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.

In this episode, Kerri and Kayla talk with Jazmine Reed about universal experiences, self-actualization, and the journey of discovery. Jazmine is a two-time graduate of the Garland School of Social Work and a Care Case Manager with the Baylor care team. She brings the album "American Bollywood" by Young the Giant to discuss racial identity development and what it means to be a “third culture kid”. Content Warnings: Generational trauma Reference material: American Bollywood 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. David Pooler about connection, joy and being “moved at the deepest level”. Dr. Pooler has been a professor at the Garland School of Social Work for 14 years and has 20 years of social work practice experience. He brings the Documentary Black Travel Across America to discuss resilience, transformation, and what it means to live “in spite of”. Content Warnings: Brief mentions of trauma and abuse (non-descriptive) Reference material: ⁠Black Travel Across America⁠ 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 Kasey Ashenfelter about biracial identities and “finding our roots”. Kasey Ashenfelter is the director of Foundation Relations for Baylor University. He brings All You Can Ever Know: A Memoir by Nicole Chung to discuss trans-racial adoption and what it means to belong. Content Warnings: None Reference material: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/30297153  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 WITH SEASON 2! In this episode, Kerri and Kayla talk with Carrie Arroyo about introversion, counter-culture mothering, and divine femininity. Carrie Arroyo is a social work practitioner and senior lecturer at Baylor University's Garland School of Social Work. She brings the painting "Generosity" by Melanie Weidner to discuss receiving, giving, nurturing and keeping.  Content Warnings: None Reference material: https://listenforjoy.com/products/generosity  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.

Bonus Episode: “The Joke” with Aaron Mize In this episode, Kerri and Kayla talk with Aaron Mize, CEO of Communities In Schools of the Heart of Texas, about power dynamics and the importance of engaging with and believing the life experiences of others. For discussion, Aaron brings the song "The Joke" by singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile. Referenced Material: Brandi Carlile's Grammy performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJqL1yIm9e0 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, Kayla hosts our very own Kerri to talk about size privilege, health indicators outside of thinness, & seeing the image of God in every body, at every size. Kerri is a senior lecturer and DEI consultant at the Garland School of Social work. Kerri has been with the Garland School for seven years and enjoys both academic and creative writing. She brings the first six episodes of the podcast Maintenance Phase by Aubrey Gordon and Michael Hobbes to discuss this week. Content Warnings: - Discussion of size, weight, and food Material to Reference in show notes: - https://www.maintenancephase.com/ - Writings from Kerri Fisher:  https://mockingheartreview.com/archives/volume-5-issue-1/poems-to-start-the-decade/kerri-fisher/  https://journals.iupui.edu/index.php/advancesinsocialwork/article/view/24184 https://apricitymagazine.com/portfolio/projection/ 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. (This interview was recorded via Zoom, so it isn't without a few hiccups, just to note.)