My Beloved Americans Podcast

Welcome to My Beloved Americans, a podcast series devoted to fostering belonging and forging beloved community. This season we're diving into politics and leadership by bringing you mock state of the union addresses followed by some remarkable special guests to help us make meaning of them. At the end of this season we hope our listeners have a clearer shared vision for what it means to be fellow and beloved Americans.

My Beloved Americans begins with a State of the Union and exploration of the existential questions our nation must address together. What are we doing? And, are we too different? In this episode, we talk to Jasmine Joshua and Harry Turnpin of the Reboot Theatre Company.

In this episode we reflect on the monumental challenges ahead of us and focus on where we start. Distinguished Guests and anti-racism consultants Kyana Wheeler and Casey Tonnelly share their intimate reflections, remember their 9/11 experiences, and exemplify that feeling of belonging we all crave.   

In the third episode of My Beloved Americans, the President declares we are in an Age of Accountability, and invites us to examine the American Dream. Distinguished Guests Marsha Rivera and Davey Wilkes share their observations, stories and relationship to it as we remember the story of Stone Soup and discuss the value of learning partners in creating accountability.

This State of the Union helps us reflect on polarization, working as a group and taking a step toward coming together as a nation. Distinguished Guests Rachel Kjack and Vik Chopra share their reflections on trust, "othering" and the power of stories to bridge divides. 

In episode 5, friends and co-professors Dr. Mark Jones and Carol Jakus explore the theme of Beloved Community as an action, practice and design. The political landscape (and the internet) wobbling beneath us couldn't stop us from having a great conversation! The POTUS reminds us that each of our daily choices shapes the landscape of the country, and invites us to reflect on how we can bring more dignity to ourselves and others, in each interaction. Mark and Carol share their perspectives as professors in the realms of the cognitive-behavioral sciences and organizational psychology. They share their insights on how our brains are reacting under stress and the importance of holding multiple perspectives.

In episode 6, Rachel Butler and Benjamin Bynum bring their small-town roots, big-hearted humor and expertise to the topics of change and grief. As practitioners who support and guide individuals and organizations through the stages of change, they share their candid, funny and poignant insights to how we can all ride the waves of change a little better. 

In episode 7, friends Andrea Ramirez and Tito Livas bring their wit and charm while they look to the near future. They reflect on the current and long-term impact of COVID on their work, people of color and our relationships. We laugh about chickens and zombie dance-offs while acknowledging the tough road ahead. The POTUS grounds us in the reality of the difficult days in the immediate future as we approach our treasured holidays, and encourages us to take the long view as we define what the beginning of the next year could look like. 

Episode 8 brings us back to basics - our core values and our bodies. Erica Carlson and Megan Hart share the practices that help them celebrate the seasons, listen to their bodies, and stay anchored to their core values during these trying times. We close out Season 1 with the POTUS telling a story of the miracle of belonging and inviting us to double down on connecting with our community.