The Micah Podcast
A white man, a Black woman, and an Asian man walk into a podcast. Three pastors sit down to talk about leading from their social location.
Episodes
32 episodes
What We Miss When We Don’t Talk Honestly about Charlie Kirk
The Micah Mobilizers continue their discussion of the American Church’s response to Charlie Kirk. Many in leadership are focused on calming the anxieties of people by acknowledging the tragedy of this violence, but also ignoring or whitewash...
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Season 4
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Episode 9
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58:34
Charlie Kirk and the American Church
The reprehensible killing of Charlie Kirk has revealed a deep divide in our country and a deep divide in the American church. How do we find hope for the church in this era of violent division?Visit
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Season 4
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Episode 8
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50:16
Tax Law and the Church
In a surprise announcement, the IRS recently stated that “houses of worship can endorse candidates for political office without jeopardizing their tax-exempt status.”This might sound like greater freedom for churches to do what they’re suppo...
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Season 4
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Episode 7
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40:29
War and Sacred Resistance
Last week, the President declared war on Iran and dropped bombs. Many political and religious leaders are espousing support for Israel that is rooted in Christian conviction, but this willingness to kill for God’s sake is driven by bad theol...
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Season 4
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Episode 6
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43:31
Resist!
What does it mean for Christian leaders to resist in this time? This is not business as usual in the U.S. The dismantling of democracy, due process, rule of law, and the normalization of cruelty and abuse of power is unprecedented in our cou...
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Season 4
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Episode 5
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40:38
What is the prophetic role of the church under an authoritarian regime?
When should we speak up? When should we remain silent? Where do we find the energy, hope, and joy to sustain us? These are many of the questions pastors and church leaders are asking as we see the world gravitating more and more toward authorit...
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Season 4
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Episode 4
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46:21
What is rightly ordered love?
There have always been attempts by the Empire to subjugate Christianity for its own purposes, but there is something new about the most recent attempts to co-opt the name of Christ to serve political purposes. Recently, JD Vance appealed to Tho...
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Season 4
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Episode 3
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48:13
What is Christlike Leadership?
The Micah Mobilizers are joined by special guest Sandy Richter, an Anglican priest and Micah Group alum, as they reflect on the prophetic witness of Bishop Budde, who called for mercy at the National Prayer Breakfast last month and was met with...
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Season 4
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Episode 2
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46:27
Let’s talk about diversity.
As we watch the news of the U.S. federal government ending DEI initiatives, and corporations including Wal-Mart, Facebook, McDonald’s, Ford, and many others follow suit, what is the prophetic call to the Christian church?
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Season 4
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Episode 1
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47:57
What Now? Reflections Since the 2024 Election
The Micah Mobilizers spend time processing their emotions and intentions in our post-election reality. As leaders, what do we do when we feel helpless? How do we respond to pushback that pastors are not supposed to be political? How do we model...
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Season 3
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Episode 7
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55:09
More on Race and Politics
What do we need to confront about how race and gender are used by both sides in an election year? And what’s happening to the Black male vote? In today’s discussion, Joy, Jin, and Bret are joined by special guest, Pastor Fred Wilson, Faith &...
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Season 3
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Episode 6
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57:42
Racism in the 2024 U.S. Election Cycle
Many pastors are scared to talk about the racist lies being spread in the current election cycle in the U.S. We don’t want to be partisan, we don’t want to get into uncomfortable conversations. We hide behind the notion that all politicians lie...
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Season 3
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Episode 6
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50:03
Patriarchy and Other Hierarchies We Love
The Micah Mobilizers welcome special guest, Cheryl Lynn Cain, to this conversation about the gendered dynamics of power that make patriarchy so difficult to topple. How do we begin to break down such a self-perpetuating system of abusive power?...
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Season 3
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Episode 5
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52:17
Let's Talk About Patriarchy
In this first conversation that begins a series about patriarchy and the church, Joy, Jin, and Bret look at the sexist backlash to Kamala Harris’s candidacy and the patterns of gendered abuse and misinformation aimed at women in leadership. How...
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Season 3
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Episode 4
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33:26
Is it possible to engage our differences well?
Micah Groups began as a place to gather diverse pastors to have hard conversations, engaging one another in our differences, in order to grow in empathy and courage. In this episode, recorded on the morning of the presidential debate, ...
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Season 3
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Episode 3
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51:11
What Formation Is Needed to Be Both Pastor and Prophet?
Special guest Felecia Thompson joins the Micah Mobilizers for this second conversation in a series about the pastoral and the prophetic. Tune in to consider: How do we help others to be formed toward the pastoral and prophetic? What is missi...
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Season 3
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Episode 2
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44:49
How to Be Both Pastor and Prophet?
Special guest Judy Peterson, "The Walking Pastor," talks with Joy, Jin, and Bret about how a call to the pastoral and prophetic work together. Learn more about Judy's ministry "to pastor the feral children of God" at
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Season 3
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Episode 1
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44:49
Power, Position, and the Preacher’s Voice
Special guest Mark Labberton, former president of Fuller Seminary, joins the Micah Podcast hosts to discuss how we can use power differently—like the way Jesus embodies it in Philippians 2.Your Micah Podcast Hosts: Rev. Joy Johnson, Rev...
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Season 2
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Episode 6
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50:59
How NOT to Read the Bible
How do we honor scripture as the source of truth for our lives, but not manipulate it to serve our own purposes?
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Season 2
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Episode 5
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40:53
How to Have Difficult Conversations About Race
There is a strange idea on the rise that talking about race is the same as being racist. How can pastors and leaders navigate this challenge in order to work for justice in race relations while being sensitive to the current social defensivenes...
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Season 2
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Episode 4
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39:25
Can the Church Be Pro-Life and Pro-Guns?
As of April 2023, there had been more mass shootings (163) in the U.S. than there had been days. Joy, Jin, and Bret discuss the complex relationship between guns, America, and Christianity.
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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57:57
Does Jesus Need an Advertising Campaign?
Joy Johnson, Jin Cho, and Bret Widman reflect on the “He Gets Us” ad campaign, including the “Love Your Enemies” ad that ran at the Super Bowl.
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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49:26
What Temptations Derail Your Prophetic Voice?
Jesus’ ministry only began after facing temptations in the wilderness. What are the temptations in our preaching ministries that we must overcome in order to nurture a prophetic voice?
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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50:16
How Can We Cultivate Imagination in Preaching?
The Micah Mobilizers consider the state of our collective imagination today, as disciples and preachers, and wonder how artists and prophets might help to heal and invigorate broken imagination.Your Micah Podcast hosts are Joy Johnso...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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54:22