Saved by the City

Happy holidays!In New York City, the phrase has nothing to do with a culture war and everything to do with being a good neighbor. A recent NY Times article describes the city as "a swirling kaleidoscope of faiths," and living within that colorful milieu has profoundly shaped our posture toward other religions. On this episode, Katelyn and Roxy discuss the ways New York City has exposed us to the beauty and wisdom of other faith traditions, while introducing us to the importance of interfaith work in a country that will come to more and more resemble the pluralism of our city.We are joined by Simran Jeet Singh, a fellow transplant to New York, who is dedicated to anti-racism and interfaith cooperation. As a Sikh, Singh knows what it's like to be the minority at the interfaith table and has helpful insights into how Christians, as the majority, can be good partners and allies.GUEST:  Simran Jeet Singh is executive director for the Aspen Institute’s Religion and Society Program, an RNS columnist, and author of the book "The Light We Give: How Sikh Wisdom Can Transform Your Life." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The year is not over yet but we're ready to hand in the verdict.This week, Katelyn and Roxy reflect on the year that was 2022 (better than 2020!) and share some highlights and lowlights in various categories. Favorite book? Check. Favorite TV show? Yep. Favorite friendship moment? Yes please. Strangest thing you saw on the subway? Of course.Plus, we share some goals for ourselves — and the podcast! — as we look toward 2023. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's been 2000 years. Enough already.Abusing power is an ancient genre of sin — and using religion to justify abuse is perhaps the oldest trick in that book. We know it won't stop with this podcast episode, but, here we go anyway. Katelyn and Roxy address some of the difficulties of identifying spiritual abuse (no, it isn't just "church hurt") and examine how it has manifested in a few more recent and notable scandals. Veteran psychologist and expert on religious trauma, Diane Langberg, joins the episode and helps put the "pastoral" back in the pulpit.GUEST:Diane Langberg is a psychologist with more than 50 years of experience working with trauma survivors. She’s the author most recently of "Redeeming Power: Understanding Authority and Abuse in the Church." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Silly, shallow, serious, interstellar … we said we’d take any and all of your questions. And we get some good ones!Katelyn has been on jury duty. We had Thanksgiving break. Roxy is on vacation this week. So it seemed like a good time to let our listeners do some of the work for us. We took to social media to seek your "ask me anything" — AMA — style questions.And we totally go there.Plus, here to deliver your questions (and a few of his own) is a very special guest, out from behind the curtain, the Wizard of Audio, our producer Jonathan Woodward! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We do love a journalism movie.It's been five years since the NY Times exposé of Harvey Weinstein sparked the global #MeToo movement. And the new movie, "She Said," documents the two-steps-forward, one-step-back work of investigative reporters Megan Twohey and Jodi Kantor in uncovering the extent of Weinstein's abuses. "Pump it into my veins," is how Katelyn describes the movie. On this episode, Katelyn and Roxy discuss the new movie, the book it's based on, and where we are now.GUESTS: Christine Emba is an opinion columnist and editor for The Washington Post. She is the author of the new book Rethinking Sex: A Provocation. Alissa Wilkinson is a film, culture and food writer. She is the senior culture reporter at Vox.com, as well as an associate professor at The King’s College. She is the author of the new book “Salty: Lessons on eating, drinking and living from revolutionary women.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Unmarried women are ruining everything! At least according to some people who went to Twitter, Fox News, and God only knows where else to bemoan last week's midterm election results — placing a large share of their disappointment at the feet of unmarried women, who broke strongly for Democrats. Suffice it to say, their words were not very nice. Anyway, politics aside, we think their vitriol was misguided — and we have the data to prove it!On this week's episode, Katelyn and Roxy dive into some research on the state of unmarried women and the church. We discuss the importance of "thick community" and the false promises of independence.Plus, we talk with Karen González, on how to move beyond "welcoming immigrants" to relationships of mutuality and kinship.GUEST: Karen González is an immigrant advocate, writer — and unmarried woman, by the way, who is kicking butt and taking names — and author of the new book "Beyond Welcome: Centering Immigrants in Our Christian Response to Immigration."   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You're still young! You're too picky! Just put yourself out there more!We've heard some doozies. And, while most friends are well-meaning (if occasionally passive-aggressive), they aren't always aware of how these phrases can bump against some tender spots. You've heard of "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days," but in this episode, Katelyn and Roxy bring you ...How to Lose Your Single Friends in 10 Words (Or Less).But, not to worry, we don't want to leave you feeling speechless. We also offer some thoughts on what to say instead and share our most meaningful experiences of feeling supported and loved by our married friends with kids. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's the motherlode episode.Most women of a certain age (our age) have kids. They just do. And we don't. Living in that reality can be complicated — it's fun to be an "auntie," but it's not the same as being a mom — there's grief and there's gain. On this episode, Katelyn and Roxy grapple with their own winding paths to life without kids. We share what's it's meant to mourn that loss while finding ways to embrace the gifts of a childfree life.We're joined by Erin S. Lane who helps us challenge the default scripts of motherhood that society — and churches! — so often impose on women's lives.GUEST: Erin S. Lane is a writer, theologian, and author of "Someone Other Than a Mother." She has a masters in gender studies from Duke Divinity School and works as a vocational retreat facilitator. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is this real blood we're drinking?There's an old joke that a religion is a cult plus time. So are we just late comers to a very old cult? Katelyn and Roxy explore this plus all the other scary things — like aging! — in our All Hallow's Eve episode. And religion reporter Sam Kestenbaum joins to talk vampires, mummies, QAnon devotees, and groups with some cult-y vibes (including maybe ... some of the churches we've attended).GUEST: Sam Kestenbaum is a religion reporter who has written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, RNS and many other outlets about fringe and fascinating religious groups. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The midterms ... truly the spookiest season of them all.Everyone seems to be talking about Christian nationalism right now. The phrase is in the air. And, while, there's plenty of focus on the evangelical vote every election cycle, this is not quite the same. Religion News Service, and especially religion and politics correspondent Jack Jenkins, has long been covering this new iteration of Christian nationalism. So, for this special episode, in the run up to the midterms, Roxy talks with Jack about his (award-winning) reporting on Christian nationalism over the past few years.What is it? Where did it come from? And why is it playing such an outsized role in American politics right now?GUEST: Jack Jenkins is a national reporter for RNS based in Washington, covering the intersection of religion and politics as well as U.S. Catholics. He is the author of “American Prophets: The Religious Roots of Progressive Politics and the Ongoing Fight for the Soul of the Country.”This episode was produced with support from The Stiefel Freethought Foundation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices