Where Ya From? Podcast

You are more than labels. Aitina Fareed-Cooke knows that better than anyone. As a little girl in the foster care system, Aitina was stamped with the “failure to thrive” label—one that many people thought meant that her life was destined to go down only one type of path. Yet God's intervention came in the form of an adoptive mother, a passion for creating and storytelling through music and art, and...

Has it ever felt like you could only choose faith or fact—not both? Well, acclaimed Yale neuroscientist Dr. Nii Addy invites you to see another option, one that connects our brains with our faith. Growing up in the United States with parents who immigrated from Ghana, Dr. Addy has always preferred the unexpected . . . even when living out his relationship with Jesus in a scientific community that—...

Have you ever searched for your love and worth in all the wrong places? Pastor Jerome Gay will be the first one to tell you he has. But it was his father—the person who should have been helping him define these things—not being able to provide what he needed that led Jerome to search for anything to help him earn it. Through twists and turns, Jerome finally found the One who freely loves him—and a...

None of us were created to live a life defined by failures and mistakes—a reality that Jermaine Wilson knows firsthand. During the years when teens should be having the time of their lives, Jermaine was sitting behind bars. Carrying the destructive cycle he felt there was no escape from, Jermaine quickly found himself put back into prison after only a short experience of freedom. But it was spendi...

We all dream of a life filled with success and glory. But just like Moriah Smallbone knows, real life in the spotlight isn’t always glamorous behind the scenes. Being on her own at 17 and traveling from place to place eventually took its toll. And in the middle of her pain and stress, Moriah realized she had to make a change. Those moments helped shape the bravery that has since led Moriah to char...

Have you ever been confronted with a situation where you felt like you had to be the one to say something? Maliek Blade found himself in that very place when he realized there was a mental and emotional health crisis hitting too close to home that he could no longer ignore. And it was that moment of realization that helped him prepare the way for his life’s path advocating for the “wholeness” of h...

If you were to ask Lina AbuJamra what her “ministry thing” is, part of her answer would be a word none of us enjoy hearing: pain. From growing up in Beirut, Lebanon, to processing the loss of dreams, relationships, and career, pain seems to be the soundtrack of her life. But Lina will tell you that the truth that she continues to cling to every day is always louder than the pain. Because of God’s...

Sometimes creating change means first seeing the other side of the issue. Pastor James White sits down to share his experiences of crossing the dividing lines and challenging the framework of the world he found himself in. Join us as we see James’ passion for authentically teaching Scripture and leading others to see how understanding race, culture, and diversity can help us to create systems wher...

Is there purpose in our pain? Well-known speaker, author, and founder of the international women’s organization Broken Crayons Still Color Toni Collier shares her authentic journey of God rewriting her story using the very things she thought could never be made beautiful. Even after experiencing heartbreak after heartbreak, and trauma after trauma, Toni can still joyfully proclaim there is light i...

Even as a young child, Dr. Russell Moore was always in a church pew. That strong seed of faith and biblical knowledge has provided him with the firm foundation needed to navigate complex ethical and leadership issues throughout his ministry. And amid the trials, questions, and ever-changing culture, one truth that Russell has leaned on is how God continues His good work even in the long term and h...

Like many of us, Chriscynethia Floyd questioned what made her special. And even though we know God always has a plan for us, it’s not always the easiest thing to trust. Join us as we hear Chriscynethia’s story of trusting the different journeys God led her through and explore how He remains with us in both the highest and lowest moments of life. Guest Bio: Chriscynethia Floyd is Vice President of...

On the outside, it seemed like Katara Washington Patton was on track to get everything she dreamed of. Yet, when she started aligning her desires with God, her life took on a beautiful, unexpected journey. And no matter if she’s going through the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, Katara has realized that her joy in the Lord can still co-exist with the feelings of grief and struggles. See ho...

Vince Bantu knew God called him into ministry, but he first needed to learn a thing or two. This desire for knowledge led him on a journey of reconciling his background and culture with what he thought the Christian life was, and a passion for understanding how context, culture, and racial justice influence the way we go about sharing Christianity with others. It wasn't until he discovered early c...

Michelle Sanchez always expected perfection. Growing up, that expectation guided her to great success. Yet, God had a much greater plan for her in mind; a plan that required a journey of untangling her toxic pursuit of perfection from the racial dynamics of her past. Today, that journey has led her to become a voice for change and fueled her passion for using discipleship to help heal racial inequ...

What if, instead of being just one person, you were created to be a part of something more? Even with her past hurts, Dr. Heather Thompson Day continues to see God’s goodness through her story. In fact, it has fueled her mission of standing in the gaps so others can learn from her mistakes and build healthy relationships with one another. Discover how we are invited to be in an intentional communi...

From the very beginning, Dhati Lewis had a plan; he was going to be in the NFL and that was it. Yet, when he was so close to achieving it, God gave him a different dream. Instead, he suddenly found his calling into ministry, one that inspired his mission of being the last generation to leave the urban context for sound discipleship and being God’s hands and feet in his own neighborhood. Guest Bio:...

How can we possibly see the good when it feels like the world is on fire around us? Writer, speaker, and activist Ally Henny shares how her strong faith has carried her through racial trauma and other challenging situations, and how God used all of that to prepare her life’s call of being a voice for liberation, freedom, and justice. Guest Bio: Ally Henny is a writer, speaker, advocate-minister, a...

How do we know the Bible to be true? Popular British apologist, author, and podcaster Justin Brierley desires to answer this question head-on. Growing up in a Christian home, his life-changing experiences serving across Africa, and even his personal doubts about faith led him to wonder where genuine Christian theology starts and how we share those things in a predominantly secular society. This id...

Propaganda knows what it’s like to find yourself at a crossroads. Growing up in a predominantly Latino community in Los Angeles as one of the only Black kids had its challenges, but it set the stage for Prop to discover the cultural diversity and beauty God’s creation has to offer. Embracing the oneness that unites us all has been the driving force behind his music, art, and activism. God continue...

Vivian Mabuni knows what it’s like to be living in two different worlds. Growing up in a predominantly white community as a Chinese-American, a lot of her early life was lived with the purpose of trying to conform as much as possible, but knowing it would never be enough. Yet when she finally found the missing piece in Christ, everything changed. God used Viv’s story to shape her heart to share Hi...

Renee Begay is no stranger to feeling unsure of where she belonged. Growing up in Pueblo of Zuni, Renee was blessed by being surrounded by the cultures and traditions of her people; the Sandhill Crane Clan flows within her. Yet, when she gave her life to Christ, the joy of knowing her Creator also came with the pain of figuring out what her new reality meant for both herself and her family. Join u...

Early on, Chaz Smith knew he wanted to make people laugh. Even in high school, when he was expected to play basketball at a high level, he always knew that wasn’t what the Lord had placed on his heart for his life.  Around that same time, Chaz began stepping out into the Vine scene and has since found both success and purpose. That journey has led him to many life-changing opportunities, but it ce...

How do you help people explore uncomfortable truths? In this episode of the Where Ya From? podcast, Ya'Ke Smith, the award-winning director of Juneteenth: Faith and Freedom , explains how his life led him to understand that people need to see stories that reflect real life in order to be free from their bondage. Check out this episode of the Where Ya From? podcast by VOICES. Guest Bio: Ya’Ke Smith...

How does history affect how we use our voices today? In this episode of VOICES’ Where Ya From? podcast, recently retired VOICES Executive Editor Joyce Dinkins discusses her family’s history of surviving slavery and oppression and how her faith and roots inspire her to uplift other marginalized stories of faith. Guest Bio: Joyce Dinkins recently retired from serving with VOICES (ExperienceVoices.or...

What does the Bible actually say about justice? Second-generation Latina author, pastor, and activist Sandra Van Opstal has spent her life chasing justice locally and globally. In this episode of VOICES’ Where Ya From? podcast, Dr. González joins host Rasool Berry to discuss how Scripture fuels her mission to make change and mobilize the next generation of leaders. Guest Bio: Sandra Maria Van Opst...