The RoundTable Consult is a podcast with hosts, Dr. Mark Williams and Attorney Sonya Madison. Together, they discuss current community events and issues from a medical and legal perspective. No angle or topic is off-limits, whether politics, race, religion or science. Our hosts and guests are willing to tackle every topic with boldness and insight. Dr. Mark Williams is a board-certified Otolaryngologist - Head & Neck Surgeon and Gospel recording artist in Nashville, TN. Attorney Sonya Madison is an employment attorney and legal analyst in Atlanta, GA. Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rtconsult/support
Dr. Mark Williams and Attorney Sonya Madison
During this season of Lent, our hosts discuss the true essence of sacrifice and what distinguishes it from investment, bribery, manipulation and other forms of offering. Is suffering a necessary component of sacrifice or should suffering be painless? If Jesus is our example of sacrifice, how might we mimic his behavior?
Our hosts discuss what true gratitude looks like. In the face of the Oval Office Debacle with President Zelenski, President Trump and VP Vance, they discuss how one's expression of gratitude might not be perceived as such if the receiver has different expectations of what gratitude looks like.
In the backdrop of the "Diddy Trial" (Sean Combs), our hosts debate the notion of an age of accountability. When should a person be reasonably expected to think and behave as a responsible adult? Are there circumstances wherein childish thinking by an adult ever beneficial?
Our hosts discuss the subtle and sometimes not-so-subtle character of influence. Influence directs behavior and is always present regardless of our acknowledgement of it. They discuss how all manner of natural influence might be better utilized to impart the more eternal influence of faith in God.
Our hosts discuss the consequences of false teachers and the strategies they use to induce allegiance. How can one identify a false teacher and as importantly, how can one identify his/her own susceptibility to manipulation by the false teaching?
Our hosts discuss, the day after Valentine's Day, the expression and deficiency of love. How must love be demonstrated? Do people need to be "trained" to love? What are the consequences of deficiencies in expression of love?
Our hosts discuss the whirlwind of Executive Orders written by President Donald Trump and the unprecedented unsupervised access afforded to Elon Musk and the DOGE team. Should we be concerned that Democracy is threatened by the subversion of the usual checks and balances of government? Is there a greater spiritual mission at hand?
Our hosts discuss the some of the more controversial Executive Orders written by Donald J. Trump during his first week in office as the 47th President of the United States. The social, economic, medical and judicial implications of these actions are discussed.
Our hosts discuss the influence of social media on service and devotion. Does engagement in social activism align with or contradict the mandate of God? How does social media influence passionate engagement? They discuss the impact of lack of fact-checking on the radicalizing influence of social media.
In the backdrop of the Virginia pastor who came under widespread criticism for hanging an umwed pregnant woman confess her sin before the church, guest, Kenya Hicks, shares her personal testimony in a similar situation. Together, our host discuss the delicate nature of having to enforce accountability without the appearance of judgement or showing empathy & mercy without appearing to condone an obvious sin.
Our hosts discuss how leaders should appropriately exert their influence on the people who follow them. How this influence dictates the behavior and character of the leader is also discussed.
Our hosts discuss the necessity of perseverance in the midst of pervasive evil and disappointment.
Our hosts discuss the lessons learned from the deeply devastating defeat if Kamal Harris. What does such a decisive win by Donald Trump really mean from cultural, political and spiritual standpoint. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rtconsult/support
In light of former President Obama's recent rebuke of Black men, our hosts discuss the appropriateness and rights to criticize. Does the intent matter? When does observation cross the line into criticism and criticism into shaming? Our hosts also discuss whether there are gender difference and cultural exceptions to the reception of criticism. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rtconsult/support
Our hosts discuss, in the context of growing AI and the political debates about socialism, the benefits and possible eventual necessity of socialism. From a biblical, economic and governmental perspective, the pros and cons of various economic systems are expolored. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rtconsult/support
Deceived --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rtconsult/support
Our hosts discuss the notion of excommunication and separation from people who have differing viewpoints, when those views become irreconcilably offensive. Does "yoking" have limits? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rtconsult/support
Our hosts discuss how the quest for information might be empowering or disabling depending on how the information is processed. Is a knowledge of history absolutely necessary to prevent its repetition? Is there a spiritual motive or consequence to our insatiable thirst for more information? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rtconsult/support
Our hosts discuss the difficult and humbling process of realizing that your new relationship might not carry the level of significance and priority that you think it should. They discuss how and if one should navigate the progression of the relationship to higher levels of priority. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rtconsult/support
Our hosts discuss the difficulty and necessity of forgiveness and it importance in maintaining relationships, particularly in marriage. This discussion occurs in the backdrop of what Kirk Franklin describes as the weaponization of marriage by Christians. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rtconsult/support
Our hosts discuss how the various sources of information available to every American and people around the world foster division of thought and, consequently, unity. Hate seems to be a politically unifying force that is extensively used by certain political operatives. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rtconsult/support
Our hosts discuss the historic changing of the guard of the Democratic national candidacy for president. What does the method of VP Kamala's Harris' nomination and the enthusiasm brought therefrom suggest about the current state of the race and country. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rtconsult/support
We discuss whether the church should be active in matters of politics and the marketplace. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rtconsult/support
Our hosts discuss the presidential debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden and the public response that ensued. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rtconsult/support
Our hosts discuss the evolution and impact of Black Music in the Church. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rtconsult/support
Our hosts invited E. Arabis Zemill to celebrate Black Music Month and showcase his unique style of blending spoken word and poetry with Blues, Jazz, and R&B. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rtconsult/support
Our hosts discuss the necessity of accountability in our political and judicial systems. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rtconsult/support
Our hosts discuss the special character of a mother's love. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rtconsult/support
Our hosts discuss student protests on campuses of higher learning, particularly as it relates to the Israel-Hamas war. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rtconsult/support
Our hosts welcome guest Taj George of SWV (Sisters With Voices) to discuss the representation of women in music, reality tv, marriage, and sports. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rtconsult/support
Our hosts discuss the intricacies of dealing with guests or family members who have potentially outworn their welcome. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rtconsult/support
Our hosts discuss the importance of federal social welfare programs, particularly Medicaid, and how efforts to reduce the number of recipients tend to be anything but charitable. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rtconsult/support
Our hosts discuss the idea of liberalism from a Christian perspective. Is liberalism antithetical or in line with the teachings of Jesus? Distinctions are made between support for one's right to choose and support for the choice itself. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rtconsult/support
Julius Cave is an educator and Program Director for the Literacy Lab's Leading Men Fellowship. He joins the conversation with our hosts and discuss the necessity and impediments to the recruitment/retention of Educators of color. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rtconsult/support
Former college athlete, Shea Maheia, joins Attorney Sonya Madison to discuss the controversies concerning NIL deals, transfer portals, SEC, and Ted Cruz' attempt to have the NCAA exclusively regulate pay of college athletes. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rtconsult/support
Our hosts discuss the growing tendency of judges legislating from the bench and over-reaching in their decisions. The SCOTUS ruling on whether Former President Trump has immunity serves as the basis for the broader discussion. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rtconsult/support
Host, Dr. Mark Williams, discusses the recent Alabama Supreme Court ruling that embryos are considered human life and are therefore entitled to protections afforded to person status. The complexity and fallacies of the position articulated by many evangelicals with this regard are discussed from a Biblical standpoint. The necessity of not imposing religion-based moral standards of a group of politically powerful individuals into legislation is discussed from the perspective of preserving freedom of religion and open witness. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rtconsult/support
Dr. Cesar Cardona, a nephrologist, joins the conversation with our hosts to discuss how kidney health is important and the racial disparities in the diagnosis and treatment of kidney disease. He discusses the relationships between hypertension, diabetes and chronic kidney disease as well as provide some helpful tips about how patients can advocate for their kidney health. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rtconsult/support
Dr. Kevin Billups, Havard and Johns Hopkins University-trained urologist and Director of Men's Health at Meharry Medical College, joins the conversation to discuss the myths and truths about prostate cancer. His unique treatment approach involves not only traditional western medical treatments but also incorporates evidence-based natural/holistic approaches. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rtconsult/support
Author and actress, Tiffany Elle Burgess (The Color Purple, The Wonder Years, etc.), joins our host to discuss black representation in entertainment. When, how and by whom should our stories, however that is defined, be best presented? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rtconsult/support
Dr. Angela Alford joins the conversation as guest co-host with Attorney Sonya Madison, discussing the intricacies, benefits and impediments to establishing true sisterhood. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rtconsult/support
There's an adage that states, "the only thing needed for evil to prevail is for good men to sit by and do nothing." It implies that complacency always denotes complicity. Is there a time, place and method for strategic complacency or does the one who sees a wrong and yet does nothing about become a willing participant in the wrongodoing? Our hosts discuss this nuanced position from the standpoint of political endorsements and Christian involvement in politics. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rtconsult/support
A commonly employed political narrative that have recently been used by both major parties is the allegation that their opponent represents a threat to democracy. Our hosts explore the potential truths of these claims and opine on the real threats to democracy as we know it. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rtconsult/support
Our hosts start a discussion on the church and where it is going. Discussions about the appropriateness of close associations with secular world. Whether it's secular music being played in the sanctuary, as Pastor William Murphy did on New Year's Eve or Bishop T.D. Jake's associations with Diddy (Sean Combs), does the church weaken its witness by such engagements? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rtconsult/support
Our hosts are joined by Sanona Williams, a Licensed Professional Counselor, as they discuss grief. Grief is defined and recognized as more than just dealing with death, but dealing with the loss of something (anything) that had significant value to an individual. Grief is particularly difficult during the Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays. Sanona gives great advice on how to navigate this and all seasons, grieving healthily and helping others to grieve healthily. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rtconsult/support
Our hosts discuss the necessity and strategy of prayer. What makes a prayer effective or ineffective? What is our response and posture when there is no answer or if the answer is contrary to our desire? They discuss how to pray in the midst of tumultuous times and seasons of grief or hurt. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rtconsult/support
Our hosts ask the question are men equipped to mentor women how to be better women to their men and should women tell men how to be better men to their women. Should the relationship mentoring or advise only come from a person of the same gender? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rtconsult/support
Comedian, Ty Galloway (GeeWay Comedy), joins the RTC to discuss the importance of comedy in exposing and inspiring social change. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rtconsult/support
Our hosts discuss the pervasiveness and detriment of selfishness in every aspect of our American lives. Whether in religion, politics, relationships or employment/business, selfishness is a motivating influence. Is selfishness a necessary trait for survival or is it a predictor of self-executed destruction for a society? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rtconsult/support
Family law attorney, Roland Hairston, II, joins the conversation with our hosts in discussing the pitfalls of divorce from a legal perspective. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rtconsult/support
Our hosts discuss the power of forgiveness. If forgiveness has the power to bring restoration, is its influence diminished in the absence of restoration? Is restoration a necessary product of forgiveness? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rtconsult/support