Jen Hatmaker Debuts First-Ever Substack Live Q&A on New Memoir

Lead: Best-selling author and podcaster Jen Hatmaker hosted her inaugural Substack Live session today at 11 a.m. CT, fielding questions about her upcoming memoir Awake and sharing insights on faith, divorce and reinvention.

Nut Graf: The live event marks Hatmaker’s first foray into interactive livestreaming on her Substack platform, offering readers a real-time dialogue on themes of healing, transparency and redefining spirituality outside institutional church structures.

Highlights from Today’s Session

  • Memoir Deep Dive: Hatmaker discussed key chapters of Awake, due September 23, examining how purity culture, patriarchy and body shame shaped her journey from church leader to “midlife relearner.”
  • Audience Q&A: Over 200 subscribers posed questions on navigating heartbreak, rebuilding identity post-divorce, and sustaining faith apart from formal congregations.
  • Practical Takeaways: She emphasized setting “five-year pride tests” when sharing personal stories and advised listeners to hold fast to core convictions during seasons of upheaval.

What Comes Next

Substack subscribers can replay the session on demand and submit follow-up questions through September 20. Hatmaker also teased additional virtual workshops on writing memoir and cultivating community beyond traditional church settings.

Context and Relevance

Jen Hatmaker-who left institutional church life earlier this month to redefine her spiritual practice-has amassed 1.5 million followers as an author, speaker and advocate. Her pivot to Substack Live underscores a broader trend of faith influencers embracing direct digital engagement to foster authentic connection and dialogue.