Crackers and Grape Juice

Hosted ByJason Micheli, Teer Hardy, Taylor Mertins, & Johanna Hartelius

talking faith without stained glass language


All Episodes

Episode 143 – Mark Mattes: Luther’s Theology of Beauty (?)

Dr. Mark Mattes teaches at Grand View University in Iowa. His latest book is Martin Luther’s Theology of Beauty. In this episode, we talk about the kenotic love of Christ poured out upon the Cross as the definition of Beauty and the beautiful for the…

Episode 142 – Andy Root: Obsessed With Growing Young

Joined by Rev. Drew Colby, Teer and Jason interview Dr. Andy Root of Luther Seminary and author of “Faith Formation in a Secular Age: Responding to the Church’s Obsession with Youthfulness.”

Episode 141 – Mark Lilla: After Identity Politics

“If progressives want to advance their agenda, they need to relearn how to win elections.”

In this episode, taped back in the late summer, I talk with Dr. Mark Lilla about his book The Once and Future Liberal: After Identity Politics.

Mark…

Episode 140 – Chester Johnson: Auden, the Psalms and Me

One of the members for the retranslation of the Psalms in the 1979 Book of Common Prayer, J Chester Johnson shares his experience of not only interpreting the Psalms but also how this poetic form of scripture still speaks for the church today.

Episode 139 – Chaim Saiman: Fact Checking Star Wars

Jason and Taylor have a conversation with Chaim Saiman about his viral article for The Atlantic titled Why The Last Jedi Is More Spiritual Than Religious. Chaim is a Law Professor at Villanova University and is interested in the intersection between…

Bonus Live Episode – Teer, Taylor and Jason: You Deserve To Die

The guys talk about Ash Wednesday, Lent, mortality, and repentance.

Bonus Crossover Episode – Johanna, Jason, and Taylor: The Word Made Verb

Johanna, Jason, and Taylor talk about scripture and the season of Lent on this bonus crossover episode.

Episode 138 – Christy Thomas: Trumping the UMC

Does the UMC need a Donald Trump to emerge, willing to disrupt the status quo? Can the UMC move beyond the debate of human sexuality, which is really a debate over power and money, and live into is mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the…

Episode 137 – Rob Lee: A Sin By Any Other Name

Rev. Rob Lee announces his recently signed book deal exclusively with Crackers & Grape Juice. Rob opens up about the new role he finds himself in as a public theologian as well as what he has learned about race in America traveling and preaching at…