Sorta Sacred
Honest, human, lightly irreverent, grounded in something deeper. This podcast explores stories, reflections, and conversations about life intersecting with faith.
Hosted by Mark Niethammer and Jessica Taylor. Mark is the senior pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Davenport, Iowa. He is a wine enthusiast, enjoys all things outdoorsy, and is optimistically pessimistic by nature. Mark has been in ordained ministry for more than 15 years.
Meanwhile, Jessica is the director of communication at St. Paul. She is a whine enthusiast, enjoys all things indoorsy, and is pessimistically optimistic by nurture.
St. Paul Lutheran Church is a 3,500-member ELCA church located in the Quad Cities.
Episodes
11 episodes
Yin, Yang, and Everything In Between: Honoring Personality Differences
In this episode, Mark and Jess explore how personality differences in relationships can become sources of growth rather than frustration with Dr. Derek Ball, a licensed marriage and family therapist.The conversation centers on understand...
•
1:17:51
How Do I Show Up In The World?
Ever wonder if you're doing what you're "supposed" to be doing with your life? You're not alone. In this episode, Mark and Jess sit down with Keri Bass, Assistant Director of Vocational Exploration and Career Coach at Augustana College, to expl...
•
53:37
From Seeing Clearly to Living Clearly
It's January—the season of fresh starts, ambitious resolutions, and the eternal hope that this will be the year we finally get it together. But why do so many of our good intentions fizzle out by February?In this episode, we sit...
•
1:07:20
Holidays through the years
Remember when Christmas morning felt like pure magic? When the hardest decision was which cookie to leave for Santa? The holidays look different at every stage of life—and that's exactly what we're exploring in this holiday-themed episode.<...
•
35:05
What Makes You Uniquely You
What if the way you're naturally wired isn't something to fix, but something to celebrate? In this episode, Jess and Mark sit down with Wendy Hilton-Morrow, Professor of Communication Studies at Augustana College and Gallup Certified Global Str...
•
1:03:35
What the heck is wellness?
What if wellness isn't about green smoothies, gym memberships, or the latest meditation app? In this episode, Mark and Jess sit down with Steve Kalber, St. Paul's counselor and former behavioral health nurse, to unpack what wellness actually me...
•
48:03
Year of Joy
For 2025, Melissa Pepper's mantra is JOY. But what does that actually mean when you're navigating leadership responsibilities, medical challenges, parenting decisions, and the everyday chaos of life?Whether you've never thought about cho...
•
55:04
Behemoths, and Zizs, and Mutant Locusts, Oh My!
Happy Halloween! Today, Jess and Mark explore Halloween and the monsters lurking in the Bible. Special thanks to:Sound Effect by
•
32:32
Perspectives on Faith and Life
Mark and two St. Paul pastors (Katy and Sara) tackle your biggest (and smallest) questions about faith, life, and everything in between with humor, honesty, and a whole lot of heart.
•
59:19