In this episode of the podcast, Kerri and Kayla talk with their illustrious producer (and graduate assistant extraordinaire) Anna Rakos about loss, longing, and REM state rendezvous. We want to thank Anna for two years of faithful podcast production and perpetually delightful discussions. Anna brings the song Saw You in a Dream by The Japanese House.   Content Warnings: Discussions of gender identity insensitivity, “forced outing” and death/loss.    Reference Material: Saw You in a Dream by The Japanese House Lectio Divina The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect Baylor University, the Garland School of Social Work, or any other entities the guests or hosts might represent.

In this episode, Kerri and Kayla talk with Will Ward about challenging gender binaries and the intersection of faith and queerness. Will Ward is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who works primarily with children and adolescents. He is also an adjunct faculty member and current PHD candidate at the Garland School of Social Work. He brings with him the devotional portrait of Matthew Shepard by artist and iconographer Kelly Latimore.   Content Warnings: Discussions of LGBTQ violence and trauma Reference material: Matthew Shepard Devotional Portrait for the National Cathedral  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect Baylor University, the Garland School of Social Work or any other entities the guests or hosts might represent. 

In this episode, Kerri and Kayla talk with Kevin Villegas about poetry, philosophy, and beauty.  Dr. Kevin Villegas is the Dean of Intercultural Engagement and Division of Student Life Initiatives at Baylor. He brings several Mary Oliver poems to discuss memorization, meditation, and the true self.  Content Warnings: None Reference material: A Thousand Mornings Quotes by Mary Oliver & New and Selected Poems, Volume One by Mary Oliver The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect Baylor University, the Garland School of Social Work or any other entities the guests or hosts might represent.

In this episode, Kerri and Kayla talk with Jaja Chen about community, cultural representation and Asian-American experiences. Jaja is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, co-owner of Cha Community, president and founder of the Asian Leaders Network in Waco, and a Garland School of Social Work alum. She brings the memoir Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner to discuss the diverse ways in which families pass down culture through generations and food as a universal language.  Content Warnings: Discussions of grief, death, and loss of cultural heritage Reference material: Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner   The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect Baylor University, the Garland School of Social Work or any other entities the guests or hosts might represent.

In episode 2 of season 3, Kerri and Kayla talk with Mary Zane Nelson about generational love, healing and motherhood. Mary Zane is a Postpartum Doula and the Project Director for the BEAR Project at the Diana R. Garland School of Social Work. She brings the digital painting, "Ancestral Healing" by Tarn Ellis to discuss feminine nurturing figures, mothering without a mother, and the joys and tensions of parenthood.   Content Warnings: Discussions of grief, parental death, postpartum depression, cancer.  Reference material: Gallery — Tarn Ellis Art, Ancestral Healing by Tarn Ellis    The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect Baylor University, the Garland School of Social Work or any other entities the guests or hosts might represent.

We're back for Season 3! In this first episode, Kerri and Kayla talk with Dr. Coretta Pittman about intersectionality, privilege and the beauty of knowing that, “We are all a little strange.” Dr. Pittman is the Associate Dean for Diversity and Belonging in the Baylor University College of Arts & Sciences. She brings the novel The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride to discuss honoring bodies, existing in the world, and challenging the status quo. Content Warnings: Brief mentions of death (non-descriptive) Reference material: The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect Baylor University, the Garland School of Social Work or any other entities the guests or hosts might represent.

In this episode, Kerri hosts our very own Kayla Mize to talk about personality traits, motherhood, pregnancy, and boundary setting. Kayla is a community social worker in Waco. She brings Dawn Konofaos’s Instagram account @alevri.co to discuss baking, balancing rest and work, perfectionism, and being true to ourselves. Content Warnings: None Reference material: Alèvri & Co Instagram  The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect Baylor University, the Garland School of Social Work or any other entities the guests or hosts might represent.

In this episode, Kerri and Kayla talk with Carolyn Cole about the universal experience of aging, new marginalization, and what it means to exist in the world. Carolyn Cole is a lecturer at the Garland School of Social Work. She brings the poem "Don’t Hesitate" by Mary Oliver to discuss ageism, meaning-making, and translating joy into hope.  Content Warnings: Brief mentions of death (non-descriptive) Reference material: "Don’t Hesitate" by Mary Oliver The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect Baylor University, the Garland School of Social Work or any other entities the guests or hosts might represent. 

In this episode, Kerri and Kayla talk with Dr. Elise Edwards about meditation, meaning-making, commitment to new life and the commonality of grief. Dr. Edwards is an assistant professor at Baylor University and teaches Christian ethics and theology courses in Baylor’s Department of Religion. She brings the documentary Aftershock (2022) to discuss Black maternal health and wellness, hypervigilance in healthcare spaces, and a multifaceted approach to healing. Content Warnings: Discussions of death, grief, bodies, and weight Reference material: Aftershock The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect Baylor University, the Garland School of Social Work or any other entities the guests or hosts might represent. 

In this episode, Kerri and Kayla talk with Abby Waters about gender exploration, brave spaces, internal interrogation, and engaging with empathy and humanity. Abby is a local social worker and a graduate of the Garland School of Social Work. They bring the poetry book Your Wound, My Garden by Alok Vaid-Menon to discuss tensions of the body and deconstructing gender through fashion. Content Warnings: Brief mentions of LGBTQ+ trauma (non-descriptive) Reference material: Your Wound, My Garden by Alok Vaid-Menon The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect Baylor University, the Garland School of Social Work or any other entities the guests or hosts might represent.