Embracing Race: Conversations with Truth and Intention

Send us Fan Mail What does it mean to work the word when your story holds so many layers? Hosts Shani McIlwain and Jesy Littlejohn sit down with special guest Micheal J. Ivory Jr.—a proud queer Black man, first-generation college graduate, and Duke-trained writer and teacher—for a conversation rooted in truth, identity, and lived experience. Raised in a Pentecostal tradition, Micheal brings a powe...

Send us Fan Mail This week on Embracing Race, Shani and Jesy are taking it out the groupchat and straight to the mic. In our brand-new segment, “Take It Out the Groupchat,” we’re saying the things that usually stay between besties — the spicy takes, the side-eyes, the “be so for real” moments. We get into the current political chaos, racism in the NFL, and why Hitler’s name keeps popping up in tod...

Send us Fan Mail Happy Black History Month!  In this episode of Embracing Race: Conversations with Truth & Intention , we sit with the fabulous Dr. Tamisha A. Tyler — theologian, poet, cultural firebrand, and lifelong “lover of people.” Think theology with swagger, poetry with heft, and wisdom with a wink — all served with an Erykah Badu kind of sauce. A proud Butler Scholar, Dr. Tyler brings...

Send us Fan Mail Who are we really? And how does that shape the way we serve. Rev. Larissa Kwong Abazia brings wisdom, warmth, and truth to a rich conversation about service, faith and identity in a time of uncertainty. Come listen, reflect and laugh a little and remind yourself a little about what you may be called to do. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail The NFL draft. Nepotism. Pope Francis. Congress. Figuring out what timezone we are in compared to Italy.  Would it even be an episode with Shani and Jesy if they weren't all over the place? Support the show

Send us Fan Mail I hope you can keep up, because class is in session today with Rev. Dr. Eric Thomas. What a fellowship, what a joy divine! Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Da Baddest Chaplain, Chris Burton, joined us for a meaningful and necessary conversation. We had a hard time stopping our chat! Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Shenea Leonard is back! We dive into allyship, institutional racism, and the work they are doing in their ministry. We are so honored to have Bishop back as our first repeat guest! Support the show

Send us Fan Mail We are back with Part 2 of our interview with Sonya and Dartinia! The conversation is rich, and we are so thankful for the ways in which these two forces of femininity and power show up in this world.  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Join us for PART 1 of our rich and intimate conversation with Rev. Sonya McAuley Allen and Dartinia Hull. We wanted to respect time, but we couldn't find a stopping point! From the Grammys to watching movies to being able to be able to walk into a store without being questioned, we talk about how White Supremacy has impacted even the most intimate of our interactions.  Suppor...

Send us Fan Mail One of Shani's greatest dreams comes true this week: Kristian A. Smith is in the booth! Join us as we dive into the complexities of deconstruction and the need to build community! Follow Kristian wherever you can! IG:  thekristianasmith Youtube:  www.youtube.com/@tfc.virtua TikTok: thekristianasmith Web: https://www.kristianasmith.com/ Support the show

Send us Fan Mail On this day, as the 47th President of the United States is sworn into office, beginning what we can only assume will be a modern-day 'reign of terror', we sit in the tension of where we are as a country. We recognize the importance and significance of using our voices when so many have wanted to silence us.  We honor the model of leadership and persistence set forth by R...

Send us Fan Mail From the Golden Globes to the funeral of President Jimmy Carter, to performative invitations to a Mississippi HBCU, to the CA Wildfires...we cover it all, and we don't judge.  Well...we try not to judge.  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Welcome, welcome, welcome to Season 3 of the Embracing Race podcast! We are back and better than ever! Skip the inauguration coverage and spend your time with us! Support the show

Send us Fan Mail We are 1 week from Election Day! Vote, baby, vote! Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Post Presidential Debate Recap. Yes we know it was a while ago, but we have lives. And damn it they are busy. Support the show

Send us Fan Mail From celebrity couple break ups, names and pronouns, to the fact that you NEED TO GO VOTE--we cover it all.  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Vice Presidential Debate recap plus all the commentary on the craziness that is happening in the world. Also, we recognize and celebrate that Shani was born and exists in this world, and oh, what a joy it is! Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Who is the guiding voice in your head? Y'all we get vulnerable in this episode.  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail We know we're behind. But life is life-ing big sometimes. But listen in has we talk about America's Dad, VP Candidate, Tim Walz! Support the show

Send us Fan Mail We recap the DNC in anticipation of the first debate! Check back soon for our Debate recap! Support the show

Send us Fan Mail In this special extended episode, Shani and Jesy discuss the nuances of patriotism, the announcement of VP Harris on the Democratic ticket, and more. Set some time aside because we definitely lost track of it! *Please note that we do discuss, with candid vulnerability, the unjust murder of Sonya Massey. The content is raw, real, and needed.  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Shani and Jesy are back and talking about the election.  Note: This conversation happened one day before the shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania. That and other topics will be discussed in future episodes.  Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Check out the latest episode with Rev. Bethany Peerbolte as we chat about her 1001 New Worshipping Community, Our Tapestry, her rising popularity as the "Tik Tok Pastor" and all the things she is leaning into these days in this thing we call church! Support the show

Send us Fan Mail Life gets busy, but we are still here! Welcome back to the show! Support the show