The Sacred Slope

Where the slippery slope becomes sacred ground. For the spiritually tender — those searching for healthier expressions of our global Christian faith and deconstructing harmful theology. Listen to conversations with pastors, priests, reverends, scholars, artists, and public voices from multiple denominations, cultures, backgrounds, and genders. Come to be challenged, healed, and begin again.

The Sacred Slope is a religion podcast hosted by Alexis Rice, with 85 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Alexis Rice hosts The Sacred Slope, a religion show with 85 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #49

  49. Matthew Paul Turner – (Author, When I Thank God) Giving Our Kids a Faith They Don’t Have to Heal From

  Aug 6, 20261h 1mS2

  49. Matthew Paul Turner – (Author, When I Thank God) Giving Our Kids a Faith They Don’t Have to Heal From New York Times bestselling children’s author Matthew Paul Turner joins The Sacred Slope for a conversation about the stories we tell children about God—and the ones many adults are still learning to tell themselves. Alexis and Matthew explore why children don’t get to choose their first picture of God, how children’s books can become unexpected spaces of healing for adults deconstructing harmful theology, and what it means to raise kids with a faith rooted in love, belonging, gratitude, justice, and the teachings of Jesus. Matthew shares the story behind his new book, When I Thank God, illustrated by David Catrow, and why gratitude has remained one of the few spiritual practices that stayed with him through fundamentalism, deconstruction, coming out, and rebuilding his faith. They also talk honestly about Christian nationalism, the Americanization of Christianity, why humility and justice are central to following Jesus, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and what Christians can actually do to make their communities more loving. And Matthew reflects movingly on his friendship with the late Rachel Held Evans, finishing the children’s books she left behind, and why her legacy continues to change lives. In This Episode • Giving children a picture of God they won’t have to heal from • Why children’s books can help deconstructing adults heal • When I Thank God and gratitude as a spiritual practice • Following Jesus in an age of Christian nationalism • Deconstructing whiteness and Americanized Christianity • Why humility, justice, compassion, and belonging matter • LGBTQ+ inclusion and showing up visibly for your neighbors • The Growing Wall of Love at World Pride Amsterdam • Matthew’s friendship with Rachel Held Evans • Finishing Rachel’s children’s books after her death • What Is God Like? and the upcoming Who Is Jesus? • Rebuilding a Christianity centered on making things better, more hopeful, and more loving Matthew Paul Turner Matthew is the bestselling author of When God Made You, When God Made Light, You Will Always Belong, and the new When I Thank God. Follow Matthew: @matthewpaulturner People & Resources Mentioned • Rachel Held Evans – @rachelheldevans • Sarah Bessey – @sarahbessey • Meredith Anne Miller – @meredithannemiller • Rocky Roggio / 1946: The Mistranslation That Shifted Culture – @rockyroggio • Jarko de Witte van Leeuwen / The Growing Wall of Love – @thegrowingwalloflove • David Catrow – @davidcatrow illustrator of When I Thank God • Danny McBride / The Righteous Gemstones @therighteousgemstones When I Thank God releases August 18 Pre-Order from The Sacred Slope Book Reccos List: https://bookshop.org/shop/thesacredslope Support the show About The Sacred Slope Where the slippery slope becomes sacred ground. For the spiritually tender—raised in or rooted in Christianity. Come explore our global, diverse, inclusive Christian faith, deconstruction, and spiritual identity in a rapidly changing world. Through conversations with clergy, scholars, and cultural voices, the show creates space for people navigating faith after certainty, church harm, or political co-option of religion. WATCH: YouTube / Spotify LISTEN: Apple Podcasts + everywhere FOLLOW: @thesacredslope (IG, FB, Threads, TikTok, YouTube, Bluesky) Connect Explore episodes & community: linktr.ee/TheSacredSlope Hosted by Alexis Rice Music by Brett Rutledge, Eddie Irvin & Sean Spence Nominate a guest: alexis@thesacredslope.com Community Guidelines Fruit of the Spirit: ❤️ love • joy • ☮️ peace • patience • kindness • goodness • faithfulness • gentleness • self-control

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  Episode #48

  48. John Fugelsang – (Aspiring Christian) Separation of Church and Hate: Reclaiming Jesus from Christian Nationalism

  Jul 30, 20261h 20mS2

  48. John Fugelsang – (Aspiring Christian) Separation of Church and Hate: Reclaiming Jesus from Christian Nationalism John Fugelsang returns to The Sacred Slope for a deeper conversation about the book Alexis named the very first Sacred Slope Book of the Year : Separation of Church and Hate: A Sane Person’s Guide to Taking Back the Bible from Fundamentalists, Fascists, and Flock-Fleecing Frauds. Together, they explore why so many Christians and non-Christians alike have embraced the book, what it means to distinguish the teachings of Jesus from Christian nationalism, and why reclaiming Christianity from fear, power, and authoritarianism matters now more than ever. John reflects on growing up with faith, writing a New York Times bestselling book that speaks to believers and skeptics alike, and why he believes Jesus remains one of history’s most radically compassionate voices. Alexis and John also discuss biblical literacy, Matthew 25, Christian resistance throughout history, and how ordinary Christians can push back against the weaponization of faith without becoming consumed by hatred themselves. Whether you’re deconstructing, reconstructing, politically exhausted, or simply longing for a Christianity that looks more like Jesus than power, this conversation offers hope, humor, and practical ways to engage difficult conversations with compassion and courage. Listeners outside the U.S.: Separation of Church and Hate is now available internationally! In This Episode • Why Separation of Church and Hate became The Sacred Slope’s first Book of the Year • What surprised John most after the book became a New York Times bestseller • Why Christians, atheists, and agnostics are embracing the book • Christianity versus Christian nationalism • Following Jesus versus simply following the Bible • Matthew 25 and the teachings Jesus actually emphasized • Why Jesus challenged power, wealth, and religious coercion • Christian resistance throughout history—from the abolitionists to Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. • Christian nationalism, fear, power, and authoritarianism • How to respond to difficult conversations using scripture with compassion rather than contempt • Why reclaiming Jesus matters for believers and non-believers alike Congratulations to This Year’s Book of the Year Nominees! Braving the Truth – @rachelheldevans & @sarahbessey Hell Bent – @berecker We Can Be Brave & I Can Learn to Be Brave – Bishop @mariannbudde Live Laugh Love – @kkdumez The Small and the Mighty & We Are Mighty – @sharonsaysso Separation of Church and Hate – @johnfugelsang American Idolatry – @ndrewwhitehead Queer & Christian – Rev. @brandanrobertson Awake – @jenhatmaker Wonder – Pastor @meredithannemiller The Sacred Slope Book of the Year John Fugelsang Separation of Church and Hate Congratulations, @johnfugelsang, and thank you to every author who shared your wisdom with The Sacred Slope community this year. People & Resources Mentioned • Mayor Zohran Mamdani – @zohrankmamdani & @nycmayor • Simon Moya-Smith – @simonsaidtakeapic • Julie Francella – @juliefrancella • Jordan Klepper – @jordanklepper • The Daily Show – @thedailyshow Support the show About The Sacred Slope Where the slippery slope becomes sacred ground. For the spiritually tender—raised in or rooted in Christianity. Come explore our global, diverse, inclusive Christian faith, deconstruction, and spiritual identity in a rapidly changing world. Through conversations with clergy, scholars, and cultural voices, the show creates space for people navigating faith after certainty, church harm, or political co-option of religion. WATCH: YouTube / Spotify LISTEN: Apple Podcasts + everywhere FOLLOW: @thesacredslope (IG, FB, Threads, TikTok, YouTube, Bluesky) Connect Explore episodes & community: linktr.ee/TheSacredSlope Hosted by Alexis Rice Music by Brett Rutledge, Eddie Irvin & Sean Spence Nominate a guest: alexis@thesacredslope.com Community Guidelines Fruit of the Spirit: ❤️ love • joy • ☮️ peace • patience • kindness • goodness • faithfulness • gentleness • self-control

  ListenShow Notes
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  Episode #47

  47. Rev. Jim Keat, Rev. Reilly Paige, & Rev. Dr. Chris Davies (United Church of Christ) – Preaching Camp: The Ties That Bind

  Jul 20, 20261h 29mS2

  47. Rev. Jim Keat, Rev. Reilly Paige, & Rev. Dr. Chris Davies (United Church of Christ) – Preaching Camp: The Ties That Bind Alexis sits down in person at Project Proclaim Preaching Camp with Rev. Reilly Paige, Rev. Dr. Chris Davies, and Rev. Jim Keat for a funny, moving, and deeply hopeful conversation about the ties that bind us - to Jesus, to one another, and to a faith larger than fear, fundamentalism, or the loudest version of American Christianity. Together, they explore what keeps them following Jesus and what happens when Christians from evangelical and mainline traditions learn to speak across very different theological languages. Reilly shares what it means to be the pastor they needed growing up and why the word “Christian” now requires follow-up questions. Chris describes Jesus as friend, teacher, organizer, prophet, and a model for resisting empire. Jim reflects on Christianity as the spiritual language he inherited - and how digital ministry can create genuine church community far beyond a sanctuary. Whether you are deconstructing, rebuilding, missing church, or wondering whether you can fall in love with Jesus again, this conversation offers a vision of Christianity rooted in relationship, curiosity, courage, belonging, and genuinely good news. In This Episode • What keeps Rev Reilly, Rev Dr Chris, and Rev Jim following Jesus • The ties that bind us to faith and one another • Falling in love with Jesus beyond fear and fundamentalism • Evangelical and mainline Christian “languages” • The rapture, hell, Bible literalism, sexuality, and forbidden questions • Being the pastor you needed growing up • Queer Christian leadership • Reclaiming the word “Christian” • Preaching as the proclamation of good news • Why progressive pastors need to show up online • Digital ministry, online communion, and real church community • A closing prayer for anyone deconstructing, healing, or searching for home People & Resources Mentioned • Rev. Reilly Paige – @rangerreilly • Rev. Dr. Chris Davies – @jesuslovesdinos • Rev. Jim Keat – @revjimruns • Project Proclaim – @project_proclaim • Southern New England Conference UCC – @sneucc • United Church of Christ – @unitedchurchofchrist • The Riverside Church – @riversidenyc • Bible in a Minute – @bibleinamin • Pastor Cody Deese – @codydeese • April Ajoy – @aprilajoy • Rev. Bethany Peerbolte – @rev.bethany Support the show About The Sacred Slope Where the slippery slope becomes sacred ground. For the spiritually tender—raised in or rooted in Christianity. Come explore our global, diverse, inclusive Christian faith, deconstruction, and spiritual identity in a rapidly changing world. Through conversations with clergy, scholars, and cultural voices, the show creates space for people navigating faith after certainty, church harm, or political co-option of religion. WATCH: YouTube / Spotify LISTEN: Apple Podcasts + everywhere FOLLOW: @thesacredslope (IG, FB, Threads, TikTok, YouTube, Bluesky) Connect Explore episodes & community: linktr.ee/TheSacredSlope Hosted by Alexis Rice Music by Brett Rutledge, Eddie Irvin & Sean Spence Nominate a guest: alexis@thesacredslope.com Community Guidelines Fruit of the Spirit: ❤️ love • joy • ☮️ peace • patience • kindness • goodness • faithfulness • gentleness • self-control

  ListenShow Notes
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  Episode #45

  45. Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde (Episcopal) - I Can Learn to Be Brave: Building Courage One Step at a Time

  Jul 7, 202653 minS2

  45. Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde (Episcopal) - I Can Learn to Be Brave : Building Courage One Step at a Time Alexis welcomes back Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde, Episcopal Bishop of Washington, D.C., for a deeply hopeful conversation about courage, faith, and her beautiful new children's book, I Can Learn to Be Brave- releasing July 7th! Known around the world for her sermon calling for mercy toward LGBTQ people and immigrants, Bishop Budde reflects on the quieter acts of bravery that prepare us for life's defining moments. Together, Alexis and Bishop Budde explore why courage begins in childhood, why adults need this message just as much as children, how churches can rebuild trust after church hurt, what faithful public witness looks like in a polarized world, and why the future of the Church could depend on ordinary people willing to take one faithful step at a time. This conversation is an invitation to raise courageous kids, become more courageous ourselves, and imagine a Christianity rooted in humility, inclusion, compassion, hope, and the teachings of Jesus. 💬 In This Episode • Bishop Budde's new children's book, I Can Learn to Be Brave • Why courage is something we learn and practice • Raising courageous kids through faith • Why adults need bravery too • Spiritual formation and listening to the Holy Spirit • Church hurt, deconstruction, and rebuilding trust • Christian nationalism and loving our neighbors • Ministry in the digital age • LGBTQ inclusion and women in ministry • Why ordinary people change history • Building the future of the Church one faithful step at a time • A beautiful closing prayer for anyone needing hope today 👥 People & Resources Mentioned • Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde – @mariannbudde • I Can Learn to Be Brave is available for purchase on The Sacred Slope Book Reccos List: https://bookshop.org/shop/thesacredslope • Illustrated by Holly Hatam – @hollyhatamillustration • Flamingo Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers – @penguinkids • Rev. Gerlyn Henry - @gerlynhenry • Pastor Paul Drees - @pastorpauldrees • Sharon McMahon – @sharonsaysso • Jonathan Eig - @joneig • Rich Villodas – @richvillodas • Adam Hamilton – @revadamhamilton Support the show About The Sacred Slope Where the slippery slope becomes sacred ground. For the spiritually tender—raised in or rooted in Christianity. Come explore our global, diverse, inclusive Christian faith, deconstruction, and spiritual identity in a rapidly changing world. Through conversations with clergy, scholars, and cultural voices, the show creates space for people navigating faith after certainty, church harm, or political co-option of religion. 🎧 WATCH: YouTube / Spotify LISTEN: Apple Podcasts + everywhere FOLLOW: @thesacredslope (IG, FB, Threads, TikTok, YouTube, Bluesky) 🔗 Connect 🎧 Explore episodes & community: linktr.ee/TheSacredSlope 🎙 Hosted by Alexis Rice 🎵 Music by Brett Rutledge, Eddie Irvin & Sean Spence 📬 Nominate a guest: alexis@thesacredslope.com 🌿 Community Guidelines 🌿 Fruit of the Spirit: ❤️ love • 💫 joy • ☮️ peace • 🕊 patience • 💝 kindness • 🌿 goodness • 🙏 faithfulness • 🤲 gentleness • 💪 self-control

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  Episode #44

  44. Leigh Larson (Disciples of Christ) – Christian Nationalism, Patriotism & Reclaiming Church

  Jul 1, 20261h 20mS2

  44. Leigh Larson (Disciples of Christ) – Christian Nationalism, Patriotism & Reclaiming Church Alexis sits down with theologian, researcher, public educator, and creator of @followtheleighder , Leigh Larson, for one of the most important conversations yet on Christian nationalism, American identity, and what it means to faithfully follow Jesus in a polarized world. Raised in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) tradition, Leigh draws on her graduate work in theology and military chaplaincy to help Christians better understand the relationship between faith, democracy, power, and patriotism. Together, Alexis and Leigh explore why Christian nationalism is not the same thing as Christianity, why America has never belonged to one denomination or political movement, and how progressive Christians have helped shape many of our country's greatest moral movements. They also discuss church hurt, deconstruction, rebuilding faith, and why Christians should never surrender either the Bible or the American flag to extremists. This conversation is an invitation to reclaim hope, compassion, and a vision of Christianity rooted in the teachings of Jesus rather than fear or domination. 💬 In This Episode • What Christian nationalism is—and what it isn't • Growing up in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) • Church hurt, institutional harm, and returning to faith • The relationship between Christianity, democracy, and patriotism • Why America is not a Christian nation—and why that's good for faith • Progressive Christians throughout American history • The role of women in early Christianity • Reimagining church for a new generation • Why compassion is a radical act • Finding common ground across political and religious differences • Why the future of the church depends on who shows up 👥 People/Resources Mentioned • Leigh Larson: @followtheleighder • Sharon McMahon: @sharonsaysso • Rachel Held Evans: @rachelheldevans • Sarah Bessey: @sarahbessey • Kristin Kobes Du Mez: @kkdumez • Richard Rohr • Tim Whitaker / The New Evangelicals: @thenewevangelicals • April Ajoy: @aprilsajoy • Dan McClellan: @maklelan • Nadia Bolz-Weber: @nadia_bolzweber • James Talarico: @jamestalarico • Andrew Whitehead @ndrewwhitehead Support the show About The Sacred Slope Where the slippery slope becomes sacred ground. For the spiritually tender—raised in or rooted in Christianity. Come explore our global, diverse, inclusive Christian faith, deconstruction, and spiritual identity in a rapidly changing world. Through conversations with clergy, scholars, and cultural voices, the show creates space for people navigating faith after certainty, church harm, or political co-option of religion. 🎧 WATCH: YouTube / Spotify LISTEN: Apple Podcasts + everywhere FOLLOW: @thesacredslope (IG, FB, Threads, TikTok, YouTube, Bluesky) 🔗 Connect 🎧 Explore episodes & community: linktr.ee/TheSacredSlope 🎙 Hosted by Alexis Rice 🎵 Music by Brett Rutledge, Eddie Irvin & Sean Spence 📬 Nominate a guest: alexis@thesacredslope.com 🌿 Community Guidelines 🌿 Fruit of the Spirit: ❤️ love • 💫 joy • ☮️ peace • 🕊 patience • 💝 kindness • 🌿 goodness • 🙏 faithfulness • 🤲 gentleness • 💪 self-control

  ListenShow Notes

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