The Expansionist Podcast

Send us Fan Mail Mary Magdalene has been called a lot of things over the centuries, but the labels most people remember are often the ones that shrink her. We’re getting ready for her feast day by widening the lens and asking why so many of us feel, deep in our bones, that there’s more to her story and more to ours too. We talk about Mary Magdalene as a tower of wisdom, an initiate, a mystic, and an apostle whose spiritual authority keeps challenging the old rules about who gets to speak for...

Send us Fan Mail Mary Magdalene doesn’t feel like a footnote when you finally let her stand where the text and the tradition say she belongs. We’re counting down to her feast day by talking about what it means to celebrate her in public and in practice, especially for those of us who grew up with only a small handful of church holidays and a much smaller view of women’s spiritual authority. We explore Mary as an invitation to embodied faith, the kind of knowing that comes from within and sta...

Send us Fan Mail What does it truly mean to practice radical acceptance in a deeply divided world? This question sits at the heart of our conversation as we explore the challenging yet transformative path toward seeing the sacred in everyone. The journey begins with an uncomfortable truth—many of us struggle to extend true acceptance beyond those who think, believe, and live like we do. Yet the revolutionary power of radical love demands we go further. Through personal stories and theologica...

Send us Fan Mail Prayer isn't just words whispered in sacred spaces—it's marching in the streets, demanding justice from those in power, and standing in solidarity with the marginalized. This revolutionary understanding of spirituality sits at the heart of "We Pray Freedom," a groundbreaking liturgical collection from theologians Liz Theoharis and Charon Hribar. The book reimagines prayer as "the work of the people" in its most authentic sense, featuring contributions from over 80 grassroots...

Send us Fan Mail What if Mary Magdalene's uncovered hair wasn't just a break from tradition, but a revolutionary act of spiritual and feminine liberation? As we approach Mary Magdalene's feast day on July 22nd, Shelley and Heather dive into one of the most overlooked yet profound aspects of her story – her hair. In ancient times, a woman's hair was simultaneously considered her "glory" and something to be hidden away from public view. The cultural mandate requiring women to cover their hair ...

Send us Fan Mail Your intuition speaks, but are you listening? In this soul-stirring conversation, Shelley and Heather explore what they call "ancient remembering" – that profound sense of recognition when something resonates deep within us, awakening wisdom we've always possessed but somehow forgotten. The hosts navigate the delicate balance between external authority and inner knowing, exploring how many of us feel caught between obedience to religious rules and trust in our own sovereignt...