William Stringfellow: Suspect Tenderness w. Bill Wylie-Kellerman

William Stringfellow saw through the lies of empire, and his warning feels even sharper now. If you care about justice, theology, activism, or the future of Christian witness, today’s episode of Good on Wood reveals why Stringfellow’s words still cut through our moment of collapse, confusion, and false hope.Bill Wylie-Kellermann joins Jarrod McKenna and Steve Schallert to trace Stringfellow’s life, thought, and witness from Harvard Law to East Harlem, from civil rights work to Block Island, from deep friendship with Daniel Berrigan to his confrontations with the powers. Along the way, they uncover the radical coherence of a man who refused careerism, challenged racism as a principality, and believed change ultimately comes from God.You’ll discover why Stringfellow insisted that America must be read biblically, not the Bible Americanly. You’ll hear how his theology of the principalities and powers shaped everything from anti-war resistance and women’s ordination to his critique of technocracy, scientism, and the violence hidden inside institutions that claim to be neutral.Bill Wylie-Kellermann shares the personal stories that make Stringfellow unforgettable: his move from privilege to the margins, his partnership with poet Anthony Towne, his comradeship with the Berrigans, his advocacy for Black freedom and women’s leadership, and his chronic pain and disability, which deepened rather than diminished his theology. We also explore his spiritual disciplines, his practice of discernment, and why he believed the Christian task is not optimism but hope with eyes open.Stringfellow names what many of us still miss: the systems shaping our lives are not just political or economic, but spiritual. And if you want a faith that can survive empire, speak truth to power, and still trust resurrection, this is an essential insight.ABOUT BILL WYLIE-KELLERMANBill Wylie-Kellermann is a nonviolent community activist, author, teacher, and retired United Methodist pastor, most recently serving St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Detroit.A native Detroiter with a place-based vocation, he has been a member of the Homich 9, prosecuted for blocking water shut-off trucks in the Detroit Water Struggle, and a direct action point person for the Michigan Poor Peoples campaign. In Jesus, he bets his life on gospel non-violence, good news to the poor, Word made flesh, and freedom from the power of death.Bill is a graduate of Union Theological Seminary in NYC and a longtime contributing editor for Sojourners magazine. He is author most recently of Celebrant’s Flame: Daniel Berrigan in Memory and Reflection, (Cascade, 2021).He served as series editor for the republication of William Stringfellow’s works at Wipf and Stock Publishers. He is co-founder of Word and World: A Peoples’ School, and is adjunct faculty at Ecumenical Theological Seminary in Detroit. His writing and teaching are most often framed by a theology of the powers.Bill is partner to the Rev. Denise Griebler, father to Lydia and Lucia, and grandfather to Isaac, Cedar, Ira, and Mabel.CHECK OUT BILL’S BOOKS & ARTICLESFOLLOW US* ⁠@goodonwood.podcast⁠* @ststephensuniversity⁠* ⁠@jfi_ssu⁠* ⁠@steveschallert⁠* ⁠@jarrodmckenna⁠To learn more about St Stephen’s University and all of our program offerings in Theology & Culture, Peace & Justice, Transformative Leadership and Reconciliation Studies visit us at - ssu.caThis episode was edited and produced by Steve Schallert.Episode Chapters:00:22 Introduction to William Stringfellow’s Legacy02:04 Stringfellow’s Critique of American Politics and Religion03:03 Deep Listening and Hermeneutics in Scripture04:03 His Life and Major Influences06:58 Listening as an Act of Resistance to Babel10:02 Engagement with Principalities and Powers11:50 Discernment of Spirits and the Power of Death16:00 Exorcism as a Political and Pastoral Act17:00 His Involvement in Civil Rights and Anti-War Movements19:54 Stringfellow’s View on Change and Divine Action22:01 Personal Spirituality and Disciplines24:56 Theology of Powers and the Creatureliness of the Powers29:53 His Advocacy for Women Ordination and Social Justice30:09 Stringfellow’s Engagement with Politics and Society34:56 Living with Integrity and Authenticity36:02 Health, Suffering, and Autobiographical Reflections40:07 Legacy and Contemporary Relevance40:08 The Hope and Pessimism of Stringfellow45:04 The Ongoing Relevance of Stringfellow’s Work This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit goodonwoodpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

In today’s episode of Good on Wood we are joined by the prolific historian Dr. Bain Attwood in conversation about the life and legacy of William Cooper, an Aboriginal activist, Yorta Yorta elder, and his connections to broader themes of oppression, memory, and solidarity. The discussion highlights Cooper’s story, late life activism, his identification with biblical narratives, his profound understanding of suffering and the impact of colonization on Indigenous communities. It also explores the complex role of missionaries in Aboriginal lives, the ongoing fight for rights and land, and the cultural connections that shape Indigenous identity today.Together we explore themes of emancipation, faith in leftist politics, and the political legacy of slavery as articulated by William Cooper and others. Along the way, we delve into the complex role of Christianity in Indigenous activism, examples of international solidarity, Cooper’s concept of “thinking-black,” the historical narratives that inform contemporary struggles for land and equality, and the absolute need to keep hope alive amid it all.ABOUT DR. BAIN ATTWOODBain Attwood is Emeritus Professor of History at Monash and has held fellowships at the University of Cambridge and Harvard University. His book Possession: Batman’s Treaty and the Matter of History won the 2010 Ernest Scott Prize for the most distinguished contribution to the history of Australia or New Zealand or colonial history. He is also the author of Rights for Aborigines, Telling the Truth about Aboriginal History, The Making of Native Title: Sovereignty, Property and Indigenous People, and William Cooper: An Aboriginal Life Story, and the co-editor of Telling Stories: Indigenous History and Memory in Australia and New Zealand and Protection and Empire: A Global History.Related article worth exploring:The Evolution of a Myth: How William Cooper became “the man who stood up to Hitler”by. Bain AttwoodFOLLOW US* ⁠@goodonwood.podcast⁠* @ststephensuniversity⁠* ⁠@jfi_ssu⁠* ⁠@steveschallert⁠* ⁠@jarrodmckenna⁠To learn more about St Stephen’s University and all of our program offerings in Theology & Culture, Peace & Justice, or Reconciliation Studies visit us at - ssu.caThis episode was edited and produced by Steve Schallert. Music provided by our own Steve Schallert, Yothu Yindi & The Treaty Project, Priscilla Stanley, and Buhaminak.Episode Chapters:00:00 Introduction to William Cooper’s Legacy02:55 The Suffering and Resilience of Aboriginal Peoples06:01 William Cooper: A Life in Context08:53 Colonization and Its Impact on the Yorta Yorta12:02 The Role of Missionaries in Aboriginal Lives14:56 Christianity and Indigenous Identity18:00 Emancipation and the Fight for Rights21:09 The Complexity of Missionary Influence24:00 Cultural Connections and Shared Struggles27:05 The Legacy of William Cooper and His People33:40 Emancipation and the Legacy of Slavery34:54 Political Rights and Indigenous Identity36:26 Petitioning as a Political Tool38:36 Christianity and Indigenous Agency41:28 Historical Narratives and Political Rights42:55 The Significance of 1938 in Activism46:18 Struggles for Land and Autonomy51:25 Education and Equality in Activism54:47 The Day of Mourning: A Protest Against Commemoration64:10 Historical Perspectives on Aboriginal Suffering69:16 Cultural Connections: Spirituals and Solidarity72:14 William Cooper: A Voice Against Oppression79:44 Memory and Identity: The Legacy of Cooper90:04 Contemporary Reflections on Cooper’s Impact This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit goodonwoodpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

On today’s special 20th episode of the Good on Wood Podcast we reboot an interview between Howard Thurman and Landrum Bolling from 1976 thanks to the good folk at the Howard Thurman Digital Archive. This edited and freshly remastered conversation follows Howard Thurman from his boyhood in segregated Daytona Beach to his seminary years, teaching career, and mystical theology and praxis. Thurman reflects on the spiritual power of nature, his grandmother’s influence, racial humiliation, prayer, hope, and nonviolence as a love ethic to survive a hostile world.If you haven’t heard our previous episode “Howard Thurman and the Disinherited w. Dr. Paul Harvey” hit pause and give it a listen first. Then return here to listen to Thurman in his own words.FOLLOW US* ⁠@goodonwood.podcast⁠* @ststephensuniversity⁠* ⁠@jfi_ssu⁠* ⁠@steveschallert⁠* ⁠@jarrodmckenna⁠To learn more about St Stephen’s University and all of our program offerings in Theology & Culture, Peace & Justice, or Reconciliation Studies visit us at - ssu.ca“There is something in every one of you that waits and listens for the sound of the genuine in yourself. It is the only true guide you will ever have. And if you cannot hear it, you will all of your life spend your days on the ends of strings that somebody else pulls.”- HOWARD THURMAN This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit goodonwoodpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

Howard Thurman knew the real battle starts inside you. Before you can change the world, can you face your own fear, hypocrisy, and hunger for approval? Historian Dr. Paul Harvey joins Steve Schallert and Jarrod McKenna to trace the life, mysticism, and revolutionary influence of one of the 20th century’s most important spiritual thinkers.Thurman’s story is astonishing: born into poverty in segregated Florida, shaped by a grandmother who had been enslaved, mentored by the people and ideas that formed Black religious life, and later propelled into conversations with Quakers, Gandhi, and the architects of the American freedom movement. Harvey reveals how Thurman’s inner life was forged by hardship, why trees, storms, and the silence mattered so much to his spirituality, and how those influences became the foundation for a vision of liberation that still challenges the church today.Harvey also brings Thurman into the present moment, connecting his warnings about hatred, fear, and dehumanisation to our own age of outrage and exhaustion. This is not just a biography lesson - it is a bracing invitation to recover the contemplative depth social movements desperately need if they are going to last.Essential listening if you care about spirituality, justice, nonviolence, or the question Thurman kept asking: Who are you really?ABOUT DR. PAUL HARVEYPaul Harvey is Distinguished Professor of History and Presidential Teaching Scholar at UCCS. Harvey is the recipient of the James W. C. Pennington Award from the Heidelberg Center for American Studies at the University of Heidelberg, Germany, given to scholars who have done distinguished work on slavery, emancipation, peace, education, reform, civil rights, and religion; and is also the Co-Director of the Center for the Study of Evangelicalism at UCCS. He researches, writes, and teaches in the field of American history from the 16th century to the present. He is the author/editor of thirteen books and numerous articles.Most recently, Paul Harvey is the author of Martin Luther King: A Religious Life (Rowman & Littlefield, 2021), and Howard Thurman Howard Thurman and the Disinherited: A Religious Biography (Eerdmans Press, 2020), as well as Christianity and Race in the American South: A History(University of Chicago Press, 2016), and Bounds of Their Habitation: Religion and Race in American History (Rowman & Littlefield, 2017). Professor Harvey’s recent co-authored book The Color of Christ: The Son of God and the Saga of Race in America, was named a “Top 25 Outstanding Academic Title” by Choice magazine in 2013, an award selected from among the several thousand academic books published in the previous year.FOLLOW US* ⁠@goodonwood.podcast⁠* @ststephensuniversity⁠* ⁠@jfi_ssu⁠* ⁠@steveschallert⁠* ⁠@jarrodmckenna⁠To learn more about St Stephen’s University and all of our program offerings in Theology & Culture, Peace & Justice, or Reconciliation Studies visit us at - ssu.ca This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit goodonwoodpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

In a world beset by violence and division, the story of Peggy & Art Gish unveil a radical, incarnational faith that challenges us to embody love in the midst of chaos. Their life's work - centered in peace activism, nonviolent resistance, and deep spiritual practice - demonstrates that transformation begins within and radiates outward in the pursuit of healing justice in Iraq, Palestine, Chicago, rural Ohio and elsewhere. Today’s episode of Good on Wood explores how living out the gospel’s call to radical discipleship can change not only hearts but systems which breed violence, inspiring a boldness rooted in love and faithful risk-taking.Joined by Peggy Faw Gish and Cliff Kindy, we hear powerful stories from their five decades of activism - Art standing unarmed before the tanks in Hebron, Peggy working amidst children in war-torn Baghdad, and their collective journey through civil rights, anti-war movements, and international peacemaking. You’ll discover how their Church of the Brethren spirituality - grounded in the teachings of Jesus and lived out in community - serves as a wellspring of courage and clarity in the face of systemic evil. Their insights illuminate the spiritual disciplines that sustain them: prayer, fasting, pilgrimage, and fearless engagement with opponents, embodying a faith that refuses to remain abstract or personal but insists on active, sacrificial love.Our conversation hinged on a call for revolutionary change - deep-rooted change - which starts inside each of us. Peggy and Cliff illustrate how the Spirit’s power fuels activism that’s both passionate and strategic, living as if the Kingdom has already come and building communities that reflect that hope. Their witness urges us to visualize a future where justice flows like a mighty river, and change begins with the courage to boldly embody that love today.As Peggy reminds us, “You don’t gotta” - but you get to - partner with God for justice, love, and peace. Whether you’re inspired to take small steps or big leaps, their stories challenge us to be courageous, curious, and uncompromising in living out the call of Jesus.Peggy and Art’s lifelong commitment to peace, justice, and faith stems from their long roots in the Community Peacemaker Teams witness, the Church of the Brethren pietism, and a radical understanding of discipleship. Their witness is a testament to what it means to live faithfully in a broken world—pointing not just to hope, but to the active love that transforms all of us.ABOUT CLIFF KINDYKindy is a Midwestern farmer who eschews swords and is familiar with plowshares. An organic market farmer alongside his partner Arlene in Wabash County, Indiana, Cliff has worked for more than thirty years with Community Peacemaker Teams (CPT), on the Steering Committee, and in the conflict zones of the world. From Gaza to Iraq, Nigeria to Colombia, and back to the United States, Kindy’s witness for peace reveals a hidden truth behind the work of Community Peacemaker Team, a civilian 'nonviolent special ops, ' who for more than thirty years have been infiltrating war zones to de-escalate violence, accompany peacemakers, and serve the victims of war--all for the sake of Jesus,’ nonviolence is most effective when it intentionally retakes the initiative from the actors of violence.ABOUT PEGGY FAW GISHPeggy Faw Gish was born in northern Nigeria to American missionaries. She grew up in Chicago and has been active in peace and justice work all of her adult life. She volunteered in Iraq with Community Peacemaker Teams before, during, and after the March 2003 US invasion.Her first book, Iraq: A Journey of Hope and Peace (2004), covers the first year and a half of the Iraq War. Her second book, Walking through Fire: Iraqis’ Struggle for Justice and Reconciliation (2013), picks up the story from 2004 to 2011.Peggy is a mother, grandmother, community mediator, and member of the Church of the Brethren. She has been an organic vegetable farmer and lives on the farm near Athens, Ohio, that she established with her late husband, Arthur “Art” Gish, another veteran peace activist. She loves to walk in the woods and loves to hunt wild mushrooms, fruits, and berries.COMMUNITY PEACEMAKER TEAMSCPT places teams at the invitation of local peacemaking communities that are confronting situations of lethal conflict. These teams support and amplify the voices of local peacemakers who risk injury and death by waging nonviolent direct action to confront systems of violence and oppression.CPT understands violence to be rooted in systemic structures of oppression. We are committed to undoing oppressions, starting within our own lives and in the practices of our organization.CPT enlists spiritual communities and individuals in an organized, nonviolent alternative to war. CPT’s initial roots among Mennonites, Church of the Brethren and Quakers have spread into a broad multi-faith network that supports spiritually-centered peacemaking, creative public witness, nonviolent direct action, and protection of human rights.TO LEARN MORE VISIT - cpt.orgFOLLOW US* ⁠@goodonwood.podcast⁠* @ststephensuniversity⁠* ⁠@jfi_ssu⁠* ⁠@steveschallert⁠* ⁠@jarrodmckenna⁠To learn more about St Stephen’s University and all of our program offerings in Theology & Culture, Peace & Justice, or Reconciliation Studies visit us at - ssu.c This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit goodonwoodpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

In today’s episode of Good on Wood, we are joined by renowned ethicist, author and professor David P. Gushee to explore the not so ordinary - ordinary story of Magda and André Trocmé, whose steadfast commitment to nonviolence and stubborn sense of duty to love the stranger led them to save thousands of lives during the Holocaust. As community leaders in the rural French village of Le Chambon-sur-Lignon, the Trocmé’s helped spur on a radical movement of rescue and costly hospitality of Jews amid WWII. Through their example, we confront what it means to follow Jesus in the face of systemic evil and how their legacy challenges contemporary responses to violence, racism, nationalism, and Christian identity.*A special thanks to CUNY for use of the archival recordings of Nelly Trocmé Hewett (Madga & André’s daughter) used throughout this episode. ABOUT REV. DR. PROF. DAVID P. GUSHEEDavid P. Gushee earned his Ph.D. in Christian ethics from Union Theological Seminary (NY). Now in his fourth decade of teaching, he has served as Distinguished University Professor of Christian Ethics at Mercer University since 2007. He is also Chair of Christian Social Ethics at Vrije Universiteit (Free University) and Senior Research Fellow at its partner school, International Baptist Theological Study Centre. Through these Amsterdam-based institutions he is privileged to supervise Ph.D. students from around the world.Gushee is the elected past-president of the American Academy of Religion and the Society of Christian Ethics. As of 2025 he is the author, co-author, editor, or co-editor of 30 books, including the bestsellers Kingdom Ethics and Changing Our Mind. His other most notable works are Defending Democracy from Its Christian Enemies, After Evangelicalism, and most recently, The Moral Teachings of Jesus. He lectures and consults globally, regularly speaking to the press and on podcasts as well as in academic and ecumenical church settings. He is widely regarded as one of his generation’s most significant Christian moral thinkers.Over a full 30-year career, he’s been a devoted teacher and mentor as Professor Gushee to college students, seminarians, and PhD students. He’s also led activist efforts on climate, torture, and LGBTQ inclusion, and continues to be a keynote speaker at churches, forums, and universities.David's Website | David's BooksFOLLOW US* ⁠@goodonwood.podcast⁠* @ststephensuniversity⁠* ⁠@jfi_ssu⁠* ⁠@steveschallert⁠* ⁠@jarrodmckenna⁠To learn more about St Stephen’s University and all of our program offerings in Theology & Culture, Peace & Justice, or Reconciliation Studies visit us at - ssu.c This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit goodonwoodpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

In today’s episode of Good on Wood, we are joined by our dear comrade, Shane Claiborne, and delve into the remarkable journey of Sister Margaret McKenna, whose life was a beacon of hope and transformation in the streets of Philadelphia and beyond. Sr. Margaret passed away a few weeks ago on April 22, 2026. She was a Medical Mission Sister Margaret who founded New Jerusalem Now! in 1989, an addiction recovery community and program which is still running. She held a PhD in Scripture and Christian Origins, taught religion at LaSalle College, was an ardent anti-war active who joined dozens of nonviolent protests leading to arrests, including a Plowshares action which landed her in prison. Sr. Margaret integrated her yearning to live as a hermit with her love for community, sharing her compassion generously, especially with those living on the margins. ¡PRESENTE!ABOUT SHANE CLAIBORNEShane Claiborne is a prominent speaker, activist, and best-selling author. Shane worked with Mother Teresa in Calcutta, and founded The Simple Way in Philadelphia. He heads up Red Letter Christians, a movement of folks who are committed to living "as if Jesus meant the things he said." Shane is a champion for grace which has led him to jail advocating for the homeless, and to places like Iraq and Afghanistan to stand against war. Now grace fuels his passion to end the death penalty and help stop gun violence.A word from Shane just after McKenna’s passing - “Sr. Margaret McKenna died this week. She’s one of the holiest, and most humbly human, people I’ve ever met. I’m gonna miss her, but I know there’s a party on the other side welcoming her home. Few people have had more impact on my spiritual life than Sr. Margaret. For three decades, she has been one of my dearest friends and mentors. She taught me about prayer, monasticism, community, holy mischief, resistance, courage. We prayed together, and got pepper-sprayed together. We gardened together. We laughed together until we wheezed, and our sides hurt. She blew the shofar on Wall Street as we dumped $10,000 outside the Stock Exchange so homeless folks could have a little taste of the biblical Jubilee. We sang freedom songs, marched in the rain, camped out under the stars… and we went to jail together more times than I can count – doing the good trouble and holy mischief. At one point we were both sentenced to mandatory, court-sanctioned “citizenship training classes” to train us to obey the law… but it didn’t work. Haha. Several years ago, I went to visit her when she was in the hospital, and we weren’t sure she was going to make it… I called a few days later to check on her and one of the nuns said: “She recovered surprisingly well… so well she just went to jail at the Pentagon protesting the war.” Sr. Margaret is a true gift to the world – to me, to all of us at The Simple Way, to the countless folks she welcomed home off the streets or coming out of prison at New Jerusalem. I will miss her something fierce.”[Here’s a picture of us in the abandoned church where we met, as homeless families sought sanctuary inside… and where our vision for The Simple Way was born. This was a few years ago as we remembered the original takeover of St. Edwards church back in 1995.]FOLLOW US* ⁠@goodonwood.podcast⁠* @ststephensuniversity⁠* ⁠@jfi_ssu⁠* ⁠@steveschallert⁠* ⁠@jarrodmckenna⁠To learn more about St Stephen’s University and all of our program offerings in Theology & Culture, Peace & Justice, or Reconciliation Studies visit us at - ssu.caJoin the Good on Wood Podcast today and help us continue to tell the stories of holy mischief makers.Season 1 of The Schism Between Us is releasing June, 2026, follow Marnie Klassen, as she set out to discover why Mennonites and Mennonite Brethren in Canada don’t always get along . . . This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit goodonwoodpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

In today’s episode of Good on Wood, we are joined by the one and only Dr. Obery Hendricks to explore the profound life and enduring legacy of Trinity UCC’s Pastor Emeritus, Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright, Jr. A towering figure in black theology, pastoral ministry, rooted in faith, justice, and community service … we consider together Wright’s brilliance as an orator and exegete of the scriptures, social activism, afrocentrism and deep love for his community. We also delve into his relationship with Barack Obama, the violence he endured amid the 2008 presidential campaign and the cruciform costs of prophetic ministry.ABOUT DR OBERY HENDRICK, JR.A lifelong social activist, Dr. 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.”A widely sought lecturer and media spokesperson, Dr. Hendricks’ appearances include CNN, MSNBC, CBS, Fox News, Fox Business News, the Discovery Channel, PBS, BBC, NHK Japan Television and the Bloomberg Network. He has provided running event commentary for National Public Radio, MSNBC, and the al-Jazeera and Aspire international television networks.He is a Distinguished Senior Fellow at The Democracy Collaborative in Washington, DC; has been an Affiliated Scholar at the Center for American Progress; was a Senior Fellow at The Opportunity Agenda social justice communications think tank; is on the Advisory Board of the Institute of Christian Socialism; and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI).Dr. Hendricks has been a frequent contributor to the Huffington Post and Salon.com, a former editorial advisor to the award-winning Tikkun magazine, and a contributing editor to The Encyclopedia of Politics and Religion. The Dictionary of Biblical Interpretation has called his work “the boldest post-colonial writing ever seen in Western biblical studies.”Dr. Hendricks’ bestselling book, The Politics of Jesus: Rediscovering the True Revolutionary Nature of Jesus’ Teachings and How They Have Been Corrupted (Doubleday, 2006), was declared “essential reading for Americans” by the Washington Post. Social commentator Michael Eric Dyson proclaimed it “an instant classic” that “immediately thrusts Hendricks into the front ranks of American religious thinkers.”Obery’s Website | Obery’s BooksFOLLOW US* ⁠@goodonwood.podcast⁠* @ststephensuniversity⁠* ⁠@jfi_ssu⁠* ⁠@steveschallert⁠* ⁠@jarrodmckenna⁠To learn more about St Stephen’s University and all of our program offerings in Theology & Culture, Peace & Justice, or Reconciliation Studies visit us at - ssu.ca This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit goodonwoodpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

In this inspiring interview, Emily Yellin, acclaimed journalist and life long friend, shares her profound journey of documenting Rev James Lawson’s life, his unwavering commitment to nonviolence, and the power of love in the struggle for justice. Rev Lawson, whom Dr Martin Luther King Jr described as "the leading theorist and strategist of nonviolence in the world" was in many ways the architect of the American Freedom Movement. For over 50 years Rev Lawson resisted, agitated and loved his way through the darkness of American racism, imperialism and state violence, paving the way for thousands to follow in his footsteps.As we explore Emily Yellin’s profound new book, “Nonviolence: A Memoir of Resistance, Agitation, and Love” which she co-authored with Lawson in the year’s before his passing in 2024, we traverse Lawson’s story, spirituality, philosophy of nonviolence, and enduring influence on social justice practitioners and movements today.ABOUT EMILY YELLINEmily Yellin is a journalist, writer, and producer. A longtime contributor to The New York Times and author of two other books, she produced a ten-part video series, 1,300 Men: Memphis Strike ‘68, for The Root. She first met Rev. Lawson when she was five, while attending elementary school in Memphis with his eldest son, John.ABOUT THE BOOK -NONVIOLENT: A MEMOIR OF RESISTANCE, AGITATION AND LOVE.“This book is a gift to be treasured, from a man who has already given so much.”Jonathan Eig (Pulitzer Prize–winning author of King: A Life)“An expansive, inspiring autobiography by a crucial figure in the Civil Rights Movement.”​Kirkus Starred Review“Engrossing...a soul-stirring testament to the transformative power of leading with love”Publishers Weekly Starred ReviewRev. Lawson was one of the most influential yet unheralded heroes of the civil rights era. He rose as a strategist, teacher, and organizer in pivotal campaigns on the national stage against racial and economic injustice.Lawson’s memoir spans 95 years, but it begins far from the spotlight in a large, working-class Ohio family. The son and grandson of Methodist ministers, he receives his license to preach before graduating from high school.Lawson goes on to serve time in prison for refusing the Korean War draft, and learns from independence movements during three years in India and Africa. He then fortifies the principles of a new American Revolution when he teaches nonviolent direct action centered in love and moral clarity to the Little Rock Nine, the Mississippi Freedom Summer volunteers, and countless others. He also becomes a leader in the 1960 Nashville sit-ins, the 1963 Birmingham campaign, the 1966 Meredith March Against Fear, and the 1968 Memphis sanitation workers’ strike.Nonviolent delivers an intimate self-portrait of Lawson as a man who recognized the inherent dignity of everyone, and challenged all forms of violence, including police brutality, enforced poverty, and what he called plantation capitalism. It shows his quest for justice continuing in Los Angeles well into the 21st century, as he helped foster a more inclusive labor movement and an enduring immigrant rights movement.Nonviolent is a riveting historical narrative from a central figure in global liberation and a testament to compelling a nation to live up to its founding ideals of liberty and justice for all.Buy the book!FOLLOW US* ⁠@goodonwood.podcast⁠* @ststephensuniversity⁠* ⁠@jfi_ssu⁠* ⁠@steveschallert⁠* ⁠@jarrodmckenna⁠To learn more about St Stephen’s University and all of our program offerings in Theology & Culture, Peace & Justice, or Reconciliation Studies visit us at - ssu.caThe Good on Wood Podcast is a production of St Stephen’s University & The Jim Forest Institute for Religion, Peace & Justice. Subscribe today for exclusive content. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit goodonwoodpodcast.substack.com/subscribe

In today’s episode of Good on Wood we speak with Martha & Kate Hennessy about their grandmother, Dorothy Day.Join us in this rich conversation as we delve into Dorothy’s life and witness, her spiritual evolution, the birth of the Catholic Worker Movement and her lasting impact upon the world. This episode explores her unwavering commitment to nonviolence, hospitality, and radical love, inspiring a new generation to live the works of mercy against the works of war.“We have all known the long loneliness and we have learned that the only solution is love and that love comes with community.” - Dorothy DayABOUT MARTHA HENNESSYMartha Hennessy, seventh grandchild of Dorothy Day divides her time between the family farm in Vermont and practicing the works of mercy at Maryhouse Catholic Worker in New York City.She is 70, a retired occupational therapist, and grandmother of nine. She has been imprisoned protesting war and nuclear power/weapons, the use of drones, and the torture of prisoners in Guantanamo and US prisons.She has traveled to Russia, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Korea, and Palestine to understand the impact of United States foreign military policy and the effects on countries and families around the world.Martha travels and speaks on the topics of her Catholic faith, her grandmother Dorothy Day’s life, work in community, Catholic Social Teaching, war and peace, nuclear abolition, and peacemaking efforts in the tradition of the Catholic Worker movement.ABOUT KATE HENNESSYKate Hennessy is a writer and the youngest of Dorothy Day’s nine grandchildren. Her work has been included in Best American Travel Writing. She is the author of Dorothy Day: The World Will Be Saved By Beauty and, in collaboration with the photographer Vivian Cherry, Dorothy Day and the Catholic Worker: The Miracle of our Continuance. Kate divides her time between Ireland and Vermont.RESOURCES* Dorothy Day: Selected Writings* Catholic Worker Movement* Encyclicals on Social Justice* The Dorothy Day Guild* The Long Lullaby by Dorothy DayFOLLOW US* ⁠@goodonwood.podcast⁠* @ststephensuniversity⁠* ⁠@jfi_ssu⁠* ⁠@steveschallert⁠* ⁠@jarrodmckenna⁠To learn more about St Stephen’s University and all of our program offerings in Theology & Culture, Peace & Justice, or Reconciliation Studies visit us at - ssu.caMusic for this episode provided by John & David from ⁠The Brilliance⁠ and our own Steve Schallert. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit goodonwoodpodcast.substack.com/subscribe