Episodes

  • Succession, Vatican Style and the Legacy of Pope Francis + Claire Giangravé

    Succession, Vatican Style and the Legacy of Pope Francis + Claire Giangravé
    Apr 24 2025
    Pope Francis was a man of the people. Will the next pope be? After 12 years as the head of the Catholic church — and the most famous Christian in the world — Pope Francis died on Monday (April 21) at 88. A charismatic reformer, the first Latin American pope and the first Jesuit pope, Francis was beloved well beyond the Catholic church. As world leaders, Catholic faithful and cardinals from around the globe travel to the Vatican this week to mourn Francis, talk of his successor has also begun. The Conclave — made all the more intriguing to many by the recent Oscar nominated movie of the same name — will take place in the coming days and the lists of "papabile," or favored successors, are already rolling in. Katelyn and Roxy are joined by Claire Giangravé, RNS's voice of the Vatican, for a reflection on Francis's legacy and a sneak preview of the Vatican drama to come. GUEST: Claire Giangravé is a Rome-based reporter for RNS, covering the Catholic Church and the Vatican.
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    45 mins
  • It’s Easter. How About That Penal Substitutionary Atonement? + Brian Zahnd

    It’s Easter. How About That Penal Substitutionary Atonement? + Brian Zahnd
    Apr 17 2025
    Good Friday and Easter are basically the pinnacle of the Christian calendar. What it all centers on. But in recent years we’ve seen a lot of angst over what Jesus’ death on the cross and his resurrection really mean — and if what people grew up believing about them might be all wrong. We're talking, of course, about PSA — or penal substitutionary atonement theory. For some, this explanation of what happened on the cross has become more obstacle than on-ramp to Christianity. And has left many wondering — why did Jesus have to die, really? On this episode, Katelyn and Roxy dust off their theologian caps for a little lesson on historical atonement theories. And, with guest Brian Zahnd, imagine new (and old) ways of approaching the cross that go beyond theory. GUEST: Brian Zahnd is the founder and lead pastor of Word of Life Church in St. Joseph, Missouri. He is the author of eleven books, including his most recent "The Wood Between the Worlds: A Poetic Theology of the Cross."
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    50 mins
  • Is It OK To Not Like Kids?

    Is It OK To Not Like Kids?
    Apr 10 2025
    Chappell Roan says all her friends with kids are in hell. A popular subreddit asks "does anyone else just… not like kids?" A crowd of the usual suspects — pro-natalists, theo bros and mom influencers — pounce on these examples to decry our increasingly "anti-kid" and "childless cat lady" culture. Is this just a recycled generational debate — feminists vs homemakers but this time on TikTok — or is there something new going on here? Are some women (and men too, though maybe to less pearl clutching) just saying the quiet part out loud? That parenthood is really hard and changes your life, not always in super positive ways. That kids can be difficult to handle in public places. Or is this a true shift in public thinking — toward a less kid inclusive world? Katelyn and Roxy explore these questions and look at the evidence (data dump, anyone?), as we also ask: What role do children play in the Church and in Christian life?
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    48 mins
  • So You Married a Priest? + Beth Allison Barr

    So You Married a Priest? + Beth Allison Barr
    Apr 3 2025
    Did you know there are piles of guidebooks meant to help women excel at being the church's first lady? From how to step out of a car when pulling up to church on Sunday, to preparing the perfect casserole, to keeping the kids smiling and still in the front pew. And those dirty dishes in the sink? They could be the talk of the lady's luncheon if you're not careful. On this episode, Katelyn and Roxy dig into the pile of expectations put on pastor's wives — and the idea that his ministry must be her ministry. As a woman newly wed to a priest, Roxy wonders what those expectations mean for her — and which parts of this role to lean into and which to resist. And Katelyn ... well, Katelyn has some new reasons to care too (listen to find out!). We talk with historian Beth Allison Barr about why the role of pastor's wife has evolved in many denominations to be the primary path of ministry for some women. Plus: The Millennial Girl Boss's Guide to Being the Pastor's Wife (as cringe as you'd expect!) GUEST: Beth Allison Barr is the James Vardaman Professor of History at Baylor University. She is the author of the New York Times bestselling book, "Becoming the Pastor’s Wife: How Marriage Replaced Ordination as a Woman’s Path to Ministry," as well as, "The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth." She is a pastor’s wife and mom.
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    52 mins
  • A Ross Douthat Guide to Fairies, UFOs ... and Church

    A Ross Douthat Guide to Fairies, UFOs ... and Church
    Mar 27 2025
    What’s the woo-iest thing you believe in? Angels and demons? Ghosts? Astrology? On this episode, Katelyn and Roxy dabble in the metaphysical and get curious about the mystical. We also wonder if maybe we’ve gotten a little too skeptical of the spiritual? Enter our guest today: New York Times columnist, UFO enthusiast and religion apologist, Ross Douthat. We discuss the allure of the supernatural, the dangers of syncretism and why religion is the rational choice.
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    56 mins
  • A New City Won't Save You + Lydia Sohn

    A New City Won't Save You + Lydia Sohn
    Mar 20 2025
    Katelyn and Roxy both moved to New York City with a dream of starting fresh and the promise of a new life with new adventures, new friends and new romance. And, to be honest, New York delivered on pretty much all of that. It's a great city! But it's not the only city — and moving here cost us too. Money, yes, but also stability and roots and proximity to long-time friends. We've both moved from city to city over the years, and we've gained gifts in each but we've also come to realize that age-old truth: wherever you go, there you are. On this episode, we explore the benefits of staying put and putting down roots — even as we celebrate our nomadic adventures. We are joined by Methodist minister and author Lydia Sohn who helps us see the spiritual roots of making home. GUEST: Lydia Sohn is a minister and a writer, currently serving as the senior pastor of Walnut United Methodist Church and the author of "Here: A Spirituality of Staying in a Culture of Leaving."
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    49 mins
  • Truth or Dare: Evangelical Edition + Erin Hicks Moon

    Truth or Dare: Evangelical Edition + Erin Hicks Moon
    Mar 13 2025
    Were you more of a truth person or a dare person? On this episode, Katelyn and Roxy revisit some of the Capital T-truths of their youth group days and dare to say "maybe I don't believe that anymore." From hell to dinosaurs to midnight demons, we go there. And we're joined by Erin Hicks Moon, who isn’t afraid to ask the big, thorny questions about modern faith. Questions like: What if this whole Christian thing is just a man-made system used to control people? Why does it feel like so many Christians have lost their ding-dang minds? And, when is the Mexican Pizza coming back on the Taco Bell menu? Chapter Markers 0:00 - Do You Know Where You’re Going? (And Why We All Panicked) 3:10 - Truth or Dare: Evangelical Edition 7:00 - What’s the Most Embarrassing Dare You’ve Done? 9:49 - Asking Big Questions: What If None of This Is Real? 12:47 - The Fear of Hell & Writing to Brio Magazine 15:57 - Rapture Trauma: The Ultimate Sleep Paralysis Demon 18:00 - The Bible, Dinosaurs, and Why We Were That Kid at Church Camp 22:17 - If God Is Good, Why Is the World So Messed Up? 26:39 - Evangelicals and the Fear of Questioning Faith 30:34 - Erin Moon Joins to Talk About I've Got Questions 36:12 - Why Have So Many Christians Lost Their Minds? 40:47 - The Biggest Shift in Faith Since Our Youth Group Days 46:17 - What If Asking Questions Breaks Your Faith? 50:55 - Where to Go When You Don’t Know What You Believe 54:42 - Most Googled Questions of All Time (And Our Best Guesses) 55:47 - Outro & What’s Coming Next 👉 Subscribe for more bold conversations on faith, doubt, and the lives we build. Instagram, TikTok, YouTube: @savedbythecity
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    56 mins
  • Empathy Is Now a Sin? Really?

    Empathy Is Now a Sin? Really?
    Mar 6 2025
    It's toxic. It's sinful. It's compassion corrupted. It's ruining the world and is definitely at the root of all the bad things. What is this fresh evil? Empathy, of course! Or so says a growing faction of Christians with very loud voices. On this first episode of a brand new season, Katelyn and Roxy try to trace this argument back to its roots and figure out how a trait that seems so virtuous — so Christian — became the bogeyman for a new movement of conservative evangelicals. Plus: a sickness story swap and the punishing timeline nobody asked for.
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    48 mins
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