In this deeply meaningful conversation, host Rose Madrid Swetman speaks with Romanita Hairston, CEO of the M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust. Drawing from her vantage point leading a major philanthropic institution and her lifelong experience in the Pacific Northwest, Romanita helps us see grief not only as an emotional experience but as a necessary communal practice that can strengthen relationships, build bridges, and open new possibilities for flourishing.

Romanita reflects on the disruptive events of recent years including the "quadruple pandemic" of public health crisis, economic instability, racial reckoning, and political polarization, and how these collective pressures have reshaped the nonprofit sector. She names the weariness, compassion fatigue, and leadership transitions impacting organizations today, while offering a framework for attending to the human experience beneath strategic plans, funding models, and systems change.

With warmth, clarity, and deep wisdom, Romanita offers pastors, nonprofit leaders, and anyone navigating change a compelling vision for how grief and gratitude deepen our capacity to lead with courage, humility, and love.

Resources

M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust

Romanita's Article in Christ & Cascadia

In this episode, Rose Madrid Swetman interviews Martin Jimenez from Pivot Northwest, discussing the organization's mission to engage young adults in church leadership and community. Joi Drawing from nearly a decade of research and application, Martin shares five key practices for meaningful intergenerational ministry:

1. Creating dedicated young adult spaces

2. Facilitating storytelling between generations

3. Elevating young adults to leadership positions with real decision-making power

4. Implementing intergenerational relationship building

5. Forming diverse teams to guide these initiatives

They explore key learnings from research, the impact of social media on young adult theology, and the importance of intergenerational relationships. The conversation also touches on the challenges of polarization among young adults, the influence of figures like Mark Driscoll, and the need for compassion in church communities.

Martin also shares details about Pivot Northwest's upcoming intergenerational pilgrimage to the Camino de Santiago, designed to build trust and connection through months of preparation, the journey itself, and ongoing reflection.

Whether you're a pastor, lay leader, or simply interested in strengthening intergenerational community, this episode offers practical wisdom and research-backed insights for engaging young adults authentically.

Resources

pivotnw.org

https://www.youtube.com/@pivotnworg

https://theseattleschool.edu/

https://transformingengagement.org/

What does it mean to truly find your voice as a preacher?

Rev. Dr. Teresa Fry Brown has spent a lifetime exploring that question. A powerhouse in the world of preaching and a trailblazing scholar at Emory's Candler School of Theology, Dr. Fry Brown brings her expertise in homiletics, womanism, and even speech pathology to this conversation on what it really means to find—and own—your authentic preaching voice.

In this episode of Transforming Engagement: The Podcast, she joins host Rev. Dr. Seth Thomas to explore the delicate balance between personal authenticity, the needs of listeners, and the nuance of different contexts. How do we cultivate a preaching voice that is both deeply true to ourselves and deeply respectful of the spaces we enter? Dr. Fry Brown shares wisdom on everything from the technical aspects of vocal delivery to the spiritual and emotional demands of preaching through hardship.

And yes, we even get into why she preaches with her shoes off.

Join us for a practical and deeply inspiring conversation about preaching, presence, and the power of knowing your voice.