Looking Back: A Pilgrimage of Sacred Stories
As Season 10 of The Collective Table—The 50.5%—comes to a close, co-hosts Claire and Jenell reflect on what has been one of their most personal and expansive seasons yet. With no guest this episode, listeners are invited into a more intimate space—part retrospective, part community gathering.
This season has been a pilgrimage through buried wisdom, sacred resistance, and the untold stories of women within and beyond the Church. In this episode, Claire and Jenell:
Revisit key conversations with guests like Dr. Wil Gafney and Rev. Terri Hord Owens
Share listener responses, including heartfelt voicemails and stories from clergy, parents, and artists
Reflect on the podcast All the Buried Women, a powerful series uncovering silenced female voices in the Southern Baptist Convention
Why “We’re Still Here” Matters
This episode explores the tension between harmony and integrity—especially for women in faith leadership. From the pressures to "keep sweet" to the reality of leading in spaces not built for them, Claire and Jenell discuss what it means to stay rooted, show up, and lead truthfully.
They also share how listener stories have illuminated these truths:
Lucy, a longtime orchestra bassist, reflects on working in a male-dominated field
David, a youth pastor and father, shares how the Dear Mama God episode is shaping his daughters’ spirituality
Noreen writes about the quiet power of freedom—from clothing to calling
These reflections mirror the episode’s core question: How do we live with integrity in spaces that still try to limit us?
All the Buried Women: A Parallel Journey
The second half of the episode is devoted to All the Buried Women by Savannah Locke and Beth Allison Barr. This podcast mini-series reveals the hidden stories of women in the archives of the Southern Baptist Convention—a tradition both Claire and Jenell grew up in.
Claire shares how the series affirmed the grief and disorientation she felt growing up in a high-control religious environment, while Jenell opens up about how becoming a mother challenged the theology she had long accepted. Both reflect on the power of truth-telling as sacred resistance, even when it disrupts the illusion of harmony.
Related Resource Links:
Little Women (2019), directed by Greta Gerwig
Reflection Questions
Looking for deeper personal or group reflection? Use these questions as journaling prompts or small group discussion starters:
What part of this season—or this episode—helped you see your own story (or someone else’s) in a new light?
When have you had to choose integrity over harmony? What did that look like for you?
Who are the “buried women” in your life—those whose contributions were overlooked or minimized? How might you honor their legacy?
Why This Episode Matters Now
At a time when more women are reclaiming their voices and challenging systems that have long silenced them, We’re Still Here is both a celebration of resilience and a call to courage. Whether you’re deconstructing harmful theology, stepping into leadership, or just trying to stay rooted in your faith while holding grief and joy—this episode is for you.
Subscribe, share, and rate if this season meant something to you. Every review helps others discover stories like these—and keeps the conversation going.
🧡 Thank you for walking with us through Season 10. We’ll be back soon with Season 11. Until then: stay curious, stay grounded, and keep showing up with heart.