Transmission

Alas friends (and enemies), this is our last episode together. We started Transmission early in the pandemic as a sort of experiment. But the time has come to bring the experiment to a close.

It has been an amazing and consequential couple of years. Societally and personally. Join us we reflect upon lessons learned and hopes for the future.

In this episode, we riff off of a recent New York Times piece about the elements of evangelical worship in Republican political rallies, Is this the same old blurred lines between Church and State? Or the deepening of fascism?

In this episode, Dan and Ashe discuss the new study that shows white support for COVID relief decreased the more it was reported that people of color were disproportionately affected. The study refers to it as a "vicious cycle" where raising awareness resulted in a decrease in empathy and response. This dynamic can be seen in other areas of society, including school funding.

In this episode of Transmission, we discuss the way those operating from a place of dominance are prone to dehumanize and exclude. Often coming from a place of deep resentment and disdain, such exclusion is usually masked by rhetoric that only sounds "reasonable" because it appeals to deep-seated prejudices.

From Ketanji Brown Jackson's hearing on Capitol Hill to Lia Thomas' hearing in the court of public opinion the diabolical force of White Patriarchal Supremacy is seeks to maintain ownership and control, posting socio-spiritual signs that say "No Trespassing."

In this episode, Dan and Ashe invite you to post issues or question. It is a choose your own adventure of an episode without agenda.

Dan and Ashe continue their conversation from episode 250. Where do we direct our attention when it is a scarce resource? In a world stuffed full of astonishing complexity, agonizing oppression, and glimpses of divine beauty?

As Russia invades Ukraine and the Western powers flex in collective rebuke, the world watches. This week, the US bombed Somalia, Israel bombed Syria, Saudi Arabia bombed Yemen. The governor of Texas effectively made it illegal for trans youth to receive gender affirming therapies, designating any adult support of such youth "child abuse."

Meanwhile, you and every single one of your friends is probably experiencing some heavy thing. Some burden. Some crisis. And in the midst of all of these crises, large and small, are beautiful things worth preserving.

Compassion and solidarity both require attention. To whom do we give our attention? Especially when attention is a scarce resource?

The Super Bowl LVI halftime show featured Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, and singer Mary J. Blige, with additional guest performers. The show drew criticism from the usual suspects for being "super woke" or "anti-white" or "in poor taste" or "celebrating violence." And it stirred up, once again, the tensions between Boomers and Millennials, whilst Gen Xers sulked in the shadows.

Join us as we talk about all of these things (and more). You don't even have to know anything about football (which Ashe, most assuredly, does not).

Denominations are fracturing. Christian institutions are in decline. Pastors are resigning in growing numbers. Meanwhile, the New York Times recently published an op-ed titled: "Why Churches Should Drop Their Online Services."

In episodes 214-216, we asked "what is the church?" Today, we return to that theme to ask if "the church" as an institution (or even "church" as an idea) is worth salvaging at all.

Many of us long for change. We know this path we're on leads to more death and struggle. But the more we agitate for change, the more it terrifies old white men who sometimes react, violently.

Our society, at every level, is constructed to avoid the upheaval of transformative change. Our systems whisper lullabies to us, lulling us to sleep, blanketting us with a complex weaving of delusions.

To seek change brings suffering—inner turmoil, social rejection, and sometimes worse. Partnering with the Subversive Spirit, who longs to make all things new is to embrace a painful path, but a path that leads to new life.