Callings

Willie James Jennings believes that belonging is the goal of education, which is pursued at the intersections of the world’s contradictions and our own social and moral sensibilities. Willie is a public theologian and professor of systematic theology and Africana studies at Yale Divinity School. In this conversation, he reflects on the influence of mentors and role models while also highlighting the racialized and unjust structures within Western educational systems. He encourages educators to listen to, learn from, and (above all) pay attention to their students as part of a shared vocational process. He also shares his commitment for challenging antisemitism as well as drawing attention to the plight of Palestinians. 

Michael Lamb is committed to educating for character through the virtues. In his role as the senior executive director of the Program for Leadership and Character at Wake Forest University, Michael works to encourage students to “live the questions” as part of connecting their interests and talents with the callings of their communities and contexts. Michael discusses how setbacks, crises, and deep listening can help us discern how to “re-enchant purpose,” as part of evaluating our motivations and next steps. Throughout the conversation, we hear how practicing the virtues can help us return to the core of our callings.

Lee C. Camp is host of the podcast and nationally-syndicated radio series No Small Endeavor, which explores what it means to live a good life. He is also Distinguished Faculty Fellow at Lipscomb University, a NetVUE member institution. In this conversation, Lee brings his wealth of experience as well as a personal and honest approach to bear on questions of vocation in higher education. In the process, he challenges notions of “meaningfulness,” encourages us to be good question-askers, and promotes creativity in pursuit of virtuous living.

This bonus episode features highlights from conversations that aired during the fifth season of Callings. In these clips, our guests offer advice for today's students and for anyone who teaches or mentors young adults. Listen to this compilation of insightful and interesting advice from John Inazu, Jason Blakely, Bonnie Miller-McLemore, Emmanuel Katongole, Caryn Riswold, Abel Chavez, Kiran Singh Sirah, Mustafa Akyol, Kwame Anthony Appiah, and Jennifer Herdt.

Jennifer Herdt, professor of Christian ethics at Yale Divinity School, explores the “call to live well” in her writing, teaching, and research. In our conversation, Jennifer discusses what it means to live a virtuous life and how that grounds our sense of genuine happiness and fulfillment. She challenges us to resist the cultural narrative to “get as much out of life as we can,” but rather to pursue a life that considers our obligation to others and to the world. As we do so, Jennifer suggests we ask this important question “What is worthy of my devotion?” 

Kwame Anthony Appiah is one of the world’s most influential philosophers and currently serves as president of the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Many know his work from the weekly "Ethicist" column in the New York Times. In this episode, he shares both personal and professional aspects of a vocational journey that has carried him from Ghana to Britain, the United States, and beyond. He reflects on current challenges to liberal education, the value of diversity, the power of symbols and proverbs, and the importance of being alert to life’s surprises and opportunities.

Mustafa Akyol is a public intellectual and Muslim reformer who emphasizes the importance of being attentive to others and to the world around us. In this conversation, he shares his vocational journey from Turkey to the U.S. as a journalist, an academic, and a political commentator. As the author of books like The Islamic Jesus and The Islamic Moses, Mustafa reminds us of the hard work of respectful collaboration and mutual learning. He also reflects on religious liberty, the importance and fragility of democracy, and his hopes for peace in the Middle East.

Kiran Singh Sirah, an award-winning storytelling artist and folklorist, explores the overlap between vocation and story. In this conversation, we discuss how storytelling deepens human connection as part of our callings. Kiran reminds us of the beauty of sharing our individual and communal stories, along with the power of an inspiring and complex narrative. Stories help foster curiosity about our “whole selves” so that we can build relationships that bridge divides and reveal an expansive, shared purpose in a “space of welcome.”

Abel Chávez sees our callings through this important question: what type of ancestor do we want to be? As the tenth president of Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas, Abel explores the contours of our vocations as change makers in our careers and in our communities. Drawing from his experience with Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), he discusses how we can best serve first-generation students: inviting them to explore new pathways and experiences so that they can return to their home communities to provide leadership. Abel reminds us that education has an obligation to engage with the challenges and structures in civic life to improve them for the benefit of all. He encourages us to “say yes” and to be committed to ganas throughout our lives. 

Caryn Riswold believes that conversations about vocation should give greater attention to issues of social justice, identity, and culture. As a professor of religion at Wartburg College, she reminds us that our callings help us to “be human together, better.”  In this conversation, Caryn describes how her own dual callings as teacher and public theologian help her pursue such goals. But she also suggests that asking good questions is a key for discerning whether our words shed “heat or light” on important and difficult topics in ways that empower others.