The Women Scholars and Professionals Podcast

Elizabeth Felicetti: Unexpected Abundance

“There is hope and there is fruit and there is life, whether or not we one day have children. And I hope that in looking at these 25 women, that people might be encouraged and inspired and realize what abundance there is out there.” — Rev. Elizabeth Felicetti

Episcopal priest and author Elizabeth Felicetti talks with us about living a rich and generative life as a woman without children and the twenty-five women who have inspired her.

What does it look like to live a rich and generative life as a woman without children? The Reverend Elizabeth Felicetti joined us on the podcast to explore this question and talk about some of the twenty-five women she has written about in her book Unexpected Abundance: The Fruitful Lives of Women Without Children. Elizabeth shares from her own personal experience of life as a barren woman — a term which you’ll hear her reclaim in a beautifully positive way. She weaves her own story, including an ongoing fight against cancer, into the book as she highlights strong and refreshing examples of childless women throughout Scripture, history, and our present day. I especially loved Elizabeth’s emphasis on the partnership of women and her urging that women support one another regardless of maternal status. It’s a delightful conversation, and if you listen to the end, I’ve included an excerpt in which Elizabeth reveals a bit more about her journey through cancer treatments while she was completing her MFA. 

So jump right in! We're so glad you're here.

— Ann Boyd

For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well.

If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

Lynn Gill: Serving Graduate Students and Faculty

“I could not see when we moved what God would have for me in that place. But God was faithful. He had something in mind.” — Lynn Gill

Lynn Gill is a chemist, a scholar, and the recently-appointed Vice President for InterVarsity’s Graduate and Faculty Ministries. Listen in as we discuss her journey through academia, her moments of discernment, and the spiritual habits that have supported her along the way.

Can I introduce you to a very special person? Lynn Gill is a chemist, a scholar, a lover of books, a devoted follower of Jesus, and the recently-appointed Vice President for InterVarsity’s Graduate and Faculty Ministries. I sat down with Lynn to hear a little bit about her life, her love for graduate students and faculty, and her faith journey. And I promise I’m not just saying this because she is my boss’s boss’s boss — Lynn is a truly remarkable person with deep spiritual wisdom and lots of stories to show for it. I found it fascinating to hear about Lynn’s complex career path and the way she discerned each next step. She offers sound advice for thriving in challenging times, and if you listen to the end of the podcast, I’ve included an excerpt from our conversation where Lynn talks about a few practical ways she balanced parenting with her career. 

So jump right in! We're so glad you're here.

— Ann Boyd

For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well.

If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

Sandra L. Glahn: Nobody’s Mother

“So many approaches that want to push back against sexism (and rightly so) have taken the approach of either throwing Paul under the bus or throwing Scripture under the bus in their desire to elevate women. It’s not the best way.” — Sandra L. Glahn

Professor and scholar Sandra Glahn talks with us about her research in Ephesian culture, the value of narrative in teaching, and the joy of learning. 

In 1 Timothy 2, Paul writes that women will be “saved through childbearing.” What exactly does that mean? Professor Sandra Glahn joined us on the podcast to talk about her research into Artemis of the Ephesians and the profound impact it had on her understanding of Paul’s often-misunderstood words. Sandra’s book, Nobody’s Mother: Artemis of the Ephesians in Antiquity and the New Testament helped me to make sense of this complicated text by understanding the historical and cultural context Paul wrote in. Sandra and I talk about her own story, the work of scholarship and research, and the exciting developments in archeology that impact Biblical understanding. Sandra’s book is a surprising mix of stories and technical detail, all of which makes learning from her a delight. And as a bonus, InterVarsity Press is offering a discount on Nobody’s Mother to listeners of this podcast: 25% off and free shipping with the code IVPPOD25. You can find a link to the book and the discount code in the show notes. And if you listen to the end of the podcast, I’ve included an excerpt from our conversation where Sandra gives us some practical tips on explaining context if you’re in a heated discussion about a Biblical text. 

So jump right in! We're so glad you're here.

— Ann Boyd

For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well.

If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

Kat Armas: Sacred Belonging

“What if I actually took Jesus literally and … looked at the birds of the air and actually noticed the flowers? We relate to the natural world how we relate to each other.... If we disregard the natural world, it’s so much easier to disregard people in our midst.” — Kat Armas

Author and scholar Kat Armas shares ideas from her new devotional about our connection with earth, cosmos, nature, fellow humans, Scripture, and the liberating heart of God.

How might we reconsider the world around us as we press on to know God more fully? Author Kat Armas joined us on the podcast to discuss her new book, Sacred Belonging: A 40-Day Devotional on the Liberating Heart of Scripture. Kat talks about her own journey of learning to integrate ideas of ecology, embodiment, and ancient wisdom with her study of Scripture, ultimately discovering some fresh avenues for connection with God. It’s a very different kind of devotional, one that seeks to disentangle biblical teaching from power structures that marginalize women and people of color. The book is broad and expansive and full of stories from Kat’s own life. And if you listen to the end of the podcast, I’ve included an excerpt from our conversation where Kat talks about the importance of body-awareness especially for academics. 

So jump right in! We're so glad you're here.

— Ann Boyd

For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well.

If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

Dorcas Cheng-Tozun: Social Justice for the Sensitive Soul

“I would imagine that most of us could realize that there is this great intersection between who I am, what I love to do, what I feel called to do, and what I see are the felt and important needs of our communities.” — Dorcas Cheng-Tozun

Author Dorcas Cheng-Tozun talks with us about pursuing justice while honoring one’s own particular sensitivities. 

What does it look like to pursue social justice efforts when one’s nature is particularly sensitive? Author Dorcas Cheng-Tozun writes about this dynamic in her recent book Social Justice for the Sensitive Soul: How to Change the World in Quiet Ways. I sat down with Dorcas to talk about the gifts and challenges of being a Highly Sensitive Person and the ways she has learned to embrace her own limitations while continuing to use her strengths to do good in the world. Dorcas offers practical strategies, spiritual encouragement, and historical models for honoring both soul and vision. This conversation will be beneficial both for those who identify as Highly Sensitive People and those who have sensitive people in their lives. And if you listen to the end of the podcast, I’ve included a bonus from our conversation where Dorcas talks about a few of the things she has learned about parenting sensitive kids.​

So jump right in! We're so glad you're here.

— Ann Boyd

For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well.

If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

Kaitlyn Schiess: The Ballot and the Bible

“Do I go to Scripture asking different questions? Do I come with a posture of assuming I will be both comforted and convicted? That I might be critiqued? Do I have myself in the posture to hear that or not?” — Kaitlyn Schiess

Author and scholar Kaitlyn Schiess talks with us about political theology in American history and how learning about it can impact our own faithful engagement with politics today. 

With the 2024 presidential election is just around the corner, it’s a good time to ask probing questions about Scripture, power, and what would take for our political theology to be shaped by God. Author and scholar Kaitlyn Schiess joined us on the podcast to discuss her recent book, The Ballot and the Bible: How Scripture Has Been Used and Abused in American Politics and Where We Go from Here. In this book, Kaitlyn highlights examples of biblical interpretation throughout American history, examples that are distanced enough from our context today that they can helping us see some common pitfalls that lead to poor political theology. These are such important ideas that require deep thinking and personal reflection, and Kaitlyn draws us into the conversation gently but firmly. In our discussion, we also talk about Kaitlyn’s current experience as a grad student, and if you listen to the very end of the podcast, you’ll hear an excerpt from our conversation where Kaitlyn shares a practice that has been strengthening her community bond, especially in her life as a single person.

So jump right in! We're so glad you're here.

— Ann Boyd

For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well.

If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

Karen Swallow Prior: The Evangelical Imagination

“Whatever is true of the Christian faith is true for all times and all people, not just 21st century American evangelicals.” — Karen Swallow Prior

Author and scholar Karen Swallow Prior talks with us about the historical influences around evangelical culture and how they impact the expression of faith today.

What forces have shaped the evangelical culture and how can understanding them shape our future? Author and scholar Karen Swallow Prior joined us on the podcast to discuss her recent book, The Evangelical Imagination: How Stories, Images, and Metaphors Created a Culture in Crisis. Karen talks with us about the history of evangelicalism and the way Victorian influences impact its expression even today, helping us to consider what ideas are Christian and what are merely cultural. Karen also offers some sound advice for those who are beginning their academic careers, and if you listen to the very end of the podcast, you’ll hear an excerpt from our conversation in which Karen shares thoughts on responding to the pressures that come with life as a woman who hasn’t had children.

So jump right in! We're so glad you're here.

— Ann Boyd

For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well.

If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

Gordon T. Smith: Your Calling Here and Now

“Every day I want to praise or thank someone in the building for a task or a work well done. And thank God that God called them to this place and gave them the talent and ability that they exercise." — Gordon T. Smith

Listen in on an exclusive peek into our fall book club interview as Women Scholars and Professionals book club host Jasmine Obeyesekere conducts an online discussion with author and professor Gordon T. Smith where they discuss vocation, spiritual engagement, and personal congruence.

Do you want to find personal congruence with your institution? Would your approach to your work environment be different, if you thought of yourself as embodying God’s welcome at your workplace? How does the reality that our thinking is secular unless we learn to think Christianly about all of life grip you?

In this finale of our Fall Book Club, we engage in conversation with Gordon Smith about his book Your Calling Here and Now. You'll enjoy this rich conversation even if you weren't able to participate in the book club!

Gordon Smith shows us how our vocation is a form of spiritual engagement and gives us direction to discern our callings in the immediacy of our lives.

Dr. Gordon Smith is the President of Ambrose University and Seminary in Calgary, Alberta, where he also serves as Professor of Systematic and Spiritual Theology. 

— Jasmine Obeyesekere

For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well.

If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

Carmen Joy Imes: Being God’s Image

“The way we think about this topic, the way we construe what it means to be human, has enormous implications for how we treat people and how we structure our institutions and our churches so that people can flourish.” — Carmen Joy Imes

Author and professor Carmen Joy Imes talks with us about theology's impact on our daily lives, the unique dignity of humanity, and the ways we can honor God's image in each of us.

What does it mean that humans are made in the image of God, and how does this knowledge affect the way we live? Author and professor Carmen Joy Imes joined us on the podcast to discuss her recent book, Being God’s Image: Why Creation Still Matters. Carmen talks with us about the way theology impacts our daily lives, the unique dignity of humanity, and what we can do to honor God’s image in ourselves and in our life together. Longtime readers of The Well will recognize Carmen’s name from the many articles and prayers that she has published over the years, and so it was a special delight to have a chance to talk with her about her work as a professor and how the different pieces of her life fit together, in addition to her new book. And if you listen to the end of the podcast, you’ll hear an excerpt from our conversation in which Carmen offers a practical strategy that she and her family employed to foster connection during some of their busiest years with young children.

So jump right in! We're so glad you're here.

— Ann Boyd

For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well.

If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

Dani Treweek: The Meaning of Singleness

"God’s vision for your singleness is much more wonderfully profound than the church’s vision has been and that your own vision has been. Even if you feel that your singleness is a tragedy, in God’s eyes, it is not at all tragic." — Dani Treweek

Theological researcher Rev. Dr. Dani Treweek talks with us about the understanding of singleness throughout history, the questions that face us today, and how we might think differently about relationships and the church.

In a world focused on marriage and children, what does it look like for single Christians to live lives of fullness and joy? Author Dani Treweek joined us on the podcast to discuss the ideas from her book The Meaning of Singleness: Retrieving an Eschatological Vision for the Contemporary Church. Dani’s research on this topic covers historical patterns and present day questions, and ultimately offers a series of practical suggestions and hopeful worldview shifts. This book is not just for single people — it’s a book for all of us as we ask questions and enter into conversations about our relationships and the work of the church. I learned so much from talking with Dani and I think you will too. And if you listen to the end of the podcast, you’ll hear an excerpt from our conversation in which Dani debunks the popular understanding of the “gift of singleness.”

So jump right in! We're so glad you're here.

— Ann Boyd

For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well.

If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

Sabrina S. Chan and La Thao: Learning Our Names

"I hope the book catches folks who are realizing that faith shouldn’t be colorblind and that Jesus sees us in all of our sociolocation and all of who we are." — Sabrina S. Chan

Authors Sabrina S. Chan and La Thao talk with us about Asian American identity formation and the ways history, culture, and community intersect with Christian faith.

For each of us, the stories of culture, race, and ethnicity lay the foundation of our identities and our expressions of faith. In today’s conversation, author Sabrina S. Chan and La Thao talk with me about Asian American identity from a Christian perspective. Together with two other authors, they have written the book Learning Our Names: Asian American Christians on Identity, Relationships, and Vocation, exploring the history and stories of the Asian diaspora in America and their impact on vocation, faith, and identity. Sabrina and La discuss the significance of this book at this time in history, the distinctiveness of different Asian cultures in America, and the gifts of growing in one’s cultural awareness. This conversation is thoughtful and informative for anyone who identifies as Asian American or if you’re someone who loves and appreciates the Asian American people in your life.

So jump right in! We're so glad you're here.

— Ann Boyd

For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well.

If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

Mimi Haddad: Leading Christians for Biblical Equality

"A true ally allows the talent and exquisite giftedness of the person you’re allying to go forward as you lose the spotlight and allow it to shine on her." — Dr. Mimi Haddad

President and CEO Mimi Haddad talks with us about her leadership of Christians for Biblical Equality and the worldwide work to liberate women and men from Christian patriarchy.

What would it be like to live in a world where biblical and social barriers to women’s equality don’t exist? Our guest today, Mimi Haddad, has spent decades working to educate, advocate, and liberate women and men from Christian patriarchy through her leadership with Christians for Biblical Equality. CBE is an international organization that has challenged biblical and patriarchal social barriers for over 30 years. My colleague Karen Guzman sits down with Mimi to talk about some of the challenges that women face in the university world and ways to serve as leaders and allies. I loved hearing Mimi talk about the positive impact on societies around the world when women take leadership roles, and I really appreciated Mimi’s perception of the Holy Spirit’s role in this work of raising up women. I thought  this conversation was just a delight and I think you will too.

So jump right in! We're so glad you're here.

— Ann Boyd

For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well.

If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

Jessica Hooten Wilson: Reading for the Love of God

From my perspective, education is about passing the best that has been thought and said across culture and time so that the next group of people might love and glorify God. If that’s the case, then we might teach differently.” — Jessica Hooten Wilson

Author and professor Jessica Hooten Wilson talks with us about the spiritual practice of reading, the ways books shape our souls, and the impact this posture has on our teaching.

One of my favorite things about our podcast listener community is that we are a people who love to read and who crave learning and growing as we engage with the written word. So — we invited author and professor Jessica Hooten Wilson to our podcast to talk about the joy of reading as a spiritual practice. Jessica’s recent book Reading for the Love of God: How to Read as a Spiritual Practice, outlines ways that Christian thinkers across the ages have developed their faith through the act of reading — and then instructs us in some practices that can help all of us to read generously and with an openness to spiritual formation. In our conversation, Jessica and I also spend some time talking about what life is like as a woman in the academy, and I included an outtake from our conversation at the very end where Jessica shares how her family manages dual careers and three (soon to be four) young children. I think you’ll really love this conversation.

So jump right in! We're so glad you're here.

— Ann Boyd

For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well.

If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

Aundi Kolber: Strong like Water

“We are worthy to be listened to and attuned to. That is a valid and necessary human need. And the beauty is that it actually makes us able to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.” — Aundi Kolber

Therapist Aundi Kolber returns to talk with us about cultivating inner strength, paying attention to our needs, and ways to stay grounded in God's love.

Many of us have been raised with the idea that strength means pushing your own limits in order to achieve your goals. But what if there was another way? A way that honored your needs while also cultivating strength? In this conversation, author and therapist Aundi Kolber walks us through a fresh vision of strength as we discuss her book Strong like Water: Finding the Freedom, Safety, and Compassion to Move through Hard Things — and Experience True Flourishing. This is Aundi’s third time on the podcast and I’m so glad she is back with us. Aundi’s deep faith informs her understanding of strength, and the tools she suggests for growth are very relevant for anyone facing hard things while also desiring to stay grounded in God’s love. Our conversation takes a deep dive into psychology as Aundi describes three types of strength and their roles in the context of healing from trauma. We touch on the concept of comparative suffering and we also discuss the way our nervous systems affect our bodily responses. Aundi generously shares a few strategies to use as “compassionate resources” — the term she uses for those practical tools that help us care for our emotional needs. And if you listen to the end of the podcast, I’ve included a bonus from our conversation in which Aundi talks with us about how to distinguish between self-care behaviors and numbing behaviors in ourselves.

So jump right in! We're so glad you're here.

— Ann Boyd

For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well.

If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

Nijay Gupta: Tell Her Story

“Scripture and the gospel — they're so much bigger than the categories we use….I want people to open their hearts and minds to what God is saying — not just what they ‘think’ that God is saying.” — Nijay Gupta

New Testament professor Nijay Gupta talks with us about women leaders in the early church, the context and culture of these first-century Christians, and what we can learn from these women today.

Our conversation today features Dr. Nijay Gupta, professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary and author of Tell Her Story: How Women Led, Taught, and Ministered in the Early Church. In our conversation, Nijay shines a light on women leaders in the Bible, explaining their roles and their authority through a close reading of the biblical text and a rich description of the cultural context of the day. Nijay talks about some common misconceptions we have of women in the early church, and he encourages us all to read the Bible with an openness to being surprised by God. I really enjoyed talking with Nijay and hearing his delightful combination of enthusiasm and scholarly expertise, and I’ve included a bonus at the end of the podcast where Nijay offers his thoughts on Bible translation. 

So jump right in! We're so glad you're here.

— Ann Boyd

For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well.

If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

Limited time offer from InterVarsity Press: enjoy this code for 30% off Tell Her Story: How Women Led, Taught, and Ministered in the Early Church when you buy it at ivpress.com by March 21, 2023. Just use the code: WELL23

Love Lazarus Sechrest: Race & Rhyme

"Let’s not be afraid to ask questions of the text. God will not be harmed by our questions. Our God is bigger than those questions. So let’s never stop asking tough questions about the Bible." — Love Lazarus Sechrest

Womanist biblical scholar Love Sechrest sits down with us to talk about reading Scripture with a disciplined exploration of culture, both in ancient times and today.

Let me invite you into a conversation with Dr. Love Lazarus Sechrest, womanist biblical scholar and author of the book Race & Rhyme: Rereading the New Testament. In her writing, Love pairs a deep respect for Scripture with a disciplined exploration of culture, both from biblical times and today. The book was a demanding read for me and I had lots questions, but Love is a wonderful teacher and does a masterful job of explaining her approach to Scripture and the way she finds elements in our culture today that “rhyme” with biblical texts. Love also has a fascinating history, coming to her field of study as a second career scholar. We discuss her journey into academic study, and she graciously helped me to understand the unique approach of womanist theology. And at the very end I’ve included a bonus clip in which Love talks about her journey to find a church that aligns with her beliefs. This conversation was truly a delight and I think you’ll enjoy it too. 

So jump right in! We're so glad you're here.

— Ann Boyd

For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well.

If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

Kendall Vanderslice: By Bread Alone

"I think the points of failure are the points where I see God most clearly stepping in and reorienting." — Kendall Vanderslice

Baker and theologian Kendall Vanderslice chats with us about the struggles of disordered eating, the search for vocation, her experience as a single woman, and God's presence through it all as we discuss her new memoir.

Today I’m excited to share a conversation with Kendall Vanderslice, a professional baker, practical theologian, and author of By Bread Alone: A Baker’s Reflections on Hunger, Longing, and the Goodness of God.  This is Kendall’s second time on the podcast, and I was thrilled to catch up with her and dig into her new book. By Bread Alone is part memoir, part spiritual reflection, with lots of incredible stories and a handful of recipes thrown in for good measure. Kendall’s story is riveting as she shares deeply about her childhood, her struggle with disordered eating and food sensitivities, her search for her vocation, and her experience as a single woman cultivating a strong community. Kendall guides the reader gently into spiritual truths as she reflects on the presence of God through times of joy and struggle. I really enjoyed the book and was grateful for Kendall’s openness as I asked her lots of probing questions! 

So jump right in! We're so glad you're here.

— Ann Boyd

For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well.

If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

Bonnie Smith Whitehouse: Seasons of Wonder

"I hope it's a useful text, a text that helps us think about God .. someone with whom we can fall in love." — Bonnie Smith Whitehouse

Bonnie Smith Whitehouse talks with us about her professional calling into academia, the wonder of God's created world, and creative habits for spiritual reflection from her new book.

I’m excited to invite you into a conversation with Bonnie Smith Whitehouse, English professor and author of Seasons of Wonder: Making the Ordinary Sacred Through Projects, Prayers, Reflections, and Rituals. This handbook walks us through each week of the year with thoughtful, guided reflections to help us engage with the presence of God in our everyday world. I really enjoyed reading Bonnie’s creative ideas, and it turned out to be even more energizing to have a conversation with her — if you had been there, you would have seen the way Bonnie’s whole face lights up as she is talking about this book and the way we can shape our days to deepen our connection with God and our wonder at God’s created world. Bonnie and I also spend a few minutes talking about her professional calling into academia, and I’ve included a little bonus at the end of the podcast where she offers wise advice for parents with young children.

So jump right in! We're so glad you're here.

— Ann Boyd

For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well.

If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

Dr. Felicia Wu Song: Restless Devices

"All of the little habits — these urges to check our phones, to check our platforms — those are shaping us." — Felicia Wu Song

Listen in on an exclusive peek into our fall book club interview as Women Scholars and Professionals book club host Jasmine Obeyesekere conducts an online discussion with author and sociologist Dr. Felicia Wu Song where they discuss digital habits, community, and spiritual formation.

How do you engage with the digital technology in your life? Do you wish for a time when your phone didn't rule your life?

In this finale of our Fall Book Club, we engage in conversation with Felicia Wu Song about her book Restless Devices: Recovering Personhood, Presence, and Place in the Digital Age. You'll enjoy this rich conversation even if you weren't able to participate in the book club!

Felicia Wu Song shows us that even though we rightly long for community, we settle for connection instead, and shows us how our souls are being formed by the digital world we inhabit in ways we may not always be conscious of. Dr. Song doesn't give us a list of do's and don'ts primed for failure. Instead she offers suggestions of "counter liturgy" — intentional habits that will help us abide in Christ, rather than abide in the digital.

Felicia Song is Associate Professor and Chair of the Sociology and Anthropology Department at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California. 

— Jasmine Obeyesekere

 

For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well.

If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!

Advent Reflections 2022: Part 5

Embracing a New Year: Part 5

This year, as we’ve been talking with women in academia, we’ve heard one thing loud and clear: taking time for reflection is the first step in crafting a life that is satisfying, sustainable, and focused on the work God has called us to do.

To that end, we’re exploring a practice of short, manageable reflections together this Advent which you can enjoy in audio or written form, receiving them in the way that works best for your life. This is our fifth and final episode of our Advent 2022 series, so if you haven’t yet heard the first episode, give that one a listen if you’d like some more context. Listen in, read the transcript at our website, and download the questions for reflection.

We're so glad you're here!

— Ann Boyd

 

For show notes or more information please visit our article at The Well.

If you'd like to support the work of InterVarsity's Women Scholars and Professionals, including future podcasts such as this episode, you can do so at givetoiv.org/wsap. Thank you for listening!