The Brave Becoming

On this episode with Damon R. Davis, a criminal defense attorney, we discussed his life experiences, faith, and the impact of his upbringing in Newark, New Jersey.

He shares insights on the intersection of faith and personal struggles, emphasizing the importance of hope and the challenges faced in the justice system. The conversation delves into Damon Davis's transformative journey from a life of crime to redemption, highlighting pivotal moments that shaped his understanding of violence, faith, and personal responsibility.

Through storytelling, he reflects on the presence of God during his darkest times and the importance of using one's voice for justice and change. The conversation explores Damon's transformative journey from a life of crime and imprisonment to becoming a successful criminal defense attorney. This episode delves into themes of forgiveness, personal growth, and the importance of community support in overcoming past mistakes.

Takeaways

• Faith shapes resilience.
• Hope is a powerful motivator Redemption through personal choices.
• The importance of recognizing one's voice Forgiveness is essential for growth.
• Community support shapes personal journeys.

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Damon Davis - Criminal Defense Attorney

https://www.criminalattorneycincinnati.com/about/damon-davis/

Shaniqua Rischer - Host
Instagram: @shaniquarischer
www.shaniquarischer.com

Tiana Madden - Host
Instagram: @thetianamadden
www.tianamadden.com

The Brave Becoming Podcast
Instagram: @bravebecomingpodcast

www.thebravebecoming.riverside.com

On this episode, we are talking to India Johnson and exploring her journey of unlearning the rules of religion and embracing a personal relationship with God.

This conversation delves into themes of legalism, grace, and the transformative power of faith. We talked about personal experiences with church teachings, particularly around speaking in tongues, and the journey towards understanding grace.

Takeaways

• Unlearning religious legalism
• Embracing personal faith journey
• Questioning church teachings in the respects of scripture
• Journey to understanding grace
• Grace is unmerited
• Accountability in Christian content

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India Johnson - Guest

Instagram: @indy5hundred

TikTok: @indy5hundred

Shaniqua Rischer - Host
Instagram: @shaniquarischer
www.shaniquarischer.com

Tiana Madden - Host
Instagram: @thetianamadden

TikTok: @growwithtee1
www.tianamadden.com

The Brave Becoming Podcast
Instagram: @bravebecomingpodcast

www.thebravebecoming.riverside.com

This episode explores the intersection of trauma, faith, and mental health, emphasizing the importance of recognizing trauma as a legitimate experience rather than a lack of faith.

Dr. Malaysia Harrell shares her personal journey of overcoming a near-death experience and how it transformed her understanding of God, faith, and her professional practice as a psychotherapist.

She shares her journey of surrendering to God amidst pain and trauma, emphasizing the importance of faith and healing.

Dr. Malaysia discusses how trauma can shape one's identity and the process of integrating experiences into a new narrative of resilience and purpose.

Takeaways

• Trauma is not a lack of faith
• Surrendering to God leads to clarity
• Surrender leads to transformation
• Trauma is not our identity

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Dr. Malaysia Harrell - Founder/CEO, Blissful Life Consulting

Instagram: @malaysiahharrell

www.malaysiaharrell.com

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Shaniqua Rischer - Host

Instagram: @shaniquarischer

http://www.shaniquarischer.com

Tiana Madden - Host

Instagram: @thetianamadden

http://www.tianamadden.com

The Brave Becoming Podcast

Instagram: @bravebecomingpodcast

https://thebravebecoming.riverside.com/

Let's talk about SEX! On this episode, we took a dive into the topic of sex, bodies, and the church, exploring singleness, soul ties, and unspoken struggles in the pews.

We explored the healing process and redefining the view of sex after divorce, how to deal with the grief of doing everything right and still not being able to experience the fruit of sex, and what we believe to be God's view on those unspoken struggles like self-pleasure.

Our prayer is that this episode emphasize the need for us to openly address the challenges and conflicts faced by individuals in their sexual journeys, the impact of religious beliefs, societal norms, and also personal experiences.

Takeaways

• Grace is available for single and married individuals in the context of sex and relationships.
• The disparity in the church's messaging to single men and women about sex reflects a regulatory and punitive approach towards women's sexual purity.
• Healing and redefining the view of sex after divorce involves understanding pleasure, investigating personal narratives, and recognizing the role of spirituality in sexual experiences.
• The importance of checking motives and understanding natural urges.
• The need for open and honest conversations about sex and spirituality.

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Brittany Broaddus-Smith - Christian Sexologist

Instagram: @christiansexologistbrittany

http://www.theintimacyfirm.com

Shaniqua Rischer - Host

Instagram: @shaniquarischer

http://www.shaniquarischer.com

Tiana Madden - Host

Instagram: @thetianamadden

http://www.tianamadden.com

The Brave Becoming Podcast

Instagram: @bravebecomingpodcast

https://thebravebecoming.riverside.com/

Let's talk about SEX! On this episode, we took a dive into the topic of purity culture and misplaced righteousness.

We explored the role of a Christian sexologist, the intersection of science and church teachings, and the impact of purity culture on individuals and relationships. Within this conversation, we aimed to highlight the importance of understanding God's grace, unlearning harmful messages about sex, and the significance of sexual health and education.

Our prayer is that this episode emphasize the need for honest conversations about sex, the importance of embracing grace without abusing it, and the understanding that sexuality is more than just the physical act of sex.

Takeaways

• Purity culture and misplaced righteousness
• The impact of purity culture on sex and relationships
• Honest conversations about sex are important
• Embrace grace, don't abuse it
• Sexuality is more than just the physical act of sex

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Brittany Broaddus-Smith - Christian Sexologist

Instagram: @christiansexologistbrittany

www.theintimacyfirm.com

Shaniqua Rischer - Host

Instagram: @shaniquarischer

www.shaniquarischer.com

Tiana Madden - Host

Instagram: @thetianamadden

www.tianamadden.com

The Brave Becoming Podcast

Instagram: @bravebecomingpodcast

https://thebravebecoming.riverside.com/

The episode explores the concept of being 'in between' and the journey of spiritual formation. It delves into personal experiences of faith, seeking God, and the challenges of spiritual growth. The conversation highlights the importance of trusting in God and the transformative power of His word. The conversation delves into the themes of spiritual discernment, authenticity, and the in-between journey of faith. It explores the challenges of navigating personal growth, identity, and the role of church in the process.

Takeaways

• In the journey of spiritual formation, it's essential to confront hard questions and have honest conversations with God.
• Trusting in God and His word is the key to finding peace and spiritual fulfillment. Spiritual discernment
• Authenticity
• Navigating the in-between journey

Chapters

• 00:00 The In-Between Journey
• 01:35 Recognizing God's Presence
• 05:18 Challenges of Spiritual Formation
• 20:03 Seeking God in the Wrong Places
• 26:53 Trusting God Fully
• 28:11 Spiritual Discernment and Authenticity
• 36:18 Navigating the In-Between Journey
• 45:24 The Role of Church and Faith

In this inaugural episode, co-hosts Shanique Risher and Tiana Madden introduce Brave Becoming as a space for honest faith conversations about grace, struggle, and growth. They open up about what it means to feel fully human while still pursuing holiness, using personal testimony, biblical references, and real-life tension to frame the journey.We discuss how God meets people in unexpected places, why holiness is about being set apart, and how human emotions, disappointment, and identity challenges shape spiritual formation. The episode stays rooted in lived experience rather than polished answers, and it sets the tone for future conversations with guests and honest wrestling.