Accidental Tomatoes

“Spilling the Black Girl Tea: Unfiltered Stories from the Heart of Appalachia” is a multimedia project built on the fundamental belief that the people who are the least heard have the most important things to say. The storytellers in the project are Black girls and women who call West Virginia home — part of a vibrant but often overlooked group that comprises less than 2.5% of the entire Mountain State's population. Their stories are those of the challenges and joys of Black identity. In the series, seventeen Black girls and women, ranging in ages from 16 to 80, candidly share their experiences in intimate conversations. The participants are students, community leaders, educators, advocates, activists and entrepreneurs who are talking about what matters to them most. Part 4: Spaces and Places Four Black women creatives from West Virginia share their experiences of using art as a powerful tool for self-expression and identity exploration. In a conversation facilitated by Royce Lyden, they delve into the challenges they experience as straight and queer folx navigating both the Black community and predominantly white spaces. In the face of pressure to conform to competing societal expectations for Black women, they highlight the importance of safe spaces, setting boundaries, and the need for self care. Participants: Tiara Brown, Ilene Evans, Kasha Snyder McDonald, Oceanna Smith Guest Host: Royce Lyden   Episode videos and more: https://wvfaith.org/spilling-the-black-girl-tea/  

“Spilling the Black Girl Tea: Unfiltered Stories from the Heart of Appalachia” is a multimedia project built on the fundamental belief that the people who are the least heard have the most important things to say. The storytellers in the project are Black girls and women who call West Virginia home — part of a vibrant but often overlooked group that comprises less than 2.5% of the entire Mountain State's population. Their stories are those of the challenges and joys of Black identity. In the series, seventeen Black girls and women, ranging in ages from 16 to 80, candidly share their experiences in intimate conversations. The participants are students, community leaders, educators, advocates, activists and entrepreneurs who are talking about what matters to them most. Part 3: Health and Healers West Virginia journalist and Black by God founder Crystal Good facilitates a conversation among three women about healing practices and mental health in Black Appalachian communities. Together they explore the places from which healing originates, the liberation inherent in art and creativity, the unique mental health challenges faced by Black women, and the significance of food in community gatherings and healing practices. To everyone's delight, there's even a spontaneous ode to the air fryer. Participants: Dr. Octavia Cordon, Dr. Shanequa Smith, A. Toni Young Guest Host: Royce Lyden   Episode videos and more: https://wvfaith.org/spilling-the-black-girl-tea/   

“Spilling the Black Girl Tea: Unfiltered Stories from the Heart of Appalachia” is a multimedia project built on the fundamental belief that the people who are the least heard have the most important things to say. The storytellers in the project are Black girls and women who call West Virginia home — part of a vibrant but often overlooked group that comprises less than 2.5% of the entire Mountain State's population. Their stories are those of the challenges and joys of Black identity. In the series, seventeen Black girls and women, ranging in ages from 16 to 80, candidly share their experiences in intimate conversations. The participants are students, community leaders, educators, advocates, activists and entrepreneurs who are talking about what matters to them most. Part 2: Girls and Curls With a focus on hair, beauty, makeup, and style, four students from 16 to 25 years old explore the experiences of Black women and girls in schools and society. Jennifer Wells facilitates a conversation highlighting the importance of holding space for young black girls and women and acknowledging the impact of comments and judgments on their self-esteem and style choices. They share with one another personal stories about styling Black hair, the influence of societal beauty norms, and the challenges they've faced, such as colorism, bullying, and discrimination against natural hair.   Participants: Jaidyn Carter, Camryn Pressley, Freda Reaves, Myya Williams Guest Host: Royce Lyden   Episode videos and more: https://wvfaith.org/spilling-the-black-girl-tea/ 

“Spilling the Black Girl Tea: Unfiltered Stories from the Heart of Appalachia” is a multimedia project built on the fundamental belief that the people who are the least heard have the most important things to say. The storytellers in the project are Black girls and women who call West Virginia home — part of a vibrant but often overlooked group that comprises less than 2.5% of the entire Mountain State's population. Their stories are those of the challenges and joys of Black identity. In the series, which will be followed by an in-person gathering in October 2024, seventeen Black girls and women, ranging in ages from 16 to 80, candidly share their experiences in intimate conversations. The participants are students, community leaders, educators, advocates, activists and entrepreneurs who are talking about what matters to them most. Part 1: Learning and Leading In a conversation facilitated by Anitra Hamilton, two educators explore their personal stories of growing up in different cities, confronting racism and segregation, and the profound impact that community support and Black teachers had on their lives. Together these three women of different generations share their journeys navigating the education system and rising to leadership positions, highlighting the significance of Black sororities, the values of sisterhood and service, and the enduring importance of collective action in the fight for social justice and equality. Participants: Dr. Amena Anderson, Dr. Florita Montgomery Guest Host: Royce Lyden   Episode videos and more: https://wvfaith.org/spilling-the-black-girl-tea/ 

Joe talks with Brad Davis and Josh Scott about how colonialist interpretations of the Bible have helped contribute to the social, economic, political, and spiritual exploitation of Central Appalachia, including the WV water crisis, at the 2024 Wild Goose Festival. (Our apologies for the extra bit of background noise...this episode was recorded live in an open area without studio controls.) Learn more about From Below here --> https://www.facebook.com/groups/629075958675198 Check out Josh Scott's work here --> https://www.joshscott.online/  

Fresh off the 2024 Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church in West Virginia, Heather and Joe take a look at two resolutions that signal a renewed focus on social justice for the denomination in the Mountain State and beyond. Show links: Hope for McDowell: https://hopeinthemountains.com/donate/ (please specify “Hope for McDowell” on the donation page) From Below: Rising Together for Coalfield Justice: https://www.facebook.com/groups/629075958675198 [Cover image courtesy of From Below: Rising Together for Coalfield Justice]

In one of the historically poorest communities in America, thousands of people are going without clean tap water in their homes. And while cities like Flint, MI, and Jackson, MS, deservedly grab national headlines for their water issues, the Southern West Virginia Coalfields are now decades into a water crisis with few answers on the horizon. In this episode, Brad Davis and Caitlin Ware join Heather and Joe to talk about the West Virginia water crisis, the complex issues surrounding it, and the ways coalfield communities are banding together to create contextual solutions where government and industry have failed. They also talk about the role of faith communities in helping to organize local residents and support local problem-solving efforts. If you'd like to get involved, below are links to some of the coalitions and organizations mentioned in the podcast: From Below Coalition: https://www.facebook.com/groups/629075958675198 WVUMC Clean Water Initiative: https://www.wvumc.org/clean-water-in-southern-district/ WV Faith Collective: https://wvfaith.org/ WV Water Distribution: https://gofund.me/f55125a7  

We don't often think about tourism as a justice issue, but the displacement of families and communities to provide a more favorable user experience in tourist locations is a very real concern in places like Appalachia, where connection to the land runs deep and where infrastructure to support a tourist economy lags significantly behind. In this episode, Heather and Joe sit down with Caitlin Ware, who discusses her recent article on our blog, "Curating the View: Tourism & Exploitation in Appalachia."

How is spiritual deconstruction like a lasagna? Is reconstruction a necessary result of deconstruction? Heather Moore and Joe Webb unpack these questions and more in Heather's debut as our new co-host!

What does grief look like in the midst of spiritual/religious deconstruction? When your beliefs change, what do you hold on in the midst of loss? In the first episode of our 5th season, Joe talks openly about how old constructs no longer work for him following the death of his father, and how therapy and community are filling the void.

Is salvation merely about life after death? Or is there a more immediate, more holistic way of seeing salvation through the lens of liberation? In this episode, Joe riffs on how understanding salvation as liberation is more true to the way of Jesus than your typical Christian fire insurance policy.

As science continues to learn more about psychedelic substances and their use becomes more mainstream for both recreational and therapeutic applications, what do the church and faith leaders need to know? In this episode Joe and Jenny chat with Kaleb Graves, a recent Duke Divinity graduate who is researching and exploring the intersections of psychedelic use and Christianity. CONTENT WARNING: Kaleb talks frankly about his own experiences with psychedelics and their usefulness for people experiencing suicidal ideation, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and a number of other physical and psychological disorders. To learn more about Kaleb and Psychedelic Theology: Psychedelic Theology Podcast: https://psychedelictheology.podbean.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090081741922 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/psychedelic_theology/  

Recorded live at the Wild Goose Festival on July 15, 2023, Joe talks with return guest Josh Scott about the Bible, progressive Christianity, Appalachian resistance, and West Virginia craft whiskey.

Is progressive Christianity really gaining momentum? Is there hope for institutional mainline denominations? In this episode Joe takes a second crack at deconstructing evangelistic paradigms in favor of a more authentic, contextualized type of faith community.

In this episode guest hosts Jenny Williams and Krysta Rexrode Wolfe talk with Rev. Alba Onofrio (they/them), a.k.a. “Reverend Sex” about queerness, activism, healing from spiritual violence, the good news of God in Appalachia, and what it means to be “antagonistically alive.” Alba is the Executive Director and Spiritual Strategist for queer-led Soulforce, which works to end the religious and political oppression of LGBTQ+ people by breaking open the ideologies of Christian Supremacy and healing the queer community's spirits from Spiritual Violence. You can find more about Alba's work here: Soulforce: https://soulforce.org/ Sexual Liberation Collective: https://www.sexualliberationcollective.com/ Reverend Sex: https://www.reverendsex.com/

If God is love, can God exist where love is absent? In this bonus podcast episode, co-hosts Joe Webb and Brad Davis break down Brad's latest blog post, taken from a Maundy Thursday reflection he wrote for the Welch Charge of the United Methodist Church in McDowell County, WV during Holy Week 2023.

We're excited to welcome Josh Scott back to Accidental Tomatoes to talk about his new book, Bible Stories for Grownups, which drops in early April 2023. In this episode, Josh and Joe talk about the importance of contextualizing scripture and understanding the depth and breadth of the human experience at the time some of our most familiar and beloved Bible stories came to be. You can hear more from Josh by following Gracepointe Church or his Substack page, joshscott.online.

Do Christians really have a biblical mandate to convert other people to Christianity? Or should our evangelism have less to do with recruitment than with awakening people to Jesus' alternative worldview of peace, justice, and liberation? In this episode Joe deconstructs the evangelism of coercion and control in favor of a better, more inclusive story.

For this episode we literally go outside the walls as Joe and Brad chat with Rev. Corey Turnpenny, pastor of Church In The Wild in Windsor, NY. Corey talks about how Church in the Wild came to be, how their nontraditional worship services emerge out of their very specific context, and how they view themselves as a community dedicated to helping other people in their neighborhoods thrive.

Are you tired of the kind of bumper sticker theology where people throw random Bible verses out in almost every conversation? In this episode, Joe takes on a few of his favorite decontextualized passages and offers a more holistic way to look at them.

What kinds of things are innovative United Methodist leaders doing to create more inclusive, justice-oriented, liberation-minded spaces? Joe and Brad discuss their impressions from the recent UMC LEAD Conference in Asheville, NC, in this special Road Show Edition of the podcast. From becoming better neighbors to dismantling racist systems to learning from the natural world, our intrepid co-hosts explore a range of ideas sparked by the annual conference of progressive UMC leaders. AUDIO QUALITY WARNING: This episode is a recorded conversation from the road with no studio equipment or sound filters, so the audio quality is sometimes inconsistent. We make no apologies...we are road warriors! 

Singer-songwriter and high school English teacher Daniel Couper joins Joe and Jenny for a conversation about helping high school students record and produce their own album, the joys of creative collaboration, and the deconstruction journey that serves as the backdrop for his art. Learn more about Daniel at http://www.danielcoupermusic.com/ and check out his students' Red Gold Collective project on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/album/3yUxT4ndrvN4rM6bmdzQ5L 

The Accidental Tomatoes content team revisits one of our favorite episodes from season 3 with an all-new list of grievances about the holiday season. From Hallmark Christmas movies to light displays to the so-called "war on Christmas," our creators take a tounge-in-cheek look at all the things that get under our skins during the holidays. Please don't take us too seriously...we certainly don't!

Theologian, author, and speaker Dr. Tom Oord joins Joe for a conversation about Open and Relational Theology, why it's attractive to people experiencing spiritual and religious deconstruction, and what it means to say "God can't"...and what the movie The Princess Bride has to do with it all. Learn more at https://c4ort.com/ 

Is advent just the pregame warmup for Christmas, or is there a more meaningful way to experience it? And what happens once you start deconstructing the season itself? In this episode Joe talks about his own deconstruction journey with Advent and how a faith community for spiritual misfits is giving it a whole new life.

We talk a lot about deconstruction on the personal/individual level, but does the Church itself need to deconstruct in order to evolve into something better? In this episode, Joe talks about how decolonizing, declassifying, and decentralizing could hold the keys for a more just, equitable, and liberationist future for the institutional church.

Joe, Heather, Jenny, and Brad kick off our 4th season with a conversation about favorite moments from our first 3 seasons and a look ahead with our friend Royce Lyden to our partnership with Justice & Jubilee.  

How can decolonizing the music education classroom lead to a broader perspective on justice movements in general? In this episode, Joe and Jenny Williams chat with musicologist Natalie Shaffer about creating equity in educational environments and how a holistic approach can elevate performances from entertainment to transformation. BONUS: Stick around for the whole episode to hear a preview of Jenny's new project, "Justice & Jubilee."

Amy Jo Hutchinson makes a repeat appearance on this episode as she talks with Joe about the Rattle the Windows movement, the work of centering the stories of people who experience poverty, and advocating for child care and paid leave. She also tells her own story about spiritual trauma and how she finds her faith in helping people improve the conditions of their lives. Learn more about Amy Jo's work at rattlethewindows.com.

Of all the needs of people experiencing recovery from substance use disorder, safe housing may be among the most critical. In this episode, Rev. Dr. Matt Johnson of The Fletcher Group talks with Joe about his work creating faith-based recovery housing, how faith communities can get involved, the importance of the language we use about recovery, and the ways stigma can become a barrier not only to recovery, but to the ways communities perceive and interact with people experiencing recovery. Read Matt's recent article on the United Methodist News Service website here: https://www.umnews.org/en/news/faith-communities-can-respond-to-substance-use-epidemic-with-hope 

How does a trauma-informed view of atonement affect the way we see Jesus' life, death, and resurrection? In this episode, Red Letter Christians UK co-director Faith Van Horne talks about her doctoral work of integrating Pentecostal and Feminist theologies to understand atonement doctrine through the lens of sexual abuse survivors and the communities that support them.

A lot of us have a complicated relationship with prayer. In this episode Joe talks about how prayer fits into his deconstruction journey.

Deconstruction is all about asking questions. In this episode, Joe asks whether the biblical story of the "fall" from which the doctrine of original sin emerges should be considered less about disobedience than about exploitation.

What does an online church for nerds, geeks, and gamers look like? Rev. Nathan Webb of Checkpoint Church talks with Joe about digital community built around YouTube, Twitch, and Discord in a context often shunned by traditional religious institutions. Visit Checkpoint's website for links to everything they're up to.

The colonization of the central Appalachian coalfields by extractive industries left scars on both the land and the people of the region, but it also left a rich heritage of resistance and perseverance. In this episode, Kenzie Walker of the West Virginia Mine Wars Museum talks with Joe and Brad about the importance of preserving that heritage, its impacts on the broader American labor movement, and its continued relevance in the world today. Learn more at wvminewars.org

In this Pride Month 2022 episode, Joe and co-host Jenny Williams chat with West Virginia University Social Work professor Dr. Megan Gandy about LGBTQ+ people and faith communities, her own experience with religious trauma, and the importance of belonging and community beyond dogma and doctrine. You can read about Megan's research on the topic at this link: https://wvutoday.wvu.edu/stories/2021/07/12/fear-of-rejection-vs-joy-of-inclusion-faith-communities-from-lgbtq-perspectives

We've all heard that laughter is the best medicine, but what if there are elements from comedy that can actually help us navigate everything from business relationships to recovery and even the way we encounter faith and spirituality? In this special Pride Month episode, Marcy Bain, Lisa Bany, and Brian Reed from Improv Therapy Group bring their experiences from the famed Second City school of improvisation to spaces for clergy, recovery, policing, and much more to help people learn the power of "Yes, and," how it can open pathways to healing and wholeness, and how it can help build more vulnerable, authentic, and inclusive communities.

A theology of place is deeply rooted in the Hebrew Scriptures, yet modern Christians have largely compartmentalized it away from their primary spiritual theology. In this episode, Rev. Zac Morton talks with Joe and Brad about what an Appalachian-specific EcoTheology looks like in a holistic sense, including food & housing justice. View Zac's sermon from May 22, 2022 here (sermon starts at 11:15)

Navigating the tension between knowing that the pursuit of justice and liberation is a long game and actively working toward them can be overwhelming. In this episode, Joe talks about how a largely overlooked line from a widely misused passage from the book of Jeremiah elevates the sacred work of nonviolent resistance.

Singer-songwriter Jonathon Dewveall returns to talk with Joe about his new song and video, "Slave Owner's Gospel" and the work of anti-racism that it grew out of. Listen all the way to the end for an extended clip of the song, and check out the following places to hear the full version, view the video, and connect with Jonathon: Website: https://jdewveall.com/ YouTube: https://youtu.be/gXCpX1AzB0k Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/27aJf90zeMATiUlyV9MwDC?si=w0bkF0lGS3yASr3W5uByRA

As we've just completed the Christian season of Lent, hosts Joe Webb and Brad Davis look back on the drama of Holy Week from Palm Sunday to Easter and discuss how it plays out as liberationist political subversion beyond being merely a series of spiritual stories.

Out MOV is a non-profit organization that serves the social needs of and advocates politically for the LGBTQIA+ community of the Mid Ohio Valley in Wood County, WV and Washington County, OH. Jeanne Peters, a founding member and current vice president, joins Joe for this episode to talk about why events and activities are critical to community building, the importance of intersectionality in advocacy and liberation, and Pride in the Park, the organization's keystone annual event coming up in June 2022.   Learn more: Website: https://www.outmov.org/ Pride in the Park: https://www.facebook.com/events/225601353077124 Volunteer signup form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd4KjbC0ajznm5I2S9DvhBjktlbOHVKSNWOKpZyhPFlNVjUfQ/viewform Open MOV: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfErAO_kOqbDCYrISO-p7VL5vtZuSH7uZPo1z6Ky47e0hj_aA/viewform  

It's pretty clear that most churches and church leaders really don't understand spiritual and religious deconstruction. They tend to either vilify it on the one hand or try to co-opt and mollycoddle it on the other. In this episode, Joe lists the top 5 things he (as a pastor) wishes the church understood about deconstruction and how embracing deconstruction would be good for the church.

Is there an intersection between the Enneagram and spiritual deconstruction? In this episode Joe talks with Enneagram coach Sarah Farish (Instagram: @enneagal) about how using the Enneagram as a tool for self-discovery helps us understand not only ourselves better, but others...and helps us contextualize our individual and communal spiritual journeys.

What is Progressive Christianity? There's probably more to it than you think! In this episode Joe and guest co-host Brad Davis talk with Josh Scott of Gracepointe Church in Nashville, TN, about the deep theology that informs the Progressive Christian movement and explore the concept of Jesus as not only a spiritual leader, but a true first-century organizer.

The cost of wheelchair adaptations for vehicles can often be prohibitive for people who need them. That's why Rev. Chris Wylie produced his album under the name DJ Pastor Rock, "Rolling Nation," to raise money to help people purchase the equipment they need to make transportation more accessible. Learn more at RollingNation.net

Is science the next religion? Retired United Methodist pastor Jim Norton thinks the answer is yes, and it can have a massive influence on the world of faith and spirituality. In this episode, Jim talks with Joe and Brandon about how discoveries in the realms of quantum physics dovetail with the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh to teach us how all things are both unified and eternal.

Everyone loves Christmas, right? Except there are always those things that get under our skin during the holidays. In this episode, the Accidental Tomatoes content team takes a very tounge-in-cheek look at the things we hate about Christmas. Please don't take us too seriously...we certainly don't!

The women of Appalachia have something to say, and our guest for this episode is giving them a place to say it! Alicia Matheney Beeson of the Wild & Wonderful Women of West Virginia Podcast joins Joe and Brandon to talk about why it's so important for the world to listen to the women leading new generations of Appalachians.

While the institutional church struggles to adapt its content to an increasingly online audience, new forms of community are emerging that start from the digital space and grow into all new paradigms of how experience can be shared in virtual spaces. In this episode, innovator James Kang of Pastoria.co talks with Joe and Brandon about how asynchronous content can form the basis for experiential communities and how leaders can leverage new technologies to create transformational experiences unbound by time and space.

If the #hollergospel is about bringing people up from the low places in the world, Brad Davis knows it well because he's been there. In this episode, Brad talks openly and frankly about his time as a drug dealer in the Southern West Virginia coalfields, the almost inescapable spiral of fear and hopelessness of the drug culture, and what motivates him to be part of the solution in a region that seems trapped in multiple layers of addiction.