Lindsay and Naomi met Bart Frost at his home in New Orleans just as his wife Amelia was headed off to the local UU church service.

Bart had a lot to tell us. But before we do a note that this episode has mention of sexual assault. The exact timestamp is from 39:00 - 50:00. Listeners are invited to take care of themselves.

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This episode features Elizabeth Carrier-Ladd or Elka. Lindsay met them at the First Parish Church of Dorchester, MA to talk about the many family layers they have in connection to youth ministry. Please note that the topic of sexual assault is discussed around the 25 minute mark.

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We are back and starting with a strong force - Jen Devine!

What a treat to have been invited into Jen’s communal home in the Bay Area. The walls are covered like art galleries.

The bathroom itself was covered in pin buttons from floor to ceiling.

We were given a garden tour, listened to funny questions about sex from Jen’s students, and then landed in the kitchen where we conducted the interview.

Jen has many mic drop moments and we really put forward her words when applying for grants through a work sample even though many grant readers didn’t always understand the idea of talking about youth, sex and religion all in one sentence. I know you all will enjoy it, understand it or at least be curious about it.

We are getting the full podcasts ready for season 2. The first episode drops on Sept 30th. While you all wait we thought you might like to hear this conversation between Ayanna and their partner Chris. This is just one of many YRUU couples conversations that we had the privilege of recording. Enjoy!

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We have made it to the end of season 1 of this podcast. And what better person to end on than Ayanna Kafi Lobe. We visited them at their home in Atlanta, GA with their partner Chris.

Following the interview we had a YRUU dinner where folx came to chat, share food and there may have been a little singing.

We also wrote affirmations on taped pieces of paper on each other's backs–a practice that the youth did during YRUU conferences.

Interviewing Ayanna was so refreshing. They brought in the perspective of someone who really focused on their local and district youth group. A great example that having strong national youth support can trickle down to the local communities seamlessly.

www.whyareyouyou.org

Lindsay recently caught up with Meg Riley who reflected on her time working at the UUA and much more!

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Caelan Schrama we met while visiting the YES conference on Star Island. YES is an acronym for Youth Empowerment and Spirituality.

Kerri Bell-Delgado came up to our booth at the Unitarian Universalists General Assembly in Portland, OR in 2022. We loved the idea of getting a current young person's take on being a Unitarian Universalist.

Atticus Fisher is the child of Ginger Young Fisher whose interview you will hear in a separate episode. Atticus at the time was highly involved in YRUUP. a youth-run organization dedicated to providing fun, safe, and spiritual programs for UU youth in the Pacific Western Region of the United States.

This trio of voices lifts up the youths voices of today. YRUU may have ended nationally but the work and enthusiasm has remained in many parts of the country still.

www.whyareyouyou.org

Lindsay recently caught up with Julia Pulver who gives us a great perspective on YRUU in Michigan.

www.whyareyouyou.org