Social Justice

EPISODE 47

EPISODE 47

“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

Episode 44

Episode 44

“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

EPISODE 37

EPISODE 37

“How To Disrupt Poverty In Your Neighborhood” w/ Jason Janz

“Poverty as an economic condition only misses both the problem and the cure.” - Jason Janz

Non-profit thought leader Jason Janz is the CEO of CrossPurpose, a Denver-based nonprofit committed to abolishing economic, relational, and spiritual poverty in its neighborhood. In addition to talking through his booklet “Black Swan Leadership: Ten Recommendations For Your Non-Profit During A Pandemic”, he and Robby chat about:
• Best practices for collaboration between local churches and nonprofits
• Why the current social disruption may be an “innovator’s Disneyland”
• Mobilizing human and financial capital to fight poverty

EPISODE 36

EPISODE 36

“The Spirit Poured Out On All Flesh” w/ Dr. Amos Yong

“We’re still learning how to live a message of the Gospel that doesn’t favor any one color over another.” - Dr. Amos Yong

Dr. Amos Yong is a theologian and professor currently serving as the Dean of the School of Theology and the School of Intercultural Studies at Fuller Seminary. He is also the author of numerous books on Pentecostal theology, race, and ethics, including “Who Is the Holy Spirit? A Walk with the Apostles.

In this interview on the Praise Hands Podcast, Dr. Yong examines crucial contemporary issues through Biblical exegesis and his own background as an Asian American, addressing the following:
• A Biblical examination of Christ and the Holy Spirit
• The conflicted racial history of Pentecostalism
• How Christianity can overcome limitations of Western constructs

EPISODE 32

EPISODE 32

“The Nashville Tornado and Black Ownership” w/ Derek Minor

“Are you going to chase the dollar, or are you going to help preserve a community?” - Derek Minor

Nashville-based Derek Minor is a rapper, producer, and entrepreneur whose initiative “Ownership is the New Black” works to develop the next generation of Black owners. In light of the recent Nashville tornado, Derek and Robby talk about how racially-discriminatory government policies have made the Black community particularly vulnerable to displacement through natural disasters and gentrification.

In this episode of the Praise Hands Podcast, hear Derek talk about:
• How to shift from “consumer power to ownership power”
• How Christian music and social justice can co-exist
• The tragic ending of the “Black Wall Street” in Tulsa, Oklahoma

EPISODE 29

EPISODE 29

“Financial Fraud And The Future Of Global Christianity” w/ Gina Zurlo

“People trust pastors to handle their money and assume that everything is okay. It’s not.” Gina Zurlo

By the year 2025, as much as $100 Billion per year in Christian-donated dollars will be lost due to embezzlement, estimates Gordon-Conwell’s Center for the Study of Global Christianity. The Center’s co-director is Gina Zurlo, who, along with co-authoring The World Christian Encyclopedia, was named among BBC’s 100 most influential and inspiring women of 2019.

In this paradigm-shifting episode, hear Gina share about:
• The Pros And Cons of Entrepreneurial Christianity
• Practical Ideas For Relationship Across Faith Backgrounds
• The Biggest Trends Shaping The Future Of Christianity

EPISODE 6

EPISODE 6

Dr. Michael Schluter is the epitome of a creative, cross-cultural solutionist. He’s been honored by the Queen of England for his Biblically-derived social policy, and he's facilitated peacebuilding initiatives everywhere from Korea to Rwanda to South Africa during Apartheid.

Hear Dr. Schluter's eye-opening perspective on the following:
• How prioritizing relational health over economic growth can help transcend political divides
• Why Christians in particular should care about economics
• How Biblical teaching on relationships speaks to capitalist concepts like advertising, limited liability, and interest.

EPISODE 5

EPISODE 5

"I’m not defined by the one thing that happened to me fifteen years ago."

Lexie LaVallee is a survivor of child sex trafficking. Hear her share on the following topics (listener discretion advised):
• How to forgive someone who has taken advantage of you
• The connection between the entertainment industry, pornography, and sex trafficking
• How individuals and groups can make a real difference in the fight against human trafficking