Words Do Things

"A Reasonable Communist": Michael Hitchcock

Sørina's friend Michael Hitchcock, co-director of a radical nonprofit, shares his hatred of euphemistic language and explains how enforcing civil discourse can be unfair and oppressive. The two of them talk about propaganda and narrative-shaping in the hands of the powerful, and he defines important terms such as "intersectionality" and "genocide."

"No Such Thing as a Transwoman" says Chris Dickinson

Dr. Higgins interviews Dr. Christian Dickinson, a former grad school colleague who holds controversial conservative views on gender, economics, and public discourse. He is concerned about nice-sounding terms that either do not conform to his view of reality or that disguise policies he thinks are harmful or impractical. Although he does not approve of ad hominum attacks, he's more worried by words that have the power to make people do bad things, that make something he doesn't approve of seem more palatable, that assert a reality or an identity he thinks is deceptive or unreal, or that attack or dismantle a reality or an identity that he thinks is true or correct. 

"Christ is the Embodiment of a Female Figure" says Charis Weathers

The Rev. Charis Weathers talks about kindness and love in the ways we address each other and shares how she and members of her church participate in political protests. She recounts how studies of Christ as the incarnation of the Divine Feminine helped confirm her calling, and she surveys the history of the word "queer."

"Concentration Camps in America" with Melissa Chaudhry

For the first time on this podcast, Sørina reaches out beyond pastors and begins inviting guests who engage with public rhetoric in other ways besides the specifically theological. Today, she talks to Melissa Chaudhry, a community organizer, author, public speaker, former state congressional candidate, and wife of a disabled American veteran detained by ICE. They discuss truth vs. injustice, principle vs. corruption and how narratives enable systemic violence. Melissa urges local communities to share and transmit memories and warns about impending social collapse. They discuss tradition, faith, integrity, morality, and our power to help one another and nurture positive change. Whether advocating for immigrants or fighting fascism, Melissa decries dehumanizing and violent rhetoric but believes in bold, direct speech and action. Visit https://substack.com/@votemelissa4congress or https://linktr.ee/justice4zahid for more of the Chaudhry's story. 

"How to Stop the Civil War" by Sørina Higgins

In this solo episode, Dr. Sørina Higgins lays out her plans for the rest of this series and the next: starting in spring 2026, she'll offer a refreshing series about what J.R.R. Tolkien thought words could do. Then she talks about her biggest concerns regarding dehumanizing language, attack rhetoric, and aiming at each other as enemies. She shares her goals for this show: To persuade people to speak more respectfully and to consider their opponents more thoughtfully. Do you think we can learn to speak with more charity towards one another?  Can we even avert civil war?

"You're Being a Jerk" with Adam Tyler

Rev. Dr. Adam Tyler shares his thoughts with Sørina Higgins about his church’s community engagement, how to interact with political discourse now that we are more divided than ever, and the impact of language on relationships. They discuss dehumanizing language, what’s wrong with labeling others as enemies, and why it’s essential to seek shared values when talking about divisive issues. They talk about using words thoughtfully and respecting others. Adam talks about how he wants to encourage language that expresses love and builds up our common humanity.
 

"Don't Invoke God" with Aaron Zimmerman

The Rev. Aaron Zimmerman of St. Alban's Episcopal in Waco, TX, talks about the ways pastoral work intersects with public engagement; how humility, gentleness, and true understanding are essential for constructive dialogue, and the ways language connects to the Incarnation. 

"I'm in, You're out" with Brad Schmidt

Host Dr. Sørina Higgins talks to Rev. Brad Schmidt from Florida about the need to hold our positions lightly and ground our identity in Christ only, which enables us to listen with grace to those with whom we disagree, even those we think are crazy. 

"Words that Kill" with Malcolm Foley

Host Sørina Higgins interviews Rev. Dr. Malcolm Foley about the dangers of dehumanizing discourse, especially words that turn people into demons, beasts, or insects who need to be eradicated--such as in the lynching era or historical genocides. Dr. Foley points out that we live in an attention economy of rampant self interest that requires enemies to attack, which is a serious malformation of moral imagination. They discuss the policing of language and the use of words to build each other up or tear each other down. In the speed round, Malcolm defines "love," "right," "racism," "greed," "the Gospel," and "the Kingdom of God." 

"Bad Words" by Sørina Higgins

In this solo episode, Dr. Sørina Higgins summarizes things she learned from her previous podcast in 2022 about political partisanship in American churches, then turns to new ideas she's been having since while interviewing guests for this new show. She talks about how people hold complicated, unpredictable, often contradictory views that don't match up to a preset list of positions and how they've come to those convictions over decades of thoughtful, impactful experiences. Many times, people clash over ideas because they're using words to mean different definitions, which leads to serious misunderstandings. Furthermore, variant subcultures have dramatically opposing ways to read the Bible and to interpret news items or even reality itself. The results are often hateful, devastating speeches--and actions.