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
66 episodes
30. Christina Zini (United Methodist/Lutheran) - This Is What Christianity Looks Like When It’s Not About Control & The Sacred Slope turns 1!
🎙️ 30. Christina Zini (United Methodist/Lutheran) - This Is What Christianity Looks Like When It’s Not About Control & The Sacred Slope Turns 1!!!!! With music by Derek Webb!Alexis Rice sits down with Christina Zini, a f...
29. Part 2. Reproductive Rights - Rev. jessica young chang (UCC): Faith, Freedom, and Who Gets to Decide
🎙️ 29. Part 2. Reproductive Rights - Rev. jessica young chang (UCC): Faith, Freedom, and Who Gets to DecideA note: This is so hard to talk about.I was raised to believe this was the issue. The line you...
28. Part 1. Reproductive Rights: Valerie's Story - Pregnancy, Cancer, and a Life-or-Death Choice
28. Part 1. Reproductive Rights: Valerie's Story - Pregnancy, Cancer, and a Life-or-Death ChoiceAlexis sits down with her childhood friend Valerie Ruschke for a deeply personal and emotional conversation about reproductive rights,...
27. Mattie Mae Motl (Bible Scholar, Christian) - Loving Jesus Too Much to Let Him Be Weaponized
🎙️ 27. Mattie Mae Motl (Bible Scholar) - Loving Jesus Too Much to Let Him Be WeaponizedAlexis Rice sits down with Mattie Mae Motl, a Bible scholar, theologian, and PhD candidate studying the New Testament (with a focus on Romans),...
26. Justin Telthorst (Catholic, Empty Chairs) - A Gay Catholic on Faith, the Pope, and the Empty Seats in the Church
26. Justin Telthorst (Catholic, Empty Chairs) - A Gay Catholic on Faith, the Pope, and the Empty Seats in the ChurchAlexis sits down with Justin Telthorst, a gay Catholic, speaker, and creator of Empty Chairs @emptychairshome for ...
25. Andrew Whitehead (Sociologist, Author, Christian) - American Idolatry: How Christian Nationalism Betrays the Gospel and Threatens the Church
25. Andrew Whitehead (Sociologist, Author, Christian) - American Idolatry: How Christian Nationalism Betrays the Gospel and Threatens the ChurchAndrew Whitehead joins Alexis Rice for a powerful conversation on Christian nationalis...
24. Julie (Aakadewin-o Waawaashkeshi Kwe ) Francella (Ojibwe, Batchewana First Nation) - We’re Still Here: Indigenous Wisdom, Empathy, & the Wounds Beneath Hate
🎙️ 24. Julie (Aakadewin-o Waawaashkeshi Kwe) Francella (Ojibwe, Batchewana First Nation) - We’re Still Here: Indigenous Wisdom, Empathy, & the Wounds Beneath HateAlexis sits down with Julie (Aakadewin-o Waawaashkeshi Kwe) Fran...
23. Kristin Mockler Young (Non-Denominational Pastor) - The Other Side of Certainty
🎙️ 23. Kristin Mockler Young (Non-Denominational Pastor) - The Other Side of CertaintyWhat if losing certainty isn’t losing your faith… but the beginning of a deeper one?Alexis sits down with Pastor Kristin Mockler Young @k...
22. Rev. Brandan Robertson (Progressive Pastor) - Queer & Christian: Reclaiming the Bible, Our Faith, and Our Place at the Table
🎙️ 22. Rev. Brandan Robertson (Progressive Pastor) - Queer & Christian: Reclaiming the Bible, Our Faith, and Our Place at the TableWhat if being queer and Christian was never the contradiction you were taught it was?Ale...
21. Johanna Ta (Catholic) - Faith, Culture, & The Golden Rule
🎙️ 21. Johanna Ta (Catholic) - Faith, Culture, & The Golden RuleWhat happens when two friends from different Christian traditions choose curiosity over debate?Alexis sits down with her longtime friend Johanna Ta, a Fili...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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 - <...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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,...
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...
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 ...
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...