From the Writer’s Desk with Bishop Tom Berlin
From the Writer’s Desk with Bishop Tom Berlin is a limited-series podcast featuring thoughtful conversations with authors from across the Florida Conference and beyond. In each episode, Bishop Tom Berlin sits down with writers, pastors, scholars, and leaders to explore the ideas behind their books, the journeys that shaped them, and the ways their words can deepen our faith and understanding.
Whether discussing spiritual formation, leadership, justice, discipleship, or the challenges facing the church today, these conversations invite listeners to engage with fresh perspectives and discover books that inspire, challenge, and encourage.
Join Bishop Tom Berlin as he pulls up a chair at the writer’s desk and explores the stories behind the stories.
New episodes released throughout this special limited series.
Listen on:
Episodes
Thursday Jun 18, 2026
Thursday Jun 18, 2026
In this episode, Bishop Tom Berlin sits down with author and theologian Dr. Steve Harper to explore Little Lights, a collection of daily meditations born from a simple but profound conviction: God often meets us not only in dramatic moments, but in the quiet, steady rhythms of everyday life.
Drawing from his 2024 book, Dr. Harper shares how brief reflections can offer encouragement, deepen spiritual awareness and help believers recognize God's presence in the ordinary. Together, they discuss the importance of daily practices, finding hope in small moments and discovering the “little lights” that illuminate our journey of faith.
Get the book on Amazon.
Check out Steve's blog.
Friday Jun 12, 2026
Friday Jun 12, 2026
In this episode of From the Writer’s Desk with Bishop Tom Berlin, Bishop Tom Berlin welcomes Rev. Dr. Andrea Byer-Thomas, senior pastor of Community United Methodist Church in Fort Pierce and chair of the Florida Conference Commission on the Status and Role of Women, to discuss her deeply personal book, Tears at the Altar, Lament in My Breasts: This Pastor Confronts Grief from the Pulpit.
Written in the wake of the 2019 death of her son, Arleigh, the book explores the universal experience of grief through the lens of Byer-Thomas’ Afro-Caribbean heritage and her calling as a pastor. In this honest and hope-filled conversation, she reflects on leading while carrying profound loss, the role of lament in the life of faith, and the ways God meets us in seasons of sorrow.
Available on Amazon.
Friday Jun 12, 2026
Friday Jun 12, 2026
In this episode of From the Writer’s Desk with Bishop Tom Berlin, Bishop Tom Berlin sits down with Rev. Dr. Michael Beck—pastor, church planter, and leading voice in the Fresh Expressions movement—to discuss his latest book, Distortions: How to Recognize and Refute False Christian Claims in American Culture: A Visual Guide.
Together, they explore how cultural narratives and misinformation can shape faith and why Christians need the language and confidence to recognize and respond to false claims. Drawing from the themes of the book, Beck shares practical insights for navigating conversations in everyday life, ministry settings, and even on social media.