Welcome, the inaugural episode of the FAITH IN FRESH VIBE PODCAST! It's been a long time coming but let's get started with the topic du jour--COVID19. Life has altered and many of us are hanging by a thread in more ways than one. In this episode I say hi, introduce the podcast and myself (Rohadi), and talk about balancing grief with the new life we all have before us. Stay safe out there. Connect points: Rohadi.com | Twitter | Instagram | TikTok

Episode #2 - FAITH IN FRESH VIBE PODCAST featuring Rohadi. In this episode we continue to work though all of the weird of COVID19. The world has changed and it's never going back to the way things were. What makes matters worse is how we used to cope, by being busy, is no longer at our disposal. When it comes to identity, we often wrap ourselves around our work. But what happens when that's taken away? When you're defined more by your doing rather than your being? Connect points: Rohadi.com | Twitter | Instagram | Cypher Church

Pastor and professor Nikayla Reize joins me on the FAITH IN FRESH VIBE PODCAST. In this episode we smash the patriarchy, ask some tough questions about scripture, and track her story through conservative evangelicalism. If you know anything about conservative Christianity, women aren't not permitted to hold the same positions as men. Listen to how Nikayla navigated the minefield. Follow Nikayla on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NikaylaReize Connect points: Rohadi.com | Twitter | Instagram | Cypher Church

Episode #4 - FAITH IN FRESH VIBE PODCAST featuring Riley Rossmo. Riley is a professional illustrator who is currently working with DC Comics on such projects as Batman, Harley Quinn, Wonder Woman, and Martian Man. It's easier if you just visit the DC page to see how many books he's recently completed. His past projects with Image Comics include Green Wake, Rebel Blood, Proof, Drumhellar, and Cowboy Ninja Viking. The last one is the movie option we talk about mid-way. In this episode we begin by tracking the career of Riley and analyze the process of making it big. Connect points: Rohadi.com | Twitter | Instagram | Riley Rossmo

Episode #5 - FAITH IN FRESH VIBE PODCAST featuring Riley Rossmo. Riley is a professional illustrator who is currently working with DC Comics on such projects as Batman, Wonder Woman, and Martian Man. In Part II we start to track the exploration of faith. What's interesting about Riley's journey and inquiry is how little the church played a role. Faith is out there, and it will find you in the most unusual places. Connect points: Rohadi.com | Twitter | Instagram | Riley Rossmo

Episode 6 features Tony Snow. Tony comes from the line of hereditary chiefs from the Stoney Nakoda Nation. Tony is now a pastor with the United Church of Canada, and completing his Master at the Vancouver School of Theology. In this episode we talk about indigenous spirituality, the unique story of the Stoney people and their relationship with the early missionaries to the land, and the work of decolonizing the Christian faith. It's a longer episode, but well worth the listen. Connect points: Rohadi.com | Twitter | Instagram

Season Two of the Faith in a Fresh Vibe Podcast launches with Episode #7 featuring Deborah Mebude. Her experience is in public policy and she is an entrepreneur working primarily in non-profits. In this episode we discuss anti-Blackness, protest, public policy, and re-imagining community. We also start with a conversation about names and identity. Have a listen and welcome to Season Two! You can find Deborah and her work online. Twitter @deborahmeb.  She is on the Advisory Board for Leading in Colour, and just launched a magazine called Trad. Other connect points: Rohadi.com | Twitter | Instagram | Cypher Church

Why do many Christians and churches have difficulty lamenting? Just look at the songs. Corporate lament is absent in many churches in a time when we desperately need the honestly. Lament is in fact a way to truth tell about what we see and feel in the world around us, and what a world it is. Anti-Blackness protests, pandemic, chaos, the list goes on. Do you feel it in your body? Let's talk about the need for lament. Here are the links to the additional articles on lament: https://sojo.net/articles/lamentation-over-individualism and https://www.asianamericanchristiancollaborative.com/article/truth-telling-in-corporate-lament Connect points: Rohadi.com | Twitter | Instagram | Cypher Church

A re-education to the land is one of the strategies towards a decolonized theology and history. Did you know that on Treaty 7 Lands, before it was Treaty 7, the Stoney people had a positive relationship--initially--with the first missionaries to the region. Listen in for the story and deeper insight on the role indigenous spirituality has with the Christian faith. Tony Snow is the Rights Relations lead at Hillhurst United Church in Calgary, and a member of the Stoney Tribe located East of Banff. Note: This episode was recorded in the Summer of 2019 and completed in May 2020. Connect points: Rohadi.com | Twitter | Instagram | Cypher Church

In this episode a closer look at reconciliation. It's a word that's thrown around a lot but what does it mean to embody it in practice? I invite my guest Tony Snow to share his wisdom from an Indigenous perspective, to offer us concrete direction in the search for racialized justice and wholeness for the people, nation, and land. Tony Snow is the Rights Relations lead at Hillhurst United Church in Calgary, and a member of the Stoney Tribe located East of Banff. He shares some of his work and challenges in the church in the pursuit of reconciliation. Note: This episode was recorded in the Summer of 2019. Connect points: Rohadi.com | Twitter | Instagram | Cypher Church

In this episode Dr. Monetta Bailey, professor of sociology at Ambrose University, speaks on the topic of critical race theory. What is it, why is it useful, and how can it inform our perspectives and cultural narratives? We then consider how re-imagining our worldview goes through a process of deconstruction when we encounter new ideas or problems. The waves of anti-Blackness protests, along with COVID, have pulled society into a moment of introspection where both trauma and change are happening at a rapid pace. Navigate the shift and the work of de-centering whiteness with this conversation. Dr. Bailey can be found on Twitter at: @baileymonetta Faith in a Fresh vibe connect points: Rohadi.com | Twitter | Instagram | Cypher Church

We cap off Season 2 with this episode where Dr. Monetta Bailey, professor of sociology at Ambrose University, and I share our thoughts on racialized trauma and protest. We also ask, is there hope for change in the face of anti-racist protests? Is justice available to all? We drill down on the issue of cultural and corporate prejudice and share a candid conversation about our experience with racism, why we're hopeful (or not), and where that leaves us going forward. Dr. Bailey can be found on Twitter at: @baileymonetta Faith in a Fresh vibe connect points: Rohadi.com | Twitter | Instagram | Cypher Church

WELCOME TO SEASON 3! This season is the BIPOC edition with voices from across Canada. To launch things off I welcome a fellow Trini into the mix, Bernadette Arthur, in a two part series. In this first edition, Bernadette shares about her journey of faith, what it looked to deconstruct her experience in both Black Caribbean and Seventh Day Adventist traditions, and putting together the pieces into a new way forward. About Bernadette Bernadette Arthur spent over 15 years studying and working in the social services sector. She took a leap of faith and shifted into doing work that more aligned with her values and practices. She stumbled upon the work of John McKnight and grassroot practitioner like Dr. John M. Perkins, which lead her to embark on a self-directed journey to learn more about Asset Based Community Development (ABCD).   One of the results of that journey was her becoming a vetted Community Advancement Coach for a North American network of ABCD coaches and practitioners. Fuelled with the knowledge and lived experience of the effects of systemic oppression, Bernadette has spent half of the last decade engaging more directly in racial equity, justice and re-conciliation work. She has worked mainly within the non-profit sector designing and facilitating innovative learning opportunities for community and organizational groups.   Bernadette specializes in designing, curating and facilitating transformational learning events that offer saf(er) space for people to listen, unpack, explore, create and heal. She is a proud Afro-Caribbean Canadian who was born and raised in Scarborough, ON, but who is Trini to the bone. When she’s not crafting new ways to creatively bring people together, she loves exploring new restaurants that feature authentic cultural cuisine, being in the presence of majestic things (like mountains, water, and forests), and dancing awkwardly on a dance floor. Find her over at https://www.asharedtable.ca/ and https://linktr.ee/asharedtable.ca Faith in a Fresh vibe connect points: Rohadi.com | Twitter | Instagram | Cypher Church

Listen in to Part 2 as we discuss powerful metaphors to describe and explain white supremacy in white institutions. This is part 2 of 2 with Bernadette Arthur (she/her). We discuss her recent work in a predominantly white denomination, justice, the work of anti-racism in white institutions, and whether or not the institution can be saved. We also discuss the recent calls for justice surrounding anti-Blackness, and pave a sense of hope for BIPOC folk moving forward. About Bernadette Bernadette Arthur spent over 15 years studying and working in the social services sector. She took a leap of faith and shifted into doing work that more aligned with her values and practices. She stumbled upon the work of John McKnight and grassroot practitioner like Dr. John M. Perkins, which lead her to embark on a self-directed journey to learn more about Asset Based Community Development (ABCD).   One of the results of that journey was her becoming a vetted Community Advancement Coach for a North American network of ABCD coaches and practitioners. Fuelled with the knowledge and lived experience of the effects of systemic oppression, Bernadette has spent half of the last decade engaging more directly in racial equity, justice and re-conciliation work. She has worked mainly within the non-profit sector designing and facilitating innovative learning opportunities for community and organizational groups.   Bernadette specializes in designing, curating and facilitating transformational learning events that offer saf(er) space for people to listen, unpack, explore, create and heal. She is a proud Afro-Caribbean Canadian who was born and raised in Scarborough, ON, but who is Trini to the bone. When she’s not crafting new ways to creatively bring people together, she loves exploring new restaurants that feature authentic cultural cuisine, being in the presence of majestic things (like mountains, water, and forests), and dancing awkwardly on a dance floor. Find her over at https://www.asharedtable.ca/ and https://linktr.ee/asharedtable.ca Faith in a Fresh vibe connect points: Rohadi.com | Twitter | Instagram | Cypher Church

Braaap. Episode 15 begins with the first of THREE parts with 12-time Dove Award winner, Drew Brown. (How many times can we say 12 time Dove Award winner?!?! LOL). In this episode we talk about living a Christian faith in the local parish context. Neighbourhoods rule and you need to listen to discover why. We then pivot to talk about defunding white churches (also LOL), and more importantly we start a conversation on re-imagining the lacklustre world of contemporary Christian music. Get on in! --- Find Drew Brown in all locations. That includes his website: http://www.drewbrownmusic.com/. Social media including SPOTIFY, Twitter and Instagram. --- Faith in a Fresh vibe connect points: Rohadi.com | Twitter | Instagram | Cypher Church

Drew and I continue our conversation deconstructing white evangelicalism and contemporary worship by describing our own experiences and when we determined white churches have no space for BIPOC folks. Listen in for an honest and vulnerable talk on race trauma, doubt, and why you're not alone in the search to belong in your own skin. --- Find Drew Brown in all locations. That includes his website: http://www.drewbrownmusic.com/. Social media including SPOTIFY, Twitter and Instagram. --- Faith in a Fresh vibe connect points: Rohadi.com | Twitter | Instagram | Cypher Church

Drew and I continue our conversation deconstructing white evangelicalism and contemporary worship by describing our own experiences and when we determined white churches have no space for BIPOC folks. Listen in for an honest and vulnerable talk on race trauma, doubt, and why you're not alone in the search to belong in your own skin. --- Find Drew Brown in all locations. That includes his website: http://www.drewbrownmusic.com/. Social media including SPOTIFY, Twitter and Instagram. --- Faith in a Fresh vibe connect points: Rohadi.com | Twitter | Instagram | Cypher Church

Canada has slavery? Yes. Learn your history. Chad Lucas is an 8th generation Nova Scotian and provides us a glimpse into the rich history of Nova Scotia courtesy of the Black community. We talk about history, current white supremacy activity, and then switch gears into what it takes to belong. Chad left his church of 20 years after the denomination (same one I left) made a final statement to preserve the traditional definition of marriage. Listen in. --- Find Chad Lucas for all his book announcements on Twitter. --- Faith in a Fresh vibe connect points: Rohadi.com | Twitter | Instagram | Cypher Church

We close Season 3 with a final two part series. Part 1 discusses the work behind justice and becoming (more) anti-racist. Rohadi shares two pathways to consider in the lifelong journey of reconciliation. Building off of the free 6 chapter e-book, "Change the Story, A Small Resource on Dismantling Racism in Canada and the Church", available on www.rohadi.com. 2020 is a year of profound change and movements towards justice. What do we need to sustain the efforts? This intro episode will help white people and those just starting the work of anti-racism. Faith in a Fresh vibe connect points: Rohadi.com | Twitter | Instagram | Cypher Church

We close Season 3 with this final episode centering the voices of BIPOC Christians and other marginalized people too. Rohadi talks about assimilation as the typical way marginalized people can belong in contemporary churches. In search of a better path, Rohadi unpacks his book project coming out in 2021. Live out the fulness of your humanity by embodying your gifts and abilities in your own skin. Finding your liberation is tied to belonging to community that sees you for you. Don't give up on Jesus, belonging is out there. Faith in a Fresh vibe connect points: Rohadi.com | Twitter | Instagram | Cypher Church