Dr. Grace Chen joins us to discuss the intersectional issues in OB-GYN. We discuss the maternal and infant mortality rate for black mothers and children, as well as how Christianity plays a part in the formation of our understanding of women's bodies and reproductive rights. 

Links:

Irish Apology for "Magdalene Laundries": https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/13/irish-church-and-state-apologise-for-callous-mother-and-baby-home-institutions 

Allie Kuroff, a researcher for The Atlantic, left her socially conservative hometown to go to college in CA and now has begun her career with *gasp* "The Media."

Allie encourages us as we wrestle with the complicated interactions with the communities that help shape our first understanding of the world. 

We are living in a time where more and more people are waking up to the realities of systemic racism in America. But how do you enter places of true service instead of fashioning yourself into another white savior? 

Connecting the Cause Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/connectingthecause/

Allie Kuroff, researcher for the Atlantic magazine and former resident of DC helps us work through mistrust of "the Media" and of course, the US Capitol Insurrection 

Curtis Ranum shares what he has learned along his long journey towards mastery of himself and of many different skills. From law school to serving in the Army National Guard, Curtis shares that the secret of a successful life is being fiercely honest with yourself. 

In addition to plenty nuggets of wisdom, don't miss a super fun conversation about horror movies and what this genre and tell us about the anxieties and fears of our culture. 

Book Recs:  Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink

 https://www.amazon.com/Extreme-Ownership-U-S-Navy-SEALs/dp/1250183863/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI8qbX_f-S7gIV5eHACh158giKEAAYAiAAEgL--vD_BwE&hvadid=241597803035&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9015111&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=6182610957153535068&hvtargid=kwd-131002462374&hydadcr=15276_10334836&keywords=extreme+ownership&qid=1610337857&sr=8-1&tag=googhydr-20

Film Recs: Hammer Studios Horror Films

https://www.hammerfilms.com/about-hammer/

Vincent Price Horror Films

https://bloody-disgusting.com/editorials/3590310/essential-vincent-price-horror-revisit-halloween/

Icaraus on Netflix

Instagram Mentions: Black Liturgies 

https://www.instagram.com/blackliturgies/

Dr. Katelyn Sondereker joins us to talk about her next steps and the kindness that sometimes you have to fight for in this life.

She has her PhD in Integrated Bioscience from The University of Akron and has decided to forgo the usual Post-doc in favor of moving around the world to Japan to be a TEFL instructor. 

She also self-published a book of poetry called "Revolutions" which you can find here: https://www.amazon.com/revolutions-Kate-Sondereker/dp/1070959693/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=kate+sondereker&qid=1609784308&sr=8-1

A little sweet and spice for your holiday season!

Link to the article Katie mentions later in the episode: https://nursingclio.org/2020/06/08/asymptomatic-lethality-cooper-covid-19-and-the-potential-for-black-death/?fbclid=IwAR0K_miiI8nd3_wYv7YhCfv9BBgAgPlPrAQtvlDLSU4NOGGz-AMNg2FZONs

Kristina Benham's testimony of God's faithfulness is one that will deeply bless you. 

She shares about her experiences with having a visual impairment called achromatopsia, and her recent diagnosis of OCD and major depression. Through it all Kristina traces back the fingerprints of God in a bittersweet and sacred episode of "At the Rectory."

We know you will love Sidney! A long time friend and the original name-giver of "The Rectory," Sidney pulls books off shelves in this episode and gives us insight into ourselves and our relationships. She makes us laugh and makes us cry! Enjoy!

Books Recommended: 

"Gifts from a Challenging Childhood" by Jan Bergstrom

"Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving" by Pete Walker

Megan Trischler is back to talk about Spiritual Milestones. Megan, the Ladies of the Rectory, and their lovely sound engineer David all share stories of important milestones in their journeys. 

We invite you to look back on your own life and see those turning points, those spiritual milestones -- see how far you have come.