West Michigan author and preacher Jeff Chu took the long way to the seminary. And once he got there, faith led him farther than he expected back out into the world. It all started with a compost pile on the seminary farm. 

On this episode, we’ll talk to Chu about his new memoir–titled Good Soil: The Education of an Accidental Farmhand–which details his journey into community, stewardship, and love of the land.

GUEST: 

Jeff Chu, journalist, preacher and author of Good Soil: The Education of an Accidental Farmhand

Looking for more conversations from Stateside? Right this way.

If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work.

Music in this episode by Blue Dot Sessions.

West Michigan author and preacher Jeff Chu took the long way to the seminary.&nbsp;And once he got there, faith led him farther than he expected back out into the world. It all started with a compost pile on the seminary farm.&nbsp;
On this episode, we&rsquo;ll talk to Chu about his new memoir&ndash;titled Good Soil: The Education of an Accidental Farmhand&ndash;which details his journey into community, stewardship, and love of the land.
GUEST:&nbsp;
Jeff Chu, journalist, preacher and author of Good Soil: The Education of an Accidental Farmhand
Looking for more conversations from Stateside? <a href="https://www.michiganradio.org/programs/stateside">Right this way</a>.
If you like what you hear on the pod, consider <a href="http://michiganpublic.org/podfund">supporting our work.</a>
Music in this episode by<a href="https://www.sessions.blue/"> Blue Dot Sessions.</a>

Conversations that matter to Michigan. Each weekday, host April Baer will bring you stories from people across the state—from policymakers in Lansing, to entrepreneurs in Detroit, to artists in Grand Rapids.

To access full episodes and individual story segments, please visit michiganpublic.org.

If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganradio.org/podfund

Conversations that matter to Michigan. Each weekday, host April Baer will bring you stories from people across the state—from policymakers in Lansing, to entrepreneurs in Detroit, to artists in Grand Rapids.
To access full episodes and individual story segments, please visit <a href="https://www.michiganradio.org/stateside">michiganpublic.org</a>.
If you like what you hear on the pod, consider <a href="http://michiganpublic.org/podfund">supporting our work</a>: michiganradio.org/podfund

Stateside

Conversations that matter to Michigan. Each weekday, host April Baer will bring you stories from people across the state—from policymakers in Lansing, to entrepreneurs in Detroit, to artists in Grand Rapids.

To access full episodes and individual story segments, please visit michiganpublic.org.

If you like what you hear on the pod, consider supporting our work: michiganradio.org/podfund

Conversations that matter to Michigan. Each weekday, host April Baer will bring you stories from people across the state—from policymakers in Lansing, to entrepreneurs in Detroit, to artists in Grand Rapids.
To access full episodes and individual story segments, please visit <a href="https://www.michiganradio.org/programs/stateside">michiganpublic.org</a>.
If you like what you hear on the pod, consider <a href="https://bit.ly/3RJN5Ul">supporting our work</a>: michiganradio.org/podfund

Writer Jeff Chu on finding faith in good soil 

If you have little kids under ten who tune to PBS on a regular basis – its likely you know about Wimee’s Words. The PBS children’s show that reaches 30 million homes around the country is originally from Grand Rapids. It features Wimee the Robot, an animated puppet, who teaches kids about science, technology, engineering, art and math.

GUESTS:

Michael Hyacinthe, creator, Wimee's Words

Wimee, robot star of Wimee's Words

Want to support shows like Wimee's Words and Stateside? Sign this petition at Protect My Public Media or you can donate to Michigan Public or your local PBS!

If you have little kids under ten who tune to PBS on a regular basis &ndash; its likely you know about Wimee&rsquo;s Words. The PBS children&rsquo;s show that reaches 30 million homes around the country is originally from Grand Rapids. It features Wimee the Robot, an animated puppet, who teaches kids about science, technology, engineering, art and math.
GUESTS:
Michael Hyacinthe,&nbsp;creator, Wimee's Words
Wimee, robot star of Wimee's Words
Want to support shows like Wimee's Words and Stateside? Sign <a href="https://protectmypublicmedia.org/">this petition at Protect My Public Media</a> or you can donate to <a href="https://michiganpublic.secureallegiance.com/wuom/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=MIPUBLIC&amp;PAGETYPE=PLG&amp;CHECK=b1Y0FDLwbp7fXW9MXTKftW3L5BYddGq6PVAl6UEf65g%3d">Michigan Public</a> or your local <a href="https://foundation.pbs.org/?gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=22542046493&amp;gbraid=0AAAAAooDyp3t1iTFS88Tai70aq5GOcsI2&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjwoZbBBhDCARIsAOqMEZUYLj1WYSq2DYgZ16Nj4XKMPPu7tWL-SYuAW7hLSP3KQnqOxPRP9h4aAnhdEALw_wcB">PBS</a>!

The Grand Rapids roots of "Wimee's Words" on PBS

Marker 01

Ope! That's a Midwestern Pope right there

Five Black and Latino teenagers were wrongfully convicted of raping and brutally assaulting a white woman in 1989. The boys’ legal case gripped and divided the nation, and symbolized systemic injustices within the legal system for communities of color. All five men were exonerated over a decade later.

Detroit Opera brings the Pulitzer Prize-winning opera The Central Park Five to audiences on May 16 and 18. Award-winning director Nataki Garrett talked about bringing this powerful piece to the stage, and why it’s so relevant for audiences right now.

“I love that we're doing this opera in Detroit, which has a significant black population, because there are parts of this story that are a part of our collective consciousness, both through memory but also through experience,” Garrett told Stateside.

Five Black and Latino teenagers were wrongfully convicted of raping and brutally assaulting a white woman in 1989. The boys&rsquo; legal case gripped and divided the nation, and symbolized systemic injustices within the legal system for communities of color. All five men were exonerated over a decade later.
Detroit Opera brings the Pulitzer Prize-winning opera The Central Park Five to audiences on <a href="https://detroitopera.org/show/the-central-park-five/">May 16 and 18.</a> Award-winning director Nataki Garrett talked about bringing this powerful piece to the stage, and why it&rsquo;s so relevant for audiences right now.
&ldquo;I love that we're doing this opera in Detroit, which has a significant black population, because there are parts of this story that are a part of our collective consciousness, both through memory but also through experience,&rdquo; Garrett told Stateside.

Writer Jeff Chu on finding faith in good soil

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