Art, Story, Soul, and Song

This week’s Goose mix brings songwriters, storytellers, and spiritual provocateurs to the circle. From grassroots art to progressive theology, they’re making room for truth, connection, and a little bit of mischief. Come meet the voices shaping the conversation—and the soundtrack—for a more wholehearted faith.

paula rainey benson
Visual artist and songwriter paula rainey benson explores authenticity, alignment, and embodiment—especially in the context of faith traditions that discourage them. Her work draws on a rich palette of artistic, literary, and musical influences, inviting audiences into deeper self-awareness and soul-level honesty. MORE

Brooke Tansley
Founder of Folklight and a former Broadway performer, Brooke Tansley transforms grassroots storytelling into global film and television. She believes human stories—told with care and heard with openness—can heal, connect, and shift culture, from local communities to audiences worldwide. MORE

Eli Yacinthe
North Carolina songwriter, singer, and guitarist Eli Yacinthe blends influences from D’Angelo to Marcus King. His latest release, Something Real From The Heart, offers a soulful, blues-infused journey through love, longing, and loss. MORE

Colby Martin
Author of UnClobber and The SHIFT, Colby Martin champions a Christianity grounded in love, grace, and inclusion. A veteran pastor and national speaker, he mixes humor and heart while helping others rethink faith—and will even give you a free hug if you ask. MORE

Bring your art, your questions, your whole self. The Goose is ready for you.

SCHEDULE

Our schedule is like a wild goose—unpredictable! The flock’s still forming. Expect some flapping and shifting before it settles.

Sacred Disruption, Everyday Courage

This week’s Wild Goose lineup brings heart-centered musicians, global healers, and master storytellers into the fold. From Appalachian harmonies to trauma-informed movement, theological exploration to cinematic wisdom—these voices ground us in wonder, stretch us toward wholeness, and invite us to live more deeply.

Alathea
Appalachian duo Alathea blends front-porch folk with lush harmonies and lived storytelling. With roots in Tennessee and a heart for community, their music celebrates faith, family, and the beauty of the everyday. They’re award-winning artists—and part-time music teachers for school kids, too. MORE

Gareth Higgins
Writer, peacebuilder, and Wild Goose co-founder, Gareth Higgins invites us into the power of story to transform fear and build community. His books How Not to Be Afraid and A Whole Life in Twelve Movies reveal the beauty of vulnerability, imagination, and cinematic hope. MORE

Dominique Warfield
Licensed massage therapist and international healing arts facilitator, Dominique Warfield helps people integrate body, spirit, and story. With deep roots in Bhakti Yoga, Native ritual, and eco-embodiment, her practice invites movement, music, and wholeness—especially for those reclaiming the sacred feminine. MORE

Thomas Jay Oord
A leading voice in open and relational theology, Thomas Jay Oord is a theologian, philosopher, and prolific author exploring love, suffering, freedom, and transformation. His work bridges science and faith with clarity and compassion—and he’s one of the most influential theologians of the 21st century. MORE

Bring your whole self. Let the story do its work. Something sacred is singing at the Goose.

SCHEDULE

Our schedule is like a wild goose—unpredictable! The flock’s still forming. Expect some flapping and shifting before it settles.

Sacred Disruption, Everyday Courage

This week, meet the prophets, peacemakers, and pioneers calling us deeper into justice, interfaith connection, and compassionate community. Whether through bold words, sacred music, grassroots organizing, or radical mindfulness, they remind us that faithful resistance starts wherever we are—with whoever we are.

John Pavlovitz
Pastor, activist, and bestselling author of If God Is Love, Don’t Be a Jerk, John Pavlovitz brings fierce compassion and bold moral clarity. He leads The Beautiful Mess on Substack and the Empathetic People Network, building community across difference. MORE

Ani Zonneveld
Founder of Muslims for Progressive Values, Ani Zonneveld is a Grammy-certified songwriter, interfaith officiant, and fearless advocate for inclusive Islam. Her upcoming memoir, The Unlikely Social Justice Warrior, chronicles a life of radical creativity and unapologetic conviction. MORE

Pablo del Real
A student of Thich Nhat Hanh and Bernard LaFayette, Pablo del Real leads Soil & Soul, nurturing mindfulness and ecological healing through community practice. His work bridges inner peace and collective action—growing wholeness in people, place, and planet. MORE

Rev. Dr. Hanna Broome
AME Zion leader, Repairers of the Breach director, and past president of the NC Council of Churches, Rev. Dr. Hanna Broome preaches justice with fire and grace. A nationally recognized voice in the Poor People’s Campaign, she lives faith through family and fierce commitment. MORE

The movement is already unfolding. All that’s missing is you.

SCHEDULE

Our schedule is like a wild goose—unpredictable! The flock’s still forming. Expect some flapping and shifting before it settles.

Where Spirit and Story Get Personal

This week’s Goose guests bring radical vulnerability, sharp scholarship, and embodied liberation. Whether through poetry, theology, or the long journey of deconstruction, they’re helping us reimagine a Gospel that breathes, pulses, and makes room for every body.

Jon Carl Lewis
Liberative theologian and spiritual guide Jon Carl Lewis helps queer and progressive Christians integrate sexuality, spirituality, and justice. With theological depth and joyful curiosity, he explores how we love, relate, and reclaim the body as holy. MORE

Dr. Angela N. Parker
New Testament scholar and prophetic voice, Dr. Angela Parker brings a womanist lens to biblical authority, justice, and Black Lives Matter theology. Her work bridges academy and church, spirit and scholarship, with fire and brilliance. MORE

Mike Maeshiro
Founder of Numa, Mike Maeshiro supports LGBTQ+ people healing from religious harm. A former Bethel instructor turned coach and advocate, he blends emotional health, redemptive deconstruction, and spiritual authenticity with bold clarity and compassion. MORE

VaChikepe: The Poet
Zimbabwe-born mystic and poet VaChikepe merges African wisdom, Wesleyan mysticism, and sacred storytelling into a movement of awakening. With over 3,600 poems and global acclaim, his work ignites spirit and justice through rhythm, theology, and revelation. MORE

Faith is personal. Transformation is communal. Come witness what happens when both show up at Wild Goose.

SCHEDULE

Our schedule is like a wild goose—unpredictable! The flock’s still forming. Expect some flapping and shifting before it settles.

Your Wild Goose Festival Home Awaits!

From starlit camping to cozy beds, we’ve got lodging options for every kind of Goose. Whether you’re pitching a tent or craving something more luxe, here’s what’s still available:

Camping with Dana—Join the vibrant, welcoming camping community hosted by our very own Dana! It’s the classic Wild Goose experience: communal, creative, and joyfully messy—in all the best ways.

Glamping—Want the camping vibe without hauling your gear? Our Glamping packages include roomy tents, comfy beds, and stress-free setup, with optional air conditioning. Limited tents left—book soon!

RV Camping (No Hookups)—Hookup spots are sold out, but we still have space for self-contained RVs. Bring your rig and enjoy easy access to the heart of the Festival.

Hotel Options in Statesville—Prefer A/C and a hot shower? Statesville hotels are just a short drive away, and Wild Goose guests get a special rate at the Hilton Garden Inn. Rooms are filling fast—don’t miss out!

Get all the details and reserve your spot now

Sacred Play, Holy Mischief

This week’s guests remind us that Spirit doesn’t always speak in solemn tones—it sings in drag shows, dances through miracles, and sneaks into superhero stories. From queer country to embodied theology, these voices blur the lines between sacred and strange. Come play where faith gets delightfully weird.

Rev. Adam Lawrence Dyer
Minister, scholar, and embodiment advocate, Adam Lawrence Dyer explores the intersections of equity, spirituality, and sexuality. Formerly at Harvard and First Parish Cambridge, he brings bold theological insight and fierce love to everything from LGBTQ inclusion to liberal religious practice. Oh—and he used to be a Goose board member. MORE

Jo’el Adifon
Jo’el Adifon is a taumaturgo (miracle worker) in training—part mystic, part anime hero. Blending West African roots, Italian flair, and deep psychological study, Jo’el crafts ecstatic spaces of healing, humor, and holy mischief. He’s here to remind you: yes, magic is real, and yes, it’s for you. MORE

Flamy Grant
Drag queen. Songwriter. Christian chart-topper. Flamy Grant delivers gospel-infused queer anthems that heal shame and spark joy. With powerhouse vocals and bold authenticity, she turns every performance into a glitter-strewn altar call for liberation. Come for the sequins, stay for the Spirit. MORE

The Moonshine Jesus Show
Rev. Drs. Mark Sandlin and Caleb Lines host The Moonshine Jesus Show, where geek culture meets progressive theology. Think pop culture, politics, and pulpit vibes—served with wit and whiskey. Whether it’s Star Wars or Christian nationalism, they bring the Gospel to the galaxy. MORE

Come laugh, wonder, and level up your faith. The weird is welcome at Wild Goose.

SCHEDULE

Our schedule is like a wild goose—unpredictable! The flock’s still forming. Expect some flapping and shifting before it settles.

Faith That Moves and Mends

Who’s Coming to Wild Goose?

Adam Harris
As Executive Pastor at Godwhy, Adam Harris helps build a church for big questions and open minds. He reclaims faith with intellectual honesty and deep compassion, unafraid to cut through religious clutter to rediscover the raw, revolutionary heart of Jesus. MORE

Rob Schenck
Once a high-profile figure on the religious right, Rev. Rob Schenck now speaks boldly as a progressive evangelical in exile. A whistleblower, pastor, and documentary subject, Rob sees his current work as a pilgrimage of penance, truth-telling, and transformation. MORE

Rev. Tara Eastman
Pastor, podcaster, and joyful disruptor, Tara Eastman hosts Holy Shenanigans, a podcast exploring sacred moments in everyday life. With storytelling, art, and music, Tara leads with playfulness and depth—reminding us that the divine often shows up in beautiful, unscripted ways. MORE

hot glue & the gun
Part theater, part ritual, all heart—hot glue & the gun (Carrie Klein & joEL McGlynn) invite you into co-creative experiences of art, music, and meaning. With joy and glue guns in hand, they turn broken pieces into sacred storytelling and communal transformation. MORE

Bring your questions. Bring your scraps. There’s room for all of it at the Goose.

SCHEDULE

Our schedule is like a wild goose—unpredictable! The flock’s still forming. Expect some flapping and shifting before it settles.

Spirit Meets Imagination

Who’s Coming to Wild Goose?

At Wild Goose, sacred insight meets creative fire. This week’s featured guests bring radical wonder, deep wisdom, and wild courage to the journey. From church to cosmos, come meet the guides helping us imagine—and embody—a freer, braver faith.

Rev. Dr. Perzavia Praylow
Historian, theologian, and ordained Presbyterian minister, Dr. Praylow directs Black Church Studies at Louisville Seminary. A fierce advocate for rural Black congregations, she merges teaching, pastoral care, and prophetic scholarship to mentor leaders and reimagine the church’s role in liberation and healing. MORE

Hunt Priest
Founder of Ligare: A Christian Psychedelic Society, Hunt Priest blends Christian contemplative tradition with sacred plant medicine. His journey from priesthood to psilocybin transformed his ministry and birthed a movement grounded in healing, spiritual consciousness, and radical neighbor love. MORE

Xanax-vangelicals (Holly Berkley Fletcher & Cara Meredith)
Missionary kid and former CIA analyst, Holly Berkley Fletcher exposes evangelical myths with historian’s clarity and subversive grace. Writer and theologian Cara Meredith adds personal narrative and prophetic fire. Together they explore deconstruction, healing, and hope in post-evangelical life and culture. MORE

Bobby Jo Valentine
Queer singer-songwriter and poet Bobby Jo Valentine creates music and stories as medicine for the soul. With multiple songwriting awards and a TEDx talk to his name, Bobby Jo brings gentle power and poetic truth to every stage—reminding us love is steady, sacred, and healing. MORE

Feed your Spirit and your Imagination at this year’s Goose.

Glamping at Wild Goose Festival

Elevate your festival experience with our exclusive glamping options! Immerse yourself in a celebration of faith, creativity, and social justice while enjoying the comforts of home. Choose from three uniquely designed glamping areas, each offering a distinct ambiance and experience.

Uptown Glamping: Discover a new community on the on the other end of “town”
Welcome to Uptown, our newest Glamping area, where the festival buzz meets a patch of green serenity. Think of it as the mullet of camping—party up front, calm in the back. Whether you’re a family looking for a chill zone or just someone who needs a breather after dancing like no one’s watching, Uptown Glamping gives you quick access to the fun with a little room to BREATHE. Perfect for recharging both your phone and your soul.

Location: A short walk from the excitement

Downtown (Formerly City) Glamping: Immerse Yourself in the Action
Feel the pulse of the festival in our Downtown Glamping area! You’ll be just steps away from live performances, art showcases, and engaging workshops. After a day of inspiration and connection, retreat to your luxurious tent for a restful night. Perfect for those who crave excitement and want to be in the center of it all!

Location: Under the Arena roof, right at the festival’s heart

Country Glamping: Embrace Nature’s Serenity
Escape to our Country Glamping area, where you can unwind in a peaceful setting with neighbors just a little down the road. Enjoy the beauty of nature while still being connected to the festival’s spirit. This area is perfect for those looking for a more private experience, with opportunities for reflection and deeper connections in a tranquil environment.

Location: A bit further from the main hubbub

Why Choose Glamping?

• Comfort & Luxury: Experience the joy of cozy beds, electricity, and private amenities in a beautiful setting.
• Community Spirit: Connect with fellow festival-goers who share your passion for faith, art, and justice.
• Memorable Experience: Create lasting memories in a unique and inspiring atmosphere.

Reserve Your Glamping Spot Today!
Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your festival experience! Book your glamping accommodation now and be part of a transformative event that celebrates faith, art and justice.

Explore Glamping and Lodging Options »

When the Walls Come Down: Rebuilding Sacred Spaces

You didn’t come here for safe. You came for movement. Here’s your weekly nudge.

This week’s Wild Goose Experiences call us to tear down, reimagine, and rebuild the spaces we call sacred. Because holiness isn’t locked in a building—it’s roaming the hills, shaking the dust, and singing under the stars.

Hillbilly Theology: Bluegrass, Rebellion, and the Bible (Hunter)
What if the gospel has been hiding in plain sight, buried in the songs and stories of the hills?

Hunter Greene takes us deep into the roots of Appalachian culture, turning “hillbilly” into a battle cry for liberation. Expect fire, expect grit, and expect to leave seeing God in unexpected places.

Where Should the Living Temple Dwell? (Andy Barlow)
If the church is supposed to be a Living Temple, why does it feel so dead?

Andy Barlow strips away the pretense and asks us to rethink what church is, what it could be, and where it might come alive again. Is it a building? A backyard? A dinner table? Or just a handful of souls willing to listen?

Evening Vespers for Spiritual Reconnection, Rest, and Renewal (Christina Nelson)
What if the quiet is where God’s been waiting for you all along?

Christina Nelson invites you to step into a space where silence is prayer and nightfall is sanctuary. Breathe, walk, and find your way back to the sacred, one still moment at a time.

The walls are crumbling. The Spirit is moving. Are you ready to find holiness without walls?