Normal Talk

Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church

Let’s learn to normalize conversation in abnormal times. We’re engaging in hard conversations with leaders and members of our community and asking as many questions as we can. Welcome to Normal Talk.

Episodes

  1. Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

    10/22/2025

    Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

    On October 7, 2025 we gathered with the Athens, GA community to discuss the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. Dr. Eli Sperling from the School of International Affairs at UGA led us in a productive conversation on the background of the conflict, as well as how we can understand and process the modern state of the issues.

    1h 26m
  2. Deportation

    09/08/2025

    Deportation

    In March of 2025, we joined the Athens community to explore the complexities and impact of deportation, its relationship to today's political climate, and how it uniquely applies to the Athens community. Ben Allee moderated as Dr. Lori Garrett-Hatfield and Rev. Miki Chastain led us in a phenomenal discussion on the subject of deportation and immigration, especially as it pertains to our local community. We are grateful to all of you who came, invited friends, and participated in another productive conversation around a difficult subject. Normal Talks exist to foster a safe space for curiosity and conversation that builds bridges between our church and our city. Please visit ⁠NormalTalk.org⁠ to stay up to date on our next event.

    1h 20m
  3. Is Democracy Failing?

    11/21/2024

    Is Democracy Failing?

    In fall of 2024, we were joined by Athens Mayor Kelly Girtz to discuss what modern democracy looks like at the national and local levels, its issues and trends, and how we participate in it as citizens.

    1h 19m

  4. 07/19/2024

    The News & Media Literacy

    This spring, we were joined by Charlotte Norsworthy Varnum, Executive Director of The Red & Black and program coordinator for the Certificate of News Literacy at UGA, to discuss the news. Listen as we discuss media consumption, news organizations, and how to find important information amid all the noise.

    1h 37m

  5. 12/05/2023

    Faith and Politics

    In October, we sat down with Justin Giboney of the AND Campaign to look at the intersection of faith and politics. Listen in as we talk through what it looks to allow our faith to define our political engagement, rather than allowing our politics to define the parameters of our faith. www.andcampaign.orgwww.normaltalk.org

    1h 23m

  6. 01/05/2021

    Mental Health in a Global Pandemic

    This space exists to normalize conversation in abnormal times. I think it’s necessary for us sometimes to relearn how to have a conversation about difficult subjects. One of those difficult subjects is mental health, especially when we’re 10 months into a pandemic that has reshaped much of our daily life and taken away so many of our routines. I think most of us at this point know someone at this point, including ourselves, whose mental health has suffered as a result of the changes brought on by the pandemic, including isolation, loss of work, and ongoing uncertainty. For this episode I had the pleasure of talking with Katie Chapin. Katie is a licensed master social worker who works at an inpatient rehabilitation program here in our town of Athens, Ga. She graciously agreed to sit down with me and discuss what working in the mental health world has looked like for her over the last few months. Join us as we discuss mental health in a global pandemic. This is Normal Talk.

    37 min

  7. 10/05/2020

    Let's Talk About Race...Again

    This space exists to normalize conversation in abnormal times. This week we will hear from Krystle Cobran. Krystle is a lawyer, a teacher, a facilitator, and now the inclusion officer for Athens-Clarke County. Krystle was one of the first people to lead a Normal Talk back when we did these events in person (thanks coronavirus). That first conversation centered on how to talk about race, an important subject then and paramount now as more and more people are aware of the realities of racial injustice and yet find themselves without the vocabulary or tools to talk about it. Join us as Krystle and I discuss, once again, how to talk about race. This is Normal Talk.

    54 min
  • 7 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Let’s learn to normalize conversation in abnormal times. We’re engaging in hard conversations with leaders and members of our community and asking as many questions as we can. Welcome to Normal Talk.

Information

  • Creator
    Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    7
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church
  • Show Website
    Normal Talk