The UpWords Podcast

Upper House
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An initiative of SLBF STUDIO at Upper House in Madison, WI. Through conversations with thinkers, scholars, and leaders, we explore the life of the mind and the questions of soul--to enrich our university, our community, and the Church.

  1. 22H AGO

    Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace | Mark DeYmaz

    In this deeply reflective conversation, host John Terrill welcomes pastor, author, and practitioner Mark DeYmaz for an exploration of Christian peacemaking. Drawing from his new book Make Me an Instrument of Peace and his decades of work leading multi‑ethnic congregations, Mark unpacks the biblical, historical, and practical foundations of living as Christlike peacemakers in a fractured cultural moment. Mark shares his upbringing in economic hardship, his journey into pastoral ministry, and the early experiences that awakened his calling to build healthy, multi‑ethnic churches. Together, John and Mark discuss the Prayer of St. Francis, its surprising origins, and its enduring ability to shape Christians into people who sow love, pardon, hope, and light. Listeners will gain insight into: The true origins of the peace prayer (hint: not St. Francis)Why peacemaking is central to Christian identityHow juxtaposition and paradox lie at the heart of the gospelThe skills required to think and speak with nuancePractical disciplines for removing “peace‑disturbing factors” in our livesStories of God’s grace at work amid personal grief, community challenges, and ministry breakthroughsHow Christians can witness with humility rather than merely “make points”How churches can embody reconciliation in polarized times This episode invites us to pause, breathe, and rediscover the beauty and costliness of Christlike peace. Key TopicsMulti‑ethnic church leadershipCultural intelligence and nuanceThe peace prayer of 1912 and its global impactBiblical foundations of peacemaking (Matthew 5, Isaiah 61, Luke 4)Christian formation in polarized timesPractical disciplines for pursuing peaceMark’s personal journey and testimony Resources & LinksMark DeYmaz: Books, resources, and ministryMake Me an Instrument of Peace (NavPress, 2026)Mosaic Church & Mosaix Global NetworkResources on peacemaking, cultural intelligence, and multi‑ethnic church leadership

    1h 3m

  2. FEB 16

    Finding your Way Out of Shame | S.J. Parrott

    In this deeply honest and theologically rich episode of The Upwards Podcast, host Jean Geran sits down with philosopher and biblical scholar S.J. (Shannon) Parrott for a wide‑ranging conversation on shame—what it is, how it forms, and how the transforming presence of Christ meets us in our most vulnerable places. Drawing from her own story, her research on metaphors of clothing and nakedness, and her current work on shame in the Psalms, Shannon helps us see why shame can feel like a “roadblock” to becoming who we truly are in Christ. Together, Jean and Shannon explore: What shame is (and what it’s not)The “singularity” of shame and how it distorts identityWhy community is essential when shame pushes us toward isolationHow Jesus meets and reorients identity in stories like the Samaritan woman and ZacchaeusThe role of prayer, Scripture, and the Psalms in forming a new shame‑resistant identityShannon’s own pivotal experience of discovering who she is in ChristThe difference between shame, guilt, humiliation, and shamelessnessHow cultivating openness to God and others allows transformation This is a conversation full of hope, clarity, and practical wisdom for anyone navigating questions of identity, healing, and spiritual formation. Resources Mentioned: S.J. Parrott’s Friday Night Lectures at Upper HouseLecture 1 Apple PodcastsLecture 1 SpotifyLecture 1 YouTubeLecture 2 Apple PodcastsLecture 2 SpotifyLecture 2 YouTubeLecture 3 Apple PodcastsLecture 3 Spotifyli...

    59 min

  3. FEB 10

    The Pastor as Gardener: Cultivating Ministry with Hope | Matt Erickson

    In this episode of The UpWords Podcast, host John Terrill welcomes pastor and author Matt Erickson for a rich, thoughtful exploration of pastoral ministry through the lens of agrarian imagery. Drawing from his new book The Pastor as Gardener, Matt Erickson shares how the rhythms of soil, seasons, and cultivation offer a renewed vision for ministry in a time when many pastors feel depleted, disoriented, or discouraged. Together, they discuss: Why gardening is such a powerful and biblical metaphor for ministryThe pressures pastors face today — cultural polarization, unmet expectations, leadership models, and soul-level exhaustionThe liberating shift from control to cultivationScriptural roots of agrarian leadership (1 Cor. 3:6; Genesis 2; the resurrected Jesus as gardener)How place, soil, and local context shape faithful ministryTechnology, AI, and the crisis of control — and how agrarian spirituality grounds us againSeasons of leadership, the “wall,” and finding hope in times of limitationA hopeful vision for the future church — diverse, listening, burden-bearing, and rooted in resurrection hope This conversation offers encouragement for pastors, ministry leaders, and anyone longing for a more grounded, faithful, and hopeful way forward in Christian leadership. 📖 The Pastor as Gardener: A Renewed Vision for Ministry (Eerdmans, 2026) = https://www.eerdmans.com/9780802884145/the-pastor-as-gardener/

    54 min

  4. FEB 2

    Lenten Resources: Wilderness, the Cross, and What to Read | Byron Borger

    In this Lenten conversation, host Tressa Spingler sits down with longtime bookseller and friend of Upper House, Byron Borger of Hearts & Minds Books, to explore how the church year—and especially Lent—can shape our discipleship. They reflect on wilderness imagery, repentance, almsgiving, contemplative reading, and what it means for Jesus to meet us in our “low places.” Byron introduces a rich range of Lenten books—from devotionals and art‑driven prayer resources to weighty theological works on sin, the cross, and Holy Week. In This Episode Why Lent is a season of wilderness, repentance, and preparationHow traditions like Anglicanism and Lutheranism shape our imagination of sacred timeThe power of silence, solitude, and contemplative readingA new theological work on sin by Timothy KellerFleming Rutledge’s classic writings on the crucifixion and death of ChristCreative Bible studies integrating art, QR‑coded media, and peace/reconciliation themesArt‑driven prayer resources for seasons of depression or disorientationReading as a spiritual discipline during Lent About Our Guest Byron Borger is the owner of Hearts & Minds Books in Dallastown, Pennsylvania. Learn more or subscribe to his Booknotes newsletter at: heartsandmindsbooks.com List of books mentioned in the episode Rhythms of Faith: A Devotional Pilgrimage Through the Church Year — Claude Atcho (WaterBrook, 2025)Reading Black Books: How African American Literature Can Make Our Faith More Whole and Just — Claude Atcho (Brazos Press, 2022)A Beautiful Year: 52 Meditations on Faith, Wisdom, and Perseverance — Diana Butler Bass (St. Martin’s Essentials, 2025)Lent: The Season of Repentance and Renewal — Esau McCaulley (IVP Formatio, 2022)What Is Wrong with the World — Timothy Keller (Zondervan, 2025)The Crucifixion: Understanding the Death of Jesus Christ — Fleming Rutledge (Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2015)The Undoing of Death — Fleming Rutledge (Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2005)Why Did Jesus Have to Die?: The Meaning of the Crucifixion — Adam Hamilton (Abingdon Press, 2025)Liberated at the Cross: Peace and Reconciliation in God’s Kingdom — Crystal Acevedo (IV Press, 2026)May It Be So: 40 Days with the Lord’s Prayer — Justin McRoberts & Scott Erickson (WaterBrook, 2019)Prayer — Justin McRoberts & Scott Erickson (WaterBrook, 2019)In the Low: Honest Prayers for Dark Seasons — Justin McRoberts & Scott Erickson (Baker Books, 2025)Walking in the Wilderness — Beth Richardson (Upper Room Books, 2020)Pauses for Lent: 40 Words for 40 Days — Trevor Hudson (Upper Room Books, 2015)Pauses for Advent — Trevor Hudson (Upper Room Books, 2017)Pauses for Pentecost — Trevor Hudson (Upper Room Books, 2018)Lent in Plain Sight: A Devotion Through Objects — Jill Duffield (Westminster John Knox Press, 2020)Advent in Plain Sight: A Devotion Through Objects — Jill Duffield (Westminster John Knox Press, 2021)Christ in Our Midst: Daily Lenten Reflections Through Scripture and Gregorian Chant — (Paraclete Press, 2025)Wardrobes and Rings: Through Lenten Lands with the Inklings — Julia Golding, Simon Horobin & Malcolm Guite (Canterbury Press Norwich, 2025)The Art of Lent: A Painting a Day from Ash Wednesday to Easter — Sister Wendy Beckett (InterVarsity Press, 2022)Celebration of

    48 min

  5. JAN 26

    You Have a Calling: Vocation, Work, and the Myths We Believe | Karen Swallow Prior

    In this episode of The UpWords Podcast, host Dan Johnson sits down with author and scholar Karen Swallow Prior to explore one of the most pressing questions of our time: What is my calling? Drawing from her new book, You Have a Calling: Finding Your Vocation in the True, Good, and Beautiful, Karen unpacks the difference between calling, vocation, work, and career—and why confusing them can leave us anxious, disillusioned, or stuck. Together they address common myths (like “if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life”), examine how Scripture frames calling, and talk honestly about seasons of transition, feeling stuck, and how God uses ordinary faithfulness over time. Whether you’re a college student, mid‑career professional, or simply wondering what’s next, this conversation offers a hopeful and theologically rich path forward. In This Episode, We Discuss:Defining terms: How Karen distinguishes calling, vocation, work, and career, and why clarity here can be freeing.Big cultural myths about calling: Why “follow your passion” and “do what you love and you’ll never work” set us up for disappointment.Biblical foundations of calling: Our primary calling to Christ, our multiple secondary callings (family, church, community, gifts), and how these fit together.Work before the fall: How Scripture presents work as part of God’s good design—and what it means to be co‑laborers with God in creation.Skills, passions, and reality: Why what you’re good at, what you love, and what pays the bills don’t always overlap—and how to live wisely in that tension.Mobility and rootedness: The opportunities and hidden costs of a mobile life and career, and what we gain by staying put.Feeling stuck in your calling: Practical guidance for Christians who feel trapped, misaligned, or unsure how their current work fits God’s purposes.The church and vocation: How local congregations can better affirm everyday callings—and avoid exploiting people’s desire to serve.Gen Z and discernment: Why endless options create anxiety, how social media amplifies pressure, and why Karen loves the phrase “touch grass.” 📚 Resources MentionedBook: You Have a Calling: Finding Your Vocation in the True, Good, and Beautiful by Karen Swallow Prior - https://bakerpublishinggroup.com/products/9781587436659_you-have-a-callingPrevious The UpWords Podcast episode: Women in Evangelical Spaces: Challenges and Triumphs | Karen Swallow Prior - https://player.captivate.fm/episode/2418ca31-e989-4456-9ea3-02ce8eba375d/

    46 min

  6. JAN 19

    Was America Founded as a Christian Nation? | John Fea

    In this episode of The UpWords Podcast, host Dan Hummel sits down with historian John Fea, distinguished professor at Messiah College and visiting fellow at the Lumen Center, to explore one of the most debated questions in American history: Was America founded as a Christian nation? John shares insights from his Upper House lecture, unpacking the complexity behind this question and why it matters today. They discuss definitions of “Christian” and “nation,” the role of religion in the founding era, and the cultural and political stakes of this debate. 📌 What You’ll Learn: · Why this question is more complicated than it seems. · How religion influenced the founding era—and where it didn’t. · Why the debate is rooted in modern culture wars. · The historian’s challenge: communicating nuance in polarized times. 🔗 Resources & Links: · John Fea’s book: Was America Founded as a Christian Nation? - https://a.co/d/5ZHqfgt · John Fea’s podcast: The Way of Improvement Leads Home - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-way-of-improvement-leads-home-american/id1071244872 · SLBF Studio: https://slbf.org/studio 📣 Upper House Commons Lecture Series: · LECTURE ONE  Apple Podcasts = https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/upper-house-events/id1715922039?i=1000737152176 🎧 Spotify = https://open.spotify.com/episode/0SKgSp7Ch0n3gz0JWCYdpe?si=fa4951404ca44b00 · LECTURE TWO  Apple Podcasts = https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/upper-house-events/id1715922039?i=1000737152192 🎧 Spotify = https://open.spotify.com/episode/058DbBKLtPspshjYC0F1Io?si=77f904172c004bbb · LECTURE THREE  Apple Podcasts = https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/upper-house-events/id1715922039?i=1000737152775 🎧 Spotify = https://open.spotify.com/episode/1CcXH1w0YdYe96JGsuEq5G?si=5e4f34631cf240c2

    41 min

  7. JAN 12

    Worth Doing: Fallenness, Finitude, and Work in the Real World | David Buschart and Ryan Tafilowski

    In this episode of The UpWords Podcast, host John Terrill sits down with theologians David Buschart and Ryan Tafilowski, co-authors of Worth Doing: Fallenness, Finitude, and Work in the Real World. Together, they explore a more universal theology of work that speaks to all professions—not just those with high agency or prestige. The conversation dives into: Why most faith-and-work discourse overlooks the realities of fallenness and finitude.How embracing our created limits can be liberating rather than frustrating.How gaining a theology of work that moves beyond only ideas of productivity or calling can help us in the trenches of our jobs.How a more robust theology of work can provide spiritual wisdom for navigating seasons of toil and unmet expectations. If you’ve ever wondered how your daily labor—whether in the boardroom, classroom, or trades—fits into God’s story, this episode offers clarity and hope. About our guests: W. David Buschart (PhD, Drew University) is professor of theology and historical studies at Denver Seminary. He is the author of Exploring Protestant Traditions and coauthor of Theology as Retrieval. He is a ruling elder and member of the theology committee of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. Ryan Tafilowski (PhD, Edinburgh) is an assistant professor of theology at Denver Seminary and the lead pastor of Foothills Fellowship Church in Littleton, Colorado. He is the coauthor, with Ross Chapman, of Faithful Work: In the Daily Grind with God and for Others. He previously served as theologian-in-residence for the Denver Institute for Faith and Work. Resources & Links: 📖 Worth Doing: Fallenness, Finitude, and Work in the Real World = https://www.ivpress.com/worth-doing🔗 Denver Institute for Faith & Work = https://www.denverinstitute.org/🔗 Karam Fellowship = https://karamfellowship.org/Theology of Work Project = https://www.theologyofwork.org/

    57 min

  8. JAN 5

    Racial Justice for the Long Haul | Dr. Christine Jeske

    In this episode of The UpWords Podcast, host Rebecca Cooks sits down with Dr. Christine Jeske—professor, researcher, and author of Racial Justice for the Long Haul: How White Christian Advocates Persevere and Why. Christine shares compelling stories and research on what sustains hope and commitment in the pursuit of racial justice. From personal experiences to systemic challenges, we explore why this work is not a quick fix but a lifelong journey rooted in grace, resilience, and community. What You'll LearnWhy racial justice requires more than short-term activism.Four common pitfalls that derail perseverance—and how to navigate them.The role of lament, mending, risk-taking, and joy in sustaining advocacy.How Christian hope reframes our approach to justice.Practical insights for white Christians seeking long-term engagement. Resources & LinksBook: https://a.co/d/azCpsPjPast Episodes & Resources: slbf.org/studio Key Quotes“We are seeking out a justice that moves to community rather than a justice that says, ‘All right, we’re all even now.’”“Grace is not about saying, ‘Oh, it’s fine.’ You can’t forgive something unless you’ve named what was wrong.”“Sometimes the best way to fix it is just to live it.”

    57 min
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An initiative of SLBF STUDIO at Upper House in Madison, WI. Through conversations with thinkers, scholars, and leaders, we explore the life of the mind and the questions of soul--to enrich our university, our community, and the Church.

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