Episodes

Nov. 8, 2024

Rejecting the ‘God of Trump’

Dr. Dr. Miguel De La Torre on Who America Is

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Nov. 1, 2024

When Religious Power Serves Political Force

What’s the cost of aligning Christianity to division?

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Oct. 25, 2024

Exposing Soft Christian Nationalism

Unspoken alliances shaping America’s political future

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Oct. 18, 2024

When Public Dollars Pay for Religious Education

Subsidizing religion through education vouchers

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Oct. 11, 2024

The Hindu Vote: Flipping the Script

Breaking tradition, shaking party lines

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Oct. 4, 2024

Women’s Work: a Catholic Conundrum

Exploring the evolving role of women in the Catholic Church with Vatican correspondent Claire Giangravé

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June 19, 2024

Imagining a Land of Belonging

Redefining our Distortations & Disconnections

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June 5, 2024

Church Land: Let Go & Grow

A Colorado Church on giving land away to build community

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May 29, 2024

Land of the Violent

Have the stories of freedom in America masked a long history of violence?

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May 22, 2024

Sowing Seeds, Reaping Freedom

Lessons from a Soul Food Scholar

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May 15, 2024

Stealing Land in the Name of God

What’s a 15th century statement from a pope have to do with U.S. land policy today?

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May 7, 2024

The Bible is a Book about Land

When land isn't just land

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Dec. 21, 2023

Political Paradox and Prerequisites of the American Dream: Dr. Kristi…

In this episode, Amanda Henderson talks to Dr. Kristina Lizardy-Hajbi, a biracial scholar and professor at the Iliff School of Theology. They explore the American dream through the lens of personal experiences and the stories of ancestors, especially focusing on the immigrant journey.

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Dec. 15, 2023

Between Worlds: Dr. Albert Hernández on The American Dream from his C…

In this episode, Amanda Henderson interviews Dr. Albert Hernández - a Cuban-American academic with a unique perspective on the American Dream. Dr. Hernandez discusses the challenges faced by those who exist in-between cultures, feeling a lack of belonging to either.

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Dec. 7, 2023

Culture Shock and Consuming a Dream: Nga Vương-Sandoval on fleeing Vi…

In this episode, Amanda Henderson talks to Nga Vương-Sandoval, a refugee from Việt Nam and United States Refugee Advisory Board Project Manager. The conversation explores the transformation of the American Dream, immigration histories and policies, and the experiences of refugees.

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Nov. 30, 2023

BONUS Episode: LIVE! Why Ban Drag?

Last month, we had our first live audience recording of Complexified! Amanda Henderson and Lex Dunbar welcomed Denver Drag Performers Juiccy Misdemeanor and Dixie Krystals for a provocative conversation confronting the efforts across the U.S. to ban drag performances. We laughed, we cried, we learn…

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Nov. 16, 2023

Freedom from Violence: Representative Iman Jodeh’s Palestinian-Americ…

In this episode, recorded before the attacks by Hamas on Israel and the devastating response by the Israeli Military in Gaza, Colorado State Representative Iman Jodeh shares her family story of leaving Palestine in the late 1960s seeking refuge from daily discrimination and violence.

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Nov. 16, 2023

Broken Glass & Salty Tears: Rabbi Joe Black and his family story of f…

In this episode, recorded before the attacks by Hamas on Israel and the devastating response by the Israeli Military in Gaza, Rabbi Joe, from Temple Emanuel in Denver, Colorado, shares his family story. His father’s family fled persecution in the late 19th century to find safety in the U.S.

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Oct. 26, 2023

Ownership, Belonging & Dreaming America: Ben Sanders

Why is homeownership such an integral part of the American Dream? Why have some been systematically excluded from homeownership while others have been incentivized and subsidized to own their home? In this episode, Dr. Ben Sanders shares his family story of ownership and belonging from an experienc…

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Oct. 19, 2023

Losing Everything at Indian Boarding School: Bessie Smith (Dzabahe)

One afternoon, her clothes, hair, language, name, and even her parents were taken from her. In this episode, Navajo woman Bessie Smith, an Indian Boarding School survivor, shares her story of losing everything and then reclaiming the traditions she learned as a child to find healing.

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Oct. 12, 2023

The Stories We hold: Amanda Henderson

As debates rage in state legislatures and school boards about history curriculums or critical race theory or the impact of slavery, we know that how we imagine our future has everything to do with how we remember our past. In this episode, we begin our series pulling apart the stories we have been …

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Sept. 28, 2023

Dreaming America: Season 4 Trailer

What comes to your mind when you hear the term, "American Dream?" This season on Complexified, we have changed things up a bit! We are taking apart this idea of the American Dream. Turning it upside down to explore our multiple, honest ways of Dreaming America. Each week, I will take you with me as…

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March 30, 2023

Amanda, Lex, and Denise Soler Cox: The Struggle to Belong, & How a Ni…

In this episode, we talk about generational change and belonging with Denise Soler Cox. We share our own struggles to belong and investigate what it means to belong, even in the in-between space of identity and culture.

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