Thoughtfoolery: Recent Episodes
Jason Jones and Todd Gossett
Dr. Charlita Shelton, Chief of Staff to the President of Gonzaga University, joined us to share about her experiences in churches across the country and the need for belonging in a Christian community. We reflected on the changes in church engagement over the past several decades, how COVID has affected church life, and what the church can do to be faithful in connecting with future generations.
One half of the Thoughtfoolery Duo, Jason Jones, shares for Star Wars Day, May the fourth, how he came to love and why he continues to love Star Wars. He tells about seeing the Star Wars movies as a child, what made him love it, and why he continues to be drawn, as an adult, to the Star Wars Universe. He encourages everyone to find the thing that brings joy and wonder to them.
(Also, Jason would like to note that Peter Mayhew, the first actor who played Chewbacca, was 7'3", and not 6'9" as he stated in the interview.)
One half of the Thoughtfoolery duo, Todd Gossett, is also a basketball coach and an encylopedia of basketball knowledge. He breaks down, here, the ongoing 2023 Men's NCAA Basketball tournament, and he shares why he loves basketball so much. You'll not only gain some knowledge of the tournament, but you'll also be inspired by Todd's love of and dedication to the game of basketball.
Chauntelle Lieske, Executive Director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, Spokane, joined us to discuss NAMI's work of support, education, and advocacy for those impacted by mental health conditions. We discussed the current mental health crisis, how the holidays affect our mental health, and what we can do if we or someone we love is experiencing mental health needs. To learn more about NAMI's work here in Spokane, you can find them at namispokane.org/.
Among churches, there's often a culture of silence around domestic violence, and when it occurs churches have often acted in a way that makes the situation worse. Maryclare Beche, the author of the recent Sojourners article, Here's How Your Church Can Help Survivors of Domestic Violence, joined us to talk about where we've gone wrong as the church in responding to domestic violence and how we can recognize the signs of domestic violence, establish safe sanctuaries, and create a culture of care. If you'd like to learn more about Maryclare, you can find her on Twitter at twitter.com/bechemaryclare.
Executive Director of the Smith-Barbieri Progressive Fund and the Secretary/Treasurer of the Spokane Low Income Housing Consortium, Lerria Schuh, joined us to discuss her recent article in the Spokeman-Review advocating for taking the time to properly relocate the residents of Camp Hope rather than a quick disbanding of the encampment of those experiencing homelessness. We discussed what it takes to transition a person from homelessness, what real compassion looks like, and how creating real solutions to homelessness makes financial sense for everyone.
Todd and Jason share, as we're soon to celebrate one year of Thoughtfoolery, what they appreciate about this project, what they've learned, and what's next.
Author and editor, Julie Christine Johnson, joined us to talk about her growth in anti-racism, the stories she tells, and life on the Olympic Peninsula. She shared with us how she was profiled in Heather McGhee's book, The Sum of Us, as an example of someone doing the work of self-education on racism and advocating for opposing racism, how this growth affects her writing, and she also told us about the books she is writing now. If you'd like to learn more about Julie and her writing, you can find her at juliechristinejohnson.com.
Dr. Dawn Weaks, Co-Pastor of Connection Christian Church in Odessa, Texas, joined us to share about her new book, Breakthrough: Trusting God for Big Change in Your Church. In the book, she chronicles the change that Connection Christian Church went through, changing its name and location, in order to rediscover the call and vitality that God had for them. She tells this story not only for them to remember but also so that all churches might see and know that they, too, can experience a breakthrough and find again the new life God calls us all to. If you'd like to learn more about Dawn and the book, you can find her at dawn.weaks.org.
Mark Finney and Lidia Pauline, from Thrive International in Spokane, joined Todd and Jason to talk about their new work of helping multicultural communities thrive. They shared about their work at the Thrive Center which currently houses many new Ukrainian refugees, the unique gifts and blessings that refugees bring to communities, and what they need to continue the vital work they're doing. If you'd like to learn more about Thrive International, you can find them at thriveint.org. If you'd like to share your money, time, or gifts with the Thrive Center, you can learn more here.
Gavin Cooley, host, and Frank Swoboda, Director-Writer-Producer, from Housing & Help, a new documentary series and podcast chronicling the housing and homelessness crisis here in Spokane, joined us to talk about the genesis of this work, what they learned, and what the city can do to make real progress on homelessness. Head to housingandhelp.org to find the episodes and full podcasts. Also, check out this article that Gavin co-wrote with Rick Romero about what we can do to overcome the homelessness crisis.
Joe Barnett, from Hazard Ice in Spokane, joined us to talk about driving an ice cream truck, what his most requested ice cream treats are, and what it's like to bring joy to people every day. If you'd like to learn more about Joe and his ice cream, go to facebook.com/Hazardicecream or give him a ring at (509) 218-0567.
Marley Hochendoner and Abdella Abdella from Northwest Fair Housing Alliance join Todd and Jason to talk about the history of racism with housing in the Spokane area, unfair housing practices that happen today, and what someone can do when they are not receiving fair treatment with housing. If you'd like to learn more about Northwest Fair Housing Alliance, you can go to nwfairhouse.org. To watch the six-minute video on historical housing discrimination in Spokane, go here.
Transitions Executive Director of Missions and Services, Edie Rice-Sauer, joined us to discuss the unique needs that women and children experience when they encounter poverty and homeless. She shared, too, about the special work that Transitions is doing in Spokane to lift women and children out of homelessness and to provide more than a band-aid but real and lasting change. To learn more about the work of Transitions, go to help4women.org.
Lee University professor and author of Imagining Our Neighbors as Ourselves, Dr. Mary McCampbell,joined Jason and Todd to talk about how the arts encourage us to imagine the life of another and help us find empathy. They discuss life in Newcastle, empathy, imagining the experience of another, and they consider how even Breaking Bad and Better Call Saulcan be experiences of imagining another's life and an experience of empathy. If you'd like to learn about Mary's work you can find out more at marywmccampbell.com. If you'd like to learn more about her new book, you can click here.
Daniel Lufiyele and Randy Waltman, from Cup of Cool Water here in Spokane, join us to discuss youth and young adult homelessness, their work with Cup of Cool Water, and how all of us can learn to love our neighbors experiencing homelessness. If you'd like to find out more about Cup of Cool Water and join with their work, you can learn more at cupofcoolwater.org.
Rev. Dr. Sarah Griffith Lund joins us from Indianapolis to share with us her newest book, Blessed Youth: Breaking the Silence about Mental Health with Children and Teens, as well as the story of mental illness in her family, and how churches and individuals can best understand and care for mental health needs. If you'd like to learn more about Sarah and her books, you can find out more at sarahgriffithlund.com.
Ross Pangere joins Jason and Todd to retell the story of the connection that Ross and Jason have around a shared kidney.
Gonzaga University professor, Dr. Joan Braune, joins Todd & Jason to discuss hate groups and what drives people to them. She helps us understand what churches and individuals can do to stop the rise of hate groups. To learn about Dr. Braune, you can find more at joanbraune.com.
Author and Gonzaga professor, Shann Ray Ferch, joins Todd & Jason to talk about Servant Leadership, basketball, and growing in love, faith, as a spouse, and as a human being. If you'd like to find out more about Shann and his books, you can learn more at shannray.com.
Rev. Elizabeth Hagan, the pastor of the First Christian Church in Athens, Georgia, joins Todd and Jason to talk about her book, Brave Church, and how when churches learn to discuss challenging topics it can be an experience, not of fear, but of growth and grace. To learn more about Elizabeth, you can find her at elizabethhagan.com. You can learn more about her book, Brave Church, by clicking here.
Kendall Vanderslice joins Todd & Jason to talk about baking, food movies, dinner church, and how eating together is central to Christian community. If you'd like to learn more about Kendall's work, you can at Edible Theology and her personal site, KendallVanderslice.com. You can also hear Kendall on her Kitchen Meditations podcast. If you're curious about her book, We Will Feast,you can learn more here.
Rev. Vy Nguyen, Executive Director of Week of Compassion, joins Todd & Jason to talk about his own story, the work of Week of Compassion, and where compassion is needed with refugees and natural disasters. If you'd like to learn more about Week of Compassion (and give a donation), go to weekofcompassion.org. If you'd like to see the Hold On Tight video featuring Vy and the work of Week of Compassion, click here.
Stephanie McKeever joins Jason and Todd to talk about special needs parenting, grief, and the unique gifts and blessings that special needs people bring. If you'd like to learn more about Stephanie, you can find her at stephaniemckeever.com.
Billy Doidge Kilgore joins the podcast from Nashville to talk about cargo shorts and his life as a stay-at-home dad. If you'd like to follow what Billy is up to, you can find him on Twitter at twitter.com/billydkilgore. If you're curious about being a stay-at-home dad, you can network with other dads at the National At-Home Dad Network.
The Regional Minister of the Northern Lights Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Rev. Sandy Messick, joins us with a conversation about what she sees in the churches she works with and where the signs of life and hope are in churches today.
Joe Weaks, from Connection Christian Church in Odessa, Texas, joins Todd and Jason to talk about learning to play the tin whistle, packing ball bearings, and leading his church on a new journey in a new location. Through all of it, they're asking the question, "Can we get out of our ruts and find new skills, possibilities, and life?"
Russ Aley joins the podcast to share his experiences with changing vision and how he grew as a person through the changes.
Todd and Jason talk about what they both love about cooking, but their discussion takes them into a deeper and more significant topic: what does it mean to be a man, today?
Why is the ability to talk and think about our deaths not a morbid or scary thing, but something that gives clarity and meaning to our living? Todd and Jason take on the big topic of death with a little bit of humor.