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Can Christian faith and scholarly inquiry coexist—and even thrive—together?
In this week’s Church Potluck, we have the honor to sit down with Berry College President Sandeep Mazumder. Dr. Mazumder (Economics) shares his faith journey from a Hindu upbringing in London to embracing Christian faith in graduate school, and reflects on how that experience shapes his vision for Berry College and academia more broadly.

Dr. Kathryn Heidelberger (Religion and Philosophy) explores how wrestling with other religious traditions can strengthen, rather than weaken, our faith. Dr. Michael Bailey brings insights on the relationship between faith, academic freedom, moral formation, and the value of pluralism. And Dr. Dale McConkey drives the bus and shares experiences from his time as Berry’s chaplain.

Together, they explore the education of head, heart, and hands—and what it means for a college to hold faith and intellect in creative tension. Feast!

The views expressed on Church Potluck are solely those of the participants and do not represent any organization.

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Premiere horror and Halloween enthusiast (and fashion icon) Clint Peters joins the podcast to discuss how horror taps our primal selves. We dig into how films like The Babadook, Jaws, Nosferatu, and even Midnight Mass reveal what we value, how fear works, and why the genre often takes the supernatural—and the Church—more seriously than most “serious” films.

Perennial guest and bud Michael Bailey argues Christianity is inherently spooky, pushes back on the “horror desensitizes us” worry, and compares horror’s moral mirror to the real cultural rot: vanity, greed, and tribalism.

And host Dale McConkey jumps in with questions about liminality and the connections between Halloween, All Saint's Day, All Soul's Day, and Mexico's Day of the Dead. Enjoy!

The views expressed on Church Potluck are solely those of the participants and do not represent any organization.

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Rev. Dr. Erin Moniz (Baylor chaplain and author of Knowing and Being Known) joins Church Potluck to rethink “intimacy” beyond sex and dating—into friendship, family systems, and a church that actually feels like family. Along with Dr. Margaret Ndwandwe (digital media specialist), Erin unpacks purity culture 2.0, attachment theory, boundaries vs. vulnerability, and why technology (yes, even AI chatbots) can’t replace embodied relationships. And Margaret shares stories from her personal life: a cross-cultural newlywed story and how chosen family and clear, kind boundaries make room for real closeness. Host Dale McConkey steers the table talk toward church practice: intergenerational care, small-group honesty, and a gospel vision where friends become “mother, brothers, and sisters.” Plus: a playful “Then or Now?” dating-advice game and practical ways churches can move from polite proximity to genuine community. Join us around the table and dig in!

The views expressed on Church Potluck are solely those of the participants and do not represent any organization.