What If Project

What if we've misunderstood what it means for God to be all-powerful? And what if beginning with God's love instead of God's power changes just about everything? This week I'm joined by theologian, author, and friend Thomas Jay Oord to explore his book, "A Systematic Theology of Love, Volume 1: God and Creation". BUT. Don't let the phrase "systematic theology" scare you away! This conversation gets into some very human questions about love, suffering, relationships, faith, and what it actually means to imagine a loving God. Tom makes the case that love (not sovereignty, dominance, or control) should be the starting point for how we understand God. Why? Because from that perspective ... God isn't controlling everything that happens. Isn't untouched by our suffering. AND. Isn't simply a distant, all-powerful Being who's pulling the strings behind the scenes. Among (lots!) of other things, we talk about why the traditional image of an all-controlling God can be comforting, why it can also create some difficult questions, and how a God who works in relationship with us might offer a different way forward. We also explore what a theology of love looks like in everyday life: parenting, responding to suffering, LGBTQ+ affirmation, political and religious differences, and learning to meet people with humility rather than hostility. And perhaps the biggest question of all: What if the God we've been hoping for is even more loving than we imagined? Enjoy. -- LINKS: • Thomas Jay Oord: https://thomasjayoord759927.substack.com • A Systematic Theology of Love: https://link.amazon/B0aopdsXj • My New Book: https://a.co/d/fsUTllj • Art Studio: https://www.whatifproject.net/art • Support the What If Project: https://www.whatifproject.net/support (*Affiliate link: some purchases support the channel at no extra cost to you.)

What if the people we've been taught to fear have something to teach us about spirituality because what if God is way, way bigger than what our own religion tells us? In this episode, I'm joined by Sunshine Witchski (aka the Pink-Haired Sober Witch). She's a psychic medium, spiritual advisor, teacher, and author whose journey has taken her from a Catholic upbringing and decades of addiction to sobriety and a deeply personal spiritual practice. Sunshine began drinking at just eight years old. After 32 years of drinking, a long journey of searching, and a turning point that led her to recovery, she began building a different relationship with herself, her spirituality, and the world around her. At the time of our conversation, she was celebrating SEVEN years of sobriety. Over the course of our conversation, we talk about her childhood in the Catholic Church, the questions she wasn't allowed to ask, and how exploring witchcraft and mysticism opened up new possibilities for her spiritual life. Sunshine explains what witchcraft means to her, how intention and ritual fit into her daily practice, and why she believes spiritual insight must be accompanied by real-world action. As someone who grew up in conservative evangelical Christianity, I share some of my own journey of questioning the beliefs I inherited and discovering how much there was to learn beyond the boundaries I'd been given. This isn't a conversation about agreeing on every belief; instead, it's about curiosity, freedom, and the possibility that listening to another person's story might deepen our own understanding of spirituality. What if we became a little less afraid of the questions and a little more curious about the people asking them? If you're exploring new ways of thinking about God, spirituality, faith, and what it means to be human, be sure to subscribe to the What If Project and join us in asking better questions. LINKS & RESOURCES: • Sunshine Witchski: https://soberwitch.life • Sunshine's Book: https://link.amazon/B0fLh3IY6  • Sunshine's Workbook: https://link.amazon/B08Cglj2U  • My New Book: https://a.co/d/fsUTllj  • Art Studio: https://www.whatifproject.net/art • Support What If Project: https://www.whatifproject.net/support 

In this episode, Dr. Nicole LePera (The Holistic Psychologist) returns to the podcast to discuss her book, "Reparenting the Inner Child: The New Science of Our Oldest Wounds and How to Heal Them". And this one? It's a GAME CHANGER. We chat about why inner child work isn't just about childhood nostalgia or play, but about understanding the survival habits, protective instincts, and implicit emotional memories that dictate our adult lives, relationships, and reactions. Dr. Nicole opens up about her personal journey with overfunctioning and perfectionism and I share a bit about how I spent years trying to "exorcise" demons out of my life ... only to realize what I thought was a demon was really my "inner child" all along. In this episode, we explore: What the "inner child" really is from a psychological and physiological perspective. Why we unconsciously mistake familiar, painful relationship dynamics for comfort and safety. How to tell the difference between an old childhood wound and true intuition. The transformative power of "the pause" when big emotions or triggers arise. Practical, day-to-day steps to begin observing and reparenting yourself. ... and SO. MUCH. MORE. Enjoy. -- Show Notes: (*Note: Some links above are affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.)  Dr. Nicole LePera: https://www.selfhealerscircle.com Reparenting the Inner Child: https://link.amazon/B0djTZJy0 My New Book: https://a.co/d/fsUTllj Art Studio: https://www.whatifproject.net/art Support What If Project: https://www.whatifproject.net/support Dr. Nicole's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@TheHolisticPsychologist

What if technology isn't just changing what we do, but changing who we're becoming? This week I sit down with Aaron Hanbury, author of "Wired for Wonder: Dispatches on Technology, Culture, God, and Self". Aaron doesn't approach technology as a tech expert with all the answers. Instead, he approaches it as a human being trying to understand how decades of increasingly rapid technological change has impacted him. NO - this is not just another convo about tech; instead, this is a convo about how living in a world that is flooded with all sorts of tech is impacting our ability to be human. We talk about a lot and the biggest question I've been left with after chatting with him and reading his book is this: Is it getting harder to be human in a world where technology can increasingly do the wondering, searching, choosing, and answering for us? Aaron and I don't have all the answers. Maybe that's part of the point. Listen in on our convo and share your thoughts in the comments! -- About Aaron Hanbury Aaron Hanbury is a writer and editor with nearly two decades of experience in journalism and publishing. He is the author of Wired for Wonder: Dispatches on Technology, Culture, God, and Self. -- AARON CLINE HANBURY: https://aaronclinehanbury.com WIRED FOR WONDER: https://link.amazon/B0hHb6mWn MY NEW BOOK: https://a.co/d/fsUTllj  ART STUDIO: https://www.whatifproject.net/art  SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.whatifproject.net/support  (**NOTE: these show notes contain Amazon affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something I may earn a small commission)

What if our phones aren't just distracting us from our lives, but helping us avoid feeling them AND from feeling all the feelings that tend to make life feel messy? Now THAT’S a big “what if”, right? This week I'm talking with Shannon Algeo about his book "The Power in Your Hands" - a book you NEED on your shelf. One thing to note: Shannon's book isn't a call to throw away our phones; it's an invitation to examine our relationship with technology and reclaim our attention, our creativity, our relationships, and (ultimately) our ability to be fully present for this one wild and precious life that we get to live. This was one of the more vulnerable conversations I've had on the podcast. I hope you'll listen with an open heart. -- About Shannon Algeo Shannon Algeo is a psychotherapist, yoga and meditation teacher, writer, and author of The Power in Your Hands: Liberate Yourself from Attachment to Technology. His work explores the intersection of psychology, spirituality, embodiment, creativity, and our increasingly complicated relationship with technology. -- SHANNON ALGEO: www.shannonalgeo.com  THE POWER IN YOUR HANDS: https://amzn.to/4zgjsNE MY NEW BOOK: https://a.co/d/fsUTllj ART STUDIO: https://www.whatifproject.net/art SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.whatifproject.net/support (**NOTE: these show notes contain Amazon affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something I may earn a small commission)

For years, many of us have been told that anxiety is primarily a thinking problem—that if we could just change our thoughts, our anxiety would disappear. But what if that's only part of the story? In this conversation, physician, neuroscientist, and "Anxiety Rx" author Dr. Russell Kennedy explains why anxiety often begins as a feeling in the body before it becomes a story in the mind. Who knew?! He shares why uncertainty fuels anxiety, why overthinking doesn't solve it, and how reconnecting with your body may be one of the most important steps toward healing. SO. GOOD. If you've struggled with chronic anxiety, overthinking, or feeling stuck in endless mental loops, this conversation offers a refreshing perspective. -- DR. RUSSELL KENNEDY: https://www.dr-russ.com ANXIETY RX: https://amzn.to/4fBBeCb MY NEW BOOK: https://a.co/d/fsUTllj ART STUDIO: https://www.whatifproject.net/art SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.whatifproject.net/support -- (**NOTE: these show notes contain Amazon affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something I may earn a small commission)

FROM THE ARCHIVES: This week, we're revisiting one of my favorite conversations from the What If Project archives, a conversation with John Philip Newell about his beautiful book "Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul". What if the deepest truth about being human isn't that we're broken, sinful, or separated from God? What if we've simply forgotten who we are? In this conversation, JP introduces us to the wisdom of Celtic Christianity and its radically different understanding of humanity, Jesus, creation, and the sacredness of the earth. We talk about things like original sin, "soul forgetfulness," the divine presence within every human being, and what it might mean to see Jesus not as the exception to humanity, but as someone who reveals what has been there all along. We also explore JP's own journey from conservative evangelical Christianity into Celtic spirituality, why ancient Celtic teachers challenged the marriage of religion and empire, and how practices like silence, meditation, nature, and attentiveness can help us remember what our souls already know. I originally recorded this conversation a few years ago, but listening back to it, I was struck by how much of it still speaks to where I am today. So I'm pulling it from the archives and sharing it again! Enjoy. -- SHOW NOTES: JOHN PHILIP NEWELL: https://www.earthandsoul.org/john-philip-newell SACRED EARTH, SACRED SOUL: https://amzn.to/4xpsGpi MY NEW BOOK: https://a.co/d/fsUTllj ART STUDIO: https://www.whatifproject.net/art SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.whatifproject.net/support (**NOTE: these show notes contain Amazon affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something I may earn a small commission)

What happens when the place that taught you about God becomes the place that wounds you most? This week we sit down with Chantal Morales McKinney as she shares the deeply personal story behind her book "Following Jesus Beyond Church Walls" where she presses into a question many of us have asked before: Can you still follow Jesus when church no longer feels safe? Together we explore topics like church trauma, deconstruction, Christ consciousness, contemplative spirituality, reclaiming faith beyond institutional religion, why so many people are leaving church while still longing for God ... and so much more. Whether you've been hurt by church, are questioning your faith, or simply wonder if there might be a more expansive way to follow Jesus, I hope this conversation encourages you. -- CHANTAL MORALES MCKINNEY: https://www.chantalmckinney.com FOLLOWING JESUS BEYOND CHURCH WALLS: https://amzn.to/45rTrgK MY NEW BOOK: https://a.co/d/fsUTllj ART STUDIO: https://www.whatifproject.net/art SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.whatifproject.net/support -- (**NOTE: these show notes contain Amazon affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something I may earn a small commission)

What if the Book of Psalms isn't simply a collection of ancient worship songs, but a guide for living an honest spiritual life? In this week’s episode we sit down with Richard Bruxvoort Colligan - musician, songwriter, and author of the incredible "Dangerous Songs: The Psalms and a Life of Honest Faith" to explore why the Psalms have endured for thousands of years. We cover LOTS of ground and explore things like lament, joy, grief, hope, prayer, worship, and why the Psalms give us permission to bring every part of ourselves before God. So. Good. Whether you're deconstructing your faith, rediscovering Christian spirituality, or just looking for a more authentic way to pray, this conversation offers a refreshing perspective on one of the Bible's most well-known books. In this episode you'll discover: Why the Psalms are still relevant today How lament can become a spiritual practice Why honest prayer matters more than perfect prayer The connection between music, worship, and spiritual formation How the Psalms invite us into a deeper relationship with God Enjoy! -- SHOW NOTES: RICHARD BRUXVOORT COLLIGAN: https://www.psalmimmersion.com/contact DANGEROUS SONGS: https://amzn.to/4vBYsy9 MY NEW BOOK: https://a.co/d/fsUTllj ART STUDIO: https://www.whatifproject.net/art SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.whatifproject.net/support (**NOTE: these show notes contain Amazon affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something I may earn a small commission)

This week we are talking Aldo Cazzullo about his book, "God of Our Fathers: the Great Stories of the Bible" where he connects some of the most well-known stories of the Bible to present day circumstances and shows how the Bible is a stunning literary achievement that contains the full breadth of the human experience. Are you weary of hearing about how the Bible is nothing other than the "inerrant and perfect Word of God" that is to never be questioned, never doubted - little more than a rule book filled with rights and wrongs, dos and donts, and a blueprint of how to get to heaven? Me too. Pull up a chair and join Aldo and me as he shifts our perspective and ignites our wonder about these ancient writings. Enjoy! SHOW NOTES: ALDO CAZZULLO: https://www.instagram.com/cazzulloaldo?igsh=ZmZ2ZWcydDhlNzFi THE GOD OF OUR FATHERS: https://amzn.to/4eEtXlS MY NEW BOOK: https://a.co/d/fsUTllj  ART STUDIO: https://www.whatifproject.net/art  EBAY ART: https://www.ebay.com/usr/what_if_project  SUPPORT THE SHOW: https://www.whatifproject.net/support  (**NOTE: these show notes contain Amazon affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something I may earn a small commission)