Her Story Speaks

Lettie Shumate is a Black woman, historian, anti-racism educator, and racial justice advocate living near Wilmington, North Carolina. Not only is breaking down history one of Lettie’s passions, but leading anti-racism work, facilitating conversations in anti-racism workshops and programs, and continuing to inform others about the larger issues that must be confronted to dismantle white supremacy culture in America, all encompass her purpose. Her podcast, ”Sincerely, Lettie" dives deep into true history, anti-racism, racial justice, and more. Breaking down history to connect the past to today, and encompassing anti-racism work is Lettie’s passion and she doesn’t hold back when it comes to tough conversations.

Marcie Walker  joins me again for this bonus episode. Marcie is a Christian, African-American writer and creator of the blog and Instagram feed, Black Coffee with White Friends, where she chronicles her experiences as a black woman navigating white-dominant spaces. Marcie is also the creator of  “Mocking Bird History Lessons” where she researches, writes and shares the missing narratives of our country’s history.

Lisa Bevere is a New York Times best-selling author and speaker who is known for her powerful and passionate teaching style. She’s been teaching from the stage for more than 30 years, inspiring women to follow her example and to become the women God calls them to be. In her new 90-day devotional, Strong, Lisa takes her teachings one step further, inspiring women to embark on a journey to grow deeper in their relationships with God in order to become the strong, powerful, passionate women they were created to be

Khristi Lauren Adams is a speaker, author, youth advocate and ordained Baptist minister. She is passionate about youth advocacy and committed to work that affirms the wholeness and self-worth of black girls and women. She is the author of Parable of the Brown Girl, released February 2020. The book highlights the cultural and spiritual truths that emerge from the lives of young black girls. In this episode, Khristi joins me to discuss her new book and her passion behind sharing stories of girls of color that are often overlooked, unseen, and ignored rather than valued and heard. She also shares her story of growing up as a black girl surrounded by white peers and how she found solace and encouragement in the black church she attended.

Myisha T is an awesome and sometimes exhausted mom to 3 different-ability children. She is an anti-racism guide, mental health activist, speaker, and entrepreneur who is passionate about women’s mental wellness and empowerment. A passionate advocate for mental wellness, Myisha T believes that when people get real, they can begin to heal. She founded the “Check Your Privilege” (CYP) movement, an online community, and a series of workshops that support women all over the world in exploring their relationships with power, privilege, and racism.

D. L. Mayfield is a writer and activist who has spent over a decade working with refugee communities in the United States. She has written for places as varied as Christianity Today, Image journal, and The Washington Post. Her book of essays, Assimilate or Go Home: Notes from a Failed Missionary on Rediscovering Faith was released in 2016. Her second book, The Myth of the American Dream: Reflections on Affluence, Autonomy, Safety and Power released May of 2020. D.L. examines the central values of the American dream and asks us to take a deep look at if they compatible with Jesus' command to love our neighbor as ourselves

Emily Joy Allison is an author, poet, and yoga teacher. In November of 2017, as the #MeToo hashtag was going viral, Emily came forward with her own story of abuse at the hands of her church and launched the #ChurchToo movement overnight. She has been writing and speaking about religious sexualized violence and its theological underpinnings ever since. Her work takes place where faith, sexuality, and healing collide. Her debut book about #ChurchToo will be published with Broadleaf Books in 2021. Emily lives in Nashville with her dog Harley and her partner Caitlin, and she works at a church in her spare time.

Ruth Everhart  is an ordained Presbyterian Pastor who has been serving the church for more than twenty-five years. She been writing about sexual abuse and faith since 2012, when she authored her memoir, Ruined, that tells her deeply personal story of being raped at gunpoint at age 20.  We talk about this and her  decade-long journey to build a new faith in the aftermath of that horrific night. Ruth’s newest book, The #MeToo Reckoning: Facing the Church’s Complicity in Sexual Abuse and Misconduct, shines light on the prevalence of sexual abuse and misconduct within faith communities. Ruth shares how far too often, churches have been complicit in protecting abusers, reinforcing patriarchal power dynamics, and creating cultures of secrecy, shame, and silence.

Rozella Haydée White is the #LoveBigCoach, one who believes that love and Revolutionary Relationships can heal the world and bring us back to ourselves and to each other. She is the owner of RHW Consulting, which provides life and leadership coaching, retreats, inspirational speaking, and writing that accompanies people as they create and live their most meaningful lives. Rozella actively works to restore hearts to wholeness so that all can not simply survive, but thrive. As a writer, teacher, speaker, and public theologian, Rozella boldly engages issues of faith, justice, self-care, mental illness, and the radical and transformative love of God as embodied in the person of Jesus.

Kathy Escobar co-pastors The Refuge, a Christian community and mission center in North Denver. Her passion is creating safe and brave spaces for transformation and healing in a variety of contexts. A speaker, spiritual director, group facilitator, and organizational consultant, she is author of several books including her most recent, Practicing: Changing Yourself to Change the World as well as founder of the non-profit #communityheals--Making Spaces for Transformation Accessible for All. More at kathyescobar.com. In this episode we talk about walking through grief and a global pandemic, evolving faith during hard times and the concept of Friday/Saturday/Sunday living as we approach the Easter holiday.