Nikki Toyama-Szeto talks with leadership coach and consultant, Tracey Gee. Listen in as Tracey shares her insights about what she sees AAPI leaders bring to their realms of influence, why strengths-based leadership is crucial, and how a life of faith can resource our leadership.

As May is Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month, we will be featuring interviews with people from this diverse community.

Follow Tracey on Instagram and TikTok.

To kick off season two of 20 Minute Takes, Nikki talks to Dr. Jonathan Tran, a theological ethicist and professor at Baylor University about his new book, Asian Americans and the Spirit of Racial Capitalism. Listen in on this crucial conversation on how the Asian American experience presses us to expand racial discourse and anti-racist praxis to think in terms of systems, economics, and restoration.

As May is Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month, we will be featuring interviews with people from this diverse community.

Follow Jonathan on Twitter here.

This is part two of our conversation with musician, activist, and author Andre Henry. He's author of the recently released book, All the White Friends I Couldn't Keep. Nikki and Andre talk about white Jesus, how faith and spirituality sustain social change, and Andre's experience leading subversive liturgies.

You can listen to part one of this conversation here.
Learn more about Andre here.
Follow him on Twitter or Instagram.
And check out his work with CSA's Racial Justice Institute.

This week on 20 Minute Takes, Nikki talks with Andre Henry.  He's a musician, activist, and author of the recently released book: All The White Friends I Couldn't Keep. This is part one of our amazing conversation with Andre. From his story of becoming conscious of the racism that surrounded him, to getting acquainted with his anger, and some insights on nonviolent praxis along the way, this is a conversation you do not want to miss. Part two will be released next week.

You can learn more about Andre here.
Follow him on Twitter or Instagram.
And check out his work with CSA's Racial Justice Institute.

Living justly can be tricky; parenting children to live justly can be all the more complicated. This week on 20 Minute Takes, Nikki Toyama-Szeto talks with Sandra Van Opstal and Karl Ostroski about justice parenting. Sandra is a pastor, activist, and executive director of Chasing Justice and Karl is a an information technology consultant. Listen in as they talk through their intentions as they help their kids navigate the world, the joys and complexities of fostering, and practical tips for how to lead families to live justly. (This episode is longer than most, but we believe the extra content is well worth your time!)

Follow Sandra on Twitter and Instagram.
Follow Karl on Twitter.

This week, Nikki Toyama-Szeto talks with Kristyn Komarnicki (CSA's Director of Dialogue & Convening / Program Manager for Oriented to Love) about practical tips for transforming conflict through curiosity.

After listening to this episode of 20 Minute Takes, your ability to handle conflict, have difficult conversations, and engage in meaningful dialogue will level up; your friends and family will certainly thank you.

You can learn more about Oriented to Love Here.
Consider applying for Oriented to Love's BPIOC-only Dialogue, this August.

This week, Nikki Toyama-Szeto chats with Ron Sider, the author of the acclaimed book Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger and the founder and President Emeritus of Christians for Social Action. Nikki and Ron talk about lessons learned from his 50+ years of scholar-activism—from the fight against apartheid in South Africa to non-violent resistance, to understanding the graduated tithe, this conversation is one you do not want to miss.

You can check out Ron's blog and sign up for his mailing list here.

This week, Nikki Toyama-Szeto interviews Brandi Miller, the creator and host of the podcast Reclaiming My Theology. Listen in as they talk about deconstruction, scripture, and theologizing with integrity and openness to the expansiveness of God.

You can follow Reclaiming My Theology's Instagram page here.
Check out the RMT Lent 2022 Devotional.
And follow Brandi on Twitter and Instagram.

On this week's episode of 20 Minute Takes, Nikki talks with author and public theologian, Candice Benbow. Candice is the author of Red Lip Theology, a book written "for church girls who've considered tithing to the beauty supply store when Sunday morning isn't enough." Nikki and Candice talk about what it means to do theology in unexpected places, creation care and Black women, and asking questions that aren't welcomed in church.

You can learn more about Candice and her work here.
You can find her on Twitter and Instagram.

Nikki Toyama-Szeto chats with Racial Justice Institute Program Manager, musician/author Andre Henry on Black joy. From the Hebrew Bible to social change theory, listen in as Andre talks through what he wants Black folx to know about Black joy.

Andre Henry is the author of the soon-to-be-released book, All The White Friends I Couldn't Keep.

On this episode of 20 Minute Takes, Nikki Toyama-Szeto talk with Cole Arthur Riley, the creator of Black Liturgies and author of the new book, This Here Flesh. Listen in as they discuss liturgy, generational strength, and embodied practices of healing and attentiveness.

Check out our Q&A with her about her book.
You can learn more about Cole, here.
In addition to @BlackLiturgies, you can find her @colearthurriley.

Author Danté Stewart shares a quick take on three pieces of advice he has for BIPOC writers trying to hone their craft and get their work out there in today's publishing environment. Listen in, and check out his book, Shoutin' in the Fire: An American Epistle.

If you want to hear more from Danté, you can hear our full conversation with him on this week's episode of 20 Minute Takes.

"Our theology must emerge consciously from an investigation of the socioreligious experience of black people, as that experience is reflected in black stories of God's dealigns with black people in the struggle of freedom." —James Cone, God of the Oppressed. 

On this episode of 20 Minute Takes, Nikki Toyama-Szeto chats with author Danté Stewart on the sacredness of Black stories and experiences. Danté is the author of Shoutin' in the Fire: An American Epistle. Listen in on this rich conversation.

You can follow Danté on Instagram and Twitter @stewartdantec
and find more information about him and his work on his website.

In this episode of 20 Minute Takes, Nikki Toyama-Szeto interviews with poet and pastor Drew Jackson, author of God Speaks Through Wombs. Listen in as they talk about the necessity of prophetic art for the Church today, and how experience shapes scriptural imagination.

Learn more about Drew and his work here.
On Instagram @d.jacksonpoetics
On Twitter @djacksonpoetics

Since the United States pulled out of Afghanistan in August 2021, 76,000 Afghan refugees have been brought to the United States for resettlement. On this episode of 20 Minute Takes, Nikki Toyama-Szeto chats with Jenny Yang, Vice President of Policy & Advocacy on Refugee Resettlement for World Relief on what it means to extend hospitality to (and receive hospitality from) refugees and displaced peoples in our communities.

You can find her on Twitter @JennyYangWR.

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Nikki Toyama-Szeto chats with Pastor Rich Villodas about being a non-anxious presence in anxious times. Rich Villodas is pastor of New Life Fellowship Church in Queens, NYC, and is the author of The Deeply Formed Life.

Learn more about him at https://www.richvillodas.com/
You can find him on social media @richvillodas.

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Engaging with social justice is complicated and messy and yet it's the invitation of all Christians.  20 Minute Takes breaks down the big and complicated to brings it into everyday life.  Whether interviews with people on the frontlines, or breaking down the concepts in the headlines, 20 Minute Takes helps Christians to stir the imagination for what faithfulness and living justly can look like. Our first episode drops Wednesday, January 19.

Sign up here if you'd like to receive an email when our first episode drops