Identity in These Bodies: Trauma, Wisdom, and the Sacred Self (Part Two)

In a world marked by division, disruption, and deep emotional and spiritual fatigue, how do we keep showing up—with purpose, compassion, and hope?

BE WELL is a monthly exploration of trauma healing at the intersections of faith, justice, and education, created by the Trauma Healing Initiative at McCormick Theological Seminary. Each episode gathers theologians, practitioners, educators, and artists to explore how trauma-informed approaches help us teach, learn, lead, and live with greater wholeness.

About this episode:
In Part Two of Identity in These Bodies, we move from reflection to practice. How can classrooms, congregations, and communities create spaces where people’s stories are honored without being consumed? Guests Rolf Nolasco and Najeeba Syeed explore how collective trauma lives in our bodies—and what it means to build communities that hold those stories with care. Together, they share practical frameworks for teaching, ministry, and community life that prioritize embodiment, hospitality, and grace. From creating “awkward spaces” where honest learning can happen to recognizing every body as sacred, this conversation invites us to imagine healing communities where people are truly seen, supported, and nourished.

You’ll hear about:

• How queerness, migration, race, religion, and gender converge in the body as both burden and blessing.
• Why poetry, art, and storytelling can express truths about embodiment that ordinary language cannot.
• What it means to live as an “embodied interruption” in spaces shaped by whiteness, bias, and exclusion.
• How belovedness, sacred texts, and creative practice can help reclaim the body as a vessel of wisdom and healing.

Guests:
Dr. Rolf Nolasco is a distinguished academic and pastoral theologian at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. His work extensively explores the intersections of trauma, embodiment, and theological anthropology, with a particular focus on how lived experiences of race, gender, and sexuality inform our understanding of the sacred. Rolf brings a compassionate and incisive lens to the ways bodies carry both profound suffering and inherent wisdom, offering insights into theological responses to trauma and the journey toward embodied healing. He is the author of several influential books and articles that bridge psychology, theology, and the lived reality of diverse human experiences.

Dr. Najeeba Syeed is an acclaimed scholar, mediator, and advocate whose work bridges the fields of interfaith studies, conflict resolution, and social justice. Her expertise encompasses the complexities of identity, particularly how race, gender, and religious affiliation intersect with experiences of trauma and resilience. Najeeba approaches the body as a site of profound meaning, exploring how both historical and contemporary injustices impact our physical and spiritual selves. Her contributions emphasize the power of dialogue, empathy, and collective action in fostering healing and justice across diverse communities. She is recognized for her pioneering work in peacebuilding and restorative justice, bringing a unique blend of academic rigor and practical engagement.

Who this is for:
This episode is for pastors, chaplains, educators, and community leaders seeking deeper ways to understand how identity and embodiment shape the experience of trauma and healing. It will also resonate with listeners navigating the intersections of race, gender, faith, migration, or queerness in their own lives—especially those looking for language, theology, and creative practices that affirm the body as a sacred site of wisdom, resilience, and transformation.

Listen, share, and subscribe—because we believe that we can be well!