"I have done a lot of work in the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion, bias and other things that to me line up directly with the Gospel. But I am still learning,” shares Fr. Justin Mathews. “I am still trying to listen and to hear the lived experience of my neighbors who have suffered greatly and continue to suffer." On today's episode of The Social Leader podcast, the tables are turned and Fr. Justin Mathews is in the hot seat being interviewed by his alma mater St. Vladimir's Seminary, where he earned his Masters in Divinity. In this interview, he unpacks the theory of change behind the work we do here at Reconciliation Services and synthesizes decades of learning, laboring, and co-suffering into an action-oriented conversation that will inspire you to find more opportunities for compassion and growth in your life.

Every leadership journey is unique. Jeremy's started after he watched the Twin Towers fall on 9/11 from his startup office just blocks away. He decided to set aside his tech entrepreneurship dreams and pursue a life dedicated to serving others. Today, he is the Founding CEO of RISE in Nebraska, where his team helps men and women start their leadership journey in prison, and then helps them get home and stay home. Jeremy is a passionate social leader and has 19 years of leadership experience in higher education and non-profit organizations in New York City, Baltimore and Omaha. He also holds a Masters of Science in Leadership from Creighton University.

On today’s episode, Fr. Justin interviews Emmy Award winning storyteller and public historian, Nathaniel Bozarth. They discuss how to unlearn your implicit biases, then how to relearn a new way to see the world around you. Nathaniel specializes in anti-racist work that centers around the history of residential segregation, especially in Kansas City. In 2018, Nathaniel co-created an app-based tour (Dividing Lines) of the history of segregation in KC.

On today’s episode, Fr. Justin interviews Dr. Rodney D. Smith, newly appointed VP of Access & Engagement at William Jewell College, about "radical inclusivity" and operationalizing diversity efforts on a college campus. Rodney is also co-founder and managing partner with his wife, Stephenie, at Sophic Solutions Group. On the podcast Rodney shares his story and discusses truth telling as the first step toward racial reconciliation, race as a social construct and pseudo-science, becoming a "hope-monger" and much more.

On today’s episode, Fr. Justin interviews Kathryn Evans Madden, founder of Rooted Strategy. Kathryn is a Board member of Reconciliation Services, a Nonprofit Strategist, System Builder, and Culture Shaper. They cover a lot, including: movement building, organizing, racial equity, philanthropy, nonprofit leadership, relationships, accountability, entrepreneurship… even their favorite day planners!

The Grooming Project is an initiative of Empowering the Parent to Empower the Child (EPEC), a 501c3 organization dedicated to reducing generational poverty in Kansas City. Through their state-certified grooming school and grooming salon, they train struggling parents to be pet groomers and salon managers, both in-demand, living-wage trades.On today’s episode, Fr. Justin Mathews interviews Jarrod Sanderson, Director of Housing & Program Design for EPEC. They discuss The Grooming Project’s journey from an idea to one of KC's most influential social enterprises, what it really takes to help a family break the cycle of poverty, and why up and coming entrepreneurs should seriously consider starting mission-led businesses.

Long before 31st and Troost was home to Reconciliation Services and other great nonprofits... before Troost Avenue became infamous as Kansas City's racial and economic dividing line due to redlining and block busting... before Troost was a thriving economic hub for KC's Black community... even before this area was a slave plantation established by the Reverend James Porter in 1834... this area was home to the Osage Nation.  On today's episode of the Social Leader Podcast, Fr. Justin interviews Chief Geoffrey Standing Bear, Principal Chief of the Osage Nation. He is the great- grandson of Osage Principal Chief Fred Lookout. Now in his second term as Osage Nation Principal Chief, he continues the work of protecting and enhancing the Osage culture, language, and lands. Here are Chief Standing Bear's Social Leadership lessons from Osage Elders: 1. Be good to one another 2. Try hard - with tears 3. We are pitiful, turn to prayer

The Chiefs started another season 4-0, something just about all of us can get behind, at least in KC. But outside of rooting for our favorite sports teams, it feels like right now there's not much else Americans can unite around. When everything becomes us versus them, neither side wins in the long run.   On this week's episode of The Social Leader Podcast, Fr. Justin Mathews talks with Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II about what he believes it will take to regain civil discourse in the US and many other important topics facing our nation, including: re-engineering the police force, the virtue of nonviolent protests, and keeping the faith during tumultuous times.

In this episode of The Social Leader Podcast, Fr. Justin Mathews talks with Dan Smith, co-founder of The Porter House KC (PHKC) and Reconciliation Services board member. PHKC supports entrepreneurs from the urban core, serving primarily minority individuals seeking the knowledge, support and skillset to start, grow, or transition their businesses to the next level. Dan is a passionate entrepreneur himself and a powerful social leader in KC. He and Fr. Justin discuss the importance of learning the rules and sometimes breaking the rules, leading by example, and expanding social networks.

In this episode of The Social Leader, Fr. Justin interviews Kyle J. Smith, executive director of Determination, Incorporated and team member at Reconciliation Services. Determination, Inc. hosts entrepreneurship workshops for currently and formerly incarcerated people. (www.determinationincorporated.com) They discuss building community in times of crisis, finding your own path as a social entrepreneur, tactical advice for starting a business, stories of formerly incarcerated business owners, and much more.