March 2026 | LISLE, IL—In celebration of Women’s History Month in March, InterVarsity Press (IVP) announces the launch of the new Hear Women podcast alongside its Read Women initiative. Together these initiatives, with the tagline “Listening to Women for the Good of the Church, Academy, and World,” invite readers and listeners to engage thoughtfully with women’s stories, ideas, and leadership and elevate women’s voices and contributions across faith, scholarship, and culture. The first Hear Women episode releases March 9.
In Hear Women authors and hosts Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young, Tara Beth Leach, and Nijay Gupta engage in conversations that highlight the many ways that women bring a profound impact to the church, their communities, and the world.
Gilmore-Young said, “This theme is certainly one of my passions. I’m a big fan of both Nijay and Tara’s work so I look forward to entering into these conversations together!” Gilmore-Young is a speaker, teacher, podcaster, and journalist, and the author of several Bible studies and devotionals including Redeemer and Breathing Through Grief.
One of the distinctions about Hear Women is the thoughtful discourse largely led by and featuring the voices of women. Different from most podcasts with a female-only hosting team or a mostly male hosting team, Hear Women will model what it means for men to honor, support, and collaborate with the voices, expertise, and giftings of women.
“I’m incredibly excited about the Hear Women podcast and honored to be a part of such a significant and meaningful project,” said Leach, senior pastor at Good Shepherd Church Naperville, Illinois, and author of Radiant Church, Emboldened, and others. “The vision IVP has laid out—to create a space where women’s voices are central for the edification of the whole church—resonates deeply with me. It’s such a powerful opportunity to model mutuality and bring thoughtful conversations that our church and the world desperately need. The balance of having Nijay involved as a conversation partner is inspiring, and I truly believe this podcast can help shift the narrative around women’s contributions in the church.”
Gupta said, “I echo Tara Beth’s sentiments. This is an exciting endeavor, and I am honored to be invited into it. Back-and-forth conversations will leverage the wisdom of my incredible co-hosts.” Gupta is professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary and author of Tell Her Story, among many others.
Since its founding, IVP has demonstrated a commitment to publishing women whose scholarship, leadership, and lived experience have enriched the church and the academy. “IVP laid the groundwork for its commitment to elevating women’s voices with the publication of its first LifeGuide Bible Study by Jane Hollingsworth in 1943,” said Terumi Echols, publisher and president at IVP. “Nearly eighty years later our commitment remains the same, to ensure that women’s perspectives are not only included but actively centered in conversations shaping faith and the church today.”
Initial guests for the Hear Women podcast include
- Nicole Massie Martin, the chief operating officer at Christianity Today, founder and executive director of Soulfire International Ministries, and author of Nailing It
- Heather Matthews, doctor of ministry program manager at Wheaton College Graduate School and author of Confronting Sexism in the Church
- Jacqulyne Horbrook, CEO of Black Christian Influencers (BCI), the Christian Travel Club, and the BCI Influencer Agency, and the author of How to Be a Christian Influencer
- Jennifer Powell McNutt, associate professor of theology and history of Christianity at Wheaton College and author of numerous books, including The People’s Book (coauthored with David Lauber
- Sandra L. Glahn, professor of media arts and worship at Dallas Theological Seminary and author or editor of more than twenty books, including Nobody’s Mother and A Woman’s Place Is in the Story
- Shawna Songer Gaines, lead pastor at Trevecca Community Church in Nashville, Tennessee, and author of The Pastor as Midwife
- Lina AbuJamra, physician, Bible teacher, founder of Living With Power Ministries, and author of multiple books, including All Your Life
- Carmen Joy Imes, associate professor of Old Testament at Biola University and author of numerous books, including Becoming God’s Family and the forthcoming Fierce and Faithful, an IVP Kids title coauthored with Nijay Gupta
- Tammy Dunahoo, executive dean of Portland Seminary with more than forty years of church and denominational leadership experience
- Mimi Haddad, president and CEO of CBE International (Christians for Biblical Equality) and a contributor to more than fifteen books including The Participation of Women and Discovering Biblical Equality
The trailer and first episode of Hear Women release on March 9, with twenty-two biweekly episodes releasing through early 2027. The Hear Women podcast will be available through Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other major podcast distributors.
Contact | Krista Clayton | kclayton@ivpress.com
