Richard Riccardi
Author of The Wandering Worshipper on Belonging, Presence, and Community in Faith
About Richard Riccardi
Eventually, instead of asking what he should or was obligated to do, he asked a simpler question: Is going to church worthwhile? He put the concept to the test by attending services at 33 different places of worship, crossing denominations, cultures, and faith traditions in one year.
As the journey unfolded, he discovered he knew a lot less than he thought. Time and again, the differences and preconceptions he assumed would dominate the experience receded once he was inside the house of worship and interacting with real people.
Rather than the typical negative impressions of church, he encountered smiling, welcoming people; heard uplifting, not condemning, faith messages; learned that the differences in faith traditions are not so different; and discovered faith can transcend race.
The experience transformed him, and he concluded that there is a place for everyone, and everyone needs a place. Sure, churches aren’t perfect; they are composed of people, but the imperfections are fewer than expected, and there is a constant aspiration to do better.
Those experiences became The Wandering Worshipper, a book that sidesteps theological debate to focus on how worship communities can positively and profoundly impact the attendees individually and collectively. Although Richard became a passionate weekly churchgoer, he still speaks from the vantage point that shaped the experiment: curious, open-minded, and receptive, not evangelical.
The Wandering Worshipper is an encouragement to put aside preconceived notions, explore church, and to seize the benefit of community worship.
The book speaks especially to people who’ve drifted away, been disappointed by religious institutions, or never felt they belonged in the first place.
Outside his writing, Richard supports the consumer-packaged goods ecosystem through investment, mentorship, and leadership in an industry association. He also serves and supports several philanthropic organizations. Beforehand, he owned and operated his family’s food processing business for 25 years. He is also an attorney and CPA.
Whether business, relationships, or faith, Richard’s open-minded and hearted approach richly rewards him with profound personal experiences and associations.
As a podcast guest, Richard shares grounded stories about walking into unfamiliar rooms, standing out, and why presence often reshapes people long before belief ever does.
Latest episodes
310. Why Do Guests Find Church Visits Intimidating? With Richard Riccardi, author of The Wandering Worshipper
Spiritual Life and Leadership
33 Churches: A Spiritual Quest for Belonging with Richard G. Riccardi - EP 359
The Spiritual Forum
Lessons from The Wandering Worshipper with Richard Riccardi
The Innovative Church Leaders Podcast
Key topics
What church communities can learn from someone who kept walking in as a stranger
This conversation is for people who already attend or lead churches and care deeply about what community is supposed to feel like. Richard reflects on what he noticed by repeatedly entering congregations as an outsider - how small gestures of recognition, warmth, and presence often mattered more than programs or polish. Rather than critiquing churches, he shares what made certain communities quietly magnetic and others easy to forget. The discussion invites listeners to see their own churches through fresh eyes, and to reconsider how belonging is created long before anyone decides to stay.
Why staying away from church feels safer than walking into the wrong room
This discussion speaks directly to people who haven’t rejected church so much as quietly avoided it, often without fully naming why. Richard describes the subtle calculations many people make before ever stepping inside: fear of judgment, pressure to conform, or being asked to declare beliefs they haven’t sorted out yet. Drawing from his year attending dozens of services without committing, he explains how presence turned out to be far less demanding than avoidance made it seem. The conversation reframes church not as a test of belief, but as a human space where skepticism is often tolerated more than people expect.
Why church acts like a gardener for community rather than a factory for belief
This topic resonates with churchgoers and leaders who sense that community doesn’t grow through force or messaging alone. Drawing from what he observed across many congregations, Richard describes church as a place that cultivates relationships over time-sowing connection, tending trust, and allowing belonging to take root naturally. He talks about how the healthiest communities weren’t those trying hardest to convince, but those consistently creating space for people to be seen. The conversation reframes church not as a place that produces outcomes, but one that patiently grows people. He witnessed a congregation that looked entirely different than the elderly, immobile woman embrace her and hold her hand until the moment she passed away.
View all topics →
Latest episodes
310. Why Do Guests Find Church Visits Intimidating? With Richard Riccardi, author of The Wandering Worshipper
Spiritual Life and Leadership
33 Churches: A Spiritual Quest for Belonging with Richard G. Riccardi - EP 359
The Spiritual Forum
Lessons from The Wandering Worshipper with Richard Riccardi
The Innovative Church Leaders Podcast
Key topics
What church communities can learn from someone who kept walking in as a stranger
This conversation is for people who already attend or lead churches and care deeply about what community is supposed to feel like. Richard reflects on what he noticed by repeatedly entering congregations as an outsider - how small gestures of recognition, warmth, and presence often mattered more than programs or polish. Rather than critiquing churches, he shares what made certain communities quietly magnetic and others easy to forget. The discussion invites listeners to see their own churches through fresh eyes, and to reconsider how belonging is created long before anyone decides to stay.
Why staying away from church feels safer than walking into the wrong room
This discussion speaks directly to people who haven’t rejected church so much as quietly avoided it, often without fully naming why. Richard describes the subtle calculations many people make before ever stepping inside: fear of judgment, pressure to conform, or being asked to declare beliefs they haven’t sorted out yet. Drawing from his year attending dozens of services without committing, he explains how presence turned out to be far less demanding than avoidance made it seem. The conversation reframes church not as a test of belief, but as a human space where skepticism is often tolerated more than people expect.
Why church acts like a gardener for community rather than a factory for belief
This topic resonates with churchgoers and leaders who sense that community doesn’t grow through force or messaging alone. Drawing from what he observed across many congregations, Richard describes church as a place that cultivates relationships over time-sowing connection, tending trust, and allowing belonging to take root naturally. He talks about how the healthiest communities weren’t those trying hardest to convince, but those consistently creating space for people to be seen. The conversation reframes church not as a place that produces outcomes, but one that patiently grows people. He witnessed a congregation that looked entirely different than the elderly, immobile woman embrace her and hold her hand until the moment she passed away.
View all topics →