A Peace of My Mind

Shane Claiborne is a speaker, activist and author. He founded the Simple Way, an intentional community in Philadelphia, building a neighborhood of belonging. And he leads Red Letter Christians, a group that tries to live “like Jesus meant the things he said.” I interviewed Shane at the Sojourners office in DC right after the Moral March on Washington, led by the Poor People’s Campaign. We talked a...

Bill Mefford is the Executive Director of the Festival Center in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of Washington DC. The Festival Center is an outreach of the Church of the Saviour, designed as a hub for supporting community centered ministries and nonprofits, and to train faith leaders for mission and justice.  We talked about his journey from Evangelical to liberation theology, his understanding of...

Lauren Reliford is the political director for Sojourners in Washington, DC. Her work is centered on applying social theory, spirituality, research, and practice to the political policy that guides our nation.  We talked about her political theory, her efforts to influence policy makers to legislate for the common good, and her inclination to care deeply. Thanks for listening to A Peace of My Mind&...

Mitchell Atencio is the associate news editor at Sojourners. Born in Atlanta, he now works out of the Sojourners D.C. offices on Capitol Hill.  I interviewed Mitchell three days before the Supreme Court released its ruling on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. We spoke about his work in media, his ongoing process of challenging his own assumptions, and his decision to be discalced out o...

Sister Jenna is a spiritual mentor, the founder and director of the Brahma Kumaris Meditation Museum and the host of America Meditating Radio. We spoke about her meditation practice, her understanding of the obstacles that impede our progress toward peace, and our ability to see the divine in one another. Thanks for listening to A Peace of My Mind's podcast. For photos, videos, and additional...

Andrew Cheung is the senior pastor of Washington Community Fellowship , a Protestant community located less than a dozen blocks from our nation's capital that strives to practice love as a lifestyle. We talked about his interest in crossing boundaries, his personal walk through life with a sense of wonder, and  our ability to create healing for one another. Thanks for listening to A Peace of...

Rose Berger is the senior editor at Sojourners magazine. She is a poet and a Catholic peace activist. She's traveled to conflict zones around the world to be in fellowship with faith communities who are working toward peace. We spoke about her trip to Ukraine, her belief in nonviolence and finding the courage to live an authentic life rooted in her faith. Read more about her trip and why she...

Adam Russell Taylor is the president of Sojourners , a faith-based organization exploring the Christian call for social justice. I interviewed Adam at the Sojourner's office in Washington D.C. on the eve of the Poor People’s Campaign's Moral March on Washington, where I joined Adam and tens of thousands of others in a call for moral revival in America.  We talked about America's tro...

Katey Zeh is the CEO of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. She's an ordained Baptist minister and the author of A Complicated Choice, Making Space for Grief and Healing in the Pro-choice Movement. We talked about the history of religious leaders who have helped women get the healthcare they need, the political moment we are currently in, and her decision to no longer spend her e...

Izzy Collett is the co-founder and owner of Desert Adventures , an outfitter in Boulder City, Nevada that takes clients on outdoor adventures. With more than 20 years of paddling experience, Izzy is a searcher, always looking for new answers.  We talked about lake levels, wilderness ethics and the little things we can all do to make a difference. Thanks for listening to A Peace of My Mind's p...

Colby Pellegrino is the Deputy General Manager of Resources for the Southern Nevada Water Authority in Las Vegas, Nevada.  Las Vegas is the driest metropolitan area in the United States with an annual rainfall of just four inches. We talked about the increasing population of Las Vegas, the unprecedented drought and the innovative water conservation programs the city has developed in the face of it...

David Arend was named the Deputy Regional Director for the Bureau of Reclamations Lower Colorado Basin in December of 2021. His responsibilities include oversight of Lake Mead, the largest reservoir in the United States. I interviewed David at the Hoover Dam near Boulder City, Nevada. We talked about the multiple factors that are lowering lake levels in Lake Mead, the history of the Colorado River...

Nora McDowell is a member of the Fort Mojave Tribe in Mojave Valley, Arizona and was the chairperson of the tribe for more than 25 years. She's a part of the leadership team for the Water and Tribes Initiative and is passionate about protecting all natural and cultural resources along the Colorado River. We talked about the history of her community, their advocacy for the preservation of the...

Bri Hernandez Rosales is a graduate research assistant at the Desert Research Institute in Reno, Nevada and did her graduate thesis on the feasibility of rainwater harvesting for a local tribe. I interviewed Bri two days before she walked the stage to receive her master's degree in hydrologic sciences.  We talked about her interest in water resources, her research on rainwater harvesting and...

Chad Taylor is the director of sales and marketing for Lake Mead, Mohave Adventures , and grew up on Lake Mead, when his dad was the general manager of Callville Bay Marina in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area outside of Las Vegas, Nevada.  Lake Mead is the largest reservoir in the United States, but is currently at historically low levels as the population in the southwest continues to grow...

Seth Nickell describes himself as a husband, a father, a combat veteran, and a man of God. I interviewed Seth in Stanwood, Washington at a retreat for Project Sanctuary , a nonprofit that helps reconnect returning soldiers to civilian and family life. We talked about his decision to serve, the challenges of finding help for his PTSD and the things he's learned about himself along the way.  Th...

Lisa Rutherford lives in Ivins, Utah, just outside of Saint George, one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in America. Lisa spent two decades working for the oil industry in Alaska and is one of the founding board members and current advisors for Conserve Southwest Utah. We talked about water resources, smart growth, and resisting the ever-present temptation to consume. Thanks for listening...

John Weisheit grew up with a love for the Colorado River and has worked as a river guide for more than four decades. In the year 2000, John co-founded Living Rivers, an advocacy group that seeks a path to restoring the ecology of the Southwest, balanced with meeting human needs. I interviewed John in the cool shade of his backyard boathouse in Moab, Utah just after he returned from a rafting trip...

Eric Balken is the executive director for the Glen Canyon Institute , which is dedicated to the restoration of Glen Canyon and a free flowing Colorado River. Eric grew up and still lives in Salt Lake City, Utah where he developed an early love for mountains, rivers and deserts. We talked about the structure of the Colorado River basin, the challenges of a historic 20-year drought, and what a futur...

Melanie Stanley lost her home and business in Blue River, Oregon in the Holiday Farm Fire of 2020. The Meyers General Store and Liquor Shop had been in her family for 29 years. I interviewed her on the cement slab that remained. We talked about the fire that devastated the town of Blue River, her commitment to rebuild and both her dreams and fears about what the future might hold for her community...

Jackie Davis is 12 years old and lives in McKenzie Bridge, Oregon. She likes to catch snakes and salamanders in her yard. She'd like to work in claymation when she grows up.  In late summer of 2020, the Holiday Farm wildfire swept through the valley where she lives and they had to evacuate. Her house wasn't damaged by the fire, but more than 500 other homes were destroyed. We talked abou...

Jackie Herman is a retired hair dresser from Brooklyn, New York. I met Jackie in Mackenzie bridge, Oregon, where he was spending time with his daughter, Kelly, after losing his wife of 59 years.  We talked about his first date with Sheila, the business they ran together, and his journey of learning how to live without her. Fair warning, if the f-word bothers you, it might be better to move on to t...

Kelly Britt Davis works in a rural health care facility in Blue River, Oregon. After navigating the first six months months of Covid, the clinic burned to the ground in the Holiday Farm Fire, a wild fire that consumed 175,000 acres and more than 500 structures at the end of Labor Day weekend. Our interview started by talking about the wild fire and moved on to address issues mental health, addicti...

Darcelle is the oldest working drag queen in the world, at 92 years of age. Also the owner of Darcelle XV Showplace in Portland, Oregon, Darcelle's entertainment career has spanned more than five decades. We talked about how Darcelle started performing drag, how he has sewn more than 1,500 dresses, and the day he had to tell his wife that he was gay. Thanks for listening to A Peace of My Mind...

Derek Thompson is an activist in Portland, Oregon and the founder and Executive Director of Voices4Justice, an organization dedicated to bringing together concerned community members...clergy, law enforcement and elected officials...to engage in meaningful conversation that can change the relationship dynamic between opposing parties and factions. Thanks for listening to A Peace of My Mind's...