On this episode of Backsliders, we talk with our dear friend, the talented and light-filled artist Forest VanDyke! Forest is an actor, singer, writer, creator, and teaching artist currently in Austin, Texas, though he has lived in Brooklyn for the past twelve years. We are so stoked to celebrate that Forest is a featured artist on the new Grammy-Nominated album Dialogues on Race by Gregg August! We love him so much, and his friendship means the world to us. We hope you enjoy this conversation with our dear friend as much as we did! It was hard to end the conversation and we plan on recording with him again soon. (** NOTES ** *TW:*** We do touch on the topics of abortion and rape in this episode. Please skip if these subjects are triggering for you. PS. Listen to the whole thing to get a bonus at the very end of this episode where we review a new review of our podcast and Micah tries to take constructive criticism. LOL)

Back to this episode! Forest talks with us about his upbringing in Austin, his junior high experience in the American Boys Choir in New Jersey, his high school years at a Baptist school in Austin, and his college years at Texas State University. We also get into the details of his religious upbringing and his perspective growing up as a gay black man in the south. He was raised African-American Baptist and spent his whole life going to a Baptist church in Austin, Texas. Forest is the son of a deacon and deaconess, sang in the choir, and became a student leader. People at church even used to call him “preacha man” because everyone thought he would be a preacher. Forest tells us about what it was like feeling like he couldn’t truly be himself until he went to college and stepped away from religious environments and into theatre spaces.

Where is he today? Not to spoil anything, but Forest confessed to us that he no longer identifies as Christian, and walked away, in his words, “because of what I saw and experienced as a gay man, but also as a black man. And the history of that book (bible), and how it was used, not only in the U.S. but in Africa. And the power that colonizers used with that book to oppress people. And...in good faith, I just can’t get behind it, I can’t sit there and listen to those things when I know the history behind it. And we don’t know what those original words were because they’ve been translated, and re-translated. Actually, I walked away from everything, before quarantine... but I’ve been reacquainted with God in a different way, and I’m exploring Him / It / She through African Traditional Religions. Because I also want to be in contact with my ancestors, and I feel like something that’s untouched, unspoiled, feels right for me.”

Forest’s story is so powerful. We talk candidly with him about leaving Christianity, and getting back to his African spiritual roots. Other topics we discuss: George Floyd, the ways LGBTQ people are treated by Christians, and the experience of living with family that are fundamental Christians, while you are exploring ancient religions and talking to your spirit guides. :) 

[CONNECT WITH FOREST]InstagramTwitterFacebookListen to TRACK SEVEN to hear his voice featured on the album Dialogues on Race.

[NEW NEWS] If you enjoy this podcast and want to hang out with us a little more, we also have a web series titled Backsliders! This show was recently selected by the Tribeca Film Festival and the Tribeca Creators Market sponsored by HBO! Check out our new episode by clicking here.

[OUR LINKS]

Backsliders Instagram

Bob Billiams Productions Instagram

Facebook

Twitter

Keylee Instagram

Micah Instagram

[FREE WAYS TO SUPPORT BACKSLIDERS]

Please consider these free things you can do to help our projects reach others!

1) Subscribe to this podcast!

2) Leave us a 5-star rating and a one-sentence review!

3) Share your favorite episode with your friends or in a group you're a part of!

4) Subscribe to our Youtube Channel and leave us a comment!

Thank you so much for your support! 

[WATCH OUR OTHER SHOWS]

Backsliders the series

Home the series

Talk the series

[CREDITS]

Intro Music "7.2.19" by Chase Burnett

Outro Music "Stay Mad" by Chase Burnett ft. Julia Nunes

Title Animation/Poster art by Cody Walzel

Special Thanks to Angie Charles

[REACH OUT]

We'd love to hear from you directly! Let's talk about what we were raised to believe, where we are now, and how that affects our relationships with others and ourselves! keylee@bbobbilliams.com micah@bobbilliams.com