Spiritual Misfits Podcast
If you’ve ever felt on the fringes of Christian faith this is a safe space for you. Your questions, doubts and hopes are all welcome here. We’re creating conversations, affirmations, meditations and other resources to support you on your spiritual journey and let you know that even if you feel like a misfit, you don’t have to feel alone.
Episodes
158 episodes
Mikenzie Ling: God my Father, Land my Mother
Mikenzie Ling shares her journey as a proud Wiradjuri woman navigating her identity and faith. She discusses her roles in community engagement and Indigenous theology, reflecting on her experiences growing up with challenges at home and a stron...
•
1:03:56
Jonathan Cornford: What if Jesus meant what he said about money?
In this conversation, Jonathan Cornford discusses his journey of living simply and the implications of faith on economics. The discussion explores the historical context of Christianity's relationship with capitalism, the importance of communit...
•
1:10:56
Sarah Bacaller on 'Apostate: Stories of Deconversion'
Sarah Bacaller is the editor of 'Apostate: Stories of Deconversion.' In this conversation Sarah and Will explore themes of apostasy, the fragility of fundamentalist faith, and the importance of listening to personal stories of deconstruction an...
•
1:16:07
Geoff Bullock: after Hillsong...and after that
In this conversation, Geoff Bullock shares his profound journey of faith, music, and the complexities of his time with Hillsong. He reflects on his early days in the church, the creation of the Hillsong music team, and the pivotal moments that ...
•
59:43
Jono Ingram on everyday spirituality and sustainability
In this episode Will Small interviews Jono Ingram, exploring his journey from being a pastor to finding his place in the world through nature, spirituality, and community development. Jono shares his experiences of feeling like a misfit within ...
•
1:08:27
Liz Charlotte Grant on seeking God in Genesis after losing faith in the Bible
In this episode Will engages in a rich conversation with Liz Charlotte Grant, author of 'Knock at the Sky: Seeking God in Genesis After Losing Faith in the Bible.' They explore Liz's early relationship with the Bible, her journey through evange...
•
1:12:45
Summer replays: Carolyn Meers on pastoring through deconstruction
Yo! Brand new podcast episodes will be coming your way in early 2025, but for now I'm pulling out a couple of great episodes to revisit from the back-log, like this chat with Carolyn Meers.This is a conversation about what it’s like to ...
•
1:01:53
Summer replays: Michael Frost & Shane Meyer-Holt on the other side of 'mega'
Yo! Brand new podcast episodes will be coming your way in early 2025, but for now I'm pulling out a couple of great episodes to revisit from the back-log, like this chat with Michael Frost and Shane Meyer-Holt...Michael Frost (the kiwi ...
•
1:17:48
ad-Vent Live: a Merry Christmas Rant with Mitch Forbes & Ella Evans
In this Christmas special, Will Small is joined by Mitch Forbes and Ella Evans for an honest conversation about the complexities, frustrations, and hidden griefs of the Christmas season. Between music, conversation, and poetry, they explore:
•
1:05:04
Simon Nixon on navigating hard conversations at Christmas
In this episode Simon Nixon joins Will to discuss the challenges of navigating difficult conversations, especially during the holiday season, and the significance of recognizing emotions and setting boundaries. Simon highlights the need for sel...
•
1:14:06
Tanya Riches on leaving Hillsong, church with wombats and real-world theology
Dr Tanya Riches is the Director of Master of Transformational Development at Eastern College, and she has a PhD from Fuller Theological Seminary. Her interdisciplinary project with Aboriginal Pentecostal leaders (located at the intersection of ...
•
59:22
Kelly Latimore on Icons, Advent and learning how to see
Kelly Latimore is an artist whose modern day Icons have an incredible ability to challenge where we see Christ in the world. Some of his most known works reimagine the Nativity in contexts of modern suffering: amongst the homeless in a tent cit...
•
1:02:20
Joel Hollier and Christine Redwood: Why Future Church?
Will Small, Joel Hollier, and Christine Redwood reflect on their experiences and insights from the inaugural Future Church Conference at the beginning of this year and look towards the next one on January 28, 2025. They discuss the importance o...
•
1:06:13
Tim Whitaker on The New Evangelicals, Christian Nationalism and resisting Trump’s America
In this conversation, Tim Whitaker discusses the complexities of the recent political landscape in the U.S., particularly focusing on the impact of Trump and the role of Evangelicalism. He reflects on his personal journey and how The New Evange...
•
56:51
David Gushee: After Evangelicalism [a timely post-election Replay]
I presume many of you, like me, are feeling a deep swirl of emotions coming out of a week where we have witnessed the re-election of Trump. Honestly it feels so baffling to me that someone can so blatantly be a convicted felon, a mi...
•
1:01:13
Will and Joel Small debrief Tim Winton’s CPX lecture (on climate crisis, toxic positivity and today's prophets)
Tim Winton gave the Centre for Public Christianity’s 2024 Richard Johnson lecture. Will and his brother Joel went along. In this conversation they discuss Tim’s powerful words on toxic positivity, climate crisis, and the prophetic voices of you...
•
1:04:56
Anna Robinson (from Nomad podcast) on wilderness, wonder and contemplative practices
Anna Robinson is a regular co-host on Nomad podcast, and the founder of LiveLight|DwellDeep. She describes herself as "a contemplative, deeply drawn t...
•
1:08:54
Sally Longley on violence, silence and Ignatian spirituality
In this episode Sally Longley shares her journey from a belief in violence to embracing pacifism and Ignatian spirituality. Sally shares her experiences in South Africa during apartheid, her theological studies, and the transformative power of ...
•
57:26
Pub Theology: politics, faith and community action (with Jack Turner)
Jack Turner joins Will and Mitch at the virtual pub to discuss Christianity and political engagement. Do Christians typically care more about meeting the needs of the poor than asking why they're poor in the first place? <...
•
1:13:38
Scott Erickson (Scott the Painter) is creating a visual vocabulary for the spiritual journey
Hello fellow misfits, friends, humans of all kinds! An absolutely delightful conversation awaits you with Scott Erickson. He’s a painter, author, performance speaker. His instagram bio...
•
1:05:17
Pub Theology: Listener questions (hedonism, lament and the limits of language)
Mitch, Hannah and Will crack a drink and throw around various questions from Spiritual Misfits listeners (submitted in the Facebook group)Questions/topics discussed include:...
•
1:24:17
Scott Parker: 'Hillsong Boy'
Scott Parker comes on the podcast to discuss 'Hillsong Boy': a theatrical exploration of the highs and lows of growing up queer in a megachurch, based on Scott’s real life.
•
1:02:12
Jason John on sex, evolution and a poem you’ll never forget
Jason John is a fascinating human being with a very interesting story doing very interesting things. He’s an ordained minister in the Uniting Church, has a PhD in zoology and is, amongst other things, a ‘forest chaplain.’In this convers...
•
1:07:55
Amy Kenny: 'My Body is Not a Prayer Request'
Amy Kenny, author of 'My Body Is Not A Prayer Request,' joins Will for a discussion about disability justice and ableism in the church. She shares her experiences of being prayed over for her disability to be erased and the harmful treatment sh...
•
1:00:19
Mental Health and Loneliness with James Aaron and Sarah Bishop
This is the fifth and final episode in our mini-series produced in collaboration with the Pulse team from Uniting Mission and Education. And in my opinion, this one was such a profound, vulnerable and meaningful conversation. Sarah Bishop and J...
•
1:00:19