What If Project

What if our phones aren't just distracting us from our lives, but helping us avoid feeling them AND from feeling all the feelings that tend to make life feel messy?

Now THAT’S a big “what if”, right? This week I'm talking with Shannon Algeo about his book "The Power in Your Hands" - a book you NEED on your shelf. One thing to note: Shannon's book isn't a call to throw away our phones; it's an invitation to exam...

For years, many of us have been told that anxiety is primarily a thinking problem—that if we could just change our thoughts, our anxiety would disappear.

But what if that's only part of the story?

In this conversation, physician, neuroscientist, and "Anxiety Rx" author Dr. Russell Kennedy explains why anxiety often begins as a feeling in the body before it becomes a story in the mind.

Who knew?!

He shares why uncertainty fuel...

FROM THE ARCHIVES: This week, we're revisiting one of my favorite conversations from the What If Project archives, a conversation with John Philip Newell about his beautiful book "Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul".

What if the deepest truth about being human isn't that we're broken, sinful, or separated from God?

What if we've simply forgotten who we are?

In this conversation, JP introduces us to the wisdom of Celtic Christianity and its ...

What happens when the place that taught you about God becomes the place that wounds you most?

This week we sit down with Chantal Morales McKinney as she shares the deeply personal story behind her book "Following Jesus Beyond Church Walls" where she presses into a question many of us have asked before:

Can you still follow Jesus when church no longer feels safe?

Together we explore topics like church trauma, deconstruction, Christ ...

What if the Book of Psalms isn't simply a collection of ancient worship songs, but a guide for living an honest spiritual life?

In this week’s episode we sit down with Richard Bruxvoort Colligan - musician, songwriter, and author of the incredible "Dangerous Songs: The Psalms and a Life of Honest Faith" to explore why the Psalms have endured for thousands of years.

We cover LOTS of ground and explore things like lament, joy, ...

This week we are talking Aldo Cazzullo about his book, "God of Our Fathers: the Great Stories of the Bible" where he connects some of the most well-known stories of the Bible to present day circumstances and shows how the Bible is a stunning literary achievement that contains the full breadth of the human experience.

Are you weary of hearing about how the Bible is nothing other than the "inerrant and perfect Word of God" that is to...

Friends.

This week we are talking to Dr. Richard Beck about his incredible book, "The Book of Love: A Better Way to Read the Bible". The reality is that we all have a particular lens through which we read the Bible along with a set of experiences we bring with us to the text. In his book, Richard helps us realize that and then suggests a different lens or prism through which...

Friends.

We have an incredible episode this week featuring John Dominic Crossan and Michael Okinczyc-Cruz talking about their recent book, “Jesus and Justice” - a book that is so, so important for these tense moments that we’re in.

In this episode, Dom and Michael invite us into the world Jesus actually lived in &...

Most of us were handed a script, right? THIS is what success looks like. THIS is what a good life is. THIS is what it means to be normal.

BUT.

What happens when that script starts to crack, when it just doesn't work anymore?

In this episode, I’m joined by MaryAnn McKibben Dana, author of the amazing book, B...

Today we are talking to Liza Rankow about some things that just might hold the power to change the world.

Liza J. Rankow, PhD, MHS, is an interfaith minister, educator, activist, and author. Her lifework centers the deep healing that is essential to personal and social transformation.

Liza is the founder and former executive director of OneLife Institute, which for almost 20 years supported the well-being of frontline changemakers....

What happens to morality when the old rules no longer work?

For many of us raised in Evangelical or fundamentalist Christianity, ethics once felt clear: follow God’s commands, trust the Bible, and do the right thing. But when that framework begins to fall apart, moral decision-making can suddenly feel confusing ... even frightening.

In this episode of the What If Project, I’m joined by Dr. Scott Gelfand, author of Think...

This week we are talking to Michael Leach. Michael served as Assistant to the Head Coach for the Chicago Bears, managed Labor Operations at NFL Headquarters, and become the first ever Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer for the White House under President Joe Biden. He recently released a wonderful book called "Faith Over Fear: Harnessing Resilience in the Face of Uncertainty" and he's joined us today to talk about it. We talk ab...

This week NT Wright joins me to explore the vision behind his new book, God’s Homecoming: The Forgotten Promise of Future Renewal.

Many of us were raised with an end-times story that was focused on escape—going to heaven when we die, the rapture, and the destruction of the world.

BUT.

What if that was...

Friends, today is my birthday AND the release of my new book, "Letters From My Soul". In this episode I share a bit about the book, read some chapter titles to you along with the Introduction. Give it a listen and head over to Amazon to pick one up for $14.99. If that's too steep, I get it - email me at whatifproject.net@gmail.com and I'll send you one for FREE. I am also happy to mail a signed copy for...

Friends, welcome to SEASON NINE of the podcast. To kick off a new season and a NEW YEAR (Happy New Year!) we're talking to a brand new guest - Dr. Hugo Mendez. Hugo is an associate professor in Ancient Mediterranean Religions at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He recently wrote a book called "The Gospel of John: A New History" and it is FANTASTIC - a must read if you want to know more a...

Friends, welcome to the final episode of 2025. We're bringing the year (and season 8 of the podcast!) to a close with a new friend of the show - Amelia Hruby. Amelia wrote a book called "Your Attention is Sacred (Except on Social Media)" and she's on the show today to talk to us about some things we might not realize about social media and the way it impacts our everyday lives. I really set out to reform my social media use in 2025...

Friends, this week we are talking to the official tarot reader and astrologer of the What If Project, my friend - Stefanie Caponi. I love the work that Stefanie is doing in the world as she breaks down and presents ideas and topics that many were raised to fear (!) in profound and non-threatening ways. Today we revisit the topic of "tarot" and how it ties into manifestation and shadow work and can help ...

Friends. This week we are talking to Mory Fontanez about her book, "Higher Self: Reclaiming the Power of Your Intuition" and, let me tell you - this book is scratching me right where I itch.

I was raised in a world where I was told to DISTRUST the voice inside. Heck, I was even told it was a DEMON that needed to be CAST OUT and sent to the pits of hell.

You too?

Just me?

Anyways - Mory helps those of us who have been disconnected f...

This week we are talking to Brian McLaren about his new book (the first in a trilogy), "The Last Voyage". We talk about the current state of the world and how humanity can come together to envision and dream about a new way forward. Looking for some motivation and encouragement during these divisive moments that we're in? This one will help. Enjoy!

SHOW NOTES:

BRIAN MCLAREN: http://brianmclaren.net/ 

THE LAST VOYAGE: https://w...