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
43 episodes
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 ...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 7
•
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...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 6
•
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 (@
•
Season 2
•
Episode 5
•
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 ...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 4
•
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...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 3
•
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, ...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 2
•
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...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 1
•
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...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 35
•
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:/...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 34
•
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...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 33
•
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...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 32
•
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...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 31
•
1:09:37
30. Jen Hatmaker (Relaxed in the love of Jesus) - and Awake
🎙️ 30. Jen Hatmaker (Relaxed in the love of Jesus) and AwakeAlexis Rice welcomes NYT Bestselling author, podcaster, and spiritual trailblazer Jen Hatmaker (@jenhatmaker) for a tender, fierce, and raw conversation about her new mem...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 30
•
58:07
29. Pastor Josh Scott – (Non-Denominational, Progressive, Open & Affirming) The Kind of Pastor I Wish I’d Had Growing Up
🎙️ 29. Pastor Josh Scott – (Non-Denominational, Progressive, Open & Affirming) The Kind of Pastor I Wish I’d Had Growing Up What if the pastor you grew up with had made room for your questions instead of your fear? In thi...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 29
•
53:24
28. Rev. Joash P. Thomas (Saint Thomas Christian / Evangelical Anglican tradition) – The Justice of Jesus & Decolonizing Our Faith
🎙️ 28. Rev. Joash P. Thomas (Saint Thomas Christian / Evangelical Anglican tradition) – The Justice of Jesus & Decolonizing Our FaithWho taught me my theology - and who is missing from the table? From his roots in the...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 28
•
1:03:28
27. Mike Maeshiro (Ex-evangelical pastor) – God Made Me Gay: Healing from Spiritual Harm
🎙️ 27. Mike Maeshiro (Ex-evangelical pastor) – God Made Me Gay: Healing from Spiritual HarmGrowing up evangelical, Mike was taught that being gay was sinful, dangerous, and something God would eventually “fix.” Today, he’s an ex-e...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 27
•
1:28:25
26. Dr. Jennifer Garcia Bashaw (Bible Scholar) – Wrestling with Scripture Beyond Literalism
🎙️ 26. Dr. Jennifer Garcia Bashaw (Bible Scholar) – Wrestling with Scripture Beyond LiteralismWhen “Bible-believing” meant literalism and inerrancy, many of us thought that was the only Christian option. Dr. Jennifer Garcia Bashaw...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 26
•
1:02:16
25. Bishop Guðrún (Church of Iceland) – A Nation Led by Women, and a Bishop Who Says Queer People Should Be Safe in Christianity
🎙️ 25. Bishop Guðrún Karls Helgudottir (Church of Iceland) – A Nation Led by Women, and a Bishop Who Says Queer People Should Be Safe in ChristianityWhen a nation is led by women at the highest levels - the President, the Prime Mi...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 25
•
42:07
24. Rev. Gerlyn (Anglican Church of Canada) – Communion over Control: The Faith that Frees
🎙️ 24. Rev. Gerlyn Henry (Anglican Church of Canada) – Communion over Control: The Faith that FreesWhen faith becomes about control instead of communion, something sacred is lost. Reverend Gerlyn Henry (@gerlynhenry)—an I...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 24
•
52:59
23. John Fugelsang (Aspiring Christian) – Separation of Church & Hate
🎙️ 23. John Fugelsang (Aspiring Christian) – Separation of Church & HateAlexis Rice welcomes comedian, author, and radio host John Fugelsang (@johnfugelsang) — whose blend of humor, history, and theology cuts through Am...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 23
•
47:19
22. Pastor Joe Graves (United Methodist) – The Progressive Planter: Finding (and Building) the Church You Wish Existed
🎙️ 22. Pastor Joe Graves (United Methodist) – The Progressive Planter: Finding (and Building) the Church You Wish ExistedWhen so many are walking away from church, Pastor and Author Joe Graves (@
•
Season 1
•
Episode 22
•
1:02:28
21. Malynda Hale (African Methodist Episcopal – AME) – Being the Good News
🎙️ 21. Malynda Hale (African Methodist Episcopal Church – AME) – Being the Good NewsAlexis Rice welcomes artist-activist, writer, and Executive Director at The New Evangelicals @TheNewEvangelicals, Malynda Hale (@malyndahal...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 21
•
49:22
20. Brian Recker (Ex-Evangelical Pastor) – Hell Bent on Reclaiming Love
🎙️ 20. Brian Recker (Ex-Evangelical Pastor) – Hell Bent on Reclaiming LoveAlexis Rice welcomes Brian Recker (@berecker) — former evangelical pastor, founding voice of Beloved on Substack, and author of Hellb...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 20
•
52:37
19. Sara Groves (Singer-Songwriter) - Faith, Fruit of the Spirit, and a License to Love
🎙 19. Sara Groves (Singer-Songwriter) – Faith, Fruit of the Spirit & a License to Love🕊️ Reconciling Faith | 💜 Fruit of the Spirit | 🌱 Culture Care > Culture War | 🧠 Mental Health & ChurchThis episode is for anyo...
•
Season 1
•
Episode 19
•
1:12:39
18. Rev. Helen (Church of England) – From St. Phoebe to Today: Women as Leaders, Science & a Kinder Christianity
🎙️18. Rev. Helen (Church of England) – From St. Phoebe to Today: Women as Leaders, Science & a Kinder ChristianityAlexis Rice welcomes Rev. Helen —a Church of England priest serving at St. Margaret’s, Ipswich—and our
•
Season 1
•
Episode 18
•
56:53