The Curian Podcast

About The Curian Podcast

The Curian Podcast, hosted by Rev. Jill Elizabeth and Jonathan J. Foster, is for intellectually honest faith leaders, theological migrants, and anyone navigating what it means to build new communities oriented around uncontrolling love. / Through conversations with authors, theologians, pastors, and thinkers, we reimagine a Christianity less influenced by power-seeking, scapegoating, and false certainty. We also explore how theology shows up in pop culture, asking what our cultural narratives reveal about love, trauma, community, and what it means to be human. / This podcast is especially for pastors, chaplains, and spiritual directors—people who need theological depth and the reminder that meaning is made in community, not in isolation. Whether unpacking open and relational thought, mimetic theory, or cultural phenomena, the goal is the same: to put love where there is no love and help move the world forward one conversation at a time. / About the Hosts: Jill Elizabeth is a credentialed Reverend, host of the Curian Podcast, and board member at Heal & Thrive Global. A mom of three and business owner, she specializes in connecting systems thinking with compassion, fostering transformative conversations on faith, life, and resilience. / Jonathan J. Foster is a theologian, author, podcaster, and father of three who holds a doctorate in theology from Northwind Seminary. He is the founder and chief advocate of Love Haiti and facilitates the Curian Network (formerly Open Table Network), resourcing and credentialing pastors, chaplains, spiritual directors, counselors, and faith leaders committed to love-centered leadership. / Learn more at thecurian.network and follow along on social media @thecurian.network on Facebook and Instagram. / Production and original music by Ruthie Santiago Productions

Publisher

The Curian Network

Category

religion & spirituality · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

29 Dec 2025

Latest episode

10 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

13 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   10 Oct 2026

   Who Benefits When Women Stay Silent: A Conversation with Rev. Dr. Shaleen Kendrick | S2E1

   Rev. Jill Elizabeth and Jonathan Foster welcome Rev. Dr. Shaleen Kendrick for a thoughtful and challenging conversation about women in leadership, the systems that have historically subjugated and controlled women, and the lasting effects of these beliefs on individuals and society. Together, they explore how cultural expectations, religious interpretations, and patriarchal structures have shaped women's roles, limited their voices, and influenced who is considered worthy of leadership. Drawing on research and lived experience, they examine the long-term psychological, relational, spiritual, and societal consequences of restricting women's autonomy and authority. What happens when women are repeatedly told to submit rather than lead? How do these expectations shape communities, relationships, and future generations? And what can we do to challenge the structures that continue to limit women's voices and leadership? Join Rev. Jill, Jonathan, and Rev. Dr. Shaleen Kendrick for an important conversation that questions long-held assumptions, invites deeper reflection, and considers what becomes possible when women are empowered to lead with their full gifts, wisdom, and authority. About The Curian Network The Curian Network (formerly opentable.network) is a denominational space credentialing and resourcing pastors, chaplains, spiritual directors, and counselors in this wild day and age we live in, which is as extremely irreligious as it is hyper-religious. We believe that what works out on the extreme edges and all the spaces in between is love. Not love that simply makes space for people within the terms set by existing structures, but love that allows difference to enhance the entirety of who we are. Top-down religion is no longer viable in a world shaped by algorithms, micro-communities, and interconnected networks. What’s needed is something relational and rhizomatic—a way of being that sends out roots in all directions, grows horizontally, and has no fixed beginning or end. The Curian Network connects faith leaders and communities without demanding conformity to specific creed or covenant. We are networked rather than hierarchical, woven together by relationship across digital and physical space—an ecosystem emphasizing the one thing that matters: faith expressing itself through love (Gal 5:6). We are a 501(c)(3) organization and a recognized endorser with The Board of Chaplaincy Certification and The Association of Professional Chaplains. Learn More Learn how the Curian Network serves and credentials pastors, chaplains, spiritual directors, theologians, professors, and other faith leaders seeking a spiritual home. Visit thecurian.network and follow @thecurian.network on Facebook and Instagram. Credits Produced and original music by Ruthie Santiago Productions

2. 

   2 Sept 2026

   You’ll Lose Some Things, But You’ll Find a New Home | EP 12

   In this episode, Jonathan Foster is joined by Rev. Dr. Shaleen Kendrick, Tori Owens, and Thomas J. Oord for a live conversation at the 2026 Open and Relational Theology Conference. Together, they explore what happens when a faith community no longer feels like a safe place to be fully yourself, and what it can look like to find wholeness, belonging, and a new spiritual home. Drawing from open and relational theology, neuro-relational theology, and therapy, the conversation considers theological coherence, God's love, human flourishing, and the relational cost of leaving religious communities that once shaped us. They also explore how Curian offers a different kind of spiritual community, one where faith leaders can hold their questions, live with integrity, and belong without sacrificing who they are. If you've ever wondered whether there is a place for you after leaving the church or a religious community that no longer feels like home, this conversation is for you. About The Curian Network The Curian Network (formerly opentable.network) is a denominational space credentialing and resourcing pastors, chaplains, spiritual directors, and counselors in this wild day and age we live in, which is as extremely irreligious as it is hyper-religious. We believe that what works out on the extreme edges and all the spaces in between is love. Not love that simply makes space for people within the terms set by existing structures, but love that allows difference to enhance the entirety of who we are. Top-down religion is no longer viable in a world shaped by algorithms, micro-communities, and interconnected networks. What’s needed is something relational and rhizomatic—a way of being that sends out roots in all directions, grows horizontally, and has no fixed beginning or end. The Curian Network connects faith leaders and communities without demanding conformity to specific creed or covenant. We are networked rather than hierarchical, woven together by relationship across digital and physical space—an ecosystem emphasizing the one thing that matters: faith expressing itself through love (Gal 5:6). We are a 501(c)(3) organization and a recognized endorser with The Board of Chaplaincy Certification and The Association of Professional Chaplains. Learn More Learn how the Curian Network serves and credentials pastors, chaplains, spiritual directors, theologians, professors, and other faith leaders seeking a spiritual home. Visit thecurian.network and follow @thecurian.network on Facebook and Instagram. Credits Produced and original music by Ruthie Santiago Productions

3. 

   28 Jul 2026

   Starting with Questions: A Conversation with Damian Geddry | EP 11

   From the Open and Relational Theology Conference (ORTCON), Jonathan Foster talks with Damian Geddry about creativity, new beginnings, and what his journey through recovery, marketing, and ministry has taught him about listening for spiritual longing. Through conversations with people who are deconstructed, dechurched, or seeking meaning outside traditional religious spaces, Damian has explored the questions that reveal our deepest hopes, fears, and desires. Together they reflect on curiosity, transformation, and how paying attention to people's lived experiences can open new possibilities for faith and community. About The Curian Network The Curian Network (formerly opentable.network) is a denominational space credentialing and resourcing pastors, chaplains, spiritual directors, and counselors in this wild day and age we live in, which is as extremely irreligious as it is hyper-religious. We believe that what works out on the extreme edges and all the spaces in between is love. Not love that simply makes space for people within the terms set by existing structures, but love that allows difference to enhance the entirety of who we are. Top-down religion is no longer viable in a world shaped by algorithms, micro-communities, and interconnected networks. What’s needed is something relational and rhizomatic—a way of being that sends out roots in all directions, grows horizontally, and has no fixed beginning or end. The Curian Network connects faith leaders and communities without demanding conformity to specific creed or covenant. We are networked rather than hierarchical, woven together by relationship across digital and physical space—an ecosystem emphasizing the one thing that matters: faith expressing itself through love (Gal 5:6). We are a 501(c)(3) organization and a recognized endorser with The Board of Chaplaincy Certification and The Association of Professional Chaplains. Learn More Learn how the Curian Network serves and credentials pastors, chaplains, spiritual directors, theologians, professors, and other faith leaders seeking a spiritual home. Visit thecurian.network and follow @thecurian.network on Facebook and Instagram. Credits Produced and original music by Ruthie Santiago Productions

4. 

   30 May 2026

   What We Sing Matters: Worship Music, Theology, and the Power of Language with Savannah Locke | EP 10

   In this episode, Jonathan Foster and Jill Elizabeth are joined by Savannah Locke (https://www.savannahlocke.com/ (https://www.savannahlocke.com/)) for a conversation about worship music and the theology embedded within the songs churches sing. Together, they explore how popular worship music has been written, the assumptions and beliefs it communicates, and the ways lyrics shape our understanding of God, faith, and community. Drawing from Savannah's experience as a songwriter and worship leader, the conversation examines the responsibility of crafting songs for congregational spaces and the lasting impact worship music can have on spiritual formation. Jonathan, Jill, and Savannah reflect on how language can both liberate and constrain, inviting listeners to think more deeply about the words they sing and the stories those words tell. About The Curian Network The Curian Network (formerly opentable.network) is a denominational space credentialing and resourcing pastors, chaplains, spiritual directors, and counselors in this wild day and age we live in, which is as extremely irreligious as it is hyper-religious. We believe that what works out on the extreme edges and all the spaces in between is love. Not love that simply makes space for people within the terms set by existing structures, but love that allows difference to enhance the entirety of who we are. Top-down religion is no longer viable in a world shaped by algorithms, micro-communities, and interconnected networks. What’s needed is something relational and rhizomatic—a way of being that sends out roots in all directions, grows horizontally, and has no fixed beginning or end. The Curian Network connects faith leaders and communities without demanding conformity to specific creed or covenant. We are networked rather than hierarchical, woven together by relationship across digital and physical space—an ecosystem emphasizing the one thing that matters: faith expressing itself through love (Gal 5:6). We are a 501(c)(3) organization and a recognized endorser with The Board of Chaplaincy Certification and The Association of Professional Chaplains. Learn More Learn how the Curian Network serves and credentials pastors, chaplains, spiritual directors, theologians, professors, and other faith leaders seeking a spiritual home. Visit thecurian.network and follow @thecurian.network on Facebook and Instagram. Credits Produced and original music by Ruthie Santiago Productions

5. 

   16 Apr 2026

   Faith, Sexuality, and the Courage to Be Honest (Part 2) | EP 9

   Note: This episode includes conversation around sexuality and experiences of harm within the church, including abuse. We invite you to listen with care and attentiveness to your own experience. In this follow-up conversation, Jonathan and Rev. Jill Elizabeth reflect on Jill's dialogue with Tori Owens, continuing to explore themes of faith, sexuality, and belonging within the church. Drawing from their own experiences and theological perspectives, they consider what it means to hold space for honesty, tension, and growth in spiritual communities. Together, they revisit key ideas from Part 1 and expand the conversation, asking how faith leaders and communities can move toward greater compassion, integrity, and care for those navigating questions of identity. This episode invites listeners to sit with the ongoing work of listening, unlearning, and reimagining what it means to create spaces where people can be fully seen and known. About The Curian Network The Curian Network (formerly opentable.network) is a denominational space credentialing and resourcing pastors, chaplains, spiritual directors, and counselors in this wild day and age we live in, which is as extremely irreligious as it is hyper-religious. We believe that what works out on the extreme edges and all the spaces in between is love. Not love that simply makes space for people within the terms set by existing structures, but love that allows difference to enhance the entirety of who we are. Top-down religion is no longer viable in a world shaped by algorithms, micro-communities, and interconnected networks. What’s needed is something relational and rhizomatic—a way of being that sends out roots in all directions, grows horizontally, and has no fixed beginning or end. The Curian Network connects faith leaders and communities without demanding conformity to specific creed or covenant. We are networked rather than hierarchical, woven together by relationship across digital and physical space—an ecosystem emphasizing the one thing that matters: faith expressing itself through love (Gal 5:6). We are a 501(c)(3) organization and a recognized endorser with The Board of Chaplaincy Certification and The Association of Professional Chaplains. Learn More Learn how the Curian Network serves and credentials pastors, chaplains, spiritual directors, theologians, professors, and other faith leaders seeking a spiritual home. Visit thecurian.network and follow @thecurian.network on Facebook and Instagram. Credits Produced and original music by Ruthie Santiago Productions

6. 

   31 Mar 2026

   Faith, Sexuality, and the Courage to Be Honest with Tori Owens (Part 1) | EP 8

   In this episode, Jill Elizabeth is joined by Tori Owens, a therapist and spiritual director, for a thoughtful and personal conversation about faith, sexuality, and the search for belonging within the church. Drawing from her own lived experience, Tori reflects on the tension between identity and tradition, and what it has meant to navigate spaces that have not always made room for her full self. Together, they explore how honesty, spiritual formation, and compassionate presence can open new pathways for healing and integration. This conversation invites listeners to consider what it looks like to hold faith and identity together with integrity, and how communities might become more life-giving for those on the margins. About The Curian Network The Curian Network (formerly opentable.network) is a denominational space credentialing and resourcing pastors, chaplains, spiritual directors, and counselors in this wild day and age we live in, which is as extremely irreligious as it is hyper-religious. We believe that what works out on the extreme edges and all the spaces in between is love. Not love that simply makes space for people within the terms set by existing structures, but love that allows difference to enhance the entirety of who we are. Top-down religion is no longer viable in a world shaped by algorithms, micro-communities, and interconnected networks. What’s needed is something relational and rhizomatic—a way of being that sends out roots in all directions, grows horizontally, and has no fixed beginning or end. The Curian Network connects faith leaders and communities without demanding conformity to specific creed or covenant. We are networked rather than hierarchical, woven together by relationship across digital and physical space—an ecosystem emphasizing the one thing that matters: faith expressing itself through love (Gal 5:6). We are a 501(c)(3) organization and a recognized endorser with The Board of Chaplaincy Certification and The Association of Professional Chaplains. Learn More Learn how the Curian Network serves and credentials pastors, chaplains, spiritual directors, theologians, professors, and other faith leaders seeking a spiritual home. Visit thecurian.network and follow @thecurian.network on Facebook and Instagram. Credits Produced and original music by Ruthie Santiago Productions

7. 

   16 Mar 2026

   Mo: Identity, Belonging, and the Search for Home | EP 7

   In this episode, Jonathan Foster and Rev. Jill Elizabeth reflect on the Netflix series Mo, a story that weaves humor, hardship, and cultural tension into a deeply human narrative. Through the life of its central character, the series explores questions of identity, displacement, and what it means to belong in a world shaped by borders, systems, and competing loyalties. Jonathan and Jill approach Mo as both cultural commentary and spiritual reflection, considering how the series illuminates themes of immigration, resilience, family, and faith. Together, they discuss how stories like this invite us to see more clearly the lived realities of marginalized communities and challenge us to imagine a more compassionate and just way of being together. About The Curian Network The Curian Network (formerly opentable.network) is a denominational space credentialing and resourcing pastors, chaplains, spiritual directors, and counselors in this wild day and age we live in, which is as extremely irreligious as it is hyper-religious. We believe that what works out on the extreme edges and all the spaces in between is love. Not love that simply makes space for people within the terms set by existing structures, but love that allows difference to enhance the entirety of who we are. Top-down religion is no longer viable in a world shaped by algorithms, micro-communities, and interconnected networks. What’s needed is something relational and rhizomatic—a way of being that sends out roots in all directions, grows horizontally, and has no fixed beginning or end. The Curian Network connects faith leaders and communities without demanding conformity to specific creed or covenant. We are networked rather than hierarchical, woven together by relationship across digital and physical space—an ecosystem emphasizing the one thing that matters: faith expressing itself through love (Gal 5:6). We are a 501(c)(3) organization and a recognized endorser with The Board of Chaplaincy Certification and The Association of Professional Chaplains. Learn More Learn how the Curian Network serves and credentials pastors, chaplains, spiritual directors, theologians, professors, and other faith leaders seeking a spiritual home. Visit thecurian.network and follow @thecurian.network on Facebook and Instagram. Credits Produced and original music by Ruthie Santiago Productions

8. 

   5 Mar 2026

   Reimagining Faith and Belonging with Keri Ladouceur | EP 6

   In this episode, Jonathan Foster and Jill Elizabeth are joined by Keri Ladouceur, executive director and co-founder of the Post-Evangelical Collective. Keri is a pastor, teacher, and bridge-building peacemaker who longs to cultivate new faith spaces of mutuality and flourishing for all people. Together, they explore what it means to live faithfully beyond the confines of traditional evangelical structures, and how communities can remain rooted in the Way of Jesus while pursuing inclusion, holistic justice, and deep spiritual formation. Drawing on Keri’s leadership within the Post-Evangelical Collective — a network committed to connecting and resourcing post-evangelical churches — the conversation invites listeners to consider new models of belonging, witness, and love in the present cultural moment. About The Curian Network The Curian Network (formerly opentable.network) is a denominational space credentialing and resourcing pastors, chaplains, spiritual directors, and counselors in this wild day and age we live in, which is as extremely irreligious as it is hyper-religious. We believe that what works out on the extreme edges and all the spaces in between is love. Not love that simply makes space for people within the terms set by existing structures, but love that allows difference to enhance the entirety of who we are. Top-down religion is no longer viable in a world shaped by algorithms, micro-communities, and interconnected networks. What’s needed is something relational and rhizomatic—a way of being that sends out roots in all directions, grows horizontally, and has no fixed beginning or end. The Curian Network connects faith leaders and communities without demanding conformity to specific creed or covenant. We are networked rather than hierarchical, woven together by relationship across digital and physical space—an ecosystem emphasizing the one thing that matters: faith expressing itself through love (Gal 5:6). We are a 501(c)(3) organization and a recognized endorser with The Board of Chaplaincy Certification and The Association of Professional Chaplains. Learn More Learn how the Curian Network serves and credentials pastors, chaplains, spiritual directors, theologians, professors, and other faith leaders seeking a spiritual home. Visit thecurian.network and follow @thecurian.network on Facebook and Instagram. Credits Produced and original music by Ruthie Santiago Productions

9. 

   17 Feb 2026

   Sinners (2025): Faith, Violence, and the Long Shadow of Oppression | EP 5

   In this episode, Jonathan Foster and Jill Elizabeth reflect on Sinners, the 2025 supernatural horror film directed by Ryan Coogler. They approach the film as a cultural and theological text, exploring the deeper questions it raises about faith, oppression, and moral responsibility. Together, they consider how horror can illuminate the dynamics of power, communal fear, and inherited trauma. The conversation engages themes of religion, violence, and belonging, asking what stories like Sinners reveal about the human condition and the systems that shape it. Thoughtful and probing, this dialogue invites listeners to reflect not only on the film itself, but on the spiritual and cultural realities it mirrors. About The Curian Network The Curian Network (formerly opentable.network) is a denominational space credentialing and resourcing pastors, chaplains, spiritual directors, and counselors in this wild day and age we live in, which is as extremely irreligious as it is hyper-religious. We believe that what works out on the extreme edges and all the spaces in between is love. Not love that simply makes space for people within the terms set by existing structures, but love that allows difference to enhance the entirety of who we are. Top-down religion is no longer viable in a world shaped by algorithms, micro-communities, and interconnected networks. What’s needed is something relational and rhizomatic—a way of being that sends out roots in all directions, grows horizontally, and has no fixed beginning or end. The Curian Network connects faith leaders and communities without demanding conformity to specific creed or covenant. We are networked rather than hierarchical, woven together by relationship across digital and physical space—an ecosystem emphasizing the one thing that matters: faith expressing itself through love (Gal 5:6). We are a 501(c)(3) organization and a recognized endorser with The Board of Chaplaincy Certification and The Association of Professional Chaplains. Learn More Learn how the Curian Network serves and credentials pastors, chaplains, spiritual directors, theologians, professors, and other faith leaders seeking a spiritual home. Visit thecurian.network and follow @thecurian.network on Facebook and Instagram. Credits Produced and original music by Ruthie Santiago Productions

10. 

    2 Feb 2026

    Mimetic Theory: Desire, Scapegoating, and Faith | EP 4

    In this episode, Jonathan Foster and Jill Elizabeth explore mimetic theory, a framework developed by French thinker René Girard that examines how desire, rivalry, and scapegoating shape human behavior and communities. Drawing on Jonathan’s doctoral work and long engagement with Girard’s thought, they discuss how mimesis influenced his faith, theology, and understanding of conflict within religious systems. Together, they reflect on how scapegoating operates in churches and institutions today, and why mimetic theory offers a compelling lens for reimagining faith rooted in truth, accountability, and nonviolent love. Learn how the Curian Network serves and credentials pastors, chaplains, spiritual directors, theologians, professors, and other faith leaders seeking a spiritual home. Visit our website thecurian.network and follow us on social media @thecurian.network on Facebook and Instagram. Produced and original music by Ruthie Santiago Productions

11. 

    19 Jan 2026

    Conclave (2024): Inside the Dynamics of Religious Power | EP 3

    In this episode, Jonathan Foster and Jill Elizabeth reflect on the 2024 film Conclave, using it as a lens to explore the inner dynamics of religious institutions. They examine how power, secrecy, and loyalty shape leadership and decision-making within sacred systems, and what the film reveals about institutional authority. The conversation invites listeners to consider how faith communities might move toward leadership rooted in humility, conscience, and love rather than control. Learn how the Curian Network serves and credentials pastors, chaplains, spiritual directors, theologians, professors, and other faith leaders seeking a spiritual home. Visit our website thecurian.network and follow us on social media @thecurian.network on Facebook and Instagram. Produced and original music by Ruthie Santiago Productions

12. 

    6 Jan 2026

    Immigration, Faith, and Human Dignity with Andrea Martinez | EP 2

    In this episode, Jonathan Foster and Jill Elizabeth are joined by Andrea Martinez of Martinez Immigration Law, a Kansas City–based immigration attorney featured in the Netflix documentary Living Undocumented, for a conversation at the intersection of faith, law, and human dignity. Together, they explore the ethical and theological questions surrounding immigration, the realities faced by immigrant communities, and what it means to accompany individuals and families with compassion as they navigate complex legal systems. Learn how the Curian Network serves and credentials pastors, chaplains, spiritual directors, theologians, professors, and other faith leaders seeking a spiritual home. Learn more at our website thecurian.network and on social media @thecurian.network on Facebook and Instagram. Produced and original music by Ruthie Santiago Productions

13. 

    29 Dec 2025

    Welcome to The Curian Podcast: Faith, Harm, and Hope with Dana Hicks | EP 1

    In this opening episode, Jonathan Foster and Jill Elizabeth welcome co-founder, Dana Hicks, president of the Curian Network, for a conversation about the story and heart behind Curian. Together, they reflect on their journeys within the church, being disinvited from their denomination, and what led them to create a new spiritual ecosystem rooted in care, integrity, and human dignity. Learn how the Curian Network serves and credentials pastors, chaplains, spiritual directors, theologians, professors, and other faith leaders seeking a spiritual home. Learn more at our website thecurian.network and on social media @thecurian.network on Facebook and Instagram. Production and original music by Ruthie Santiago Productions

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

6 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Contact The Curian Podcast

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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