In this episode we hear from Koa Beck, one of the current Wild Hope Fellows. Koa has been doing great work with us this year, dividing time between coming to the Fellowship and studying abroad in Oxford. Due to this, Koa has had to be up until two in the morning talking with us, and we greatly appreciate her. Koa will be talking about how vocation changes or is influenced by studying abroad and learning about different cultures. After that, the co-hosts have a discussion about how learning about other cultures changes your world view.

In this episode we hear from Stephanie Aparicio Zambrano, a current Wild Hope Fellow, and Professor Marit Trelstad. Professor Trelstad is one of the Wild Hope leaders and is a professor of religion at Pacific Lutheran University. Stephanie and Professor Trelstad talk with the other co-hosts about what privilege is, and how it affects vocation. This is a very interesting episode to listen to!

In this episode, we hear from Curtis Ganung, one of the current Wild Hope fellows. Curtis talks about how vocation isn't really something that he felt was present for him until he hit college. After telling his story, the group of co-hosts have a discussion about how they first encountered vocation and the problems with how it is normally presented.

Informal episode alert! When dealing with big topics like vocation, we ultimately stumble upon times where we have to talk about things that not everyone is qualified to talk about. With this episode, we thought it would be a good idea to touch on where each of us (the co-hosts) come from and what our backgrounds are.

The podcast is back with season 2! With a new set of co-hosts, we will be doing videos based on the co-host's personal experiences with vocation and what it means to them. We hope that with this new season, we will be able to help others with their path to discovering vocation! 

On this special episode, you’ll get to hear the voices of our Wild Hope Fellows, who have spent the year exploring different perspectives on vocation and what it means for their own lives. Though their answers to my questions varied widely, they all touched on issues related to promoting human flourishing and making the word a more just place. The Wild Hope Fellowship is a one year program at PLU, in which a cohort of students studies different perspectives on vocation alongside each other and faculty. They reflect on what it means to live lives of meaning and purpose in the present and the future, and encourage other students to do the same. Selected for their commitment to service, the fellows are leaders on campus and in their communities. You can read more about the fellows by going to https://www.plu.edu/vocation/programs/wild-hope-fellows-2/.

Thank you for listening, and we will be back in Fall 2022 with a new host! This podcast was produced by Becca McInally in collaboration with the Wild Hope Center for Vocation at Pacific Lutheran University. Our music was composed by Emma Christensen. Have an idea for the show? Email us at [email protected]. Follow us on Instagram to stay up to date on all things Wild Hope: @pluwildhope.

In this episode, I speak with Andrew Larsen ('15) and Rahel Ambachew ('22) about peacebuilding, justice work, and vocational discernment. They share their thoughts on the meaning of peace as well as some practical tools for peacebuilding in everyday life. 

During his time at PLU, Andrew majored in Religion and Anthropology and minored in Political Science. He was in the first cohort of the Wild Hope Fellows, studied away in Bosnia, Serbia, and Italy, and was a Peace Scholar in 2014. After graduating, he was a Peace Corps volunteer in Comoros. He is now a Program Associate in Justice, Peace and Human Rights working in the Philippines with Global Ministries and its partners. Learn more about his work by reading his blog: https://larsenglobalministries20.wordpress.com/

Rahel is currently a junior at PLU, and majoring in Biology. Rahel is an Act Six Scholar, was a Peace Scholar in 2020, and is also a Wild Hope Fellow. Rahel works as the youth program director at a local community center and interns for Fred Hutch Cancer Research center. She is also the co-founder of Youth Voices for Justice (@youthvoicesforjustice) which seeks to fight systemic racism against BIPOC communities in South King County through mutual aid efforts and pressuring politicians to make a change.

This podcast was produced by Becca McInally in collaboration with the Wild Hope Center for Vocation at Pacific Lutheran University. Our music was composed by Emma Christensen. Have an idea for the show? Email us at [email protected]. Follow us on Instagram to stay up to date on all things Wild Hope at @pluwildhope.

In this episode, I talk with Jonathan Jackson ('12) and Sophia Barro ('22) about their passion for education and advocating for students. They share some of their own stories and how their experiences have shaped their callings and their values. 

During his time at PLU, Jonathan was an Act Six Scholar, which is a leadership development and scholarship program, which empowers students to use their education make a difference in their communities. He also studied away in Oaxaca, Mexico and Granada, Spain. In 2020, he received his Master's in Business Administration (MBA) from PLU, and he is also a member of the alumni board. Jonathan is the Executive Director of Palmer Scholars, a family-oriented post-secondary academic success foundation, which supports "underrepresented students of color in Pierce County to overcome financial, cultural and social barriers as they pursue higher education." 

Sophia is a junior at PLU, and a part of the 2020-2021 cohort of the Wild Hope Fellows. She is pursuing her degree in Elementary Education with an endorsement in Reading and a minor in Religion. She hopes to be the kind of teacher that is a safe place for her students, and inspires them to find their own callings to serve. She won the Wild Hope Essay Contest in 2020, which explores the theme of "Service Amidst Crisis."

This podcast was produced by Becca McInally in collaboration with the Wild Hope Center for Vocation at Pacific Lutheran University. Our music is created by Emma Christensen. Have an idea for the show? Email us at [email protected]. Follow us on Instagram to stay up to date on our latest projects, @pluwildhope. 

In this episode, I talk with Chelsea Linsley ('10) and Juliana Andrew ('21) about their vocational motivations for pursuing law. We also discuss the importance of recognizing the theological underpinnings of U.S. policy, examining where this has been destructive and where spirituality has potential for fueling movements toward justice. They also share some of their takeaways from studying abroad with and beyond PLU. 

Juliana is majoring in both Religion and Global Studies with a concentration in International Relations and minoring in the Peace Corps Prep program. Juliana has studied away with PLU in Greece, Oxford, and Norway. In the fall, she plans to start a dual degree program, pursuing her J.D. and her Master’s of Theological Studies. Chelsea graduated from PLU in 2010 with her Bachelor’s in Anthropology and Global Studies with a concentration in Development and Social Justice. While at PLU, she studied away in Norway, South Africa, and Namibia, and served as a Sojourner Advocate at the Wang Center. She then got her J.D. at George Washington University, studying International and Environmental Law, and studying abroad at the University of Oxford. Chelsea now works at the Berkeley-based nonprofit, As You Sow, where she handles environmental and toxic exposure litigation. She is also the founder of The Law School Project, which coaches students who are seeking purpose-driven careers in law. You can learn more about The Law School Project by following @lawschoolproject on Instagram. 

This podcast was produced by Becca McInally in collaboration with the Wild Hope Center for Vocation at Pacific Lutheran University. Our music is created by Emma Christensen. Have an idea for the show? Contact us at [email protected]. Follow us on Instagram @pluwildhope!

In this episode, Laree Winer and Rayna La-Fave Clark talk about what vocation means to them and the importance of mentorship in their lives. Laree is the associate director for the Wild Hope Center for Vocation, an alumnus of PLU, and she is currently enrolled in a graduate program in Spiritual Direction with St. Placid Priory in Olympia, Washington. Rayna is a nursing student at PLU (class of 2021) as well as a co-creator of the Virtual Big Sister Network, an online community for women-identifying people dedicated to making an impact in the world. Both Rayna and Laree have a passion for mentorship and helping others thrive. You can get in contact with Laree at [email protected], and check out Rayna's work at www.letterstomylittlesisters.mn.co.

This podcast was produced by Becca McInally in collaboration with the Wild Hope Center for Vocation at Pacific Lutheran University. Our music is created by Emma Christensen.

Have an idea for the show? Contact us at [email protected]. Follow us on Instagram @pluwildhope!