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The Two Cities

The Two Cities Podcast

The Two Cities is a podcast dedicated to Theology, Culture, and Discipleship. Originally beginning as a blog back in 2011 (thetwocities.com), we have extended our eclectic array of theological integration to the world of podcasting. Co-hosts and contributors include: Dr. Amber Bowen, Dr. Josh Carroll, Dr. John Anthony Dunne, Dr. Grace Emmett, Jennifer Guo, Dr. Brandon Hurlbert, Stephanie Kate Judd, Dr. Grace Sangalang Ng, Stanley Ng, Rev. Dr. Chris Porter, Rev. Daniel Parham, Dr. Madison Pierce, Dr. Kris Song, Dr. Sydney Tooth, Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Warne, and Dr. Logan Williams.

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24 episodes
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Avg 56 min
English

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Wednesday · 48 min
Episode #347 - Death of the Pastor's Wife with Special Guest Aimee Byrd
CW: Abuse, Spiritual Abuse, Grooming, Self-Harm In this episode, we're joined by special guest Aimee Byrd to help us debrief the three-part docu-series on Netflix, Death of the Pastor's Wife. Aimee is the author of several books, including Recovering from Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, The Hope in our Scars, The Sexual Reformation, Saving Face, and a few others. Over the course of our conversation, we discussed the grim details of this docu-series and processed together what we can learn from this tragic story as the church. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne and Dr. Grace Sangalang Ng. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 9 · 59 min
Episode #346 - The Four Senses of Scripture with Dr. Patrick Schreiner
In this episode we're joined by Dr. Patrick Schreiner, who is Professor of New Testament and Biblical Theology, Gene and Jo Downing Endowed Chair of Biblical Studies, and Director of the Residency Ph.D. Program at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, MO. And he's the author of the book we're discussing in this episode, The Four Senses of Scripture: Learning from Ancient Ways of Reading the Bible (Baker Academic). Over the course of our chat we discuss what the four senses are, what the literal sense compares to the spiritual senses, and what is deficient about the ways that we typically teach exegesis and hermeneutics in theological education. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: the Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Adishian, Dr. John Anthony Dunne, and Rev. Daniel Parham. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
September 2 · 57 min
Episode #345 - Every Table An Altar with Pastor Ian Simkins
In this episode, we're joined by Ian Simkins, who is Pastor at Bridge Church outside Nashville, TN, and he's the author of the book we're discussing in this episode, Every Table an Altar: Reclaiming Connection in a World of Division, Distraction, and Loneliness (Zondervan). We talk about what makes meals so significant, what the value is of using the table as a means of community building, and why our kingdom imaginations need to be oriented towards table fellowship after the model of Jesus. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Rev. Dr. Josh Carroll, Dr. John Anthony Dunne, and Dr. Grace Sangalang Ng. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
August 26 · 48 min
Episode #344 - The Odyssey
In this episode, we're talking about Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey. We talk about our expectations going into it, what we thought about the small and major changes that Nolan made to Homer's epic, and how we regard the major interpretative moves that were made relative to the representation of the gods and the Trojan horse. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: the Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Adishian, Dr. John Anthony Dunne, and Dr. Brandon Hurlbert. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
August 21 · 1 hr 2 min
Episode #343 - Archeology, Jesus, and the Gospel of John with Professor Paul Anderson
In this episode, we're joined by Professor Paul Anderson, who is Professor of Biblical and Quaker Studies at George Fox University, and he's the Editor of Archeology, Jesus, and the Gospel of John: What Recent Discoveries Show Us (Eerdmans). Over the course of our conversation, we discuss the essay contributions to Professor Anderson's new book and situate those in conversation with recent discussions on the Gospel of John. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne and Rev. Dr. Chris Porter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
August 12 · 1 hr 8 min
Episode #342 - A Ransom for Israel with Dr. Nicholas Schaser
In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Nicholas Schaser, who is Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Macalester College in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and the author of A Ransom for Israel: Jesus and Jewish Salvation in Matthew (published by SBL Press). In our conversation, we talk about christology and soteriology in Matthew, and how Dr. Schaser understands Matthew to be showcasing how Jesus secured salvation for ethnic Israel through the cross. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne and Dr. Logan Williams. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
August 5 · 41 min
Episode #341 - Perfect Vision with Adam LaSalle
In this episode, we're joined by Adam La Salle, the author of Perfect Vision: How Seeing Through God's Eyes Gives Us Sight. Adam is someone who has had a lifetime of reflecting on physical sight, forgiveness, the true essence of beauty, seeing through other people's eyes, and perseverance, all of which he discusses with us in this episode. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne and Stephanie Kate Judd. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
July 29 · 1 hr 4 min
Episode #340 - A Slave's Story Trilogy with Professor Christopher Stanley
In this episode, we're joined by Professor Christopher Stanley, who is Professor Emeritus of Theology at St Bonaventure University in New York, and he’s the author of a number of books, including the historical fiction trilogy called “A Slave’s Story” that we’re discussing in this episode, with the volumes A Rooster for Asclepios, A Bull for Pluto, and A Ram for Mars. In our conversation, we overview Professor Stanley's historical fiction trilogy, the value of historical fiction as a medium of academic historical investigation, and how much work Professor Stanley put into making this series grounded in scholarship and accessible to the non-expert. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Rev. Dr. Josh Carroll and Dr. John Anthony Dunne. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
July 22 · 43 min
Episode #339 - Becoming a Friendlier Church with Dr. Matthew Kim and Sarah Kim
In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Mathew Kim and his wife, Sarah Kim. Dr. Kim is Professor of Preaching and Leadership at Truett Theological Seminary of Baylor University, and the author of Becoming a Friendlier Church: A Pathway to Genuine Community (published by Baker Academic). In our conversation, we talk about how churches can become more inviting (and not just more extroverted) in order to build better and more authentic community. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Adishian and Dr. Grace Sangalang Ng. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
July 15 · 1 hr 4 min
Episode #338 - Esther Keeps the Score with Dr. Alexiana Fry
In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Alexiana Fry, who is guest researcher at the University of Copenhagen and the author of Esther Keeps the Score: Trauma, Body, and Politics in the Hebrew Bible (SCM Press). Our conversation explores what a trauma-informed reading of Esther would look like, highlighting how much more complexity there is to a biblical narrative that is already quite a complicated story (despite how simply it gets retold so often). Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne, Dr. Brandon Hurlbert, and Rev. Dr. Madison Pierce. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
July 8 · 55 min
Episode #337 - You Have A Calling with Dr. Karen Swallow Prior
In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Karen Swallow Prior, the 2025–2026 Karlson Scholar at Bethel Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and the author of several books, including You Have a Calling: Finding Your Vocation in the True, Good, and Beautiful (Brazos). Over the course of our conversation, we talk about the difference between passion and calling, and how pursuing the transcendentals of the true, good, and the beautiful is the best framework for reconceiving what our callings actually are. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne, Stanley Ng, Rev. Daniel Parham, and Dr. Sydney Tooth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
July 1 · 1 hr 17 min
Episode #336 - Orphic Legends in Twin Peaks with Dr. Mario Baghos
In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Mario Baghos, who is Senior Lecturer in Theology at the University of Notre Dame Australia. He's the owner of the YouTube channel, TERRA SYMBOLICA, and the author of a recent peer-reviewed essay on Orphic legends and Descent into Hades themes in the hit TV show, Twin Peaks. In our conversation, Dr. Baghos brilliantly and breathlessly surveys the full swath of Twin Peaks and the way it coheres with so many iterations of the Descent into Hades motif. It's a fascinating conversation full of nerdy Twin Peaks insights on religious and mythological imagery germane to the show. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities includes: Dr. John Anthony Dunne and Dr. Kris Song. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
June 24 · 58 min
Episode #335 - What Christians Ought To Believe with Revd Dr Mike Bird
In this episode we're joined by Revd Dr Mike Bird, who is Deputy Principal and academic lecturer in theology at Ridley College, Melbourne. He's also the author of numerous books, including the book we're discussing here, the 10th anniversary edition of What Christians Ought to Believe: An Introduction to Christian Doctrine through the Apostle's Creed (published by Zondervan Academic). In our conversation we discuss the enduring value of the Apostle's Creed, and dive into some of its key features as well as some of its missing details. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Adishian, Dr. John Anthony Dunne, Rev. Daniel Parham, and Rev. Dr. Chris Porter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
June 17 · 56 min
Episode #334 - Men of Virtue with Dr. Zach Wagner
In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Zach Wagner, who recently completed his DPhil at the University of Oxford, to talk about his new book, Men of Virtue: How the Fruit of the Spirit Forms Male Character in the Modern World (published by Brazos). In our conversation we talk about how the Fruit of the Spirit relates to virtues, whether the virtues are gendered, and what the Fruit of the Spirit looks like uniquely with respect to male embodiment. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: the Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Adishian, Dr. John Anthony Dunne, and Dr. Logan Williams. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
June 10 · 43 min
Episode #333 - Purpose & Joy with Dr. Elisabeth Lefebvre and Dr. Kristin VanEyk
In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Elisabeth Lefebvre (associate professor of Education at Bethel University in Saint Paul, MN) and Dr. Kristin VanEyk (assistant professor of English Education at Hope College in Holland, MI). Together, they are the editors of the new book, Purpose & Joy: Pursuing a Meaningful Career in Christian Higher Education (published by Abilene Christian University Press). In our conversation, we talked about what the essays in their volumes address related to the state of Christian Higher Education, navigating academia over the course of a career, and some helpful tips and tricks for educators of all sorts. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
June 3 · 57 min
Episode #332 - Beauty & Justice with Haejin and Makoto Fujimura
In this episode, we're joined by Haejin and Makoto Fujimura. Together they're the authors of Beauty & Justice: Creating a Life of Abundance and Courage (published by Brazos). Haejin Shim Fujimura is a lawyer, entrepreneur, speaker, and strategist whose work bridges justice, beauty, and cultural transformation. She is the founding attorney of Shim & Associates, a law firm rooted in cultural renewal, and the CEO and cofounder of Embers International, a global NGO working to end intergenerational exploitation and prevent human trafficking. Makoto Fujimura is an internationally renowned artist, writer, and arts advocate. His books include Art + Faith, Silence and Beauty, Refractions, and Culture Care. In our conversation, we talk about the relationship between beauty and justice, art and law, and why they desperately need each other. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: the Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Adishian, Rev. Dr. Josh Carroll, and Dr. John Anthony Dunne. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 27 · 52 min
Episode #331 - Reading the Bible on Turtle Island with Dr. Christopher Hoklotubbe and Dr. Danny Zacharias
In this episode, we're joined by Dr. T. Christopher Hoklotubbe, who is associate professor of indigenous theological studies at Bexley Seabury Seminary in Chicago and NAIITS: An Indigenous Learning Community, and Dr. H. Daniel Zacharias, who is associate dean and professor of New Testament studies at Acadia Divinity College, and an adjunct faculty for NAIITS: An Indigenous Learning Community. Together, they're the authors of Reading the Bible on Turtle Island: An Invitation to North American Indigenous Interpretation (published by IVP Academic). In our conversation, we talk about interpreting the Bible from a North American Indigenous perspective, the distinctive hermeneutical features of that approach (including an emphasis on the personhood and agency of all of creation), and address the difference between syncretism and contextual interpretation. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Rev. Dr. Josh Carroll and Dr. John Anthony Dunne. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 20 · 57 min
Episode #330 - Contextual Theological Interpretation with Dr. Bo Lim
In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Bo Lim, who is professor of Old Testament at Seattle Pacific University in Seattle, Washington, and the author of Contextual Theological Interpretation: An Integrated Model for Reading the Bible (published by Baker Academic). In the course of our conversation we talk about the value and importance of contextualizing our interpretations of scripture to our theological and cultural backgrounds, and we also discuss the relationship between contextual interpretation and historical critical exegesis. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne and Dr. Brandon Hurlbert. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 13 · 49 min
Episode #329 - Grounded Theology in the Hebrew Bible with Dr. Elizabeth Backfish and Dr. Cynthia Shafer-Elliott
In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Elizabeth Backfish (PhD, Trinity International University), who is associate professor of biblical studies at William Jessup University, and Dr. Cynthia Shafer-Elliott (PhD, University of Sheffield), who is associate professor of Hebrew Bible / Old Testament at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. And together they're the authors of Grounded Theology in the Hebrew Bible: Exploring the Cultural Context That Formed Ancient Israel (Baker Academic). In our conversation we discuss the relationship between our biblical texts and material culture on a whole host of issues, highlighting how the two need to be understood together for proper interpretation. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne and Dr. Brandon Hurlbert. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 6 · 48 min
Episode #328 - Hesed, the Seed of the Biblical Story with Dr. Jennifer Matheny
In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Jennifer Matheny, who is associate professor of Christian Scriptures at George W. Truett Seminary, Baylor University, in Waco, Texas, and the author of Hesed, the Seed of the Biblical Story: New Life for Old Testament Theology (published by Baker Academic). As we discuss, the term Hesed is notoriously difficult to translate, but by situating its variegated meanings within the stories and the Story of scripture, Dr. Matheny helps to shed new light on its significance. Team members on the episode from The Two Cities include: Dr. John Anthony Dunne and Dr. Brandon Hurlbert. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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