Their Wildest Dreams?

In this final episode, Sandhya shares an excerpt from the end of their book Rebels, Despots, and Saints, focusing on what gifts our ancestors give us as we seek to create a better world.

In an unintentional crossover episode (Sandhya also hosts a podcast on Avatar the Last Airbender, a cartoon that talks a LOT about the four elements), Kevin talks about the cultural wisdom of his grandmother and how soup and consulting have more in common than you might think.

Kevin John Fong is a cultural translator, community circle facilitator, writer, and founder of the Kahakulei Institute, whose mission is to weave people and possibilities to cultivate communities of belonging.

You can find Kevin on his website at: https://www.kahakulei.com/kevin-john-fong

Sujatha and Sandhya talk about reincarnation, restorative justice, and writing to ancestors…and hearing back from them.

Sujatha Baliga is a long-time restorative justice practitioner and meditation instructor whose geeky sensibilities and love for everybody and everything are owed to her Buddhist path. 

Samip Mallick proves that you don’t need to be woo in order to connect with ancestors. Samip is co-founder and executive director of the South Asian American Digital Archives and shares some powerful stories of ancestors that he encountered through historic research. Lots of helpful hints and insights in this episode!

Samip Mallick is the co-founder and executive director of SAADA, which he has guided from its inception in 2008 to its place today as a national leader in community-based storytelling. Mallick's background includes degrees in computer science and library and information sciences and work related to international migration and South Asia for the for the Social Science Research Council and University of Chicago. Mallick currently serves on the Library of Congress Connecting Communities Digital Initiative advisory board. He also previously served as an archival consultant for the Ford Foundation's Reclaiming the Border Narrative initiative and on the Pennsylvania Governor's Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs.

Carol Robison brings immense wisdom to how white people can connect with ancestors of color in ways that are accountable; she also talks with Sandhya about how to not connect with the ancestors who aren’t ready to be helpful to you.

Joyce del Rosario joins host Sandhya Jha to talk about decolonizing ancestors and the intersections of faith, ritual, culture, and connection to the ancestors we were taught to ignore. This podcast is the book launch project for Sandhya’s latest book, Rebels, Despots, and Saints: The Ancestors who Free Us, and the Ancestors We Need to Free. You can get your copy from Chalice Media Group or from your local bookstore!

Check out Joyce’s materials at joycedelrosario.com or find her on IG at @prayingpilipino

In this ninth episode, Sandhya talks Rebecca Cokley. Rebecca is a 2nd generation civil rights activist working at the nexus of good trouble and justice. They talk about how movement ancestors can raise us and how our ancestors’ stories can sometimes interweave with our work in the present day…in complicated and also powerful ways.

You can find Rebecca on Twitter at @rebeccacokely. 

In this episode, Sandhya talks with playwright and powerhouse activist Regina Evans about tree spirits, Mary Harris, and rest as resistance. And all of it ties to ancestors, I promise.

Regina Evans is an artist who is determined to find her way in this, sometimes difficult and sometimes lovely, world.

In this episode, Sandhya talks with poet and friend Tai Amri Spann-Ryan about oatmeal, ancestors, and who he pays tribute to in his writing and spiritual practice. Tai Amri is a Black father, poet, gardener, educator and Ifa practitioner.

In this episode, Sandhya talks with justice doula Micky ScottBey Jones about some VERY surprising ancestors in her lineage, and also about the power of ancestors when she was becoming deeply engaged in anti-racism work and womanist theology and philosophy.

In this fifth episode, we meet Katy Valentine, a brilliant friend and colleague who in her own words assists everyday Christians connect to the metaphysical universe to shift from guilt to joy. She and Sandhya discuss how to connect with ancestors on a spiritual level, and they also discuss the virtual summit they’re planning together for May 11-13. As always, this show is connected to Sandhya’s newest book, Rebels, Despots, and Saints: The Ancestors who Free Us, and the Ancestors We Need to Free. You can get your copy from Chalice Media Group or from your local bookstore!

In this fourth episode, we get to hang out with Patricia Contreras Flores, an activist and healer in Oakland, who describes herself as a medicine carrier and cultivating bruja/curandera who strives to be a noble warrior who honors the ances trees. She and Sandhya talk about storytellers, cultural ancestors, and the work ancestors need to do themselves in order to get free. Sandhya shared some stories about Patricia in their recent book, Rebels, Despots, and Saints: The Ancestors who Free Us, and the Ancestors We Need to Free. You can get your copy from Chalice Media Group or from your local bookstore!

In this episode, Kat Gilje joins Sandhya to talk about her journey of connecting with white ancestors as part of her work to dismantle white supremacy. Stuff gets deep, and Kat is also super inspiring!

A few of the resources Kat shared:

In this second episode, Sandhya talks with Greg Hodge, father, mentor, facilitator and artist deeply rooted in racial equity and healing work in Oakland, California. Greg talks about how he was raised with an appreciation of ancestors and also how ancestors taught him that resistance to oppression was his birthright.

You can connect to Greg at @hodgeforoakland on Instagram and connect with his wider work at https://brotherhoodofelders.net/

In this first episode, Sandhya talks about how Oakland organizers inspired their newest book and reads an excerpt from Rebels, Despots, and Saints: The Ancestors who Free Us, and the Ancestors We Need to Free. You can get your copy from Chalice Media Group or from your local bookstore!