Be the Bridge Podcast

This episode of the Be the Bridge Podcast is part of our Cultural Views conversations where we do a deeper dive into societal and cultural issues with the intent of exposing our listeners to opportunities for the reassessment of their own values and perspectives. Other episodes of our Cultural Views conversations include gun violence on episode 250 and white Christian nationalism in a two part episode on episode 268.

Be the Bridge team members Jefferson Jones and Elizabeth Behrens join Latasha Morrison to discuss book bans. They provide the history of book bans and worldwide examples where bans have taken place. And they share why having this conversation is critically linked to bridge building.

Latasha, Jefferson, and Elizabeth’s words will help prompt conversations in your homes, Be the Bridge groups, and communities. There are action steps for white families and is encouragement for BIPOC families. You’ll be reminded that you don’t have to have all the answers but a willingness and openness to have conversations.

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 work through the tensions of a democracy.” -Latasha Morrison

“Exposure to that information is not where harm is done. Harm is done when a child is exposed to information or harmful concepts, having no way to contextualize them, having no background information or way to make sense of it, and no comfort level asking questions.” -Elizabeth Behrens

“Trying to keep them away from things, that's only going to have them form opinions and worldviews that are not being shaped by you.” -Latasha Morrison

“Book banning is a building of borders around the imagination of people. Because many want the imagination of their children to be a offspring of what they know and not a development of what God is shaping in them or what's developing in them naturally because of the way that they are wired.” -Jefferson Jones

Links:
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Resources Mentioned:
Cultural Views White Christian Nationalism
Cultural Views Gun Violence
Ruby Bridges
The Color of Law book
Video of 100 year old Florida widow of a WWII veteran talking about book bans
The Hill We Climb book by Amanda Gorman
Stop Book Bans Toolkit from the Author’s Guild
Tell Me Who You Are book
Be the Bridge Foundations Course

Connect with Be the Bridge:
Our Website
Facebook
Instagram

Connect with Latasha Morrison:
Facebook
Instagram

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

Author, Speaker, Activist, Co-Host of the Melanated Faith Podcast and long time friend of Be the Bridge, Faitth Brooks spoke with Be the Bridge Podcast host Latasha Morrison about her recently released book Remember Me Now: A Journey Back to Myself and a Love Letter to Black Women. They discussed the trope of the strong Black woman, the toll it takes being the only Black woman in predominately white spaces, and overcoming purity culture.

They reminisce about the first time they connected and they laugh about their lives as dog moms. Faitth encourages Black men to protect, advocate for, and affirm Black women. And she reminds listeners that no matter what you’ve gone through or where you’ve come from, healing and wholeness are possible.

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

Last chance! We love our community of listeners and we want to know more about you! Find the Listener Survey Here. (One participant will receive a Be the Bridge swag bag! Survey link will close June 30th.)

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:
“In order to move through pain, in order to move through hard times, we need to make room for softness and we need to make space for our hearts to have a safe place to land.” -Faitth Brooks

“You should be able to show up fully as yourself as a Black Christian in the space you want to be in and be accepted fully for your voice as it is without editing.” -Faitth Brooks

“Education is happening. There's no reason for anyone to be ignorant.” -Latasha Morrison

Links:
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Resources Mentioned:
Be the Bridge Podcast YouTube
Melanated Faith Podcast
Legacy Collective
Remember Me Now by Faitth Brooks
Clip of Faitth on Good Morning America
“Letter from a Birmingham Jail” by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Connect with Faitth Brooks:
Her Website
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter

Connect with Be the Bridge:
Our Website
Facebook
Instagram

Connect with Latasha Morrison:
Facebook
Instagram

Find the full episode transcript on our website here.

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

Our beloved Podcast host, and the Founder and CEO of Be the Bridge, turns 50 today! So we are taking a moment to celebrate the one and only Latasha Morrison! We've gathered some messages from guests you have heard on the show and guests you will hear soon. We hope you enjoy hearing Latasha honored by the words of Marcie Alvis Walker, Cam Lee Small, Angela Gonzalez, Dr. Claudia May, Raymond Chang, Michelle Ferrigno Warren, Faitth Brooks, Terry Wildman, Annie F. Downs, Dr. Terence Lester, and Jo Saxton.

Please join in the celebration over on social media! Share your words of encouragement, support, and appreciation for Latasha on this milestone birthday on our Instagram and Facebook posts today.

And consider giving to the work of Be the Bridge in celebration of and gratitude for Latasha. Thank you!

Thank you for being part of the Be the Bridge community and celebrating Latasha with us!

On Juneteenth, we hold both celebration and solidarity for what the day means. And each year the Be the Bridge Podcast takes time to honor the history and present our community with an opportunity to learn. Filmmaker, creator, and business owner Garrison Hayes joined Latasha Morrison to discuss the historical context of Juneteenth and how to not water down this holiday but truly center Black joy and Black resilience. They also talk about Reconstruction, urban renewal, and even pickleball. They both open up about losing their fathers in 2021.

We hope you take time to learn, to reflect, and to tangibly support Black businesses! We'd love to hear in the comments over on our social media what you are doing for Juneteenth or what business you are supporting!

We love our community of listeners and we want to know more about you! Find the Listener Survey Here. (One participant will receive a Be the Bridge swag bag! Survey link will close June 30th.)

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:
“Context is everything. Historical context is everything with anything that we're doing.” -Latasha Morrison

“The easiest way, the clearest and simplest explanation of Juneteenth is that it's the day that celebrates the official end of slavery as we knew it at the time on June 19, 1865.” -Garrison Hayes

“What I think is really, really important is that we recognize that Juneteenth has always been about solidarity.” -Garrison Hayes

“I think for the month of June this is a Be the Bridge challenge: use some of your purchasing power to buy from Black owned businesses and support Black owned businesses and lift up Black businesses.” -Latasha Morrison

Links:
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Resources Mentioned:
Garrison’s YouTube video on Urban Renewal
Reform Alliance
Lowndes County and the Road to Black Power documentary on Peacock

Connect with Garrison Hayes:
His Substack
Instagram
Tik Tok
Twitter
YouTube

Garrison's Children's Book "A Kid's Book About Juneteenth"

Connect with Be the Bridge:
Our Website
Facebook
Instagram

Connect with Latasha Morrison:
Facebook
Instagram

Find the full episode transcript on our website here.

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

Have you ever wondered why it is so hard to make a lasting change in your life? In this episode of the Be the Bridge Podcast, host Latasha Morrison is joined by life coach BJ Thompson for a dynamic conversation about how change starts in our mindsets. BJ opens up about some of his personal journey. And then they discuss the importance of taking care of yourself in a meaningful way and being part of work that is purposeful. BJ also shares about his book, Awaken a Better You: 4 Simple Steps to Create the Life You Want, and his movement, Build a Better Us.

Consider this a coaching session for the Be the Bridge community! Remember, working on your own healing and health isn’t selfish. It’s participating in the work of redemption and restoration. No matter your story or your struggle, you are not stuck. Hope, healing, and health are possible and you are loved for who you are!

Jump over to our social media pages on Facebook and Instagram to let us know your thoughts on this episode!

We love our community of listeners and we want to know more about you! Find the Listener Survey Here. (One participant will receive a Be the Bridge swag bag! Survey link will close June 30th.)

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:
“If you have the right tools and the right resources and the right mindsets, you can accomplish things much quicker, you can accomplish them with less trauma.” -BJ Thompson

“There's certain corners in growth you can't cut, because it's just a part of the process.” -BJ Thompson

“Your beginnings do not determine your endpoint or your middle point.” -Latasha Morrison

Links:
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Resources Mentioned:
Awaken a Better You by BJ Thompson
Awaken Conference - online replay
Build a Better Us
The 45 Day Challenge

Connect with BJ Thompson:

His Website
Facebook
Instagram

Connect with Be the Bridge:
Our Website
Facebook
Instagram

Connect with Latasha Morrison:
Facebook
Instagram

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

Recently, Be the Bridge Podcast host Latasha Morrison sat down with Sharon McMahon, known from her popular Instagram account @SharonSaysSo, to discuss a wide range of topics around democracy and the government institutions in the United States, being engaged in politics and having hope in the midst of it all. They talked about the recent events in the Tennessee state legislature, and we couldn't wait to share it with you! While you await the full episode, listen in as Sharon shares the historical context of the unprecedented events and why we all need to pay attention to them. Be reminded that your voice truly does matter!

Find the video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/_Dkr6zu7DU8

Subscribe to the podcast, sign up for our email list, and follow Be the Bridge on Instagram and Facebook so you know when the full episode releases!

This episode is the second part of our Cultural Views conversation on white Christian nationalism. (Listen to part one released on 5/30 to get the full discussion!) Podcast host Latasha Morrison and Be the Bridge leaders Sean Watkins, Elizabeth Behrens, and Micah Smith continue to share why this conversation is needed, the importance of digging into the origins story of the US and our churches, and the difference between patriotism and nationalism. There are resources and practical steps given along with reminders of hope.

Be sure to subscribe to our email list so you know when the Be the Bridge Academy that the team talked about is open!

If you are a pastor and listening to this podcast and want more information on how to be able to change your own discipleship and spiritual formation of your church, we want to invite you to go to our website, BeTheBridge.com, where you will find the Resources tab where we share Recommended Resources, a book list of resources from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds that have been vetted by our training team.

We love our community of listeners and we want to know more about you! Find the Listener Survey Here. (One participant will receive a Be the Bridge swag bag! Survey link will close June 30th.)

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:
“There's a crisis of discipleship.” -Latasha Morrison

“One of the issues of Christian nationalism is that it allows for all of these conversations about all these different ethnic groups without actually talking to any of those ethnic groups and having them be included in the conversation.” -Sean Watkins

“I grew up with the Christian flag on one side and the American flag on the other. And if we don't think that our theology is shaped by our place and our space, then we're not being honest with ourselves.” -Elizabeth Behrens

“We're supposed to be trying to honor and glorify God, not a nation, not a group, not a denomination. But honor and glorify God. With everything that we got we're loving him.” -Micah Smith

Terms:
Christian Nationalism: a cultural framework that idealizes and advocates a fusion of Christianity with American civic life. Christian nationalism contends that America has been and should always be distinctively “Christian” from top to bottom – in its self-identity, interpretations of its own history, sacred symbols, cherished values, and public policies – and it aims to keep it that way.

Links:
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Resources Mentioned:
The Civil War as a Theological Crisis by Mark Noll
Equal Justice Initiative
The Next Evangelicalism by Soong-Chan Rah
Unsettling Truths by Mark Charles and Soong-Chan Rah
Santa Biblia: The Bible Through Hispanic Eyes by Justo L. Gonzalez
Rescuing the Gospel from the Cowboys by Dr. Richard Twiss
Stand Your Ground: Black Bodies and the Justice of God by Reverend Dr. Kelly Brown Douglas
Be the Bridge Recommended Resources
National Memorial for Peace and Justice
The Legacy Museum: From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration
Missio Alliance

Connect with Be the Bridge:
Our Website
Facebook
Instagram

Connect with Latasha Morrison:
Facebook
Instagram

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

This episode of the Be the Bridge Podcast is part of our Cultural Views series where we do a deeper dive into societal and cultural issues with the intent of exposing our listeners to opportunities for the reassessment of their own values and perspectives. We have previously talked about gun violence on episode 250 and now we are diving into white Christian nationalism. Podcast host, Latasha Morrison, is joined by Be the Bridge team members Sean Watkins, Elizabeth Behrens, and Micah Smith to dive into a relevant topic impacting our community and our neighbors. At Be the Bridge, we want to make sure that we are equipping you to do this work. So in this episode, we will provide the historical context and present realities of white Christian nationalism.

Make sure you are subscribed as we keep the conversation going. In part two, we will look at how to disciple people through this.

If this conversation leaves you wanting to know more about the training Be the Bridge offers, learn more about our trainings for companies, organizations and churches here, learn about our Foundations Course here, and learn about our Transracial Adoption trainings and resources here. And subscribe to our email list so you can know when Be the Bridge trainings, events, and resources are released!

We love our community of listeners and we want to know more about you! Find the Listener Survey Here. (One participant will receive a Be the Bridge swag bag!)

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:
“What does it look like when we talk about orthodoxy and orthopraxy in our everyday lives? And so for me, as an African American, knowing the history here, it's hard for me to even say that America was a Christian nation.” -Latasha Morrison

“Our nation was birthed really out of genocide and enslavement. And so even though we say that we're a Christian nation, we've been violent from day one.” -Sean Watkins

“If you find yourself unwilling to genuinely and authentically challenge those systems, then you might be a white Christian nationalist. Not intentionally. I don't think a lot of us are out there just saying, ‘Oh, we want to just tear other people down.’ But that's a framework….In the long run, you're going to dehumanize and marginalize and justify hurting people in the name of religion.” -Micah Smith

“The top three curriculums used for homeschoolers, the top three curriculums used in private Christian schools, promote Christian nationalism. And those textbook companies have existed since the 50s and 60s. So you now have a couple generations where kids grew up on this. They had kids, they put their kids in those same schools with the same curriculums. You now have multiple generations who have been indoctrinated in this since the time they were learning to read.” -Elizabeth Behrens

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Links:
Jude 3 Project’s documentary “Unspoken”
Pew Research on How Americans describe ‘Christian nationalism’
Equal Justice Initiative

Connect with Be the Bridge:
Our Website
Facebook
Instagram

Connect with Latasha Morrison:
Facebook
Instagram

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

In a gentle and heartfelt conversation, Korean American Storyteller Tasha Jun discusses her new book, Tell Me the Dream Again, with Latasha Morrison on the Be the Bridge Podcast. You’ll hear Tasha vulnerably share about her journey of embracing the whole story of being biracial. They discuss the importance of being specific about our stories, of honesty and community, and of representation. Tasha and Tasha give listeners encouragement on how to persevere through injustice and also how to sit with the feelings of anger and lament and grief. This episode is an invitation to show up as your whole self and know you are worthy of belonging.

We love our community of listeners and we want to know more about you! Find the Listener Survey Here. (One participant will receive a Be the Bridge swag bag!)

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

Quotes:
“Belonging is being able to be in a place or a space, where you are your whole self and where your whole self is welcome to stretch out and also have room to become at the same time.” -Tasha Jun

“I hope that being really specific will help people to be specific about themselves, and just take a look within and be able to see their own distinctions with value and give attention to those things.” -Tasha Jun

“When we think diversity is really divisive, then we have missed something. Because diversity is a part of creation.” -Latasha Morrison

Links:
Tell Me the Dream Again: Reflections on Family, Ethnicity, and the Sacred Work of Belonging book by Tasha Jun
Voices of Lament: Reflections on Brokenness and Longing in a World Longing for Justice book edited by Natasha Sistrunk Robinson

Connect with Tasha Jun:
Instagram
Facebook
Her Substack
Her Website

Connect with Be the Bridge:
Our Website
Facebook
Instagram

Connect with Latasha Morrison:
Facebook
Instagram

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

Thank you for stopping by the Be the Bridge Podcast! This podcast is a resource from the non-profit organization Be the Bridge and is hosted by Latasha Morrison, the Founder and CEO of Be the Bridge and the author of the book Be the Bridge.

Be the Bridge responds to racial brokenness and systemic injustice in our world and believes understanding can move us toward racial healing, racial equity, and racial unity. This podcast is an extension of our vision to make sure people are no longer conditioned by a racialized society but grounded in truth. We have provided this podcast as a resource to help cultivate courageous conversations and equip all to flourish.

You will find interviews from a variety of thought leaders, faith leaders, and business leaders as well as authors and artists, activists and athletes. You will be encouraged, you will be challenged, and you will be changed. Thank you for subscribing and sharing!

Subscribe to the Be the Bridge Podcast in your favorite podcast player so you don't miss an episode of these helpful and hopeful conversations!

Find full episode transcripts on the ⁠Be the Bridge website⁠.

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