SPECIAL EPISODE | Jeremy Steele's New Book: Rituals for Heretics
On the In the Sandbox podcast, Jeremy Steele (the Skeptic Pastor) returns as the only repeat guest to discuss his book, “Rituals for Heretics: Transcendent Rites for Atheists and People Who Aren’t Sure About God,” which offers rituals and meditation practices for people with religious trauma or uncertain belief by removing the “God part” while keeping the psychological and embodied benefits of ritual. He explains the research basis for rituals, invites experimentation without dogma, and shares examples including candle/fire meditation, planting intentions, a scapegoat-inspired release ritual with a rock and ribbon, Dia de los Muertos ofrendas, smudging as a trauma-processing practice analogous to EMDR principles, walking meditation, and guided imagery. He describes the personal and professional risks of reframing sacred Christian rites, including a God-free communion focused on connection and the “circle of life,” and closes with a lightning round and where to find his work and Substack.
01:40 Why Call It Heretic
02:35 Rituals Without God
05:30 Science Behind the Practices
07:46 Skeptical Pastor Rhythm
12:38 Fire and Planting Rituals
15:05 Borrowed Traditions and Meaning
16:57 Scapegoat Release Ritual
19:16 Dia de los Muertos Ofrenda
21:19 Grief and Human Ritual
23:02 Smudging and Trauma Processing
25:50 Sage and Intention Setting
27:13 Embodied Spiritual Connection
28:12 Walking Meditation Basics
29:45 Guided Imagery Breakthroughs
32:38 Mind Made Real
33:30 The Cost of Heresy
34:16 Reimagining Communion Ritual
39:04 Playful Curiosity for Leaders
40:14 Lightning Round Fun
44:05 Where to Find Jeremy
45:00 Podcast Wrap Up
27 May 2026
In the Sandbox Season 3 : Episode 9 Bishop Berlin of the Florida Episcopal Area of the United Methodist Church
Hosts Matt Rawle and Rachel Billups interview Bishop Tom Berlin of the Florida Episcopal Area of the United Methodist Church about how his business/public administration background helped him navigate local-church leadership and conference systems, emphasizing organizational health, financial and human sustainability, and the importance of culture in change. Berlin contrasts the nimbleness of local churches with the slower “aircraft carrier” dynamics of annual conferences, describing how leaders must adapt, build trust, and empower clergy and laity rather than rely on personality-driven leadership. He discusses risk-taking grounded in shared values and identity, including managing disaffiliation and launching Wesleyan-focused initiatives like “Wesleyan Rooted” and “Awakened to Grace,” with sermon series, devotions, and an app. Berlin names adaptive challenges such as Christian nationalism, societal division, weariness, and reaching younger generations, while encouraging experimentation (including Fresh Expressions), hopeful discipleship, and careful communication on issues like immigration.
00:00 Meet Bishop Tom Berlin
01:52 Business Degree to Ministry
04:03 Local Church vs Conference
06:41 Adapting as a Bishop
08:54 Risk and Shared Values
11:33 Disaffiliation and Wesleyan Roots
15:06 From Hero to We
16:52 Budget Cuts and Adaptive Work
18:54 Markers of Health and Sustainability
21:44 Discipleship in a Changed Culture
23:57 Division and Burnout
25:40 Hard Conversations Wisely
28:45 Agency and Real Support
30:40 Fresh Expressions Momentum
31:21 No Innovation Police
33:38 Hope as a Discipline
34:46 Lightning Round Fun
39:10 Where to Find Tom
40:30 Prayer and Sendoff
20 May 2026
In the Sandbox Season 3 : Episode 8 | Benj Miller, Founder of System & Soul
Hosts Matt Rawle and Rachel Billups interview business strategist and System and Soul founder Benj Miller about building organizations that balance effective systems with human-centered culture. Benj traces his entrepreneurial start to resourcefulness and a desire to work independently, then describes a pivotal identity crisis and coaching conversation centered on three questions—who am I, why do I matter, and who is my audience—leading him to ground identity in his Heavenly Father. He connects identity to leadership behaviors, warning that fragile identity produces defensiveness, control, and fear, and explains how identity statements help leaders face failure as events rather than personal labels. Benj emphasizes investing in multiple coaches, engineering boundaries to avoid founders “building their own prison,” and defining success beyond society’s metrics, using a “front burner” metaphor for seasonal priorities. For executing big ideas, he advocates collaboration, hiring for execution, market validation, and securing prepaying customers to fund and prove demand.
00:00 Meet Benj Miller
02:18 How He Helped a Church
03:06 Entrepreneurial Spark
04:59 Crisis and Inflection
06:44 Three Identity Questions
09:18 Identity Drives Change
11:04 Why Leaders Need Coaches
13:18 Fragile Identity Pitfalls
15:33 Stop Leading With Resume
18:33 Walking In Regulated
20:35 Enneagram and Closing Banter
21:22 Failure Without Shame
22:49 Redefining Success Seasons
25:19 Retreats And Recenter
27:19 Sweet Spot Family Wins
29:11 From Ideas To Execution
33:14 Risk Fears And Boundaries
37:08 Enneagram And Lightning Round
41:32 Where To Find Benj
41:53 Prayer And Farewell
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