The Iconocast

In this interview, Mark and Sarah interview Richard Beck.

Richard Beck is Professor and Department Chair of Psychology at Abilene Christian University. Richard is married to Jana and they have two sons, Brenden and Aidan. They also have a dog Bandit who keepsRichard company when he works away on his blog Experimental Theology. Richard's area of interest is on the interface of Christian theology and psychology, with a particular focus on how existential issues affect Christian belief and practice. Richard's published research covers topics as diverse as the psychology of profanity to why Christian bookstore art is so bad. He is the author of "Unclean: Meditations on Purity, Hospitality, and Mortality"

Direct download: s2e40-iconocast.mp3
Category:Iconocast -- posted at: 12:00pm CDT

In this episode, Joanna and Sarah interview Starhawk–one of the most respected voices in modern earth-based spirituality.

Starhawk is also well-known as a global justice activist and organizer, whose work and writings have inspired many to action. She is the author or coauthor of twelve books, including The Spiral Dance: A Rebirth of the Ancient Religion of the Great Goddess, long considered the essential text for the Neo-Pagan movement, and the now-classic ecotopian novel The Fifth Sacred Thing. Starhawk’s newest book is The Empowerment Manual: A Guide for Collaborative Groups, forthcoming in November 2011, from New Society Publishers.

Direct download: s2e39-iconocast.mp3
Category:Iconocast -- posted at: 12:00pm CDT

n this episode, Joanna and Mark interview Calenthia Dowdy.

Calenthia Dowdy is a cultural anthropologist who specializes in urban youth culture(s) and Afro-Brazilian life. She teaches youth ministry and cultural anthropology at Eastern University in St. Davids, Pennsylvania. Calenthia was born, raised, and continues to reside in the city of Philadelphia. She’s a Philadelphia Mennonite affiliate and has a keen interest in intentional discipleship community living and various expressions of the emerging church movement. Since 2003, Calenthia has been an antiracism trainer with Damascus Road, an antiracism education and organizing program.

Recently, she contributed a chapter to Widening the Circle: Experiments in Christian Discipleship, where she addresses issues of race in intentional communities.

Direct download: s2e38-iconocast.mp3
Category:Iconocast -- posted at: 12:00pm CDT

n this episode, Joanna and Mark interview Robert Ellsberg.

Robert Ellsberg is the son of Carol Cummings and the American military analyst and whistleblower, Daniel Ellsberg. At age 19, Robert dropped out of college, intending to spend a few months with the Catholic Worker Movement. He stayed to become the managing editor of The Catholic Worker for two years (1976-8), a job that would introduce him to Dorothy Day and consequently would allow him to work with Day for the last five years of her life. This life-changing experience prompted him to convert to Catholicism.

In 1987 he began work as editor-in-chief of Orbis Books. He in theauthor of several books, including All Saints: Daily Reflections on Saints, Prophets, and Witness for Our Time, and the Saints’ Guide to Happiness. His book Blessed Among All Women tied a Catholic Press Association record by winning awards for Gender, Spirituality, and Popular Presentation of the Catholic Faith. He is the editor of the published diaries and letters of Dorothy Day. He currently resides in Ossining, New York with his wife and their three children.

Direct download: s2e37-iconocast.mp3
Category:Iconocast -- posted at: 12:00pm CDT

n this episode, Mark (with an impromptu question from Orrin) interviews Dr. Bruce Levine.

Dr. Levine writes and speaks widely on how society, culture, politics and psychology intersect. His latest book is Get Up, Stand Up: Uniting Populists, Energizing the Defeated, and Battling the Corporate Elite  A practicing clinical psychologist often at odds with the mainstream of his profession, he is a regular contributor to the Huffington PostCounterPunchAlterNet, and Z Magazine. His articles and interviews have been published in AdbustersTruthoutThe EcologistHigh Times, and numerous other magazines.

Direct download: s2e36-iconocast.mp3
Category:Iconocast -- posted at: 12:00pm CDT

This is the second of a two part interview with Bob Ekblad. For part one, go here.

Bob Ekblad is executive director of Tierra Nueva and The People’s Seminary in Burlington, Washington. Tierra Nueva is an ecumenical ministry located in Burlington, Washington, that seeks to share the Good News of God’s liberation in Jesus Christ with migrant farmworkers, jail inmates, and Skagit Valley gang members. A minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA), Bob holds a ThD in Old Testament and is known internationally for his courses and workshops on reading the Bible.  Bob and his wife Gracie minister at Tierra Nueva and at their home-based retreat center New Earth Refuge. Bob is the author of Reading the Bible with the Damned and A New Christian Manifesto: Pledging Allegiance to the Kingdom of God.

Direct download: s2e35-iconocast.mp3
Category:Iconocast -- posted at: 12:00pm CDT

In this episode Jarrod and Mark interview Bob Ekblad.

Bob Ekblad is executive director of Tierra Nueva and The People’s Seminary in Burlington, Washington. Tierra Nueva is an ecumenical ministry located in Burlington, Washington, that seeks to share the Good News of God’s liberation in Jesus Christ with migrant farmworkers, jail inmates, and Skagit Valley gang members. A minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA), Bob holds a ThD in Old Testament and is known internationally for his courses and workshops on reading the Bible.  Bob and his wife Gracie minister at Tierra Nueva and at their home-based retreat center New Earth Refuge. Bob is the author ofReading the Bible with the Damned and A New Christian Manifesto: Pledging Allegiance to the Kingdom of God. This is the first of a two part interview.

Direct download: s2e34-iconocast.mp3
Category:Iconocast -- posted at: 12:00pm CDT

In this episode Caleb and Joanna interview Alexia Salvatierra. Rev. Salvatierra is the founding director of FaithRooted.org and served as the executive director of C.L.U.E. (clergy and laity united for economic justice), an organization of religious leaders in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego. C.L.U.E. supports low-wage workers in their struggle for a living wage, health insurance, fair working conditions and a voice in the decisions that effect them. C.L.U.E. is one of the coordinating agencies of the national New Sanctuary Movement, in which congregations accompany and support immigrant workers and their families facing deportation.

Direct download: s2e33-iconocast.mp3
Category:Iconocast -- posted at: 12:00pm CDT

n this episode, Sarah and Joanna talk to thinker and activist Seth Donavan. Seth blogs at confessingqueer.com. Seth’s work in her community focuses on what it means to create new ways of being while honoring the wisdom of our history & stories.

Direct download: s2e32-iconocast.mp3
Category:Iconocast -- posted at: 12:00pm CDT

In this episode, Mark sits down with Nekeisha and Andy Alexis-Baker to discuss the recent decision by Goshen College to discontinue its playing of the National Anthem at sporting events. Since its founding in 1894, Goshen has refrained from playing the anthem at events…until Spring 2010, when it started playing an instrumental version. Due, in part, to acampaign started by Andy and Nekeisha, Goshen decided to reverse its decision in a June 2011 meeting and will, therefore, no longer play the anthem. But this decision–to reverse their earlier decision–has resulted in a backlash–including a deluge of hate mail and some unwelcomed coverage from Fox News.

Direct download: s2e31-iconocast.mp3
Category:Iconocast -- posted at: 12:00pm CDT

In this episode, Mark and Nekeisha interview James Cone, who is considered by many to be the father of black liberation theology. Professor James H. Cone is the Charles A. Briggs Distinguished Professor of Systematic Theology at Union Theological Seminary. Dr. Cone is an ordained minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. He is the author of a number of books (including Black Theology and Black PowerGod of the Oppressed, and Martin and Malcom and America). Dr. Cone has lectured at more than 1,000 universities and community organizations throughout the United States, Europe, Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

Direct download: s2e30-iconocast.mp3
Category:Iconocast -- posted at: 12:00pm CDT

In this episode, Joanna and Mark interview Joyce Hollyday.

Joyce is a co-founder and co-pastor of Circle of Mercy, an ecumenical congregation in Asheville, North Carolina as well as a founder of Word and World–an experiment in alternative theological education bridging the gulf between the seminary, the sanctuary, and the street. She served for fifteen years as the Associate Editor of Sojourners magazine and is the author of several books, including Clothed with the Sun: Biblical Women, Social Justice, and Us and Then Shall Your Light Rise: Spiritual Formation and Social Witness.

Direct download: s2e29-iconocast.mp3
Category:Iconocast -- posted at: 12:00pm CDT

In this episode, Mark talks with Teka Childress and Carolyn Griffeth.

Teka has been a member of the Karen House Catholic Worker community for over thirty years. Carolyn Griffeth (with her husband Tery) are the founders of Carl Kabat House Catholic Worker community. Both houses are part of the vibrant catholic worker expression in St. Louis, creating a new society in the shell of the old. Listen in as they talk about community life, the challenges of founding communities, and the changing shape of the Catholic Worker movement.

Direct download: s2e27-iconocast.mp3
Category:Iconocast -- posted at: 12:00pm CDT

In this episode, Joanna and Mark interview Jonathan Moyer, co-founder of the Groupee.

The Groupee system is an alternative medium of exchange created by a community of Mennonites in Denver, Colorado for the broader church. The Groupee is a wooden token that is exchangeable for the time, labor and materials of other members of the community to facilitate mutual support. The Groupee system creates space for members of the Groupee Community to ask for and receive help. It embeds a piece of community productivity in an alternative to standard society and state-based mediums of exchange that have roots in violence and often promote the misappropriation of surplus value. The Groupee is rooted in an Anabaptist understanding of stewardship, community, social-justice and peacemaking.

Jonathan Moyer is a dissertation level PhD candidate at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver. His research focus is on the future of interstate relations, and emphasizes both domestic and dyadic conflict. His dissertation explores future trends and pressures on international conflict (global power transition, climate change, demographic shifts, state failure and peak oil). Jonathan also retains an interest in event data models of instability, and co-created the news aggregating site BuzzChurn.com

If you’d like to explore starting something like the Groupee in your community, you can contact Jonathan at jonathanmoyer [at] gmail.com

For more information about the Groupee, visit theGroupee.com or check them out on Facebook.

Direct download: s2e28-iconocast.mp3
Category:Iconocast -- posted at: 12:00pm CDT

In this episode, Mark and Joanna interview Eda Uca. Eda is director of Hosanna! People’s Seminary. A first generation American of Turkish and Arab descent, she has participated in intentional communities and movements of the Catholic Left/anti-war variety. Eda is currently editing an anthology of Catholic Worker writing for Rose Hill Books. Her great theological passions are in the realm of anti-racism/anti-oppression work as it relates to what she calls “mission in the round”. She currently lives in New York.

Direct download: s2e26-iconocast.mp3
Category:Iconocast -- posted at: 12:00pm CDT

This is the Iconocast, episode 25, March 3rd, 2011 “Murphy and Ed on the Road, part 2.”

This is the second of a two part interivew with Murphy Davis and Ed Loring. In part two, Joanna and Mark interview Eduard Loring. Ed, along with his wife Murphy Davis, have protested the death penalty, worked for housing the homeless, spoken out against racial injustice, sought justice for the poor, and fought against war. They are founding partners of the Open Door Community–a diverse residential Christian community in downtown Atlanta. For over 30 years, they have lived in community with the homeless poor, former prisoners, and others who have come to join the struggle for justice in the midst of a death-dealing culture.

Direct download: s1e25-Iconocast.mp3
Category:Iconocast -- posted at: 12:00pm CDT

This is the Iconocast, episode 24: “Murphy and Ed on the Road, part 1.”

This is the first of a two part interivew with Murphy Davis and Ed Loring. In part one, Joanna and Mark interview Murphy Davis. Murphy Davis, with her husband, Ed Loring, have protested the death penalty, worked for housing the homeless, spoken out against racial injustice, sought justice for the poor, and fought against war. Davis and Loring are founding partners of the Open Door Community–a diverse residential Christian community in downtown Atlanta. For over 30 years, they have lived in community with the homeless poor, former prisoners, and others who have come to join the struggle for justice in the midst of a death-dealing culture.

Direct download: s1e24-Iconocast.mp3
Category:Iconocast -- posted at: 12:00pm CDT

In this episode, Sarah and Mark interview Ragan Sutterfield.

Ragan is a writer, teacher, and farmer in Little Rock, Arkansas. He has written on food, the environment, and culture for a variety of publications including PlentyGourmet,Men’s JournalPasteBooks & CultureFast Company, and Spin. He is also the author of Farming as a Spiritual Discipline. Ragan has eight years of sustainable farming experience and is one of the founders and operators of a farm at Felder Academy, a public charter school for troubled 

Direct download: s1e23-Iconocast.mp3
Category:Iconocast -- posted at: 12:00pm CDT

In this episode, Joanna and Mark have a conversation about power, leadership, and decision-making in communities.

Direct download: s1e22-Iconocast.mp3
Category:Iconocast -- posted at: 12:00pm CDT

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