Complexified – Details, episodes & analysis

Colorado State Rep. Iman Jodeh reflects on the political conundrums faced by Muslim voters amid the Gaza genocide and a growing sense of betrayal by traditional political allies. Jodeh shares how her community channeled feelings of abandonment and anger into advocacy, pressing lawmakers for accountability and grappling with the hard choices of the recent election. From her unique position as the first Muslim and Palestinian legislator in Colorado, she offers insight into the resilience and determination required to demand justice in a fraught political landscape. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this deeply challenging conversation, Dr. Miguel De La Torre confronts the “God of Trump” — a figure he sees as rooted in colonialism, capitalism, and dominance — and argues that for the most marginalized among us, true faith might mean embracing hopelessness over the comforting (and often dangerous) promises of hope. For De La Torre, democracy has always been fragile, especially for those marginalized by race, immigration status, or economic inequality. Speaking with Amanda Henderson, he explores a theology of hopelessness that enables radical resistance in an age of political oppression. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As bodies were burning from this massacre at the Mystic River in Massachusetts in 1637, pious settlers gave thanks to God for the victory- and even identified that the bodies burning were a “sweet-smelling savor in the nostrils of God.” Is this really the Land of the Free? Does freedom for some depend on violence against others? Rev Dr. Lee Butler, President of Iliff School of Theology, shares his perspective on the violent history at the founding of the U.S. that continues to influence how we relate to one another today. Amanda and Rev. Dr. Lee Butler discuss the contradictions between the U.S. ideals of freedom and the country's violent history of slavery, lynching, and cruel massacres. In this episode, this duo argues that acknowledging this history is crucial for understanding the ongoing legacies of colonization and systemic inequality, and the importance of redefining this idea of freedom for future generations to come. https://religionnews.com/complexified GUEST: Born in Central Pennsylvania, the Rev. Dr. Lee H. Butler, Jr. is a lifelong Baptist and a first-generation beneficiary of the Post-Civil and Human Rights struggle in the United States. Dr. Butler comes to Iliff School of Theology from Phillips Theological Seminary where he served as the Vice-President of Academic Affairs and Academic Dean, and the William Tabbernee Professor of the History of Religions and Africana Pastoral Theology since July 1, 2020. He is the first African American tenured full professor and the first person of color to hold the office of VPAA and Academic Dean and serve as Acting President at Phillips. As VPAA, his responsibilities included oversight and supervision of the Associate Dean, Registrar, Recruitment, Admissions and Financial Aid, Director of Theological Field Education, Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program, Director of Black Church Traditions Program, Dean of the Chapel, Faculty, and Dean of the Library. He is an active publishing scholar. He is the co-editor of The Edward Wimberly Reader: A Black Pastoral Theology (Baylor University Press, 2020); author of Listen, My Son: Wisdom to Help African American Fathers (Abingdon Press, 2010), Liberating Our Dignity, Saving Our Souls (Chalice Press, 2006), A Loving Home: Caring for African American Marriage and Families (Pilgrim Press, 2000), and numerous articles published in many books and professional journals on the subject of pastoral care and pastoral psychology. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Did you know that for some enslaved Africans, small plots of land became ways to maintain culture and heritage- and even pathways to freedom? Soul Food Scholar, Adrian Miller joins us to share stories that tie land to belonging and survival. Amanda Henderson and Adrian Miller dive deep into the stories about navigating the ways of the land to cultivate food sovereignty within African American communities, despite forced migration and slavery in the United States. As they discuss the truths about the ongoing struggle of food injustice for marginalized communities and the rise of consciousness towards food sovereignty, we learn the importance of connecting and adapting to the land as a means of survival.  GUEST: Adrian Miller is a food writer, James Beard Award winner, attorney, and certified barbecue judge who lives in Denver, Colorado. Adrian received an A.B in International Relations from Stanford University in 1991, and a J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center in 1995. From 1999 to 2001, Miller served as a special assistant to President Bill Clinton with his Initiative for One America – the first free-standing office in the White House to address issues of racial, religious and ethnic reconciliation. Miller went on to serve as a senior policy analyst for Colorado Governor Bill Ritter Jr. From 2004 to 2010, he served on the board for the Southern Foodways Alliance. In June 2019, Adrian lectured in the Masters of Gastronomy program at the Università di Scienze Gastronomiche (nicknamed the “Slow Food University”) in Pollenzo, Italy. He is currently the executive director of the Colorado Council of Churches and, as such, is the first African American, and the first layperson, to hold that position. Miller’s first book, Soul Food: The Surprising Story of an American Cuisine, One Plate at a Time won the James Beard Foundation Award for Scholarship and Reference in 2014. His second book, The President’s Kitchen Cabinet: The Story of the African Americans Who Have Fed Our First Families, From the Washingtons to the Obamas was published on President’s Day 2017. It was a finalist for a 2018 NAACP Image Award for “Outstanding Literary Work – Non-Fiction,” and the 2018 Colorado Book Award for History. Adrian’s third book, Black Smoke: African Americans and the United States of Barbecue, will be published Spring 2021. Sharecropping, Black Land Acquistion, and White Supremacy (1868-1900) Food Sovereignty  Growing Your Own Food: Resources and Tools Talking Trash: Five Easy Steps to Reduce Food Waste Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amanda Henderson and Steven Newcomb discuss the Doctrine of Discovery and the ways in which religion has impacted the social and political frameworks amongst Native nations and the United States government.  In this conversation, Amanda Henderson and Steven Newcomb dive deeper into how the founding documents of the US contain a claim of a God-ordained right for Christians to take land from non-Christians, which continues to be used as legal precedent in today’s world. Together, they advocate for a more inclusive and holistic approach to social and political change, one that acknowledges and respects Indigenous perspectives and sovereignty. Steven Newcomb invites us to step into the view "from the shore" as conquerors landed on waters of the Americas and claimed dominion, or domination over all they could see and take. For more information: https://religionnews.com/complexified Guest: Steven Newcomb is a Shawnee-Lenape scholar and author. He has been studying and writing about U.S. federal Indian law and policy since the early 1980s, particularly the application of international law to Indigenous nations and peoples. Mr. Newcomb is the Director of the Indigenous Law Institute, which he co-founded with Birgil Kills Straight, a Traditional Headman and Elder of the Oglala Lakota Nation. Together they have carried on a global campaign challenging imperial Vatican documents from the fifteenth century. Those documents resulted in the decimation of Original Nations and Peoples of Mother Earth and thereby deprived the planet of life-ways, sustainable ecosystems, and Sacred Teachings. Newcomb’s book Pagans in the Promised Land: Decoding the Doctrine of Christian Discovery (2008) relies upon recent findings in cognitive theory and a semantic analysis of the Latin and English versions of 15th century Vatican documents. He has identified the little noticed patterns found in those documents and a U.S. Supreme Court ruling, which claimed a right of a “Christian prince or people” to discover and exert a right of domination (dominorum Christianorum) over the lands of “heathens and infidels.” For more episodes and info visit Complexified at RNS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Amanda and Amy dive into the complex relationship between land ownership and belonging in the US, drawing on biblical interpretations. Amanda emphasized the significance of land in shaping political and religious beliefs, while Amy offered nuanced interpretations of the Hebrew Bible, revealing how it has been used to justify land ownership and extraction. In this conversation, Amy and Amanda discuss the Bible's views on land and its interpretation. They explore the contradictory perspectives on land ownership and the connection between land and identity. They also examine the impact of assumptions about land in the United States and the disconnect between urban elites and the land. Amy shares her personal journey of developing a deeper connection with the land through activities like hunting and fly fishing. The conversation highlights the healing power of the land and the importance of understanding our relationship with it. Chapters  00:00 Introduction and Background 03:13 The Bible's Contradictory Views on Land 08:29 Genesis 1 and the Interpretation of Land 12:22 John Locke and the Interpretation of Land Ownership 14:20 The Connection Between Land and Identity 20:23 The Impact of Assumptions about Land in the United States 23:10 The Disconnect between Urban Elites and the Land 26:08 The Impact of Land Use on Communities 28:30 Personal Connection to the Land 30:26 The Healing Power of the Land 33:18 The Bible's View on Our Relationship with the Land Guest:  Amy Erickson is Professor of Hebrew Bible at the Iliff School of Theology. Erickson teaches a range of courses in biblical interpretation, including The Body and Sexuality in the Hebrew Bible, The Hebrew Bible and Ecology, and Jonah and Its Afterlives. Her research interests include Hebrew poetry, poetic and mythological texts in ancient West Asian literature, and the Hebrew Bible’s history of interpretation. She has recently completed a commentary on the book of Jonah and its history of interpretation entitled Jonah: Introduction and Commentary (Illuminations; Eerdmans, 2021), and has written articles on Job, Jonah, the Psalms, Zechariah, and Amos for academic journals and edited volumes. Erickson is also a regular contributor to workingpreacher.org, the Huffington Post ON Scripture, The Christian Century, and The Encyclopedia of the Bible and Its Reception (de Gruyter). She is currently working on a book on the Hebrew Bible and ecology. An Interview with Eerdmans Publishing Co. about Erickson’s book on Jonah. Commentary on Psalm 146 Commentary on Psalm 121 Psalm 1: Putting Evil in Its Place For more episodes and info visit Complexified at RNS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Amanda Henderson talks to Dr. Kristina Lizardy-Hajbi, a biracial scholar and professor at the Iliff School of Theology. They explore the American dream through the lens of personal experiences and the stories of ancestors, especially focusing on the immigrant journey. Dr. Lizardy-Hajbi shares tales of her grandparents from Italy and Puerto Rico, revealing the challenges they had to overcome to settle in America and the personal experiences tied to these journeys. The conversation touches on aspects such as name Anglicization, language loss, and various legal hurdles in the quest for the coveted American Dream.  Also discussed is the paradoxical political situation of Puerto Rico as an intricate part of the United States, but lacking in full political representation. Amanda interrogates how religion and differing cultural contexts shaped these immigrant experiences. 00:01 Introduction and Background 01:14 Exploring the History of Puerto Rico 01:41 Guest Introduction: Dr. Kristina Lazardi-Hajbi 02:22 The Prerequisites of the American Dream 04:10 The Story of Puerto Rican Immigration 06:13 The Complexities of Puerto Rican Citizenship 10:23 The Impact of Americanization on Immigrant Families 14:48 The Italian Immigrant Experience 27:31 The Role of Religion in Immigrant Communities 33:14 Reflections on the American Dream 35:52 Conclusion and Future Plans   Want to Learn More? Puerto Rico: A U.S. Territory in Crisis Article:   https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/puerto-rico-us-territory-crisis New Partnership in 2024 with Religion News Service. Learn more about RNS here: https://religionnews.com/   Want to Take Action?  Learn about immigration rights and how to take action in Colorado: https://www.aclu-co.org/en/campaigns/immigrants-rights   Sign up for Complexified Newsletter: https://complexified.substack.com/ Help Make Complexified Happen - Donate here https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E345509&id=75 Contact us: email complexified@iliff.edu Complexified Website: https://www.complexified.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Amanda Henderson interviews Dr. Albert Hernández - a Cuban-American academic with a unique perspective on the American Dream. Dr. Hernández discusses the challenges faced by those who exist in-between cultures, feeling a lack of belonging to either.  He shares historical perspectives on the experience of immigration to the U.S, particularly from Cuba, and explores how global political conflicts can drive individuals to relocate, seeking safety and better futures for their offspring. The episode illuminates the significance of personal and political narratives in shaping our understanding of the past and our vision for the future. The discussions range from colonial legacies, racialization, to the long road to societal change. Lastly, it presents a reflective poem reading by Mariela Saavedra Carquin – I swear There Was a River. In Maps You Can’t Make, Mariella Saavedra Carquin confronts hard truths in this powerful debut collection, pushing through layered complexities of immigration, race, and identity to find a way forward. 00:00 Introduction: The Hyphenated Existence 00:33 Understanding the American Dream 02:04 Historical Context: Cuba and the United States 03:25 Interview with Dr. Albert Hernández: A Cuban-American Perspective 05:55 The Cuban Revolution and Its Impact 07:50 The Hyphenated Existence: A Personal Journey 09:01 The Struggle of Belonging: Between Cuban and American 10:19 The Influence of Personal History on Academic Interests 13:09 Generational Differences in Immigrant Experiences 20:22 The Complexity of Identity and the American Dream 23:39 The Role of History in Shaping Our Present and Future 30:56 The Long Haul Commitment to Change 33:12 Poetry Reading: I Swear There Was a River by Mariella Saavedra Carquin  35:58 Conclusion and Acknowledgements   Guest Bios Dr. Albert Hernández joined the Iliff faculty in 2001. He teaches courses in the history of Christianity from Medieval to Early Modern times with additional expertise in the history of the ancient Hellenistic-Roman period. His research and teaching areas include the history of mysticism and pneumatology; Muslim and Christian relations beginning with the Crusades; religious diversity in medieval Iberia and the Spanish Empire; and the history of medicine and pandemics. Hernández led the faculty design team that created the Authentic Engagement Program™ focusing his contribution on human flourishing and the philosophy of Happiness. Poet Mariella Saavedra Carquin is a graduate of Middlebury College, holds an EdM and an MA in psychological counseling from Columbia University, and recently earned an MA from Middlebury's Bread Loaf School of English. She is a licensed mental health counselor who has practiced in clinical, higher education, and middle school settings and published in academic journals on the psychological impact of microaggressions experienced by undocumented immigrant youth. Born in Peru and raised in Miami, she currently lives in Colorado.   Want to Learn More? Cuban Missile Crisis - https://www.history.com/topics/cold-war/cuban-missile-crisis Mariella Saavedra Carquin, the poet who read one of her poems at the end of this episode. Her recently published book of poems confronts hard truths in this powerful debut collection, pushing through layered complexities of immigration, race, and identity to find a way forward.   https://www.juneroadpress.com/maps-you-cant-make   Want to Take Action?  Learn about immigration rights and how to take action in Colorado: https://www.aclu-co.org/en/campaigns/immigrants-rights   Sign up for Complexified Newsletter: https://complexified.substack.com/ Help Make Complexified Happen - Donate here https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E345509&id=75 Contact us: email complexified@iliff.edu Complexified Website: https://www.complexified.org/   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Amanda Henderson talks to Nga Vương-Sandoval, a refugee from Việt Nam and United States Refugee Advisory Board Project Manager. The conversation explores the transformation of the American Dream, immigration histories and policies, and the experiences of refugees.  Vương-Sandoval shares her insights on the true meaning of the American Dream, which she believes should not be drowned by materialism but rather focused on essential human aspirations such as freedom, safety, and security. The episode also investigates how immigration laws shape daily life, how global events affect personal perspectives, and the complex realities of being displaced and navigating life in a foreign country. Lastly, it presents a reflective poem reading by Mariela Saavedra Carquin on the complex realities of loss that come with displacement and resettlement in a new land. 00:02 Introduction and Overview 02:01 Understanding Immigration Laws and Policies 03:55 The Impact of Immigration Policies 05:08 Guest Introduction: Nga Vương-Sandoval 06:34 Nga's Journey and Perspective on the American Dream 13:53 The Influence of Capitalism on the American Dream 17:53 The Global Perception of the American Dream 21:20 The Role of History in Shaping Perceptions 24:22 Empowering Refugees and Asylum Seekers 28:27 Reflecting on Personal Experiences and the Concept of Home 31:20 Closing Remarks and Preview of Next Episode   Guest Bio As a Việtnamese refugee, Nga Vương-Sandoval embraces her heritage and refugee experience and is empathetic to the plight and struggle of other underrepresented communities. In addition to being a TEDx Presenter, she is active in a number of advocacy roles, including being a member of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders; a founding member and public speaker with Colorado Refugee Speakers Bureau; a refugee advisor for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees Refugee Advisory Group; the first refugee elected to Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains Board of Directors and Vice-Chair of the Program Services Committee; a Noble Ambassador for Christina Noble Children’s Foundation; an advisory member for Denver’s Little Sài Gòn Redevelopment Group; and an advisory member to the Denver Elections Advisory Committee. She previously served as a Commissioner with the Denver Asian American Pacific Islander Commission. Nga earned a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice and Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. In her free time, she enjoys meeting, learning and engaging with diverse communities, reading, writing op-eds on Medium.com, watching documentaries, traveling domestically and internationally, exploring and savoring cuisines locally and around the world and creating origami for her NVS Cre-Asian line that’s sold at Ruby’s Market in Denver.   Want to Learn More? Hart-Cellar Act of 1965: https://cis.org/Report/HartCeller-Immigration-Act-1965 The James Truslow Adams book Nga referenced that was published in 1931– The Epic of America: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1192936.The_Epic_of_America Mariella Saavedra Carquin, the poet who read one of her poems at the end of this episode. Her recently published book of poems confronts hard truths in this powerful debut collection, pushing through layered complexities of immigration, race, and identity to find a way forward.   https://www.juneroadpress.com/maps-you-cant-make   Want to Take Action?  Learn about immigration rights and how to take action in Colorado: https://www.aclu-co.org/en/campaigns/immigrants-rights   Sign up for Complexified Newsletter: https://complexified.substack.com/ Help Make Complexified Happen - Donate here https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E345509&id=75 Contact us: email complexified@iliff.edu Complexified Website: https://www.complexified.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last month, we had our first live audience recording of Complexified! Amanda Henderson and Lex Dunbar welcomed Denver Drag Performers Juiccy Misdemeanor and Dixie Krystals for a provocative conversation confronting the efforts across the U.S. to ban drag performances. We laughed, we cried, we learned, and we laughed some more!  00:02 Introduction and Welcome 00:27 The Complexified Live Episode: Why Ban Drag? 01:38 Introducing the Drag Performers: Dixie Krystals and Juiccy Misdemeanor 02:50 The Current State of Drag and LGBTQ Rights 04:41 The Origins and Evolution of Drag 10:41 The Role of Activism in Drag 12:34 The Intersection of Religion and Drag 13:35 The Impact of Politics on Drag and LGBTQ Community 18:37 The Challenges and Joys of Being a Drag Performer 46:57 The Importance of Community in Drag 49:09 Conclusion and Future Plans   Guest Bio & links Lex Dunbar - Co-Host for this episode Lex Dunbar (They/Them) is a Black ENBY, June Gemini, and Norf-Philly native. They are a passionate educator, avid protestor, dynamic workshop facilitator, and compassionate neighbor. Lex completed their second Master’s degree at Iliff School of Theology and is currently a PhD candidate in the Joint Doctoral Program at Denver University and Iliff School of Theology.   Guest Panelist and Performer: Juiccy Misdemeanor  Juiccy is a dancer, artist, drag performer, and a growing icon here in Denver, Colorado. Juiccy is the recent winner of Miss Peach 2023, a dynamic performer bringing life of the party energy to the spaces she occupies.  https://www.instagram.com/juiccymisdemeanor/   Guest Panelist and Performer: Dixie Krystals Dixie Krystals has been dazzling audiences for 25 years. Her passion for community is what drives her to excellence. She is an ordained minister, bingo queen, emcee and fabulous hostess with the mostess.Dixie has been featured in Generation Drags, Streaming on Max and Camp Wannakiki Season 5 on Out TV. https://www.dixiekrystals.com/  Music by DJ Erin Stereo for the live event:  Erin Stereo is a DJ, curator and record collector from Denver, Colorado. Recently, Erin was named Best House DJ by The Denver Westword, Erin Stereo is known for spinning House music designed to ignite and delight the dance floor. https://www.erinstereo.com/   Links for things shared in the episode: Learn more about Mx, the title in place of Mr or Mrs mentioned in the show: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mx_(title)   Want to Learn More? From police raids to pop culture: The early history of modern drag https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/drag-queen-drag-balls-early-history-pop-culture 12 historic LGBTQ figures who changed the world - https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/historical-lgbt-figures-activists-culture   Anti-Drag legislation - https://people.com/politics/anti-drag-legislation-united-states/ Trans History: https://www.historians.org/research-and-publications/perspectives-on-history/may-2018/what-is-trans-history-from-activist-and-academic-roots-a-field-takes-shape   Want to Take Action? https://www.lgbtqnation.com/branded/authentic-voices-of-pride/drag-as-activism/ https://glaad.org/drag/ https://action.aclu.org/give/support-drag-defense-fund Vote!    Sign up for Complexified Newsletter: https://complexified.substack.com/ Help Make Complexified Happen - Donate here https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=E345509&id=75 Contact us: email complexified@iliff.edu Complexified Website: https://www.complexified.org/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices