State of Our Country, Pt. 2 w/ Danielle Coke Balfour
The Roll Down
We have our first guest of the season! Danielle Coke Balfour is back again and joins us as we dive into part 2 of the state of our country. In this episode, we discuss with Danielle her perspective on what’s currently happening with this administration and DEI, and how the past five years got us to this moment. We also talk with her about removing a best-selling product from Target after their DEI rollback, and how she’s continuing to show up and do her part. Follow and support Danielle’s work: Subscribe to (weekly newsletter) IG: @ohhappydani Hosts: Alethea...
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State of Our Country: Let's Do This Differently
The Roll Down
Episode 2 marks the first of a two-part series focused on the current state of our country. In contrast to previous seasons—which focused more on analyzing national events—this episode intentionally shifts the lens toward self-care, strategic resistance, and holistic health in the pursuit of justice. Matthew and Alethea offer psychoeducation on the Central Nervous System, exploring how stress is internalized and how we can intentionally disrupt the stress cycle. The episode highlights the importance of regulation and embodiment as vital tools for sustainability and well-being in the midst...
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Season 3 Intro
The Roll Down
We're back! After a bit of a hiatus Alethea and Matthew are back behind the mics and ready for another season. In this season intro they give listeners a brief introduction of who they are, the history of the podcast, and the hopes and values for season 3. Hosts: Alethea Lamberson & Matthew Melendrez Designer: Cameron Stingley Follow us on IG: @therolldownpodcast The Roll Down podcast is part of the Chasing Justice Podcast Network. To find out more, visit .
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Season 2 Finale
The Roll Down
This season launched in January 2023 and is wrapping up in 2024, something that our hosts did not anticipate. In this finale, Alethea and Matthew reflect on what it took to get this season launched and highlight each of the episodes and what they appreciated about them. They express their joy and gratitude in what was accomplished in the midst of more unexpected life circumstances which caused the season to take a year and a half to complete, and they give a brief vision for what the upcoming season will be focused on. Hosts: Alethea Lamberson & Matthew Melendrez Engineer:...
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Book Interview: “A Heart on Fire” w/ Danielle Coke Balfour
The Roll Down
We have our first returning guest, Danielle Coke Balfour, back to discuss her first book, “A Heart on Fire: 100 Meditations on Loving Your Neighbors Well”, which was released in October 2023. We talk with Danielle about what sparked her desire to write (and illustrate!) the book, and how she landed on her “ten pillars of a life of good work”. We also highlight one of the meditations in the “Justice” section that resonated with us and directly connects to the foundation of The Roll Down. We hope you enjoy this fun and inspiring conversation with one of our favorite guests! ...
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The Lenses Institute and Beyond: Our Time to Heal from Religious Trauma and Workplace/Spiritual Abuse
The Roll Down
This episode is a continuation from the previous episode where we discussed the lead up to, and the closing of, all Lenses offerings in the U.S. in July 2021. In this episode, Alethea and Matthew share more about their experiences in the organization outside of what happened with Lenses, and they’ll explore the impact of these events and practices they utilized to heal. Though their story is specific to the Cru ministry, anyone who has endured religious trauma and/or workplace abuse may benefit from the practical elements they offer. Additional Resources: The Roll Down, Season...
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The Lenses Institute: Our Story to Tell
The Roll Down
On July 29, 2021, The Lenses Executive Team released a statement which announced that all Lenses offerings in the U.S. would be shut down effective immediately. From that day until now, there have been various things said about why Lenses closed, and much of what has been said is not remotely true. As the three year mark is coming up this summer, Alethea and Matthew felt it was time to let people know what really happened. And though this episode is specific to one organization, those who have endured workplace and/or spiritual abuse may resonate with the themes from these experiences. ...
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State of Our Country: Activism and Self-Care
The Roll Down
This is part two of a two part episode where we discuss the state of our country as of April 2023. We acknowledge that we barely scratched the surface in our last episode due to the sheer amount of obscene things in the news each week and the lack of hours in a single day to process it all. Today's episode will focus more on practical ideas of how to engage at the local level and how to continue practicing self-care in the midst of our fight for justice. We hope that this will be an encouragement to you who are listening and wrestling with these very same realities, questions, and feelings...
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State of our Country: Where do we begin?
The Roll Down
This is part one of a two part episode where we discuss the state of our country as of April 2023. We will cover some of the various atrocities that have taken place during the last two years, some of the ignorant policies being implemented and some of the connections we have made to other historical events. From book bans and attacks on the LGBTQ+ community to mass shootings and immigration, there is so much that can be said. As you listen, know that some of these events can be retraumatizing so please go at your own pace and care for yourself in the midst of this never-ending stream of...
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Culture Creator, Not Chaser
The Roll Down
This episode is an invitation into the life, person and work of a woman of color in the creative sphere. Our guest and friend, Danielle Coke, walks us through how she rests, dreams, creates and perseveres as she’s doing justice work. Danielle Coke is a designer turned illustrator, advocate, speaker, and entrepreneur. She’s the founder of Oh Happy Dani, a lifestyle brand and educational platform that uses artwork and resources to encourage hope, inspire justice, and make complex ideas more accessible. She’s driven by her desire to help everyday advocates do good daily...
info_outlineThis episode is a thought-provoking discussion about the many and varied topics we’ve covered in Season 1 from the state of our country to the multifaceted suffering we endure and everything in between. Our guests share about the ways that they were met, challenged, and spurred on towards hope and healing in their pursuit of justice.
We are being joined by a returning and beloved guest, Emma Tautolo, as well as by first time guests, Sandra Van Opstal and Tyler Burns. Sandra is the Executive Director and Founder of Chasing Justice and Tyler is the VP of Brand & Story for Chasing Justice as well as the President of The Witness BCC.
Resources:
Venmo @EmmaTautolo
Host: Alethea Lamberson & Matthew Melendrez
Guests: Emma Tautolo, Sandra Van Opstal, Tyler Burns
Guest IG: @etautolo @sandravanopstal @burnsclan_
Producer: Caleb Dea
Social Media & Marketing: Jazzlyn Venkataya
Designer: Cameron Stingley
Admin Assistant: Alexandra Suarez
Follow us on IG: @therolldownpodcast
The Roll Down podcast is part of the Chasing Justice Podcast Network. To find out more, visit chasingjustice.com