What if the story you've been told about the Church is only part of the truth?

In this episode of Your Radical Truth, Margaret Mary O'Connor welcomes back Father Anne for a conversation that goes far beyond surface-level discussion. This is the beginning of an ongoing monthly series where real issues are explored without filtering or softening the message.

The focus of this episode centers on women in the Catholic Church, what has been taught, what has been omitted, and what is now being questioned.

Father Anne speaks directly to the issue of ordination, not as a "women's issue," but as a matter of justice. When women are excluded from full participation, it doesn't just impact women. It shapes the entire structure of the Church and influences how authority, dignity, and voice are defined.

The conversation also takes a closer look at Mary Magdalene, a figure long misunderstood and often diminished. As the first witness to the resurrection, her role was foundational, yet history has not always reflected that truth accurately.

This episode challenges long-standing narratives and invites listeners to take a deeper look at what they've accepted without question. It explores the connection between religious hierarchy, power structures, and the broader impact on society.

There is no attempt here to make this comfortable. The goal is clarity.

If you've ever questioned what you've been taught, or sensed there was more beneath the surface, this conversation will give you plenty to consider.

Listen now: YourRadicalTruth.com/051-Father-Anne

What does it really mean to follow a calling when the very institution that shaped your faith no longer recognizes you?

In this powerful episode of Your Radical Truth Podcast, Margaret Mary O'Connor sits down with Reverend Shanon Sterringer for a deeply honest conversation about vocation, excommunication, and the courage it takes to walk a path that few are willing to take.

Shanon's journey began inside the Roman Catholic Church, where she served for more than two decades in ministry, leadership, and theological education. Her call to priesthood was not something that came from outside the Church. It was formed within it. Yet when she answered that call through ordination, she faced the reality that many women before her have encountered. Separation, scrutiny, and ultimately excommunication.

What makes this conversation so compelling is not just the doctrine behind it, but the lived experience. Shanon shares what it felt like to receive multiple formal letters, how the process unfolded over time, and why the emotional impact goes far beyond what canon law can explain. This is not simply a theological issue. It is a deeply human one.

At the same time, this episode goes far beyond the topic of excommunication.

A central thread throughout the conversation is Shanon's lifelong study and devotion to St. Hildegard of Bingen. As a scholar, retreat leader, and founder of the Community of St. Hildegard Church and Hildegard Haus Shrine, Shanon brings a grounded and expansive understanding of Hildegard's life and work.

You will hear a perspective on Hildegard that is rarely shared in full. While many know her as a mystic, herbalist, or composer, Shanon paints a much more complete picture. Hildegard was also a theologian, visionary, leader, and at times deeply traditional in her thinking. Her legacy includes music, healing practices, theological writings, visionary works, and over 400 letters that reveal a candid and often surprising voice.

This episode also explores how Hildegard's influence is alive today through Shanon's work. From sacred gardens and retreats to hybrid learning experiences and community gatherings, Shanon has created a space where people can encounter Hildegard in a tangible and meaningful way. Whether someone comes for spiritual connection, intellectual curiosity, or personal growth, there is an open invitation to explore.

You will also hear about The Green Shepherdess, Shanon's fair trade store inspired by Hildegard's vision of balance, sustainability, and care for creation. It is another example of how spiritual principles can be lived out in everyday life, reaching people far beyond traditional religious settings.

Throughout the conversation, themes of leadership, integrity, and personal truth continue to surface. Shanon's story is not only about women's ordination. It is about what happens when you choose to live in alignment with what you know to be true, even when it comes at a cost.

This is a conversation for anyone who has ever questioned authority, navigated a major life shift, or felt called to something that others did not understand.

Visit: https://yourradicaltruth.com/050-reverend-shanon/

What happens when a woman devotes her life to faith and still finds herself shut out of leadership?

In Episode 49 of Your Radical Truth Podcast, Debra Flint returns for a powerful and unfiltered conversation about spiritual and political power abuse within Catholicism. Drawing from her book No Place for a Woman, Debra shares her personal journey through the Church, her calling to consecrated life, and the moment everything changed.

This episode goes beyond doctrine. It explores who holds power, why women continue to be excluded from leadership roles, and what happens when institutional authority overrides individual calling.

You'll hear:

• Why women's roles in early Christianity matter today
• How Church structures shifted power away from the people
• The untold realities many women face inside the Catholic Church
• What happened when Debra's consecration was suddenly denied
• Why speaking up inside the Church is far more complicated than it seems

This is a conversation about faith, authority, and the cost of silence.

If you've ever questioned how power operates within religious institutions, this episode will challenge you to look deeper.

Listen now and decide for yourself: power or silence?

Enjoy the full post on the Your Radical Truth website at: https://www.yourradicaltruth.com/049-debra-flint