religion
religion · EN-US
First Reading offers exegetical resources for the Old Testament Lectionary reading each week. Dr. Rachel Wrenn is Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies at Trinity Lutheran Seminary (Capital University), Rosy Kandathil is a PhD candidate in Hebrew Bible at Emory University, Dr. Tim McNinch is Assistant Professor of Hebrew Bible at Christian Theological Seminary, and Paul Essah is a PhD student in Hebrew Bible at Yale University. In addition to short weekly episodes, they periodically invite a leading Hebrew Bible scholar for a longer conversation about the nitty-gritty of the week's text.
Required Pod Score for this podcast. PitchCentric checks your profile against host openness, topical fit, and audience signals before you generate a pitch.
Contact path
Verified email
Booking probability
27%
Guest openness
Selective
Sign up to generate a grounded pitch for First Reading.
Signup to Generate a PitchFirst Reading offers exegetical resources for the Old Testament Lectionary reading each week. Dr. Rachel Wrenn is Assistant Professor of Biblical Studies at Trinity Lutheran Seminary (Capital University), Rosy Kandathil is a PhD candidate in Hebrew Bible at Emory University, Dr.
Recent episodes include "Habakkuk 1:1, 4; 2:1, 4" (22 September 2025, 27 minutes), "Amos 6:1a, 4, 7" (16 September 2025, 29 minutes), and "Amos 8:4, 7" (8 September 2025, 23 minutes).
First Reading publishes roughly weekly, with episodes averaging 15 minutes across 344 episodes.
Booking probability for First Reading is 27%, and the host is rated Selective on guests. First Reading requires a Pod Score of 80 or higher. First Reading's contact route on record: verified email.
The strongest fits for First Reading are Religion & Faith. First Reading has a religion audience and around 540 subscribers on YouTube.
First Reading is a religion podcast with 344 episodes published.
Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.
First Reading
From the Vault Lectionary Date: October 5, 2025 [17th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] Preaching from Habakkuk this week? Consider these episodes from the First Reading vault: Please take a moment to subscribe to the...
First Reading
Party Episode! Lectionary Date: September 28, 2025 [16th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] It's a party episode: all four of us discuss Amos's scathing critique. Please take a moment to subscribe to the First Reading...
First Reading
God Remembers Lectionary Date: September 21, 2025 [15th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] Paul and Rosy are back for a conversation about economic exploitation—nothing new under the sun! Please take a moment to subscribe...
First Reading
Repentance Lectionary Date: September 14, 2025 [14th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] Rosy and Paul discuss the theme of repentance in all of this week's readings. Please take a moment to subscribe to the First Reading...
First Reading
Choosing Life Lectionary Date: September 7, 2025 [13th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] Paul puts Moses and Jesus into conversation to discuss what it means to "choose life." Please take a moment to subscribe to the...
First Reading
Genuine Humility Lectionary Date: August 31, 2025 [12th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] What do pride and humility actually look like? Rosy sees a theme in this week's lectionary readings! Please take a moment to...
First Reading
From the Vault: God's Call Lectionary Date: August 24, 2025 [11th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] We'll be back with new full episodes starting next week! In the meantime, here's an episode on this week's lectionary...
First Reading
A Painful Conversation Lectionary Date: August 17, 2025 [10th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] Paul explores a painful AND hopeful dialogue between Israel and God, in the vineyard metaphor. Please take a moment to...
First Reading
Faith that Does No Harm Lectionary Date: August 10, 2025 [9th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] Rosy traces the theme of faith through all of this week's readings. Please take a moment to subscribe to the First Reading...
First Reading
An Invitation to Discernment of Wisdom Lectionary Date: August 3, 2025 [8th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] Tim's turn to point out a tension between Qohelet's wisdom and Jesus's parable. Please take a moment to...
First Reading
Righteousness and Justice Lectionary Date: July 27, 2025 [7th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] Rachel's back with the next (and very different) installment of the Abraham story. Please take a moment to subscribe to the...
First Reading
Life Bubbles Up Lectionary Date: July 20, 2025 [6th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] Rachel's turn for a quick episode, this time on a divine visit to Abraham and Sarah! Please take a moment to subscribe to the First...
First Reading
Be Bold! Lectionary Date: July 13, 2025 [5th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] Paul again, bringing out the boldness of Amos's message. Please take a moment to subscribe to the First Reading YouTube channel , and consider...
First Reading
A Different Kind of Power Lectionary Date: July 6, 2025 [4th Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] Paul is up with a brief reflection on the power dynamics in this week's Old Testament lectionary readings. Please take a...
First Reading
Commitment Issues Lectionary Date: June 29, 2025 [3rd Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] Rosy is back again with a few thoughts about "commitment issues" in this week's readings. Please take a moment to subscribe to the...
First Reading
Summer Shorts are Back! Lectionary Date: June 22, 2025 [2nd Sunday after Pentecost, Year C] Rosy kicks off our summer series with some thoughts on Isaiah, Luke, and the Psalm. Please take a moment to subscribe to the...
First Reading
Pentecost: Babel All Over Again Lectionary Date: June 8, 2025 [Pentecost Sunday, Year C] For Pentecost, we are back in the Hebrew Bible / Old Testament, with a look at the Tower of Babel story. But first, Tim makes a...
First Reading
Hebrew Bible Scholars Read Revelation! Lectionary Date: June 1, 2025 [7th Sunday of Easter, Year C] Rachel concludes our Revelation series with a look at the close of the letter, its context, and its impact for us...
First Reading
Hebrew Bible Scholars Read Revelation! Lectionary Date: May 25, 2025 [6th Sunday of Easter, Year C] Tim's turn to say a few words about the new Jerusalem pictured in Revelation... and also a bit about eschatology and...
First Reading
Hebrew Bible Scholars Read Revelation! Lectionary Date: May 18, 2025 [5th Sunday of Easter, Year C] Rachel's up to give us some insight into the appearance of a new heavens and new earth at the end of the book. Spoiler...
Recent guests on First Reading. Study who booked and why before you pitch.
Assistant Professor of Hebrew Bible
Old Testament scholar at Luther Seminary, author of The Old Testament for a Complex World, Luther Seminary
Hall of Famer, former Cincinnati Reds and Houston Astros broadcaster, West Virginia Astrophotography Association
Academic Dean and Professor of Hebrew Bible
PitchCentric classifies First Reading under these industries. Guests from them are the closest fit, and each links to the best podcasts in that industry.
Shows with the most semantically similar episode content. Pitch one, pitch all; producers cluster.
Scripture First
Illumination: Hebrew Insights
Textual Community
Lectionary Kick-start
Lectionary Kick-start
Chapter, Verse, and Season: A Lectionary Podcast from Yale Bible Study
Is this podcast yours and you'd like to remove or correct details? Request removal or email privacy@pitchcentric.com.
Questions about the free trial? See the pricing FAQ