Shows
Design and ReligionMemorialsNate and Van interview Jeffrey Miller, a renowned church organist, about his career and experiences in church music and opera. They cover the planning and execution of memorial services, including the importance of music selection, personal preferences, and setting boundaries for family contributions. Finally, they explore the challenges of funeral attendance and community involvement, emphasizing the need for personal boundaries and policies in religious contexts.Send us a text message letting us know what you think of this episode!We envision a world where design and religion work together to spread love, empathy, and c...2025-07-1053 min
Design and ReligionPerformanceRachele Gilmore joins Nate and Van to discuss their personal experiences with performing and focus on the challenges and rewards of their respective careers. They also explored the psychological and therapeutic aspects of performing and leading worship services, emphasizing the importance of authenticity, subtlety, and interactivity. The conversation ended with a discussion on the significance of singing and prayer in personal and communal experiences, and the potential for finding joy and a meditative state in these activities.Send us a text message letting us know what you think of this episode!We envision a...2025-06-1225 min
Design and ReligionCompetitionRev. Dr. Jason Santos joins to discuss popular media and social influencers on religious views, and the challenges of tribalism in communication. We also explore the potential for rethinking how the gospel is communicated and proclaimed in the worship service, the importance of engaging with the world beyond their religious community, and the need for a more nuanced approach to understanding and addressing varieties of social issues. The conversation also touched on the responsibility of religious leaders to engage with popular media, the role of podcasts in facilitating diverse conversations, and the potential for clergy to bridge gaps.2025-05-2953 min
Design and ReligionPastor PerspectiveNate and Van discuss the importance of creativity, positive change, and inclusivity in their work. They explore various topics including community engagement, selflessness, and the potential impact of current events on people's well-being, while also touching on the influence of different voices and media on their congregation. The conversation concludes with reflections on personal beliefs, the value of diverse perspectives, and the importance of raw, unstructured conversations in challenging one's own viewpoints.Send us a text message letting us know what you think of this episode!We envision a world where design and religion...2025-05-1540 min
Design and ReligionEquityOxana Lesova, a User Researcher, joins Nate and Van to discuss her everyday work in diversity, equity, and inclusion, with individuals and communities with disabilities. The conversation concluded with reflections on the importance of allowing individuals to tell their own stories, the value of empathy in pastoral counseling, and the significance of unity and connection that comes when we invite everyone -their whole self "to the table".Send us a text message letting us know what you think of this episode!We envision a world where design and religion work together to spread love...2025-05-0853 min
Design and ReligionInclusionDavid Franklin an Accessibility Expert, joins Nate and Van to discuss the importance of inclusivity and accessibility. They also explore the challenges of ensuring inclusivity in web design and the importance of receiving feedback from users and audience members in a church service. The conversation touches on the importance of understanding the context and potential biases in the Bible, the need for a two-way approach to inclusion, and the challenges of balancing change with tradition in church services and modern technology.Send us a text message letting us know what you think of this episode!2025-05-0149 min
Design and ReligionDiversity PT2Edwin, Nate and Van continue the discussion with Edwin exploring the importance of diversity and authenticity in relationships, with Edwin sharing his experiences as a the first non-white senior pastor in his current church and the challenges of being an outsider in a predominantly white congregation. Send us a text message letting us know what you think of this episode!We envision a world where design and religion work together to spread love, empathy, and charity faster than divisiveness, selfishness, and hate. To achieve this, we aim to bring the stories of those driving t...2025-04-2438 min
Design and ReligionDiversity PT1In this part one, of two-part episode, Rev. Edwin Estevez, joins Nate, and Van and shares his experiences growing up in diverse environments and discusses the cultural significance of sharing food, the impact of technology on human interaction, the importance of acknowledging the amygdala in understanding human behavior, and the challenges of navigating cultural differences in diverse communities. Lastly, they touch on the challenges churches face in adapting to changing neighborhoods, the importance of local community engagement, and the need for more meaningful, long-term relationships in community service.Send us a text message letting us know what...2025-04-0952 min
Design and ReligionActivismRev. John Molina-Moore joins Nate and Van in discussing preaching and the finer points and pitfalls of encouraging action. The conversation explored the balance between comfort and challenge in sermons, the importance of addressing contemporary issues thoughtfully, and the role of activism and personal growth in social advocacy. Send us a text message letting us know what you think of this episode!We envision a world where design and religion work together to spread love, empathy, and charity faster than divisiveness, selfishness, and hate. To achieve this, we aim to bring the stories of t...2025-04-0344 min
Design and ReligionDesigner PerspectiveVan and Nate discuss Van's perspective as a designer on the art of preaching, comparing it to trial lawyers' persuasive techniques. Van begins to share his thoughts on what he believes for both clergy and design perspectives, mentioning contrasting examples from the design world.Send us a text message letting us know what you think of this episode!We envision a world where design and religion work together to spread love, empathy, and charity faster than divisiveness, selfishness, and hate. To achieve this, we aim to bring the stories of those driving this change—bo...2025-03-2723 min
Design and ReligionCraftRev. Dr. Adam Hearlson joins Van, and Nate to discuss the craft and challenges of preaching, the importance of balancing responsibility and creative risk-taking, and the role of storytelling in conveying lessons. They cover the importance of equipping people with the necessary tools and motivation to understand and take positive actions in their life.Send us a text message letting us know what you think of this episode!We envision a world where design and religion work together to spread love, empathy, and charity faster than divisiveness, selfishness, and hate. To...2025-03-2059 min
Design and ReligionInterpretationHow do listeners, participants, and colleagues receive the key points we need them to? Van wears the "participant hat" and gives feedback about what he experiences during many sermons. Nate and Van also explore the challenges of preparation, authenticity, and structured vulnerability in communication. Send us a text message letting us know what you think of this episode!We envision a world where design and religion work together to spread love, empathy, and charity faster than divisiveness, selfishness, and hate. To achieve this, we aim to bring the stories of those driving this change—bot...2025-03-1339 min