Radical Healing
Radical Healing Podcast
Interviews on growing up as missionary kids/third-culture kids and healing from evangelicalism, with Christian Academy in Japan alumni and others. Follow us on Instagram @radicalhealingpod. radicalhealingpod.substack.com
Season 3 Ep 7: Professor Gerry Yokota's experience with the Gaza Ceasefire Pilgrimage
It’s been a long time since we’ve released an episode but we’re grateful to share this one with you, featuring Professor Gerry Yokota (@gerryyokota), Professor Emerita of English and Contemporary Interdisciplinary Cultural Studies at Osaka University. Gerry shares about her experience organizing a Gaza Ceasefire Pilgrimage in Osaka in April, her commitment to nonviolence as a Quaker, and more. Mentioned in the interview: Make a donation to the Gaza Ceasefire Pilgrimage GoFundMe: https://www.gofu
Season 3 Episode 6: Interview with J
The history episode: A conversation with J, a colleague of Erika here in Chicago, discussing her experience as an Assyrian American and her family's history. We learn about the Assyrian people, Western missionaries' attempts to restore the Assyrian church, the Assyrian genocide, and the resulting diaspora.
This conversation feels particularly relevant now as we are witnessing the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people. There are certain parallels I notice between then and now--the genocide
Erika's Trip
The one where Erika talks about her trip back to Japan this summer. There's a lot of laughing, 2 separate times Erika starts crying on air, and many random memories from childhood.
(Note: In this episode, Erika mentions a member of the Nojiri community, Mark Ramseyer. Ramseyer is a Professor of Japanese Legal Studies at Harvard Law School who continues to publish right-wing historical revisionist defenses of Japanese imperialism, despite his work being described as “woefully deficient, empiric
Season 3 Episode 4: Jan and Rudy Engholm
In November of 2022, Tells Law, the law firm that handled the abuse investigations at CAJ, organized a retreat in Colorado Springs for alumni survivors and for school and mission representatives. This was commissioned by CAJ and the cooperating missions, per the recommendations of the investigation review panel. There, siblings Jan (who we spoke with in Season 2) and Rudy Engholm delivered Impact Statements to the representatives of CAJ and the founding missions. We are grateful to have been abl
Season 3 Episode 3: Chami Nagai
Although she's not a CAJ alum, we knew that we HAD to have Chami Nagai on our pod. Chami is a global nomad, yoga teacher, musician, and now mother. Chami shares about her experience growing up as a Japanese missionary kid in Papua New Guinea, grappling with identity in Nagano, expanding and deconstructing and reconstructing her spirituality as she journeyed from Canada, to the slums of Cambodia, to Miyagi, and eventually to Yokohama.
Chami’s Yoga Website; https://www.migiwayogaspace.com/
Mentio
Season 3 Episode 2: Natasha Takahashi
“Being me is not a sin”
We were so happy to talk to Natasha Takahashi, who attended CAJ from 2006 to 2019.
Natasha shares about their experience attending CAJ as a dyslexic, queer person. We chat about how an 8th grade essay prompt to compare Mao and Jesus kickstarted Natasha’s questioning of Christianity, about their decision to leave CAJ and attend UWC in Wales, and their journey towards self-acceptance and self-care.
(Note: we recorded this episode last year (July 2021) and had shelved it t
Season 3 Episode 1: Sofia Olson
"Is it possible for Christians to hold their religious belief that God does not affirm same sex marriage and also support the rights, safety and dignity of LGBTQ people?"
This is the critical question that Sofia Olson ('97) posed to her Christian friends on FB as a sort of experiment to see what responses would emerge. We unpack this and more in our first episode of Season 3.
(Note: we recorded this episode last year (July 2021) and had shelved it to finish Season 2)
We start off the conversatio
Season 2 Reflection
In Season 2, we’re interviewing CAJ alumni who are working on bringing to light abuse that occurred some decades ago at CAJ. Content warning: child abuse. For more information about the investigation into abuse at CAJ, please see our website here.
Happy Pride! (Episode recorded June 26th, two days before the the 53rd anniversary of the Stonewall Riots).In this episode we wrap up Season 2 with a reflection-- on what it was like to speak with those who lived through the time of historic abuse at C
All God's Children Documentary
In Season 2, we’re interviewing CAJ alumni who are working on bringing to light abuse that occurred some decades ago at CAJ. Content warning: we will be discussing various types of abuse experienced by children in these episodes. For more information about the investigation into abuse at CAJ, please see our website here.
Note this episode was recorded in December 2021. Apologies for the poor audio quality!
In this episode, we discuss All God's Children, a documentary by Scott Solary and Luci Wes
Interview with CAJ Abuse Survivor Jon Rodgers
In Season 2, we’re interviewing CAJ alumni who are working on bringing to light abuse that occurred some decades ago at CAJ. Content warning: we will be discussing various types of abuse experienced by children in these episodes. For more information about the investigation into abuse at CAJ, please see our website here.
In this episode, Jon Rodgers, class of 1971 shares his story. Jon talks about how the corporal punishment and abuse at CAJ was an extension of the home culture of many missionar
Interview of Paul Corwin, Class of 1970
In Season 2, we’re interviewing CAJ alumni who are working on bringing to light abuse that occurred some decades ago at CAJ. Content warning: we will be discussing various types of abuse experienced by children in these episodes. For more information about the investigation into abuse at CAJ, please see our website here.
In this episode, Paul Corwin (class of 1970) shares about his experience being at CAJ during the Vietnam War, registering as a conscientious objector and reading Betty Friedan
Interview with CAJ Abuse Survivor Jan Engholm
In Season 2, we’re interviewing CAJ alumni who are working on bringing to light abuse that occurred some decades ago at CAJ. Content warning: we will be discussing various types of abuse experienced by children in these episodes. For more information about the investigation into abuse at CAJ, please see our website here.
In this episode, Jan Engholm, a CAJ abuse survivor and advocate, shares her story. We also discuss issues with the Telios investigation, reflect on healing, and more. See here
Interview with CAJ Abuse Survivor Simon Riis Christensen Part 2
In Season 2, we’re interviewing CAJ alumni who are working on bringing to light abuse that occurred some decades ago at CAJ. For more information about the investigation into abuse at CAJ, please see our website here.PART 2/2Content warning: description of sexual assault of a minor. In this two part episode, we hear from Simon Riis Christensen, one of the first survivors to speak out about his abuse at CAJ. We had technical difficulties during the interview, so we cut
Interview with CAJ Abuse Survivor Simon Riis Christensen Part 1
In Season 2, we’re interviewing CAJ alumni who are working on bringing to light abuse that occurred some decades ago at CAJ. Content warning: we will be discussing various types of abuse experienced by children in these episodes. For more information about the investigation into abuse at CAJ, please see our website here. PART 1/2In this two part episode, we hear from Simon Riis Christensen, one of the first survivors to speak out about his abuse at CAJ. We had technical difficulties during the i
CAJ Abuse Survivor Advocacy, with Janet Pape Oates
In Season 2, we’re interviewing some members of a group of CAJ alumni who are working on bringing to light abuse that occurred some decades ago at CAJ. Content warning: we will be discussing various types of abuse experienced by children in these episodes.In this episode, we spoke with Janet Pape Oates ('63) who has spent the last several years reaching out to survivors, helping share their stories and advocating on their behalf.In our conversations with Janet, she shared that a tangible way for
Unpacking the CAJ Abuse Investigations, with Debbie Rhoads and Brenda Seat (Pt 2)
PART 2/2In Season 2, we are doing something a little different. We’re interviewing some members of a group of CAJ alumni who are working on bringing to light abuse that occurred some decades ago at CAJ. Content warning: we will be discussing various types of abuse experienced by children in these episodesHere’s a quote from a 2019 statement from the CAJ Concerned Alumni Committee:"On February 6, 2019, a steering committee representing concerned alumni sent a letter to CAJ and its six founding mi
Unpacking the CAJ Abuse Investigations, with Debbie Rhoads and Brenda Seat (Pt 1.)
PART 1/2In Season 2, we are doing something a little different. We’re interviewing some members of a group of CAJ alumni who are working on bringing to light abuse that occurred some decades ago at CAJ. Content warning: we will be discussing various types of abuse experienced by children in these episodesHere’s a quote from a 2019 statement from the CAJ Concerned Alumni Committee:"On February 6, 2019, a steering committee representing concerned alumni sent a letter to CAJ and its six founding mi
Season 1 Reflection
WE DIDI IT! WE FINISHED 10 EPISODES! P.S Be sure to subscribe to the podcast if you don't want to miss future episodes. For more of Radical Healing, follow us on Instagram, @radicalhealingpodListen on Apple Podcasts Spotify Stitcher Google Podcasts
Episode 10: Trace
The one where we interview Trace, who was in the grade above us at CAJ. Although Trace was at CAJ for only two years, he made a lasting impression on both of us. Trace talks about navigating different cultures as a mixed Japanese+Brooklyn Jewish American kid, about the impact of Christian homophobia, in both casual comments and direct attacks, and healing from toxic beliefs. We unpack the paternalism of evangelicals in Japan (drawing from first-hand experience with HiBA Gospel Team!) and also ta
Episode 9: George Kim and Ryosuke Yokoe
A special episode because we got to talk with two of our very own classmates from the CAJ class of 2010, George and Ryosuke! We chat about Chicago and activism, cultural identity, American competitiveness, the benefits of Biblical literacy in studying western civilization, unlearning toxic beliefs, Ryosuke's love for Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials series (and how they were a no-no at CAJ) and more...!Listen onApple PodcastsSpotifyStitcherGoogle Podcasts
Episode 8: Purity Culture, with Krysta Carrick Byrnes
The one where we talk about PURITY CULTURE! In this episode we interview Krysta Carrick Byrnes, a nurse practitioner and our friend who also attended the Christian Academy in Japan. Krysta shares about the gradual evolution of her worldview and self-understanding after leaving CAJ. In our conversation we focus on purity culture in particular, unpacking its harmfulness, and also brainstorm what things we'd like to emphasize if we were to talk about sex-ed at CAJ today. We were so happy to b
Episode 7: Unpacking College Campus Ministries with Keren WuRohe
Content warning: The episode includes mention of death by suicide of a loved one (timestamp 1:11:15-1:12:40)The one where we talk about college campus ministries. Shifting our focus from the CAJ/Japan missionary community experience, in this episode we interview Keren WuRohe, Jeweliann’s friend from college. Keren shares about her spiritual journey post-college and unpacks her complicated experiences with CRU (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ) and HCFA (Harvard College Faith and Action).
Episode 6: Makoto Seely
In this episode, we talk to Makoto Seely, an alum from the CAJ class of 2008. Makoto went to CAJ from kindergarten through 12th grade. Both their parents were CAJ staff members and they are a third generation missionary kid. Makoto’s parents had a very positive influence in the CAJ community and played a role in both of our lives personally. Sadly Mrs. Seely passed away in 2018 from brain cancer. Her legacy lives on and she is remembered fondly by many. Makoto shares about their experience strug
YWAM's abuse problem and disability in the church (with Mary Somers-Harris)
The one where we talk with Mary Somers-Harris about disability in the church, charismatic evangelicalism, and the abuse problem at Youth with a Mission (YWAM).Mary shares about her experience growing up as a missionary kid in YWAM Japan, her experience at YWAM’s discipleship training school (DTS) and the ableist and spiritual abuse she experienced here. YWAM is a major missions organization with 25,000 young people participating each year globally. Sadly, abuse is rampant at YWAM schools al
Episode 4: Nashe Mutenda
The one where we continue our conversation with Nashe Mutenda, one of the writers of the call to action letter (ep.3).Nashe shares about her experience growing up at the Christian Academy in Japan and not fitting in more ways than one as a Sri Lankan/Zimbabwean queer kid raised with liberation theology. Topics include navigating secular spaces after CAJ, sex ed, the joys of exploring anarchist geography and music, and how Erika and Jeweliann need to start a TikTok to reach the youths. 
Episode 3: CAJ Call to Action
The one where we interview three CAJ alumni from the class of 2015 and 2016, Erika I., Julie, and Nashe, about a Call to Action letter that they wrote to the CAJ administration this past summer. In conversation, we ended up talking about identity, the TCK label, queerness, and sex education. Read their Call to Action letter (now public) here.To read the open letter by Rachel Engel that is referenced, see here: An Open Letter to the International School Community: Our Role in the Black Lives Matt
Episode 2: Jeweliann Picardal
Erika interviews Jeweliann!Ep 2: The one where Jeweliann talks about deconstructing the harmful doctrine of original sin, her nerdy adolescent interest in birth control and being "ha-fu" at CAJ. For those interested in the book Leaving the Fold, by Dr. Winell check it out here: http://marlenewinell.net/leaving-fold-formerFor more, visit radicalhealingpod.com and follow @radicalhealingpod (Instagram)
Episode 1: Erika Husby
Introducing the Radical Healing Podcast!In our first episode, Jeweliann interviews Erika!Ep 1: The one where Erika is very proud of her alphabet worksheets, explains Marxism very badly, and goes on rants about the Pilgrims. You can read the full episode transcript at radicalhealingpod.com, and download a really good zine on Marxism at tiny.cc/zinelibraryFor more, visit radicalhealingpod.com and follow @radicalhealingpod (Instagram)