creativity and faith.
You can find Russ on social media @russmohrmusic and find more information about upcoming shows and concert tickets at www.russmohrmusic.com
Russ recommended a book called “The Art of Creativity” by Rick Ruben for anyone needing inspiration when it comes to creating art or music.
Make sure you rate, review and subscribe to the podcast and comment on this episode to tell us how much you loved it. And don’t forget to follow us on social media @thetheologygirls
This week Katy and Jocelynn sit down with Fuller Seminary professor Dr. Karen Murphy to talk about women in church history and theology. This is a rich conversation full of surprises, lesser known female church leaders, and inspiration for the next generation.
Katy mentions a podcast titled All the Buried Women by Beth Allison Barr and Savannah Locke that you can find anywhere you listen to podcasts.
Dr. Murphy provided us with lots of resources which are listed below:
Her Story by Barbara MacHaffie
Women, Men and the Bible by Virginia Mollenkott
Daughters of the Church by Ruth Tucker and Walter Liefeld
Liberating Tradition by Kristina LaCelle-Peterson
A Women’s History of the Christian Church: Two Thousand Years of Female Leadership by Elizabeth Gillan Muir
Women in the Mission of the Church by Leanne M. Dzubinski and Anneke H. Stasson
What Paul Really Said About Women by John Temple Bristol
Ordination of Women by Paul K. Jewett
Man & Woman, One in Christ by Philip B. Payne
Make sure you rate, review, comment and subscribe to the podcast to help us grow!
On this episode, Jocelynn and Katy are defining “terms” and giving you definitions for all those complicated theological words you may hear and have no idea what they mean. Put on your thinking cap, cause we are taking you to school.
Also, Katy mentioned abandoning her favorite Bible translation, the ESV. Click here to read more.
Is there a term or topic you’d like us to dive into? Send us an email at thetheologygirls@gmail.com and we will make sure to include it in a future episode.
Make sure you rate, review and subscribe anywhere you listen to podcasts and don’t forget to follow us on Instagram @thetheologygirls
This week on the podcast Katy sits down with Pastor Tim Holley from The Journey West County in St. Louis to discuss the topic of church hurt. What do you do when you’ve been hurt by the church? Is there space for people who are actively deconstructing or grappling with theological questions in our church bodies? Is the church still relevant today and doesn’t have a purpose for believers? And where do women fit into the body of Christ and how can we prevent more women from leaving the church?
Katy also shares some insight on what it’s like at times to be a female working and serving in the local church.
The three books Tim references in this conversation will be linked below:
When the Church Was a Family by Joseph H. Hellerman
Relational Spirituality by Todd Hall
The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
Make sure you rate, review and subscribe to the podcast and follow us on Instagram @thetheologygirls