Podcast by Elizabeth Grady-Harper & Ivy Long
28 May 2025
From an English degree at Holy Cross to foreign exchange trading and even culinary arts in Paris, Carrie Coughlin's varied career ultimately led her to her true calling: nonprofit work. Now the Executive Director of Friends of Boston's Homeless, Carrie discusses the organization's mission, and wide array of programming and services, Carrie also discusses how listeners can engage with their community. A key part of the conversation centers on providing a deeper understanding of what unhoused individuals face, defining terms such as "wraparound services" and the severe impact of federal funding cuts on "Friends," which has resulted in a surge of requests from families and a pressing need for more resources, like beds for children. Carrie also shares about a $25,000 matching challenge for their Family Support Fund and upcoming events, all aimed at fostering greater compassion and empathy for those experiencing homelessness.
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39:55
14 May 2025
Tune in to this special podcast episode with Brandy Brooks, a new friend of Ivy's through our "When We Walk By" book group, but a longtime friend of BFJN! In this discussion Brandy and Ivy discuss their faith journeys, what brought them to BFJN, the importance of aligning one's actions with God's teachings, and the need for Christians today to live out their faith authentically. They explored the disconnect between Christian values and actions, emphasizing the importance of repentance, community building, and understanding God's nature through His word, making reference to various passages throughout both the Old and New Testament. Brandy expresses hope and praise for God's truth shining through despite human error, distortions and failures and proposes a vision for faith leaders in Massachusetts coming together to lament, confess, and recommit to living out God's word with a deep focus on justice.
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54:34
30 April 2025
Tune in to this podcast episode with special guest Jennifer Frye, Executive Director of WARM (Welcoming Refugee Alliance Ministry). shared her life story, highlighting her early experiences with God and how they shaped her sensitivity to the marginalized and underprivileged. She discussed her decision to become a nurse, her desire to use her skills to help those with limited access to medical care, and her realization of never having read the Bible cover-to-cover. This led her to take a class called Perspectives on the World Christian Movement, which inspired her to form the nonprofit, WARM, who seeks to see the Church welcome and care for every refugee God has brought to our cities.
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35:16
09 April 2025
Join Elizabeth and Ivy for a time of reflection after finishing BFJN's book club reading of "When We Walk By: Forgotten Humanity, Broken Systems, and the Role We Can Each Play in Ending Homelessness in America".
This book, written by Kevin F. Adler and Donald W. Burnes recasts chronic homelessness as a byproduct of twin crises: the failure of both our social services systems and our humanity. The book also uses social analyses, economic and political histories, and the real stories of our unhoused neighbors to demonstrate what we stand to gain when we embrace our humanity and move toward evidence-based people-first, community-driven solutions.
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23:52
26 March 2025
In this episode, we talk with Cristina Rathbone. Cristina, author and congregational coordinator at the Mass Council of Churches, recounts her transformative time at the US-Mexico border. Her book, “The Asylum Seekers: A Chronicle of Life, Death, and Community at the Border”, born from these experiences, invites us to reconsider what our faith has to say about injustice and see the humanity in those we might be inclined to “other”. We also discuss her new role at the Mass Council of Churches, where she's bridging the gap between faith communities and vital support for refugees and migrants. A conversation that challenges and inspires.
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39:27
10 March 2025
Tune into this episode for a casual conversation between the Let's Talk Faith & Justice Podcast hosts, Elizabeth and Ivy, to hear about some exciting new updates and a high level overview of what God has in store for 2025!
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21:54