So Far, So Good

In this episode, Kerri and Kayla talk with Jaja Chen about community, cultural representation and Asian-American experiences. Jaja is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, co-owner of Cha Community, president and founder of the Asian Leaders Network in Waco, and a Garland School of Social Work alum. She brings the memoir Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner to discuss the diverse ways in which families pass down culture through generations and food as a universal language. 

Content Warnings: Discussions of grief, death, and loss of cultural heritage

In episode 2 of season 3, Kerri and Kayla talk with Mary Zane Nelson about generational love, healing and motherhood. Mary Zane is a Postpartum Doula and the Project Director for the BEAR Project at the Diana R. Garland School of Social Work. She brings the digital painting, "Ancestral Healing" by Tarn Ellis to discuss feminine nurturing figures, mothering without a mother, and the joys and tensions of parenthood.

Content Warnings: Discussions of grief, parental death, postpartum depression, cancer. 

We're back for Season 3! In this first episode, Kerri and Kayla talk with Dr. Coretta Pittman about intersectionality, privilege and the beauty of knowing that, “We are all a little strange.” Dr. Pittman is the Associate Dean for Diversity and Belonging in the Baylor University College of Arts & Sciences. She brings the novel The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride to discuss honoring bodies, existing in the world, and challenging the status quo.

Content Warnings: Brief mentions of death (non-descriptive)

In this episode, Kerri hosts our very own Kayla Mize to talk about personality traits, motherhood, pregnancy, and boundary setting. Kayla is a community social worker in Waco. She brings Dawn Konofaos’s Instagram account @alevri.co to discuss baking, balancing rest and work, perfectionism, and being true to ourselves.

Content Warnings: None

In this episode, Kerri and Kayla talk with Dr. Elise Edwards about meditation, meaning-making, commitment to new life and the commonality of grief. Dr. Edwards is an assistant professor at Baylor University and teaches Christian ethics and theology courses in Baylor’s Department of Religion. She brings the documentary Aftershock (2022) to discuss Black maternal health and wellness, hypervigilance in healthcare spaces, and a multifaceted approach to healing.

Content Warnings: Discussions of death, grief, bodies, and weight

In this episode, Kerri and Kayla talk with Abby Waters about gender exploration, brave spaces, internal interrogation, and engaging with empathy and humanity. Abby is a local social worker and a graduate of the Garland School of Social Work. They bring the poetry book Your Wound, My Garden by Alok Vaid-Menon to discuss tensions of the body and deconstructing gender through fashion.

Content Warnings: Brief mentions of LGBTQ+ trauma (non-descriptive)

In this episode, Kerri and Kayla talk with Jazmine Reed about universal experiences, self-actualization, and the journey of discovery. Jazmine is a two-time graduate of the Garland School of Social Work and a Care Case Manager with the Baylor care team. She brings the album "American Bollywood" by Young the Giant to discuss racial identity development and what it means to be a “third culture kid”.

Content Warnings: Generational trauma

In this episode, Kerri and Kayla talk with Dr. David Pooler about connection, joy and being “moved at the deepest level”. Dr. Pooler has been a professor at the Garland School of Social Work for 14 years and has 20 years of social work practice experience. He brings the Documentary Black Travel Across America to discuss resilience, transformation, and what it means to live “in spite of”.

Content Warnings: Brief mentions of trauma and abuse (non-descriptive)

In this episode, Kerri and Kayla talk with Kasey Ashenfelter about biracial identities and “finding our roots”. Kasey Ashenfelter is the director of Foundation Relations for Baylor University. He brings All You Can Ever Know: A Memoir by Nicole Chung to discuss trans-racial adoption and what it means to belong.

Content Warnings: None

WE'RE BACK WITH SEASON 2!

In this episode, Kerri and Kayla talk with Carrie Arroyo about introversion, counter-culture mothering, and divine femininity. Carrie Arroyo is a social work practitioner and senior lecturer at Baylor University's Garland School of Social Work. She brings the painting "Generosity" by Melanie Weidner to discuss receiving, giving, nurturing and keeping. 

Content Warnings: None

Bonus Episode: “The Joke” with Aaron Mize

In this episode, Kerri and Kayla talk with Aaron Mize, CEO of Communities In Schools of the Heart of Texas, about power dynamics and the importance of engaging with and believing the life experiences of others. For discussion, Aaron brings the song "The Joke" by singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile.

Referenced Material:

In this episode, Kayla hosts our very own Kerri to talk about size privilege, health indicators outside of thinness, & seeing the image of God in every body, at every size. Kerri is a senior lecturer and DEI consultant at the Garland School of Social work. Kerri has been with the Garland School for seven years and enjoys both academic and creative writing. She brings the first six episodes of the podcast Maintenance Phase by Aubrey Gordon and Michael Hobbes to discuss this week.

Content Warnings:

- Discussion of size, weight, and food

Material to Reference in show notes:

In this episode, Kerri and Kayla talk with Morgan Strehlow about the nuances of bodies, intersectionality, appreciating versus objectifying, and "ideal" bodies from a cultural and historical lens. Morgan is the MSW Program Manager for the Garland School of Social Work. Morgan is also an avid blogger, podcaster, and lover of justice. She brings a podcast by Maria Garcia called "Anything for Selena", specifically the episode "Big Butt Politics",  to discuss this week.

Content Warnings: Discussion around bodies and body image

Material to Reference in show notes: 

In this episode, Kerri and Kayla talk with Dr. Juan Carlos Esparza Ochoa about exploring the beautiful and complex relationship between culture, religion, social constructs and identity. Dr. Esparza Ochoa is the director of the Program on Religion and Latin American Studies at Baylor University. He is on faculty at the Garland School and studies global religious change and impact. He brings the painting The Last Supper by Carlos Ezequiel Gomes da Silva to discuss this week.

Content Warnings:

None

Reference material:

Episode 4: “Student of Story” with LeAnn Gardner—In this episode, Kerri and Kayla talk with LeAnn Gardner about the luxury of religious opinion, the universal connection of the mothering spirit and empowering families of transgender children. LeAnn is a lecturer and associate director of Field Education for the online Garland School of Social Work MSW program. She is a clinical social worker and ordained minister whose passion is the intersection of faith and social work issues. LeAnn brings stories to share about what they taught her about her own privilege and the importance of protecting abundant life.

Content Warnings: Discussions of suicide, LGBTQ+ trauma

Referenced Materials:

Episode 3: “... And Make Them Eat it!” with Deborah De Laurell

In this episode, Kerri and Kayla talk with Deb De Laurell about RuPaul's Drag Race, the bravery of queerness and the persisting question "do I fit?" Deb is the Global Mission Leadership program manager for the Garland School of Social Work. Deb also provides support to the associate dean of Academic Affairs in the MSW Program. She brings the performance of Latrice Royale from RuPaul's Drag Race to discuss this week.

Content Warnings: Early episodes of RuPaul's Drag Race have themes of transphobia; discussions of LGBTQ+ coming out trauma

Episode 2: “Little Girl Blue” with Dr. Jon Singletary

In this episode, Kerri and Kayla talk with Dr. Jon Singletary about white tears, the power of music, and “what is ours to do”. Dr. Singletary is the dean of the Garland School of Social Work. He brings the music of Nina Simone to discuss.

So Far, So Good: Engaging diversity and difference one story at a time