Episode Fourteen: Pastor Michael McBride (Executive Director of Live Free USA)

Please welcome Pastor Michael McBride to Get Real with Jim Weiss. Pastor Mike works at the intersection of faith, social justice, and public health as the Executive Director of LIVE FREE USA. This national network is dedicated to reducing gun violence and advocating for criminal justice reform. He also serves as the Lead Pastor of The Way Church in Berkeley, California, where he integrates faith with social change. He co-founded the Black Church PAC and the Black and Brown Peace Consortium, both initiatives that mobilize political action and promote equity and violence prevention. He is a prominent voice with his work featured on CNN, MSNBC, and The New York Times.  Pastor Mike discusses how his experiences with police brutality have shaped his mission to uplift marginalized communities. He explores the intersection of faith and social justice, the importance of treating gun violence as a public health issue, and the need for systemic change in policing and criminal justice. In this episode, you'll learn: Why gun violence must be treated as a public health issue How leadership shapes community-based violence prevention The role of faith in promoting systemic change and healing The challenges facing marginalized communities, especially Black men The importance of political action and mobilization for equity How faith can be a tool for meaning-making in the face of injustice The long-term impacts of inequities on health and well-being The need to transform criminal justice to protect communities