Your Radical Truth podcast

Your Radical Truth is a podcast about Catholic women, women priests, faith, equality, and the courageous women working to transform the Catholic Church and the world. Hosted by Deacon Margaret Mary O’Connor, Your Radical Truth shares powerful conversations with Catholic women, ordained women priests, faith leaders, authors, activists, and other trailblazing women who challenge convention and lead with courage. Each episode explores the experiences of women in the Catholic Church, including the movement for women’s ordination, gender equality in religion, Catholic Church reform, spiritual leadership, and the barriers women continue to face within religious institutions. Guests share their personal journeys, the challenges they have overcome, and the convictions that inspire them to advocate for meaningful change. The podcast also celebrates women beyond the Church who are breaking barriers, redefining leadership, and creating change in their professions and communities. If you are interested in Catholic women, women priests, women’s ordination, female leadership in the Catholic Church, Catholic feminism, faith and social justice, Church reform, women in ministry, or courageous women challenging the status quo, Your Radical Truth offers honest, thought-provoking, and inspiring conversations. Discover the women speaking their truth, living their faith, challenging outdated traditions, and helping create a more inclusive future.

059: Girl in a Box: Paldrom Collins on Spiritual Awakening and Questioning Authority 09/07/2026

059: Girl in a Box: Paldrom Collins on Spiritual Awakening and Questioning Authority What Happens When the Spiritual Path Takes an Unexpected Turn? What if the peace you have spent years searching for has been closer than you realized? In this episode of Your Radical Truth, Deacon Margaret Mary O’Connor welcomes Paldrom Catharine Collins, author of Girl in a Box: Seeking Enlightenment as a Tibetan Buddhist Nun. Raised in the Southern Baptist tradition, Paldrom left Christianity as a young woman and began searching for enlightenment. Her journey led her to Tibetan Buddhism, where she spent five years immersed in monastic life, meditation, and intensive retreat practices. Paldrom believed spiritual discipline might free her from suffering. Instead, her experience became a deeply human journey filled with insight, physical challenges, difficult questions, and the courage to reconsider a path that once seemed to offer every answer. During this honest conversation, Paldrom shares what she learned about meditation, spiritual authority, belonging, and finding meaning beyond rigid religious structures. In This Episode, You Will Discover Why Paldrom left Christianity and entered Tibetan Buddhist monastic life What daily life and intensive meditation practice were really like How physical practices helped her manage a wandering mind The meaning behind the meditation box featured in her memoir How spiritual communities can offer both support and limitations Why she ultimately decided to leave monastic life What her experience taught her about questioning spiritual authority Why having thoughts during meditation does not mean you are failing How Buddhist practice and contemplative Christianity can intersect Why spiritual peace may be found in ordinary, everyday life Paldrom’s story is a powerful reminder that questioning a spiritual path does not mean the journey has failed. Sometimes growth requires the courage to examine what we believe, trust our own experience, and recognize when it is time to take a different direction. Listen to Episode 059: /episode/index/show/6a3d70b4-4382-45b2-b962-e4cf87c47f31/id/42811100

058: Women in the Church: Ordination, Beth Moore, the GOP and the Fight for Equality 08/31/2026

058: Women in the Church: Ordination, Beth Moore, the GOP and the Fight for Equality Why are women still fighting for equal leadership within some of the largest Christian denominations? In Episode 058 of Your Radical Truth, Deacon Margaret Mary O’Connor welcomes Father Anne back for a candid and provocative conversation about women’s ordination, biblical interpretation, religious authority, politics, and the traditions that continue to influence the role of women within Christianity. Father Anne was ordained a Roman Catholic priest in 2021 through a reform movement. Because the Roman Catholic Church does not recognize the ordination of women, she was excommunicated. Today, she continues her work for ordination justice while pursuing her desire to serve as a parish priest in the Roman Catholic Church. Women’s Ordination Is Not Just a Catholic Issue While the Catholic Church is central to the discussion, Margaret Mary and Father Anne make it clear that questions about women and religious leadership extend far beyond Catholicism. The episode looks at debates within the Southern Baptist Convention and the Seventh-day Adventist Church, including ongoing disagreements about whether women should serve as pastors and participate equally in Church leadership. At the heart of the conversation is a fundamental question: If God calls a woman to ministry, who has the authority to tell her that call is not valid? Father Anne makes an important distinction. No one has an automatic right to become a priest, but everyone should have the right to discern whether they have been called. Beth Moore, the Southern Baptist Convention and Speaking Out The conversation also examines the experience of prominent Bible teacher Beth Moore, who left the Southern Baptist Convention following years of tension. Margaret Mary discusses Moore’s advocacy for victims of sexual abuse and her criticism of evangelical support for Donald Trump. Moore’s experience opens a larger conversation about what can happen when women within religious communities challenge powerful institutions, question established authority, and speak publicly about abuse, gender inequality, and political alliances. The GOP, Christianity and Political Power Father Anne takes the conversation directly into the relationship between conservative Christianity and the Republican Party in the United States. She shares her perspective on how religion and politics have become deeply intertwined, particularly around traditional ideas about masculinity, gender roles, authority, and power. The discussion challenges listeners to consider how religious beliefs about gender can extend beyond the walls of churches and influence politics, institutions, and society. Is God Exclusively Male? Another fascinating part of the episode examines the way Christians have been taught to imagine God. Margaret Mary and Father Anne explore feminine imagery for God found throughout Scripture and Christian history, including descriptions associated with motherhood, childbirth, nurturing, and protection. Father Anne points out that Scripture actually offers an extraordinary range of images for God, including fire, wind, living water, shepherd, gardener, mother, and father. Rather than limiting God to a single gender or image, these metaphors may offer believers a much broader understanding of the divine. Rethinking Faith, Gender and Authority Episode 058 ultimately asks listeners to examine some difficult questions. Are long-held beliefs about women, leadership, and God truly rooted in the divine? Or have centuries of culture, patriarchy, politics, and institutional tradition influenced the way Christians have been taught to understand them? This is a challenging conversation about faith, equality, vocation, political power, and what needs to change for women to participate fully in the future of the Church. /episode/index/show/6a3d70b4-4382-45b2-b962-e4cf87c47f31/id/42629455

057: Women, Calling, and the Divine Feminine: Reverend Liz on Answering God's Voice 08/01/2026

057: Women, Calling, and the Divine Feminine: Reverend Liz on Answering God's Voice Can a woman be called by God to the priesthood, even if her church says no? In this compelling episode of Your Radical Truth, Margaret Mary O'Connor sits down with Reverend Liz Maitland, whose extraordinary 47-year journey to ordination is a story of perseverance, faith, healing, and unwavering conviction. Raised in the Anglican Church before becoming Roman Catholic, Reverend Liz believed from a young age that God was calling her to become a priest. That calling ultimately led her to the Independent Catholic tradition, where she was ordained after decades of waiting and trusting God's direction. Together, Deacon Margaret Mary and Reverend Liz explore the Divine Feminine, women's leadership in the early Church, biblical images of God as both father and mother, and why these conversations continue to matter today. Reverend Liz also shares her personal journey through mental health challenges, the healing she found through faith and contemplative prayer, and how her ministry now includes training assistance dogs to support emotional wellbeing. Whether you're exploring your own faith journey, interested in the history of women in Christianity, or simply enjoy thoughtful conversations that challenge conventional thinking, this episode offers insight, hope, and plenty to reflect upon. In This Episode • Reverend Liz's 47-year journey to the priesthood • Healing through faith and contemplative prayer • The Divine Feminine and Mother God • Women in the early Church • The Independent Catholic tradition • Assistance dogs and emotional healing Full Post Learn More About Reverend Liz Mother's Messages Church Wellbeing Dogs If you enjoy conversations that explore faith with honesty, compassion, and courage, be sure to subscribe to Your Radical Truth and share this episode with someone who is seeking a deeper perspective on Christianity. /episode/index/show/6a3d70b4-4382-45b2-b962-e4cf87c47f31/id/42283830

056: Faith, Resilience, Near-Death Experiences, and the Saint Who Became a Spiritual Companion 07/17/2026

055: What Really Happens Inside Opus Dei? Anne-Marie Allen Shares Her Story 06/29/2026

055: What Really Happens Inside Opus Dei? Anne-Marie Allen Shares Her Story What is Opus Dei really like behind closed doors? Former member Anne-Marie Allen joins Deacon Margaret Mary O'Connor to share her powerful firsthand account of life inside one of the Catholic Church's most controversial organizations. Anne-Marie, author of Serve! My Lost Years at the Heart of Ireland's Opus Dei, reveals how she was recruited into Opus Dei as a teenager, believing she was answering God's call. Instead, she found herself living under intense spiritual control, strict obedience, psychological manipulation, and a system that left little room for personal freedom. In this thought-provoking episode of Your Radical Truth, Anne-Marie shares what daily life was like as an Assistant Numerary, the emotional toll of living in a high-control religious environment, and the difficult journey of leaving Opus Dei after years of conditioning. Together, Anne-Marie and Deacon Margaret Mary explore questions many people have asked about Opus Dei, including its culture of secrecy, controversial practices, Vatican oversight, and why growing numbers of former members are now speaking publicly about their experiences. Most importantly, this conversation examines the difference between authentic faith and systems that misuse religious authority. It offers hope for anyone recovering from religious trauma, spiritual abuse, or coercive control while encouraging greater transparency, accountability, and compassion within faith communities. In this episode, you'll learn: • What Opus Dei is and why it remains one of the Catholic Church's most debated organizations • How Anne-Marie Allen was recruited into Opus Dei as a teenager • What life was really like as an Assistant Numerary • The psychological impact of spiritual abuse, fear, guilt, and religious manipulation • The purpose of practices such as the cilice and corporal mortification • Why leaving a high-control religious organization is far more difficult than simply walking away • How Anne-Marie rebuilt her life, faith, and identity after leaving Opus Dei • Recent Vatican reforms affecting Opus Dei and what they could mean for the future • Why transparency, accountability, and listening to survivors are essential for healing Whether you're interested in Opus Dei, the Catholic Church, religious trauma, spiritual abuse, church reform, faith, or survivor stories, this episode offers an honest, compassionate conversation about resilience, truth, and reclaiming one's life. Visit for more. /episode/index/show/6a3d70b4-4382-45b2-b962-e4cf87c47f31/id/41896180

054: Excommunicated for Saying Yes to God: Father Anne, the Twelve Apostles, and the Future of Women's Leadership in the Church 06/23/2026

053: From Adrenaline Junkie to Peacemaker: John Graham's Search for Meaning 06/11/2026

052: Ordination Justice, Women Priests, and the Future of the Catholic Church with Father Anne 05/12/2026

051: The Church You Were Taught… and the One You Were Never Shown 04/07/2026

050: Excommunicated but Called: One Woman’s Path Beyond the Church with Reverend Shanon Sterringer 03/31/2026

050: Excommunicated but Called: One Woman’s Path Beyond the Church with Reverend Shanon Sterringer What does it really mean to follow a calling when the very institution that shaped your faith no longer recognizes you? In this powerful episode of Your Radical Truth Podcast, Margaret Mary O’Connor sits down with Reverend Shanon Sterringer for a deeply honest conversation about vocation, excommunication, and the courage it takes to walk a path that few are willing to take. Shanon’s journey began inside the Roman Catholic Church, where she served for more than two decades in ministry, leadership, and theological education. Her call to priesthood was not something that came from outside the Church. It was formed within it. Yet when she answered that call through ordination, she faced the reality that many women before her have encountered. Separation, scrutiny, and ultimately excommunication. What makes this conversation so compelling is not just the doctrine behind it, but the lived experience. Shanon shares what it felt like to receive multiple formal letters, how the process unfolded over time, and why the emotional impact goes far beyond what canon law can explain. This is not simply a theological issue. It is a deeply human one. At the same time, this episode goes far beyond the topic of excommunication. A central thread throughout the conversation is Shanon’s lifelong study and devotion to St. Hildegard of Bingen. As a scholar, retreat leader, and founder of the Community of St. Hildegard Church and Hildegard Haus Shrine, Shanon brings a grounded and expansive understanding of Hildegard’s life and work. You will hear a perspective on Hildegard that is rarely shared in full. While many know her as a mystic, herbalist, or composer, Shanon paints a much more complete picture. Hildegard was also a theologian, visionary, leader, and at times deeply traditional in her thinking. Her legacy includes music, healing practices, theological writings, visionary works, and over 400 letters that reveal a candid and often surprising voice. This episode also explores how Hildegard’s influence is alive today through Shanon’s work. From sacred gardens and retreats to hybrid learning experiences and community gatherings, Shanon has created a space where people can encounter Hildegard in a tangible and meaningful way. Whether someone comes for spiritual connection, intellectual curiosity, or personal growth, there is an open invitation to explore. You will also hear about The Green Shepherdess, Shanon’s fair trade store inspired by Hildegard’s vision of balance, sustainability, and care for creation. It is another example of how spiritual principles can be lived out in everyday life, reaching people far beyond traditional religious settings. Throughout the conversation, themes of leadership, integrity, and personal truth continue to surface. Shanon’s story is not only about women’s ordination. It is about what happens when you choose to live in alignment with what you know to be true, even when it comes at a cost. This is a conversation for anyone who has ever questioned authority, navigated a major life shift, or felt called to something that others did not understand. Visit: /episode/index/show/6a3d70b4-4382-45b2-b962-e4cf87c47f31/id/40684640

049: Why Are Women Still Denied Power in the Catholic Church? 03/24/2026

048: The Sins of Mandatory Celibacy: How One Rule Reshaped the Catholic Church with Debra Maria Flint 02/18/2026

048: The Sins of Mandatory Celibacy: How One Rule Reshaped the Catholic Church with Debra Maria Flint Mandatory celibacy has shaped the Roman Catholic Church for nearly a millennium, yet questions continue to surface about its origins, purpose, and long-term impact on clergy, leadership, and the faithful. Why did the Church require priestly celibacy? Was it theological, political, or institutional? And what might the future hold for reform? In this episode of Your Radical Truth, Deacon Margaret Mary O’Connor sits down with Catholic feminist writer, theologian, and independent Catholic deacon Debra Maria Flint to examine one of the most debated disciplines in Church history. Drawing from her groundbreaking book The Sins of Mandatory Celibacy, Flint explores how power, doctrine, property, gender dynamics, and cultural forces helped reshape the priesthood and influence the Catholic Church for centuries. Flint shares her remarkable personal journey from an agnostic upbringing in Birmingham, England, to converting to Catholicism at 21, pursuing theological studies, and building a respected career in safeguarding and social care inspection. After years of institutional leadership and investigative work, she discerned a consecrated life before confronting the realities of Church structures that ultimately redirected her path toward advocacy and reform. Listeners will discover: • The historical origins of mandatory celibacy and why many early priests were married • How Church law evolved and what drove the prohibition of clerical marriage • The connection between celibacy, institutional control, and property • The cultural consequences of an all-male clerical hierarchy • Evidence of women leaders and deacons in early Christianity • Structural questions surrounding secrecy, loneliness, and clergy life • Whether a married priesthood could reshape Church culture • Why restoring the female diaconate remains a critical conversation • The tension between tradition and reform inside the Catholic Church Flint emphasizes that celibacy itself is not the issue. Rather, the concern is whether a spiritual calling can remain authentic when it is mandated instead of freely chosen. The conversation also addresses the difficult reality of abuse within Christian institutions and explores how transparency, balanced leadership, and inclusion may help foster healthier communities of faith. Co-authored with former priest Paul Murphy Sanderson, The Sins of Mandatory Celibacy brings both scholarly research and lived experience to a subject that continues to influence millions of Catholics worldwide. This episode invites listeners to step beyond assumption, examine the historical record, and consider what renewal could look like for the modern Church. If you are interested in Catholic Church history, priestly celibacy, women in ministry, Church reform, theology, or religious leadership, this is a conversation you will not want to miss. The Sins of Mandatory Celibacy is available through Wipf and Stock, Amazon, and major booksellers. More at: /episode/index/show/6a3d70b4-4382-45b2-b962-e4cf87c47f31/id/40145465

047: Father Anne on the Shepherd Within and the Courage to Follow Conscience 12/23/2025

046: History Rewritten: Nancy Fitzgerald Exposes the Erasure of Saint Brigid and Women’s Leadership 12/16/2025

045: A Divine Calling: Soline Humbert on Equality for Women in the Catholic Church 12/09/2025

045: A Divine Calling: Soline Humbert on Equality for Women in the Catholic Church What if the calling inside you never went away because it was never meant to? For French Irish spiritual director Soline Humbert, the answer has always been no. At just 19 years old, she felt a clear, undeniable call to priesthood in the Catholic Church. The problem? She had been taught that only men could be called. No internet. No mentors. No permission. Just a voice that would not be silenced. In this episode of Your Radical Truth, Soline shares the fifty-year journey of living with a vocation the Church refuses to recognize. This is a story of courage that outlasts rejection, faith that survives institutional resistance, and a woman who chose truth even when it came at a cost. Soline is a longtime advocate for equality in the Catholic Church. She co-founded Brothers and Sisters in Christ, now part of We Are Church Ireland, and served as spokesperson for the first international conference on women’s ordination in Dublin. Her memoir, A Divine Calling, launched at Trinity College Dublin with a foreword by former Irish president Mary McAleese. You will hear: • What it feels like to carry a calling the institution denies • Why studying women’s vocations without listening to women causes real harm • How clericalism turns leadership into power instead of service • Why the exclusion of women functions as spiritual and psychological abuse • The moment Soline presided at Eucharist for the first time and knew she was exactly where she was meant to be This is not just a conversation about women and priesthood. It is about what happens when institutions refuse to listen to lived truth. It is about the cost of silence. And it is about the freedom that comes when one person finally says yes to what they know is real. If you have ever ignored your own calling because someone told you it was impossible, this episode will change the way you see everything. Full post at: /episode/index/show/6a3d70b4-4382-45b2-b962-e4cf87c47f31/id/39343270

044: Exposing the Truth About Child Marriage and Systemic Betrayal with Donna Simmons 09/04/2025

043: Maternal Mortality in America: Reverend Danielle Hegdale on Midwifery, Consent, and Infant Mental Health 08/27/2025

042: Guiding Souls to the Light: Father Nathan’s Extraordinary Ministry 08/18/2025

041: Struggling with Infant Sleep? Maria Moreno Shares Proven Coaching Strategies 08/11/2025

040: Breaking Barriers: Deaf Coach Kellina Powell Redefines What It Means to Be Heard 08/04/2025

040: Breaking Barriers: Deaf Coach Kellina Powell Redefines What It Means to Be Heard Kellina Powell was a happy-go-lucky four-year-old when her world suddenly changed. After experiencing severe illness, she lost her hearing. What followed could have been a story of limitation, isolation, and struggle. Instead, it became one of resilience, transformation, and leadership. Today, Kellina is a Deaf coach, international speaker, 4X best-selling author, and entrepreneur who is deeply committed to creating a more inclusive and empowering world for Deaf and disabled individuals. Kellina recently joined Margaret Mary O’Connor on the Your Radical Truth podcast to share her extraordinary journey. She opens up about growing up Deaf, breaking down barriers, and using her voice to ignite change for future generations. Finding Purpose in the Face of Adversity Losing her hearing at a young age presented Kellina with countless challenges. From navigating communication hurdles to confronting a society that often fails to include or understand the Deaf experience, her early years were marked by a sense of otherness. Yet, rather than let her circumstances define her, Kellina chose to redefine the narrative. She became determined to live life fully, not in spite of being Deaf, but proudly because of it. Her lived experience became the foundation for a mission-driven life, one rooted in empowerment, education, and advocacy. Empowering Young Adults with Disabilities Kellina’s coaching practice focuses on helping young adults with disabilities build confidence, develop a strong sense of identity, and gain the tools they need to thrive. She understands what it feels like to be misunderstood or underestimated, and she brings a rare level of empathy and insight to every coaching session. In the podcast, she explains how her work is not just about helping individuals achieve their personal goals. It is about giving them the skills to live boldly in a world that may not always be ready to support them. Kellina’s coaching is as much about mindset and self-belief as it is about strategy and action. Full post: /episode/index/show/6a3d70b4-4382-45b2-b962-e4cf87c47f31/id/37671570

039: The Question That Changed Everything: How a Bold Student Sparked Dr. J. Michelle Vann’s Mission to Heal, Lead, and Empower Women 07/21/2025

038: The Church’s Hidden Children: One Woman’s Fight for Recognition, Truth, and Reform with Linda Kelly-Lawless 06/03/2025

037: From Battlefield to Altar: Father Thomas Marble’s Journey of Healing, Faith, and Radical Hospitality 05/20/2025

036: From Misdiagnosis to Miracles: Jessica Summers on Rising from Medical Trauma to Radical Truth 05/13/2025

036: From Misdiagnosis to Miracles: Jessica Summers on Rising from Medical Trauma to Radical Truth Did you know nearly 12 million adults in the U.S. are misdiagnosed annually, with some errors leading to serious harm or death? This staggering fact set the stage for a jaw-dropping episode of the Your Radical Truth Podcast, hosted by Margaret Mary O’Connor. In this deeply moving interview, guest Jessica Summers shares her harrowing and ultimately redemptive journey from thriving fashion designer to near-death patient, addiction, institutionalization, and homelessness - and how she reclaimed her voice, power, and purpose. From Fashion to Freefall Jessica Summers appeared to have it all: a successful career, a family, and a vibrant life. But her second pregnancy marked the beginning of a downward spiral. What began as routine prenatal care turned catastrophic when a medical oversight - retained placenta - set off a cascade of chronic infections, pain, and overprescription. “I was doing everything I was told,” Jessica recalls, “but instead of healing, I got sicker.” Each new symptom was met with a new medication - antibiotics, painkillers, antipsychotics - each pulling her deeper into the system that was supposed to help her. The Medical System’s Dark Underbelly Jessica’s story highlights what many women in medicine quietly endure: being dismissed, overmedicated, or misdiagnosed. Diagnosed with conditions she didn’t have and subjected to medications that made her worse, she was labeled “non-compliant” when she tried to advocate for herself. “If you don’t have an eyeball hanging out, they don’t believe how sick you are,” she says. At her lowest, Jessica found herself in a psychiatric facility, forcibly medicated, ignored, and punished for asking questions. This episode of Your Radical Truth is essential listening for women navigating healthcare, particularly those in the marginalized, chronically ill, or overmedicated communities. It’s a wake-up call to question blind trust in a system that often gaslights women’s pain. Full post: /episode/index/show/6a3d70b4-4382-45b2-b962-e4cf87c47f31/id/36548690

035: You Don't Need to Be Well to Be Whole, CJ Janzen’s Message for the Marginalized 05/06/2025

034: 90 Million Books Sold - And Yet, Judy Blume Has Been Banned: Rachelle Bergstein Reveals the Radical Truth 04/29/2025

033: Practical Spirituality in Action: Selina Maitreya’s Radical Truth for Inner Peace 04/22/2025

032: Unlocking the Mind-Body Connection for Success and Healing with Erin Newman 04/15/2025

032: Unlocking the Mind-Body Connection for Success and Healing with Erin Newman 80% of women entrepreneurs report feeling held back by limiting beliefs. That startling statistic underscores why conversations like this one with Erin Newman matter so much. On the Your Radical Truth podcast, hosted by Margaret Mary O’Connor, Erin dives deep into how unexamined beliefs can sabotage success—and how tapping, hypnosis, and somatic practices can radically transform your life and business. From Catholic Roots to Soul-Led Coaching Raised in the Catholic tradition, Erin Newman grew up with a set of beliefs that subtly (and not so subtly) influenced what she thought was possible, especially as a woman. Over time, she unraveled those internalized messages and began helping other women do the same. Today, she is a spiritual life and business coach for female entrepreneurs who want to embrace their soul’s calling and generate sustainable income doing what they love. Through her unique blend of somatic, subconscious, and ancestral healing tools, Erin supports her clients in regulating their nervous systems, releasing self-doubt, and welcoming in financial and emotional abundance. The Belief-Shifting Magic Process Erin shared a practical and powerful technique she calls the Belief-Shifting Magic Process, which integrates EFT tapping—a method that involves gently tapping on acupressure points while talking through limiting beliefs or emotional stress. While tapping may seem unconventional, it's backed by science and widely recognized for calming the nervous system. “You don’t need homework or equipment,” Erin explains. “You just start tapping and talking. It’s like a deep breath for your energy system.” Whether it’s fear of launching a podcast, anxiety about money, or feeling stuck in a career, Erin shows how even 10 minutes a day of tapping can move emotional blocks and create space for new outcomes. Hypnosis: Rewriting the Inner Narrative In addition to tapping, Erin often guides her clients through self-hypnosis, a gentle but effective way to bypass the conscious mind and plant new, empowering beliefs. She describes it as “creating a new movie in your mind”—one where peace, joy, love, and success are not only possible but expected. By bringing her clients into a deeply relaxed state—what she calls “the liminal space”—Erin helps them reprogram stories of not-enoughness into narratives of worth, expansion, and purpose. Full post at: /episode/index/show/6a3d70b4-4382-45b2-b962-e4cf87c47f31/id/36151485

031: From Segregation to Split Shift: Dr. Regina Vincent-Williams on Education, Resilience, and the Radical Truth 04/08/2025

031: From Segregation to Split Shift: Dr. Regina Vincent-Williams on Education, Resilience, and the Radical Truth In the 1960s, as images of police dogs and fire hoses unleashed on Black Americans filled TV screens across the nation, a generation of children—Black and white—were learning, in real time, the searing reality of racism in America. It was a pivotal time, one that promised change with the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision in 1954, but failed to deliver on that promise for decades. Today, those struggles echo loudly in our current climate, as books are banned, history is whitewashed, and communities once again fight for a seat at the table. On this episode of Your Radical Truth, I had the honor of speaking with Dr. Regina Vincent-Williams, a transformational speaker, author of Split Shift: Busing and Desegregation, 1954–2024, and a living witness to the trauma and resilience of school integration in Alabama. “We Survived It”: A Firsthand Account of Integration Growing up in Alabama just miles from Birmingham, Dr. Regina experienced the fallout of a society grappling with change. In 1970—sixteen years after the Supreme Court ordered school desegregation—her high school, Talladega High, finally integrated. But what should have been a move toward equality came with devastating consequences. Students were separated by "split shifts"—a scheduling scheme that limited educational access and fractured lifelong friendships. Some students, many of whom had never even been in a fight, were permanently expelled with no hearing, no return date, and no diploma. “I wondered myself how I got into college,” she said. “I didn’t have advanced math, foreign language, or hard sciences. Yet somehow, I made it. Others weren’t so lucky.” This wasn’t just Talladega—it was systemic across the South. Communities had over a decade to prepare for integration, yet when it finally came, the result was chaos, displacement, and erasure. Full post at: /episode/index/show/6a3d70b4-4382-45b2-b962-e4cf87c47f31/id/36052270

030: Dr. Brad Montagne Reveals Why Doctors Fail Chronic Illness Patients 04/01/2025

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