In this episode, Maya is joined by her friend Ola for a powerful conversation at the intersection of faith, politics, and public life. Maya and Ola discuss why civic education matters, how to research local politics, and what meaningful political involvement can look like for Christians who care about justice, dignity, and truth.

Ola shares insights from her research on students and civic education, helping listeners understand why so many people feel disconnected from voting—and how that disconnection is often by design. They also debunk common myths about the southern border and immigration, centering the humanity and dignity of Latin neighbors in a climate shaped by fear, misinformation, and political manipulation.

Together, Maya and Ola reflect on systemic racism in both politics and church spaces, the trauma of navigating racist spiritual environments, and how that contrasts with the refuge many find in Black churches. This episode explores what it means to pursue healing without abandoning faith—and how to walk the narrow way between progressive and conservative Christianity in a deeply polarized world.

This is a conversation for anyone trying to stay engaged without becoming cynical, faithful without becoming silent, and politically awake without losing their soul.

You can find Ola here:

Follow her on IG: instagram.com/ola.aleece

Find more of Ola's writing here: olaaleece.substack.com

Our culture is constantly changing around us. A new story, new song, or new idea is being tweeted, posted or published every other minute. As the world changes rapidly around us, how do we respond? How do we stay rooted in our faith amidst a myriad of conversations? How do we stay grounded in truth when so much in the media is manipulated? How do we talk about our beliefs in a culture that may not feel the same way?

Conversations about faith and culture meet right here on Teaology, the podcast. Teaology is all about communities coming together through conversation. We find common ground when we communicate well.

Credits

Written, Edited and Produced by Maya Wilson

Theme Song: On My Vegan by JXXIII, produced by Kahlil Franklin

Copyright 2026

All Rights Reserved

For more of Maya's writing, follow her on Substack

teaologypod.substack.com

Follow the podcast on socials!

Instagram: @teaologypodcast

Tiktok: @teaologypod

📌Copyright Statement:

All the videos, songs, images, and graphics used in the video belong to their respective owners. I or this channel does not claim any right over them.

Disclaimer of Copyright Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, "fair use" is permitted for activities like criticism, commentary, education, and research. The term "fair use" refers to the use that the copyright law permits but might otherwise be illegal.

Along with this channel, I make no claims to ownership of any of the graphics, images, or music used in this video. The respective copyright holders reserve all rights.

In this episode of our Black History + Faith series, Maya sits down with her friend Michaela—a writer, housing discrimination advocate, and former international missions worker—for a deeply honest conversation about faith, burnout, trauma, and the long road toward healing.

Michaela shares her experience of being clinically diagnosed with burnout, developing PTSD, going to therapy, and navigating life as the only Black woman in predominantly white international and European spaces. We talk about how proximity to white supremacy doesn't just shape our work—it reshapes our bodies, our nervous systems, and our relationship with God.

Together, we wrestle with hard questions:
What happens when faith no longer feels safe?
How do we heal when church spaces mirror the harm we're trying to escape?
Are multicultural churches truly liberating—or simply another version of assimilation?
And how do we move beyond self-sufficiency toward real, embodied community?

This episode holds space for disillusionment, triggers, and grief—but also for tenderness, truth-telling, and the sacred work of questioning God without abandoning him. It's a conversation about historical hurt, spiritual survival, and what it means to pursue healing in a world shaped by systems that were never built for our wholeness.

For anyone carrying religious trauma, navigating racialized burnout, or trying to find faith again after harm—this one is for you.

You can find more about Progressive Baptist Church in Chicago here:

https://www.progressivechicago.org/

Our culture is constantly changing around us. A new story, new song, or new idea is being tweeted, posted or published every other minute. As the world changes rapidly around us, how do we respond? How do we stay rooted in our faith amidst a myriad of conversations? How do we stay grounded in truth when so much in the media is manipulated? How do we talk about our beliefs in a culture that may not feel the same way?

Conversations about faith and culture meet right here on Teaology, the podcast. Teaology is all about communities coming together through conversation. We find common ground when we communicate well.

Credits

Written, Edited and Produced by Maya Wilson

Theme Song: On My Vegan by JXXIII, produced by Kahlil Franklin

Copyright 2026

All Rights Reserved

For more of Maya's writing, follow her on Substack

teaologypod.substack.com

Follow the podcast on socials!

Instagram: @teaologypodcast

Tiktok: @teaologypod

📌Copyright Statement:

All the videos, songs, images, and graphics used in the video belong to their respective owners. I or this channel does not claim any right over them.

Disclaimer of Copyright Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, "fair use" is permitted for activities like criticism, commentary, education, and research. The term "fair use" refers to the use that the copyright law permits but might otherwise be illegal.

Along with this channel, I make no claims to ownership of any of the graphics, images, or music used in this video. The respective copyright holders reserve all rights.

This month at the table, we celebrate Black History with a sacred and courageous exploration of Black people's relationship with Jesus in 2026—told in the long shadow of colonialism, chattel slavery, and racialized violence, but also in the bright, unbreakable light of our ancestors' faith.

Today's guest is Jocelyn Moore. She is a licensed minister, nonprofit worker and youth pastor based out of Philly/NJ. Maya and Jocelyn discuss generational faith, communical care, quiet giftings in the church, untangling our gatherings from capitalism, the importance of correct theology to avoid diillusionment, and encouragement for Black Christian Women in this political and ecclesial climate.

You can find Jocelyn here:

IG/TikTok: @itsjustjoc

Her website: calledbygoddevotionals.com

Our culture is constantly changing around us. A new story, new song, or new idea is being tweeted, posted or published every other minute. As the world changes rapidly around us, how do we respond? How do we stay rooted in our faith amidst a myriad of conversations? How do we stay grounded in truth when so much in the media is manipulated? How do we talk about our beliefs in a culture that may not feel the same way?

Conversations about faith and culture meet right here on Teaology, the podcast. Teaology is all about communities coming together through conversation. We find common ground when we communicate well.

Credits

Written, Edited and Produced by Maya Wilson

Theme Song: On My Vegan by JXXIII, produced by Kahlil Franklin

Copyright 2026

All Rights Reserved

For more of Maya's writing, follow her on Substack

teaologypod.substack.com

Follow the podcast on socials!

Instagram: @teaologypodcast

Tiktok: @teaologypod

📌Copyright Statement:

All the videos, songs, images, and graphics used in the video belong to their respective owners. I or this channel does not claim any right over them.

Disclaimer of Copyright Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, "fair use" is permitted for activities like criticism, commentary, education, and research. The term "fair use" refers to the use that the copyright law permits but might otherwise be illegal.

Along with this channel, I make no claims to ownership of any of the graphics, images, or music used in this video. The respective copyright holders reserve all rights.