This summer, devastating floods struck Central Texas, leaving families, camps, and entire communities grieving and in shock. In response, the Echoes team hosted two live webinars to support parents, educators, and caregivers facing an urgent question: How do we help our kids cope with something like this?
In this season one finale, we share highlights from those gatherings—including two heartfelt conversations with trauma expert Dr. Jamie Aten. A seasoned psychologist and co-creator of Spiritual First Aid, Jamie has spent over 20 years responding to the world’s hardest disasters and has lived through personal trauma himself.
He’s joined in the second conversation by Kent Annan, host of the Better Samaritan Podcast, for an honest and hopeful dialogue about grief, parenting, and self-compassion. Together, they offer practical tools and spiritual insight for those walking children—and themselves—through fear, confusion, and loss.
Whether you're a parent, pastor, educator, or community leader, this conversation offers grace-filled wisdom for showing up with love, clarity, and resilience when it’s needed most.
Mentioned in this episode:
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We live in a difficult time. People have their opinions about how to solve problems, but distrust runs deep. People make promises—especially our politicians—but they can’t always deliver on those promises. In our season one finale, bestselling author and columnist David Brooks joins The Echoes Podcast to explore what’s really missing—and how we might find it again. Brooks helps us see that what’s broken in our world is not simply political, but spiritual and relational. He shares stories of moral formation and vulnerability, and together we practice the simple but powerful act of asking good questions. Along the way, we reflect on the limits of AI, the enduring power of art, and why overinvesting in friendship might just be the hope we need.
David Brooks is the author of The Road to Character, The Second Mountain, and How to Know a Person. A columnist for The New York Times and The Atlantic, he’s known for exploring the intersection of politics, culture, and morality.
Mentioned in this episode:
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What does it mean to create something beautiful—not despite our limitations, but because of them? We talk with bestselling author and artist Austin Kleon about creativity as resistance, the tension between process and product, and the courage to show our work. From crushed oyster shells to pink conchas, from ancient nun rhythms to the modern grind, this episode reminds us that creativity is not about abundance—it’s about attention. And it might just save our souls.
Our guest this week, Austin Kleon, is the New York Times bestselling author of Steal Like an Artist, Show Your Work, and Keep Going. Known for his accessible insights into the creative process, he writes a widely followed weekly newsletter and shares his own journey of making art with words and pictures.
Notes
Do “kids these days” have you scratching your head? You’re not alone. In this episode, Dr. Crystal Kirgiss joins Camille Hall-Ortega and Marcus Goodyear to explore the ancient roots of adolescence, the unchanging traits of teenagers across time, and why understanding young adults has more to do with showing up than keeping up with trends. Whether you're a parent, a mentor, or just someone who wants to support the next generation, this conversation offers wisdom, encouragement, and a reminder that you’re not the first person to face these challenges.
Even if you don't have kids, simply being a good neighbor can include noticing and caring for teens in your community. You don’t need to be cool—you just need to be there.
Notes
Sister Pearl Ceasar has a remarkable journey from classroom teacher to nonpartisan community organizer. Guided by her deep faith and commitment to justice, Sister Pearl spent decades building coalitions for change in San Antonio and across Texas. She explains how personal relationships, listening, and persistence can transform neighborhoods—and entire cities. Co-hosts Marcus Goodyear and Camille Hall-Ortega join Sister Pearl to reflect on faith, leadership, and the power of binding communities together for the common good.
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🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.
Episode Notes:
Production Team:
Written and produced by Marcus Goodyear, Camille Hall-Ortega, and Rob Stennett
Hosted by Marcus Goodyear and Camille Hall-Ortega
Edited by Rob Stennett and Kim Stone
Executive Producers: Patton Dodd and David Rogers
Graphic Design Manager: Hilary Commer
Junior Designer: Lindsay Bruce
Content Creator: Alyson Amestoy
Staff Writer: Beth Avila
Funded by the H. E. Butt Foundation
Special thanks to our guest Sister Pearl Ceasar.
Grammy-winning musical artist and author Ashley Cleveland joins The Echoes Podcast to talk about grit. Through addiction and recovery, heartbreak and healing, Ashley invites us into a story where surrender becomes strength, vulnerability becomes vision, and brokenness gives way to beauty. This is a conversation about faith forged in fire, and the quiet, astonishing power of telling the whole, unvarnished truth.
🔗 Subscribe to Echoes Magazine for free: EchoesMagazine.org
🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.
Episode Notes:
Production Team:
Written and produced by Marcus Goodyear, Camille Hall-Ortega, and Rob Stennett
Hosted by Camille Hall-Ortega and Marcus Goodyear
Edited by Rob Stennett and Kim Stone
Executive Producers: Patton Dodd and David Rogers
Graphic Design Manager: Hilary Commer
Junior Designer: Lindsay Bruce
Content Creator: Alyson Amestoy
Staff Writer: Beth Avila
Funded by the H. E. Butt Foundation
Special thanks to our guest Ashley Cleveland for being vulnerable about her struggles and for talking with us about grit.
Theoretically, we are more connected than ever, yet loneliness is a growing crisis. Research shows that social isolation can be as harmful to our health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. What’s behind this epidemic of disconnection, and what can we do about it?
In this episode, psychiatrist and theologian Dr. Warren Kinghorn joins hosts Marcus Goodyear and Camille Hall-Ortega to explore the medical and theological roots of loneliness. Drawing on his work with veterans, students, and other communities, Dr. Kinghorn offers a powerful perspective on why we struggle to find belonging—and how embracing vulnerability and deep connection can change our lives.
From the impact of social media to the lessons of faith, from the role of community to the surprising effects of shame, this conversation is a hopeful reflection on what it truly means to belong.
🔗 Subscribe to Echoes Magazine for free: EchoesMagazine.org
🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.
Episode Notes:
Production Team:
Written and produced by Marcus Goodyear, Rob Stennett, and Camille Hall-Ortega
Edited by Rob Stennett and Kim Stone
Executive Producers: Patton Dodd and David Rogers
Graphic Design Manager: Hilary Commer
Junior Designer: Lindsay Bruce
Content Creator: Alyson Amestoy
Staff Writer: Elisabeth Avila
Writer: Elizabeth Coffee
Funded by the H. E. Butt Foundation
Special thanks to our guest Dr. Warren Kinghorn for his thoughtful exploration of loneliness, belonging, and mental health.
“Your zip code shouldn’t determine your life expectancy—but in many American cities, it does.” In this eye-opening conversation, San Antonio vascular surgeon Dr. Lyssa Ochoa talks with us, your hosts Camille Hall-Ortega and Marcus Goodyear, about the stark health disparities in our communities. She highlights a 20-year gap in life expectancy between San Antonio neighborhoods just miles apart. This issue has complicated roots—including historical practices like redlining—and today, some communities are seeing higher rates of diabetes, amputations, and other chronic illnesses. Through her work at the SAVE Clinic, Dr. Ochoa advocates fiercely for equitable healthcare, investing in underserved neighborhoods, and offering compassionate, accessible care. Join us as we discuss why true community health means caring for our neighbors.
🔗 Subscribe to Echoes Magazine for free: EchoesMagazine.org
Episode Notes:
Production Team:
Written and produced by Camille Hall-Ortega, Rob Stennett, and Marcus Goodyear
Edited by Rob Stennett and Kim Stone
Executive Producers: Patton Dodd and David Rogers
Graphic Design Manager: Hilary Commer
Junior Designer: Lindsay Bruce
Content Creator: Alyson Amestoy
Staff Writer: Beth Avila
Writer: Elizabeth Coffee
Funded by the H. E. Butt Foundation
Special thanks to our guest Dr. Lyssa Ochoa for highlighting health disparities and advocating passionately for equitable healthcare in our communities.
“We live in a world designed to distract us. Quiet isn’t passivity—it’s an active resistance, a space to reconnect with God and ourselves,” says celebrated singer-songwriter Jon Guerra in this episode. He joins hosts Camille Hall-Ortega and Marcus Goodyear to explore the profound relationship between worship, silence, and beauty. Known for his devotional music and work on the critically acclaimed film A Hidden Life, Jon shares his journey from confetti cannons to quiet reflection, crafting songs that offer healing and connection in a noisy world. Together, they talk about the transformative power of worship, the importance of embracing silence, and the ways beauty can draw us closer to God. If you are looking to create a sacred space in your own life, you don’t want to miss this one.
NOTES:
Jon Guerra’s website
"American Gospel" from Jon Guerra's latest EP
Keeper of Days by Jon Guerra
A Hidden Life by Terrence Malick
On Beauty and Being Just by Elaine Scarry
“As Kingfishers Catch Fire” by Gerard Manley Hopkins
Practicing the Way - John Mark Comer
On Beauty and Being Just - Elaine Scarry
The Beatitudes from the Gospels (Matthew 5:3–12)
The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:10)
Ecclesiastes on the rain and sun (Ecclesiastes 9:2)
Mary Magdalene at the tomb (John 20:11–18)
State of the heart (Proverbs 14:13)
Production Team:
Special thanks to our guest Jon Guerra for sharing his insights on worship and music.
When the city condemns your house and schedules it for demolition, what can you do? On this episode of The Echoes Podcast, we talk about the crisis of affordable housing in San Antonio. Our guest, Elizabeth Cruz, a licensed clinical social worker and project manager at San Antonio Affordable Housing, sheds light on "Operation Rebuild," an initiative focused on saving homes from demolition and restoring hope to families. Join hosts Marcus Goodyear and Camille Hall-Ortega as they discuss the challenges, emotional impact, and victories involved in rebuilding not just homes, but lives.
NOTES:
Do you like this story? You’ll love Echoes Magazine. Print subscriptions are free from the H. E. Butt Foundation:
Subscribe - Echoes Magazine (hebfdn.org)
Read the Echoes article that inspired this episode:
It's Your House Now - Community Engagement (hebfdn.org)
Watch the short film “Everyone Needs a Home” for free:
Other resources on the Demolition Diversion program:
City Recognizes First Home Selected for Demolition Diversion - City of San Antonio
Operation Rebuild | LISC San Antonio
Echoes - Olga Escobedo - Article
Production Team:
Church attendance is declining, and people often wonder: Why should we still go?
To answer this question, The Echoes Podcast welcomes Corey Widmer, lead pastor of Third Church in Richmond, Virginia, and a member of the Theological Advisory Council for the H. E. Butt Foundation. Corey shares his insights on the meaning of life, the importance of community, and how the church can better embody Jesus's teachings in a world often disillusioned by religion.
Join hosts Marcus Goodyear and Camille Hall-Ortega as they explore the role of the church in modern life and how our beliefs can shape our actions for the better.
NOTES:
Do you like this story? You’ll love Echoes Magazine. Print subscriptions are free from the H. E. Butt Foundation:
Subscribe - Echoes Magazine (hebfdn.org)
Read Corey’s Echoes article on “The Four-Part Gospel” that inspired this episode:
The Gospel of Wholeness - Canyon
Listen to David Brooks’ full talk at Laity Lodge and one of his articles in The Atlantic:
The Deep Humanity of God - Laity Lodge
Why Americans Are So Awful to One Another - The Atlantic
Investigate materials referenced in this podcast:
Production Team:
Words are powerful. They shape our relationships, influence how we see ourselves, and impact how we experience the world.
In this episode of The Echoes Podcast, poet, author, and educator Olga Samples Davis shares her reflections on the significance of words—whether spoken in kindness, passed down through generations, or rooted in faith. Olga reflects on her mother’s wisdom, her journey as an educator, and her faith in the transformative power of language. Because, Olga says, kindness transcends barriers.
NOTES: Do you like this story? You’ll love Echoes Magazine. Print subscriptions are free from the H. E. Butt Foundation:
Subscribe - Echoes Magazine (hebfdn.org)
Watch two Echoes videos featuring Olga in this article:
Laity Lodge's 60-Year Journey - Laity Lodge
Browse our poetry reflections:
Poetry Stories - Echoes Magazine
Buy Olga’s Book, Things My Mama Told Me
https://www.amazon.com/Things-My-Mama-Told-Me/dp/1578568196/
Investigate materials referenced in this podcast:
Production Team:
Our culture often equates leadership with tall, confident men. But history and scripture show us that true leadership comes from those willing to listen, collaborate, and empower others," says guest Tod Bolsinger in this episode. Join hosts Marcus Goodyear and Camille Hall-Ortega as they explore with Bolsinger the intricate process of transformation. Drawing from his books Canoeing the Mountains and Invest in Transformation, Tod shares how trust fuels change, why leadership is different from management, and how to navigate the pain of growth. What does it look like to lead with humility and courage? How can we embrace uncertainty, foster collaboration, and inspire transformation in our communities?
NOTES: Do you like this story? You’ll love Echoes Magazine. Print subscriptions are free from the H. E. Butt Foundation:
Subscribe - Echoes Magazine (hebfdn.org)
Investigate materials referenced in this podcast:
Canoeing the Mountains by Tod Bolsinger
Invest in Transformation by Tod Bolsinger
Practicing Change series by Tod Bolsinger
The Mission Always Wins by Tod Bolsinger
The Righteous Mind by Jonathan Haidt
Leadership on the Line by Ronald Heifetz and Marty Linsky
The Pool of Bethesda (John 5:1–15)
Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem on a donkey (Matthew 21:1–11)
The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:10)
Eyes on the Lord (2 Chronicles 20:12)
Production Team:
Special thanks to our guest Todd Bolsinger, Founder of AE Sloan Leadership, Inc.; author of Canoeing the Mountains, Invest in Transformation, and the Practicing Change series.
How do we find true belonging in our communities, and what responsibility do we have to help others do the same? On this episode of The Echoes Podcast, hosts Marcus Goodyear and Camille Hall-Ortega welcome Reverend Ben McBride, faith leader, activist, CEO of the Empower Initiative, and author of Troubling the Water. Ben shares his powerful story of moving his family to East Oakland’s “Kill Zone” to live alongside the youth he served. As you can imagine, it wasn’t always easy. Join us as we explore the challenges of finding belonging, building bridges across differences, and the profound lessons Ben learned along the way.
LINKS & RESOURCES
Do you like this story? You’ll love Echoes Magazine. Print subscriptions are free from the H. E. Butt Foundation:
Subscribe - Echoes Magazine (hebfdn.org)
See the Echoes video and article that inspired this episode:
Know Your Neighbor: Rain or Shine - Community Engagement (hebfdn.org)
Read our president David Rogers’ reflect on what he has learned from Rev. Ben McBride:
Widening Our Circle - From the President (hebfdn.org)
Hear our president David Rogers on Ben McBride’s podcast An Invitation to Become:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4p1GtejMKyaewpOalIejj9?si=Q2HFRec3R_OJxxIRlz_dnA
Buy Ben’s Book and learn more about the Empower Initiative:
Ben McBride Book Troubling the Water — Ben McBride
Empower Initiative
REFERENCES
The Echoes Podcast launches on January 7th, 2025. Join us as we dive into real-world questions about community, faith, and human connection. Guided by hosts Marcus Goodyear and Camille Hall-Ortega, each episode explores personal journeys and societal challenges with inspiring guests—from faith leaders and poets to social advocates—whose stories shape our shared experiences.
From the creators of Echoes Magazine by the H. E. Butt Foundation, The Echoes Podcast continues the magazine's legacy of storytelling that fosters understanding, empathy, and action.