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.
Episodes
56 episodes
20. Jeremy Jernigan (Former Non-Denominational Megachurch Pastor) - The Edge of the Inside
🎙️ 20. Jeremy Jernigan (Former Non-Denominational Megachurch Pastor) - The Edge of the InsideWhat happens when the church that formed you becomes the place that wounds you?Alexis sits down with Jeremy Jernigan @jeremyjernigan, for...
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Season 2
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Episode 20
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1:28:54
19. Podcastathon 2026 - IJM, Pastor Sarah (UCC), Rev. Joseph Yoo (Episcopal), Pastor Joe Smith (Post-Evangelical), Rev. Joe Graves (United Methodist)
🎙️ 19. Podcastathon 2026 - IJM, Pastor Sarah (UCC), Rev. Joseph Yoo (Episcopal), Pastor Joe Smith (Post-Evangelical), Rev. Joe Graves (United Methodist)This episode means a lot to me. I wanted to highlight one of my favorite non-p...
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Season 2
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Episode 19
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1:42:34
18. Rocky Roggio (Director, 1946: The Movie) - The Year the Word “Homosexual” Entered the Bible
🎙️ 18. Rocky Roggio (Director, 1946: The Movie) - 1946: The Year the Word “Homosexual” Entered the BibleOne mistranslation changed theology, policy, families, and the lives of millions of LGBTQ people.Alexis sits dow...
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Season 2
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Episode 18
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59:40
17. Pastor Kristian A. Smith (Liberation Theology) - The Courage to Question Your Answers
🎙️ 17. Pastor Kristian A. Smith (Liberation Theology) – The Courage to Question Your AnswersAlexis Rice sits down with Pastor Kristian A. Smith — pastor, author, educator, public theologian, and host of Holy Smokes: Cigars and...
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Season 2
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Episode 17
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1:26:32
16. Tripp Fuller (Theologian, Pastor & Keeper of Chickens) - Deconstruction Can Be Holy, Healing, and Even Joyful
🎙️ 16. Tripp Fuller (Theologian, Pastor & Keeper of Chickens) - Deconstruction Can Be Holy, Healing, and Even JoyfulAlexis Rice sits down with Tripp Fuller - host of Homebrewed Christianity, founder of Theology Beer Camp, the...
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Season 2
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Episode 16
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1:28:18
15. Rabbi Lexi Erdheim (Judaism) & Rev. Joel Simpson (Methodist) – When Faith Leaders Protect the Vulnerable Together
🎙️ 15. Rabbi Lexi Erdheim (Judaism) & Rev. Joel Simpson (Methodist) – When Faith Leaders Protect the Vulnerable TogetherAlexis Rice sits down with Rabbi Lexi Erdheim and Rev. Joel Simpson—two faith leaders from different tradi...
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Season 2
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Episode 15
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1:11:20
14. William Gibson (Church of Scotland) – When Christianity Gets Co-Opted by Power
14. William Gibson (Church of Scotland) – When Christianity Gets Co-Opted by PowerWhat does American Christian nationalism look like… from Scotland?In this episode, Alexis Rice is joined by William Gibson - <...
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Season 2
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Episode 14
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1:36:17
13. Jared Byas (The Bible for Normal People) – Taking the Bible Seriously But Not Literally
13. Jared Byas (The Bible for Normal People) – Taking the Bible Seriously But Not LiterallyAlexis sits down with Jared Byas - co-host of The Bible for Normal People (along with Pete Enns) and author of Love Matters More...
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Season 2
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Episode 13
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53:31
12. Rachel Held Evans (Braving the Truth) with Sarah Bessey
12. Rachel Held Evans (Braving the Truth) with Sarah BesseySarah Bessey joins Alexis Rice for a special release-day episode honoring Braving the Truth by Rachel Held Evans - out now.Alexis and Sarah read from Rache...
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1:01:11
11. Seth A. Cain (Non-Denominational) - Deconstructing While Leading
11. Seth A. Cain (Non-Denominational) - Deconstructing While LeadingIn this raw conversation, Alexis Rice sits down with Seth A. Cain - a former non-denominational lead pastor (14+ years) whose ministry came to a breaking point wh...
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Season 2
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Episode 11
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1:05:27
10. Rev. Dr. Sarah Townes aka Pastor Sarah of Disorganized Religion (UCC) - Faith That Resists Empire
🎙️ 10. Rev. Dr. Sarah Townes aka Pastor Sarah of Disorganized Religion (UCC) — Faith That Resists EmpireRev. Dr. Sarah Townes is helping thousands rediscover a Christianity rooted not in power — but in conscience, community, and c...
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Season 2
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Episode 10
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1:19:45
9. David Clayton - (He's not MAGA, please don't scroll. He's got a moral compass and a soul.)
9. David Clayton - (He's not MAGA, please don't scroll. He's got a moral compass and a soul.)Alexis Rice speaks with David Clayton - a powerhouse of conviction who has broken through on social media, creator of the Official Empathy Tour,...
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Season 2
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Episode 9
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46:01
8. Rev. Darrell Goodwin (UCC) - The God of Our Wildest Dreams (Spotlight Re-Release)
🎙️ 8. Rev. Darrell Goodwin (UCC) — The God of Our Wildest Dreams (Spotlight Re-Release)There are conversations that inform you… and conversations that do something to you. This one did something to me.After spe...
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Season 2
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Episode 8
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1:02:18
7. Cody Deese: The Pastor This Moment Has Been Waiting For
🎙️ 7. Cody Deese (Spiritual Collective Pastor) The Pastor This Moment Has Been Waiting ForIn this urgent and culturally relevant episode of The Sacred Slope, Alexis Rice is joined by Cody Deese @codydeese - pastor of the ...
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Season 2
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Episode 7
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1:45:32
6. April Ajoy (Leaving Christian Nationalism, Keeping Jesus) – Star-Spangled Jesus
🎙️ 6. April Ajoy (Leaving Christian Nationalism, Keeping Jesus) – Star-Spangled JesusAlexis Rice speaks with author and commentator April Ajoy (@aprilajoy) about Christian nationalism, deconstruction, and what it costs to l...
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Season 2
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Episode 6
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59:20
5. Rev. Katie Nakamura-Rengers (Episcopal) – Standing in Awe: Faith Beyond Certainty
🎙️ 5. Rev. Katie Nakamura-Rengers (Episcopal) – Standing in Awe: Faith Beyond CertaintyIn this deeply grounding episode of The Sacred Slope, Alexis Rice is joined by Reverend Katie Nakamura-Rengers (@
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Season 2
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Episode 5
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31:28
4. Dr. Aaron Higashi (Bible Scholar) – Serving Up Scripture: How to Interpret the Bible for Yourself and Others
🎙️ 4. Dr. Aaron Higashi (Bible Scholar) – Serving Up Scripture: How to Interpret the Bible for Yourself and OthersWhat if the Bible doesn’t actually present one unified doctrine of hell — and what if the answers you were ...
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Season 2
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Episode 4
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1:09:41
3. Rev. Dr. Chris Davies (UCC) – When the World Feels Like It’s on Fire: A Raw Conversation with a Pastor for the Soul
🎙️ 3. Rev. Dr. Chris Davies (UCC) – When the World Feels Like It’s on Fire: A Raw Conversation with a Pastor for the SoulIn this deeply vulnerable and pastoral episode of The Sacred Slope, Alexis Rice welcomes back Rev...
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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1:04:10
2. Pastor Kimberly Bulgin (Seventh-day Adventist) – The Sisters Stay Dropping Gems: Reclaiming Women’s Stories in Scripture
🎙️ 2. Pastor Kimberly Bulgin (Seventh-day Adventist) – The Sisters Stay Dropping Gems: Reclaiming Women’s Stories in ScriptureAlexis Rice welcomes Pastor Kimberly Bulgin—Seventh-day Adventist trailblazer, global leader, musician, ...
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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49:51
1. Rev. Dr. Mark Sandlin (Presbyterian) – ProgressiveChristianity.org & The Christian Left: Busting Myths About Progressive Christianity
ITS THE SEASON TWO PREMIERE!🎙️ 1. Rev. Dr. Mark Sandlin (Presbyterian) – ProgressiveChristianity.org & The Christian Left: Busting Myths About Progressive ChristianityIn this episode of The Sacred Slope, A...
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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1:05:57
35. Ike Ndolo (Catholic, Singer-Songwriter) - God in the Rubble, Honest Hymns & Freedom Songs
🎙️ 35. Ike Ndolo (Catholic, Singer-Songwriter) - God in the Rubble, Honest Hymns & Freedom SongsAlexis Rice welcomes Ike Ndolo @ikendolo, a Nigerian-American Catholic worship leader and singer-songwriter whose voi...
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Season 1
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Episode 35
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1:21:29
34. David Hayward (The Naked Pastor) – Challenging Power, Holding Grief, and Sharing the Gospel Through Art
🎙️ 34. David Hayward (The Naked Pastor) – Challenging Power, Holding Grief, and Sharing the Gospel Through ArtHighly encourage you to watch this episode on YouTube or Spotify to see art from The Naked Pastor we talk about! https:/...
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Season 1
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Episode 34
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59:53
33. BONUS: If You Haven’t Been Prayed Over in a Long Time
🎙️ 33. BONUS: If You Haven’t Been Prayed Over in a Long TimeThis labor of love is my Christmas gift to you. I wasn’t planning to make this episode, but if it helps even one person this Christmas season, it was worth it.Over...
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Season 1
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Episode 33
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1:11:27
32. Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde (Episcopal) - We Can Be Brave
🎙️ 32. Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde (Episcopal) – We Can Be BraveIt’s not every day you get to sit down with one of your heroes. Bishop Budde has shaped my spiritual life - and my willingness to be brave - in th...
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Season 1
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Episode 32
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48:11
31. Rev. Elizabeth Ashman Riley (Episcopal) – Rage Prayers & What to Expect at an Episcopal Church
🎙️ 31. Rev. Elizabeth Ashman Riley (Episcopal) – Rage Prayers & What to Expect at an Episcopal ChurchWhat if the holiest prayer you could pray wasn’t polite at all—but a full-body, honest, angry, “Are you seeing this, God...
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Season 1
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Episode 31
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1:09:37