When it comes to success, it’s satisfying to feel pride in all you’ve accomplished, but it’s equally important to recognize those who paved the way alongside you. In this episode of VOICES’ Where Ya From? podcast, multi-talented artist Lecrae sits down with Rasool Berry to discuss the substantial impact his community has had on his music career, his social activism, and his relationship with God.

Our identities are often influenced by our surroundings—the good, the bad, and the ugly. Join us as we discuss with Ekemini Uwan how to help people navigate the waters of colorism, microaggression, white supremacy, and other ideologies that have come to influence our views of our faith, our society, and our worth.

The journey to self-acceptance isn’t an easy one, and it can be a challenge learning how to appreciate your upbringing and owning your past choices. In this episode of VOICES’ Where Ya From? podcast, Rasool Berry, speaks with Kierra Sheard-Kelly about helping others embrace their truest selves and overcome insecurities to accept the person God made them to be.

Diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) drive change in the workplace, but not every business has success with implementation. In this episode of VOICES’ Where Ya From? podcast, host, Rasool Berry, speaks with Skot Welch about the power of building bridges to navigate the waters of DE&I and how our faith—and our business—flourishes when our workplaces reflect the mosaic God has created His children to be.

If you love something, you have to be willing to put in the work. That is especially prevalent in our relationship with God and us as individuals. In this episode of VOICES’ Where Ya From? podcast, host, Rasool Berry, speaks with Dr. Esau McCaulley about helping Black churches rediscover hope, the division between social justice and the biblical texts, and what can be done to dissolve that tension.

Culture informs faith. Faith informs culture. So how do we find a balance between the two to create meaningful change? In this episode of VOICES’ Where Ya From podcast, host, Rasool Berry, speaks with Dr. A.R. Bernard about his work towards building positive community change by intersecting the power of culture and faith.

New episodes of Where Ya From? coming in 2022

Grace and truth must go hand in hand. But how do you do that when these two things are sometimes in opposition? This is the question that today’s guest, Where Ya From? host Rasool Berry, hopes to shed light on. Rasool shares his story of finding a way to understand his experience as a Black man, of living the African American experience, and of learning through a theological standpoint.

We are all called to create, as humans and as Christians. But are we all equipped to do so? With so many distractions and influences in our world, it can be hard to focus on creating for the greater good. Follow along as we discuss with Andy Crouch the importance of being culture makers for God’s message and balancing the good and bad of technology.

When faced with something or someone deemed “different,” why are we so quick to judge? Rather than appreciate what makes us different, we are often quick to rush to misconceptions and misunderstandings. Follow along in this episode with jazz musician Ruth Naomi Floyd as she discusses the importance of remembering the radical truths of the gospel and loving your neighbor.

Surviving is a strategy. Thriving is a path towards unlimited opportunities. Dr. Alma Zaragoza-Petty shares her experiences of unlikely mentors, educational events, and faith that led her to challenge the oppressive systems that hold back so many from fulfilling their purpose.

Blind spots are something we all deal with, but it’s our response to them that matters. We can choose to move on and ignore, which is an option only for the privileged, or we can choose to acknowledge our blind spots and take action. Daniel Hill shares his journey from apathy to action for justice for all.

We all, at one point, must reconcile with our past to move forward healthily and effectively. Of course, it isn’t always easy to get from point A to point B, but your life can be transformed in monumental ways when you do. Lecrae shares his story of dealing with his past and restoring his mental, spiritual, and emotional health.

We live in a society full of unsettling truths. So what do we do with that? Do we sit down and ignore the fact, leaving in its wake pain and trauma from ignorance? Or do we decide to do something about it like educating ourselves, informing others, and taking action? Mark Charles shares how to face the unsettling truths and how we can help make our world a more equitable place.

Change happens when we acknowledge the truth. And the truth can be painful, and often, we try to ignore that in the church. Dr. Soong-Chan Rah is here to share why it's essential to listen to the voices that we don't always hear from and why lamenting is just a step towards raising awareness of injustices, especially within the church.

God has created men and women to be in partnership for His mission. Carolyn Custis James is on a mission to help women—regardless of age, location, or circumstance—to realize that we are all made to be God's image-bearers. She states that as His daughters, we are to "be warriors in the battle alongside the men."

We need to take care of all the parts of who we are. That includes not just our physical selves, but our mental wellbeing too. Dr. Christina Edmondson is here to share why it's crucial to treat ourselves—our whole selves—with dignity, love, and empathy.

Historically, has everyone truly been welcomed with no question into the church? Jemar Tisby examines the harsh reality of the American church’s involvement with racism and how that’s left a void for so many. This is not a history lesson. Instead, it’s a moment for the church to contend with its previous actions (or inactions) and learn to move towards a more equitable and hopeful future.

Finding a community of tried and true friends can be hard these days. But the key is being intentional in the conversations you have with each other to form lasting and healthy friendships. Kristen “KB” Newton reflects on her own experiences and struggles of making friends throughout her life due to “constant change and movement” and how that all changed when she realized the value of being vulnerable.

We can learn a lot about ourselves even through other people’s experiences. Rich Pérez shares his “layers” and what makes him, him. He hopes that sharing his story of learning how to embrace who he is and all the intersections of his culture, heritage, experiences, and passions will help others understand theirs too.

This episode teaches us to revel in the idea of “being born for this” and to take charge of our opportunities with a great conversation with Ambassador Sujay Johnson Cook.

What do you do when someone challenges your faith? One of the world’s most sought-after Christian apologists, Lisa Fields, combines her passion for biblical literacy with her heart for sharing God’s love to all those she meets.

Where Ya From? Podcast creates an atmosphere where all people—regardless of our differences—can openly discuss ideas, issues, culture, experiences, faith, and more so we can learn from each other and the Word of God. New episodes released weekly on Tuesdays.