Heal Our Culture

About Heal Our Culture

We need to be culture healers, not culture warriors. "Heal Our Culture" is an evolving project by Wes Fryer of Charlotte, North Carolina, seeking to amplify and share the voices of culture healers in our communities. Learn more and get involved on HealOurCulture.org. healourculture.substack.com (https://healourculture.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast)

Publisher

Heal Our Culture

Category

education · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

2 Feb 2024

Latest episode

30 Aug 2026

Latest episodes

13 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   30 Aug 2026

   The Slave Bible

   To heal our culture, we must study and understand our history. These studies must include the actions of people and events which have not traditionally been part of the “formal historical curriculum canon” in United States public and private schools. Specifically, the history of resistance to chattel slavery, settler colonialism, and white supremacy in the Americas is vital to understand. It is for these reasons the 1526 Project (https://resistance500.com/) is a powerful curriculum for spiritual transformation as well as historical enlightenment. Our small group (https://cw.wesfryer.com/) for the 1526 Project (https://resistance500.com/) is continuing to meet on Sunday evenings via Zoom, but because of our (extended) focus last week on Haiti, Bois Caïman (https://healourculture.org/2026/08/09/haitian-revolution-and-bois-caiman/), the Haitian Revolution (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haitian_Revolution), and modern-day Haiti, we’re focusing on the week 8 curriculum as well as the “Deep Dive” curriculum for August this week. (Instead of Week 9.) To help prepare in advance of tonight’s small group, and provide others (including you!) additional media resources to complement and extend the PDF curriculum, I created an 11 slide slideshow (https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/17jIvTVnHsBebqc4Du27QFd9a174OGaDxHdCGJh0EcO8/edit?usp=sharing) as well as a 42 minute “deep dive audio podcast” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFuR73S2LZY) about both the Week 8 curriculum of the 1526 Project, and the “August Deep Dive.” Remember if you are not part of our small group, you can directly obtain your own copy of the 1526 Project for $12 on resistance500.com (https://resistance500.com/). Here is the video description of this audio deep dive, which I created with Gemini Notebook (https://notebook.google.com/notebook/a29fc228-cbcd-4804-ae94-1309879d1b13) (formerly “Notebook LM:”) This week 8 deep dive for the 1526 Project (https://resistance500.com/) examines how empires weaponized Christianity through the 1807 “Slave Bible,” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Select_Parts_of_the_Holy_Bible_for_the_use_of_the_Negro_Slaves_in_the_British_West-India_Islands) a heavily redacted text published in London and used in the British Caribbean to promote obedience by removing liberation narratives like Exodus, the prophets, and Revelation while retaining passages such as Philemon and household codes. The episode explains how enslaved people developed the “Maroon Hermeneutic,” preserving and transmitting unredacted scripture through clandestine literacy, hush harbors, and spirituals, and highlights key texts (Exodus 1–15, Luke 1’s Magnificat, Daniel 3, Revelation 21, and Acts 5:29). It connects this theology to the Haitian Revolution’s proof of successful revolt and to Denmark Vesey’s 1822 Charleston conspiracy organized through the AME Church, its suppression, and the long continuance to Mother Emanuel AME and the 2015 Charleston Nine, concluding with curriculum practices of examen, liturgy, and action.00:00 A Bible With Pages Missing01:24 Welcome to the Deep Dive02:53 How We Approach This03:54 Inside the 1807 Slave Bible05:40 Theological Sandbox Explained07:56 Doctrine of Discovery Link08:52 Maroon Hermeneutic Emerges12:42 Reading in the Dark13:58 Hush Harbors and Spirituals15:58 Five Texts of Resistance16:28 Exodus and Holy Deception18:07 Magnificat and Refusal19:46 Daniel Against Empire20:06 Revelation Made Physical21:46 Haiti Proof Of Concept26:17 Vesey And The AME29:01 Gullah Jack And The Plot32:06 Betrayal And Crackdown33:15 Mother Emanuel Continuance34:06 Charleston Nine And Fugitive Faith35:57 Practices Examen Liturgy Action39:36 Final Challenge And Wrap This video deep dive is also available on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFuR73S2LZY). Here are links to English WikiPedia articles for many of the key people and events mentioned in this week’s curriculum: * The 1807 “Slave Bible” — Select Parts of the Holy Bible for the use of the Negro Slaves in the British West-India Islands (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Select_Parts_of_the_Holy_Bible_for_the_use_of_the_Negro_Slaves_in_the_British_West-India_Islands) * Exodus (the liberation narrative removed from the Slave Bible) — Book of Exodus (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Exodus) * The Prophets (also removed) — Nevi’im (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nevi'im) * Revelation (also removed) — Book of Revelation (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Revelation) * The Letter to Philemon (retained in the Slave Bible) — Epistle to Philemon (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epistle_to_Philemon) * Household codes (also retained) — New Testament household code (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Testament_household_code) * Maroons / Maroon Hermeneutic — Maroons (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maroons) * Clandestine literacy (secret literacy among enslaved people) — Anti-literacy laws in the United States (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-literacy_laws_in_the_United_States) * Hush harbors — Hush harbor (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hush_harbor) * Spirituals — Negro spiritual (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negro_spiritual) * Luke 1’s Magnificat — Magnificat (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnificat) * Daniel 3 — Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadrach,_Meshach,_and_Abednego) * Revelation 21 — Revelation 21 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revelation_21) * Acts 5:29 — Acts 5 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acts_5) * The Haitian Revolution — Haitian Revolution (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haitian_Revolution) * Denmark Vesey and his 1822 Charleston conspiracy — Denmark Vesey (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denmark_Vesey) * The AME Church — African Methodist Episcopal Church (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_Methodist_Episcopal_Church) * Mother Emanuel AME — Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emanuel_African_Methodist_Episcopal_Church) * The 2015 Charleston Nine — Charleston church shooting (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charleston_church_shooting) I hope these resources enable you to deepen your own understanding of these difficult but important chapters of our shared history. We continue to live in the shadows of our past. In seeking to better understand the actions of those who have gone before us, hopefully we can strive together to do better. Let us commit together to act as culture healers, not culture warriors. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit healourculture.substack.com (https://healourculture.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

2. 

   8 Aug 2026

   Haitian Revolution and Bois Caïman

   To prepare for our 6th week small group meeting of The 1526 Project (https://resistance500.com), which focuses on "Bois Caïman: Haiti and the Pentecost of Liberation," I created an audio "deep dive" overview (https://drive.google.com/file/d/13kH1Mse8qgbPC7tGFHL0n--uLWhxLmuz/view?usp=sharing) (21.5 minutes) of the historical and spiritual background of the Haitian Revolution (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haitian_Revolution) and Bois Caïman (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bois_Ca%C3%AFman) using Gemini Notebook (https://notebook.google.com). (Previously "NotebookLM") This is available as an audio file on Google Drive (https://drive.google.com/file/d/13kH1Mse8qgbPC7tGFHL0n--uLWhxLmuz/view), and a YouTube video (https://youtu.be/tXb66D4GceU). Here is a summary of the audio: This “Deep Dive” style audio recording (styled as two AI narrators prepping a listener for a small-group discussion) unpacks Week 6 of “The 1526 Project,” (https://resistance500.com) a 20-week spiritual formation curriculum designed as an alternative lens to the 2026 semiquincentennial. Rather than anchoring American history to 1776, the curriculum starts from 1526, the year of the first European colonial settlement on the mainland and the first recorded rebellion by enslaved Africans. The episode focuses on the Haitian Revolution, beginning with the August 1791 Bois Caïman ceremony (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bois_Ca%C3%AFman), a Vodou ritual led by Dutty Boukman (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutty_Boukman) and Cécile Fatiman (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C3%A9cile_Fatiman) that united enslaved people from different African ethnic groups into a coordinated uprising within two months. The curriculum controversially reframes that ceremony, historically condemned by European churches as demonic, as a “Pentecost of liberation,” paralleling it with the biblical Pentecost and the Magnificat (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnificat)‘s theme of lifting up the lowly. The recording then traces Toussaint Louverture (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toussaint_Louverture)‘s rise as military and political leader, his shifting relationship with the U.S. (allied under Adams, undermined under Jefferson), and the painful contradiction of his fermage labor system, which kept freed workers tied to plantations to fund the army needed to defend their freedom. It covers his betrayal and death in a French prison, the brutal war of extermination that followed under Dessalines, and how yellow fever devastated Napoleon’s forces and helped secure Haitian independence in 1804. The narrators connect this directly to two major consequences: France’s 1825 extortion of 90 million gold francs from Haiti (debt not paid off until 1947), and Napoleon’s decision to sell the Louisiana Territory to the U.S. after losing his Caribbean empire, literally doubling the size of the United States. The episode closes by noting that no portrait of Toussaint Louverture was painted during his lifetime, and the most famous image of him was created decades later by a French artist who deliberately distorted his features, framing the whole discussion as a challenge to reconsider whose historical narratives, and whose faces, we’ve inherited. In addition to using the 1526 Project curriculum as a source for this AI audio deep dive, I also used my December 2008 blog post, “Toussaint Louverture and the Haitian Revolution.” (https://www.speedofcreativity.org/2008/12/06/toussaint-louverture-and-the-haitian-revolution/) Learn more about our Project 1526 small group on my (Wes Fryer’s) “Confronting Whitness” website (https://cw.wesfryer.com). This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit healourculture.substack.com (https://healourculture.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

3. 

   3 Aug 2026

   The Stono Rebellion, Resistance, and Rejecting Un-Christian Nationalism

   On August 2, 2026, Wes Fryer in Charlotte shares what he learned preparing for his Project 1526 small group (resistance500.com), a spiritual formation curriculum by Rev. Ben Boswell and Collective Liberation Church offered as an alternative to America’s 250th independence celebrations. He invites viewers to get the $15 PDF curriculum and, in fall 2026, potentially join his group via cw.wesfryer.com while emphasizing confronting white supremacy to be a “culture healer.” This week’s focus is the Stono Rebellion (1739) and Exodus 14:13–14, including details about enslaved Congolese Catholic rebels led by Jemmy/Cato, their attempted flight toward Spanish Florida, deaths on both sides, and the resulting South Carolina Negro Act of 1740 restricting enslaved people until 1865. He connects this history to ongoing struggles for justice, critiques “un-Christian nationalism” (citing his Substack post about Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth), and shares “Finlandia” as a contrasting song of peace, closing with resources at healourculture.org and resistandheal.substack.com. 00:00 Welcome and Purpose 00:57 Curriculum and Invitation 02:44 Why Resistance Matters 05:16 Project Structure Overview 06:40 Exodus and Rebellion Theme 10:09 Stono Rebellion Facts 12:47 Kingdom of Kongo Context 14:11 Negro Act and Civil War Memory 17:05 Examen and Un-Christian Nationalism 19:23 Finlandia Song of Peace 22:36 Resources and Closing Call This video is also available on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZ0h8BgcA7Q). Additional links referenced in this video / these slides (https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1VKVcu4nyDKf72Wb5OaGrNenBvdJ0HZftrhKVo4mqZf4/edit?usp=sharing): * Referenced video: “Finlandia” (”This is My Song”) performed by Indigo Girls” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0OcZdzfOV8) * The 1526 Project (https://resistance500.com/) * Learn more and join our small group Sunday nights in Fall 2026 (https://cw.wesfryer.com/) * Heal Our Culture Project (https://healourculture.org/) (also on Substack (https://healourculture.substack.com/)) * Resist and Heal (https://www.resistandheal.com/) (also on Substack (https://resistandheal.substack.com/)) * Connect to and learn with me (https://wesfryer.com/after) (Wes Fryer) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit healourculture.substack.com (https://healourculture.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

4. 

   6 Jul 2026

   A Small Group, A Big Story

   Yesterday marked the 250th birthday of the United States. Today, our small group gathered over Zoom for the first session of the 1526 Project (https://resistance500.com/), also known as Resistance 500: a spiritual discernment curriculum created by Rev. Dr. Ben Boswell (https://pastorbenboswell.com/) and the team at Collective Liberation Church (https://collectiveliberationchurch.org/). I want to share a bit about what we experienced, and invite you to consider joining us (https://cw.wesfryer.com/). Why “1526”? The curriculum takes its name, and its $15.26 price, from a moment most of us never learned about in school: the first rebellion of enslaved people in what would become the United States, which took place in 1526 in present-day Georgia or South Carolina. It’s a fitting starting point for a 20-week journey of remembering what our founding story often leaves out. You can find the full curriculum at resistance500.com (https://resistance500.com/). What Our Gathering Looked Like Our hour together each Sunday follows a rhythm: gathering words, a scripture reading, a historical reflection, a time of silent examen, a lament and remembrance liturgy, an action step, and a closing benediction. Tonight’s historical reflection centered on Frederick Douglass’s 1852 speech (https://constitutioncenter.org/the-constitution/historic-document-library/detail/frederick-douglass-what-to-the-slave-is-the-fourth-of-july-1852), often called “What to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?”, delivered in Rochester, New York. I read the entire address, about 30 minutes worth, and we’ll keep sitting with it next week. During our examen, we sat in silence and then shared, without fixing or advising each other, in response to questions like these: * Where in my own body do I carry the Fourth of July? Pride, shame, nostalgia, grief, nothing at all? * What was the first version of the American story I was told, and what did it leave out? * When Douglass says “This Fourth of July is yours, not mine,” is it mine? Why or why not? * What would it mean this summer to learn to mourn what I’ve been taught to celebrate, and celebrate what I’ve been taught to ignore? Our action step was a “counter calendar” of historical dates in the struggle for freedom across the Americas. I linked each one to its Wikipedia article, since so many of these events, apart from the Amistad and the Nat Turner Rebellion, were new to me too. Deepening that knowledge feels like some of the most important work ahead of us. A Personal Thread This work reminds me of a class I took at Texas Tech while training to become a teacher: Children’s literature. Two books from that course have stayed with me for decades: Jane Yolen’s (https://www.amazon.com/Encounter-Jane-Yolen/dp/0152259627)Encounter (https://www.amazon.com/Encounter-Jane-Yolen/dp/0152259627), which retells the arrival of Columbus through Taíno eyes, and Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes (https://www.amazon.com/Sadako-Paper-Cranes-Eleanor-Coerr/dp/0698118022), about the bombing of Hiroshima. Both quietly dismantled the flag-waving version of history I grew up with. Reading Douglass the day after the 4th felt like part of that same lifelong unlearning and relearning. Holding Both Things at Once I still claim real pride in the aspirational values in our founding documents. But those words didn’t ring true for everyone when they were written, and we’re still living with that gap today, including the legacy of what’s now called Christian nationalism. I’d call it Christian un-nationalism: elevating any nation above the Kingdom of God isn’t a call I recognize as Christian. An Open Invitation Our group meets Sundays at 6:00 PM Eastern for 19 more weeks on Zoom. We’re not recording sessions, but I plan to continue recording short reflections each week to summarize some of my thoughts about my own experiences in this curriculum study and with our small group. Wherever you are, keep building community, keep learning, and keep hope alive. Be a culture healer, not a culture warrior. Together, we can work toward a better tomorrow. Please visit cw.wesfryer.com (https://cw.wesfryer.com/) learn more, as well as sign up if you’d like to join us! We are meeting on Sunday evenings over Zoom at 6pm ET / 5pm CT / 4pm MT / 3pm PT. This video is also available on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRDMNwO-ar4). This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit healourculture.substack.com (https://healourculture.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

5. 

   28 Mar 2026

   Heal Our Culture Update: 27 March 2026

   On March 27, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina, Wes Fryer shares a Heal Our Culture video update focused on staying resilient through hope, joy, and community, including family gatherings. He previews the nationwide No Kings 3 nonviolent protest on March 28 and describes his work with Indivisible Charlotte and livestream plans, while condemning ICE actions, detention facilities, and threats to representative government. He urges learning “hard history,” highlighting the Wilmington, NC 1898 coup and massacre, and recommends the American Experience documentary “American Coup: Wilmington 1898,” plus related podcasts and Black history resources. He discusses the month-long Iran war, critiques current U.S. leadership, and recommends analysis from Angry Planet and the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. He suggests curating news via Substack, Verity News, and his news.wesfryer.com (https://news.wesfryer.com) site, promotes an April 6 Media Education Lab webinar, and warns of potential domestic violence, recommending Timothy Snyder and Adam Kinzinger as sources while encouraging cooperative resistance to “heal our culture.” 00:00 Welcome and Agenda 01:27 Hope and Joy Practices 02:26 No Kings Rally Preview 06:50 Hard History Wilmington 1898 12:00 Iran War Updates 17:57 News Tools and Webinar 22:14 Preparing for Domestic Violence 26:41 Call to Heal and Resist Referenced Links * No Kings in Charlotte (Event, Saturday March 28) (https://NoKingsCLT.com) * Indivisible Charlotte (https://IndivisibleCLT.org) * American Coup: Wilmington 1898 (PBS American Experience, November 12, 2024) (https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/american-coup-wilmington-1898/) * The Teacher’s Forum - Wilmington 1898: The Only Coup in American History (Buzzsprout) (https://theteachersforum.buzzsprout.com) * UnderTold by CM (https://www.undertoldbycm.com) * Follow Jesus - Black History (https://followjesus.wesfryer.com/black-history) * The Real March Madness: Dehumanization (Resist and Heal Substack) (https://resistandheal.substack.com/p/the-real-march-madness-dehumanization) * Resist and Heal Note - Iran War Press Briefing (Substack) (https://substack.com/@resistandheal/note/c-233941660) * Neutralizing Iran’s Nuclear Material During a War Is ‘Nearly Mission Impossible’ (Angry Planet, March 20, 2026) (https://angryplanetpod.com/p/neutralizing-irans-nuclear-material) * Trump May Send US Troops to Neutralize Iran’s Highly Enriched Uranium (Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, March 9, 2026) (https://thebulletin.org/2026/03/trump-may-send-us-troops-to-neutralize-irans-highly-enriched-uranium-there-are-no-good-options/) * Substack 101 (Media Education Lab) (https://mediaeducationlab.com/events/substack-101) * Verity News (https://verity.news) * AI, News & Education: Who’s Building Our News Platforms? (MediaEd Club, April 6, 2026) (https://mediaeducationlab.com/events/ai-news-education) * Filter Your News Feed - News with Wes Fryer (https://news.wesfryer.com) * The Desire for Terror (Timothy Snyder, Substack, March 8, 2026) (https://snyder.substack.com/p/the-desire-for-terror) * The Open Hangar Problem: America Is Not Ready for the War That’s Coming (Adam Kinzinger, Substack, March 27, 2026) (https://adamkinzinger.substack.com/p/the-open-hangar-problem-america-is) * Join Me in Advocacy (https://wesfryer.com/advocacy) This video is also available on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfaF1AqCgPE) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/reel/4221484548161907/). #HealOurCulture This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit healourculture.substack.com (https://healourculture.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

6. 

   14 Mar 2026

   Heal Our Culture Update: March 13, 2026

   On March 13, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina, Wes Fryer shares a second video-style update for the Heal Our Culture Project, urging viewers to be “culture healers” and describing recent sources of hope through Zoom collaborations, the Thrive United for Democracy and Global Action conference recordings, and local work tied to the Charlotte Remembrance Project and Equal Justice Initiative memorial markers. He highlights the free Jesuit meditation app/site Pray As You Go on its 20th anniversary, then condemns the U.S.-initiated war with Iran as illegal and harmful to civilians, referencing a Resist and Heal Substack post and calling for congressional checks on presidential power. He describes using AI (Claude, Gemini) to craft kinder responses to polarizing Facebook comments, reflects on visiting the Lansford Canal and the burned Tivoli plantation as “hard history,” and recommends resources on “un-Christian nationalism,” including Kate Bowler’s podcast episode, the documentary God and Country, and Tim Alberta’s book. Also available on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3G6eoLBrNd4). 00:00 Welcome and agenda 02:00 Finding hope and community 05:41 Praise as you go 08:27 War in Iran concerns 11:48 Resist and Heal post 17:03 AI for kinder replies 18:53 Hard history at Tivoli 21:39 Unchristian nationalism resources 25:19 Advocacy links and closing Referenced links: * Presentation / video slides (https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1rnYtQcAFHVeLl365lg2qA2KCT8R4-NKsxpKqSDkZ__c/edit?usp=sharing) (includes links) * Thrive: United for Democracy and Global Action (https://thriveedu.substack.com/) (Conference March 4-5, 2026) * Charlotte-Mecklenburg Remembrance Project (https://ithappenedhereclt.com/) * Pray As You Go (https://prayasyougo.org/) - 20th Anniversary (https://prayasyougo.org/anniversary) * “Resist and Heal” Substack (https://resistandheal.substack.com) * Illegal War with Iran is an Immoral Dumpster Fire (https://resistandheal.substack.com/p/illegal-war-with-iran-is-an-immoral) (Resist and Heal, 12 March 2026) * Claude AI (https://claude.ai/) * Exploring Landsford Canal and Tivoli Plantation History (William Richardson Davie) (https://learningsigns.speedofcreativity.org/2026/03/07/exploring-landsford-canal-and-tivoli-plantation-history-william-richardson-davie/) (Learning Signs, 7 March 2026) * The New Shape of American Religion with Ross Douthat and Molly Worthen (https://pocketcasts.com/podcast/everything-happens-with-kate-bowler/f1c46230-e51c-0135-c259-7d73a919276a/the-new-shape-of-american-religion-with-ross-douthat-and-molly-worthen/1d576872-fd46-4c52-85c3-ed82cb78256b) (Kate Bowler, Everything Happens Podcast, 3 March 2026) * God and Country (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt29259251/) (2024 documentary) * The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism (https://www.amazon.com/Kingdom-Power-Glory-Evangelicals-Extremism-ebook/dp/B0BTYWH2YP/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0) by Tim Alberta (2023) * News with Wes Fryer (https://news.wesfryer.com/) * Join me (Wes Fryer) in advocacy (https://wesfryer.com/advocacy) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit healourculture.substack.com (https://healourculture.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

7. 

   2 Mar 2026

   Heal Our Culture - 1 March 2026 Update

   Wes Fryer in Charlotte shares a Heal Our Culture update focused on maintaining hope through community and wise voices, including a choir concert and Black History Month sermons he posted online. He discusses the U.S. attack in Iran that reportedly killed Iran’s supreme leader, warns about misinformation, and demonstrates an AI fact-checking “super prompt” by Mike Caulfield to rebut a viral meme about Clinton, Obama, and Biden enabling Iran’s nuclear program. He recommends the Straight White American Jesus podcast episode (Feb 27, 2026) to critique what he calls “un-Christian nationalism,” then covers Pentagon pressure on Scouts of America over DEI and the removal of the Citizenship in Society merit badge. He also describes an AI ethics clash involving Anthropic’s refusal to allow unfettered military use without guardrails, and invites viewers to advocacy resources and the March 4–5 Thrive Conference. 00:00 Hope First01:32 Community and Wisdom04:28 War in Iran07:12 Fact Check Toolkit09:16 Limits of Debunking13:16 Unchristian Nationalism15:30 DEI in Scouting20:19 AI Military Ethics23:06 Advocacy and Thrive26:56 Closing HopeLearn more and follow Heal Our Culture on: * YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLH77tyD_3KVMrZsWoya2p1tavMw1F0PAE) * HealOurCulture.org (https://healourculture.org) * healourculture.subsack.com (https://healourculture.substack.com) * 2026 February Sermons from Caldwell Presbyterian Church (https://followjesus.wesfryer.com/black-history) (Black History Month) * Join me (Wes Fryer) in advocacy (https://wesfryer.com/advocacy/) * Check out News with Wes Fryer (https://news.wesfryer.com) * Information about the March 4-5, 2026 "THRIVE: United for Democracy and Global Action" Conference (https://thriveedu.substack.com) * Wes' Thrive February 2026 presentation, "Reclaiming Our News Feeds" (https://wiki.wesfryer.com/Home/thrive2026) This update is also available on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WriIn0vVGKM) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/reel/887952130899793). This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit healourculture.substack.com (https://healourculture.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

8. 

   16 Feb 2026

   Ep 4: Cairo and Democracy’s Fragility

   Wes Fryer records episode four of the Heal Our Culture podcast from Charlotte, North Carolina on February 15, 2026, framing it as a “letter to the future” for his unborn grandchildren. He shares a story from a November 2017 trip to Cairo, Egypt to speak at the Ed Forum conference, including visiting the pyramids, the Sphinx, and the Cairo Museum, and learning about the historic Hotel Mena meeting before the 1945 Yalta Conference. He credits the trip’s guidance and context to Ahmed Ragheb, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel and family friend (Muslim married to a Jewish wife), whose career connects to Wes’s father’s Vietnam-era F-4 service and later pilot training leadership; Wes also recalls the Iranian hostage crisis era at Columbus Air Force Base. Wes recounts Ahmed’s explanation of Egypt’s post–Arab Spring politics, noting Mohamed Morsi’s 2012–2013 presidency and the subsequent military takeover that preceded President Abdel Fattah el‑Sisi’s rule beginning in 2014, and uses this to reflect on democracy’s fragility and the dangers of populism. He connects these themes to the United States in February 2026, describing concerns about rising authoritarianism, voter suppression, and challenges to democratic institutions, and references recent killings of U.S. citizens in Minneapolis by federal agents and reports of masked, unbadged arrests and detentions, including incidents in Charlotte. Wes describes his own oath to defend the U.S. Constitution as a 1992 U.S. Air Force Academy graduate, his path out of pilot training and into education, and his ongoing media literacy work since 2019, including the “Conspiracies and Culture Wars” inquiry project (medialiteracy.wesfryer.com/concw (https://medialiteracy.wesfryer.com/concw)) and his effort to “reclaim our news feeds” through news.wesfryer.com (https://news.wesfryer.com/) using Flipboard and a Federated Reader project built with AI. He cites polarized narratives around the January 6 insurrection, presidential pardons for those involved, disputes over the 2020 election, and differing accounts across platforms as reasons for prioritizing trusted sources. He also points listeners to the “Wes and Shelly Share” podcast (episode 39) (https://open.spotify.com/episode/5VepnKvafTjIxMEOXAY7z1?) discussing snow days and resistance work, including involvement with Indivisible and Indivisible Charlotte (https://indivisibleclt.org/) through Caldwell Presbyterian Church (https://www.caldwellpresby.org/). The episode closes with a call to be “culture healers” rather than “culture warriors,” to sustain hope and community, and to defend democratic values and rights—especially voting rights—while recognizing the long historical struggle for justice highlighted during Black History Month. 00:00 Welcome + Why These “Letters from Granddad Fryer” Matter01:46 Cairo 2017: Invited to ED Forum & First Impressions of Egypt02:26 Pyramids, Museums, and WWII History at the Hotel Mina04:25 Meet Ahmed Ragheb: Family Connections, Service, and a Cross-Faith Marriage07:17 Egypt’s Arab Spring Aftermath: Morsi, the Coup, and Military Rule08:29 Democracy Is Fragile: Lessons for the U.S. in an Age of Populism11:14 My Oath, My Path: Air Force Academy, Career Turns, and Media Literacy Work19:11 Reclaiming the News Feed: Tools, Projects, and Competing Realities24:47 A Letter to the Future: Hope, Black History Month, and Choosing Culture Healing29:10 Closing: Community, Resistance, and Building a Healed World Learn more about “Heal Our Culture,” SUBSCRIBE and follow for updates on: * Substack (https://healourculture.substack.com/) * YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@healourculture) * HealOurCulture.org (https://healourculture.org/) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit healourculture.substack.com (https://healourculture.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

9. 

   8 Nov 2025

   Let's "Confront Whiteness" in 2026

   Please consider joining me for the 9 week course, “Confronting Whiteness,” starting in January 2026 (https://cw.wesfryer.com). My spouse and I participated in this transformative course 2 years ago, and I’m looking forward to leading my first cohort this spring as a trained facilitator. There are many things we can’t do today to change current events, but we CAN “work on ourselves” and build community with others. Educational as well as community-building experiences like this course are part of the prescriptions we need today to maintain hope in the face of so much difficulty. I hope you’ll consider joining me. Several more videos are available which can help you learn more and decide if this is for you. More details are available on cw.wesfryer.com (https://cw.wesfryer.com). This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit healourculture.substack.com (https://healourculture.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

10. 

    30 Sept 2025

    The Good Boy Gazette

    I (Wes Fryer (https://wesfryer.com/)) created this 3.5 minute story on with Google Gemini’s experimental “Storybook” mode, using the following prompt: Tell an adventure story of the golden retrievers, Rosie and Moose, who found a way to help the United States transcend this moment of political polarization and rising fascism, by moving toward an ethic of kindness, love, and caring for our neighbors. The creation of an open source and federated social media platform engineered to promote good local news in the feed was key to this process! Make the images of people ethnically diverse. You can also read, listen to and view this storybook directly on Google Gemini (https://g.co/gemini/share/4ce8a74c8583). See the post on HealOurCulture,org, “Reclaiming Our News Feeds,” (https://healourculture.org/2025/09/30/reclaiming-our-news-feeds/) for more details. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit healourculture.substack.com (https://healourculture.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

11. 

    9 Sept 2024

    Ep 3: James Baldwin as a Culture Healer

    James Baldwin’s timeless ideas on race, identity, and healing are more relevant today than ever. In this third episode of the “Heal Our Culture” podcast, I (Wes Fryer) discuss Baldwin’s lasting legacy and why his centennial is a crucial moment to revisit his work. Drawing from personal experiences and recent cultural discussions, I share eight resources that I am personally committing to reading, listening to, or watching in the weeks ahead. These include Baldwin’s iconic essays like A Talk to Teachers and the transformative documentary I Am Not Your Negro. These works offer profound lessons for those seeking to foster understanding and healing in our divided world. Listen in to discover how Baldwin’s legacy can help us all engage as culture healers. The eight essays, books, podcasts and videos referenced in this episode are: CBS Sunday Morning: “James Baldwin at 100” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuwx86B9TDE) (5 min) The Teacher’s Forum Podcast from 3 Sept 2024: “James Baldwin at 100: Teaching Race, Identity, and the Power of Truth” (https://theteachersforum.buzzsprout.com/2228994/15666516-james-baldwin-at-100-teaching-race-identity-and-the-power-of-truth) (56 min) – David Harris, Dr. Yven Destin and Tyron Dandridge WikiPedia article on James Baldwin (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Baldwin) (English) On Hulu: “I Am Not Your Negro” (https://www.hulu.com/movie/6a52ca6f-1c81-4653-8581-f9bb237c9d1b) “A Talk to Teachers.” (https://www.zinnedproject.org/materials/baldwin-talk-to-teachers) Article by James Baldwin. October 16, 1963. “James Baldwin: The Last Interview” (http://www.richardgoldsteinonline.com/uploads/2/5/3/2/25321994/richardgoldstein-jamesbaldwininterview.pdf) (PDF) “Here be Dragons” by James Baldwin (https://www.cusd80.com/cms/lib/AZ01001175/Centricity/Domain/1073/Full%20Text%20Here-be-Dragons-James-Baldwin.pdf) (PDF) “The Fire Next Time” by James Baldwin (https://www.amazon.com/Fire-Next-Time-James-Baldwin/dp/067974472X) (book) Learn more about the Heal Our Culture project on HealOurCulture.org (https://healourculture.org/).

12. 

    11 Jun 2024

    Ep 2: Why “Heal our Culture?”

    In this heartfelt video, Wes Fryer delves into the critical need to heal our culture amidst today's polarized climate. As a middle school STEM and media literacy teacher, Wes emphasizes the importance of becoming "culture healers" instead of "culture warriors." Through three personal stories, he illustrates the power of community, family, and media literacy in bridging divides and fostering understanding. From his experience with emergency preparedness and media consumption to a moving church service for a Nicaraguan friend and a discussion about the impact of institutional racism, Wes advocates for intentional, positive engagement in our communities. He invites viewers to join the Heal Our Culture project, which aims to promote uplifting content and meaningful connections, encouraging everyone to contribute to cultural healing. This epsiode is also available as a video on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ujqAKhwFIE). More information is available on: https://HealOurCulture.org (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbi1hbXlObmdpZFd2aFV6bHBsNm9NVUZtQnlmUXxBQ3Jtc0tuS29qdlF1d2VKRlM0RHdSV3ktZURBdE1xWWZxd3RqaFNiZ2ZGVXJVNUVRTzlNaXpGdE9oMEpEYlNlNml2WldsOUpQNXBUNlBGZlB0Zl9KOXdPRDU3MnpHSzU5ZnhuM0dfOGxYWkx4MkJmdWRHY3VFTQ&q=https%3A%2F%2FHealOurCulture.org%2F&v=1ujqAKhwFIE) More ways to learn with and follow me (Wes Fryer) are available on: https://www.wesfryer.com/after/ (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbUJtY0hMWVNkdmRCa3Nva2ZyY2M5bS14bDhEZ3xBQ3Jtc0tsMjZQZXB1NGwzeU1tVzIxNEJaOXhJV2dpSkZZdEUzWWlSZkNvbjhIQnlzS2NnSUE1MlpVT1I0N1lndVZsQ3BfZVJGMVVBbXNxTUVXZ2pfMzdGRl8wVjFhdXppaUVlWHk1UzBQN3RscnBneE9zN3Qwaw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wesfryer.com%2Fafter%2F&v=1ujqAKhwFIE)

13. 

    2 Feb 2024

    Ep 1: Racial Healing Retreat (Jan 2024)

    Reflections and takeaways by Wesley and Shelly Fryer from the Racial Healing Retreat hosted by Caldwell Presbyterian Church of Charlotte, North Carolina, on Saturday, January 27, 2024. The retreat was facilitated by Kimberlee Yolanda Williams, author of “Dear White Woman, Please Come Home: Hand Me Your Bias, and I'll Show You Our Connection.” Her website is engagingacrossdifference.com⁠ (https://www.engagingacrossdifference.com). The retreat was sponsored by ARCC (the Anti-Racism Council at Caldwell.) (https://www.caldwellpresby.org/arcc/) Access referenced episode links and show notes on HealOurCulture.org (https://healourculture.org/).