Above The Noise: Faith; Race; Reconciliation.

Send us a Text Message about the podcast If compassion doesn’t change what we do, is it compassion at all? Sitting in Barbados with Dr. Kerry King, a clinical psychologist whose career sits at the intersection of substance use treatment, mental health care, and faith, we get honest about what compassion really requires when people are carrying pain that doesn’t fit the script. We break down why “s...

Send us a Text Message about the podcast A flashing light in your rearview mirror can change your life, even when you’ve done nothing wrong. Grantley Martelly sits down with Dakarai Larriett, an Alabama entrepreneur and public servant, to unpack a 2024 Michigan State Police traffic stop that Dakarai says spiraled into humiliation, fear, and a wrongful DUI arrest despite a negative alcohol test. Wh...

Send us a Text Message about the podcast What if public safety isn’t about bigger dragnets but about deeper trust? We take a hard look at recent immigration enforcement actions—from major cities to smaller communities—and ask whether sweeping raids, status revocations, and third-country deportations make anyone safer. The stakes become painfully clear as we reflect on the reported killings of Rene...

Send us a Text Message about the podcast What if the antidote to polarization isn’t a louder argument, but a quieter practice of showing up, listening, and serving together? Grantley sits down with Jim Koppel—educator, coalition-builder, and cofounder of Strategic Applications International and Servant Forge—whose career stretches from late-night ride-alongs with a gang unit to shaping national pr...

Send us a Text Message about the podcast The volume is up, the outrage feeds are endless, and too many voices use Jesus as a brand for power. We press pause and ask a harder question: what does faith look like when you strip away celebrity, nationalism, and culture‑war noise and return to the way of Jesus? We start with the warnings of Matthew 7—being known by our fruit, not our slogans—and the ce...

Send us a Text Message about the podcast A five-day trek, a river that swallows missteps, and a video call that saves a mother and baby—this is what frontline HIV care looks like in Papua, Indonesia. We sit down with Dr. Agnela “Iggy” Chingwaro, an infectious disease physician from Zimbabwe, whose work braids medical expertise with faith, cultural humility, and stubborn hope. Her story exposes the...

Send us a Text Message about the podcast What if the path back to purpose winds through a kitchen? I sit down with Jeff Reynolds, a chef whose story spans late-teen addiction, a decade in a grunge-era band, a pandemic crisis, a dusted-off Bible, and a calling he once ran from. The turning point is startlingly human—a night of fear and honesty at home—followed by small, faithful steps: reading John...

Send us a Text Message about the podcast Immigration is not a problem without solutions, but a challenge requiring courage, honesty, and political will to address. Our broken immigration systems exploit the vulnerable while benefiting the powerful, yet we have the capacity to create humane policies that recognize the dignity and contributions of immigrants. • Immigration benefits economies by fill...

Send us a Text Message about the podcast The transformative power of arts-based intervention for vulnerable youth takes center stage in this compelling conversation with Clarine Cave, founder of Partners That Care International in Barbados. What began as a personal journey through sports, military service, and community development has blossomed into a life-changing mission serving at-risk adolesc...

Send us a Text Message about the podcast Fear powers our immigration debates. We hear it in political rhetoric, see it in policy decisions, and witness its impact on millions of lives. But what lies beneath this fear? Is it justified? And how can we move beyond it? Today's episode delves into the complex emotions that drive our responses to immigrants and refugees. We start by clarifying impo...

Send us a Text Message about the podcast When four friends tear open a roof to lower their paralyzed companion to Jesus, they demonstrate what truly matters in our faith journey – enduring empathy that refuses to give up on people. Pastor Grantley Martelly unpacks this powerful story from Mark 2, revealing how these determined friends teach us about walking alongside others until they can encounte...

Send us a Text Message about the podcast Four Black fathers gather around the kitchen table for an intimate, powerful discussion about raising Black boys into exceptional Black men. Their conversation weaves through personal histories—from functional alcoholism in the Caribbean to Black Panthers in Seattle—revealing how each man's upbringing shaped his approach to fatherhood. The dialogue cra...

Send us a Text Message about the podcast Join us on a journey of hope and reconciliation as we navigate the complex emotions following a tumultuous election season. With Dr. Andrea Sims and retired Pastor Dave Rhodes, we confront the challenges that politics have imposed on faith communities. Together, we unpack the critical need for justice, mercy, and faith to maintain respectful and constructiv...

Send us a Text Message about the podcast Join us for an illuminating conversation with David Holston, CEO of Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF), as he shares his inspiring journey from a Colorado farm with dreams of piloting to leading a global mission organization. David’s story takes us through his experiences in Savannah, Georgia, and his dedication to serving others which ultimately led him to...

Send us a Text Message about the podcast Join us as Chief Rafael Padilla of the Kent Washington Police Department opens up about the profound changes in policing and community relations over the course of four transformative years. Against the backdrop of nationwide racial reckonings, the George Floyd protests, and the global pandemic, discover how Chief Padilla's perspective on law enforceme...

Send us a Text Message about the podcast Unprecedented political shifts are on the horizon as nearly half of the world's population prepares to vote in 2024. We'll unravel the implications of these elections in 64 nations, including unexpected leadership shifts in places like Bangladesh and the United Kingdom. As we journey through this global electoral landscape, there’s a call to uphol...

Send us a Text Message about the podcast Above The Noise is back with new episodes, new guests and topics. Watch for our new logo as well. Thanks for listening. Support the show #abovethenoise24 # faith #reconciliation #race #racialreconciliation #compassion We appreciate your support: Buy Me A Coffee Stay in touch: Email us at: abovethenoise24@gmail.com Facebook: @abovethenoise24 Instagram: above...

Send us a Text Message about the podcast How does a systems engineer, tech entrepreneur, and award-winning filmmaker reconcile the complexities of faith, race, and leadership? Listen as Ms. Temeko Richardson shares her extraordinary journey, from her faith-centered upbringing to her diverse roles in technology, systems engineering, and her perspective as a writer and producer of inspirational film...

Send us a Text Message about the podcast Phil Washington's voyage from the challenging streets of Chicago's South Side to the heights of transportation industry leadership is a narrative that resonates with the power of transformation. In a candid conversation, he shares the profound influence his family had in steering his life towards a purpose greater than he could have imagined. From...

Send us a Text Message about the podcast Have you ever been in a setting where the lines between faith, race, and identity become blurred? As a person of color navigating various professional terrains—I share honest reflections on representation and integrity, and how economic decisions ripple through marginalized communities. Dr. Sims and I confront the difficulties of racial tensions within the...

Send us a Text Message about the podcast This episode peels back the layers of my life, Grantley Martelly, and the vibrant path walked under the influence of my family, particularly a mother whose faith never faltered. Dr. Andre Sims, joining me in an engaging role reversal, delves into the depths of my narrative, exploring the profound impact of spirituality and the unexpected turns that have led...

Send us a Text Message about the podcast Ever wondered how to leverage your unique strengths to propel yourself to success? Austin J. Franklin, a nationally acclaimed speaker and author, illuminates how his "five more minutes" principle and concept of hidden credentials paved the way for his triumph over academic struggles. He shares intimate snippets of his journey with us, encouraging...

Send us a Text Message about the podcast We embark to give a historical perspective on the complexities of religious nationalism and how similar tactics are alive today to seek to establish religious/Christian nationalism in various pockets around the world including the United States of America.  We'll travel back to the colonial era, exposing how religion was weaponized as a tool of control...

Send us a Text Message about the podcast In this concluding episode our guest, Ijeoma Oluo: author and speaker helps us decode the true definitions of the terms: race and privilege; highlighting how racism is not just prejudice, but a systemic issue, and privilege is not a term to be weaponized but rather a descriptor of how one navigates the world. She also enlightens us on intersectionality and...

Send us a Text Message about the podcast Join us on an enlightening odyssey with the remarkable Ijeoma Oluo, acclaimed writer and speaker, as we traverse the terrain of race, identity, and systemic racism. As the author of the New York Times bestseller "So You Want to Talk About Race," Ijeoma uniquely illustrates her journey from impoverishment to an influential voice in America. Listen...