A Longer Table

Barry, a young, single black man is a proud adoptive father to his three sons, who all happen to be white. He joins Manda to share why he became a foster parent and how he ended up adopting children of a different ethnicity, especially at such a young age. Barry sheds light on being a single-parent household and transracial parenting from a perspective you may not have heard before!

Karisa Keasey, artist and author of "When You Can't Go Home," joins Manda to discuss the reality of refugees. During this 23-minute conversation, she informs us on statistics about refugees, makes a compelling argument for why we should allow more refugees into our country, and gives Jesus-followers tangible next steps. For every book sold, Karisa donates 50% of all profits to World Relief to help in their efforts with refugees. Follow Karisa on Instagram!

Ashlee is a leader, pastor, writer and Bible teacher who exists to join God in His redemptive work here on Earth. Her work has one purpose: to help humanity build bridges back to the Truth of who God is and between one other in redemptive, healing relationship. Ashlee serves as Formation & Preaching Pastor at Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids. She and her husband, Delwin, have three kids. Follow @ashlee_eiland & check out her book Human(Kind)!

Domestically adopted as an infant from Kansas City, Missouri, raised by two white parents in Lititz, Pennsylvania, married to a black man from North Philadelphia, and educated in urban education by the Ivy-league, Hannah Matthews uses her experiences as a trans-racially adopted, biracial woman to help trans-racially adopted and foster youth navigate race, embrace race and identity, and combat racism and white supremacy. Follow her @_heytra!

Manda brings J back to talk about sexuality. J is a pastor who never quite felt at home in church, an artist who figured out the sermon is his song, and a teacher who still has some questions. He studied theology at the University of Notre Dame. This episode is for anyone who's ever said: "BUT THE BIBLE IS CLEAR!"

Here is the sermon referenced in the episode.

Manda's Internet BFF, Anjuli, joins us to talk about her new book Stay which addresses what to do with our everyday aches, disappointment and pain. Most of us withdraw, avoid, numb, and neurotically fix. But what if Jesus is pulling out a chair and whispering, Stay? Anjuli invites all of us to stop running so we can experience transformation, which is often found in the very places we resist the most.

My real-life friend, Stephanie, joins me at the table to share a bit of her story which starts with teen pregnancy and ends with working in a church. After 20 years of marriage, she went through a divorce and despite the hardships and turmoil, believes it was an opportunity God gave her to make better choices. In this short episode, Steph will encourage you to separate your relationship with God from people in the church and to be less afraid of starting over when the junk drawer of your life breaks.

International adoption gets a bad rap, but not every international adoption is the same. Abby was adopted from China at 8 months old by two white Americans. She pulls up a seat to share her full circle experience of being abandoned, adopted, and now advocating for children and families as a foster parent herself. Listen to find encouragement as an adoptive parent, to hear another Asian woman's perspective, and to notice God's redemption throughout her story.

Caitlin Crosby, founder of The Giving Keys and author of You Are The Key (available TODAY), pulls up a seat at Manda's table to discuss her journey of turning her imperfections into purpose. Caitlin is hilarious, real, and drives home the point: if I can start a business and a movement, anyone can.

In this short episode, Manda's friend, Tina, shares what it's like to be a Chinese-American, specifically during the COVID-19 pandemic.