Podcasts about New York Theological Seminary

Send us a textIn Episode 47 I speak with Reverend Dr. TK Nakagaki. Rev. Dr. Nakagaki is the author of the book 'The Buddhist Swastika and Hitler's Cross: Rescuing a Symbol of Peace from the Forces of Hate'. Published in 2017, the book presents a cross-cultural history of the “swastika”, a symbol of peace used by multiple Eastern religions, including Japanese Buddhism, and indigenous peoples but typically regarded as a hate symbol in the West. Known as 'manji' in Japan, the swastika is commonly found on Buddhist temples along with many Shinto shrines. In keeping with its meaning in Buddhist and Hindu traditions, the swastika is a symbol of peace, light and represents the mind and teaching of the Buddha. It is found at temples and shrines throughout the country yet most international visitors depart without ever gaining an understanding of its meaning is the Japanese Buddhist context. I hope this episode goes some way to addressing that. Rev. Dr. Nakagaki is an ordained priest in the Jodoshinshu tradition of Japanese Buddhism and Founder of the Heiwa Peace and Reconciliation Foundation of New York. He is a President Emeritus of the Buddhist Council of New York, an Honorary Board Member of the Interfaith Center of New York and a New York City Police Department Clergy Liaison along with a Hiroshima Peace Ambassador, Nagasaki Peace Correspondent and Honorary President of Sanghakaya Foundation of India. He graduated Ryukoku University in Kyoto in 1983 having majored in Buddhist history before undertaking advanced study in Jodoshinshu doctrine to Gyoshin Buddhist Seminary in Osaka from 1983 to 1985. He has an MA in Linguistics from California State University at Fresno in 1994 and a earned a Doctorate of Ministry in Multifaith Studies from the New York Theological Seminary in 2012. Outland Japan is a bi-weekly podcast hosted by Peter Carnell - a freelance tour guide based in northern Nagano – that transports you to rural, regional and the wilds of Japan in pursuit of stories that lie outside the neon hum of Tokyo and golden trimmings of Kyoto. Stories of travel, life and culture beyond the big cities. Follow the show on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Please note, prior to October 2024, Outland Japan was named Snow Country Stories Japan.

On today's program, the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission—the public policy arm of the Southern Baptist Convention—fired its president Brent Leatherwood this week…then less than 12 hours later reversed course and said he was NOT fired. We'll have details. Also, Life Surge wealth conferences draw big audiences with its celebrity speaker lineup and wealth-building tools…we're taking a closer look to see if it's delivering on its promises. And, New York Theological Seminary closed its doors earlier this month—famous alumni include religious broadcaster Pat Robertson and author of the Message, Eugene Peterson. But first, the historic sanctuary of First Baptist Dallas, was engulfed in flames last week. The producer for today's program is Jeff McIntosh.  We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today's program include Bob Smietana, John Stonestreet, Timothy Padgett, Kim Roberts, Aaron Earls, Brittany Smith, and Christina Darnell. A special thanks to Breakpoint and Lifeway Research for contributing material for this week's podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.

Send us a Text Message.Spencer A. Murray is the Founder and Executive Director of NO HARM, National Organization for Healing and Redefining Manhood. He is a speaker, writer, minister, and conflict transformation practitioner who specializes in working with men and boys as it relates to unhealthy ideas of masculinity, and how these ideas contribute to violence towards self, women, and the community.He is a former educator with Detroit Public Schools where he taught at Paul Robeson Academy, an African-Centered School, and the Academy of the Americas, a Dual Language Immersion School. He holds a Master of Arts in teaching from Wayne State University, a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership from Western Michigan University, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from New York Theological Seminary, where his focus of study was Conflict Transformation. His doctoral work focused on the systemic influence of patriarchy in religion, and its tendency to oppress and perpetrate violence towards women. Based on his dissertation, Spencer published his first book, Conspiracy of Silence: Religious and Patriarchal Roots of Violence Towards Women.He is currently a Violence Prevention Consultant, as well as a Certified Family Violence Intervention Practitioner in the state of Georgia, where he intervenes with men to disrupt abusive behaviors. As a skilled facilitator, Spencer encourages accountability while inviting men to transform their thinking about themselves, women, and manhood. In addition to his harm reduction work, he is also an Adjunct Professor in Emory University's Candler School of Theology, where he teaches the introductory course, Skills in Conflict Transformation. As a Restorative Justice Consultant with the Georgia Justice Project, Spencer creates spaces for healing, restoration, and an awareness of our shared humanity.In this episode, Spencer shares a poem about his near suicide and the choices he made as part of his transformation.His years of experience working with men and boys, as well as his own journey to free himself from the prison of toxic masculinity, drives his passion to lead men to a deeper understanding of themselves - an understanding characterized by a reverence for the feminine aspect of creation. Spencer is convinced that a man who has true knowledge of self, will strive do no harm.Spencer lives in Atlanta, GA with his wife, Erica Parks Murray.Support the Show.Donate – CelesteFrazier.com

A life long social activist, Obery Hendricks is one of the foremost commentators on the intersection of religion and political economy in America. He is the most widely read and perhaps the most influential African American biblical scholar writing today. His recent book, Christians Against Christianity: How Right-Wing Evangelicals Are Destroying Our Nation and Our Faith (Beacon Press, 2021) has gathered wide acclaim. Cornel West calls him “one of the last few grand prophetic intellectuals.”A widely sought lecturer and media spokesperson, Dr. Hendricks' appearances include CNN, MSNBC, CBS, Fox News, Fox Business News, the Discovery Channel, PBS, BBC, NHK Japan Television and the Bloomberg Network. He has provided running event commentary for National Public Radio, MSNBC, and the al-Jazeera and Aspire international television networks. Dr. Hendricks has served in the Religion and Foreign Policy Working Group at the U. S. Department of State under Secretaries of State Hillary Clinton and John Kerry; was a member of the Faith Advisory Council of the Democratic National Committee, for whom he delivered the closing benediction at the 2008 Democratic Convention; served on the National Religious Leaders Advisory Committee of the 2008 Democratic Presidential campaign. He is a Distinguished Senior Fellow at The Democracy Collaborative in Washington, DC; has been an Affiliated Scholar at the Center for American Progress; was a Senior Fellow at The Opportunity Agenda social justice communications think tank; is on the Advisory Board of the Institute of Christian Socialism; and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI). Dr. Hendricks has been a frequent contributor to the Huffington Post and Salon.com, a former editorial advisor to the award-winning Tikkun magazine, and a contributing editor to The Encyclopedia of Politics and Religion. The Dictionary of Biblical Interpretation has called his work “the boldest post-colonial writing ever seen in Western biblical studies.”Hendricks' award-winning book, The Politics of Jesus: Rediscovering the True Revolutionary Nature of Jesus' Teachings and How They Have Been Corrupted (Doubleday, 2006), was declared “essential reading for Americans” by the Washington Post. Social commentator Michael Eric Dyson proclaimed it “an instant classic” that “immediately thrusts Hendricks into the front ranks of American religious thinkers.” The Politics of Jesus was the featured subject of the 90-minute C-SPAN special hosted by the Center for American Progress, “Class, Politics and Christianity.” The tenth anniversary of its publication was acknowledged at a major 2016 panel at the American Academy of Religion at its annual convention in San Antonio, TX. Governor Howard Dean, former chair of the Democratic National Committee, has called his book, The Universe Bends Toward Justice: Radical Reflections on the Bible, the Church and the Body Politic(Orbis, 2011), a “tour de force.”A former Wall Street investment executive and past president of Payne Theological Seminary, the oldest African American theological seminary in the United States, he is currently a Visiting Scholar at Columbia University in the Department of Religion and the Department of African American and African Diasporic Studies; a Visiting Professor at Union Theological Seminary; and Emeritus Professor of Biblical Interpretation at New York Theological Seminary. An Ordained Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Hendricks holds the Master of Divinity with academic honors from Princeton Theological Seminary, and both the M.A. and Ph.D. in Religions of Late Antiquity from Princeton University.     

I think I am safe in saying that my conversation with our guest, Aaron Waldron is one of the most unique and stimulating one I have had the honor to have. Aaron has, through their life, had a number of run-ins with parts of organized religion which, as they says, left them quite traumatized. Even so, they firmly believes in God and knows that God is in and all around us as they will tell us. In their life, they spent five years in the military. They also have spent much time searching for what they feel is their life's direction. As you will learn, they currently are pursuing a Doctorate of Ministry degree. One of the fascinating things about Aaron is that they have determined that they need to refer to themselves in the third person which they feels God is leading them to do in order that they remove more of the “I” out of their world. They will talk about their dissertation and their creation of the concept of Public Space Communities. I leave it to Aaron to explain this. I hope you find our session today as fascinating and thought provoking, as do I. It is always wonderful to learn about different points of view and how we should explore integrating them into our own thought processes. About the Guest: My name is Aaron Waldron; we are a 36-year-old religiously traumatized Theopoet: a Shaman in Journey. Our pronouns are they, their and them. We do not identify in the singular first-person pronoun (I), but instead, we identify as a collective third person pronoun (we). As a we continue to develop into a Path-Maker trekking unfollowable paths that take us on a Journey towards Self; we are currently in a doctoral process at the New York Theological Seminary seeking to develop spaces between larger spaces that offers community for religiously traumatized people and study a complicated form of suffering called, "religious trauma." It's my own religious trauma that inspires me to empathize and study religious trauma among humans in the 21st century. We seek to understand our Self through suffering entangled in religious trauma. We were born and raised under a Full Balsamic Moon (Often relied upon as a source for inspiration and energy) in Brooklyn, New York on March 15th (My Zodiac is Pisces) in the year 1987 C.E.; surviving the NYC shelter systems since we could walk with our Mother and younger brother. We have experienced religious trauma all our life. My Mother, a primal relationship embodying the Mother archetype, was colonized by a hateful religion (colonized Christianity) that forced her to be an extension of an invisible oppressor. We grew up hearing things like: "Aaron, I am your Mother and God commands you to obey me." We typically were punished by reading the Bible in my underwear while kneeling on rice with my face in a corner. Barriers of religious hatred prevented me from being my natural Self. Living under this imprisonment and oppression caused me to develop suicidal thoughts while attending the High School of Art & Design. After attempting and failing twice, we settled to venture into college with the support and encouragement of our Nana. During my first year at college, my girlfriend at the time was pregnant; we decided to drop out of college and joined the Army to provide for my beautiful daughter Serenity. During the time the "9/11 Attacks" made joining the military very enticing and patriotic. After serving about five years (2007-2012) and deploying to Iraq in 2010 for a year; we closed that chapter of our life and transitioned back into civilian life in 2012. We were homeless for a while, living in our car and going to school. It was an interesting time in my life, the friends we made got us through some dark times and we are eternally grateful. Ended up in Atlanta, GA helping homeless veterans get housing and employment as a "case manager and recruiter." We loved helping people who were in situations we have been in- we were able to empathize in ways others couldn't at the time. One day we experienced a Theophany (encounter with God in Dream) and we felt that God wanted us to know more about what God is or can be. So, we travelled back to NYC and enrolled in The New York Theological Seminary. We started with their certificate program and found our Self boldly stepping forward to enroll in the Master of Divinity program (M.Div.-a 4-year degree at the time) with a few college credits but no degree yet. During my spiritual and religious journey to find meaning in God and my Self, we married our Life Partner, Yesenia Fernandez, met my kindred spirit, Rev. Lopez-Joel Dautruche and started to understand what love is and how to love my Self. The idea of God transformed in indescribable ways; we felt called or pulled to study in NYTS's Multi-Faith D.Min. program. My dissertation is a large part of my life, it's an expression of what we are feeling and thinking, as well as what we have experienced. We wept uncontrollably in the first semester after realizing we must authentically commit our Self to this Journey. It was the first time in my life that we didn't feel scared anymore to be our Self. By boldly stepping forward and developing this "unstoppable mindset" we call: "a Path-Maker." All of our life's suffering and trauma to include religious trauma has brought us to this moment in existence and we feel deeply humbled- If not for God emerging within me, we wouldn't have stepped off-path to pave our own unfollowable path. Ways to connect with Aaron: Website: https://www.ashamaninjourney.com/ Email: ashamaninjourney@gmail.com Invite to Public|Space Community: https://public-space.mn.co/share/otOyc_jjtbH0DOyY YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/@ashamaninjourney https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKROus_PpjszPrz2lT9iGDg Instagram: @ashaman_injourney Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aaron.waldron.5454 Linkedin: @AaronWaldron a Carrier Raven Newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/24ab73d6b1c1/a-carrier-raven?fbclid=IwAR35lB07oc1rwmsBUVG1fR4oYJDqrnLFfMw6H5wQ83JPw2rwDc8yA6LCxuY_aem_ASoQiPP_BGFeKopkir_8gAr4pD4RuOAp6bW6s7z9Q4zjrUWL1ic-6yYLUGJij1dlUjs About the Host: Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog. Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards. https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/ accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/ https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/ Thanks for listening! Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below! Subscribe to the podcast If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can also subscribe in your favorite podcast app. Leave us an Apple Podcasts review Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts. Transcription Notes **Michael Hingson ** 00:00 Access Cast and accessiBe Initiative presents Unstoppable Mindset. The podcast where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. Hi, I'm Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe and the author of the number one New York Times bestselling book, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust. Thanks for joining me on my podcast as we explore our own blinding fears of inclusion unacceptance and our resistance to change. We will discover the idea that no matter the situation, or the people we encounter, our own fears, and prejudices often are our strongest barriers to moving forward. The unstoppable mindset podcast is sponsored by accessiBe, that's a c c e s s i capital B e. Visit www.accessibe.com to learn how you can make your website accessible for persons with disabilities. And to help make the internet fully inclusive by the year 2025. Glad you dropped by we're happy to meet you and to have you here with us. **Michael Hingson ** 01:20 Well, hi, I am Mike Hingson. And, I want to welcome you to unstoppable mindset. You know, on unstoppable mindset, we get to talk to all sorts of people who have many, many different kinds of life journeys. And as I tell people, my most important goal on unstoppable mindset is to show every one of us who is listening and participating that we can be more unstoppable than we think we can. And unStopability is something that is different for everyone in the world. It's not the same necessarily for you or for me, or for our guest, Aaron Waldron today who comes to us, he describes himself as a shaman in Journey, religiously traumatized, I'm interested to hear about those things. And from talking with him a little bit before I know he's got a really interesting story to tell. And I want to get to it, I'm anxious to to hear it and to have a good conversation with with with him. So Aaron, welcome to unstoppable mindset. How are you? **Aaron Waldron ** 02:20 Thank you for having me, Michael, really appreciate it. **Michael Hingson ** 02:23 Well, why don't we if we could, at least a little bit. Why don't we start out with you talking maybe a little about the the early era and you know, growing up or some of those things and give us a little bit of idea of things that maybe helped shape the way you are today and so on? Definitely. **Aaron Waldron ** 02:41 Well, we started, we were raised in New York, New York City. **Michael Hingson ** 02:46 Let me let me interrupt if there's one thing I want you all to understand. Aaron speaks in the third person. I should have said that. I apologize. And he'll probably explain more about that. But I just want you to understand that that is what he's doing. So I'm sorry, Aaron. So you so born in New York City? **Aaron Waldron ** 03:04 Yes. We were born in New York City, Brooklyn, New York. And we were pretty much poor, our childhood, living along shelter systems, living off public assistance and whatnot. So it wasn't until after high school that, you know, my life started to expand outside of New York. And I joined, we joined the military. We joined the army specifically. And when did you get out of just that was in 2007. Okay. And that was out of, you know, trying to provide a better life for my child at the time, my daughter, and just climb out of the hole that we were in, you know. So yeah, we did have military service five years one tour to Iraq. And that was in 2010. And then we left the military in 2012. March, and started trying to acclimate back into the civilian world since 2013, really, but we found ourselves drawn to the nonprofit, you know, just trying to help people. And so we ended up helping homeless vets find employment and housing down in Atlanta. And that was a really interesting experience for me. It really helped me deal with my own PTSD and my own mental health issues, you know, struggling with memories, loss of people, things ideas, lack of money, support, you know, just really in a bad place mentally Lean, but, you know, this inner perseverance, you know, just push this through to become a different, better person. **Michael Hingson ** 05:11 What was it like coming back from the military coming back from Iraq and the military in general and then integrating in? I've never really had many discussions with people about that. But I I'm sure that it must have been an is a challenge for anyone, because you're going from one kind of a culture that you became engrossed in when you join the military to now a culture that maybe you were used to before, but it's, I would think, sort of totally foreign, because it's not what you did for a number of years. Your case fives. **Aaron Waldron ** 05:49 Yeah, you're right. It was a completely it was like acclimating to a language that you have forgotten. You know, in the civilian world, there's a language, a way of understanding things, a way of operating and living and existing. But in the military, you know, it's centered around these three concepts, right place, right time, right, uniform. And so it really makes life different, it makes it simpler from a soldiers perspective. You know, if you focus on those three things, you'll exceed and be successful, you know, mission accomplished. But when you come to the civilian world, it becomes so much complex, more complex, because you know, you can wear the right uniform be at the right place at the right time. But you're still not enough. **Michael Hingson ** 06:41 And a lot of people, and a lot of other people aren't necessarily in the same place that you are. **Aaron Waldron ** 06:49 Right? Exactly. Statistically, most people, veterans don't really do well, when they have to acclimate back into society, because it's just, we're not accepted, there's no space. For us, there's no bridge in between what you did to serve your country as a skill as a job. And then crossing it over to something you can do in the civilian world that's not so focused on violence or bringing about violence. You know, there's a lot of great organizational skills that we develop leadership skills. This is something that most civilians lack the ability to work well with others, you know, and then it becomes a strong suit, when you come through the military, even at the basic training. So **Michael Hingson ** 07:40 it's a lot to get used to, needless to say, yeah, yeah. Like, what, how to? I'm sure you've thought about this? What can we do societally to change that so that people who are here become more accepting or more understanding? Or? Or maybe it's that there needs to be done more than the military? But how do we deal with that? Because it certainly shouldn't be that way. It's got to be pretty traumatic, all the way around. And **Aaron Waldron ** 08:13 definitely, you know, that's, that's, that's tough, because, from my opinion, these initiatives to help bridge veterans into society should come from the same population. You know, it shouldn't be led by veterans. You know, we have programs or initiatives that are spearheaded by civilians with no experience, then it comes off a little insensitive, and it doesn't consider the many complexities that a veteran is aware of, and is dealing with. So there's, you know, a dis attachment, a disconnection, you know, so when we go to the VA, and we're talking to the civilians that are just trying to do their job, they're not fully understanding what we're dealing with. And so it should be more vets, you know, becoming like peer support specialists or, you know, things of that nature. There should be opportunities for vets to come back and help mentor other events and help in that way. But yeah, that's just my two cents. But I definitely believe it's a very complex situation, and there's no easy solution. **Michael Hingson ** 09:26 Do you think any of that is changing and more bets are becoming involved in various ways? Yes **Aaron Waldron ** 09:31 and no. Yes and no. Like there's opportunities for vets to start businesses, yes. But the lack of training and no house is not there. The guidance, you know, a lot of vets are dealing with trauma, you know, physically and mentally and even to the extent of religiously and spiritually, and it's preventing them from having a successful wholesome life. You know, a lot of them are dealing and struggling on a daily basis with regret. Thoughts of loss, thoughts of not having, you know, **Michael Hingson ** 10:13 and thoughts of the things that they had to face when they were in the military and possibly overseas. Dealing with operations? **Aaron Waldron ** 10:22 Yeah, exactly. Yeah. So **Michael Hingson ** 10:24 it's kind of no fun. Well, so you did come back in to the, to society. And you're, you're working to make your way. And you've been doing that for what now? 10 years? But what what's it been like? Or maybe I should ask a different question. What have you been doing? And and what is it evolved to for you? **Aaron Waldron ** 10:49 Yeah, that last 10 years have been indescribable. We had a very divine moment, as a dream. And in this dream, we felt and believed that we had an interaction with God, and gave us a message to come seek and find God, no God more. And in our life, at the time, we were struggling with the understanding of God, we were in religion. And we were asking a lot of questions to the local pastors. And a lot of these questions ended up going to places like, well, you just have to eventually you just have faith, you know, or it was you shouldn't question God so much, you know, things like that. So having this dream kind of felt like it was empowerment from God, the universe, the greater that created us, you know, like, saying, Come find me, We're not hiding from you, you know, like, come get to me. And so the come getting to know me, led to us going to seminary, of all places, we've been to college a few times, but never completed our degree, and then found ourselves with a couple of college credits applying to the masters of divinity at New York Theological Seminary, and getting accepted. That was really a big one for us, because it was just like, on paper, it looked like a no brainer, this person should not come in maybe because they don't like they lack credentials, or whatever. But honestly, through the grace of God, it just, we were accepted to the interview. And we were on probation, academic probation for about a year. And we demonstrated that, you know, we could exceed maintaining above 80%. And we kept going, you know, and as we Interesting enough, we thought we were going to become more Christian, like, you know, and get into that. We even was attempting to become a reverend, and go through ordination. And even that process was very traumatic for us. And we were surrounded by insensitive peers that just didn't see that something was wrong, something didn't feel right with Aaron. And for a lot of other people, too. It wasn't just Aaron. And before you know it, we had to just listen to this voice inside of us that said, maybe this is not your path. Maybe you're not intended to go down this road. You know, it's not saying that it's a bad road. It's just saying, maybe it's not for you. And from that moment, we've just been constantly having this organic conversation with an inner source that we believe is God, you know, guiding us, counseling us, you know, the spirit, you can call it, and being led by the Spirit has transformed us in indescribable ways that we never imagined to be a shaman and journey. It just came about. **Michael Hingson ** 13:58 Tell me more about that. What does that mean being a shaman and journey? So you would please? **Aaron Waldron ** 14:04 Yeah, of course, there's a lot of different definitions or descriptions of a shaman around the world. Typically, they are holy, sacred people. People that traverse the physical and the spiritual side of life. But there's also a definition of shamanism or shamans. That applies to everybody, everyone's a shaman. But to acknowledge yourself as a shaman is to acknowledge that you are on a pursuit of a higher version of yourself, you're awaken to a certain degree, you see things differently, and you're not looking to follow so much, but to really embody this natural leader, you know, and we give description to this as a path maker, which can be anybody regardless of your ethnicity, your gender. You know, anything like every human has the capability of, you know, making their own path. So ultimately, you know to be a shaman is just to be that it doesn't require you to have magical powers or you don't necessarily have to be born from a certain tribe. Again, these are all traditional views, yes, and they're all respected, but they're not absolute. And to be a shaman is to also step into nothing is absolute, is to accept the in differences in the world to, to see that other is you and you are other. And I see that, you know, it's about your ego, and it's about you and to be a shaman is to step into a higher state of consciousness. **Michael Hingson ** 15:46 So you do you kind of think if I want to ask this, I guess well, I'll just ask. So where do you fit what you do or believe into the world of what a lot of people face here in this country? Which is Christianity? Do you reject Christianity? Is that a just a different path? Or what? **Aaron Waldron ** 16:16 No, yeah, thank you for that question. Reject is not something that we're doing. That's not the way to describe it. But we've been able to step out of this field poetic for walls of religion, and see that there's the many that are trying to describe God are all right, and all wrong at the same time. And so being that America is a Christian hegemony, and is predominantly dominated by Christian values and beliefs, the belief that there's one God, one savior, it falls into this absolute idea. And that's where it gets dangerous, because then you have people that believe they have to forcefully convert others to save their soul, by any means necessary. And we have data that demonstrates how you know, religious conversions around the world have also demonstrated killing people. These are not just harmless acts, these are violent acts to force people to belief systems, that they believe they're doing God's work by saving this person's soul by converting them into something that is not natural to them. And so that's just like burning down the Amazon, it's equivalent, you know, when we go around with our beliefs, and Christianity has been doing this around the world, historically. So this is nothing new. It's just we believe we're in a time where we can start articulating and understanding that Christianity is not the one sole religion, that's the saving grace of the world, and all existence. It's a very strong popular religion, but it has been hurting people along the way. And we cannot, you know, continue to overlook that. And so with that, we stepped out or stepped from that step outside that space of Christianity, and religion, for that matter, to help people that are navigating how to pursue God outside of these common strong religious avenues of belief and traditions. **Michael Hingson ** 18:36 So you got a master's degree in divinity and you're now working on a PhD? How does the the school the college where you are fit in to your beliefs? Or how do people their receive you and your thoughts? Interesting **Aaron Waldron ** 18:54 enough, Aaron is received with love and acceptance, because people that know me know, we're not a violent activists. We just are an advocate of our experiences. And it just so happens that there's hundreds of 1000s of other people that experienced similar things, such as this idea of religious trauma, and the effects of it and how it affects us in forming our identity, navigating the world, understanding who we are connecting with the thing, the thing that we can't see or describe, you know, this, this idea of God, you know, so it's kind of if you think about it, we're rethinking church beyond church, creating spaces for people to gather and still feel welcomed and feel encouraged to pursue God, outside of religion in their own ways. So yeah, that's all we're really doing is being a path maker embodying this idea that we're paving a path that others can learn from and see that you can do it too. **Michael Hingson ** 20:15 And that, I guess, is why I asked the question, because the I'm sure that the perception of a lot of people is that schools of divinity, like that are just Christian oriented. And the reality is, they're not they're God oriented, which is very possibly a whole different thing. Yes. And it's so important. Go ahead. Go ahead. **Aaron Waldron ** 20:39 No, I was just gonna say, especially because the seminary is one of few seminaries in America that have a multi phase program at a doctoral level. **Michael Hingson ** 20:52 And so classifying is always tough. What would you be classified as then in that multifaith program? **Aaron Waldron ** 21:00 I guess using their grouping terms would be falling along the spiritualist. Okay, track. Okay. **Michael Hingson ** 21:10 Yeah. Cool. Well, you know, again, I think, personally, that it's all about God. And, and you can talk about Jesus, you can talk about any nun, any number of things, but it's still ultimately in Jesus would would say in the Bible, that it's really all about God. And as he's pointed out, I am my father are one and so are all of you. So it really is, or ought to be viewed. In the same way, unfortunately, we, we do tend to become very limited at times and what we do, which is something that that then tends to create a lot of the separations that, that we face. It's true. So what's your PhD thesis on? For clarity, it's **Aaron Waldron ** 22:05 not a PhD, but it's a demon. But my, it's a dissertation, my dissertation is on, or called, between space. And the idea is to create spaces in between larger structures of spaces, such as religions, to allow people to gather and develop, share, and to be heard, by being listened to. So we created a digital community. And this digital community for the last eight months has been thriving slowly, really drawing people that are interested in developing themselves outside of religion, people that have been hurt by religion, and are trying to navigate and figure out what part of that that hurt belongs to God, and what part of that hurt belongs to humans, decisions or choices, or immaturity. So this space allows that to happen. We also have a teaching space that we use films, it's called between film, it's an artistic field poetic approach to helping us navigate and understand a lot of different complicated spiritual mental ideas, you know, such as the self, the shadow, the development of self through a hero's journey. Community, what can that look like a meta spiritual community. So we been looking over films and talking over them, they're pretty cool. And it's really great, because a lot of people get intimidated by books. And so with this kind of teaching approach, people are just jumping in, they're like, Oh, I saw that movie, or we watched the clip, and then we talk about it. And it's more inviting, you know, there's no gap, thinking. There's a lot of people thinking that, you know, they gotta read a lot to be smart, but we're naturally very highly intelligent as humans. And, you know, we spend a lot of our early upbringing not being cultivated, but being conditioned. And so this approach also is trying to help people recondition their minds and kind of decolonize their minds so that they can go about identifying themselves identifying with spirituality, they want to formulate and use for their own well being without tarnishing them and putting them down and telling them what to do. **Michael Hingson ** 24:39 Yeah, I guess I said PhD I should have probably said Doctorate of divinity is that correct? **Aaron Waldron ** 24:46 Doctor of Ministry doctor and Dr. Ministry, okay. **Michael Hingson ** 24:49 Okay. Anyway. Okay, well, good to have the right terminology. But so that is what the public space community is about. out the things that you're talking about **Aaron Waldron ** 25:03 is rotation. Yeah. So did **Michael Hingson ** 25:05 is this a concept that you created? Or was this something that was already around? And you are, you're studying it more? Did you create it? As I say? **Aaron Waldron ** 25:15 No, yeah, we started it actually. And it's based out of our own experiences and traumas. So we went about this idea of formulating a community and space that was hyper focused on the digital. So we meet through zoom, or some form of digital meetup. And it also allows us to not focus on the physical gathering. And there's a lot of complications that come with the physical gathering, as you well know, you know, with even disability. And if you have a congregation that is physically disabled, and you're in a physical church, and they're arguing over physical space, that's something that we alleviated by just focusing on the digital space, so that we could really focus on our thoughts, our spirits, the spiritual aspects energy, not what we look like at the time, or what we're dressed like, or where we're sitting or traffic and stuff like that. So we really wanted to focus on digital community. And most of the car, the community members are millennials. So they're very busy. And there was another thing, it was hard for them to physically meet. But if we did a digital meet, it was easier for everyone to manage. So **Michael Hingson ** 26:39 it's, it's interesting, maybe, maybe it shouldn't be considered so fascinating. Well, what do you think more? Or most of the people are millennials? **Aaron Waldron ** 26:48 Oh, yeah, that is an interesting part of my research was trying to understand that very same inquiry, why millennials, and it just so happened that over the last decade, the series of events, historical events have kind of shaped and pushed this particular group of people sad are in a particular age range that we classify as millennials to respond to religion in a particular way, we started to see a huge increase a significant increase, and people leaving the church, and a lot of those leaving people leaving the church were millenniums. And you have the age group that's older than them. They're their parents and their grandparents that have a sense of loyalty to their church. But Millennials tend to have this, this thing going on, where they're questioning things, and they're sensitive to things. And so they say, most millennials are just saying, you know, I don't feel comfortable in church anymore. And you know, there's this guilt from past generations that say, well, you're supposed to do this you should be doing is, it's the right thing to do. And so we see in this particular age group, millennials, that they're deciding to think for themselves alone, a lot of critical thinking, is taking off. And then you see in their children, Gen Z, you see this even more, you know, but my research is focused on millennials. But hopefully in the near future, we can extend to start studying and understanding the effects of Gen Z, our children, millennials, children's children. It **Michael Hingson ** 28:34 is it is interesting to see what's happening. And I've heard and seen in a number of things that I have read that millennials and now Gen Z are people who are searching, and are willing to expand their minds and look at alternatives, which is something that hopefully will take them down some paths that will also help them deal with some of our more materialistic things in our world a little bit differently than people in the past have done as well. But I think we'll have to wait and see where that goes. So do you think that if if people understood it, if Millennials understood it, they would say that they have suffered a lot from religious trauma? You've you've used that term a bunch times I'd love to learn a little bit more about what what you mean by that, but and also then asked answering that question, have you think that's what they would say as well as that? It's a lot about religious trauma. **Aaron Waldron ** 29:43 Yes, exactly. Yes, we would, because we started seeing that most people don't even make connections that they have religious trauma. So we started to view it as something like a cancer and we're unaware that we have as cancer, and it's spreading through our body, and it's affecting our body and hid in mysterious ways, because we don't even know what's there. And so the same thing could be said about religious trauma because one person could say, well, I don't agree, from my perspective that I have religious trauma. I don't think religion hurt me, but the people hurt me. And so it's maybe not the belief system, but it's the people upholding the belief system that can hurt you. And we still fall in that category of religious trauma. Because the structure Institute or practices is genuinely what is hurting you. And when it hurts you in a way that you cannot operate in a wholesome manner, you cannot be yourself, naturally the way God made you, that you have to conform, pretend. And you now find yourself feeling depressed, forced, obligated, guilted, even to partake in uphold traditions, practices, and beliefs. You're in the category of experiencing and struggling with religious trauma. Interesting **Michael Hingson ** 31:14 concept that you make me think about. So you make a huge distinction between the beliefs, let's say, for example, in Christianity, but the actual beliefs, or teachings of the Church, as opposed to the people and what they're doing in the church. Am I gathering that correctly? **Aaron Waldron ** 31:39 Yes, yes. **Michael Hingson ** 31:42 And so it isn't the, for example, Christianity, beliefs, or the basic precepts of the religion, or the the Jewish religion, or Muslim religion, or Buddha, and so on. But it's how people deal with a deal with them, which is a whole different animal. **Aaron Waldron ** 32:03 Yes, it's how we wear it. It's how we're taught it. It's how we embody it and practice it exactly. Right. So like, in my training, during the masters of divinity, studying the four Gospels, studying the first and second testament, really starting to learn how to exer G texts and understand what God is saying in the text versus what man has said it said, or has interpreted way. And so that's where we have the whole, you know, corruption taking place. You know, the Gospels are inspired by God, no doubt, but how we used it, how we taught it, and how we continuously practice it, is what's been corrupted and poisoned. **Michael Hingson ** 32:49 You know, one of the things that I think about often is one of Jesus's statements, I am the Way the Truth and the light. And people say, well, because he says that, clearly, he's the only one to follow. But looking at my, from my perspective, when I think about that, I go back to Exodus where God said, I Am that I Am, thou shall say, I am has sent me to you. And that Jesus, the statement really IS GOD IS the WAY the TRUTH and the LIFE, then that I am isn't necessarily dealing with Jesus alone as the person. Because the other thing that Jesus says is, of course, he has God. And as we all are, **Aaron Waldron ** 33:36 yes, yeah, exactly. Right. That's what we were speaking about, like the way we interpret these texts. And a lot of times we use literal interpretations. And we read the text and only what it says literally, when a lot of what is in the Bible, those 66 books are selected, but they're very poetic. They're meant to mean larger things, not specifically one thing, you know, so like, when we have a lot of Christians that hyper focus on literal understandings of the Bible, that is where we get, you know, these kind of teachings that really trap people to believe in one way. But like you're saying, and like we said, in the past, there's nothing wrong with the Bible, per se, because there's a lot of truth, even in the gospels when Jesus when Yeshua is recorded, speaking, that that's not like, that applies to everything and everyone and we've also seen through multifaith studies that these things overlap like Buddha overlaps Jesus and so on. And so they're saying same things just in different ways or different perspectives, the audience that they are speaking Eating. **Michael Hingson ** 35:02 Yeah. Which makes a lot of sense. And I know that there going to be a lot of people who disagree with that. But nevertheless, it does make a lot of sense to consider the whole rather than just individual parts. Because the other part about the Bible is taking any one small thing out of context is a very dangerous thing. And way too many people do that. Yes, **Aaron Waldron ** 35:29 yeah. **Michael Hingson ** 35:30 So talking about you a little bit more. So you said you had a daughter that you wanted to care for when you went into the military? And so what happened with all of that? Do you still is that your daughter that you deal with still? Or because I think I read in your biography that you You married a different person? **Aaron Waldron ** 35:52 Yes, yeah. Right now, my, my relationship with my daughter is very distant. And we've in our own life had to come to terms with certain things, because of what stories or what perspectives have been told to her. You know, it's, it's like this micro to the macro. The fighting of the narratives, and fighting over truth and lies. But in the military was very hard for me will be around my daughter, work at me away. So a lot of my love, language came out of gifts, you know, sending her gifts, things of that nature, but we didn't get really the relationship that we kind of dreamed of, you know, it just hasn't been able to happen yet. And so she lives with her mom. And, you know, she, she's happy. And I, we don't want to take that away from her. But we do prepare in our mind and our spirit that one day if we do get to spend time with her at a closer capacity that we're prepared to, to be, you know, demonstrating love, and not all this regret or anger or something. So **Michael Hingson ** 37:14 yeah. Well, anger and hatred and so on doesn't really benefit anyone. I had the opportunity to read a book by Henry Drummond. Have you heard of him? **Aaron Waldron ** 37:31 I don't believe he's British **Michael Hingson ** 37:33 from the 1800s. And he wrote a book, it's a very short book, really simple and easy to read. And it's called Love is the greatest thing in the world. And it is all about love. And actually, the version that I got from Audible also has other addresses of his in it. But it's, I think, a very fascinating book and puts a lot about loving into perspective in a very simple way. And he, he talks about love in terms of the Bible. And he talks about faith, hope and love. And the greatest of these is love, which is something that John talks about a great deal and think Paul does, but Drummond mainly refers to John, but I thought it was a really interesting and a good book. I discovered it a couple of months ago, and I've enjoyed reading it several times. So I hope that you do get an opportunity to spend time with her. But you've gotten married since then. Yes, **Aaron Waldron ** 38:34 yes, happily married. And honestly, this marriage, this relationship has allowed me to start loving myself, or understanding what that even looks like, my past relationship, it was hard for me to even understand what that even looks like loving myself because we were so caught up in pleasing others that we were trying to exterior, you know, a love outward, you know, kind of thing. And so with this relationship, we're loving inward, and it just keeps bouncing out even more. So we get to love more than we could possibly imagine just by loving more of ourselves. So yeah, this was definitely something that we did not expect. But again, it felt spirit led and so we follow that path. And we've been happily in love since. **Michael Hingson ** 39:36 How long have you been married? **Aaron Waldron ** 39:39 Coming on seven years now. **Michael Hingson ** 39:41 Oh my gosh, congratulations. Even though even though I was married for 40 years before my wife passed last November, You're newlyweds but still congratulations. Anyway. Seven years is a is a feat compared to a lot of things we read in the papers about marriages and divorces. So I'm glad it's working out well for you. **Aaron Waldron ** 40:01 Thank you. Thank you. **Michael Hingson ** 40:03 So as you analyze yourself and so on, what would you say motivates you? Yeah. **Aaron Waldron ** 40:08 People, honestly, people, people persevering through challenges motivates me deeply. When we found ourselves in some real depressed times, we would listen and watch like things like Arnold Schwarzenegger talking about pumping iron, or Les Brown talking about his motivational encouragement. So these motivational speakers and their perseverance, they survive challenges and became better for that's the kind of stuff that really motivates me, you're **Michael Hingson ** 40:44 going to, at some point, work on being more of a visible, motivational or public speaker or that kind of one of the paths you want to take, or which way do you want to go once you get your Doctor of Ministry? Well, **Aaron Waldron ** 40:57 honestly, after that, we definitely want to continue schooling, we want to pursue the psychology track, become a therapist one day, and possibly even become a young in and out hours. But we definitely want to help people to a large capacity, we have skills and gifts that we're starting to really recognize about ourselves, that we believe will make us a very crucial asset in the field of psychology, therapy, and even spirituality. So continuing to inspire people, motivate people, empower people, is definitely something of a cornerstone. And we will continuously do. **Michael Hingson ** 41:48 If I may, I think you and I talked about it before, but I'd like to ask if it's okay. Why is it that you decided to speak of yourself in the third person as opposed to an AI in me? Yeah, **Aaron Waldron ** 42:02 great question. Thank you. It was really out of a spiritual understanding something for us. When we were halfway through our masters of divinity, there was something taking place spiritually inside of us that kind of awakened us or opened our eyes to see that we are not an individual, by any means we're all interconnected. And so we're basically part of a bigger collective. And the we is a constant reminder that Aaron is not alone is not one person. But Aaron is part of many, a collection of, of other human beings, other living beings, other conscious beings, other spiritual beings. When we dove deeper into our meditation practices, we started to realize that we are not alone in the universe, we're not alone in anything, it's, we're so connected to everything and everything is so close to us, we can't even imagine it. It's not until we start really focusing on connecting with everything around us that we start to see that there couldn't be possibly an eye. So we took it upon ourselves to embody that by changing our code our pronoun to a third person, and still the constant struggle or practice and sometimes we slip up and say I, because most of our life, we've been conditioned to speak in first person and refer to ourselves and I, and be an individual. So this is only been a few years since we've been practicing this. So we're still kind of young and new to it. But it's a pursuit that we feel that it's a discipline of ours. And we continuously strive to remind others that Aaron is not an individual, but part of a collective. **Michael Hingson ** 44:09 Do you find or are you finding that other people have or are adopting that same concept? **Aaron Waldron ** 44:17 Yes, it is not that strange. And that actually made me feel a lot better about it. A few years ago, we started to see that a lot of people started thinking like this and started practicing this. It makes it a little bit more complicated with socializing with people, but it just takes practice like anything. **Michael Hingson ** 44:39 Well, yeah. My immediate reaction is, nevertheless we ought to all be accepting of what we choose to do. There's no reason that anyone should have a problem with the Wii, as opposed to the I. I mean, in England, we used to hear about the royal we all all the time, and we still do, whether it's a custom or whatever. So it's it isn't new. Sure. But it is it is something that we should learn to accept. And and if if that is what someone chooses to do, especially since there's clearly a good rationale for it, then no magic there is no, what is your biggest fear in the world, or anywhere? **Aaron Waldron ** 45:32 My biggest fear is that we cannot be ourself. Honestly. It used to be, we were afraid to be alone. And that actually transformed over the years, over the last, like five years, we used to have a very deep fear since we were a child of just being alone, because we were abandoned in our childhood and suffered with abandonment multiple times to our life, leading into our young adulthood. And so recently, our fear has transformed from that, too, that we're afraid to not be ourselves. Because we started seeing that the more we were being ourselves, the more we were being rejected by, you know, people in places and spaces, and ideas. And so this fear started, like really erupting inside of us of not being accepted or understood, because we were being ourselves. And so we have this fear of having to conform so that people can understand or accept us. **Michael Hingson ** 46:43 So what do you do about that? **Aaron Waldron ** 46:47 A lot of meditation. Even even before coming on here, it's not that we were afraid of you, or the concept of the podcast or being interviewed. It's just we have these deep, unresolved anxiety sometimes of the public speaking or engaging with people. And this probably even speaks to your comment about do we see ourselves becoming a more public figure and encouraging people and writing it's, it's hard, it's challenging, and we're in the process of trying to overcome that, to be a better person so that we can be a better, stronger public figure. But we're just not there yet. Because we have so many things we need to still work on inside of ourselves. So that we can respond in a healthier way, and not respond from our hurt and pain and ignorance. **Michael Hingson ** 47:45 Well, I hope, and I don't think I'm reading into it. But I hope that you found that as we're talking here. You're you're feeling more comfortable, more relaxed, you sound more relaxed. **Aaron Waldron ** 47:59 Yeah, of course, you make it a very relaxing. Yeah, of course. **Michael Hingson ** 48:05 Well, the only thing I know is in about 12 or 13 minutes, I'm going to have to go feed a dog or I will be devoured before your very eyes. Now we're, we're good. He's over here asleep. He's in talks about love. I've always believed that dogs love unconditionally, and we could learn a lot from them. Now, I've also said that dogs don't trust unconditionally, but they're open to trust. And I think it's something that we we all need to learn is that we should be more open to trust, and we should be more open to accepting people. Dogs don't have hidden agendas, like people tend to do, or like we suspect people tend to do, which is, which is a problem. And so we we locked down our innate desire to possibly trust someone we've been taught not to do that. And that's so unfortunate. It seems to me in society, we should really both be more willing to earn trust, and have our trust earned than we do. And I hope that with the millennials and Gen Z, we'll start to see more of that coming through. **Aaron Waldron ** 49:14 And we do too. And we have high hopes. Because a lot of people are beginning to really think for themselves and question. So, you know, there's there's hope for humanity. **Michael Hingson ** 49:28 And there's nothing wrong with questioning. There's nothing wrong with asking. Right? And exploring. Yeah, **Aaron Waldron ** 49:35 yeah. Yeah. Because even when we would talk among our divinity peers, MDiv peers, we would speak about, you know, this very same concept, you know, and there really shouldn't be a hierarchy to it. We're all in the pursuit of understanding God, describing God I'd like, there should be no competition, we should all be learning from one another. And all my peers have all been critical thinkers, you know, even a lot of them still are Christian. And we get along just fine, because we understand that Aaron doesn't have to say it the way that someone said it. You know, we're both talking about love. We're describing love, God being that ultimate love, power, or energy. **Michael Hingson ** 50:32 And even more than describing it as living it. And that's, I think what it ultimately has to come down to that we, we make the decisions, and then whether we say it in different ways. Love is a is a concept that I think we all can truly understand. And then live by, no matter how we describe it, it's still the same thing to do it. **Aaron Waldron ** 50:57 Yeah, we all need it to, we do all need it. Yeah, regardless of your wealth, or what you think is wealth, we all require love, we all require air, you know, we all require these human things. So that's why with us, you know, we see beyond certain labels and social constructs, like racism and race and, and see like, you know, we're all humans, why are we killing each other over these, these things that we're describing, that you say make us different, but we're not really different. So even our choosing of a third person pronoun could also be interpreted as an advocacy for a united space, like we're all connected, you know, for me to hate you is to hate myself, to hurt us to hurt me. You know, and we've been doing this forever. Now. Aaron Waldron is not the first to even talk about this. You know, this has been going on for a long time. It's just we need more people to listen. Check **Michael Hingson ** 52:00 out Henry Drummonds book, you'll see a lot of those same comments made in this, this book by this well known philosopher and theologian, think you would like it. **Aaron Waldron ** 52:14 Awesome. Thank you. Well, now, **Michael Hingson ** 52:17 yeah, love the greatest thing in the world. So here's a off the wall sort of question. Do you think that someone or at some point, people will decide that your beliefs and so on are just another religion? Does that make sense? I'm not sure. But it's an **Aaron Waldron ** 52:39 it is a very interesting question, a very dangerous question two, something that we had to ask ourselves along this process. Interesting enough, when developing a community when developing a rubric to teach people, the first thing we have to ask ourselves is what we're proposing. Is this a cult? Is this a religion? You know, if that is the case, why are you trying to reinvent the wheel, right. And so we had to remain constantly in this space of whatever we do is not an attempt to reinvent the wheel. But it's just to look at the wheel and the usage of that wheel and a different way. And so we're not creating a new religion, we're not creating a cult, what we're doing is we're trying to help people see that it's okay to be different. It's okay to be you, whatever that looks like, regardless of your looks, disability setbacks, you know, what you've done, that could translate to sins, things of that nature, what you don't have or lack that could translate to poverty, you know, that doesn't determine your connection with God. And so my biggest push is to remind people, there should not be a middleman between you and God. Because no one knows more than you. When it comes to God. No one has a capitalism, on the knowledge of God. Because we're all just interpreting an idea of God. God is not the physical thing that we can go visit. God is everywhere. It's nowhere, right? And so we can just bottle God up and say, Well, I've got God, and it's for sale, or I've got God, if you want to cure something, you know, we're so we're here to advocate that. That's not necessary. God is not that far away. God is actually inside of all of us. We come from God. We're always connected to God. You know, so it's a remembrance, religion. **Michael Hingson ** 54:54 And the last thing and it's an interesting way to put it. And the last thing you want to be is using your own term. My analogy is that middleman because that would violate every precept you've talked about here. **Aaron Waldron ** 55:06 Exactly, exactly. **Michael Hingson ** 55:09 What strengthens your faith beyond religion, you know, so many people say, Well, I, my, my faith comes from being a Christian and all that. And so for you what strengthens your faith, since you, you deal with it outside the typical constructs of religion. Yeah. **Aaron Waldron ** 55:24 My solitude strengthens my faith. For me, we hear God so to speak more in ourselves when we feel God closer in our solitude, you know. But when stepping outside the four walls of religion in the wilderness, so to speak, my solitude is where God feels and sounds and is the closest. And that gives us faith. **Michael Hingson ** 55:57 And I would, the only thing I would add to that is, is your love, also, which has to be an integral part of it. **Aaron Waldron ** 56:03 Of course, in our solitude, we learn to love ourselves. And in that process, we learn to love others through their heart, heart aches and struggles, because we have a lot of we're surrounded by a lot of people that are carrying things unconsciously, or they're carrying things consciously, and are battling with it. That doesn't mean that we shouldn't be connected to them or be their friend or help them. We just have to be aware of these things. So we can better love them, you know, and not enable their toxicities. Because we want to say, Oh, well, me giving you money is how I demonstrate my love. Okay, well, maybe money is not what I needed. You know, that type of thing. So, for me, in solitude, we get to not only know more of ourselves, and be able to love more of ourselves, empathize with more of ourselves, especially our shadow, you know, like that really hurt part of ourselves. That's like really angry all the time and just doesn't know everything is misinformed and doesn't have it, have all the facts or all the perspectives to see that it wasn't about you, per se, you were just part of a larger event type of thing. So by doing this stuff, we're able to love strangers, complete strangers, you know, interact with our neighbors, so to speak, and be good neighbors without a secret agenda. **Michael Hingson ** 57:31 Yeah, that's really the operative part without a secret agenda. There's no need to have it. No, there isn't. So you have chosen a different path other than the traditional, typical organized religion? Do you still have friends? Who are religious leaders and very active in their own religions? **Aaron Waldron ** 57:51 Yes, many have deep, deep conversations all the time. Yeah. But um, yes, we still have friends that are inside religion. In the church. They're prominent figures, leaders. And, you know, we still agree to certain capacities about things. But more more importantly, we're friends, human friends, you know. **Michael Hingson ** 58:18 And that proves the validity of a lot of what you're talking about, because you can do that, and you don't need to battle over who's right and who's wrong. Right, exactly. So after leaving religion, do you view your life? Or would you describe it as being something like exodus in the Bible? Yes, exactly. That for a question. **Aaron Waldron ** 58:45 Yeah, that's, that's a great way to put it. And and in that analogy way, or do poet poetic way, would be like, our life has been like Exodus. And we still find ourselves in accidents. And we're looking for that land of milk and honey, so to speak. But it the idea of the land and milk and honey is not a destination, so to speak. It's a pursuit, right? We're looking for something better, constantly. And we're just navigating the wilderness. And when we do that, we have to pick up certain skills and embody certain things and live our life a certain kind of way for us to be in a balanced state with the wilderness nature. You know, because nature is not predictable. **Michael Hingson ** 59:35 And I think, sorry, go ahead. Go ahead. No, **Aaron Waldron ** 59:39 I was just saying we have to be adaptable and fluid and reflective of that natural sting of just something may happen and it may not always go as planned. You know, and we have to be able to just adjust and adapt and grow and develop. And **Michael Hingson ** 59:57 I think we'll find eventually that that land of welcome Honey is really something that's more inside of us. And it's more of a concept and a state of mind. Or if you will, in terms of what we do with this podcast, a mindset than anything else. We **Aaron Waldron ** 1:00:13 agree. Absolutely. **Michael Hingson ** 1:00:16 Well, I want to thank you for being here. And for doing this, I have had a very enjoyable and joyous time I, I hope you have to It's been fun. And I hope that you listening, have enjoyed it and found it stimulating. lots to think about. Needless to say, if people want to reach out to you and maybe learn more about you and and talk with you, how would they do that? Well, we have **Aaron Waldron ** 1:00:44 a website, www dot A shaman in journey.com. We have a YouTube channel, a shaman in Journey, and we're on Instagram and Facebook, under the same name. So we really have been creating little projects, podcasts, as well as public space has been recorded, and it's shared online. So you can go back and see what we be talking about in our space. Well, **Michael Hingson ** 1:01:10 you, you certainly have a good trail with a shaman in journey everywhere you want to look. So that works for me. Easy, easy to find you. **Aaron Waldron ** 1:01:20 That was the goal. **Michael Hingson ** 1:01:22 Well, there you go. You got it. Well, thanks very much, Erin. And I want to thank you again for listening to us out there. This has been, as I said, stimulating and fun. I hope you've enjoyed it, love to hear your thoughts, and I know Aaron would as well. Please feel free to reach out. You can reach me as I've said many times on our podcast at Michael M i c h a e l h i at accessiBe A C C E S S I B E.com. Or go to www dot Michael hingson h i n g s o n.com/podcast. And wherever you're listening, please give us a five star rating. We appreciate that. And we value it greatly. And also, please feel free to reach out to us and we love any and all of your thoughts and your comments. We appreciate them and we'll respond anytime anyone reaches out to me. I will always respond back. And I'm sure Aaron will as well. So I would just say once again, Aaron, this has been absolutely wonderful and I really thank you for being here with us. **Aaron Waldron ** 1:02:25 Thank you. Thank you for that journey and great conversation. **Michael Hingson ** 1:02:33 You have been listening to the Unstoppable Mindset podcast. Thanks for dropping by. I hope that you'll join us again next week, and in future weeks for upcoming episodes. To subscribe to our podcast and to learn about upcoming episodes, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com slash podcast. Michael Hingson is spelled m i c h a e l h i n g s o n. While you're on the site., please use the form there to recommend people who we ought to interview in upcoming editions of the show. And also, we ask you and urge you to invite your friends to join us in the future. If you know of any one or any organization needing a speaker for an event, please email me at speaker at Michael hingson.com. I appreciate it very much. To learn more about the concept of blinded by fear, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com forward slash blinded by fear and while you're there, feel free to pick up a copy of my free eBook entitled blinded by fear. The unstoppable mindset podcast is provided by access cast an initiative of accessiBe and is sponsored by accessiBe. Please visit www.accessibe.com . AccessiBe is spelled a c c e s s i b e. There you can learn all about how you can make your website inclusive for all persons with disabilities and how you can help make the internet fully inclusive by 2025. Thanks again for Listening. Please come back and visit us again next week.

Over the last 10 years or so, I've also just gotten some really good mentors in my life. People who have modeled for me what it looks like to be confident and comfortable in your own skin, to know who you are, intimately, such that, you could just live that out, shed those maybe people pleasing tendencies that some of us carry, the need to be acknowledged and celebrated, to be seen. ++++++++++++++++ Tommy Thomas: Our guest today is Dr. Arthur Satterwhite. Arthur is the Vice President for Strategy at Young Life. Prior to Young Life Arthur was with the American Bible Society where he served as Manager of Strategic Partnerships and the Leader of Strategy for ABS's largest ever domestic initiative. He took his BS in Business Administration from Monmouth University, his MA in Religious Education from New York Theological Seminary, and his Doctor of Strategic Leadership from Regent University. Let's pick up on that conversation. [00:00:59] Tommy Thomas: Before we dive too deep into your professional career, take me back to your childhood. What was it like growing up? [00:01:08] Arthur Satterwhite: Yeah, for what it's worth, you and your listeners, I'm a Jersey boy through and through.  Don't hold it against me. I was born, 1983 was a good year, I'll just say. My mom is also originally from New Jersey. My dad was originally from Ohio then found his way to New Jersey and grew up in Somerset. Which most people probably have never heard of, Rutgers, New Brunswick, it was right there around the corner. I had a good upbringing. Solid, middle class, suburban community, really diverse. My mom was devout in her faith. My dad as well. But my mom was, one of those if you're not in the church, you're up to no good. Much of my childhood was spent in the church most nights, whether that was Bible study, youth group, choir, attending choir with my mom. When I graduated high school, I left my faith behind.  I had so many questions.  I was never fully atheist, but I was firmly agnostic. Ironically, as a millennial, you spend most of that time in the church. But when I ended up graduating high school, I left my faith behind as well. For as much time as I spent in the church, I still had so many questions that it felt like the church, or at least the church that I was going to at the time, was giving me default answers like, hey, just forget about it. You don't need to know that. Just have faith, just trust in the Lord. And, for the curious, insatiable learner that I am, that wasn't enough. So, when I went up to college, I was never fully atheist, but I was firmly agnostic. I felt like there was something there.  But what I was hearing and getting from the church just wasn't enough and it wasn't really until my early career that I came back to exploring and finding my faith. [00:02:49] Tommy Thomas:  What was the greatest gift your parents gave to you? [00:02:54] Arthur Satterwhite: Oh man. My dad and I joke about it to this day. One of the lessons that he has instilled into me, that's carried through most of my life is if you're grown up enough to make grown up decisions, then you're grown up enough to deal with grown up consequences, I remember him saying that to me as early as five and six years old. Advice from my dad – if you are grown up enough to make grown up decisions, then you're grown up enough to deal with grown up consequences. And that's been something that has been a theme throughout my life. Before you make a decision, be confident and comfortable that you're willing to endure whatever consequences or implications may come for that decision. That I would even point to as one of the really early formative introductions to strategy for me, as I now have the privilege of leading Young Life as the VP of Strategy, the idea alone of understanding a decision and the consequences or implications of that decision is critical to strategy. My mom, God bless her. She passed about two years ago now. Her legacy lives long and large in me. I am fruit of her. She actually said that to me, you know a few years back. She was like, I formed you, I just need you to know that and the tendrils and the tentacles, the intentionality. One of the things thatI look back on fondly, I was always busy, if I wasn't in the church then I was in some sort of sport. I played soccer, basketball, baseball, you name it I probably tried it. I was in the choir. I played an instrument. And it was in that same conversation. She's like, I just need you to understand the strategy intentionality. I wanted to make sure that one, you weren't in these streets getting into trouble. But then two, I wanted you to be exposed and have a varied experience such that as you started to wrestle with who am I and what am I called to bring and do to this world? You had a broad experience to pick from instead of a narrow experience that sort of maybe forced you in a certain direction. So, I appreciate that and that's something that I've again continued to carry on into my adulthood. I love broad, diverse experiences exposing myself in a lot of ways because you learn from the broader which also helps you focus on what matters. [00:05:06] Tommy Thomas: How'd you decide on which college to go to and how'd you pick a major? [00:05:12] Arthur Satterwhite: So, soccer was my thing, if the church was, maybe a cultural space, a safe space, soccer was my church. Growing up I started at age four, I had the privilege to travel the world. Play at some of the elite spaces for youth soccer at the time with many of the folks who are now professional or coaching. And when it came down to graduating high school, whereas a lot of my family went to HBCUs like Howard. I had one goal in mind coming out of high school. I wanted to be a professional soccer player, so I followed the college scholarship money to Monmouth University on the Jersey shore. I was going to be a professional soccer player. I went where they gave me scholarships.  I ended up at Monmouth University in the Jersey shore. Ironically didn't leave the state. So when I say I'm Jersey through and through, it's down to even my undergrad. And it was a brilliant time. I started my undergrad thinking I was going to play soccer.  If soccer didn't work out, I'll be a sports therapist. But yeah, after my first year and realizing that I'm no good at biology, I pivoted into the business and really the thinking at the time was like, what can you do? Because I didn't know who I wanted to be beyond the soccer player at the time. What can you do that would have the broadest application and serve you through the rest of your life? So again, that strategic thinking when you went into what major? So, I ended up doing business and marketing because business is universal in any industry. In any space, you have to understand business and then being able to market or sell or communicate is also just a life skill. So, if I couldfocus on that, then, say soccer doesn't pan out, then I could figure out what does. And I didn't have the skill set and education to be successful. [00:06:48] Tommy Thomas: Staying with soccer for a minute, what was the biggest lesson you learned from team sports? [00:06:53] Arthur Satterwhite: The team. I would say, how to exist within the team, how to be successful and to partner and collaborate with teams. I do honestly believe it's a lost art. Even at our organization, we're talking about, what does collaboration look like and how do we do that? An organization that's 80 plus years old, history has been steeped in kind of. We send people to go to be with kids. There is this sense, even a cultural drive to be that hero to go and take the ministry by the horns. That is your personal burden - to go and serve that community, not just in our organization, but in many organizations, there is an underappreciation for collaboration if not really a lack of understanding or experience even collaborating. So, when I look back at my soccer career - the 20 something years that was a key lesson that I took away from that, that has carried throughout my life. I see the value and the potential of a team. I understand what it means to be the player in a team, right? We've all seen those teams that are not really teams, but really a group of all stars. You think about maybe some of these recent, U.S. Olympic basketball teams that haven't been as successful, versus those early Dream Teams that were able to come together and take these unique, diverse talents and somehow fit them together to be more than the whole the individual could bring it by themselves. Soccer taught me about coming together, taking each player's unique and diverse talents, and somehow fitting them together to be more than the individual could bring. That's what soccer taught me. Our team was never the best team in the nation or even the state, but I had the privilege of being on teams with really great coaches who were able to take our unique, diverse talents that together we were able to take down some of the bigger teams and bigger names in youth soccer. [00:08:48] Tommy Thomas: When you think about the coaches in your life what's the greatest lesson you think you learned from a coach? [00:08:55] Arthur Satterwhite: Coaching, like leadership, is not about you. I had the privilege, like I said, sitting at the feet of just some really great coaches. I think of a Scott Byrd, my high school soccer coach, Robert McCourt, my college coach, my father, who was my coach when I was much younger, Malcolm Murphy, who was a coach for several of my youth teams. The consistent theme through each of these coaches was it wasn't just about the W. Of course, they wanted to win, and they wanted us to win. A good soccer coach develops and prepares the players to be able to achieve their potential, whether it's in the game of soccer or in life. But for them it was really more about the development. They saw their role, their position, as the success of their position, as that these young boys, eventually men would be developed and prepared to be men, and to be able to really achieve their potential, whether that's in the game of soccer or in life. That's the role and that's carried forward for me in leadership where my leadership philosophy is like, the role of the leader, it's not about you. It's about the people that you are blessed and privileged to serve for whatever season or chapter that is your call to serve them. How do you call them, take that cast of characters, call them to pull and bring their gifts to the table such that they can continue to grow and be more? Realize their potential and that the team or organization can be the beneficiary of that impact. ++++++++++++++++++++ [00:10:24] Tommy Thomas: Let's change gears to your early career, the first time you ever had a staff reporting to you.  What do you remember? [00:10:30] Arthur Satterwhite: Oh man, you're pulling me back. First time I ever had staff reporting to me. It's tricky. There's the official staff. Early in my career, my first career before I got into ministry, first in American Bible Society I started off in real estate property management working in New York city. Which is a really fun, chaotic space. Started first on the development side, but then moved to the rental side. And early in my career, my leaders, supervisors, showed me a great favor. They saw something in me. And while I didn't necessarily have direct reports in the way of the staff in our buildings who often reported to the supers or your resident managers that live there. A lot of them really deferred that leadership to me because one of my superpowers has always been people development. So I ended up, of course, doing what does that scheduling look like? And just doing a lot of that, care for our staff in our buildings. But it really taught me at an early age. Yes, you have your objectives and your goals as an organization. Part of how you motivate people to help you achieve those goals is by caring for them by putting them first. So that idea of servant leadership. I forget her name at the moment, but the former CEO of Popeye's, (Cheryl Bachelder) has done some really great work in writing on this, just talking about serving leadership is often misunderstood. It's like we serve for the sake of service. Sure. But because that leadership is part of it, it should lead to some sort of goal or the outcome or impact. And I learned that early on where I was successful to motivate people to help us achieve more. Whether that was getting the building launched on time, creating exceptional experiences for our residents, whatever it was by caring for them, by putting our staff first, by letting them know that they were more than just an asset of the organization, but that they were people that we wanted to pour into and see continue to improve and grow. It wasn't until American Bible Society where I'd say I started to get into formal line leadership where it was interesting. It was a new experience, but at the same time it wasn't because I had been doing it in practice for several years already. And the challenge for me, I would say then, even still today, is I often find myself leading amidst change - leading in the margins, leading in spaces that are either forming or transitioning. I haven't yet had the luxury of just stepping into a space that it was just completely stable. I envy those leaders. So, I've always had to work with my teams and do that forming and norming work, that early work of what does it look like to cast vision to galvanize people to stack hands on a vision and move in a direction? But then at the same time, help them see clearly where and how not just their role, but their unique gifts and calling aligns with a vision, directly contributes vision for the whole. And I think because of that experience in that background, that's been something that I think is I had to say here, I think these are my superpowers, right? I can't lift 500. I can't turn invisible. But the one thing, the few things that I do believe I've gotten really good at is building culture, casting vision and talent and team development. [00:14:00] Tommy Thomas: At what time in your career did you get comfortable in your leadership skin? [00:14:04] Arthur Satterwhite:   Do we ever? Most don't. Exactly. I think there's always a little bit of imposter syndrome that every leader carries. And I think that comes with the burden of leadership, that responsibility you carry that you're short of being a full-on narcissist. You're concerned. I don't want to mess it up. I don't want to mess it up for the organization. I don't want to mess these people up. They're in my care. I don't want to mess up.  Can I do this? I'll say my doctoral journey was hugely formative. And it was through that process I learned a lot about myself. But, combined with that, I also, over the last, oh, wow, it's 2023. I can't believe it's 2023. Over the last 10 years or so, I've also just gotten some really good mentors in my life. People who have modeled for me, what does it look like to be confident and comfortable in your own skin, to know who you are intimately such that, you could just live that out, shed those maybe people pleasing tendencies that some of us carry, the need to be acknowledged and celebrated, to be seen. Some of that, as I've seen them and now trying to model in my own leadership. You don't need to please the world, and you don't draw affirmation from the world as you get clear and comfortable and confident in your own skin, knowing who you are, and yes, whose you are, your priorities, your sense of worth, the things that give you life. It's only been in the past 5-6 years that I have gotten to a place where I know who I am, what I can do, and what I am good at. And I would say it's really only been in the last, five or six years as I came through my doctoral experience. I feel like I've gotten to a place where I know who I am. I know what I can do and what I'm good at. And I also know what I can't, and I don't try to. And again, given my preference for collaboration, I think it's been a beautiful thing that's helped me to better collaborate and invite people to the table. [00:16:01] Tommy Thomas: What was the best piece of advice a mentor has given you thus far? [00:16:08] Arthur Satterwhite: I won't cuss on your podcast, but I had a mentor and this was early in my doctoral process to where I was learning so much and I was so excited about what I was learning and being able to put it into practice at the organization I was serving at the time that I just started showing up in meetings like this book says, and this leader says, Oh, here's this Bye. Bye Theory and this framework.  Why aren't we doing these things? And one day he just pulled me aside and he was like, stop being a, you're filling the blank, wait, what? And he was like, dude, we all know you're smart. No, we get it. We're excited. You're going through this and we're eager to listen. You have to leave room for others. Yeah, you don't have to over explain everything and,use all these sources and everything. You just be real, and that punch in the nose really forced me to reflect on where's that coming from? And it was my own sense of insecurity. And really wanting to be seen as an authority, and I've consistently throughout my entire career, again, as a millennial, but as a millennial who has been consistently elevated, at a rapid pace, I've always found myself to be the youngest in the room. And at most times, especially in these spaces that I've had the privilege to serve, I'm usually one of, if not the only person of color in that room. And those are hard places to be the super minority, in those spaces. And having experienced, I won't say full on discrimination, based on those things, but definitely treated differently because of those things. As my mom and dad said, at an early young age, son, you're always going to have to work harder. You're always going to have to be better. You're always going to have to be smarter. And that's something that carried forward, which, yes, helped me to achieve at high levels, but then also on some degree, maybe created a little bit of a complex that, again those words from that mentor in that moment helped me to really snap out of it. Man, you don't have to prove yourself to anybody but the Lord. Are you doing this for others affirmation and acknowledgement, or are you doing this for the Lord, for the purpose or better opportunity that you and your talents and gifting could bring or could be a catalyst to create? So, a lot of it really did shift, in these last 10 years or so, as I got really comfortable and confident in who I am, understanding and knowing my identity, therapy helps doing that work. But just being really intentional about Lord, who have you created me to be, called me to be, and where and how can I live that out so that I can add the greatest value to your kingdom? ++++++++++++++++++++ [00:19:02] Tommy Thomas: Back in your American Bible Society experience, you were Senior Manager of Youth and Millennial Engagement. Now you probably work with, if not the largest, one of the largest youth engagement organizations in the world. Let's go to some, and I know it's sometimes dangerous to generalize generational differences. So if I go too far there you push back on me because you're more seasoned in that than I am. But I'm just thinking about, in your office today you probably have baby boomers. You've probably got some Gen Xers, you've got some Millennials and you might have some Gen Z people. What are you observing about those four generations, if you will, in terms of how they work as a team? How they view teamwork? [00:19:49] Arthur Satterwhite: It's a great question. And there's been lots of books written, just in the last decade alone, which by the way, millennials, it's our time to shine right now. We went from being the problem child to, now it's those Gen Z kids over there. Soon it'll be, Gen Alpha. So, I'm sure Gen Z, don't worry. We'll take our eyes off you soon. Yeah, I would say it's a really opportunistic time, but also very difficult time in many workspaces and faith spaces, because this is the first time in history that we've had this many generations existing together in one space. I would say opportunistic time, but also very difficult time in many workspaces and faith spaces, because this is the first time in history that we've had this many generations existing together in one space. You have the eldest generation, the greatest generation, right? The heels of the world war, many are dying off sadly. But many are still in our spaces, even in the workplace in some places. But then you also, now at the youngest, you have Gen Z coming along. And then they're starting to enter into the workforce and want to put their stamp on. So you got the eldest generation boomers, Gen X, Gen Y, Millennials. And Gen Z - five generations existing together each with their own generational culture that has been formed by the unique experiences that they've been exposed to. ·  The Greatest Generation exposed to the World War, ·  Millennials and Gen Xers, exposed to 9-11 and terrorism, ·  Boomers, the Flower Power generation, and ·  Gen Z, the first to be digitally native. Those are very distinct generational influences, that again, if you haven't done that work to develop your cross-cultural competency, or what David Livermore calls cultural intelligence, think about emotional intelligence. It's all about our ability to successfully navigate social context and situations in healthy ways. Self-awareness, self-regulation, cultural intelligences, our ability to navigate different distinct cultural spaces. And sadly, there is not a lot of work being done or enough work, I'll say, being done in that space, especially to the generational differences and distinctions. Think about it, right? Why do we make the young generation at the time, the target? Older generations like, oh, they don't have work ethic or, oh, they don't get this, back in my day.  There's fear in that because all the generations sense the change that a younger generation is bringing. But it's also just a lack of understanding. Why are they different? Why are their values so distinct from mine? Why are they pressing in, right? You think about Gen Z and millennials to agree and just things like the climate and justice, right? Some of the narratives and headlines of this time speak to what these younger generations have a heart and a value for and you think about older generations. Like I think of my father and my uncle, man, they were just like, look, your job is to go to work, work hard, you put money on the table and come home. They valued work, they valued work ethic, they valued professionalism, and it's not that younger generations don't value those things, they just look different. And younger generations, it's not that the older generations before believe and valued was bad it was just informed by their time.  I like to push my communities to the opportunity of how do we build bridges between one another so that we can hear and learn from one another? What I love about my mentoring relationships, it's not just mentoring one way where the more seasoned experience, usually typically older than me, that person is pouring into me, they don't see me as a glass that's half empty that they got to fill up. No, I'm a glass that's half full. And this needs to be a mutually beneficial relationship. So, they're mentoring me, and I'm reverse mentoring them. And together, we're learning, we're growing. And by extension, as we all tend to be in leadership spaces, our teams, and the organizations we represent are made better. I think that's the opportunity for many workplaces, but also faith spaces. When you think about the church - it has always been generationally diverse. But there are some who would point back to the early to mid 1900s,all of a sudden, we're starting to segregate our churches. They'd always been segregated by race. That goes back farther, but I'm talking about by generation. All of a sudden, we got youth ministry and children's ministry and, no longer kids sitting in the sanctuary with the parents. And suddenly, we've got young adult ministry over here and this ministry over there. And by segregating our communities, we actually diminished our capacity to navigate those generationally or culturally different spaces together as one community. [00:24:37] Tommy Thomas: Is there anything you can cite either from ABS or Young Life that either of those organizations are doing well in creating this culture of communication between the generations? [00:24:49] Arthur Satterwhite: Yeah, cheers to my current organization, Young Life. I don't think this is overly braggadocious to say. I think we are one of the best, if not the best out there, that's doing relational ministry. The core of what we do, our modus operandi, healthy adults in the lives of kids. Which by the way, the research points to that. The surgeon general of the U.S. has so many studies that talk about the value of the relationship between a healthy adult and the life of kids and how the positive benefits of that reduce at-risk behavior, so many different things. That's been our modus operandi for 80 plus years. That's what we do. Young Life exists to introduce adolescents to Jesus and help them grow in their faith. And that's really about adults who are called to go to do life on life ministry with kids to earn the right to be heard, right? We don't start with, hey, here's our five steps of evangelism. We simply show up. Whether that's at the football game or the coffeehouse, we show up and we genuinely just want to build relationship with young people with the understanding and knowledge that at some point during that relationship they're going to be curious. Why do you do this? Why do you care about me? Why do you love me? And that's just an open-door opportunity for us to say because Jesus first loved me. And because I'm called to be like my daddy, to be like my Jesus, that means I'm called to love you. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Next week we'll continue this conversation with Arthur Satterwhite. Our focus will be Diversity Equity and Belonging. Links & Resources JobfitMatters Website Next Gen Nonprofit Leadership with Tommy Thomas Young Life Website Satterwhite Company Arthur referenced the writing/work of Cheryl Bachelder – former CEO of Popeye's Chicken.  Here are a couple of references to her work: Leaders – “Former CEO of Popeyes Used Servant Leadership to Save the Company” Harvard Business Review – “The CEO of Popeyes on Treating Franchisees as the Most Important Customers” Entrepreneurial Leaders Network – Cheryl Bachelder – “Dare To Serve”   Connect tthomas@jobfitmatters.com Follow Tommy on LinkedIn Follow Arthur on LinkedIn

I was taking a walk at the Kensico Dam in Valhalla, NY when I spotted a woman working out swinging ‘sumthin' in the distance. I was curious what the heck she was doing and wanted to ask her. So, I walked over and saw she was swinging a contraption around her waist and hips, similar to what we used to do as kids with that old Skip-It toy you'd swing around your ankle and jump over with your other leg. 'Weighted Hula Hoops' she said are a Tik Tok Trend. Who Knew? I instantly felt I might need one too! LOL  I got to talking with Dr. Karen Blacks, who said according to her app, her 20 minutes of 'hula hooping' was the same as walking 2 miles, plus it tightens your core, she said.  A few laughs later, I find out like me, Dr. Blacks enjoys talking to strangers, so I told her about my upcoming little book, “How To Talk To Strangers, Advice From A Professional Stranger Talker.”  Then she told me she wrote a book called 'Experiencing God in The Ordinary'. Then she mentioned she was excited she was being ordained at a Baptist Minister that weekend, then… I invited her on my show to share the big hula hoop discovery and celebrate her accomplishment!   Meanwhile, next day Amazon delivered my own 'weighted hula hoop'.  I chose blue. It was pretty easy to figure out how to size it to my waist and attach the weighted thingy. What was challenging was figuring ‘where' to hula. I tried it inside my house and almost cleared all the glasses off my bar. I was too embarrassed to let my neighbors see me hula swinging outside my house, so I waited till almost dark and tried it out for like 2 minutes. Then I put it in my car and figured I'd just keep it there for when I went walking and do it in a random park. But every time I was about to take it out and swing it around, I thought I'd look stupid, so I didn't.   One day just as I walked into a CVS drugstore, my phone rang, and it was my bestie Mo calling from the parking lot telling me that I'd just parked next to her and walked past her car without noticing. I knew she was in a funky mood, so I thought I'd cheer her up on the way back out, and make her laugh by showing off my moves with my new hula hoop in the parking lot while she watched from inside her car. That was a good laugh.  Anyway, I finally found the perfect spot to do my hula exercise, a hideaway grassy area in my local park. The other day after walking I put it on, and got my weighted hula hooping swinging up to 5 minutes and found myself sweating. Even crazier, I checked my ‘steps' on my iPhone and sure enough it was like I had walked another half mile. I'm getting the hang of it now.   Last night after walking, right around dusk when I got back to my car in a mostly empty parking lot, I figured no one would notice me hula swinging. So I put it on, and hula hooped with my phone in my hand to just again see if it counted as ‘steps'.   Out of the corner of my eye I saw random woman walking in the distance toward her parked car but paid her no mind, until she turned and started walking toward me and I knew why. In her Norwegian accent she said,… ‘What' is that thing you're doing?”   I was laughing while still hooping as I told her, I had done the same exact thing when I saw the random Baptist Minister swinging her weighted hula hoop. Now the Norwegian lady wanted to get one too. So, while still swinging away, I gave her the name of it to look it up on Amazon.  Anyway, I decided some of you after reading this story, might get a kick out of the idea and want to try a weighted hula hoop too. I got my 'Dumoyi Smart Weighted Fit Hoop on Amazon'. Let me know if you get one. LOL    Meanwhile listen in and have some laughs and meet my latest 'Random Run In' Dr. Karen Blacks in this podcast of our live conversation from The Debbie Nigro Show.  When she's not 'hula hooping' at the dam, Dr. Karen Blacks serves as the Associate Minister, and Minister of Women's Initiatives at Antioch Baptist Church in Bedford Hills, New York. Dr. Blacks is also the founder of Women of God in the World, a welcoming community of over 10,000 women from 30+ countries. Dr. Blacks holds a Master of Divinity and a Doctor of Ministry from New York Theological Seminary and a Certificate of Specialization in Leadership and Management from Harvard Business School Online. She also has a heart for volunteering and can be found distributing food to those in need in the White Plains community. She serves on the Town of Bedford Prison Relations Advisory Committee, is a member of the Westchester NY Black Women's Political Caucus and is on the board of the Women's Empowerment Forum located in Liberia, Africa.

Dr. Rev. Ahmondra McClendon holds a Master of Social Work Degree from San Francisco State University and a Doctor of Ministry Degree from New York Theological Seminary. With thirty-five + years in human service delivery, she has a unique perspective on life.Although her life is in harmony now, it wasn't always. For years she existed within The Legacy of Silence, a generational pattern of behavior. Opening a window into a world where Black Women suffer in silence, she uncovers the strength, courage, and resiliency they exhibit while facing childhood trauma, domestic violence, drug addiction, and paralyzing grief. A passionate advocate for healing, she offers a pathway to freedom from the African Diaspora who wonder why they live with silenced voices and hurting hearts. She created The Original Queens Sacred Community to facilitate change and strengthen the bonds of sistahood. "This Community is our tribe and a safe space to speak truths, recognize triumphs, and share unconditional love as we heal generational pain and trauma." The Uncrowned Queen Reclaims Her Throne, When a Black Woman Breaks the Silence, is a must-read for Black Women of all ages seeking to better understand themselves and their ancestral heritage and those interested in learning more about their challenges. "Holding hands and standing on the shoulders of our ancestors, we can guide each other out of the dark world of secrets into the daylight of truth. Together we can reclaim our Thrones and break the Legacy of Silence" Dr. AhmondraFor more, visit: https://ucqueen.com/ Support the show Contact me at: postcardstotheuniverse@gmail.com Shout out and follow on IG - @postcardstotheuniverse https://linktr.ee/postcardstotheuniverse Thank you and keep listening for more great shows!

Dr. Rev. Ahmondra McClendon – The Uncrowned Queen Reclaims Her ThroneAir Date: Wednesday, 12 July 2023 at 4:00 PM ET/1:00 PM ETDr. Rev. Ahmondra McClendon holds a Master of Social Work Degree from San Francisco State University and a Doctor of Ministry Degree from New York Theological Seminary. With thirty-five + years in human service delivery, she has a unique perspective on life.Although her life is in harmony now, it wasn't always. For years she existed within The Legacy of Silence, a generational pattern of behavior. Opening a window into a world where Black Women suffer in silence, she uncovers the strength, courage, and resiliency they exhibit while facing childhood trauma, domestic violence, drug addiction, and paralyzing grief. A passionate advocate for healing, she offers a pathway to freedom from the African Diaspora who wonder why they live with silenced voices and hurting hearts.She created The Original Queens Sacred Community to facilitate change and strengthen the bonds of sistahood. “This Community is our tribe and a safe space to speak truths, recognize triumphs, and share unconditional love as we heal generational pain and trauma.”The Uncrowned Queen Reclaims Her Throne, When a Black Woman Breaks the Silence, is a must-read for Black Women of all ages seeking to better understand themselves and their ancestral heritage and those interested in learning more about their challenges.“Holding hands and standing on the shoulders of our ancestors, we can guide each other out of the dark world of secrets into the daylight of truth. Together we can reclaim our Thrones and break the Legacy of Silence” ~Dr. AhmondraFor more, visit: https://ucqueen.com/#DrRevAhmondraMcClendon #PostcardsToTheUniverse #MelisaCaprioVisit the Show Page at https://omtimes.com/iom/shows/postcards-to-the-universeConnect with Melisa Caprio at https://www.postcardstotheuniverse.com/Subscribe to our Newsletter https://omtimes.com/subscribe-omtimes-magazine/Connect with OMTimes on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Omtimes.Magazine/ and OMTimes Radio https://www.facebook.com/ConsciousRadiowebtv.OMTimes/Twitter: https://twitter.com/OmTimes/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/omtimes/Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/2798417/Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/omtimes/

This new book traces the lives of Israeli Jews and Palestinian Arabs in Israel and Palestine who have dedicated their lives to building peaceful relations among the two peoples and between individual people who seek to live in peace and harmony with one another. These people have acted courageously and consistently in their work for peace. In this book, the author profiles the lives, thoughts, feelings, and actions of six important peacebuilders — men and women, secular and religious, 3 Jewish Israelis: Rabbi Michael Melchior, Professor Galia Golan, and Mrs. Hadassah Froman, and 3 Palestinian Arabs: Professor Mohammed Dajani, Ms. Huda Abuarquob, and Bishop Munib Younan. The reader learns about their visions for peace and their activities to bring their ideas to fruition in the real world of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Too many people have given up on peace. In contrast, the people in this book persevere for peace, thus keeping a flicker of hope alive for Israelis and Palestinians who live in the same land for people everywhere who continue to yearn for a peace agreement to be reached in the region.  Co-sponsored by: Alliance for Middle East Peace (ALLMEP) is a coalition of over 170 organizations—and tens of thousands of Palestinians and Israelis—building people-to-people cooperation, coexistence, equality, shared society, mutual understanding, and peace among their communities. We add stability in times of crisis, foster cooperation that increases impact, and build an environment conducive to peace over the long term.  Author: Rabbi Dr. Ron Kronish is an independent scholar, writer, blogger, lecturer, teacher, and mentor. For several years, he has been a Library Fellow at the Van Leer Jerusalem Institute. From 1991-2015, he served as the Founder and Director of the Interreligious Coordinating Council in Israel (ICCI), Israel's premier interreligious institution. He was educated at Brandeis University (BA), Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion, and the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He is the editor of Coexistence and Reconciliation in Israel: Voices for Interreligious Dialogue (Paulist Press, 2015) and the author of The Other Peace Process: Interreligious Dialogue, A View from Jerusalem (Hamilton Books, 2017) and Profiles in Peace: Voices of Peacebuilders in the Midst of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (2022). He writes a regular blog for The Times of Israel and contributes to The Jerusalem Report. He teaches courses about Interreligious Dialogue and Peacebuilding at the Schechter Institutes for Jewish Studies in Jerusalem, in the Department for Adult Education, and at the Drew University Theological School (via Zoom) in Madison, NJ. Moderator: Rabbi Gerry Serotta served as Executive Director of the Interfaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington from 2014 through 2020, where he continued his work as a leading voice for interfaith cooperation, religious freedom, and human rights. He is the founding rabbi of Shirat HaNefesh from 2008 to 2014. Rabbi Serotta has served as Executive Director of the interreligious organization Clergy Beyond Borders, Associate Rabbi of Temple Shalom in Chevy Chase, and Director of the Hillel Foundation at George Washington University. He was the founder and chair of Rabbis for Human Rights – North America and chaired the Board of Chaplains of George Washington University. Rabbi Serotta has received many awards for his communal work. He was named a Public Policy Conflict Resolution fellow by the University of Maryland School of Law and served as a senior rabbinic scholar in residence at the Religious Action Center of the Union for Reform Judaism. Rabbi Serotta received a master's degree in Hebrew Literature from Hebrew Union College, a Master of Sacred Theology from New York Theological Seminary, and an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Hebrew Union College. Discussant: Ibrahim Anli is a civic entrepreneur with a career record that bridges nonprofit and academic experience. He was a visiting researcher at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem from 2007-08. Ibrahim joined the Journalists and Writers Foundation's (JWF) Ankara office as the diplomacy coordinator in 2010. In 2013, he became the secretary-general of Abant Platform, JWF's Istanbul-based forum of intellectuals. Ibrahim Anli was a lecturer and acting chair at the Department of International Relations and Diplomacy at Tishk International University in Erbil in 2016-17. He is currently a volunteer instructor for the OLLI at George Mason University, a member of the Braver Angels Scholars Council, and a member of the Public Diplomacy Council of America. He holds a BA in Economics from Istanbul University, an MA in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from Sabanci University, and a certificate in Strategic Management for Leaders of NGOs from Harvard University.

Let's go shatter a glass steeple or two, shall we?When it comes to women in ministry, the gains have been ever so gradual. And at the top levels of leadership — from seminary faculty and deans to senior clergy positions — women seem to have hit a wall. Fewer than 25 percent of seminary faculty and deans are women, as are 11 percent of presidents, according to the Association of Theological Schools.This week Katelyn and Roxy are joined by two of those rarities — the Rev. Drs. Lakeesha Walrond and Serene Jones — who have shattered plenty of stained glass ceilings in their careers. As seminary presidents in New York City, the two are partnering together, hoping to offer more opportunities for future faith leaders. We talk to them about the realities of ministry today, the stakes women in seminary face and why we should actually be worrying about the men.GUESTS:Rev. Dr. LaKeesha Walrond is the first Black woman to serve as president of New York Theological Seminary and a preaching pastor at First Corinthians Baptist Church NYC.Rev. Dr. Serene Jones is the first woman to serve as president of Union Theological Seminary and the author of "Call It Grace: Finding Meaning in a Fractured World."See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We speak with Dr. Obery Hendricks, a Biblical scholar at Columbia University and Union Theological Seminary. His new book Christians Against Christianity discusses the moral roots of the Bible to illustrate the hypocrisy of evangelical right-wing rhetoric, including a chapter on the religious Right's condemnation of homosexuality and how it runs antithetical to the foundational teachings of Christ.   A former Wall Street investment executive and college president, Dr. Hendricks is currently a Visiting Scholar in Religion and African Studies at Columbia University and Emeritus Professor of Biblical Interpretation at New York Theological Seminary. An Ordained Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Hendricks holds the Master of Divinity with academic honors from Princeton Theological Seminary, and both the M.A. and Ph.D. in Religions of Late Antiquity from Princeton University. Yass, Jesus! is hosted by Danny Franzese and Azariah Southworth. Our producers are The Freakin' Deacon Ross Murray and Ladyboss Meredith Paulley. Sound, music, and post-production by Chris Heckman.   Get to know us better, support our show or Buy Us a Coffee:   Daniel Franzese  https://whatsupdanny.com/  Twitter Instagram Facebook Azariah Southworth  https://azariahspeaks.com/  Instagram Facebook   Ross Murray  The Naming Project GLAAD  Twitter --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/yassjesus/message

 Harlem World Magazine's president CC Minton and Publisher Danny Tisdale spoke to Kahlil Carmichael regarding mind, body, and spirit on The HWM Podcast. Kahlil Carmichael is Founder and Senior Pastor, Live Well Church in New Jersey, he is a graduate of New York Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity in Harlem, NY and the founder of FitCare360°; a not-for-profit, helping participants engages the mind, body, and spirit to attain lasting well-being with an emphasis on spiritual care, physical exercise and healthy eating, through online and in-person services. Pastor Carmichael has earned wellness certifications from the American Council on Exercise (ACE) and was an Arthritis Foundation Tai-Chi Instructor and an Arthritis Foundation exercise specialist.  He is the author of “The Fitness Doctor, 50 Tips of The Day” and a monthly columnist including being a husband, father, theologian, author, podcaster, entrepreneur, avid reader and life-long learner.CC MintonCC Minton, CC is an award-winning lifestyle advocate, author, social impact exec, and founder of The House of Minton which consists of lifestyle-driven real estate holdings.  An NYC conversationalist with a passion for people, she works with men and women helping them upgrade their lifestyles.  She believes that the kitchen and the bedroom are the most important rooms in the house.Support our work and get the new a HWM Podcast t-shirt with a purchase $32.47 today at https://tinyurl.com/yz4zjhh7.Support the showAs an independent magazine, we rely on readers like you to help keep our content free. Please contribute.

 Rev. Caffie Risher is a Christian pastor and grief counselor who is deeply aware  of the presence of toxic theology in scripture and in the teachings of the church. She infuses her ministry for the bereaved with clear, critical thinking and a non-dogmatic approach to spirituality in the process of grief and mourning.  Caffie has early recollections of walking dirt roads in the south with her grandmother  Jessie Mae where they would take care of relatives and community members when there was a death in the family or if someone was sick and needed help.  Both her mother, Earlene Williams Risher, and grandmother taught her Christ-care, compassion, and pastoral concern for others at an early age. For Caffie, it is life's experiences, her own mortality, death of loved ones, personal loss, grief, educational experiences, and certifications that have all shaped and equipped her for this journey to minister hope and healing to those who are hurting. In 2002 she  was appointed to the position of “Minority Scholar” teaching public speaking and introduction to business courses at Passaic County Community College.  Eighteen years later she holds the position of a tenured Assistant Professor and Academic Coordinator of Public Speaking in the Fine and Performing Arts Department.  She teaches Public Speaking, Business Communication, Business Writing, and Death and Dying courses.  She also serves as chair of the Distinguished Lecturer Series and faculty advisor to the Power in Christ Christian Club who won the Emerging Club Award for excellent campus involvement and exceptional leadership.Prior to this, she held a post at New York Theological Seminary where she taught for several years in the Certificate of Ministry program.   For more on this topic, read this article: Does the Hebrew Bible Sanctify Mass Murder… and Disregard the Resulting Trauma?

Obery Hendricks: Exposing the hypocrisy of right-wing evangelicals —  The evangelical right has become a powerful force in US politics. Interestingly, many right-wing evangelicals have used the Bible to justify and promote white supremacy and power as well as marginalize and demonize various groups. In this episode Ramona talks to best selling author and Biblical scholar Dr. Obery Hendricks about his newest book Christians Agains Christianity: How Right-Wing Evangelicals Are Destroying Our Nation and Our Faith. In their discussion Dr. Hendricks uses biblical texts to deconstruct and challenge many beliefs of right-wing evangelicals on key issues of the day such as immigration, homosexuality and abortion, to name a few. Dr. Obery Hendricks is one of the most influential African American biblical scholars in America today. He is currently a Visiting Scholar at Columbia University in Religion and African American and African Diasporic Studies and Emeritus Professor of Biblical Interpretation at New York Theological Seminary. For more information about Dr. Obery Hendricks and to purchase his book, visit https://oberyhendricksphd.com/.

ABOUT OUR GUEST: Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Dunlap, Jr.Dr. Nathaniel Dunlap, Jr currently serves as the Founder and Executive Director of the PRF Teaching Institute, a 501(c)(3) non-profit teaching organization renowned for teaching financial and stewardship principles to diverse communities across the nation. Dr. Dunlap is a former commissioned officer in the U.S. Army, a wartime veteran, as well as an ordained minister. He is the former leader of the Army's Personal Financial Management Course at Fort Benning, GA, and has worked as a consultant to the federal government on national security matters for almost 20 years. He has authored two books, Don't Leave Me Like This: Inspiration To Leave A Legacy and What's Next? Preparing For Eternity. A respected educator and veteran of higher education, Dr. Dunlap also serves as the Chief Diversity Officer for Point University in West Point, GA, where he also teaches in the Department of Biblical Studies. Dr. Dunlap's academic crown flaunts a Bachelor's degree in Individualized Studies (Administration of Justice) from Virginia State University, Master's degrees from Columbus State University (MPA) and Columbis Theological Seminary, and an earned Doctor of Ministry degree (Conflict Transformation) from New York Theological Seminary.

ABOUT OUR GUEST: Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Dunlap, Jr. Dr. Nathaniel Dunlap, Jr currently serves as the Founder and Executive Director of the PRF Teaching Institute, a 501(c)(3) non-profit teaching organization renowned for teaching financial and stewardship principles to diverse communities across the nation. Dr. Dunlap is a former commissioned officer in the U.S. Army, a wartime veteran, as well as an ordained minister. He is the former leader of the Army's Personal Financial Management Course at Fort Benning, GA, and has worked as a consultant to the federal government on national security matters for almost 20 years. He has authored two books, Don't Leave Me Like This: Inspiration To Leave A Legacy and What's Next? Preparing For Eternity. A respected educator and veteran of higher education, Dr. Dunlap also serves as the Chief Diversity Officer for Point University in West Point, GA, where he also teaches in the Department of Biblical Studies. Dr. Dunlap's academic crown flaunts a Bachelor's degree in Individualized Studies (Administration of Justice) from Virginia State University, Master's degrees from Columbus State University (MPA) and Columbis Theological Seminary, and an earned Doctor of Ministry degree (Conflict Transformation) from New York Theological Seminary.

ABOUT OUR GUEST: Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Dunlap, Jr. Dr. Nathaniel Dunlap, Jr currently serves as the Founder and Executive Director of the PRF Teaching Institute, a 501(c)(3) non-profit teaching organization renowned for teaching financial and stewardship principles to diverse communities across the nation. Dr. Dunlap is a former commissioned officer in the U.S. Army, a wartime veteran, as well as an ordained minister. He is the former leader of the Army's Personal Financial Management Course at Fort Benning, GA, and has worked as a consultant to the federal government on national security matters for almost 20 years. He has authored two books, Don't Leave Me Like This: Inspiration To Leave A Legacy and What's Next? Preparing For Eternity. A respected educator and veteran of higher education, Dr. Dunlap also serves as the Chief Diversity Officer for Point University in West Point, GA, where he also teaches in the Department of Biblical Studies. Dr. Dunlap's academic crown flaunts a Bachelor's degree in Individualized Studies (Administration of Justice) from Virginia State University, Master's degrees from Columbus State University (MPA) and Columbis Theological Seminary, and an earned Doctor of Ministry degree (Conflict Transformation) from New York Theological Seminary.

Born and raised in the village of Harlem and in the Bronx, NY, Bishop Darren A. Ferguson is known as a leader for this generation – a preacher, teacher, singer, motivational speaker and social activist. Rev. Darren A. Ferguson has been called a “rising star in the ministry” by the Rev. Al Sharpton. During his nearly 2 decade career in NYC, he has served in the Fatherhood program at the Osborne Association, Coordinated Reentry Services for the Interfaith Center of New York, served as Assistant Dean of Students at SUNY College at Old Westbury and Youth Minister at the Abyssinian Baptist Church.  Now studying toward his Doctor of Ministry at New York Theological Seminary, Rev. Ferguson has had a dynamic and involved career.

Dr. Obery Hendricks comes on the show to talk about ethics and how they play out in the real world. Links from the show:* Christians Against Christianity: How Right-Wing Evangelicals Are Destroying Our Nation and Our Faith* Connect with Dr. Hendricks* Subscribe to the newsletterAbout my guest:A life long social activist, Obery Hendricks is one of the foremost commentators on the intersection of religion and political economy in America. He is the most widely read and perhaps the most influential African American biblical scholar writing today. His recent book, Christians Against Christianity: How Right-Wing Evangelicals Are Destroying Our Nation and Our Faith (Beacon Press, 2021) has gathered wide acclaim. Cornel West calls him “one of the last few grand prophetic intellectuals.”A widely sought lecturer and media spokesperson, Dr. Hendricks' appearances include CNN, MSNBC, CBS, Fox News, Fox Business News, the Discovery Channel, PBS, BBC, NHK Japan Television and the Bloomberg Network. He has provided running event commentary for National Public Radio, MSNBC, and the al-Jazeera and Aspire international television networks. Dr. Hendricks has served in the Religion and Foreign Policy Working Group at the U. S. Department of State under Secretaries of State Hillary Clinton and John Kerry; was a member of the Faith Advisory Council of the Democratic National Committee, for whom he delivered the closing benediction at the 2008 Democratic Convention; served on the National Religious Leaders Advisory Committee of the 2008 Democratic Presidential campaign. He is a Distinguished Senior Fellow at The Democracy Collaborative in Washington, DC; has been an Affiliated Scholar at the Center for American Progress; was a Senior Fellow at The Opportunity Agenda social justice communications think tank; is on the Advisory Board of the Institute of Christian Socialism; and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI). Dr. Hendricks has been a frequent contributor to the Huffington Post and Salon.com, a former editorial advisor to the award-winning Tikkun magazine, and a contributing editor to The Encyclopedia of Politics and Religion. The Dictionary of Biblical Interpretation has called his work “the boldest post-colonial writing ever seen in Western biblical studies.”Hendricks' award-winning book, The Politics of Jesus: Rediscovering the True Revolutionary Nature of Jesus' Teachings and How They Have Been Corrupted (Doubleday, 2006), was declared “essential reading for Americans” by the Washington Post. Social commentator Michael Eric Dyson proclaimed it “an instant classic” that “immediately thrusts Hendricks into the front ranks of American religious thinkers.” The Politics of Jesus was the featured subject of the 90-minute C-SPAN special hosted by the Center for American Progress, “Class, Politics and Christianity.” The tenth anniversary of its publication was acknowledged at a major 2016 panel at the American Academy of Religion at its annual convention in San Antonio, TX. Governor Howard Dean, former chair of the Democratic National Committee, has called his book, The Universe Bends Toward Justice: Radical Reflections on the Bible, the Church and the Body Politic(Orbis, 2011), a “tour de force.”A former Wall Street investment executive and past president of Payne Theological Seminary, the oldest African American theological seminary in the United States, he is currently a Visiting Scholar at Columbia University in the Department of Religion and the Department of African American and African Diasporic Studies; a Visiting Professor at Union Theological Seminary; and Emeritus Professor of Biblical Interpretation at New York Theological Seminary. An Ordained Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Hendricks holds the Master of Divinity with academic honors from Princeton Theological Seminary, and both the M.A. and Ph.D. in Religions of Late Antiquity from Princeton University.      Get full access to Dispatches from the War Room at dispatchesfromthewarroom.substack.com/subscribe

Mindrolling – Raghu Markus – Ep. 460 – Untangled: Walking the Eightfold Path to Clarity, Courage, & Compassion w/ Koshin Paley EllisonKoshin Paley Ellison returns with Raghu to explore social action, suffering, pleasure, honoring it all, hungry ghosts, taking risks, and getting untangled.Sensei Koshin Paley Ellison, MFA, LMSW, DMIN, co-founded the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care, which is the first Zen-based organization to offer fully accredited ACPE clinical chaplaincy training in America. He is the academic advisor for the Buddhist students in the Master in Pastoral Care and Counseling program at New York Theological Seminary. Check out his upcoming book, Untangled: Walking the Eightfold Path to Clarity, Courage, and Compassion. Learn more about Koshin and his offerings at zencare.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode we chat with Willie Dwayne Francois III. Willie Dwayne Francois III (DMin, Candler School of Theology) is senior pastor of Mount Zion Baptist Church in Pleasantville, New Jersey, and president of the Black Church Center for Justice and Equality. He serves as assistant professor of liberation theology at New York Theological Seminary and directs a master's degree program at Sing Sing Correctional Facility. He created the Public Love Organizing and Training (PLOT) Project and has served in various organizations engaging racial justice issues, including the Atlantic City chapter of Black Lives Matter, the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference, and the NJ Department of State's MLK Jr. Commission. Francois is an active speaker and has written for HuffPost, Sojourners, The Hill, the Christian Century, and Religion Dispatches. Willie's book Silencing White Noise: Six Practices to Overcome Our Inaction on Race will be released on 8/16/22. You can connect with Willie on: Facebook     Twitter     Instagram Willie Dwayne Francois III is Senior Pastor of Mount Zion Baptist church You can purchase Silencing White noise at Amazon.com You can connect with This Is Not Church on: Facebook     Instagram      Twitter     TikTok     YouTube Also check out our Linktree for all things This Is Not Church related Each episode of This Is Not Church Podcast is expertly engineered by our producer The Podcast Doctor Eric Howell. If you're thinking of starting a podcast you need to connect with Eric!    

Far too often, churches are asking other to risk their discomfort - shouldn't churches be willing to risk their own discomfort for the sake of others? In this conversation, Sean Chow talks about how to help churches honestly assess their ability to pivot for change and growth, the importance of finding the right kind of change/growth leader, and why investing in resources bearing fruit matters. Sean believes that crisis accelerates change and understands the changes that are permanent post-Covid and what your church can do about them. Rev. Dr. Sean Chow is the Associate for 1001 New Worshiping Communities for Training and Leadership Cohorts for the Presbyterian Church (PCUSA). He resources and consults with regional denominational bodies, churches, and church plants as they launch new creative expressions of church. He is a graduate of Azusa Pacific University (2005), Master of Divinity from San Francisco Theological Seminary (2009) and a Doctor of Ministry at New York Theological Seminary (2022). The author of Rediscovering Vitality, Sean has an inner desire to be a part of a God driven movement that impacts the world for God's glory. His aim is to prepare, equip, and sustain leaders to do the work in which God calls them. He is a frequent speaker to churches, committees, gatherings, and conferences. Learn more here. The Future Christian Podcast is a production of Torn Curtain Arts and Resonate Media.  

In this episode my friend Derek and I speak with Vince Bantu who joined the Fuller faculty as assistant professor of church history and Black church studies in 2019. Dr. Bantu teaches primarily on Fuller's Houston campus, where he also serves as a liaison to the William E. Pannell Center for Black Church Studies and networks with Black churches, pastors, and students. Prior to coming to Fuller, Bantu taught in various capacities at a number of colleges and institutions, including Nyack College, New York Theological Seminary, North Park Theological Seminary, the Center for Early African Christianity, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and Covenant Theological Seminary. Additionally, he has years of pastoral experience in African American, Asian American, and Hispanic churches, as well as extensive involvement in multicultural urban communities. Bantu earned his PhD in Semitic and Egyptian Languages from The Catholic University of America, and his dissertation married his interests in African Christianity and social identity. He also directs the Meachum School of Haymanot, which provides theological education for urban pastors and leaders. He is the author of Gospel Haymanot: A Constructive Theology and Critical Reflection on African and Diasporic Christianity (2020) and A Multitude of All Peoples: Engaging Ancient Christianity's Global Identity (2020), as well as numerous articles on global Christianity, Syriac and Nubian Christianity, apologetics, justice, evangelism, and African American theology. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/misfits-theology/support

At the height of the AIDS epidemic, Karen Ziegler was senior pastor of an LGBTQ church in Greenwich Village. In this interview she shares how she led her congregation through a period of intense conflict.Karen led the church from 1978-1988 and then was a full-time organizer for several years in the AIDS community before becoming a nurse. Since retiring from work as a Nurse Practitioner 6 years ago she has been as a volunteer activist, serving as lead organizer for Democracy Out Loud Indivisible. She also works with the Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival and several other organizations. Having meditated on her own since 1979, she finally found a teacher in 1989 and since then has studied with teachers of vedic trantra, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Insight Meditation, plant medicine, and Tibetan Buddhism. She holds an MDiv from Union Theological Seminary, DMin from New York Theological Seminary, and an MSN from Duke University. Since 1917 Lama Rod Owens has been her primary teacher. Support the show

On this episode the "self proclaimed sportsnista", Yakiri Thomas spoke about, Atlanta United, Atlanta Dream, Woman granted emergency protective order against former Hawks Rajon Rondo, Broncos' Jerry Jeudy Released On Bond After Arrest For Alleged Criminal Tampering With Domestic Violence Enhancer, Brittney Griner's Pre-Trial Detention Extended By A Month, also special guest New York Theological Seminary LaKeeshia Walrond spoke on her experience as the first African American woman President at The New York Theological Seminary, where does herpassion for helping women and children stems from,the importance of allowing incarcerated individuals to be educated, some things she would change about the criminal justice system, and so much more… Game On!

Dr. Morgan and Dr. Harris discuss overlapping social issues and the role of the community and the church in developing solutions with positive outcomes. Rev. Dr. Antipas Harris Rev. Dr. Harris is a scholar-practitioner with nearly 20 years of experience as a university professor at several schools, including Sacred Heart University, New York Theological Seminary, Fuller Theological Seminary, Portland Theological Seminary, Vanguard University, and Regent University. He has held a lecture chair at North Central University in Minneapolis, Minnesota and also served as founding president-dean of Jakes Divinity School in Dallas, Texas. Rev. Dr. Harris is the founder and president of the Urban Renewal Center in Norfolk, Virginia. It is a center for moral thought, voice, and action. The center engages research, conversations, consulting, and community engagement. It advances principles and practices of diversity, equity, and inclusion for common good through the fusion of cultural competence and the ongoing process of cultural humility. Key Points While there are many problems in the world, there are many people who want to be part of the solution to be mobilized. Research is important to understand if our outreach is having positive outcomes in the community we are serving. The church needs to be aware and equipped with how social issues often intersect, and be trained on how to discern when those differing issues arise in their community. Our lives and decisions are shaped by our shared experience and the social fabric of our community, therefore, our successes and challenges are community successes and challenges. Resources The Urban Renewal Center Human trafficking in plain sight: the story of a true survivor Keeya Vawar Love the show? Consider supporting us on Patreon! Become a Patron Transcript Dave [00:00:00] You're listening to the Ending Human Trafficking podcast. This is episode number 275 Reflections on Human Trafficking from a Community Leader. Production Credits [00:00:10] Produced by Innovate Learning, maximizing human potential. Dave [00:00:29] Welcome to the Ending Human Trafficking podcast. My name is Dave Stachowiak. Sandie [00:00:34] And my name is Sandie Morgan. Dave [00:00:37] And this is the show where we empower you to study the issues, be a voice, and make a difference in ending human trafficking. Sandie, so much of what we've talked about on the show over the years is from the perspective of partnership, and there's no greater partnership than the partnership within our communities. I'm so glad today to be able to welcome community leader and expert who will help us to really bring some new perspective into this conversation. I'm so pleased to welcome the Reverend Dr. Antipas Harris. He is a scholar practitioner with more than 20 years of experience as a university professor at several schools, namely Sacred Heart University, New York Theological Seminary, Fuller Theological Seminary, Portland Theological Seminary, Vanguard University, and Regent University, where he was a tenured associate professor and held administrative roles. He has held a lecture chair at North Central University in Minneapolis. He's also served as the founding president and dean of Jakes Divinity School in Dallas, Texas. He's the founder and president of the Urban Renewal Center in Norfolk, Virginia. It is a center for moral thought, voice and action. The center engages research, conversations, consulting and community engagement. It advances principles and practices of diversity, equity and inclusion for common good through the fusion of cultural competence and the ongoing process of cultural humility. Dr. Harris, what a pleasure to have you on the show. Dr. Harris [00:02:04] I'm honored to be here. Thank you and Dr.

Wayne T. Richards is the founder of Deliverance Chronicles and has developed platforms on various social outlets, using monikers, Deliverance Chronicles, Mr. One Minute Motivation. He is also an author, singer-songwriter, Crypto, Real Estate Investor, Serial Entrepreneur. Wayne is currently an Adam Clayton Powell fellow at New York Theological Seminary on track to receive his Doctorate in Ministry in the spring of 2022. Wayne is the former president of the student association of New York Theological Seminary 2015-2018, and currently working on several manuscripts regarding various topics. He has completed or assisted in numerous deliverances sessions in the past eleven years. He is an avid speaker and teacher, lecturer of biblical exegesis including the tops of deliverance and inner healing and liberation. These topics also include the Western Theological Paradox in Christianity where we serve a spiritual God but we do it from a carnal perspective. As a Deliverance minister lecturer, author, songwriter his greatest achievement is that God uses him to liberate humanity. He is following in the footsteps of a new tribe of apostles empowered to lead the world in deliverance and liberation

The Sharvette Mitchell Radio Show | www.Sharvette.com | Tuesdays  Meet our guest:  The Reverend Dr. Alyn E. Waller is the Senior Pastor of the largest black congregation in Philadelphia, PA., Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church (15,000 members) and Founder of the AEW Leadership and Executive Coaching Institute.    Dr. Waller is an alumnus of the Harvard Business School's Program for Leadership Development (PLDA 2020) and a certified Executive Life Coach by the International Coach Federation (ICF). Because of Dr. Waller's commitment and endeavors in social justice reform, the New York Theological Seminary named its Doctor of Ministry in Social Reform Scholarship in honor of him. He has documented success in working collaboratively with clergy, business, community, and political leaders to improve leadership and management effectiveness.  Learn more at www.dralynewaller.com/Institute  | https://www.facebook.com/AEWLeadership Meet our host: Sharvette Mitchell helps high achieving service based women entrepreneurs position their expertise with a polished visual brand, increase visibility with speaking opportunities, build authority with a published book and convert more customers with elevated content marketing.  She does this with her signature Platform Builder group coaching program.  ✔Learn more at her website, www.Mitchell-Productions.com ❤Subscribe to her  YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/sharvette?sub_confirmation=1

Welcome back to Queerability!Today, we are honoured  to have a living LGBTQ+ legend and activist, Father Bernard Lynch.For seven years Bernard studied philosophy and theology in preparation for ordination to priesthood at the African Missions College twenty-six miles from Belfast. This happened during the inception of the troubles in Northern Ireland. After ordination I worked with the Bemba people for two years in North Central Zambia before going to the U.S.A.Bernard has an interdisciplinary doctorate in counselling psychology and theology from Fordham University and New York Theological Seminary. For fifteen successive years, Bernard was Theological Consultant to the Board of Directors of Dignity New York - an organization for Lesbian, Gay, Transgendered and Bisexual Catholics and their friends - and founded the AIDS/HIV Ministry of Dignity New York in 1982, which continues its work to the present day.    For over ten years, he was a member of the Mayor of New York's voluntary Task Force on HIV/AIDS, and was the only Roman Catholic priest to testify before the City Council for the successful passage of Civil Rights legislation for the LGBT community in 1986. Bernard continued my work with HIV/AIDS in London until 2011. Presently I am available on an advisory capacity for HIV/AIDS work.  He have been profiled three times on Channel Four.  In February 1993, his book, 'A Priest on Trial' was published by Bloomsbury Press. Since then he has published articles on Spirituality and Sexuality in different magazines, as well as participating in TV and Radio programmes on similar subjects. Bernard, have been interviewed many times by Sky News and the BBC. He participated in Protest the Pope (You Tube Father Bernard Lynch). His book 'If It Wasn't Love, Sex, Death and God' was published by Circle Books in 2012. Zeinab Badawi interviewed him for HARDTALK for the BBC World Service. He continue to work as priest and psychotherapist especially in areas of social justice and oppression. For ten years, he was chair of Camden LGBT Forum. In 2015, Bernard became  the first representative of the Irish LGBT community to City Hall for the London Saint Patrick's Day Parade.He participated in the Irish Marriage Referendum by augmenting the 'Take the Boat to Vote' in London. He also participated in organising the victory party to celebrate a world first in LGBT equality by the Irish people on May 22nd 2015.January 2017 brought the culmination of a Life Dream when Bernard married his husband Billy Desmond on the Wild Atlantic Coast near where Bernard was born. The occasion was honoured by the President of Ireland giving us a private audience. New York City Council honoured my Life Work by presenting me with a Proclamation on January 27th the day of our wedding.This is part one of a two part series.In this episode we discuss:HIVNew York gay scene leading up to HIVReligion and the LGBTQ+ communityThis is an Across Rainbows production, an LGBTQ+ organisation determined to redefine Queer Identity.Please check out our website and follow us on Instagram, to interact with us directly and to find out more to get involved.Thank you to our producer Steven Bamidele, please check out his Spotify and support his awesome work!Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Acrossrainbows)

Wayne T. Richards is the founder of Deliverance Chronicles. Wayne has developed platforms on various social outlets, using monikers, Deliverance Chronicles, Mr. One Minute Motivation. He is also an author, singer-songwriter, Crypto, Real Estate Investor, Serial Entrepreneur. Wayne is currently an Adam Clayton Powell fellow at New York Theological Seminary on track to receive his Doctorate in Ministry in the spring of 2022. Wayne is the former president of the student association of New York Theological Seminary 2015-2018, and currently working on several manuscripts regarding various topics. He has completed or assisted in numerous deliverances sessions in the past eleven years. He is an avid speaker and teacher, lecturer of biblical exegesis including the tops of deliverance and inner healing and liberation. These topics also include the Western Theological Paradox in Christianity where we serve a spiritual God but we do it from a carnal perspective. As a Deliverance minister lecturer, author, songwriter his greatest achievement is that God uses him to liberate humanity. He is following in the footsteps of a new tribe of apostles empowered to lead the world in deliverance and liberation.

Ty'Ann Brown is affectionately known as the “Sneaker Preacher” in certain circles! She is, well, a preacher, who often enough wear sneakers, with an M.Div. (New York Theological Seminary) and M.B.A. Originally from Harlem, New York, she now lives in Connecticut and works at the Vice President of Outreach Ministries for Guideposts, after a career in marketing, content editing, and broadcast production at companies like Fisher-Price and Song BMG. Ty'Ann has tons of energy, is on fire for Jesus, and humbly desires to reach others by using all that God has given her. Faithfully stewarding those gifts combined with the favor of God have taken her to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Israel, India, Istanbul, and the Dominican Republic.Not only does Ty'Ann preach, however, she also can carry a tune, and has provided backup vocal support to artists like Michael Bublé, Patti LaBelle, and Hezekiah Walker. But her favorite artist of all-time is Beyonce.________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Connect with Ty'AnnInstagram________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Connect with TWU Student MinistriesFollow us on Instagram 

We speak with Dr. Obery Hendricks, a Biblical scholar at Columbia University and Union Theological Seminary. His new book Christians Against Christianity discusses the moral roots of the Bible to illustrate the hypocrisy of evangelical right-wing rhetoric, including a chapter on the religious Right's condemnation of homosexuality and how it runs antithetical to the foundational teachings of Christ. A former Wall Street investment executive and college president, Dr. Hendricks is currently a Visiting Scholar in Religion and African Studies at Columbia University and Emeritus Professor of Biblical Interpretation at New York Theological Seminary. An Ordained Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Hendricks holds the Master of Divinity with academic honors from Princeton Theological Seminary, and both the M.A. and Ph.D. in Religions of Late Antiquity from Princeton University. Yass, Jesus! is hosted by Danny Franzese and Azariah Southworth. Our producers are Ross Murray and Meredith Paulley. Sound, music, and post-production by Chris Heckman. Special thanks to Sophie Serrano and Sam Isfan. Yass, Jesus! is brought to you by Audity. Audity execs are Ryann Lauckner, Steve Michaels, and Jessica Bustillos. Get to know us better: Daniel Franzese https://whatsupdanny.com/ Twitter Instagram Facebook Azariah Southworth https://azariahspeaks.com/ Instagram Facebook Ross Murray The Naming Project GLAAD Twitter --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/yassjesus/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/yassjesus/support

Harvey Brownstone conducts an in-depth interview with Ambassador Suzan Johnson Cook, Presidential Advisor, Religious Leader, AuthorAbout Harvey's guest:Suzan Johnson Cook is a U.S. Presidential advisor, pastor, theologian, author, activist, and academic who served as the United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom from April 2011 to October 2013.  She has served as a policy advisor to President Bill Clinton and later to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Henry Cisneros, a dean and professor of communications at Harvard University, a professor of theology at New York Theological Seminary, a pastor at a number of churches, a television producer, and the author of nearly a dozen books. She was the first female senior pastor in the 200-year history of the Mariners Temple Baptist Church in NYC part of the American Baptist Churches USA and a close friend of Coretta Scott King. She is an honorary member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority.She later earned another master's degree from Union Theological Seminary in 1983 and a Doctor of Ministry from United Theological Seminary in 1990. She is a graduate of the Minority Business Executive Program at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.She became the first female senior pastor in the 200-year history of the American Baptist Churches USA. In 2002, she became the first woman elected president of the Hampton University Ministers' Conference, a conference which represents all of the historically African-American denominations.  Johnson became the official chaplain of the New York City Police Department, a position which she held for twenty-one years, becoming the first and only woman to hold the position.Johnson Cook founded the Bronx Christian Fellowship Baptist Church in 1996, which she pastored until 2010. She also founded several non-profit and advocacy organization, such as the Multi-Ethnic Center Inc.  She founded Moving Up Productions, a communications, leadership, and consulting firm.  She taught at New York Theological Seminary from 1996-98. She spent time on the faculty at Harvard University, serving as a dean and a professor teaching in the areas of speech and communications.Johnson Cook was the goddaughter of Coretta Scott King, wife of Martin Luther King Jr. She became a close friend of Scott King, officiating her funeral.  In 1993 Johnson Cook was selected to become a White House Fellow. She then became an advisor to President Bill Clinton, serving as a domestic policy advisor on several issues as a member of the Domestic Policy Council. She was on the advisory team for President Clinton's One America Initiative. Following her service as a policy advisor to the president she became a consultant to Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Henry Cisneros from 1994-97.On June 15, 2010 she was nominated by President Barack Obama for the post of United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom in the State Department.  She was renominated and confirmed on April 14, 2011.  She was sworn in and began work on May 16, 2011.  She is the first woman and first African-American to hold the post.She resigned in October 2013 in order to return to the private sector so she could give her sons the gift of a "debt-free college education.”For more interviews and podcasts go to: https://www.harveybrownstoneinterviews.com/https://www.facebook.com/AmbassadorSujayhttps://twitter.com/ambassadorsujayhttps://www.instagram.com/ambassador_sujayhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ambassadorsujay#SuzanJohnsonCook  #AmbassadorSujay  #harveybrownstoneinterviews

Rev. David Ramos, President and Founder of the Latino Leadership Circle is interviewed by Prof. Rafael Reyes III, Assistant Professor at New York Theological Seminary regarding the engagement of theology and ministry in the City.

At age 50, Rev. Bill Weisenbach made a major life pivot when he left his post as Vice President of New York Seminary to become the sole pastor of a small church in an historic Hudson Valley town. Looking back after almost 30 years, Bill reflects on the shift from teaching and administration to serving on the front lines of his field as a parish minister, and how his mantra, “Hold your truth lightly”, serves him well in these times.Topics include:How a volunteer substitute gig gave him the courage to seek out a new path;The value of a professional peer group when working aloneSticking to self-imposed schedules as key to success and growthThe importance of family and spousal buy-in to major life changesBeing happy with a major life change, even when it means a pay cutAnd much moreThe Rev. Dr. William Weisenbach is a Presbyterian Minister. He served as Senior Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Katonah, NY, from which he retired in 2012. Before serving in Katonah, Dr. Weisenbach pastored the Presbyterian Church in Cold Spring, NY. Before entering parish ministry he served for twenty-four years on the faculty of New York Theological Seminary as Academic Vice President and Professor of Practical Theology. Dr. Weisenbach holds a Doctor of Ministry and a Doctor of Divinity degree. During his career at the seminary, the largest inter-racial school of its kind in the nation, Dr. Weisenbach taught hundreds of gifted students, including those at Sing Sing prison.Resources:Michael Green (wikipedia page)New York Theological Seminary

My guest today on the podcast today is consummate change agent, visionary leader, sought after speaker, and President of New York Theological Seminary, the Reverend Lakeesha Walrond, PhD. In our wide-ranging and thought-provoking conversation Dr. Walrond and I chat about the importance of education in creating a successful life and career, her history making turn as the first woman and African American to serve as President of New York Theological Seminary, and the role of faith in helping humanity learn to live in community and navigate our cultural wars over identity.  From teenage motherhood and sexual assault to the power of positivity and the importance of identity, no topic is off limits and her wisdom knows no bounds.Support the show (https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=NE26H44XSPXPG)

UpFront with Reverend, Dr. Leroy Perry St. Stephens AME Zion Church (Branford) Cultural Ambassador, Yale Center for Clinical Investigation A life changing experience set Reverend Dr. Leroy Perry on his path in life. Originally from Roanoke, Virginia, he earned his BA from Livingstone College, his MDiv from Yale Divinity, STM and doctoral degree from New York Theological Seminary in New York City. Having pastored in Harlem and his home church, Mt. Olive AME Zion, he presently serves as senior pastor to the St. Stephens Church, Branford CT. In addition to his work as pastor, Dr. Perry presently serves as the Director of the Fatherhood Initiative program at New Opportunities Inc, Waterbury, CT and as a Yale Center for Clinical Investigation Cultural Ambassador for the past ten years. He is devoted to improving the lives of anyone he meets and is committed to the improvement of community. We talk about his time of growing up in Roanoke as a child, why family is so important, what makes great leaders, some personal hard lessons learned and why you can't achieve success without sacrifice. About St. Stephens AME Zion Church: www.ststephensamezion.org/ About Yale Center for Clinical Investigation: www.yaleclinicaltrials.com About Mason: www.mason23.com www.twitter.com/mason_inc www.linkedin.com/company/mason-inc

Questions for the Week: What are different ways that you've seen faith incorporated into a wedding service? / Do you believe in "the one true love"?Special Guests: Rev. Dr. Wanda M. Lundy, Assistant Professor of World Christianity, Director of Mentoring for Thriving in Ministry in the City (MTMC) and Director of the Eleanor Moody-Shepherd Resource Center for Women of Faith at New York Theological Seminary, & Pastor at Siloam-Hope First Presbyterian ChurchRev. Edwin González-Castillo, Associate for Disaster Response in Latin America & the Caribbean, Presbyterian Disaster AssistanceGuest Question:I am a leader of a faith-based organization and looking to re-orient our organization's practices and policies (internally and externally) to better align with our progressive Christian values and recent events such as the #MeToo Movement, Black Lives Matter protests, and an increasing sense of global connectedness. Are there others who have tried to plan and implement similar changes in their organization? What guidance do you have?Resource Roundup:Path of Peace ReflectionsSubscribe to receive all the ReflectionsWatch the Video ReflectionsRead the Written ReflectionsTranslations: 54:33: Rev. Lee, Hun-sam (Pastor, Junim Presbyterian Church, Seongnam, Korea)“Because of the Joint South-North (North-South) Prayer for Peace & Reunification on the Korean Peninsula, representatives of the South Korean and the North Korean churches meet in person, transcending their disconnection [through division].” 55:15: Jeong Seon-nyeo (Leader, Gangjeong Mission Station of the Catholic Church & Peace Activist in Gangjeong Village, South Korea)“But because consistency is very important for our peaceful protest in Gangjeong Village, we try to exercise patience, and make sure the dances and other protest activities continue, even when it is hard.”

Questions for the Week:A recent Washington Post article describes how teens around the world are lonelier than a decade ago and the reason may be smartphones. What are your thoughts on this? Regardless of whether smartphones are part of the problem or not, how do we provide spaces that help people not feel lonely?Let's talk about life transitions. What are some transitions that you have experienced in your life and what helped you through them?Special Guest:Rev. Dr. Wanda M. Lundy, Assistant Professor of World Christianity, Director of Mentoring for Thriving in Ministry in the City (MTMC) and Director of the Eleanor Moody-Shepherd Resource Center for Women of Faith at New York Theological Seminary, & Pastor at Siloam-Hope First Presbyterian ChurchGuest Question:What are the unique challenges of urban/city ministry compared to suburban/rural ministry? What are the unique opportunities/blessings of urban ministry?Resource Roundup:Mentoring for Thriving in the City (MTMC) at New York Theological Seminary

In Part 1 of this interview, Brand Strategist, Digital Marketer and New York Theological Seminary's Chief of Operations, Lenier Thomas discusses being reared by strong women, witnessing her parents' reconciliation, and facing the repercussions of one incident that would alter her college career.

If you would like to be entered to our monthly raffle for a free 1hr coaching call worth $250 all you have to do is: Step 1: Post a leadership or career advancement question on LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or leave a comment on one of my YouTube videos (youtube.com/alextremble) Step 2: Tag me LinkedIn: @AlexTremble Instagram: @AlexDTremble Twitter: @AlexDTremble Facebook: @AlexDTrembleGPS/ Step 3: Add the following hashtag, "TheATshow" to your post Today's guest: Cecilia B. Loving is Deputy Commissioner and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at the Fire Department of New York City, where she provides leadership for developing and maintaining a positive, holistic, inclusive work environment for over 17,000 members.  A winner of the City Bar 2020 Diversity and Inclusion Award, she oversees a number of diversity and inclusion initiatives, including but not limited the Fire Commissioner's Taskforce on Racial Inclusion & Equity, and the Fire Commissioner's Committee on Diversity and Inclusion, FDNY Courageous Conversations on Racial Inclusion, Bravest Women Talks, Women's Summits, Diversity and Inclusion Innovation Labs, Inclusion Strategy Videos, Inclusive Leadership Training, and similar initiatives. She previously worked for the New York City Commission on Human Rights, as well as served as Litigation Counsel at Patterson Belknap, as a litigation associate at Kramer Levin, and as Appellate Counsel at the Legal Aid Society.  She is founder of the Mindfulness Group at FDNY and is Chair of the NYC Bar Association's first Mindfulness and Well-Being in the Law Committee. In addition to obtaining her Juris Doctor from NYU School of Law, Cecilia obtained her BFA from Howard University, her MFA from UCLA and her MDiv from New York Theological Seminary. She has written nine books, including God is a Brown Girl Too and Unbroken Circles: Holding Space, Healing Harm and Transcending Edges, as well as numerous articles and blogs, including “Some Ways to Help Racial Healing”; “Setting the Tone Right Through Inclusive Leadership”; “The Power of Inclusion: Treating Others Well is Essential to Our Well-Being”; “More Support for Mindfulness: Reduction of Implicit Bias”; and “Restorative Circles: Finding Solutions from Ancient Traditions.”

We did it again, y'all - another pastor who never had any intentions of being a pastor has been hired at Forefront! Venida has been recently hired as Forefront's Teaching Pastor, filling the role left vacant with the recent announcement of the stepping down of longtime pastor and church co-founder, Jonathan Williams. This is a disruptive and transitionary period for the church for sure, but we're excited to have Venida on board to help us usher in the next 500 years of Christianity and we want to help you get excited too! So, Deacon Jim Rohner and Executive Producer Makenzie Gomez sat down to hear Venida's story of the long road that led her to Forefront and just what's in store for the future. ABOUT VENIDA Rev. Venida C. Rodman Jenkins is Forefront's Teaching Pastor who hails from Teaneck, N.J.. Venida's mission is to provide visibility, encouragement and spaces of belonging to underrepresented groups. She carries this out as a minister, educator, and advocate. Venida is the Director of the Speicher-Rubin Women's Center for Equity and Diversity at New Jersey City University; founder and pastor of EMBRACE Church and an Adjunct Professor at Syracuse University and New York Theological Seminary.

We did it again, y'all - another pastor who never had any intentions of being a pastor has been hired at Forefront! Venida has been recently hired as Forefront's Teaching Pastor, filling the role left vacant with the recent announcement of the stepping down of longtime pastor and church co-founder, Jonathan Williams. This is a disruptive and transitionary period for the church for sure, but we're excited to have Venida on board to help us usher in the next 500 years of Christianity and we want to help you get excited too! So, Deacon Jim Rohner and Executive Producer Makenzie Gomez sat down to hear Venida's story of the long road that led her to Forefront and just what's in store for the future. ABOUT VENIDA Rev. Venida C. Rodman Jenkins is Forefront's Teaching Pastor who hails from Teaneck, N.J.. Venida's mission is to provide visibility, encouragement and spaces of belonging to underrepresented groups. She carries this out as a minister, educator, and advocate. Venida is the Director of the Speicher-Rubin Women's Center for Equity and Diversity at New Jersey City University; founder and pastor of EMBRACE Church and an Adjunct Professor at Syracuse University and New York Theological Seminary.

Morgan Stebbins is a supervising analyst, faculty member and former President and Director of Training at the Jungian Psychoanalytic Association in New York, where he also maintains a private practice. He has taught Religious Studies and Hermeneutics at the New York Theological Seminary in the Pastoral Care and Counseling program, and he developed a program in Contemplative Jungian Practice at the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care which includes contemplative Jung, Buddhism and Psychology, the history of Zen, and the psychology of the Zen sutras. He began his Zen training at the San Francisco Zen Center in 1979. He has written on symbol formation, dreams, the role of mindfulness in analysis, the meaning of compulsion, the archetypal relationship of Buddhism and psychology, and the structural parallels between the theories of Jacques Lacan and CG Jung. His main project is to update the material and message of both CG Jung and Zen to be more accessible to the general reader and more integrated with modern research and cultural developments including gender, relationship and language. Recent and upcoming publications include a chapter on gender fluidity and psyche and a chapter on the relationship between mindfulness and alchemical discourse. Thank you for listening to this XZBN Show episode. XZBN radio shows archives and programming include: A Different Perspective with Kevin Randle; Alien Cosmic Expo Lecture Series; Alien Worlds Radio Show; Connecting with Coincidence with Dr. Bernard Beitman, MD; Dick Tracy; Dimension X; Exploring Tomorrow Radio Show; Flash Gordon; Jet Jungle Radio Show; Journey Into Space; Know the Name with Sharon Lynn Wyeth; Lux Radio Theatre - Classic Old Time Radio; Mission Evolution with Gwilda Wiyaka; Paranormal StakeOut with Larry Lawson; Ray Bradbury - Tales Of The Bizarre; Sci Fi Radio Show; Seek Reality with Roberta Grimes; Space Patrol; Stairway to Heaven with Gwilda Wiyaka; The 'X' Zone Radio Show with Rob McConnell; and many others! To listen to all our XZBN shows, with our compliments go to: https://www.spreaker.com/user/xzoneradiotv *** AND NOW *** The ‘X' Zone TV Channel on SimulTV - www.simultv.com The ‘X' Chronicles Newspaper - www.xchroniclesnewspaper.com

Rev. Debra J. Hopkins is a native New Yorker and trans woman of color who believes that there's always hope because words have power and everybody can be a voice for change through action, activism, and community involvement. We can all help put an end to the social and economic discrimination that's ever present in this country. Debra is the Founder of There's Still Hope, a non-profit organization that provides a Transitional Housing Program for transgender adults, trans victims of domestic violence, and trans individuals released from the correctional institutional system. Debra earned her Masters of Theology degree from New York Theological Seminary and is a licensed non-denominational minister. She is actively involved in ministry through pastoral care, writing, and community activism. She is the author of three books and three anthologies, including her memoir, Not Until You Have Walked In My Shoes. Through it all, Debra continues to spend time traveling around the country advocating for the marginalized people within the LGBTQIA community. Topics Discussed: Faith/Identity: Formed via self-discovery of development, foundational footing Transition: Vehicle to expand audience and not allow naysayers' negativity Words of Advice: Be authentic and use the tools that God has given you Community, therapy, and honesty brings healing, understanding, and activism Look in the Mirror: Convey the truth of life and how we should be treated equally There's Still Hope: After losing it all, being homeless, and trying to clear name Platforms: Build, exercise, and cultivate spiritual, mental, and physical muscles Links and Resources: Rev. Debra J. Hopkins There's Still Hope Not Until You Have Walked In My Shoes Christine Jorgensen a Personal Autobiography The Shack Movie Masterclass: 4 Practices You Can Start Now to Move Beyond Shame Queerology Podcast on Instagram Queerology Podcast on Twitter Beyond Shame by Matthias Roberts Matthias Roberts on Patreon

Jesus calls us to care for both the spiritual and physical needs of our neighbors. In this episode, Rev. Dr. Carlos Hernandez— director of LCMS Church and Community Engagement (Retired), joins hosts Rev. Dr. Steven Schave, Director of LCMS Church Planting, and Rev. Dr. Mark Larson, Manager of Church Planting in the Mission Field: USA initiative, to explore how assessing needs in the community gives opportunity to share the Gospel. About Rev. Dr. Carlos Hernandez: Pastor Hernandez is a life-long Lutheran, who attended Lutheran elementary and high school in Texas and California. He graduated from Concordia, Portland in 1963, Concordia Senior College in 1965 (B.A),  Concordia Seminary in 1969 (M.Div.) serving his vicarage at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Bronx, New York.  He also graduated from New York Theological Seminary in 1974 with a Master of Sacred Theology.  He received an honorary Doctor of Divinity from Concordia University, Mequon, Wisconsin, 2012. He served as Pastor at Trinity and Zion, Wheatland and Douglas, Wyoming (1969-1973), Trinity, Watsonville, California (1974-1995), and Trinity, Glen Cove, New York (1995-1999).  He also served as Director, Districts and Congregations, LCMS World Relief and Human Care (1999-2017). He is married to Maureen (née, Remien) since December 21, 1968 and has five grown children and ten grandchildren. Sign up to receive email notifications of new podcast releases and other church-planting ministry news. Registration only requires your email address, name and zip code. Check the “Church Planting” option on the form. Sign up > mailchi.mp/lcms/resources

Guest speaker, Venida Rodman Jenkins, joins Forefront for the first time and speaks on "The Gospel of Community". The Gospel of Community is about bringing people in rather than excluding them. Here's something to ask yourself: "How can you work with others to be an agent of change?" Venida C. Rodman Jenkins is committed to providing visibility, encouragement, love, and brave spaces to underrepresented groups. She has carried out this work for many years as a minister, educator, and advocate. Venida is the Director of the Speicher-Rubin Women's Center for Equity and Diversity at New Jersey City University, and she is the founder and pastor of EMBRACE Church (IG: @embracechurch2020). Venida is also an Adjunct Professor at Syracuse University and New York Theological Seminary.

Guest speaker, Venida Rodman Jenkins, joins Forefront for the first time and speaks on "The Gospel of Community". The Gospel of Community is about bringing people in rather than excluding them. Here's something to ask yourself: "How can you work with others to be an agent of change?" Venida C. Rodman Jenkins is committed to providing visibility, encouragement, love, and brave spaces to underrepresented groups. She has carried out this work for many years as a minister, educator, and advocate. Venida is the Director of the Speicher-Rubin Women’s Center for Equity and Diversity at New Jersey City University, and she is the founder and pastor of EMBRACE Church (IG: @embracechurch2020). Venida is also an Adjunct Professor at Syracuse University and New York Theological Seminary.

Christians will listen to a woman on TV but not a woman in the pulpit. What's up with that?We grew up seeing plenty of examples of women in power suits — from Hollywood to Wall Street, they were shattering glass ceilings and defying expectations. This new cultural norm fed big dreams and big ambitions for girls coming of age in the 1980s and '90s. But the 2000s have revealed a darker reality — from wage gaps to sexual harassment, the workplace for women is still far from ideal. Beyond that, the myth women can have it all — domestic bliss and career success — has proved as much paralyzing pressure as endless potential. Not to mention the conflicting messages we hear from church and culture. After all, one place many women are still not allowed is the pulpit. What's an ambitious woman to do?In this episode, Fox News host Shannon Bream joins us to talk ambition and devotion — and how the women of the Bible have offered her guidance and inspiration. And The Rev. Dr. LaKeesha Walrond offers a glimpse into her journey from small-town Texas to big-city pastor.GUESTS:Shannon Bream is an American journalist and lawyer. She is the host of FOX News @ Night and author of The Women of the Bible SpeakThe Rev. Dr. LaKeesha Walrond is president of New York Theological Seminary and the executive pastor and chief of staff at First Corinthian Baptist Church in Harlem, New YorkSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Rev. Ivan S. Pitts, a native of Los Angeles, is the 11th pastor of Second Baptist Church (SBC) in Santa Ana, CA. Prior to pastoring at Second Baptist Church, Rev. Pitts served 10 years as the senior pastor at New Hope Baptist Church in Danbury, CT. Known for his unique style and enthusiastic delivery of the Word, Rev. Pitts earned a Bachelor of Arts in Social Science from San Diego State University; a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from Clark Atlanta University; a Master of Arts in Religious Education in Pastoral Studies from Fordham University; and a Doctorate of Ministry in Pastoral Care and Counseling from the New York Theological Seminary. Having traveled the globe while and after serving in the United States Navy, Rev. Pitts now leverages the power of his education, training, and worldview to enhance pathways to Titan degrees as an adjunct professor at Cal State Fullerton. Rev. Pitts is a devoted husband to his wife, Tanishé, and a loving father to his four children.

Born a native New Yorker, educated in the Manning, South Carolina Public School system, and reared in the Westminster Presbyterian Church (USA) and Clarendon County, South Carolina community, The Rev. Dr. Greg B. Jones is a graduate and former student body president of Manning High School. Upon graduation, he entered Winston-Salem State University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina where he matriculated for three years, distinguishing himself as an R. J. Reynolds Scholar, inductee in the National Dean’s List, Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges & Universities, and a member of the NAACP and the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., one of the D9 Greek-letter organizations. Being one of three second-semester freshmen responsible for the reinvigoration and resurgence of the Delta Alpha Chapter on the campus, Greg was instrumental in instituting social action programs and activities that benefitted the Winston-Salem community and advanced the popularity and impact of the Fraternity on the campus and the city. He was honored with a Brother of the Year award for his outstanding contributions and achievements. Because of his love of learning and his desire to be the best instrument he can be for the God who called him to serve in ministry, after completing a Bachelor of Arts degree at Hunter College of the City University of New York in Music Theater & Film, Greg completed a Certificate in Christian Education & Urban Ministry at New York Theological Seminary with high honors, where he was the recipient of awards for Outstanding Student in Pastoral Care & Counseling, Outstanding Student in Church History, and Outstanding Student in Preaching. On the heels of this accomplishment, he received his Master of Divinity degree (cum laude) from Princeton Theological Seminary, where he was also appointed a teaching fellow for two of his three years there. He completed his doctoral degree in systematic theology (summa cum laude) at The Theological School of Drew University. Vocationally, Dr. Jones currently serves as Pastor of Ministries and Christian Education at The Canaan Baptist Church of Christ in Harlem, where he served prior as the former Liturgist and Chief of Pastoral Staff for the civil rights icon, The Rev. Dr. Wyatt Tee Walker, Pastor Emeritus. He is also a Campus Chaplain and member of the Religious Life Department for the prestigious Lawrenceville School in Lawrenceville, NJ, and an adjunct professor in Theology at UTS The Interfaith Seminary in New York City. Professionally, he has had the benefit of over 25 years in the corporate sector in such industries as advertising and financial services, and works currently as the Global Manager of Information Security Communications, Awareness and Training for the Realogy Holdings Corporation. In this role, he is the chief educational professional responsible for empowering over 75,000 colleagues worldwide with information to safeguard and protect the company’s information and financial resources. Personally, he is an avid traveler having visited 65 countries and 41 states in the U.S., a tennis fanatic, a lifelong Pittsburgh Steelers fan, and loves all things New York, including occasionally the Giants and the Jets. With his life’s motto to “Never disappoint God, and never disappoint my ancestors,” Greg strives to live a life that, like Jacob’s ladder, has every round going higher and higher.

HEY “MY CREATIVES” .....IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE WE LAST ENJOYED A JOURNEY of C.U.T.S. We had a GREAT conversation with; Dr. Walter Hidalgo who has mastered the sciences of the New York Theological Seminary where he links together the intersectionality between Hip-Hop & Socio-Spiritual movements, as well as has a kick-ass PODCAST called; “KNOW THY(S)HELF”…where he brings guests to speak of their journey in a spiritual sense, and much MORE!!!! We Touched on: - His insight of the impact on the industry with his studies - Walter's intake on the “Ageism” within Hip Hp Culture - What Separates his podcast from the many out there? FOLLOW US: @cuts_podcast YOU TUBE CHANNEL: [[SUBSCRIBE]] - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbVNj5NtHbfenXkoxa3xAKg?view_as=subscriber GUEST: WALTER HILDAGO - @know_thy_shelf_tv *****FOR SERIOUS INQUIRES & FUTURE GUEST(S) APPEARANCES - CutsPodcast1@gmail.com ******Please LEAVE COMMENTS, FEEDBACK, and [[SUBSCRIBE]] the PODCAST on ALL MAJOR STREAMING PLATFORMS!!! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cutspodcast/support

DISCLAIMER: Dr. Megan-Brette Hamilton produced this podcast in her own personal capacity. The views expressed are her own and do not necessarily represent the views of any organization with which she is affiliated.In this episode of HBC podcast by MB, I talk with another one of my awesome friends from childhood, Greg Stamper. We talked about our college experiences, his at Morgan State and mine at Hampton University, both HBCUs (Historically Black College or University), meeting his cousins from Down South, his passion and gift for speaking/communicating, and how best to live in this world without dimming our light. Our conversation led me to talk about code-switching and its impact on identity. As with many controversial subjects, I can understand almost all perspectives. I spent more time than I should on the topic (which is why this episode is 50 minutes), but it is one that I've gone back and forth on in both my personal and professional worlds, so I wanted to give it the time it deserved. Lots of ideas, no real answers, but hopefully insightful thoughts to make you think.GREG STAMPER is the Co-Founder/Co-Pastor of Celebration Spiritual Center.He is a fourth-generation ordained interfaith minister, recording artist, musician, composer, life coach, author, and entrepreneur. At the age of 5 he wrote his first Gospel song, “Come To Heaven (With Me)” and today his music is being sung by choirs and churches across the globe. As a performer he has been privileged to sing in world famous venues including Carnegie Hall and Constitution Hall and released his debut solo album “One With You” in 2010.As dedicated practitioner of the Transcendental Meditation technique® (TM), Greg is also tireless advocate of this effortless practice which not only promotes personal health and well-being but also has the potential to cultivate global healing and world peace.In the private sector Greg has 20 years of experience in Macintosh Support and IT Management and is currently the IT Manager for WITNESS, a global human rights organization based in Brooklyn.Greg attended Morgan State University in Baltimore, MD and studied at New York Theological Seminary. Originally from Silver Spring, MD, Greg currently resides in Brooklyn, NY and is the proud father of one daughter, Malcolm Anaya Stamper. Bio adapted from: https://www.celebrationsc.org/pastor-greg-stamper-bio/Music for this episode is Like Honey by Dr. Delight provided by soundstripe.com.Cover artwork and design by Katrina Langland and Eloise Stewart.***************************Here are some interesting resources to check out that highlight code-switching:NPR's article: 5 reasons why people code-switchHarvard Business Review's article: The cost of code-switchingWhy not share with you an encyclopedia article on the subject :) Finally, a word on code-meshingDON'T FORGET TO...Join the HoneyBee Connection Facebook page for more information and news about language, culture, and communication. Download free resources about language and culture or the eBook on classroom communication strategies on my website. ...when you work with people... Language matters. Culture counts. 

Dr. Vince Bantu is an assistant professor of church history and Black church studies at Fuller Seminary in Oakland, California. Dr. Bantu teaches primarily on Fuller's Houston campus, where he also serves as a liaison to the William E. Pannell Center for African American Church Studies and networks with African American churches, pastors, and students.Prior to coming to Fuller, Bantu taught in various capacities at a number of colleges and institutions, including Nyack College, New York Theological Seminary, North Park Theological Seminary, the Center for Early African Christianity, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and Covenant Theological Seminary. He has years of pastoral experience in African American, Asian American, and Hispanic churches, as well as extensive involvement in multicultural urban communities. Dr. Bantu's deepest passion, "is to make the resources of the theological academy available to [his] community."He is the author of A Multitude of All Peoples: Engaging Ancient Christianity's Global Identity, as well as numerous articles on global Christianity. Dr. Bantu is also a host of FULLER Studio (a podcast that walks through the books of the Bible). Take a listen. Connect with Dr. Vince Bantu Facebook vincebantu@fuller.edu ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Connect with us at TWU Student MinistriesFollow us on Instagram 

Guns. Are they necessary? Are they a right? Should Christians support gun control? Today our guest leads us through a discussion to answer these questions and steers us through the mire surrounding this debate using a Biblical lens. Join Craig and Ernest on today's episode of the Just Gospel Podcast.   Guest: Vince Bantu Vince Bantu joined the Fuller faculty as assistant professor of church history and Black church studies in 2019. Dr. Bantu teaches primarily on Fuller’s Houston campus, where he also serves as a liaison to the William E. Pannell Center for African American Church Studies and networks with African American churches, pastors, and students. Prior to coming to Fuller, Bantu taught in various capacities at a number of colleges and institutions, including Nyack College, New York Theological Seminary, North Park Theological Seminary, the Center for Early African Christianity, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and Covenant Theological Seminary.  Additionally, he has years of pastoral experience in African American, Asian American, and Hispanic churches, as well as extensive involvement in multicultural urban communities. Bantu earned his PhD in Semitic and Egyptian Languages from The Catholic University of America, and his dissertation married his interests in African Christianity and social identity. He also directs the Meachum School of Haymanot, which provides theological education for urban pastors and leaders. He is the author of numerous articles on global Christianity, including studies of Syriac and Nubian Christianity, apologetics, justice, evangelism, and African American theology. Resource:A Multitude of All Peoples: Engaging Ancient Christianity's Global Identity - by Vince Bantu See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Rev. Dr. Marlowe Washington is a graduate of St. Francis College in Brooklyn, NY. with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor concentration in history. He attended Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, NJ and in 1997 graduated with a Master of Divinity from The New York Theological Seminary in Manhattan, NY. He graduated from Northeastern Seminary at Roberts Wesleyan College attaining the Doctor of Ministry in transformational leadership. He successfully completed his second doctoral degree at St. John Fisher College in May 2019 earning a Doctor of Education (EdD) in Executive Leadership with a concentration in diversity and inclusion in higher education administration.Currently, the Senior Minister at Seneca United Methodist and known to all as Pastor Marlowe, in this episode of The Helping Conversation, he discusses how his work both within his congregation as well as across his community is guided by the concept of being a Servant Leader. This model of leadership focuses on empowering and uplifting those who work with the leader, serving instead of commanding and showing humility instead of brandishing authority. With this as his foundational perspective on helping others, Pastor Marlowe is dedicated to social and political activism and entrepreneurship. His ministry and community engagement reflect a diverse range of causes and strategies within the goal of working to create justice and equality for all people.

Robertson, 90, founded the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) in 1960. The network began by broadcasting on a part-time basis out of a UHF station in Portsmouth, Va. Today, CBN is a media powerhouse, headquartered in Virginia Beach, Va. It delivers original programming in 70 languages to approximately 200 countries. The network features “The 700 Club,” a magazine-style show that’s one of the longest-running television seriesin the United States. It reaches an average of a million viewers each day. Robertson makes weekly appearances on the show and offers commentary about headline news items of the day. In addition to starting CBN, Robertson launched the Operation Blessing International Relief and Development Corporation, an international nonprofit relief and development organization. He also started International Family Entertainment Inc., Regent University, as well the American Center for Law and Justice. And, in 1989, a year after he ended his campaign for the 1988 Republican party presidential nomination, he created the Christian Coalition, a political organization that advances conservative issues. He headed that group until 2002. In 2007, Robertson stepped down from his day-to-day management role at CBN, as his son Gordon assumed a more prominent position there. The elder Robertson, however, continued his involvement with “The 700 Club.” Born in Lexington, Va., Robertson is a graduate (magna cum laude) of his hometown Washington and Lee University, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corp Reserve while in college andlater served as assistant adjutant of the First Marine Division in Korea. He was named a first lieutenant when he returned home. Robertson next earned a law degree at Yale University Law School in 1955, and four years later, a graduate divinity degree at the New York Theological Seminary. He has authored 19 books. Three have, or are set to, come out this year. They include: • “True Faith: Embracing Adversity to Live in God’s Light,”   • “Ten Laws for Success: Keys to Win in Work, Family, and Finance,” and   • “I Have Walked With the Living God.”   Politics always held a special calling for Robertson. His father, A. Willis Robertson, had a 34-year career as a U.S. congressman and senator from Virginia. The family’s ancestry includes Benjamin Harrison, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and governor of Virginia. Harrison’s son, William Henry Harrison,and great-grandson, Benjamin Harrison, both became U.S. presidents. Pat Robertson and his wife Dede Robertson have four children, 14 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.They reside in Virginia Beach.    

You will learn a lot about the African American male experience and what it is like to be always on the alert in your own skin or when they think you must be an athlete if your are in Harvard. We talk about how to make meaning of what is happening around us and how to move forward by first admitting that something is indeed wrong. Dr. Duggan is a native New Yorker, a preacher, and a transformational denominational executive. He and his wife Patricia, a school administrator, are the parents of three sons and proud grandparents of two girls and two boys. He earned the Bachelor of Arts from Harvard University, the Master of Divinity and the Doctor of Ministry degrees, both from New York Theological Seminary. He has served as Senior Pastor of the Congregational Church of South Hempstead/ United Church of Christ (CCSH) since 1995 and also served as Executive Director of the United Church of Christ Church Building and Loan Fund (CB&LF) in addition to his pastoral duties.  CB&LF is the oldest church building society in the United States, having financed over CB&LF's vision is to re-invent the concept of “church” through innovative uses of buildings and space created through unique partnerships and the application of biblical principles, to dramatically improve the economic, social, environmental, and spiritual vitality of poor communities and gentrifying neighborhoods.  Dr. Duggan asserts that the source of his passion for leading CB&LF is that he is “on a mission to enable church leaders and congregations to live into God's economy”.

Support the show: Patreon l Glow l Episode Transcript  l Survey What is it for the church to speak something that is prophetic to the plights of social justice and immigration? How do we migrate this tense topic full of politics? Guest Bio: Rev. Alexia Salvatierra is an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the coauthor of Faith-Rooted Organizing. She also serves as a consultant for a variety of organizations, including World Vision USA/World Vision International/Women of Vision, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, the Christian Community Development Association the Womens’ Donor Network, Auburn Theological Seminary, Interfaith Worker Justice, PICO, and Sojourners. Alexia is adjunct faculty at the New York Theological Seminary and Biola University, and she was the executive director of Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE) for over eleven years. Guest Music by Christa Wells Tracks include: Hold This House Up, Holy Ground, Velveteen You can also find all the musical selections from all our episodes on our Spotify Playlist.  Check out all the things over at the store...it's a great way to support the show www.canisaythisatchurch.com/store What are you waiting for; consider becoming a Patreon supporter of the show. You'll have access to many perks as well as guaranteeing the future of these conversations; even $1/Month goes so far as this show is 100% listener supported.  Follow the show: https://www.facebook.com/CanISayThisAtChurch/ https://twitter.com/cistacpodcast https://www.canisaythisatchurch.com/

A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Dr. David E. Jackson is the Lead Pastor of The Rock ATL International Fellowship, an Assemblies of God church with a vision to release Kingdom influencers into every sector. In the marketplace, he is a Curriculum Writer and Trainer at the Jack McDowell School for Leadership Development at the Salvation Army-Evangeline Booth College in Atlanta, GA. In addition, Dr. Jackson is the CEO of D. E. Jackson Enterprises, LLC: a coaching, ministry, and consulting firm. He is a former police officer and senior instructor with the Atlanta Police Department. ​ Dr. Jackson received his B.A. from Cornell University; MDiv. from Union Theological Seminary of New York; and DMin. from the New York Theological Seminary. He is currently a PhD student at the Jannetides College of Business and Entrepreneurial Leadership at Southeastern University studying Organizational Leadership. Dr. Jackson is the recipient of several awards and honors including the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award and an honorary doctorate in Humanitarian. He is the author of two books with his third book schedule to release in the January 2020. He is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and resides in South Fulton, GA. www.davidejackson.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DEJacksonii/ --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/melanin-people/support

Sermon Recording Sermon OutlineSpeaker: Rev. David EllisSermon Series: PsalmsPsalm 138 (ESV)Of David. 1 I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise; 2 I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word. 3 On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased.4 All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O Lord, for they have heard the words of your mouth, 5 and they shall sing of the ways of the Lord, for great is the glory of the Lord. 6 For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar.7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me. 8 The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.BioDavid Ellis is senior pastor of Astoria Community Church PCA in Queens. He has a Masters of Divinity degree from New York Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Covenant Theological Seminary. His wife, Sobeyda, is a psychotherapist with a private practice in Manhattan. They have four grown children and one grandson. David was the speaker at our Spring Retreat this year. Permalink

Sermon Recording Sermon OutlineSpeaker: Rev. David EllisSermon Series: PsalmsPsalm 138 (ESV)Of David. 1 I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart;     before the gods I sing your praise; 2 I bow down toward your holy temple     and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness,     for you have exalted above all things     your name and your word. 3 On the day I called, you answered me;     my strength of soul you increased.4 All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O Lord,     for they have heard the words of your mouth, 5 and they shall sing of the ways of the Lord,     for great is the glory of the Lord. 6 For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly,     but the haughty he knows from afar.7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble,     you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies,     and your right hand delivers me. 8 The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;     your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.     Do not forsake the work of your hands.BioDavid Ellis is senior pastor of Astoria Community Church PCA in Queens. He has a Masters of Divinity degree from New York Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Covenant Theological Seminary. His wife, Sobeyda, is a psychotherapist with a private practice in Manhattan. They have four grown children and one grandson. David was the speaker at our Spring Retreat this year.  Permalink

Mary Sheeran’s latest book Banished From Memory (May 14, 2019, Aquafire Solis) reaches back into Hollywood’s past, commenting on an era of film history frequently overlooked--the years of the Hollywood blacklist. The daughter of two award-winning actors, 16-year-old Dianna Fletcher fears her inability to live up to her family legacy. Unable to keep up with the rapidly changing roles for women in the industry, Dianna is thrilled to land a role. When she is placed alongside one of Hollywood’s notorious womanizers, Bill Royce, Dianna begins to discover secrets long buried in her family’s past which could destroy their prestige and power. In her latest novel, Mary Sheeran weaves together disparate strands—a young woman’s coming of age, a changing film industry, the sexual pitfalls of Hollywood still resonating today in the #MeToo movement, a secret spanning three generations, and her relationship with a brooding, brilliant actor—to create a story about the effects of the Hollywood blacklist on two families. In Banished From Memory (Aquafire Sulis, May 14, 2019), Sheeran explores female agency and sheds light on the pitfalls of sexism, nationalism, and beloved American icons. Sheeran’s novel focuses on 16-year-old Dianna Fletcher, famous for her high-status as the daughter of two award-winning actors. During her coming-of-age, Dianna realizes that the bright lights of 1960’s Hollywood are starting to cast shadows on the secrets of her family’s past. Dianna fears that she is losing her talent and failing to live up to her family’s legacy. When she does land a part, she finds an unexpected enemy in brilliant actor and womanizer Bill Royce, who not only attacks her confidence but holds a deep grudge against her family. Dianna comes to believe that Bill’s resentment is related to a secret linked to the Hollywood blacklist. Banished From Memory highlights the conflicted relationship between two legacies of the blacklist, the sunset period of classic Hollywood, the challenges and gifts of acting, and a determination on the part of one generation to exhume the truth of another’s. But at what cost? MARY SHEERAN has acted in plays, sung in operas, and created and performed in recitals and cabaret shows, all in New York City. She is the author of two novels, Who Have the Power (2006), an exploration of cultural conflict, feminism, and Native American history, and Quest of the Sleeping Princess (2012), set in the midst of George Balanchine’s ballets. She has written theater and dance reviews for show business trade publications and for the blog Life Upon the Sacred Stage. Mary lives in the Bronx, where in conjunction with earning a Master of Divinity degree from New York Theological Seminary, she can also be found giving sermons in Manhattan churches.

Discussing: John Bale’s Biblical Plays Host Robert Crighton discusses with Dr Jeff S. Dailey the Biblical plays of John Bale - God's Promises, John Baptist's Preaching and The Temptation (of which we have recordings on the podcast).  Jeff Dailey produced two of John Bale’s Biblical plays in 2017 (John Baptist's Preaching and The Temptation) – details about the production, cast and photos, can be found at [http://johnbaleplays.blogspot.com/](http://johnbaleplays.blogspot.com/) Dr Jeff S. Dailey earned his PhD in theatre from NYU, with additional study at Wagner College, The College of Staten Island, The Folger Institute, New York Theological Seminary, General Theological Seminary, and Union Theological Seminary. This episode was recorded in late 2018 and features clips from some of our work - and includes some sound effects from https://www.zapsplat.com and http://www.freesfx.co.uk. Excerpts from God’s Promises: Noah, Alan Scott - Abraham, Geir Madland – God, Robert Crighton Excerpt from Robin Hood and the Friar: Friar Tuck, Heydn McCabe – Robin Hood, Geir Madland Excerpt from Exploring John Baptist’s Preaching: Pharisee & Sadducee, Mark Scanlon and Mark Holtom – Jesus, Richard Fawcett Excerpt from Exploring The Temptation: Satan, Alan Scott  Support this podcast by going to www.patreon.com/beyondshakespeare or follow us @BeyondShakes on Twitter.

Alejo Rodriguez works for the Exodus Transitional Community in New York and serves as the Mentor and Alumni Coordinator of John Jay College Prisoner Reentry Institute. Prior to joining the PRI community, Alejo’s previous criminal justice experience culminated into an extensive background of peer educating, organizing and mentoring. He was also a founding teaching artist member of Tribeca Film Institute’s Community Screening Series for incarcerated men. He enjoys the opportunity of Mentor Alumni Coordinator to support the success of formerly incarcerated college students and looking for creative ways to engage students in community building relationships. Alejo received his Masters of Professional Studies degree from New York Theological Seminary and a Bachelors of Liberal Arts degree from Syracuse University. http://www.etcny.org/ https://www.jjay.cuny.edu/prisoner-reentry-institute

For episode number 16, we are joined by Sensei Koshin Paley Ellison, a jungian psychotherapist, recognized teacher in the Soto Zen lineage of the White Plum Asanga, and the academic advisor for the Buddhist students in the Master in Pastoral Care and Counseling program at the New York Theological Seminary.  Koshin is the cofounder of the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care, the first Zen-based organization to offer fully accredited  clinical chaplaincy training in America, and the co-editor of Awake at the Bedside: Contemplative Teachings on Palliative and End of Life Care. In this episode we explore: • Dignity amidst being treated poorly • Listening with every cell of your body • Bodhidharma, the founder of Zen buddhism, and his female teacher Prajnatara, and other explorations of the feminine wisdom that lies at the intersection of Buddhism and Tantra, and how like most lineages, it comes down to a practice of how to be in relationship.  To learn more about Koshin and The New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care, please visit www.zencare.org Books Mentioned: Awake at the Bedside by Koshin Paley Ellsion and Matt Weingast In the Body of the World by Eve Ensler Music Credit: The Heart Sutra

"I overcame so I can help others overcome" These words come from a man that many may know but quite few understand. Dwayne was born in Harlem to Laura and Donald Graham in 1978.  From the day Dwayne was conceived, he was forced to go through many trails n tribulations.  By the age of 15, Dwayne lost his father to HIV. Depressed and upset, Dwayne turned to the streets and began to hustle. Drinking and selling drugs became the norm for him. As one would assume this type of life style would ultimately lead to jail or death, and in most cases, that's true. Dwayne was arrested and sentenced to 5 years to life at the age of 19. Leaving his 4 brothers and mother behind Dwayne went to prison.  While in prison Dwayne searched for help. Dealing with his father’s death, the guilt of abandoning his mother, and this new life threatening environment, Dwayne was able to find God. "Pain robbed me of my identity" At the age of 23 Dwayne was released from jail and returned to his family. With a new outlook on life and a supportive mother behind him, Dwayne was able to succeed and enrolled himself into college. But life and God were not through with him.  After being home for only 3 years, Dwayne lost his mother to cancer. Feeling abandoned and alone Dwayne continued to push through and furthermore count on God to guide him.  In the year 2008, when Dwayne was 29, he received a Bachelor’s degree from Metropolitan College of New York. Dwayne continued to work in the social services field, helping those with mental and medical disabilities become independent and self-sufficient in their community. This was part of Dwayne's way of giving back.  "My Divinity kept me when my humanity failed me" After almost 7 years In the social services field, Dwayne was fired. The reasoning was not understandable but Gods purpose was. Instead of searching for another job, Dwayne went back to school but this time for something different.  Dwayne enrolled into the New York Theological Seminary school. He set out to learn all that he could about God, religion and himself so that he could put it back into the world and create something that would grab the attention of children, adults, and even the non-believers.  Starting with a single idea, Dwayne and his friends created a brand, Healthy "r" Us. The goal was to connect with everyone through a common need, clothing. T-shirts, hats, and hoodies all carrying the HRU logo. Dwayne and friends decided that it was time to empower those in their community to be more, do more and finally want more.  Workshops, work out groups and counseling sessions. These are all the ways in which Dwayne connects with his community to help encourage them to be the best they can be.  In 2014, Dwayne graduated with a Master’s degree in Divinity. His heart was open, eyes were clear, and his mission was set in stone.  In 2017 Dwayne Co-authored a 30 day Inspirational Book Titled "Meeting the Authentic You-Conversations with Whitney and Dwayne" to inspire women and children inspiring them to meet their authentic selves! August of 2017 is when Dwayne now known as D.Graham started Inspirational videos right in front of his home to help people start their day with God, good Energy, good Vibes, and Motivation! Dwayne is currently working on 2 more books called "Don't Drop out on You" & When God Becomes Enough" While working on these book projects Dwayne is also schedule to begin his Podcast with his co-host Whitney Smith this March titled "Conv --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-ash-cash-show/support

Keynote Address: "World Christianity: A Genealogy" Speaker: Dale T. Irvin, president, New York Theological Seminary

At the New England Synod Bishop's Convocation we had an opportunity to talk with Bishop Yvette Flunder. She is an inspiring amazing woman who talked with the rostered leaders of the synod about how we can continue to be the church in the 21st century and beyond. Bishop Yvette Flunder is a native San Franciscan and third generation preacher with roots in the Church of God in Christ. Bishop Flunder is an ordained minister of the United Church of Christ and holds both masters and doctorate degrees in Ministry from the Pacific School of Religion and the San Francisco Theological Seminary, respectively. In 2003, she was appointed Presiding Bishop of The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries, a multi-denominational coalition of over 56 churches and faith-based organizations from all over the world. ​ Bishop Flunder is a trustee and adjunct professor at the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California. She is an active voice for the Religion Council of the Human Rights Campaign, as well as for the National Black Justice Coalition. Bishop Flunder is a highly sought after preacher and religious educator as evidenced by her having spoken at divinity schools nationwide including those at Duke, Yale , Drew, and the New York Theological Seminary. She is the author of Where the Edge Gathers: A Theology of Homiletic Radical Inclusion, published by Pilgrim Press. In addition to her memorable sermons, Bishop Flunder is also known for her beautiful singing voice, made famous through her gospel recordings with Walter Hawkins and the Family, the City of Refuge Choir and Chanticleer. You can find out more information about Bishop Flunder you can find more about her here.

Today's message is by Rev. Freeman Palmer, Associate Conference Minister for Congregational Development, New York Conference United Church of Christ. Rev. Freeman L. Palmer serves as the Associate Conference Minister, Congregational Development, for the New York Conference of the United Church of Christ. He holds ministerial standing in the Metropolitan Association, ordained in 2004 to his call as Associate Minister for Middle Collegiate Church in Manhattan, where he served for five years. A member of The Riverside Church since 1993, Rev. Palmer supports the clergy as needed, and is a member of the Inspirational Choir. Rev. Palmer is also an original contributor to the African-American Lectionary, an online worship, scriptural, and cultural resource used principally by African-American congregations. Rev. Palmer is a second career minister, attending Seminary after a fifteen- year career with CBS Inc. He had several positions in television and radio financial management before serving as head of Finance and Administration of WCBS-AM News radio 880. Rev. Palmer's educational background includes a BA in Economics from Swarthmore College, an MBA in Finance from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, and a M.Div. with honors from New York Theological Seminary, where he served as Comptroller while a student and received an award from the faculty for excellence in theological studies. Rev. Palmer lives in Jersey City NJ with his spouse Donal. A prayer that Rev. Palmer offers daily is Psalm 143:10, “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. Let your good spirit lead me on a level path.”

Today's message is by Dr. Dale T. Irvin, President and Professor of World Christianity at New York Theological Seminary. Dale T. Irvin is President and Professor of World Christianity at New York Theological Seminary, in New York City. He previously served as Vice President for Academic Affairs and Academic Dean. A graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary (M. Div., 1981) and Union Theological Seminary in New York (Ph.D., 1989), he has been a member of the Seminary’s faculty since 1989. He is the author of several books, including History of the World Christian Movement, a three-volume project he has written with Scott W. Sunquist. Over the past several decades his articles have appeared in a number of journals such as Christianity Today, Christian Century, The Ecumenical Review and The Journal of Pentecostal Studies. He is a founding editor of The Journal of World Christianity and serves on the editorial board of The Living Pulpit. Dr. Irvin has held visiting or adjunct appointments at a number of schools and universities, and has lectured and preached throughout the world. An ordained minister in the American Baptist Churches USA, he is a member of The Riverside Church in New York City.

The presidential theme of the 2016 AAR Annual Meeting was "Revolutionary Love." The concept draws from various themes, traditions, and ideas. In this wildcard session, leading thinkers reflect on revolutionary love from nonviolence, queer, interreligious, and constructive theology perspectives. Karen Baker-Fletcher, Southern Methodist University, presiding Serene Jones, Union Theological Seminary, panelist Elaine Padilla, New York Theological Seminary, panelist John Thatamanil, Union Theological Seminary, panelist Thomas Oord, Northwest Nazarene University, panelist Catherine Keller, Drew University, respondent This audio was recorded during the 2016 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Religion on November 20, in San Antonio, Texas.

Morgan Stebbins is a supervising analyst, faculty member and former President and Director of Training at the Jungian Psychoanalytic Association in New York, where he also maintains a private practice. He has taught Religious Studies and Hermeneutics at the New York Theological Seminary in the Pastoral Care and Counseling program, and he developed a program in Contemplative Jungian Practice at the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care which includes contemplative Jung, Buddhism and Psychology, the history of Zen, and the psychology of the Zen sutras. He began his Zen training at the San Francisco Zen Center in 1979. He has written on symbol formation, dreams, the role of mindfulness in analysis, the meaning of compulsion, the archetypal relationship of Buddhism and psychology, and the structural parallels between the theories of Jacques Lacan and CG Jung. His main project is to update the material and message of both CG Jung and Zen to be more accessible to the general reader and more integrated with modern research and cultural developments including gender, relationship and language. Recent and upcoming publications include a chapter on gender fluidity and psyche and a chapter on the relationship between mindfulness and alchemical discourse.

Morgan Stebbins is a supervising analyst, faculty member and former President and Director of Training at the Jungian Psychoanalytic Association in New York, where he also maintains a private practice. He has taught Religious Studies and Hermeneutics at the New York Theological Seminary in the Pastoral Care and Counseling program, and he developed a program in Contemplative Jungian Practice at the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care which includes contemplative Jung, Buddhism and Psychology, the history of Zen, and the psychology of the Zen sutras. He began his Zen training at the San Francisco Zen Center in 1979. He has written on symbol formation, dreams, the role of mindfulness in analysis, the meaning of compulsion, the archetypal relationship of Buddhism and psychology, and the structural parallels between the theories of Jacques Lacan and CG Jung. His main project is to update the material and message of both CG Jung and Zen to be more accessible to the general reader and more integrated with modern research and cultural developments including gender, relationship and language. Recent and upcoming publications include a chapter on gender fluidity and psyche and a chapter on the relationship between mindfulness and alchemical discourse.