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Change Happens Now is a podcast dedicated to conversations and practices exploring wisdom based leadership. Wisdom-based Leadership is an approach that seeks to cultivate transformation at the intersections of spirituality, justice, and social innovation. In each episode, we feature guests from across industries who will share stories, insights, practices, and tools that will prepare and empower aspiring and emerging leaders to enact social change in their personal lives, communities, and in ...
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In this episode, we sat down with Jonathon Murillo, our Director of Content and Strategy at Ignite Institute at PSR. Jonathon introduces the concept of a VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous) world and the need for a new way to lead, which led to the development of Ignite's hallmark program, Wisdom-Based Leadership. He shares how this …
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In this episode, we dive into an inspiring conversation with Cindy Liu, a visionary strategist dedicated to redefining the future of education through Kwaray, a groundbreaking community-based learning platform. Cindy takes us on her journey, sharing insights on why fostering a sense of community is essential for transformative education and persona…
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Rev. Dr. David Vásquez-Levy, President of Pacific School of Religion, discusses the origin story of Kwaray, a new community-based learning platform dedicated to equipping rising faith leaders as they navigate an era of profound spiritual and cultural upheaval. Kwaray aims to address the pressing needs of accessible theological education and challen…
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As the first female principals at Bora Architecture, Amy Donohoe and Jeanie Lai champion justice-oriented design, making educational spaces innovative, inclusive, and inspirational. They sat down with us to talk about their personal and professional journeys and the importance of design justice, equity, and community engagement in architecture. We …
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In this inspiring episode, we welcome Rev. Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil, a pastor, dynamic speaker, award-winning author, professor, and thought leader. Dr. Salter McNeil is recognized internationally as one of the foremost leaders of reconciliation and was featured as one of the 50 most influential women to watch by Christianity Today in 2012. A trail…
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In this conversation, we sat down with Lauren Snelling and Dori King to discuss their experiences as parents and educators and the importance of storytelling in their respective fields. Lauren is child trauma psychotherapist/counselor, committed to disrupting systems in an effort to support Black children, and Dori is a children's picture book writ…
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Join us in this enlightening episode as our host, Mo King, delves into the intricate landscape of Christian ethics with esteemed scholars Dr. Traci West and Dr. Lisa Asedillo. Dr. West is an author and Professor of Christian Ethics and African American Studies at Drew University Theological School. She offers profound insights into gender-based vio…
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On our Season premiere, host Mo King sits down with spiritual leaders Rev. Adriene Thorne, Senior Minister of the historic Riverside Church in NYC, and Rev. Dr. David Vásquez-Levy, President of Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, CA, as they delve into their experiences leading dynamic communities, their challenges, and the resources they use t…
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In a global culture that has perpetuated sexual violence, and a recent shift to more people talking about it than ever before, how can we as leaders truly be in community with survivors of this kind of abuse? In our Season Finale, we sat down with Lydia Matioli, Program & Partnerships Director of Freely in Hope in Kenya and Zambia, to talk about he…
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Co-designing is an ancient practice, and the world is experiencing a paradigm shift from designing for people to designing with people. We sat down with Dave Dawkins, communication design lead at IDEO.org, to talk about this change and the importance of summoning radical imagination in this time. For so many on the margins, it's an act of resistanc…
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With everything happening in the world today in politics, cancel culture, and extreme barriers of division, Leland Melvin is helping to transform these ills by using his life story as an athlete, astronaut, scientist, engineer, photographer, and musician, to help inspire the next generation of explorers to pursue S.T.E.A.M. careers. Leland is the o…
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How do we support the writers, artists, and thinkers in our communities in times of profound change? Andrew Proctor, Executive Director of Literary Arts in Portland Oregon, sat down with us to answer this question and shared how he’s engaged the literary world for over twenty years in the governmental, for profit, and nonprofit sectors. Andrew also…
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How can Christian teachings, sacred text, and prophetic witness be brought to the issues calling for Love and Justice in our world today? Master educator, Rev. Tana Roseboro Marsh, Program Coordinator of Theological Education for Leadership (TEL) at PSR, sits down with us to answer that question through the lens of the TEL program. While actively w…
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How can we "sit on the porch" to help others slowly unfold what's on their hearts and minds? How can we be findable for intergenerational conversations? On this episode, Mo sits down with Phyllis Drennon King Hildreth, VP of Strategy and Chief of Staff at American Baptist College in Nashville, Tennessee, small business owner, community and civic le…
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What we consume, whether it's the movies that we watch, the books we read, or the short social media videos we scroll through, it all feeds our minds and souls and informs our sense of reality at a very subliminal level. To Payhuan Shiao, Founder and CEO of Immortal Studios, and lineage holder of the 1000-year-old martial arts fantasy genre of Wuxi…
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Former 76ers athletic trainer and author of the Red Rubber Ball series of books, Kevin Carroll, has turned his childhood passion for playing ball into a bestselling franchise. Since leaving Nike to create his own company, Katalyst, Kevin has dedicated his life to advancing sports and play as a vehicle for social change and success. As an expert on …
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On this episode, Mo King is joined by Dr. Jennifer Madden, the Dean of the School of Business at Linfield University in McMinnville, Oregon and the Author of Inter-Organizational Collaboration by Design that examines how collaborations can be designed and leveraged for innovation and rejuvenation, a concept she calls “Rejuvenative Innovation.” As a…
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On our Season 6 Premiere, new Host, Mo King, talks with award-winning writer, editor, and heart centered nonprofit/social enterprise professional, Dorcas Cheng-Tozun. Dorcas is the editorial director at Pax, a faith-based nonprofit that seeks to inspire people to be peacemakers and justice-seekers, and is the author of three books, the most recent …
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Belonging is a need essential to the human experience, and with the ongoing complex issues we're all navigating, the question of what “belonging” means in society is extending into our work as it never has before. Grace So is Visiting Assistant Professor of New Testament and Rhetorical Studies at The Pacific School of Religion, and she has been wre…
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On this episode we sat down with Leonard McMahon, doctoral candidate in theology at the Graduate Theological Union at UC Berkeley and Assistant Professor of Pastoral Care at the Pacific School of Religion. Leonard works through his consultancy, Common Ground Dialogue, to bring divergent citizens into deeper conversation for the sake of our democrac…
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"How much would the world change if our leaders focused on community care first?" That's what Stephenie Wheeler-Smith's focus is in her social enterprise, We Deliver Care, that seeks to reimagine public safety in Seattle and widen the circle of human concern. As we sat down with Stephenie to hear more about her leadership approach, we learned it wa…
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Lisa Asedillo is the co-founder of New Day Church in the Bronx, New York, a vibrant, queer, anti-racist and boundary-crossing faith community. As an ethicist, liturgist, and the Assistant Professor of Worship and Liturgical Ethics at Pacific School of Religion, Lisa's leadership approach focuses heavily on personal introspection, community building…
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On this episode, we sat down with Drew Jackson, published poet and President/Co-Founder of Pax, a partner of Ignite. Drew is deeply engaged in anti-racism work, primarily in church contexts, and is actively involved with the work of peacemaking and multi-faith coalition building for the common good, both nationally and internationally. He talks abo…
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Josh Buck is an author, filmmaker, teacher, church planter, and faith-based entrepreneur. He's the co-founder of Pax, a partner of Ignite, and an organization designed to inspire and equip the next generation through slow, beautiful, Jesus-centered content created by people of color. Holding a PhD in intercultural studies, focusing on the problem o…
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Rev. Adriene Thorne incorporates art and creativity into all aspects of her life, including her faith and her leadership as the Senior Pastor of The Riverside Church in NYC. She talks with us about the importance and value of incorporating play and a childlike spirit into our daily lives, to stay grounded amidst the chaos of the world. As she disco…
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We had the pleasure of sitting down with Dr. Peter Rios, author, leadership consultant, professor at the Pacific School of Religion, and Ignite's Academic Director, to learn what he discovered about himself that led him to shift from teaching in churches to teaching in classrooms and within organizations. He talks with us about the limited voices a…
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On this episode, we're highlighting 12 Latinx/Hispanic leaders from our community and some impactful insights they shared as previous guests of the show. From Season 1 to our most recent wrap on Season 4, we've had the privilege and honor of sitting down to have deep, important conversations around spirituality, identity, and justice, "en conjunto"…
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Reverend Adam Russell Taylor, president of Sojourners, is as much a minister as he is an activist and community organizer. We had the pleasure of kicking off Season 5 with him, hearing how he weaves his faith into his political activism as a reflection of the ministry of Jesus Christ. We learn about how he discovered his passion for building and st…
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A recurring theme we've seen throughout this season has been the importance of rest. On this episode, we sat down with Danielle Hawthorne, VP of Programs at Code2040 just after her three-month sabbatical. Danielle shares how she was able to reset and refresh herself, her spirituality, and her work with Code2040, a people of color Organization that …
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Nikole Lim is a speaker, educator, freelance filmmaker, author of Liberation Is Here, and Founder/International Director of Freely In Hope, an organization that supports and is led by survivors of sexual violence in Kenya and Zambia. We had a conversation with Nikole about the true meaning of allyship, what we all need to do to support survivors, a…
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On this episode we sat down with Heidi Lepe, a Honduran-Mexican writer, theologian, and storyteller from West Los Angeles. As the founder of Brown Beloved Co., a collective space at the intersection of faith, raíces (cultural roots), and justice, her work centers on the spirituality and liberation of Brown women, the Brown church, and Latine/x comm…
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On this episode, we sit down with Dr. Patrick Reyes, author of The Purpose Gap and Nobody Cries when We Die. As the Senior Director of Learning Design at The Forum for Theological Exploration (FTE), inspiring young people to explore their passion, purpose, and calling, Patrick oversees learning and resource development around vocational exploration…
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On this Episode, we sat down with friend of the podcast and Ignite's very own Jonathon Murillo. Through his experience in community and organizational development and spiritual formation, Jonathon has developed a deep commitment to social transformation through meaningful work. He guides leaders, culture creators, and change makers into moments of …
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What does it look like to reclaim taking up space, standing firm in your capabilities? Dr. Jessica Taylor, CEO and founder of Leadership Training Initiative, sat down with us to share what it looks like on her journey, awakening agency, saying “No,” and kindly rejecting what is not for her. She talks about reclaiming one's value in the workplace, e…
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On this Episode, we have a conversation with Jonathan Dumas, founder and owner of Common Culture Coaching & Consulting. As an Organizational Psychologist and Leadership Coach, Jonathon works with organizations to create more equitable and inclusive work environments. He talks with us about why he started his consulting business, reclaiming parts of…
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On this Episode, we sit down with Nivi Achanta writer, speaker, and founder and CEO of Soapbox Project. With a passion for sustainability, social justice, and all things tech, Nivi helps people create positive social impact in the world. She was once told that in order to stand out and leave a large impact on the world, you must run towards the fir…
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On this episode, we sit down with national trainer, spiritual director, and professor, Dr. Kit Evans-Ford, founder of Argrow's House. She shares how she was able to live out her calling in life by combining her love of ministry and serving female survivors of domestic abuse and sexual violence with social entrepreneurship. We hear about her own hea…
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Meet Kriselle Gabriel, the fabulous new face and voice of Change Happens Now! Kriselle is a writer and entrepreneur with a passion for sharing stories, connecting people, and empowering those from marginalized communities to go for their passions. She's also the founder of @EmpoweredInColor, a movement and podcast dedicated to helping people of col…
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On this episode we have a conversation with Dr. Martha Hernández, an incredible young leader with extensive clinical and research experience working with underserved populations in schools, universities, community mental health clinics, and hospitals. As Director of the Spanish Training Track and Associate Director of Family Support Services of Ron…
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In this Episode we have a heart to heart conversation with Renjy Abraham, the Dean of Spiritual Life and Cultural Integration at Multnomah University. Serving in the Diversity and Inclusive Development Department, Renjy is passionate about walking with BIPOC leaders as they discover their true selves. As an Indian American, born and raised in the P…
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On this episode, we sit down with Andrew Kim, the Teaching and Small Groups Pastor at Kensington Church in the metro Detroit area. Originally from Vancouver, Canada, Andrew has traveled widely, throughout Asia, Europe, Central America and Africa. One of his greatest passions is to see Asian Americans live more fully into their God given identity. H…
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Can we do this again? Can we begin again? Can we keep moving forward after all of this? These are the questions Episode 5 answers with a wholehearted YES! We sat down with Kevin Sweeney, the co-founder and curator of Imagine, an urban church in Honolulu that is welcoming of all people, sees imagination as the key to the future, and chooses substanc…
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On this episode we have a conversation about building lasting connections across cultures and the vital connection between our faith and our cultural identity. Dr. Michelle Ami Reyes is an Indian American author, speaker, church planter, and activist who is deeply engaged with anti-racist work. As the co-founder of a non profit called Made for Pax,…
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On this episode, we drop in with Grace Martino-Suprice, a young leader with a heart for community development and desires to help the Church create bridges of love with the world around it. Since an early age, Grace has served with various congregational and parachurch ministries including UrbanPromise in Wilmington, DE and Because Justice Matters …
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On this episode, we sit down with Arlene Mendoza, a dynamic leader in our community with 14 years experience in the tech space, who recently pivoted to Software Product Strategy/Management in the Social Enterprise space and sits on the Board of Moran Consulting and Pacific School of Religion. She was invited to be a guest speaker in our certificate…
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Who is Jalen Seawright? Aside from being the fabulous new face and voice of Season 3 of Change Happens Now Podcast, Jalen is a young dreamer who wants to amass a lot of change in this world! He's passionate about justice, watching people come together, and bridging gaps between communities that are different from each other. He's an entrepreneur wh…
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On this Season 2 wrap episode, we continue the conversation on transformative leadership with @lamikiacastillo a powerful and inspiring Afro-Latina leader, born and raised in South Central Los Angeles. As a professor, consultant, and organizer over the last 20 years...a commitment to social justice, racial equity, and social change permeate every a…
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On this episode, Byron Chung, our Executive Director, sits down with two phenomenal leaders in our community. Areej Masoud is a Christian-Aramean Palestinian, born and currently living in Bethlehem. She is justice oriented, takes action towards change through the faith-based communities she belongs to, and is passionate in raising awareness and pro…
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On this episode we drop in with Ashley Sikorski, founder, CEO, and head coach at Sway leadership. Sway serves leaders and their teams in developing emotional health and intelligence to create a culture of humanity in their organizations and through their work. In this conversation, we talk about the power of listening, the power of tending to our i…
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On this episode we sit down with Liz Lin, the director and co-founder of PAAC and a senior fellow at Newbigin House of Studies in San Francisco. She's also a writer and educator on the topics of race and culture with a PhD in clinical psychology. With so much happening in this moment, and the rise in reporting of anti-asian hate and discrimination,…
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