I want to post a few updates and also share what I’ll be writing about over the coming months. First, see below. 👇🏽

Join me on May 10 at 7pm ET for #BooksForABetterWorld, a first-ever-gathering of multifaith leaders and leading authors brought together by @AuburnSeminary, @middlechurch and @FaithPublicLife, in partnership with @strandbookstore! RSVP here ➡️ middlechurch.org/books

I hope you’ll join us for what promises to be a great evening with really wonderful authors!

Participating Authors:

• Wajahat Ali, @WajahatAli (Twitter), @instawajahat (Instagram)

• Sr. Simone Campbell SSS, @sr_simone

• Dr. Robyn Henderson Espinoza, @irobyn

• Rev. Jen Butler, @RevJenButler

• Valarie Kaur, @valariekaur

• Rev. angel Kyodo williams, Roshi, @ZenChangeAngel

• Lisa Sharon Harper, @lisasharper

• Rev. Dr. Yolanda Pierce, @YNPierce (Twitter), @yn_pierce (Instagram)

• Kat Armas, @kat_armas

• Simran Jeet Singh, @simran (Twitter), @sikhprof (Instagram)

• Jamia Wilson, @jamiaw (Twitter), @jamiaawilson (Instagram)

• Jordan Thierry, @jordan.thierry (Instagram)

Secondly, I’ll be in conversation with the amazing Matthias Roberts at The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology! You can zoom in for this event, or if you’re in the area, please join us in person! I love being in conversation with Matthias because I believe it takes a diversity of tactics to get free and find ourselves! Matthias models this very well and he is one of the good white guys in my life! I hope you’ll join us for conversation!

The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology welcomes Dr. Robyn Henderson-Espinoza— Transqueer, Latinx public theologian, activist scholar—as they discuss their new book Body Becoming: Our Path to Liberation. Pointing to the increasing disconnection from our bodies and from one another, Body Becoming takes a critical look at which bodies count in this country and offers a vision for an embodied, inclusive democracy. Mixing memoir and faith, somatics theory and body practice, Dr. Robyn reveals embodiment as the primary place of deep wisdom, where culture shifts originate and materialize—and a better world becomes, as we too become.

At this campus and live-streamed event, Dr Robyn will be joined in conversation by Matthias Roberts, psychotherapist, podcaster, and author of Beyond Shame. Copies of Dr. Robyn’s book will be available for sale at the event and for pre-order March 29 from Bookshop.org and other online booksellers.

As of May 9, masks are strongly recommended but no longer required on campus at The Seattle School. All updates will be posted on the COVID-19 page. Please review the page before visiting the campus.

A public viewing link will be added here before the event start time on May 12. A link to submit questions for the Q&A time will also be posted.

Finally, I’ll start working on my next project exploring themes of belonging and freedom. I’ll chart some of that work in Substack as a way to engage folks before my next book drops and to invite folks into conversation. My hope, along with the collaborative work I’ll be doing with Derek Webb, is to have more conversation and build more community across lines of difference. Look for updates from me and Derek on what we’re cooking up!

The next book is in process and is gestating in my body-mind. I have a few draft chapters in the works and I’m looking forward to this one! It’s a logical elaboration and extension of Body Becoming: A Path To Our Liberation, but takes a shift and pivot into deeper folds of relationalities.

I like long-form writing, because of the potential for conversation. I think conversation is the only way forward in our times as we learn how to be human, again. In fact, as a professor, I use conversation as my primary pedagogical tool and framework. I am a learner, as well as a teacher and professor, along with my students. When we decenter the expert and invite conversation, we arrive at a different, decolonized place, and I’m interested in that kind of arriving together! And, I think themes of belonging & freedom are vital for us to explore together in community.

The comments will be open to those who pay for a subscription, so as to cut down on the bullying and harassment that I often get. So, if you want to join the conversation, please upgrade your subscription! I’m hopeful that once a quarter we could gather for a conversation on belonging & freedom from our very different standpoints! I’ll send those invites out to those who subscribe to my Substack.

Thanks for being here and thanks for reading my thoughts. I am still in the process of becoming and look forward to our paths crossing IRL!

Onward, —Dr. Robyn.