Belonging In The South: A Guide For Misfits
Rebecca Lauderdale, MD
I'm Rebecca Lauderdale, and my mission with this podcast is to help Southerners of all types find belonging and community while remaining true to who they really are. I hope you'll join me as I explore what it means to belong, the challenges we face to belonging in the South, and how to build belonging matter who you are.Would you or someone you know like to talk about being a misfit in the South? Go to www.belonginginthesouth.com and fill out the guest nomination form at the top of the page!You can follow me at dr.lauderdale on Instagram and TikTok
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Top 10 Belonging In The South: A Guide For Misfits Episodes
Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Belonging In The South: A Guide For Misfits episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Belonging In The South: A Guide For Misfits for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Belonging In The South: A Guide For Misfits episode by adding your comments to the episode page.
Pride Month Special: A Mother and Daughter's Journey of Love, Acceptance, and Faith in the LGBTQ Community
Belonging In The South: A Guide For Misfits
06/20/23 • 27 min
Join me in celebrating Pride Month with a heartfelt conversation featuring Ashleigh Nelson and her mother, Debbie. They openly share the story of Ashleigh's journey as a gay woman raised in the evangelical church. Hear the incredible story of how Ashleigh, now the executive director of the Evolving Faith Conference, found love and acceptance from herself, her family, and a faith community, after decades of trying to deny an essential part of who she was.
We also explore Debbie's journey as a mother - from facing her initial struggle with acceptance to becoming a loving and supportive presence in Ashley's life, Debbie's story stands as a testament to the transformative power of love and understanding.
Tune in to our inspiring conversation as we discuss the importance of creating safe spaces for LGBTQ individuals in faith communities and don't forget to join us for part two next week, where we continue our discussion on healing, growth, and finding community.
Do you know someone who would make a great guest for the podcast (that includes you!)? Fill out the guest nomination form on the website here!
Sign up for the email list to get notified when new episodes drop and occasionally some extra content and maybe events in the future!
Find me on Instagram!
Loving the Misfit Within: Self-Acceptance and Belonging To Yourself
Belonging In The South: A Guide For Misfits
04/24/23 • 35 min
🎙️ "Loving the Misfit Within: Self-Acceptance and Belonging To Yourself" 🌈
Join me, Rebecca Lauderdale, in this episode where my friend and colleague, Dr. Derrick Burgess, interviews me about my personal journey towards self-acceptance and finding a sense of belonging within myself. As a physician, born and raised in the South, I understand the unique challenges that many of us face while navigating our complex identities. Tune in as we discuss:
🌟 The journey of self-discovery and embracing our inner misfits
🌟 The importance of creating a sense of belonging within ourselves
🌟 The power of vulnerability and connecting with others who share similar experiences
🌟 Strategies for maintaining mental well-being and navigating the pressures of life and work
I also open up about my experiences as a healthcare professional and the challenges that come with balancing the demands of work, family, and personal well-being. This heartfelt conversation is a must-listen for anyone who has ever felt like a misfit, struggled with self-acceptance, or simply wants to connect more deeply with themselves.
So, join me and let's explore the path to loving the misfit within, embracing our authentic selves, and finding true belonging from within. You don't want to miss this empowering episode! 🌸
Dr. Derrick Burgess hosts the Time Out With The Sports Dr podcast, and can be found here at his website and here on Instagram!
Do you know someone who would make a great guest for the podcast (that includes you!)? Fill out the guest nomination form on the website here!
Sign up for the email list to get notified when new episodes drop and occasionally some extra content and maybe events in the future!
Find me on Instagram!
Caring For Our Fellow Citizens In An Era Of Polariziation With Dr. Thomas Dobbs
Belonging In The South: A Guide For Misfits
04/17/23 • 35 min
And yes, he's that Dobbs - from the supreme court case that overturned Roe v. Wade in 2021 - who through a quirk of the law found his name on a case he neither wanted nor was involved with.
“There’s so many impediments to progress that our system, our society, has created and it just makes it hard for people to thrive.”
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of public healthcare systems, but still, many communities in the South are experiencing the effects of disinvestment in public health.
Dr. Dobbs has seen these consequences firsthand in his work with marginalized groups, which has led him to ask many questions: Are we losing our southern hospitality? How do we get our compassion back and help our fellow Southerners?
Tune in to join the conversation on these topics and see how you can help make a change!
Topics discussed in this episode:
- Dr. Thomas Dobbs’s journey to state health officer
- His experience working with disadvantaged or marginalized patients
- The need for government involvement in public health
- Public health issues seen in his role as state epidemiologist
- Dealing with politicians and the pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic
- The effects of Mississippi’s disinvestment in public health
- How physicians and the average citizen push change
Read the article referenced in this episode, “Getting Government To Work For Public Health” by Thomas Dobbs, MD: https://www.healthaffairs.org/content/forefront/getting-government-work-public-health
https://www.belonginginthesouth.com/
https://www.instagram.com/dr.lauderdale/
https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.lauderdale
This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique http://www.podcastboutique.com
Do you know someone who would make a great guest for the podcast (that includes you!)? Fill out the guest nomination form on the website here!
Sign up for the email list to get notified when new episodes drop and occasionally some extra content and maybe events in the future!
Find me on Instagram!
The Power of Representation: Dr. Derrick Burgess
Belonging In The South: A Guide For Misfits
04/03/23 • 32 min
Think back to your high school days, when it wasn’t “cool” to be one of the smart kids. Now imagine also being a minority in the South, and how would it affect your sense of belonging?
Sharing his story of breaking stereotypes and identity on the show today is Derrick Burgess, MD. He found his calling in helping minority athletes, but it was the great training and mentorship he received throughout his life that helped him get to where he is today.
From the lessons learned from his family to the community he found at historically black universities, you’ll hear how Dr. Burgess is giving back as an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine physician.
Listen in to learn more about his journey, and how persistence and passion can get you anywhere!
Topics discussed in this episode:
- How Dr. Burgess’s grandfather’s civil rights work shaped his life
- His experience being labeled “smart” as a minority
- Attending HBCUs and living outside the South
- Working as a team physician at Jackson State University
- Why he loves mentoring young athletes to join the medical field
- What he’s learned from his podcast, Time Out With The Sports Dr
- One of his most surprising podcast episodes
- How Dr. Burgess stays grounded and balances work/family
- Important lessons he’s teaching his children
Hear more from Dr. Derrick Burgess on his podcast, Time Out With The Sports Dr : https://www.drderrickthesportsdr.com/
Connect with Dr. Burgess:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/derrick-burgess-md-faaos-72047b246/
https://www.instagram.com/drderrickthesportsdr/
Do you know someone who would make a great guest for the podcast (that includes you!)? Fill out the guest nomination form on the website here!
Sign up for the email list to get notified when new episodes drop and occasionally some extra content and maybe events in the future!
Find me on Instagram!
The Hand That Rocks The Archives Rules The World
Belonging In The South: A Guide For Misfits
03/27/23 • 18 min
Does it seem suspicious to you that Alabama and Mississippi were the first states that established a Department of Archives and History?
This episode explores how state-sponsored misinformation perpetuated Jim Crow and white supremacist ideology for over 100 years and how it has affected Southerners' ability to flourish and belong.
It also highlights the power of archivists, librarians, and historians in perpetuating or challenging dominant narratives.
During this episode, host Rebecca Lauderdale discusses:
- The first director of the Mississippi Department of Archives and History was Dunbar Rowland, a lawyer and advocate for preserving Confederate history. T
- The Mississippi Department of Archives and History intentionally preserved documents supporting the Lost Cause of the Confederacy and neglected to preserve records and artifacts that were unrelated or contradictory.
- The Lost Cause of the Confederacy was a state-sponsored misinformation campaign that perpetuated Jim Crow and white supremacist ideology for over 100 years.
- Preserving history can be political and archivists and librarians have a responsibility to ensure that all voices are heard.
- The importance of telling the truth about ourselves and others to build community and belonging.
- Misinformation campaigns like the Lost Cause are not unique to the past, and similar tactics are being used in current laws and policies that discriminate against marginalized groups in states like Florida and Tennessee.
- The importance of telling the truth, even when it's painful, to preserve community and belonging for Southerners of all kinds.
Would you or someone you know make a great guest for Belonging In The South? Go to www.belonginginthesouth.com and fill out the Guest Nomination Form.
Join the Belonging In The South: A Guide For Misfits Facebook group HEREFind me on social media:
TiktokInstagramFacebookReferences for this episode:
Rowland, Dunbar, 1864-1937. A Mississippi View of Race Relations In the South. Jackson, Miss.: Harmon pub. co., printers, 1903.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001_Mississippi_flag_referendum#cite_note-:0-1
Duggan, Paul (November 28, 2018). "The Confederacy Was Built on Slavery. How Can So Many Southern Whites Think Otherwise?". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on April 16, 2020. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
Do you know someone who would make a great guest for the podcast (that includes you!)? Fill out the guest nomination form on the website here!
Sign up for the email list to get notified when new episodes drop and occasionally some extra content and maybe events in the future!
Find me on Instagram!
A Legend By Accident: Sue Anna Joe And The Mississippi State Flag
Belonging In The South: A Guide For Misfits
03/20/23 • 31 min
A Legend By Accident: Sue Anna Joe and the Mississippi State Flag
Episode 02
In the South, states were slow to change their flags away from including divisive confederate symbolism, and Mississippi was the last to do so, in 2021.
Today, host Rebecca Lauderdale is joined by her childhood friend and one of the designers of Mississippi’s new state flag, Sue Anna Joe. Out of almost 3000 submissions, her magnolia flower was chosen to be a central part of the final design. This was an honor in many regards, especially because Mississippi was finally replacing its divisive Confederate battle flag.
Sue’s love for her home state runs deep, but is contrasted by her experiences as a Chinese-American living in the South. In this episode, she discusses the pressures many people like her feel to conform to conflicting Southern and Chinese ideals.
Tune in to learn more about Chinese culture, the history of Chinese grocery stores in the South, and what Sue’s win means to her!
Topics discussed in this episode:
- The pressures that led Mississippi to finally change its state flag
- Sue’s decision to submit a design
- How she feels about her win
- Public support for a new flag and reactions to her design
- The people that shaped Sue’s life
- The history of Chinese grocery stores in the south
- Similarities between Chinese and Southern culture
- Conflicting social norms in Chinese and Southern culture
- What Sue has learned about dealing with shame
Connect with Belonging In The South: A Guide For Misfits:
https://www.belonginginthesouth.com/
https://www.instagram.com/dr.lauderdale/
https://www.tiktok.com/@dr.lauderdale
This episode was produced by Podcast Boutique http://www.podcastboutique.com
Do you know someone who would make a great guest for the podcast (that includes you!)? Fill out the guest nomination form on the website here!
Sign up for the email list to get notified when new episodes drop and occasionally some extra content and maybe events in the future!
Find me on Instagram!
Exploring Identity and Evolving Faith: Part 2 with Ashleigh Nelson and Debbie Jones
Belonging In The South: A Guide For Misfits
06/28/23 • 28 min
Today is part 2 of our conversation with Ashleigh Nelson and her mom, Debbie Jones, who share their personal journey of their evolving faiths. Ashleigh is Executive Director of the Evolving Faith Conference and Community, whose personal journey of acceptance not only transformed her faith, but her mother's.
Debbie highlights the importance of proximity to 'the other' - a concept that can help us ask better questions and approach our differences with love and care. She openly discusses the fears she had, being raised in a non-LGBTQ affirming faith, and how she was able to let go of her fear.
It's an enlightening discussion that delves into faith, acceptance, and the relationships that shape our identities.
As we wrap up, Ashley gives us a glimpse into the Evolving Faith Conference and Community - a space that invites everyone, regardless of their beliefs, to find acceptance in times of doubt and questioning. This community is a testament to the power of hospitality, belonging, and individual stories that help us understand not only ourselves, but others.
Prepared to be moved by Ashleigh and Debbies's story as we talk about love, acceptance, and understanding, reminding us of the power of empathy in a world filled with differences.
Do you know someone who would make a great guest for the podcast (that includes you!)? Fill out the guest nomination form on the website here!
Sign up for the email list to get notified when new episodes drop and occasionally some extra content and maybe events in the future!
Find me on Instagram!
Southern, Smart, and Proud: How A Mathematics and Science High School Changes Lives and Challenges Stereotypes
Belonging In The South: A Guide For Misfits
05/08/23 • 53 min
Of the many Southern stereotypes, one that affected me early in life is that Southerners aren't smart. Luckily, I was able to embrace my intelligence by attending the best public high school in Mississippi: the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science (MSMS). It was there I first felt comfortable embracing my nerdiness and my love for knowledge. I found "my people."
In this episode of Belonging In The South, you’ll get exclusive access to a panel discussion from our last annual alumni weekend. Joining me in this live recording is Ms. Dawn Barham (faculty in music and theater), Dr. Donnie Cook (alumnus and current Executive Director), and Ms. Alana Andrus (alumna, c/o 2018).
We discuss how the school was a crucial part of our personal growth, and what alumni and faculty are doing to give other students the same experience. We also address issues affecting the school, such as a lack of support from the government, misunderstanding with other school districts, and more.
Tune in to learn how MSMS is experimenting with curriculum to teach the next generation in new ways, while simultaneously encouraging independence and authenticity!
Questions answered in this episode:
- [6:00] - Alana, what have you been up to since graduation? How did your sense of belonging change when you became a student at MSMS?
- [9:07] - Dawn, how has being an instructor affected you and your ability to feel like you belong? How do you feel that the school has done with helping students feel like they belong?
- [13:18] - Donnie, how has your experience of belonging been affected by MSMS?
- [17:06] - What do you attribute the school’s culture to?
- [18:23] - Alana, was there a culture shock in leaving MSMS and going into the real world?
- [21:28] - Are you optimistic about the students who are here now, and the kind of the people that have come after us?
- [26:29] Are there things alumni can do to help the culture and the students?
- [32:50] What are your thoughts or ideas on the balance between us grabbing the best and the brightest from Mississippi, and being innovative?
- [39:45] Is there anything we can do to get more support from politicians?
- [43:22] - What is MSMS doing to be a safe space, especially trans and non-binary students?
- [45:43] - What is MSMS doing to support learning the humanities as a STEM-based school?
- [48:00] - How does MSMS change the attitudes of other schools in the state that feel their gifted students are being “stolen?”
Visit the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science website at https://themsms.org/
Learn more about the MSMS Foundation and how you can support the school: https://msmsfoundation.com/alumni/
See more from Belonging In The South: A Guide For Misfits:
https://www.belonginginthesouth.com/
https://www.instagram.com/dr.lauderdale/
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Do you know someone who would make a great guest for the podcast (that includes you!)? Fill out the guest nomination form on the website here!
Sign up for the email list to get notified when new episodes drop and occasionally some extra content and maybe events in the future!
Find me on Instagram!
Fabulous Misfit Book Club!
Belonging In The South: A Guide For Misfits
05/01/23 • 25 min
🎙️ Episode 8: Fabulous Misfit Book Club 📚
🌟 In this episode, I share my top book recommendations for fellow misfits in the South, along with a new segment highlighting inclusive Southern spaces! 🌟
If you’d like links to all the books and other things mentioned in this episode, go to the episode blog page here!
📌 What you'll find in this episode:
1️⃣ Three life-changing nonfiction books
2️⃣ Two Fiction series
3️⃣ Three Bonus reads that are currently on my nightstand
4️⃣ Inclusive Southern Spaces: Friendly City Books in Columbus, Mississippi 📚💕
🔥 Top takeaways:
- Gain insights into the South's history and social dynamics 🧐
- Find relatable and compelling stories that resonate with misfits 🙌
- Discover books that promote understanding and empathy 🌈
- Support independent bookstores & inclusive Southern spaces 🏠
👉 Connect with Dr. Lauderdale on TikTok and Instagram @Dr.Lauderdale and sign up for her weekly podcast email at belonginginthesouth.com 💌
🌟 If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, share, and leave a review to help the podcast reach more fabulous misfits like you! 🌟
Do you know someone who would make a great guest for the podcast (that includes you!)? Fill out the guest nomination form on the website here!
Sign up for the email list to get notified when new episodes drop and occasionally some extra content and maybe events in the future!
Find me on Instagram!
It's Tough Out There - A Blessing For The Worn-Out
Belonging In The South: A Guide For Misfits
04/10/23 • 10 min
In this episode of Belonging in the South, host Rebecca Lauderdale talks about the importance of understanding belonging and how it can be achieved. She shares her experience of feeling overwhelmed and reflects on the lessons she learned about inner freedom and the importance of seeing others and ourselves with humility. Finally, she reads two beautiful blessings from Jan Richardson's book, "In the Sanctuary of Women," to offer encouragement and belonging to her listeners.
Music for this Episode: Searching for Cloud 9 by LUCHS
Artists mentioned in this episode:
Jan Richardson
Alok Vaid-Menon
Do you know someone who would make a great guest for the podcast (that includes you!)? Fill out the guest nomination form on the website here!
Sign up for the email list to get notified when new episodes drop and occasionally some extra content and maybe events in the future!
Find me on Instagram!
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FAQ
How many episodes does Belonging In The South: A Guide For Misfits have?
Belonging In The South: A Guide For Misfits currently has 12 episodes available.
What topics does Belonging In The South: A Guide For Misfits cover?
The podcast is about Society & Culture, Psychology, Inclusion, Dei, Mental Health, Podcasts, Self-Improvement, Education, Science, Relationships and South.
What is the most popular episode on Belonging In The South: A Guide For Misfits?
The episode title 'Exploring Identity and Evolving Faith: Part 2 with Ashleigh Nelson and Debbie Jones' is the most popular.
What is the average episode length on Belonging In The South: A Guide For Misfits?
The average episode length on Belonging In The South: A Guide For Misfits is 27 minutes.
How often are episodes of Belonging In The South: A Guide For Misfits released?
Episodes of Belonging In The South: A Guide For Misfits are typically released every 7 days, 3 hours.
When was the first episode of Belonging In The South: A Guide For Misfits?
The first episode of Belonging In The South: A Guide For Misfits was released on Jan 24, 2023.
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