The Amalgamation with Bruce Reyes-Chow

Bruce Reyes-Chow

The Amalgamation Podcast focuses on social justice, pop culture, digital community, left-leaning faith, and more. With humor, kindness, and conviction, each episode shares passions and projects and invites the listener to join Bruce and his guests to co-conspire for good. While some podcasts lean toward short-form interviews, The Amalgamation Podcast gives listeners time to get to know each guest, from their current projects and passions to what brings them joy, makes them laugh, and gives their lives meaning.

  1. e90: A Conversation with Co-Moderator Candidates Chris Peters and Rebecca Luter

    6h ago

    e90: A Conversation with Co-Moderator Candidates Chris Peters and Rebecca Luter

    Episode 90 of The Amalgamation Podcast — A Conversation with Co-Moderator Candidates Chris Peters and Rebecca Luter This episode is part of a four-part Amalgamation Podcast series profiling the teams standing for co-moderator of the 227th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA). All four candidate interview episodes, along with background info and links, drop on Saturday, June 27, so be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Podbean, or wherever you listen to podcasts. For immediate access to all four interviews and future episodes, become a paid subscriber. In each episode, we discuss the future of the church, faith leaders and direction action, Christian Nationalism, ICE and Immigration, Christian Zionism, Artificial Intelligence, the debates about marriage, and more. You will also learn about the nerdiest parts of their lives, what they are watching, reading, or listening to, and each gets a chance to ask me one big question. ---------- In this episode, I sit down with Chris Peters, a member of Homestead Presbytery and the pastor at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Lincoln, Nebraska, and Rebecca Luter, a member of the Presbytery of the Mid-South and the Pastor at Farmington Presbyterian Church in Germantown, Tennessee. They talk through how their partnership came together almost by accident, what it means to "stand" rather than run for office, and how they're each thinking about power, influence, and burnout as they enter a high-visibility two-year term. The conversation moves through some of the thorniest live questions in the denomination right now — Christian nationalism, immigration, the church's role in protest, AI in ministry — before closing out with a rapid-fire round on Enneagrams, Dave Matthews Band, and what's currently streaming in their living rooms. Chris and Rebecca bring different temperaments (an Enneagram 7 and a 9, as they'll happily tell you) and different entry points into this calling, but a shared instinct toward transparency, gratitude, and staying grounded in the "roots" of congregational life. It's a candid, often funny, occasionally moving conversation with two people about to take on a job neither of them expected to want. Thanks for spending time with The Amalgamation, and I hope you enjoy my conversation with Co-Moderator Candidates: Rebecca Luter and Chris Peters. Co-Moderator Candidacy Website: www.preparetoemerge.org/ ---------- The Amalgamation Podcast, paired with The Amalgamation Newsletter, focuses on social justice, pop culture, digital community, left-leaning faith, and more. With humor, kindness, and conviction, each episode shares passions and projects and invites the listener to join Bruce and his guests to co-conspire for good. The Amalgamation Podcast is hosted by Bruce Reyes-Chow, produced by Emmie Hix, edited by Dessiree McFarland, with music by Merissa Magdael-Lauron. Show ideas and inquiries can be sent to The Team. Thanks for listening!

    1h 2m
  2. e89: A Conversation with Co-Moderator Candidates Sean Chow and Frances Lin

    6h ago

    e89: A Conversation with Co-Moderator Candidates Sean Chow and Frances Lin

    Episode 89 of The Amalgamation Podcast — A Conversation with Co-Moderator Candidates Sean Chow and Frances Lin This episode is part of a four-part Amalgamation Podcast series profiling the teams standing for co-moderator of the 227th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA). All four candidate interview episodes, along with background info and links, drop on Saturday, June 27, so be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Podbean, or wherever you listen to podcasts. For immediate access to all four interviews and future episodes, become a paid subscriber. In each episode, we discuss the future of the church, faith leaders and direction action, Christian Nationalism, ICE and Immigration, Christian Zionism, Artificial Intelligence, the debates about marriage, and more. You will also learn about the nerdiest parts of their lives, what they are watching, reading, or listening to, and each gets a chance to ask me one big question. ---------- In this episode, I sit down with Sean Chow, Executive Director of the Presbytery of San Diego, and Francis Lin, Presbytery Leader in the Presbytery of Riverside — two mid-council leaders who want the church to lead with stories of resilience rather than anxiety about decline. Sean and Francis come at their shared candidacy from different angles — a church planter who describes himself as a "nice introvert hiding under the radar," and a presbytery executive who will cheerfully tell you her primary calling is to bring the party in. Together they talk about the real anxiety running through denominational staff during restructuring, what a 20-person desert church in Westmoreland taught them about vital ministry, and why they believe theology has to outrank ideology every time. The conversation moves from communion at the U.S.-Mexico border to personal experiences of racial discrimination during COVID, from the consolidation of General Assembly bodies. Thanks for spending time with The Amalgamation, and I hope you enjoy my conversation with Co-Moderator Candidates: Frances Lin and Sean Chow. Co-Moderator Candidacy Website: www.gods-abundance.com ---------- The Amalgamation Podcast, paired with The Amalgamation Newsletter, focuses on social justice, pop culture, digital community, left-leaning faith, and more. With humor, kindness, and conviction, each episode shares passions and projects and invites the listener to join Bruce and his guests to co-conspire for good. The Amalgamation Podcast is hosted by Bruce Reyes-Chow, produced by Emmie Hix, edited by Dessiree McFarland, with music by Merissa Magdael-Lauron. Show ideas and inquiries can be sent to The Team. Thanks for listening!

    1h 28m
  3. e88: A Conversation with Co-Moderator Candidates Bill Myers and Barbara Barkley

    6h ago

    e88: A Conversation with Co-Moderator Candidates Bill Myers and Barbara Barkley

    Episode 88 of The Amalgamation Podcast — A Conversation with Co-Moderator Candidates Bill Myers and Barbara Barkley All four candidate interview episodes, along with background info and links, drop on Saturday, June 27, so be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Podbean, or wherever you listen to podcasts. For immediate access to all four interviews and future episodes, become a paid subscriber. This episode is part of a four-part Amalgamation Podcast series profiling the teams standing for co-moderator of the 227th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA). In each episode, we discuss the future of the church, faith leaders and direction action, Christian Nationalism, ICE and Immigration, Christian Zionism, Artificial Intelligence, the debates about marriage, and more. You will also learn about the nerdiest parts of their lives, what they are watching, reading, or listening to, and each gets a chance to ask me one big question. ---------- In this episode, I sit down with co-moderator candidates Barbara Barkley and Bill Myers for a conversation that moves between mock town-hall questions and genuinely personal reflection on crossing political and racial divides, the role of protest in the church, immigration, AI in ministry, and what keeps two pastors from very different corners of the country (a Bay Area congregation and a small church in Charleston, West Virginia) on the same ticket. Along the way they trade origin stories, talk through where they disagree with denominational decisions, and somehow end up discussing Bill's audition for a community theater production of Mamma Mia. It's a candid, often funny, occasionally moving look at two people asking to lead a divided denomination through a hard moment by staying at the table with them. Barbara is a member of the Presbytery of San Francisco and is the Pastor of Clayton Valley Presbyterian Church in Walnut Creek, CA whose ministry centers on bridging political and racial divides, both within her own congregation and at the presbytery level. Bill is a member of the Presbytery of West Virginia and the pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Charleston, West Virginia, where his ministry has focused on community life with young people aging out of foster care and on lifting up the stories of overlooked rural congregations. Thanks for spending time with The Amalgamation, and I hope you enjoy my conversation with Co-Moderator Candidates: Bill Myers and Barbara Barkley Co-Moderator Candidacy Website: www.firstpresby.com/general-presbyter-election ---------- The Amalgamation Podcast, paired with The Amalgamation Newsletter, focuses on social justice, pop culture, digital community, left-leaning faith, and more. With humor, kindness, and conviction, each episode shares passions and projects and invites the listener to join Bruce and his guests to co-conspire for good. The Amalgamation Podcast is hosted by Bruce Reyes-Chow, produced by Emmie Hix, edited by Dessiree McFarland, with music by Merissa Magdael-Lauron. Show ideas and inquiries can be sent to The Team. Thanks for listening!

    1h 7m
  4. e87: A Conversation with Co-Moderator Candidates Marta Pumroy-Cordero and Kris Schondelmeyer

    6h ago

    e87: A Conversation with Co-Moderator Candidates Marta Pumroy-Cordero and Kris Schondelmeyer

    Episode 87 of The Amalgamation Podcast — A Conversation with Co-Moderator Candidates Marta Pumroy-Cordero and Kris Schondelmeyer This episode is part of a four-part Amalgamation Podcast series profiling the teams standing for co-moderator of the 227th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA). All four candidate interview episodes, along with background info and links, drop on Saturday, June 27, so be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Podbean, or wherever you listen to podcasts. For immediate access to all four interviews and future episodes, become a paid subscriber. In each episode, we discuss the future of the church, faith leaders and direction action, Christian Nationalism, ICE and Immigration, Christian Zionism, Artificial Intelligence, the debates about marriage, and more. You will also learn about the nerdiest parts of their lives, what they are watching, reading, or listening to, and each gets a chance to ask me one big question. ---------- In this episode, I sit down with Kris Schondelmeyer, a member of the Presbytery of East Iowa and the Pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Davenport, Iowa, and Marta Pumroy-Cordero, a Ruling Elder in the Tres Rios Presbytery and the Border Ministry Coordinator for the Tres Rios Border Foundation. Their partnership began with a dream Kris had on election night 2024, a phone call in January 2025, and a shared return to Revelation 22, "the leaves of the tree of life for the healing of the nations", months before they learned that exact passage would become the assembly's theme. From there, the conversation opens into a wide-ranging town hall covering the limits of the moderator's office, immigration, Christian nationalism, AI in ministry, and the church's conversations on marriage and covenant. Closing with reflections on joy as resistance and a belief that the Spirit is still moving. Thanks for spending time with The Amalgamation, and I hope you enjoy my conversation with Co-Moderator Candidates: Kris Schondelmeyer and Marta Pumroy-Cordero. Co-Moderator Candidacy Website: www.betheleaves.org ---------- The Amalgamation Podcast, paired with The Amalgamation Newsletter, focuses on social justice, pop culture, digital community, left-leaning faith, and more. With humor, kindness, and conviction, each episode shares passions and projects and invites the listener to join Bruce and his guests to co-conspire for good. The Amalgamation Podcast is hosted by Bruce Reyes-Chow, produced by Emmie Hix, edited by Dessiree McFarland, with music by Merissa Magdael-Lauron. Show ideas and inquiries can be sent to The Team. Thanks for listening!

    1h 33m
  5. e90 Trailer: A Conversation with Co-Moderator Candidates Chris Peters and Rebecca Luter

    1d ago

    e90 Trailer: A Conversation with Co-Moderator Candidates Chris Peters and Rebecca Luter

    Here is the trailer for Episode 90 of The Amalgamation Podcast — A Conversation with Co-Moderator Candidates Chris Peters and Rebecca Luter This episode is part of a four-part Amalgamation Podcast series profiling the teams standing for co-moderator of the 227th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA). All four candidate interview episodes, along with background info and links, drop on Saturday, June 27, so be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Podbean, or wherever you listen to podcasts. For immediate access to all four interviews and future episodes, become a paid subscriber. In each episode, we discuss the future of the church, faith leaders and direction action, Christian Nationalism, ICE and Immigration, Christian Zionism, Artificial Intelligence, the debates about marriage, and more. You will also learn about the nerdiest parts of their lives, what they are watching, reading, or listening to, and each gets a chance to ask me one big question. ---------- The Amalgamation Podcast, paired with The Amalgamation Newsletter, focuses on social justice, pop culture, digital community, left-leaning faith, and more. With humor, kindness, and conviction, each episode shares passions and projects and invites the listener to join Bruce and his guests to co-conspire for good. The Amalgamation Podcast is hosted by Bruce Reyes-Chow, produced by Emmie Hix, edited by Dessiree McFarland, with music by Merissa Magdael-Lauron. Show ideas and inquiries can be sent to The Team. Thanks for listening!

    1 min
  6. e89 Trailer: A Conversation with Co-Moderator Candidates Sean Chow and Frances Lin

    1d ago

    e89 Trailer: A Conversation with Co-Moderator Candidates Sean Chow and Frances Lin

    Here is the trailer for Episode 89 of The Amalgamation Podcast — A Conversation with Co-Moderator Candidates Frances Lin and Sean Chow. This episode is part of a four-part Amalgamation Podcast series profiling the teams standing for co-moderator of the 227th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA). All four candidate interview episodes, along with background info and links, drop on Saturday, June 27, so be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Podbean, or wherever you listen to podcasts. For immediate access to all four interviews and future episodes, become a paid subscriber. In each episode, we discuss the future of the church, faith leaders and direction action, Christian Nationalism, ICE and Immigration, Christian Zionism, Artificial Intelligence, the debates about marriage, and more. You will also learn about the nerdiest parts of their lives, what they are watching, reading, or listening to, and each gets a chance to ask me one big question. ---------- The Amalgamation Podcast, paired with The Amalgamation Newsletter, focuses on social justice, pop culture, digital community, left-leaning faith, and more. With humor, kindness, and conviction, each episode shares passions and projects and invites the listener to join Bruce and his guests to co-conspire for good. The Amalgamation Podcast is hosted by Bruce Reyes-Chow, produced by Emmie Hix, edited by Dessiree McFarland, with music by Merissa Magdael-Lauron. Show ideas and inquiries can be sent to The Team. Thanks for listening!

    1 min
  7. e88 Trailer: A Conversation with Co-Moderator Candidates Bill Myers and Barbara Barkley

    1d ago

    e88 Trailer: A Conversation with Co-Moderator Candidates Bill Myers and Barbara Barkley

    Here is the trailer for Episode 88 of The Amalgamation Podcast — A Conversation with Co-Moderator Candidates Bill Myers and Barbara Barkley All four candidate interview episodes, along with background info and links, drop on Saturday, June 27, so be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Podbean, or wherever you listen to podcasts. For immediate access to all four interviews and future episodes, become a paid subscriber. This episode is part of a four-part Amalgamation Podcast series profiling the teams standing for co-moderator of the 227th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA). In each episode, we discuss the future of the church, faith leaders and direction action, Christian Nationalism, ICE and Immigration, Christian Zionism, Artificial Intelligence, the debates about marriage, and more. You will also learn about the nerdiest parts of their lives, what they are watching, reading, or listening to, and each gets a chance to ask me one big question. ---------- The Amalgamation Podcast, paired with The Amalgamation Newsletter, focuses on social justice, pop culture, digital community, left-leaning faith, and more. With humor, kindness, and conviction, each episode shares passions and projects and invites the listener to join Bruce and his guests to co-conspire for good. The Amalgamation Podcast is hosted by Bruce Reyes-Chow, produced by Emmie Hix, edited by Dessiree McFarland, with music by Merissa Magdael-Lauron. Show ideas and inquiries can be sent to The Team. Thanks for listening!

    1 min
  8. e87 Trailer: A Conversation with Co-Moderator Candidates Marta Pumroy-Cordero and Kris Schondelmeyer

    1d ago

    e87 Trailer: A Conversation with Co-Moderator Candidates Marta Pumroy-Cordero and Kris Schondelmeyer

    Here is the trailer for Episode 87 of The Amalgamation Podcast — A Conversation with Co-Moderator Candidates Marta Pumroy-Cordero and Kris Schondelmeyer This episode is part of a four-part Amalgamation Podcast series profiling the teams standing for co-moderator of the 227th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA). All four candidate interview episodes, along with background info and links, drop on Saturday, June 27, so be sure to subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Podbean, or wherever you listen to podcasts. For immediate access to all four interviews and future episodes, become a paid subscriber. In each episode, we discuss the future of the church, faith leaders and direction action, Christian Nationalism, ICE and Immigration, Christian Zionism, Artificial Intelligence, the debates about marriage, and more. You will also learn about the nerdiest parts of their lives, what they are watching, reading, or listening to, and each gets a chance to ask me one big question. ---------- The Amalgamation Podcast, paired with The Amalgamation Newsletter, focuses on social justice, pop culture, digital community, left-leaning faith, and more. With humor, kindness, and conviction, each episode shares passions and projects and invites the listener to join Bruce and his guests to co-conspire for good. The Amalgamation Podcast is hosted by Bruce Reyes-Chow, produced by Emmie Hix, edited by Dessiree McFarland, with music by Merissa Magdael-Lauron. Show ideas and inquiries can be sent to The Team. Thanks for listening!

    1 min

Trailers

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

The Amalgamation Podcast focuses on social justice, pop culture, digital community, left-leaning faith, and more. With humor, kindness, and conviction, each episode shares passions and projects and invites the listener to join Bruce and his guests to co-conspire for good. While some podcasts lean toward short-form interviews, The Amalgamation Podcast gives listeners time to get to know each guest, from their current projects and passions to what brings them joy, makes them laugh, and gives their lives meaning.