the phillip baber podcast

Hear the conclusion of Phil's conversation with Matt Hartley, including Matt's defense of the infamous "Martha" scene in "Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice." Phil and Matt then discuss their shared love of "WandaVision."

In this episode Phil welcomes back Matt Hartley, Director of the University of North Florida Interfaith Center. Hear them discuss details of a new ecumenical anti-racism initiative for Jacksonville churches--the Jacksonville Repentance Project--followed by their long-awaited showdown over the merits of the 2016 blockbuster, "Batman v. Superman."

The Reverend Jennifer Butler is the founding Executive Director of Faith in Public Life (FPL), a national movement of clergy and faith leaders united in the prophetic pursuit of justice, equality, and the common good. Prior to leading FPL, Rev. Butler spent ten years working in the field of international human rights representing the Presbyterian Church (USA) at the United Nations. She has also served as chair of the White House Council on Faith and Neighborhood Partnerships under the Obama Administration. Rev. Butler joins us today to talk about her latest book: Who Stole My Bible: Reclaiming Scripture as a Handbook for Resisting Tyranny.

Phil and Thomas finish their conversation talking about the nature of ministry.

In this episode Phil and Thomas talk about parenting, embodied spiritual practices, and the evolution of God.

After a short hiatus, the podcast returns with this episode in which Phillip and Tyler discuss their respective spiritual journeys, which led to the recent founding of The People's Church of Jacksonville.

The Rev. Dr. Bruce Havens is currently serving as senior pastor of Arlington Congregational UCC in Jacksonville; he is also co-President of ICARE, the Interfaith Coalition for Action Reconciliation and Empowerment. Hear him and Phillip discuss the ongoing COVID pandemic, Sheriff Mike Williams's failure to respond to ICARE's request to meet to discuss intervention training for JSO, and the eroding value of Truth under the Trump administration.

In this episode, Phil speaks again with activist, organizer, and Army veteran Od’Juan Whitfield. Hear them discuss Od'Juan's spiritual journey, his experience of homelessness, how certain theologies of sin may be misused to justify poverty and police brutality, and the moral implications of the ever-widening wealth gap.

In this episode, Phil interviews Director for Diversity and Inclusion at the Coggin College of Business at the University of North Florida, Parvez Ahmed. Parvez is a Fulbright Scholar and Arthur Vining Davis Fellow who has received numerous accolades over his career, including the Silver Medallion Humanitarian Award from OneJax and the Desmond Tutu Peace and Reconciliation Award from UNF. Hear him discuss the future of the Black Lives Matter Movement, U.S. political polarization, and the American Muslim experience in the age of Trump.

Taryn Wharwoord, AKA "LoveReigns," is a Jacksonville performing artist specializing in spoken word poetry. Hear her discuss the role of art at this pivotal moment in our history, her experience of Jacksonville, and the systemic racism in our nation that is embedded in our founding documents.

Andrea Myers is the Executive Director of GlobalJax, a Jacksonville non-profit providing international exchange and education across North Florida for 30 years. In this episode, Andrea and Phil discuss the role of international exchange at this pivotal moment in our history, the ways faith impacts our posture toward difference and diversity, and the unique challenges and opportunities for greater justice in our city.

In this episode, Phil interviews Britt Hester, Minister of Youth and Christian Education at Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church. Hear them discuss the role youth are playing right now in leading social movements and the struggle of white individuals and the white church in discerning how best to be an ally to the BLM movement.

In the wake of nationwide civil unrest following the murder of George Floyd, Phillip is interviewing local black leaders and activists to provide insight, inspiration, and courage in these unsettling times. In this episode, Phil offers concluding thoughts, followed by 8 minutes and 46 seconds of silence.

In the wake of nationwide civil unrest following the murder of George Floyd, Phillip is interviewing local black leaders and activists to provide insight, inspiration, and courage in these unsettling times. In this episode, Phil speaks with longtime local activist Mike Todd, who is currently the North Florida Lead Organizer at The New Florida Majority. He discusses the news of the RNC coming to Jax and ongoing demands from local organization for Justice, including defunding of the police.

In the wake of nationwide civil unrest following the murder of George Floyd, Phillip is interviewing local black leaders and activists to provide insight, inspiration, and courage in these unsettling times. In this episode, Phil speaks with Anthony Rogers, creator and host of the podcast, “Bruh, Listen!” which is dedicated to exploring black socio-political issues to inspire systemic change.

In the wake of nationwide civil unrest following the murder of George Floyd, Phillip is interviewing local black leaders and activists to provide insight, inspiration, and courage in these unsettling times. In this episode, Phil speaks with Jacksonville activist Terri Neal about the RNC coming to Jax, what motivated her to become an activist, fair compensation for black victims of injustice, and the role of conservative white churches in spreading white supremacist sentiments.

In the wake of nationwide civil unrest following the murder of George Floyd, Phillip is interviewing local black leaders and activists to provide insight, inspiration, and courage in these unsettling times. This is Part 2 of a conversation in which Phil speaks with Jacksonville resident and concerned citizen Rhoda James about what is happening both nationally and locally regarding the Black Lives Matter movement and the need for police accountability.

In the wake of nationwide civil unrest following the murder of George Floyd, Phillip is interviewing local black leaders and activists to provide insight, inspiration, and courage in these unsettling times. In Part 1 of this episode, Phil speaks with Jacksonville resident and concerned citizen Rhoda James about what is happening both nationally and locally regarding the Black Lives Matter movement and the need for police accountability.

In the wake of nationwide civil unrest following the murder of George Floyd, Phillip is interviewing local black leaders and activists to provide insight, inspiration, and courage in these unsettling times. In this episode, Phil speaks with activist, organizer, and Army veteran Od’Juan Whitfield. Od’Juan shares his views on JSO body cam policies, increased bond prices for protesters, and the movement to defund police departments. He also speaks about how his military service and subsequent experience of homelessness led him to become an activist.

In the wake of nationwide civil unrest following the murder of George Floyd, Phillip is interviewing local black leaders and activists to provide insight, inspiration, and courage in these unsettling times. In this episode, Phil speaks with the Rev. Ron Rawls, Pastor of St. Paul AME Church in St. Augustine, Florida. Hear Rev. Rawls offer a powerful and provocative theological justification for meeting force with force when necessary to defend oneself vis-à-vis the violence inherent in white supremacy and the recent civil unrest within our nation.