The Joyous Justice Podcast
178 episodes - English - Latest episode: 6 months ago - ★★★★★ - 24 ratingsSystemic oppression conditions us to deny others’ and our own humanity. Many justice-seekers unwittingly perpetuate that dehumanization when they assume they must suffer, punish, or martyr themselves to dismantle oppression. At Joyous Justice, we're imagining and embodying a different way. Wholeness, love, and thriving are the antidotes to the brokenness in our world and in our own lives. Each week, April Baskin–with her friend and colleague, Tracie Guy-Decker–delves into theoretical and practical aspects of the pursuit of justice AND wellness.
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Episodes
S2E4: Deepen the Learning on White Leadership
February 18, 2021 11:00 - 34 minutes - 23.5 MBContinuing their work in "flipping the script," April and Tracie offer some nuance and context for when white people can and should lead racial justice work. That conversation leads to contemplation on giving and receiving comfort and feedback, both within affinity spaces (with people with a shared identity) and across lines of difference. Find April and Tracie's full bios and submit topic suggestions for the show at www.JewsTalkRacialJustice.com Learn more about Joyous Justice where Apri...
S2E3: Flip the Script on Urgent Action
February 11, 2021 11:00 - 23 minutes - 16.1 MBApril and Tracie address the impulse to act NOW when (white) people begin their racial justice journey. Find April and Tracie's full bios and submit topic suggestions for the show at www.JewsTalkRacialJustice.com Learn more about Joyous Justice where April is the founding and fabulous (!) director and Tracie is a senior partner: https://joyousjustice.com/ Read more of Tracie's thoughts at bmoreincremental.com Resources and notes: Beshallach is Exodus 13:17–17:16. In the midrash Mekhilta ...
Ep 23: Flip the Script on Urgent Action
February 11, 2021 11:00 - 23 minutes - 16.1 MBApril and Tracie address the impulse to act NOW when (white) people begin their racial justice journey. Find April and Tracie's full bios and submit topic suggestions for the show at www.JewsTalkRacialJustice.com Learn more about Joyous Justice where April is the founding and fabulous (!) director and Tracie is a senior partner: https://joyousjustice.com/ Read more of Tracie's thoughts at bmoreincremental.com Resources and notes: Beshallach is Exodus 13:17–17:16. In the midrash Mekhilta ...
S2E2 There is no Jewish space laser. Period.
February 04, 2021 11:00 - 28 minutes - 19.5 MBAfter Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene's tweet about the 2018 California Wildfires being caused by a space laser controlled by the Rothschild family ignited a slew of jokes on social media, April and Tracie take some time to think about different reactions to antisemitism. Find April and Tracie's full bios and submit topic suggestions for the show at www.JewsTalkRacialJustice.com Learn more about Joyous Justice where April is the founding and fabulous (!) director and Tracie is a senio...
Ep 22: There is no Jewish space laser. Period.
February 04, 2021 11:00 - 28 minutes - 19.5 MBAfter Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene's tweet about the 2018 California Wildfires being caused by a space laser controlled by the Rothschild family ignited a slew of jokes on social media, April and Tracie take some time to think about different reactions to antisemitism. Find April and Tracie's full bios and submit topic suggestions for the show at www.JewsTalkRacialJustice.com Learn more about Joyous Justice where April is the founding and fabulous (!) director and Tracie is a senio...
S2E1: Tu B'Shevat and the Wisdom of Trees
January 28, 2021 12:00 - 17 minutes - 12.3 MBIn honor of the New Year of Trees, April and Tracie take some time to think about what we have to learn from trees. From rootedness to developmental stages in a life cycle to the capacity to be kind, trees model some key lessons for humans. Find April and Tracie's full bios and submit topic suggestions for the show at www.JewsTalkRacialJustice.com Learn more about Joyous Justice where April is the founding and fabulous (!) director and Tracie is a senior partner: https://joyousjustice.com/...
Ep 21: Tu B'Shevat and the Wisdom of Trees
January 28, 2021 12:00 - 17 minutes - 12.3 MBIn honor of the New Year of Trees, April and Tracie take some time to think about what we have to learn from trees. From rootedness to developmental stages in a life cycle to the capacity to be kind, trees model some key lessons for humans. Find April and Tracie's full bios and submit topic suggestions for the show at www.JewsTalkRacialJustice.com Learn more about Joyous Justice where April is the founding and fabulous (!) director and Tracie is a senior partner: https://joyousjustice.com/...
Ep 20: The Insurrection and the Delusion of White Supremacy
January 21, 2021 11:00 - 23 minutes - 16.2 MBThough the full impact and effect of the Insurrection that occurred that day won't be known for weeks, months, and years to come, April and Tracie take the time to reflect on the events of January 6, 2021. Find April and Tracie's full bios and submit topic suggestions for the show at www.JewsTalkRacialJustice.com Learn more about April’s work at Joyous Justice: https://joyousjustice.com/ Read more of Tracie's thoughts at bmoreincremental.com Resources: Hear more from Sonya Renee Taylor o...
Ep 19: Jews Talk Black Lives Matter
January 14, 2021 11:00 - 23 minutes - 16.5 MBApril and Tracie investigate the ways arguing against the adopted slogans of justice movements, for instance #BlackLivesMatter or #DefundThePolice, distracts us from the work of advancing justice, and often contains implicit or explicit racism. Find April and Tracie's full bios and submit topic suggestions for the show at www.JewsTalkRacialJustice.com Learn more about April’s work at Joyous Justice: https://joyousjustice.com/ Read more of Tracie's thoughts at bmoreincremental.com Resour...
Ep 18: Hamilton and White Comfort
January 07, 2021 11:00 - 10 minutes - 7.4 MBStarting with reflections on the musical Hamilton, April and Tracie dig into some of the nuance around comfort, right to comfort, and the tension between what we might appreciate about art even when the artist or the art's impact isn't what we might like. Find April and Tracie's full bios and submit topic suggestions for the show at www.JewsTalkRacialJustice.com Learn more about April’s work at Joyous Justice: https://joyousjustice.com/ Read more of Tracie's thoughts at bmoreincremental.co...
Ep 17: BOTH Ownership AND Community
December 31, 2020 11:00 - 14 minutes - 10.1 MBAs 2020 comes to a close, April and Tracie talk about the importance of everyone taking ownership over their own journeys, even as we work in community. With some tips and insights to think about, we invite everyone to make a commitment to pursue greater racial justice in the new year. Find April and Tracie's full bios and submit topic suggestions for the show at www.JewsTalkRacialJustice.com Learn more about April’s work at Joyous Justice: https://joyousjustice.com/ Read more of Tracie's ...
Ep 16: Ways of Knowing and Finding Ease
December 24, 2020 12:00 - 23 minutes - 16.2 MBApril and Tracie discuss different ways we process our experiences and knowledge: intellectual, emotional, physical, and spiritual. We notice the way, especially when those modes are out of balance, we sometimes make things harder than they need to be. Find April and Tracie's full bios and submit topic suggestions for the show at www.JewsTalkRacialJustice.com Learn more about April’s work at Joyous Justice: https://joyousjustice.com/ Read more of Tracie's thoughts at bmoreincremental.com ...
Ep 15: Oil, Co-Creation, and Having What We Need
December 17, 2020 10:00 - 27 minutes - 19.2 MBApril and Tracie mark the end of the Festival of Lights with a drash (interpretation) of some of the lessons of the Hanukkah story. When one day's worth of oil lasts eight days--exactly as long as is needed to press more oil--we learn that we already possess what we need to move forward. This doesn't mean we shouldn't be pressing more oil! It means we shouldn't allow a feeling of lack to keep us from doing what we can right now. Find April and Tracie's full bios and submit topic suggestions...
Ep 14: White Supremacy and the Power of Culture
December 10, 2020 14:00 - 36 minutes - 24.8 MBApril and Tracie take the time to unpack a phrase that often comes up when Jews Talk Racial Justice: "white supremacy." The phrase has entered the lexicon of individual antiracists and movements alike, but what exactly does it mean? April and Tracie define the term, investigate the discomfort it can generate, and riff on the ways in which discussing "white supremacy culture" may be a way to reclaim agency and power. Resources: Baratunde Thurston's TED Talk Tracie's 18 Days Exploring Racial...
Ep 13: Jews Talk Thanksgiving, Part 2
December 03, 2020 13:00 - 23 minutes - 16.4 MBIn this second Thanksgiving episode, April and Tracie dig in to the unpleasant truths behind the myths of Thanksgiving. April recounts some of the deep sadness and loss she feels around missing knowledge and culture from her Native ancestors, while Tracie reflects on the holes in her education around the oppression of Native people. Content warning: we discuss the genocide and oppression of Native American people, as well as rape and sex slavery in the context of American history. Resourc...
Ep 12: Jews Talk Thanksgiving, Part I
November 26, 2020 12:00 - 31 minutes - 21.5 MBFor Thanksgiving, April and Tracie talk a little about the holiday: the role it's played in Jewish American identity, those who work to make the day special for others, and the joys and pitfalls of getting together with extended family. (Stay tuned next week for more about the racial justice implications of a holiday that celebrates the relationship between European settlers and Native Americans without acknowledging the systemic violence and oppression that characterized much of that relati...
Ep 11: Intentionally Infusing Joy into Justice Work
November 19, 2020 13:00 - 29 minutes - 20.6 MBApril and Tracie continue their conversation about bringing more joy into everyday life and into the work for justice. From dance and music (and a little bit of singing!) to relationship to celebration, the two friends share strategies and examples of intentional, mindful, joyful practices. Find April and Tracie's full bios and submit topic suggestions for the show at www.JewsTalkRacialJustice.com Learn more about April’s work at Joyous Justice: https://joyousjustice.com/ Learn about Trac...
Ep 10: Feeling Rage, Finding Joy: Managing Emotions in Justice Work
November 12, 2020 13:00 - 30 minutes - 20.7 MBAs the election season concludes, Tracie asks April for advice on working through the negative emotions that sometimes accompany justice work. The two friends unpack the ways we've been taught to associate anger or rage with justice work (and anxiety with intelligence), and April shares suggestions for achieving the positive effects of BOTH feeling your feelings AND cultivating joy and presence. Find April and Tracie's full bios and submit topic suggestions for the show at www.JewsTalkRacia...
Ep 9: Digital Skin Color, Either/Or Thinking, and Pizza in Dakar
November 05, 2020 13:00 - 18 minutes - 12.7 MBApril and Tracie riff on a seemingly small manifestation of white dominance in our everyday lives: the skin color of emojis. The discussion of digital skin tone leads into a conversation about racial implications of the Simpsons' yellow hue, and on to a focused training about the ways that seemingly benign binaries turn up in malignant ways. Find April and Tracie's full bios and submit topic suggestions for the show at www.JewsTalkRacialJustice.com Learn more about April’s work at Joyous ...
Ep 8: Oppression Olympics, Intergenerational Trauma, and Shared Liberation
October 29, 2020 12:00 - 26 minutes - 18 MBEven more than other episodes, you'll find yourself eavesdropping on this conversation. April and Tracie unpack the deep and intergenerational effects of shared trauma and oppression, and the ways either/or and hierarchical thinking can get in the way of healing. Find April and Tracie's full bios and submit topic suggestions for the show at JewsTalkRacialJustice.com Learn more about April’s work at Joyous Justice. Learn about Tracie at TracieGuyDecker.com and read more of her thoughts at b...
Ep 7: Everyone is Racist!
October 22, 2020 13:00 - 26 minutes - 18 MBApril and Tracie unpack the notion that everyone is racist, naming the trauma and the cost of racism. Their conversation delves deep into the American investment in systemic racism and the human and environmental effects of systems of oppression. Find April and Tracie's full bios and submit topic suggestions for the show at JewsTalkRacialJustice.com Learn more about April’s work at Joyous Justice Learn about Tracie at TracieGuyDecker.com and read more of her thoughts at B’more Incremental ...
Ep 6: White Fragility, DARVO, and Accepting Feedback
October 15, 2020 13:00 - 21 minutes - 15.1 MBApril and Tracie discuss Robin DiAngelo's book, White Fragility. They unpack some of the courage and vulnerability it takes to both give and receive feedback around racism, and imagine a world in which it is safe to do both. Find April and Tracie's full bios and submit topic suggestions for the show at JewsTalkRacialJustice.com Learn more about April’s work at joyousjustice.com Learn about Tracie at TracieGuyDecker.com and read more of her thoughts at bmoreincremental.com. Resources menti...
Ep 5: April and Tracie Live: Intergroup Collaboration in Savannah and Beyond
October 08, 2020 13:00 - 27 minutes - 18.7 MBIn a live launch for the podcast, April and Tracie interact with nearly 200 supporters. After participants talk in small groups (not recorded), April and Tracie dig deep into a question from Morgan, a Jewish community member and Mom from Savannah, Georgia. Morgan is looking to deepen the connection between the Jewish community and the larger Savanah community while advancing justice. Find April and Tracie's full bios and submit topic suggestions for the show at JewsTalkRacialJustice.com Le...
Ep 4: Sukkot, Black Panther, and Gratitude in the Wilderness
October 01, 2020 13:00 - 27 minutes - 19.2 MBSukkot proves a rich holiday for April and Tracie's meaning-making. Together they discuss the importance of gratitude, *especially* in the wilderness, what Black Panther can teach us about Sukkot, and the holiness and sovereignty of the body. Find April and Tracie's full bios and submit topic suggestions for the show at www.JewsTalkRacialJustice.com Learn more about April’s work at joyousjustice.com Learn about Tracie at TracieGuyDecker.com and read more of her thoughts at bmoreincrementa...
Ep 3: Yom Kippur, Cows, and Collective Accountability
September 24, 2020 12:00 - 31 minutes - 21.8 MBApril and Tracie consider the meaning of the Yom Kippur fast and its relation to racial justice work. Drawing on resources and stories from their own lives, Brene Brown's work, and the rabbis of the Talmud, they delve into the ways that perfectionism, hanger, individualism, and white fragility can sometimes get in the way of our sacred opportunities. Find April and Tracie's full bios and submit topic suggestions for the show at www.JewsTalkRacialJustice.com Learn more about April’s work a...
Ep 2: Rosh Hashanah, Prince, and Visions, Both Big & Small
September 17, 2020 13:00 - 35 minutes - 24.1 MBAs they prepare for Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year, April and Tracie explore their thoughts about the holiday, kavanot or intentions and racial justice visions for the new year, and even ideas about discussion topics when meeting someone new at shul. Find April and Tracie's full bios and submit topic suggestions for the show at www.JewsTalkRacialJustice.com Learn more about April’s work at Joyous Justice Learn about Tracie at TracieGuyDecker.com and read more of her thoughts at B’more...
Rosh Hashanah, Prince, and Visions, Both Big & Small
September 17, 2020 13:00 - 35 minutes - 24.1 MBAs they prepare for Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year, April and Tracie explore their thoughts about the holiday, kavanot or intentions and racial justice visions for the new year, and even ideas about discussion topics when meeting someone new at shul. Find April and Tracie's full bios and submit topic suggestions for the show at www.JewsTalkRacialJustice.com Learn more about April’s work at Joyous Justice Learn about Tracie at TracieGuyDecker.com and read more of her thoughts at B’more...
Ep 1: Join the Conversation from the Beginning
September 06, 2020 14:00 - 16 minutes - 11.5 MBThe week when it all started (sort of). April and Tracie introduce themselves, share more about how they connected, and their vision for sharing and modeling conversations about race for the Jewish community and our neighbors. Find April and Tracie's full bios and submit topic suggestions for the show at www.JewsTalkRacialJustice.com Learn more about April’s work at Joyous Justice Learn about Tracie at TracieGuyDecker.com and read more of her thoughts at B’more Incremental Walking Meditat...