Rumors of Doing Good

In this episode, Rob talks with Silvia Faridencio Gore Lado, a South Sudanese teacher, mother of five, and community leader now living in Egypt.

After fleeing her home in Juba in 2017, Silvia began a journey through Sudan that eventually led her to Cairo, where she continues to teach and serve fellow refugees.

She founded The Friendship Initiative for Women and Children Development, creating spaces of learning, belonging, and hope for South Sudanese women and children.

Together, they talk about resilience, faith, and rebuilding life in a new land.

Listener discretion advised: This episode includes firsthand accounts of displacement, war, and the refugee experience that may be distressing for some listeners. Please take care while listening.

Intro/Outro music by Skinfiltr8r.

Longtime friend Ken Loyd returns to Rumors of Doing Good to share a story that has stayed with him for nearly 45 years—about a man named Roy Rogers (not that Roy Rogers!), whose simple, quiet love changed a room and a life.

In this conversation, Ken and Rob reflect on the small gestures that stay with us—the way someone looks at you when you speak, the warmth of a hand being held, the feeling of being seen without needing to perform. Ken remembers Roy not for eloquent words or impressive credentials, but for a love that was uncomplicated, sincere, and disarming.

As Ken's own life and health have changed over time, he finds himself drawn more and more to that kind of simplicity: a faith made real in presence, tenderness, humor, and humanity.

This episode is a reminder that:

• We are shaped by the ordinary moments.

• We are remembered for how we loved, not what we accomplished.

• And sometimes the simplest things are the most profound.

Maybe the good life really is that simple.

In this final epsiode of the Counter Presence series, we reflect on what it means to actually form countercultural communities - communities that are more than just ideas, but embodied expressions of presence, care, and faith. We talk about how communities grow from shared life, small risks, and the daily work of showing up.

Drawing from Anabaptist values and practices like mutuality, simplicity, and rootedness, we share practices and questions that can help us more from longing to living- cultivating spaces that reflect the heart of Jesus in tangible, local ways.

Many of us are living with a deep dissatisfaction - with organized religion as it's been, with society as it is, and with the pace and patterns of life that leave us fragmented and exhausted.

Counter Presence: Dissatisfaction Rooted in Hope is a series of conversations born from that unrest, and from a longing to live more grounded, more human, and more faithful lives. It's about cultivating a presence shaped by the life and teachings of Jesus, and formed through community, simplicity, mutuality, and hope - as exemplified by the Anabaptist tradition.

Not as an escape, but as a faithful way of being in the world, togehter.

Intro/Outro music by Skinfiltr8r.

What does it mean to live with hope when so much feels uncertain or in decline? In this conversation, we explore the idea of post-Christendom - the shift away from Christianity as a cultural center of power - and how that creates both loss and opportunity. Rather than trying to reclaim influence, my friend & colleague Andrew Dungan joins me as we talk about how this moment invites us to reimagine what faithfulness can look like: more humble, more local, and more rooted in the life and teachings of Jesus. We consider how a hope-filled future isn't about returning to what was, but about living differently in the world as it is - with imagination, courage and grace.

Many of us are living with a deep dissatisfaction - with organized religion as it's been, with society as it is, and with the pace and patterns of life that leaves us fragmented and exhausted.

Counter Presence: Dissatisfaction Rooted in Hope is a series of conversations born from that unrest, and from a longing to live more grounded, more human, and more faithful lives. It's about cultivating a presence shaped by the life and teachings of Jesus, and forged through community, simplicity, mutuality, and hope - as exemplified by the Anabaptist tradition.

Intro/Outro music by Skinfiltr8r.

What does it mean to seek the good of the places we live — not through control or performance, but through presence, peace, and faithful attention? In this episode, we explore how the pursuit of shalom — wholeness, justice, and right relationship — invites us to stay rooted and work for the flourishing of our neighbors.

Shaped by the life of Jesus and grounded in Anabaptist values like local presence, simplicity, and mutual care, we reflect on the slow, everyday work of building community. This is about showing up where we are, loving well, and believing that small acts of faithfulness can lead to real transformation.

Many of us are living with a deep dissatisfaction — with organized religion as it's been, with society as it is, and with the pace and patterns of life that leave us fragmented and exhausted.

Counter Presence: Dissatisfaction Rooted in Hope is a series of conversations born from that unrest, and from a longing to live more grounded, more human, and more faithful lives. It's about cultivating a presence shaped by the life and teachings of Jesus, and formed through community, simplicity, mutuality, and hope — as exemplified by the Anabaptist tradition.

Not as an escape, but as a faithful way of being in the world, together.

Intro/Outro music by Skinfiltr8r.

What does it look like to join in the mission of God — not through programs or blueprints, but through presence, listening, and local response? In this episode, we talk about creating experimental communities as a way of participating in the Missio Dei.

Rooted in the life of Jesus and shaped by Anabaptist values like simplicity, mutuality, and discernment, we explore how community can emerge through shared lived experience. These are communities that take risks, learn as they go, and stay close to the ground they're planted in.

Many of us are living with a deep dissatisfaction — with organized religion as it's been, with society as it is, and with the pace and patterns of life that leave us fragmented and exhausted.

Counter Presence: Dissatisfaction Rooted in Hope is a series of conversations born from that unrest, and from a longing to live more grounded, more human, and more faithful lives. It's about cultivating a presence shaped by the life and teachings of Jesus, and formed through community, simplicity, mutuality, and hope — as exemplified by the Anabaptist tradition.

Not as an escape, but as a faithful way of being in the world, together.

Intro/Outro music by Skinfiltr8r.

In this episode, we explore the deep and disruptive belief that every person bears the image of God — the Imago Dei. We reflect on how this conviction, rooted in the life and teachings of Jesus and nurtured within the Anabaptist tradition, calls us to a radically different way of seeing and relating to others. In a world that often categorizes, dehumanizes, and divides, we ask: what kind of community becomes possible when we begin by recognizing the divine in every face? And how might that recognition reshape the way we live, lead, and belong — together?

Many of us are living with a deep dissatisfaction — with organized religion as it's been, with society as it is, and with the pace and patterns of life that leave us fragmented and exhausted.

Counter Presence: Dissatisfaction Rooted in Hope is a series of conversations born from that unrest, and from a longing to live more grounded, more human, and more faithful lives. Rooted in the conviction that the Anabaptist tradition offers a wealth of wisdom for these times, we take the time to explore what it means to cultivate a countercultural presence — one that is shaped by the life and teachings of Jesus, and formed through community, simplicity, mutuality, and hope.

Not as an escape, but as a faithful way of being in the world, together.

Intro/Outro music by Skinfiltr8r.

In this first episode of season five, I am joined by my friend and colleague Andrew Dungan as we reflect on the place we find ourselves in — culturally, spiritually, and personally. We talk honestly about the restlessness many of us feel and how that led us to discover and appreciate the Anabaptist tradition. This conversation is about naming where we are, not to despair, but to make space for something new to emerge — a way of life grounded in presence, hope, and shared humanity.

Many of us are living with a deep dissatisfaction — with organized religion as it's been, with society as it is, and with the pace and patterns of life that leave us fragmented and exhausted.

Counter Presence: Dissatisfaction Rooted in Hope is a series of conversations born from that unrest, and from a longing to live more grounded, more human, and more faithful lives. Rooted in the conviction that the Anabaptist tradition offers a wealth of wisdom for these times, we take the time to explore what it means to cultivate a countercultural presence — one that is shaped by the life and teachings of Jesus, and formed through community, simplicity, mutuality, and hope.

Not as an escape, but as a faithful way of being in the world, together.

Intro/Outro music by Skinfiltr8r.

Bonus Episode – What happens when creativity meets compassion?

In this special conversation, I sit down with my daughter Gwen to talk about a project she and her Girl Scout troop took on — knitting blankets for people experiencing homelessness. It started as a small idea, but quickly became a meaningful way to offer warmth, dignity, and human connection. We talk about what inspired the project, what the girls learned along the way, and why simple acts of kindness can ripple further than we think.

If you enjoyed this conversation, please consider sharing it with a friend, rating the show, and subscribing on your favorite podcast platform. It helps others find the podcast and join the conversation, too.

Intro/Outro music by Skinfiltr8r.

In the season four finale of Rumors of Doing Good, Ken Loyd returns to chat with Rob about the remarkable female leaders who have shaped their lives. Together, they reflect on the significant impact these women have made and emphasize the importance of making room for their unique gifts and perspectives in a world traditionally dominated by men.

Thank you for joining us this season! If you enjoyed today's episode, please consider sharing it with friends, subscribing, and leaving a review on your favorite podcast platform.

Intro/Outro music by Skinfiltr8r.