Sanctified
Sanctified boldly centers the stories of Black women for whom the spiritual status quo is no longer enough. Sanctified makes space for women to interrogate, lament, resist, and triumph over the church’s double standards that have deeply impacted them. Through stories and conversations, Sanctified is a pathway to communal reflection and healing for women who are churched, unchurched, or find themselves somewhere in-between. From the pulpit, to the pew, to the parking lot, this show amplifies the thoughts, trials, and triumphs of women figuring out their faith authentically. Nothing is taboo. Shame is unwelcome. And grace abounds.
Episodes
April 19, 2023 • 52 mins
Y’all, that Proverbs 31 Woman sounds phenomenal… but does she actually exist? We’re on a journey of understanding what it really means to be women living a faith-filled and faithful life in the 21st century. (FYI: It involves a whole lot more autonomy, candidness, and freedom than many of us were taught.) On our final episode of Season 1 of Sanctified, we are joined by Pastor Sarah Jakes Roberts. Her life is a prime example of what...
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April 12, 2023 • 45 mins
We’re coming for that “strong Black woman” trope today. What are you holding that’s not yours to carry? What burdens are you bearing because you think that’s your lot in life? While resilience is a necessary skill for growth, carrying the weight of the world is not. Today we are affirming that - in the words of our testifier Tanya Denise Fields - suffering is not our inheritance.
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April 5, 2023 • 42 mins
Laughter is good for the soul. And if it’s a good thing, then it must be a God thing, right? Let’s pause being soldiers in the army of the Lord for a moment and talk about the necessity of a good giggle. Today we’re joined by Christianee Porter (aka Ms. Shirlene!). Her testimony of how she knows God has a sense of humor is one you don’t want to miss. Let’s get silly, saints!
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March 29, 2023 • 44 mins
There are too many Black women in prison for us to forget them. There are too many scriptures about freedom to debate the atrocities of the prison system. So, today we’re taking a look at how abolition is especially critical for Black women (and girls). Rev. Dr. Nikia Smith Robert offers a powerful perspective of justice, abolition and the church’s very necessary participation in the freedom of Black women and girls today.
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March 22, 2023 • 46 mins
What does it actually mean to be abstinent or celibate? Today we’re talking about the vows that some of us make and the reasons behind those vows. We're also digging into why navigating sex has been so tough for so many Black women but it doesn't have to be. Our testifier, comedian and actress Whitney Davis gives a beautifully honest account of her own journey and encouragement for others who are on a similar path.
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March 15, 2023 • 46 mins
Covering cleavage won’t save you, sis! Somebody tell the church mothers! The obsession with Black girls and women’s bodies within many Black churches has a long and sordid history and we’re talking about it today. And not the same talking points you’ve heard before. Dr. Tamura Lomax is here with her testimony of how she is flipping the tables so that Black women and girls can worship and live in peace. So bust out your fishnets and...
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March 8, 2023 • 49 mins
Paying God to bless you? Make it make sense! Capitalism is gonna capitalize…even in some Black churches. Fortunately, we’re surrounded by a great cloud of Black women witnesses who are throwing off the chains of a gospel that holds material gain as the ultimate blessing. Today’s testifier Reverend Dr. Melva L. Sampson takes us to CHUCH (yes CHUCH) with a meditation on prosperity gospel’s long-standing negative effects on Black wome...
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March 1, 2023 • 51 mins
It’s the subject of much debate. Are Black folks really leaving the church en masse? And where, pray tell, do we think we’re going? Today’s episode allows us to be honest about what kinds of churches (and doctrines) Black people are exiting, what we’re really seeking and The Promised Land we’re headed for. We’re joined by Religious Trauma Healer and Founder of Therapy N Theology, Pamela Merritt, whose testimony and presence are as ...
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February 22, 2023 • 49 mins
It’s a touchy subject, right? But we wouldn’t be Sanctified and Unbothered if we didn’t have an honest and open conversation about physical discipline. Whether you agree or disagree with the practice, we’re getting to the root of where it came from, how it can affect Black kids, and we’re grabbing hold of a few more tools that are necessary for raising well-adjusted children. We’re excited to have today’s testifier join us. Destini...
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February 15, 2023 • 49 mins
Hold on to your love! Because social media can really try to steal your hope, chile. But we here at Sanctified declare that real love is still happening, still worthwhile, and still possible for us all. We’ve got time today to bask in all the different kinds of love available to us AND to check out a love songs playlist or two! We’re joined by testifier, Rhonda McLendon - co-host of Real Love Scenario on the Relationship Restored N...
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February 8, 2023 • 48 mins
Today we dive deep into how our spiritual journeys are strengthened and our self-view is elevated when we find or create sacred spaces. These are the places that hold and love all of who we are no matter what. It's an honor to have today's testifier join us. Angelica Ross is an Emmy-nominated actress who stole our hearts as 'Candy' on FX's Pose. She also made history as the first trans woman to star on Broadway as Roxie Hart in Chi...
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February 1, 2023 • 46 mins
Black women of the cloth, please stand up! (And those who feel called but haven’t taken the leap just yet!) Today we’re talking about the value of knowing and accepting all of you when stepping into ministry. Whether you’re called to the pulpit, the riverside, or the streets God delights in you bringing your FULL self to your calling so your people can find you! Very few demonstrate that more than today’s testifier, Alicia Crosby M...
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January 25, 2023 • 45 mins
We’re eating the meat and throwing away the bones today! If you’ve ever questioned some of the things you were taught in church, temple, the mosque or at the feet of your elders, this episode is for you. We’re taking ownership of how we encounter, understand, and interact with God. And we’re throwing away anything that opposes who and how God made us! Dr. Yolanda Pierce offers her life-giving testimony as the perfect foundation for...
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January 18, 2023 • 47 mins
Consent and choice are holy. So today, 50 years after the landmark Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision, we’re having a deeply personal and reflective conversation about how our bodies and our choices can and should be protected by our faith and spirituality. Our testifier is our own Sanctified co-host Lyvonne Briggs whose story is not only powerful but one of solidarity with Black women everywhere. This episode exists as a womanist ...
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January 11, 2023 • 47 mins
Growing up between multiple religious traditions or faiths doesn’t have to be confusing or traumatizing. It can actually strengthen our self-view and our spiritual formation. Today’s testifier, intergenerational healer, Khadijah Abdul-Mateen gives us an intricate look into how growing up in a Christian-Muslim household gave her the tools to beautifully craft a faith that affirms everything about her as a Black woman.
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January 4, 2023 • 51 mins
Most of us tussle with doubt, but not enough of us have found safe enough spaces to say so. In this episode we peel back the layers of the relationship between faith and doubt, belief and unbelief. Because let’s be real, would we even really need faith if doubt didn’t exist? Yeah, let’s go there! And to help us rethink our relationship with doubt, spoken word artist Queen G offers an electrifying original psalm as her testimony.
Le...
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December 21, 2022 • 50 mins
There’s nothing quite like the relationship between Black mothers and daughters. On today’s episode we’re taking the time to honor our matriarchs. The elder women in our lives who’ve loved us, championed us, fought for us, and taught us. We’re also making space to reflect on the legacies of our matriarchs who have transitioned and the ways many of us are stepping into the matriarch role. Multigenre theologian and author Candice Ben...
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December 14, 2022 • 52 mins
You’re not alone if you’ve realized traditional ministry just ain’t your bag. This episode looks at the reality that sometimes being called to the pulpit is only seasonal or just not a fit at all. We also talk through the bigger picture of ministry. (Spoiler alert: We ALL minister every day!) Bay area singer/songwriter ASTU shares her glorious testimony of leaving a messy megachurch and finding God and a deeply resonant kind of min...
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December 7, 2022 • 46 mins
While many religious and spiritual spaces are sites of tremendous healing, some cause harm. So how do you pick up the pieces and get back to God when you've experienced spiritual abuse? It's not always easy but there is a path forward. Today's testifier Helen Byrd shares what her own path forward has been after leaving the harsh practices of Remnant Fellowship a church that is the subject of much debate and the HBO documentary "The...
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November 30, 2022 • 51 mins
It's the pleasure principle oh-oh! This episode uplifts the beauty of pleasure as it relates to sex and just enjoying our everyday lives. If the Bible discusses pleasure, why are we conditioned not to? Christian sexologist and founder of The Intimacy Firm Brittany Broaddus-Smith blesses us with her testimony of how she is spreading the good news of Jesus Christ through the medium of sexual health education. It's giving saved, sanct...
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