Pray for Micah

Micah hosts Katharine Strange in Episode 20 of Pray for Micah and they discuss issues like "in" and "out" groups, political and religious radicalism, and the need for empathy and human connection. Katharine is a writer and activist based in Seattle, Washington. Her writing focuses on questioning received wisdom, particularly around marginalized groups and experiences. Her new Substack, Heretic Hereafter, focuses on spiritual next steps for those transitioning away from Evangelicalism.

In Episode 19, Micah hosts Tim Rymel, author of Going Gay, which is about his personal journey from evangelical minister to self-acceptance, love, and meaning. Tim also authored Rethinking Everything, which examines the foundation on which American evangelical Christianity is based and explains how the relationship between this 300-year-old Christian sect and conservative politics began. He's also a contributor to the academic publication Negotiating Spiritual Violence in the Queer Community. He’s written hundreds of articles on the confluence of religion, politics and sexuality for HuffPost, The Good Men Project, Medium, and other outlets.

To celebrate the 18th episode of the Pray for Micah Podcast, Micah hosts a longtime friend, Sharaden Staten, and they discuss his psychology research on the "Sandwich Generation" and the excitement of cultivating a lifelong learner's mentality. Sharaden is a local educator and musician. He's the creator of the Black Stacey band, which brings the spirit of "Electric Church" to the Midwest and pairs subtle notes of R&B, funk, soul, and rock, dramatically blending it into a raw, eclectic mix. At the end of episode, listeners will have the pleasure of sampling Sharaden's music as the two perform an impromptu tiny desk concert in Micah's podcast studio.

Micah hosts a new friend to the show, Dr. Kristin Peterson, who is an assistant professor in the department of communication at Boston College and teaches courses related to the intersections of media and religion. Kristin's research focuses on religious expression in digital media, specifically examining how young people engage with online media sites, images, videos and creative projects as spaces to develop meaning and for feminist activism. She is the author of Unruly Souls: The Digital Activism of Muslim and Christian Feminists (Rutgers University Press, 2022), as well as articles and book chapters on Muslim Instagram influencers, the #ChurchToo, and #MosqueMeToo movements.

Micah records with a new KC friend, Ben Gipson, in Episode 16 of the Pray for Micah Podcast. They discuss Eastern Orthodoxy, spiritual movements throughout history, and the growth they've each experienced since departing protestant evangelicalism. The session also includes a Pray for Micah Story segment involving an epic dance fail. Ben Gipson is a predictably unpredictable man whose life is a sporadic amalgamation of random moments. He is the founder and CEO of Underground Homies, a business focused on connecting the city to its local artists. Everything he does is focused on building community and loving on the new and old faces he meets.

Micah has the honor of hosting his very own brother, Caleb Chrisman, for Episode 15 of #PrayforMicahPod. Together they revisit some of the pain, struggles, and triumphs Caleb experienced while being incarcerated for 7+ years. Despite harsh prison conditions, Caleb also shares how reconnecting with his faith and practicing meditation helped him discover a deeper sense of self and connection to others. Of course, you can't put two Chrismans together in a room for two hours without them telling funny stories and having some laughs.

In Episode 14, Micah hosts Victoria Lynn and they delve into the realms of 'Shadow Work" and Jungian practices for exploring the self and the ego. Victoria is a yoga instructor, martial artist, and life coach who is passionate about embodied healing & freedom. She utilizes Jungian principles like shadow work and subconscious reprogramming to guide her clients in their transformation to unlocking a more conscious life. Through compassionate inquiry, Victoria’s purpose is to help people alchemize their life’s learnings and remind them of their sovereignty and the medicine found in their own inner wisdom.

Micah hosts a KC friend and colleague, Laela Zaidi, and they explore the similarities and differences of being raised Christian and Muslim in Missouri. Laela Zaidi (she/her) is a Pakistani-American Master of Social Work student and climate justice organizer. She loves traveling, eating good food, playing tennis, and roller skating. Raised in Joplin, Missouri, she now lives in the Historic Northeast of Kansas City, Missouri.

In Episode 13, Micah discusses salient political and social issues with Justin Stein, a local activist in Kansas City who has been an organizer for twenty years. Justin has worked on campaigns to support and expand union rights, raise the minimum wage, expand access to healthcare, get money out of politics, increase police accountability, and support solidarity for fast food workers fighting for $15 and a union. He’s committed to building a world where relationships of domination no longer exist and believes that can be achieved by engaging in (to quote bell hooks) “collective liberation struggle.”

In Episode 14, Micah and Justin Stein, a local activist in Kansas City, delve into their personal stories and share the importance of self-reflection, meditation, and the spiritual journey within antiracism work. They explore what it will take to build a world where relationships of domination no longer exist, which means starting with ourselves.