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Above The Noise: Faith; Race; Reconciliation.Author: Grantley Martelly
A podcast at the intersection of faith, race, and reconciliation. People of faith should be leaders of reconciliation however historically issues of race and culture seem to get in the way of rising above differences to find common ground through reconciliation. We discuss those challenges and sometimes we may also stray onto different topics but we'll always come back to reconciliation. Language: en-us Genres: Education, Religion & Spirituality, Spirituality Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Episode 72: Jim Copple: The Radical Idea That Fasting Could Heal a Divided Nation
Episode 72
Tuesday, 3 February, 2026
Send us a Text Message about the podcastWhat if the antidote to polarization isn’t a louder argument, but a quieter practice of showing up, listening, and serving together? Grantley sits down with Jim Koppel—educator, coalition-builder, and cofounder of Strategic Applications International and Servant Forge—whose career stretches from late-night ride-alongs with a gang unit to shaping national prevention policy and facilitating 21st century policing reforms. The thread through it all: proximity changes outcomes. When people meet face to face, when training centers de-escalation and culture, and when youth have real jobs and mentors, communities get safer.We unpack the five protective factors that keep young people on track—hope, caring adults, skills, control, and altruism—and why employment quietly powers them all. Jim shares what 20,000 listening-session voices taught his team about fear, bias, and structural gaps like language access that distort incident reports and deepen mistrust. We also examine how the Minneapolis Police Department reframed training around the sanctity of life, showing how policy and practice can diverge across agencies and why curriculum quality matters as much as length.Then we pivot to the Freedom Fast, a civic invitation rooted in American history and embraced across faiths and the nonreligious alike: six monthly fasts on the fourth leading to July 4. Fasting here is broad—food, social media, or anything that creates room to reflect. The aim is simple and demanding: pause, relate, and serve beyond the headlines. As states consider resolutions and communities pilot models, we make the case that a more perfect union is built in small, repeatable acts—on front porches, in plazas, at the mailbox.If this resonates, subscribe, share with a neighbor, and leave a review to help others find the show. Ready to take the next step? Join the Freedom Fast at thefreedomfast.us, send us a text from the show notes, and tell us how you’ll show up this month.#thefreedomfast#fastingLeave reviewFollow and ShareSend Text Message New WebsiteBuy Me A Coffee Support the show#abovethenoise24# faith#reconciliation#race#racialreconciliationWe appreciate your support: Buy Me A CoffeeStay in touch: Email us at: abovethenoise24@gmail.com Facebook: @abovethenoise24 Instagram: abovethenoise24 Podcast art by Mario Christie.
