In this episode we will talk about Black history but not the way you are used to talking about it. Let’s talk about riots.

Last week we spent some time asking the question what would it take to make our relationships work? This week, I want to dive into some more practical examples of why this work is important for us as individuals, but also as a society. If you haven’t listened to the previous episode, pause this, go back and check it out.

Welcome back! We’re kicking off season 3 with relationships. They’re foundational to the human experience, yet they’re also anything but simple. In this episode, we explore some of the ideas about relationships that I grew up with while exploring biblical examples of romantic connections. In the end, we identify some of the fundamental principles for healthy relationships.

What does Thanksgiving actually mean? Quick holiday reminder as we approach the Thanksgiving season!

In early May 2022, a draft of a supreme court opinion was leaked which highlighted the Supreme Court’s intention to overturn Roe v Wade. This news has sent shockwaves through the country which are still rippling today.

In this episode we will unpack why this matters and what the ramifications could be for women and families all across the country and examine the roots of the conservative obsession with abortion rights. While some see a religious obsession with when life begins or ideological convictions that equate abortion with murder…I see political games and outright racism.

Listen in.

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Since the war in Ukraine began in February, we’ve heard reports of terrible atrocities. Mass graves uncovered, the entire port city of Mariupal besieged for months which has led to a humanitarian crisis. Women and children injured or killed during strikes on residential areas.

As I listened to reports in late February, I heard several prominent reporters openly noting their horror and surprise that we were witnessing such tragedies in a “civilized”country. Lets dig into this idea of “civilized” and “uncivilized” countries and how its roots in White supremacy influence our reactions to current world conflicts.

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In this episode of the what would it take podcast, we’re going to explore the concept of reparations.
Why are they necessary? Who should they go to? And what would reparations practically look like?
If you’re still listening, then you must be wondering “what would it take, to repair the harm that
has been done?”. Listen on to find out.

Resources from this episode

• https://www.brookings.edu/policy2020/bigideas/why-we-need-reparations-for-black-americans/
• https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/09/29/the-cost-of-slavery-reparations-is-now-within-the-boundaries-of-the-politically-acceptable/
  https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2021/06/01/tulsa-race-massacres-silence-schools/
• https://eji.org/reports/lynching-in-america/
• https://abcnews.go.com/Business/america-owes-reparations-pay/story?id=72863094
• https://reparationscomm.org/reparations-plan/

In this episode Ben is joined Reverend Chesla. She is dedicated to helping people develop healthy, liberating, loving relationships with the divine, themselves and others. She serves as a hospice chaplain, a wedding officiant, a couples therapist, as well as a sexuality educator. Learn more about Reverend Chesla at https://www.revchesla.com/.

For a lot of people, especially those that grew up in more conservative christian environments, conversations about sex come with a lot of baggage. We were told that our bodies, aka our flesh, was at war with the spirit and therefore we should resist the flesh. So we spend years suppressing, resisting and even demonizing our own desires thinking it’s the right thing to do. But what if that wasn’t true?

Throughout the modern Christian spaces, abstinence only has been the most promoted as the way to teach sex education. In this episode we will unpack the ramifications of abstinence only and how it is not only insufficient, but that it can leave young people dangerously uniformed. Our churches and faith communities hold responsibility here and we can do better. Listen in.