The Paths To Understanding Podcast

Challenge 2.0 American Women & Children - Endangered Species

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More American women are dying in childbirth than in any other developed nation. Infant survival here ranks 33rd out of the 36 major western countries. And the World Health Organization ranks the United States in the bottom 10 of 180 countries in terms of providing children with a healthy, sustainable future. In this episode of Challenge 2.0, we examine why the health and survival of American mothers...and their children... is at such risk...and what can be done about it. 

Challenge 2.0 Making Food Sustainable, Healthy and Affordable

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They’re called ‘Ag Gag rules’-passed by state legislators to punish people who reveal unsafe, unhealthy or unethical food production methods. Such rules are only one example of strategies to reduce or eliminate public knowledge and regulation of corporate agriculture and food production methods. But in this episode of Challenge 2.0, we meet a group seeking to counter that pressure-and increase access to food that is good, clean and fair...and affordable. 

Challenge 2.0 Rescuing Our Children from Food Deserts-The Lil’ Sprouts Approach

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Any parent knows how it can be a struggle to persuade their children to eat healthy foods. But for some parents, the struggle is simply affording healthy foods-for that matter, any food. We’ve examined the issue of food insecurity among indigenous communities, and those of color. In this edition of Challenge 2.0, we examine a program called ‘Little Sprouts’ that was founded in Denver Colorado. It’s designed to help such parents and to persuade children that eating healthy foods can be tasty and fun.

Challenge 2.0 Celebrating and Connecting How Faith Can Unite

Discussions of the faiths of Christianity, Judaism and Islam tend to focus more on conflict than connection. That’s often based more on biases than actual experience. As the major holidays  of each faith-Easter, Passover and Ramadan overlap this year, some faith leaders believe that also raises the possibility of connection together with individual celebration, and reducing costly alienation and dehumanization. That’s the focus of this edition of Challenge 2.0. 

Challenge 2.0 What we Get Wrong About God...and Why It Matters

Bring people of different faiths together, and you’re likely to hear vastly different views expressed about who or what God is or isn’t. In this episode of Challenge 2.0, we decided to do just that-to bring together faith leaders from Christianity, Judaism and Islam...to explore the question of what they believe we get wrong about God/Allah...and why it matters. 

Challenge 2.0 Loneliness: Social Solitary Confinement?

The former US Surgeon General believes our country is suffering from an epidemic of loneliness. Dr. Vivek Murthy said the evidence pointed to such an epidemic long before the isolation created by the COVID pandemic, and that such loneliness not only causes emotional problems, but also physical ones. A Brigham Young University study says the health impact of chronic loneliness is equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. In this episode of Challenge 2.0, we turn to the Interfaith Amigos for thoughts on what we can and should do for ourselves...and for each other.  

Challenge 2.0 Reclaiming Food Deserts Part Three Indigenous Approaches

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The earliest European settlers in this country would not have survived without the knowledge, assistance and charity of the indigenous peoples they encountered. The irony is that was repaid by forcing those native Americans onto reservations, limiting their access to traditional food sources and replacing them with highly processed, often unhealthy foods . In this episode of Challenge, we meet (continue our conversation) with a man called The Sioux Chef...who is seeking to right that wrong. 

Challenge 2.0 Reclaiming Food Deserts Part Two The Sioux Chef

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In last week’s edition of Challenge 2.0, we began an examination of what have been called food deserts or food wastelands...and its’ impact on the health and wealth of communities...particular those of color. We continue that conversation this week with a man called the Sioux Chef...winner of not one but several of the highly coveted James Beard awards. He has made it his mission to address the economic and health crises that impact indigenous communities.

Challenge 2.0 Reclaiming Food Deserts Black Farmers Collective Part One

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Forty percent of the food produced in the United States is thrown away. That’s more than in any other country. Food waste takes up more room in landfills than any other source. Yet hunger, malnutrition and related health problems are increasing. More than thirteen million Americans live in what are called ‘food deserts’. What are food deserts, and how do efforts to achieve what’s called food sovereignty aim to bring new life and health to such places? That’s the subject of this edition of Challenge 2.0.

Challenge 2.0 Faith in Action: Moving from Prayer to Policies

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Faith communities seem to be subject to the same polarization seen throughout the United States. Yet an organization called the Faith Action Network coordinates the voices of more than 150 such groups in this state. FAN...as it’s called...asserts that translating prayer into policy is valid, needed, and can build community.