Ep. 112: On Proximity To Power w/ Author Tiffany Bluhm

EQ: What is the role of women in religious communities to call out the patriarchy and fight against injustice in 2021?  

Guest: Tiffany Bluhm, author of Prey Tell: Why We Silence Women Who Tell the Truth and How Everyone Can Speak Up. She is a sought after speaker, writer, and podcast co-host of the popular podcast Why Tho, a show answering the existential and nonsensical questions we ask ourselves, with author and speaker, Ashley Abercrombie. More information can be found at her website.

In this episode we discuss the role of conservatism  that dominates conversations about gender equality, especially in religious spaces. The role of women (specifically in Christian contexts) in enabling the patriarchy because of things like “niceness at the expense of being honest” but also the power they have to dismantle misogyny. We cannot wait around for someone to “give women permission.” Instead we need to examine our proximity to power and do something with it.

🥂 All those teachers that are back in the classroom, showing up and teaching their students, all through a global pandemic

👎🏻Texas for passing their law essentially banning abortions and denying women access to their Health Care

Do Your Fudging Homework:

  • Hope: Get a copy of Prey Tell even if you aren’t religious or check out her podcast Why Tho?

  • Tiffany: Consider our own proximity to power

Ep. 39: Evangelicals Need to Come Out of Their Corners

EQ:  How is Evangelicalism supporting white supremacy in American churches and government today and what do we do about it?

We are joined by Erin Jones, award-winning educator, independent education & systems consultant, public speaker, former candidate for State Superintendent (OSPI). As we unpack our essential question, we discuss the tension between faith and doubt, specifically that both are healthy. We wrestle with why so many people of faith unquestionably believe in their leadership (pastors) and are told to just “Do” rather than think about what they are doing. We explore the loaded nature of the word “evangelicalism” including how it’s changed meaning over time and gets interchanged with “Republicanism”. Evangelicalism has been boiled down to arguments about pro-life, gay marriage, guns, and voting for Trump. Erin also shares about her experience as a woman of color navigating white Evangelical churches. Finally, we discuss why it’s critical for Christians who don’t buy into the fear-mongering to come out of our silos and corners to engage in conversations about faith, religion and justice.

Related Readings:

Do Your Fudging Homework:

Ep. 16: Pagan Zines Save the World

Our EQ: How do white people appropriate religious traditions? How does religion shape social justice and why keeping an eye on American pagans matters?

We’re super excited about long time listener and friend Mandy Paradise joining us to explain Paganism in the NW, including how it fits into our current work of understanding and confronting white nationalism and supremacy. Find Mandy on Instagram or through her website The Anchor and the Star and check out her zines, including “Witches, Pagans, and Cultural Appropriation.” Other episode highlights:

Timeless or Terrible:

faceswap.jpeg
  • Dyeing your hair a warmer color
  • Face Swap

 

 

Do Your Fudging Homework:

  • Mandy: Read "On Tyranny" by Timothy Snyder
  • Annie: Watch “Kill the K Cup” on YouTube and be nicer to the planet.
  • Hope: Go check out Mandy’s Instagram or website The Anchor and the Star.