In this episode of The Biggest Table, host Andrew Camp engages in a discussion with theologian Paul Schutz about the intersection of food, the table, and the experience of God's love. Paul, who has a background in systematic theology and research on creation in the Christian tradition, talks about his book 'A Theology of Flourishing.' The conversation covers Paul's multicultural upbringing, his journey into theology through ministry and liturgy, and the significance of food and table in spiritual and communal life. They delve into concepts such as radical hospitality, attunement, and listening as foundational steps for fostering individual and collective flourishing. The dialogue also explores how a theology centered on flourishing challenges current social and ecological injustices, emphasizing that true flourishing involves systemic transformation and deep engagement with suffering. Paul and Andrew conclude by discussing the role of food in community building and sharing personal reflections on memorable meals.

Paul Schutz Bio:
Born and raised in Evansville, IN, Paul Schutz received his B.A. in English from Boston College and his M.A. and Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from Fordham University. After teaching on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, he served for several years as Director of Worship at St. Mary Catholic Church in Evansville. His time working as a musician and liturgist was his gateway into the study of theology. His research focuses on the meaning and significance of creation in the Christian tradition, with an emphasis on how scientific research might inform religious accounts of humanity's relationship with other creatures. His recent publications apply the theological writings of the Jesuit astrophysicist William Stoeger to questions of gender, race, and interreligious dialogue, as well as prayer, liturgy, and ministry. His book, A Theology of Flourishing—which we'll be discussing—explores the potential of "flourishing" to serve as a starting point and center of gravity for Christian theology and spirituality and a basis for cultivating a robust praxis of ecological and social justice. In his free time, Paul enjoys reading, music, travel, hiking, cooking, baking, and eating. He lives in San Jose, CA, with his partner and dog, Albert.

Buy A Theology of Flourishing
Connect with Paul

This episode of the Biggest Table is brought to you in part by Wild Goose Coffee. Since 2008, Wild Goose has sought to build better communities through coffee. For our listeners, Wild Goose is offering a special promotion of 20% off a one time order using the code TABLE at checkout. To learn more and to order coffee, please visit wildgoosecoffee.com.

In this episode of 'The Biggest Table' podcast, host Andrew Camp converses with Naeem Fazal, founding and lead pastor of Mosaic Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. Naeem shares his journey from being raised as a Muslim in Kuwait to becoming a Christian after a supernatural experience in the United States. He discusses the significant role of hospitality in both Islamic culture and his current faith, emphasizing its importance in fostering community and love. The conversation explores how food, hospitality, and communal experiences shape one's relationship with faith and God. Naeem also delves into the transformative power of beauty in overcoming fear and trauma, drawing from his personal experiences and insights from his latest book, 'Tomorrow Needs You.' The interview concludes with reflections on the importance of dining with diverse groups to truly understand and appreciate the humanity in others.

Naeem Fazal is the founding and lead pastor of Mosaic Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. He is a Pakistani, born and raised as a Muslim in Kuwait. He came to the United States shortly after the Gulf War and had a supernatural experience with Christ that changed the course of his life. He was ordained at Seacoast Church in Charleston and is the author of Ex-Muslim. His latest book, Tomorrow Needs You, was recently released by IVP. Naeem and his wife, Ashley, have two children and two cats.

Connect with Naeem:

• https://www.naeemfazal.org/
• Instagram: @naeemfazal
• Buy Tomorrow Needs You

This episode of the Biggest Table is brought to you in part by Wild Goose Coffee. Since 2008, Wild Goose has sought to build better communities through coffee. For our listeners, Wild Goose is offering a special promotion of 20% off a one time order using the code TABLE at checkout. To learn more and to order coffee, please visit wildgoosecoffee.com.

In this episode of 'The Biggest Table,' hosted by Andrew Camp, guest Ethan Amos discusses food, hospitality, and hunger issues. Ethan, originally from the White Mountain Apache Reservation and now the President and CEO of the Flagstaff Family Food Center, shares his childhood experiences with food and his efforts to address food insecurity in Northern Arizona. He discusses the complexities of health, food access, and the role of food banks, emphasizing the importance of hospitality and the dignity of choice. The conversation also touches upon the systemic issues of hunger, the impact of political decisions on SNAP benefits, and community resilience. Ethan shares how his team at the food center works to meet these challenges while maintaining exceptional customer service and community engagement.

2024 Northern Arizona Food Equity Report is available on Flagstaff Family Food Center's website.

Email Ethan Amos at ethan@hotfood.org

Ethan Amos is a local to Flagstaff, but is always happy to share that he is originally from the White Mountain Apache reservation in Whiteriver, Arizona. He has over eighteen years of experience working in the nonprofit, government, and corporate sectors as a subject matter expert on health-related social needs and health equity issues impacting individuals and families of lower-income brackets.

Now, as the President & CEO of the Flagstaff Family Food Center, Ethan is the lead strategist and ambassador advancing the organization’s mission to serve those experiencing hunger. Though hunger relief has been the organization's primary focus, Ethan has introduced several anti-hunger initiatives to address food access issues in northern Arizona.

Ethan has a bachelor’s degree from Northern Arizona University, where he studied Applied Indigenous Studies and Sociology. He lives in Flagstaff with his wife, Lucy, and their four boys (three sons and one nephew).

This episode of the Biggest Table is brought to you in part by Wild Goose Coffee. Since 2008, Wild Goose has sought to build better communities through coffee. For our listeners, Wild Goose is offering a special promotion of 20% off a one time order using the code TABLE at checkout. To learn more and to order coffee, please visit wildgoosecoffee.com.

In this episode of 'The Biggest Table,' my conversation is with Reverend Nancy Neal, Minister for Spiritual Formation and Wellness at Bread for the World. We discuss Nancy's role in fostering a culture of prayer, worship, and racial equity within the organization, as well as her journey from waiting tables to advocating for social justice. Nancy shares her insights on the holiness of hospitality, her personal experiences with food and community, and the challenges of balancing service and advocacy. The conversation also delves into the importance of prayer, community action, and legislative advocacy to end hunger. Nancy provides practical information on how individuals and churches can participate in Bread for the World's initiatives to influence policy and support those in need.

Connect with Bread for the World: https://www.bread.org/

• Through action
• Through prayer
• Through letter writing
• Through Instagram
• Through Facebook

Rev. Nancy Neal is the minister for spiritual formation and wellness at Bread for the World. She leads an initiative to build a culture at Bread that is grounded in prayer and worship, biblical principles, core values, learning, and wellness. She has led the organizational efforts around diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice, collaborating with organizations and consultants to train and coach staff and leadership in racial equity principles and practices that have impacted internal culture, policy analysis, organizing strategies, and resource development.

Throughout her career, Neal has sought to build bridges across cultures and contribute to repairing brokenness in our society and our institutions. Whether that’s working for anti-sweatshop or anti-hunger organizations, advocating for women in the Presbyterian Church (USA), implementing anti-racist/anti-oppression practices, bringing together young clergy across political divides, or even waiting tables.

Neal began at Bread in 2011 – serving in various positions in the former Church Relations Department including associate for denominational women’s organization relations, deputy director, interim director, and director.She is a minister member of National Capital Presbytery. She has served as parish associate and temporary supply pastor of churches in the greater Washington, D.C., metro area and currently serves on Leadership Council, Ministry Relations Team, and the board of the Washington, D.C., site of the Presbyterian Church (USA) Young Adult Volunteer in Mission program. Neal completed her undergraduate studies at Clemson University in South Carolina and earned her Master of Divinity at Union Theological Seminary in New York.

This episode of the Biggest Table is brought to you in part by Wild Goose Coffee. Since 2008, Wild Goose has sought to build better communities through coffee. For our listeners, Wild Goose is offering a special promotion of 20% off a one time order using the code TABLE at checkout. To learn more and to order coffee, please visit wildgoosecoffee.com.

In this episode of The Biggest Table, my guest is Dr. Jeremy Everett, founder and executive director of the Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty. We explore Dr. Everett's calling towards eradicating hunger, his work with various organizations, and his personal experiences that shaped his career. The discussion includes Dr. Everett's efforts in creating initiatives like the Hunger-Free Communities model and Meals To You program, which have significantly impacted food insecurity in rural America. We also touch on the significance of solidarity, the intersection of political and spiritual issues in hunger, and strategies for effective community collaboration. Dr. Everett emphasizes the role of various sectors working together and the importance of relationships and policy advocacy in their ongoing efforts to end hunger.

Dr. Jeremy Everett is the founder and executive director of the Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty. With nearly 100 staff, interns, and researchers, the Baylor Collaborative team has assisted community-based, state-based, and national efforts to increase hundreds of millions of additional meals through innovative, researched-based interventions. In Dr. Everett’s tenure with the Collaborative, he has raised more than 300 million dollars to support faculty research, public service, and policy analysis.

Dr. Everett earned a bachelor’s degree from Samford University, a Master of Divinity from Truett Seminary at Baylor University, and his Doctor of Ministry from Duke Divinity School at Duke University and was appointed by U.S. Congress in 2014 to serve on the National Commission on Hunger. He is the author of I Was Hungry: Cultivating Common Ground to End an American Crisis (Brazos Press, 2019), a contributing author to several other books including the recently published book What Justice Looks Like (Baylor Press, 2023).

Jeremy is married to Amy Miley Everett. They have three sons: Lucas, Sam, and Wyatt.

Learn more about Baylor's work to end hunger: Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty

This episode of the Biggest Table is brought to you in part by Wild Goose Coffee. Since 2008, Wild Goose has sought to build better communities through coffee. For our listeners, Wild Goose is offering a special promotion of 20% off a one time order using the code TABLE at checkout. To learn more and to order coffee, please visit wildgoosecoffee.com.

In this episode of 'The Biggest Table,' I interview Dave Zahl, founder of Mockingbird Ministries and author of several books, including 'Seculosity' and 'Low Anthropology.' We delve into Dave’s latest release, 'The Big Relief: The Urgency of Grace for a Worn-Out World,' discussing why grace remains a vital topic. Dave explains the continuous need for grace in a world that is often performance-driven and how his experiences and personal struggles informed his writings. The conversation touches on various aspects of grace, including its role in personal relationships, parenting, and religious life. Additionally, we explore the concepts of rest, play, and the stress induced by modern life's acceleration. The conversation concludes by discussing the joy and grace found in food, meals, and hospitality, reflecting on how shared meals and culinary experiences can bring grace and connection.

David Zahl is the founder and director of Mockingbird Ministries, editor-in-chief of the Mockingbird website (www.mbird.com), and co-host of both The Mockingcast and The Brothers Zahl podcasts. He and his wife Cate live in Charlottesville, Virginia, with their three sons, where he also serves on the staff of Christ Episcopal Church. Zahl is the author of Seculosity: How Career, Parenting, Technology, Food, Politics, and Romance Became Our New Religion and What To Do About It and Low Anthropology: The Unlikely Key to a Gracious View of Others (and Yourself). His latest book, The Big Relief: The Urgency of Grace for a Worn-Out World came out in April 2025 from Brazos Press. His writing has been featured in The Washington Post, Plough, Christianity Today, and The Guardian, among other venues.

Connect with Dave Zahl at:

• The Mockingbird Website
• The Mockingcast Podcast

This episode of the Biggest Table is brought to you in part by Wild Goose Coffee. Since 2008, Wild Goose has sought to build better communities through coffee. For our listeners, Wild Goose is offering a special promotion of 20% off a one time order using the code TABLE at checkout. To learn more and to order coffee, please visit wildgoosecoffee.com.

In this episode of The Biggest Table, I interview Joel Kime about his journey and his book 'Flourishing in Community, A Theology of Togetherness.' The conversation explores maintaining togetherness within a small church, the impact of individualism on modern Christian theology, and how authentic community and biblical togetherness lead to flourishing. Joel recounts his experiences and methods, such as incorporating sermon discussions and conversational sermons, to foster a sense of community. He emphasizes the importance of covenant relationships over contracts and addresses the challenges and practices that can help cultivate a community focused on justice, reconciliation, and flourishing both within the church and the broader world.

Joel met his wife Michelle at Lancaster Bible College. After college they were church-planting missionaries in Kingston, Jamaica for one year. Since October 2002, they have served at Faith Church, first as youth/associate pastor, and then senior pastor since July 2008. Joel attended Evangelical Theological Seminary of Kairos University for his Master of Divinity and Doctor of Theology degrees. He and Michelle are the proud parents of three sons, one daughter, two daughters-in-law, and two grandchildren.

If you catch him in a free moment, he will probably be playing with his grandchildren, reading a book, listening to U2 or REM, running with his dog, enjoying a TV show or movie with Michelle or rooting for the Phillies or Washington Commanders. He teaches introductory Bible and theology courses for Lancaster Bible College and Messiah University. He is the author of Flourishing in Community: A Theology of Togetherness (Wipf & Stock, 2024).

Find Joel on Facebook.

Ted Gioia: The 6 New Rules of Communicating

This episode of the Biggest Table is brought to you in part by Wild Goose Coffee. Since 2008, Wild Goose has sought to build better communities through coffee. For our listeners, Wild Goose is offering a special promotion of 20% off a one time order using the code TABLE at checkout. To learn more and to order coffee, please visit wildgoosecoffee.com.

In this episode of The Biggest Table, I delve into the subject of church camp with guest Cara Meredith, a speaker, writer, and public theologian. The discussion revolves around Cara's book 'Church Camp: Bad Skits, Cry Night, and How White Evangelicalism Betrayed a Generation,' examining the complex nature of church camps. Cara emphasizes the importance of holding both the positive and negative aspects of camp life, discussing the formative experiences alongside the theological and social harms encountered. The conversation provides insights into maintaining nuanced views, fostering dialogue with children about their experiences, and imagining better ways to cultivate genuine spiritual growth and inclusivity in camp environments.

A sought-after speaker, writer, and public theologian, Cara Meredith is the author of Church Camp: Bad Skits, Cry Night, and How White Evangelicalism Betrayed a Generation and The Color of Life: A Journey Toward Love and Racial Justice. She has been featured in national media outlets such as The Oregonian, The New York Times, The Living Church, The Christian Century, and Baptist News Global, among others.

Passionate about justice, spirituality, and storytelling alike, Cara holds a master of theology from Fuller Seminary and is a postulant for Holy Orders in the Episcopal Church. With a background in education and nonprofit work, Cara also works part-time as the Director of Development for Made for PAX Co, an organization dedicated to providing mentorship and vocational resources to emerging creatives, contemplatives, church leaders, and community builders of color.

When she’s not working, you’ll likely find her reading a book, tinkering around in the garden, or hanging out with her family. She is proud to call Oakland, California home.

Follow Cara Meredith @carameredithwrites:

• Facebook
• Instagram
• Substack

This episode of the Biggest Table is brought to you in part by Wild Goose Coffee. Since 2008, Wild Goose has sought to build better communities through coffee. For our listeners, Wild Goose is offering a special promotion of 20% off a one time order using the code TABLE at checkout. To learn more and to order coffee, please visit wildgoosecoffee.com.