The FINAL episode of Season 10 arrives featuring Jenai Auman! Don’t forget to rate the show and share it widely! In this episode…. This conversation revolves around themes explored in Jenai’s book “Othered,” focusing on her experiences navigating toxic church environments and the subsequent journey toward healing and liberation. After introductions, Jenai and Rohadi dissect the dynamics of gaslighting and DARVO within toxic church environments, shedding light on the emotional turmoil and internal fractures caused by oppressive church systems. They delve into Jenai’s personal narrative of betrayal and resilience, emphasizing the profound cost of leaving toxic communities while highlighting the transformative power of reclaiming agency and identity. Throughout the conversation, they underscore the importance of boundaries and cultivating genuine belonging outside of oppressive structures, ultimately revealing the potential for liberation and renewal found in embracing one’s “otherness.” (more…)

Prasanta Verma’s debut book, Beyond Ethnic Loneliness, is the topic for our conversation. If you’re not white then you have at some point or another, maybe even recently, have fielded the question, “so what are you?” or “where are you really from?” Trying to fit into community often means assimilating, or giving up a piece of yourself in order to find belonging. That posture leaves folks on the margins unseen, in a space of loneliness, and often causing loss of cultural identity. We talk about these realities and offer some solutions of what’s beyond–how to live out our whole selves. Episode Summary Importance of Truth and Storytelling: We engage the importance and significance of sharing personal stories, especially among marginalized communities. This is seen as essential for fostering understanding and challenging societal norms.Diverse Perspectives on Belonging: Belonging is complex and how it differs for individuals based on factors like race, ethnicity, and personal experiences . We highlight the need for diverse narratives that reject a single, homogenized perspective.Generational Shifts and Hope: Our conversations touches upon generational shifts and attitudes towards social issues that express hope for progress. Despite recognizing ongoing challenges, there’s optimism about the potential for positive change, particularly among younger generations.Emphasis on Connection and Community: How do we get there? Connection, empathy, and community-building. We highlight the role of shared experiences and supportive networks in fostering a sense of belonging and personal growth. (more…)

One of the top books for Christian non-fiction in 2024, Lamar Hardwick joins Rohadi on the show to talk about his latest book and the topic: How Ableism Fuels Racism. This eye opening connection between disability and racism will shift paradigms for listeners. This episode is released as full hour long conversation. We begin the conversation surrounding the historical formation of white supremacy in America, tied to the trans-Atlantic slave trade, and connect the dots to the root source of anti-Blackness: ableism. As soon as white supremacy becomes about bodies, something must be developed to build an understanding certain bodies (white) are more valuable than others (Black and Indigenous). What those factors are ranging from intellect to supposed inherent biological traits, are built on the ruse of “disability”. We interrogate not only historical formation but how the same factors remain at play in the present with the policing of Black bodies including other intersections like health and faith. This conversation ends with a cursory view on the theological underpinnings of ableist theology that not only look at contributing bodies of work from Black or brown traditions as inferior, but also how the disabled Christ is sanitized to accommodate white superiority and thought. (more…)

Theologizin’ Bigger: Homilies on Living Freely and Loving Wholly. Title pique your interest? Pastor Trey returns to the Faith in a Fresh Vibe podcast for the second time. His first interview was so nice that we had to do it twice. We discuss expanding our imagination around the Bible. Many listeners have grown up in traditions where the treatment of scripture lacks humility. The Bible becomes a proof-text machine, applied to any sort of modern problem and often used to uphold malformed power structures. Is there a way to redeem it? That’s the bulk of our conversation as we meander way through some of the key features of Trey’s debut book. If you’re curious about new ways of approaching faith and scripture, this episode is a good place to start. (more…)

Forged: Following Jesus into a new kind of family. That’s TC Moore’s book title. We talk about what it looks like to redeem the language around family given so many have bad experiences in their own families, and in churches that use that type of language. You may be familiar with it, and how it can be used to harm rather than give life. We unpack what it looks like to build a new kind of chosen family with key features like sharing of your life; developing community rhythms; serving one another; and solidarity. Come through to meet T.C. learn about his story and ministry, and the possibilities of finding healthier community. Episode Summary: (more…)

Season 10 continues with a season of authors and their (mostly new) books. Rohadi invites author Tasha Jun to the show to chat about, Tell me the Dream Again. Reflections on Family, Ethnicity & the Sacred Work of Belonging. This episode discusses themes from her book including: The Why behind, Tell me the dream again, and how writing projects span decades to produce.On dissociation and assimilation for BIPOC/Asian folks. We discuss when a racialized person thinks they fit, and when the veil comes down.What to do with feelings associated with assimilation. A talk about embodied characteristics of fitting in.Food as a way to reconnect to your roots and ancestors.Dismantling individualization of finding one’s self. (Yes, I bring up Brene Brown again.)Naming the grief with finding your community, but realizing what you’ve been missing for so long. Ways to bridge the gap when it comes to reclaiming yourself, your people and your culture.Why finding belong is sacred work. Find Tasha’s book available wherever books are sold. Visit Tasha’s website, her Substack, and connect with her on Instagram and Facebook. A little about “Tell me the dream again.” Tasha Jun has always been caught between worlds: American and Korean, faith and doubt, family devotion and fierce independence. As a Korean American, she wandered between seemingly opposing worlds, struggling to find a voice to speak and a firm place for her feet to land. The world taught Tasha that her Korean normal was a barrier to belonging—that assimilation was the only way she would ever be truly accepted. But if that were true, did that mean God had made a mistake in knitting her together? Tell Me the Dream Again is a memoir-in-essays exploring what it means to be biracial in America today;the joy and healing that comes with embracing every part of who we are, and;how our identity in Christ is tightly woven with the unique colors, scents, and culture he’s given us. We are not outsiders to God. When we let all the details of ourselves unfold—when we embrace who we were divinely knit together to be—this is when we’ll fully experience his perfect love.

The Blues and Advent Advent is a rhythm of waiting. Waiting for deliverance from a darkness. That can mean different things for each of us meandering through various seasons and life. In the Christian tradition this observance awaits liberation ushered in by a Saviour. This idea, or notion in history, only means something if your faith tradition or worldview ties Jesus’ victory over death as the pronounced symbol that ultimately all “that ain’t right”, in our lives and in the world, will and can be reversed for goodness. We hold this tension, a now but not yet, of living out the fulness of our humanity versus struggling with the defeats. A continuous cycle that clings to the hope spoken through Advent that in the end, the former will win out now and forever.

Give Peace a Chance? I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately following the violence in Gaza and Israel. What unique thought can I possibly add to the corpus of material and calls to action already online? Nothing really. I also think about how we ought to respond. Thought I suppose this makes an assumption–response. Christians should have a clear direction here. When Jesus shares his core teachings (Matt. 5 and Luke 6) peace making is explicit, “Happy are people who make peace, because they will be called God’s children.” (Matt. 5:9) If this were a sermon I might opt for a phrase that, “Jesus is calling us to act as peace MAKERS not peace TAKERS!” It sounds better in my head….

I’ve often wondered if noticing beauty is a practice. We often say some folks have, “an eye” for things that strike us as beautiful. I think we all have it. And it’s something we can cultivate–an intention to spot and create beauty. In fact, finding beauty is an act of repair. , This becomes more poignant when it’s finding beauty amidst the rubble. My partner has been sharing Palestinian artists/creators on socials during this time of upheaval. That’s beauty amidst the rubble for sure. A repair of brokenness in our midst, cultivated to pose as a form of resistance. Beauty and joy are connected. One follows the other. How so? Listen for more.

Hi Friends, Welcome to the first Sunday of Advent. Grab a blanket and cup of something warm and hot and settle in…. This first Sunday of Advent will look at hope and annunciation. *Advent as a liturgical tradition does not necessarily follow the typical Advent wreath lighting of candles (symbols of hope, joy, peace, love). They are (I believe) distinct practices (same same but different). I’m going to swing between the two by using the themes but also influence from the lectionary ‘A Women’s Lectionary for the Whole Church’ by Dr Wilda Gafney. I invite you to use these reflections over the coming weeks in whichever way that fit your own traditions be it lighting an advent candle or something else.*

I (Rohadi) have had the pleasure to endorse a number of books in 2023 and that includes Go Wide. Reimagining the Landscape of Theology. If we take seriously the notion of decolonizing and deconstructing Christianity, that journey needs signposts along the way to help guide us to a more life giving faith. This book by Matte Downey is going to help, and this podcast episode is a teaser of what’s inside. Here’s my endorsement: “Downey develops an expansive and relational hermeneutic adept for a more liberative and inclusive posture in our modern world. This wider theological imagination is indeed “dangerous”, as Downey concludes, because it subverts hegemonic power systems that describe a far too narrow view of who God is.” A little more about Go Wide: What happens when we sidestep the notions of hierarchy and verticality in how we think about God, the world, and all things theological? How does emphasizing the expansiveness and breadth of God affect how we read the Bible and engage with topics such as salvation and the church? Using the lens of latitude, Martha (Matte) Elias Downey reframes familiar biblical stories and reimagines theological concepts, purposefully circumventing the oppressive, top-down dynamics of hierarchy. This book encompasses a broad range of theology by combining biblical interpretation, systematic theology, practical theology, and a selection of personal anecdotes. Here is an accessible and inclusive foray into theology for anyone interested in a fresh take on an ancient course of study. I have a PhD in dramatic theology and spend my time pondering the meanings of stories and texts, seeking wisdom in unexpected places, learning to ask better questions, labouring over my words, taking photographs of every little thing, feeling all the feelings, and drinking copious amounts of chai. This is where I share what I’m learning, thinking about, and seeing in the world. Nothing is final. All is in process. Find her at https://mattedowney.wordpress.com/ and on Instagram. Find Rohadi at www.rohadi.com and on Instagram. Please rate the podcast wherever you’re listening!

Leaders either become a scandal to those they lead or embrace the scandalous way of Christ. Part 2 of 2 featuring JR Woodward. We discuss his latest book, an iteration of his recent dissertation, on the Powers and church leadership. The Scandal of Leadership is now available wherever books are sold. Those in church leadership of any kind will find this conversation a crucial component to diagnosing systemic problems in church leadership formation. Both episodes derive from a deeply theological understanding of leadership, and digs into spiritual formation as well. CW: we do discuss Power through a spiritual lens that includes topics of spiritual warfare ranging from Christ, Satan, and so forth. (more…)

Part 1 of a 2 part interview featuring author, catalyst, and teacher, JR Woodward. JR recently released a book, The Scandal of Leadership: Unmasking the Powers of Domination in the Church. In an age where church leaders are hitting the news cycle for all the wrong reasons, JR details a theological outlook on WHY. If you’re connected to church leadership, church planting, or overall interested in diagnosing the deep systemic problems in church leadership, these two episodes will be for you. Both outline interesting theological insights (which is typically not the style of the Faith in a Fresh Vibe podcast). Listen in to learn more, and check out the episode summary for a snapshot. Episode Summary (more…)

We interrupt Season 10 with this bonus episode responding to the war breaking out in Israel and Palestine and how Christians might respond. This is a repeat of last week’s newsletter (sign up on the homepage). A important article to read is penned by: Rabbi Dayna Rattenburg.

Welcome to Episode #70 with author Mekdes Haddis. Her debut book is called “A Just Mission. Laying Down Power and Embracing Mutuality.” Listeners who have read Rohadi’s book, When We Belong, will know the nascent Ethiopian connection formative to his journey in deconstructing Christianity. We launch off from his story to draw into Mekdes and her formation as an evangelical Christian in Ethiopia, how her perspectives are different than western thought, and how that may inform the way the church can conduct missions, but more importantly, how we all can find life giving church community outside of white hegemony. Episode Summary Deconstructing Western missions and power systems. 0:00Identity, culture, and ministry. From Ethiopia to America. 4:15Christianity in Ethiopia and the role of missions. 9:51Missionary work and cultural context in Ethiopia. 15:15The introduction of evangelicalism in Ethiopia. 25:08Decoloniality and contextualization in Ethiopian evangelicalism. 29:44How contextual Ethiopian evangelicalism can inform mission in the West. 34:00Finding our humanity and through mutuality in our faith. 44:00   (more…)

How a Culture of White Supremacy Devalues Us and How We Can Reclaim Our Truth Worth A season on authors and their new books. In this episode I feature Caroline Sumlin. Here’s a brief synopsis of her debut. BREAK UP WITH THE STANDARD Society has told you that you’re not good enough unless you live up to the standard. Society lied to you. Our worth lies in our ability to measure up to the narrow, socially constructed standards rooted in colonization, racism, and white supremacy. From believing that the pinnacle of beauty lies in blonde hair and blue eyes, to believing we must maintain 24/7 productivity, we receive the message from every corner of society that, in one way or another, we aren’t enough. As a result…we chase. We chase perfectionism. We chase productivity. We ignore trauma. We change ourselves to mold to the status quo. We erase our cultural identities to subscribe to Western culture. Our mental health suffers in silence. Our feelings of unworthiness deepen. All because we live in a society that determined that there was one ideal version of a human and everyone else was inferior. Your chase ends today. (more…)

Season 10 already?! Hello friends, welcome to the Faith in a Fresh Vibe Podcast, where we journey through decolonizing and deconstructing the Christian faith. Season 9 just finished and this episode is the start of Season 10! It’s also a “bridge” episode. Since last season was one on embodiment and mental health, and this season is for authors and their new books, I thought an episode that covers both would be fitting. Dr. Chanequa Walker-Barnes is someone I’ve been looking to invite on the podcast for sometime. You might remember her words if you’ve read my book, When We Belong. I reference, I Bring the Voices of My People, in my chapter on white supremacy. But this episode we talk more than reconciliation. We discuss Dr. Chanequa’s latest book, Scared Self-Care. We go deeper to address the systemic issues that impact self-care and how wholeness and liberation are tied to community and reconciliation. Dr. Chaenqua’s book is built to provide daily practices and strategies to survive what is often an unjust and hyper-individualized world. Listen in to this insightful and in-depth conversation to hear the expertise of a public theologian and clinical psychologist. (more…)

The final Episode of Season 9, a season on mental health, embodiment, and in this episode we throw in change and some DEI (diversity equity and inclusion) as well. Recorded on Treaty 7 territory in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Change is hard, and harder still when it involves institutions filled with individuals who don’t want to change. In this eye-opening and juicy conversation, Nkem Ndefo, founder of Lumos Transforms, joins Rohadi to discuss the pathways to embodying change. Change for both the self, and for organizations looking to become more equitable and inclusive spaces for all to work and thrive. I think in some ways it resilience has been weaponized. And as I’ve been teaching and working with people over the many years, I’ve seen a lot of people recoil from the word because it’s been weaponized against folks in a very neoliberal context, in that we don’t acknowledge the system’s culpability in creating conditions of adversity. Instead, we look only at the individual and that unit, and we say that the individual must be more resilient, you must be strong, flexible to endure, whatever is going on, and that any resilience you build will then be extracted from you for greater production and consumption. – Nkem Episode Summary Intro to this episode. 0:00Introduction to the show. 3:11Reciprocity and collaboration in leading organizational and individual change. 8:24The difficulty of existing in the liminal spaces that need to change. 15:08The way resiliency has been weaponized and how to reclaim it. 21:25The importance of naming systemic problems. 30:55How do we bring awareness to embodiment? 37:14How do we build resilience in the face of privilege and fragility? 43:43 (more…)

Part 2. This episode starts off with an “ah ha” moment on wholeness and the way perceptions of community are shaped through time of past, present, and future. This conversation previews decolonized pathways unto embodiment and mental health look like. Part 2 of a 2 part interview with Frances Elizabeth Moore. Frances speaks to worldview, and how our Western perceptions miss pathways of embodiment and healing. Frances Elizabeth Moore is an Anishinaabe Kwe from Timiskaming First Nations, Quebec residing in London, Ontario. Summary Intro to this episode. 0:00Seven generations in the past, present, and future.Why is healing at the family and community level so important? 3:47 Describing embodiment. 5:22 Challenging Western thought around embodiment and healing. 9:31How not to systematize our healing. 10:53Reducing barriers to access to healing. 14:56The importance of listening to your audience. 19:08Pathways to healing; what do you need to heal? 21:04Bringing awareness to missing and murdered Indigenous women (MMIW). 25:46 (more…)

You don’t have to be a mental health professional or therapist to talk about mental health. And that goes for everybody! Come on through this two part series featuring Frances Elizabeth Moore. Frances Elizabeth Moore is an Anishinaabe Kwe from Timiskaming First Nations, Quebec residing in London, Ontario. She is a storyteller, community advocate, facilitator/educator, non-profit leader, and mother who is invested in promoting awareness for and healing in First Nations, Métis, and Inuit communities. Here is the summary of Part 1, which I highly recommend you listen to as it offers an important setup for Part 2. Episode Summary (more…)