Be the Bridge Podcast

In the midst of so much tragedy and so much to lament after weeks of white supremacy raging through racial terrorism and gun massacres, Latasha Morrison spoke with trauma therapist Dr. Anita Phillips for a timely and needed word. Dr. Anita shares about the importance of singing together, of physical touch, and of living sacrificially as a follower of Jesus. She dives deep into God’s design of emotions and the connection between our hearts and brains. This episode is filled with Dr. Anita’s pastoral voice as she invites us into a better understanding of how God created us to feel and to live.

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

Quotes:
“With everything that we have going on from some of the police violence with Black and Brown brothers and sisters, from Buffalo, to Texas, it's just all really too much to bear. I cannot understand how to do this apart from Christ.”  -Latasha Morrison

“Our mental health, our relational health, our spiritual health is being undermined by how uncomfortable we are and how inarticulate we are and inadequate we are with emotion.” -Dr. Anita Phillips

“When I'm watching Jesus, I see Jesus expressing emotion freely and often with words and with his body.” -Dr. Anita Phillips

Links:
Dr. Anita Phillips:  anitaphillips.com/
instagram.com/dranitaphillips/
youtube.com/channel/UC6R3uJOyDHGvnaXHYfUC91Q
facebook.com/DrAnitaPhillips
twitter.com/dranitaphillips

Be the Bridge:  BeTheBridge.com
facebook.com/beabridgebuilder/
instagram.com/bethebridge/

Latasha Morrison: latashamorrison.com/
facebook.com/LatashaMMorrison
instagram.com/latashamorrison/

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

If you’ve ever wondered about the term and concept of whiteness, if you’ve ever wondered how there can be such differences between white Christians and Black Christians, if you’ve ever wondered about how reconciliation and justice play a role in spiritual maturity, this conversation is for you. Pastor David Swanson joins Latasha Morrison to talk through the biblical exegesis and cultural exegesis of racial righteousness and discipleship. Their deep discussion is covered in the beauty and necessity of truth, of hospitality, of perseverance. This episode will leave you with a better understanding of how we got to where we are in the American church context and with hope for the days to come.

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

Quotes:
“What would it look like for a majority white ministry or church to take seriously the call to discipling Christians, so that they stand more and more in solidarity with the whole body of Christ, so that our witness to Jesus could be that much more powerful?” -David Swanson

“This is profoundly spiritual work that we do. As much as we need other resources and tools, at the end of the day this is a work that only the Spirit of God can accomplish.” -David Swanson

“If we're going to do this well in a healthy manner, we're going to have to directly and regularly confront whiteness. We will have to name it, we'll have to talk about what it looks like, we'll have to talk about how it manifests in very specific ways. But we'll have to do that in a way that doesn't just quote, unquote, educate white people, but actually is good news to the people of color in the room as well.” -David Swanson

“When we see each other as God sees us, we wouldn't see our differences as something that sets us against one another, but something that brings us together and causes beauty that points back to God.” -Latasha Morrison

Links:Ad for Charity Water: CharityWater.org/BridgePastor David Swanson: dwswanson.com/
twitter.com/davidswanson
facebook.com/PastorDavidWSwanson/
instagram.com/david.w.swanson/

David Swanson’s Rediscipling the White Church: ivpress.com/rediscipling-the-white-churchNew Community Covenant Church: newcommunitycovenant.com/

Be the Bridge:  BeTheBridge.com
facebook.com/beabridgebuilder/
instagram.com/bethebridge/

Latasha Morrison: latashamorrison.com/ facebook.com/LatashaMMorrison instagram.com/latashamorrison/

Music has the power to transform and transcend; it can build bridges and recognize intersections. Tongan American creative artist, Aisea Taimani’s honest music does just that. Listen in as he discusses glocal worship with Be the Bridge founder and podcast host, Latasha Morrison. They dive into the value of different worship styles and the necessity of experiencing them. This conversation is a reminder of the intentionally diverse creation of God and the amazing beauty found in the church. Glocal worship is an invitation to celebrate and to lament, to hope and to empathize as we work to bring God’s Kingdom to earth as it is in heaven.

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

Quotes:
“We've always heard local and global. But I think this term [glocal] was just an opportunity to really imagine how we look at the world, especially as a people of faith, recognizing that in order to reach people, you no longer have to travel out of your country.”  -Aisea Taimani 

“Learning the songs from different cultures and different languages has really actually deepened my theology and given me tools to move towards curiosity rather than judgments whenever I experience something that's different, especially in church.” -Aisea Taimani

“I promise you that when you hear my people sing with all of their heart, they have something to teach the rest of the world about who God is.”  -Aisea Taimani

Links:

Ad for Epic Will:  EpicWill.com [use promo code BTB20 for 20% off] Ad for Charity Water: CharityWater.org/Bridge

Aisea Taimani:   instagram.com/aiseataimani/
facebook.com/weareminorislands
minorislands.bandcamp.com/
youtube.com/channel/UCV5Nrik1Yz-rMj6RILmaD5w

Aisea Taimani + Minor Island’s song Take A Stand: youtube.com/watch?v=cYGPkcUTwJA Sandra Van Opstal’s book The Next Worship: sandravanopstal.com/the-next-worship/

Be the Bridge:  BeTheBridge.com
facebook.com/beabridgebuilder/
instagram.com/bethebridge/

Latasha Morrison: latashamorrison.com/
facebook.com/LatashaMMorrison
instagram.com/latashamorrison/

If you want to see hope in action, just take a look at our youth! Here at Be the Bridge, we are passionate about equipping and empowering students to step forward in the work of racial healing, racial equity, and racial unity right where they are. For this episode of the podcast, Patricia Taylor, Be the Bridge’s Director of Programs, talks with Kaylee Morgan, Be the Bridge’s Youth & University Program Manager, and two students, Sydney Middleton and Regan Murray, to discuss our youth guide and their involvement in a group. They share the ways they are learning and growing as individuals and as students in a trusted community. They are leading the way in this work, are having brave conversations, and are reminding us to never underestimate the power of small steps along the journey and small conversations in daily life.

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

Quotes:
“We're here to equip the next generation to continue to do the work and empower them to empower those that follow right after them.” -Kaylee Morgan

“We do this work for the betterment of us all.” -Patricia Taylor

“You can't educate others without really educating yourself.” -Sydney Middleton

“You never know how a small conversation could change someone's whole perspective on an issue.” -Regan Murray

“I really do believe this next generation is going to see some monumental things when it comes to justice work in the justice movement and justice actually being served.” -Kaylee Morgan

Links:
Ad for Epic Will:  EpicWill.com [use promo code BTB20 for 20% off]

Become a Be the Bridge Partner: BeTheBridge.com/giveShop the Be the Bridge Store: Shop.BeTheBridge.com

Be the Bridge Youth:   BTByouth.com
instagram.com/btbyouth
tiktok.com/@bethebridge_

Be the Bridge:

BeTheBridge.com

facebook.com/beabridgebuilder/

Latasha Morrison:

latashamorrison.com/

facebook.com/LatashaMMorrison

This conversation between Latasha Morrison and Durwood Snead shines light on a restorative work being done in one local community. It highlights a beginning concept of how to make amends, a beginning work of making a wrong right, and a beginning of undoing harm. They talk about the horrific history of Forsyth County, Georgia and the important work of The Forsyth Scholarship. This conversation is a hopeful reminder that active reparations are happening locally and that there is a role for everyone in the process.

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

Quotes:
“A part of that restoration and reproduction work is leveraging your position, leveraging your privilege, leveraging your God given gifts to do something about the systemic issues that we are facing as it relates to racial injustice in our country.” -Latasha Morrison

“We know this is not justice, this is not making things right. But we just feel like it's better to do something than to do nothing. And it's simply an act of love that is for a few people that we wish we could do for more.” -Durwood Snead

“If you live in a predominantly white area historically, there's a reason why it's like that, especially in the south.” -Latasha Morrison

“When we're not overshadowing this with all of our partisanship, and we're not overshadowing this with a lot of cultural things that's happening, and if we're looking at this as a biblical concept, we understand that this is right.” -Latasha Morrison

“The truth sets everybody free. We don't need to hide anything. We just need to lay it out there.” -Durwood Snead

“Until we go back and pull back the covers on some of this history, we don't understand the context.” -Latasha Morrison

Links:

Ad for Epic Will:  EpicWill.com [use promo code BTB20 for 20% off]

Become a Be the Bridge partner: BeTheBridge.com/giveShop the Be the Bridge store: Shop.BeTheBridge.com

The Forsyth Scholarship: forsythscholarship.org

Blood at the Root by Patrick Phillips: patrickphillipsbooks.com

Be the Bridge:  BeTheBridge.com
facebook.com/beabridgebuilder/
instagram.com/bethebridge/

Latasha Morrison: latashamorrison.com/
facebook.com/LatashaMMorrison
instagram.com/latashamorrison/

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

Celebrate Black girl magic with this episode of the Be the Bridge podcast! Author, bridge builder, and speaker, Dorena Williamson joins host Latasha Morrison to talk about her latest children’s book, Crowned with Glory. Listen in to their conversation about the beauty of Black hair and the joy of Black culture. They dive into the need for representation in literature and in publishing, as well as sharing encouragement to be faithful in bridge building work. Let this episode remind you that words matter, diverse representation matters, and good stories matter for the hearts of both children and adults.

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

Quotes:
"The Creator crowned me with melanated glory, and every day I get to live out my beautiful story." -Crowned with Glory, Dorena Williamson

“As a parent, you go through that journey of wanting to teach your children that they are beautiful and worthy of honor the way they are, that they don't need to compare themselves to their white counterparts, or of another race, but that their beauty is beautiful.” -Dorena Williamson

“We don't need to go backwards, we need to go forward. And we're getting more diverse, we're not getting more homogenous.” -Latasha Morrison

“I believe that we are all image bearers of God. And I believe then, that we should foundationally be teaching that to our children.” -Dorena Williamson

“And even if you live in a community that is more homogenous, you still can represent the world in your literature. You can bring the world to your kids through literature.” -Latasha Morrison

Links:
Ad for Epic Will:  EpicWill.com [use promo code BTB20 for 20% off]

Ad for BetterHelp: BetterHelp.com/BetheBridge [10% off your first month]

Dorena Williamson:  dorenawilliamson.com/
facebook.com/dorenawill/
twitter.com/dorenawill
instagram.com/dorenawilliamson/

Be the Bridge:  BeTheBridge.com
facebook.com/beabridgebuilder/
instagram.com/bethebridge/

Latasha Morrison: latashamorrison.com/
facebook.com/LatashaMMorrison
instagram.com/latashamorrison/

If you need to hear the story of a miracle to encourage your faith and to persevere in the work of justice, listen to this interview with Pastor Michael Phillips as he shares his incredible journey of escaping the school-to-prison pipeline. He and Be the Bridge founder and podcast host Latasha Morrison discuss the reality and injustice of the school-to-prison pipeline, the brokenness of our legal system, and the history of our public education system. They dive into the roots of these systems and the way to work toward restorative justice for all. Be empowered to be part of the solution by this thought-provoking conversation.

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

Quotes:

“We often penalize people for what they do at the expense of who they are.” -Michael Phillips

“We see what people do without understanding why. And we judge the what without any information of why.” -Michael Phillips

“It's hard to become what you never see. But it's very easy to become what you're always exposed to.” -Michael Phillips

“2.3 million people are incarcerated in the U.S. And 74% of them that are held in jail, are not convicted of a crime yet.” -Michael Phillips

“What the pandemic uncovered was the pre-pandemic inequities that always existed.” -Michael Phillips

“For somebody to win doesn't mean you have to lose.” -Michael Phillips

“People don't really understand what restoration and reconciliation is. And if anyone should understand it's the people of God, it's the people of faith.” -Latasha Morrison

Links:
Ad for Athletic Greens: AthleticGreens.com/BTB [Free One Year Supply of Vitamin D + 5 Travel Packs]Ad for Epic Will:  EpicWill.com [use promo code BTB20 for 20% off] Ad for The Snack Show with Jami Fallon podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-snack-show-with-jami-fallon/id1607547747r

Pastor Michael Phillips: michaelphillips.info/
instagram.com/mikephillipsofficial/
facebook.com/MikePhillipsOfficial
twitter.com/OfficialMP74Michael Phillips’ article The Spirit of Justice: churchgrowthmagazine.com/the-spirit-of-justice/

Be the Bridge:  BeTheBridge.com
facebook.com/beabridgebuilder/
instagram.com/bethebridge/

In this hope-filled conversation, Latasha Morrison and Benjamin Wills focus on what it looks like for students, families, and communities to flourish. As the Founder and Head of School for Peace Preparatory Academy, Benjamin speaks to the reasons why our education system is failing and the importance of being informed by the community you’re serving. They discuss how economics, housing, and historical context play a role in a student’s education. This episode is an invitation into a better way for education in America, one that is holistic, restorative, and human-centered.

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

Quotes:
“To have clear vision, you have to understand the past, you have to be rooted in the present, and you have to have a vision for the future.” -Benjamin Wills

“Education is about creating a community where you feel safe to explore your core identity, and then where you can be launched into the world with the tools to live that out.” -Benjamin Wills

“Gentrification without justice leading it is oppression.” -Latasha Morrison

“There is a real connection to the tangible lived experience someone has and their ability to walk with Jesus in a spiritual way.”  -Benjamin Wills

“If the systems we know have inherent kind of racism built into them, then we have to build something new. That's effectively antiracist work.” -Benjamin Wills

Links:
Ad for Athletic Greens: AthleticGreens.com/BTB [Free One Year Supply of Vitamin D + 5 Travel Packs]

Ad for A Spoonful of Faith: spoonfuloffaith.com/a-spoonful-of-faith-childrens-book

Benjamin Wills:  twitter.com/willsbenjamin

Peace Prep Academy: peaceprep.com
instagram.com/peaceprepacademy
facebook.com/PeacePreparatoryAcademy
twitter.com/peaceprep

Be the Bridge:  BeTheBridge.com
facebook.com/beabridgebuilder/
instagram.com/bethebridge/

Latasha Morrison: facebook.com/LatashaMMorrison
instagram.com/latashamorrison/

Scholar, leader, professor, and pastor Dr. Will Gravely joins Latasha Morrison on this episode of the Be the Bridge podcast for a conversion that dives deep into church history, multi-ethnic churches, and the way forward for the American church. They discuss the history, theology, and necessity of the Black church. As a pastor of a cross-cultural and community-driven church himself, Dr. Gravely speaks to how to support fellow pastors in similar spaces and how to support pastors of color in predominantly white spaces. Their discussion offers insight and knowledge, solidarity and hope in this current cultural context and on this racial righteousness journey.

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

Quotes:
“Black Christianity was not a product of slavery. The Black church was framed during the time of enslavement, but the Black church in and of itself was birthed in the time of Christ.” - Dr. Will Gravely

“Just by a casual exposure to church history, you'd understand how critical the Black church has been all the way from the time of Jesus up until now.” - Dr. Will Gravely

“The root and foundation of all Christian theology was in North Africa shortly after Jesus ascended.” - Dr. Will Gravely

“The Black church has a wealth of not only history of struggle and triumph but also theology.” -Dr. Will Gravely

“The Black church was born by necessity, not narcissism. The Black church was identified as Black because we were not allowed to worship the same God with white people. And so the Black church had to take on a faith life of its own, not being allowed to worship in the same spaces as whites. And so that's why I think just studying that history is critical.” -Dr. Will Gravely

“My prayer is that we would just be better neighbors to one another and not seek to tear each other down. Even when we make mistakes.”             - Latasha Morrison

Links:

Ad for BetterHelp:  BetterHelp.com/BetheBridge [get 10% off your first month]

Ad for Athletic Greens: AthleticGreens.com/BTB [Free One Year Supply of Vitamin D + 5 Travel Packs]

Ad for A Spoonful of Faith: spoonfuloffaith.com/a-spoonful-of-faith-childrens-book

That Sounds Fun Network listener survey:

thatsoundsfunnetwork.com/

instagram.com/tsfnetwork/

Dr. Will Gravely:  instagram.com/dr.willgravely

refugecommunitychurchatl.com/

instagram.com/refuge_community

Be the Bridge:  BeTheBridge.com

facebook.com/beabridgebuilder/

instagram.com/bethebridge/

Latasha Morrison: facebook.com/LatashaMMorrison

instagram.com/latashamorrison/

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

On this episode of the Be the Bridge podcast, founder and host Latasha Morrison is joined by Tiffany Henness and Gina Fimbel to discuss adoption. They talk about the importance of centering adoptee voices and of learning from adoptee’s experiences. 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.

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

Quotes:
“And 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 have to make sure that we're looking through the correct lens, and we're not doing more harm in our effort to do good.”  -Latasha Morrison

“And I understand that as a leader, we cannot be an expert in everything.” -Latasha Morrison

“I think my experience has been the people I feel the most comfortable with just sharing of myself and talking freely about my experiences are other transracial adoptees. And so I think it's very, very important that transracial adoptive people have healthy spaces where we can connect, where we can be open and honest.” -Tiffany Henness

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

“We do see ourselves and have organized ourselves as a marginalized community.” -Tiffany Henness

“A lot of the bridge building conversations that I've tried to have with other adoptive parents is really just letting them know that they have to do the work.” -Gina Fimbel

“When you listen well, it will change your life.” -Gina Fimbel

Links:
Ad for BetterHelp:  BetterHelp.com/BetheBridge [get 10% off your first month]

Be the Bridge TRA Resources: bethebridge.com/transracial-adoption/Be the Bridge Blog of Resources for Transracially Adopted People of Color:  bethebridge.com/resources-for-transracially-adopted-people-of-color/

Be the Bridge Panel Discussions: Colin in Black and White:  bethebridge.com/colin-panels/

Gina Fimbel:   instagram.com/ginafimbel

Tiffany Henness:     instagram.com/coachhenness

Be the Bridge:  BeTheBridge.com
facebook.com/beabridgebuilder/
instagram.com/bethebridge/

Latasha Morrison: facebook.com/LatashaMMorrison  instagram.com/latashamorrison/