In this episode of 'The Biggest Table,' I welcome Adrian Miller, a food writer, James Beard award winner, and certified barbecue judge. We discuss Miller's transition from being a lawyer and policy advisor to President Clinton to becoming a renowned author on African American cuisine. Miller elaborates on the history and evolution of soul food, its cultural significance, and common misconceptions. The conversation also touches on how soul food and the black church contribute to community-building and address issues of food insecurity. Miller shares ideas on how food can foster racial reconciliation, including creating diverse dining experiences. The episode concludes with a discussion of contemporary issues in church and society, such as the patriarchy and health outcomes in the African American community.

Adrian Miller is a food writer, 2X James Beard Award winner, recovering attorney, and certified barbecue judge who lives in Denver, Colorado. He is the author of three books: Soul Food: The Surprising Story of an American Cuisine, One Plate at a Time, The President’s Kitchen Cabinet: The Story of the African Americans Who Have Fed Our First Families, From the Washingtons to the Obamas, and Black Smoke: African Americans and the United States of Barbecue. Adrian is featured in the Netflix hit High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America.

Connect with Adrian Miller:

• Adrian Miller's Website
• Instagram

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 welcome Neeta Mittal, co-founder of LXV Wine, to discuss her unique journey from growing up in India to establishing a prestigious winery in Paso Robles, California. Neeta shares insights about her upbringing surrounded by diverse culinary traditions and the influence of her meticulous mother. She recounts her educational path at UC Berkeley, the serendipitous discovery of Paso Robles, and her deep passion for wine culture inspired by European traditions. Neeta explains LXV Wine's focus on creating textured, age-worthy wines with a blend of global spices, aimed at fostering a shared, immersive experience. The conversation delves into her advocacy for innovation, community involvement, and the meaningful connections formed through wine. Additionally, Neeta reflects on her role in a predominantly white male industry, embracing her distinctive background as an advantage. She concludes by highlighting the significance of wine as a rich, sensory-driven journey intertwined with history, culture, and personal experiences.

Born in India, Neeta Mittal grew up immersed in tradition, creativity, and a drive for excellence. After graduating from UC Berkeley and honing her storytelling craft in Hollywood, Neeta channeled her passion for wine into founding LXV Wine with her husband, Kunal. LXV pairs premium wines with globally inspired spices, creating immersive experiences that celebrate flavor and terroir. Named one of USA Today’s Top 10 Wine Tasting Experiences in America, LXV reflects Neeta’s philosophy: “Double down on who you are.” As a leader in Paso Robles, she champions innovation, community, and a legacy of connection through wine and storytelling.

LXV Wine website
Follow LXV Wine on Instagram

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 am joined by award-winning non-fiction writer Liz Charlotte Grant. We discuss Liz's new book, Knock at the Sky: Seeking God in Genesis After Losing Faith in the Bible. The conversation delves into the themes of food, eating, and hospitality as realms for experiencing God's love and our interconnectedness. We also explore the concepts of abundance and generosity in the world, the complexity of theological questions, and the importance of reinterpreting scriptures for contemporary faith. This episode is filled with insights on how to navigate creative processes, the significance of community, and practical ways to address food insecurity.

Liz Charlotte Grant is an award-winning nonfiction writer who writes the substack, the Empathy List, and whose first book, Knock at the Sky: Seeking God in Genesis After Losing Faith in the Bible, just released on January 7. She lives in Colorado with her husband, two kids, and nine hens.

Connect with Liz:

• Liz's Website
• Liz's Substack: The Empathy List
• Buy Knock at the Sky

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.

If you listen regularly to the podcast, you know that towards the end of each episode, I ask the guest this question: What is the story you want the church to tell? As we wrap up 2024, and look toward 2025 with much uncertainty and maybe a little hope, I have compiled some of my favorite answers to the question in hopes that you consider for yourself your own story and the story of your faith community.

Answers from: Andy Root, Gisela Kreglinger, Kathy Khang, Grace Ji-Sun Kim, David Swanson, Richard Beck, Chris Battle, Jeannine Hanger, Kendall Vanderslice, Caleb Campbell, Heather Gorman & Mark Nelson, Derrick Weston, and Scot McKnight.

I hope you enjoy the episode and that it provokes you to think through what you want in 2025.

In this episode of The Biggest Table, I talk with David Swanson, pastor of New Community Covenant Church and author of the new book Plundered. We discuss the interconnections between racial and environmental injustice, the impact of politics, and the role of faith and community in addressing these issues. Swanson shares the importance of understanding community history, embracing diversity in worship, and practical measures for communal and individual transformation. Additionally, he explains the significance of Sabbath, belonging, and virtue in fostering justice and reconciliation, emphasizing the power of the table in facilitating these transformations.

Connect with David Swanson: https://dwswanson.com/

David is the founding pastor of New Community Covenant Church who lives with his family on the South Side of Chicago. He is the founder and CEO of New Community Outreach, a non-profit organization dedicated to healing community trauma through restorative practices. David is the author of Rediscipling the White Church: From Cheap Diversity to True Solidarity and Plundered: The Tangled Roots of Racial and Environmental Injustice. He is a former Director of Church Planting for the Evangelical Covenant Church and on most Tuesday mornings you’ll find him wandering around Jackson Park looking for birds.

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, I discuss the intersection of food, table gatherings, and Christian unity with guests Heather Gorman and Mark Nelson, authors of 'Lunchroom Theology, Pushing Tables Together in a Fractured World.' The conversation explores the inspiration behind their book, which uses the metaphor of a high school lunchroom to illustrate social and theological divisions. They highlight practical steps for fostering inclusive and meaningful table fellowship as modeled by Jesus, while addressing modern sociological factors contributing to division. The discussion underscores the church's role in embracing and living out the unity that Jesus prayed for, by having generous conversations, practicing hospitality, and avoiding divisive behaviors. Both guests share personal anecdotes and practical advice on how to navigate deep and sometimes uncomfortable conversations around the table, stressing that change is both possible and essential for the church to effectively extend the Kingdom of God.

Mark Nelson and Heather Gorman co-authored Lunchroom Theology: Pushing Tables Together in a Fractured World.

Heather Gorman (PhD, Baylor University) is Professor of New Testament at Johnson University and author of Interweaving Innocence: A Rhetorical Analysis of Luke’s Passion Narrative as well as numerous journal articles and essays on the Gospels, Acts, ancient rhetoric, and reception history.

Heather Gorman's faculty page.

Mark Nelson is the executive director of Three Rivers Collaborative and a coauthor of Reframation: Seeing God, People, and Mission Through Reenchanted Frames with Alan Hirsch. Mark is the founding pastor of Crossings, a faith community in Knoxville, Tennessee, where he served for fifteen years.

Lunchroom Theology
Three Rivers Collaborative

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 Alex Early, a pastor, author, and theology professor who enjoys cooking. We discuss Alex's journey from naivete in ministry to experiencing burnout, which led him to find solace in the kitchen. Alex explains how cooking became a therapeutic and reflective practice, helping him process his thoughts and experience God’s presence in everyday moments. We also delve into the themes of food and hospitality in scripture, the importance of slowing down to genuinely connect with others at the table, and the balance of maintaining relationships in a polarized world. The conversation wraps up with personal reflections on memorable meals and the spiritual significance of shared food experiences.

Dr. Alex Early is an author, pastor, and theology professor who loves to cook! Alex consistently says that “all of his wealth is in his relationships” and therefore the church, kitchen, and dining table all come together toward that end. His books include The Reckless Love of God and The New Believer’s Guide to the Christian Life, The Cross and Kaleidoscope, and Thinking About God. He lives with his wife, Jana, and their two children in Seattle, Washington.

Buy Alex's cookbook Among the Pots and Pans on Amazon.

Regina Schrambling's Lasagna recipe from The NY Times. (subscription may be required)

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, host Andrew Camp explores the intersection of faith, food, and sensory experience with guest Jeannine Hanger, an associate professor of the New Testament at Talbot School of Theology. Hanger discusses her latest book, 'Engaging Jesus with Our Senses,' which examines the sensory metaphors in the Gospels and their implications for spiritual practice. The conversation covers the role of taste and how using our senses can deepen our engagement with Scripture and our relationship with Jesus. They also touch on the importance of moving away from purely cognitive approaches to faith, the historical and cultural context of sensory experiences, and practical ways to integrate sensory awareness into communal worship. The episode concludes with personal reflections on favorite foods and the sensory dimensions of faith.

Jeannine Hanger is Associate Professor of New Testament at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University. Her research interests focus on the Gospels, more specifically participation with Christ. Her newest book, Engaging Jesus With Our Senses: An Embodied Approach to the Gospels, published by Baker Academic, is the latest articulation of this. Outside of teaching at Biola, Jeannine has been married for 26 years to her husband Garrick, a pastor at Coastline Covenant Church in Redondo Beach. Together they have three kids, ages 21, 19, and 17.

Buy Engaging Jesus with Our Senses on Amazon.

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.