For The Love With Jen Hatmaker Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Title: January 2025: Ruth Ware’s The Woman in Cabin 10 Feb 07, 2025

Show notes

Description:

It seemed like a good idea at the time… a twisty, suspenseful thriller set on a cruise ship. How could this not be the perfect story to build a little buzz and excitement in my community ahead of our upcoming Jen Hatmaker cruise? Did we get more than we bargained for?

Ruth Ware’s writing has rightfully been compared to that of suspense-queen, Agatha Christie, for featuring everyday female protagonists often white-knuckling it through some treacherous situations in places where they are isolated from any rescue – a glass house in the woods, an excluded ski resort, a remote tropical island, a boutique cruise ship!

Today, Jen sits down with the author of our January 2025 JHBC pick to navigate the many twists and turns of The Woman in Cabin 10 and why so many of our readers are losing sleep this month thanks to her innate skill of setting a heart-pounding scene.

***

Thought-provoking Quotes:

People are comparing me to Agatha Christie which is kind of terrifying. The thing that is so brilliant about some of Christie’s books that I love the most is the closed room setting: the terrifying storm-wracked island, the luxury train in the middle of the snow storm, or the Dahabiya drifting down the Nile. What she does so brilliantly is that sense of corrupted luxury, that setting that should be really idyllic turns out horrific and becomes more and more claustrophobic and more terrifying. – Ruth Ware

I have never been on a cruise but I had a chance to look around a ship as a day passenger and I was so surprised by how much I got right. There was so much that I had guessed at and I turned out to be more correct than I ever could have imagined. – Ruth Ware

The way in which you write fear, to me, it feels the truest version of it when it’s not screaming, ‘you’re so scared, you can’t make a sound’ or ‘you’re so scared, you’re frozen – you can’t move.’ That to me, rings true. – Jen Hatmaker

I do try really hard to drop clues and play fair with the reader. I know as a reader, the feeling that I hate most, is what I feel like the writer has cheated me and there was information that I couldn’t possibly have known, stuff I couldn’t have guessed and that I find deeply irritating as a reader. I try always to feel like I played fair with the reader and they did have a chance of guessing it even if they didn’t get there. – Ruth Ware

Isn’t that why we love reading crime? It’s because you can have bad things happen in a fictional world. It doesn’t always get tied up in every single respect and yes, there’s sadness in terms that someone is usually dead. But there is some kind of restorative justice at the end. – Ruth Ware

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware - https://amzn.to/3DKHCrH

In a Dark, Dark Wood by Ruth Ware - https://amzn.to/400kQ6g

Agatha Christie - https://www.agathachristie.com/

Below Deck tv show - https://www.bravotv.com/below-deck

The Woman in Suite 11 by Ruth Ware - https://amzn.to/4gKYDk1

The Woman in Cabin 10 on Netflix - https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/the-woman-in-cabin-10-release-date-photos-news

We Live Here Now by Sarah Pinborough - https://amzn.to/4h7kkKN

Guest’s Links:

Ruth’s website - https://ruthware.com/

Title: Big Time Adulting with Caitlin Murray Feb 05, 2025

Show notes

Description:

In this funny, refreshing, and irreverent conversation about parenting, Jen welcomes Caitlin Murray to the show to talk about her Big Time Adulting community space, the blog (and now podcast) that Caitlin started when her 5-year-old son was in cancer treatment for Leukemia, as a place to connect with other moms and parents craving funny, provocative, no-nonsense entertainment to distract themselves from the hamster wheel of life

Like a big sister, Jen offers encouragement to guide Cailin through the years to come, with the two ultimately agreeing that early childhood is hard but middle school is the real shit show.

They commiserate over:

Spirit Weeks, PTA obligations, and signing reading logs
The idea of the 'Hardship Olympics' that creates unnecessary competition among women / moms
Comparison parenting and why authenticity resonates more with their communities than curated perfection
How community and humor that can be found in the everyday chaos of parenting

***

Thought-provoking Quotes:

I had begun writing as a therapeutic outlet to family and friends. It was really just for me to put out there how I was feeling on these long days at the hospital and the things that I saw going on around me – the emotion and the stress of it all. I felt like I was protecting myself by saying exactly how I was feeling about what we were going through rather than having anyone assume what I was feeling or thinking. – Caitlin Murray

By the time I had been through hell and back for over three years of pediatric cancer with my son, I knew my worth as a mother. I don’t give a f*ck about what anyone has to say about who I am. I know I am a good damn mom. – Caitlin Murray

The things that you lay in bed at night and obsess over – things that you did poorly, when you lost your shit, you missed something or you messed up – it just falls right out of your kids' brains. It’s not the bones; it’s the soft tissue that sticks and makes it into their adult psyche. ‘I was deeply loved, I lived in a safe, secure home / family, my mom was into me, my mom thinks I’m funny, we laughed a lot in our home.’ That’s the stuff that lasts. Everything else turns into funny, comedic material. – Jen Hatmaker

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

McSweeney’s article - Did You Even Consider Every Possible Lived Experience Before Recklessly Posting Your Chili Recipe on Social Media? - https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/did-you-even-consider-every-possible-lived-experience-before-recklessly-posting-your-chili-recipe-on-social-media

Anne Lamott - https://amzn.to/4h6cwcO

David Sedaris - https://amzn.to/3E48Qtm

Edith Eger - https://amzn.to/4hoXdM4

You’ll Grow Out Of It by Jessi Klein - https://amzn.to/40oiSNm

Guest’s Links:

Caitlin’s website - https://bigtimeadulting.blog/

Caitlin’s Big Time Adulting podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/7nBEnM3JLnpSsyzxWyKZJJ?si=3b76f80afad345b7

Caitlin’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/bigtimeadulting/

Caitlin’s Twitter - https://x.com/Caitlin98714163

Finding Freedom with Mel Robbins and Two Little Words: Let Them Jan 29, 2025

Show notes

Buckle up, listeners. It was only a matter of time before our paths crossed with Mel Robbins, one of the most respected experts on change and motivation in the zeitgeist, and today is that day. Known for being the host of the #1 ranking education podcast in the world, bringing deeply relatable topics, tactical advice, tools, and compelling conversations to her audiences, Jen and Amy spend today’s hour diving into Mel’s “Let Them” theory, which is taking the world by storm, already delivering instant peace and freedom in the lives and relationships of people putting it into practice.

Together, they discuss:

The difference between “Let Them” and “Let Me”
Learning to release the white-knuckle grip we hold over other people’s behavior (and other things beyond our control)
Reframing disappointment to view it as a gift (yes, it’s possible!)
Repositioning self-worth inward, rather than leaving it dependent on others' opinions.

***

Thought-provoking Quotes:

“For a lot of women, we spend so much time upstairs in our heads as people-pleasers and over-analyzers, over-thinking and ruminating, trying to get things perfect. That’s the last place I should be, personally. I need to drop into my body and get out of my head.” – Mel Robbins

“People reveal who they are and what they care about through their behavior. Ignore their words. Watch their behavior. Let people be who they are. Let them do what they’re going to do. Focusing on them is not where your power is.” – Mel Robbins

“The difference between ‘not my business’ and ‘let them’ is worlds apart. When you say, ‘not my business’, you’re scolding yourself. With, ‘let them’, you’re in the power position because you see what’s happening and are choosing to allow it without allowing it. You’re rising above it.” – Mel Robbins

“There’s something about learning that [people] aren’t ever going to change but that doesn’t mean your relationship can’t change for the better. When you let them be who they are, you create space for acceptance, the whole energy shifts.” – Mel Robbins

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Demotivators - https://despair.com/collections/

Effin Birds on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/effinbirds/

Van Morrison - https://www.vanmorrison.com/

No Hard Feelings by the Avett Brothers - https://open.spotify.com/track/0bgQ1hQrpP6ScdBZlDfLE2

Foo Fighters - https://foofighters.com/

DePeche Mode - https://www.depechemode.com/

The Cure - https://www.thecure.com/

Taylor Swift - https://www.taylorswift.com/

The 5 Second Rule: Transform Your Life, Work, and Confidence with Everyday Courage by Mel Robbins - https://amzn.to/427OHwu

The Let Them Theory: A Life-Changing Tool That Millions of People Can't Stop Talking About by Mel Robbins - https://amzn.to/4hc53bE

The Mel Robbins Podcast - https://www.melrobbins.com/podcast

The Four Questions: For Henny Penny and Anybody with Stressful Thoughts by Byron Katie - https://amzn.to/3C7tKXT

My Legacy Podcast - https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-my-legacy-podcast-255793246/ ...

Tell Me More: The Power of Hard Conversations with Kelly Corrigan Jan 22, 2025

Show notes

Description:

In this thought-provoking conversation, Jen and Amy speak with “poet laureate of the ordinary” Kelly Corrrigan about the valuable lessons from life she’s reflecting on in this season: the significance of saying hard things, the power of listening and understanding in relationships, observations from parenting and from a career as a writer, podcaster and storyteller, and the importance of participating in democracy, regardless of who is in power. In this episode, which was recorded on Election Day 2024 (prior to knowing the outcome) Kelly uses her trademark wit and steadfast wisdom to offer listeners evergreen words of encouragement for our political landscape and for our lives in whole.

Segments:

Bless & Release: Lies we tell ourselves

GenXcellence: MTV music videos

***

Thought-provoking Quotes:

“We have created this way of interpreting someone changing their mind as a flip-flopper and we have left no room for someone to grow.” – Kelly Corrigan

“Making is good for individual well-being. Having an inventor’s or innovator’s mindset is just good for society.” – Kelly Corrigan

“Once you say something out loud, it just gets smaller. It packs less of a punch. It’s the stuff that we’re holding and never saying to anyone that’s going to be the death of us.” – Kelly Corrigan

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

The Strumbellas - https://thestrumbellas.ca/

Arcade Fire - https://www.arcadefire.com/

Mt. Joy - https://www.mtjoyband.com/

Bless and Release sweatshirt - https://shop.jenhatmaker.com/collections/apparel-accessories/products/bless-release-sweatshirt

Jamie Wright - https://www.instagram.com/jamietheveryworst/

MTV - https://www.mtv.com/

American Bandstand TV show (1952-1989) - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049993/

Madonna - Like a Virgin - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s__rX_WL100

American Top 40 with Casey Kasem (1970-1988) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Top_40

The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan - https://amzn.to/3AgM14g

Tell Me More: Stories About the 12 Hardest Things I'm Learning to Say by Kelly Corrigan - https://amzn.to/3UGcjUf

Kelly’s IG post about the NYC Marathon - https://www.instagram.com/p/DB7IZumy6aR/

National Lampoon’s Animal House film (1978) - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0077975/

Nantucket Project - https://nantucketproject.com/

Nantucket Project 2024 - Kelly Corrigan’s Annual Wrap-Up - https://nantucketproject.com/2-2024-gathering/

Aspen Ideas Festival - https://www.aspenideas.org/

TED - https://www.ted.com/

Marianne the Maker by Kelly Corrigan and Claire Corrigan Lichty - https://amzn.to/4hBUY92

George Sweetland (illustrator) - https://www.georgesweetland.org/

Unlocking Presence (and Other Woo-Woo Sh*t We Like) with Activations and Mimi Bouchard Jan 17, 2025

Show notes

Description:

Life throws some challenging stuff at us. Sometimes we rely on traditional therapies and resources trusted in Western medicine to help us through. And sometimes, we need to look to alternative and newly emerging tools to experience the relief or breakthrough that we need. In today’s conversation, Mimi Bouchard, founder of the Activations app (formerly known as Superuman) shares her transformative journey from a troubled adolescence marked by substance abuse and self-doubt to becoming a successful entrepreneur and advocate for personal development. She discusses how her unique approach to 'activations' has helped her and so many others achieve emotional and mental wellbeing by utilizing unique audios that are a mix between a motivational podcast, cinematic music and guided visualization.

From guided visualization practices and breathwork to grounding, reiki, and other body work Jen and Amy also talk about other “woo-woo” wellness approaches that have been useful for them in their healing needs.

For The Love listeners have an opportunity to try Activations at a steep discount on a yearly subscription by visiting activations.com/jen.

***

Thought-provoking Quotes:

It was the beginning of a completely new life for me. I’m not going to say that I woke up the next day and I was perfect and completely transformed. It’s obviously a mega-journey and it’s not linear and growth is so messy. – Mimi Bouchard

I had to believe in myself. The only thing that got me there was just this core deep belief in myself that I had to develop. I didn’t have that in my younger years. Doing this work of personal development was the only thing that mattered when everyone else doubted me. It drove me. At the end of the day, it’s a very lonely journey at the beginning. I had to be alone a lot. I had to be the only one who deeply believed in myself. – Mimi Bouchard

When you’re feeling alive, it slows down time. What a blessing to be able to slow down time – life goes by so quickly. The more things we can do to slow down time, the better our lives will be, and more clear. You have to unnumb yourself. When you numb yourself so much, it’s very hard to get clear or get unstuck. It’s very easy to stay in your old ways and just numb, numb, numb until you just feel nothing anymore. – Mimi Bouchard

I think so much of it is the intention with which you do things. If you are open-hearted and seeking, a lot of tools can benefit you. – Amy Hardin

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

The Success Principles: How to Get from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be by Jack Canfield - https://amzn.to/3CYaVq7

Activations App - https://www.superhuman.app/home

Activate Your Future Self: The Secret to Effortlessly Becoming the Happiest, Healthiest and Wealthiest You by Mimi Bouchard - https://amzn.to/4gck8t6

Guest’s Links:

Mimi’s website - https://www.mimibouchard.com/about

Mimi’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mimibouchard

Mimi’s Twitter - https://x.com/mimibouchard

Mimi’s Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/officialmimibouchard

Activations App - https://www.superhuman.app/home

Connect with Jen!

Jen’s website...

Lessons from the Road: Sydney Hatmaker on Saying Yes to the World Part 2 Jan 15, 2025

Show notes

Description:

In part two of this epic conversation, we continue our journey around the globe with Sydney

Hatmaker to hear about some of the amazing adventures and experiences had during her six

months travelling across Europe and Asia on a tiny budget.

In this episode:

● We hear how staying connected while travelling can have some serious pros and cons

● Sydney tells us about the 200 hours of intense yoga training she underwent in the

magical landscape of the Indian Himalayan Mountains

● She tells us about her heart-pounding experience climbing a (LITERAL) active volcano,

Mount Rinjani in Indonesia, and how it was the hardest thing she has ever done

● And Sydney tells us how she ultimately decided that it was time to hang up the backpack

and come back home.

As you dream and make plans for 2025, we hope this episode inspires you to broaden your

horizons, to take chances, and to say yes to new things. One thing we are sure of is that this

once-in-a-lifetime adventure is sure to be repeated. The only question is where will we go?

***

Thought-provoking Quotes:

I get why people climb mountains. It’s so empowering. You push up hard against the growing

edge of your own limits. I didn’t even know that I was capable of pushing myself that hard. You

just take that feeling and it's contagious, it spreads to other parts of your life. – Sydney

Hatmaker

I met this amazing 70 year old woman in one of my hosels in Turkey who started backpacking

when she retired. She had been all throughout the entirety of the Middle East. She was so

incredible. We all gathered around her. She had the most incredible stories. – Sydney Hatmaker

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

The 9 Enneagram Types Descriptions - https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/type-descriptions/

Skyscanner - https://www.skyscanner.com/

Rick Steves Travel Guides - https://amzn.to/41mKeFX

Berghain Techno Club in Berlin - https://bit.ly/4gfaMNq

Sagrada Familia - https://sagradafamilia.org/en/

Jen’s MeCamp - https://bit.ly/3D1qX2I

The Banana Pancake Trail - https://trail.bananabackpacks.com/banana-pancake-trail/

Hostel World - https://www.hostelworld.com/

Pyramid Yogshala Yoga School - https://pyramidyogshala.com/

Guest’s Links:

Connect with Jen!

Jen’s website - https://jenhatmaker.com/

Jen’s Instagram - https://instagram.com/jenhatmaker

Jen’s Twitter - https://twitter.com/jenHatmaker/

Jen’s Facebook - https://facebook.com/jenhatmaker

Jen’s YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/JenHatmaker

The For the Love Podcast is presented by Audacy.

Lessons from the Road: Sydney Hatmaker on Saying Yes to the World pt. 1 Jan 08, 2025

Show notes

Description:

At 24 years old, Jennifer Hatmaker was parenting her first diaper baby on no sleep as a stay-at-home mom and pastor’s wife. By contrast, Jen’s second-born, Sydney Hatmaker, spent half of her 24th year on a gap year travelling the world and banking a lifetime of memories.

In this special two-part conversation, Sydney walks us through some of the best moments and lessons learned from her life-changing adventure, beginning in May in Berlin and ending in October in Vietnam. With stops along the way in Sicily, Turkey, Portugal, Spain, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, and Thailand, Sydney gives us some of her best tips for travelling solo on a shoestring budget. It might entail a 40-hour journey taking a car to a bus to a ferry to a bus, to another ferry, to a train, to a taxi, to a scooter, to a hostel, all to save $60, but the point is it can be done and she’s here to inspire us all with tales from her adventure.

Highlights from this conversation include:

In our GenXcellence Travel-Edition, we reflect on what travel was like for us in the 80s-90s, before satellites and cell phones and Expedia (Sydney has never heard of Traveller’s Cheques)
Sydney gives us her best tips for getting into one of the world’s most popular techno clubs in Berlin (shh! It’s very hush-hush!)
We learn about surfing camp on the coastline of the Portuguese Riviera
Why you need to budget more for European travel than Asian travel and how you can eat in Asia on $4 a day
Sydney talks about learning to be comfortable travelling on her own and being in her own company – something she thought she was already good at but was pushed to new limits
And a lot more…..

Be sure to tune in for part two of our conversation next week to hear how the story ends.

***

Thought-provoking Quotes:

I didn’t have a phone for the last two months of my trip. I still had a laptop so when I was at the hostel on wifi, I could do research and book things but it was a different kind of travel. I made the most of it and it ended up being a bit of an adventure.I obviously had an initial reaction of panic (not having a phone) but then I felt this complete freedom. – Sydney Hatmaker

I did have some big ideas that I would get something out of my system on this trip, that I would come home and settle down, get a real job, root down in one place but halfway through my trip I realized there is so much more (in the world) that I want to see. There’s so much to do, so much to see and explore and so many ways to make it happen. – Sydney Hatmaker

Travelling feels different and way more real when you’re by yourself. I love my own company and my company is better than some random person that I’m not really connecting with. And realizing that, makes it really easy to connect with more people. – Sydney Hatmaker

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

The 9 Enneagram Types Descriptions - https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/type-descriptions/

Skyscanner - https://www.skyscanner.com/

Rick Steves Travel Guides - https://amzn.to/41mKeFX

Berghain Techno Club in Berlin - https://bit.ly/4gfaMNq

Sagrada Familia - https://sagradafamilia.org/en/

Jen’s MeCamp - https://bit.ly/3D1qX2I

The Banana Pancake Trail - https://trail.bananabackpacks.com/banana-pancake-trail/

Host ...

Bethany Joy Lenz: Breaking Free, Finding Faith, and Dinner for Vampires Jan 03, 2025

Show notes

This week Jen and Amy sit down with actress, musician, and author Bethany Joy Lenz to discuss her deeply personal memoir, Dinner for Vampires: Life on a Cult TV Show (While also in an Actual Cult!). Bethany opens up about her experience in a high-control group, known as “The Big House Family” religious cult, the complexities of spiritual abuse, and how she found her way back to faith and autonomy with the help of a One Tree Hill fan. They explore themes of manipulation, resilience, and the power of telling your story.

This raw and inspiring conversation offers hope, clarity, and empowerment for anyone navigating their own path to freedom.

Jen and Amy “Rant or Rave” about New Year’s resolutions and Amy teaches us some creative perspectives to take to feel more successful in this space.

And we reminisce about our favorite shows from the early 2000s. West Wing… the best! Criminal Minds, 24, Gray’s Anatomy, all bingeable. Gilmore Girls, c’mon. And what about One Tree Hill?

***

Thought-provoking Quotes:

It doesn’t feel like a courageous act. It’s survival. Courage is when you are fully aware of the dangers that lie ahead – like a fireman, willing to run into a burning building to grab a baby – that’s courage because you know what’s at stake. When you are already in the burning building trying to find your way out, it doesn’t take courage, it’s survival – “find me the exit, how do I get out?” – Bethany Joy Lenz

My faith has evolved into something that is much more connected to my gut which feels much more authentic. I feel a lot more comfortable asking questions and I really value doubt. The truth rises to the top. I think God is capable of communicating with all of us when it’s the right time in the right way. If the gospel shows us anything, it's that God meets us where we are. – Bethany Joy Lenz

I think a lot of Christians live in a space where we think it's very noble to not question God, like we think he’ll love us more, appreciate us more, we’ll be better disciples or believers. But he gave us the brains that we have for a reason. Is he capable of satisfying our intellect or not? So, push the button as hard and as far down as you can. It’ll hold. – Bethany Joy Lenz

God is big enough to hold all of you. There’s nothing that you can present to God that is going to scare him off. He can handle the worst version of you, the angry version of you, the confused version of you. You don’t need other people to hold you. The Bible is full of stories of God one-on-one with someone (Job, Moses, Jesus) so you don’t need to be afraid of being alone with the Lord. – Bethany Joy Lenz

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Paul Teal - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3806295/

Joy’s tribute to Paul Teal - https://www.instagram.com/reel/DCf3CtopQt1/

Dinner for Vampires: Life on a Cult TV Show (While also in an Actual Cult!) - https://www.amazon.com/Dinner-Vampires-Life-While-Actual/dp/1668067307

Drama Queens Podcast - https://open.spotify.com/show/344eFGlcjmdAUqvWzPJzBk

Tim Keller sermon on Doubt - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/praying-our-doubts/id352660924?i=1000678149013

Modern Vintage News - https://www.modernvintagenews.com/

Guest’s Links:

Cozy Love Stories and Second Chances: A Conversation with Josie Silver Dec 31, 2024

Show notes

Description:

In this delightful episode, Jen Hatmaker sits down with bestselling author Josie Silver, the brilliant mind behind One Day in December. Josie shares her journey from writing ten novels to achieving massive success with this enchanting Christmas love story. Together, Jen and Josie discuss the creative process, the inspiration behind her characters, and the challenges of crafting a love story that spans a decade.

Josie opens up about the unexpected ways her personal life influences her writing, how she brings authenticity to her characters, and what it feels like to finally hit her stride after years of writing. Whether you're a die-hard romance fan or simply looking for your next great read, this cozy conversation will inspire and entertain.

Thought-provoking Quotes:

You write the men you want them to be, not necessarily the men they are. That’s part of the magic of romance writing.” – Josie Silver

“I think a lot of the little, quiet moments in life—the shorthand between people who truly know each other—are what make stories feel real.” – Josie Silver

“Do you want help, or do you want a hug?” – Jen Hatmaker, reflecting on parenting young adults.

It was a joy to write this book. Some books come out more easily than others and, this one, I wrote in six weeks. Some books have taken six months, some have taken far longer; whereas this one, every time I sat down, everything just seemed to work. – Josie Silver

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

One Day in December: A Novel by Josie Silver - https://amzn.to/3OD2D9A

Guest’s Links:

Josie’s books - https://amzn.to/3VlTFl3

Josie’s website - https://josiesilver.com/

Josie’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/josiesilverauthor

Josie’s Twitter - https://x.com/josiesilver

Josie’s BlueSky - https://bsky.app/profile/josiesilver.bsky.social

Josie’s Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/JosieSilverAuthor

Connect with Jen!

Jen’s website - https://jenhatmaker.com/

Jen’s Instagram - https://instagram.com/jenhatmaker

Jen’s Twitter - https://twitter.com/jenHatmaker/

Jen’s Facebook - https://facebook.com/jenhatmaker

Jen’s YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/JenHatmaker

The For the Love Podcast is presented by Audacy.

Hope Breaks Through the Hard Stuff: Rev. Dr. Angela N. Parker on Advent Dec 25, 2024

Show notes

Settle in, listeners. Jen and Amy have invited Greek and New Testament professor and scholar, Reverend Dr. Angela N. Parker to the show to reflect on the Advent season with some words of hope and liberation. She took our butts to seminary, opening our eyes to what it looks like when you examine the scripture through the lens of womanist theology and the experiences of Black women. But as Dr. Parker tells us, “I’ve lived long enough to know that God will bring me through but sometimes it’s hard and sometimes it hurts. But even after the hurt, the tender spots get more resilient.”

There’s so much to unpack in this one.

Jen and Amy discuss their favorite Christmas movies and debate whether classics like Gremlins and Die Hard fit the genre
Dr. Parker explains how liberation is a collective journey, not an individual one – and how everyone, including white men, can need it.
We learn how understanding the historical context of scripture is vital for its interpretation.
And we also talk about some of the holiday hullabaloo we’re ready to Bless and Release this season.

***

Thought-provoking Quotes:

“If I’m liberated, I don’t want to be liberated alone.” – Dr. Angela N. Parker

“We don’t want to think about the early church being enslavers.” – Dr. Angela N. Parker

“If our biblical text is wrestling with the idea of empire from Genesis to Revelation, we are wrestling with empire as well.” –– Dr. Angela N. Parker

“When we work as a collective, we actually do better to transform society.” – Dr. Angela N. Parker

“The tree at the end of Revelation 21 has the leaves for the healing of all the “Ethnae”, for all the ethnicities, for all the nations. That’s what John the Revelator sees in his final vision.” – Dr. Angela N. Parker

“In my own work, I talk about how I try to even get whiteness out of me. Even as an African American woman born and raised in these United States, there are elements of whiteness that are in me, on me and a part of me. That’s just what we swim in.” – Dr. Angela N. Parker

“Hope breaks forth in the midst of terror, fear, and overwhelm. It’s normal to have [those feelings]. Don’t trick yourself into ignoring them. It’s best for us to acknowledge what is going on around us but to remember that hope breaks through.” – Dr. Angela N. Parker

“I’ve lived long enough to know that God will bring me through but sometimes it’s still hard and sometimes it still hurts. But even after the hurt, the tender spots get more resilient.” – Dr. Angela N. Parker

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Orange Theory - https://www.orangetheory.com/en-us

James Hal Cone - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_H._Cone

Jacquelyn Grant - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jacquelyn_Grant

Delores Williams - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delores_S._Williams

Katie Cannon - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katie_Cannon

Alice Walker - https://alicewalkersgarden.com/

Rev. Dr. Margaret Aymer - https://www.austinseminary.edu/cf_directory/dirprofile.cfm?p=2576&id=4459

Sisters in the Wilderness: The Challenge of Womanist God by Delores Williams - https://amzn.to/4eV3Nce