Cafeteria Christian
Religion & Spirituality Podcasts
Cafeteria Christian started as a place for people who love Jesus but are so over the version of Christianity that forgets love, justice, and curiosity. Hosted by Pastor Natalia Terfa and Pastor Emmy Kegler, the show is a mix of faith conversations,...
Location:
United States
Description:
Cafeteria Christian started as a place for people who love Jesus but are so over the version of Christianity that forgets love, justice, and curiosity. Hosted by Pastor Natalia Terfa and Pastor Emmy Kegler, the show is a mix of faith conversations, cultural commentary, and the beautiful, complicated mess of trying to follow Jesus in the real world. From biblical deep dives to big feelings about the world, Emmy and Natalia create a space where honesty and hope coexist. Together, we're reclaiming the term "Cafeteria Christian" — because when it comes to faith, you really can take what you like and leave the rest.
Language:
English
Episodes
#360 Not All These Stories Are Fun
4/27/2026
Emmy and Natalia talk about what to do with complicated or difficult or horrible stories in the Bible and if we can really, truly, set them aside and still be faithful?
Patreon
Article we reference
Duration:01:03:23
#359 Are We… Catholic now?
4/20/2026
Emmy and Natalia talk about Pope Leo and how his message of peace is compelling but actually not that new and also what that means for those of us who may be wondering if agreeing with the Pope so much makes us Catholic.
www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
Duration:00:54:06
#358 That's NOT God
4/13/2026
Emmy and Natalia talk about Artemis II and Pete Hegseth and while neither of those are Jesus, one of them is definitely closer.
Article Links:
God Deserves All the Glory - Arthur Holquin
Artemis II Is Competency... - Liz Plank
Pete Hegseth's Holy War - Julia Carrie Wong
Patreon
Duration:01:02:24
#357 Does Easter Pass the Vibe Check? With Laura Fanucci
3/30/2026
Natalia welcomes author and speaker Laura Fanucci to the pod to talk about Easter and Holy Week and why we shouldn't let our culture define this day and season with candy and plastic when it's so much better.
Become a Patreon and support us!
Find/follow Laura: www.laurakellyfanucci.com, Instagram, & motheringspirit.com
Laura's new book: Living Easter
Aaron's substack about moral injury and holy week
Duration:01:07:28
#356 You Can't Pray Away the Anything
3/23/2026
Emmy and Natalia talk about healing and miracles and medicine and why none of them are mutually exclusive and also why this let-Jesus-take-the-wheel way of doing healthcare is not faithful but harmful.
Patreon
Sawbones
Duration:00:52:41
#355 Jesus Never Said "Can't We All Just Get Along"
3/16/2026
Emmy and Natalia tackle a listener question about a parent breakup, boundaries, and a theological question about whether or not God makes all things good. (spoiler: no)
www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
Duration:01:05:39
#354 Grab Bag and Bible Translations
3/9/2026
Emmy and Natalia talk about what's happening in the world, in Minneapolis, and then answer a listener question about Bible Translations and why there are so many and how we are supposed to even know which ones are good or not good?
www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
Duration:01:12:38
#353 In All Things… Nuance.
3/2/2026
Emmy and Natalia talk about a listener's request for advice on leaving a church, and it leads to a deeper discussion about Two Kingdom Theology, all of which may or may not have required Emmy to put on her nuance hat a whole bunch of times.
www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
Rent relief in MN
Duration:01:11:22
#352 "The Files"
2/23/2026
Emmy and Natalia talk a little bit about "The Files" - and what it means for us as people of faith that this kind of evil exists in the world, and what we do about the fact that justice seems so slow in coming.
Content Note: This episode references child sexual abuse (no graphic detail)
Housing Fund for MN
Natalia on PP!
Rev Aaron Fuller on Cafeteria Christian | (spotify link)
Support us on Patreon
Duration:01:04:29
# 351 Notes from Occupied Suburbia
2/16/2026
Emmy and Natalia welcome longtime listener Bethany, to share with us a little bit about how Operation Metro Surge looks different in the suburbs than it does in the city, and what non-Minnesota soccer moms can do to prepare for what might come to them next.
Give to MN Mutual Aid
Become a Patron
Duration:01:11:31
#350 We Remember Your Baptism, with Meta Herrick Carlson
2/9/2026
Emmy and Natalia welcome very special guest Meta Herrick Carlson to talk about her new book for children: We Remember Your Baptism. We also talk about baptism generally and why it matters more than ever to lean into our belovedness right now.
Patreon
Meta's New Book
Meta's Website
Duration:01:01:07
#349 We Will Not Comply
2/2/2026
Emmy and Natalia talk about Romans 13 and how it gets tossed around as a reason to be quiet and just comply. No thank you. Not only is it theologically bad, but it's just wrong! They'll dig into the context and history of Romans 13, and why it doesn't quite mean what you think it means.
www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
Rev Benjamin Cremer Article
Duration:01:04:05
#348 Highs and Lows in MN
1/26/2026
Natalia and Emmy talk about the last few days in Minnesota/Minneapolis, how we're feeling, how we're showing up, and how you can all do your own thing.
www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
Duration:01:05:21
#347 Find Your One Thing
1/19/2026
Emmy and Natalia give an update from Minneapolis, talk about ways to support the communities here, and how to take care of the overwhelm many of you have told us you are feeling.
www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
Ollie Schminkey Poem
David Gate article
Give:
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (Pastor Discretionary Fund)
Stand With Minnesota
Duration:01:01:29
#346 Not Good, But Better.
1/12/2026
Emmy and Natalia process the escalation and violence in Minneapolis after the killing of Renee Nicole Good, and what our faith tells us about how we respond in times such as this.
Unidos/Monarca
St Pauls/San Pablos Give Link
Duration:01:01:53
#345 Fair Game - with Ellie Roscher
1/5/2026
Natalia welcomes back author and artist and friend of the pod friend of God Ellie Roscher to talk about her new book: Fair Game: Trans Athletes and the Future of Sports.
Book
Ellie's Website
Previous Ellie CC Episodes (SO MANY, but here are a few):
Tiny Things
The Embodied Path The Body Stories
Embodiment as a Spiritual Practice
Search Ellie Roscher Cafeteria Christian in apple podcasts to find a whole list!
Duration:01:01:19
#344 A Very Cafeteria Christmas
12/22/2025
Emmy and Natalia create a little Christmas service video, for anyone who isn't quite feeling up to going into a church, for whatever reason.
Special Musical Guests: Paul and Amy Koopman
Patreon
Email us questions or future episode suggestions
Join us on the gram: @cafeteriachristian
Duration:00:49:36
#343 23 & Me: Jesus Edition
12/15/2025
Emmy and Natalia talk about the genealogy of Jesus and why it's just as messy (if not messier) than we are. Content Warning: adult themes, and some light talk of Santa, so keep the little ears away from this one!
Patreon
Email us questions or future episode suggestions
Join us on the gram: @cafeteriachristian
Duration:01:03:17
#342 Hope and Despair
12/8/2025
Duration:00:49:02
#341 They Tried to Bury Us: New Testament Ladies Edition
12/1/2025
Emmy and Natalia talk NT ladies: who they are and why we don't hear about all of them, and what we can learn about God when we discover their stories.
www.patreon.com/cafeteriachristian
We Can Do Hard Things Episode
Meggan Watterson
Duration:01:09:02