Church Potluck: A Smorgasbord of Christian Curiosity
A Smorgasbord of Christian Curiosity! Church Potluck serves up thoughtful, friendly, informal conversation at the intersection of Christianity and contemporary culture. Just like a church potluck, we offer variety: a variety of topics, a variety of academic disciplines, and a variety of Christian traditions. Guests are friends and colleagues who are also experts in the fields of sociology, political science, theology, philosophy, divinity, and more.
Episodes
100 episodes
ADVENT DAY 26: Midnight Mass
As Christmas draws near, this episode of the Church Potluck Advent Calendar turns to one of the most beloved and awe-filled traditions of the season: Midnight Mass. Dale is joined by Dr. Christy Snyder, our resident Catho...
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Season 4
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Episode 43
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9:25
ADVENT DAY 25: Armenian Christmas+ (Theophany)
As the Church Potluck Advent Calendar draws near its conclusion, Dale is joined once again by Dr. Michael Papazian for a fascinating exploration of a tradition deeply rooted in his own faith: the Armenian Blessing of the Wate...
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Season 4
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Episode 42
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14:22
ADVENT DAY 24: Blessing of the Animals
In this episode of the Church Potluck Advent Calendar, Dale is joined once again by Rev. Dr. Valerie Loner, pastor of Rome First United Methodist Church, for a joyful and surprisingly theological conversation about the
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Season 4
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Episode 41
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7:55
ADVENT DAY 23: Longest Night Service
In this episode of the Church Potluck Advent Calendar, Dale is joined by Rev. Chris Barbieri for a moving and compassionate conversation about the Longest Night Service, sometimes called Blue Christmas or T...
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Season 4
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Episode 40
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11:12
ADVENT DAY 22: Christmas Music
In this episode of the Church Potluck Advent Calendar, Dale is joined by the always evocative and thoughtful Dr. Michael Bailey for a wide-ranging conversation about why sacred Christmas music so often resonates more deep...
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Season 4
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Episode 39
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24:12
ADVENT DAY 21: Chrismon Trees
In this episode of the Church Potluck Advent Calendar, Dale is joined by Rev. Dr. Valerie Loner, pastor of Rome First United Methodist Church, for a thoughtful and warm conversation about the Chrismon Tree—a familiar Adve...
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Season 4
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Episode 38
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9:25
ADVENT DAY 20: La Befana, the Christmas Witch
In this episode of the Church Potluck Advent Calendar, Dale is joined once again by Rev. Chris Barbieri to explore the charming and lesser-known Italian Epiphany tradition of La Befana, the Christmas Witch. Blending Chris...
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Season 4
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Episode 37
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7:11
ADVENT DAY 19: Coptic Christian Fasting
In this episode of the Church Potluck Advent Calendar, Dale welcomes back the always-thoughtful Dr. Michael Papazian to explore the rich and often unfamiliar Coptic Christian traditions of fasting during Advent. Rooted in...
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Season 4
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Episode 36
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8:37
ADVENT DAY 18: The O Antiphons and "O Come O Come Emmanuel"
In this Advent Calendar episode of Church Potluck, Dale welcomes back fan-favorite Dr. Michael Papazian to explore the ancient and surprisingly familiar tradition of the O Antiphons. Dating back to the early church, these...
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Season 4
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Episode 35
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13:58
ADVENT DAY 17: La Tamaleada and Las Posadas
In this warm and joyful episode of the Church Potluck Advent Calendar, Dale welcomes first-time guest Mary Ángel Castillo Obando, a Berry College student from Costa Rica, to share two beloved Christmas traditions from her home cou...
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Season 4
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Episode 34
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11:01
ADVENT DAY 16: When God Came Low
What if the most audacious claim of Christmas isn’t the angels or the star—but the humility that God exhibits when taking on flesh?In this reflective solo Advent episode of Church Potluck, Dale explores the astonishing pattern that...
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Season 4
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Episode 33
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11:53
ADVENT DAY 15: St. Lucy's Day
In this warm and quietly fascinating Advent conversation, Julianne Bailey introduces listeners to St. Lucy’s (St. Lucia’s) Day, a beautiful Scandinavian tradition centered on light in the darkness. Drawing on her Swedish ...
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Season 4
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Episode 32
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9:30
ADVENT DAY 14: Our Lady of Guadalupe
Discover the powerful story behind Our Lady of Guadalupe and why this 16th-century apparition of Mary remains one of the most beloved symbols of faith, hope, and cultural dignity across the Americas. Dr. Michael Papazian joins Dale to ...
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Season 4
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Episode 31
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11:12
ADVENT DAY 13: Live Nativity Scenes
What happens when the Christmas story is no longer something we just think about, but something we step into?In this episode of the Church Potluck Advent Calendar, Dale is joined by Ginger Binkley, a longt...
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Season 4
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Episode 30
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10:40
ADVENT DAY 12: The Little Drummer Boy
What if one of the most familiar Christmas songs isn’t childish at all—but deeply, quietly profound? In this solo Advent reflection, Dale revisits The Little Drummer Boy and traces how its meaning shifted for him over his lifetime—from...
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Season 4
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Episode 29
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12:02
ADVENT DAY 11: The Feast of the Seven Fishes
Dive into the rich flavors and deeper meaning behind The Feast of the Seven Fishes—an Italian-American Christmas Eve tradition rooted in Catholic fasting and joyful anticipation. In this episode, Dale is joined by Rev. Chris Barbieri<...
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Season 4
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Episode 28
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8:16
ADVENT DAY 10: Feast of the Immaculate Conception
In today’s Church Potluck Advent Calendar episode, we explore one of the most beautiful—and most misunderstood—Catholic celebrations: the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Dr. Christy Snider joins us to clarify what this feast actually comme...
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Season 4
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Episode 27
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9:19
ADVENT DAY 9: The Moravian Love Feast
In today’s Church Potluck Advent Calendar episode, we explore a beautiful and often-overlooked Christmas Eve tradition: the Moravian Love Feast. Rev. Chris Barbieri joins us to share both the history and the heart behind this centuries-old prac...
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Season 4
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Episode 26
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9:53
ADVENT DAY 8: Saint Nicholas and Deeper Spiritual Meanings (3 of 3)
HAPPY SAINT NICHOLAS DAY! In this third and final St. Nicholas episode of the Church Potluck Advent Calendar, Dr. Jordan Rowan Fannin helps us move from shoes and stories into the deeper spiritual meaning of the saint behind the s...
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Season 4
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Episode 25
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12:18
ADVENT DAY 7: The Saint Nicholas Shoe Tradition and Anonymous Generosity (2 of 3)
In this second St. Nicholas episode of the Church Potluck Advent Calendar, Dr. Jordan Rowan Fannin returns to share how her family has built meaningful Christmas traditions rooted not in Santa Claus, but in the real fourth-century...
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Season 4
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Episode 24
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11:11
ADVENT DAY 6: Who is Saint Nicholas? (1 of 3)
In today’s Church Potluck Advent Calendar episode, Dr. Jordan Rowan Fannin (Religion & Philosophy) joins us for the first of a three-part series on one of her greatest passions: the real Saint Nicholas. Before there was Santa ...
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Season 4
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Episode 23
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11:00
ADVENT DAY 5: Dale’s Most Sacred Advent Moment
In this deeply personal Advent reflection, Dale steps away from Church Potluck’s usual conversational format to share the most sacred Advent moment of his life. Thirteen years ago, during his wife Ingrid’s final days, the Berry College Choir a...
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Season 4
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Episode 22
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8:51
ADVENT DAY 4: Handbells
Get ready for a joyful episode as we celebrate the shimmering beauty of handbells—one of the most peaceful, communal, and unmistakably Christmas sounds of the season. Join us as we talk with a real-life handbell choir member about why th...
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Season 4
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Episode 21
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11:25
