The Roll Down

Sometimes in podcasting you create a script but when you start recording, a different conversation happens - that’s what this episode is. What began as a conversation with pastor and author, Cody Balfour, about his book, “Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark: Daily Readings for an Anxious World” turned into an honest and authentic conversation about the Christian faith. We get real as we talk about how som...

This is Part 3 of a three-part DEI series on The Roll Down. In this final episode, Matthew and Alethea turn toward the psychological and nervous-system impacts of colonization, racism, and ongoing oppression—and what healing can look like in the midst of it. Using Polyvagal Theory as a grounding framework, they explore how our bodies and brains adapt to chronic threat through hypervigilance, shutd...

This is part 2 of a three-part series on DEI. In this episode, Matthew and Alethea dive into how the brain creates and stores memories—and explore the critical consequences of misremembering or erasing history. We are living in a time when books are being banned, DEI language is being legislated against, and educators are restricted from teaching accurate historical truths. In this context, preser...

This episode kicks off a three-part series surrounding DEI. In this episode, we break down what DEI is and means, give a brief history about it, and discuss some of the contradictions and hypocrisy from the current administration regarding DEI. While we cannot cover everything that has happened since the inauguration, we wanted to provide some context and lay the groundwork for what is to come in...

We have our first guest of the season! Danielle Coke Balfour is back again and joins us as we dive into part 2 of the state of our country. In this episode, we discuss with Danielle her perspective on what’s currently happening with this administration and DEI, and how the past five years got us to this moment. We also talk with her about removing a best-selling product from Target after their DEI...

Episode 2 marks the first of a two-part series focused on the current state of our country. In contrast to previous seasons—which focused more on analyzing national events—this episode intentionally shifts the lens toward self-care, strategic resistance, and holistic health in the pursuit of justice. Matthew and Alethea offer psychoeducation on the Central Nervous System, exploring how stress is i...

We're back! After a bit of a hiatus Alethea and Matthew are back behind the mics and ready for another season. In this season intro they give listeners a brief introduction of who they are, the history of the podcast, and the hopes and values for season 3.   Hosts: Alethea Lamberson & Matthew Melendrez Designer: Cameron Stingley   Follow us on IG: @therolldownpodcast  The Roll Down podcast is part...

This season launched in January 2023 and is wrapping up in 2024, something that our hosts did not anticipate. In this finale, Alethea and Matthew reflect on what it took to get this season launched and highlight each of the episodes and what they appreciated about them. They express their joy and gratitude in what was accomplished in the midst of more unexpected life circumstances which caused the...

We have our first returning guest, Danielle Coke Balfour, back to discuss her first book, “A Heart on Fire: 100 Meditations on Loving Your Neighbors Well”, which was released in October 2023. We talk with Danielle about what sparked her desire to write (and illustrate!) the book, and how she landed on her “ten pillars of a life of good work”. We also highlight one of the meditations in the “Justic...

This episode is a continuation from the previous episode where we discussed the lead up to, and the closing of, all Lenses offerings in the U.S. in July 2021. In this episode, Alethea and Matthew share more about their experiences in the organization outside of what happened with Lenses, and they’ll explore the impact of these events and practices they utilized to heal. Though their story is speci...

On July 29, 2021, The Lenses Executive Team released a statement which announced that all Lenses offerings in the U.S. would be shut down effective immediately. From that day until now, there have been various things said about why Lenses closed, and much of what has been said is not remotely true. As the three year mark is coming up this summer, Alethea and Matthew felt it was time to let people...

This is part two of a two part episode where we discuss the state of our country as of April 2023. We acknowledge that we barely scratched the surface in our last episode due to the sheer amount of obscene things in the news each week and the lack of hours in a single day to process it all. Today's episode will focus more on practical ideas of how to engage at the local level and how to continue p...

This is part one of a two part episode where we discuss the state of our country as of April 2023. We will cover some of the various atrocities that have taken place during the last two years, some of the ignorant policies being implemented and some of the connections we have made to other historical events. From book bans and attacks on the LGBTQ+ community to mass shootings and immigration, ther...

This episode is an invitation into the life, person and work of a woman of color in the creative sphere. Our guest and friend, Danielle Coke, walks us through how she rests, dreams, creates and perseveres as she’s doing justice work.   Danielle Coke is a designer turned illustrator, advocate, speaker, and entrepreneur. She’s the founder of Oh Happy Dani, a lifestyle brand and educational platform...

In the last episode, special guest Sandhya Oaks talked about reclamation identity, resilience, and addressed why so many people are wrestling with the question “who am I?” This episode is a continuation where Matthew and Alethea let us see their journeys in reclamation identity and how that led to refinding their voices. They share how a crucial part of the journey was regaining agency to choose w...

This episode is a powerful invitation towards reclaiming our identity and what it means to be resilient. Our guest and friend, Sandhya Oaks, walks us through some of the ways that she (and we) can return to the core of who we are by slowly taking back our God given identities through the hard but beautiful and necessary journey of story work.    Sandhya is a Speaker, Ministry leader, Story Coach,...

While there are many acronyms being thrown around these days, here’s one of great value to our communities—DEIB—which stands for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging. The common thread in each is that something needed to be done institutionally where these things lacked. You may have heard talk about these terms in smaller combined fragments but they are a mightier and more holistic work whe...

As promised, Alethea and Matthew wanted to dive more deeply into the reasons behind their unexpected hiatus—not because they owe it to their audience, but because we’re family here and they desire to share the entirety of their lives with you. Their hope is to bring you into their life’s story over the last 1.5 years in a vulnerable way while acknowledging the risks involved and without filtering...

After a year and a half hiatus, Alethea and Matthew are back behind the mics and more ready than ever for Season 2. In this episode, they talk about the myriad of feelings they have with the new season finally launching along with their hopes and dreams for what this season will be. While briefly acknowledging the unexpected break, they will dive more into the reasons why in the next episode.   Ho...

This season finale is a sweet celebration between our hosts as they reflect on what this experience has meant to them thus far. It has served as a steady lifeline for us all in the midst of the challenging last year. It has also been a warm welcome to the journey that they are on individually and collectively as they show up week after week bringing their full authentic selves to the conversation....

This episode is a thought-provoking discussion about the many and varied topics we’ve covered in Season 1 from the state of our country to the multifaceted suffering we endure and everything in between. Our guests share about the ways that they were met, challenged, and spurred on towards hope and healing in their pursuit of justice.    We are being joined by a returning and beloved guest, Emma Ta...

(Live Episode) In the Valley Series   This episode is focusing on persevering and enduring in the valley. We recognize that suffering and affliction come with this life so we wrestle with this idea in light of that reality. How we work through the suffering is what helps us to come out on the other side and even find an anchor in the midst. Join us as we discuss what it looks like to engage, persi...

In the Valley Series   Our conversation on Joy & Rest will be heavily influenced by Cole Arthur Riley’s unique prayer expression, “Black Liturgies”, that speaks to blackness, black emotion, black thought, black belonging and liberation. She gives great thought and encouragement for how we can lean into joy and rest in the midst of all the trauma as well as how we can be pushed towards hope in our...

In the Valley Series   Our conversation on Lament & Justice will be primarily based on Dr. Soong-Chan Rah’s book Prophetic Lament . Lament, as Dr. Rah writes, is when we have to acknowledge that the world is not as it should be and that leads to various forms of suffering. Lament is profoundly lacking in the church and this has contributed to the ways injustices continue to happen.    Rev. Dr. Soo...

In the Valley Series   We are launching our second series of the season and it’s called “In the Valley”. We both are people of faith and believe in God and we aim to pursue and reflect God to others. Psalm 23 says that though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, you are with me. We know that every person will be in the dark valley at some point, whether it be brief, extensive or for o...