Amateur Activist with Isabela Herrera

Welcome to the Amateur Book Club! In this episode, Isabela talks about Hell Bent: How the Fear of Love Holds Christians Back from a Spirituality of Love by Brian Recker. Isabela explains what the book is about and why she thinks it’s an important book for both Christians and non-Christians. She talks about the big takeaways and the confronting moments and feelings she’s decided to sit with and explore. This is the last book for the Amateur Book Club 2025. Follow us on Instagram @amateuractivistpod or on TikTok @belagiiirrrlll.As always, we are so grateful for everyone who listens and shares. When you get a moment, we'd be so grateful if you left a review on Apple Podcasts, rated us on Spotify, or tagged us in your stories on Instagram, @amateuractivistpodConnect with me on Instagram, @belagiirrllCheck out the chapter breakdowns on TikTok A massive thank you to Mossy Heart Media for designing the cover art and logo. A big thank you to David Andrew for producing the music for this season. Follow him ⁠here

This week Isabela is joined by Joel Hingston. Joel used to teach biblical studies and theology, specifically Johannine literature and Revelation. He is passionate about apocalyptic literature, ancient texts & cultures, music, guitares, Magic the Gathering, and myth.In this episode, Joel and Isabela briefly go over key aspects of Revelation, providing quick context and settling some confusion of discomfort aroung some of the unsettling and weird imagery within the book. Joel explains the history of monster theory, it’s main claim and goal, how it can be used within biblical studies, and why it might be important for us as activists. When you get a moment, I’d really appreciate it if you left a review on Apple Podcasts and/or rated us on Spotify.Connect with me on Instagram, @belagiirrllA massive thank you to Mossy Heart Media for designing the cover art and logo. A big thank you to David Andrew for producing the music for this season. Follow him ⁠here.

This week, Isabela sits down with Kat Armas - a Cuban American writer, theologian, and podcast host. In 2021, Kat released her debut book, Abuelita Faith: What Women on the Margins Teach Us about Wisdom, Persistence, and Strength. Isabela got her hands on this book at the beginning of 2022, and it transformed how she engaged with her faith. In this week's episode, Isabela and Kat discuss the book, the importance of having an embodied faith, the centrality of food to our spirituality, and how to hold in tension the harm our faith has inflicted with the hope and liberation it also brings to marginalised communities.You can connect with Kat Armas, ⁠here⁠.You can buy her first book, Abuelita Faith, ⁠here⁠.Her second book, Sacred Belonging: A 40 day Devotional on the Liberating Heart of Scripture, is available ⁠here⁠.Her upcoming book Liturgies for Resisting Empire: Seeking Community, Belonging, and Peace in a Dehumanising World is available for pre-order here. When you get a moment, I’d really appreciate it if you left a review on Apple Podcasts and/or rated us on Spotify.Connect with me on Instagram, @belagiirrllA massive thank you to Mossy Heart Media for designing the cover art and logo. A big thank you to David Andrew for producing the music for this season. Follow him ⁠here.

This week Isabela is joined by Jocelyn Rojas Clark. Jocelyn is a registered nurse who specialises in women's health, has a Master of Women's Health Medicine, is a midwife and currently juggles multiple roles, one of which is her work as a clinical nurse specialist working to help women experiencing barriers accessing mainstream health care. She is extremely passionate about helping women and education.This week, Isabela and Jocelyn discuss a variety of topics regarding the body - how to examine your breast and chest area, what vaginismus is, the myths and misconceptions about the vulva and vagina, and how they both feel about hormonal birth control. They cover it all (or at the very least, a lot).As always, we are so grateful for everyone who listens and shares. When you get a moment, we'd be so grateful if you left a review on Apple Podcasts, rated us on Spotify, or tagged us in your stories on Instagram, @amateuractivistpodConnect with me on Instagram, @belagiirrllA massive thank you to Mossy Heart Media for designing the cover art and logo. https://www.instagram.com/mossyheartmedia/?hl=en A big thank you to David Andrew for producing the music for this season. Follow him ⁠here.

Join Isabela this week as she works through chapter 3-5 of an anti-racism activity book called Do the Work! by W. Kamau Bell and Kate Schatz. This episode is the final part of this short series. In this episode, Isabela looks at America’s history & tries to answer the question, “how did we get here.” She takes a version of the US naturalisation test, re-evaluates the actions of some of our presidents, and criticises the use of red-lining & policing. Isabela ends the episode with talking about the ways we can embody what we’ve learned and how to integrate our activism into the day to day.As always, we are so grateful for everyone who listens and shares. When you get a moment, we'd be so grateful if you left a review on Apple Podcasts, rated us on Spotify, or tagged us in your stories on Instagram, @amateuractivistpodConnect with me on Instagram, @belagiirrllConnect with W. Kamau Bell here. Connect with Kate Schatz here.A massive thank you to Mossy Heart Media for designing the cover art and logo.A big thank you to David Andrew for producing the music for this season. Follow him ⁠here

Join Isabela for a solo session! This week, Isabela sits down to talk about Men's Mental Health Awareness Month and has an over-simplified yap about why the patriarchy may be at the centre of men's poor mental health, the higher suicide rates, and male loneliness. *In case no one's told you recently: you are loved, you are wanted & the world is a better place with you in it. The resources discussed in the episode are:For the United States:Call or text 988Crisis Text Line — text “home” to 741-741CA Peer-Run Warm Line — 1-855-600-9276For Australia:Lifeline AUS — 13 11 14 24/7 crisis supportFor the UK:Andy’s Man Club — a men’s suicide prevention charity that offers free-to-attend support groups across the UKMind.org — website with resources UK specific As always, we are so grateful for everyone who listens and shares. When you get a moment, we'd be so grateful if you left a review on Apple Podcasts, rated us on Spotify, or tagged us in your stories on Instagram, @amateuractivistpodConnect with me on Instagram, @belagiirrll or @amateuractivistpodA big thank you to David Andrew for producing the music for this season. Follow him ⁠here

Natalia Aíza joins the Amateur Activist this week to talk about OCD. Natalia has years of experience in this space - as an OCD experiencer, OCD therapist, activist and coach.In this episode, Isabela and Natalia talk through the basics - what is OCD, how might someone get diagnosed, and what recovery and ERP looks like. They also talk about what communities or demographics struggle with getting help because of certain pressures or stigmas and the different ways people may be able to support loved ones experiencing OCD. As always, we are so grateful for everyone who listens and shares. When you get a moment, we'd be so grateful if you left a review on Apple Podcasts, rated us on Spotify, or tagged us in your stories on Instagram, @amateuractivistpodConnect with me on Instagram, @belagiirrllConnect with Natalia on Instagram or you can email her at Natalia@kairoswellnesscollective.comA big thank you to David Andrew for producing the music for this season. Follow him ⁠here

Jarrod McKenna joins the Amateur Activist this week to talk about activism, what embodied radical compassion should look like, the important work of nonviolence, and encouragement to young people just getting started in this work. Jarrod has years of experience in this space, engaging in grassroots movements, his work with various organisations such as Common Grace, Love Makes A Way, and First Home Project. As always, we are so grateful for everyone who listens and shares. When you get a moment, we'd be so grateful if you left a review on Apple Podcasts, rated us on Spotify, or tagged us in your stories on Instagram, @amateuractivistpodConnect with me on Instagram, @belagiirrllConnect with Jarrod on Instagram, on his website, or listen to his podcasts, Inverse Podcast and Good on Wood. A big thank you to David Andrew for producing the music for this season. Follow him ⁠here

The Amateur Activist is joined by her mum for a special birthday celebration episode. Isabela’s mum, Andrea, takes over the podcast as the host and asks Isabela questions that were sent in by listeners and friends. Andrea and Isabela talk about birthday rituals, the transition from Australia back to America, and things they’ve learned about each other over the years. As always, we are so grateful for everyone who listens and shares. When you get a moment, we'd be so grateful if you left a review on Apple Podcasts, rated us on Spotify, or tagged us in your stories on Instagram, @amateuractivistpodConnect with me on Instagram, @belagiirrllA big thank you to David Andrew for producing the music for this season. Follow him ⁠here.

Lysne Tait joins the Amateur Activist to talk about period poverty in America. Lysne is the Exucive Director of Helping Women Period, a non-profit she co-founded in 2015 that provides free menstrual products and education to those experiencing homelessness and/or low-income disparity. Lysne and Isabela discuss what period poverty is and dispels any myths surrounding it. They also talk about practical ways to get involved, the urgency required to solve this public health issue, and resources to look into that might help us get legislation passed. As always, we are so grateful for everyone who listens and shares. When you get a moment, we'd be so grateful if you left a review on Apple Podcasts, rated us on Spotify, or tagged us in your stories on Instagram, @amateuractivistpod Connect with me on Instagram, @belagiirrll Connect with Lysne on LinkedIn here or email her at lysne@helpingwomenperiod.org A big thank you to David Andrew for producing the music for this season. Follow him ⁠here Links mentioned in the episode: Alliance for Period Supplies - data, info on legislation Free the Tampons - form letters to send to businesses and schools to get free products in the restrooms #Happy Period - more information The Agenda. - free, woman-owned, safe data tracking app for periods/puberty curriculum Connect with Helping Women Period here http://www.helpingwomenperiod.org

Kevin Nye joins the Amateur Activist to talk about his first book, Grace Can Lead Us Home: A Christian Call to End Homelessness. Kevin is an author, advocate, father, and husband, passionate about using his experience with the unhoused to demystify and humanise an epidemic that often leaves us feeling overwhelmed and numb. Kevin and Isabela talk through the book — focusing on the importance of language, the reality of homelessness in America, why we simply manage homelessness instead of ending it, and more. As always, we are so grateful for everyone who listens and shares. When you get a moment, we'd be so grateful if you left a review on Apple Podcasts, rated us on Spotify, or tagged us in your stories on Instagram, @amateuractivistpod Connect with me on Instagram, @belagiirrll Connect with Kevin on Twitter @kevinmnye1 Purchase Kevin’s first book here. A big thank you to David Andrew for producing the music for this season. Follow him ⁠here

(For Pride 2022, the Amateur Activist Podcast produced a mini Pride series highlighting queer voices and experiences. This is episode 1 of 4.) Karen Pack and Steff Fenton join the Amateur Activist to share their experiences as queer people in and around the church and church spaces. They share their insights and voices around the importance of queer theology, queer churches, and what Pride means to them. As always, we are so grateful for everyone who listens and shares. When you get a moment, we'd be so grateful if you left a review on Apple Podcasts, rated us on Spotify, or tagged us in your stories on Instagram, @amateuractivistpod Connect with me on Instagram, @belagiirrll Connect with Karen, here Connect with Steff, here A big thank you to David Andrew for producing the music for this season. Follow him ⁠here