Be the Bridge Podcast

On this episode of the Be the Bridge Podcast, founder and host Latasha Morrison is joined by Tiffany Henness and Gina Fimbel to discuss transracial adoption. They talk about the importance of centering adoptee voices and of learning from adoptee’s experiences and ethnicities. This needed conversation deals with the ways our society has gotten things wrong with adoption and the ways to grow and do better. Listen in and lean in so we can build bridges and create safer and healthier spaces for adoptees.

Quotes:
“We think it's important that we empower those where this is their lived experience to do most of the talking. And so we do not want to silence those voices, because they are not voiceless. They’re just unheard.” -Latasha Morrison

“We often talk about adoption in such a simple way: black, white; it's all unicorns and rainbows. And I think that's a really dangerous and problematic way to frame it, because it really severely limits the public's perception about the complex dynamics of adoption and the trauma that's associated with it, not only for first families, but for adoptees as well.” -Gina Fimbel

“When I'm with other transracial adoptees, that's where I have felt the most freedom to be me.” -Tiffany Henness

Links:
Resources:
Be the Bridge TRA Resources
Be the Bridge Blog of Resources for Transracially Adopted People of Color
Be the Bridge Panel Discussions: Colin in Black and White

Connect with Tiffany Henness:
Patreon
Instagram
Journeying Home: Advent Readings for Adoptees Deconstructing their Faith
Tiffany’s Links

Connect with Gina Fimbel:
Instagram

Connect with Be the Bridge:
Our Website
Facebook
Instagram

Connect with Latasha Morrison:
Facebook
Instagram

Host & Executive Producer - Latasha Morrison
Senior Producer - Lauren C. Brown
Producer, Editor, & Music - Travon Potts
Transcriber - Sarah Connatser

Not all views expressed in this interview reflect the values and beliefs of Latasha Morrison or the Be the Bridge organization

In this special bonus Christmas episode of the Be the Bridge Podcast, Latasha Morrison is joined by three women she met at Christmas Con this year. Gina, India, and Rena have fun with Latasha discussing Hallmark Christmas movies. Their laughter will get you into the Christmas spirit. They also take notice of the improvements that Hallmark has made with diversity and inclusion in front of the screen and behind it. Movies (even feel-good, predictable Hallmark Christmas movies) broaden our imaginations and help remind us of the power and necessity of representation.

Quotes:
“We were at Christmas Con to feel that Christmas spirit.” -Latasha Morrison

“I'm not really a holiday person. But it's just something about those Hallmark channels. We watch them over and over and over. But it just gives you that good feeling.” -Gina

“I love to see us in roles of excellence.” -India

“I've always been a Christmas person. I love Christmas.” -Rena

Connect with Be the Bridge:
Our Website
Facebook
Instagram

Connect with Latasha Morrison:
Facebook
Instagram

Host & Executive Producer - Latasha Morrison
Senior Producer - Lauren C. Brown
Producer, Editor, & Music - Travon Potts
Transcriber - Sarah Connatser

Not all views expressed in this interview reflect the values and beliefs of Latasha Morrison or the Be the Bridge organization

Comfort. Peace. Joy. What word would describe this holiday season for you? Latasha Morrison brings together Michele Evans, Micah Smith, and Lauren Brown of the Be the Bridge executive leadership team to share some of their favorite Christmas traditions, memories, and meals. From the tender memories to the funny ones, and the decorations to the gifts, this episode is one full of Christmas cheer and heartfelt thoughts. May we acknowledge the tensions this season holds while embracing the grief and the celebrations. May we join together in laughter and in tears. And may we open our tables whether they hold Coca-Cola salad, cookies, or Breakfast burritos.

Quotes:
“Advent is a time that we remember who we serve. I know without Christ I could not do the work that I'm doing.” -Latasha Morrison

“There's just something about Christmas when everything just kind of slows down a little bit.” -Micah Smith

“There's some beauty in this season in the midst of a lot of brokenness.” -Latasha Morrison

Links:
Resources Mentioned:
She Reads Truth - Advent 2022: Joy of Every Longing Heart
Truth’s Table - The King is Coming: An Advent Devotional

Other Advent Resources:
“Advent Devotionals Highlight Immigration and the Black Church Tradition” article on Faithfully Magazine
Mary Had a Baby: An Advent Bible Study Based on African American Spirituals by Cheryl A. Kirk-Duggan
“2020 ADVENT RESOURCES, WEEK 2: BLACK LITURGIES” article on Emerging Scholars Network 

Connect with Be the Bridge:
Our Website
Facebook
Instagram

Connect with Latasha Morrison:
Facebook
Instagram

Host & Executive Producer - Latasha Morrison
Senior Producer - Lauren C. Brown
Producer, Editor, & Music - Travon Potts
Transcriber - Sarah Connatser

Not all views expressed in this interview reflect the values and beliefs of Latasha Morrison or the Be the Bridge organization.

There is so much about American history that we aren’t taught in the American school systems. There is so much that isn’t exposed. But this episode of the Be the Bridge Podcast reveals America’s culinary founding father, James Hemings. Chef Ashbell McElveen and Visual Storyteller Anthony Werhun discuss their new documentary on Hemings with Latasha Morrison. Their conversation is full of untold stories, rich Black history, and collective lament. This is a reminder of the importance of stewarding history well and reclaiming stories that need to be told. This is an episode you do not want to miss.

Quotes:
“We want to make sure that we're passing on the correct information to the next generation because stories matter, narratives matter, history matters, who has power matters, who tells the story. It all matters.” -Latasha Morrison

“Through the making of this documentary with James Hemings, I discovered that literally enslaved Black cooks and chefs created fine dining in America. So James Hemings literally put fine taste in Thomas Jefferson's mouth, not the reverse. And that's the value of this documentary.” -Chef Ashbell McElveen

"James Hemings was a big part of this country's formation. And for some reason, that story has been oppressed for a couple 100 years. It's just this little blurb, but it's much bigger.” -Anthony Werhun

Resources Mentioned:
James Hemings: Ghost in America’s Kitchen documentary on Amazon Prime Video
James Hemings: Ghost in America’s Kitchen Facebook profile
James Hemings: Ghost in America’s Kitchen Instagram profile
James Hemings: Ghost in America’s Kitchen website
Shannon LaNier
Voices of the Civil Rights Movement
Black Culinary History

Connect with Chef Ashbell McElveen: His Website Facebook Instagram

Connect with Anthony Werhun: His Website Facebook Instagram

Connect with Be the Bridge: Our Website Facebook Instagram 

Host & Executive Producer - Latasha Morrison
Senior Producer - Lauren C. Brown
Producer, Editor, & Music - Travon Potts
Transcriber - Sarah Connatser

What does it mean that God is global? How can we long for and pursue justice in a beautiful way? Sandra Maria Van Opstal is a second-generation Latina and the executive director of Chasing Justice. She is an amazing author and pastor, leader, and activist joining Latasha Morrison on the Be the Bridge Podcast to answer these questions and more. She powerfully reminds us that we are all connected to one another and that we need one another. They discuss the rich gift that immigrants and refugees are to the church. They talk about the importance of mutuality. And they dive into how to develop leaders across cultures. Join Sandra and Latasha as they lament and hope together, and may we journey collectively into The Next Worship.

Quotes:
“What does it look like to live a lifestyle of justice beyond a hashtag and beyond a protest, but into a lifestyle of compassion and justice?” -Sandra Maria Van Opstal

“If I don't consider myself an evangelical, it's because evangelicals don't consider me. Evangelicals don't consider my community.” -Sandra Maria Van Opstal

Links:
Resources Mentioned:
A Rhythm of Prayer
The Next Worship
Voices of Lament
Forty Days on Being an Eight
Enneagram Daily Reflections book set
The Next Worship Bible Study

Connect with Sandra Maria Van Opstal:
Her Website
Instagram

Connect with Chasing Justice:
Their Website
Facebook
Instagram
Podcast Network

Connect with Be the Bridge:
Our Website
Facebook
Instagram

Connect with Latasha Morrison:
Facebook
Instagram

Host & Executive Producer - Latasha Morrison
Senior Producer - Lauren C. Brown
Producer, Editor, & Music - Travon Potts
Transcriber - Sarah Connatser

Not all views expressed in this interview reflect the values and beliefs of Latasha Morrison or the Be the Bridge organization.

There has been a tremendous amount of personal and collective grief over the past couple of years. Navigating it all has been hard. And for those in positions of leadership, it’s been all the more burdensome. So how do we pay attention to the past, look ahead to the future, but live and do the work in this moment? How do we process and grow into all the grief? Author and speaker, pastor, and leader Jeanne Stevens shares beautiful wisdom with the Be the Bridge community about the difference in blame, shame, and guilt and the need to live at peace with God with ourselves so that we can live at peace with others. She and Latasha Morrison talk about the importance of accessing the presence of God. And they discuss what is helpful and unhelpful in the grieving process. This grace filled conversation will help you embrace change, appreciate losses, and remember that you are not alone.

Quotes:
“The scriptures say that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, which is our hope that we can lean on. But the only place where we can experience God is in the present.” -Jeanne Stevens

“What we cannot face, we cannot change”. -Jeanne Stevens

“We cannot experience the peace of God if we don't know how to access the presence of God.
And the presence of God is always the here and the now.” -Jeanne Stevens

“On the other side, there can be joy again. On the other side, there will be hope again.” -Latasha Morrison

Links:
Ads:
Get 25% off your first year of the Abide premium app by texting BTB to 22433

Connect with Jeanne Stevens:
Her Book: What’s Here Now?
Her Website
Facebook
Instagram
Soul City Church

Connect with Be the Bridge:
Our Website
Facebook
Instagram

Connect with Latasha Morrison:
Facebook
Instagram

Host & Executive Producer - Latasha Morrison
Senior Producer - Lauren C. Brown
Producer, Editor, & Music - Travon Potts
Transcriber - Sarah Connatser

Not all views expressed in this interview reflect the values and beliefs of Latasha Morrison or the Be the Bridge organization.

This episode brings together faith leaders Kathryn Freeman, Jenny Yang, and Michael Wear to discuss a hot button issue-civic engagement for American Christians.  We'll hear from each of them about what it means for followers of Christ to love their neighbors through politics, voting, and the "third space."  How do we move from awareness to action, and action to advocacy?  Our amazing guests help us understand the challenges and rewards of participation in the political sphere as people of faith.

Host & Executive Producer - Latasha Morrison

Senior Producer - Lauren C. Brown

Producer, Editor & Music By - Travon Potts

Transcriber - Sarah Connatser

Quotes:

"There's nothing wrong with being political. All of us are political beings, all of us live in structures and governments, and communities in which all of us need to come together to make important decisions that impact the common good."  - Jenny Yang

“The fine line is between being political and being partisan because oftentimes, partisanship can mean blind allegiance to a specific political party or candidate without realizing that there are faults with specific candidates and parties. And not a single political party or person will ever encompass the fully, perfectly balanced agenda that I believe we’re supposed to pursue in our society.” - Jenny Yang

“Faithful political engagement means that you’re willing to put faithfulness over short term political gain. It also means that you’re not just in politics for your own self-interest, that you’re not just going to politics to get your own needs met.” - Michael Wear

“I’m convinced people are going to politics a lot these days for spiritual and emotional needs. We find those needs met in Christ, and so we’re freed up to go into politics to affirm human dignity and advance justice.” - Michael Wear

“There has to be a separation of who I am as an American and a citizen of this democracy, and who I am as a citizen of the kingdom of heaven. And I think oftentimes we blend those two things together as if America is a Christian nation, and it doesn’t matter that we’ve made an idol or that we live in a way where those identities are blended.” - Kathryn Freeman

“The reality is, whether you’re liberal or conservative, you should feel like, ‘I can’t go with that, because my first identity is a citizen of the kingdom of heaven.’ And if you never feel that tension, if the country is always doing what you feel like aligns with God, then I would say that the God that you’re worshipping is not the God of the Bible. It’s not the Jesus of the red letters.” - Kathryn Freeman

Milton Stewart joins Latasha Morrison on the Be the Bridge Podcast for an episode dedicated to the Enneagram! As the founder of Kaizen Careers, Coaching and Consulting LLC and one of the very few African American male Enneagram teachers in the world, Milton brings his expertise and wisdom to a conversation unlike others revolving around this tool for self-awareness and empathy. They look at the origins of the Enneagram, how it helps in communication, and how the Enneagram can aid in conversations around racial justice. Milton and Latasha share how important self-awareness is in the journey of caring for our communities and working to bring about justice. You’ll leave this episode with an appreciation for Enneagram work that goes deeper than memes and with a great set of resources to dive into.

Quotes:
“The Enneagram is like a journey or map. When you work with it the right way, it's a tool to help you on a journey to help you find deeper self-awareness to transform yourself.” -Milton Stewart

“When there's diversity and inclusion at the table, it makes for a more robust conversation.” -Latasha Morrison

Links:
Ads:
Become a Recurring Partner of Be the Bridge
Shop the Be the Bridge Store

Resources:
Forty Days on Being an Eight book by Sandra Van Opstal
The Enneagram for Black Liberation book by Chichi Agorom
Know Justice, Know Peace book by Dr. Deborah Egerton
The Complete Enneagram book by Beatrice Chestnut
Reclaiming You book by Sharon K. Ball
The Body Keeps the Score book by Bessel Van Der Kolk

Milton Stewart:
Kaizen Careers
Kaizen Careers Facebook
Kaizen Careers Instagram
Kaizen Careers LinkedIn
Do it for the Gram Podcast
Do it for the Gram Podcast Instagram
LinkedIn

Be the Bridge: Our Website Facebook Instagram

Host & Executive Producer - Latasha Morrison

Senior Producer - Lauren C. Brown

Producer, Editor, & Music - Travon Potts 

Transcriber - Sarah Connatser

Leader and author, executive coach, and veteran Marine, Natasha Sistrunk Robinson has a prayer that her latest work would be a classic. Voices of Lament: Reflections on Brokenness and Hope in a World Longing for Justice is a compilation of voices of women of color that is a timeless and unique work full of good words for our souls. Latasha Morrison discusses this rich book with Natasha and Mariah Humphries, Be the Bridge’s Director of Marketing and Innovation and one of the book’s 29 contributors. Listen in as they tackle subjects like recognizing culture as God intended, discipleship and biblical illiteracy, the systemic injustices in Christian publishing, and the challenges of leading as a Black woman. May this episode of the Be the Bridge podcast remind us all of the beauty and necessity of different languages, different stories, different experiences, different histories, and different people groups.

“Women of color, probably more than anyone in this world, but certainly in our country, we understand our lives being interrupted by things we don't have control over. Whether it's systemic injustice or family things or children things. And yet, we persevere through the suffering, through the mourning, through the lament.” -Natasha Robinson

“I wanted to stay very true to who I am as one voice, as a Mvskoke voice, but also part of one voice of a collective. And I thought it was just a beautiful combination of spiritual faith, and then a lived experience of ancestral experience.” -Mariah Humphries

Links:
Ads:
Become a Recurring Partner of Be the Bridge
Shop the Be the Bridge Store

Resource Mentioned:
Voices of Lament book edited by Natasha Robinson
Leadership LINKS

Connect with Natasha Robinson:
Her Website
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
YouTube

Connect with Be the Bridge:
Our Website

Connect with Latasha Morrison:
Facebook
Instagram

Host & Executive Producer - Latasha Morrison
Senior Producer - Lauren C. Brown
Producer, Editor, & Music - Travon Potts
Transcriber - Sarah Connatser

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Not all views expressed in this interview reflect the values and beliefs of Latasha Morrison or the Be the Bridge organization.

Have you ever questioned if Christianity is a white man’s religion? Have you ever wondered if there is a better way to do missions and church planting? African Missiologist and thought leader, Mekdes Haddis joins Latasha Morrison on this Be the Bridge podcast episode to challenge the Western Church’s view on missions. She invites listeners into a history of Ethiopian Christianity and how the Doctrine of Discovery remains embedded in the modern mission movement. Their discussion points to the brutal impact of good intentions and how church plants can often be facilitators of gentrification. Mekdes reminds us that Black and Brown leaders and pastors are already doing the work and there are wholesome ways to empower, support, and join them in that work. This needed conversation, along with Mekdes’ book A Just Mission, encourages a reframing of missions and a pursuit of racial righteousness.

Quotes:

“For anybody that says Christianity is a white man's religion, I would say go and visit the ancient Ethiopian churches that have been there for centuries, before any white man ever came into Africa.” -Mekdes Haddis

“Our good intent does not always produce good impact.” -Mekdes Haddis

Links:

Connect with Mekdes Haddis:

Connect with Be the Bridge:

Connect with Latasha Morrison:

Host & Executive Producer - Latasha Morrison

Not all views expressed in this interview reflect the values and beliefs of Latasha Morrison or the Be the Bridge organization.