In this episode (recorded as an Instagram Live before April's Kohenet ordination), April unpacks and examines the buzzword term "trauma-informed." Thinking and talking about trauma has become more and more common. While this is, generally speaking, a good thing, it's important--especially with something fraught, fragile, and potentially triggering--for us to be clear about what we mean, what is possible, and what is safe. April offers a new term, "trauma-agile," to  help make things clear.  Discussion and reflection questions: What in this episode is new for you? What have you lear ..read more

The limits our circumstances can place on us often creep in incrementally until we wake up one day and realize we aren’t allowing our full selves to shine. Originally an Instagram Live, this episode finds April reminding herself she can and has created space for what she wants and who she is. There is room for our whole selves in this big wide world–if we’re courageous enough to claim the space.  Discussion and reflection questions: What in this episode is new for you? What have you learned and how does it land? What is resonating? What is sticking with you and why? What feels hard? Wha ..read more

In this contemplative episode, April reflects on key insights she gained while on vacation. Rest and fun opened up the truth that despite leaning into heart- and spirit-led living, there is still more room–and even an obligation–to be fully and truly oneself. Movement toward that truth can feel scary, since humans sometimes (often?) compromise who we are in service to belonging. But belonging based on censoring our true selves is not true belonging.  Discussion and reflection questions: What in this episode is new for you? What have you learned and how does it land? What is resonating? W ..read more

In this reprise of episode 30, April and Tracie reveal the liberatory wisdom in eight practices from Passover observance. Find April and Tracie's full bios and submit topic suggestions for the show at www.JewsTalkRacialJustice.com Learn more about Joyous Justice where April is the founding and fabulous (!) director and Tracie is a senior partner: https://joyousjustice.com/ Resources mentioned: Learn more about the characteristics of White Supremacy Culture: https://www.dismantlingracism.org/uploads/4/3/5/7/43579015/okun_-_white_sup_culture.pdf Hear the song "All my relations" by Ulali: https ..read more

In this vulnerable episode, April shares recent experiences uncovering and working to heal old wounds including feelings of rage, betrayal, and fear. She shares details of fear she’s been navigating and ways it’s been holding her back and that she’s ready to let go of. For April, transparency around her process of feeling and transmuting suffering toward healing is a strategic move to help counter the perception that to have joy we must deny or ignore suffering.  Discussion and reflection questions: What in this episode is new for you? What have you learned and how does it land? What is ..read more

Resilience has gotten a bad rap recently. The ability to “bounce back” has been conflated with the requirement to bounce back into oppressive dynamics. But it’s those oppressive dynamics, not the bouncing back, that’s ultimately the problem.  In this episode, April explores the difference between the gift of resilience and the ways in which it has been weaponized by capitalist and neo-colonialist contexts, and previews the work she’ll be leading in the Redefining Resilience workshop next week. Secure your spot in the workshop: joyousjustice.com/resilience Discussion and reflection quest ..read more

In today’s conversation, we’re thinking about the difference between making something happen, and making space to see what happens. We explore the transition journeys we are both on, the messaging that April is receiving from her body and the Divine while she navigates being sick, the need to slow down when in the midst of massive transformation.  Discussion and reflection questions: What in this episode is new for you? What have you learned and how does it land? What is resonating? What is sticking with you and why? What feels hard? What is challenging or on the edge for you? What feeli ..read more

In this special conversation, we share some important announcements about transitions that all three members of the Joyous Justice team are embarking upon. In this season of emergence and introspection, all of our transitions are both unique, and sacredly timed and interwoven. April also describes how she’s releasing shame around how her mind works. And, we share our appreciation for Joyous Justice, this podcast, and the potent transformation that we’ve experienced and is to come. Discussion and reflection questions: What in this episode is new for you? What have you learned and how does it ..read more

In today’s episode April investigates the power of shifting our focus away from reactions to what is going wrong toward an appreciative look at what we truly want. And for those of us who may have a hard time knowing what we want, she shares a tool (a wheel of well-being. You can make yourself a copy from the link below) and some key questions to help guide us. Make your own copy of an interactive Wheel of Well-being here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/11v7y1pvHKs8BG2DDyiZ2wfpFS5lt9P57rAzLx0KeJzI/edit?usp=sharing When thinking about what you want (next) in one aspect of your life, co ..read more

This week, we put Tu B’Shevat, the Jewish New Year of the trees, in conversation with AI (artificial intelligence) technologies like ChatGPT and Lensa AI. We weigh in on this debate (or socratic seminar, as April calls it) and think about our pacing as AI becomes an increasingly bigger part of our lives.  Explore ChatGPT: https://chat.openai.com/chat Find Jo Kent Katz’ website here: https://www.jokentkatz.com/ Learn more about Ricardo Levins Morales: https://www.rlmartstudio.com Learn more about Aurora Levins Morales: http://www.auroralevinsmorales.com/ Listen to our episode titled “S ..read more