Poema Podcast

Poema S7 040 | Kat Armas on Abuelita Faith

Today on the podcast I'm joined by author Kat Armas (MDiv and MAT), who shares her own story, and talks about the wisdom of women on the margins - mothers, grandmothers, sisters, daughters - and how & what it teaches us about spirituality and the divine. 
Kat shares her own experiences and lessons she's learned, as well as some other powerful stories, and we see how some of the great theologians of our time have been previously overlooked women.

Poema S7 039 | Living with ADHD: Robert Vore APC, NCC, CCATP

Today my occasional series on ADHD continues with therapist, mental health advocate and podcast host Robert Vore sharing his own story. 
Robert shares his own unique experience of growing up with ADHD and then becoming a therapist and advocate himself and encountering/working with others with ADHD and trauma. 
Robert gives us a valuable insight into the lived experience of ADHD and insight into working with others with the condition. 

Poema S7 038 | Living with ADHD: Elle Rose

Today my series on ADHD continues with the return of my friend Elle Rose, to share their lived experience of ADHD, and the challenges and stigma they have experienced growing up with ADHD and in getting a diagnosis. 
Elle shares honestly, and with great courage, about their day to day experience of ADHD, patterns of behaviour which can be linked with the condition, and the difference getting a diagnosis and medication can make. They also share words of solidarity, encouragement and wisdom for those with ADHD and for those who know people with ADHD.
I'm so grateful to Elle for sharing their story. 

Poema S7 037 | Sheologian (Sarah) on Living with ADHD

Today I'm delighted to welcome my friend Sarah ('Sheologian' from Twitter) to the podcast for a new series of episodes focussing on ADHD. I myself have undiagnosed ADHD and there's a lot of stigma and misunderstanding about it. This series aims to raise awareness.
Sarah shares her own story and experiences growing up with ADHD, in particularly in evangelical patriarchal culture, the day to day challenges she encounters, her own lived experience and lessons she's learned. She also talks about the challenges she faces as a therapist with clients who themselves often have ADHD. 
Sarah has a lot of wisdom, solidarity encouragement and insight into living with ADHD and supporting people ADHD, this is a powerful episode we all need to hear.

Poema S7 036 | Geek Philosophy: Emma Morrison on Star Wars, Deconstruction and Grief

Today in the vlatest of my 'Geek Philosophy' series I'm joined by good friend Emma Morrison, and we talk about the world of Star Wars and its links to deconstruction and processing trauma.
Emma tells her own story, sharing how Star Wars - and in particular the character of Leia Organa - influenced her growing up, how she inspired her and how as she went her own deconstruction journey she saw this reflected in the character development of Leia and others in the Star Wars canon.
We also explore the topic processing grief and how this ties in with the journey of Anakin/Darth Vader, the importance of Qui-Gon Jin, and how the Jedi and Sith can be metaphors for toxic religion and religious certainty. We talk about where we see embodiment and the journey of identity, and where we can see hope in these stories. 
This was such a fun and insightful conversation, I hope you like it!

Poema S7 035 | Geek Philosophy: Kevin M Nye on the Theology of the MCU

Today I'm joined by author and writer Kevin M Nye, contributing author of the book 'Theology of the Marvel Universe' to explore this subject in more depth.
As the latest MCU movie 'Black Widow' hits theatres we explore some of the deeper themes behind several characters stories and different movies within the MCU.
We talk about where we see metaphors for faith deconstruction, decolonialism, patriarchy and other massive issues/lived experiences which we see playing out in today's world and in the realms of spirituality. We also each discuss where we see stories in the MCU reflecting our own spiritual and personal journeys.
We conclude by highlighting, how these movies, stories and characters can inspire and challenge each of us. 

Poema S7 034 | Geek Philosophy: Mario-Francisco Robles on the Philosophy of Superman

In this new series, I explore with guests the philosophy, theology and mythology of geek world - superheroes, Star Wars, and more. 
This episode, I talk to Mario-Francisco Robles of 'Superman on Film', about the mythology and philosophy around Superman and the early Superman movies. We each share our own experiences of this character and what he's meant to each of us.
We also talk about Superman's journey, his experiences - including those of grief and loss - as well his identity and values. We explore how these have shaped each of us, and why they're more important than ever in our wider cultural context.
This was such a fun and meaningful episode to do, one of my most personal too.

Poema S7 033 | Kristin Kobes Du Mez on Jesus & John Wayne

Today, historian and author Kristin Kobes Du Mez joins me to talk about her bestselling book "Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation".
We talk about the forces in US evangelical culture which led to the rise and election of Donald Trump as President, dating back to the 70s and 80s and the Presidency of Ronald Reagan. We touch on the truths President Jimmy Carter confronted the US with...which they chose to ignore in favour of certainty. 
We discuss the patriarchal and systemically racist system of evangelicalism and capitalism, how this has impacted wider US culture, and where we see this in the UK, where colonialism and patriarchal system had its genesis.
In the process, we discover how the election of Donald Trump was almost an inevitable, and how this system counterintuitively sees white evangelical men percieve moral failings and law breaking almost as a badge of honour. We also explore how all of this has led to many people beginning to deconstruct their faith and from this system, and where this could all go.
Kristen ends by sharing how the response to her book has given her hope that things can change...and shares this hope with us. 
 

Poema S7 032 | Dalaina May is a Deconstructing Missionary

In today's episode, recorded early on in the pandemic, I'm joined by Daliana May, who lives in South East Asia doing anti-trafficking work and advocacy for social justice. 
Daliana tells us her story of being a missionary, and then how she moved into deconstructing her faith.
She talks of the challenges she faced in her deconstructing her faith, leaving patriarchy behind and decolonising as a white woman with experience in missions, and how she discovered new meaning and purpose in anti-trafficking work and social justice activism.

Poema S7 031 | Kate Boyd on Spiritual Community in a Post-Pandemic World

Writer, speaker and podcaster Kate Boyd is my guest today. Together we explore and discuss how spiritual community has evolved and changed as more people deconstruct their faith, and how the pandemic will impact spiritual communities. 
Kate shares what she's learned through her own story and work, and the challenges she's faced and that spiritual communities need to confront as we move forward post-pandemic. 
We also talk about how churches can become safe spaces for those deconstructing, who've been hurt by the church. Finally we talk about the tough questions which leaders of spiritual communities - and the communities themselves - need to ask going forward.