Here's a guest you should make a point to listen to: Wendell Griffen, a veteran, attorney, retired judge, CEO of his own organization, author, public speaker, and the pastor at the New Millennium Church in Little Rock. In part 1 of this interview, April and Glen sit down with Wendell, well known in Arkansas as a passionate advocate for various social justice issue. Here he explains how his views originate from influences by his parents growing up, as well Jesus, Martin Luther King, Jr, and others. He especially resonates with the call to "love the least of these." Wendell embraces a version of Christianity that he contrasts with what he terms "empirical Christianity," a version that troubles him and is covered in his upcoming book "The Hateful Faithful." Yet he urges being open to talking to others as critical for growth ("iron sharpens iron"). The struggle he sees is chaos vs community, where fear feeds chaos. He sides with the forming and strengthening of community. In a powerful metaphor, he relates a personal story that helped motivate him to be more active in his community. The inspiration came to him in learning to swim as an adult and led him to realize that we need the courage to "get off the side of the pool" and into the deep water in order to "learn how to swim."
#46 John Brummett, prominent and long-time Arkansas journalist & columnist, 8-25-23, Part 1: OTOH Episode 46
#45 Kathy Webb, Little Rock city board member and longtime community activist in hunger, LGBTQ, and other issues, 6-21-23, Part 2: OTOH Episode 45
#44 Kathy Webb, Little Rock city board member and longtime community activist in hunger, LGBTQ, and other issues,, 6-21-23, Part 1: OTOH Episode 44
#43 Lisa McNeir, retired psychologist & Braver Angels Arkansas alliance co-chair, 6-14-23, Part 2: OTOH Episode 43
#42 Lisa McNeir, retired psychologist & Braver Angels Arkansas alliance co-chair, 6-14-23, Part 1: OTOH Episode 42
#41 Nitin Agarwal UA Little Rock Professor and Social Media influence researcher, 7-18-23, Part 2: OTOH Episode 41
#40 Nitin Agarwal, UA-Little Rock Professor and Social Media influence researcher, 7-18-23, Part 1: OTOH Episode 40
#39 2023 Braver Angels National Convention recap with April Chatham-Carpenter & Ray Hanley, 8-11-23, Part 2: OTOH Episode 39
#38 2023 Braver Angels Convention recap with April Chatham-Carpenter & Ray Hanley, 8-11-23, Part 1: OTOH Episode 38
#37 Rebecca Glazier, UA-Little Rock political scientist & Associate Professor, 6-13-23, Part 2: OTOH Episode 37
#36 Rebecca Glazier, UA-Little Rock political scientist & Associate Professor, 6-13-23, Part 1: OTOH Episode 36
#35 Vic Snyder, former AR congressman, 4-25-23, part 2: OTOH Episode 35
#34 Vic Snyder, former AR congressman, 4-25-23, part 1: OTOH Episode 34
#33 Rita Chisum Braver Angels activist 3-8-23: OTOH Episode 33
#32 Rita Chisum Braver Angels activist 3-8-23: OTOH Episode 32
#31 Chris Jones, Democratic Party candidate, Part 2, 2-14-23: OTOH Episode 31
#30 Chris Jones, Democratic Party candidate, Part 1, 2-14-23: OTOH Episode 30
#29 Caroline Stevenson peace activist 1-20-23 Part 2 Episode 29
#28 Caroline Stevenson peace activist 1-20-23 part 1: OTOH Episode 28
#27 Monica Guzman, author and Braver Angels leader, 2-9-23, Part 2: OTOH Episode 27
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