Be the Bridge Podcast

When it comes to Christmas Classics Jimmy Stewart’s “It’s A Wonderful Life” and “Home Alone” starring Macaulay Culkin may come to mind. With that said, movies like “The Preacher’s Wife” starring Whitney Houston and Denzel Washington or “The Last Holiday” starring Queen Latifah are often not mentioned by some.  Well our founder, podcast host, and Christmas enthusiast, Latasha Morrison tackles this subject with Actor / Director / Producer and fellow Christmas enthusiast, Kim Fields.  Kim is not only one of the stars of the new Netflix comedy The Upshaws but she too has added to the legacy of multicultural Christmas offerings with her own holiday movie, Lifetime’s “You Light Up My Christmas”.  Join us in this discussion covering elements of Kim’s iconic career, her push to create projects that diversify Hollywood’s holiday cheer, and Kim and Latasha’s love of the Holiday season.  As a bonus, Latasha chats with Netflix's "Jingle Jangle" producer and author of the Jingle Jangle book series Lyn Sisson-Talbert.

Host & Executive Producer - Latasha Morrison

Senior Producer - Lauren C. Brown

Producer, Editor & Music By - Travon Potts

Quotes:

"I still feel like there's a lot of uncharted waters for me to explore on either side of the camera." - Kim Fields

"I'm so grateful to God for the blessing of longevity. I still have the fire in my belly for my industry. I still love what I do." - Kim Fields

"I think it's an old, old way of thinking, to be honest, it's an old game, and it's time to come into the new it's time to look at how the world really looks, you know, we are very powerful in our buying dollars." - Lyn Sisson-Talbert

"...our goal is to open a door for other artists and creators to be able to do more like this to break more new talent..." Lyn Sisson-Talbert

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Podcast link: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/be-the-bridge/

Social handles/links:

Instagram: @LatashaMorrison

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LatashaMMorrison/

If you’ve heard the party anthem “This Is How We Do It” then you know something about the popular artist, singer, songwriter, and producer Montell Jordan. But what you may not know is that after leaving the music industry, he became the Praise and Worship Pastor at one of the most diverse churches not just in the state of Georgia but in the country: Victory World Church. His most recent ministry venture in partnership with his manager and wife of 26 years, Kristin, is a couples’ ministry called Marriage Masterpeace. Together, the power couple hosts and speaks at conferences encouraging marital harmony through biblical principles. Be the Bridge founder Latasha Morrison talks with the Jordans about navigating all of these spaces together and the impact of injustice on their roles in ministry.

Host & Executive Producer - Latasha Morrison

Senior Producer - Lauren C. Brown

Producer, Editor & Music By - Travon Potts

Transcriber - Brittany Prescott

Quotes:

“Praise is what we do because of what He’s done. But worship is because of what He does and who He is.” - Kristin Jordan

“When we lost ourselves, God was able to find us through marriage. It was in the safety of marriage that we were both able to be put back together again.” - Montell Jordan

“Our messes become our ministry. We take the places where we were broken, where we were a mess, and where God was gracious enough to see us through—and try and help people walk through things that they feel like they can’t. And the idea is that we’re hope on the other side of the mountain.” - Kristin Jordan

“I get an opportunity to minister in my shows, saying that “Get It On Tonite” was about adultery, but God saved me from that. “Let’s Ride” was about fornication, but God saved me from that. And so I use those negative musical moments that are attached to people’s lives to tell the story of God’s redemption.” - Montell Jordan

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Podcast link: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/be-the-bridge/

Social handles/links:

Instagram: @LatashaMorrison

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LatashaMMorrison/

In the volatile year of 2020 we’ve seen uprisings that have spurred tense feelings and emotions causing Christians to be split on issues related to social justice. But, this is also a year where athletes have used their platform in ways that are reminiscent of the civil rights era.  Fists in the air are coupled with kneeling during the national anthem and sporting events by sports professionals in every sport from basketball to tennis, NASCAR to Formula racing, and everywhere in between.  Be the Bridge Founder Latasha Morrison was able to have a conversation with a Christian athlete who not only has a heart for rectifying social and economic inequities but has placed himself on the frontlines of the fight for social justice.  His name is Justin Holiday, the shooting guard / small forward for the Indiana Pacers.

Quotes:

“We didn’t grow up watching the news.  When things happened we knew how to get in the word. We knew how to pray and that’s what we did.” - Justin Holiday

“As much as I wanted to be away from the news and not see certain things, one, with social media it’s gonna happen but two I needed to see that, I needed to not keep myself away from that.” - Justin Holiday

“I don’t have my children on social media. I wanna protect my children from nasty comments” - Justin Holiday

“Don’t make yourself less worthy than you should be.  You’re a child of God.” - Justin Holiday

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Podcast link: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/be-the-bridge/

Social handles/links:

Instagram: @LatashaMorrison

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LatashaMMorrison/

In this episode, Latasha talks with writer and speaker Dante Stewart about his experiences with assimilation in predominantly white institutions, including his time as a cornerback at Clemson University and his journey in ministry at a white evangelical church. Latasha guides listeners by adding context to the conversation, and Dante gives encouragement to Black Christians and white churches to spur them on in the pursuit of racial justice and healing.

Host & Executive Producer - Latasha Morrison

Senior Producer - Lauren C. Brown

Producer, Editor & Music By - Travon Potts

Transcriber - Brittany Prescott

Quotes:

“People say, ‘Hey, I'm adaptable in many environments.’ Oftentimes adaptable means you gotta lose a serious part of yourself.” - Dante

“In order for you to make it you can't be too Black going into these spaces. You keep your head down, you do your work, and you handle your business...our parents knew that to be really Black in these white spaces oftentimes would work against us.” - Dante

“I'm not someone who says, you know, ‘My first identity is Christian.’ That's just not the case. I mean, it's a meaningful identity. But when I walk outside into the world, the first thing people ain't seeing is ‘Christian.’ The first thing people see is Black. And that means I need to make sense of that somehow.” - Dante

“None of us are walking into a neutral story. There is no such thing as a neutral kind of religious environment. There's no such thing as a neutral story. There's always a story here before I got here that's inviting me to see myself as a certain type of person and kind of embody a certain type of action.” - Dante

“If we want to get free, there is no freedom without literature and critical engagement with literature.” - Dante

“Even if the demographic makeup of one's church doesn't change, the kind of spiritual, political, religious, and moral bent and framework of one's heart, and the heart of one's congregation, can show that congregation is a just church.” - Dante

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Podcast link: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/be-the-bridge/

Social handles/links:

Instagram: @LatashaMorrison

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LatashaMMorrison

This episode brings together Be the Bridge founder Latasha Morrison with Pastor, Author, and thought leader Rich Villodas. Rich is the Brooklyn-born lead pastor of New Life Fellowship Church, which happens to be a large multiracial church with more than seventy-five countries represented in the Elmhurst neighborhood of Queens, New York.  In this episode, the conversations will center around the topic of Racial Reconciliation through the lens of Diversity. As our country grows more diverse it has become a reflection of the multi-ethnic and multi-cultural community groups that we call churches. Latasha’s discussion with Rich will guide us through what true diversity looks like in The Body of Christ, and the intersectionality of Christianity and race here in the American Church.

Host & Executive Producer - Latasha Morrison

Senior Producer - Lauren C. Brown

Producer, Editor, Transcriber & Music By - Travon Potts

“It’s often White people who have written about spiritual formations…” - Rich Villodas

“...the church is to be more than a sanctified subway car we are the new family of God...” - Rich Villodas

“...with all of that diversity, I’ve learned that the Gospel is for all people, that’s the first thing I’ve learned in preaching in this setting…” - Rich Villodas

“There is no one normative expression of worship, bring who you are.” - Rich Villodas

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Podcast link: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/be-the-bridge/

Social handles/links:

Instagram: @LatashaMorrison

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LatashaMMorrison/

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 - Brittnay Prescott

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

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Podcast link: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/be-the-bridge/

Social handles/links:

Instagram: @LatashaMorrison

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LatashaMMorrison/

This episode brings together Be the Bridge founder Latasha Morrison with two scholars, Dr. Christina Edmondson Ph.D., and Doctoral candidate Jemar Tisby. Both are thought leaders in the push for racial equity in ecclesiastical spaces. In this episode, the conversations will center around the topic of CRT which is short for Critical Race Theory. We strive, as a podcast, to give you, our listeners and supporters, foundational tools to help you develop a clear historical and biblical perspective as it relates to race. LaTasha’s discussions with Christina and Jemar guides us through critiques of inequities and misrepresentations found anywhere, even in academia, that creates racial disharmony.

Host & Executive Producer - Latasha Morrison

Senior Producer - Lauren C. Brown

Producer, Editor & Music By - Travon Potts

Transcriber - Brittany Prescott

Quotes: “We need to be critically discerning everything that comes before us and submitting it to the Word of God...” - Dr. Christina Edmondson

“Folks always have tried to label people as a way to disempower them and that’s especially true when it comes to black people.” - Jemar Tisby

“Whereas there are other church traditions that would say like, well, of course, this church racism is baked in, in this country…” - Dr. Christina Edmondson

“There’s a popular phrase that says history repeats itself...more accurately history doesn’t repeat itself, history rhymes.” - Jemar Tisby

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Podcast link: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/be-the-bridge/

Instagram: @LatashaMorrison

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LatashaMMorrison/

This episode brings together Be the Bridge founder Latasha Morrison and bestselling author, evangelist, and Bible teacher Beth Moore as they talk about racial reconciliation in the Christian faith. Beth details her own experiences speaking against injustice, dealing with the backlash, and waking up to her responsibilities as a faith leader. She also gives some insight into how Christians can become bold reconcilers who move beyond a head knowledge of Christ into heart knowledge and action. 

Host & Executive Producer - Latasha Morrison

Senior Producer - Lauren C. Brown

Producer, Editor & Music By - Travon Potts

Transcriber - Brittany Prescott

Quotes: “There’s a calling we have to be bold, which leads us as reconcilers, or bridge builders, to speak up.” - Latasha

“There was not a single time that I have been really outspoken that I would have told you that I was going back on whether or not I should say it. It would have been that I could not have kept from saying it. And if that’s the case, then I can be at peace there.” - Beth

“We have a whole politic that is pro-Christian, that has been separated entirely from what is actually Christlike.” - Beth

“When we are going to do what lifts us up, instead of what puts the cross in our hands to carry, we have upset the entire thing. We traded our prophetic witness for power, we have exploited the scriptures to serve our camp’s interests, we have confused divine favor with being on top. We’ve got an idolatry problem! We’ve got nationalism, we’ve got misogyny...I mean it just goes on and on.” - Beth

“Our mouth cannot overshoot our heart, or our duplicity is going to be exposed.” - Beth“We want to know when we have finished up, all that’s gonna matter when we’re in front of God, is that we did the will of Christ Jesus—that we were courageous in it and bold in it.” - Beth

“I believe that our relief would be in our repentance. Our rest would be in our repentance. And just to be willing to do what it takes to just own up and admit we have moved so far from Christlikeness in the Church. The only reason we’re recognizing this is because of the mercy and grace of God showing us. So why can’t we say, ‘Glory hallelujah, we are beginning to see it.’” - Beth

Listen to the full episode and subscribe to the Be the Bridge podcast for more conversations on racial healing, equity, and reconciliation!

LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE

Podcast link: https://podlink.to/BeTheBridge

Social handles/links: Instagram: @LatashaMorrison

Twitter: @LatashaMorrison

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LatashaMMorrison/

Official Hashtag: #bethebridge

In this episode of the Be the Bridge podcast, founder Latasha Morrison speaks with TV Producer and “Mixed Life ATL” podcast host Shannon Doyle Bell, as well as author LeTesha Wheeler, about their experiences as biracial women in America—exploring their personal histories and upbringings, the process of embracing cultural differences in their own families, and what it’s like raising biracial children in a label-driven world.

About Shannon Doyle Bell
Shannon is a creative producer of story-telling and any art form that brings light and inspiration. She had a very loving childhood that was packed full of questions for her black/African-American father and her white/Caucasian mother. This spear-headed her passion for understanding any and everyone’s stories, the sociology of race and ethnic studies, and supporting the hard faith-work of racial reconciliation. Her career in the entertainment industry has taken her to producing television for both reality TV and talk shows. In fact, she and Tarana met over ten years ago while producing together for BET. Shannon has also produced satellite radio shows for Jamie Foxx while working at his production company. She grew up in the midwest by way of Brooklyn, NY, and later lived in Los Angeles, CA, eventually making her way to Atlanta where she lives with her husband, three children, and their goldendoodle. She is the owner of her company, SDB-360, LLC, and piloted the podcast, Mixed Life ATL.

About LeTesha Wheeler
LeTesha Wheeler is a passionate influencer, author, and speaker whose greatest desire is to motivate others to walk in the fullness of their purpose, overcome fear, and stand strong in their faith despite life’s biggest obstacles. LeTesha’s life experiences and family heritage have fueled her voice for reconciliation within her local community and the nation. She has been married to James since 2003 and has two amazing teenage boys. LeTesha enjoys spending quality time cheering on their sons in their various sports, coaching track, serving in various roles in their home church and leading life-changing events.

Listen to the full episode and subscribe to the Be the Bridge podcast for more conversations on racial healing, equity, and reconciliation!

LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE

Podcast link: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/be-the-bridge/
Social handles/links: Instagram: @LatashaMorrison
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LatashaMMorrison/

In this episode of the Be the Bridge podcast, founder Latasha Morrison talks with minister, writer, speaker, and consultant Dr. Elizabeth Rios. They share an open, honest conversation about racial solidarity within church planting, leadership as a Latina woman, centering marginalized voices in a world of colorism, and envisioning a future where justice is built into churches’ DNA.

“Justice is a God idea. It’s not a liberal idea, it’s not a political idea, it’s a God idea.” –Dr. Rios

“A lot of churches don’t talk about heritage. They basically tell you to leave it at the door because once we’re ‘under the blood,’ everything goes away. But in reality, once we’re ‘under the blood,’ our heritage should be even richer! We should celebrate even more.” –Dr. Rios

“Every community is dealing with colorism, especially brown and Black communities, which is really a product of white supremacy—and we don’t realize that and how we can perpetuate the problem. When we start talking about the basis of racism and disunity, we start looking at this anti-Blackness, because no one wants to be on the bottom. No one wants to appear to be like the group that is being oppressed.” –Latasha Morrison

“We have to pay close attention to that development of our souls if we want to live out God’s justice in the world. There’s a direct correlation between our relationship with God and our acts of kindness, and our acts of mercy, and compassion, and justice. Even this desire even to have racial solidarity comes from a place of having that understanding of what God wants for all of us.” –Dr. Rios

About Dr. Elizabeth Rios
Dr. Rios has been in ministry for over 30 years serving in a variety of roles including pastor (Executive Pastor and Co-Pastor). She now is the Founder of The Passion Center that is dedicated to educating people who have a passion for justice, advocacy, and change in the South Florida area. She’s worked most of her life in nonprofits and in higher education. She has also been an entrepreneur and has consulted schools, faith-based organizations, small businesses, and non-profits since 1996. As an Afro-Latina, Puerto Rican American she considers herself to be a writer/activist and advocate for women in ministry, faith-based civic activism, and biblical justice.

Listen to the full episode and subscribe to the Be the Bridge podcast for more conversations on racial healing, equity, and reconciliation!

Podcast link: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/be-the-bridge/
Social handles/links: Instagram: @LatashaMorrison
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LatashaMMorrison/