On this episode, we ask a difficult question: what happens when the language of protecting women is used to harm others instead? Through politics, scripture, and the story of Dinah in the Book of Genesis, we explore how easily protection can become a mask for power.

---

Wilderness Times is co-created with Broadview, an award-winning Canadian publication known for thoughtful journalism that attends to spirituality, justice and the questions that tug at our collective conscience.

Broadview is a registered charity and has made this Substack freely available because we believe that thoughtful, justice-seeking journalism should be accessible to everyone. Creating this space — and keeping it free — takes time, skill and resources. If this space nourishes you, please make a tax-deductible donation.

Your support empowers Broadview to tell more courageous stories and helps build a more just and compassionate world.

Donate to Broadview

There is a particular kind of loneliness that comes from being the only awake person in a house where someone is dying. This episode tells the story of my father’s final year during COVID and asks what happens when grief is carried without witnesses.

---

Wilderness Times is co-created with Broadview, an award-winning Canadian publication known for thoughtful journalism that attends to spirituality, justice and the questions that tug at our collective conscience.

Broadview is a registered charity and has made this Substack freely available because we believe that thoughtful, justice-seeking journalism should be accessible to everyone. Creating this space — and keeping it free — takes time, skill and resources. If this space nourishes you, please make a tax-deductible donation.

Your support empowers Broadview to tell more courageous stories and helps build a more just and compassionate world.

Donate to Broadview

Rev. Bri-anne shares an interview with her spiritual advisee in the days leading up to his scheduled execution. They talk about faith, his desire to donate one of his kidneys, and how he sees it as a means to atone for past mistakes.

More complete shownotes can be found on our website.

BIBLE BITES
"Keeping Awake within in the Prison Cell"

MUSIC
Gravity of Love - The Brilliance
Foxes & Birds -  Amick Cutler

RELEVANT LINKS FROM THIS EPISODE

A Texas death row inmate is seeking a 30-day reprieve to donate a kidney. An appeals court has issued an execution stay for a different reason

On Death Row, He Is Grasping at Grace

Broadview Magazine Article

WILDERNESS TIMES' LINKS

Wilderness Times Website
 
Jubilee United Church Website
Jubilee United Church - Facebook
Jubilee United Church - Instagram
Jubilee United Church - YouTube
Jubilee United Church - TikTok

Resistance Church Website
Resistance Church - TikTok
Resistance Church - Instagram
Resistance Church - Facebook
Resistance Church - YouTube

Wilderness Times and Resistance Church are digital ministries of Jubilee United Church, an Affirming (2SLGBTQ+ positive) congregation of the United Church of Canada, committed to the work of being an anti-racist congregation, as well as Right Relationship with Indigenous Peoples.  The space on which we work and gather is the land of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnaabe, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples, and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples from across Turtle Island.

Resistance Church reaches out to those for whom traditional church models are not always relevant or accessible. Rest. Hope. Community. Subversive faith & radical love in response to extraordinary times.

Rev. Bri-anne sits down with Cantor Michael Zoosman to talk about L'chaim: Jews Against the Death Penalty and the importance of advocating against Captial Punishment.

More complete shownotes can be found on our website.

GUESTS
Cantor Michael Zoosman

BIBLE BITES
The Final Three Plagues
Bri-anne specifically reads:
Exodus 11 from outside the former Don Jail

MUSIC
See the Love - The Brilliance
Let Healing Swiftly Come - Bri-anne Swan

RELEVANT LINKS FROM THIS EPISODE

L'chaim: Jews Against the Death Penalty

Bo: Softening the ‘Hardened Hearts’ of Pro-Death Political Leaders

Gov. DeSantis’ Death Penalty Pledges for Holocaust Remembrance Day

“The Banality of Execution”

WILDERNESS TIMES' LINKS

Wilderness Times Website
 
Jubilee United Church Website
Jubilee United Church - Facebook
Jubilee United Church - Instagram
Jubilee United Church - YouTube
Jubilee United Church - TikTok

Resistance Church Website
Resistance Church - TikTok
Resistance Church - Instagram
Resistance Church - Facebook
Resistance Church - YouTube

Wilderness Times and Resistance Church are digital ministries of Jubilee United Church, an Affirming (2SLGBTQ+ positive) congregation of the United Church of Canada, committed to the work of being an anti-racist congregation, as well as Right Relationship with Indigenous Peoples.  The space on which we work and gather is the land of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnaabe, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples, and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples from across Turtle Island.

Resistance Church reaches out to those for whom traditional church models are not always relevant or accessible. Rest. Hope. Community. Subversive faith & radical love in response to extraordinary times.

With a few audio issues (oops) Rev. Bri-anne sits down with author Cynthia Vacca Davis as they discuss Cynthia's newly released book Intersexion, as well as Cynthia's journey of allyship, and the cost of being Intersex in a complicated church landscape.

More complete shownotes can be found on our website.

GUESTS
Cynthia Vacca Davis

BIBLE BITES
Psalm 138:14
read by Julian | King Julez from Toronto, Canada.
Julian is chair of Affirm United S'affirmer Ensemble

MUSIC
Mommy Issues - Don't Leave Me Here on My Own
Emorie - Lighthouse

RELEVANT LINKS FROM THIS EPISODE

Definition of "Intersex" from PlannedParenthood.org

Intersexion: A Story of Faith, Identity, and Authenticity: Lake Drive Books

• Amazon Canada
• Amazon US
• Indigo

"The Gospel of Rope" by Rev. Anonymous
The Canadian Journal of Theology Mental Health and Disability 2 no. 2, Fall 2022

WILDERNESS TIMES' LINKS

Wilderness Times Website
 
Jubilee United Church Website
Jubilee United Church - Facebook
Jubilee United Church - Instagram
Jubilee United Church - YouTube
Jubilee United Church - TikTok

Resistance Church Website
Resistance Church - TikTok
Resistance Church - Instagram
Resistance Church - Facebook
Resistance Church - YouTube

Wilderness Times and Resistance Church are digital ministries of Jubilee United Church, an Affirming (2SLGBTQ+ positive) congregation of the United Church of Canada, committed to the work of being an anti-racist congregation, as well as Right Relationship with Indigenous Peoples.  The space on which we work and gather is the land of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnaabe, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples, and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples from across Turtle Island.

Resistance Church reaches out to those for whom traditional church models are not always relevant or accessible. Rest. Hope. Community. Subversive faith & radical love in response to extraordinary times.

Rev. Bri-anne sits down with Rev. Daniel Hayward as they discuss disability justice, the United Church of Canada’s statements on Medical Assistance in Dying, and some thoughts about balancing the rights of the individual against the welfare of the collective.

More complete shownotes can be found on our website.

GUESTS
Rev. Daniel Hayward
Dan's Twitter

BIBLE BITES
Jeremiah 29:7
Read by Landon Hammet of South Carolina, from a trade show in Chicago.

MUSIC
Timbre Choir - Come and Go
Emorie - River

RELEVANT LINKS FROM THIS EPISODE

• United Church of Canada's Statements on Medical Assistance in Dying

           2017 Statement
           Revised Statement (2021)

• The Rooster Crows Podcast from Lawrence Park Community Church
• Woman with chemical sensitivities chose medically-assisted death after failed bid to get better housing – CTV News: April 13, 2022
• How poverty, not pain, is driving Canadians with disabilities to consider medically-assisted death – Global News: October 8, 2022
• Ethics of medically-assisted death questioned as some turn to it as an alternative to poverty – CityTV: October 14, 2022

WILDERNESS TIMES' LINKS

Wilderness Times Website
 
Jubilee United Church Website
Jubilee United Church - Facebook
Jubilee United Church - Instagram
Jubilee United Church - YouTube
Jubilee United Church - TikTok

Resistance Church Website
Resistance Church - TikTok
Resistance Church - Instagram
Resistance Church - Facebook
Resistance Church - YouTube

Wilderness Times and Resistance Church are digital ministries of Jubilee United Church, an Affirming (2SLGBTQ+ positive) congregation of the United Church of Canada, committed to the work of being an anti-racist congregation, as well as Right Relationship with Indigenous Peoples.  The space on which we work and gather is the land of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnaabe, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples, and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples from across Turtle Island.

Resistance Church reaches out to those for whom traditional church models are not always relevant or accessible. Rest. Hope. Community. Subversive faith & radical love in response to extraordinary times.

Rev. Bri-anne sites down with Marshall Project Investigative Reporter, Keri Blakinger.  Together they discuss her new book, "Corrections in Ink", the dehumanizing nature of the criminal justice system, and how public safety might be best served by actually treating prisoners with compassion.

More complete shownotes can be found on our website.

GUESTS
Keri Blakinger

BIBLE BITES
Matthew 25:34-40
Read by Bri-anne, outside the Huntsville ("Walls") Unit of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in Huntsville, Texas.

MUSIC
My Best by VAULTZ
What My Heart is Looking For by Bonner Black

RELEVANT LINKS FROM THIS EPISODE

Corrections in Ink by Keri Blakinger (Macmillan Publishers)
Corrections in Ink - Amazon
Keri's Twitter
Keri's TikTok
Keri's profile on The Marshall Project

WILDERNESS TIMES' LINKS

Wilderness Times Website
 
Jubilee United Church Website
Jubilee United Church - Facebook
Jubilee United Church - Instagram
Jubilee United Church - YouTube
Jubilee United Church - TikTok

Resistance Church Website
Resistance Church - TikTok
Resistance Church - Instagram
Resistance Church - Facebook
Resistance Church - YouTube

Wilderness Times and Resistance Church are digital ministries of Jubilee United Church, an Affirming (2SLGBTQ+ positive) congregation of the United Church of Canada, committed to the work of being an anti-racist congregation, as well as Right Relationship with Indigenous Peoples.  The space on which we work and gather is the land of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnaabe, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples, and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples from across Turtle Island.

Resistance Church reaches out to those for whom traditional church models are not always relevant or accessible. Rest. Hope. Community. Subversive faith & radical love in response to extraordinary times.

In this episode, Rev. Bri-anne sits down with progressive Christian mystic, Damon Garcia, as they talk about Damon's new book, "The God Who Riots: Taking Back the Radical Jesus." Anchored with the story of Jesus overturning the tables in the temple, we discuss the origins of Damon's book, the importance of understanding the context out of which the Jesus movement emerged, and how absolutely ridiculous it is to talk about Jesus being "cancelled."

A full transcript of this episode is available.

More complete shownotes can be found on our website.

GUESTS
Damon Garcia

BIBLE BITES
John 2:13-22 - Jesus Cleanses the Temple
read by the Rev. Stephen Milton, minister at Lawrence Park Community Church in Toronto, Canada.

MUSIC
Raise a Voice (Hear it Echo) by Emorie
Stand Our Ground by Dreamlamp

RELEVANT LINKS FROM THIS EPISODE
The God Who Riots: Taking Back the Radical Jesus [Amazon]
The God Who Riots: Taking Back the Radical Jesus [Indiebound]
Damon Garcia's Patreon Page
Damon's YouTube Channel
Damon's Twitter
Damon's Instagram
Damon Garcia's TikTok

WILDERNESS TIMES' LINKS

Wilderness Times Website
 
Jubilee United Church Website
Jubilee United Church - Facebook
Jubilee United Church - Instagram
Jubilee United Church - YouTube
Jubilee United Church - TikTok

Resistance Church Website
Resistance Church - TikTok
Resistance Church - Instagram
Resistance Church - Facebook
Resistance Church - YouTube

Wilderness Times and Resistance Church are digital ministries of Jubilee United Church, an Affirming (2SLGBTQ+ positive) congregation of the United Church of Canada, committed to the work of being an anti-racist congregation, as well as Right Relationship with Indigenous Peoples.  The space on which we work and gather is the land of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnaabe, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples, and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples from across Turtle Island.

Resistance Church reaches out to those for whom traditional church models are not always relevant or accessible. Rest. Hope. Community. Subversive faith & radical love in response to extraordinary times.

Rev. Bri-anne sits down with pastor, author and sacred spacemaker, the Rev. Aurelia Dávila Pratt as they talk about Aurelia's new book, A Brown Girl's Epiphany: Reclaim Your Intuition and Step into Your Power. In this episode, Bri-anne and Aurelia talk about Imago Dei, the pressures of productivity culture, and how to live into our most authentic selves (just as God intended us to be).

A full transcript of this episode is available.

More complete shownotes can be found on our website.

GUESTS
The Rev. Aurelia Dávila Pratt

BIBLE BITES
1 John 4:11-12
from the Inclusive Translation
read by the Rev. Jason Meyers, Minister for Worship and Faith Formation and Metropolitan United Church in Toronto.

MUSIC
"Unafraid" by NOVVA
"Redemption" by Snow Bones

RELEVANT LINKS FROM THIS EPISODE
A Brown Girl's Epiphany: Reclaim Your Intuition and Step into Your Power (Broadleaf Books, 2022)
A Brown Girl's Epiphany Study Guide
Peace of Christ Church Wilco (Instagram @PeaceWilco)

Aurelia Dávila Pratt's Links
Aurelia's website
Aurelia's Instagram
Aurelia's Twitter
Aurelia's Author Profile on Broadleaf Books

WILDERNESS TIMES' LINKS

Wilderness Times Website
 
Jubilee United Church Website
Jubilee United Church - Facebook
Jubilee United Church - Instagram
Jubilee United Church - YouTube
Jubilee United Church - TikTok

Resistance Church Website
Resistance Church - TikTok
Resistance Church - Instagram
Resistance Church - Facebook
Resistance Church - YouTube

Wilderness Times and Resistance Church are digital ministries of Jubilee United Church, an Affirming (2SLGBTQ+ positive) congregation of the United Church of Canada, committed to the work of being an anti-racist congregation, as well as Right Relationship with Indigenous Peoples.  The space on which we work and gather is the land of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnaabe, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples, and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples from across Turtle Island.

Resistance Church reaches out to those for whom traditional church models are not always relevant or accessible. Rest. Hope. Community. Subversive faith & radical love in response to extraordinary times.

In our very first episode(!), Rev. Bri-anne sits down with musical group, The Many to discuss their origins, the power of pivoting when the world seems like its on fire, and the power of the arts to disrupt us out of our comfort zones.

A full transcript of this episode is available.

More complete shownotes can be found on our website.

GUESTS

Members of The Many:
Gary Rand
Darren Calhoun
Christa Sangster Monroe

(band members absent: Hannah Rand, Jonathan Ulanday, and Kristina Sinks)

BIBLE BITES

Paraphrase of Genesis 11:1 - 9
Written by Ted Heibert.   
From Growing in God's Love: A Story Bible.  Edited by Elizabeth F. Caldwell and Carol A. Wehrheim

THE MANY'S LINKS

The Many Website
The Plural Guild
The Many - YouTube
The Many - Instagram
The Many - Patreon

Purchase The Many's Music

Spotify
Apple Music
Bandcamp

WILDERNESS TIMES' LINKS

Wilderness Times Website
 
Jubilee United Church Website
Jubilee United Church - Facebook
Jubilee United Church - Instagram
Jubilee United Church - YouTube
Jubilee United Church - TikTok

Resistance Church Website
Resistance Church - TikTok
Resistance Church - Instagram
Resistance Church - Facebook
Resistance Church - YouTube

Wilderness Times and Resistance Church are digital ministries of Jubilee United Church, an Affirming (2SLGBTQ+ positive) congregation of the United Church of Canada, committed to the work of being an anti-racist congregation, as well as Right Relationship with Indigenous Peoples.  The space on which we work and gather is the land of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnaabe, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples, and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples from across Turtle Island.

Resistance Church reaches out to those for whom traditional church models are not always relevant or accessible. Rest. Hope. Community. Subversive faith & radical love in response to extraordinary times.