Critical Reads Podcast

In this episode of Critical Reads, we will be discussing Bipolar Faith: A Black Woman's Journey with Depression and Faith by Rev Dr. Monica A. Coleman. Here's a brief summary of the book courtesy of the author/publisher: "Monica A. Coleman's great-grandfather asked his two young sons to lift him up and pull out the chair when he hanged himself, and that noose stayed in the family shed for years. The rope was the violent instrument, but it was mental anguish that killed him. Now, in a gripping fashion, Coleman examines the ways that the legacies of slavery, war, sharecropping, poverty, and alcoholism mask a family history of mental illness. Those same forces accompanied her into the black religious traditions and Christian ministry. All the while, she wrestled with her own bipolar disorder. Bipolar Faith is both a spiritual autobiography and a memoir of mental illness. In this powerful book, Monica Coleman shares her life-long dance with trauma, depression, and the threat of death. Citing serendipitous encounters with black intellectuals like Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Angela Davis, and Renita Weems, Coleman offers a rare account of how the modulated highs of bipolar II can lead to professional success while hiding a depression that even her doctors rarely believed. Only as she was able to face her illness was she able to live faithfully with bipolar. And in the process, she discovered a new and liberating vision of God." This week's "Musings of Tired Black Social Worker" segment topic is #restinpiss, Rush Limbaugh, Kevin Samuels, and the legacies we leave behind. To purchase the book, visit: Bipolar Faith via Amazon To check out the CR podcast content calendar, visit: https://soulsessionswithneph.com/critical-reads-podcast To find out more about me or to consume more of my content, visit soulsessionswithneph.com. You can also follow me on Instagram and Facebook using the handle @soulsessionswithneph, or email me at connect@soulsessionswithneph.com. Thank you again for your time and support! 

In this episode of Critical Reads, we will be discussing the Musical Drama Film, Rent, directed and produced by Chris Columbus. Here's a brief summary of the book courtesy of the author/publisher: "Set in New York City's gritty East Village, the revolutionary rock opera RENT tells the story of a group of bohemians struggling to live and pay their rent. 'Measuring their lives in love,' these starving artists strive for success and acceptance while enduring the obstacles of poverty, illness, and the AIDS epidemic. RENT is based on Jonathan Larson's Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning musical, one of the longest-running shows on Broadway. The raw and riveting musical stars Rosario Dawson, Taye Diggs, Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Jesse L. Martin, Idina Menzel, Adam Pascal, Anthony Rapp, and Tracie Thoms and is directed by Chris Columbus." This week's "Musings of Tired Black Social Worker" segment topic is the activist to white spouse pipeline (thoughts on interracial dating). To watch Rent, log in to your preferred streaming platforms like Amazon Prime or Apple TV to rent or buy it. To check out the CR podcast content calendar, visit: https://soulsessionswithneph.com/critical-reads-podcast To find out more about me or to consume more of my content, visit soulsessionswithneph.com. You can also follow me on Instagram and Facebook using the handle @soulsessionswithneph, or email me at connect@soulsessionswithneph.com. Thank you again for your time and support! 

In part two of our Stamped From the Beginning episode, I continue my discussion about Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by  Ibram X. Kendi. (As a refresher) Here's a brief summary of the book courtesy of the author/publisher: "Some Americans cling desperately to the myth that we are living in a post-racial society, that the election of the first Black president spelled the doom of racism. In fact, racist thought is alive and well in America - more sophisticated and more insidious than ever. And as award-winning historian Ibram X. Kendi argues in Stamped from the Beginning, if we have any hope of grappling with this stark reality, we must first understand how racist ideas were developed, disseminated, and enshrined in American society. In this deeply researched and fast-moving narrative, Kendi chronicles the entire story of anti-Black racist ideas and their staggering power over the course of American history. Stamped from the Beginning uses the life stories of five major American intellectuals to offer a window into the contentious debates between assimilationists and segregationists and between racists and antiracists. From Puritan minister Cotton Mather to Thomas Jefferson, from fiery abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison to brilliant scholar W.E.B. Du Bois to legendary anti-prison activist Angela Davis, Kendi shows how and why some of our leading proslavery and pro-civil rights thinkers have challenged or helped cement racist ideas in America. Contrary to popular conceptions, racist ideas did not arise from ignorance or hatred. Instead, they were devised and honed by some of the most brilliant minds of each era. These intellectuals used their brilliance to justify and rationalize deeply entrenched discriminatory policies and the nation's racial disparities in everything from wealth to health. And while racist ideas are easily produced and easily consumed, they can also be discredited. In shedding much-needed light on the murky history of racist ideas, Stamped from the Beginning offers us the tools we need to expose them—and in the process, gives us reason to hope." To purchase the book, visit: Stamped From the Beginning via Amazon To check out the CR podcast content calendar, visit: https://soulsessionswithneph.com/critical-reads-podcast To find out more about me or to consume more of my content, visit soulsessionswithneph.com. You can also follow me on Instagram and Facebook using the handle @soulsessionswithneph, or email me at connect@soulsessionswithneph.com. Thank you again for your time and support! 

In part one of our Stamped From the Beginning episode, we will be discussing Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi. Here's a brief summary of the book courtesy of the author/publisher: "Some Americans cling desperately to the myth that we are living in a post-racial society, that the election of the first Black president spelled the doom of racism. In fact, racist thought is alive and well in America - more sophisticated and more insidious than ever. And as award-winning historian Ibram X. Kendi argues in Stamped from the Beginning, if we have any hope of grappling with this stark reality, we must first understand how racist ideas were developed, disseminated, and enshrined in American society. In this deeply researched and fast-moving narrative, Kendi chronicles the entire story of anti-Black racist ideas and their staggering power over the course of American history. Stamped from the Beginning uses the life stories of five major American intellectuals to offer a window into the contentious debates between assimilationists and segregationists and between racists and antiracists. From Puritan minister Cotton Mather to Thomas Jefferson, from fiery abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison to brilliant scholar W.E.B. Du Bois to legendary anti-prison activist Angela Davis, Kendi shows how and why some of our leading proslavery and pro-civil rights thinkers have challenged or helped cement racist ideas in America. Contrary to popular conceptions, racist ideas did not arise from ignorance or hatred. Instead, they were devised and honed by some of the most brilliant minds of each era. These intellectuals used their brilliance to justify and rationalize deeply entrenched discriminatory policies and the nation's racial disparities in everything from wealth to health. And while racist ideas are easily produced and easily consumed, they can also be discredited. In shedding much-needed light on the murky history of racist ideas, Stamped from the Beginning offers us the tools we need to expose them—and in the process, gives us reason to hope." This week's "Musings of Tired Black Social Worker" segment topic is engaging in Christian spaces and celebrating Christian holidays while deconstructing.  To purchase the book, visit: Stamped From the Beginning via Amazon To check out the CR podcast content calendar, visit: https://soulsessionswithneph.com/critical-reads-podcast To find out more about me or to consume more of my content, visit soulsessionswithneph.com. You can also follow me on Instagram and Facebook using the handle @soulsessionswithneph, or email me at connect@soulsessionswithneph.com. Thank you again for your time and support! 

In part two of our Medical Apartheid episode, I continue my discussion about Medical Apartheid: The Dark History of Medical Experimentation on Black Americans from Colonial Times to the Present by Harriet A. Washington. (As a refresher) Here's a brief summary of the book courtesy of the author/publisher: "The first full history of Black America's shocking mistreatment as unwilling and unwitting experimental subjects at the hands of the medical establishment. No one concerned with issues of public health and racial justice can afford not to read this masterful book that will stir up both controversy and long-needed debate. From the era of slavery to the present day, starting with the earliest encounters between Black Americans and Western medical researchers and the racist pseudoscience that resulted, Medical Apartheid details the ways both slaves and freedmen were used in hospitals for experiments conducted without their knowledge—a tradition that continues today within some black populations.  It reveals how Blacks have historically been prey to grave-robbing as well as unauthorized autopsies and dissections. Moving into the twentieth century, it shows how the pseudoscience of eugenics and social Darwinism was used to justify experimental exploitation and shoddy medical treatment of Blacks. Shocking new details about the government's notorious Tuskegee experiment are revealed, as are similar, less-well-known medical atrocities conducted by the government, the armed forces, prisons, and private institutions.  The product of years of prodigious research into medical journals and experimental reports long undisturbed, Medical Apartheid reveals the hidden underbelly of scientific research and makes possible, for the first time, an understanding of the roots of the African American health deficit. At last, it provides the fullest possible context for comprehending the behavioral fallout that has caused Black Americans to view researchers—and indeed the whole medical establishment—with such deep distrust." To purchase the book, visit: Medical Apartheid via Amazon or Medical Apartheid via Penguin Random House To check out the CR podcast content calendar, visit: https://soulsessionswithneph.com/critical-reads-podcast To find out more about me or to consume more of my content, visit soulsessionswithneph.com. You can also follow me on Instagram and Facebook using the handle @soulsessionswithneph, or email me at connect@soulsessionswithneph.com. Thank you again for your time and support! 

In part one of our Medical Apartheid episode, we will be discussing Medical Apartheid: The Dark History of Medical Experimentation on Black Americans from Colonial Times to the Present by Harriet A. Washington. Here's a brief summary of the book courtesy of the author/publisher: "The first full history of Black America's shocking mistreatment as unwilling and unwitting experimental subjects at the hands of the medical establishment. No one concerned with issues of public health and racial justice can afford not to read this masterful book that will stir up both controversy and long-needed debate. From the era of slavery to the present day, starting with the earliest encounters between Black Americans and Western medical researchers and the racist pseudoscience that resulted, Medical Apartheid details the ways both slaves and freedmen were used in hospitals for experiments conducted without their knowledge—a tradition that continues today within some black populations.  It reveals how Blacks have historically been prey to grave-robbing as well as unauthorized autopsies and dissections. Moving into the twentieth century, it shows how the pseudoscience of eugenics and social Darwinism was used to justify experimental exploitation and shoddy medical treatment of Blacks. Shocking new details about the government's notorious Tuskegee experiment are revealed, as are similar, less-well-known medical atrocities conducted by the government, the armed forces, prisons, and private institutions.  The product of years of prodigious research into medical journals and experimental reports long undisturbed, Medical Apartheid reveals the hidden underbelly of scientific research and makes possible, for the first time, an understanding of the roots of the African American health deficit. At last, it provides the fullest possible context for comprehending the behavioral fallout that has caused Black Americans to view researchers—and indeed the whole medical establishment—with such deep distrust." This week's "Musings of Tired Black Social Worker" segment topic is fighting insecurity to connect with others. To purchase the book, visit: Medical Apartheid via Amazon or Medical Apartheid via Penguin Random House To check out the CR podcast content calendar, visit: https://soulsessionswithneph.com/critical-reads-podcast To find out more about me or to consume more of my content, visit soulsessionswithneph.com. You can also follow me on Instagram and Facebook using the handle @soulsessionswithneph, or email me at connect@soulsessionswithneph.com. Thank you again for your time and support! 

In this episode of Critical Reads, we will be discussing Unbound: My Story of Liberation and the Birth of the Me Too Movement by Tarana J. Burke. Here's a brief summary of the book courtesy of the author/publisher: "From the founder and activist behind one of the largest movements of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, the 'me too' movement, Tarana Burke debuts a powerful memoir about her own journey to saying those two simple yet infinitely powerful words―me too―and how she brought empathy back to an entire generation in one of the largest cultural events in American history. Tarana didn't always have the courage to say 'me too.' As a child, she reeled from her sexual assault, believing she was responsible. Unable to confess what she thought of as her own sins for fear of shattering her family, her soul split in two. One side was the bright, intellectually curious third-generation Bronxite steeped in Black literature and power, and the other was the bad, shame-ridden girl who thought of herself as a vile rule-breaker, not as a victim. She tucked one away, hidden behind a wall of pain and anger, which seemed to work...until it didn't. Tarana fought to reunite her fractured self, through organizing, pursuing justice, and finding community. In her debut memoir, she shares her extensive work supporting and empowering Black and brown girls, and the devastating realization that to truly help these girls she needed to help that scared, ashamed child still in her soul. She needed to stop running and confront what had happened to her, for Heaven and Diamond and the countless other young Black women for whom she cared. They gave her the courage to embrace her power. A power which in turn she shared with the entire world. Through these young Black and brown women, Tarana found that we can only offer empathy to others if we first offer it to ourselves. Unbound is the story of an inimitable woman's inner strength and perseverance, all in pursuit of bringing healing to her community and the world around her, but it is also a story of possibility, of empathy, of power, and of the leader we all have inside ourselves. In sharing her path toward healing and saying 'me too,' Tarana reaches out a hand to help us all on our own journeys." This week's "Musings of Tired Black Social Worker" segment topic is processing Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson's US Supreme Court confirmation hearing. To purchase the book, visit: Unbound via Amazon or Unbound via MacMillan Publishers Other sources mentioned in this episode include: FAQs - General Information about the Supreme Court by Supremecourt.gov How Does the Supreme Court Work? by Josephine (Jo) Bahn How Ketanji Brown Jackson's path to the Supreme Court differs from the current justices by Adrian Blanco and Shelly Tan James Bevel by Wikipedia.com Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson may have set a new standard for future nominees - Opinion by Adam J. White Judging a Judge on Race and Crime, G.O.P. Plays to Base and Fringe by Jonathan Weisman and Jazmine Ulloa The #Metoo Movement Website To check out the CR podcast content calendar, visit: https://soulsessionswithneph.com/critical-reads-podcast To find out more about me or to consume more of my content, visit soulsessionswithneph.com. You can also follow me on Instagram and Facebook using the handle @soulsessionswithneph, or email me at connect@soulsessionswithneph.com. Thank you again for your time and support! 

In this episode of Critical Reads, we will be discussing #NotYourPrincess: Voices of Native American Women by Lisa Charleyboy and Mary Beth Leatherdale. Here's a brief summary of the book courtesy of the author/publisher: "Native Women demand to be heard in this stunning anthology. Whether looking back to a troubled past or welcoming a hopeful future, the powerful voices of Indigenous women across North America resound in this book. In the same style as the best-selling Dreaming in Indian, #NotYourPrincess presents an eclectic collection of poems, essays, interviews, and art that combine to express the experience of being a Native woman. Stories of abuse, humiliation, and stereotyping are countered by the voices of passionate women making themselves heard and demanding change. Sometimes angry, often reflective, but always strong, the women in this book will give teen readers insight into the lives of women who, for so long, have been virtually invisible." This week's "Musings of Tired Black Social Worker" segment topic is [MBSW topic]. To purchase the book, visit: #NotYourPrincess via Amazon or #NotYourPrincess via Annick Press Other sources mentioned in this episode include: Canadian Indian residential school system by Wikipedia  Indian Residential School Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada by Joanna Rice Why Canada is mourning the deaths of hundreds of children by Holly Honderich To check out the CR podcast content calendar, visit: https://soulsessionswithneph.com/critical-reads-podcast To find out more about me or to consume more of my content, visit soulsessionswithneph.com. You can also follow me on Instagram and Facebook using the handle @soulsessionswithneph, or email me at connect@soulsessionswithneph.com. Thank you again for your time and support! 

In part two of our Promising Young Woman episode, join Dianne and me as we continue our discussion about a great film written, co-produced, and directed by Emerald Fennell. (As a refresher) Here's a brief summary of the movie courtesy of Focus Features: "From visionary director Emerald Fennell (Killing Eve) comes to a delicious new take on revenge. Everyone said Cassie (Carey Mulligan) was a promising young woman...until a mysterious event abruptly derailed her future. But nothing in Cassie's life is what it appears to be: she's wickedly smart, tantalizingly cunning, and she's living a secret double life by night. Now, an unexpected encounter is about to give Cassie a chance to right the wrongs of the past in this thrilling and wildly entertaining story." To watch Promising Young Woman, log in to HBO Max or you can rent it on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and other streaming platforms. Movie extras can be found here. Other sources mentioned in this episode include: Promising Young Woman, Explained - Look In the Mirror by The Take To check out the CR podcast content calendar, visit: https://soulsessionswithneph.com/critical-reads-podcast To find out more about me or to consume more of my content, visit soulsessionswithneph.com. You can also follow me on Instagram and Facebook using the handle @soulsessionswithneph, or email me at connect@soulsessionswithneph.com. Thank you again for your time and support! 

In part one of our Promising Young Woman episode, my special guest, Dianne, and I discuss the Black Comedy-Thriller film, Promising Young Woman, written, co-produced, and directed by Emerald Fennell. Here's a brief summary of the movie courtesy of Focus Features: "From visionary director Emerald Fennell (Killing Eve) comes to a delicious new take on revenge. Everyone said Cassie (Carey Mulligan) was a promising young woman...until a mysterious event abruptly derailed her future. But nothing in Cassie's life is what it appears to be: she's wickedly smart, tantalizingly cunning, and she's living a secret double life by night. Now, an unexpected encounter is about to give Cassie a chance to right the wrongs of the past in this thrilling and wildly entertaining story."  This week's "Musings of Tired Black Social Worker" segment topic is "You know what grinds my gears" Women's Month Edition. To watch Promising Young Woman, log in to HBO Max or you can rent it on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and other streaming platforms. Movie extras can be found here. Other sources mentioned in this episode include: Promising Young Woman, Explained - Look In the Mirror by The Take To check out the CR podcast content calendar, visit: https://soulsessionswithneph.com/critical-reads-podcast To find out more about me or to consume more of my content, visit soulsessionswithneph.com. You can also follow me on Instagram and Facebook using the handle @soulsessionswithneph, or email me at connect@soulsessionswithneph.com. Thank you again for your time and support! 

In this bonus episode of Critical Reads, I am inviting you to listen to an interview conducted by my good friend Rosette Mamboleo. Rosette is a law student, a religious educator, and a mental health first aid instructor who is the founder of Elpida. Elpida is a faith-based low-profit limited liability company whose primary purpose is to spread hope and fight to see the total eradication of poverty. Through her organization, Rosette created a web series entitled Safari with Elpida, where she interviews people who are doing very dynamic and empowering work. In this episode, Rosette is joined by Christabel Yeboah to talk about ways to celebrate, train, empower and educate femmes - with special emphasis on black femmes who are survivors of sexual violence.  Christabel is a Women's Rights Lawyer, Activist, and Founder of the leading National Gender-based Violence Support Service for Black femmes - HERSANA CIC. HERSANA CIC (formerly known as The ASKFirst Campaign) was founded in 2016 by survivor and Black feminist Christabel to raise awareness around rape culture and advocate for survivors of sexual violence. Their mission is to create holistic, gender-specialist, culturally specific, and trauma-informed safe spaces for Black femmes affected by or at risk of gender-based violence across England and Wales, as well as campaign to eradicate violence against women and girls in all its forms. They aim to center Black women in every narrative and provide these services in a safe, Black femme-only environment. For more information about HERSANA CIC, please visit: https://www.hersana.org/  Instagram: @christabelkyeboah / @hersanacic  Twitter: @hersana_cic Email: info@hersana.org  For more information about Elpida, please visit: https://www.elpidahope.com/   Instagram: @e.l.p.i.d.a_ / @a_rosette_mamboleo  Email: contactelpidae@gmail.com Other sources mentioned in this episode include: Femme by LGBTQIA+ Wiki Femme by Nonbinary Wiki LGBTQIA+ Dictionary by UCONN Rainbow Center To check out the CR podcast content calendar, visit: https://soulsessionswithneph.com/critical-reads-podcast To find out more about me or to consume more of my content, visit soulsessionswithneph.com. You can also follow me on Instagram and Facebook using the handle @soulsessionswithneph, or email me at connect@soulsessionswithneph.com. Thank you again for your time and support! 

In this bonus episode of Critical Reads, we will be discussing Without Sanctuary: Lynching Photography in America by James Allen. With essays by Hilton Als, John Lewis, and Leon F. Litwack. Here's a brief summary of the book courtesy of the publisher: "The Tuskegee Institute records the lynching of 3,436 blacks between 1882 and 1950. This is probably a small percentage of these murders, which were seldom reported, and led to the creation of the NAACP in 1909, an organization dedicated to passing federal anti-lynching laws. Through all this terror and carnage someone -- many times a professional photographer -- carried a camera and took pictures of the events. These lynching photographs were often made into postcards and sold as souvenirs to the crowds in attendance. These images are some of photography's most brutal, surviving to this day so that we may now look back on the terrorism unleashed on America's African-American community and perhaps know our history and ourselves better. The almost one hundred images reproduced here are a testament to the camera's ability to make us remember what we often choose to forget. " This week's "Musings of Tired Black Social Worker" segment topic is  'Racism isn't a touchy subject if you're not a racist' from an Instagram post by @wearthepeace. To purchase the book, visit: Without Sanctuary via Twin Palms Publishers Other sources mentioned in this episode include: 3 Ways to End the School to Prison Pipeline for Good by Rehabilitation Enables Dreams (RED) Being Antiracist by the National Museum of African American History and Culture The School to Prison Pipeline: The Issue, the Solution, and Guiding Principles to Consider by Rehabilitation Enables Dreams (RED) Frequently Asked Questions about Lynching by withoutsanctuary.com To check out the CR podcast content calendar, visit: https://soulsessionswithneph.com/critical-reads-podcast To find out more about me or to consume more of my content, visit soulsessionswithneph.com. You can also follow me on Instagram and Facebook using the handle @soulsessionswithneph, or email me at connect@soulsessionswithneph.com. Thank you again for your time and support! 

In this episode of Critical Reads, we will be discussing The Cross and the Lynching Tree by James H. Cone. Here's a brief summary of the book courtesy of the author/publisher: "The cross and the lynching tree are the two most emotionally charged symbols in the history of the African American community. In this powerful new work, theologian James H. Cone explores these symbols and their interconnection in the history and souls of black folk. Both the cross and the lynching tree represent the worst in human beings and at the same time a thirst for life that refuses to let the worst determine our final meaning. While the lynching tree symbolized white power and black death, the cross symbolizes divine power and black life God overcoming the power of sin and death. For African Americans, the image of Jesus, hung on a tree to die, powerfully grounded their faith that God was with them, even in the suffering of the lynching era. In a work that spans social history, theology, and cultural studies, Cone explores the message of the spirituals and the power of the blues; the passion and of Emmet Till and the engaged vision of Martin Luther King, Jr.; he invokes the spirits of Billie Holliday and Langston Hughes, Fannie Lou Hamer and Ida B. Well, and the witness of black artists, writers, preachers, and fighters for justice. And he remembers the victims, especially the 5,000 who perished during the lynching period. Through their witness, he contemplates the greatest challenge of any Christian theology to explain how life can be made meaningful in the face of death and injustice." This week's "Musings of Tired Black Social Worker" segment topic is Celebrating BHM and Processing Florida's "White Discomfort Bill"  To purchase the book, visit: The Cross and the Lynching Tree via Amazon or The Cross and the Lynching Tree via Orbis Books Other sources mentioned in this episode include: Critical Race Theory by Wikipedia Florida Advances Bill That Would Ban Making White People Feel Bad About Racism, and No, That's Not a Joke by Bess Levin Florida bill to shield people from feeling ‘discomfort' over historic actions by their race, nationality, or gender approved by Senate committee by Amy Simonson To check out the CR podcast content calendar, visit: https://soulsessionswithneph.com/critical-reads-podcast To find out more about me or to consume more of my content, visit soulsessionswithneph.com. You can also follow me on Instagram and Facebook using the handle @soulsessionswithneph, or email me at connect@soulsessionswithneph.com. Thank you again for your time and support! 

In this episode of Critical Reads, we will be discussing Stand Your Ground: Black Bodies and the Justice of God by Rev. Dr.  Kelly Brown Douglas. Here's a brief summary of the book courtesy of the author/publisher: "On the Sunday morning after the acquittal of Trayvon Martin's killer, black preachers across America addressed the questions his death raised for their communities: 'Where is the justice of God? What are we to hope for?' In this timely and compelling book, Kelly Brown Douglas examines the myths and narratives underlying a 'stand-your-ground' culture, taking seriously the social as well as the theological questions raised by this and similar events, from Ferguson, Missouri to Staten Island, New York. But the author also brings another significant interpretative lens to this text: that of a mother. She writes: 'There has been no story in the news that has troubled me more than that of Trayvon Martin's slaying. President Obama said that if he had a son his son would look like Trayvon. I do have a son and he does look like Trayvon.' In the face of tragedy and indifference, Kelly Brown Douglas arms the truth of a black mother's faith in these times of 'stand your ground.'” This week's "Musings of Tired Black Social Worker" segment topic is the demonizing of Black spirituality. To purchase the book, visit: Stand Your Ground via Amazon or Stand Your Ground via Orbis Books Other sources mentioned in this episode include: About the Hypocrisy of Fellow Christians and Making Demons of Other Faiths by Luvvie Ajayi Jones 'As a City on a Hill': Excavating the Cultural History Behind a Defining American Phrase "City on a Hill" by Encyclopedia.com Massachusetts Bay — "The City Upon a Hill" To check out the CR podcast content calendar, visit: https://soulsessionswithneph.com/critical-reads-podcast To find out more about me or to consume more of my content, visit soulsessionswithneph.com. You can also follow me on Instagram and Facebook using the handle @soulsessionswithneph, or email me at connect@soulsessionswithneph.com. Thank you again for your time and support! 

In this episode of Critical Reads, me and my special guest, Dianne, will be discussing the Animated Comedy Film, Inside Out, written by Pete Docter, Meg LeFauve, and Josh Cooley. Here's a brief summary of the movie courtesy of Pixar: "Growing up can be a bumpy road, and it's no exception for Riley, who is uprooted from her Midwest life when her father starts a new job in San Francisco. Like all of us, Riley is guided by her emotions – Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust, and Sadness. The emotions live in Headquarters, the control center inside Riley's mind, where they help advise her through everyday life. As Riley and her emotions struggle to adjust to a new life in San Francisco, turmoil ensues in Headquarters. Although Joy, Riley's main and most important emotion, tries to keep things positive, the emotions conflict on how best to navigate a new city, house, and school." This week's "Musings of Tired Black Social Worker" segment topic is What Actors Would You Cast as the Little Emotions Inside of Your Head? Followed by Name Your Islands of Personality. To watch Inside Out, login to Disney Plus or you can rent it on Amazon Prime, Apple TV, and other streaming platforms. Movie extras can be found here. To check out the CR podcast content calendar, visit: https://soulsessionswithneph.com/critical-reads-podcast To find out more about me or to consume more of my content, visit soulsessionswithneph.com. You can also follow me on Instagram and Facebook using the handle @soulsessionswithneph, or email me at connect@soulsessionswithneph.com. Thank you again for your time and support! 

In this episode of Critical Reads, we will be discussing Changes That Heal: Four Practical Steps to a Happier, Healthier You by Dr. Henry Cloud. Here's a brief summary of the book courtesy of the author/publisher: "Many of us struggle with anxiety, loneliness, and feelings of inadequacy. We know that God created us in his image, but how can we be loving when we feel burned out? How can we be free when we struggle with addiction? Will we ever enjoy the complete healing God promises? Combining his professional expertise and personal experience, renowned psychologist Dr. Henry Cloud guides us through four basic ways to become joy-filled, mature followers of Christ: 1) Connect more deeply with others, 2) Separate from others in healthy ways, 3) Understand the good and the bad in ourselves and others, and 4) Grow into greater emotional and spiritual maturity. With fascinating case studies and helpful techniques we can start using immediately, Changes That Heal reminds us that God promises to complete his good work in us." This week's "Musings of Tired Black Social Worker" segment topic is COVID 19 and navigating working in healthcare. To purchase the book, visit: Changes That Heal via Amazon To check out the CR podcast content calendar, visit: https://soulsessionswithneph.com/critical-reads-podcast To find out more about me or to consume more of my content, visit soulsessionswithneph.com. You can also follow me on Instagram and Facebook using the handle @soulsessionswithneph, or email me at connect@soulsessionswithneph.com. Thank you again for your time and support! 

In this episode of Critical Reads, we will be discussing The Oxford Handbook of Feminist Theology by Sheila Briggs and Mary McClintock Fulkerson. Here's a brief summary of the book courtesy of the author/publisher: "This innovative volume highlights the relevance of globalization and the insights of gender studies and religious studies for feminist theology. Beginning with a discussion of the position of the discipline at the turn of the twenty-first century, the handbook seeks to present an inclusive account of feminist theology in the early twenty-first century that acknowledges the reflection of women on religion beyond the global North and its forms of Christianity. Globalization is taken as the central theme, as the foremost characteristic of the context in which we do feminist theology today. The volume traces the impacts of globalization on gender and religion in specific geographical contexts, describing the implications for feminist theological thinking. A final section explores the changing contents of the field, moving towards new models of theology, distinct from both the structure and language of traditional Christian systematic theology and the forms of secular feminism." This week's "Musings of Tired Black Social Worker" segment topic is a quote found from Twitter about heaven written/shared by Ogbeni Demola. To purchase the book, visit: The Oxford Handbook of Feminist Theology via Amazon Other sources mentioned in this episode include: 10 Principles of Catholic Social Teaching by the Canadian Catholic Organization for Development and Peace  How Early Suffragists Left Black Women Out of Their Fight by Becky Little  When the Suffrage Movement Sold Out to White Supremacy by Brent Staples White Supremacy and the Suffrage Movement by Women at the Center  What Is: Womanism by Kat Blaque To check out the CR podcast content calendar, visit: https://soulsessionswithneph.com/critical-reads-podcast To find out more about me or to consume more of my content, visit soulsessionswithneph.com. You can also follow me on Instagram and Facebook using the handle @soulsessionswithneph, or email me at connect@soulsessionswithneph.com. Thank you again for your time and support! 

In this episode of Critical Reads, we will be discussing Dimensions of Social Welfare Policy by Neil Gilbert and Paul Terrell. Here's a brief summary of the book courtesy of the author/publisher: "Dimensions of Social Welfare Policy provides a comprehensive and widely-used framework for analyzing social welfare policies.  The text encourages readers to develop their own thoughts on social welfare policy and to explore policy alternatives. Theoretical points are illustrated with examples from a cross-section of program areas including income maintenance, child welfare, model cities, daycare, community action, and mental health. The text familiarizes students with the content of major social welfare programs such as TANF, OASDHI, SSI, and Title XX. Learning Goals Upon completing this book, readers will be able to: Understand current policy issues Reflect on where they stand in regard to controversial policy issues Understand major social welfare programs Better understand CSWE's core competencies and practice behaviors" This week's "Musings of Tired Black Social Worker" segment topic is Compassion Fatigue. To purchase the book, visit: Dimensions of Social Welfare Policy via Amazon Other sources mentioned in this episode include: Compassion Fatigue: Symptoms to Look For by Dan Brennan Equity vs. Equality: What's the Difference? by the Milken Institute School of Public Health New Deal by History.com Editors Social Welfare System by Julia Kagan What Is Direct Practice in Social Work? by the University of Texas  To check out the CR podcast content calendar, visit: https://soulsessionswithneph.com/critical-reads-podcast To find out more about me or to consume more of my content, visit soulsessionswithneph.com. You can also follow me on Instagram and Facebook using the handle @soulsessionswithneph, or email me at connect@soulsessionswithneph.com. Thank you again for your time and support! 

In this episode of Critical Reads, we will be discussing God Space: Where Spiritual Conversations Happen Naturally by Doug Pollock. Here's a brief summary of the book courtesy of the author/publisher: "In God Space Doug Pollock shows you how the Holy Spirit can do amazing things through ordinary everyday conversations. You'll find fresh insights and practical tools for connecting with others when you read about the real-life stories of how ordinary people learned to engage others in rich spiritual dialogue that open doors instead of slamming them shut. Let Doug Pollock show you how to be a natural voice for the way of Christ!" I will also be continuing my segment entitled, "Musings of Tired Black Social Worker," where I will be reflecting on an interesting topic or thing that caught my attention during the week. This episode's topic is "The Sin of Empathy." To purchase the book, visit: God Space via godsgps.com or God Space via Amazon Other sources mentioned in this episode include: Have you heard the one about empathy being a sin? by Mark Wingfield Is Sympathy Better Than Empathy? by Rohini Radhakrishnan, ENT, Head and Neck Surgeon Killing Them Softly: Compassion That Warms Satan's Heart by Joe Rigney  Romans 12:9-21 (English Standard Version) The Enticing Sin of Empathy: How Satan Corrupts Through Compassion by Joe Rigney  The Sin of Empathy | Doug Wilson and Joe Rigney To check out the CR podcast content calendar, visit: https://soulsessionswithneph.com/critical-reads-podcast To find out more about me or to consume more of my content, visit soulsessionswithneph.com. You can also follow me on Instagram and Facebook using the handle @soulsessionswithneph, or email me at connect@soulsessionswithneph.com. Thank you again for your time and support! 

In this episode of Critical Reads, we will be discussing The Deconstructionists Playbook edited by Crystal Cheatham and Theresa Ta. Here's a brief summary of the book courtesy of the author/publisher:  "The Deconstructionists Playbook comprises selections from devotionals that have been published by Our Bible App in the last few years. In 2017, Crystal Cheatham set out to create a mobile Bible app where users could read devotionals concerned about topics outside the norm for traditional Christian publishing. These devotionals are explicitly queer-affirming, anti-racist, pro-feminism, and encouraging of interfaith inclusion. Today, the app has published hundreds of devotionals while bringing together a once fragmented community of spiritual wanderers. This devotional anthology is meant to guide you through a journey of faith deconstruction, reconstruction, and liberation. Our authors are concerned with naming and dismantling oppressive systems and beliefs—especially when it comes from within the Church. With the chorus of some 60+ authors, journey through this anthology of devotions. Come celebrate this epic churning of faith through the deconstruction of our religion, the reconstruction of faith elements centered on justice and solidarity, and the application of liberation theology to dismantle white supremacy and patriarchy. By taking part in this uniting of ideas, you will find yourself in a movement of radical inclusion and love, while finding God in mysterious places." I am also introducing a segment I am calling "Musings of Tired Black Social Worker" where I will be reflecting on an interesting topic or thing that caught my attention during the week. This episode's topic is the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse. To purchase this week's book, visit: Deconstructionists Playbook via Our Bible App or Deconstructionists Playbook via Amazon  To check out the CR podcast content calendar, visit: https://soulsessionswithneph.com/critical-reads-podcast To find out more about me or to consume more of my content, visit soulsessionswithneph.com. You can also follow me on Instagram and Facebook using the handle @soulsessionswithneph, or email me at connect@soulsessionswithneph.com. Thank you again for your time and support! 

In this first episode, I will be sharing a little bit about Critical Read's backstory. Before we dive into the different resources I have planned, I wanted to use one episode to introduce myself and give you general information about how each episode will be formatted. Please think of this episode as a group contract between you (the listener) and me! In addition to explaining the show's layout, I plan to go over essential definitions associated with Critical Reads and some basic assumptions, aka things that I am asking you to assume to be part of our Critical Reads group. To check out the CR podcast content calendar, visit: https://soulsessionswithneph.com/critical-reads-podcast To find out more about me or consume more of my content, visit soulsessionswithneph.com. You can also follow me on Instagram and Facebook using the handle @soulsessionswithneph, or email me at connect@soulsessionswithneph.com. Thank you again for your time and support! 

Welcome to the Critical Reads Podcast with Neph Lesperance! Critical Reads is a podcast designed to help you deconstruct cultural norms one resource at a time. Each week, I invite you to reflect on books, articles, and other resources that not only interest her but can also be used to help people critically analyze different aspects of society. Tune in as Neph grapples with topics and themes that drive most people to the place of insanity.  To learn more or get updates about my content, please feel free to visit my website soulsessionswithneph.com. You can also follow me on Facebook and Instagram, @soulsessionswithneph! Special shout out to Alison Knowlton Mason owner of Lilacs on York Creative Studios for designing our super dope podcast cover! I am really looking forward to diving into these resources with you soon.