Down to Earth Conversations

Andy Dickson
  • 4.3 (12)
  • Christianity

Conversations with ordinary people who are helping to bring a bit of heaven Down to Earth. A podcast in Aotearoa (New Zealand) hosted by Andy Dickson - a husband, father, children's author, poet, priest, musician, and sports nut, with a passion for social justice.

  1. 31 Aug

    117. Staci McLean - A Place Where I Belong: Neurodiversity and the Church

    Staci Mclean comes on the podcast to discuss the way churches engage, or perhaps don't engage, with neurodivergent people and their families. Staci is an author who has written on a number of topics, but her latest book, "A Place where I belong: Neurodiversity and the church" is the subject of this episode. In her book, Staci explores how churches can better embrace neurodivergent people and their families. The goal isn't just to make it so people can attend church, but to create spaces where they can really connect and belong. We talk about Staci's journey into this topic through her own parenting, how she stumbled across the same needs in others, and how she has gone on to help educate and work with churches to better live out their desire to love everyone. Find Staci at stacimclean.co.nz, or find her on Facebook or Instagram. ___ Connect with me at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠downtoearthconversations.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or at: Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/downtoearth.conversations⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@downtoearth.conversations⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠downtoearth.conversations@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    117. Staci McLean - A Place Where I Belong: Neurodiversity and the Church

  2. 4 Aug

    116. Kathy Baldock - Forging a Sacred Weapon

    Kathy Baldock is a writer, speaker, and LGBTQ+ advocate. She is a core part of the film 1946: The Mistranslation that Shifted Culture (see episode 106 with the film's director, Sharon "Rocky" Roggio). Kathy had a shift in her life in her fifties, leading to a shift in her faith and found a new vocation over the past twenty years. In this conversation we discuss some of that journey, and then dive into her new book, Forging a Sacred Weapon, which looks at how history conspired to lead to the inclusion of the word homosexual in the Bible for the first time in 1946, and the damage that has happened as a result. Follow Kathy at @kathyvbaldock on Instagram or check out her website canyonwalkerconnections.com ___ Connect with me at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠downtoearthconversations.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or at: Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/downtoearth.conversations⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@downtoearth.conversations⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠downtoearth.conversations@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   Music by Strahan: Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Strahan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/StrahanMusic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/commonerscommunion⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@strahanmusic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@commoners_communion⁠⁠

    116. Kathy Baldock - Forging a Sacred Weapon

  3. 6 Mar ·  Bonus

    2026 Update, and Something I'm Really Excited About

    Andy shares an update on why the pod hasn't kicked off for the year yet, and shares about The Open Table - a new national gathering in June this year in Tamaki Makaurau (Auckland). Check out theopentable.nz for details or to register.

    2026 Update, and Something I'm Really Excited About

  4. 17/12/2025

    115. That's a wrap 2025

    In this final episode of 2025 I share some thoughts on the year from a personal perspective before diving in to a recap of the journey we've been on together this year as a podcast. We've had some really wonderful humans on the pod this year and here are just a few highlights. Check out the links below to connect with this year's guests or keep up with their work. Jaimee Van Gemerden Sign up to Metanoia's emails at ⁠metanoianz.com⁠ Or find them on ⁠Facebook⁠ or ⁠Instagram⁠ Sharon 'Rocky' Rogio Check out the 1946 film - to find out where to view it, head to ⁠⁠1946themovie.com⁠⁠ Find more from Rocky and the team on ⁠Facebook⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠Twitter⁠, or ⁠TikTok Cathy and Steven Check out the Changes Ahead podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Follow them on ⁠Facebook⁠ or ⁠Instagram⁠. Phillipa Hunt Check out Satisfy Food Rescue on their ⁠website⁠, on ⁠Facebook⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠, or ⁠LinkedIn⁠. Kate and Alex Check out Common Grace Aotearoa at ⁠commongrace.nz⁠ or find them on ⁠Instagram ⁠or ⁠Facebook⁠ Ben Cremer Check out Ben's weekly newsletter, ⁠Into the Gray⁠, and find him on ⁠Facebook⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠Threads⁠, and ⁠BlueSky⁠.Lindy Jacomb Check out Olive Leaf Network on their ⁠website⁠, ⁠Facebook⁠ or ⁠Instagram⁠. And check out the Cult Chat podcast wherever you get your podcasts. Petra ZaleskiFind Petra on Instagram at @therevpetrazaleskiJess Hall Check out Jess's art on ⁠InstagramDale Campbell Check out Dale's article that we discuss on the podcast here And as usual I'd love to hear from you if you have any thoughts or feedback. Connect with me at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠downtoearthconversations.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or at: Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/downtoearth.conversations⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@downtoearth.conversations⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠downtoearth.conversations@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

    115. That's a wrap 2025

  5. 27/11/2025

    114. Dale Campbell - Loving Enemies, Social Media, and Justice with Mercy

    Dale Campbell has a diverse background in justice related jobs and has done a lot of good thinking about how not to do more damage while trying to be helpful. He also challenges us in this kōrero to think well about what it actually looks like to love our enemies - how to resist evil while still seeing the humanity of others. A content warning, issues of sexual and physical violence are mentioned in examples given, so be kind to yourself. Here is a link to an article Dale wrote that has illustrations that show some of what we talk about in this conversation, so you may find it helpful to have a glance at that as you listen if you're not driving or whatever, or go and read the article later to embed what Dale is saying more deeply. But for now, prepare to be challenged, encouraged, and emboldened to live a life of love, even in the hardest of spaces. ___ Connect with me at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠downtoearthconversations.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or at: Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/downtoearth.conversations⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@downtoearth.conversations⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠downtoearth.conversations@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   Music by Strahan: Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Strahan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/StrahanMusic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/commonerscommunion⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@strahanmusic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@commoners_communion⁠

    114. Dale Campbell - Loving Enemies, Social Media, and Justice with Mercy

  6. 30/10/2025

    113. Jess Hall - Menstrual Theology: Bodies, Art, and Faith

    Jess Hall, current Master of Theology student, joins me to talk about both her post graduate research project and her art, both of which explore the intersections of living as an embodied human and faith. While talking about things like menstrual bleeding on a podcast might be a bit jarring for some, it is important to normalise things that are actually very normal for many people, and help to reduce the stigma. By exploring this topic and how it might actually be helpful to spiritual formation, Jess takes it a step further and shows how engaging with faith through our lived experience can be highly beneficial to our faith journey, our identity formation, and our feeling comfortable in our own bodies. Check out Jess's art on Instagram ___ Connect with me at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠downtoearthconversations.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or at: Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/downtoearth.conversations⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@downtoearth.conversations⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠downtoearth.conversations@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   Music by Strahan: Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Strahan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/StrahanMusic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/commonerscommunion⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@strahanmusic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@commoners_communion⁠

    113. Jess Hall - Menstrual Theology: Bodies, Art, and Faith

  7. 07/09/2025

    112. Petra Zaleski - The Transformational Power of Love Within Our Pain

    Petra Zaleski is a chaplain at Auckland University, which we talk about a little in the kōrero. However, the main focus is on her own story of finding transformational love in the midst of pain. Complex PTSD leading to substance abuse threatened to ruin Petra's life but, instead, she found how powerful love is and began a journey towards wholeness. Her journey has filled her with compassion and shapes how she lives out her life as a priest. Content warning, we talk about substance abuse in the episode, and the subject of suicide comes up in passing, so look after yourself and take a break if you need to. ___ Connect with me at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠downtoearthconversations.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or at: Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/downtoearth.conversations⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@downtoearth.conversations⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠downtoearth.conversations@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   Music by Strahan: Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Strahan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/StrahanMusic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/commonerscommunion⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@strahanmusic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@commoners_communion⁠

    112. Petra Zaleski - The Transformational Power of Love Within Our Pain

  8. 03/08/2025

    111. Lindy Jacomb - Supporting Leavers of High Demand Religious Groups

    Having grown up in the Exclusive Brethren, Lindy Jacomb came to a crisis point where she no longer believed everything she was being asked to believe. Years later, having made a life outside the Exclusive Brethren, Lindy is now heading up efforts to offer support to anyone else who is looking to leave high demand religious groups. We talk about her own experience in the Exclusive Brethren Church and the challenges of leaving, what the Olive Leaf Network is and how it works to support those leaving high demand religious groups, and we talk about red flags and green flags when looking at the health of any group you may be part of. Check out Olive Leaf Network on their website, Facebook or Instagram. And check out the Cult Chat podcast wherever you get your podcasts. ___ Connect with me at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠downtoearthconversations.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or at: Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/downtoearth.conversations⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@downtoearth.conversations⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠downtoearth.conversations@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠   Music by Strahan: Spotify: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Strahan⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/StrahanMusic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠facebook.com/commonerscommunion⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@strahanmusic⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@commoners_communion⁠

    111. Lindy Jacomb - Supporting Leavers of High Demand Religious Groups
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Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

4.3
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

Conversations with ordinary people who are helping to bring a bit of heaven Down to Earth. A podcast in Aotearoa (New Zealand) hosted by Andy Dickson - a husband, father, children's author, poet, priest, musician, and sports nut, with a passion for social justice.

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