Dr. Pamela Ayo Yetunde: Full Interview

Radical Soul

This is the longer of two episodes featuring author, pastoral counselor, and Dharma Leader Dr. Pamela Ayo Yetunde.

In this full 90-minute interview, you’ll hear about Ayo’s experiences being a part of the school integration initiative in the 60s and 70s and being bussed to a mostly White school. You’ll hear about her transformative experience with Sister Soulah, her work as an asylum officer, and a lot more.In the 30-minute version, I pulled together moments from our interview that highlight Ayo’s insights about justice with a small j — which is justice on a personal level — versus justice with a Large J — which is systemic change — and how she makes sometimes daily decisions about which to focus on.

About Dr. Pamela Ayo Yetunde

Dr. Yetunde, JD, MA, ThD, is pastoral counselor, spiritual director, chaplain, and Community Dharma Leader in the Insight Meditation Community. She is coeditor of the Nautilus Gold Award-winning Black and Buddhist: What Buddhism Can Teach Us About Race, Resilience, Transformation, and Freedom; and the author of Songbird Birdsong: The Story, Casting Indra’s Net: Fostering Spiritual Kinship and Community, Object Relations, Buddhism, and Relationality in Womanist Practical Theology, and the Frederick J. Streng Award-winning Buddhist-Christian Dialogue, U.S. Law, and Womanist Theology for Transgender Spiritual Care. Ayo is the cofounder of Center of the Heart, and Buddhist Justice Reporter. Her upcoming book Dearly Beloved: Prince, Spirituality, and This Thing Called Life will be published in April 2025. Learn more at pamelaayoyetunde.com.

This is part of a series honoring queer elders and ancestors. If a queer ancestor or elder has made a difference in your life, nominate them to be featured on Radical Soul. For other radical souls that aren’t queer or not quite an elder: nominate them here.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit radicalsoul.substack.com