This is the third episode in a series of three talking about Christianity and the Church today. The hope for this series is to go beyond denomination and institution.  The purpose is to dive into hard topics that come up as challenges for Christians and Church culture today; and simply talk about it with Christian leaders. In this episode, Pastor Ben Wikner brings years of experience and great thought about Christianity today. The church has some work to do, and we talk all about it! What do followers of Jesus look like? Can we get uncomfortable with church? What about politics and patriarchy? Well, we are diving into these topics and more! Hang on to the end, Pastor Ben is sending you an invite! Ben K. Wikner  the founding pastor of Cross Community Church, located in Gaithersburg, MD and the founder and Executive Director of the non-profit, Cross Community, Inc., which operates The Equity Center, a family support and community development organization that works to empower the marginalized and vulnerable. Ben has served as a local church pastor for the past 24 years, wherein he has established himself as an innovator in the faith community, an effective community activist, and a thought leader. He is an advocate and activist for human dignity, early childhood development, and social equity. Ben obtained his Masters of Divinity from Westminster Theological Seminary in California in 1999 and is a graduate of the 2020 CORE class of Leadership Montgomery. Ben and his wife Erin have been married for nearly 30 years and are the parents of seven children and the grandparents of one highly energetic granddaughter. To reach out to Pastor Ben Wikner, email him at: [email protected] I'd love to hear from you, send me an email at [email protected]. Follow me on IG at: Kari, Courageous Living (@karicourageousliving) | Instagram or FB at: (2) Courageous Living | Facebook --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thecourage/message

This is the second episode in a series of three talking about Christianity and the Church today. The hope for this series is to go beyond denomination and institution.  The purpose is to dive into hard topics that come up as challenges for Christians and Church culture today; and simply talk about it with Christian leaders. This deep dive, is with Reverend Megan Blanchard. She is bringing deep thought, reflection and a real passion for the topic. The conversation ended and I felt like going to church, because Rev. Megan shines a joyful light on church even in challenging times. We talk about the hypocrisy of Christianity today, the church and community connection and the need for trust, and there seems to be a theme of exploring: What is it that Christians are called to do? Rev. Megan Blanchard is a “Carolina Girl” from the small town of Midland, NC. She graduated from Davidson College with a BA of Spanish and BA of Political Science. Post graduation she worked in finance and operations in corporate America for over five years before sensing a call to ministry. Upon discerning her call, she relocated to the Washington, D.C. area in 2013 to pursue a dual Masters in Theological Studies from Wesley Theological Seminary and International Development from American University. Rev. Blanchard is an ordained Deacon of the Baltimore-Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church. Her call and passion are to serve in ministry areas that connect the church and the world, protect the vulnerable, and serve the marginalized. She currently does this through her ministry as an English teacher at Epworth’s Ana A. Brito Foundation in Gaithersburg, MD and local church ministry at Fairhaven UMC in Darnestown, MD. When she is not serving in these places you can most likely find her having fun with her family: her husband – Trey, her two young daughters – Susannah and Emma, and their dog – Layla. I'd love to hear from you, send me an email at [email protected]. Follow me on IG at: Kari, Courageous Living (@karicourageousliving) | Instagram or FB at: (2) Courageous Living | Facebook --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thecourage/message

This is the first episode in a series of three talking about Christianity and the Church today. The hope for this series is to go beyond denomination and institution.  The purpose is to dive into hard topics that come up as challenges for Christians and Church culture today; and simply talk about it with Christian leaders. In this episode, Reverend Timothy B. Warner is sharing his wisdom, insight and experience as a Church Leader with us. We are talking about the demands of discipleship, church hypocrisy, and can we Christians really be Jesus like? (And so much more!) Reverend Timothy B. Warner was called to the gospel ministry while serving as a Deacon at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church of Rockville, MD in 1996. He was licensed to preach in 1998 and ordained to pastoral ministry after he completed his Master of Divinity degree at Wesley Theological Seminary in 2003. Reverend Warner was trained as a bacterial geneticist and enjoyed a productive career in pharmaceutical research and development, where he held various scientific and executive leadership positions for over 18 years before committing to full-time ministry. He has served as the Associate Council Director for Community and Economic Development in the Baltimore-Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church, on the staff of the Montgomery County Executive in his Office of Community Partnerships as the Community Liaison for the African American and Faith Communities, and as Chief Engagement and Partnership Officer for Montgomery County Public Schools. He is a frequent lecturer in community engagement for several graduate schools, and has received Wesley Theological Seminary’s Urban Ministry Distinguished Alumnus Award.  Rev. Warner is proud to have served for the last 9 years as Senior Pastor of the Emory Grove United Methodist Church in Gaithersburg, MD, where he is a co-founder of the Racial Justice Coalition. Most recently, he has founded The Heritage Emory Grove Community Development Corporation which is leading in a partnership to redevelop the historical Emory Grove community and restore a sense of authentic community.  He also serves as the Director for Faith Relations at Habitat for Humanity of Metro Maryland where he helps to engage faith communities in the justice ministry of affordable housing in Montgomery and Prince Georges Counties. He believes in the power of prayer, and attributes whatever success that has been ascribed to his ministry to the great many conversations so many have had with God on his behalf.  Rev. Warner shares an extreme sense of pride in the family God has given him with his wife, Paula, of nearly 4 decades.  I would love to hear from you!  Leave me a message via Anchor at:  https://anchor.fm/momcourage/message or send me an email at [email protected]. Check out my website to learn more about courageous conversations:  ⁠Courageous Conversations | Courageousliving (kariprimozic.com) --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thecourage/message

The Courage to Talk Race series continues with Wylea Chase, a returning guest and Non-Profit Leader.  In this episode, we acknowledge that the work of racial justice is never over, it is a learning journey!  We share our personal experiences and insights as a response to a social media post and an article Wylea shared with Kari - and it got us both thinking!!  We are exploring the topic of courage and is it the same for Black Women and White Women.  Resources referenced from this episode: IG:  https://www.instagram.com/p/CmyFrfUuB71/?igshid=YWJhMjlhZTc= Dr. Yazeed’s  article:  https://drcareyyazeed.com/the-dangers-of-courage-culture-and-why-brene-brown-isnt-for-black-folk/ Dr. Yazeed’s books:  https://drcareyyazeed.com/shop-2/ If you want to work with Wylea and Kari, check out our pilot workshop, "Exploring and Talking Race" :  Workshop | courageousliving (kariprimozic.com) I would love to hear from you!  Leave me a message via Anchor at:  https://anchor.fm/momcourage/message or send me an email at [email protected]. Check out my website to learn more about courageous conversations:  Courageous Conversations | Courageousliving (kariprimozic.com) --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thecourage/message

It is an honor to welcome Demetria Brown back to, The Courage!  If you like authentic and real talk, then this episode is for you.  Learn more about the freedom in a life beyond liquor and I promise you this episode will get you thinking!  This is about one person’s journey choosing to live a life alcohol free; If you are suffering from alcoholism or think you may be, please talk to your doctor or contact alcoholics anonymous – www.aa.org.  If this topic is hard for you, or triggering in any way, then please don't listen and I'll catch you next time.  Meet Demetria: "I'm a 43-year-old wife and Mom of 3, raising 2.I love Jesus, coffee, and all things comedy!  I’m a certified personal trainer turned online Wellness Coach, with a bachelor’s degree in Health Science.  I spent my 20s and half of my 30s searching for a way to authentically help myself and other women in my similar stage of life live healthier, more meaningful lives. That is what I dreamed to do for a living, and I now realize that dream through coaching. But not long after I found my path, alcohol really began getting in my way.  After spending 5 years wrestling with my use of alcohol and its place in my life, I finally had enough and decided to make a change.  I am now 2 years into my no-alcohol journey and I’m loving every bit of living a life beyond liquor! My personal life vision is to use my messy life experiences to positively impact every woman I encounter - and for every woman I meet to walk away feeling more loved, accepted, and empowered after our encounter. "  ~Demetria Brown  To contact Demetria or join her Facebook Group message Demetria at:  https://www.facebook.com/demetria.michael/  or go to www.demetriabrown.com  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thecourage/message

This episode is all about normalizing the conversation about kids of all abilities, with special attention to our kids with special needs. We talk about navigating school, the playground, parenting and more.  Julie Primozic, Special Education Teacher, and Valerie Leffler, Mom and Professional Worrier, are guiding the conversation with their insight and experience with supporting and loving children with special needs.   If you want to reach Julie, just send Kari an email at [email protected] and it will be sent on to Julie.  Please note, it is always my intention to lead courageous conversations with respect and sensitivity.  I am also human, and make mistakes, so reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns; I am always willing to grow in my work.  I would love to hear from you!  Leave me a message via Anchor at:  https://anchor.fm/momcourage/message or send me an email at [email protected]. Check out my website to learn more about courageous conversations:  www.kariprimozic.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thecourage/message

This episode is a part of the ongoing series, "The Courage to Talk Race".   In this episode, we will talk about bias definitions, how we develop a racial bias and what to do to start or simply continue the conversation around racial biases.   You can reach Sally and learn more about her work by going to Loftis Partners at Loftis Partners or find Sally on LinkedIn at (62) Sally Loftis, MSOD (she/her/hers) | LinkedIn Sally has a new virtual learning group called, DEI Learning Group for White Women!  It is starting January of 2023 check it out: DEI Learning Group for White Women — Loftis Partners. *The whole focus of The Courage to Talk Race series, is to keep talking about race - the goal is to address challenging issues in a direct and respectful way.  As a white woman, I am constantly working at my role and responsibility in understanding race, racism, and white privilege.  To keep at the work of talking about race, I hope to have these kinds of courageous conversations here on The Courage and impact others in a positive way.  I would love to hear from you!  Leave me a message via Anchor at:  https://anchor.fm/momcourage/message or send me an email at [email protected]. Check out my website to learn more about courageous conversations:  www.kariprimozic.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thecourage/message

Welcome to Season 3  I want to let you know about the new direction of this podcast. As I reflect on the amazing Mom Courage guests and their stories, passions and areas of expertise –I realized I want to broaden my reach and continue these courageous conversations, by reaching moms and beyond. So. to honor this next step I am simply going to call the podcast – THE COURAGE. The focus will still be to questioning norms and finding the real conversation – yet we will dive into more diverse topics to hopefully build more connections. The hope is to create a podcast space for intentional, motivational and courageous conversations! To learn more about breast cancer or how to get a mammogram go to www.cancer.org.   It would be great to hear from you, send me an email at [email protected] or message me here in Anchor at  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thecourage/message

This episode is about white women doing racial justice work and we talk about the pitfalls, and the courage it takes to engage in the conversation.  Dr. Darlene Snider with Racial Justice form the Heart is the Mom Courage guest who is diving in with me and sharing with us here knowledge, experience and insight!   Dr. Darlene Snider is a mother, an educational leader, social justice advocate, scholar and a Racial Justice From the Heart certified coach. Darlene's career has focused on cross-cultural understanding, democratic education, and leadership. She was a community college teacher for 15 years and has been an administrator, teacher, and researcher for over 20 years in higher education. She has worked collaboratively with colleagues in Canada and the United States, developing programs for youth and adults in various settings. She has served as a community college dean overseeing programs for English Language Learners, incarnated youth, and adults, and workforce education. As director of TRIO Upward Bound, she developed programming to provide academic and social support for first-generation high school students in completing high school and transitioning to college. Darlene is currently an Interim Dean of Workforce Education at Whatcom Community College in Washington State. Darlene continues to be active at the regional and state level, initiating pioneering programs fostering effective, equitable access to higher education —all related to cross-cultural understanding and social justice. With a doctorate in Educational Leadership from Northeastern University, Darlene's research focuses on teaching and learning as lived experience, applied linguistics; issues of identity; reflexive inquiry; interpretative phenomenological inquiry or how individuals make sense of their personal experiences; and education for social justice. Darlene grew up in a home where English was not spoken at home. While she had always recognized her Mennonite grandparents' sacrifice when they fled their homes in the Soviet Union, now Ukraine, to immigrate to Canada in the early 1930s. Darlene says that "While my parent's struggles learning a language, navigating a new culture, and making a life that afforded the opportunities I have today have been relatively visible to me, my race privilege has not. As a result, I have had to uncover how race has shaped my life." Darlene has gained deeper insight through work, study, and personal experiences that have allowed her to question how her racial identity has unintentionally socialized her to uphold inequitable and racialized systems. Darlene was initially drawn to Dr. Amanda Kemp's work, Racial Justice from the H.E.A.R.T, because of Darlene's desire to be effective in having difficult conversations about race and racial equity. Darlene is a certified Racial Justice from the H.E.A.R.T facilitator and mentor coach. Through her work within the Racial Justice from the H.E.A.R.T community, she has been able to understand how compassion and empathy are the antidotes to guilt and shame and the place to begin when seeking to examine and dismantle systems that hold racism in place. "Now I distinguish that, I grew up in an immigrant-origin home, but my experiences would have been different had I not been white." To learn more about Racial Justice From the Heart and access resources go to: www.dramandakemp.com  Please note there are a few little tech issues here and there through out the episode - they only last for a moment. I would love to hear from you!  Leave me a message via Anchor at:  https://anchor.fm/momcourage/message or send me an email at [email protected].  Check out my website to learn more about courageous conversations:  www.kariprimozic.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thecourage/message

This episode is a conversation between Wylea Chase and Kari Primozic, the two facilitators of the workshop:  White Moms Exploring and Talking Race.  We are talking about the workshop details, why there is a fee and why a white mom would want to sign up!  It is a great opportunity to get a feel for Wylea and Kari and learn more about how they approach this important antiracist work!!  We have developed this workshop further and have 2 offerings; this workshop is in a pilot phase.  To learn more go to:  Workshop | courageousliving (kariprimozic.com)   As always, feel free to reach out with questions or comments to Kari at [email protected]  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thecourage/message