Be the Bridge Podcast

Bri Stensrud is an author, human dignity advocate, and the Director of Women of Welcome. She has authored two books: Start with Welcome: The Journey toward a Confident and Compassionate Immigration Conversation, and a children's book: The Biggest Best Light: Shining God's Light into the World Around You. Bri holds a Masters of Biblical & Theological Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary and her voice has been highlighted across news platforms. 

We are thrilled to have author, speaker, perpetual theology student, and co-host of The Holy Post Podcast, Kaitlyn Schiess join the Be the Bridge Podcast with Latasha Morrison for an episode all about this American political life as followers of Jesus. They discuss Kaitlyn's new book, The Ballot and the Bible: How Scripture Has Been Used and Abused in American Politics and Where We Go from Here, which gives historical context for where we are now.

They talk about how looking to see what people in history missed in their ethics and Bible reading can help us not miss the same, the Bible in the Civil War and in the Civil Rights Movement, as well as the importance of seeing how Black Americans used Scripture in our history.

They offer both practical and hopeful words to our community as we navigate this presidential election year.

Join in the conversation on our social media pages on Facebook and Instagram and LinkedIn to let us know your thoughts on this episode! 

Host & Executive Producer - Latasha Morrison

Senior Producer - Lauren C. Brown

Producer, Editor, & Music - Travon Potts with Integrated Entertainment Studios

Assistant Producer & 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.

This is an episode full of joy and hope for Black History Month! We have asked a few friends of Be the Bridge to share what they love about Black culture. Their responses remind us of God’s distinct, beautiful, intentional creativity and design. They remind us of the power of perseverance and resilience.

Resilience is connected with another theme we’ve been holding on to at Be the Bridge - hope. So we are also bringing a word of encouragement from one of our board members, Dr. Will Gravely. He gave a message at our Leadership Summit that we had to bring you. So we invite you to listen to the scholar, pastor, strategist, and creative Dr. Will Gravely share HOPE: The Marathon and the Sprint - Spiritual Strategies for Endurance, Effectiveness, and Execution.

For Black History Month, historian, author, and speaker Jemar Tisby joins Latasha Morrison and Jefferson Jones on the Be the Bridge Podcast. This full conversation brings wisdom, context, and encouragement as they talk about current headlines, the importance of context in history, white Chritian nationalism, navigating church, and more.

Jemar wraps up the conversation by saying, “God makes His biggest moves with the smallest resources. So hang in there.” And ultimately that is what we hope this episode reminds you - God is at work and together we can persevere.

Join in the conversation on our social media pages on Facebook and Instagram and LinkedIn to let us know your thoughts on this episode! 

Host & Executive Producer - Latasha Morrison

Senior Producer - Lauren C. Brown

Producer, Editor, & Music - Travon Potts with Integrated Entertainment Studios

Assistant Producer & Transcriber - Sarah Connatser

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Has America ever been a racist country? Jefferson Jones, the BTB Youth & University Manager, and Elizabeth Behrens, a BTB Educator and the Learning & Content Developer, sit down to discuss this question and the conversations happening around it. They talk about the importance of understanding narratives, origin stories, and different types of conflicts. They also encourage the community to not be driven by outrage but be fueled by things that are sustainable.

Join the conversation in the Be the Bridge Facebook Group and on the Be the Bridge Youth and University Instagram.

Find the BTB Recommended Resources here.

Find the BTB Racial Justice Glossary of Terms here.

Whether you are feeling hopeful or struggling to find hope right now, pull up a chair for this conversation. Join the Be the Bridge Executive Team as they talk about the impact of a yes, what true peace looks like, and how our stories are connected. Latasha Morrison, Tange Johnson, and Micah Smith discuss how God can use us to impact others and how we can cling to hope even in the midst of things falling apart. They lean into lament and remind us that hope is not wishful thinking or optimism. This episode will help the Be the Bridge community prepare our hearts and minds for whatever is to come this year.

Join in the conversation on our social media pages on Facebook and Instagram and LinkedIn to let us know your thoughts on this episode! 

Host & Executive Producer - Latasha Morrison

Senior Producer - Lauren C. Brown

Producer, Editor, & Music - Travon Potts with Integrated Entertainment Studios

Assistant Producer & Transcriber - Sarah Connatser

Quotes:

“We have to have hope in this work that we do to persevere.” -Latasha Morrison

“There are people out there learning how to think as bridge builders, learning how to engage as bridge builders. We're seeing people who are transforming into these cross racial communities that live differently and act more justly because of it. And that's something that really gives me hope out of the work of Be the Bridge.” -Micah Smith

“We may not know the ways that God is working. We may not always know the people whose lives we're touching. But it's happening. I try to stay in a perpetual state of awe of God, because that keeps me in a place of hope for our future and my now.” -Tange Johnson

“Be around people that can empower you, so that you in turn can empower other people that need some help and hope in times of uncertainty.” -Latasha Morrison

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Resources Mentioned:

Maverick City Music audio clipBe the Bridge book by Latasha Morrison

Be the Bridge groups

Born a Crime book by Trevor Noah

Be the Bridge Recommended Resources

Be the Bridge Academy

Be the Bridge Youth and University

Pre-order Brown Faces, White Spaces book by Latasha Morrison

Connect with Be the Bridge:

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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.

Happy New Year Be the Bridge community! We hope you are having a joyous start to 2024! The Be the Bridge Podcast is on a break this week, so we encourage you to take this opportunity to catch up on a few episodes and share some of your favorite conversations with us on social media! We will be back on the 23rd with a conversation centered around hope. Until then, stay grounded in truth.

Author, Professor, and Public Theologian, Dr. Esau McCaulley helps the Be the Bridge community make sense of God in the context of a racialized society in this podcast episode. He shares part of his own family’s story and lived experience of systemic injustice. And he talks about how the church in America hasn’t reckoned with its sin. Latasha and Esau laugh together and share words of hope as they talk about the hope of Advent and work of God.

Join in the conversation on our social media pages on Facebook and Instagram and LinkedIn to let us know your thoughts on this episode! 

Host & Executive Producer - Latasha Morrison

Senior Producer - Lauren C. Brown

Producer, Editor, & Music - Travon Potts with Integrated Entertainment Studios

Assistant Producer & Transcriber - Sarah Connatser

Quotes:

“The impact of systemic racism is up close and personal with people that you know, and a lot of times we just don't talk about it.” -Latasha Morrison

“I think there's this fear that a deep confession is not something that the American church can survive.” -Esau McCaulley

“Repentance exists, because it presupposes sin. And if we can't repent, then we can't experience the fullness of redemption.” -Esau McCaulley

Links:

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Resources Mentioned:

Courageous Conversations

Reading While Black book by Esau McCaulley

Josey Johnson’s Hair and the Holy Spirit book by Esau McCaulley

How Far to the Promised Land book by Esau McCaulley

How the Faith that Arose from the Cotton Fields Challenges Me article by Esau McCaulley

The Fullness of Time series edited by Esau McCaulley

Be the Bridge Academy

Be the Bridge Youth

Connect with Esau McCaulley:

His Website

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Connect with Be the Bridge:

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Connect with Latasha Morrison:

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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.

New York Times Best Selling Author Annie F. Downs joins Latasha Morrison on the Be the Bridge Podcast to talk through deep laments and fun hopes. Annie shares the beautiful story of her ordination and her journey to getting there. They talk about the difference of perspectives between predominantly white churches and Black churches when it comes to women as pastors.

Annie allows the Be the Bridge community to hear some of the tragedy and trauma that happened in her community with the Covenant School shooting. And they also talk about the beauty of living a yes and life - letting joy and sorrow coexist. The discussion about Reading through the Gospels is a reminder of who Jesus is and what He calls His followers to.

Be encouraged by Annie and Latasha’s conversation to stay grounded in the work you do, because it outlasts you>

Join in the conversation on our social media pages on Facebook and Instagram and LinkedIn to let us know your thoughts on this episode! 

Host & Executive Producer - Latasha Morrison

Senior Producer - Lauren C. Brown

Producer, Editor, & Music - Travon Potts with Integrated Entertainment Studios

Assistant Producer & Transcriber - Sarah Connatser

Quotes:

“To what degree am I privileged and how can I use that?" -Annie Downs

“Pains are never wasted.” -Latasha Morrison

Links:

Ads:Spotify for Podcasters [Record, edit, distribute your podcast. Download the Spotify for Podcasters app or go to www.spotify.com/podcasters to get started]

Sign up for the Be the Bridge Newsletter
Become a Donor of Be the Bridge

Shop the Be the Bridge Online Shop

Resources Mentioned:

That Sounds Fun Podcast Network

That Sounds Fun book by Annie F. Downs

Chase the Fun book by Annie F. Downs

100 Days to Brave book by Annie F. Downs

Remember God book by Annie F. Downs

Let's Read the Gospels Podcast

Connect with Annie F. Downs:

Her Website

Facebook

Instagram

YouTube

Connect with Be the Bridge:

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Connect with Latasha Morrison:

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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.

Gloria Umanah, the visionary behind Hope Booth, uses her own lived experiences to passionately fight for those who feel invisible. In this episode, Gloria generously shares her story with the Be the Bridge community and the story behind Hope Booth. She and Latasha connect over their Yoruba names and over being Black women who lead non profits. They discuss mental health, the power of making someone feel seen and that they belong, and making hope and help accessible to all.
Gloria's story, words, and work will empower listeners to choose to keep living, to see hope all around, and to see themselves as worthy of being cared for. This conversation is full of reminders that God is at work and that no one is alone. The episode ends with Gloria sharing a powerful spoken word piece you do not want to miss.

*(We do want to offer a listener warning that suicide is mentioned in this episode.)

Join in the conversation on our social media pages on Facebook and Instagram and LinkedIn to let us know your thoughts on this episode!

Host & Executive Producer - Latasha Morrison

Senior Producer - Lauren C. Brown

Producer, Editor, & Music - Travon Potts with Integrated Entertainment Studios

Assistant Producer & Transcriber - Sarah Connatser

Quotes:

“My scars are roadmaps to redemption for other people.” -Gloria Umanah

“There's a way of showing people their dignity and their worth when you acknowledge their existence.” -Latasha Morrison

Links:

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Sign up for the Be the Bridge Newsletter

Become a Donor of Be the Bridge

Shop the Be the Bridge Online Shop

Resources Mentioned:
Until All Are Seen documentary by Hope Booth
Equal Justice Initiative Legacy Sites
“See Me” spoken word video by Gloria Umanah

Connect with Gloria Umanah:

Her Website

Instagram

Facebook

Connect with Hope Booth:

Website

Facebook 

Instagram

Connect with Be the Bridge:

Our Website

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Connect with Latasha Morrison:

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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.