Rooted Dialogues

Saint Rest Publications
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Society & Culture

Rooted in African-centered perspectives, this podcast explores themes of education, identity, literature, and liberation—bridging the wisdom of the past with the solutions for our future. Whether you're an educator, reader, or community builder, Rooted Dialogues invites you to grow with us—one episode at a time.

Episodes

  1. Sep 27

    Rooted Dialogues S02 E08 | Building the Process

    Send us Fan Mail Building the Process: Practical Strategies for Creating Rites of Passage Who is teaching our children who they are—and how are we preparing them for what comes next? Co-hosts Victoria Brown and LaVon Gordon welcome Dr. Lathardus Goggins II once again as the featured guest for a conversation about education, identity, and the responsibility families and communities share in human development. In an extended Today’s Dialogue, the hosts and Dr. Goggins discuss Nikole Hannah-Jones’s essay, “In Fighting for Every Black Child, Did I Betray My Own?” Together, they examine the difficult choices Black parents face, the distinction between schooling and education, and why selecting a school does not complete the work of educating a child. Then, in the season’s final From the Pages, the conversation turns to Chapters 4 and 5 of Bringing the Light into a New Day: African-centered Rites of Passage. Discover how familiar milestones—from birth and naming to adolescence, graduation, marriage, eldership, and ancestral transition—can become opportunities for intentional preparation, meaningful recognition, and continuing support. Dr. Goggins shares how “First Steps” ceremonies became a tradition in his own family and offers practical guidance for creating a family-based, community-linked African-centered rites-of-passage process. Explore the Bringing the Light bundle and Coalition for African-centered Rites of Passage resources at Afrocentric.info. With one episode remaining in Season Two, we leave you with this question: What transition is coming, and how will we help one another prepare? Listen. Reflect. Share. And stay rooted. A Saint Rest Publications podcast—where community, culture, and critical thought converge. #RootedDialogues #BuildingTheProcess #RitesOfPassage #AfricanCenteredEducation #CulturalIdentity #FamilyAndCommunity #SaintRestPublications Rooted Dialogues is a production of Saint Rest Publications — Where Community, Culture, and Critical Thought Converge Visit us at Afrocentric.Info/SaintRest to explore more from Saint Rest Publications.

  2. Sep 26

    Rooted Dialogues S02 E07 | Valuing Our Culture

    Send us Fan Mail If we don’t value our culture, why should our children? In episode seven of Rooted Dialogues, co-hosts Victoria Brown and LaVon Gordon explore how the ways adults live, learn, and participate in community shape what the next generation understands as valuable. Today’s Dialogue asks us to examine how we practice cultural transmission. What stories do we tell? What books do we read? Who do we honor? And what do our children learn by watching what we make time for? In From the Pages, Victoria and LaVon continue through Chapters 3 and 4 of Dr. Lathardus Goggins II’s Bringing the Light into a New Day: African-centered Rites of Passage. They explore identity, purpose, responsibility, and becoming—and why meaningful transformation requires experience, reflection, mentorship, and opportunities to contribute. The conversation connects cultural knowledge to everyday family life, offering practical ways to strengthen relationships between young people, elders, and community. This week’s Take Root Challenge: Choose one intentional act of cultural transmission and do it with a young person. Share a family story, explore the meaning of a name, visit a cultural institution, or learn something together—and discuss why it matters. Listen. Reflect. Share. And stay rooted. A Saint Rest Publications podcast—where community, culture, and critical thought converge. Rooted Dialogues is a production of Saint Rest Publications — Where Community, Culture, and Critical Thought Converge Visit us at Afrocentric.Info/SaintRest to explore more from Saint Rest Publications.

  3. Sep 21

    Rooted Dialogues S02 E06 | It Takes a Village: Building the Rites of Passage Process

    Send us Fan Mail It Takes a Village: Building the Rites of Passage Process What does it really mean to say, “It takes a village to raise a child”? In Season Two, Episode Six of Rooted Dialogues, co-hosts Victoria Brown and LaVon Gordon welcome Dr. Lathardus Goggins II back to the conversation for a deeper exploration of Chapter Two of Bringing the Light into a New Day: African-centered Rites of Passage — 25th Anniversary Edition. This episode moves beyond the familiar idea of “community” to ask a more demanding question: Who is in our village—and what are we helping one another become? Dr. Goggins introduces three essential components of an African-centered rites-of-passage model: Village, Process, and Sacred Knowledge. Together, the hosts examine why a village is more than geography, why ceremony alone does not create transformation, and why young people need opportunities to see responsible adulthood, service, integrity, accountability, and community practiced before them. The conversation also includes updates from Dr. Goggins on education advocacy in Akron, the importance of sustained community dialogue about public education, and the release of Book Three in the Saint Rest Reader Series, We Have Always Been Genius. This episode challenges parents, educators, mentors, elders, and community members to think intentionally about the environments we create for human development. Root Check: Who is in your village—and what are they helping you become? And just as importantly: Whose village are you part of? Rooted Dialogues is a production of Saint Rest Publications — Where Community, Culture, and Critical Thought Converge Visit us at Afrocentric.Info/SaintRest to explore more from Saint Rest Publications.

  4. Sep 11

    Rooted Dialogues S02 E05 | Bringing It Home — Family Traditions and the Wisdom Closest to Us

    Send us Fan Mail Episode 5: Bringing It Home — Family Traditions and the Wisdom Closest to Us What family traditions shaped who you are—even if no one ever called them traditions? In Episode 5 of Rooted Dialogues, Victoria Brown and LaVon Gordon are joined by Dr. Lathardus Goggins II, author of Bringing the Light into a New Day: African-centered Rites of Passage, for a deeply personal conversation about family traditions, cultural inheritance, and the wisdom passed through everyday practices.  Drawing from Chapter Two, this episode explores how family traditions become a child’s first introduction to culture. From Saturday morning phone calls and family devotions to ancestral land, graduation ceremonies, and hard-earned life lessons, Dr. Goggins shares how ordinary family practices can become powerful tools for identity, accountability, purpose, and connection.  The conversation also asks listeners to examine what they have inherited with discernment: What should be continued? What needs to be transformed? And what may need to end with us? Through the lens of Sankofa, family history becomes more than nostalgia—it becomes a source of guidance for the future.  This week’s Root Check asks: What is one family tradition—spoken or unspoken—that shaped who you’ve become? And in the Take Root Challenge, listeners are invited to begin documenting their own family wisdom by creating a family tree, identifying the family griot, recording stories, preserving heirlooms and land history, and reflecting on recurring themes, struggles, and lessons across generations. Because what happens in the family does not stay in the family. Wisdom has to move. Rooted Dialogues — where community, culture, and critical thought converge. Rooted Dialogues is a production of Saint Rest Publications — Where Community, Culture, and Critical Thought Converge Visit us at Afrocentric.Info/SaintRest to explore more from Saint Rest Publications.

  5. Sep 11

    Rooted Dialogues S02 E04 | Collective Cultural Wisdom and the Meaning We Make

    Send us Fan Mail What does the next generation deserve to inherit from us besides possessions? In Episode 4 of Rooted Dialogues, co-hosts Victoria Brown and LaVon Gordon explore how collective cultural wisdom gives us more than information—it provides a framework for understanding who we are, interpreting our experiences, and making conscious decisions about what we carry forward. Drawing from Dr. Lathardus Goggins II’s Bringing the Light into a New Day: African-centered Rites of Passage, the conversation moves through meaning-making, consciousness, and context before examining African cultural context and its relationship to identity, learning, family, and community. The episode also turns its attention to education, asking whether young people are simply receiving information or experiencing learning that helps them develop an authentic sense of self, think critically, understand their history, and engage the world with purpose. This week’s Black Nugget reminds us: “If you understand the beginning well, the end will not trouble you.” And in the Take Root Challenge, listeners are invited to create a “Non-Material Inheritance List”—examining what they received, what deserves to continue, what needs to change, and what they intend to intentionally pass on. Because wisdom must do more than remain with us. Wisdom has to move. Rooted Dialogues — where community, culture, and critical thought converge. Rooted Dialogues is a production of Saint Rest Publications — Where Community, Culture, and Critical Thought Converge Visit us at Afrocentric.Info/SaintRest to explore more from Saint Rest Publications.

  6. Aug 17

    Rooted Dialogues S02 E03 | Sankofa in Practice: Purpose, Preparation, and the Field We Cultivate

    Send us Fan Mail In Episode 3 of Rooted Dialogues, Victoria Brown and LaVon Gordon are joined by Dr. Lathardus Goggins II for a deeper look at Chapter One of Bringing the Light into a New Day. The conversation explores the purpose and function of rites of passage, the Ten Basic Assumptions, Sankofa, and the difference between potential and preparation. The episode also connects these ideas to Dr. Timothy D. Goler’s Liberated Mind and the question of how identity, culture, and environment shape development. Root Check: Who or what is shaping the person you are becoming—and how much of that shaping is intentional? Mentioned Resources: Bringing the Light into a New Day: African-centered Rites of Passage — Dr. Lathardus Goggins II365 Black Nuggets: Wisdom for Each Day of the Year — Dr. Lathardus Goggins IILiberated Mind: A Guide to Black Clarity — Dr. Timothy D. GolerCity Club of Cleveland — Liberated Mind: Clarity, Identity, and the Conditions That Shape UsResource Books and MoreDr. Goggins’ Thursday One-Minute ThoughtSaint Rest PublicationsRooted Dialogues is a production of Saint Rest Publications — Where Community, Culture, and Critical Thought Converge Visit us at Afrocentric.Info/SaintRest to explore more from Saint Rest Publications.

  7. Aug 11

    Rooted Dialogues S02 Episode 02 | Twenty-Five Years of Bringing the Light: Voices, Vision, and the Beginning

    Send us Fan Mail In Episode Two of Rooted Dialogues, Victoria Brown and LaVon Gordon continue their journey through Dr. Lathardus Goggins II’s Bringing the Light into a New Day: African-centered Rites of Passage by looking at the voices that helped frame the book’s significance across more than twenty-five years. The conversation highlights early endorsements, including the late Dr. Myles Munroe’s 1998 reflection on value, worth, and significance, as well as perspectives from Paul Hill Jr., Pamela M. Hubbard, and others who recognized the book as both a scholarly contribution and a practical resource for youth development, education, and African-centered rites of passage. The cohosts then turn to the Introduction, exploring key ideas such as light as opportunity, hope, and wisdom; Sankofa as the intentional retrieval of what still serves us; cultural continuity; identity; purpose; and the importance of family-based, community-linked development.   Also in this episode, Victoria and LaVon recognize Black Business Month, discuss Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.’s historic Bigger and Better Business program, reflect on the legacy of the Divine Nine, and share an update from Saint Rest Publications, including the release of Reader Series Book Two, Education as Human Development. This episode invites listeners to consider a central question: What wisdom from our past still has work to do in our future? Subscribe, share the podcast, and pick up your copy of Bringing the Light into a New Day so you can read along throughout Season Two. Rooted Dialogues is a production of Saint Rest Publications — Where Community, Culture, and Critical Thought Converge Visit us at Afrocentric.Info/SaintRest to explore more from Saint Rest Publications.

  8. Aug 2

    Rooted Dialogues — Season 2, Episode 1 (Reboot)

    Send us Fan Mail Bringing the Light: Returning to the Root Rooted Dialogues returns for Season Two with a renewed format, new conversations, and a deeper exploration of the connections between culture, identity, education, community, and purpose. Cohosts Victoria Brown and LaVon Gordon welcome listeners back and introduce the new recurring segments that will shape the season: Root Check, Black Nugget of the Week, Today’s Dialogue, From the Pages, Deep Dive, Take Root Challenge, and Community Reflection. The episode also catches up on what has been growing since Season One, including developments at Saint Rest Publications, new publishing initiatives and resources, upcoming projects, collaborations, and the continuing professional and scholarly work of Dr. Lathardus Goggins II. Dr. Goggins then joins Victoria and LaVon as a special guest to introduce the central text for Season Two, Bringing the Light into a New Day: African-centered Rites of Passage. Together, they explore the meaning behind the metaphor of “bringing the light,” the principle of Sankofa, the intentional transmission of cultural wisdom, and why African-centered rites of passage remain relevant to families, educators, and communities today. The conversation also raises a question that will follow listeners throughout the season: What kind of human beings are we intentionally developing—and what wisdom are we responsible for passing forward? Season Two begins by returning to the root so that we can thoughtfully move into a new day. Rooted Dialogues: Where Community, Culture, and Critical Thought Converge. Rooted Dialogues is a production of Saint Rest Publications — Where Community, Culture, and Critical Thought Converge Visit us at Afrocentric.Info/SaintRest to explore more from Saint Rest Publications.

  9. Feb 5

    Rooted Dialogues — Season One (All Episodes)

    Send us Fan Mail Rooted Dialogues — Season One Season One of Rooted Dialogues is a nine-episode, African-centered exploration of rites of passage, education, identity, history, and human development. Grounded in scholarship and community wisdom, this season examines how education functions—both as a tool for liberation and as a mechanism of control—and what it means to reclaim learning as a culturally rooted, humanizing process. Across the season, hosts Victoria Brown and LaVon Gordon, joined by Dr. Lathardus Goggins II, guide listeners through a deep dive into African-centered Rites of Passage and Education, unpacking the universal process of human development and its implications for educators, students, parents, communities, and scholars. The conversations move from theory to history, from critique to implication, and ultimately toward responsibility and action. Season One closes by reflecting on more than 25 years of African-centered educational work and setting the stage for what comes next—affirming that while this chapter has ended, the work continues. Rooted Dialogues - Where community, culture, and critical thought converge. Episode 1: An introduction to Rooted Dialogues, setting the purpose, tone, and African-centered framework for the conversations ahead. Episode 2: A foundational discussion on African-centered education, examining the duties of educators and the role of conscience in teaching and learning. Episode 3: The beginning of a deep dive into African-centered Rites of Passage and Education, introducing the text, its origins, and its core purpose. Episode 4: A focused exploration of the rites of passage model, unpacking its stages, structure, and transformative potential for youth development. Episode 5: An examination of sense of self, identity, and consciousness, and how mis-education shapes academic experiences for African-descended students. Episode 6: A historical and structural analysis of American schooling, tracing how narratives of Black inferiority continue to shape education and outcomes. Episode 7: A discussion of the implications of African-centered rites of passage for educators, students, families, communities, and scholars. Episode 8: A 25-year reflection on African-centered educational work, examining SEL, trauma-informed practices, power, and the limits of reform without culture. Episode 9: The Season One finale, closing the circle with reflections on purpose, intention, responsibility, and the work ahead. Rooted Dialogues is a production of Saint Rest Publications — Where Community, Culture, and Critical Thought Converge Visit us at Afrocentric.Info/SaintRest to explore more from Saint Rest Publications.

  • 9 Episodes

About

Rooted in African-centered perspectives, this podcast explores themes of education, identity, literature, and liberation—bridging the wisdom of the past with the solutions for our future. Whether you're an educator, reader, or community builder, Rooted Dialogues invites you to grow with us—one episode at a time.

Information

  • Creator
    Saint Rest Publications
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    9
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Rooted Dialogues
  • Show Website
    Rooted Dialogues