The Roll Down

A space for People of Color to be known and seen, and guidance for those who are in the pursuit of justice. Follow us!: instagram.com/therolldownpodcast Chasing Justice Podcast Network

Season 2 Finale 04/04/2024

Season 2 Finale 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: Katie Nguyen Palomares 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 . /episode/index/show/22326494-f9ec-4c7f-af72-a8e75fdfbeab/id/30681363

Book Interview: “A Heart on Fire” w/ Danielle Coke Balfour 03/14/2024

Book Interview: “A Heart on Fire” w/ Danielle Coke Balfour 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! Danielle Coke Balfour is a graphic designer turned artist, advocate, speaker, and entrepreneur. She’s the founder of Oh Happy Dani, an illustration-based educational platform that uses artwork and resources to make complex ideas surrounding racial justice more accessible for the everyday advocate. Danielle works to inspire her community of over half a million people across social media to do good daily, right where they are. She’s also the author of “A Heart on Fire: 100 Meditations on Loving Your Neighbors Well.” Whether working with brands like Target and Adobe, speaking in front of audiences, or running her business, Danielle hopes to inspire others to embody their values and live a life of sustainable activism by using what they have to impact the world around them. Additional Resources: Book website: Bookshop link (supports indie bookstores with every purchase!): Danielle’s weekly newsletter: Hosts: Alethea Lamberson & Matthew Meledrez Engineer: Katie Nguyen Palomares 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 . /episode/index/show/22326494-f9ec-4c7f-af72-a8e75fdfbeab/id/30344293

The Lenses Institute and Beyond: Our Time to Heal from Religious Trauma and Workplace/Spiritual Abuse 02/22/2024

The Lenses Institute and Beyond: Our Time to Heal from Religious Trauma and Workplace/Spiritual Abuse 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 1 episodes: “Empathy, Containment and Validation” and “Community & Self-care in the Fight for Justice” Hosts: Alethea Lamberson & Matthew Meledrez Engineer: Katie Nguyen Palomares 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 . /episode/index/show/22326494-f9ec-4c7f-af72-a8e75fdfbeab/id/29937078

The Lenses Institute: Our Story to Tell 02/08/2024

The Lenses Institute: Our Story to Tell 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. Hosts: Alethea Lamberson & Matthew Meledrez Engineer: Katie Nguyen Palomares 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 . /episode/index/show/22326494-f9ec-4c7f-af72-a8e75fdfbeab/id/29859643

State of Our Country: Activism and Self-Care 05/25/2023

State of Our Country: Activism and Self-Care 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 right alongside us. Linked Resources: Hosts: Alethea Lamberson & Matthew Meledrez Engineer: Katie Nguyen Palomares 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 . /episode/index/show/22326494-f9ec-4c7f-af72-a8e75fdfbeab/id/26938935

State of our Country: Where do we begin? 05/11/2023

State of our Country: Where do we begin? 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 foolery. Linked Resources: Hosts: Alethea Lamberson & Matthew Meledrez Engineer: Katie Nguyen Palomares 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 . /episode/index/show/22326494-f9ec-4c7f-af72-a8e75fdfbeab/id/26803995

Culture Creator, Not Chaser 04/06/2023

Culture Creator, Not Chaser 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 in their spheres of influence using their passions and skills, and she’s fostered a community of over half a million people across social media. Danielle also has a passion for helping brands deliver messaging with light and truth, and has creatively partnered with Fortune 500 companies like Target, Adobe, The Home Depot, Dell, and Meta. Her passion for serving alongside mission-based organizations has led to collaborations with nonprofits like the NAACP and The Boys and Girls Clubs of America, as well as several community organizations in her hometown of Atlanta. With a joy that flows from her desire to love her neighbor as herself, Danielle hopes to spark action in pursuit of the ultimate good as you hold her art in your home and carry it in your heart. Linked Resources: Instagram/Twitter/Facebook - @ohhappydani Website- Hosts: Alethea Lamberson & Matthew Meledrez Guest: Danielle Coke Engineer: Katie Nguyen Palomares 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 . /episode/index/show/22326494-f9ec-4c7f-af72-a8e75fdfbeab/id/26445144

Refinding Your Voice 03/23/2023

Refinding Your Voice In the last episode, special guest Sandhya Oaks talked about reclamation identity, resilience, and addressed why so many people are wrestling with the question “who am I?” This episode is a continuation where Matthew and Alethea let us see their journeys in reclamation identity and how that led to refinding their voices. They share how a crucial part of the journey was regaining agency to choose when and how to be a bridge for others, especially as People of Color. Matthew and Alethea hope this episode will give hope for those struggling to find their voice in a chaotic world. Hosts: Alethea Lamberson & Matthew Meledrez Engineer: Katie Nguyen Palomares Designer: Cameron Stingley Admin Assistant: Alexandra Suarez Follow us on IG: The Roll Down podcast is part of the Chasing Justice Podcast Network. To find out more, visit . /episode/index/show/22326494-f9ec-4c7f-af72-a8e75fdfbeab/id/26308317

Who Am I? 03/09/2023

Who Am I? This episode is a powerful invitation towards reclaiming our identity and what it means to be resilient. Our guest and friend, Sandhya Oaks, walks us through some of the ways that she (and we) can return to the core of who we are by slowly taking back our God given identities through the hard but beautiful and necessary journey of story work. Sandhya is a Speaker, Ministry leader, Story Coach, and Spiritual Director. Born in India and adopted as a Transracial Adoptee in the Midwest, her story lends to walking with others through identity reclamation and creating experiences that restore. Sandhya holds three Certificates in Narrative Focused Trauma Care and a Certificate in Resilient Leadership from the Seattle School of Theology and Psychology, along with a Certificate in Narrative Trauma Story Work through the Restoration Institute Training Program. Additionally, she recently completed her Trauma Care Group Training Certificate through The Art of Living Counseling Center. Alongside story coaching, Sandhya is a trained Spiritual Director. She has provided hope and healing through the TEDx stage as she shared her story: “Awakening to My Name”. Her good work has also been experienced through Sojourners, Someday is Here, and Red Tent Living. Linked Resources: Instagram- Website- Hosts: Alethea Lamberson & Matthew Meledrez Guest: Sandhya Oaks Engineer: Katie Nguyen Palomares 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 . /episode/index/show/22326494-f9ec-4c7f-af72-a8e75fdfbeab/id/26157831

The Hope of Belonging 02/23/2023

The Hope of Belonging While there are many acronyms being thrown around these days, here’s one of great value to our communities—DEIB—which stands for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging. The common thread in each is that something needed to be done institutionally where these things lacked. You may have heard talk about these terms in smaller combined fragments but they are a mightier and more holistic work when combined. Matthew and Alethea are going to take time breaking it down for us by defining the terms and analyzing the work itself. The heart behind this episode is to give clarity, common language, an assessment of where the work has fallen short, and a discussion on how we as BIPOC can keep showing up to do the work—all of this with the ultimate hope that all would belong. Linked Resources: Brenè Brown with Aiko Bethea and Ruchika Tulshyan: The Heart of Leadership Part 1- The Heart of Leadership Part 2- Hosts: Alethea Lamberson & Matthew Meledrez Engineer: Katie Nguyen Palomares 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 . /episode/index/show/22326494-f9ec-4c7f-af72-a8e75fdfbeab/id/26001651

How are you REALLY doing? 02/09/2023

How are you REALLY doing? As promised, Alethea and Matthew wanted to dive more deeply into the reasons behind their unexpected hiatus—not because they owe it to their audience, but because we’re family here and they desire to share the entirety of their lives with you. Their hope is to bring you into their life’s story over the last 1.5 years in a vulnerable way while acknowledging the risks involved and without filtering their pain. They also recognize that they are not the only ones having gone through a lot during this time so they hope to create a space for you to also be seen, known, and even validated at a distance. Linked Resources: Free Therapy App- Latinx Therapy- Brother Be Well- Therapy for Black Girls- Indigenous- Asians for Mental Health- Hosts: Alethea Lamberson & Matthew Meledrez Engineer: Katie Nguyen Palomares 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 . /episode/index/show/22326494-f9ec-4c7f-af72-a8e75fdfbeab/id/25874766

We’re Back! (Season 2 Intro) 01/27/2023

We’re Back! (Season 2 Intro) After a year and a half hiatus, Alethea and Matthew are back behind the mics and more ready than ever for Season 2. In this episode, they talk about the myriad of feelings they have with the new season finally launching along with their hopes and dreams for what this season will be. While briefly acknowledging the unexpected break, they will dive more into the reasons why in the next episode. Hosts: Alethea Lamberson & Matthew Meledrez Engineer: Katie Nguyen Palomares 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 chasingjustice.com /episode/index/show/22326494-f9ec-4c7f-af72-a8e75fdfbeab/id/25752684

A Steady Lifeline (Season Finale) 07/21/2021

A Steady Lifeline (Season Finale) This season finale is a sweet celebration between our hosts as they reflect on what this experience has meant to them thus far. It has served as a steady lifeline for us all in the midst of the challenging last year. It has also been a warm welcome to the journey that they are on individually and collectively as they show up week after week bringing their full authentic selves to the conversation. /episode/index/show/22326494-f9ec-4c7f-af72-a8e75fdfbeab/id/25713630

It's The Range For Me 07/07/2021

It's The Range For Me This 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. /episode/index/show/22326494-f9ec-4c7f-af72-a8e75fdfbeab/id/25713633

In the Valley: Perseverance & Endurance 06/23/2021

In the Valley: Perseverance & Endurance (Live Episode) /episode/index/show/22326494-f9ec-4c7f-af72-a8e75fdfbeab/id/25713636

In the Valley: Joy & Rest 06/09/2021

In the Valley: Joy & Rest In the Valley Series /episode/index/show/22326494-f9ec-4c7f-af72-a8e75fdfbeab/id/25713639

In the Valley: Lament & Justice 05/26/2021

In the Valley: Lament & Justice In the Valley Series /episode/index/show/22326494-f9ec-4c7f-af72-a8e75fdfbeab/id/25713642

In the Valley: Suffering and God 05/12/2021

In the Valley: Suffering and God In the Valley Series /episode/index/show/22326494-f9ec-4c7f-af72-a8e75fdfbeab/id/25713645

Community & Self-care in the Fight for Justice 04/28/2021

Community & Self-care in the Fight for Justice This episode serves as a great follow up to our last conversation about empathy, containment, and validation. The reality is that with so much happening in our world we are still hurting in many ways and are in need of healing. These two things, community and self-care, have come up a lot in conversations with friends who are in the pursuit of justice. We hope that this encourages you to lean into the community you’ve been given, to take care of yourself well, and to protect yourself from burnout. /episode/index/show/22326494-f9ec-4c7f-af72-a8e75fdfbeab/id/25713648

Empathy, Containment and Validation 04/14/2021

Empathy, Containment and Validation In this episode we will dive into the power of Empathy, Containment, and Validation and some of the science behind it. While lighter than previous episodes, it is still an important conversation as it affects our daily lives and relationships therein. We hope that this gives you helpful language for your experiences and courage to process in the trenches. We also hope that this encourages you to model Jesus in your love for your neighbor and overall pursuit of justice. /episode/index/show/22326494-f9ec-4c7f-af72-a8e75fdfbeab/id/25713651

Liberating Women: From Colonized Femininity and Purity Culture 03/31/2021

Liberating Women: From Colonized Femininity and Purity Culture Liberating Women Series /episode/index/show/22326494-f9ec-4c7f-af72-a8e75fdfbeab/id/25713654

Liberating Women: From Unhealthy Masculinity & Gender Based Violence 03/24/2021

Liberating Women: From Unhealthy Masculinity & Gender Based Violence ***TRIGGER WARNING: THIS EPISODE CONTAINS CONVERSATIONS ABOUT GENDER BASED VIOLENCE. /episode/index/show/22326494-f9ec-4c7f-af72-a8e75fdfbeab/id/25713657

Liberating Women: From Oppressive History 03/18/2021

Liberating Women: From Oppressive History Episode 8: Liberating Women: From Oppressive History /episode/index/show/22326494-f9ec-4c7f-af72-a8e75fdfbeab/id/25713660

Liberating Women: From Spiritual Abuse 03/10/2021

Liberating Women: From Spiritual Abuse Liberating Women Series:The Roll Down’s first series is focused on the liberation of Women. The path for women to experience liberation is complex and layered as there are many facets contributing to the historic and modern day oppression of women. We hope this series first and foremost will bring healing and freedom to all women who listen, especially Women of Color. Secondly, we hope this can be educational for our listeners to learn about and have tangible ways to be allies and break down the demonic f /episode/index/show/22326494-f9ec-4c7f-af72-a8e75fdfbeab/id/25713663

Deconstructing & Reconstructing Faith: What Does it Mean? 02/26/2021

Deconstructing & Reconstructing Faith: What Does it Mean? We introduce Emma Tautolo, one of our close friends and a regular guest on the podcast. This episode focuses on what it looks like to deconstruct and reconstruct our faith, and the various emotions that could arise in the process. /episode/index/show/22326494-f9ec-4c7f-af72-a8e75fdfbeab/id/25713666

To Be Seen is So Powerful 02/19/2021

To Be Seen is So Powerful In this episode we discuss the current rise in violence towards the Asian community as well as highlight how this violence and anti-Asian racism is nothing new. We also talk about what it looks like to have conversations about anti-Asianness in Black and Brown communities. /episode/index/show/22326494-f9ec-4c7f-af72-a8e75fdfbeab/id/25713669

State of our Country: Election, Transition & Inauguration 01/29/2021

State of our Country: Election, Transition & Inauguration This is part two, continuing the conversation from our previous episode discussing the state of our country. This episode is focused on the 2020 election season, the transition of power, the attempted coup, and the inauguration. /episode/index/show/22326494-f9ec-4c7f-af72-a8e75fdfbeab/id/25713672

State of our Country: Covid and Racial Unrest 01/22/2021

State of our Country: Covid and Racial Unrest This is part one of a two part episode where we discuss the state of our country, specifically talking about Covid and the racial unrest we witnessed and experienced in 2020 on a national and a personal level. /episode/index/show/22326494-f9ec-4c7f-af72-a8e75fdfbeab/id/25713675

We Talkin' About Justice 01/15/2021

We Talkin' About Justice In this episode we will dive a bit deeper into biblical justice. We will acknowledge some of the negative connotations that come with the word ‘biblical’ and look at how we see justice in both the Old and New Testament. /episode/index/show/22326494-f9ec-4c7f-af72-a8e75fdfbeab/id/25713678

Let Justice Roll Down 01/08/2021

Let Justice Roll Down This episode lays the foundation for listeners of what The Roll Down is all about. We share about how The Roll Down started, the vision of the podcast based in Amos 5, and the hope we have for our listeners. /episode/index/show/22326494-f9ec-4c7f-af72-a8e75fdfbeab/id/25713681

The Roll Down

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