Where Do We Go From Here?

The last episode of the month is when we get to hear YOUR stories, and today Julia talks to us about untangling purity culture and deconstructing her faith...in 2008. She was way ahead of schedule, and she's got stories and insights to share with us about how she went about doing it. Listen to hear more about parenting, managing anxiety, questioning your faith, and rebuilding. Full show notes here Become a partner for $3/month and hear our recap of Sweet Home Alabama on the Jess & Devi Show! Talk to us on Twitter and Instagram

We hear a lot about what the New Testament supposedly says about.. everything (including sex). But as we're reminded today by our guest, the New Testament is largely made up of letters that we're "eavesdropping" on. So if we want to know what these letters might mean for us, we'll need to get to know who wrote the letter and to whom. New Testament Christians. What was their cultural context? What ideas formed the people around them and how did this uniquely shape the way the gospel was communicated? This episode is packed with insights from Professor Mariam Kamell Kovalishyn from Regent College, and the full conversation is available only for our partners for $3/month. Full Show Notes Here Talk to us on Instagram and Twitter Mariam J. Kovalishyn joined the faculty at Regent College in 2010, and was appointed Assistant Professor of New Testament in 2013. The majority of Mariam's research has centered on the epistle of James, Jewish literature of the Intertestamental period, and classical Graeco-Roman literature. Additionally, since coming to Regent, she has expanded to researching and writing across the epistles, Pauline and General. Mariam has co-authored a commentary on James (Zondervan), has published a number of articles in books and journals. She is currently working on another commentary on James for the Story of God series, and a biblical theology of social justice for Zondervan, as well as a commentary on 1 and 2 Peter.

Jess got married, and we are talking about it! What if "Congratulations" is the wrong thing to say at a wedding? How can we see marriage as a different stage of life instead of a promotion from singleness? We also talk about Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's interview with Oprah Winfrey, a couple talking about their first few years as newlyweds. What does this tell us about marriage? And we finish it off with your marriage advice - the good, the bad, and the... well.. listen to hear it all. Full show notes Partner with us for $3/month to get uncut interviews and hear a monthly debrief of romcoms from the past. Talk to us on Instagram and Twitter

This episode is part of our Jess & Devi Show series for our partners, but today you get a peak at the magic on the inside with our recap of the 1999 hit rom com "Never Been Kissed." Josie Grosie. Teacher Sam Coulson. Horrible prom memories (remember Billy??) and drugged brownies. Let's walk back through memory lane to see if the movie that gave some of us chills is any good in 2021. Show notes here All our partners get two exclusive episodes a month for $3, one movie recap and one uncut interview with our expert guests. Join us today! Talk to us on Instagram and Twitter

What's the best way to push back against celebrity culture? Listen to people who aren't on the platform. We do that once a month by featuring YOUR stories. Today we hear from Amy, one of our earliest listeners and partners. She's a public school English teacher, and we talk about purity culture in Australia, finding her voice, how she navigated app dating, and where she's going from here. Full show notes here If you want to join the Ladies Night Book Club, it's your last chance. Come read Redeeming Sex by Debra Hirsch with us in March and April for $9/month. Join us for weekly zoom calls, Facebook discussions, a Q&A with Debra Hirsch, and an exclusive conversation with her as well. Talk to us on Instagram and Twitter

Debra Hirsch published the book Redeeming Sex in 2015 before evangelicals had the language we do today for the connection between spirituality and sexuality. Her work flows out of her decades of lived experience as a counselor and pastor working with people in the area of sexuality. She has a lifetime of wisdom and insight to share with us, and we get a piece of that in this conversation. We are more than our genital "bits and bobs" as Deb says, we are wired to know and be known, love and be loved, we are wired for connection and intimacy, for a sexuality that is social, not just genital. Full show notes here Want more of the story Deb is telling here? Join us for the Ladies Night Book Club for $9/month as we read Redeeming Sex in March and April. Join the conversation on Instagram and Twitter Deb Hirsch is a speaker, church leader, and writer who has led churches in both Australia and Los Angeles. She is one of the founders of Forge Mission Training Network and is a member of the Forge America national team. She also serves as a board member for Missio Alliance and was part of the leadership team of Christian Associates, a church planting movement in Europe, North & South America. Her book Redeeming Sex reflects her own journey and attempts to bring new conversations about sexuality into the context of the church. Deb has been involved in social work, community development and as a trained counselor has worked in the field of sexuality for over twenty-five years.

We discuss the report released last week by Miller & Martin PLLC about numerous allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct by Ravi Zacharias. Full show notes here Join the Ladies Night Book Club for $9/month for March 1 start - we are discussing Redeeming Sex by Deb Hirsch

Laura Tremaine is a storyteller and she joins us for a candid conversation about her life in a white evangelical subculture, how she moved out of it in Hollywood, and how she navigated her relationships and sexuality. Laura's superpower is sharing her stuff and encouraging us to do the same. She models that for us today by telling us the stories at pivotal points of her faith, relationships, and sexuality. We talk about: how her parents trust empowered her what sex revealed to her about what she believed about God why sharing our stuff matters You also get to hear from a member of our Ladies Night Book Club, Morgan, who shares why she joined and why you should too. Join the Ladies Night Book Club for $9/month. We start Redeeming Sex by Deb Hirsch on March 1, and if you're part of our book club, you get weekly zoom calls to discuss what you're learning in a safe group of spiritually curious women. You also get an exclusive podcast interview with Deb Hirsch and get to ask her your questions in a zoom Q&A. Join today! Show notes here Laura Tremaine is a writer and podcaster. On her weekly podcast 10 Things to Tell You, she encourages listeners to take the episode prompts to a friend or to their journal, because meaningful connections come from good conversations. Her first book Share Your Stuff. I'll Go First. released in February 2021. Laura lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Jeff, and their two children. You can connect with Laura on Instagram @laura.tremaine.

February the month of love! Why is it though that both the broader culture and church culture tries to funnel us toward romantic love as the only expression of love there is? We want to celebrate Galentines today (and may we suggest, Guy-entines?!), and celebrate the reasons why our friendships are worth the investment. We explore why it might be tricky in our highly online, disconnected world, and we examine how to maintain friendships while dating or after marriage. We also open up the mailbag and have another segment with Dr. Celeste Holbrook answering a sex question at the end. Full show notes here Talk to us on Instagram and Twitter Been thinking about joining us for book club? Ladies Night Book Club starts a new book on March 1. Sign up here for $9/month. Or become a partner for $3/month and get two extra podcasts a month - an uncut interview and a deep dive into movies from the 80s and 90s.

Every month we are going to bring you stories of every day people who listen to the show and are working out what to do with what they learn here. Today, we meet Jason. He's from California but lives in Melbourne with his wife and family, and he's a chaplain at a Christian school. He tells us about: his youth group years life at a conservative Bible college the transition into adulthood in Australia and how he's learning to listen and develop empathy for people who aren't like him Talk to us on Instagram and Twitter Partner with us for $3/month and hear our newest episode of The Jess & Devi Show as we watch movies from our teens. First up, we watch and discuss 10 Things I Hate About You. Does it still hold up? What did it get right? What did it get wrong? This is exclusive for Partners of the show. Full show notes here