How to Be a Christian

You know I've got a lot going on right now. The book comes out September 8, and that's been consuming most of my attention.

But there's a second creative project I've been working on this year that I've somehow never told you about directly because, well, I've been busy working on it!

It's a podcast called How to Be a Christian. It launches January 2027, funded by a grant from the Louisville Institute — I dreamed up this podcast idea over two years ago, applied for the grant last summer, found out I got it in December, and have been working on it since the spring.

It's for people who've had a faith shift and don't know where to go next. Spiritually homeless — not because they stopped caring about Christianity, but because the tradition that formed them stopped fitting. You know that's the place I write from.

Each episode takes one Christian tradition — Episcopal, Lutheran, United Methodist, UCC, Catholic contemplative, Anabaptist, Black Church, Progressive Baptist — and asks what it carries, where it falls short, and what belonging inside it might actually look like. I'm not trying to sell anyone a denomination. I'm trying to widen the map. It's worth noting that I'm focusing on the most progressive sectors of each tradition, ones that ordain women to full leadership capacity and affirm queer folks fully as well.

You can read more about it at chelseakimlong.com/podcast.

I've spent these past months sitting down with pastors, theologians, and faith leaders across the spectrum of progressive Christian, and I'm nearly done recording. A few episodes are completely done and let me tell you I am thrilled and giddy about how they are turning out...!

One housekeeping thing. When the show launches, I'll be sending show notes and resources for each episode — the books, the churches, the people worth knowing about from every conversation. I've set that up as its own separate email so it only goes to people who want it.

If you want those, go to your subscription portal. You may need to sign in first. Once you're there, check the box for How to Be a Christian: https://www.chelseakimlong.com/#/portal/account/newsletters

Back to book business, then I'll circle back with more podcast talk.