Permission To Be

Becka, Tommy, and Olivia welcome back to the podcast, author, speaker, and founder of Check Your Privilege, Myisha T Hill. Their conversation is full of laughter, wisdom, and insights on Myisha's last work, Heal Your Way Forward: The Co-Conspirator's Guide to an Antiracist Future. https://www.myishathill.com For more information on this episode and the show notes please visit: PermissionToBePodcast.com

Tommy and Becka are joined by Dr. Robyn Henderson Espinoza and Rev. Anna Golladay for Permission To Be’s very first LIVE and collaborative podcast.  Their conversation envelops embodiment, presence, and Dr. Robyn’s latest book, Body Becoming: A Path to Liberation. This conversation is also the final episode in the PTB current series of conversations, “The Moment of Now.” Petty Thieves Brewery graciously hosted our first live event, which is owned by our dear friend Ted Rosenau, thank you Ted. The PTB Team would also like thank and acknowledge Desmond Smith for running sound for this special live recording. For more information on this episode and the show notes please visit: PermissionToBePodcast.com   *Gideon's Army, Nashville, TN *Feed the Movement, Charlotte, NC Special Thanks to  Desmond Smith for live production David Roberts + Watershed Charlotte For Inviting and organizing our conversation with Dr. Robyn to Charlotte

Tommy, Olivia, and Becka welcome back writer, musician, and artivist, Andre Henry, to the Permission To Be Podcast. This special edition of the PTB Podcast is filled with deep knowledge on the necessity of unity, conversation about Andre's latest book, "All the White Friends I Couldn't Keep", and an abundance of joy and laughter. You will also have the opportunity to experience music and lyrics written by Andre Henry throughout the episode. To download Andre's songs that were shared in episode, listen to additional music by Andre Henry, and to support his music go to Andrehenrymusic.bandcamp.com Join the PTB Community on Patreon by clicking here. For this Episodes show notes click here.

Welcome to the second conversation in our series, "The Moment of Now." Happy Pride Month and Juneteenth! In this episode Tommy, Olivia and Becka talk with Dr. Obery Hendricks. This conversation helps to challenge us as we think about the "Left" and the "Right," as we use these terms to stake out political sides, what are we signaling? What does this mean within spiritual communities? "Obery Hendricks is one of the foremost commentators on the intersection of religion and political economy in America. He is the most widely read and perhaps the most influential African American biblical scholar writing today. Cornel West calls him “one of the last few grand prophetic intellectuals.” If you would like to learn more in community and/or help support the creation of the Permission To Be Podcast please go to https://www.patreon.com/tommyallgood For this episodes show notes and to learn more about Dr. Obery Hendricks go to PermissionToBePodcast.com

Dr. Amy Kenny joins Tommy, Olivia, and Becka for a conversation about Disability Justice and Amy's brand new book, My Body Is Not A Prayer Request. Dr. Amy Kenny is a disabled scholar and a Shakespeare Lecturer who hates Hamlet. Her work has been featured in Teen Vogue, The Mighty, and Roxane Gay's The Audacity. Her book, "My Body is Not a Prayer Request," was recently released on May 17, 2022. For this episodes show notes and to learn more about Dr. Amy Kenny's work please go to PermissionToBePodcast.com

Dr. Christena Cleveland joins Tommy, Olivia, and Becka for a conversation centered around her past and current healing journey guided by the Sacred Black Feminine.  During their conversation Dr. Cleveland also talks about her new book, "God is A Black Woman." For this episode's show notes and to learn more about the work Dr. Christena Cleveland is doing, go to  PermisisonToBePodcast.com

Join Tommy, Olivia, and Becka for part two of their conversation with Lisa Sharon Harper as they look at the significance and impact of rerooting ourselves within our peoples' story. Lisa's newly released book is, Fortune: How Race Broke My Family and the World--and How to Repair It All. For this episode's show notes and to learn more about the work Lisa Sharon Harper is doing, go to  PermisisonToBePodcast.com

Tommy, Olivia, and Becka are joined by Lisa Sharon Harper for a conversation centered around generational trauma, a journey towards healing, and Lisa's newly released book, Fortune: How Race Broke My Family and the World--and How to Repair It All. For this episodes show notes and to learn more about the work Lisa Sharon Harper is doing, go to  PermisisonToBePodcast.com

“I think it is important for us to exam how our fatigue is both the signal that something has not been working and also the thing that might at sometimes get in the way of us getting in the connection that we need, I think it works in both directions.”  - Dr. Hillary L. McBride Dr. Hillary L. McBride is a therapist, researcher, speaker and writer. She loves to help see people grow, heal, change, and come into more fullness in themselves and their relationships. She is passionate about the well-being of all people, and wants to make psychology and academic research accessible to a wide variety of people. Dr. McBride joins Tommy, Olivia, and Becka for the first episode of the new year and season four of the Permission To Be Podcast. Click here to learn more about the upcoming PTB Book Club and for this episodes show notes.

Join us for our final episode of Season 3! Constanza Eliana Chinea joins Tommy, Olivia and Becka for an insightful and educational conversation around the differences and similarities that exist in the social justice work of decolonization and anti-racism. Constanza Eliana is an anti-racism educator, activist, consultant, and certified yoga teacher. Learn More about Thrive by clicking here. For this episodes show notes click here.

Join Olivia Bethea and Becka Eppley for their conversation with world renowned author, Laura Davis. This heart felt conversation is centered around Laura's brand new book, The Burning Light of Two Stars.  In her latest book Laura weaves non-fiction and memoir together as she conveys her powerful mother-daughter story.  Laura's insight will give you a deeper appreciation of the importance of learning the details about the stories we tell ourselves from our childhood memories. For this episodes show notes and to connect with Laura go to PermisisonToBePodcast.com Lauradavis.net

Join Tommy, Olivia, Becka for part two of their conversation with Bob Hunter. In this episode they talk about the roots of the anti-abortion movement, political and church leadership, and welcoming our LGBTQIA2S+ family. They also talk about the powerful forces of deception that have been woven into supremacy culture worldwide. For this episodes show notes and for more information on the work Bob participates in: PermisisonToBEPodcast.com

Join Tommy, Becka and Olivia for part one of their conversation with Bob Hunter as they discuss the importance of knowing our (United States) foundations. "What is happening now is not new." - Bob Hunter "Bob is the Co-Author of Loving Justice, InterVarsity Press, 1990 and Co-editor of Yearning to Breathe Free: Liberation Theologies in the United States, Orbis Press, 1990.  He has twice won the Frieda Dawkins award for his work in Civil and Human rights." For this episodes show notes and for more information on the work Bob participates in: PermisisonToBEPodcast.com

Join Olivia Bethea, Becka Eppley, and Tommy Allgood for their conversation with Jennifer Kinney, as they discuss historical times of reconstruction and the cycles of backlash that follow (I.e. the Civil Rights Movement). They also talk about Critical Race Theory and how it is being used as a tool of distraction from justice work. For this episodes show notes and for more information on the work Jenn participates in: PermisisonToBEPodcast.com  

Join Olivia Bethea and Becka Eppley for a conversation with Gigi Khanyezi. Gigi is an artist, activist, speaker and writer. Gigi creates sacred safe spaces through coaching and teaching, "Jesus and Justice." Gigi regular leads small cohorts that are intentionally curated through a 10 week Jesus and Justice community experience. The next session starts Monday, July 19th, a few spots are still available, go here for more information: ​ For this episodes show notes and more information on the work Gigi does: PermisisonToBEPodcast.com

Join Olivia Bethea and Becka Eppley for a conversation with their good friends, Kris Dobek and Tommy Allgood (also a Permission To BE co-host). Kris and Tommy share about their relationship, talk about gender and sexual identities, fat phobia, and the importance of truly falling in love with yourself. To learn more about Kris and Tommy and for this episodes show notes please go to PermissionToBePodcast.com

"Existing in the liminal space of no longer and not yet." - Olivia Bethea We are thrilled to introduce Olivia Bethea as a new co-host on the Permission To BE podcast! "Olivia Bethea is a student, a writer, a work in progress.  She is a former Human Resources professional who made the decision last year to transition from the profession upon which she’d built her career to a pursuit of an untapped and unexplored passion that had been lying dormant within her." To learn more about Olivia and for this episodes show notes please go to PermissionToBePodcast.com

Join Tommy Allgood and Becka Eppley for their conversation with Joquina Reed. Joquina is a "Diversity, Equity and Inclusion practitioner. She is also the creator and curator behind the social media platforms, The AntiBlackness Reader Project and Divesting From Whiteness.  For this Episodes Show Notes and to connect with Joquina click here. “I tell people with all violent systems, whether we are talking abut heteronormativity, whether we are talking about anti-blackness, whatever the violent system is, all the people involved in it are harmed, and whiteness is so harmful to white people."      - Joquina Reed

Join Becka and Tommy for their conversation with friend, teacher, speaker, singer-songwriter, and psychotherapist, Gabes Torres. "Gabes life’s work is to demonstrate how there’s nothing “post-” about post-colonialism. She studies and teaches how oppression continues to dominate and manifest in our systems, society, inter- + intrapersonal relationships, imaginations, and human psyché." For show notes and to learn more about Gabes work go to Permissiontobepodcast.com

Join Becka and Tommy for their 2 part conversation with Vicki Fanibi. Vicki shares about the realities of Urban planning and what steps are truly needed to make equity a reality in urban housing. ​In part two Vicki shares about community engagement and avenues that you, as the listener, can seek out to get involved in, in your local community. In addition to community involvement, Tommy and Becka talk with Vicki about what part the church can play and does play in our beliefs about the communities that we occupy. CLICK HERE  for this episode's show notes.