Amateur Activist with Isabela Herrera

Join Isabela for the season finale of Amateur Activist!!! As always, we are so grateful for everyone who listens and shares. When you get a moment, we'd be so grateful if you left a review on Apple Podcasts, rated us on Spotify, or tagged us in your stories on Instagram, @amateuractivistpod Connect with me on Instagram, @belagiirrll Follow @amateuractivistpod on Instagram to keep up with all t...

Join Isabela to talk about the concept of “joy as resistance.” As always, we are so grateful for everyone who listens and shares. When you get a moment, we'd be so grateful if you left a review on Apple Podcasts, rated us on Spotify, or tagged us in your stories on Instagram, @amateuractivistpod Connect with me on Instagram, @belagiirrll A massive thank you to Mossy Heart Media for designing t...

Welcome to the Amateur Book Club! In this episode, Isabela talks about Hell Bent: How the Fear of Love Holds Christians Back from a Spirituality of Love by Brian Recker.  Isabela explains what the book is about and why she thinks it’s an important book for both Christians and non-Christians . She talks about the big takeaways and the confronting moments and feelings she’s decided to sit with and e...

Join Isabela for a solo episode in bed!!  As always, we are so grateful for everyone who listens and shares. When you get a moment, we'd be so grateful if you left a review on Apple Podcasts, rated us on Spotify, or tagged us in your stories on Instagram, @amateuractivistpod Connect with me on Instagram, @belagiirrll A massive thank you to Mossy Heart Media for designing the cover art and logo. A...

This week Isabela is joined by Joel Hingston. Joel used to teach biblical studies and theology, specifically Johannine literature and Revelation. He is passionate about apocalyptic literature, ancient texts & cultures, music, guitares, Magic the Gathering, and myth. In this episode, Joel and Isabela briefly go over key aspects of Revelation, providing quick context and settling some confusion...

This week, Isabela is joined by Steff Fenton - a genderqueer pastor, speaker, and author.  As of 2025, Steff has co-founded an affirming church in Sydney, Australia, been featured on national TV, radio & press, graduated with a Masters of Divinity, published a book, Gender Expansive Faith, and MORE! This week, Isabela and Steff talk about Steff’s new book - where they found inspiration to writ...

This week, Isabela sits down with Kat Armas - a Cuban American writer, theologian, and podcast host. In 2021, Kat released her debut book, Abuelita Faith: What Women on the Margins Teach Us about Wisdom, Persistence, and Strength. Isabela got her hands on this book at the beginning of 2022, and it transformed how she engaged with her faith.  In this week's episode, Isabela and Kat discuss the...

IT’S OUR 4TH BIRTHDAY!! In this episode, Isabela sits down to yap and reflect on the last 4 years of Amateur Activist.  Isabela listens back to a couple of old episodes and answers some of the questions you all sent in. More than ever, I am so grateful for every single person who listens and shares anything involved with the podcast. Whether this is your first episode or you’ve listened to every s...

This week Isabela is joined by Jocelyn Rojas Clark. Jocelyn is a registered nurse who specialises in women's health, has a Master of Women's Health Medicine, is a midwife and currently juggles multiple roles, one of which is her work as a clinical nurse specialist working to help women experiencing barriers accessing mainstream health care. She is extremely passionate about helping women a...

Welcome to the Amateur Book Club! In this episode, Isabela talks about Men Who Hate Women: From Incels to Pick-up Artists: The Truth about Extreme Misogyny and How it Affects Us All by Laura Bates.  Isabela begins her review of the book by introducing listeners to the ten chapters and the groups Bates outline in each chapter. She talks about the authority Bates has to talk about this topic & h...

Join Isabela this week as she works through chapter 3-5 of an anti-racism activity book called Do the Work! by W. Kamau Bell and Kate Schatz.   This episode is the final part of this short series. In this episode, Isabela looks at America’s history & tries to answer the question, “how did we get here.” She takes a version of the US naturalisation test, re-evaluates the actions of some of our p...

Join Isabela this week as she works through the first two chapters of an anti-racism activity book called Do the Work! by W. Kamau Bell and Kate Schatz.   This episode is part 1 of 2. In this episode, Isabela identifies who she is, defines key terms, and acknowledges her privilege.  As always, we are so grateful for everyone who listens and shares. When you get a moment, we'd be so grateful if...

Join Isabela for a solo session! This week, Isabela sits down to talk about Men's Mental Health Awareness Month and has an over-simplified yap about why the patriarchy may be at the centre of men's poor mental health, the higher suicide rates, and male loneliness. *In case no one's told you recently: you are loved, you are wanted & the world is a better place with you in it. The re...

Brandi Jones joins the Amateur Activist this week to talk about Secure Families Initiative - the work they do, the importance of advocating for military spouses & family and why their experiences are important to listen to. As the Organising Director, Brandi establishes the vision, systems and strategies for SFI. She oversees grassroots programs, international campaigns and coordinates across...

Natalia Aíza joins the Amateur Activist this week to talk about OCD. Natalia has years of experience in this space - as an OCD experiencer, OCD therapist, activist and coach. In this episode, Isabela and Natalia talk through the basics - what is OCD, how might someone get diagnosed, and what recovery and ERP looks like. They also talk about what communities or demographics struggle with getting he...

David Hayward aka NakedPastor joins the Amateur Activist this week to talk about his deconstruction. David is a pastor turned full-time artist who paints, draws, and fosters a global digital community around the journey of deconstruction, self-discovery, healing and spirituality. In this episode David and Isabela talk about why he left traditional ministry 15 years ago, why he believes deconstruct...

Jarrod McKenna joins the Amateur Activist this week to talk about activism, what embodied radical compassion should look like, the important work of nonviolence, and encouragement to young people just getting started in this work.  Jarrod has years of experience in this space, engaging in grassroots movements, his work with various organisations such as Common Grace, Love Makes A Way, and First Ho...

Welcome to the Amateur Book Club! In this episode, Isabela talks about the #1 National Bestseller & New York Times Bestseller, The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates.  Isabela introduces listeners to the book and the varying media attention that the books has received, both positive and negative. Then, she dives into her thoughts & major takeaways.  This is book 1 out of 4 for the Amateur Book Cl...

The Amateur Activist is joined by her mum for a special birthday celebration episode. Isabela’s mum, Andrea, takes over the podcast as the host and asks Isabela questions that were sent in by listeners and friends.  Andrea and Isabela talk about birthday rituals, the transition from Australia back to America, and things they’ve learned about each other over the years.  As always, we are so gratefu...

Lane Smith joins the Amateur Activist to talk about their book, 78 Acts of Liberation: Tarot to Transform our World.  Lane and Isabela discuss a brief history of Tarot, Lane’s changing relationship with it, and how it can be a useful tool of activism, advocacy & personal reflection in these spaces. As always, we are so grateful for everyone who listens and shares. When you get a moment, we&#39...

Lysne Tait joins the Amateur Activist to talk about period poverty in America. Lysne is the Exucive Director of Helping Women Period, a non-profit she co-founded in 2015 that provides free menstrual products and education to those experiencing homelessness and/or low-income disparity.  Lysne and Isabela discuss what period poverty is and dispels any myths surrounding it. They also talk about pract...

Jessica Denise Dickson joins the Amateur Activist to talk all things enneagram, anti-racism, embodiment, and integration. Jessica has been working as an enneagram guide, anti-racism educator, and embodiment coach for the last 10+ years. In this episode, Isabela and Jessica talk about gender construct’s impact on your enneagram results, culture's impact vs true identity, the harsh reality of how di...

Kevin Nye joins the Amateur Activist to talk about his first book, Grace Can Lead Us Home: A Christian Call to End Homelessness. Kevin is an author, advocate, father, and husband, passionate about using his experience with the unhoused to demystify and humanise an epidemic that often leaves us feeling overwhelmed and numb.  Kevin and Isabela talk through the book — focusing on the importance of la...

Isabela is back, which means Amateur Activist is BACK! As always, we are so grateful for everyone who listens and shares. When you get a moment, we'd be so grateful if you left a review on Apple Podcasts, rated us on Spotify, or tagged us in your stories on Instagram, @amateuractivistpod Connect with me on Instagram, @belagiirrll A big thank you to David Andrew for producing the music for this sea...

(For Pride 2022, the Amateur Activist Podcast produced a mini Pride series highlighting queer voices and experiences. This is episode 1 of 4.) Karen Pack and Steff Fenton join the Amateur Activist to share their experiences as queer people in and around the church and church spaces. They share their insights and voices around the importance of queer theology, queer churches, and what Pride means t...