This week I’m in conversation with Cassandra Calin and Megan Sharkey. Cassandra, who also goes by CC, is Soulforce’s Board Chair and Megan is the Director of Ruckus. They are partners, trained social workers and long-time supporters and friends of Soulforce. Our conversation illuminates the ways that white Christian Supremacy shapes systems of oppression and impacts our perception of self and self-worth. CC makes some incredible points about how Biblical messaging is taken out of context to create oppressive and unrealistic societal standards, and Megan offers some really lovely guidance on empowering oneself through political consciousness and community connections.

As a heads up, we are bringing the Go With Grace podcast to a close. I’ve truly enjoyed being on this learning journey with y’all. Despite the increasingly chaotic moment we find ourselves in, I am hopeful for the future. I’m inspired by all of us who are willing to continue forward with honesty, grit, rest, creativity and joy in the face of our hardships.

I know that if we continue to deepen our understanding of our world, each other and spirit, we’ll never be wrong.

This is a really wonderful episode to end on. I hope you enjoy my conversation with CC Calin and Megan Sharkey.

Transcript available here.

Notes:

Soulforce’s Spirit Resource Library: https://soulforce.org/what-we-do/resources/ Soulforce Mailing List and Social Media Links: https://soulforce.org/engage/

Soulforce History: https://soulforce.org/about/our-history/

Soulforce current programming: https://soulforce.org/what-we-do/our-approach-to-liberation/

Donate to Soulforce: https://soulforce.org/donate/

Logo artwork by: adé Oni Follow them at https://www.instagram.com/thisheretree

Learn more about them and support their artistry at www.afrosurrealistresearchbureau.com

This week I’m in conversation with Je Naé Taylor, a storyteller, play director, Black Joy Experience album song writer and cultural organizer at The Highlander Education and Research Center. Please enjoy our conversation about Highlander homecoming and cultural organizing!

Transcript available here.

Notes:

Highlander Methodologies - https://highlandercenter.org/cultural-organizing/

Homecoming registration link -https://highlander.swoogo.com/90th/2311618

Black Joy Experience: https://www.liberationhouse.org/black-joy-experience/

Born Like Me - Jake Clemons Single (feat. Allison Russell & The Highlander Center) https://music.apple.com/us/album/born-like-me-single-feat-allison-russell-the/1634362175

Podcasts featuring co-executive directors, Ash-Lee Henderson and Rev. Allyn Maxfienld Steele:

(Soulforce is mentioned in this one!) https://open.spotify.com/episode/5m5Ho7TmMiX0HDrTZ8Onjr?si=7932729bffda4121

https://open.spotify.com/episode/24PAAfjqc75Hw0HYHx3bQT?si=1dc8251a659f402d

Highlander legacy: https://www.npr.org/2007/09/02/14106495/highlander-celebrates-75-years-of-social-activism

https://www.wbir.com/article/news/community/we-are-survivors-one-year-after-the-highlander-center-fire/51-7fdf920b-929f-4ee4-b8e5-da0dba4f308f

Agusto Boal and Theatre of the Oppressed:

https://imaginaction.org/media/our-methods/theatre-of-the-oppressed-2#:~:text=Theatre%20of%20the%20Oppressed%20(TO)%20is%20an%20aesthetic%20method%20created,of%20consciousness%20and%20concrete%20actions.

https://www.democracynow.org/2005/6/3/famed_brazilian_artist_augusto_boal_on

Logo artwork by: adé Oni Follow them at https://www.instagram.com/thisheretree

Learn more about them and support their artistry at www.afrosurrealistresearchbureau.com

This week I’m in conversation with two of my dear friends and fellow adoptees, Juliana Finch and Imee Dalton.

All of us share our personal experiences and the impact of adoption on our lives.

Juliana is a musician, writer and Religious Studies student at UNC Greensboro. Imee is a spiritual practitioner and Kali practitioner, Kali is a Filipino martial art that I am also learning. We have a great conversation about Jesus and Moses as adoptees and how the Bible has also been wielded to support the adoption industry. Imee and Juliana were also voice actors in an audio fiction piece I wrote about my adoption experience called Crocodile Twins. I’ll include a link in the show notes so you can have a listen, along with a few other adoptee resources.

We start our conversation discussing ‘coming out of the fog,’ an expression used in adoptee communities to describe an individual’s journey of meaning making and processing their adoption. This generally occurs when adoptees reach adulthood and are given the space and tools to be honest about their experiences.

While difficult and triggering, side note, please take care of yourself as you listen. This offering is rich with examples of transformation, possibility and grace.

We end our conversation with what has felt healing and supportive for us, and how we envision better systems of care for adoptees.

Thank you so much for tuning in. You can follow Imee at THE MAYARI MOON on Instagram. Juliana is Juliana Finch on Instagram and Patreon. Links in show notes below. Transcript available here.

Go with Grace is written and produced by me. I also wrote the theme song. Additional music by Blue Sky Moon, Ketsa and Audiorezout.

Show Notes:

Imee Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themayarimoon/

Juliana Patreon and Instagram: https://www.patreon.com/julianafinch

https://www.instagram.com/writeplayrepeat/?hl=en

Audio Fiction - Crocodile Twins https://artistsoapbox.org/asbx-episodes/crocodile-twins/

Adoptee Resources: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30297153-all-you-can-ever-know

https://leavingevidence.wordpress.com/about-2/

https://www.laniseantoineshelley.com/

https://www.adoptionmosaic.com/

http://adopteereading.com/already-enough-a-path-to-self-acceptance/

Logo artwork by: adé Oni Follow them at https://www.instagram.com/thisheretree

Learn more about them and support their artistry at www.afrosurrealistresearchbureau.com