The Collaborators Podcast

In this episode, Suzanne Ross and Pablo Bandera discuss what it looks like to collaborate for the flourishing of nonviolent Christianity.

What does someone who specializes in the design and development of new technologies, with more than a dozen patents to his name, have to say to us about collaborating for nonviolent Christianity? More than you can imagine! Physicist and aerospace engineer Pablo Bandera is the son of well-respected literary scholar, Cesareo Bandera, who was collaborating with René Girard as he was developing the mimetic theory in the 1970s. Pablo’s father taught him to engage in interdisciplinary dialogue and to think both scientifically and philosophically. And because Girard, Cesareo and Pablo do not fall into the trap of seeing religion and science as rivals, their work bears witness to the fruitful and vital link between the two. Pablo followed a path of scientific inquiry from a problem in quantum physics to a startling insight about the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus. Hang on, because this is going to be an amazing conversation!

This episode is sponsored by Brian McLaren. Brian is a former college English teacher and pastor and is a passionate advocate for “a new kind of Christianity” – one that is just, generous, and working with people of all faiths for the common good. And don’t miss his new book, "Faith After Doubt: Why Your Beliefs Stopped Working and What to do About It."

"The Collaborators Podcast" is a Raven Foundation production.

In this episode, Suzanne Ross and David Dark discuss what it looks like to collaborate for the flourishing of nonviolent Christianity.

David Dark is a Christian author, cheerful questioner of everything, and one of the keynote speakers at the 2020 Collaborators Conference. David teaches at the Tennessee Prison for Women, Charles Bass Correctional Facility, and Belmont University where he is assistant professor in the College of Theology. David is well-known for mixing theology with pop culture to bring insights to our contemporary condition. His book titles, which give you a sense of his irreverence and wit and also his faith, include "The Sacredness of Questioning Everything," "Life’s too Short to Pretend You’re Not Religious," and his most recent title, "The Possibility of America: How the Gospel Can Mend our God-Blessed, God-Forsaken Land." David is no fan of the sacred/ secular divide because he sees healing community possible wherever two or more or gathered in genuine love and curiosity to discover the good in ourselves and the world around us.

This episode is sponsored by Collabyrinth, a consulting group led by the transformational leader Melvin Bray. Melvin consults with for-purpose and for-profit organizations to help diverse groups design together ways of working that create good for all. Collabyrinth also offers an innovative 12-Step program to build beloved community for those seeking to recover from racism, sexism and all the isms of inequality. Melvin’s book, Better: Waking Up To Who We Could Be, is a great place to begin the work of building beloved community and a better future together.

"The Collaborators Podcast" is a Raven Foundation production.

In this episode, Suzanne Ross and Vanessa Avery discuss what it looks like to collaborate for the flourishing of nonviolent Christianity. Vanessa shares her experience interreligious community-building.

Dr. Vanessa Avery. Vanessa’s academic background is in comparative religion and interfaith understanding. She is also a Jewish scholar. Professionally Vanessa has devoted herself to building understanding and nurturing community. Back in 1998, she began the first organization in the country focused on education and coaching in religious diversity in the workplace. Today she is director of Sharing Sacred Spaces, an organization that builds local interreligious communities in cities around the world. Her work, no matter the context, is to open minds, reduce bias, and to create inclusive, diverse, and thriving cultures.

This episode is sponsored by Girardian Reflections on the Lectionary, written and hosted by Rev. Paul Nuechterlein. The site offers commentary on lectionary readings, online events and information on how to bring Paul’s Discipleship Seminars to your community.

"The Collaborators Podcast" is a Raven Foundation production.

In this episode, Suzanne Ross and James Alison discuss what it looks like to collaborate for the flourishing of nonviolent Christianity. James also shares his experience of receiving a phone call from Pope Francis!

James Alison is a Catholic priest and theologian, retreat giver and itinerant preacher, and was a workshop leader at the 2020 Collaborators Conference. James has also collaborated with Raven Foundation to produce the online course "Jesus the Forgiving Victim: Listening for the Unheard Voice."

This episode is sponsored by the "Jesus the Forgiving Victim: Listening for the Unheard Voice." Through video content and group discussions, small groups meet to break bread together and find themselves re-formed in the image of a loving, merciful God. With Forgiving Victim, you can discover a radical yet utterly orthodox Christianity that is livable, prayable and preachable.

"The Collaborators Podcast" is a Raven Foundation production.

In this episode, Suzanne Ross and Kevin Miller discuss what it looks like to collaborate for the flourishing of nonviolent Christianity.

Over the past 25 years, award-winning novelist and  filmmaker Kevin has applied his craft to a wide range of projects, including feature films, documentaries, novels, non-fiction books, and comic books. His new film, J.E.S.U.S.A., was released in 2020 and was featured at this year’s Collaborators Conference. Kevin uses the film to explore the relationship between Christianity and American nationalism and the violence that emerges from it.

This episode is sponsored by The Porch Magazine and The New Story Festival, two linked opportunities for stepping into a new story. Both are projects of Irish storyteller and violence reduction advocate, Gareth Higgins and his collaborators. Linking slow conversation about beautiful and difficult things with online and in-person events, The Porch Magazine and the New Story Festival prepare us to play our part in building a more just, peaceful and life-giving post-pandemic world.

"The Collaborators Podcast" is a Raven Foundation production.

In this episode, Suzanne Ross and Julia Robinson Moore discuss what it looks like to collaborate for the flourishing of nonviolent Christianity.

Julia Robinson Moore is a historian who works at the intersection of race and religion in America. Julia is also an ordained Presbyterian minister, and was a keynote speaker at the 2020 Collaborators Conference. Julia is seeking a way into healing community across the racial divide guided by a candid appraisal of historical realities with Jesus as her guide.

This episode is sponsored by the Colloquium on Violence and Religion (COV&R), an international association dedicated to the application of René Girard’s mimetic theory across the humanities and social sciences. "The Collaborators Podcast" is a Raven Foundation production.