In this episode, Maya sits down with writer, contemplative, and author Jenai Auman to discuss faith, belonging, church hurt, and the spiritual work of living from the margins.

Drawing from her book OTHERED, Jenai shares her experience as a Filipina American Christian navigating identity, belonging, and the pain of marginalization within faith spaces. Together, Maya and Jenai explore how experiences of exclusion shaped her spiritual formation and ultimately inspired her writing.

The conversation moves through themes of church hurt, grief, contemplative spirituality, the minor prophets, empire, social justice, and the ways systems of oppression can become internalized within us. They also discuss the dangers of hurry culture, optimization, and individualism, and why Christian formation requires community, lament, and hope.

This episode is for anyone wrestling with faith after disappointment, seeking a more holistic vision of spiritual formation, or learning how to remain hopeful while confronting injustice in the church and the world.

Follow Jenai here

Order her book, Othered.

Learn more about the PAX Fellowship where Jenai is a facilitator.

Purchase Maya's Third Poetry Collection, Before I Was Your Mother

Our culture is constantly changing around us. A new story, new song, or new idea is being tweeted, posted or published every other minute. As the world changes rapidly around us, how do we respond? How do we stay rooted in our faith amidst a myriad of conversations? How do we stay grounded in truth when so much in the media is manipulated? How do we talk about our beliefs in a culture that may not feel the same way?

Conversations about faith and culture meet right here on Teaology, the podcast. Teaology is all about communities coming together through conversation. We find common ground when we communicate well.

Credits

Written, Edited and Produced by Maya Wilson

Theme Song: On My Vegan by JXXIII, produced by Kahlil Franklin

Copyright 2026

All Rights Reserved

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