Fall 2026 Preview

The conversation between Lee Ann Walling and former Delaware Governor Jack Markell explores his tenure as governor, focusing on his advocacy for gay rights, economic development, and his passion for cycling and trail infrastructure in Delaware. Markell reflects on his motivations for public service, his experiences as ambassador to Italy, and the importance of inclusivity in fostering a thriving community. The conversation explores the experiences and insights of Jack Markell, focusing on his time in public service, mentorship, and the importance of community engagement. Markell reflects on the qualities of effective leadership and the role of decency in politics, while also discussing the future of younger leaders in government.TakeawaysAdvocacy for inclusivityImportance of trail infrastructureImportance of mentorshipDecency in politicsChapters00:00 Introduction and Legacy of Leadership02:44 Advancing Gay Rights in Delaware05:43 The Impact of Trail Infrastructure08:44 Cross-Country Cycling Adventure10:27 Experiences as Ambassador to Italy14:19 Path to Public Service and Political Journey19:34 Reflections on Political Career and Future19:40 Reflections on Leadership and Mentorship21:38 The Rise of Young Leaders24:48 Hope Amidst Political Challenges29:47 Vision for a Better Future32:40 Faith and Public Service34:41 Voting Conscience and Community Engagement

The conversation features Lee Ann Walling discussing the upcoming podcast episode with Jack Markell, highlighting his accomplishments and contributions to Delaware, particularly in civil rights and cycling advocacy.The podcast will then go on hiatus until sometime in January. TakeawaysJack Markel's impactful careerImportance of civil rights advocacyChapters00:00 Introduction to Jack Markel01:08 Reflections on Podcast Production

The conversation features Kevin Gilmore, CEO of Sussex County Habitat for Humanity, discussing his personal journey and the organization's mission to provide affordable housing. He emphasizes the spiritual connection to his work, the impact of housing on families, and the broader housing crisis in Sussex County. The conversation explores the impact of community engagement in affordable housing initiatives, the significance of volunteerism, and personal transformative experiences related to Habitat for Humanity. It highlights the importance of local involvement in policy decisions and the expansion of Habitat's programs to address housing needs.Websitehttps://www.sussexcountyhabitat.org/TakeawaysHousing is a societal issueAffordable housing impacts families Community engagement is crucialPersonal experiences shape perspectivesChapters00:00 Introduction to Kevin Gilmore01:46 Spiritual Journey and Calling05:08 The Impact of Habitat for Humanity07:40 Housing Affordability Crisis10:08 The Importance of Stable Housing12:07 Transportation and Housing Challenges14:26 Community Engagement and NIMBYism15:56 Affordable Housing as a Societal Issue16:30 How to Support Habitat for Humanity17:30 Mobilizing Community Support for Housing19:00 Habitat's Impact in Sussex County20:39 The Role of ReStores in Funding22:25 Expansion Plans for Habitat ReStores24:44 Personal Transformations Through Service27:20 Cultural Experiences in Guatemala28:19 The Camino de Santiago Journey30:34 Finding Stability in Community Work33:06 Focusing Habitat Efforts on Communities

The conversation with Joe Lawson, executive director of the Southern Delaware Alliance for Racial Justice, explores the establishment and mission of the Allliance. We highlight the personal journeys of its leaders and the systemic issues surrounding racial justice, criminal justice reform, and education inequities. It emphasizes the importance of community engagement and the need for systemic change to address the challenges faced by marginalized communities. The conversation delves into the roots of racism, the importance of personal connections in combating fear, and the role of faith in social justice. It emphasizes the power of storytelling and education in fostering understanding and hope in the fight against racism.Website:https://sdarj.org/Books we discussed:The War Within a War by Will HaygoodThe Sum of Us by Heather McGheeThe Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel WilkersonCaste by Isabel WilkersonThe New Jim Crow by Michelle AlexanderSuspicion Nation by Lisa Bloom (The Inside Story of the Trayvon Martin Injustice and Why We Continue to Repeat It)Chapters00:00 Introduction to Racial Justice Advocacy01:01 Origins of the Southern Delaware Alliance03:03 Personal Journeys and Community Engagement05:53 The Impact of Corporate Experience on Social Justice08:00 Focus on Criminal Justice and Incarceration09:59 Challenges of Reentry and Recidivism12:01 Systemic Racism and Its Consequences15:06 Education Inequities and Funding Disparities19:05 Fear and Misunderstanding in Society19:56 The Roots of Racism and Fear22:06 The Power of Personal Connection25:01 Faith and Social Justice29:16 Books as Tools for Understanding32:16 Dialogue Towards Ending Racism36:29 Storytelling as a Connection Tool38:57 Hope Amidst Challenges

The conversation features Reverend Dr. Robin Blair discussing the importance of media literacy and digital discipleship in today's media-saturated environment, particularly for parents and children. She emphasizes the need for intentional media consumption and discernment as a form of spiritual care. The conversation explores the impact of media on children, emphasizing the need for parents to engage with their kids about media consumption and its implications. It highlights the importance of media literacy as a form of spiritual care and the role of parents and churches in guiding children through their media experiences.https://www.robinblair.com/TakeawaysMedia literacy as spiritual careImportance of discernment in media Media literacy is essentialParents must engage with childrenChapters00:00 Navigating the Digital Landscape12:00 The Role of Parents in Media Literacy18:06 The Listening Compass: A Guide for Parents25:36 Commercialization of Streaming Services27:08 The Evolution of Children's Programming29:34 Brand Influence on Children31:56 Integrating Faith with Media Literacy32:47 Church and Parental Collaboration34:12 Navigating Difficult Conversations36:57 The Role of Volunteering in Development39:43 Media Relationships and Identity41:06 The Importance of Real-Life Interactions43:23 Parental Authority in Media Consumption

Plucked From the Pews: Susie Hearn on Family, Calling, and Starting OverLee Ann Walling talks with Susie Hearn, an ordained minister, about the unexpected path that led her from Texas (by way of Egypt) and o Delaware. The conversation centers on how Susie and her husband Larry became the primary caregivers for their infant granddaughter after the sudden death of their daughter—and what it means to parent as grandparents.Susie also shares how her call to ministry grew out of retail work, personal loss, and hospital chaplaincy. She reflects on a decade living in Egypt, the importance of welcoming communities, and why Epworth feels like home.Key topicsHow Susie and her husband went from being grandparents to becoming the day-to-day parents of their granddaughter, Holly.The sudden death of Holly’s mother and how the family navigated caregiving and custody.The difference between being a grandparent and being a parent, especially when setting boundaries and making decisions.Holly’s ADHD, school challenges, and the support she receives.Susie’s hopeful story about her son, who struggled in school and later became a physicist and radiation oncologist.Why Susie believes that love—not rigid family roles—is what makes a family.Susie’s path from retail management to seminary, ministry, and hospital chaplaincy.How a painful pregnancy loss helped shape her desire to serve others in hospitals.Why Susie and Larry left Texas, and how politics, climate, and raising a girl influenced their decision.Susie’s memories of nearly 10 years in Cairo, including Egyptian hospitality and everyday acts of kindness.Finding a welcoming church community and seeing Holly connect with church activities and summer camp.Timestamps00:00 — Introducing “Plucked From the Pews”01:29 — Susie’s family story and becoming Holly’s guardian04:20 — Custody, conservatorship, and family relationships05:11 — The shift from grandparent to parent06:03 — Holly’s ADHD and the family’s support07:31 — Advice for grandparents raising grandchildren: one day at a time08:31 — Holly’s strengths and challenges at school09:29 — A hopeful perspective from Susie’s son’s story10:26 — Talking honestly about family, age, and love11:45 — Susie’s path from retail into ministry14:24 — Personal loss and the calling to hospital chaplaincy16:12 — Faith, suffering, and finding meaning without blaming God16:41 — Why Texas became untenable for Susie and her family18:06 — Chaplaincy, compassion, and meeting people where they are19:00 — Open and affirming church communities20:55 — Leaving Texas and finding a new home in Delaware23:12 — How a short-term opportunity in Egypt became a 10-year adventure23:37 — Egyptian hospitality and the kindness of strangers26:24 — Finding community at Epworth27:50 — Holly’s connection to church and summer camp28:46 — How Susie and Larry met and eventually married31:33 — Gratitude for the warmth and friendship of a church community

The Salt and Light Express, faith, grief, and finding the next right thingPastor Bo Gordy-Stith interviews Lee Ann Walling about her debut novel, The Salt and Light Express, and the spiritual questions running through it. The conversation also touches on her path at Epworth, her work in communications, and how her own life experiences shaped the book’s themes of grief, community, forgiveness, and love.Key topicsBo introduces Lee Ann Walling as Epworth’s podcast host, musician, and longtime community builder, including her work on the Gordon's Pond Trail and in media and communications for nonprofits.Lee Ann talks about The Salt and Light Express, the first of two planned novels, and how spirituality is woven into everyday life rather than limited to church settings.In the novel, Chris grieves the death of her partner Sally, travels west in an RV, and begins piecing her life back together in Moab, Utah.The book explores how community forms among strangers, including people Chris initially misjudges, such as two Texans in a large motorhome and Jared, a Southern Baptist preacher who becomes a friend.Lee Ann discusses centering prayer, mindfulness, and the tension between wanting to quiet the mind and wanting to pray for specific outcomes like safety, strength, or healing.The novel questions what core beliefs are actually required to live as a Christian in 21st-century America, with the teachings of Jesus and the Beatitudes as a central reference point.Community and local action come up as a contrast to national polarization, with Lee Ann emphasizing feeding people, serving face to face, and working together through practical ministries.The story includes a major forgiveness arc involving a teenage driver whose inattention causes the fatal accident, and Lee Ann explains how research into Delaware law shaped that plotline.Another major thread is found family, as Chris tries to reconnect with relatives who are judgmental and discovers belonging elsewhere.The conversation also covers Claire, a Black character who becomes central to the love story, and how Lee Ann worked through questions of representation and stereotypes with a sensitivity reader.She closes by describing how Epworth has become a place where she feels known and able to contribute through music and podcasting.Timestamps00:00 - Intro to Lee Ann Walling, Epworth, and her creative path03:08 - Chris, grief, and the spiritual landscape of the novel04:37 - Misjudging people and discovering community05:37 - Jesus, the Beatitudes, and the book’s faith questions07:02 - Prayer, mindfulness, and centering prayer08:41 - What prayer means in everyday life09:55 - From autobiographical fiction to a more plotted second novel12:06 - The next right thing as a life philosophy13:06 - Forgiveness, non-dual thinking, and community surprises14:28 - Why community matters more than national outrage16:25 - Family rejection and reaching for connection17:33 - Family research, ancestry, and writing from experience20:09 - Forgiveness in the accident storyline22:45 - Forgiveness as ongoing practice23:15 - Spiritual direction and the question, “What were you hoping for?”26:32 - Claire, love, and the emotional stakes of vulnerability29:02 - Why the book is hopeful and works well for book clubs30:20 - How the book is being categorized and what the next novel will explore31:49 - Leaning into LGBTQ storytelling and lived experience32:19 - The title, the Beatitudes, and the audiobook33:13 - Closing thoughts on Epworth and finding a place to serve

Raising a Child of Faith with Joy Gordy-StithBack to school season is a natural time to talk about the spiritual side of a child’s formation, and this conversation focuses on what it really takes to raise a child of faith. Lee Ann Walling talks with Joy Gordy-Stith, youth minister at Epworth, about helping teens navigate social media, anxiety, and real-life pressures while giving them a safe place to ask questions and grow.Joy also shares what has shaped her own faith, what church community can do for young people, and how Epworth tries to make youth and children’s ministry relational, not performative.What works with young peopleJoy says the simplest approach is often the best: ask them about what they care aboutHer youth group talks about goats, cars, school plays, and real life issuesShe is often surprised by the insight teenagers bring to faith conversationsWhat parents should aim forJoy says the goal is not control, but foundationKids learn by watching, not just by being told what faith isChurch should become a habit and a natural part of life, not a source of resentmentShe encourages parents to think about what priorities their family is modelingHow the broader church can support youthGet to know the kids by nameBuild community beyond the youth roomShow up in ways that extend beyond SundaysJoy remembers encouragement notes from church during a hard first year of college as a powerful example of supportWhy church should feel like a breath of fresh airJoy wants youth to feel safe, loved, and free to ask questionsShe wants church to be life-giving, not a burden or choreHer deepest hope is that every young person knows there is nothing they could do that would make her stop caring about themTimestamps00:00 - Introducing Joy Gordy-Stith and the question of raising a child of faith01:08 - Why teens need a safe place in a noisy, online world02:57 - Social media pressure, bullying, and being affected even off-platform03:54 - Why asking kids about their interests opens real conversation04:59 - What youth are actually carrying: family stress, conflict, and hard realities06:26 - Older students helping younger students find confidence07:15 - Youth group ground rules: respect, no phones, no recording, confidentiality09:28 - The story of Benny, the church dog who became part of the ministry11:21 - What growing up as a pastor’s kid taught Joy about faith12:42 - The downside of being a clergy child in public14:49 - Parenting faith through questions, habits, and example17:12 - Why families prioritize what they value, including sports and church19:19 - What parents can hope for when kids leave home21:18 - Building support by knowing kids personally22:58 - Progressive dinners, lock-ins, and other youth activities25:56 - Children’s time and why getting kids comfortable in worship matters27:40 - How Sunday school builds relationships and uses hands-on learning29:38 - Helping kids explore their own relationship with God31:02 - Joy’s faith spectrum and making room for honest wrestling32:00 - Showing kids love, grace, and steady presence33:32 - Youth service projects and the importance of not using kids as free labor36:04 - Youth helping with a Christmas carol fundraiser for Miriam’s Table36:35 - The ministry of simply knowing kids, remembering names, and showing up

Murray Archibald on faith, creativity, and building Camp RehobothThis conversation traces Murray Archibald’s life from a preacher’s-kid upbringing in Alabama to co-founding CAMP Rehoboth and helping shape a more welcoming community in Rehoboth Beach. He also reflects on the spiritual breakthrough that reoriented his life, the role of creativity in his faith, and the grief and resilience that followed Steve Elkins’ death.Key topicsIn this episode, Murray Archibald shares how being raised as a preacher’s kid, preacher’s grandkid, and preacher’s great-grandkid shaped his early worldview in North Alabama and North Georgia.He talks candidly about coming out in the late 1960s and early 1970s, feeling the church’s condemnation, and eventually walking away from organized religion for years.Murray describes a powerful spiritual awakening in New York during the AIDS era, which he experienced as hearing God say, “You are my child,” and which reoriented his entire life.He explains how that awakening became a call to serve the community rather than ordination, especially in the context of AIDS and LGBTQ exclusion.Murray recounts meeting Steve Elkins in the White House during the Carter administration, including the chance chain of events that led to a private White House tour and their lasting relationship.He details the origins of CAMP Rehoboth, including the phrase “Create a More Positive Rehoboth,” the influence of Rehoboth’s Methodist campground history, and the early organizing work that followed.He discusses the organization’s mission as connector and community builder, emphasizing neighbor-to-neighbor change over confrontational activism.Murray reflects on the AIDS crisis, the loss of friends in New York, local fundraising efforts, and how that work prepared them to build Camp Rehoboth.He speaks about Steve’s illness, aggressive lymphoma, and death in 2018, and how faith, trust, and community support helped him carry that grief.He describes returning to church at Epworth, feeling welcomed home, and later helping guide the congregation toward becoming a reconciling church.Timestamps00:00 - Murray’s biography and why his story matters01:30 - Growing up in a family of Methodist ministers02:48 - Coming out, church condemnation, and leaving religion behind04:56 - The spiritual breakthrough that “turned my world right side up”05:55 - AIDS, New York, and the first sense of divine calling07:19 - Serving community rather than seeking ordination08:18 - Meeting Steve Elkins at the White House10:42 - Why Camp Rehoboth was founded11:57 - “Create a More Positive Rehoboth” and the original concept12:28 - Building the nonprofit and organizing the first efforts14:34 - Camp Rehoboth’s mission as community connector15:49 - The house-and-heart logo and becoming part of the town16:17 - AIDS in Rehoboth, local losses, and activist work17:50 - How AIDS organizing prepared them to build Camp Rehoboth19:33 - Persevering through resistance and overextension20:25 - Steve’s lymphoma diagnosis and rapid decline22:17 - Faith as strength during illness and loss23:15 - Journaling through grief and the legacy of Steve’s life24:31 - Spirituality and creativity as one connected life26:48 - Creativity exists in everyone27:19 - The book project, poetry, and using journals as source material29:21 - Morning pages as a form of guidance and prayer31:21 - Returning to church and finding a spiritual home33:04 - Helping make Epworth a reconciling congregation34:01 - Board leadership, church governance, and current involvement35:53 - Closing thanks and Murray’s lasting legacy

A fall preview from Lee Ann Walling. The next season begins Sunday, September 13. We have our own studio now. The first season of eight episodes had more than 1,600 streams. Watch or listen at https://epworth.riverside.com/