The Rantings of Dani

Dani reflects on her recent visit to New York to visit her dad's sisters and see the "Black side" of her family for one of only three times in the last thirty-plus years. Being raised by her white mother after the death of her father when she was just 6 months old, Dani explores everything that comes with missing out on a big part of her family. The Balance of Being Biracial explores the joy, guilt, and love of being a child of the Loving generation and all that comes with it.

Recently, Coach Matt Hawn was suspended from his job as a Sullivan County High School teacher after sharing a Ta-Nehisi Coates article, The First White President, and a spoken word poem, White Privilege, by Kyla Jenee Lacey. Dani takes a look at the circumstances around this event that has made national news and discusses from very important pieces to this controversy.

Dr. Walter Sims joins me on this episode to discuss the challenges we face getting motivated, finding our purpose, and living life with intention especially in today's chaotic world. As a certified life coach, pastor, and minister of motivation, Dr. Sims continually works with individuals to help them accomplish their purpose in life. As a life coach myself, all of these things resonate with my soul and the purpose behind the Rantings.

Max Parthas joins me to discuss the broad loophole in the 13th Amendment and our states' constitutions that allows for slavery to legally continue was punishment for a crime. As the Acting Director for the Paul Cuffee Abolitionist Center in Sumpter, SC and the State Operations Organizer for the Abolish Slavery National Network, Max and his team have been instrumental in getting four states to amend their states constitutions finally banning slavery under all circumstances. We take a look at why this work is necessary, where it is currently taking place, and how you can help make a difference.

On January 6th, the United States Capitol was attacked by terrorists supporting former President Trump. Yesterday, four officers gave their eye witness account of what they experienced at their hands. GOP leaders and Trump supporters are displaying an unbelievable amount of hypocrisy in their efforts to "Make America Great Again".

The Georgia Midterm Elections were riddled with accusations of voter suppression, voter fraud, inadequate election procedures, and more. With an election that took two weeks to close out and controversy on every side, it is important to take a critical look at just what happened. Should a Secretary of State be allowed to remain in his position overseeing an election in which he is also a candidate? When and how should voter registrations be purged or removed? And what should happen when an election has verified, documented issues on election day?

As Dani dives deeper into the conversation of Religion in America, she finds herself in an all too familiar place: Politics. Similar to the Racism conversation, Religion, specifically Christianity, is found to be deeply intertwined with the current political climate and government objectives. Dani takes on President Trump's "Evangical Faith Council", its members, their money, their "sins", and their use of politics to push the Christian agenda. Where is the true exercise of the First Amendment? Are we adhering to the Establishment Clause as our founders intended? Take a listen and see for yourself... You may be surprised what you hear and learn.

Episode #2 in the Religion in American conversation, Dani dives right in opening up the conversation of Christianity. With 2.2 billion Christians around the world and over 1/3 of them being in the Americas, it was an obvious choice. Also having grown up in and later as a leader/teacher in Christian church, Dani felt a personal responsibility to examine the original foundation of her spirituality. The conversation isn't about the faith itself, its accuracy or correctness, but rather in its current, modern day practice and representation by pastors and preachers across the country. Megachurches, the hundreds of million dollars they take in, and their pastors are critical to this discussion. With net worth's of 40, 50, 150, and 760 million dollars, Dani asks the question - what makes these pastor's different than the "rich man" in the Bible who will have a hard time getting into heaven? And where's God in all this?

In Episode #8, Dani begins the first in a series of shows dedicated to the discussion of religion. She share the purpose of this subject, her take on it, and just how religion will be discussed in this series. From racism to politics to division, and to monetary gain, we begin the uncomfortable and yet, much needed conversation.

Episode 7 - In this Final Episode Dani recaps the talking points of the series, adds her personal views and desires to the conversation, and explains how Racism is tied to the subject of the next podcast series.