Despite the beautiful meaning of the word “evangelical,” its current uses are often related in common understanding to self-righteousness, judgement, anti-intellecutalism, and even bigotry. More and more younger evangelicals are embracing diversity, re-imagining what it means to be a follower of Jesus, and learning how to be in dialogue with difference.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How it’s possible to believe that Christianity is the one, true religion and be equally certain the interfaith dialogue (without the goal of conversion) is absolutely necessary

• Key ingredients for engaging in dialogue that is centered in love and friendship

• Why uncertainty is healthy for any faith or ethical position

• How to cultivate relationships even when you disagree on key beliefs

• What churches need to be doing to remain relevant in times like these

Lots of us think that real leadership means being really smart and capable—rushing in as hero, and fixing things with our ingenuity.

But former Fortune 500 executive turned master collaborator and amplifier Tony Loyd has another way of thinking about leadership and success.

In this episode of In Times like These, Tony teaches us how to think about social entrepreneurship. It’s opportunity for curiosity, humility, empathy—and learning from the community. The community already has the answers—so how do we unlock that capacity?

Show Notes: https://www.claremontlincoln.edu/engage/clu-live/podcasts/in-times-like-these/social-entrepreneur-tony-loyd/

The United States Census happens every ten years. We get counted. “They” count us, and then life goes on, right? But as Ely Flores, California Director of Civic Engagement at NALEO Educational Fund tells us—numbers lead to resources. And for those populations that don’t get counted, non-profits, churches, community organizations, and the state and federal government can’t apply resources appropriately. Counting the people also becomes a political issue. When entire groups, like Latin@ children, aren’t counted, they don’t receive the resources they need and deserve. How do counties count the homeless? How do people who are undocumented respond to government-employed enumerators who come to their home asking questions? How do various ethnic categories relate to political and civic identity? In this episode, CLU alumnus Ely Flores walks us through how the United States Census works, why it matters, and how individuals and communities can get involved to make sure every count counts.

Show Notes: https://www.claremontlincoln.edu/engage/clu-live/podcasts/in-times-like-these/united-states-census-101-ely-flores-podcast/

As US citizens, we’re protected by two amazing pieces of legislation: the Free Exercise Clause and the Establishment Clause.

More than 90 other countries have replicated these human rights. We have the right to worship, or not, and express that right in a variety of ways and settings. And our government was founded on the principle that religion and politics are separate, and for good reason. What threatens these rights? Are we really a pluralist country?

The Reverend Nate Walker is an expert on religion and public life. He reminds us that we’re a nation of religious minorities, and this gives us a unique opportunity to practice freedoms in a civic space grounded in a Constitution that celebrates pluralism, and with diversity unimagined when the founding fathers and mothers fashioned our Bill of Rights.

Show Notes: https://www.claremontlincoln.edu/engage/clu-live/podcasts/in-times-like-these/religious-freedom-law-nate-walker-podcast/

Courtney Farrell uses her experience as a literacy specialist and ally to help us understand how our very youngest colleagues should be centered in dialogue about trans rights and issues of gender and educational justice. Democratic schools should be places where all students see varieties of experience and can imagine multiplicities of perspective. In this episode, we learn how to grow our awareness about gender-expansive and transgender children and youth, and reimagine how classroom practices can build true democracy. We'll discuss how inclusion for marginalized groups benefits everyone, and highlight examples of work that makes classrooms equitable and caring for all children.

Show Notes: https://www.claremontlincoln.edu/engage/clu-live/podcasts/in-times-like-these/trans-rights-justice-education-courtney-farrell-podcast/

For many of us, young adulthood is a time of learning about ourselves, encountering different people, cultures, religions, and lifestyles, and forming our adult identities. In the US, the undergraduate experience on campus provides space and exposure for young adults to do this work. And yet, religious, spiritual, and ethical formation is often left to chance. Students meet others and explore in co-curricular activities, or simply by meeting professors and friends who expose them to knew ideas. J. Cody Nielsen would like this exposure and exploration to be more deliberate, and embraced in systematic ways university-wide. In this episode, we talk about identity formation, diversity in higher education, and ways educators and leaders can make sure engagement with diversity prepares all students for global citizenship.

Show Notes: https://www.claremontlincoln.edu/engage/clu-live/podcasts/in-times-like-these/imagining-identities-cody-nielsen-podcast/

Onleilove Chika Alston is the founder of Prophetic Whirlwind, an organization (and upcoming book) that provides research, teaching, and workshops helping uncover the Black roots of the Bible, women's theology of liberation, African and African-American Hebrew history, and a theologically sound response to community organizing and social justice work.

She also provides leadership for PICO-Faith in New York, a major activist network working on issues of poverty, hunger, workers' rights, and the rights of people who are incarcerated. Her research and perspective upends what many listeners will know about Christianity or Biblical teachings-and the framework she shares has key insights for the way we think about gender, race, nationalism, and poverty.

Leah Weiss, PhD has trained thousands of students, veterans, and Silicon Valley elite in the practice of mindfulness. All of us seek meaningful lives-at home, and in the workplace. Why does finding purpose seem to elude so many of us? In this episode, Dr. Leah Weiss shares insight from her new book How We Work: Live Your Purpose, Reclaim Your Sanity, and Embrace the Daily Grind. The boundaries between "work," "family," and "personal" seem to be overwhelming us. Surely there are ways to live with greater meaning, and be fully present for all parts of our rich and busy lives. Learn how it's possible, and start today with tools you already have.

Pre-order How We Work now: https://leahweissphd.com/how-we-work

Show Notes: https://www.claremontlincoln.edu/engage/clu-live/podcasts/in-times-like-these/help-wanted-seeking-purpose-leah-weiss-podcast/

Shoulder-to-Shoulder is an interfaith organization dedicated to ending anti-Muslim sentiment by strengthening the voice of freedom and peace. In this episode, Catherine Orsborn joins us to help us understand what "anti-Muslim bigotry" is, why it harms everyone (not just Muslims), and how everyday people can participate in building and maintaining and more robust and diverse civic space.

In her experiencing working alongside communities combating hatred, terrorism, and lack of understanding, Orborn brings an understanding of how Muslim Americans are working to better their communities, how non-Muslims can be good neighbors and allies, and how religious and ethical leaders can provide advocacy at the national level.

Show Notes: https://www.claremontlincoln.edu/engage/clu-live/podcasts/in-times-like-these/caring-critical-catherine-orsborn-podcast/

Being certain feels safe, but it precludes us from really getting to know one another. In this episode, Rabbi Nancy Fuchs Kreimer helps us explore what it might mean to cultivate curiosity as a virtue. Can listening be a transformative skill? What fears, practices, and biases keep us from being good dialogue partners? Does failing to listen make us civically irresponsible? Kreimer has years of experience building bridges—first in Jewish and Christian communities, and then in Muslim-Jewish communities. Her recent work looks at the role of college chaplains and the college landscape as places where young adults can grow to be more (or less) in relationship with each other.

Show Notes: https://www.claremontlincoln.edu/engage/clu-live/podcasts/in-times-like-these/curiosity-virtue-rabbi-nancy-fuchs-kreimer-podcast/