Dr. Samantha Bise is a writer, poet, and professor who explores language, culture, and power.

She studies where ancient religious language meets oppression and contemporary resistance. Her work traces how the words that built Western Christianity were shaped by empire, patriarchy, and power—and how those same words can be reclaimed for liberation. 

Her forthcoming book with Pilgrim Press, titled “Tongue in Church: A Liberating Primer on Christian Vocabulary,” reveals how Christian vocabulary has simultaneously carried the weight of power and the potential to liberate.

Samantha teaches college writing, English, and social science courses at Penn State Lehigh Valley, Penn State Hazleton, and Lehigh Carbon Community College. Previously, she served as an academic librarian, GED teacher, and literacy advocate. Her doctorate is in literacy, culture, and language education from Indiana University.

She is the co-host of the Church Chatter Podcast, a podcast exploring the surprising linguistic, cultural, and theological contexts behind different religious words and phrases. Weekly episodes can be found on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.