Welcome to the Pinkleton Pull-Aside Podcast. On this podcast, let’s step aside from our busy lives to have fun, fascinating life-giving conversation with inspiring authors, pastors, sports personalities and other influencers, leaders and followers. Sit back, grab some coffee, or head down the road and let’s get the good and the gold from today’s guest. Our host is Jeff Pinkleton, Executive Director of the Gathering of the Miami Valley, where their mission is to connect men to men, and men to God. You can reach Jeff at GatheringMV.org or find him on Facebook at The Gathering of the Miami Valley.

Dr. Terence Lester is a storyteller, public scholar, speaker, community activist, and author. He is the Founder and Executive Director of Love Beyond Walls, a nonprofit organization focused on raising awareness about poverty and homelessness and on community mobilization. Additionally, he serves as the Director of Public Policy and Social Change and as a professor at Simmons College of Kentucky (HBCU). He received his PhD with a concentration in Public Policy and Social Change from Union Institute and University.

His recent book with InterVarsity Press released Fall of 2025, entitled, “From Dropout to Doctorate: Breaking The Chains of Educational Injustice.”

Terence is happily married to his best friend, Cecilia Lester, and they have two amazing children, Zion Joy and Terence II.