Welcome to Lean In Olympia

Every other Tuesday, Interfaith Works live streams a show on our Facebook page. This show invites community members to share their knowledge, experience, and perspective as we all navigate those questions at the crossroads of humanity, justice, and belief. Once shows air, you will also be able to access them all on our Facebook, YouTube! Take a look at our most recent episodes below.

Lean In Olympia Podcast!

Want to check out Lean in Olympia but don't have the time to sit down and watch? Check out our Lean in Olympia Podcast of Spotify!​

Catch Up on Our Past Episodes!

Episode 52 - Meg Rosenberg

On this episode Corey sits down with Meg Rosenberg from Window Seat Media! Meg is a local community member, public servant, and theatre artist deeply invested in the South Sound and building dialogue that sparks equitable social change. Their professional work has focused on public and nonprofit organizational development, education policy, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Episode 51 - Stacey Ray

In continuing her discussion on what the City of Olympia is doing around its response to housing and homelessness, Meg sits down with Stacey Ray Director Strategic Planning & Performance at the city.  They talk about what the comprehensive plan for the city is, how it's made, and what it entails!

Episode 50 Jamal Rahman & Jennifer Friedman

Corey has a conversation with Jamal Rahman & Jennifer Friedman around interfaith ministry in the postmodern world, how we nurture the spiritual lives of those who might walk in disparate traditions than ours, no tradition, or plural traditions. And how interfaith is needed today and what it looks like in practice!

Episode 49 - Kim Kondrat

Meg continues her dep dive on the City of Olympias homelessness response by sitting down with Kim Kondrat, the Homeless Response Coordinator for the city!

Episode 48 - Erin Jones

Erin Jones is the author of the book "Bridges to Heal US: Stories and Strategies for Racial Healing", published in 2021. Erin served three years as Assistant State Superintendent for Student Achievement in Washington State, where she was responsible for working with educators and policy makers to create policies and practices that would better serve students of color and students otherwise disenfranchised.
​

Episode 47 - Darian Lightfoot

Meg continues her series in getting more understanding in the community about what the city is doing to regarding homelessness and affordable housing response! Joining Meg to continue the conversation is Darian Lightfoot, Director of Affordable Housing & Homeless Response for the City of Olympia.

Episode 46 - Nicole Virgil

Corey sits down with Nicole Virgil, a member of the Christian Science Board of Lectureship! They dive into her journey with Christian Science and her explorations in the Christian Science perspective of "liberty" and the healing that is possible through our embrace of it, including the impact it can have on our mental health.

Episode 45 - Teal Gardener

To kick off Meg's next series of Lean In episodes focused around the City of Olympia's response to issues around homelessness and public safety, she sits down with Teal Gardener from the Crisis Response Unit to talk about her journey from being a Downtown Ambassador to CRU. As well the nuances of peer work and live experience.

Episode 44 - Olivia Hickerson

Meg sits down with Olivia Hickerson, the Executive Director of SideWalk! We get to hear about about Olivia's experience in Homeless Services before coming to SideWalk, the work that SideWalk does and some of the success stories she's seen during her time!

Khurshida Begum,
President ASHHO Community Center

Meg is joined by the amazing, inspiring and bold community visionary, Khurshida! She has been living out her values everyday through radical meal distribution, community education, and being so generous and honest about how her own personal story can make the world a safer place for other victims of violence and trafficking.

Do not miss this one!  

Marvin Bennet
Today we have the absolute joy of welcoming Marvin Bennett, former IW shelter guest and current community gem who brings light and life into every room he walks into! He's been there, he's struggled, and he has overcome incredible odds. Join us to hear more about his story, and the lasting connection he and Meg have made over the years.