Love. Period. with Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis

"You are a theologian in residence in your own life, beloved." As we prepare for a brand new season in 2025, Rev. Jacqui wanted to do a series of monologues this fall exploring ways in which we could listen, learn, and lean into peace during these challenging times. In this monologue, Jacqui explores the power of love as a guiding principle in a world filled with division and hate. Drawing upon teachings within Christianity, and the power of Ubuntu, Jacqui explores how love is not just a personal sentiment, but a way of life that requires action, compassion, and a commitment to seeing the humanity in others. May you choose love as a lens through which to view the world, and to build communities that foster understanding and empathy for one another. Resources: A transcript for this episode can be found here.

What if your deepest identity came from God?   On this episode, writer and thought leader Tiq Milan joins Jacqui to discuss the transformative power of Love—particularly when we offer it freely and generously to our LGBTQ friends and family.  He offers: "My transness and my queerness make me closer to God. It's my gift. I feel present in this life because I get to be the man I need to be. I've come into the best version of myself."   Resources: To learn more about Tia, check out his website here. The transcript for this episode can be found here.  

What can we do today to prevent a bit more suffering for those around us?   An award-winning writer who serves as Scholar in Residence at the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW), Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg joins Jacqui for the latest episode of Love Period, to discuss healing work that is happening around us even amid chaos and uncertainty.   She offers: “We must do the best we can to prevent as much suffering as possible. That is our main job down here, on earth. That's the work.”  Don't miss this moving conversation about finding clarity for the questions we face in our world today. Listen now online or subscribe to Love Period on your favorite podcast platform.  Resources: Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg's latest book On Repentance and Repair can be found here. The transcript for this episode can be found here.  

Does your work fulfill your spiritual purpose? On this episode of Love Period, Majora Carter joins Jacqui to help us understand what it means to be inspired to create a professional life that is fueled by spiritual principles.   As a real-estate developer, urban revitalization strategy consultant and MacArthur Fellow, Majora Carter's thriving professional life is built on the moment she “found real meaning in the scriptures when Jesus says, ‘there are only two important laws: Love God and Love thy neighbor.' And I realized—that is what I do! I love God and I love my neighbor. My work is a manifestation of that.”  We hope this engaging conversation inspires you to shift your way of living—and giving—to the world. Resources: Majora Carter's book Reclaiming Your Community can be found here. To learn more about her work, visit her website here. Rabbi Harold Kushner's book When Bad Things Happen to Good People can be found here.  

What stories do we miss when we only read the Bible at the surface?  In this episode, Rev. Natalie Perkins, co-author of the new book In Trembling Boldness, helps us take a deeper look at how we read and experience traditional from the Bible, as well as stories from extra-canonical texts. Natalie offers us this: “We often approach the Bible as fact. It's not about fact. If we approached it more like poetry, we would get a richer sense of the nature of the Divine.”   May this engaging conversation inspire you to change the way you read—and listen to—scripture. Resource: Natalie's book, In Trembling Boldness can be found here. Natalie's album can be found on Spotify | YouTube | and Apple Music.

Do you see weeping as a spiritual experience?   On this episode, Rev. Ben Perry joins Jacqui to help us embrace the healing power of tears. Together they explore Ben's new book, Cry, Baby, discuss how scripture inspired it, and what tears have to do with our faith. As Ben explains: “Weeping after acts of violence reminds us that this is not the way God intends the world to be. This is not preordained violence, blessed by God—it is a violation of God's intent for our lives.”  This moving conversation offers us a glimpse of what awaits us on the other side of sadness and grief, and how it can enrich our faith. Resources: Ben's book, Cry, Baby, can be found here.

What modern rituals stir your heart?   On this episode, Rev. Otis Moss III returns to the show and offers his perspective on what living a spiritually awakened life means for us today. He explains, “Love your neighbor. Love your neighbor as yourself. If you are devoid of self-love, if you hate who you are, then you are incapable of loving your neighbor. And maybe that's the most insidious thing about white supremacy. Many of us don't love ourselves enough to love our neighbor.”  Resources: Rev. Otis Moss III's latest book, Dancing in the Darkness can be found here.

How have relationships shifted your perspective on life and love?  In this episode, Jacqui talks with John Blake, an award-winning journalist who tells the story of his quest to reconcile with his white mother and the family he'd never met. Together, they explore how healing systems—from families to the culture of an entire country—begins with true and honest human connection.  This memorable conversation will shift your understanding of how building relationships and telling stories have the power to invite greater love and healing into every aspect of our lives. Resources: John Blake's book, More Than I Imagined can be found here.

What if we refused to break anyone's heart—including our own? In this episode of Love Period, Jacqui Lewis speaks with Rabbi Josh Stanton, getting to the heart of Jesus' radical teachings. If you have ever wondered how to love those you don't understand (or even like), this episode offers guidance.  Join us for this new season of Love Period where Jacqui invites theologians, scholars, and clergy from Abrahamic traditions to bring scriptural teachings back to their core—revealing key wisdom for our lives today.  Resources: A transcript for this episode will be available soon.

Can we be theologians in our own lives? In the first episode of Season 4, Jacqui talks with Marcie Alvis-Walker—author, mother, friend, and theologian who invites us to read the Bible in a way that speaks to our hearts. The author of Everybody Come Alive: A Memoir in Essays, Marcie shares her experience of finding reflections of herself in scriptures that have too long been interpreted by others.  Join us for this new season of Love Period where Jacqui invites theologians, scholars, and clergy from Abrahamic traditions to bring scriptural teachings back to their core—revealing key wisdom for our lives today.  Resources: To learn more about Marcie, visit her website. Marcie's book: Everybody Come Alive A transcript for this episode will be available soon.

How do we teach our kids love and resilience in this divided world? On this episode of Love Period, writer, editor, and President of Interfaith Alliance, Paul Raushenbush joins Jacqui in a conversation about creating interfaith partnerships and the challenge of hopeful parenting. Listen in on Paul and Jacqui's discussion on the importance of practicing self-love grounded in experiences of adversity.   Resources: Jacqui's new book Fierce Love can be found here. The transcript for this episode can be found here. Connect with us: We'd love to hear your thoughts, comments, or feedback. Send us an email. Rev. Jacqui Lewis Ph.D.: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Paul Rauschenbush: Twitter Center for Action and Contemplation: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

How do we let go of fear theology? On this episode of Love Period, Rev. Jacqui Lewis is joined by children's book author, editor, and activist, Jamia Wilson, for an inspiring conversation that explores how being affirmed in a fellowship of radical Love unleashes our creative potential. In this episode, Jamia and Jacqui discuss how intimate relationships can be a vital part of our journey to create a more balanced and loving world.  Jamia is an award-winning feminist activist, writer, speaker, and podcaster. Jamia is passionate about mission-driven organizations and serves on the Omega Institute, Feminist.com and Center for Reproductive Rights boards, and the St. Timothy's School Advisory Council. She is also the co-host of the second season of the Anthem Award-winning podcast, Ordinary Equality. Resources: Jacqui's new book Fierce Love can be found here. Jamia's book This Book is Feminist can be found here The transcript for this episode can be found here. Connect with us: We'd love to hear your thoughts, comments, or feedback. Send us an email. Rev. Jacqui Lewis Ph.D.: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Jamia Wilson: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Center for Action and Contemplation: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

What if we considered ourselves first responders to the fires burning in our lives?   On this episode of Love Period, Rev. Jacqui invites her friend Kerri Kelly to the table to discuss the healing power of radical love. Amid unfairness of opportunity, capitalist culture, and a maze of misleading information, we need this love now more than ever — for ourselves, each other, and the world.  Kerri Kelly is the author of “American Detox” and the founder of CTZNWELL, an organization that embraces a democratic approach to spiritual growth and wellness, Kerri Kelly offers her insights on what it means to cultivate wellness and deep spiritual belonging in an age of instant gratification.   Resources: Jacqui's new book Fierce Love can be found here. Kerri's new book American Detox can be found here The transcript for this episode can be found here. Connect with us: We'd love to hear your thoughts, comments, or feedback. Send us an email. Rev. Jacqui Lewis Ph.D.: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Kerri Kelly: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Center for Action and Contemplation: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

What's been burdening you lately? Today, it seems everyone is managing the emotional weight of the increasingly insecure tone of our world.  In this episode, Religious Scholar Serene Jones joins Rev. Jacqui for a conversation about the impact of trauma on our ability to love. In this healing conversation, Serene and Jacqui share how affirming our emotional experiences can lead us to a deeper understanding of personal power.  A highly respected scholar and public intellectual, the Rev. Dr. Serene Jones is the 16th President of the historic Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York. The first woman to head the 182-year-old institution, Jones occupies the Johnston Family Chair for Religion and Democracy. She is a Past President of the American Academy of Religion, which annually hosts the world's largest gathering of scholars of religion. Jones came to Union after seventeen years at Yale University, where she was the Titus Street Professor of Theology at the Divinity School, and Chair of the University's Program in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies. She is the author of several books including Trauma and Grace and, most recently, her memoir Call It Grace: Finding Meaning in a Fractured World. Jones, a popular public speaker, is sought by media to comment on major issues impacting society because of her deep grounding in theology, politics, women's studies, economics, race studies, history, and ethics. Resources: Jacqui's new book Fierce Love can be found here. A transcript for this episode can be found here. Connect with us: We'd love to hear your thoughts, comments, or feedback. Send us an email. Rev. Jacqui Lewis Ph.D.: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Serene Jones: Website | Twitter Center for Action and Contemplation: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

How do we walk through the fire? Trials in life have often been likened to an encounter with fire—first, we experience disorientation, but in the end, transformation, and renewal.   In this episode, inter-spiritual scholar and mystical teacher, Mirabai Starr, joins Jacqui in conversation on wise ways to navigate the fires burning in our world. Embrace fire as a symbol for purging the elements of our lives that no longer serve us in loving each other more deeply.  Resources: Jacqui's new book Fierce Love can be found here. Mirabai's book, Wild Mercy can be found here. Mirabai's latest, St. John of the Cross: Luminous Darkness can be found here. A transcript for this episode can be found here. Connect with us: We'd love to hear your thoughts, comments, or feedback. Send us an email. Rev. Jacqui Lewis Ph.D.: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Mirabai Starr: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Center for Action and Contemplation: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

What can we learn about balance from the natural world? On this episode, Rev. Jacqui Lewis speaks with Kerry Docherty, Chief Impact Officer of Faherty Brand, to explore how each aspect of our lives has the potential to transform and strengthen our communities. Whether we're focusing on expanding our professional life or our relationships, how do we show up with a greater sense of purpose and ease?  Kerry Docherty is a lawyer with a background in human rights and mindfulness, Kerry uses Faherty's platform to create community and conversation through the event series, Sun Sessions, which spotlights good people doing good work. She loves to write, and her first children's book was released earlier this year. She and her husband, Alex (whom she met in college), live in Brooklyn with their two kids. Resources: Jacqui's new book Fierce Love can be found here. Kerry's new book, Somewhere, Right Now can be found here. A transcript for this episode can be found here. Connect with us: We'd love to hear your thoughts, comments, or feedback. Send us an email. Rev. Jacqui Lewis Ph.D.: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Kerry Docherty: Instagram Center for Action and Contemplation: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter  

How do our political realities affect our lives? Can we in fact, heal despite the very real threats that we face today? On this episode, Rev. Jacqui Lewis is joined by Rev. Amanda Hambrick Ashcraft the Executive Minister for Justice, Education & Movement Building at Middle Church, in conversation about the effect of political injustice on our lives. Jacqui and Amanda discuss loss and devastation—of loved ones, of spaces of safety and inspiration, and the work and clarity it demands to fiercely love ourselves and each other through challenging times. Resources: Jacqui's new book Fierce Love can be found here. Amanda's conversation with Doug Pagitt can be found here. Amanda's reference of The Cut article can be found here. A transcript for this episode can be found here. Connect with us: We'd love to hear your thoughts, comments, or feedback. Send us an email. Rev. Jacqui Lewis Ph.D.: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Rev. Amanda Hambrick Ashcraft: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Center for Action and Contemplation: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Are you open to a new vision of God? Dr. Christena Cleveland joins Jacqui for the first episode of the third season. In this revolutionary conversation, Rev. Jacqui Lewis and Christena Cleveland, author of God Is a Black Woman, talk about the power of encountering embodied symbols of the Divine that can move us toward greater expansion, hope, and love for one another. Together, they invite you, the listener, to let go of a vision of God who is small minded, fearful, and oppressive in exchange for an expansive God who encourages us to live in an overflowing river of love.  Christena Cleveland Ph.D. is a social psychologist, public theologian, author, and activist. She is the founder and director of the Center for Justice + Renewal as well as its sister organization, Sacred Folk, which creates resources to stimulate people's spiritual imaginations and support their journeys toward liberation. A weaver of Black liberation and the sacred feminine, Dr. Cleveland integrates psychology, theology, storytelling, and art to stimulate our spiritual imaginations. She recently completed her third full-length book, God is a Black Woman (HarperOne), which details her 400-mile walking pilgrimage across central France in search of ancient Black Madonna statues, and examines the relationship among race, gender, and cultural perceptions of the Divine.  Resources: Jacqui's new book Fierce Love can be found here. Christena's new book, God is a Black Woman can be found here. A transcript for this episode can be found here. Connect with us: We'd love to hear your thoughts, comments, or feedback. Send us an email. Rev. Jacqui Lewis Ph.D.: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Dr. Christena Cleveland Ph.D.: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Center for Action and Contemplation: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

What does your sanctuary look like? What does it feel like? On this episode, Rev. Jacqui invites author and educator Tracey Michae'l Lewis-Giggetts to the table to discuss the nature of joy—how to recognize it, feel it, and invite it into our lives. Through this stimulating conversation, explore how claiming a space of sanctuary can energize your journey of awakening.  As a writer and thought-leader, Tracey Michae'l Lewis-Giggetts offers those who read her work and hear her speak an authentic experience; an opportunity to explore the intersection of culture, identity and faith/spirituality at the deepest levels. She is the host of the podcast, HeARTtalk with Tracey Michae'l, and founder of HeARTspace, a healing community created to serve those who have experienced trauma of any kind through the use of storytelling and the arts. As a writer, Tracey has published eighteen books including several collaborations with numerous high-profile authors. In 2021, Tracey became one of 20 writers who contributed to the groundbreaking book, You are Your Best Thing: Vulnerability, Shame Resilience, and the Black Experience edited by acclaimed researcher, Brene Brown, and founder of the MeToo Movement, Tarana Burke. Her most recent publication is the critically-acclaimed book, Black Joy: Stories of Resistance, Resilience, and Restoration (Gallery/Simon and Schuster) which has received rave reviews from celebrities like Kerry Washington, literary writers like Kiese Laymon and Deesha Philyaw, and media outlets like Good Morning America, Essence Magazine, and USA Today. Tracey has spoken on a number of platforms around the country on topics related to race/social justice, healing, and faith/spirituality. Resources: Jacqui's new book Fierce Love can be found here. Tracey's new book, Black Joy can be found here. A transcript for this episode can be found here. Connect with us: We'd love to hear your thoughts, comments, or feedback. Send us an email. Rev. Jacqui Lewis Ph.D.: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Tracey Michae'l-Lewis Giggetts: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Center for Action and Contemplation: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

On the third season of Love Period, Rev. Jacqui Lewis gathers a cadre of writers, parents, and activists looking for common threads of wisdom as they survive and thrive in these traumatic times. What wisdom and insight do their experiences have for each of us? And, as always, Rev. Jacqui is asking "What's fierce love got to do with it?"

Kaliswa Brewster joins Jacqui for this episode of Love Period, part of our special mini-series celebrating Black History Month. Kaliswa Brewster is an actress based in NYC and helped co-produce Seasons 1 and 2 of Love Period. Kaliswa has recurred on Showtime's BILLIONS, ABC's series TIME AFTER TIME, and RELEASE. Film credits include PATERNO for HBO Films starring Al Pacino, the feature film PAINT directed by Michael Walker, and THE BIT PLAYER for PBS. Guest star and other television credits include CBS' GOD FRIENDED ME, BLUE BLOODS, Netflix's DAREDEVIL & CBS' UNFORGETTABLE. She has worked onstage at The Signature Theatre, Ensemble Studio Theatre, Hartford Stage, The Williamstown Theater Festival, The Guthrie Theater, and others. As a voice actor Kaliswa has appeared in various commercial ads, animation series (including Marvel), and her audiobook work can be found on Audible. She holds an MFA from American Conservatory Theater and a Certificate in Classical Theater from LAMDA in London. Resources: Jacqui's new book Fierce Love can be found here. A transcript for this episode can be found here. Connect with us: We'd love to hear your thoughts, comments, or feedback. Send us an email. Rev. Jacqui Lewis Ph.D.: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Kaliswa Brewster: Instagram | Twitter Center for Action and Contemplation: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Shaka Senghor joins Jacqui for this episode of Love Period, part of our special mini-series celebrating Black History Month. Shaka's priority is shifting societal narratives through storytelling and developing workshops with high entertainment value and deep social impact. Shaka Senghor is the Head of Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at TripActions. He is also the President of Shaka Senghor, Inc., and Founder of Redeemed Sole. Shaka is a former MIT Media Lab Director's Fellow and a former Fellow in the inaugural class of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation's Community Leadership Network. His 2014 TED Talk was featured in their “Year in Ideas” roundup and has over 1.7 million views. In 2021, he was featured on the Nas track Composure. Shaka is the recipient of numerous awards, including the 2012 Black Male Engagement (BME) Leadership Award, the 2015 Manchester University Innovator of the Year Award, the 2016 FORD Man of Courage Award, and the 2016 NAACP Great Expectations Award. He was recognized by OWN (the Oprah Winfrey Network) as a “Soul Igniter” in the inaugural class of the SuperSoul 100. He has taught at the University of Michigan and shares his story of redemption around the world.  Resources: Jacqui's new book Fierce Love can be found here. Shaka's new book Letters to The Sons of Society can be found here. A transcript for this episode can be found here. Connect with us: We'd love to hear your thoughts, comments, or feedback. Send us an email. Rev. Jacqui Lewis Ph.D.: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Shaka Senghor: Instagram | Twitter Center for Action and Contemplation: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Civil Rights icon Ruby Sales joins Jacqui for this episode of Love Period, part of our special mini-series celebrating Black History Month. Ruby is a leader in the Southern Freedom Movement, and a mentor to many, including Jacqui. Listen in as she and Ruby discuss what it means to be Black in America today. Ruby Sales is the founder and director of the Spirit House Project. She joined the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) in the 1960s as a teenager at Tuskegee University and went to work as a student freedom fighter in Lowndes County, Alabama. She is one of 50 African Americans to be spotlighted in the new Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC. A deeply committed social activist, scholar, administrator, manager, public theologian and educator in the areas of civil, gender and other human rights, Sales has preached around the country on race, class, gender and reconciliation. She has done groundbreaking work on community and nonviolence formation, and also serves as a national convener of the Every Church A Peace Church Movement. Throughout her career, Sales has mentored young people and provided support and venues for an intergenerational community of developing and seasoned social justice performing and creative artists. She has a deep commitment to providing the education, practical experiences, and frame of references to contest racism and add their voices to the public conversations on the many streams of oppression that emerge from them. Resources: Jacqui's new book Fierce Love can be found here. A transcript for this episode can be found here. Connect with us: We'd love to hear your thoughts, comments, or feedback. Send us an email. Rev. Jacqui Lewis Ph.D.: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Ruby Sales: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | The SpiritHouse Project Center for Action and Contemplation: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Love Period is sharing a 4 part mini-series to celebrate Black History Month to close out Season 2. In this series, Jacqui is talking with friends about what it means to be Black in America today. Jacqui kicks off this series with poet, pastor, and peacemaker Drew Jackson. Drew E. Jackson is a poet who came late to writing poetry, although he would say that his love for the art form began with hip-hop, learning to put words together from Nas' Illmatic. He writes at the intersection of justice, peace, and contemplation, having a passion to contribute toward a more just and whole world. Born in Williamstown, NJ, Drew currently calls New York City home. He holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Chicago and an M.A. in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary. While he's not traversing the world of poetry, Drew spends his time pastoring Hope East Village, a church that he planted in March of 2018. Drew also serves as the President of Pax, an organization focused on promoting the peace of Jesus in the 21st century. Drew is blessed to share life with his wife Genay, and their twin daughters Zora and Suhaila. Resources: Jacqui's new book Fierce Love can be found here. Drew's new book God Speaks Through Wombs can be found here. A transcript for this episode can be found here. Connect with us: We'd love to hear your thoughts, comments, or feedback. Send us an email. Rev. Jacqui Lewis Ph.D.: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Drew Jackson: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Center for Action and Contemplation: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Abigail Disney joins Jacqui to bring the second season of Love Period to a close. Abigail E. Disney advocates for real changes to the way capitalism operates in today's world. As a philanthropist, she has worked with organizations supporting peacebuilding, gender justice, and systems and culture change. She is an Emmy-Winning Documentary Filmmaker, activist, and co-founder of Fork Films, a nonfiction media production company, which produces the podcast "All Ears," where host Abigail Disney interviews bold, solutions-oriented thinkers from the front lines of America's urgent inequality and race crises. She is the Chair and Co-Founder of Level Forward, a new breed storytelling company focused on systemic change through creative excellence, balancing financial and social returns. She created the nonprofit Peace is Loud, which uses storytelling to advance social movements, and the Daphne Foundation, which supports organizations working for a more equitable, fair and peaceful New York City.  She is an internationally sought-after speaker & panelist who has graced the stage at The Women's Economic Summit-Paris, Financial Times Women at The Top Summit, Fast Company's Impact Council, and DealBook DC Strategy Forum. And, her 2020 TED Talk entitled, "Dignity isn't a privilege. It's a worker's right," has garnered nearly 2 million views. Resources: Jacqui's new book Fierce Love can be found here. A transcript for this episode can be found here. Connect with us: We'd love to hear your thoughts, comments, or feedback. Send us an email. Rev. Jacqui Lewis Ph.D.: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Abigail Disney: Instagram | Twitter Center for Action and Contemplation: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

On this episode of Love Period, Nadia Bolz Weber joins Jacqui to discuss the themes found in the 9th and final chapter of Fierce Love "Believe Assiduously. Have Faith in Love." Nadia Bolz-Weber is an ordained Lutheran Pastor, founder of House for All Sinners & Saints in Denver, Co, the creator and host of The Confessional and the author of three NYT bestselling memoirs: Pastrix; The Cranky, Beautiful Faith Of A Sinner & Saint (2013 and re-released in 2021), Accidental Saints; Finding God In All The Wrong People (2015) and SHAMELESS; A Sexual Reformation (2019). Resources: Jacqui's new book Fierce Love can be found here. A transcript for this episode can be found here. Connect with us: We'd love to hear your thoughts, comments, or feedback. Send us an email. Rev. Jacqui Lewis Ph.D.: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Nadia Bolz Weber: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Website Center for Action and Contemplation: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Lisa Sharon Harper joins Jacqui for this episode of Love Period where they discuss the themes found in the 8th Chapter of Fierce Love: Find Joy Purposefully, It Is The Water of Life. From Ferguson to New York, and from Germany and South Africa to Australia and Brazil, Lisa Sharon Harper leads trainings that increase clergy and community leaders' capacity to organize people of faith toward a just world. A prolific speaker, writer and activist, Ms. Harper is the founder and president of FreedomRoad.us, a consulting group dedicated to shrinking the narrative gap in our nation by designing forums and experiences that bring common understanding, common commitment and common action. Resources: Jacqui's new book Fierce Love can be found here. Lisa's new book Fortune can be found here. A transcript for this episode can be found here. Connect with us: We'd love to hear your thoughts, comments, or feedback. Send us an email. Rev. Jacqui Lewis Ph.D.: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Lisa Sharon Harper: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Website Center for Action and Contemplation: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Rev. Otis Moss III joins Jacqui for this episode of Love Period to discuss the themes found in the 7th Chapter of Fierce Love: Live Justly. Choose Fairness and Equality Every Day. With civil rights advocacy in his DNA, Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III built his ministry on community advancement and social justice activism. As Senior Pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, Illinois, Dr. Moss spent the last two decades practicing and preaching a Black theology that unapologetically calls attention to the problems of mass incarceration, environmental justice, and economic inequality. Dr. Moss is part of a new generation of ministers committed to preaching a prophetic message of love and justice, which he believes are inseparable companions that form the foundation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Resources: Jacqui's new book Fierce Love can be found here. A transcript for this episode can be found here. Connect with us: We'd love to hear your thoughts, comments, or feedback. Send us an email. Rev. Jacqui Lewis Ph.D.: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Rev. Otis Moss III: Facebook | Twitter | Website Center for Action and Contemplation: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

On this episode of Love Period, Brian McLaren joins Jacqui to discuss the themes found in Chapter Six of Fierce Love: Think Inclusively. They're Your People, Too! Brian McLaren is an author, speaker, activist, and public theologian. A former college English teacher and pastor, he is a passionate advocate for “a new kind of Christianity” – just, generous, and working with people of all faiths for the common good. He is a faculty member of  The Living School and podcaster with Learning How to See, which are part of the Center for Action and Contemplation. He is also an Auburn Senior Fellow and is a co-host of Southern Lights. His newest book is  Faith After Doubt (January 2021), and his next release, Do I Stay Christian? (May 2022) can be preordered now. His recent projects include an illustrated children's book (for all ages) called Cory and the Seventh Story and The Galapagos Islands: A Spiritual Journey. Resources: Jacqui's new book Fierce Love can be found here. A transcript for this episode will be available Friday December 17th. Connect with us: We'd love to hear your thoughts, comments, or feedback. Send us an email. Rev. Jacqui Lewis Ph.D.: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Brian McLaren: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Website Center for Action and Contemplation: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

On this episode of Love Period, ALOK joins Jacqui to cover the themes found in the fifth chapter of Fierce Love: Confront Boldly, Transform Your Circumstances with Moral Courage. ALOK (they/them) is an internationally acclaimed writer, performer, and public speaker. As a mixed-media artist their work explores themes of trauma, belonging, and the human condition. They are the author of Femme in Public (2017), Beyond the Gender Binary (2020), and Your Wound/My Garden (2021). They are the creator of #DeGenderFashion: a movement to degender fashion and beauty industries and have been honored as one of HuffPo's Culture Shifters, NBC's Pride 50, and Business Insider's Doers. Over the past decade they have presented at more than 600 venues in 40 countries.  New to Season 2, after the interview, Jacqui concludes with a reflection on making this practical in everyday life. Resources: Jacqui's new book Fierce Love can be found here. ALOK's new poetry book can be found here. A transcript for this episode will be available Friday December 10th. Connect with us: We'd love to hear your thoughts, comments, or feedback. Send us an email. Rev. Jacqui Lewis Ph.D.: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter ALOK: Instagram | Website Center for Action and Contemplation: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Frank Schaeffer joins Jacqui for this episode of Love Period where they discuss the themes found in the fourth chapter of Jacqui's new book Fierce Love which is titled "Show Kindness and Affection Wildly. Make Fierce Love Real." Frank is an artist and a New York Times bestselling author of both fiction and nonfiction. Frank has lectured at a wide range of venues from Harvard's Kennedy School to the Hammer Museum/UCLA, Princeton University, Riverside Church Cathedral, DePaul University and the Kansas City Public Library. New to Season 2, after the interview, Jacqui concludes with a reflection on making this practical in everyday life. Resources: Jacqui's new book Fierce Love can be found here. Frank's new book can be found here. A transcript for this episode will be available Friday December 3rd. Connect with us: We'd love to hear your thoughts, comments, or feedback. Send us an email. Rev. Jacqui Lewis Ph.D.: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Frank Schaeffer: Facebook | Twitter | Website Center for Action and Contemplation: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

On this episode of Love Period, Valarie Kaur joins Jacqui in conversation to discuss the theme of Chapter Three: "Travel Lightly. Downsize the Burdens You Carry." Valarie Kaur is a renowned civil rights leader and celebrated prophetic voice "at the forefront of progressive change" (Center for American Progress). Valarie burst into American consciousness in the wake of the 2016 election when her Watch Night Service address went viral with 40 million views worldwide. Her question "Is this the darkness of the tomb – or the darkness of the womb?" reframed the political moment and became a mantra for people fighting for change. Valarie now leads the Revolutionary Love Project to reclaim love as a force for justice in America.  In the last twenty years, as a lawyer, innovator, and award-winning filmmaker, Valarie has helped win policy change on multiple fronts – hate crimes, racial profiling, immigration detention, solitary confinement, Internet freedom, and more. She founded Groundswell Movement, Faithful Internet, and the Yale Visual Law Project to equip new generations of advocates. Valarie has been a regular TV commentator on MSNBC and contributor to CNN, NPR, PBS, the Hill, Huffington Post, and the Washington Post. A daughter of Sikh farmers in California's heartland, Valarie earned degrees at Stanford University, Harvard Divinity School, and Yale Law School. Valarie's debut book, See No Stranger: A Memoir and Manifesto of Revolutionary Love, expands on her "blockbuster" TED Talk and is available wherever books are sold. New to Season 2, after the interview, Jacqui concludes with a reflection on making this practical in everyday life. Resources: Jacqui's new book Fierce Love can be found here. Valarie's memoir, See No Stranger can be found here. A transcript for this episode can be found here. Connect with us: We'd love to hear your thoughts, comments, or feedback. Send us an email. Rev. Jacqui Lewis Ph.D.: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Valarie Kaur: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Website | Revolutionary 911 Hub Center for Action and Contemplation: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Michael-Ray Mathews joins this episode of Love Period to discuss the theme of Chapter Two: "Speak Truthfully. It Will Set You Free." Michael-Ray Mathews brings over 30 years of leadership experience – as a senior pastor, grassroots leader, psalmist and community organizer – to his work as Deputy Director for Faith in Action (formerly PICO National Network). He is the host of the Prophetic Resistance Podcast, where he engages multi-faith leaders in conversations about cultivating communities of belonging and sacred resistance to injustice. Rev. Mathews is president of the Alliance of Baptists, a progressive movement for justice and healing, and co-editor of Trouble the Waters: A Christian Resource for the Work of Racial Justice. A visiting professor of public theology at American Baptist Seminary of the West in Berkeley, he is also a senior fellow at Auburn Seminary in New York. Michael-Ray is co-founder of and public theologian-in-residence with Sympara, a multifaith/interspiritual community of practice, repurposing spiritual assets for the common good. New to Season 2, after the interview, Jacqui concludes with a reflection on making this practical in everyday life. Resources: Jacqui's new book Fierce Love can be found here. A transcript for this episode will be available Friday, November 19th. Connect with us: We'd love to hear your thoughts, comments, or feedback. Send us an email. Rev. Jacqui Lewis Ph.D.: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Michael-Ray Mathews: Twitter | Instagram Center for Action and Contemplation: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Love Period. returns with a brand new season based on the themes found in Rev. Jacqui's new book Fierce Love: A Bold Path to Ferocious Courage and Rule-Breaking Kindness That Can Heal the World. To kick things off, Wajahat Ali is returning to discuss the theme of Chapter One: "Love Yourself Unconditionally. It All Starts Here." In this conversation, Wajahat explains what loving himself unconditionally has meant to him, and how he was able to pass that on to his children. New to Season 2, after the interview, Jacqui concludes with a reflection on making this practical in everyday life. Wajahat is the author of the forthcoming book Go Back to Where You Came From: And Other Helpful Recommendations on How to Become American. Resources: Jacqui's new book Fierce Love can be found here. Wajahat's new book Go Back to Where You Came From (out January 2022) can be found here. A transcript for this episode can be found here. Connect with us: We'd love to hear your thoughts, comments, or feedback. Send us an email. Rev. Jacqui Lewis Ph.D.: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Wajahat Ali: Twitter | Website Center for Action and Contemplation: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at cac.org/podcastsupport Thank you!

Rev. Darrell R. Hamilton, II joins Rev. Jacqui Lewis for this episode of Love. Period. Darrell is the Executive Minister for Operations and Resource Development at Middle Church. Prior to his time at Middle Church, he served as the Pastor for Formation and Outreach at First Baptist Church in Jamaica Plain, MA, and the Program Director for Urban Pastoral Ministry Program at City Mission Boston. Darrell is impassioned by the way politics and faith merge together in the Christian theological traditions of justice and liberation. He believes that through the Christian values and ideals of diversity and inclusiveness, advocacy for the vulnerable and marginalized, the Christian tradition has within itself the means necessary to inspire our nation and world toward greater justice and love for all.  Darrell is also an ordained Baptist minister, and his leadership has had him serve on the Board of Directors of The American Baptist Churches of Massachusetts and the Alliance of Baptists. He has worked as an adjunct professor for Contextual Education at Boston University School of Theology. He has held leadership within the Massachusetts' Poor People's Campaign, and he brings his energy and enthusiasm for the gospel message to spread a deeper and fuller appreciation for the traditions of justice and liberation. Love Period will return for Season 2 in November. Connect with us: We'd love to hear your thoughts, comments, or feedback. Send us an email. Rev. Jacqui Lewis Ph.D.: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Rev. Darrell Hamilton: Instagram | Twitter This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at cac.org/podcastsupport Thank you!

Rev. Amanda Hambrick Ashcraft joins Jacqui for this episode of Love. Period. She is the Executive Minister for Justice, Education & Movement Building at Middle Church and is also the founder of Raising Imagination, a platform that examines social issues through the lens of imagination and encourages activism with young and old alike. Her activism has been featured on CNN, MSNBC, Yahoo, the Wall Street Journal, and Refinery29. She's a regular writer and inaugural board member of The Resistance Prays, and serves on the Junior Board of The Lower East Side Girls Club. She's presented nationwide on topics including systemic injustice, religion, and involving young children in advocacy. Originally from a small town in Kentucky, she now lives in Manhattan with her husband, 6-year-old twin boys, 4-year-old girl and thinks pizazz & grit (along with a lot of love and justice) can change the world. Connect with us: We'd love to hear your thoughts, comments, or feedback. Send us an email. Rev. Jacqui Lewis Ph.D.: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Rev. Amanda Hambrick Ashcraft: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Center for Action and Contemplation: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at cac.org/podcastsupport Thank you!

Richard Rohr joins Jacqui on this episode of Love. Period. Richard is a Franciscan priest of the New Mexico Province. He is the founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation and academic dean of the CAC's Living School. An internationally recognized author and spiritual leader, Fr. Richard teaches primarily on incarnational mysticism, nondual consciousness, and contemplation, with a particular emphasis on how these affect the social justice issues of our time. His latest book is The Universal Christ. Connect with us: We'd love to hear your thoughts, comments, or feedback. Send us an email. Rev. Jacqui Lewis Ph.D.: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Richard Rohr: Twitter | Sign up for Richard's Daily Meditations Center for Action and Contemplation: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter To learn more about Conspire, visit cac.org/conspire This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at cac.org/podcastsupport Thank you!

Mark Charles joins Jacqui on this episode of Love. Period. He is the son of an American woman (of Dutch heritage) and a Navajo man, Mark teaches the complexities of American history regarding race, culture, and Christendom in order to help forge a path of healing and conciliation for the nation. He is the co-author of the book, Unsettling Truths: The Ongoing, Dehumanizing Legacy of the Doctrine of Discovery, and he authors the blog Reflections from the Hogan. Connect with us: We'd love to hear your thoughts, comments, or feedback. Send us an email. Rev. Jacqui Lewis Ph.D.: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Mark Charles: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Center for Action and Contemplation: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at cac.org/podcastsupport Thank you!

For the last week of Pride, Kevin Garcia joins Jacqui for Love. Period. Kevin is an author, podcaster, digital pastor and an intuitive soul coach who helps people heal spiritual wounds, create new practices for a healthy life, process experiences related to queerness + faith identity, practice radical honesty, avoid spiritual burnout, and reminds people of their infinite connection to Love. He is also the author of the book Bad Theology Kills. Connect with us: We'd love to hear your thoughts, comments, or feedback. Send us an email. Rev. Jacqui Lewis Ph.D.: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Kevin Garcia: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Center for Action and Contemplation: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at cac.org/podcastsupport Thank you!

The Justice Doula Micky ScottBey Jones joins Jacqui for this episode of Love. Period. sharing what she has learned from grief and loving herself and others well. Micky accompanies people as they birth more love, justice and shalom into our world. As a womanist, faith rooted, contemplative activist, movement chaplain, and nonviolence practitioner, Micky supports students, clergy, activists and everyday leaders in a variety of roles - speaker, writer, facilitator, pilgrimage guide and teacher. She is the Director of Resilience and Healing Initiatives with Faith Matters Network & visionary leader of the Daring Compassion Movement Chaplaincy Project, which has already trained hundreds of people in accompaniment, healing & resilience building in social change movements. Micky earned a M.A. in Intercultural Studies from NAIITS/Portland Seminary and is a trained and certified Enneagram teacher. She is featured in two multi-authored books - Becoming Like Creoles: Living and Leading at the Intersections of Injustice, Culture and Religion and Keep Watch With Me: An Advent Reader for Peacemakers.  Connect with us: We'd love to hear your thoughts, comments, or feedback. Send us an email. Rev. Jacqui Lewis Ph.D.: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Micky ScottBey Jones: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Center for Action and Contemplation: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at cac.org/podcastsupport Thank you!

On this episode, Genesis Be joins Rev. Jacqui Lewis for Love. Period. As an artist and activist, her music and art explore the nuances of her intersectionality as a queer, muslim, biracial black woman. Her long work fighting to remove the Confederate flag from the Mississippi state flag culminated in an incredible collaborative victory in June of 2020. She is also the founder of Strive Till I Rise, an organization in which Genesis advocates for racial healing, fighting racism & white supremacy, promoting voting rights, youth empowerment and the importance of healthy communication between opposing views. Connect with us: We'd love to hear your thoughts, comments, or feedback. Send us an email. Rev. Jacqui Lewis Ph.D.: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Genesis Be: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Center for Action and Contemplation: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at cac.org/podcastsupport Thank you!

In this episode of Love. Period., Emmy nominated actress Aunjanue Ellis mentors us on how to love the world better. Aside from being an actress, she's also an activist who recently worked to get the Mississippi flag changed. She is the president and CEO of Miss Myrtis Films, and co-founder of Take it Down America. These are two great organizations that have strived to abolish racist southern symbols from Mississippi and other surrounding states through education, advocacy, and short documentaries. Production Note: We recorded this episode during high COVID exposure rates and stay-at-home orders. As such, this episode was recorded over the internet and not in a studio. Some elements of the conversation may not reflect current COVID situations. Connect with us: We'd love to hear your thoughts, comments, or feedback. Send us an email. Rev. Jacqui Lewis Ph.D.: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Aunjanune Ellis: Twitter | Facebook Center for Action and Contemplation: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at cac.org/podcastsupport Thank you!

In this episode, Robert P. Jones, Ph.D., the founder and CEO of Public Religion Research Institute joins Jacqui to talk all things faith, politics, and love. He is most recently the author of "White Too Long: The Legacy of White Supremacy in American Christianity" and “The End of White Christian America,” which won the 2019 Grawemeyer Award in Religion. You can also find his writing on politics, culture, and religion for The Atlantic online, NBC Think, and other outlets. Connect with us: We'd love to hear your thoughts, comments, or feedback. Send us an email. Rev. Jacqui Lewis Ph.D.: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Robert P. Jones. Ph.D.: Twitter | Website Center for Action and Contemplation: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at cac.org/podcastsupport Thank you!

Today on the show, Jacqui is joined by her husband, John Janka. Together they explore the various aspects of his journey as a clergy, activist, dad, grandfather, and Jacqui's husband, and all of those have informed his ability to love well. Connect with us: We'd love to hear your thoughts, comments, or feedback. Send us an email. Rev. Jacqui Lewis Ph.D.: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Center for Action and Contemplation: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at cac.org/podcastsupport Thank you!

In this episode, Ruthie Lindsey joins Jacqui for Love. Period. Listen in as they explore her journey of becoming a love doula as she transformed her story of immense pain and hopelessness into a source of love and connectedness with all. Connect with us: We'd love to hear your thoughts, comments, or feedback. Send us an email. Rev. Jacqui Lewis Ph.D.: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Ruthie Lindsey: Instagram | Website Center for Action and Contemplation: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at cac.org/podcastsupport Thank you!

How does self-love transform the way we show up in the world? In this episode, columnist, public speaker, and recovering attorney Wajahat Ali joins Jacqui for Love. Period. Listen in as they explore his journey to self-love. Connect with us: We'd love to hear your thoughts, comments, or feedback. Send us an email. Rev. Jacqui Lewis Ph.D.: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Wajahat Ali: Twitter | Website Center for Action and Contemplation: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would love to support the ongoing work of the Center for Action and Contemplation and the continued work of our podcasts, you can donate at cac.org/podcastsupport Thank you!