Byron's Loom- Weaving relationships through Braver Conversations

In this episode of The Loom, Byron and co-hosts Raven and Gregory are joined by Scott Davis. Scott is a founding member of an organization called Punch-up, which is “building a home where poor and working white men from across the country join in the work for freedom and justice for all.” Scott also hosts Punch-up’s Youtube show, “Dishonor,” which centers the stories of poor and working class folks who are defending their communities against quasi-legal mugging by modern day robber-barons. We have a great conversation about false binaries like Red vs. Blue; urgency vs. endurance; and the power of language and story-telling and story-listening in movement building.

Punch Up - The organization we are talking to Scott about

Dishonor - Punch-up’s Youtube show

In this episode of Byron’s Loom, Byron is joined once again by guests Amara Lynch and Steven Joiner. Amara is completing her doctoral research on anti-oppression parenting. In this conversation, she offers us a glimpse of her work with a group of parents who are trying to raise White sons in ways that prepare them to support a more socially just society. This is a deeply personal project for Amara because she is one of those parents, herself. Steven, a White man and seasoned social justice activist, advocate, and educator, adds his own experience and wisdom to the conversation. This our second episode with Steven and Amara. You may want to check out their previous conversion on Managing Disappointment here. They will be returning a third installment once Amara finishes her graduate program in the fall. We hope you find this discussion as invigorating and valuable as we did! Thanks for listening!

Organizing White Men for Collective Liberation (OWMCL), is referenced in the conversation. OWMCL is a national network mobilizing white men to learn, grow, and take action against white supremacy and patriarchy. You can find out more on their website.

Internal Liberation is an affinity group for white men, offered through OWMCL. It meets on the 4th Monday of each month from 5:30-7PM Pacific, via Zoom. Find out more and register on the OWMCL events page.

For context, this is episode 3. In episode 2 Richard Hart Gave an in-depth description of his book Lost Homeland, and after he was done I just kept recording going. What developed was a fascinating convo between Richard and Ken giving some background on their joint project, as well as a great story of how the pictures in the book got there, and a convo on hunting practices and other stuff. We pick up where Richard has just finished describing his book Lost Homeland. Here we go!

For context, this episode I originally recorded for a radio show I had back 2018 on KTRT 97.5 Winthrop. This is part 2, building off a previous episode I recently posted with ken Bevis working on the song Methow Band. I interviewed Richard Hart, a Historian and author on the book he had just then written, lost Homeland. Ken Bevis added music to Richard’s book presentations which they presented in venues around several counties. My hats off to Richard for all the work he has done supporting indigenous tribes and communities through the years! And to Ken Bevis, biologist, musican, and zany dude!

This is a story of how a bunch of separate things blossomed into a collaborative adventure. Ken Bevis first came to my attention when I had a radio show on KTRT 97.5 FM Winthrop, in the Methow valley of northern Washington state. I was interviewing folks for my radio show. I had a conversation with Ken, where we talked and he shared a couple songs, one of which was methow band which at the time wasn’t finished yet, and that is what inspired all of what follows here. I ran across this recording and realized how cool it was to hear a song in the making, particularly since I have heard that song many times now. Ken also Tells of the beginning of his collaboration with Richard Hart who wrote the book lost homeland, about the history of the Methow tribe and how they were forced out of the Methow Valley in the late 1800’s. Ken ended up writing and performing three songs that were woven into Richard's public book launches. So this is the start of the saga, luckily I recorded an interview with Richard Hart and Ken Bevis for my radio show which I will be sharing with you all in the near future so without further ado, I offer this with appreciation for all who contributed, every step of the way. So to set this up, I'm starting with this clip. I recorded with Ken Bevis in 2017.

In this episode we are recording in person. We cover how life was like 50 years ago arriving, where we live, in the methow valley, as well as talking about how the valley and we have changed as well. My hats off to Barry Stromberger and Ken Bajema for their willingness to share their lives and perspectives!

I was having a recorded convo check in with a friend of mine, Mike Marthaller, and we were trading stories. One thing lead to another and as you will hear, he suggested i post this on the podcast, sooo, it’s your fault mike! Thanks for laughing with or at me! Take yer pick! 🤡

Leaning Into the Divide is a Podcast Series partnership between Forthright and Byron’s Loom and co-hosted by Sue Lani Madsen and Byron Odion, featuring regular guests, Roger Haynes, Gregory Mengel couldn’t be with us this time, Raven Odion and joining us for his first time, Mike Liu. In each episode we take on a potentially divisive topic using Braver Angels tools and a good-faith intention to disagree accurately while looking for common ground. In this episode #4, we discuss our backgrounds, as well as discussing the importance of open and honest communication, particularly in the context of political and social issues, emphasizing the need to listen to and acknowledge different perspectives, even if we disagree. The conversation also touched on the challenges of being involved in discussions that may be perceived as controversial, and we expressed our willingness to continue these conversations.

In this episode of Byron’s Loom, Byron in joined by guests Amara Lynch and Steven Joiner. Amara is a graduate student and the mother of a 10 year old boy. Steven is a leadership trainer and consultant specializing in white masculinity. In this conversation we tackled disillusion and disappointment. Amara shared about how her son is navigating his discovery that that there are no leprechauns and Santa ain’t real. Steven told us about his goal is to help create and live a healthy blueprint of masculinity. Steven Joiner also described “2 jobs”: 1) providing resources and removing barriers and 2) being honest when he can’t actually do that! Byron talked about his progress and challenges weaving these convo’s. This subsack currently has 20 subscribers, and Byron hopes he is disappointing them at a rate they can absorb! (this will make more sense after you listen!). Amara also shared details about her graduate project on parenting white males in ways that uphold the value of creating a more socially just society. Spoiler Alert! Our next conversation will be dedicated to this topic! Thanks for listening!

INTERNAL LIBERATION- check it out! White Male Affinity Group- helping to create and live a healthy blueprint of masculinity.

https://www.owmcl.org/get-involved/

Leaning Into the Divide is a Podcast Series partnership between Forthright and Byron’s Loom and co-hosted by Sue Lani Madsen and Byron Odion, featuring regular guests, Roger Haynes, Gregory Mengel, and Raven Odion. In each episode we take on a potentially divisive topic using Braver Angels tools and a good-faith intention to disagree accurately while looking for common ground. In this episode we discuss Election Integrity and Voting from red and blue perspectives.