STRAWS THAT BREAK US: Tyler Perry, Trauma, and Systems That Fail

Fighting Forward: Systems, Solidarity, and Showing Up

In this reflective solo episode, Bryce takes us deep into the work of resisting oppressive systems while cultivating something more life-giving in their place. He shares recent experiences in community engagement, what it means to fight without losing your center, and how real change is rooted in relational investment. From confronting the subtle ways systems show up in everyday life to lifting up the slow, sacred work of building community, this episode is an invitation to both honesty and hope. Bryce challenges us to consider how we show up for each other — not just in protest, but in presence. Plus, a special invitation to the Feast for the Farm happening Friday, June 20th at 5 PM in Hayward, WI. All are welcome — bring a dish to pass and your feast bowl if you’ve got one. Location: 10085 N Round Lake School Road, Hayward, WI 54843

STRAWS THAT BREAK US: Tyler Perry, Trauma, and Systems That Fail

In this solo episode, co-host Hannah Coblentz takes a thoughtful dive into Tyler Perry’s new Netflix film, Straw. With nuance and deep reflection, Hannah explores the systemic weight carried by Perry’s characters—poverty, race, trauma, and silence—and how Straw challenges viewers to reckon with the cultural and structural forces that lead people to their breaking points. From a "Black Mennonite" lens rooted in faith and social critique, Hannah connects the film’s emotional gut-punch to real-world systems that often leave marginalized people unheard and unsupported. This episode is a meditation on pain, storytelling, and what happens when no one notices how heavy the load has become.

Delving Deep: What Does It Mean to Be "Human?"

What does it mean to be human—when you've been silenced, shattered, shaped by systems that never made room for your whole self? In this raw and deeply personal episode, Hannah opens the door to her life story—sharing, with full vulnerability, the journey from childhood trauma to survival, loss, reclamation, motherhood, and healing. From being adopted into a conservative caucasian Mennonite family to rediscovering her identity and surviving intimate partner violence, this is not a story told for shock or comparison—it's told to connect. This episode explores the power of storytelling, the truth buried in generational wounds, and what it really means to be seen, to be heard, and to be human. If you've ever felt like you don’t belong, like you’re piecing yourself back together, like your story is too much or not enough—this one’s for you.

Teaser: The Intersection of Roots and Roads

Welcome to The Black Mennonite and the White Native, a space for truth-telling, healing, and cultural dialogue. In this teaser episode, co-host Hannah Coblentz takes you on a personal journey, sharing a glimpse of her story and what inspired this podcast. With a focus on adoption, survival, and cultural reclamation, Hannah dives deep into her experiences navigating identity and intergenerational trauma, offering a taste of the honest and reflective conversations to come. Throughout future episodes, Hannah will explore themes like resilience, the work of rebuilding connection, and the importance of collective healing. From solo reflections to intimate guest interviews, each episode is an invitation to engage with lived experiences and hear from voices often left unheard. Join Hannah as she sets the stage for a podcast rooted in cultural reclamation, hope, and the power of storytelling to heal and connect.

Roots and Reckonings: The Origin Story

In The Black Mennonite and the White Native, hosts Hannah Coblentz and Bryce Crone invite you into conversations rooted in lived experience, cultural reclamation, justice work, and unapologetic hope. Launching with Roots and Reckonings: The Origin Story, this podcast traces the paths that shaped us — and the fires that fuel us. Through humor, honesty, and heart, Hannah and Bryce break open hard conversations around race, faith, activism, and healing, aiming to build bridges across differences and dream up a better way forward. This is a space for storytellers, change-makers, and anyone willing to sit in the tension between what was and what could be. Come for the laughs, stay for the truth. New episodes every Monday.