Complexified

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Complexified

Complexified is a weekly interview podcast from the Iliff Institute for Religion, Politics & Culture and Religion News Service, hosted by Rev. Dr. Amanda Henderson. Each episode dives into the most pressing news stories at the crossroads of religion and politics, exploring the nuances that often go overlooked. Whether you’re religiously curious, politically frustrated, or somewhere in between, Complexified brings you conversations that challenge assumptions and spark fresh insights.

Meet the Host

Rev. Amanda Henderson

Rev. Dr. Amanda Henderson is the Director of the Institute for Religion, Politics, and Culture at Iliff School of Theology. Founded in 2021, the Institute researches how religious histories inform political perspectives and shares that information to educate public leaders for transformative action.
Amanda is ordained with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), author of Holy Chaos, Creating Connections in Divisive Times, and earned a Ph.D. in religion, politics, and rhetoric from the University of Denver and Iliff School of Theology. Amanda is also a Mom to three young adults, enjoys adventures with her husband, and finds joy in running ultra-marathons and growing things: dogs, chickens, gardens, and creative projects of all kinds.

Podcasts

	Saved by the City Eat the Rich! Jesus Had Something to Say About That + Malcolm Foley Katelyn Beaty and Roxanne Stone Katelyn and Roxy talk to Malcom Foley about the insidious legacy of greed on countries, systems and individuals.
	Martini Judaism Is it time to retire the term ‘Zionism’? Jeffrey Salkin (RNS) — Zionism is the right of the Jewish people to self-determination in their ancestral homeland. But is that all it means? Two Jewish thought leaders have it out.
	The State of Belief We Need Good Trouble Now: Celebrating the Life and Legacy of John Lewis Paul Brandeis Raushenbush Historian David Greenberg, author of the biography "John Lewis: A Life," shares insights into the work and legacy of the late Congressman and civil rights icon
	Money Meet Meaning Can AI Make Us More Human? Amber Hacker and Tom Levinson Can AI make us richer, freer, and more human—or just turn efficiency into the newest thing we worship?

	Saved by the City Eat the Rich! Jesus Had Something to Say About That + Malcolm Foley Katelyn Beaty and Roxanne Stone Katelyn and Roxy talk to Malcom Foley about the insidious legacy of greed on countries, systems and individuals.
	Martini Judaism Is it time to retire the term ‘Zionism’? Jeffrey Salkin (RNS) — Zionism is the right of the Jewish people to self-determination in their ancestral homeland. But is that all it means? Two Jewish thought leaders have it out.
	The State of Belief We Need Good Trouble Now: Celebrating the Life and Legacy of John Lewis Paul Brandeis Raushenbush Historian David Greenberg, author of the biography "John Lewis: A Life," shares insights into the work and legacy of the late Congressman and civil rights icon
	Money Meet Meaning Can AI Make Us More Human? Amber Hacker and Tom Levinson Can AI make us richer, freer, and more human—or just turn efficiency into the newest thing we worship?

Latest Episode

$438 million later, what does this faith-tech company actually do?

July 20, 2026

(RNS) — RNS reporter Bob Smietana on Gloo, the faith-tech company chasing a one-stop IT/AI solution for churches.

Previous Episodes

$438 million later, what does this faith-tech company actually do?

July 20, 2026

(RNS) — RNS reporter Bob Smietana on Gloo, the faith-tech company chasing a one-stop IT/AI solution for churches.

PLAY EPISODE

The Catholics who broke with Rome. Again.

July 17, 2026

What happens when tradition becomes trouble?

PLAY EPISODE

Philip Reed-Butler, Black AI and the future of healing

June 16, 2026

(RNS) — A theologian and technologist is building Black AI for the inner life, where healing begins with imagination.

PLAY EPISODE

Building God, Fearing Doom: The Theology of Superintelligence

June 2, 2026

Inside parts of Silicon Valley, AI is not just a tool. It is a vision of salvation, extinction and a future beyond the human.

PLAY EPISODE

VIEW MORE EPISODES

Latest Episode

$438 million later, what does this faith-tech company actually do?

July 20, 2026

(RNS) — RNS reporter Bob Smietana on Gloo, the faith-tech company chasing a one-stop IT/AI solution for churches.

Complexified

Meet the Host

Rev. Amanda Henderson

Complexified

Meet the Host

Rev. Amanda Henderson

Previous Episodes

$438 million later, what does this faith-tech company actually do?

July 20, 2026

(RNS) — RNS reporter Bob Smietana on Gloo, the faith-tech company chasing a one-stop IT/AI solution for churches.

PLAY EPISODE

The Catholics who broke with Rome. Again.

July 17, 2026

What happens when tradition becomes trouble?

PLAY EPISODE

Philip Reed-Butler, Black AI and the future of healing

June 16, 2026

(RNS) — A theologian and technologist is building Black AI for the inner life, where healing begins with imagination.

PLAY EPISODE

Building God, Fearing Doom: The Theology of Superintelligence

June 2, 2026

Inside parts of Silicon Valley, AI is not just a tool. It is a vision of salvation, extinction and a future beyond the human.

PLAY EPISODE

VIEW MORE EPISODES

Podcasts

	Saved by the City Eat the Rich! Jesus Had Something to Say About That + Malcolm Foley Katelyn Beaty and Roxanne Stone Katelyn and Roxy talk to Malcom Foley about the insidious legacy of greed on countries, systems and individuals.
	Martini Judaism Is it time to retire the term ‘Zionism’? Jeffrey Salkin (RNS) — Zionism is the right of the Jewish people to self-determination in their ancestral homeland. But is that all it means? Two Jewish thought leaders have it out.
	The State of Belief We Need Good Trouble Now: Celebrating the Life and Legacy of John Lewis Paul Brandeis Raushenbush Historian David Greenberg, author of the biography "John Lewis: A Life," shares insights into the work and legacy of the late Congressman and civil rights icon
	Money Meet Meaning Can AI Make Us More Human? Amber Hacker and Tom Levinson Can AI make us richer, freer, and more human—or just turn efficiency into the newest thing we worship?

	Saved by the City Eat the Rich! Jesus Had Something to Say About That + Malcolm Foley Katelyn Beaty and Roxanne Stone Katelyn and Roxy talk to Malcom Foley about the insidious legacy of greed on countries, systems and individuals.
	Martini Judaism Is it time to retire the term ‘Zionism’? Jeffrey Salkin (RNS) — Zionism is the right of the Jewish people to self-determination in their ancestral homeland. But is that all it means? Two Jewish thought leaders have it out.
	The State of Belief We Need Good Trouble Now: Celebrating the Life and Legacy of John Lewis Paul Brandeis Raushenbush Historian David Greenberg, author of the biography "John Lewis: A Life," shares insights into the work and legacy of the late Congressman and civil rights icon
	Money Meet Meaning Can AI Make Us More Human? Amber Hacker and Tom Levinson Can AI make us richer, freer, and more human—or just turn efficiency into the newest thing we worship?