No. 15 - Our Greatest Hope with Casey Gerald

Casey Gerald, author of "There Will Be No Miracles Here," joins host JP Reynolds for an exchange about ancestors, hope, and the nature of time. About Casey Gerald: Casey Gerald is the author of There Will Be No Miracles Here, a memoir that stands the American Dream narrative on its head, while straddling the complex intersection of race, class, religion and sexuality. TWBNMH was named a Best Book of 2018 by NPR and The New York Times, among others. It received starred reviews from Kirkus, Shelf Awareness, and Booklist, and was the December 2018 pick for the PBS NewsHour-New York Times Book Club. Casey most recently published “The Black Art of Escape: A New Vision for Black Americans” in New York Magazine, which reflects on the 400th anniversary of the first enslaved Africans’ arrival in Virginia, in 1619. Prior to his writing career, Casey co-founded and served as CEO of MBAs Across America, a national movement of business students and entrepreneurs working together to revitalize communities. A native of Oak Cliff, Texas, Casey attended Dallas Public Schools before college at Yale, where he played varsity football and co-founded the Yale Black Men's Union. He later received an MBA from Harvard Business School. He serves on the board of Kickstarter, PBC. About JP Reynolds: Called “remarkably special” by AllHipHop, JP Reynolds is an innovative artist, rapper and songwriter with an eclectic sound. The creator of “rap gumbo,” his music is a powerful blend of jazz, funk, gospel and soul. In addition to music JP is an entrepreneur, coach, activist, and minister. In 2012, he created Peace and Power Media, an artistic hub that produces music and multimedia content. Since 2014, JP has supported young people in pursuing passion and purpose through various initiatives and partnerships with organizations and communities within the non-profit sector. JP holds a Bachelor of Arts in African-American Studies and a Master of Divinity from Yale University. Conversation Topics: Why You Should Nap (4:02) • Rethinking the Hope of Our Ancestors (11:33) • Vehicles, Drivers, and The Great Beyond (23:19) • Casting Down Idols v. Calling Up Love (33:20) • Is Time Linear? (44:13) • Finding Inspiration (51:12) Reading Recommendations: "There Will Be No Miracles Here" by Casey Gerald    "The Black Art of Escape" by Casey Gerald  "Return to Love"  by Marianne Williamson "The Mirror of Simple Soul" by Marguerite Porete Theme Songs: "Reset (Hold Your Horse)" - JP Reynolds + BACHTROY "Elevate" - JP Reynolds + BACHTROY --- Support JP's work with the podcast on Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/jpreynolds