Amateur Activist with Isabela Herrera

This week the Amateur Activist is joined by Dr Joel Hollier, researcher, writer, social worker, and pastor. Joel has degrees in both social work and theology, with a PhD in Behavioural Science. His research covers the intersections of trauma, faith, gender, and sexuality. He is the author of A Place at His Table: a biblical exploration of faith, sexuality, and the kingdom of God and teaches at the University of Sydney. Isabela and Joel have a conversation about living a trauma-informed life. They define what trauma is, the biology of trauma, moving forward from trauma, and answer a couple of questions from Instagram.  Website: https://www.joelhollier.com/ Social Media: @joelhollier Link to ebook: https://www.joelhollier.com/resources 

The Amateur Activist brings you another solo episode! On this week's episode, join in on a conversation around navigating friendships in your 20s. She covers all of the bases - from friendship breakups, investing in existing friendships, and how to make new friends. Enjoy amateur activists. 

This week, the Amateur Activist is joined by Kate Boyd. Kate is a writer, Bible teacher, and host of the Happy & Holy podcast. She helps believers who find themselves in the messy middle between loving the church and leaving it to more confidently walk the lines between doubt and certainty and faith and action with love and grace for all. She has travelled the world to interview and tell the stories of believers on mission, and inspired by those encounters, she creates spaces to facilitate wholehearted discipleship in the church at home. She is studying theology with an emphasis in church history and biblical languages at Perkins School of Theology.  Website: kateboyd.co Instagram: @kateboyd.co Twitter: @thekateboyd Untidy Faith Newsletter: kateboyd.co/newsletter Podcast: kateboyd.co/podcast Big Picture Bible Toolkit: kateboyd.co/bible

The Amateur Activist is joined by Cody Nesper for a little reunion. Isabela and Cody met in 2018 when Cody was Isabela's trainer at bible college and over the years he has become both a mentor and a friend. In this episode, Isabela asks Cody about his relationship with Jesus and the Church and how that relationship has evolved and changed over the years. Their conversation covers a range of topics from Jesus and church to "sin" to proof texts and back again to Jesus.  *TRIGGER WARNING: brief mention of childhood sexual abuse

The Amateur Activist is joined by ... herself. In this week's episode, Isabela provides some advice. She discusses the frequent questions and worries that people DM and ask like "how do you deal with burnout?" or "how do you navigate the online activism space?" Such important questions, especially after the last two years. Isabela doesn't attempt to erase worries from your mind or solve issues but she hopes that in this short, solo episode, you feel a little more equipped to take on this year as an "amateur activist."

The Amateur Activist is joined by Ellie Coburn to chat through her experience fostering and adopting. Ellie is a 25 year old photographer, writer and storyteller from San Diego, California who began fostering at 21 years old. Four years later, 14 foster placements, and now two beautiful children she’s adopted, Ellie and Isabela talk about her philosophy around adoption, her unlearning of the nuclear family, and the “unconventional” practices Ellie has implemented throughout her journey as a foster parent in order to prioritise reunification. She also shares wisdom on how to use vulnerability and transparency to build strong community and support. This is the first episode in what will become a mini-series about the foster care system. In upcoming episodes, Isabela will sit down with former foster youth, social workers, caseworkers / case managers and other foster parents to look at this topic in a holistic way. You can find Ellie on Instagram @elliecoburn We would love to hear from you - send us a message @amateuractivistpod or @belagiirrll or leave a review on Apple Podcast.

Leané joins the Amateur Activist to talk about her move away from "traditional ministry" and into the space she feels God calling her to: politics. Leané and Isabela follow the timeline from 2018 until now, attempting to track Leané's journey from Brisbane to Sydney, through her time on staff at a Christian college, to now where she's currently employed as a Social Media & Policy Advisor to a NSW State Minister (& will be starting a new role soon as Parliamentary Liason Advisor to NSW Minister, Victor Dominello). Leané's story as told in this episode is filled with so much wisdom and gold. It serves as a testament that sometimes what God has called you to is outside the four walls of a church building.

The Amateur Activist is joined by a dear friend living in Canada, Danii Zak Jernigan. Danii is passionate about chronic pain advocacy and wellness because back in 2017, she was hit by a car as a pedestrian while living and studying in Sydney, Australia. Danii shares her story about the accident, the timeline of healing and her “discovery” that she had chronic pain and damaged nerves. Isabela and Danii dive into Danii’s experience with the journey of healing from a serious accident, they get slightly sidetracked by the presence of ableism in churches and bring it back to the different ways Danii has implemented natural and holistic ways of healing. And of course, Isabela asks how we as able-bodied people can help and support those with chronic pain. If you want to connect with Danii and learn more about The Wellness Journey and her advocacy, you can find her on Instagram @daniizak!

Charlotte is an award-winning singer and actor who has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting. She has worked professionally as a performer, producer, model and artist in Canada, England and Australia. She's acted in two films (Eurovision and Rocketman) with her most recent roles include playing Beth in Little Women (2020), the voice of the Commander in Tom Clancy’s video game Division Two (2019) and her most recent role at Fox Studios (2021). Caitlin has a Diploma in Film & TV and is currently studying for a Bachelor in Media and Communications. Her training credits have given her skills as an actor, singer, make-up artist, producer and director. Caitlin has directed a TV pilot and is currently working on further original works (2018-current). She's worked on tv shows such as Home and Away, Total Control, The Bachelor and her most recent project, a George Miller film (2021). Charlotte & Caitlin join the Amateur Activist to discuss the misrepresentation and over-sexualisation of women in film. The trio talk about why this conversation is needed and so important, that despite what people might say, film and tv do impact society. So, how women are represented IF they're represented, is important to be aware of.  (Isabela does manage to sneak in her love of Twilight, Robert Pattinson & Kristen Stewart while talking to two actors ... absolutely shameful.) The question this episode is hoping to answer is: how do we (both as actors / people in the industry & the audience) begin to shape, change & influence how women are represented in film? Instagram Accounts: youcreativestudios (go follow & support their new production company!) caitlinlopez__ charlottejanedenton thefemalelead australianwomensfilmfestival womeninfilmla drcarolineleaf brenebrown HelloSunshine.com

Cait joins the Amateur Activist to talk about the beast that is purity culture, a subculture of evangelical Christianity that saw its peak in the late 90's early 2000s that promoted a biblical view of purity. It does this by discouraging dating & promoting virginity before marriage through things like purity rings and purity vows / balls. The impact of purity culture on Christians is felt decades later and Cait and Isabela attempt to start to peel back the layers and simply have a discussion about the impact it had on their lives as well as the impact it had on some peers. What is purity? Is there unequal pressure put on women over men when it comes to staying pure? Do we toss out everything we learned in regards to purity culture? Can someone be sexually active in a committed relationship be seen as "purer" if their heart and actions are pure? The big question Cait and Isabela try to answer is: how can churches have a conversation about purity? We hope this conversation gives you a little bit of hope - that God is in it all, that there is a way to come out of purity culture and figure out what is healthy and helpful for you and your relationships. (and we hope you laugh) Some accounts that we find helpful: Instagram: Sex The Whole Story the.Holistic.Psychologist Talk Purity to Me