The Leader’s Way
Join Brandon Nappi, DMin, and Hannah Black, PhD, on this audio pilgrimage from Berkeley Divinity School, the Episcopal seminary at Yale. Journey with us as we contemplate life’s biggest questions together. In this podcast, we interview leaders and scholars as we think through the Church in the world today, theology, leadership, and innovation. Join us on this pilgrimage, where we cultivate hope and find inspiration along the way. New episodes drop every other Monday.
Yale's Newest Podcast
Join an audio pilgrimage into the heart of human thriving and the spiritual leadership needed to create a world where all of us can come fully alive. The Leader’s Way Podcast convenes inspiring conversation at the intersection of spirituality, innovation, leadership, and transformation from Berkeley Divinity School at Yale. We invite deep reflection on what matters most in life by catalyzing innovative action for justice, healing, and compassion. We explore emerging spiritual movements and celebrate visionary leadership in its countless disruptive expressions—in Church and religious institutions, in local communities, and in nonprofits, government, universities, popular culture, and the arts.
Episodes
Monday Nov 11, 2024
40: The Inner Landscape with Parker Palmer
Monday Nov 11, 2024
Monday Nov 11, 2024
Renowned author and spiritual leader Parker Palmer joins Brandon and Hannah to explore the world of leadership and teaching. Palmer shares stories from his life, including profound mystical experiences, bouts of clinical depression, and classroom successes. The conversation underscores the importance of listening and trusting in leadership and teaching. This episode is a heartfelt exploration of the inner life of leaders, emphasizing the integration of faith, authenticity, and compassion in the practices of teaching and ministry.
Hosts: Brandon Nappi and Hannah Black
Guest: Parker Palmer
Production: Goodchild Media
Music: Wayfaring Stranger, Theodicy Jazz Collective
Instagram @theleadersway.podcast
berkeleydivinity.yale.edu/podcast
Episode links:
Center for Courage and Renewal: https://couragerenewal.org/
The Courage to Teach: Exploring the Inner Landscape of a Teacher’s Life, Parker J. Palmer: https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-courage-to-teach-exploring-the-inner-landscape-of-a-teacher-s-life-parker-j-palmer/12575744?ean=9781119413042
Thursday Oct 31, 2024
39: The Salem Witch Trials with Ken Minkema
Thursday Oct 31, 2024
Thursday Oct 31, 2024
This special Halloween episode focuses on the Salem witch trials with a focus on what church leaders can learn from this period of history. Dr. Kenneth Minkema—Executive Editor of The Works of Jonathan Edwards and of the Jonathan Edwards Center & Online Archive at Yale University—teaches us about the witch trials in New England, highlighting their religious and social contexts, the dynamics of fear and accusation, and the lasting impact on American culture. The episode explores the complexities of Puritan beliefs, the role of fear and control in the witch hunts, and reflections on how these historical events relate to contemporary issues that church leaders face daily of fear, control, and othering.
Hosts: Brandon Nappi and Hannah Black
Guest: Ken Minkema
Production: Goodchild Media
Instagram: @theleadersway.podcast
berkeleydivinity.yale.edu/podcast
Monday Oct 21, 2024
38: The Leader's Way
Monday Oct 21, 2024
Monday Oct 21, 2024
Brandon and Hannah chat about why the podcast is called The Leader’s Way. We hear Brandon’s definition of leadership and talk about the courage, vulnerability, and commitment required of leaders. We hear Brandon’s vocation story and reflect on the work we do, offering continuing education to church leaders.
Monday Oct 07, 2024
37: Jesus and Empire with William Barber
Monday Oct 07, 2024
Monday Oct 07, 2024
In part 2 of our recording with a live studio audience, Bishop Barber breaks down how spiritual leaders are either prophets of the kingdom or chaplains to empire. He takes questions from the audience about the relationship between Episcopal tradition and moral demands, interfaith leadership, and leadership amid the military-industrial complex.
Hosts: Brandon Nappi and Hannah Black
Guest: William Barber
Production: Goodchild Media
berkeleydivinity.yale.edu/podcast Instagram: @theleadersway.podcast
Monday Sep 30, 2024
36: Moral Leadership and Political Engagement with William Barber
Monday Sep 30, 2024
Monday Sep 30, 2024
The Rev. Dr. William Barber joined us at the Berkeley Center with a live studio audience for this episode of The Leader's Way Podcast, which will be released in 2 parts. Barber tells his vocation story and explains how morality is the key to nonpartisan spiritual leadership in politics. He talks about the "least of these" as a central part of moral engagement in politics and takes us inside a UN conversation about poverty.
Hosts: Brandon Nappi and Hannah Black
Guest: William Barber Singer: Yara Allen
Filmed/Edited: Goodchild Media
berkeleydivinity.yale.edu/podcast
Instagram: @theleadersway.podcast
Monday Sep 23, 2024
35: A Better Way at the National Cathedral with Randy Hollerith
Monday Sep 23, 2024
Monday Sep 23, 2024
The Very Rev’d Randy Hollerith, Dean of the National Cathedral in Washington, DC, joins us as we continue thinking about leading churches through especially political times. He talks about the church’s role as being a voice for the “better way”: the promotion of values like unity and love in contrast to what we often see in the world around us. He talks about the cathedral’s role in politics as one of convening conversation and creating space for prayer and reflection.
Monday Sep 16, 2024
34: Golden Retriever Games
Monday Sep 16, 2024
Monday Sep 16, 2024
A rare mostly unserious episode amid serious times: Brandon and Hannah take a moment one year into the show to reflect on past episodes and celebrate the new podcast art and music. We play the inaugural Golden Retriever Games: “Taylor or Dante?” and “The Question Game.”
Monday Sep 09, 2024
33: Spiritual Formation and Politics with Kaitlyn Schiess
Monday Sep 09, 2024
Monday Sep 09, 2024
Kaitlyn Schiess is an author (The Liturgy of Politics and The Ballot and the Bible) and podcaster (The Holy Post and Curiously, Kaitlyn). She joins us to talk about leadership during an election season and how spiritual formation is at the heart of our political engagement. We talk about everything from how to talk about politics at Thanksgiving dinner to how to preach when politics are involved.