Vanderbilt Divinity School: Lifelong Learning

Office Hours: The Desert Mothers with Dr. Phillis Isabella Sheppard

Nathan — Thu, 21 May 2026 22:41:37 GMT

In this episode, Nathan sits down with Dr. Phillis Isabella Sheppard to discuss the incredible lives and enduring relevance of the Desert Mothers, the topic of her upcoming lifelong learning course. A theologian and psychoanalyst, Dr. Sheppard's course illuminates the depth of their spiritual practices, psychological insights, and lived experiences in the North African deserts.

You can register for her lifelong learning course, Learning from the Desert Mothers, here.

Phillis Isabella Sheppard is the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Professor of Religion, Psychology and Culture and Womanist Thought at Vanderbilt Divinity School. You can read more about her work here.

Office Hours: The Social Role of Religion with Dr. Forrest E. Harris

Nathan — Wed, 06 May 2026 21:44:00 GMT

In this episode, Nathan is joined by Dr. Forrest Harris, Professor and Director of the Kelly Miller Smith Institute for Black Church Studies. They discuss the Church as an institution of liberation, how theology is borne from our yearning, and why these aren't unprecedented times.

You can register for his lifelong learning course, The Social Role of Religion, here.

Check out the work of the Kelly Miller Smith Institute for Black Church Studies here.

Office Hours: Healing Our Divides? with Dr. Ellen T. Armour

Nathan — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 15:31:52 GMT

In this week's Office Hours episode, Nathan sits down with Dr. Ellen T. Armour to discuss her journey as a theologian in gender and sexuality, Appalachian roots, and the church's complicated history with gender and sexuality.

Check out her new lifelong learning course, Healing our Divides?: Christianity, Gender, and Sexuality, here.

Office Hours: The Faith of Frederick Douglass with Dr. James P. Byrd

Nathan — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 18:12:39 GMT

Office Hours: The Faith of Frederick Douglass with Dr. James P. Byrd

In this week’s Office Hours podcast, Nathan sits down with Dr. Jimmy Byrd to talk about The Faith of Frederick Douglass, his upcoming LLL course. Dr. Byrd discusses Douglass' letters, speeches, and relationships--and the faith that informed them.

Check out his course here

Office Hours: Theologies of Salvation with Dr. Bruce Morrill, S.J.

Nathan — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 16:11:46 GMT

In this week’s Office Hours interview, Dr. Cost sits down with Dr. Bruce Morrill, S.J. to talk about his new Lifelong Learning Course, “Theologies of Salvation: Biblical, Traditional, Contemporary.” Dr. Morrill talks about learning from his students, his own scholarly journey as a theologian, and the importance of exploring multiple theologies.

You can check out his course here.

Office Hours: Jesus vs. Caesar with Dr. Joerg Rieger

Nathan — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 21:07:50 GMT

In our first episode "Office Hours" episode, Dr. Nathan Cost is joined by Dr. Joerg Rieger to discuss his new lifelong learning course, Jesus vs. Caesar: For People Tired of Serving the Wrong God. What does Jesus have to say about empire building? What does real solidarity look like? And how does the Easter event speak prophetically to power?

Check out the course here!