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Welcome to On the Barstool with the Pub Pastor

Pull up a stool, grab your favorite beverage, and settle in—this is On the Barstool with the Pub Pastor, a podcast where theology meets real life, the sacred dances with the secular, and the conversation is always open, honest, and maybe just a little irreverent.

I’m Gayle—pastor, theologian, Cubs fan, cycling enthusiast, and lover of deep conversations in unexpected places. I’ve spent enough time at the intersection of faith and everyday life to know this: the best conversations don’t always happen in church pews. Sometimes they happen over a pint, on a patio, or yes—on a barstool.

What Is This Podcast, Anyway?

On the Barstool with the Pub Pastor is where we talk theology without the jargon, faith without the filter, and life without the need to have it all figured out. Every episode is a meandering conversation about the things that matter most—God, love, justice, doubt, joy, heartbreak, hope, and the wild, weird beauty of being human.

This isn’t a show with pat answers or perfectly packaged soundbites. It’s real talk about real faith in the real world. One week, I might be chatting with a seminary professor about deconstruction and divine mystery. The next, I might be laughing with a friend about the theology of baseball or the sacredness of a shared cup of coffee. The point is: wherever you are on your journey, you’re welcome here.

Why Theology Matters (Yes, Really)

Now, I know “theology” might sound like a dusty old word—something locked away in ivory towers or buried in footnotes of ancient texts. But here’s the truth: theology is simply how we talk about God. And how we talk about God shapes everything.

It shapes how we see ourselves, our neighbors, our enemies. It shapes how we vote, how we raise our kids, how we care for the planet. It shapes how we understand suffering, joy, grace, and justice. Whether we realize it or not, we’re all theologians.

The problem? A lot of the theology we’ve inherited is deeply flawed—exclusive instead of inclusive, punitive instead of liberating, rigid instead of dynamic. And that theology has done real harm.

So here, on this podcast, we’re reclaiming theology. We’re wrestling with it, laughing through it, pushing against its boundaries, and discovering how it can be a source of healing, freedom, and radical love.

You don’t need a degree or a pulpit to join this conversation. You just need curiosity, a little courage, and maybe a cold drink.

Come Be My Guest

You don’t have to be a pastor, a theologian, or even particularly religious to be part of On the Barstool with the Pub Pastor. In fact, I’m most interested in talking to real people with real stories—people who have questions, who have been hurt by the church, who have found beauty in unexpected places, or who just want to explore life’s big questions out loud.

So this is your open invitation: come be my guest.

Maybe you’ve got a story you’re aching to share. Maybe you’re wrestling with faith and need a space to say it out loud. Maybe you’ve had a weird, holy moment in the middle of your messy life and you’re wondering what it means. Maybe you just want to laugh and talk about sports and God and what makes a great taco.

Whatever your story is, I want to hear it. I want to sit with you on a metaphorical (or literal) barstool and listen, ask, wonder, and laugh together. Because when we show up as our full selves and tell the truth, theology gets real—and real theology has the power to transform lives.

What You Can Expect

  • Conversations That Go Deep (But Stay Real): No performance, no pretense. Just honest talk about things that matter.

  • A Wide Range of Guests: From theologians to tattoo artists, teachers to bartenders, skeptics to saints—we’ve all got wisdom to share.

  • A Mix of Humor and Heart: We’ll laugh. We’ll cry. We’ll probably swear a little. And we’ll find God somewhere in the middle of it all.

  • Room for Doubt and Deconstruction: If you’ve ever felt like you don’t belong in traditional religious spaces, this is for you.

  • Hope: Even if it’s just a micro-dose. Because let’s face it, we could all use some.

Join the Community

This isn’t just a podcast—it’s a movement. A gathering of misfits, seekers, believers, and questioners who want to build a different kind of spiritual community. One rooted in love, curiosity, and radical welcome.

So listen in. Share an episode with a friend. Drop me a message. Join the conversation on social media. Sign up to be a guest. Come to a live taping. Whatever feels right—just know that you’ve got a seat at the table (or the bar) here.

Whether you’re tuning in from a church parking lot, a bike trail, or your favorite neighborhood pub, I’m glad you’re here.

Let’s pull up a stool and talk about what matters.