Each week on the Praise Hands Podcast, join Robby Valderrama and learn from creative, cross-cultural solutionists at the American intersection of church, race, music, and economics.
“Praise Hands Podcast 50th Episode Party!” w/ Jackie The Educator, Barna Group’s Brooke Hempell, and more!
In honor of our 50th Episode, Robby chatted with past guests Jackie The Educator, DJ Chuang, Patrick Chappell, Lex The Advocate, Brooke Hempell, and Ricky Ortiz on a fun and laid-back Praise Hands Podcast 50th Episode Zoom Party, including a quick appearance from Robby’s wife Bria Jean Valderrama. Watch the Zoom on YouTube, or hear audio-only on your podcast app of choice.
“Cancel Culture and the Search for Truth” w/ Wendy Cunningham
“The culture of social media has made us bold in the wrong ways.” Wendy Cunningham
On January 5th, 2021, third-party voter Wendy Cunningham was a highly successful entrepreneur who was loved and respected by her business partners across the country. Two days later, after peacefully attending the January 6th rally in Washington DC, she was cut out of a lifelong friendship, labeled a racist, and had her family’s lone income source threatened by colleagues.
On this episode of the Praise Hands Podcast, hear Wendy open up about:
• Why a third-party voter like her made the trip to DC
• Her on-the-ground experience on January 6th
• What it’s like to be cancelled in cancel culture
“Loving Our Unborn And Undocumented Neighbors” w/ Rondell Trevino
“I think we trust politicians’ words more than God’s Word when it comes to immigration.”
Moving from a Trump to a Biden presidency, The Immigration Coalition founder Rondell Trevino shares his family’s immigration journey, along with how the church in America can have its priorities right on this urgent and complicated issue.
On this episode of the Praise Hands Podcast, hear Rondell share:
• How Rondell’s family navigated through the U.S. immigration process
• His thoughts on Christian Nationalism and idolatry
• Why Christians must be pro-life across the political spectrum
“How Your Creativity Can Change The World” w/ Danielle Coke
“You don’t have to be perfect to make a difference.” Danielle Coke
At the beginning of 2020, Danielle Coke (@ohhappydani) had 700 Instagram followers and an iPad. A few months later, her racial justice-themed artwork went viral, causing her to gain 300,000 Instagram followers in one week, and leading her work to be featured on the Today Show, Buzzfeed, NBC, and countless other media outlets.
On this episode of the Praise Hands Podcast, hear Danielle share:
• The creative process behind her popular artwork
• Tips for building a brand around your passion
• How her relationship with Jesus shapes her social justice work
Kingdom Innovation For A Brave New World w/ Doug Paul
“The church must shift from a mindset of being reformed to being reformers.”
As an innovation strategist, Doug Paul has advised Christian leaders across the US, and his book Ready or Not: Kingdom Innovation for a Brave New World provides a roadmap for church leaders who are eager to shift their ministry during a COVID-19 and post-COVID culture.
On this episode of the Praise Hands Podcast, hear Doug and Robby chat about:
• The relationship between diversity and creativity
• Predictions about the future of the church
• Systemic change in church, tech, & racial justice
“Worship, Discipleship, and Holy Spirituality” w/ Dr. Emmett Price
“In the American church, we conflate worship and music… *everything* that we do should bring glory to God as our living worship.”
Dr. Emmett Price III is a leading expert on African American Music, Christian Worship and the Black Christian Experience, and leads the Institute for the Study of the Black Christian Experience at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.
In this interview on the Praise Hands Podcast, Dr. Price switches seamlessly between his academic, pastoral, and musical hats, addressing the following:
• What Our Educational Models Can Learn From Jesus
• The Redemptive Song of Black America
• The Church’s Responsibility To Lead Cross-Culturally
“Jesus, Justice, and America” w/ Shane Claiborne
“What would it look like for love, not fear, to shape our policies?”
As an activist, author, and speaker, Shane Claiborne has shaped a generation’s view of Jesus and social change. His radical activism has led him to Iraq and Afghanistan (for anti-war efforts), jail (for homeless advocacy), Calcutta (for work with Mother Teresa), and to Washington DC, where today’s interview took place a few steps from The White House.
In this episode highlighting the 2020 Presidential Election, Shane shares:
• Why the death penalty is incompatible with Christian teaching
• How the American church has neglected the teachings of Jesus
• How restorative justice and forgiveness can fix the US prison system
“Why There’s Still Hope Beyond 2020” w/ Dr. Esau McCaulley
“What’s happened in 2020 can’t unresurrect Jesus.”
Dr. Esau McCaulley is an author, priest, and New Testament scholar whose work has been featured in outlets such the New York Times, Christianity Today, and the Washington Post. He completed his doctoral studies under the direction of N.T. Wright, and recently released his book “Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation as an Exercise in Hope”.
In this second episode of Season 4, Esau and Robby chat about:
• Why voting can be a profoundly Christian act
• How Christianity addresses the brokenness of the world
• Why we must articulate Christian beliefs in public conversations
“Worship Beyond Nationalism” w/ Dr. Rob Hewell
“The Christian faith is a narrative. Which narrative is shaping what I do every day?” Dr. Rob Hewell
Dr. Rob Hewell is the Professor of Worship and Director of Online Learning Initiatives for Ouachita Baptist University, and the author of the provocative and timely book “Worship Beyond Nationalism”.
In this opening episode of Praise Hands Podcast Season 4, Dr. Hewell and Robby Valderrama speak frankly about:
•The inherently political nature of Christian worship
•The priority of the Kingdom of God over earthly allegiances
•The tension of unity in the church and partisan convictions
“Sexual Sin In The Church” w/ Andrea Burke and Sharona Sledge
“The church has tried to protect position instead of holding up repentance as the greatest prize.” Andrea Burke
“There is such a weight on shepherding people - each of your sheep are not the same. Although there are godly principles, if you’re going into ministry, that means you’re ministering to a flock of individual sheep.” Sharona Sledge
Amidst imperfect people and imperfect churches, the devastating consequences of moral failure and sexual sin affect us all. In this second episode of the Praise Hands Podcast series “Can I Trust The Church?”, worship leaders Andrea Burke and Sharona Sledge share how they navigated guilt, deceit, and betrayal in their evolving relationships with God and the church.
Listen now to hear Andrea and Sharona talk about:
• Dismantling “church shame” through a culture of confession
• When and how to confront signs of abuse or wrongdoing
• How to find freedom from sexual sin and help others do the same
