Faith, Fitness, and Fatherhood

A Conversation with Rev. Dr. Harold Dorrell Briscoe

In this episode of Gateway Conversations, host Eltavious Johnson sits down with Rev. Dr. Harold Dorrell Briscoe, minister, professor, historian, father of four, and Dean of Religious and Spiritual Life at Rollins College. A leader who moves with ease between the academy and the altar, between data and devotion, Briscoe embodies what it means to lead with both intellect and spirit.

From his early work in government and community revitalization, to his national voice as a public theologian, to his daily presence in Rollins’ sacred and interfaith spaces, Briscoe’s story reminds us that leadership is holistic, shaped as much by faith, family, and fitness as by scholarship and service.

He’s also the bestselling author of There’s A Storm Comin’: How the American Church Can Lead Through Times of Racial Crisis, and his insights have reached national audiences, including CNN. Today, he shares how calling, discipline, and belonging weave through every part of his life, from fatherhood to the gym to the pulpit.

In This Episode:

– How civic service shaped his approach to ministry and higher education
– The lessons of President Truman’s 1947 Committee on Civil Rights and why they matter today - His Thesis for his 2nd Doctorate
– What belonging looks like in interfaith and spiritual spaces on a liberal arts campus
– The link between physical fitness and spiritual clarity
– Fatherhood as a teacher of patience, grace, and leadership
– How to discern when a calling is still calling