Freedom Road Podcast

Latest Episodes:

David Gushee: Defending Democracy from its Christian Enemies Nov 14, 2023

Show notes

This month we are joined by one of the foremost Christian ethicists in the world, Dr. David Gushee, Distinguished University Professor of Christian Ethics at Mercer University, and Chair of Christian Social Ethics at Vrije Universiteit (“Free University”) Amsterdam, and Senior Research Fellow, International Baptist Theological Study Centre and he is the author of several books, most recently, Defending Democracy from its Christian Enemies.

Dr. Gushee was invited to speak with us because, well—we need his wisdom and expertise right now. Not only is the Christian church a consistent foe of democracy in an age when democracy is at risk around the world and here at home—but also to hear his thoughts on the Israel-Hamas conflict.

We’d love to hear your thoughts. Thread or Insta Lisa @lisasharper or to Freedom Road @freedomroad.us. We're also on Substack! So be sure to subscribe to freedomroad.substack.com. And, keep sharing the podcast with your friends and networks and letting us know what you think!

www.threads.net/@lisasharper

www.threads.net/@freedomroad.us

freedomroad.substack.com

www.davidpgushee.com

www.davidpgushee.com/book/defending-democracy-from-its-christian-enemies

Robert P. Jones: The Hidden roots of White Supremacy and the Path to a Shared American Future Oct 31, 2023

Show notes

This month we are joined by Robert P Jones, President and Founder of Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) and the New York Times Best Selling author of several books, including: The End of White Christian America and White Too Long. Most recently, you might have heard the hubbub about his latest book,The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy and the Path to a Shared American Future.

We invited Robby to speak with us today, because Robert’s work with PRRI, coupled with his outstanding work as an historian and the homework he has done as a southern white man has the power to help understand our current moment and point the way forward toward the Beloved Community.

www.threads.net/@lisasharper

www.threads.net/@freedomroad.us

freedomroad.substack.com/

www.prri.org/staff/robert-p-jones-ph-d

www.prri.org

www.amazon.com/Hidden-Roots-White-Supremacy-American/dp/166800951X/

Britney Whaley “Cop City” Oct 17, 2023

Show notes

This episode we are joined by Britney Whaley, South East Regional Director of the Working Families Party. There’s a lot to unpack, just when we mention the Working Families Party and we will get there. But the reason Britney was invited to join us is because she is a core organizer in the struggle to stop Cop City in Atlanta, GA.

We need to understand what is happening in Atlanta and its implications for the world we are building for the next generations.

www.threads.net/@lisasharper

www.threads.net/@freedomroad.us

freedomroad.substack.com/

workingfamilies.org

www.copcityvote.com and @copcityvote on social

Tamice Spencer-Helms: Faith Unleavened Oct 03, 2023

Show notes

On this episode we are joined by Tamice Spencer-Helms, author of Faith Unleavened: The Wilderness Between Trayvon Martin and George Floyd and founder of Sub:Culture Incorporated, a nonprofit that provides holistic support and crisis relief for Black College Students.

We invited Tamice to speak with us about internalized oppression – the oppression of the self over the self. How to see that its present? How to acknowledge it? And How to break free?

www.threads.net/@lisasharper

www.threads.net/@freedomroad.us

freedomroad.substack.com/

www.faithunleavened.com

www.subcultureinc.org

Dr. Claire A. Nelson Sep 19, 2023

Show notes

On this episode, we are joined by Dr. Claire Nelson, Futurist, Sustainability Engineer, Social Entrepreneur, Storyteller, the Founding President of the Institute of Caribbean Studies, and the chief ideation leader of the Futures Forum.

We invited Dr. Nelson to speak with us because as we consider the question of Repair, it helps us to broaden our view to consider what it will take to grow Black voices in a just society.

www.threads.net/@lisasharper

www.threads.net/@freedomroad.us

freedomroad.substack.com/

icsdc.org/founder___president

icsdc.org/home

Dr. Chanequa Walker-Barnes: Sacred Self-Care Sep 05, 2023

Show notes

On this episode, we are joined by Dr. Chanequa Walker-Barnes, theologian, psychologist, and author of Too Heavy a Yoke, Black Women and the Burden of Strength, and her newest work, a 49-day devotional titled, Sacred Self-Care: Daily Practices for Nurturing Our Whole Selves.

We invited Dr. Walker-Barnes to speak with us, because folk are tired for multiple reasons. The gig economy has folks working 2-3 jobs while climate change has folks running from forest fires while dodging tornadoes, trying to breath when you take your dog for a walk, and trying to survive record-breaking heat. And people of color, women, the LGBTQIA+ community and Transwomen in particular, are increasingly having to survive legislated attacks against our personhood.

***FLY will be streamable everywhere on September 22, 2023.

www.threads.net/@lisasharper

www.threads.net/@freedomroad.us

freedomroad.substack.com/

www.drchanequa.com

www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/22647232

www.goodreads.com/book/show/125156825-sacred-self-care?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_64

Rev. Dr. Michael Nabors “Doing Reparation” Aug 22, 2023

Show notes

On this episode we are joined by Rev. Dr. Michael Nabors, Senior Pastor of the Historic Second Baptist Church of Evanston, IL. Recently, Second Baptist Church has become a leading faith center in America in facilitating Race Talk Solidarity Circles in local communities. Since 2019, Dr. Nabors has been part of the Steering Committee for Evanston Reparations, the first municipal reparations program in the United States, allocating 10 million dollars to Black Evanstonians to repair historical damages due to racism.

We invited Rev. Dr. Nabors to speak with us because the bulk of truth-telling and reparations work happening in the U.S. today is taking place on a local level. Dr. Nabors is doing that work. We need to know how his community is doing it, so that we can begin to engage the process in our own communities.

www.threads.net/@lisasharper

www.threads.net/@freedomroad.us

freedomroad.substack.com/

www.secondbaptistevanston.org/pastor

www.cityofevanston.org/government/city-council/reparations

Dr. Terence Lester – All God’s Children Aug 08, 2023

Show notes

On this episode we are joined by Dr. Terence Lester, PhD, author of several books, including his most recent, All God’s Children: How Confronting Buried History Can Build Racial Solidarity.

We invited Terence to speak with us because his book, All God’s Children offers practical advice for the next generations of faith communities that understand in order to move forward, they have to look back.

www.threads.net/@lisasharper

www.threads.net/@freedomroad.us

freedomroad.substack.com/

www.mahoganybooks.com/9781514005958

John Blake – More Than I Imagined Jul 25, 2023

Show notes

On this episode we are joined by John Blake, award winning journalist at CNN and author of the celebrated book, More Than I Imagined: What A Black Man Discovered About The White Mother He Never Knew.

We invited John to speak with us because – HIS STORY. OMG. And the way he tells it. OMG. You must know about it and you must read it.

www.threads.net/@lisasharper

www.threads.net/@freedomroad.us

freedomroad.substack.com/

www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/706045/more-than-i-imagined-by-john-blake/

Andre Henry Jul 04, 2023

Show notes

On this episode we are joined by Andre Henry, author of All the White Friends I Couldn’t Keep, cohost of the Hope and Hard Pills Podcast, local LA-based activist and singer/songwriter/producer. His work has been featured in The Nation, The New Yorker, New York’s Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C., and Super Bowl LVI.!

Andre was invited to speak with us because he understands joy! And he understands the power of the arts to bring hope and vision and health—and we need some of that. So, in these summer months, amid historic indictments, historic environmental hazards, political targeting of everyone who isn’t a white male...

We’d love to hear your thoughts. Tweet to Lisa @LisaSHarper or to Freedom Road @FREEDOMROADUS. We're also on Substack! So be sure to subscribe to The Truth Is... and Freedom Road. And, keep sharing the podcast with your friends and networks and letting us know what you think!

twitter.com/lisasharper

twitter.com/FreedomRoadus

lisasharonharper.substack.com/

freedomroad.substack.com/

hope-hard-pills.simplecast.com/

www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/673889/all-the-white-friends-i-couldnt-keep-by-andre-henry/

American Psychological Association Study: Racial discrimination and telomere shortening among African Americans: The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study - psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2Fhea0000832