Mixed Blessing

In today's episode, we sit down with Latasha Ferguson and hear some of her amazing story. As a Black and Korean woman, Tasha has a lot of insight about navigating two worlds, overcoming obstacles, and finding a synthesis of both joy and sorrow. Enjoy our conversation as well uplift the stories of Mixed folks like Latasha.Shownotes:Latasha Ferguson is a speaker, writer, podcaster (Overcome to Become Podcast), and ministry leader. Her heart beats for empowering women to do the hard work of heart work so they can get unstuck, overcome, own their story, and live authentically.She is also a passionate educator who has spent the past 16 years serving in the roles of teacher, assistant principal, principal, and now director of instruction. Wife to her best-friend and mom to four beautiful girls. Latasha loves to read, spend time at the beach, and will travel far and wide for great food that hugs her belly. latashaferguson.com  @latashamferguson on InstagramOvercome to Become Podcastwww.facebook.com/groups/womenarestrongertogether/ Today's sponsor: the InterVarsity Library

Description:In today's episode, I got to sit down at the multiethnic table with Brennan Takayama. Tune in to hear his story as a monoracial multiethnic man with roots in both San Francisco and Hawai'i. Brennan has much insight into loving the “other,” loving oneself (and thus honoring God's good creation), and loving the land, along with many other great topics. Shownotes:Brennan Takayama is a mixed Asian man of Japanese and Chinese (Cantonese) ancestry. He was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii where he enjoyed playing with his brothers and cousins on the family farm. His family moved from Hiroshima, Japan in the late-1800s to work on the sugar cane plantations of the Hamakua coast. His Chinese family moved from Canton to Hawaii and then California in 1870, and his mom was born and raised in San Francisco Chinatown. A documentary "Vanishing Chinatown" about his great-grandparents' photo studio has been on the film festival circuit. Two of his favorite TV shows right now are Kim's Convenience and Black-ish.btakayama on FacebookBrennan's emailGive to partner with BrennanToday's sponsor: the InterVarsity Library

In today's episode, I got to sit down at the multiethnic table with Tiffany Henness. Join us for vulnerability and deep thoughts, but also laughs and theological hijinks. Tiffany's story is a blessing to me, and will bless you—whether you're multi- or monoethnic. Come listen and learn from Tiffany and her amazing story as a multiethnic, transracial (but domestic) adoptee. Shownotes:Website: Callinginthewildnerness.comFacebook: Facebook.com/callinginthewildernessInstagram: Instagram.com/coachhennessTwitter: Twitter.com/coachhennessTiffany Henness is a biracial, transracial adoptee and founder of the Adoptee Influencer Network.  She is also a transracial adoption educator for Be the Bridge, a non-profit that focuses on racial reconciliation. Tiffany lives in Oregon with her husband and two kids, where she serves on the local Leadership Council for Safe Families for Children and organizes a BIPOC community group. She writes about the intersection of adoption, ethnic identity and faith.

Description:In today's episode, I got to sit down at the multiethnic table with my friend Ben Lowe. Ben is multiethnic, multicultural, and multinational and has much insight and kindness to offer us as we ask the perpetual Mixed question: “Who are my people?” Join us for this encouraging conversation as we talk the environment, belief in a good creator, and learning to define ourselves as God sees us. Shownotes:Ben S Lowe on Facebook@BenSLowe on InstagramBenLowe.netChristians for Social ActionRev. Ben Lowe is a doctoral candidate and National Science Foundation Fellow at the University of Florida, where his research focuses on the human dimensions of global environmental change. Originally from Singapore, Ben has authored multiple books and currently co-chairs Christians for Social Action. 

For this Mixed Blessing episode, I sit down with Christina Quintanilla, a seminarian, small business owner, poet, and friend. It's a beautiful conversation about the importance of finding God in both weeping and dancing, of great capacity for lament as well as joy. No matter what our ethnic story is, each of us can follow in the footsteps and legacy of Jesus in how we tell and listen to stories, how we walk the land, and how we sit with others. Shownotes:@chrissieq on InstagramChristina is a soap-making seminarian based in Bakersfield, California, USA. She has a heart for racial justice and a love for preaching and writing. After graduating from UCLA, Christina served as a Reconciliation Specialist for InterVarsity Christian fellowship, raising up students of color to thrive as kingdom leaders. Her soap and skincare business, Bloomwell Essentials, gives a portion of every sale towards hunger relief. Christina is currently pursuing her Masters of Divinity, with the hopes of opening doors for women of color clergy and disciplining the western church in the ministry of justice and liberation.

For this episode of Mixed Blessing, we get to hear from Heather Thompson Day, a professor, wife, mother, and the author of It's Not Your Turn, which just released this week! It's a wonderful conversation about waiting on the Lord, doing good work, extending grace to others, and allowing our Mixed identity to be part of our spiritual formation in all of these areas, as we seek after our King Jesus.   Shownotes:@HeatherTDay on Twitter@HeatherThompsonDay on InstagramBook recommendations:It's Not Your Turn from InterVarsity PressCaste by Isabel WilkersonDaring to Trust by David Richo Dr. Heather Thompson Day is an interdenominational speaker and contributor for Religion News Service, Newsweek and the Barna Group. She is also an Associate Professor of Communication at Colorado Christian University. She is passionate about supporting women, and runs an online community called I'm That Wife which has nearly 200k followers. Heather's writing has been featured on the Today Show, and the National Communication Association. She has been interviewed by BBC Radio Live and has been featured in Forbes. She believes her calling is to stand in the gaps of our churches for young people and is the author of 7 books; including It's Not Your Turn, and Confessions of a Christian Wife. Heather resides in Denver, Colorado with her husband, Pastor Seth Day, and their three children, London, Hudson, and Sawyer Day.

Description:For this episode of Mixed Blessing: Breaking Bread at the Multiethnic Table, we are joined by my dear friend and co-conspirator, Jen Hollingsworth. It's a significant and holy time of discussing Mixed identity, and what that can teach us about the importance of nuance, fluidity, and community. It's also a time filled with much laughter and affirmation.Shownotes:Jen on Instagram: @jen_ancogJen Hollingsworth is the director of the Program Management Office and Change Lead for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. She is a biracial woman who has helped lead change to create space for folks with a Mixed experience. Jen loves to walk with people and organizations through the changes following Jesus brings.

Description:For this episode of Mixed Blessing: Breaking Bread at the Multiethnic Table, we get to chat with Lo McDermott. We talk about the importance of family, the beauty of nature, and the unique ways that the deep theology Native believers can bless mixed folks, and the entire church. Join me to enjoy the privilege of hearing some of Lo's powerful story.Shownotes:Lo on Instagram: @loplantsjunglesLo's ministry at Modesto Junior CollegeLo's ministry at San Joaquin Delta CollegeJoin Lo's support teamLo, a mixed White and Native believer, is on staff with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship in the central valley of California. Engaging intersectional identity with Jesus has provided moments for joy and challenge in her faith. In spare time, she enjoys D&D games with old friends, and caring for her overly large plant collection.

In today's episode of Mixed Blessing: Breaking Bread at the Multiethnic Table, we're sitting down with Michelle Reyes. Michelle encourages, challenges, and speaks a word of encouragement from Psalm 139:73-74. Join us for this episode to hear more of her story, which helps us all to tell our own stories. Let's break bread and learn together. Shownotes:Michelle on TwitterMichelle on InstagramMichelle on FacebookMichelle's websiteBecoming All Things: How Small Changes Lead to Lasting Connections Across CulturesMichelle Reyes (PhD) is the Vice President of the Asian American Christian Collaborative and the Editorial Director at Pax. She is also the Scholar-in-Residence at Hope Community Church, a minority-led multicultural church in East Austin, Texas, where her husband, Aaron, serves as lead pastor. Michelle's work on faith and culture has been featured in Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, Missio Alliance, Faithfully Magazine and more. Her book on cross-cultural relationships is called Becoming All Things: How Small Changes Lead to Lasting Connections Across Cultures (Zondervan 2021). 

In today's episode of the Mixed Blessing podcast, we sit down with my dear friend Kylene Hong, who is not only a dear friend and a mentor, she's one of the first folks to see me in the complexity of my multiethnicity and to invite me into the journey. It is a precious, uplifting, and fun conversation. Kylene has much wisdom to share from a multiethnic, multicultural, and even multinational perspective, and does so with grace and humor. One of her passions is helping Mixed folks walk through our identity formation process, and you will see that shine through our entire conversation.Shownotes:Connect with Kylene via Facebook Messenger or her InterVarsity emailKylene Hong has been on staff with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship for almost twenty years, currently serving as the Director of Breakthrough Events based in Madison, WI. As a Certified Meeting Professional and Digital Event Strategist, she has a passion for connecting the strategy and catalytic nature of events with her love for hospitality and leadership development. Kylene loves meeting other Mixed folk and sharing one another's stories and journeys at the intersection of race and faith. If she's not playing board games with friends or spending time with her family, you might just find her eating Dole Whip and strolling along down Main Street in her happy place (aka any Disney Park).

Description:In this episode of the Mixed Blessing podcast, we talk with R. York Moore about his preaching, teaching, and abolitionist work. We discuss what it means to listen and understand others, to walk in solidarity, and to advocate well for others. His dry sense of humor and insights are incredibly helpful to those of both Mixed ethnicity and our monoethnic siblings, and his love for Jesus is an important reminder that God will always see and love us. Shownotes:@yorkmoore on Twitter@yorkmoore on InstagramChip and Bella, goats extraordinaire on Instagram @five.mooreYork's website: tellthestory.net Seen. Known. Loved. from Moody Publishers York Moore is an artistically gifted speaker, a revivalist, and abolitionist.  He serves as Executive Director/Catalytic Partnerships and as National Evangelist for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.  R. York is the co-founder of the EveryCampus coalition, a coalition of over 100 organizations, denominations and church networks joined together to seek God for revival on the college campuses of America.  He is the author several books, including Seen. Known. Loved: 5 Truths About God & Your Love Language, with Gary Chapman (Moody Publishers). R. York Moore became a Christian from Atheism while studying philosophy at the University of Michigan.  R. York Moore has a degree in Philosophy from the University of Michigan and an MA in Global Leadership from Fuller Theological Seminary.  He lives in Michigan with his wife and 3 children.  For more information about R. York Moore, visit www.tellthestory.net and follow him on social media channels @yorkmoore.

In today's episode of Mixed Blessing: Breaking Bread at the Multiethnic Table, we get to visit with Ashley Bauer-Yuen. Ashley is a wonderful storyteller and has a unique perspective in a lot of different spheres of life. She occupies the in-between land in so many ways, and we are all richer for being able to learn from her. Her creativity and humor provide a key insight into part of the Mixed experience, so join us to hear more about her story. Shownotes:Better Than Seven Sons podcast“Watching Hmong Movies – Mini Ep 3”“Ep 1: Better Than Seven Sons”Ashley is a Campus Staff Minister at the University of Wisconsin-Madison working with Asian American students. She holds a B.S. in Engineering Mechanics and has been with InterVarsity for three years. Ashley is passionate about developing Asian American leaders, empowering students in their vocation and faith journey, and contextualizing ministry tools to serve communities well.She grew up in the Midwest, quickly learning how to navigate the multicultural nuances of her family dynamic and her social location. Because of her experience, she is also passionate about breaking out of monocultural experiences and embracing the multicultural reality that Jesus talks about.Ashley loves creating new things and will have multiple unfinished projects going on all at once! She also has a lot of fun teaching, preaching, and co-hosting the Better Than Seven Sons Podcast, available on all podcast platforms.

Description:In this episode of Mixed Blessing: Breaking Bread at the Multiethnic Table, we get to chat with Steve Tamayo. Steve is so good at bringing others to the table and welcoming them as familia. So I know you'll be encouraged by our conversation, just as I was. He's our first Mixed Blessing podcast guest that was also featured in the Mixed Blessing book, so I'm so glad for everyone to hear more of his beautiful, nuanced, mixed story. Shownotes:@yostevetamayo on Twitter@yostevetamayo on InstagramCon Confianza podcastMinistry During the Disruption podcastEthnic Identity: Bringing Your Full Self to God from InterVarsity PressSteve Tamayo is a Strategist with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA. In that capacity, he helps direct the Creative Labs and the Latino Fellowship (LaFe). He has also served as the director of the Mixed Advisory Team for InterVarsity, as an Executive Pastor of a multisite church, and as the CEO of Orange Apple (a strategy consulting firm). He recently published Ethnic Identity, a LifeGuide Bible Study from InterVarsity Press. He holds degrees from Duke and Oxford and lives with his family in Tampa, FL. 

In this episode of Mixed Blessing: Breaking Bread at the Multiethnic Table, I am joined for a relaxing cup of tea by our guest, Jennifer Clark. We chat about our families of origin, the nuance of the mixed experience and the different ways in which we multiethnic folks tend to make homes out of the liminal spaces we inhabit. We honor the mothers, grandmothers, and aunties in our lives and talk about the complexity of DNA and the need for connection. Come connect with us—and each other—as we pull up more seats to the table and remember that it's Jesus who has first invited us over. @jshaclark on TwitterJennifer Clark's articles on Christianity Today: “Thanking Our Immigrant Parents” and “‘Parasite' Is a Dark Comedy. But Is the Joke on Us?”Jennifer Clark is a jack of all trades freelancer and pandemic governess to her two children. She and her family live in the Chicago suburbs, where they enjoy biking, video games, and everything but puzzles. 

In this episode of the Mixed Blessing podcast, I get to drink and spill some metaphorical tea with our guest, Brandi Miller. We talk about everything from overturning the “de-racialization” of black and brown folks to the power of finding joy through humor and perseverance. Brandi shares about how her specific embodiment as a black woman shapes her worldview and her faith. So come break bread—and stereotypes—with us as we walk this life-long journey of “reclaiming our theology” and meeting with the just and loving God who is always walking with us. Shownotes:https://www.reclaimingmytheology.com https://www.patreon.com/brandinico@BrandiNico on Twitter@BrandiNico on InstagramBrandi Miller has spent the better part of the last decade as a writer and campus minister. She started Reclaiming My Theology to form a community experience around faith deconstruction and reconstruction that wasn't and isn't led by white men. She largely spends her time writing at the intersection of faith, race, and politics, plays music and writes with Common Hymnal, and develops justice programs for Christian college students. Beyond that, she is a serial hobbyist who currently loves bougie cooking projects, competitive weightlifting, and attempting to craft and pour perfect cocktails and coffee. 

In our inaugural episode of the Mixed Blessing podcast, we have the honor of sitting down with Robert Chao Romero. We get to hear about his beautiful family legacy, the Black Lab dog that benevolently rules their household, his work with the Brown Church Institute, and so much more. Come break bread with us at the multiethnic table as Robert and I discuss everything from healing childhood hurts to the power of reclaiming language, and how our gracious God is in the midst of it all. Brown Church: Five Centuries of Latina/o Social Justice, Theology, and Identity by Robert Chao Romero @ProfeChaoRomero on Twitter@RobertChaoRomero on InstagramRobert Chao Romero is an associate professor in the departments of Chicana/o Studies and Central America Studies, and Asian American Studies.  He received his Ph.D. from UCLA in Latin American History and his Juris Doctor from U.C. Berkeley, and is also an attorney.  He is the author of Brown Church: Five Centuries of Latina/o Social Justice, Theology, and Identity; The Chinese in Mexico, 1882-1940; Jesus for Revolutionaries: An Introduction to Race, Social Justice, and Christianity; and Mixed Race Student Politics.  The Chinese in Mexico received the Latina/o Studies book award from the Latin American Studies Association and Brown Church was written with the support of a Louisville Institute Sabbatical Grant for Researchers.  Romero is also an ordained minister and faith rooted community organizer.  

In this intro episode of the Mixed Blessing podcast, Chandra Crane tells some of her own multiethnic story and shares a preview of the types of conversations she'll be having with an amazing line-up of guests this season. Join her at the multiethnic table to discuss everything from Thai-Southern fusion food to the Marvel fandom to lament & joy and how to follow our multiethnic Jesus throughout. Mixed Blessing: Embracing the Fullness of Your Multiethnic Identity @ChandraLCrane on Twitter@ChandraLCrane on Instagram@MixedBlessingBook on Instagramchandracrane.com

If you've ever had someone randomly ask you, “What are you?” because of your mixed ethnicity, the Mixed Blessing podcast is for you. If you've ever wondered to yourself, because of your multiethnic heritage, “What AM I?” then this podcast is for you, too. And if you want to hear more about how our brown, Middle-Eastern Savior also had a mixed heritage, then this podcast is for you!Subscribe now to the Mixed Blessing podcast: A podcast by, for, and about multiethnic folks. And honestly, if you've ever asked someone “What are you?” before, this podcast could be helpful to you, too. Come listen and learn.Mixed Blessing: At the Multiethnic Table, season one is a series of conversations with amazing multiethnic folks who share their wisdom and hearts to help all of us keep building the kingdom of God.