Truth's Table

Episode Description: 

Truth’s Table is back with another Behind the Book Episode! Ekemini and Christina are delighted to sit at the table with Sharifa Stevens, author of When We Talk to God: Prayers and Poems for Black Women. This episode is full of laughs and authenticity, which reflects the emotional range of Sharifa’s book. Sistas, join us at the table! 

Learn more about our guest: 

Sharifa Stevens is a writer, poet, speaker, and singer. She is the daughter of Jamaican immigrants, born and raised in New York, and currently resides with her family in Dallas, Texas. She graduated from Columbia University in New York with a bachelor’s degree in African American Studies before earning a master’s in theology from Dallas Theological Seminary. Sharifa aspires to use writing as a vehicle that moves readers to intersect with the sacred and the honest. She co-authored Only Light Can Do That and contributed to the books Vindicating the Vixens, Rally, and Lecrae’s upcoming Set Me Free. Sharifa is married to a Renaissance man and is a mother to two lively boys.

Purchase When We Talk to God here: https://bookshop.org/p/books/when-we-talk-to-god-prayers-and-poems-for-black-women-sharifa-stevens/21627562?ean=9781400249688&next=t

Support Truth’s Table: 

Buy our book! Truth’s Table Black Women’s Musings on Life, Love, and Liberation: https://truthstable.com/bookSupport Truth’s Table: 

Buy our book! Truth’s Table Black Women’s Musings on Life, Love, and Liberation: https://truthstable.com/book

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TruthsTable

PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/TruthsTable

Episode Description: 

Truth’s Table is at the midpoint of the season, so it’s time for a Mailbag Episode! Y’all have questions, and we’ve got answers! Ekemini and Christina sit down at the table to answer the questions submitted by you all. Pull up a chair and have a seat at the table as Christina and Ekemini talk about how they consume the news, self-care, how to deal with toxic church dynamics, and more! If you’d like to submit a question for a future mailbag episode, please email your question to [email protected]

Support Truth’s Table: 

Buy our book! Truth’s Table Black Women’s Musings on Life, Love, and Liberation: https://truthstable.com/book

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TruthsTable

PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/TruthsTable

Episode Description:

Our Still Resisting series continues with a powerful conversation featuring Dr. Stacie NC Grant, International President of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated. In this episode, Christina and Ekemini delve into the theme of “Sisterhood as Resistance,” a timely and vital topic as we navigate today’s uncertain world.

Community, support, and sisterly love are critical survival strategies for us in these uncertain times. Dr. Grant shares her inspiring faith journey, what led her to join Zeta Phi Beta, and her path to becoming its president. We also dive into an important question: Is there a conflict between being a Christian and joining a Black Greek-letter organization?

This is a conversation you won’t want to miss. Pull up a chair and have a seat at the table!

Learn more about Dr. Stacie NC Grant:

Dr. Stacie NC Grant is an award-winning international speaker, master facilitator, best-selling author, influencer, producer, actor, publisher and celebrity emcee. Dr. Grant is living her divine calling to LEAD, TEACH and INSPIRE! Described as “God’s Media Ambassador & 21st Century Communicator”, she ignites her audiences with her captivating smile, intoxicating humor, and boundless energy. On July 24, 2022, Dr. Grant became the International President & CEO of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. She is the 26th President of this 105-year-old organization with over 900 chapters across 12 countries. On September 11, 2024, Dr. Grant was elected as the Vice Chairman of the NPHC (Divine 9) Council of Presidents. She is also the past President of the St. John’s University Black Alumni Association, Member of The Links, Incorporated Greater Queens (NY) Chapter, and Associate Member of Jack & Jill of America, Inc. Queens Chapter. Dr. Grant currently resides in Queens, New York, with her husband, Andrew, and two sons, Josiah and Jeremy. With God as her guide, our global community will be better for her service to humanity.

Support Truth’s Table: 

Buy our book! Truth’s Table Black Women’s Musings on Life, Love, and Liberation: https://truthstable.com/book

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TruthsTable

PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/TruthsTable

Sponsor(s): 

Episode Description: 

Truth’s Table’s “Still Resisting” series continues, and Ekemini and Christina have the distinct honor of sitting at the table with Rev. Nontombi Naomi Tutu. Rev. Tutu is an Episcopal Priest and the daughter of the Late Archbishop Desmond Tutu. In this episode, Rev. Naomi Tutu talks about growing up in apartheid South Africa: the lies about the humanity of South Africans, the limits put on them, the oppression they experienced. Christina and Ekemini have a rich discussion with Rev. Naomi about the burden and blessing of being the daughter of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the wrestle with her own identity, and the biblical call to justice from the prophets. You don’t want to miss this episode. Pull up a chair and have a seat at the table with us! 

Learn more about  Rev. Nontombi Naomi Tutu: 

The Rev. Nontombi Naomi Tutu knew from early in life that the one thing she would never be is a priest. She has always said, “I have my father’s nose, I do not want his job” However, after years spent as a development consultant, educator and race and gender activist she accepted her call to ordained ministry. She is an Episcopal priest who most recently was Associate Rector at All Saints, Beverly Hills.

The challenges of growing black and female in apartheid South Africa have been the foundation of Naomi’s life as an activist for human rights.  Those experiences taught her that our whole human family loses when we accept situations of oppression, and how the teaching and preaching hate and division injure us all.   

Rev. Tutu is the third child Archbishop Desmond and Nomalizo Leah Tutu.  She was born in South Africa and had the opportunity to live in many communities and countries.   She was educated in Swaziland, the US and England, and has divided her adult life between South Africa and the US.   Growing up the ‘daughter of …’ has offered Naomi Tutu many opportunities and challenges in her life.  Perhaps one of the greatest challenges she has struggled with is the call to ministry.  This call refused to be silenced, even as she carried her passion for justice into other fields, the call to preach and serve as an ordained clergyperson continued to tug at her.  Finally, in her 50’s she responded to the call and went to seminary. 

Her professional experience ranges from being a development consultant in West Africa, to being program coordinator for programs on Race and Gender and Gender-based Violence in Education at the African Gender Institute at the University of Cape Town.  In addition, Rev. Tutu has taught at the University of Hartford, University of Connecticut and Brevard College in North Carolina.  She served as Program Coordinator for the historic Race Relations Institute at Fisk University and was a part of the Institute’s delegation to the World Conference Against Racism in Durban.  

She started her public speaking as a college student at Berea College in Kentucky in the 1970’s when she was invited to speak at churches, community groups and colleges and universities about her experiences growing up in apartheid South Africa.  Since that time, she has become a much sought-after speaker to groups as varied as business associations, professional conferences, elected officials and church and civic organizations.  

As well as speaking and preaching Rev. Tutu has established Nozizwe Consulting.  Nozizwe means Mother of Many Lands, in her mother tongue Xhosa and is the name she was given by her maternal grandmother.  The guiding principle of Nozizwe Consulting is to bring different groups together to learn from and celebrate their differences and acknowledge their shared humanity.  As part of this work, she has led Truth and Reconciliation Workshops for groups dealing with different types of conflict.  She has also offered educational and partnership trips to South Africa for groups as varied as high schools, churches, hospices, K-12 teachers, and women’s associations.  These trips emphasize the opportunities to share our stories and experiences.

Rev. Tutu is the recipient of four honorary doctorates from universities and colleges in the US and Nigeria.  She serves as a Priest Associate at All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Atlanta. She previously served as a curate at Christ Church Cathedral, Canon Missioner for Racial and Economic Equity, and Canon Missioner for Kairos West Community Center for the Cathedral of All Souls, in Asheville, NC, and Associate Rector, at All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Beverly Hills.  She is the single mother of two daughters and a son.

Support Truth’s Table: 

Buy our book! Truth’s Table Black Women’s Musings on Life, Love, and Liberation: https://truthstable.com/book

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TruthsTable

PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/TruthsTable

Episode Description: 

It’s time for another Behind The Book episode! Is the love of money really the root of racism? That’s what our guest, Malcolm Foley argues in his book, The Anti-Greed Gospel. Pull up a chair as Ekemini and Christina ask Malcolm to get to the root of the sin of racism.

Learn more about our guest: 

Malcolm Foley (PhD, Baylor University) is a pastor, historian, and speaker who serves as special adviser to the president for equity and campus engagement at Baylor University. He has written for Christianity Today, The Anxious Bench, and Mere Orthodoxy. Foley copastors Mosaic Waco, a multicultural church in Waco, Texas, where he lives with his wife, Desiree.

Buy The Anti-Greed Gospel here: https://a.co/d/e3CR2wb

Support Truth’s Table: 

Buy our book! Truth’s Table Black Women’s Musings on Life, Love, and Liberation: https://truthstable.com/book

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TruthsTable

PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/TruthsTable

Sponsor(s): 

Episode Description: 

Ekemini and Christina are taking a brief departure from the “Still Resting” series to talk about “The Makings of a Black Auntie” because becoming a Black Auntie is a sacred rite of passage in our community. Meet Christina and Ekemini as they cackle and unpack the levels of Black auntiehood, the fashion, posture, the joys, and fears of aging into Black auntiehood. We promise this episode will make you laugh and reflect on the importance of Black Aunties. Pull up a chair and have a seat at the table with us! 

Support Truth’s Table: 

Buy our book! Truth’s Table Black Women’s Musings on Life, Love, and Liberation: https://truthstable.com/book

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TruthsTable

PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/TruthsTable

Sponsor(s): Patreon and TT Book

Episode Description: We’re back with another installment of our “Still Resisting” series! This time, Ekemini and Christina sit down with Congresswoman Shontel M. Brown, who represents Ohio’s Eleventh Congressional District, for a timely and urgent conversation.

We’re sounding the alarm on a so-called “One Big, Beautiful Bill” that threatens to have a devastating impact, especially on the Black community. In its current form, this bill is far from beautiful. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office says it will add $2.9 trillion to the national debt, resulting in 10.9 million people losing their health coverage due to severe cuts to Medicaid and Medicare.

This is not just policy; it’s personal. The consequences of this legislation will be felt most deeply in our communities, where access to healthcare is already inequitable and under threat. That’s why we sat down with Congresswoman Brown to talk about why this matters and what we can do. Pull up a chair and have a seat at the table! 

Learn more about Congresswoman Shontel M. Brown: 

Congresswoman Shontel M. Brown is a relentless public servant who is committed to delivering results for the people of Ohio’s Eleventh Congressional District. First elected to the House of Representatives in 2021, where she works to attract jobs that pay fair wages to Northeast Ohio, improve access to affordable, high-quality health care, ensure equity and justice for all Americans, and improve the quality of life of all people living in her district.

In the 119th Congress, Congresswoman Brown serves as a member of the House Agriculture Committee and the House Committee on Oversight and Reform. She is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, the Democratic Women’s Caucus, the New Democrat Coalition, the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Pro-Choice Caucus, Congressional Heartland Caucus, Great Lakes Task Force, and Gun Violence Prevention Taskforce. Congresswoman Brown is the Co-Chair of the Congressional Rock and Roll Caucus. 

Congresswoman Brown was elected to Warrensville Heights City Council in 2012 and Cuyahoga County Council in 2014. Before her election to public office, Congresswoman Brown worked in the private sector as a marketing professional. She also founded a small business, based in Northeast Ohio, that provides technology solutions to regional clients. Congresswoman Brown currently resides in Warrensville Heights, Ohio.

Article cited in episode: “CBO: Trump bill will add $2.4 trillion to the deficit and leave 10.9 million more uninsured” from The Associated Press, June 4, 2025

Support Truth’s Table: 

Buy our book! Truth’s Table Black Women’s Musings on Life, Love, and Liberation: https://truthstable.com/book

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TruthsTable

PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/TruthsTable

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TruthsTable

Truth’s Table Foundation: https://www.truthstablefoundation.org/donate

Sponsor(s): Patreon and TT Book

Episode Description: We’re taking a brief break from our “Still Resisting” series to reflect on a monumental moment in church history: the selection of Pope Leo XIV, the first U.S.-born pope to lead the Catholic Church. His appointment has sparked deep interest, curiosity, and conversation among Catholics, Protestants, and communities worldwide.

Pope Leo XIV’s appointment is historic because he is the first pope from the United States and has Haitian roots. He represents a powerful symbol of the global and multicultural reality of the Catholic Church in the 21st century. His background offers a vital connection to Latin America, particularly Peru, a country with a deep Catholic tradition and a long history of Black and Indigenous faith communities.

This is the first time Ekemini and Christina have had the opportunity to discuss Catholicism on Truth’s Table, and to honor the occasion, they invited Jeanné Lewis to the table. Jeanné is the CEO of Faith in Public Life and a lifelong Catholic whose lived experience and leadership in faith spaces provide rich insight into what Pope Leo XIV’s papacy could mean for Black Catholics and the global church. Pull up a chair and have a seat at the table with us!

Learn more about Jeanné Lewis: 

Jeanné Lewis serves as CEO at Faith in Public Life. She is a faith-based organizer and authority on creating empowered communities. She has dedicated her career to building bridges, closing equity gaps and creating policies that lead to strong, thriving and self-determined cities.

Jeanné resides in Washington, D.C., and is a member of the DC Working Families Party, St. Augustine Catholic Parish and SongRise, a women’s social justice acapella group. In addition, Jeanné served on the Board of Directors of Faith in Public Life from 2016 to 2022 and currently sits on the National Advisory Council of the Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement, the president’s council of Search for Common Ground, and is a former candidate for DC Council At-Large. Jeanné received her undergraduate degree from Washington University in St. Louis and holds a M.A. in Conflict Resolution from Antioch University Midwest.

Article cited in this episode: Survey of Black Catholics in America March 2022 from Pew Research 

Support Truth’s Table: 

Buy our book! Truth’s Table Black Women’s Musings on Life, Love, and Liberation: https://truthstable.com/book

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TruthsTable

PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/TruthsTable

Sponsor(s): TT Patreon and TT book 

Episode Description: In this episode, Christina and Ekemini sit down with Natasha Smith to discuss her book Black Woman Grief: A Guide to Hope and Wholeness. We discuss the particularities of Black woman grief, the importance of making time to grieve, the place of therapy, the church, and spiritual disciplines when it comes to our grief.   

Learn more about Natasha Smith: 

Natasha Smith is a grief advocate, speaker, and podcast host. She is the author of Can You Just Sit with Me? Healthy Grieving for the Losses of Life. Her work has appeared in Guideposts, Propel Women, Influence magazine, her.BIBLE, and elsewhere. She and her husband, Clinton, have four children and live near Raleigh, North Carolina. You can find her online at imnatashasmith.com.

Purchase Black Woman Grief

Support Truth’s Table: 

Buy our book! Truth’s Table Black Women’s Musings on Life, Love, and Liberation: https://truthstable.com/book

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TruthsTable

PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/TruthsTable 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TruthsTable

Truth’s Table Foundation: https://www.truthstablefoundation.org/donate

Sponsor(s): Patreon & TT Book

Episode Description: We are back with another “Still Resisting” episode, and Black women at play is the topic on the table. In this episode, Ekemini and Christina talk about the amazing Truth’s Table Foundation retreats they hosted for Black Christian women. They discuss the importance of play for Black women and the ways our play is constrained and policed. They are also discussing how Black women can access play in a variety of ways. We hope you’ve got your boots on the ground because we are ready to play! Pull up a chair and have a seat at the table with us!

Buy our NAACP Image Award Nominated book! Truth’s Table Black Women’s Musings on Life, Love, and Liberation: https://truthstable.com/book

Support Truth’s Table: 

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TruthsTable

PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/TruthsTable