The Healing Theology Podcast

In the Season 2 finale of the Healing Theology Podcast , host Alejandra Salemi is joined by historians Dr. Lloyd Barba and Dr. Sergio González for a timely and powerful conversation on sanctuary cities, religious sanctuary movements, and their deep ties to public health and immigrant justice. Drawing from decades of historical research and current activism, Dr. Barba and Dr. González break down th...

On this episode of the Healing Theology Podcast, we hear from Dr. Jason Sexton, professor of sociology at UCLA. Dr. Sexton shares with us his research, with a focus on the intersection of theology, carceral systems, and eugenics. In this conversation, they explored the historical context and implications of eugenics, its persistence in fields such as public health and public policy, and its impact...

In this episode of the Healing Theology Podcast , we are joined by Dr. Anna Holleman—sociologist, professor, and researcher—to unpack the complex intersections of religion, public health, and LGBTQ+ inclusion. Anna shares key findings from her research on how religious organizations and congregational life impact health outcomes, particularly for marginalized communities, and offers a sociological...

In this episode of the Healing Theology Podcast, host Alejandra Salemi sits down with Dr. Joel Hollier—researcher, pastor, and social worker—to explore the intersections of religion, public health, and trauma. Joel shares insights from his groundbreaking work on religious trauma, queer inclusion, and the role of spirituality in shaping mental health and community well-being.. Alejandra and Joel di...

In this episode of the Healing Theology Podcast , host Alejandra Salemi speaks with Reverend Mary Lee Downey, CEO of Hope Partnership , a nonprofit dedicated to addressing homelessness and poverty in Central Florida. Reverend Downey shares her personal journey, including her childhood experiences with housing insecurity and how they shaped her commitment to social justice. The conversation explore...

This episode of the Healing Theology Podcast features Dr. Eduardo Gutiérrez, a recent doctoral graduate from Oxford University. He shares insights on the role of imagination in belief transformation and its application in peacebuilding, particularly in Colombia. The discussion highlights how religious imaginaries—conceptual and emotionally charged frameworks—shape perceptions, foster dialogue, and...

In this episode of Healing Theology Podcast , host Alejandra Salemi sits down with Alejandro Posada-Téllez, a Ph. D. candidate in International Relations at the University of Oxford, to explore the transformative work of peacebuilding and its intersections with religion, public health, and community healing. Alejandro shares insights from his extensive research on transitional justice and his on-t...

In this episode of The Healing Theology Podcast , host Alejandra Salemi sits down with Reverend Elizabeth Davidson, an ordained clergywoman in the United Methodist Church and Executive Director of Faith in Women. Together, they explore the intersection of faith and reproductive justice, discussing the complexities of abortion care, bodily autonomy, and the nuanced role of religious communities. Re...

In this episode of The Healing Theology Podcast , host Alejandra Salemi sits down with Dr. Gillian Frank, a leading scholar in the history of sexuality, gender, race, and religion. Together, they delve into the complex and often polarizing topic of abortion, exploring its historical context and the pivotal Supreme Court cases that have shaped its legal landscape. Dr. Frank takes us through the pre...

In this episode of The Healing Theology Podcast , host Alejandra Salemi speaks with Dr. Ellen Idler, Director of Emory University's Religion and Public Health Collaboration, about the powerful intersection of religion, health, and community. Dr. Idler, pioneer in this intersection of religion and public health, shares how religious participation can serve as a protective factor for health by expan...

In this final episode of the Healing Theology Podcast, we chat with Dr. Kate Long, researcher at Harvard University. Dr. Long works in the Human Flourishing Program and has spent years studying the health impacts of forgiveness, hope, and the ways that religious practices can directly impact physical and mental health. Looking at large datasets sampling adolescents, nurses, and the elderly, Dr. Lo...

In this episode of the Healing Theology Podcast, we hear from Rev. Camille Henderson-Edwards, the director for Economic, Health and Gender Justice at the General Board of Church and Society for the United Methodist Church . As she works at the intersection of government and religion, Rev. Henderson-Edwards highlights the ways that policy creates environments of flourishing or detriment and how our...

In this episode of the Healing Theology Podcast, we hear from Rev. Dr. Matt Russell. Discussing the intersections of human flourishing, mental health, and the role of religion and community in supporting these concepts, Matt Russell talks about how human flourishing varies depending on context and how communities, even secular ones, can provide support systems similar to those traditionally offere...

In this episode of the Healing Theology Podcast, we chat with Rob Wilson-Black, President and CEO of the Faith & Politics Institute in Washington, DC. With a background in nonprofit leadership and a deep understanding of religion in America, Rob has been at the forefront of guiding organizations through challenging times. We dive into Rob's experiences at both the Faith and Politics Institute...

On this episode, we chat with Phifer Nicholson, an MD Candidate and Theology, Medicine, and Culture Fellow at Duke University and incoming surgical resident at UCLA. Phifer shares about his experiences with medical ethics both domestically and abroad and hear about his journey through medical and divinity school. Integrating the two, Phifer shares his story of working in spaces like Palestine and...

In this episode of the Healing Theology Podcast, host Alejandra Salemi sits down with Cherisna Jean-Marie, an ordained minister, anti-racist activist, and founder of the Co-Conspirator Institute. Cherisna shares insights into her work, which bridges social change, public policy, and theology through a deeply spiritual lens. The conversation delves into the Co-Conspirator Institute's mission of bui...

In this episode, we talk to Dr. David Eagle, researcher and professor at Duke University who leads the Religion and Social Change lab. Through the longitudinal study, The Duke Clergy Health Initiative, he shows us some of the health trends that are emerging within Clergy populations in North Carolina. We also talk about general trends he is seeing within the clergy in the North Carolina conference...

In this episode, we delved into a thought-provoking discussion with Andrew Hanauer, the President and CEO of The One America Movement. Andrew shares insights into the multifaceted work of his organization, which focuses on helping faith communities and fostering unity amidst political polarization. Emphasizing the urgency to restore trust in various institutions, Andrew highlights the detrimental...

In this podcast, we are joined by Mari Lowe, a nurse practitioner working primarily at Christ House, an inpatient medical respite serving men experiencing homelessness in Washington, DC. Mari shares her journey from nursing school to becoming a nurse practitioner to joining AmeriCorps and challenging her own evangelical upbringing. Mari discusses the importance of humility, recognizing power dynam...

The inaugural episode of the Healing Theology Podcast, hosted by Alejandra, a PhD student at Duke University, dives into the intersection of religion and public health. Alejandra shares her personal journey and passion for exploring this underrepresented area of scholarship. From her experiences in academia to her work as a contact tracer during the pandemic, she delves into the complexities of re...