In the Processor with Rev. Dr. Juana Jordan

In part two, Skip and Rev. Dr. Juana Jordan go deeper — into the moment Skip would reclaim with his mother if he could, and into the Black Panther scene that opens a tender conversation about how loss shapes the way we parent. Skip reflects on raising his daughters with the awareness that everything is temporary, shares a dream encounter with his late father, and speaks honestly about the road tha...

Rev. Dr. Juana Jordan welcomes Strather "Skip" Dupree — her best friend's younger brother and the man who called her on the highway with a word right on time — to share his story of losing his mother, Dorothy, in 1995 while he was a college sophomore. From the shock of arrival at the hospital to navigating academics, self-medication, and the promise he made to finish college, Skip offers...

Laura and Juana go deeper into the spiritual practices that have sustained Black women through grief — from dream work and ancestor wisdom to the contemplative traditions hiding in plain sight within African American culture. They challenge the "strong Black woman" trope and ask what it means to give yourself permission to simply be broken for a while. Laura offers practical tools for th...

Juana introduces her spiritual director, Laura Baber, the author of Rhythms of Restoration and a retired United Methodist deacon with more than 25 years of experience walking alongside people through grief and life transitions. Together, they explore what spiritual direction actually is — and how it differs from therapy. Laura describes the work as "holy listening," helping people find G...

In the powerful conclusion of Juana’s conversation with Christal Brown Heyward, they explore the intersection of grief, culture, and celebration in Black ecclesial traditions. Christal reveals her doctoral research on "Joy and Pain: The Marriage of Music and Mourning in Black Ecclesial Traditions," examining how music functions as healing in the Black church—from homegoing services that...

In Part 1 of this heartfelt episode, Rev. Dr. Juana Jordan sits down with Christal Brown Heyward, a certified grief coach, thanatologist, and worship leader who has transformed personal compassion into powerful ministry. Christal shares the touching story of how "A Time of Refreshing" was born—starting with simple home visits to a friend who lost her son, bringing a keyboard, a meal, and...

In this intimate episode of In the Processor, Rev. Dr. Juana Jordan sits down with four of her college girlfriends,  Angel Manago-Collins, Kathy Goins, Raquel Jackson and Tamara Thompson, who are navigating the profound reality of losing parents. They courageously share their journeys through anticipatory grief, the running phase of avoidance, and the moments when grief demands to be faced. Togeth...

In this episode of In the Processor, host Rev. Dr. Juana Jordan sits down with certified grief counselor and Fellow of the American Academy of Grief Counselors, Rev. Felicia Allen, for a raw and tender conversation about what it means to grieve well. Juana explores with Felicia how our brains build "titanium roads" to those we love—neural pathways so strong they remain long after our lov...

In this introductory episode of "In the Processor," host Rev. Dr. Juana Jordan sits down with Derrick Scott III, Creative Producer of Studio Wesley, to unveil a podcast dedicated to creating sacred space for grief. Juana shares her personal journey through the unexpected loss of her mother in July 2024 and how a healing conversation with sorority sisters at homecoming sparked the vision...

"In the Processor" is a podcast hosted by Rev. Dr. Juana Jordan that creates sacred space for Black women and Black people to grieve fully and authentically. The series explores grief, loss, and change with the aim of fostering collective healing and help listeners process pain while finding hope together.