Wide Open Spaces Podcast

Is Canada attacking itself? How powerful are universities in changing the trajectory of Canadian culture? Join me on Episode 47 as I speak with lawyer, award-winning author, and former President of the University of Saskatchewan Dr. Peter MacKinnon, who offers his over 50 years of experience in university education and public policy as we discuss some of the troubles that Canada is facing as a nation. We talk about the idea of “ritualistic denunciation” in university classrooms, how to have immigration that is both compassionate and open towards newcomers and  considerate of national security, whether or not having “open borders” could actually work, provincial equalization payments, and Justin Trudeau's famous statement that Canadian “diversity is our strength.”To support the Wide Open Spaces mission of healing division:www.patreon.com/jennyconnelly?fan_landing=trueFor Dr. Peter MacKinnon's latest book: https://utorontopress.com/9781487543143/canada-in-question/For the new podcast Jenny is hosting, Upfront With The Archbishop: https://caedm.ca/upfront/

Can climate activism lead to anti-human sentiment? How does someone know who to trust when it comes to climate change discussions? Join me for Part Two of our series on climate change, and the interaction between climate change and economics. This series is like a personal investigation, where I have sought to learn - from experts - about the science of climate change, how we know what information is scientifically sound and what information is filtered through political objectives and whether it is possible for us to care for human economic needs while also caring for our planet. Today's episode is with Dr. Sherilee Harper from the Climate Change and Global Health Research Group. We talk about whether climate activism can become anti-human, Dr. Harper's perspective on how urgent climate should be perceived, how measurable temperature changes in the environment are impacting especially rural Indigenous communities, about how to practically measure whether or not a climate change-related policy is actually working, and much more.  Click here for Part I of our series on climate change, with Microbiologist Dr. Brian Lanoil:https://www.wideopenspacespodcast.com/brian-lanoil The Climate Change And Global Health Research Group:https://www.climatechangeandglobalhealth.com/To support the Wide Open Spaces mission of healing division:www.patreon.com/jennyconnelly?fan_landing=tru

Megachurch pastors. Pronouns for God. Patriarchy. A problem to be solved or a structure to be revitalized? Join me as I speak with Catholic speaker and author Shannon Evans as we dialogue about patriarchy, the divine feminine and the divine masculine, the focus on power-sharing in different Christian churches,  the idea of the women as Catholic priests, the differences between Evangelical fundamentalist Christianity and the Catholic Church, how to speak to kids about God, and much more. To support the Wide Open Spaces mission of healing division for a cup of coffee:www.patreon.com/jennyconnelly?fan_landing=trueShannon's article on Julian of Norwich and referring to God as a “she:”https://www.todaysamericancatholic.org/2021/06/can-we-call-god-mother-julian-of-norwich-says-yes/Shannon's website, including links to her bestselling book, Rewilding Motherhood:https://www.shannonkevans.com/

Ever been frustrated with how politicized climate change is? Ever realized that there are big decisions being made about the climate but you don't actually understand the science? Join me for the first episode of a 3 (or 4) part series on different perspectives on climate change and the differences between climate change science and climate change politics. I'll be talking with Ph.D. scientists and policy experts to hear their stories and learn about the research that informs their different opinions about how serious climate change is and how we should respond to it. Today I speak with Dr. Brian Lanoil, who is a professor and microbiologist from the University of Alberta in Edmonton Alberta. He shares his first-hand research on the impact of climate change on the Arctic regions of the world and why this matters to the rest of us. We also talk about whether or not we can trust the global organizations (such as the  IPCC) that recommend different political policies in response to climate science and the difference between how scientists and politicians approach climate change. To support the Wide Open Spaces mission of healing division for $4:www.patreon.com/jennyconnelly?fan_landing=trueFor more information on Dr. Brian Lanoil: https://apps.ualberta.ca/directory/person/lanoil

How do we bridge the divide between natural medicine and conventional medicine? How can medical doctors work with naturopathic doctors? Join me as I speak with Dr. Bradley Campbell a holistic physician, chiropractic internist, and author who practices out of Chicago, Illinois. We talk about the divide between doctors from naturopathic and medical backgrounds, corruption in both pharmaceutical and natural supplement companies, natural approaches to addressing ADHD, autism, gut problems, how to find a good doctor who will take time to know you well, and the connection between natural medicine and spirituality. To support the Wide Open Spaces mission of healing division through dialogue:www.patreon.com/jennyconnelly?fan_landing=trueDr. Bradley Campbell's Website: www.drbradleycampbell.com

How does sex before marriage impact a relationship? Join me as I speak with Gerald and Denise Montpetit, founders of the Breathe Marriage Conferences, as we speak about premarital sex,  divorce and the idea of “drifting apart” in marriage, fear or disinterest in children, contraception, and the hope that even a marriage that has its "loveless moments" can find healing, restoration, and a fresh start, all through the lens of their 28 years of marriage. Check out our Instagram for this episode and be sure to share your thoughts on the episode here: www.instagram.com/wideopenspacespod/To support the Wide Open Spaces mission of healing division through dialogue:https://www.patreon.com/jennyconnelly?fan_landing=trueFor the Breathe Marriage Conference (next conference May 2022):www.catholicmarriageandfamily.com

Sexual addiction in women - how does it differ from men? Can regular use of porn affect a woman's experience of her gender? What are some practical tips to stop a sexual habit? Join me as I speak with Rachael Killackey, founder and executive director of Magdala, a non-clinical Catholic organization that is focused on helping women recover from sexual addiction. We talk about Rachael's own story of getting free from sexual addiction, how sexual addiction looks for women,  the idea of whether or not sexual addiction is a “real” addiction, the impacts of porn and masturbation on the brain and on gender, practical ways to step away from addictive sexual habits and much more. To support the Wide Open Spaces mission of healing division through dialogue:https://www.patreon.com/jennyconnelly?fan_landing=trueMagdala, the organization created to help women break free from sexual addiction: https://www.magdalaministries.org/The Magdala Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0NmUba9omWQ6xcw5Jm7lltEden Invitation (referenced in the episode), for Christians within the LGBTQ+ community: https://www.edeninvitation.com/

Are Christian “end-timers” misleading tens of thousands of people? What prophecies about the end of the world should be taken seriously (if at all), and what ideas should be thrown aside - and how would you know? There are plenty of reasons to be concerned and to roll my eyes at “end timers” - so why should I take these ideas seriously? These are just a few of the questions that I posed on Episode 40 to Christian speaker and journalist Mark Mallett who is a central contributor to Countdown To The Kingdom, an online movement with tens of thousands of followers, that proposes that we are in the "end times." Mark has spent nearly two decades researching end-times prophecies and advocating for various “seers” who assert that they have messages and visions that indicate that we are most likely near the end of time. Mark is speaking from a Catholic perspective, though certainly many Catholics don't agree with his worldview. There is much diversity of thought on this topic, even within Christianity itself. However, this is by no means a Catholic-exclusive episode. Mark explores much of this topic simply from the standpoint of asking - should we be thinking about the end of the world? Which is a question asked by people from many different worldviews, for environmental, political, or religious reasons. To support the Wide Open Spaces mission of healing division through dialogue:https://www.patreon.com/jennyconnelly?fan_landing=trueFor Countdown To The Kingdom: https://www.countdowntothekingdom.com/

Can there be “good” propaganda about the Ukraine crisis? What happens when someone is both Russian AND Ukrainian? Join me as I speak with peacebuilding practitioner Josh Nadeau, as we speak about the ongoing invasion of Ukraine and his experience living in Russia AND Ukraine over the past decade. Support the Wide Open Spaces mission of healing division on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/jennyconnelly?fan_landing=trueTo watch this podcast on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdz4Jpm65DnlPnXNN8MNgoAA list of practical ways that you can support Ukrainian Refugees, curated by Josh: https://www.facebook.com/nadeaujosh88/posts/368726761922171For more information on supporting a Russian organization that is promoting freedom of expression in Russia, in support of the anti-war movement: https://donate.ovdinfo.org/en?fbclid=IwAR1rfvf_I2XEbAZkLK8_UNXIsoIDZWrfvjIymxV4Dd9h1Z8HE1SOwjPXhe0

Is it wrong to pair modern music with an ancient religion? Is Catholicism losing reverence for God in an attempt to be more accessible to the modern person? Join myself and Catholic Youtube commentator Brian Holdsworth for Part II of our discussion about the Latin Mass and the divide between progressive and traditional worldviews in modern Christianity. This episode is coming from a specifically Catholic perspective (I'm Catholic and so is Brian), but we talk about themes of worship and cultural, generational tensions that are relevant to many different spiritual worldviews. To support our mission of healing division on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/jennyconnelly?fan_landing=trueTo watch Brian's Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/BrianHoldsworth

Do we live in a profane culture? How can we resolve the divide between traditional Christians and progressive Christians? Is the Latin Mass “the right way” to worship God? Join me on Part 1 of my dialogue with Catholic Youtube commentator Brian Holdsworth as we speak about progressive baby boomers vs traditional millennials, one of the greatest divides within the Catholic Church, the difficulties of Vatican II, our Western culture's relationship with the transcendent, and much more! This episode is coming from a specifically Catholic perspective (I'm Catholic and so is Brian), but we talk about themes of worship and cultural, generational tensions that are relevant to many different spiritual worldviews. To support our mission of healing division on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/jennyconnelly?fan_landing=trueTo watch Brian's Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/BrianHoldsworth

Is it true that a majority of people are pro-choice? Canada is a global leader in non-restricted abortions. Does this accurately represent what most Canadians think of abortion? How can we continue to humanize the conversation about abortion? How are abortions laws impacting freedom of speech? The intention of this episode is the first of many episodes to build bridges between pro-choice and pro-life camps, in a way that humanizes a conversation that has often gone badly. On Episode 36 I join pro-life activist and Canadian political commentator Alissa Golob to speak about the politics of abortion, her personal story of encountering abortion, how pro-life protests can be done badly, sex-selective abortion, and the idea that pro-life politics is just another way of pushing a conservative agenda. Especially if you are coming from a pro-choice perspective, let me know what you thought of this episode! How can we have dialogue in a better way?​​To support our mission of healing division on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/jennyconnelly?fan_landing=trueLearn About Right Now Canada: https://www.itstartsrightnow.ca/about

Is birth control a blessing or a curse. . . or does it depend? Join me as I speak with fertility educator and reproductive health practitioner Lisa Hendrikson-Jack about her decision to quit birth control, the feminist history of contraception, the relationship between birth control and religion, and the question of trusting medical professionals who recommend birth control. To support our mission of healing division on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/jennyconnelly?fan_landing=trueLisa's Website For Resources On Tracking Your Cycle And Regulating Pregnancy:https://fertilityfriday.com/

Should booster shots be our new normal? Should you vaccinate your children? Join me on Episode 34 for a conversation with molecular biologist and Catholic priest Fr. Nicanor Astriaco, who advocates for everyone to get vaccinated. We talk about conflicts of interest in the FDA and WHO, the question of vaccinating children, comparing the vaccines to a military draft, the idea that unvaccinated people could cause variants, the booster shots as a cure for long Covid, among other ideas. This is Part 3 of a 3-part series on having dialogue on opposing views regarding the Covid-19 mRNA vaccines and pandemic management.  Check out Part I with Dr. Peter McCullough (opposed to Covid mRNA vaccines) and Part II with CDC virologist Rob Lanciotti (argues for selective vaccination). The Vaccine Information Database:https://www.wideopenspacespodcast.com/vaccineresources​​Listen To Part I With Dr. Peter McCullough On Stopping Vaccines:https://www.wideopenspacespodcast.com/doctor-peter-mccullough​Listen To Part II With Virologist Robert Lanciotti About CDC Corruption and Selective Vaccination: https://www.wideopenspacespodcast.com/robert-lanciotti​​To support our mission of healing division on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/jennyconnelly?fan_landing=true

Should everyone get vaccinated? Or should we approach the pandemic with selective vaccination only? Join me on Episode 33 for a conversation with Deacon Rob Lanciotti, former CDC microbiologist and virologist, who advocates for the selective vaccination of high-risk demographics, especially over 75 years of age, but views the vaccine as unnecessary, and potentially harmful, for those within younger, low-risk demographics. We talk about why PCR tests may have made the pandemic worse than reality, why the flu shot may be more concerning than the Covid-19 vaccines, the idea of spike protein toxicity, the “selfish” motive of vaccinating children, and the relationship between Christianity and vaccine hesitancy. This is Part 2 of a 3-part series on having dialogue on opposing views regarding the Covid-19 mRNA vaccines and pandemic management.  Check out Part I with Dr. Peter McCullough here.  The Vaccine Information Database: https://www.wideopenspacespodcast.com/vaccineresources​Listen To Part I With Dr. Peter McCullough On Stopping Vaccines:https://www.wideopenspacespodcast.com/doctor-peter-mccullough​To support our mission of healing division on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/jennyconnelly?fan_landing=trueThe National Catholic Bioethics Center (On Vaccines)https://www.ncbcenter.org/covid19/vaccineletterDeacon Rob on Zika Virus Whistleblowing: https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/lessons-unlearned-four-years-before-the-cdc-fumbled-coronavirus-testing-the-agency-made-some-of-the-same-mistakes-with-zika/2020/07/03/c32ca530-a8af-11ea-94d2-d7bc43b26bf9_story.html

The first episode in a 3-part series on different perspectives on Covid-19 vaccines, treatments for Covid-19, vaccine passports, and pandemic management.  Episode 32 is featuring Dr. Peter McCullough, renowned epidemiologist and cardiologist on why he does NOT recommend the Covid-19 vaccines, why we don't need the vaccines due to other life-saving treatments, and how it is possible for there to be such disturbing disagreement within the medical community regarding vaccine safety, necessity, and effectiveness.  Stay tuned for upcoming episodes with doctors who have a different perspective than Dr. McCullough. To support our mission of healing division on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jennyconnelly?fan_landing=true

 Are we too wealthy? Or have we forgotten what wealth actually is?  Does Canada - known for being polite and mild compared to the States - actually have a problem with violent injustice? Are major pipelines actually necessary for a thriving economy and a good life? Join Jenny and folk music activist Luke Wallace from his cabin on the West Coast of Canada as we speak about his perspective on pipelines, economic and environmental justice, the true definition of wealth, and the hope that comes from communities uniting in solidarity. To support our mission of healing division on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jennyconnelly?fan_landing=trueTo listen to Luke's music and support his work: http://lukewallacemusic.com/

Birth control? Sexual pleasure? Politics? Join me as I speak with Claire Swinarski of The Catholic Feminist as we attempt to have a gracious, yet frank, conversation about these topics and several more (gender roles, Justin Trudeau, The Pope, kids) in the context of the Christian faith. To support our mission of healing division on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jennyconnelly?fan_landing=trueCheck out Claire's work as an author: https://www.claireswinarski.com/aboutCheck out The Catholic Feminist and subscribe to their AMAZING newsletter:https://thecatholicfeminist.com/aboutPope Paul VI: Encyclical on Birth Control: https://www.vatican.va/content/paul-vi/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-vi_enc_25071968_humanae-vitae.html

Lust. Love. Gay marriage. New York City. The HIV/AIDs epidemic. Join me for a conversation with New York Times bestselling author and journalist Eric Marcus as we speak about his experience coming to age as a gay man during the rise of HIV/AIDs, his passion for telling the hidden histories of people within the LGBTQ+ community, and our different perspectives on the philosophies of love and lust. To support our mission of healing division on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/jennyconnelly?fan_landing=trueMaking Gay History https://makinggayhistory.com/about/Overview of The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis:https://www.cslewis.com/four-types-of-love/

Is the Pope a socialist? Is that a bad thing?  Join my sister Hannah and I as we have a conversation about Pope Francis, some of the latest controversies surrounding his actions and comments, and whether or not his teachings promote socialism. Fratelli Tutti, Pope Francis' latest encyclical on social friendship and global harmony: https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20201003_enciclica-fratelli-tutti.html

Do traditional gender roles clash with ambition? Episode 27 is a conversation between myself and one of my best friends as we share our own experience as ambitious personalities that are grateful for feminism but also have a reverence for traditional values. We talk about our evolving views on gender roles, the forgotten heroism of motherhood, the folly of tradition without virtue, and our perception of how men and women have different rules of combat. Join our monthly support community to keep Wide Open Spaces going: https://www.patreon.com/jennyconnelly?fan_landing=true

Does evolution indicate that men are expendable? Join me as I speak with Dr. Christian Raab, OSB as we speak about the “genius” of men, the dangers of male insecurity, 1st and 2nd wave feminism, and gender roles within marriage and the Church. In Search of the Masculine Genius by Dr. Raab: https://www.pdcnet.org/logos/content/logos_2018_0021_0001_0083_0117Open-source access to In Search of the Masculine Genius: https://www.thefreelibrary.com/In+Search+of+the+Masculine+Genius%3a+The+Contribution+of+Walter+J.+Ong.-a0520339812St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology: https://www.saintmeinrad.edu/

Could a woman be the "head of the home?" Or is that exclusively the place of a man? Join myself and Catholic speaker and author, Leah Perrault, as we speak about the idea of spiritual"headship," the potential harm of rigid gender roles, and the role of female leadership in the Catholic Church. Leah's website: http://leahperrault.com/To order Leah's books on the themes of grief, sexual theology, and Christian dating: http://leahperrault.com/speaking-and-writing/books/

Should the man lead? Should a woman submit?Today I speak with the founder of Masculine Revival, Brendan Schmidt, about his conviction that traditional gender roles are the best way for men and women to flourish and the idea that a woman submitting may be an idea that needs to be rehabilitated in our present culture. Brendan's website: https://www.masculinerevival.com/

Is the pandemic leading towards a new Nazi regime? There are a lot of inflammatory perspectives on the politics of this pandemic. Join Jerome and me as we have an unfiltered conversation about some of the most divisive elements of pandemic politics and as we discuss ways to find peace and graciousness amid a time of great suffering and fear.The Covid-19 Vaccine Information Database (updated weekly, over 100 sources currently):https://www.wideopenspacespodcast.com/vaccineresources

Can porn affect your gender identity? What about women who watch porn? Is there anything good about porn? Porn educator and host of the Questioning Pornography podcast Lily Moric and I tackle these and many more questions about the effects of pornography and about our own relationships with porn. Lily's podcast, Questioning Pornography:https://www.patreon.com/questioningpornographyThe Great Porn Experiment, by renowned porn researcher, Gary Wilson:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbP_ehYHfskA database of research on porn and one of the major influences for Lily's research into porn:https://www.yourbrainonporn.com/

Are my "demons" literal demons or am I struggling with mental illness? Do I need a doctor or should someone pray over me? My sister Hannah and I share a conversation about our experiences with interactions between mental health and spirituality.  Hannah shares about her journey with an eating disorder, we talk about encounters with evil spirits and whether these encounters were actually spiritual or just mental, and we share about our stories of finding a good counselor or spiritual mentor. One of the best books I've read in years, The Mindful Catholic: https://www.dynamiccatholic.com/the-mindful-catholic/MCAT-017-HC-ENG.html

Join me as I speak with John and Andrea Mclean, a couple from  Ojibwe First Nation and Metis families, who love their Catholic faith, and who have created a flourishing, multicultural family through the gift of adoption and foster care. We speak about their experience of celebrating both their Catholic faith and Indigenous culture, the grief of the residential schools, the catharsis of self-discipline, how to build bridges in the midst of cultural tensions, and the beauty of building a family through the gift of adoption and foster care (amongst other things!). 

Is “forced celibacy” causing problems in the Catholic Church? Is the corporate side of the Catholic Church too slow to make important changes? In Episode 18, I speak with married Ukrainian Catholic priest Fr. Warren Dungen about the idea that introducing married priesthood into the Roman Catholic Church may or may not be the answer to some of the issues that the Church is facing.  Response by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops on protecting minors from harm: https://www.cccb.ca/media-release/the-canadian-conference-of-catholic-bishops-releases-new-document-to-protect-minors-and-vulnerable-adults-from-sexual-abuse/For more information on the married priesthood, Adam Deville's book: https://undpress.nd.edu/2021/04/07/an-interview-with-adam-a-j-deville-editor-of-married-priests-in-the-catholic-church/

In this era of seemingly constant controversy and division, the hope for building sustainable and substantial bridges across the divide can seem thin. On Episode 17, I spoke with Professor Wendy Kroeker, Ph.D. who has been working professionally in the field of peace and conflict transformation for over 25 years, living all across the world facilitating peacebuilding conversations in the midst of conflict zones. Wendy shares her stories of adventure from working on international peacebuilding task forces and offers her practical wisdom on how to have effective, dignified, and relationship-building conversations about the most controversial topics. 

Today I speak with leadership educator Brett Powell about his perspective on the self-giving nature of a masculinity that is grounded in sonship, the passivity-inducing power of pornography, and whether or not gender roles make sense for the flourishing of the human person.  Brett's Website: Leadership Where It Matters Mosthttps://brettpowell.org/Brett's Podcast: The Way of the Hearthttps://www.wayoftheheartpodcast.com/

630 km of walking on foot.  44 days of fasting on nothing but tea. A mission to compassionately spread awareness about the suicide rates in the northern regions of Canada. On Episode 15, I speak with Metis activist and fiddler Tristen Durocher as he shares on the adventure of his 2020 summer, his experience growing up in a Northern Metis community, and his perspective on the relationship between Christianity and his Indigenous heritage. With a story that transcends political parties or religious affiliations, Tristen is one of the most gracious, yet also passionate, people I have had the chance to speak with - ever. 

The meeting of sex and religion is often troubling, uncomfortable, and even tragic for many of us. Does it have to be this way? Join my friend Deanna Harris and I as we have a conversation about the negative impacts of virginity-focused “purity culture” and our experiences with sex education in different Christian contexts. Is a joyful, playful, free approach to sexuality possible within the Church? Does being a virgin matter? These are just a few of the questions we tackle!

Should you get vaccinated? Or should you not? The debate over vaccines has been a long-burning fire and it has never been more relevant with the rolling out of the Covid-19 vaccines.  Many of us are spending hours of our lives engaged in heated debate over whether or not to get vaccinated and a lot of these conversations are going really badly. How do we have effective and dignified conversations about such a charged topic? How do we actually change people's minds? How do we build bridges with people who have different beliefs about the vaccine than we do? Join myself (Jenny) and Jerome as we dig into some of the worst trends that we see in conversations about the vaccines and the best tools to use in order to have fruitful conversations about this controversial topic. 

Drug addiction has been a big part of my family story. It's a part of many of our stories. So when something so personal gets discussed in the context of politics, it can become a conversation full of powerful emotions and sharp division, depending on what role you believe the law should play in addiction response. On today's episode, I spoke with Denae about her experience working with addicted youth and her perspective on why decriminalization may, nor may not, be the best way to create safer communities and to effectively lower overdose and addiction rates. To learn more about Denae: https://ca.linkedin.com/in/denae-pellerin​For an easy-to-watch video on Dr. Gabor Mate, who said that "addiction is a response to emotional pain:" https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ys6TCO_olOc​Denae makes reference to several articles and statistical evidence regarding decriminalization. Here are the links for anyone interested in further research: ​68% chance of reoffense after prison release (US): https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3859122/​12-fold increase of likelihood to overdose after release from prison: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3414824/​Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police stance on decriminalization of personal substance use: https://www.cacp.ca/index.html?asst_id=2189​https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/chiefs-police-decriminalize-posession-personal-use-1.5643687

Veganism is uber-trendy right now. But is it deeper than a trend? Today I speak with practicing vegan Julie Godin about whether veganism is the "best" way to eat and about whether veganism is more than just a diet. She's a vegan. I had chicken salad for lunch. It was a great conversation! What do you think? Join the conversation for this episode on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/wideopenspacespodcast

Does the Church have a “bland culture”? Is Black Lives Matter a Marxist organization, and does it matter? These questions might seem unrelated, but in today's episode Catholic speaker and diversity practitioner, Ogechi Akalegbre, shares her passion for creating a Christian church that is alive with cultural diversity and a passion for justice. She addresses bringing flavor to Christian culture and how concerns about the ideology of the Black Lives Matter organization do not need to cause disengagement with the work of justice.To book Ogechi as a speaker and to listen to her podcast:http://gechmeifyoucan.com/ogechi-akalegbere-speaking/ What do you think? Join the conversation for this episode on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/wideopenspacespodcast

In order to build bridges with others, we need to take care of ourselves in a way that honors the dignity of our humanity. On this episode, I spoke with my sister Hannah Connelly (who has a BA in Peace and Conflict Transformation) about overcoming an eating disorder, the power of having a routine, and the importance of building bridges in the midst of struggles with mental health. What do you think? Join the conversation for this episode on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/wideopenspacespodcast

The topic of racism tends to polarize people on different parts of the political spectrum. The topic of religion is also a heated topic between people. Today we speak with pastor and professor Dr. David Moore about his perspective on systemic racism in America and within institutional Christianity with the hope of building bridges across the judgements and misunderstandings between those of us who have differing worldviews. Read Dr. Moore's book, Making America Great Again: https://www.amazon.ca/Making-America-Great-Again-Horror/dp/1945455977What do you think? Join the conversation for this episode on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/wideopenspacespodcast

Does conservative thought and politics have to be rigid and cold? Does the conservative movement have a heart for the suffering? Today we spoke to conservative intellectual and musician Kay Clarity about what it means to be a conservative, how to navigate conversations between conservatives and liberals, debunking misconceptions about conservative people, and the difference between what you see in mainstream media versus real life for the average person. Click here to connect with Kay and hear about her work in music, building culture, and academics:https://www.kayclarity.art/ What do you think? Join the conversation for this episode on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/wideopenspacespodcast

Is motherhood the enemy of ambition? On today's episode, I speak with psychologist and mother of 8, Donna Darbellay, as she shares her story of being a stay-at-home mother and pursuing a career in psychology. We also talk about gender roles and how to respond when you find yourself fearful of marriage. What do you think? Join the conversation for this episode on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/wideopenspacespodcast

There are people all over Canada (and the world) protesting the Covid-19 lockdowns. Why are these protests happening? In this episode, we speak with activist Reeta Ali who shares about her organization's effort to defend civil liberties in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. Are we losing our freedoms due to the lockdowns? Reeta addresses this question and many others as we speak about peaceful protest and how to be an engaged citizen in the midst of the current restrictions.What do you think? Join the conversation for this episode on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/wideopenspacespodcastFor more information about Sparks United:https://www.facebook.com/groups/129965098911764/

Decolonization. It's a word that has a lot of baggage for many people. Maybe it hints at frustrating and complicated politics for you. Maybe it inspires hope for the future. Maybe you're not sure what it means. In this episode, I speak with folk music duo and social activists Piper and Carson about the idea of decolonization, the artful merging of music and politics, and how our perception of what it means to be a human affects what battles are important to fight. What do you think? Join the conversation for this episode on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/wideopenspacespodcastListen to Piper and Carson's new album here (choose your price!):https://piperandcarson.com/home

Professor of Psychology and licensed counseling therapist  Walter Thiessen speaks about the smallest university in Canada and why its approach to education might be something we should all pay attention to. We also talk bout the idea of "my truth" vs "the Truth" and the epidemic of anxiety that so many of us are dealing with. What do you think? Join the conversation for this episode on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/wideopenspacespodcast Check out Walter's book, Glimpses of the Good Life : https://www.amazon.ca/Glimpses-Good-Life-Practices-Wholeness/dp/0993624502Visit St Stephen's University: https://ssu.ca/

Are luxury and Christianity compatible with one another? Have Christians forgotten the poor? These are just a sample of the questions that Jenny tackles with author and speaker Peter Van Kampen as we talk about the relationship between Western wealthy lifestyles, being a Christian, and taking care of the poor. What do you think? Join the conversation about this episode on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wideopenspacespodcastRead Peter's book, Live Simply, today: https://www.amazon.ca/Live-Simply-That-Others-Might/dp/B0892HW3TZ/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=live+simply+so+that+others&qid=1614294466&s=books&sr=1-1Peter's Blog: https://livesimplysothatothersmightsimplylive.blogspot.com/p/is-living-in-luxury-sin.html

It's time to change the culture of disagreement. Join us today as we talk about how in this era of social division, we can still have open conversations with the people we disagree with in a way that honors the dignity of every human person, no matter what they believe.   And since this is our first episode, meet our host Jenny Connelly and co-host Jerome Montpetit! Sign up for our email list to get episodes directly sent to you: https://www.wideopenspacespodcast.com/Check out Jerome's youtube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCf4UEAWuTS8sofd69PVlJAg