Talking Bull Podcast Talking Bull Podcast

After a month (eeek!) we are back and better than ever. Christian Ethicist and Duke professor, Dr. Amy Laura Hall joins the table to discuss her upcoming book, "Writing Home, With Love," her life, and local politics in Durham. We talk growing up as a small woman in Texas, how parking on campus effects our contact with people different from us, and a bit of theology. Dr. Hall has been a Durham resident and has been cutting up in this area for a couple of decades. Find her blog at http://www.profligategrace.com/.

This episode was recorded at Durham Co-op Market. Thanks to Hardworker for our themesong, "Born Homesick."

New year and a new episode. This week Adam and I (Josh) talk to Durham City mayor, Bill Bell. After 16 years in office, Mayor Bell is retiring at the end of 2017 and we were fortunate enough to sit down with him and discuss his legacy and his part in shifting the culture and makeup of Durham over the last 40 years in politics. We talk gentrification, his legacy, disappointments, and where he see Durham heading into the future.

Shout out to Ms. Hattie Johnson, Durham city clerk, for scheduling our appointment with the mayor and being a gem of a person, as well as Hardworker for letting us use Born Homesick" as our theme song.

Activist and pastor Isaac Villages grabs the mic with Adam and I (Josh) to discuss Durham protests and his life growing up with immigrant parents. We talk a bit of theology, what happens when you disagree with your superiors over gay marriage, and how protests in Durham often involve gas-masked officer holding assault rifles as marchers sing hymns.

Isaac S. Villegas is pastor of Chapel Hill Mennonite Fellowship in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He is a member of the governing board of the North Carolina Council of Churches and has served on on the denominational board of Mennonite Church USA, as well as non-profit organizations, including School for Conversion and Open Table Ministries. He is the co-author of "Presence: Giving and Receiving God." He has a B.A. from Westmont College and an M.Div. from Duke Divinity School.

A big thanks to Hardworker band for letting us use their songs "Homesick" and "Moriah." This will be our last episode for 2016. Keep a lookout for episode 12 in early January.