Cafeteria Christian

Cafeteria Christian

Cafeteria Christian started as a place for people who love Jesus but are so over the version of Christianity that forgets love, justice, and curiosity. Hosted by Pastor Natalia Terfa and Pastor Emmy Kegler, the show is a mix of faith conversations, cultural commentary, and the beautiful, complicated mess of trying to follow Jesus in the real world. From biblical deep dives to big feelings about the world, Emmy and Natalia create a space where honesty and hope coexist. Together, we're reclaiming the term “Cafeteria Christian” — because when it comes to faith, you really can take what you like and leave the rest.

Episodes

October 27, 2025 63 mins

Emmy and Natalia answer a listener email about sin and confession and if we’re all inherently bad or good. You know, light easy topics, just in time for Halloween. CW: church language around inherent sinfulness. 

www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian

Join us & Mary Danho this Advent

KPDH Blog post

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Emmy and Natalia talk about how everyone always needs to comment about everything, and wonder together what it might look like if we all practiced having more unexpressed thoughts. 

www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian 

Kelly Latimore

Ben Wildflower

 

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Summary: Get ready for an auditory Powerpoint presentation on supernatural horror flicks and non-canonical gospels because Emmy took the wheel on this one re the forthcoming release of The Carpenter’s Son, a supernatural horror film based on (we’re not kidding) the Infancy Gospel of Thomas and starring Nicolas Cage as Jesus’ father Joseph.

The Carpenter’s Son Trailer

Nic Cage hunts for the Holy Grail

The Five Gospels

Infancy Gos...

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October 6, 2025 69 mins

Emmy and Natalia set aside current events (and big feelings about current events) to talk about the biblical book of the prophet Micah and discover that actually, not a lot has changed since 700 BCE. 

www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian

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Emmy and Natalia finally talk about the Seven Heavenly Virtues, and wonder if they even really matter at all?  

www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian

 

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September 24, 2025 49 mins

Emmy and Natalia continue the conversation from last week, about why everything feels like too much, and what we are trying to do about it. 

Links: 

https://substack.com/@dianabutlerbass/note/c-157891892?r=3g6zg&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action 

 

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Emmy and Natalia talk about the death of Charlie Kirk, the outpouring of hot takes, and how it might not be good for us that everyone feels like they needs to care about all the things all the time. 



Consider supporting our show. Not to get any free stuff of perks (though you can see video of this podcast if you’re a patron), but support us because...

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September 9, 2025 61 mins

Emmy and Natalia finally come back to wrap up the seven deadly sins with wrath, envy, and pride. Also included, Natalia’s rant about Psalm 46 and when cherry-picking goes wrong.  

 

Links: 

Substack article about not being able to maintain the moral high ground: https://open.substack.com/pub/elisedenbasco/p/on-white-covid-cautious-queers?r=3g6zg&utm_medium=ios 

Natalia’s uplift: ...

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September 2, 2025 60 mins

Emmy and Natalia process their big feelings around the school shooting in Minneapolis this last week, and how we’re trying to hold more than despair. 

Links talked about it today’s episode:
Tolstoy and Trump Substack: https://substack.com/home/post/p-171917579 

Glennon and Abby chat: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNit0TKtDgY/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MTNoajNtN2pudDVybA== 

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Emmy and Natalia take a little pause in their Seven Deadly Sins series to talk about the death of James Dobson and what to do when we have conflicting feelings about it. 

www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian

 

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August 19, 2025 50 mins

This week, Emmy and Natalia begin a multipart series on the 7 deadly sins. What are they? How did they come about? Why do they matter, if at all? Dig into gluttony, greed, and lust with us (yey?) in part 1! 

Link: www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian

 

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August 11, 2025 67 mins

Emmy and Natalia are back after their summer break and catching up on all things rest, sabbath, and holding peace while we navigate the dumpster fire that is the daily news cycle.

http://patreon.com/cafeteriachristian 

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Natalia and Emmy welcome poet and artist David Gate, to talk about his new book of poems and essays called “A Rebellion of Care.” 

 

Links: 

https://www.davidgatepoet.com/

 

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On our last episode of Pride Month, Emmy and Natalia welcome travel expert, speaker, and advocate Mikah Meyer to talk about his three year 419 National Park Service journey, as well as his current projects and why it matters to create safe spaces outdoors too. 

 http://patreon.com/cafeteriachristian 

Links: 

www.mikahmeyer.com

Interactive Map: www.mikahmeyer.com/map

O...

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Emmy and Natalia are joined by friend of the pod friend of God Erik Nelson to nerd out on the saints and icons and why it matters to know their names and their stories. Not just as histories but for our own understanding of what it means that God is still speaking through saints today as well. 

 

Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian

Follow Erik on Instagram: @sverike

 

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June 16, 2025 56 mins

It’s Pride month, and it feels even more important than ever to speak up and support our LGBTQ+ siblings. Emmy and Natalia process a moment that Emmy recently had during a Q&R (question and response), and how to respond when someone comes at you hard using the Bible as their defense. 

 

Links: 

President Bartlett’s takedown: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CPjWd4MUXs 

Support our show! www.pa...

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To kick off our Pride month discussions we’re bringing back an oldie but a goodie: episode 23, Emmy’s first appearance on the podcast way back in January 2019. Natalia, Nora McInerny, and Emmy talk “welcoming” vs “affirming,” reclaiming the word “queer,” and what to do with “Bam Bam Christians” who are just a little too into the “clobber verses” of the Bible.

Links: 

www.patreon.com/cafeteriac...

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Emmy and Natalia continue the conversation about finding a church fit, what your search might lead you into, and why you might not want to church search at all. 

 

Links: 

www.patreon.com/cafeteriachistian

Venmo: @cafeteriachristian

 

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May 28, 2025 65 mins

We asked, and you all responded! This week Emmy and Natalia read and talk about the ways Cafeterians have church shopped and how it went. 

www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian

 

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May 19, 2025 61 mins

Emmy and Natalia answer our most commonly asked listener question about churches and how to find a “good” church that also is safe, but also has good music, and also good preaching, and and and and and. 

Links: www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian

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