Shake the Dust

Note: The transcript for this episode is below, rather than in the usual separate post. We’re experimenting with ways to make our podcast posts more convenient and easier to find. Feedback is welcome as always at shakethedust@ktfpress.com! This month, our bonus episode features a discussion about our big-picture thoughts on the 2024 presidential election and the possibility of a second Trump term....

On today’s episode, Jonathan and Sy talk about what keeps them going in the work that KTF does. Hear their thoughts on: - The spiritual and emotional practices that keep Jonathan grounded -        Why Sy only prays when he feels like it, and consumes a lot of fiction -        The importance of the image of God and living in shalom with your surroundings to Jonathan -        How Privilege and anxie...

This month’s bonus episode features Jonathan and Sy talking about the power of the incarnation during hard times over the holiday season. They discuss: * Why exactly the holidays can be so hard * How our values about justice and systems of oppression interact with the vulnerability of this time of year * What the hope of the incarnation has to say about all of it * And, during our new segment, a r...

In November’s bonus episode, Jonathan and Sy talked about the conflict in Israel and Palestine. They discussed: -         how they both approach thinking about the occupation as people leaving colonized faith -        The difference between anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism -        How to engage media and advocacy on this subject in an emotionally healthy way, And a lot more! This is a transcript of...

(Content warning for discussion of violence in a war zone, including against children). For this month’s bonus episode, Jonathan and Sy are talking about the conflict in Israel and Palestine. They discuss how they both approach thinking about the occupation as people leaving colonized faith, the difference between anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism, how to engage media and advocacy on this subject in...

Jonathan reads his essay , “Poverty and Shame: Learning Solidarity with My Younger Self,” that we published today  at KTFPress.com. Shake the Dust is a podcast of KTF Press. Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , Threads , and Twitter . Subscribe to get our newsletter and bonus episodes at KTFPress.com . Transcripts of every episode are available at KTFPress.com/s/transcripts . Hosts Jonathan Walton...

It’s our season finale! We’re answering listener questions and talking about the history of Whiteness, pastors being experts on everything regardless of qualification, why that episode with Dr. Maxine Davis was the best, and a lot more. We’re also talking a bit about the future of KTF and this show, so don’t miss this one! Can’t get enough of us? Go to KTFPress.com and subscribe to get our bonus e...

Remember, send in your questions to shakethedust@ktfpress.com about anything you’ve heard on the show for our season finale! Today, we’re talking about the trend of pastors who are not prepared for their job, inspired by a recent somewhat viral article by a minister on why he quit his church. Polling says almost half of pastors are thinking about following his lead. We’re breaking down how the ido...

Today we’re talking about how the just and practical love of God compels us to build wealth and power in Black communities. We’re seeing how two people are doing that through their work—Tamice Spencer-Helms with college students at Sub:Culture , and Diamond Walton with financial coaching at Elpida Social Capital . We discuss how to meet needs without being paternalistic, the importance and urgency...

Our guest today is Dani Espiritu, a native Hawaiian educator, minister, and activist (as well as one of the authors from our anthology ). We talk about the wildfires in Maui, her activism around the Oʻahu water crisis, Hawaiʻi’s complicated history with Christianity, and theology about our relationships with land and cultural stories. Dani is a deep, compassionate thinker and a sharp, dedicated ad...

Content warning for discussion of intimate partner violence and emotional abuse. Today, Jonathan and Sy talk to Rutgers University social work Professor Dr. Maxine Davis. They discuss intimate partner violence and abuse: the role religion and churches can play in IPV/A situations, how abolition and centering Black and brown survivors can lead us to peaceful living, how white feminism dominates the...

Jonathan and Sy talk to Scott Hall from the White People Work podcast. They discuss how events from Scott’s life led him to training other White people on racial justice work, how to avoid being a performative ally, the tie between discipleship and being a helpful White person, and a lot more! Scott’s show is a great resource for White folks, and this is a conversation truly worth your time! Shake...

Jonathan, Sy, and returning guest co-host Gabrielle Apollon speak with Jennifer Reynoso Ng , a doula who worked with Gabrielle and Sy. They discuss Black maternity; racism in medicine and birth work; the logistical, emotional, and spiritual support doulas provide; what doulas and partners can do to advocate for pregnant BIPOC; and a lot more. This New York Times article on Black women’s experience...

Sy reads his article that KTF Press just published about grief, inclusion, and the Substack platform. Shake the Dust is a podcast of KTF Press. Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter . Subscribe to get our newsletter and bonus episodes at KTFPress.com . Transcripts of every episode are available at KTFPress.com/s/transcripts . Host Sy Hoekstra – follow him on Twitter . Our theme song is “...

Returning guest Irene Cho talks to Jonathan and Sy about financial education in marginalized communities, particularly for young people. They discuss the ways courses for marginalized students about money have to contrast with traditional programs, helping people build wealth without teaching them to love wealth, mental health and family dynamics around sharing money, and a lot more! This conversa...

Jonathan reads his poem that we just published . To read the ProPublica article that inspired the poem, click here . Shake the Dust is a podcast of KTF Press. Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter . Subscribe to get our newsletter and bonus episodes at KTFPress.com . Transcripts of every episode are available at KTFPress.com/s/transcripts . Host Jonathan Walton – follow him on Facebook ,...

Today, we’re speaking with Rev. José Humphreys and Dr. Adam Gustine about their book, Ecosystems of Jubilee: Economic Ethics for the Neighborhood . We cover how God’s vision for the Hebrew people’s society gives us a framework for imagining neighborhood flourishing, how our scarcity mindset negates God’s abundant provision, how churches can decenter themselves in community life in order to spread...

Welcome to season 3! We’re here with CNN reporter John Blake, discussing his book, More Than I Imagined : What a Black Man Discovered about the White Mother He Never Knew . It’s a memoir all about faith, race, mental health, family, and “radical integration.” We’re so excited to be back recording episodes, and this is a great one to start the new season! Shake the Dust is a podcast of KTF Press. F...

We’re back! Jonathan and Sy make some announcements about what’s coming in season 3, and a sale we’re having on our paid subscription at http://www.ktfpress.com/season3 ! Shake the Dust is a podcast of KTF Press. Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter . Subscribe to get our newsletter and bonus episodes at KTFPress.com . Transcripts of every episode are available at KTFPress.com/s/transcr...

The team interviews Tamice Spencer-Helms about her new book, Faith Unleavened: The Wilderness between Trayvon Martin and George Floyd , published by us, KTF Press! We talk about the meaning behind the book’s title, Tamice’s introduction to and discipleship under White Jesus, burnout in ministry, what writing such a raw and honest memoir was like, and a lot more! Get your copy at http://www.faithun...

Tamice Spencer-Helms reads us an excerpt from her new book, Faith Unleavened , published by KTF Press! Order the book today at www.faithunleavened.com . Shake the Dust is a podcast of KTF Press. Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter . Find transcripts of this show and subscribe to get our newsletter and bonus episodes at KTFPress.com . Host Sy Hoekstra – follow him on Twitter . Our theme...

This is our season 2 finale! The team answers questions from listeners, diving into several different topics, reflecting on the season as a whole, and talking about where we’re going next. We get into spiritual direction of white people, when to leave your church, what media outlets should get your money, and a whole bunch of questions about our episode on queer Christianity. It’s a great episode...

Content warning for mentions of sexual assault and stories about sexual harassment.  Today, Suzie and Sy are talking about women in the church, Suzie’s experiences with both discrimination and empowerment in Christian spaces, systemic and personal aspects of church patriarchy, how sexism manifests in institutions that both forbid and affirm women leaders, and a lot more.   Mentioned in the episode...

On this episode, Sy and Jonathan have a discussion related to Jonathan’s article that we published this week. They talk about the danger of Christians idealizing the political center, the difference between political conflict and the biblical idea of disunity, the trauma created by surrounding the need to evangelize with urgency and panic, and a whole lot more.  Shake the Dust is a podcast of KTF...

Jonathan Walton reads us his new piece that we just published at KTFPress.com. Enjoy! Shake the Dust is a podcast of KTF Press. Follow us on Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter . Find transcripts of this show and subscribe to get our newsletter and bonus episodes at KTFPress.com . Host Jonathan Walton – follow him on Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter . Our theme song is “Citizens” by Jon Guerra –...