R-Soul: Reclaiming the Soul of Reproductive Health, Rights, and Justice

Saviors & Scapegoats: Abandoning Easy Answers to Complex Struggles

We’re in the middle of a hostile government takeover, and Faith Organizers Kelley Fox and Rev. Terry Williams make it clear that no one is coming to save us except for us. Using the movement for reproductive freedom as a lens, Kelley and Terry talk about the dangers of waiting on perfect change agents and spending too much time focused on adversaries in justice movement work.

If you’ve felt overwhelmed, exhausted, stressed, or even a little bit hopeless, listen in while our Faith Organizers help you gain perspective, re-orient toward movement health, and achieve deeper clarity around the complex solutions necessary to bring about the thriving future we truly desire.

Links to discussed content:

• Hostile Government Takeover: www.instagram.com/reel/DFtEPrihPHi/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

• unthinkable thoughts (blog that led to We Will Not Cancel Us, by adrienne maree brown): https://adriennemareebrown.net/2020/07/17/unthinkable-thoughts-call-out-culture-in-the-age-of-covid-19/

• Why We Need Restorative & Transformative Justice: www.faithchoiceohio.org/blog/why-we-need-restorative-and-transformative-justice

• Restorative & Transformative Justice Training: www.faithchoiceohio.org/restorative-and-transformative-justice-training

• Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg's take on the widely cited Martin
  Niemöller quote: www.facebook.com/share/p/1H6AwjXevt/?mibextid=wwXIfr

   

Music by Korbin Jones

Manifesting Hope: How Practicing Community Care Grows a Good Future

Faith Organizers Kelley Fox and Rev. Terry Williams dig into the definition of community care, exploring examples of tangible ways you can nourish your community, respond to what feels like unending crises, and sustain both your spirit and the spirits of those around you.

Lifting up the links between community care and manifesting brighter futures, Kelley and Terry help listeners gain perspective about the powerful impact of seemingly small actions, drawing the connections between how we live as individuals and how our collective future is shaped by the acts of love we engage in daily.

Links to discussed content:

• Hoping Dangerously: Faith Choice Ohio's 2025 State of the Union Reflection: https://faithchoiceohio.podbean.com/e/hoping-dangerously-faith-choice-ohios-2025-state-of-the-union-reflection/
• Manifestation as Community Care: www.faithchoiceohio.org/blog/manifestation-as-community-care
• Chillicothe VA Medical Center: www.va.gov/chillicothe-health-care/locations/chillicothe-va-medical-center/
• VA Facing Massive Job Cuts: https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/5186097-va-seek-cuts-80000-jobs/amp/
• On Abolition, Afrofuturism, & Abundance: www.faithchoiceohio.org/blog/on-abolition-afrofuturism-and-abundance
• Spoon Theory and Mental Health: www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/social-instincts/202405/spoon-theory-can-change-the-way-you-view-mental-health

Music by Korbin Jones

When Empires Fall, We Catch Us: An Ode to Community Care

Faith Organizers Kelley Fox and Rev. Terry Williams offer some timely perspective on the outsized role that community care has always played in the lives of the many people who find themselves constantly underserved by government systems in the United States.

Particularly lifting up the resilience of communities of spiritual practice, Kelley and Terry recount repro-centered examples of thriving that are fueled by mutual aid in the face of systemic government indifference, casting a hopeful vision of what our future can be even as we navigate rising authoritarianism.

Links to discussed content: 

• What is the FACE Act? https://prochoice.org/wp-content/uploads/face_act.pdf
• New Limitations on the FACE Act in 2025: www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/trump-face-act-abortion-related-actions-justice-department/
• SMA in Good Faith: www.faithchoiceohio.org/self-managed-abortion-in-good-faith-training
• Take back your POWER! www.faithchoiceohio.org/blog/take-back-your-power
• We Take Care of Each Other: www.faithchoiceohio.org/blog/we-take-care-of-each-other
• Hope Through Solidarity: www.faithchoiceohio.org/blog/hope-through-solidarity
• Why Self-Care Matters Even as the World Burns: www.faithchoiceohio.org/blog/why-self-care-matters-even-as-the-world-burns 

Music by Korbin Jones

Winter Won’t Last Forever: Strategies for Thriving in Seasons of Strife

Faith Organizers Kelley Fox and Rev. Terry Williams share survival strategies for the hard times, using seemingly perpetual winter weather as a metaphor to understand the ongoing struggle for reproductive health, rights, and justice.

Acknowledging the chill of the current political climate, Kelley and Terry help listeners take stock and get some hope-filled perspective in the midst of what is undeniably a rough time for people who value abortion justice, religious freedom, and the principles of reproductive justice in our state and nation.

Links to discussed content: 

• What are "Love Languages" exactly?: www.simplypsychology.org/five-love-languages.html
• Love Languages reimagined: www.trystanreese.com/blog/2019/9/15/acts-of-solidarity-queer-love-languages
• What is the quality time love language? Plus, 9 examples: www.calm.com/blog/quality-time-love-language 
• Night Cannot Last Forever: www.faithchoiceohio.org/blog/night-cannot-last-forever
• "The Spoon Theory," by Christine Miserandino: https://butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/
• ACLU Ohio: www.acluohio.org/
• TransOhio: www.transohio.org/
• Equality Ohio: https://equalityohio.org/
• Abortion Forward: https://abortionforward.org/

Music by Korbin Jones

Hoping Dangerously: Faith Choice Ohio's 2025 State of the Union Reflection

Faith Organizer Kelley Fox and Executive Director Elaina Ramsey reflect on the past year and share FCO's strategic & pastoral priorities for 2025. From a year that asks to a year that answers (shoutout to Zora Neale Hurston), Kelley and Elaina discuss the necessity of caring deeply for ourselves and the movement, while also having the audacity to hope and live into the future we're longing for throughout these chaotic times in the U.S.

Links to discussed content:

• New Year, New Offerings: faithchoiceohio.org/blog/new-year-new-offerings
• We Take Care of Each Other: faithchoiceohio.org/blog/we-take-care-of-each-other
• Self-Care as System Maintenance: www.instagram.com/p/DBrp_kcNqjk/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
• Faith for Repro Training Center: faithchoiceohio.org/trainings

Music by Korbin Jones

At Your Fingertips: The Faith for Repro Training Center

Faith Organizers Kelley Fox and Rev. Terry Williams take listeners on a preview of the Faith for Repro Training Center, our newly launched all-digital learning platform that makes religious & repro education more accessible than ever!  
 
As lead presenters of the trainings, Kelley and Terry review the vision and purpose of the Faith for Repro Training Center, explain how it evolved from previous in-person and live online trainings, and share each of their hopes for future expansions and new offerings that will be available via the on-demand education platform.

Links to discussed content: 

• Faith For Repro Training Center: www.faithchoiceohio.org/trainings
• Restorative and Transformative Justice Book Club: www.faithchoiceohio.org/blog/join-our-restorative-justice-book-club
• Abolition Reads Book Club: www.faithchoiceohio.org/blog/abolition-reads-a-book-study-on-how-to-create-the-world-we-deserve
• (Episode 117) In With the New: Looking Forward to 2025: https://faithchoiceohio.podbean.com/e/in-with-the-new-looking-forward-to-2025-1734658315/

Music by Korbin Jones

In With the New: Looking Forward to 2025

Faith Organizers Kelley Fox and Rev. Terry Williams reflect on what 2025 might hold for people who are devoted to religious & reproductive freedom. Specifically tackling the ongoing implementation of Ohio’s constitutional amendment on reproductive rights, listeners can expect experience-informed predictions and encouraging tips for fruitful movement engagement throughout this episode.

Exploring the likely policy implications of new federal and state leadership, Kelley and Terry take a long view of movement dynamics, exploring the importance of resilience and building strong community among abortion advocates and all people who value reproductive justice.

Links to discussed content: 

• Billie Holiday Secular Saint Candle: https://philosophersguild.com/products/billie-holiday-candle?srsltid=AfmBOoqUFKLqeZz6KHXeMmQZ2p5mtMbUGvNh3l9AiKglZslJe9euKDh3
• Emergent Strategy, by adrienne maree brown: www.akpress.org/emergentstrategy.html
• What is Project 2025?: www.aclu.org/project-2025-explained
• The Comstock Act and what it could mean for abortion access: https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2024/how-the-comstock-act-threatens-abortion-rights
• How ACLU Ohio is helping ensure Ohio’s Reproductive Freedom Constitutional Amendment actually gets implemented: www.acluohio.org/en/campaigns/reproductive-freedom

Music by Korbin Jones

Out With the Old: 2024 in Review

Faith Organizers Kelley Fox and Rev. Terry Williams take a look back at faith and repro in 2024. From continued online trainings and practical support work with The Jubilee Fund, to new in-person educational opportunities and innovative programs, Faith Choice Ohio has been up to good trouble in the past 12 months!

Naming the obvious weariness present in the movement after many years of constant urgency, listen in as Kelley and Terry give context for how people showed up for reproductive dignity this year while also centering self-care, taking a guilt-free look at how advocates in the future can engage in long-term struggles for justice in meaningful, healthy ways.

Links to discussed content:

• Spotify Wrapped: www.refinery29.com/en-us/2020/12/10208481/jewel-ham-artist-spotify-wrapped-internship
• A SACReD Moment Together: www.faithchoiceohio.org/blog/a-sacred-moment-together
• Abortion Apathy: https://faithchoiceohio.podbean.com/e/abortion-apathy-sustaining-the-movement-after-issue-1/
• Episodes on Issue 1 (2024):
  • Yes on 1: How Ohio Can Fix a 100-Year Problem in 2024: https://faithchoiceohio.podbean.com/e/yes-on-1-how-ohio-can-fix-a-100-year-problem-in-2024/
  • Citizens Not Politicians: Understanding the Movement for Fair Maps in Ohio: https://faithchoiceohio.podbean.com/e/citizens-not-politicians-understanding-the-movement-for-fair-maps-in-ohio/
  • What the Hell Is Gerrymandering? Unpacking the Undemocratic Problem in Ohio’s Legislative Process: https://faithchoiceohio.podbean.com/e/what-the-hell-is-gerrymandering-unpacking-the-undemocratic-problem-in-ohios-legislative-process/
• Self-Care as System Maintenance: www.instagram.com/p/DBrp_kcNqjk/
• Politicians Not Following the Will of the People: https://faithchoiceohio.podbean.com/e/a-bone-to-pick-how-ohios-supreme-court-wildness-will-affect-lreproductive-freedom/
• Challenging Ohio’s 24-Hour Waiting Period: www.faithchoiceohio.org/blog/breaking-free-challenging-the-24-hour-waiting-period-on-abortions 
• We Take Care of Each Other: www.faithchoiceohio.org/blog/we-take-care-of-each-other

Music by Korbin Jones

Groundhog Day All Over Again: Why Repetition & Practice Build Strong Justice Movements

Faith Organizers Kelley Fox and Rev. Terry Williams delve into the cyclic nature of justice work, addressing post-election legislative weariness and offering ways to stay engaged in the struggle for collective liberation that is most definitely a marathon instead of a sprint.

Confessing their own tiredness with the onslaught of attacks against abortion and LGBTQ+ rights, Kelley and Terry draw on the power of spiritual traditions in times of darkness & waiting to provide hope for future work and ongoing support to people seeking access to care and community support.

Links to discussed content: 

• What is lame duck and how might it affect Ohioans?: www.acluohio.org/en/news/what-lame-duck-and-how-might-it-affect-ohioans
• How To Understand The Philosophy Of 'Groundhog Day' And Live Life By Its Message: www.npr.org/2018/02/02/582852283/how-to-understand-the-philosophy-of-groundhog-day-and-live-life-by-its-message
• adrienne maree brown: living through the unveiling (after the inauguration of Donald Trump in 2017): https://adriennemareebrown.net/2017/02/03/living-through-the-unveiling/
• Survival as Transformative Justice: “Live and Work and Be Free and Heal”: www.yesmagazine.org/issue/solving-plastic/2021/05/10/transformative-justice-live-work-be-free-heal

Music by Korbin Jones

We Have Each Other: Building Healing Communities for the Future

Faith Organizer Rev. Terry Williams and returning guest Dr. Jamie Marich talk about post-election health & wellness — mentally, socially, and spiritually — exploring ways listeners can move beyond stifling isolation and into healing community.

Continuing to explore select elements from Dr. Marich’s most recent book, “You Lied to Me About God: A Memoir,” Jamie and Terry discuss how moving through periods of spiritual and psychosocial deconstruction can leave room for meaningful, life-giving creativity when new systems are forged out of contemplation, discernment, healing, and values-aligned commitment.

Links to discussed content:

• Dr. Jamie Marich: https://jamiemarich.com/
• You Lied to Me About God: A Memoir, by Dr. Jamie Marich: www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/760810/you-lied-to-me-about-god-by-jamie-marich-phd/
• "R-Soul" Episode 104: "You Lied to Me About God, A Conversation with Dr. Jamie Marich": https://faithchoiceohio.podbean.com/e/you-lied-to-me-about-god-a-conversation-with-dr-jamie-marich/
• Information about practicing Restorative & Transformative Justice: www.faithchoiceohio.org/blog/why-we-need-restorative-and-transformative-justice
• Post-election collection of self-care resources: www.faithchoiceohio.org/blog/hope-in-us-a-pastoral-response-to-the-election

Music by Korbin Jones