Regent College Podcast

As we wrap up Season 8 of the podcast, we take time to catch up with prolific chemist-theologian-pastor-writer and much-loved Regent professor, Dr. Ross Hastings. Ross's new book, God and Molecules: Chemical Evolution and Divine Providence, explores how God has been working purposefully in his creation all the way back to the first molecules. This is a conversation that stretches the limits of knowledge in the two disciplines Ross is integrating, inviting intellectual humility. Claire and Rachel sought to model this by asking many non-specialist clarifying questions! Even if you are not a scientist, we invite you to listen and learn from the insights chemistry can bring to our understanding of God, his divine agency in the world, and his relationship to creation. As Ross says, these insights inspire our awe and worship, reminding us that our God is too small and our God isn't small enough. 

See you in September!

Ross's Bio
Dr. Ross Hastings, a Zimbabwean Scot, holds PhDs in organometallic chemistry and theology. He currently serves as the Sangwoo Youtong Chee Professor of Theology at Regent College, where he teaches systematic and pastoral theology. Ross’s most recent books are Pastoral Ethics: Moral Formation as Life in the Trinity, 2nd ed. (Cascade, 2025) and The Glory of the Ascension (IVP Academic, 2026).

More from Ross
Wade Even Deeper (Regent Convocation Address 2026)
The Son Went Up . . . and the Spirit Came Down: Lessons from the Ascent of the Son and the Descent of the Holy Spirit (Regent Vine Article, May 2026)
Sport: Idolatry or the Image of God … or Both? (Regent Vine Article, February 2026)
The Ascension and the High Priesthood of Christ (May 2025)
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ (February 2022)
Pain, Suffering and Depression in the Life of the Believer (April 2019)

Sources Mentioned
Paul Rimmer's research in chemical evolution
Biologos - Faith and Science
Intelligent Design - Ken Ham

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"The Bible invites us to wrestle with life's realities."
In this final episode of our Summer Forecast series of 2026, Rev. Dr. Isabelle Hamley discusses the challenges and importance of preaching from difficult parts of scripture, including texts on judgment, trauma, violence, and justice. While we often want to avoid these sections of Scripture, she helps us think about how to read these texts faithfully and responsibly. Isabelle’s commitment to preaching from the whole counsel of God reminds us to recognize the limits of our capacity to understand God. She also shares thoughtful insights on contemporary humility in relation to the interpretation and misuse of scripture, challenging us to consider the ways in which we, too, miss the mark. 
TW: references to sexual violence, war, and trauma

Isabelle's Bio
Rev. Dr. Isabelle Hamley is a minister, speaker, and writer. She currently serves as Principal of Ridley Hall, an Anglican seminary that trains women and men for lay and ordained ministry. She has previously held posts as church leader, university chaplain, chaplain to the Archbishop of Canterbury, and Theological Adviser to the House of Bishops. Her interests include the Bible in the life of the church, how Scripture helps shape a Christian response to justice, conflict, and violence, and the relationship between faith, ministry, and mental health. She is an ambassador for Sanctuary Mental Health and co-chairs a World Council of Churches working group on violence, conflict, peace, and reconciliation. She will be back at Regent this summer, teaching Preaching the Unpreachable: Opening Up the “Difficult” Texts of Scripture from July 27-31.

Previous Podcast Appearances
Being Human in God's World (June 2024)
Old Testament Suffering and Life with God (February 2022) 

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Our Summer Forecast continues! In this conversation, Dr. Brent Strawn discusses his extensive background in Old Testament studies, particularly focusing on the book of Deuteronomy. He explores its significance within the Torah, its audiences throughout Israel's history, and its unique structure as a covenant document. Brent emphasizes the rhetorical nature of Deuteronomy, its legal framework, and the importance of repetition in its teachings.  In this conversation, we explore the themes of Deuteronomy, focusing on its role in shaping character, the nature of law and leadership, and the importance of heart change. We discuss the contemporary implications of a thin social contract in relation to law and how Deuteronomy encourages a deeper understanding of law as a covenant. Reflecting on Deuteronomy 17, Brent emphasizes the importance of humble leadership and diligent reading of Scripture for pastors and teachers. We also talk about images in the Song of Moses, and how God presents himself through various metaphors and conceptual blends to demonstrate his incomparability. We also touch on Jesus' relationship with Deuteronomy. Finally, Brent shares his pedagogical approach to scripture reading, advocating for empathy and attention in understanding biblical texts without the distractions of technology.

Brent's Bio
Dr. Brent A. Strawn is D. Moody Smith Distinguished Professor of Old Testament and Professor of Law at Duke University. He has edited over thirty volumes, including the award-winning Oxford Encyclopedia of the Bible and Law (2015), and authored seven books and over three hundred articles, essays, and contributions to reference works. His most recent book, co-authored with Walter Brueggemann, is Unwavering Faithfulness: Pivotal Moments in the Book of Isaiah (Westminster John Knox, 2025). An ordained minister in the United Methodist Church, Dr. Strawn has served as a translator and editor for the Common English Bible (2011) and the New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition (2022). He’ll be here teaching Deuteronomy: Moses Amends the Constitution from Jul 20-24.

Previous Podcast Appearances
A Skeptic in Scripture (May 2024)
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This week, we are reconnecting with Dr. Susan Phillips, who has been a long-standing presence at Regent Summer School. This year, she will be back teaching Contemplative Listening: The Foundation of Spiritual Friendship and Direction from July 20-31. Susan has many years of experience as a spiritual director, researcher and teacher. In this conversation, she shares with us about listening as vocation and sanctuary. She also shares helpful perspectives on the transformative power of listening, why it’s so hard to listen, how we slowly build trust in listening relationships, and balance empathy and self-care. As you listen, we hope you receive an invitation to slow down and notice the kind voice of God in your life.

Susan's Bio
A spiritual director and professor of sociology and Christian spirituality, Susan S. Phillips earned a PhD in sociology at the University of California, Berkeley, and served as the Executive Director of New College Berkeley, an affiliate of the Graduate Theological Union, from 1994 to 2022. In addition to teaching in a number of institutions within the Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, and serving on its doctoral faculty, Susan has taught for many years at Fuller Theological Seminary, Regent College, and San Francisco Theological Seminary. Her books, like her teaching, explore the intersection of Christian spirituality and social science, and include the award-winning Crisis of Care: Affirming and Restoring Caring Practices in the Helping Profession (Georgetown University Press, 1995), Candlelight: Illuminating the Art of Spiritual Direction (Morehouse, 2008), and The Cultivated Life: From Ceaseless Striving to Receiving Joy (IVP, 2015). Susan loves listening to people as they pray and seek the Holy in spiritual direction, retreats, and everyday life. 

Related Content
Previous Podcast Appearances
On Spiritual Practice (Nov 2017)
Spiritual Direction, with John Lunn (June 2018)
Spiritual Practices in Community (Nov 2021)
Regent Vine Article
Advent: God Forges a Path (Dec 5, 2025)

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We're returning to a soul-filling conversation with Dr. Tom Schwanda ahead of his summer class, "Experiencing the Presence: Walking with God All Day Long," which will be running from July 13-17. Two years ago, he spoke with Claire and Christina about the joys of soul recreation, enjoying God, contemplation and meditation. Drawing on the rich history of the church and artistic engagement with Scripture, Tom invites us to slow down and notice God in our lives. He also tackles the distractions that keep us from God. If you are longing for this kind of rest, consider joining us this summer.
Tom's Bio
After serving as a pastor for eighteen years, Tom Schwanda taught Christian spirituality at Wheaton College until his retirement. He now serves as Senior Fellow for Christian Spirituality at the C. S. Lewis Institute and continues to teach Doctor of Ministry courses at several seminaries. He is a trained spiritual director and has published widely. His most recent publication is Whitefield on the Christian Life: New Birth to Enjoy God (Crossway, 2025). His current project involves compiling evening hymns and prayers on sleep and insomnia from across the centuries.
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