Complexified

In this episode, Amanda Henderson talks to Dr. Kristina Lizardy-Hajbi, a biracial scholar and professor at the Iliff School of Theology. They explore the American dream through the lens of personal experiences and the stories of ancestors, especially focusing on the immigrant journey.Dr. Lizardy-Hajbi shares tales of her grandparents from Italy and Puerto Rico, revealing the challenges they had to overcome to settle in America and the personal experiences tied to these journeys. The conversation touches on aspects such as name Anglicization, language loss, and various legal hurdles in the quest for the coveted American Dream. Also discussed is the paradoxical political situation of Puerto Rico as an intricate part of the United States, but lacking in full political representation. Amanda interrogates how religion and differing cultural contexts shaped these immigrant experiences.00:01 Introduction and Background01:14 Exploring the History of Puerto Rico01:41 Guest Introduction: Dr. Kristina Lazardi-Hajbi02:22 The Prerequisites of the American Dream04:10 The Story of Puerto Rican Immigration06:13 The Complexities of Puerto Rican Citizenship10:23 The Impact of Americanization on Immigrant Families14:48 The Italian Immigrant Experience27:31 The Role of Religion in Immigrant Communities33:14 Reflections on the American Dream35:52 Conclusion and Future Plans Want to Learn More?Puerto Rico: A U.S. Territory in Crisis Article:   https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/puerto-rico-us-territory-crisisNew Partnership in 2024 with Religion News Service. Learn more about RNS here: https://religionnews.com/ Want to Take Action? Learn about immigration rights and how to take action in Colorado: https://www.aclu-co.org/en/campaigns/immigrants-rights Sign up for Complexified Newsletter: https://complexified.substack.com/Help Make Complexified Happen - Donate here https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E345509&id=75Contact us: email complexified@iliff.eduComplexified Website: https://www.complexified.org/

In this episode, Amanda Henderson interviews Dr. Albert Hernández - a Cuban-American academic with a unique perspective on the American Dream. Dr. Hernández discusses the challenges faced by those who exist in-between cultures, feeling a lack of belonging to either. He shares historical perspectives on the experience of immigration to the U.S, particularly from Cuba, and explores how global political conflicts can drive individuals to relocate, seeking safety and better futures for their offspring. The episode illuminates the significance of personal and political narratives in shaping our understanding of the past and our vision for the future. The discussions range from colonial legacies, racialization, to the long road to societal change.Lastly, it presents a reflective poem reading by Mariela Saavedra Carquin – I swear There Was a River. In Maps You Can’t Make, Mariella Saavedra Carquin confronts hard truths in this powerful debut collection, pushing through layered complexities of immigration, race, and identity to find a way forward.00:00 Introduction: The Hyphenated Existence00:33 Understanding the American Dream02:04 Historical Context: Cuba and the United States03:25 Interview with Dr. Albert Hernández: A Cuban-American Perspective05:55 The Cuban Revolution and Its Impact07:50 The Hyphenated Existence: A Personal Journey09:01 The Struggle of Belonging: Between Cuban and American10:19 The Influence of Personal History on Academic Interests13:09 Generational Differences in Immigrant Experiences20:22 The Complexity of Identity and the American Dream23:39 The Role of History in Shaping Our Present and Future30:56 The Long Haul Commitment to Change33:12 Poetry Reading: I Swear There Was a River by Mariella Saavedra Carquin 35:58 Conclusion and Acknowledgements Guest BiosDr. Albert Hernández joined the Iliff faculty in 2001. He teaches courses in the history of Christianity from Medieval to Early Modern times with additional expertise in the history of the ancient Hellenistic-Roman period. His research and teaching areas include the history of mysticism and pneumatology; Muslim and Christian relations beginning with the Crusades; religious diversity in medieval Iberia and the Spanish Empire; and the history of medicine and pandemics. Hernández led the faculty design team that created the Authentic Engagement Program™ focusing his contribution on human flourishing and the philosophy of Happiness.Poet Mariella Saavedra Carquin is a graduate of Middlebury College, holds an EdM and an MA in psychological counseling from Columbia University, and recently earned an MA from Middlebury's Bread Loaf School of English. She is a licensed mental health counselor who has practiced in clinical, higher education, and middle school settings and published in academic journals on the psychological impact of microaggressions experienced by undocumented immigrant youth. Born in Peru and raised in Miami, she currently lives in Colorado. Want to Learn More?Cuban Missile Crisis - https://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/cuban-missile-crisisMariella Saavedra Carquin, the poet who read one of her poems at the end of this episode. Her recently published book of poems confronts hard truths in this powerful debut collection, pushing through layered complexities of immigration, race, and identity to find a way forward.   https://www.juneroadpress.com/maps-you-cant-make Want to Take Action? Learn about immigration rights and how to take action in Colorado: https://www.aclu-co.org/en/campaigns/immigrants-rights Sign up for Complexified Newsletter: https://complexified.substack.com/Help Make Complexified Happen - Donate here https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E345509&id=75Contact us: email complexified@iliff.eduComplexified Website: https://www.complexified.org/ 

In this episode, Amanda Henderson talks to Nga Vương-Sandoval, a refugee from Việt Nam and United States Refugee Advisory Board Project Manager. The conversation explores the transformation of the American Dream, immigration histories and policies, and the experiences of refugees. Vương-Sandoval shares her insights on the true meaning of the American Dream, which she believes should not be drowned by materialism but rather focused on essential human aspirations such as freedom, safety, and security. The episode also investigates how immigration laws shape daily life, how global events affect personal perspectives, and the complex realities of being displaced and navigating life in a foreign country.Lastly, it presents a reflective poem reading by Mariela Saavedra Carquin on the complex realities of loss that come with displacement and resettlement in a new land.00:02 Introduction and Overview02:01 Understanding Immigration Laws and Policies03:55 The Impact of Immigration Policies05:08 Guest Introduction: Nga Vương-Sandoval06:34 Nga's Journey and Perspective on the American Dream13:53 The Influence of Capitalism on the American Dream17:53 The Global Perception of the American Dream21:20 The Role of History in Shaping Perceptions24:22 Empowering Refugees and Asylum Seekers28:27 Reflecting on Personal Experiences and the Concept of Home31:20 Closing Remarks and Preview of Next Episode Guest BioAs a Việtnamese refugee, Nga Vương-Sandoval embraces her heritage and refugee experience and is empathetic to the plight and struggle of other underrepresented communities. In addition to being a TEDx Presenter, she is active in a number of advocacy roles, including being a member of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders; a founding member and public speaker with Colorado Refugee Speakers Bureau; a refugee advisor for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees Refugee Advisory Group; the first refugee elected to Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains Board of Directors and Vice-Chair of the Program Services Committee; a Noble Ambassador for Christina Noble Children’s Foundation; an advisory member for Denver’s Little Sài Gòn Redevelopment Group; and an advisory member to the Denver Elections Advisory Committee. She previously served as a Commissioner with the Denver Asian American Pacific Islander Commission.Nga earned a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice and Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. In her free time, she enjoys meeting, learning and engaging with diverse communities, reading, writing op-eds on Medium.com, watching documentaries, traveling domestically and internationally, exploring and savoring cuisines locally and around the world and creating origami for her NVS Cre-Asian line that’s sold at Ruby’s Market in Denver. Want to Learn More?Hart-Cellar Act of 1965: https://cis.org/Report/HartCeller-Immigration-Act-1965The James Truslow Adams book Nga referenced that was published in 1931– The Epic of America: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1192936.The_Epic_of_AmericaMariella Saavedra Carquin, the poet who read one of her poems at the end of this episode. Her recently published book of poems confronts hard truths in this powerful debut collection, pushing through layered complexities of immigration, race, and identity to find a way forward.   https://www.juneroadpress.com/maps-you-cant-make Want to Take Action? Learn about immigration rights and how to take action in Colorado: https://www.aclu-co.org/en/campaigns/immigrants-rights Sign up for Complexified Newsletter: https://complexified.substack.com/Help Make Complexified Happen - Donate here https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E345509&id=75Contact us: email complexified@iliff.eduComplexified Website: https://www.complexified.org/

Last month, we had our first live audience recording of Complexified! Amanda Henderson and Lex Dunbar welcomed Denver Drag Performers Juiccy Misdemeanor and Dixie Krystals for a provocative conversation confronting the efforts across the U.S. to ban drag performances. We laughed, we cried, we learned, and we laughed some more! 00:02 Introduction and Welcome00:27 The Complexified Live Episode: Why Ban Drag?01:38 Introducing the Drag Performers: Dixie Krystals and Juiccy Misdemeanor02:50 The Current State of Drag and LGBTQ Rights04:41 The Origins and Evolution of Drag10:41 The Role of Activism in Drag12:34 The Intersection of Religion and Drag13:35 The Impact of Politics on Drag and LGBTQ Community18:37 The Challenges and Joys of Being a Drag Performer46:57 The Importance of Community in Drag49:09 Conclusion and Future Plans Guest Bio & linksLex Dunbar - Co-Host for this episodeLex Dunbar (They/Them) is a Black ENBY, June Gemini, and Norf-Philly native. They are a passionate educator, avid protestor, dynamic workshop facilitator, and compassionate neighbor. Lex completed their second Master’s degree at Iliff School of Theology and is currently a PhD candidate in the Joint Doctoral Program at Denver University and Iliff School of Theology. Guest Panelist and Performer: Juiccy Misdemeanor Juiccy is a dancer, artist, drag performer, and a growing icon here in Denver, Colorado. Juiccy is the recent winner of Miss Peach 2023, a dynamic performer bringing life of the party energy to the spaces she occupies. https://www.instagram.com/juiccymisdemeanor/ Guest Panelist and Performer: Dixie KrystalsDixie Krystals has been dazzling audiences for 25 years. Her passion for community is what drives her to excellence. She is an ordained minister, bingo queen, emcee and fabulous hostess with the mostess.Dixie has been featured in Generation Drags, Streaming on Max and Camp Wannakiki Season 5 on Out TV.https://www.dixiekrystals.com/ Music by DJ Erin Stereo for the live event: Erin Stereo is a DJ, curator and record collector from Denver, Colorado. Recently, Erin was named Best House DJ by The Denver Westword, Erin Stereo is known for spinning House music designed to ignite and delight the dance floor.https://www.erinstereo.com/ Links for things shared in the episode:Learn more about Mx, the title in place of Mr or Mrs mentioned in the show: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mx_(title) Want to Learn More?From police raids to pop culture: The early history of modern drag https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/drag-queen-drag-balls-early-history-pop-culture12 historic LGBTQ figures who changed the world - https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/historical-lgbt-figures-activists-culture  Anti-Drag legislation - https://people.com/politics/anti-drag-legislation-united-states/Trans History: https://www.historians.org/research-and-publications/perspectives-on-history/may-2018/what-is-trans-history-from-activist-and-academic-roots-a-field-takes-shape Want to Take Action?https://www.lgbtqnation.com/branded/authentic-voices-of-pride/drag-as-activism/https://glaad.org/drag/https://action.aclu.org/give/support-drag-defense-fundVote!  Sign up for Complexified Newsletter: https://complexified.substack.com/Help Make Complexified Happen - Donate here https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E345509&id=75Contact us: email complexified@iliff.eduComplexified Website: https://www.complexified.org/

In this episode, recorded before the attacks by Hamas on Israel and the devastating response by the Israeli Military in Gaza, Colorado State Representative Iman Jodeh shares her family story of leaving Palestine in the late 1960s seeking refuge from daily discrimination and violence. Making a way meant teaching Americans about Islam and building bridges of understanding and awareness. Rep. Jodeh shares how the legacy of her parents inspires her to serve as a State Legislator and ensure future generations know the power they hold to shape their future. Guest Bio & linksRepresentative Iman Jodeh is an American politician serving as a Democratic member of the Colorado House of Representatives from the 41st district. Elected in 2020, she is the first Muslim elected to the legislature and assumed office on January 13, 2021. Want to Learn More?History of Palestine: https://www.un.org/unispal/history/Israel Gaza Conflict Timeline by the New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/07/world/middleeast/israel-gaza-conflict-timeline.html Want to Take Action?6 ways you can support Palestinians in Gaza by the American Friends Service Committee https://afsc.org/news/6-ways-you-can-support-palestinians-gaza Sign up for Complexified Newsletter: https://complexified.substack.com/Help Make Complexified Happen - Donate here https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E345509&id=75Contact us: email complexified@iliff.eduComplexified Website: https://www.complexified.org/

In this episode, recorded before the attacks by Hamas on Israel and the devastating response by the Israeli Military in Gaza, Rabbi Joe, from Temple Emanuel in Denver, Colorado, shares his family story. His father’s family fled persecution in the late 19th century to find safety in the U.S. After the terror of Kristallnacht, the night of the broken glass, his mother’s family fled to the U.S. Rabbi Joe shares how the legacy of seeking refuge and ensuring ‘never-again’ lives in him. You don’t want to miss Rabbi Joe’s song for his mother at the end of the episode, Salty Taste of Tears.  Guest Bio & linksRabbi Black has been the Senior Rabbi of Temple Emanuel since 2010, previously serving as rabbi of Congregation Albert in Albuquerque, New Mexico from 1996-2010. He served as Assistant and then Associate Rabbi at Temple Israel in Minneapolis, Minnesota from 1987-1996. He received his Bachelor's degree in Education from Northwestern University in 1982 and his Master's degree and rabbinic ordination from the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1987. In 2012 he received an honorary Doctorate of Divinity from HUC-JIR.Website: https://www.emanueldenver.org/about/clergy#RabbiBlack Want to Learn More?Holocaust Encyclopedia – KRISTALLNACHThttps://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/kristallnachtHolocaust Encyclopedia –  Pogrom is a Russian word meaning “to wreak havoc, to demolish violently.” https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/pogroms?gclid=CjwKCAiA9dGqBhAqEiwAmRpTC0Hm5LWaL36azOTif9FgHWyCrPG3hIeaO4ZiPVO6vhCajIMc9yWVqBoCRDQQAvD_BwE“ADL Records Dramatic Increase in U.S. Antisemitic Incidents Following Oct. 7 Hamas Massacre”  https://www.adl.org/resources/press-release/adl-records-dramatic-increase-us-antisemitic-incidents-following-oct-7 Want to Take Action?Donate – “By donating to ADL today, you’ll ensure we are well positioned to disrupt the spread of antisemitism, anti-Zionism, conspiracy theories and all forms of hate online …”  https://support.adl.org/give/174715/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA9dGqBhAqEiwAmRpTC40oq1U92ujPFS4Z9w4vNotO-PEl9zd6yEKDgtRYVMI1hb4uZgdFMRoCwcQQAvD_BwE#!/donation/checkout?utm_source=paidsearch&utm_medium=googlepaid&utm_campaign=Evergreen&c_src=evergreen&c_src2=googlepaidMonitor – Act – Educate: https://americansaa.org/?gclid=CjwKCAiA9dGqBhAqEiwAmRpTC8c9_WKBVWvPxB0OFzn3-2jPaae0qm3pb5NW3oZeAW_I1f9_F6KT5RoCVWUQAvD_BwE Sign up for Complexified Newsletter: https://complexified.substack.com/Help Make Complexified Happen - Donate here https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E345509&id=75Contact us: email complexified@iliff.eduComplexified Website: https://www.complexified.org/

Why is homeownership such an integral part of the American Dream? Why have some been systematically excluded from homeownership while others have been incentivized and subsidized to own their home? In this episode, Dr. Ben Sanders shares his family story of ownership and belonging from an experience as a Black American, as we continue to peel apart the myth of the American Dream.  Guest Bio Ben Sanders, Ph.D is the Chief Equity Officer of the City of Denver. He is an Equity Professional/Consultant, Social Ethicist, Theologian, Passionate Servant-Leader, Change-Agent, Community Builder, and a Dad. Ben creates measurable and effective, equity-centered systems, processes, and policies that help companies, communities, and organizations optimize and achieve their missions and goals. Want to Learn More?NBC News: The American Dream while Black: ‘Locked in a Vicious cycle’: Homeownership is supposed to be the gateway to the American dream. Black Americans have been denied access – https://www.nbcnews.com/specials/american-dream-while-black-homeownership/NAACP: the home of grassroots activism for civil rights and social justice.We advocate, agitate, and litigate for the civil rights due to Black America. In our cities, schools, companies, and courtrooms, we are the legacy of W.E.B. Du Bois, Ida B. Wells, Thurgood Marshall, and many other giants –  https://naacp.org/Homeownership rates by Race: https://usafacts.org/articles/homeownership-rates-by-race/ Want to Take Action?Donate to NAACP: https://naacp.org/resources/reparationsDonate to advancing Black Homeownership: https://www.habitat.org/our-work/advancing-black-homeownershiphttps://www.dearfieldfund.com/https://downpaymentresource.com/homebuyer-resource/highlighting-homebuyer-assistance-programs-for-black-homebuyers/#:~:text=The%20Dearfield%20Fund%20for%20Black,through%20affordable%20and%20sustainable%20homeownership. Facing Race: A National Conference: https://facingrace.raceforward.org/ Sign up for Complexified Newsletter: https://complexified.substack.com/Help Make Complexified Happen - Donate here https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E345509&id=75Contact us: email complexified@iliff.eduComplexified Website:  https://www.complexified.org/

One afternoon, her clothes, hair, language, name, and even her parents were taken from her.  In this episode, Navajo woman Bessie Smith, who survived the Indian Boarding Schools, shares her story of losing everything and then reclaiming the traditions she learned as a child to find healing. Join us in this episode as we go to Bessie's home in Denver, Colorado, and hear about the day her parents were forced to hand her over to the U.S. Government. Bessie shares with breathtaking detail, remembering the gravity of all she lost. Listen to the full episode for ways you can learn more, and take action to first listen and feel, and then to heal, together. Guest BioBessie Smith (Dzabahe) was born around January 12th, 1942 and raised on the Diné  reservation, halfway between Leupp and Tuba City, Arizona.  She was born into Hashkáán Hadzohí  (yucca fruit plant) clan, born for Bįįhbitodní clan (deer water), and paternal grandfather of Kiyáání (tower house people) clan, and maternal grandfather ofTłeziłaní (manygoats) clan.  She was raised in a traditional Diné way of life. Bessie has been designing and making jewelry for over 25 years. She currently works on a part time basis as a consultant to agencies who are in need of Navajo interpretation services throughout the State of Colorado. Bessie’s Jewelry Website: https://www.dzabahe.com/ Links for things shared in the episode:The Denver Post article referenced by Amanda: https://www.denverpost.com/2023/10/03/native-american-boarding-schools-graves-fort-lewis-grand-junction/Supreme Court preserves law that aims to keep Native American children with tribal families: https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-native-american-children-adoption-8eee3db1e97cee84a7fdcd98d43df795#tbl-em-lnwebu7xuuio4ldv5e Want to Learn More?CPR News Article: Legacy Of Indigenous Boarding Schools In Colorado Includes Unmarked Graves And Generational Scarshttps://www.cpr.org/2021/08/02/indigenous-boarding-schools-colorado-unmarked-graves-generational-scars/9 News interview with Bessie Smith: Federal Indian Boarding School survivor shares the abuse she endured, and how her jewelry business helps her heal:https://www.9news.com/article/news/local/next/federal-indian-boarding-school-survivor-abuse-jewelry-business-heal-denver-colorado/73-91ebf2d1-051f-413d-8977-f97f8ed5c199New York Times article: Researchers Identify Dozens of Native Students Who Died at Nebraska School:https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/17/us/native-american-boarding-school-deaths-nebraska.htmlNew York Times article: ‘WAR AGAINST THE CHILDREN’ - The Native American boarding school system — a decades-long effort to assimilate Indigenous people before they ever reached adulthood — robbed children of their culture, family bonds and sometimes their lives:https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/08/30/us/native-american-boarding-schools.html Want to Take Action?Land Back Movement: https://landback.org/Global Fight to End Fossil Fuels: https://climatenetwork.org/can-event/global-fight-to-end-fossil-fuels/ Sign up for Complexified Newsletter: https://complexified.substack.com/Help Make Complexified Happen:  https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E345509&id=75 Contact us: email complexified@iliff.eduComplexified Website - https://www.complexified.org/

As debates rage in state legislatures and school boards about history curriculums or critical race theory or the impact of slavery, we know that how we imagine our future has everything to do with how we remember our past. In this episode, we begin our series pulling apart the stories we have been told about the American Dream through our own multiple, honest, complicated stories of Dreaming America. We begin with our host, Amanda Henderson’s own family story. Moving West to find a better life, open space, and a land of their own, Amanda’s grandparent’s encountered hardship and built community. Their story mirrors the classic stories we have been told about pioneers and homesteaders, and there was more to that story, and there is more to our story. Begin the journey for the weeks ahead in the American Southwest with the stories we are told before we move further into the many stories we hold. Resources to learn more:Homestead Act of 1862 - https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/homestead-act#:~:text=The%20Homestead%20Act%2C%20enacted%20during,plot%20by%20cultivating%20the%20land.  Subscribe to the Complexified Newsletter on Substack - https://complexified.substack.com/Connect with us on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/complexifiedpodcast/Complexified Website - https://www.complexified.org/ Resources from the Guest:New River (Images of America) Book, Marcy Millerhttps://www.amazon.com/River-Images-America-Marcy-Miller/dp/1467115932Land of Our Own: New River, Arizona Paperbackby Pauline Essary Grimes (Author)"How the American Dream Has Changed Over Time." Gale Student Resources in Context, Gale, 2016. Student Resources in ContextA Brief History of the American DreamAn Essay by Sarah Churchwell, Professor at the University of London, and Author, Behold, America: The Entangled History of ‘America First’ and ‘the American Dream’

The American Dream… is complicated.  It always has been.For some - this dream has been a nightmare… a mirage in a forsaken desert.A myth.For others, it’s been an oasis from hardship, oppression, violence.… a vision realized through physical freedom and material success.This season on Complexified, we’re asking:Where did the myth of the American dream come from?What’s it got to do with religion and politics?And how is it shaping our lives, for better or worse?Coming to you from the Institute for Religion, Politics & Culture at Iliff School of Theology, I’m your host, Amanda Henderson, back with a new season of Complexified…my show about the powerful ways religion and politics intersect and affect my life. Your life. And all of our lives, together.Each week, I’ll share what I’m learning as we turn the myth of the American Dream into our multiple, honest ways of Dreaming America.Complexified: Dreaming America launches October 5th. Follow and share the show now, wherever you listen. 

 Denise is an award-winning Latina filmmaker and cultural storyteller. Denise is the American-born daughter of first-generation immigrants from Puerto Rico, growing up first in the Bronx and then in a mostly white community further upstate in New York. She never felt like she belonged anywhere. not white enough and American enough for the suburban community around her. Nor fluent enough in Spanish to feel completely Latina. She was a girl and then a woman who felt out of place. So what did she do? She created a film called,  "Being Enye". All about that sense of being in between. 

Dr. Butler is the founder of the seekr project, a distinctively black conversational artificial intelligence with mental health capacities, and is partner director of the Iliff School of Theology's  AI Institute, where he works to change how computers see people. 

Ian is a political strategist, dad, and the first gentleman of the seventh congressional district in Colorado. We discuss the tension between incrementalism and revolutions and how religious ideologies influence our political mindsets.

Check out Dr. Yetunde's books! 

For more information about Dr. De La Torre, visit his website and check out all 42 of his books! "All that you touch, you change. All that you change changes you. The only lasting truth is change. God is change. " Octavia E. Buter

OCTAVIA E. BUTLER - The Parable Series

Amanda and Lex talk about their favorite episodes and what they've learned in these first two seasons of the Complexified podcast! They also share the vision and what you can expect for season 3!

We are approaching the holiday season, and many folks have questions and anxieties about sharing space with family members with whom we disagree based on our political understanding and involvement in the world. Sarah Holland and Beth Silvers from Pantsuit Politics talk with Amanda, and they help us approach the holidays with family and engage them in political discussions rooted in love and care.

Reverend Dr. Jennifer Leath speaks on liberation and the AME church. We hear about her journey growing up as a Quare young person knowing that she was called to preach and how she had to make choices aligned with HER TRUTH. We also dive into her decision to move to Canada and her quest to become a mother.

Why does the government care so much about our bodies and whether we have babies? Get nerdy with us as we talk with philosophy professor Thomas Nail, and explore the history of governments forming the populations they want to govern.