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In a gentle and heartfelt conversation, Korean American Storyteller Tasha Jun discusses her new book, Tell Me the Dream Again, with Latasha Morrison on the Be the Bridge Podcast. You’ll hear Tasha vulnerably share about her journey of embracing the whole story of being biracial. They discuss the importance of being specific about our stories, of honesty and community, and of representation. Tasha and Tasha give listeners encouragement on how to persevere through injustice and also how to sit with the feelings of anger and lament and grief. This episode is an invitation to show up as your whole self and know you are worthy of belonging. We love our community of listeners and we want to know more about you! Find the Listener Survey Here. (One participant will receive a Be the Bridge swag bag!) Host & Executive Producer - Latasha MorrisonSenior Producer - Lauren C. BrownProducer, Editor, & Music - Travon PottsAssistant Producer & Transcriber - Sarah Connatser Quotes:“Belonging is being able to be in a place or a space, where you are your whole self and where your whole self is welcome to stretch out and also have room to become at the same time.” -Tasha Jun “I hope that being really specific will help people to be specific about themselves, and just take a look within and be able to see their own distinctions with value and give attention to those things.” -Tasha Jun “When we think diversity is really divisive, then we have missed something. Because diversity is a part of creation.” -Latasha Morrison Links:Tell Me the Dream Again: Reflections on Family, Ethnicity, and the Sacred Work of Belonging book by Tasha JunVoices of Lament: Reflections on Brokenness and Longing in a World Longing for Justice book edited by Natasha Sistrunk Robinson Connect with Tasha Jun:InstagramFacebookHer SubstackHer Website Connect with Be the Bridge:Our WebsiteFacebookInstagramTwitter Connect with Latasha Morrison:FacebookInstagramTwitter Not all views expressed in this interview reflect the values and beliefs of Latasha Morrison or the Be the Bridge organization.

Thank you for stopping by the Be the Bridge Podcast! This podcast is a resource from the non-profit organization Be the Bridge and is hosted by Latasha Morrison, the Founder and CEO of Be the Bridge and the author of the book Be the Bridge. Be the Bridge responds to racial brokenness and systemic injustice in our world and believes understanding can move us toward racial healing, racial equity, and racial unity. This podcast is an extension of our vision to make sure people are no longer conditioned by a racialized society but grounded in truth. We have provided this podcast as a resource to help cultivate courageous conversations and equip all to flourish. You will find interviews from a variety of thought leaders, faith leaders, and business leaders as well as authors and artists, activists and athletes. You will be encouraged, you will be challenged, and you will be changed. Thank you for subscribing and sharing! Subscribe to the Be the Bridge Podcast in your favorite podcast player so you don't miss an episode of these helpful and hopeful conversations! Find full episode transcripts on the ⁠Be the Bridge website⁠. And subscribe to the Be the Bridge Podcast YouTube Channel to watch clips of interviews, see interviews with closed captioning, and find special episodes. Follow Be the Bridge on Instagram. Follow Be the Bridge on Facebook. Follow Be the Bridge on Twitter. Shop other resources from BTB on the Be the Bridge Shop. Give to the work of Be the Bridge by becoming a financial partner.

At Be the Bridge Podcast, we intentionally interview bridge builders doing incredible work all year long. And it just so happens that we are highlighting an interview Be the Bridge founder and our host, Latasha Morrison, had with Pastor Raymond Chang as we welcome in Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander Heritage Month. They have an important conversation surrounding breaking the stigmas of mental health, discipling students, and acknowledging history. Latasha and Raymond talk about a life-changing trip he took called the Reclaim Trip, where he and others with the Asian American Christian Collaborative toured historical Asian American Civil Rights sites in California. It was a trip that fostered remembering history and reclaiming identity. And he and Latasha even dream up an incredible opportunity for the Be the Bridge community. We are all connected; and gaining historical context helps us better understand, empathize, and lead in the church and in the culture. We love our community of listeners and we want to know more about you! Find the Listener Survey Here. (One participant will receive a Be the Bridge swag bag!) Host & Executive Producer - Latasha MorrisonSenior Producer - Lauren C. BrownProducer, Editor, & Music - Travon PottsAssistant Producer & Transcriber - Sarah Connatser Quotes:“It's like most people don't see how the discipleship that many of us have inherited is actually a discipleship into deformation instead of a formation into Christ.” -Raymond Chang “I don't think that you can fully understand how heinous white supremacy is until you see how it has affected the African American community, how it's affected and manifests within the Indigenous population, within the Asian American population, and the Latino population.” -Raymond Chang “Understanding that history helps us move forward today in more solidarity.” -Latasha Morrison “The more you understand the problem, the more you're able to actually concoct a solution, or at least be a faithful presence to try to be one.” -Raymond Chang Links:Asian American Christian CollaborativeTENx10 CollaborationEpic Movement - Community of CRU for Asian AmericansManzanar Connect with Raymond Chang:His WebsiteInstagramTwitter Connect with Be the Bridge:Our WebsiteFacebookInstagramTwitter Connect with Latasha Morrison:FacebookInstagramTwitter Not all views expressed in this interview reflect the values and beliefs of Latasha Morrison or the Be the Bridge organization.

Beloved Bible teacher and best selling author, Beth Moore, joins Be the Bridge founder and podcast host, Latasha Morrison, once again on the podcast. They discuss her new memoir: All My Knotted Up Life and some of the stories she shares in it of growing up in racialized settings in Arkansas and Texas. They lament how we find ourselves in a time of being unable to reason together and of people looking away from injustice. Latasha and Beth agree on the need to know definitions in the language surrounding racial justice, that it is good and right to always be learning, and that remembering is a sacred act. They laugh together and share wisdom together. Beth is living proof of humble leadership and dedicated companionship.  Host & Executive Producer - Latasha Morrison Senior Producer - Lauren C. Brown Producer, Editor, & Music - Travon Potts at Integrated Entertainment Studios Transcriber - Sarah Connatser Quotes: “We know that beauty is going to come from the ashes, but the ashes are just so hot at times.”  -Latasha Morrison “How long, Lord? When will lives be more important than sides?” -Beth Moore “You don't have to worry that God's just taking this side or he's taking that side. He's just taking over.” -Beth Moore “I want to be a companion to those who have been mistreated.” -Beth Moore Links: All My Knotted Up Life: A Memoir by Beth Moore Connect with Beth Moore: Her Website Facebook  Instagram Twitter Connect with Be the Bridge: Our Website Facebook Instagram Twitter Connect with Latasha Morrison: Facebook Instagram Twitter Not all views expressed in this interview reflect the values and beliefs of Latasha Morrison or the Be the Bridge organization. Find the full episode transcript here.

As a faith leader and activist, Michelle Ferrigno Warren understands the power of proximity and of holding stories with honor and dignity. In this powerful episode of the Be the Bridge Podcast with founder and host Latasha Morrison, she and Latasha talk about God’s heart for justice, the lack of mercy immigrants are met with crossing the border, and the bad shape of the witness of the American Church.Michelle shares about her personal journey in Italy of seeing the empire on display at the Colosseum. And you do not want to miss their discussion of the upside down Kingdom of God as they exegete Isaiah 58 and Matthew 25. This is the perfect conversation for the Be the Bridge community the week of Easter. May we join Jesus and the prophets in the work of resistance, in the work of being disruptors, in the work of granting life and peace. Host & Executive Producer - Latasha MorrisonSenior Producer - Lauren C. BrownProducer, Editor, & Music - Travon Potts at Integrated Entertainment StudiosTranscriber - Sarah Connatser Quotes:“Advocacy is not mission drift for the church. It's the work of the Church.”  -Michelle Ferrigno Warren “I can never unsee and unhear the stories.” -Latasha Morrison “I lament the reality of injustice in a country that says that they want to be defined as liberty and justice for all.” -Michelle Ferrigno Warren Links:Virago StrategiesOpen Door MinistriesChristian Community Development Association (CCDA)National Immigration ForumThe Power of Proximity: Moving Beyond Awareness to Action book By Michelle Ferrigno WarrenJoin the Resistance: Step into the Good Work of Kingdom Justice book by Michelle Ferrigno WarrenWomen of WelcomeWomen of Welcome “Who is Welcome Here?” documentaryGod’s Long Summer bookPrayer of Oscar Romero Connect with Michelle Ferrigno Warren:Her WebsiteFacebookInstagramTwitter Connect with Be the Bridge:Our WebsiteFacebookInstagramTwitter Connect with Latasha Morrison:FacebookInstagramTwitter Not all views expressed in this interview reflect the values and beliefs of Latasha Morrison or the Be the Bridge organization. Find the full episode transcript here.

The NAACP Image Award-winning author, Tracey Michae’l Lewis-Giggetts joins Be the Bridge founder and podcast host, Latasha Morrison, for a profound conversation this Women’s History Month. Listeners get the honor of hearing Tracey talk about the sacred relationship of Black women and the women who have personally impacted her. There is beauty and depth, wisdom and vulnerability in Tracey’s story and words. Latasha and Tracey discuss what it looks like to work faithfully without recognition and the words of Jesus in John 5 about being made well as it relates to racial trauma. You’ll be challenged to find what brings you joy and to guard it. And you’ll be encouraged that joy can coexist with sorrow and anger. Listen in to hear the other “L” that Tracey adds to Listen, Learn, and Leverage. Then, head to our social media profiles to discuss this episode with the Be the Bridge community. Host & Executive Producer - Latasha MorrisonSenior Producer - Lauren C. BrownProducer, Editor, & Music - Travon PottsTranscriber - Sarah Connatser Quotes:“I always say that Black folks are the ultimate alchemists. We have learned how to transform pain.” -Tracey Michae’l Lewis-Giggetts “There are people that will get it and some people who won't. And if I'm so worried about the people who won't get it, the people who are here will get overlooked. It's in Matthew where it says you sometimes just gotta shake the dust off your sandals. We're gonna shake the dust off our Jordans and keep it moving.” -Latasha Morrison “Joy is teaching me to hope.” -Tracey Michae’l Lewis-Giggetts Links:Black Joy: Stories of Resistance, Resilience, and Restoration  book by Tracey Michae’l Lewis-GiggettsThen They Came for Mine: Healing from the Trauma of Racial Violence  book by Tracey Michae’l Lewis-GiggettsHeARTtalk with Tracey Michae’l  PodcastHeArtspace: A Newsletter for Our Healing Journeys by Tracey Michae’l Lewis-Giggetts Connect with Tracey Michae’l Lewis-GiggettsHer WebsiteInstagramTwitterFacebook Connect with Be the Bridge:Our WebsiteFacebookInstagramTwitter Connect with Latasha Morrison:FacebookInstagramTwitter Not all views expressed in this interview reflect the values and beliefs of Latasha Morrison or the Be the Bridge organization.

For Women’s History Month, we present a conversation full of the hurts and joys, laments and hopes of a sacred Black story. Marcie Alvis Walker, the woman behind the popular Instagram account Black Coffee with White Friends, joins Be the Bridge founder and podcast host, Latasha Morrison, for a dynamic conversation. They discuss being Black in predominantly white settings, the white backlash that comes after Black gain, and the effects of generational trauma. They dive into the beauty of mercy and what true integration means. You won’t want to miss Marcie’s words about the Asbury revival and the time of Moses in the wilderness. This conversation will be beneficial to all listeners. And Latasha brings a great reminder for white listeners: “It's an honor when we invite you into these sacred conversations. When we invite you into our pain and our stories, and a lot of times that's for you to listen, and to ask yourself - ‘What is God trying to say to me in this?’ ‘What is God speaking?’ ‘What am I missing?’”  Host & Executive Producer - Latasha Morrison Senior Producer - Lauren C. Brown Producer, Editor, & Music - Travon Potts Transcriber - Sarah Connatser Quotes: “It's really important for us to see that it's not about what the room looks like. It's about what our humanity looks like in that room.” -Marcie Alvis Walker “I believe that what was happening in 2020 was part of revival.” -Latasha Morrison “It's one thing to be made equal; it's another thing to be treated equal. It's one thing to be made equal, and then treated equal; it's another thing to have equity. It's one thing to be made equal, treated equal, have equity; but it's a whole nother thing to have retribution and reparations and reconciliation - all which are biblical.” -Marcie Alvis Walker “When you're able to connect culturally it's just a beautiful thing.” -Latasha Morrison  Connect with Marcie Alvis Walker: Her Website Instagram Twitter Black Eyed Stories Substack Preorder Everybody Come Alive: A Memoir in Essays book by Marcie Alvis Walker Connect with Be the Bridge: Our Website Facebook Instagram Twitter Connect with Latasha Morrison: Facebook Instagram Twitter Not all views expressed in this interview reflect the values and beliefs of Latasha Morrison or the Be the Bridge organization

As one of the founding pastors of Cornerstone Church in Atlanta and a co-founder of Portrait Coffee, John Onwuchekwa knows how to humbly lead and how to nurture a holistic vision of community. In this episode, John and host Latasha Morrison discuss the history of the West End of Atlanta and the example of redlining as systemic racism. They talk about the importance of creating new narratives through opportunities and perspectives. They both share stories of personal grief and how that impacts the work they do. John’s insights into business and community development, Ecclesiastes, and joyful perseverance will bring encouragement and hope.  Host & Executive Producer - Latasha Morrison Senior Producer - Lauren C. Brown Producer, Editor, & Music - Travon Potts Transcriber - Sarah Connatser Quotes: “Some people are called to start the work. And then there's others that are called to finish it, to take it on to the next level.” -Latasha Morrison “Maybe even through the bitterness of life, there's ways to find hope and joy and perseverance.” -John Onwuchekwa “Where do we go from here? We just take the very next step. And then once we get to that next step where both feet are firmly planted, we ask and answer that same question.” -John Onwuchekwa Terms: Redlining - the discriminatory practice in the United States that began in the 1930s of the government outlining certain geographic areas based upon race or ethnicity in order to deny services (both directly and indirectly) such as loans or insurance to someone because they were deemed to be a high financial risk; an inequitable and unjust practice that predominantly affected Black AmericansConnect with  John Onwuchekwa: His Website Instagram Twitter LinkedIn Connect with Be the Bridge: Our Website Facebook Instagram Twitter Connect with Latasha Morrison: Facebook Instagram Twitter

We welcome in Black History Month with an episode from the Be the Bridge team! Sean Watkins, Kaylee Morgan, and Mariah Humphries join Latasha Morrison to talk about all things Black History Month because Black history is American history and Black History Month is for all people. If you’ve ever wondered about the history of February as Black History Month or why histories are separated in the American education system, you don’t want to miss this conversation. If you want space to feel seen and heard as a Black person during this month, you don’t want to miss this conversation.The Be the Bridge team provides listeners with depth, laughter, and things to lament and celebrate. They give personal stories of what Black history means to them and they give recommended resources and lessons to walk away with. Be encouraged that it is never too late to learn. The incredible Black history many of us missed out on growing up can be redeemed now in how we listen, learn, lament, and leverage our lives. May we work together to make sure the full story is told. May we celebrate the beauty and the resilience of the Black community this month and every month. Links: Become a Recurring Partner of Be the Bridge Shop the Be the Bridge Store Recommendations: The Mis-Education of the Negro by Carter G. Woodson Dr. Brittney Cooper Eloquent Rage by Dr. Brittney Cooper Elizabeth Eckford picture on first day of school The Charles H Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit  Connect with Kaylee Morgan Connect with Sean Watkins Connect with Mariah Humphries  Connect with Be the Bridge: Our Website Facebook Instagram Twitter Connect with Latasha Morrison: Facebook Instagram Twitter Not all views expressed in this interview reflect the values and beliefs of Latasha Morrison or the Be the Bridge organization.

Why do politics matter? Why should Christians be engaged in politics? Is social justice compatible with the gospel? Pastor Eugene Cho joins Be the Bridge founder and podcast host Latasha Morrison on this episode to discuss these questions and more. He brings wise insight into faithful living in this time. You’ll be pastored and encouraged by the words and work of Pastor Cho. He and Latasha remind us that even now Jesus is moving and working. Quotes: “Here's the most simple reason why I believe politics matter: politics influences policies that ultimately impact people.” -Eugene Cho “Sociologists are telling us that political identity is growing to become the most dominant way in which we see ourselves in the world. And I think to myself, that's idolatry.” -Eugene Cho “You cannot love your neighbors if you don't know your neighbors.” -Eugene Cho Links: Connect with Eugene Cho: His Website Facebook Instagram Twitter Bread for the World Connect with Be the Bridge: Our Website Facebook Instagram Twitter Connect with Latasha Morrison: Facebook Instagram Twitter Host & Executive Producer - Latasha Morrison Senior Producer - Lauren C. Brown Producer, Editor, & Music - Travon Potts Transcriber - Sarah Connatser Not all views expressed in this interview reflect the values and beliefs of Latasha Morrison or the Be the Bridge organization

In the midst of so much tragedy and so much to lament after recent times of white supremacy raging through racial terrorism and gun massacres, Latasha Morrison spoke with trauma therapist Dr. Anita Phillips for a timely and needed word. Dr. Anita shares about the importance of singing together, of physical touch, and of living sacrificially as a follower of Jesus. She dives deep into God’s design of emotions and the connection between our hearts and brains. This episode is filled with Dr. Anita’s pastoral voice as she invites us into a better understanding of how God created us to feel and to live. Quotes: “With everything that we have going on from some of the police violence with Black and Brown brothers and sisters, from Buffalo, to Texas, it's just all really too much to bear. I cannot understand how to do this apart from Christ.”  -Latasha Morrison “Our mental health, our relational health, our spiritual health is being undermined by how uncomfortable we are and how inarticulate we are and inadequate we are with emotion.” -Dr. Anita Phillips “When I'm watching Jesus, I see Jesus expressing emotion freely and often with words and with his body.” -Dr. Anita Phillips Links: Connect with Dr. Anita Phillips: Her Website Instagram YouTube Facebook Twitter Connect with Be the Bridge: Our Website Facebook Instagram Twitter Connect with Latasha Morrison: Facebook Instagram Twitter Host & Executive Producer - Latasha Morrison Senior Producer - Lauren C. Brown Producer, Editor, & Music - Travon Potts Transcriber - Sarah Connatser Not all views expressed in this interview reflect the values and beliefs of Latasha Morrison or the Be the Bridge organization --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

In the midst of so much tragedy and so much to lament after recent times of white supremacy raging through racial terrorism and gun massacres, Latasha Morrison spoke with trauma therapist Dr. Anita Phillips for a timely and needed word. Dr. Anita shares about the importance of singing together, of physical touch, and of living sacrificially as a follower of Jesus. She dives deep into God’s design of emotions and the connection between our hearts and brains. This episode is filled with Dr. Anita’s pastoral voice as she invites us into a better understanding of how God created us to feel and to live. Quotes: “With everything that we have going on from some of the police violence with Black and Brown brothers and sisters, from Buffalo, to Texas, it's just all really too much to bear. I cannot understand how to do this apart from Christ.”  -Latasha Morrison “Our mental health, our relational health, our spiritual health is being undermined by how uncomfortable we are and how inarticulate we are and inadequate we are with emotion.” -Dr. Anita Phillips “When I'm watching Jesus, I see Jesus expressing emotion freely and often with words and with his body.” -Dr. Anita Phillips Links: Connect with Dr. Anita Phillips: Her Website Instagram YouTube Facebook Twitter Connect with Be the Bridge: Our Website Facebook Instagram Twitter Connect with Latasha Morrison: Facebook Instagram Twitter Host & Executive Producer - Latasha Morrison Senior Producer - Lauren C. Brown Producer, Editor, & Music - Travon Potts Transcriber - Sarah Connatser Not all views expressed in this interview reflect the values and beliefs of Latasha Morrison or the Be the Bridge organization

On this episode of the Be the Bridge Podcast, founder and host Latasha Morrison is joined by Tiffany Henness and Gina Fimbel to discuss transracial adoption. They talk about the importance of centering adoptee voices and of learning from adoptee’s experiences and ethnicities. This needed conversation deals with the ways our society has gotten things wrong with adoption and the ways to grow and do better. Listen in and lean in so we can build bridges and create safer and healthier spaces for adoptees. Quotes: “We think it's important that we empower those where this is their lived experience to do most of the talking. And so we do not want to silence those voices, because they are not voiceless. They’re just unheard.” -Latasha Morrison “We often talk about adoption in such a simple way: black, white; it's all unicorns and rainbows. And I think that's a really dangerous and problematic way to frame it, because it really severely limits the public's perception about the complex dynamics of adoption and the trauma that's associated with it, not only for first families, but for adoptees as well.” -Gina Fimbel “When I'm with other transracial adoptees, that's where I have felt the most freedom to be me.” -Tiffany Henness Links: Resources: Be the Bridge TRA Resources Be the Bridge Blog of Resources for Transracially Adopted People of Color Be the Bridge Panel Discussions: Colin in Black and White Connect with Tiffany Henness: Patreon Instagram Journeying Home: Advent Readings for Adoptees Deconstructing their Faith Tiffany’s LinksConnect with Gina Fimbel: Instagram Connect with Be the Bridge: Our Website Facebook Instagram Twitter Connect with Latasha Morrison: Facebook Instagram Twitter Host & Executive Producer - Latasha Morrison Senior Producer - Lauren C. Brown Producer, Editor, & Music - Travon Potts Transcriber - Sarah Connatser Not all views expressed in this interview reflect the values and beliefs of Latasha Morrison or the Be the Bridge organization

In this special bonus Christmas episode of the Be the Bridge Podcast, Latasha Morrison is joined by three women she met at Christmas Con this year. Gina, India, and Rena have fun with Latasha discussing Hallmark Christmas movies. Their laughter will get you into the Christmas spirit. They also take notice of the improvements that Hallmark has made with diversity and inclusion in front of the screen and behind it. Movies (even feel-good, predictable Hallmark Christmas movies) broaden our imaginations and help remind us of the power and necessity of representation. Quotes: “We were at Christmas Con to feel that Christmas spirit.” -Latasha Morrison “I'm not really a holiday person. But it's just something about those Hallmark channels. We watch them over and over and over. But it just gives you that good feeling.” -Gina “I love to see us in roles of excellence.” -India “I've always been a Christmas person. I love Christmas.” -Rena Connect with Be the Bridge: Our Website Facebook Instagram Twitter Connect with Latasha Morrison: Facebook Instagram Twitter Host & Executive Producer - Latasha Morrison Senior Producer - Lauren C. Brown Producer, Editor, & Music - Travon Potts Transcriber - Sarah Connatser Not all views expressed in this interview reflect the values and beliefs of Latasha Morrison or the Be the Bridge organization

Comfort. Peace. Joy. What word would describe this holiday season for you? Latasha Morrison brings together Michele Evans, Micah Smith, and Lauren Brown of the Be the Bridge executive leadership team to share some of their favorite Christmas traditions, memories, and meals. From the tender memories to the funny ones, and the decorations to the gifts, this episode is one full of Christmas cheer and heartfelt thoughts. May we acknowledge the tensions this season holds while embracing the grief and the celebrations. May we join together in laughter and in tears. And may we open our tables whether they hold Coca-Cola salad, cookies, or Breakfast burritos. Quotes: “Advent is a time that we remember who we serve. I know without Christ I could not do the work that I'm doing.” -Latasha Morrison “There's just something about Christmas when everything just kind of slows down a little bit.” -Micah Smith “There's some beauty in this season in the midst of a lot of brokenness.” -Latasha Morrison Links: Resources Mentioned: She Reads Truth - Advent 2022: Joy of Every Longing Heart Truth’s Table - The King is Coming: An Advent Devotional Other Advent Resources: “Advent Devotionals Highlight Immigration and the Black Church Tradition” article on Faithfully Magazine Mary Had a Baby: An Advent Bible Study Based on African American Spirituals by Cheryl A. Kirk-Duggan “2020 ADVENT RESOURCES, WEEK 2: BLACK LITURGIES” article on Emerging Scholars Network  Connect with Be the Bridge: Our Website Facebook Instagram Twitter Connect with Latasha Morrison: Facebook Instagram Twitter Host & Executive Producer - Latasha Morrison Senior Producer - Lauren C. Brown Producer, Editor, & Music - Travon Potts Transcriber - Sarah Connatser Not all views expressed in this interview reflect the values and beliefs of Latasha Morrison or the Be the Bridge organization.

There is so much about American history that we aren’t taught in the American school systems. There is so much that isn’t exposed. But this episode of the Be the Bridge Podcast reveals America’s culinary founding father, James Hemings. Chef Ashbell McElveen and Visual Storyteller Anthony Werhun discuss their new documentary on Hemings with Latasha Morrison. Their conversation is full of untold stories, rich Black history, and collective lament. This is a reminder of the importance of stewarding history well and reclaiming stories that need to be told. This is an episode you do not want to miss. Quotes: “We want to make sure that we're passing on the correct information to the next generation because stories matter, narratives matter, history matters, who has power matters, who tells the story. It all matters.” -Latasha Morrison “Through the making of this documentary with James Hemings, I discovered that literally enslaved Black cooks and chefs created fine dining in America. So James Hemings literally put fine taste in Thomas Jefferson's mouth, not the reverse. And that's the value of this documentary.” -Chef Ashbell McElveen "James Hemings was a big part of this country's formation. And for some reason, that story has been oppressed for a couple 100 years. It's just this little blurb, but it's much bigger.” -Anthony Werhun Resources Mentioned: James Hemings: Ghost in America’s Kitchen documentary on Amazon Prime Video James Hemings: Ghost in America’s Kitchen Facebook profile James Hemings: Ghost in America’s Kitchen Instagram profile James Hemings: Ghost in America’s Kitchen website Shannon LaNier Voices of the Civil Rights Movement Black Culinary History Connect with Chef Ashbell McElveen: His Website Facebook Instagram Connect with Anthony Werhun: His Website Facebook Instagram Connect with Be the Bridge: Our Website Facebook Instagram  Host & Executive Producer - Latasha Morrison Senior Producer - Lauren C. Brown Producer, Editor, & Music - Travon Potts Transcriber - Sarah Connatser

What does it mean that God is global? How can we long for and pursue justice in a beautiful way? Sandra Maria Van Opstal is a second-generation Latina and the executive director of Chasing Justice. She is an amazing author and pastor, leader, and activist joining Latasha Morrison on the Be the Bridge Podcast to answer these questions and more. She powerfully reminds us that we are all connected to one another and that we need one another. They discuss the rich gift that immigrants and refugees are to the church. They talk about the importance of mutuality. And they dive into how to develop leaders across cultures. Join Sandra and Latasha as they lament and hope together, and may we journey collectively into The Next Worship. Quotes: “What does it look like to live a lifestyle of justice beyond a hashtag and beyond a protest, but into a lifestyle of compassion and justice?” -Sandra Maria Van Opstal “If I don't consider myself an evangelical, it's because evangelicals don't consider me. Evangelicals don't consider my community.” -Sandra Maria Van Opstal Links: Resources Mentioned: A Rhythm of Prayer The Next Worship Voices of Lament Forty Days on Being an Eight Enneagram Daily Reflections book set The Next Worship Bible Study Connect with Sandra Maria Van Opstal: Her Website Instagram Connect with Chasing Justice: Their Website Facebook Instagram Podcast Network Connect with Be the Bridge: Our Website Facebook Instagram Twitter Connect with Latasha Morrison: Facebook Instagram Twitter Host & Executive Producer - Latasha Morrison Senior Producer - Lauren C. Brown Producer, Editor, & Music - Travon Potts Transcriber - Sarah Connatser Not all views expressed in this interview reflect the values and beliefs of Latasha Morrison or the Be the Bridge organization.

There has been a tremendous amount of personal and collective grief over the past couple of years. Navigating it all has been hard. And for those in positions of leadership, it’s been all the more burdensome. So how do we pay attention to the past, look ahead to the future, but live and do the work in this moment? How do we process and grow into all the grief? Author and speaker, pastor, and leader Jeanne Stevens shares beautiful wisdom with the Be the Bridge community about the difference in blame, shame, and guilt and the need to live at peace with God with ourselves so that we can live at peace with others. She and Latasha Morrison talk about the importance of accessing the presence of God. And they discuss what is helpful and unhelpful in the grieving process. This grace filled conversation will help you embrace change, appreciate losses, and remember that you are not alone. Quotes: “The scriptures say that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, which is our hope that we can lean on. But the only place where we can experience God is in the present.” -Jeanne Stevens “What we cannot face, we cannot change”. -Jeanne Stevens “We cannot experience the peace of God if we don't know how to access the presence of God. And the presence of God is always the here and the now.” -Jeanne Stevens “On the other side, there can be joy again. On the other side, there will be hope again.” -Latasha Morrison Links: Ads: Get 25% off your first year of the Abide premium app by texting BTB to 22433Connect with Jeanne Stevens: Her Book: What’s Here Now? Her Website Facebook Instagram Soul City Church Connect with Be the Bridge: Our Website Facebook Instagram TwitterConnect with Latasha Morrison: Facebook Instagram Twitter Host & Executive Producer - Latasha Morrison Senior Producer - Lauren C. Brown Producer, Editor, & Music - Travon Potts Transcriber - Sarah Connatser Not all views expressed in this interview reflect the values and beliefs of Latasha Morrison or the Be the Bridge organization.

This episode brings together faith leaders Kathryn Freeman, Jenny Yang, and Michael Wear to discuss a hot button issue-civic engagement for American Christians.  We'll hear from each of them about what it means for followers of Christ to love their neighbors through politics, voting, and the "third space."  How do we move from awareness to action, and action to advocacy?  Our amazing guests help us understand the challenges and rewards of participation in the political sphere as people of faith. Host & Executive Producer - Latasha Morrison Senior Producer - Lauren C. Brown Producer, Editor & Music By - Travon Potts Transcriber - Sarah Connatser Quotes: "There's nothing wrong with being political. All of us are political beings, all of us live in structures and governments, and communities in which all of us need to come together to make important decisions that impact the common good."  - Jenny Yang “The fine line is between being political and being partisan because oftentimes, partisanship can mean blind allegiance to a specific political party or candidate without realizing that there are faults with specific candidates and parties. And not a single political party or person will ever encompass the fully, perfectly balanced agenda that I believe we’re supposed to pursue in our society.” - Jenny Yang “Faithful political engagement means that you’re willing to put faithfulness over short term political gain. It also means that you’re not just in politics for your own self-interest, that you’re not just going to politics to get your own needs met.” - Michael Wear “I’m convinced people are going to politics a lot these days for spiritual and emotional needs. We find those needs met in Christ, and so we’re freed up to go into politics to affirm human dignity and advance justice.” - Michael Wear “There has to be a separation of who I am as an American and a citizen of this democracy, and who I am as a citizen of the kingdom of heaven. And I think oftentimes we blend those two things together as if America is a Christian nation, and it doesn’t matter that we’ve made an idol or that we live in a way where those identities are blended.” - Kathryn Freeman “The reality is, whether you’re liberal or conservative, you should feel like, ‘I can’t go with that, because my first identity is a citizen of the kingdom of heaven.’ And if you never feel that tension, if the country is always doing what you feel like aligns with God, then I would say that the God that you’re worshipping is not the God of the Bible. It’s not the Jesus of the red letters.” - Kathryn Freeman LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE Podcast link: https://podlink.to/BeTheBridgeSocial handles/links: Instagram: @LatashaMorrisonTwitter: @LatashaMorrisonFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/LatashaMMorrison/Official Hashtag: #bethebridge Download Abide Sleep and Pray Meditation today and text my promo code BTB to 22433 today to get 25% off!

Milton Stewart joins Latasha Morrison on the Be the Bridge Podcast for an episode dedicated to the Enneagram! As the founder of Kaizen Careers, Coaching and Consulting LLC and one of the very few African American male Enneagram teachers in the world, Milton brings his expertise and wisdom to a conversation unlike others revolving around this tool for self-awareness and empathy. They look at the origins of the Enneagram, how it helps in communication, and how the Enneagram can aid in conversations around racial justice. Milton and Latasha share how important self-awareness is in the journey of caring for our communities and working to bring about justice. You’ll leave this episode with an appreciation for Enneagram work that goes deeper than memes and with a great set of resources to dive into. Quotes: “The Enneagram is like a journey or map. When you work with it the right way, it's a tool to help you on a journey to help you find deeper self-awareness to transform yourself.” -Milton Stewart “When there's diversity and inclusion at the table, it makes for a more robust conversation.” -Latasha Morrison Links: Ads: Become a Recurring Partner of Be the Bridge Shop the Be the Bridge Store Resources: Forty Days on Being an Eight book by Sandra Van Opstal The Enneagram for Black Liberation book by Chichi Agorom Know Justice, Know Peace book by Dr. Deborah Egerton The Complete Enneagram book by Beatrice Chestnut Reclaiming You book by Sharon K. Ball The Body Keeps the Score book by Bessel Van Der Kolk Milton Stewart: Kaizen Careers Kaizen Careers Facebook Kaizen Careers Instagram Kaizen Careers LinkedIn Do it for the Gram Podcast Do it for the Gram Podcast Instagram LinkedIn Be the Bridge: Our Website Facebook Instagram Twitter Host & Executive Producer - Latasha Morrison  Senior Producer - Lauren C. Brown  Producer, Editor, & Music - Travon Potts  Transcriber - Sarah Connatser