Above The Noise: Faith; Race; Reconciliation.

Grantley Martelly
  • 5.0 (19)
  • SPIRITUALITY
  • UPDATED BIMONTHLY

A podcast at the intersection of faith, race, and reconciliation. People of faith should be leaders of reconciliation however historically issues of race and culture seem to get in the way of rising above differences to find common ground through reconciliation. We discuss those challenges and sometimes we may also stray onto different topics but we'll always come back to reconciliation.

  1. FEB 13

    Episode 73: Immigration and Human Suffering

    Send us a Text Message about the podcast What if public safety isn’t about bigger dragnets but about deeper trust? We take a hard look at recent immigration enforcement actions—from major cities to smaller communities—and ask whether sweeping raids, status revocations, and third-country deportations make anyone safer. The stakes become painfully clear as we reflect on the reported killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minnesota and confront a pattern of unequal outrage when victims are people of color. When dignity is optional, rights become negotiable; when leaders reward lies, the system below them bends. We walk through how dehumanization takes root: rhetoric that paints neighbors as threats, policies that blur due process, and operations that net legal residents alongside suspects. Then we get practical. We share specific steps to turn outrage into action: speak up in your circles with clarity and respect, write your representatives, show up at public forums, and ask for evidence instead of slogans. We talk about voting with facts rather than fear, setting nonnegotiables like truth, targeted enforcement, and constitutional protections, and refusing to excuse cruelty because it helps “our side.” Faith and ethics run through this conversation—not as a weapon, but as a spine. Love your neighbor becomes a civic practice: do not tie your success to someone else’s misery, and don’t call harm “order.” Real safety is precise: pursue violent offenders with focus, protect the innocent with discipline, and restore trust by telling the truth even when it is costly. If you’re ready to replace performative outrage with steady action, this is a roadmap for building a community that values both security and humanity. If this resonates, subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a rating. Tell us where you stand and what step you’ll take next—we’re listening. Subscribe to this podcast here on YouTube and follow us on our audio channels on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and any of your favorite channels Share your comments and text directly with me from the audio podcast as well Email us your comments at above the noise24@gmail.com Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @AboveThenoise24 Please share this episode with a friend #immigration       #immigrant   #reneegood     #alexpretti promotes my new integrated website. Support the show #abovethenoise24 # faith #reconciliation #race #racialreconciliation We appreciate your support: Buy Me A Coffee Stay in touch: Email us at: abovethenoise24@gmail.com Facebook: @abovethenoise24 Instagram: abovethenoise24 Podcast art by Mario Christie.

    27 min

  2. FEB 3

    Episode 72: Jim Copple: The Radical Idea That Fasting Could Heal a Divided Nation

    Send us a Text Message about the podcast What if the antidote to polarization isn’t a louder argument, but a quieter practice of showing up, listening, and serving together? Grantley sits down with Jim Koppel—educator, coalition-builder, and cofounder of Strategic Applications International and Servant Forge—whose career stretches from late-night ride-alongs with a gang unit to shaping national prevention policy and facilitating 21st century policing reforms. The thread through it all: proximity changes outcomes. When people meet face to face, when training centers de-escalation and culture, and when youth have real jobs and mentors, communities get safer. We unpack the five protective factors that keep young people on track—hope, caring adults, skills, control, and altruism—and why employment quietly powers them all. Jim shares what 20,000 listening-session voices taught his team about fear, bias, and structural gaps like language access that distort incident reports and deepen mistrust. We also examine how the Minneapolis Police Department reframed training around the sanctity of life, showing how policy and practice can diverge across agencies and why curriculum quality matters as much as length. Then we pivot to the Freedom Fast, a civic invitation rooted in American history and embraced across faiths and the nonreligious alike: six monthly fasts on the fourth leading to July 4. Fasting here is broad—food, social media, or anything that creates room to reflect. The aim is simple and demanding: pause, relate, and serve beyond the headlines. As states consider resolutions and communities pilot models, we make the case that a more perfect union is built in small, repeatable acts—on front porches, in plazas, at the mailbox. If this resonates, subscribe, share with a neighbor, and leave a review to help others find the show. Ready to take the next step? Join the Freedom Fast at thefreedomfast.us, send us a text from the show notes, and tell us how you’ll show up this month. #thefreedomfast #fasting promotes my new integrated website. Support the show #abovethenoise24 # faith #reconciliation #race #racialreconciliation We appreciate your support: Buy Me A Coffee Stay in touch: Email us at: abovethenoise24@gmail.com Facebook: @abovethenoise24 Instagram: abovethenoise24 Podcast art by Mario Christie.

    46 min

  3. 12/05/2025

    Episode 71: Same Field Different Game

    Send us a Text Message about the podcast The volume is up, the outrage feeds are endless, and too many voices use Jesus as a brand for power. We press pause and ask a harder question: what does faith look like when you strip away celebrity, nationalism, and culture‑war noise and return to the way of Jesus? We start with the warnings of Matthew 7—being known by our fruit, not our slogans—and the centering call of Micah 6:8 to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. From there we draw a sharp line between Christ’s kingdom and the pursuit of dominance, showing how religious nationalism confuses allegiance to Jesus with allegiance to a party. Fresh from a civil rights pilgrimage to Montgomery and Selma, we trace painful continuities from Jim Crow to today’s rhetoric and ask the church to tell the truth about complicity, echoing Jamar Tisby and Bryan Stevenson. The measure of spiritual health, we argue, is not platform size but how we treat the poor, the accused, and the marginalized. This conversation gets practical. We talk about turning down the noise, matching your news time with scripture time, and learning to wait in prayer rather than chase instant answers. We walk through reading the Bible in context, resisting proof texts and shallow takes, and building real friendships across difference instead of huddling in ideological tribes. We offer heart‑check questions—about control, scarcity, and joy at others’ losses—that help expose self‑righteousness and invite repentance. Throughout, the thesis stays clear: Jesus is enough. Not as an excuse to withdraw, but as a mandate to embody justice, mercy, humility, and neighbor love right where we live. If this resonates, share it with a friend, subscribe for more thoughtful conversations at the intersection of faith, race, and reconciliation, and leave a written review so others can find the show. Your voice helps amplify a quieter, stronger way forward. Support the show #abovethenoise24 # faith #reconciliation #race #racialreconciliation We appreciate your support: Buy Me A Coffee Stay in touch: Email us at: abovethenoise24@gmail.com Facebook: @abovethenoise24 Instagram: abovethenoise24 Podcast art by Mario Christie.

    36 min

  4. 11/08/2025

    Episode 70: Dr. Agnella (Aggy) Chingwaro: Fighting HIV With Faith And Medicine

    Send us a Text Message about the podcast A five-day trek, a river that swallows missteps, and a video call that saves a mother and baby—this is what frontline HIV care looks like in Papua, Indonesia. We sit down with Dr. Agnela “Iggy” Chingwaro, an infectious disease physician from Zimbabwe, whose work braids medical expertise with faith, cultural humility, and stubborn hope. Her story exposes the hard truths behind late testing, the fear of national registration, and the maze of more than 300 local languages that shape how people understand illness, trust, and treatment. We unpack the crucial difference between HIV and AIDS, why “undetectable” means suppressed rather than cured, and how that nuance can make or break adherence. Dr. Iggy contrasts Africa’s evolving HIV response with Papua’s current challenges, where stigma keeps many away until opportunistic infections like TB and meningitis take hold. She details how government-supplied antiretrovirals, TB, and leprosy drugs still need community bridges—portable diagnostics, trained local educators, and clinics willing to meet people where they are. You’ll hear how her team trains traditional midwives to screen pregnant women, uses telemedicine to coach emergency care, and partners with pilots and pastors to reach mountainside villages. The conversation turns deeply human: the adoption of a child orphaned by AIDS, the refusal of ambulance drivers to transport patients due to fear, and the practical ways to dismantle myths about transmission. We also shine a light on the “forgotten generation”—youth facing rising HIV rates alongside alcohol and drug abuse—and the vision for a safe, youth-friendly center that offers counseling, education, and dignity. This is global health at eye level: compassionate, persistent, and built on trust. If this moved you, help us grow the impact: subscribe, leave a rating, and share with a friend. Got thoughts or want to support Dr. Aggy’s work? Email abovethenoise24@gmail.com and join the conversation. #HIV;  #AIDS;   #Papua  # Indonesia  promotes my new integrated website. Support the show #abovethenoise24 # faith #reconciliation #race #racialreconciliation We appreciate your support: Buy Me A Coffee Stay in touch: Email us at: abovethenoise24@gmail.com Facebook: @abovethenoise24 Instagram: abovethenoise24 Podcast art by Mario Christie.

    1h 1m

  5. 10/03/2025

    Episode 69: A Chef, a Calling, and a Healing Kitchen

    Send us a Text Message about the podcast What if the path back to purpose winds through a kitchen? I sit down with Jeff Reynolds, a chef whose story spans late-teen addiction, a decade in a grunge-era band, a pandemic crisis, a dusted-off Bible, and a calling he once ran from. The turning point is startlingly human—a night of fear and honesty at home—followed by small, faithful steps: reading John, hard questions that outgrew a brother’s answers, and a four-hour lunch with a pastor that reframed “ministry” as more than a pulpit. We walk through Jeff’s craft and recovery, and into his work at World Relief’s commercial learning kitchen, where refugees and immigrants rebuild livelihoods far beyond the 90-day resettlement window. He explains how culinary training becomes a vehicle for dignity, micro-enterprise, and healing from trauma. Along the way, he learns the language of spice markets, the etiquette of cross-cultural respect, and a deeper theology of the Imago Dei that holds firm in a plural space—open about faith, never coercive, always grounded in love and truth. The result is a kitchen that functions as classroom and community hub, where cinnamon and cardamom carry stories across continents. Jeff also shares the discernment he and his wife, Lori, are navigating now—what shepherding a flock could look like, why stewardship precedes promotion, and how intentional practices like daily prayer can anchor a life that once drifted. His three takeaways are simple and strong: keep praying for prodigals, hold your calling with open hands, and make space for God every day. If you need a reminder that vocation can be redeemed and redirected, this conversation will meet you right where you are. If this resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs hope, and leave a review so others can find Above the Noise. What part of Jeff’s journey speaks to yours? promotes my new integrated website. Support the show #abovethenoise24 # faith #reconciliation #race #racialreconciliation We appreciate your support: Buy Me A Coffee Stay in touch: Email us at: abovethenoise24@gmail.com Facebook: @abovethenoise24 Instagram: abovethenoise24 Podcast art by Mario Christie.

    41 min

  6. 08/16/2025

    Episode 68: Repairing the Immigration System

    Send us a Text Message about the podcast Immigration is not a problem without solutions, but a challenge requiring courage, honesty, and political will to address. Our broken immigration systems exploit the vulnerable while benefiting the powerful, yet we have the capacity to create humane policies that recognize the dignity and contributions of immigrants. • Immigration benefits economies by filling labor shortages and creating businesses • Mass migrations have root causes including war, climate change, and political unrest • The claim that administrations only oppose illegal immigration is contradicted by harassment of legal immigrants • Solutions exist, as demonstrated by programs like H-1B visas for skilled workers • Immigrants contribute through taxes, housing, education, and cultural enrichment • Political and corporate interests profit from maintaining broken immigration systems • Immigration challenges are global issues affecting countries worldwide • Humane reform requires seeing immigrants as people rather than statistics or threats Follow us on Instagram or Facebook @AboveTheNoise24. Support this podcast by going to buymeacoffee.com/AboveTheNoise. Remember to subscribe and leave us a rating to help our podcast succeed in the podcast universe. Email your comments to abovethenoise24@gmail.com. #immigration #immigrants Support the show #abovethenoise24 # faith #reconciliation #race #racialreconciliation We appreciate your support: Buy Me A Coffee Stay in touch: Email us at: abovethenoise24@gmail.com Facebook: @abovethenoise24 Instagram: abovethenoise24 Podcast art by Mario Christie.

    19 min

  7. 07/02/2025

    EPISODE 67: Clarine Cave: Partnering to Transform Lives

    Send us a Text Message about the podcast The transformative power of arts-based intervention for vulnerable youth takes center stage in this compelling conversation with Clarine Cave, founder of Partners That Care International in Barbados. What began as a personal journey through sports, military service, and community development has blossomed into a life-changing mission serving at-risk adolescents and food-insecure families across the island. Stepping into the heart of Barbados' educational challenges, Clarine shares the remarkable story behind her organization's innovative 3MD (Make Music Make a Difference) program. This two-year scholarship initiative uses musical instruction as a vehicle for profound behavioral change, teaching vulnerable teens aged 13-16 to identify emotions, regulate responses, and develop interpersonal skills through collaborative band experiences. The results speak volumes: "The children we get at the beginning of this program are unidentifiable at the end," Clarine observes. Beyond musical transformation, Partners That Care tackles food insecurity through its Summer Fiesta program, providing essential hampers to families during school breaks when government meal subsidies aren't available.  While welcoming youth of all backgrounds without religious requirements, the organization's leadership approaches challenges with unwavering spiritual conviction. "If it's too big for you to handle, then it is a God project," Clarine explains, offering encouragement to listeners contemplating their own seemingly impossible dreams. #partnersthatcareinternational #Barbados promotes my new integrated website. Support the show #abovethenoise24 # faith #reconciliation #race #racialreconciliation We appreciate your support: Buy Me A Coffee Stay in touch: Email us at: abovethenoise24@gmail.com Facebook: @abovethenoise24 Instagram: abovethenoise24 Podcast art by Mario Christie.

    48 min

  8. 05/10/2025

    Episode 66: Beyond Fear: Humanizing the Immigration Debate

    Send us a Text Message about the podcast Fear powers our immigration debates. We hear it in political rhetoric, see it in policy decisions, and witness its impact on millions of lives. But what lies beneath this fear? Is it justified? And how can we move beyond it? Today's episode delves into the complex emotions that drive our responses to immigrants and refugees. We start by clarifying important distinctions – who qualifies as an immigrant versus a refugee or asylum seeker – while acknowledging sobering statistics: 123 million people worldwide have been forced from their homes, with 44 million classified as refugees. These aren't faceless masses but individuals with dreams, fears, and stories that deserve to be heard. We explore a rarely discussed immigration pathway: "citizenship by investment" programs allowing wealthy individuals to purchase legal status for $100,000-$500,000. This creates a two-tiered system where some can bypass the very lines others are told to wait in patiently. Meanwhile, misinformation fuels negative stereotypes about immigrants "stealing jobs" or "draining resources," despite consistent evidence showing immigration's positive economic impacts.  For people of faith, this conversation demands alignment between spiritual values and social perspectives. We cannot claim to love God while discriminating against our neighbors.  Support the show #abovethenoise24 # faith #reconciliation #race #racialreconciliation We appreciate your support: Buy Me A Coffee Stay in touch: Email us at: abovethenoise24@gmail.com Facebook: @abovethenoise24 Instagram: abovethenoise24 Podcast art by Mario Christie.

    14 min
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5
out of 5
19 Ratings

About

A podcast at the intersection of faith, race, and reconciliation. People of faith should be leaders of reconciliation however historically issues of race and culture seem to get in the way of rising above differences to find common ground through reconciliation. We discuss those challenges and sometimes we may also stray onto different topics but we'll always come back to reconciliation.

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