Where Ya From? Podcast

Have you ever stopped to think about the generations that lived on the land centuries before you? For some, this question can bring up a lot of complex emotions and trauma. But it’s by asking ourselves these unsettling truths that lay the groundwork for the seeds of education, information, and action that create real change.  

On this Best of Where Ya From? episode, we’re throwing it back to a thought-provoking conversation we had with speaker and author Mark Charles. He talks about the journey of navigating personal trauma and how it inspires the ways he continues to learn and invite others to see the trauma and racism that still impacts Native Americans today. Come join us as we are given an in-depth education about the history of his people and America but hear the hopeful message that the unhealthy roots of the past don’t define our future.  

Guest Bio:

Mark Charles is a speaker, writer, consultant, former presidential candidate, and dual citizen as an American and a Navajo Native American. Mark teaches the complexities of American history regarding race, culture, and Christendom in order to help forge a path of healing and reconciliation for the nation.   

He is a co-founder of the Would Jesus Eat Frybread? college-conference series and has served on the boards of the Christian Reformed Church of North America and the Christian Community Development Association.

Notes & Quotes:

• “Jesus did not come to create a Christian empire. He came to make disciples. He came to offer his body as a living sacrifice. He came to plant a church.”  
• “I had never thought, okay, Jesus said this. So that means I now go out and try to do something like this. And I would say that year, the difference in my faith is Jesus went from being my luggage to becoming my Lord.” 
• “I can keep the humanity of everybody in question in front of me. It allows me to treat people better, allows me to speak the truth without using the truth as a weapon.” 

Links Mentioned:

• FULL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT 
• Get your copy of Mark’s book, Unsettling Truths, here. 
• Watch Rasool’s adventures through the In Pursuit of Jesus series. 
• Want to tell us about your favorite episodes? Email us here.  
• Visit the VOICES website to sign up for emails. Get new episodes sent straight to your email.  
• Tell us how much you love Where Ya From? by rating us five stars and leaving us a review.  
• Check out VOICES from Our Daily Bread Ministries. 
• Follow VOICES on Instagram.

Verses Mentioned:

• Acts 10

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From the very beginning, God made it clear that we needed each other. In fact, we’re at our best when all of us, men and women, are pursing God’s mission together. But what exactly does that mean? On this “Best of Where Ya From?” episode, Carolyn Custis James shares her personal experience with gender inequality and learning about injustices toward women around the world. These experiences led her to become an advocate for women, the lifelong commitment to helping all men and women see how we need each other to survive, thrive, and grow through the ups and downs of life. 

Guest Bio:

Carolyn Custis James is an advocate for women worldwide and an award-winning author. She specializes in strengthening relationships between men and women and writing about what it means to be a female follower of Jesus in a postmodern world. Additionally, her speaking and writing ministry is dedicated to addressing the deeper needs and issues confronting both women and men as they endeavor to extend God’s kingdom together in a messy and complicated world. She serves as an adjunct faculty member at Missio Seminary in Philadelphia and is married to Frank James. 

Notes & Quotes:

• The moment the word why crosses your lips, you are doing theology. And if you've been trying to survive on fluff, you don't have anything that's going to hold you.” 
• “If you are created to image God, it means that your first calling is to know the God who created you to be like Himself. That He is to be our study.”  
• “Our first calling is to know [God]. And to find out, you know, what He loves and to look at the world through His eyes. And to love what He loves and to join His mission in the world.”

Links Mentioned:

• FULL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT 
• Get your FREE copy of Marching Forward here!  
• Want to tell us about your favorite episodes? Email us here! 
• Visit the VOICES website to sign up for emails. Get new episodes sent straight to your email.  
• Tell us how much you love Where Ya From? by rating us five stars and leaving us a review.  
• Check out VOICES from Our Daily Bread Ministries. 
• Follow VOICES on Instagram. 

Verses Mentioned:

• Genesis 1 & 2 
• Ruth 1-4

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What do you do when someone questions your deepest beliefs? How do you respond? In this first episode in our “Best of Where Ya From?” series, we’re throwing it back to the very first conversation we ever had on the podcast. That was when we sat down with Lisa Fields, the highly regarded Christian apologist and founder of the Jude 3 Project, to hear how the struggles and questions of her own faith forced her to go back to the basics and reevaluate everything she believed. Unknown to her at the time, this season of doubt led to a career and life of apologetics that would not just be difficult—but almost impossible—for a young, Black woman. 

Guest Bio:

Lisa Fields is one of the world’s most sought-after Christian apologists. She combines her passion for biblical literacy with her heart for sharing God’s love to all those she meets. Lisa is a graduate of the University of North Florida with a bachelor of science in communications and religious studies. She also graduated from Liberty University with a master of divinity and a focus in theology. Her time in seminary propelled her into her calling as an apologist. 

During her last year of seminary, her passion to teach others how to defend their faith became very clear. It was then that the Jude 3 Project was born. As founder and president, Lisa’s primary mission for the Jude 3 Project is to help the Black Christian community know what they believe and why they believe.  

Since starting the Jude 3 Project, Fields has received several honors, most notably, Christianity Today’s recognition of her work as an apologist in the African American community. Though these accolades have been encouraging, Fields continues to break new ground for the sake of the gospel by adding production to her resume. She helped produce and create two documentaries, Unspoken, an in-depth look into the Christian heritage of Africa and people of African descent; and Juneteenth: Faith and Freedom, the groundbreaking documentary presented by the Voices Collection and Our Daily Bread Media. Additionally, Lisa also published her first book, When Faith Disappoints: The Gap Between What We Believe and What We Experience, this past summer.

Notes & Quotes:

• “So I feel like a faith that can’t be tested, can’t be trusted. And so I continued to test it and put it under scrutiny because I believe that if it was truth, it will always be found to be true.” 

• “Relationship shows you what’s going on in people’s lives and people’s world, and it helps you not to have such a narrow view of concepts, I think. Because you’re like, ‘Okay, this is a great concept in theory. How does this flesh out in a person’s everyday life? What is this person experiencing?’ It helps you be able to speak to some of the issues differently and with a level of empathy because you actually know people in these situations, and you’re not making these rigid kinds of statements that aren’t considerate of other people’s experience.” 

• “The tendency for people that have bad experiences is to overcorrect; and when you overcorrect, you’re still not corrected.” 

• “I think, relationally though, it is easier for people to receive hard truths from people they are in relationship with versus strangers. And so it doesn’t mean that I water down the message. It means that when I share the message, people trust me enough to believe that I’m not trying to do them harm with the message that I’m sharing.”

Links Mentioned:

• FULL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT 
• Learn more about Lisa’s work with the Jude 3 Project here. 
• Get your copy of Lisa’s book When Faith Disappoints on Amazon.   
• Want to tell us about your favorite episodes? Email us here.  
• Visit the VOICES website to sign up for emails. Get new episodes sent straight to your email.  
• Tell us how much you love Where Ya From? by rating us five stars and leaving us a review.  
• Check out VOICES from Our Daily Bread Ministries. 
• Follow VOICES on Instagram. 

Verses Mentioned:

• John 6:68 
• 1 Peter 3:15 
• Jude 3

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How do you know when it’s time for a change? After five years and seven powerful seasons, the Where Ya From? Podcast is taking its final bow. It’s been an incredible ride and one that you, our faithful listeners, truly made worthwhile. As we reflect on the timely conversations and courageous people of faith and strength, we can’t begin to describe all the ways that God has moved in our own stories—and hopefully yours too. With this special episode, you’ll listen to Rasool share some of the biggest lessons he’s learned from this experience, hear what’s happening with the rest of the season, and even get a first glimpse into the next project we’re already working on.

Host Bio:

Rasool Berry is a teaching pastor at The Bridge Church in Brooklyn, New York; the host of the Where Ya From? Podcast; a co-host on the Discover the Word Podcast; a contributor on “The Whole Man Project”; and the director of partnerships and content development at Our Daily Bread Ministries.

Notes & Quotes:

• “What would happen in a world of intensifying hostility if the church modeled what it looked like to be quicker to listen than to speak? Well, from my experience and hosting Where Ya From?, it would result in us having a greater appreciation for each other in spite of our differences. It would result in more love and less hate.” 
• “Multiple perspectives help us see God’s goodness.” 
• “The questions we often come to God with reflect our culture, regardless of where we’re from. And God’s timeless answers offer universal wisdom that we can all benefit from.”
• “The fact that struggle is the birthplace of strength reveals why the best art often comes from hard situations. God blesses the broken and restores beauty from ashes.”

Links Mentioned:

• FULL EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
• Want to tell us about your favorite episodes? Email us here. 
• Visit the VOICES website to sign up for emails. Get new episodes sent straight to your email. 
• Tell us how much you love Where Ya From? by rating us five stars and leaving us a review. 
• Check out VOICES from Our Daily Bread Ministries.
• Follow VOICES on Instagram.

Verses Mentioned:

• James 1:19-20
• Proverbs 12:30
• Romans 8:28

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The Where Ya From? podcast is gearing up for its 8th season. Get ready for more insightful and thought provoking conversations centered around faith and culture with host Rasool Berry. Subscribe to never miss an episode!

Links:

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As someone who is still processing what it looks like for her to be a leader in ministry spaces that aren’t always the most welcoming, Rev. Dr. Nicole Martin’s definition of “excellence” has undergone multiple changes over the years. Yet in the last few years, this journey has invited her to ask tough questions of her, over and over, that has reshaped her definition of excellence: Am I leading in the way that pleases God, not me? Am I willing to possibly suffer, get down on my knees, and serve others if that’s what my leadership requires?

Guest Bio:

Rev. Dr. Nicole Massie Martin holds degrees from Vanderbilt University, Princeton Theological Seminary, and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. She is the chief impact officer at Christianity Today and founder and executive director of Soulfire International Ministries. She is an accomplished writer and author, serves on various boards and councils, and leads the Grow Ministry at Kingdom Fellowship AME Church in Maryland. 

She and her husband, Mark, are proud parents to two amazing daughters.

Notes & Quotes:

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If you took one look at Danielle Marck’s resume, your first question would be how can one person get all of these things done? But she would be the first to tell you she hasn’t done it alone. 

As a singer, songwriter, CEO, founder, entrepreneur, and president of The Witness Foundation, Danielle excels at wearing a lot of different hats. But for every success she’s had, there was first the invitation to surrender and become attuned to God’s voice—even when what she was being called to do went against what she thought the plan was. Each pivot has required Danielle to first step out in trust—having no clue how God was going to work things out but being absolutely sure He will.

Guest Bio:

Danielle Marck, President of the Witness Foundation, is an emerging leader in the nonprofit sector with over 10 years of experience in the nonprofit sector, three of those years at the Witness Foundation, holding various roles within the organization. Danielle is also the Founder and CEO of The Didoc Group, a consultancy firm dedicated to empowering BIPOC leaders and helping them scale their organizations effectively. 

An alumnus of West Chester University, Danielle also holds a certification from the Yale School of Management, with a specialization in Fostering Diversity and Inclusion. Additionally, she is in the process of obtaining her Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) certification. Her journey is marked by a commitment to fostering change through ingenuity and compassionate responses. 

Danielle has been named one of Radio One’s (formerly known as Urban One’s) Boom 30 Under 30, highlighting her impactful contributions and leadership in the Greater Philadelphia community through music and campus ministry.

Recently married, Danielle resides close to Philadelphia with her husband, Josh. She enjoys going out to eat and making music in her spare time.

Notes & Quotes:

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On paper, pastor and author Brady Boyd may seem like an unlikely choice to lead a church. With never receiving any formal seminary training, his path to the pulpit is evidence of God bringing the right mentors and discipleship into Brady’s life to help develop his gifts and passion for loving people. 

Yet Brady’s biggest test of holding steadfast to the example of Jesus came to a dramatic crossroads. Only 100 days into his new job, he had to comfort his congregation through the devastation of gun violence that shook the entire community—a community that had just gone through a dramatic scandal that played out on the front page of every national newspaper.

Guest Bio:

Brady Boyd is married to his college sweetheart, Pam, and is the dad to great kids named Abram and Callie. He has written several books, including Remarkable, Speak Life, Fear No Evil, Addicted to Busy, Let Her Lead, Sons & Daughters, and Extravagant. He has most recently published the book, Life-Minded: 8 Intentional Practices for Belonging to God and Each Other, and its complementary Bible study with Our Daily Bread Publishing. He’s also really serious about caring for the people of Colorado Springs by opening numerous Dream Centers.

He has a degree in Journalism from Louisiana Tech, has been a radio announcer for professional baseball and basketball teams and was the sports editor for his college newspaper. Before coming to New Life in 2007, he served Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas for almost seven years.

Notes & Quotes:

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Imagine being wrongly accused of something you never did, spending the prime years of your life in a cold, cramped jail cell. This is happening all while you’re fighting an uphill battle to prove your innocence to people who seem to put up hurdle after hurdle. Jonathan Irons doesn’t have to imagine it. That was his reality—for more than two decades. Join us as we hear Jonathan’s courageous fight for freedom and justice, while considering what we might be able to do for those who are still on the long path toward freedom.

Guest Bio:

Maya Moore and Jonathan Irons’ story has all the makings of a modern fairytale: full of faith, friendship, a fight for justice, and ultimately the triumph of love. 

Maya is a basketball icon—a two-time NCAA champion, two-time Olympic gold medalist, four-time WNBA champion, and WNBA MVP. Jonathan was just 18 years old when he was wrongly convicted by an all-white jury for a crime that occurred when he was 16. With no physical evidence tying him to the crime, Jonathan was handed a 50-year prison sentence, of which he served 23 years. Their lives juxtaposed, it might seem unlikely that their paths would cross.

Yet, it was right before her freshman year at UCONN that Maya was introduced to Jonathan by her family involved with prison ministry. She heard his story, and over the next decade, as Maya graduates from UCONN and is drafted into the WNBA, Jonathan pours himself into earning first his GED, then develops a deep understanding of law. The two forged a close friendship, grounded in their shared faith and cultivated through their dedication to finding his freedom. Then, in 2019, at the peak of her career, Maya shocked the world when she decided to step away from basketball to focus solely on Jonathan’s case. 

After a winding, yearlong effort, Jonathan was finally released. The next day, Jonathan proposed to Maya, and weeks later, they were married. Maya was the recipient of the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the 2021 ESPYS, and the story of her fight for Jonathan’s freedom was told in the ESPN 30 for 30 film “Breakaway.” In 2023, Maya and Jonathan welcomed their first child, Jonathan, Jr. (“JJ”), and published their joint memoir, Love and Justice.

Together, they are dedicated to using their now shared platform and social action nonprofit Win With Justice to raise awareness and advocate for issues surrounding criminal justice reform, the important role district attorneys play in the judicial system and the power of each individual to live out their purpose and impact change.

Notes & Quotes:

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Maya Moore Irons’ career speaks for itself. As a multi-time champion and all-star for the NCAA, WNBA, and an Olympic Gold Medalist, she achieved almost every success possible in the sport. Yet she shocked the sports world when she left the court at the height of her game—leaving one kind of court for another. Years earlier she met Jonathan Irons, a man sitting in a jail cell hundreds of miles away who didn’t deserve to be there in the first place. God planted the seed of justice within her after that first encounter with Johnathan. And the way God unfolded that story is truly one for the record books. Join us as we hear how Maya’s faith remained her constant strength throughout her career and while fighting for social justice reform within the criminal prosecution system.

Guest Bio:

Maya Moore and Jonathan Irons’ story has all the makings of a modern fairytale: full of faith, friendship, a fight for justice, and ultimately the triumph of love. 

Maya is a basketball icon—a two-time NCAA champion, two-time Olympic gold medalist, four-time WNBA champion, and WNBA MVP. Jonathan was just 18 years old when he was wrongly convicted by an all-white jury for a crime that occurred when he was 16. With no physical evidence tying him to the crime, Jonathan was handed a 50-year prison sentence, of which he served 23 years. Their lives juxtaposed, it might seem unlikely that their paths would cross.

Yet, it was right before her freshman year at UCONN that Maya was introduced to Jonathan by her family involved with prison ministry. She heard his story, and over the next decade, as Maya graduates from UCONN and is drafted into the WNBA, Jonathan pours himself into earning first his GED, then develops a deep understanding of law. The two forged a close friendship, grounded in their shared faith and cultivated through their dedication to finding his freedom. Then, in 2019, at the peak of her career, Maya shocked the world when she decided to step away from basketball to focus solely on Jonathan’s case. 

After a winding, yearlong effort, Jonathan was finally released. The next day, Jonathan proposed to Maya, and weeks later, they were married. Maya was the recipient of the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the 2021 ESPYS, and the story of her fight for Jonathan’s freedom was told in the ESPN 30 for 30 film “Breakaway.” In 2023, Maya and Jonathan welcomed their first child, Jonathan, Jr. (“JJ”), and published their joint memoir, Love and Justice.

Notes & Quotes:

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