Pray With our Feet

Pray with Our Feet Podcast

Looking to connect with folks of faith making the world better daily, and learn how you can, too? Welcome to Pray with our Feet, a progressive Christian podcast, hosted by writer / creative, Emelda ("E") De Coteau, founder of the PWF community, and her Mom, Trudy Leocadio, a retired educator and prayer warrior. We believe deeply in the power of conversations to spark change. Listen in as we connect with everyone from ministers to community organizers and artists, keeping Matthew 25:40 at the forefront of our minds: "Whatever you have done for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."

  1. Season 5, Episode 1: Rooting in God's Radical Love

    EPISODE 1

    Season 5, Episode 1: Rooting in God's Radical Love

    We've missed you all! We're back with our 5th season!  Given the state of our world, Mom and I are centering the urgnecy of rooting in God's radical love; our guiding verse of scripture this season is 1 Cornithians 13:13 - "And now these three things remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." Throughout this episode, we discuss embodying God's call to love radically, building beloved community, connecting more deeply with God in prayer (and some ways to do this), while also centering prayer for the many who are suffering in Palestine (hostages both Israeli and Palestinian), Congo, Sudan, Tigray, and here, within the U.S. as we live through election season.  Mom and I also uplift some upcoming guests this season - Lindsey Krinks, co-founder of Open Table Nashville (outreach and advocacy for persons experiencing homelessness)  and author of Praying with our Feet: Pursuing Justice and Healing on the Streets, Kaitlin Johnstone, co-founder of Kind Cotton (tees and merch. that powers the distribution of inclusive books for kids across the country), Porsche Veu (@ThePoeticActivist - poet, speaker, educator and artist) and Christians for a Free Palestine, among others. And this Disability Pride Month, we hear the voice of disabled Chrisitan civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer who said: "Nobody's free, until everybody's free."   Resources Mentioned during this Epsiode: Three Ways to Show Up for Disability Pride Month, a blog post written by our co-host, Emelda "E" for her  small business and communinity, When Motherhood Looks Different, LLC, inspired by her daughter Nai who is neurodivergent.  Check out this article on disabled voices of faith to start learning from today, including My Body is not a Prayer Request by Amy Kenny and Dr. Hardwick, The Autism Pastor.  Friends of Congo Munther Isaac and Christ at the Checkpoint  Sudanese American Physicians Association  Rabbis4Ceasefire  Pray with our Feet Shop:  Check out our online shop - official podcast tee, Pray with our Feet, The Revolution Needs our Joy tee, our water bottles, and more! Use the discount Code CELEBRATE5  for free shipping until Sunday, September 1!  Move It Forward Monday IG Live Series - @PrayWithOurFeet New season of our Move it Forward Monday IG Live series (now bi-monthly); the latest chat on Trauma-Informed Activism & Healing is with Kimberly Brazwell, founder of KiMISTRY, a story strategy firm that specializes in trauma informed social justice. One of her latest offerings (which is a series of books) -Jotnal Book (The Phoenix Edition), grounds us in this practice. Special thank you to my husand Keston De Coteau, for podcast production; he is an award-winning videographer and photographer.

    45 min
  2. EPISODE 2

    "We Must Act." Talking with Crystal Silva-McCormick, Christians for a Free Palestine

    As Christians, we must say, "not in our name," as we continue witnessing the genocide of our Palestinian siblings. Mom and I sat down with Crystal Silva-McCormick, a member of Christians for a Free Palestine (CFFP), to discuss their mission, the urgency of unlearning Christian Zionism, and educating ourselves about apartheid in Palestine. Crystal also uplifts CFFP's upcoming Interfaith Action for Palestine, in D.C. (July 28-30, 2024) with a diverse coalition of faith partners (Jewish Voice for Peace, Mennonite Action, Hindus for Human Rights, RabbisForCeasefire, etc.) to counter Christians United for Israel's (CUFI) annual summit. "CUFI is the largest pro-Israel organization in the U.S." centering militarism, alongside white Christian supremacy and genocidal policies. This action focuses on "disrupting CUFI's supremacist agenda, and calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza."   Learn more about in-person public events such as the Interfaith Service (July 29) and Interfaith Rally (July 30) and participating online by visiting their website. Stay connected to the work of Christians for a Free Palestine here.  Additional Resources Mentioned in this Episode:   Israelism, a documentary by Jewish filmmakers When two young American Jews raised to unconditionally love Israel witness the brutal way Israel treats Palestinians, their lives take sharp left turns. They join a movement of young American Jews battling the old guard to redefine Judaism's relationship with Israel, revealing a deepening generational divide over modern Jewish identity.  Romero  Chronicles the amazing true transformation of an apolitical, complacent priest to a committed leader, who started a revolution without guns, without an army and without fear...)    HELP Spread the Word about Pray with our Feet Podcast!  >>> If you enjoy our podcast, please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts! This helps us reach more people, and build beloved community in the spirit of Matthew 25:40 (Whatever you have done for the least of these, you have done for me.)  BE in Community with Us:  Find devotionals, blog posts, and shop in our  online store. Use the discount Code CELEBRATE5  (in honor of our 5th year anniversary) for free shipping until Sunday, September 1!  Head over to Instagram and Threads where the conversation continues between episodes.   Enjoy our @PrayWithOurFeet IG Live series, Move it Forward Monday, uplifting conversations that spark change with activists, community leaders, artists and more.   Special thank you to my husand Keston De Coteau, for podcast production; he is an award-winning videographer and photographer.

    51 min
  3. EPISODE 3

    In Honor of Baldwin's 100th Birthday (REWIND) - James Baldwin's Radical Challenge: You Mean it or You Don't with writers Jamie McGhee and Adam Hollowell

    In honor of Baldwin's 100th birthday, we are sharing this episode again - a conversation with Adam Hollowell and Jamie McGhee, founders of Praying with Baldwin, discussing their powerful book: You Mean It or You Don't: James Baldwin's Radical Challenge.  One of the most prolific writers and thinkers of the 20th century, Baldwin's words continue to awaken us. Drawing from his extensive body of work -  fiction, poetry speeches and interviews, McGhee and Hollowell call us to embody our activism.  There are prompts at the end of each chapter to help us take action - whether concerning police brutality, racial justice or LGBTQ+ rights.   Our discussion also lifts up the urgency of dialouging across differences, looking inward, intergating ways we are either unaware of oppression or compilict, what seeking justice and love within our communities and church spaces.  Showing up in faith and action takes consistent work. None of us will ever have it "figured out," but commitment keeps us on the path. Learn more about the Praying with Baldwin project, "a sequence of prayers that originally launched August 2, 2017." Over 30 days Jamie and Adam prayed the last words of "those who have been killed by racism and police violence and prayed for the courage to take "First Steps" to change the world around them. You can download a PDF version here.  Stay Connected with Jamie and Adam: Website: Praying with James Baldwin Instagram: @prayingbaldwin Twitter: @prayingbaldwin Help Us Spread the Word! If you enjoy the Pray with our Feet podcast, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, where you can subscribe to the show. You can also listen on Spotify, and on all major streaming platforms. Shop the Pray with our Feet Store or Donate! Visit the Pray with our Feet store and find everything from tees to mugs and more. You can also donate on our website. Help us power the movement! Our podcast is produced by Keston De Coteau, award-winning videographer and photographer.

    45 min
  4. Talking Jesus & Justice with Porsche Veu aka The Poetic Activist

    EPISODE 4

    Talking Jesus & Justice with Porsche Veu aka The Poetic Activist

    Based in Oakland, CA, Porsche Veu aka The Poetic Activist is a gifted author, speaker, educator and poet, who tackles the challenging racial and social justice issues of our day head on, without apology.  We discuss her faith journey, the urgency of truth telling and becoming comfortable  with discomfort, the roots of White supremacy within the American church, and how she uses her work to move people beyond performative change while centering the urgency of inner work. Porsche uses her art to fight social injustice, empower women, youth, the Black community, and advocate for mental and emotional health. Porsche's first vulnerable stage poem "Caesar: A Poem About Suicide,"an ode to her dog and a story of fighting for mental health, pushed her to be unapologetically vulnerable and encourage others to erase shame, and tell their own stories.  Her book, Two Kinds of Fire, explores how spiritual and emotional fire transformed her life, and gives her a distinct voice for those who are overlooked in our society. From a Ted Talk to Google and The Black Women's March, Porsche has been invited to speak, perform, and teach at a variety of events, workshops, and creative spaces, leaving audiences feeling challenged, motivated and inspired. Because, "Jesus and justice go together, she reminds us. Stay Connected with Porsche Veu aka The Poetic Activist - - Visit her website - Follow her on Instagram, @ThePoeticActivist, YouTube, and LinkedIn. - And don't forget to check out her poem, Jokes ("America is the comedian whose been in the game for decades and still ain't funny. Tells the worst jokes known to mankind, then gets mad when you don't laugh.") which we uplifted in our conversation.  Help Us Spread the Word! If you enjoy the Pray with our Feet podcast, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, where you can subscribe to the show. You can also listen on Spotify, and on all major streaming platforms. BE in Community with Us:  Find devotionals, blog posts, and shop in our  online store. Use the discount Code CELEBRATE5  (in honor of our 5th year anniversary) for free shipping until Sunday, September 1!  Head over to Instagram and Threads where the conversation continues between episodes.   Enjoy our @PrayWithOurFeet IG Live series, Move it Forward Monday, uplifting conversations that spark change with activists, community leaders, artists and more.   Special thank you to my husband Keston De Coteau, for podcast production; he is an award-winning videographer and photographer!

    59 min
  5. EPISODE 5

    Kindness is Action with Kaitlin Johnstone, co-founder of Kind Cotton

    Kindness must move beyond pleasantries and root us in action and justice. Mom and I chat with Kaitlin Johnstone, co-founder of Kind Cotton and former educator; she and her husband, Kevin, are on a mission to bring 1 million inclusive books to kids with every purchase of a Kind Cotton tee, tote bag or other product. Kind Cotton uplifts the work of BIPOC and LGBTQ+ children's authors, along with books focused on social emotional learning. "What we are putting out into the world are our values, " Kaitlin says.  Throughout this episode, we discuss what sparked the creation of Kind Cotton, the ways kindness is weaponized, and why moving beyond this is essential for collective liberation, building authentic community, centering inclusive education, and modeling social justice and activism for our kids. We also dive into Kaitlin's journey of discovering she is neurodivergent, and the importance of radical self care for activists. There are many ways you can support the work of Kind Cotton - join their Tee of the Month Club, and receive a brand new, discounted Kind Cotton release monthly.  You can also purchase inclusive children's books on their website and gift them to the kids in your life, or donate monthly to make sure kids all over the country receive access to a diverse array of books. And stay connected with the Kind Cotton community on social media through Instagram and TikTok.  Help Us Spread the Word! If you enjoy the Pray with our Feet podcast, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, where you can subscribe to the show. You can also listen on Spotify, and on all major streaming platforms. BE in Community with Us:  Find devotionals, blog posts, and shop in our  online store.  Head over to Instagram and Threads where the conversation continues between episodes.   Enjoy our @PrayWithOurFeet IG Live series, Move it Forward Monday, uplifting conversations that spark change with activists, community leaders, artists and more.   Special thank you to my husband Keston De Coteau, for podcast production; he is an award-winning videographer and photographer.

    44 min
  6. EPISODE 6

    Building Intersectional Church & Community with Jonelle Brown of Young Prophets Collective

    Church hurt is widespread, and there are still many congregations which remain closed to Christians living on the margins because of sexuality / gender identity, disability, race / ethnicity, class, education level, etc. Young Prophets Collective, a growing online church and community, founded by JJ Warren, is working to shift this through building an affirming and intersectional space which welcomes all, and excludes none. I caught up with Jonelle Brown, an active member of Young Prophets Collective.   Throughout this episode we discuss -  Jonelle's faith journey and what it felt like to find an LGBTQIA+ supportive faith space in college, and how this led her to found the first open and affirming campus ministry for fellow LGBTQIA+  Christian students.  Young Prophets Collective, why they center, equip and empower the voices of young people (although older folks are part of the community) —  we cannot forget that Biblical prophets such as Jeremaiah started out young, too!  Why intersectionality is a critical part of Young Prophets Collective ministry, and their focus on growing intentionally vs. quickly.  Key components of building a digital faith community - time, energy and emotional investment, and how Y.P. Collective taps into this to guide their ministry.  How their weekly church service calls folks to the gathering practice (in the Methodist tradition) of sitting with and discussing pastor JJ's sermon, and also asking one another," How is your soul? Jonelle's background as an educator, and how this experience led her to found  NelleRose Educational Services, which "empowers BIPOC scholars + their families to get through high school with confidence & success."  As a success liaison and mentor, "she aims to address the systematic educational challenges faced by marginalized students of color in the U.S., especially those co-identifying as English learners, immigrants, LGBTQIA+ individuals and neurodivergent students."  Stay Connected & Further Resources -  Young Prophets Collective (website) and social media: Facebook,  Instagram  and YouTube. Donate to supoort their work.  Rev. JJ Warren (pastor and founder of Young Prophets Collective), he is the author of Reclaiming Church: A Call to Rejection for Religious Rejects and Where Two or Three are Connected.  Rev. JJ Warren's 2019 speech at General Counsel, United Methodist Church Learn more about Jonelle's work as an educational consultant, and founder of NelleRose Educational Services here and stay connected to her on Instagram, @nellerose_edu. Rafiki Project, an iniative of Y.P. Collective  - United Methodists in Kenya and United Methodists  in the U.S. united together in friendship and mutual aid. Help Us Spread the Word! If you enjoy the Pray with our Feet podcast, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, where you can subscribe to the show. You can also listen on Spotify, and on all major streaming platforms. BE in Community with Us:  Find devotionals, blog posts, and shop in our  online store.  Head over to Instagram and Threads where the conversation continues between episodes.   Enjoy our @PrayWithOurFeet IG Live series, Move it Forward Monday, uplifting conversations that spark change with activists, community leaders, artists and more.   Special thank you to my husband Keston De Coteau, for podcast production; he is an award-winning videographer and photographer.

    40 min
  7. EPISODE 7

    Putting our Faith into Action with Lindsey Krinks of Open Table Nashville

    When we put our faith into action and center justice, fighting for the rights of everyone, particularly those most marginalized, we embody Christ. Mom and I caught up with Lindsey Krinks, Advocacy Director and co-founder of Open Table Nashville, a non-profit and interfaith community based in Tennessee whose work includes four core pillars: "street outreach, education on issues of homelessness, a solidarity network, and advocacy with our friends on the streets."   Throughout this episode we discuss Lindsey's spiritual journey and embrace of liberation theology, and how it led her to the work she does now through Open Table Nashville (OTN) which focuses on collective liberation. OTN understands that without a systemic analysis of homelessness and poverty, we cannot, as a society, shift away from these issues. We also dive into the many ways scripture and spiritual teachers such as Saint Francis of Assisi ("Preach the gospel at all times; use words when necessary."), call us out of the pews and into purposeful action. Lindsey shares practical tips for showing up in our church spaces, and within our day-to-day lives in support of our friends experiencing homelessness.  In addition to her work with OTN, Lindsey is the author of Praying with our Feet: Pursuing Justice and Healing on the Street which invites readers into her story as a street chaplain, activist, and nonprofit leader standing at the margins of American society, and on the front lines of social justice movements where faith means getting your hands dirty in the struggle for a better world. You can support the work of OTN by making a donation (at any level) , signing up for an educational training session (so you can show up in your community and make a difference), or reach out to them to do a speaking engagement at your church / within your community.  Stay Connected with Lindsey's Work: Lindsey Krinks Open Table Nashville  Instagram: Open Table Nashville (@opentablenashville)  Facebook: Open Table Nashville, Inc. Twitter: @OpenTableNash  Resources / Info. Mentioned: The Beatitudes, Matthew 5:3-12  Praying with our Feet: Pursuing Justice and Healing on the Streets  by Lindsey Krinks // Watch the book trailer here.  Grace Can Lead Us Home: A Christian Call to End Homelessness by Kevin Nye. Check out our interview with him here.   Some of Lindsey's spiritual teachers:  Dorothy Day  Archbishop Oscar Romero  Richard Rohr  Walter Bruggemann Help Us Spread the Word! If you enjoy the Pray with our Feet podcast, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, where you can subscribe to the show. You can also listen on Spotify, and on all major streaming platforms. BE in Community with Us:  Find devotionals, blog posts, and shop in our  online store.  Head over to Instagram and Threads where the conversation continues between episodes.   Enjoy our @PrayWithOurFeet IG Live series, Move it Forward Monday, uplifting conversations that spark change with activists, community leaders, artists and more.   Special thank you to my husband Keston De Coteau, for podcast production; he is an award-winning videographer and photographer.

    1h 2m
  8. EPISODE 8

    Rooting in Soul Care Practices for Hard Times

    We are living through unprecedented times; as each of us continues processing the election, and moving through waves of grief, disappointment, overwhelm, etc., it is vital to remain rooted in God, and come into beloved community with one another. Mom and I share a few of our thoughts post-election (check out two recent Instagram posts,  Jesus Is… and Reclaiming Christianity), drop into discussing what soul care is, why it matters, and share two soul care practices you can lean into for support - breath prayer and meditating on verses of scripture.  Breath prayer helps us to focus on a short phrase (God, Give me strength to keep going…or uplift a verse of scripture). You say the first part of the prayer on your inhale, and the second part on your exhale. You repeat this over and over until you feel God's spirit.  And Mom walked us through meditating on scripture which she breaks down into a 3 step process of which begins with prayer, and then we observe (write down what you think the verse is saying), interpret (go deeper here and ask >>> what does this verse mean?), and application (how does this verse apply to my life? How can I embody it within my everyday living?).  Sign up for our next Prayer Moment gathering:  Thursday, Dec. 5, 8pm EST  Soul Care Resources >>>Two FREE downloads guiding you through breath prayer and meditating on scripture - prepared by Mom and I. >>> Check out our past episode - When It Feels Heavy, Connect to the Power of Prayer and Meditation - Check out our interview with  Jonelle of Young Prophets Collective. Middle Collegiate Church (my place of worship and community) - Check out our interview with  Rev. Jacqui, Senior Minister at Middle Church. The Perch Place  Check out our interview with Amy Jackson, founder of The Perch Place. Light of the Holy Spirit  by India Arie For My Good (feat. Todd Gilbert & Chandler Moore) by Maverick City Music & Naomi Rein  Ways to Organize

    36 min
5
out of 5
19 Ratings

About

Looking to connect with folks of faith making the world better daily, and learn how you can, too? Welcome to Pray with our Feet, a progressive Christian podcast, hosted by writer / creative, Emelda ("E") De Coteau, founder of the PWF community, and her Mom, Trudy Leocadio, a retired educator and prayer warrior. We believe deeply in the power of conversations to spark change. Listen in as we connect with everyone from ministers to community organizers and artists, keeping Matthew 25:40 at the forefront of our minds: "Whatever you have done for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."