[049] Speaking Truth to Power with Tiffany Bluhm

 In this episode of Your Purpose is Calling, Dawn speaks with Tiffany Bluhm, the author, speaker and writer from the Seattle area. Tiffany also co-hosts the Why Tho podcast with Ashley Abercrombie.

To begin, Tiffany introduces herself as an experienced member of various ministries before coming into a moment that would shift her perspective forever. During the episode, Tiffany explains some of the history behind truth-telling and why women have not historically been successful at calling out abusers. She draws on the stories of R. Kelly and Bill Cosby to illustrate that women are almost never believed while men almost always are.

Tiffany also encourages the believer in the audience to take part and speak out against injustice, to not be afraid of what could happen—because it is Kingdom-minded to ally with the downtrodden, as Tiffany says. In some ways, it is our Christian duty to advocate for the oppressed.

She offers the following advice to the victim of an abuser who is considering blowing the whistle: Firstly, find your people of peace. You need support through this. Secondly, know your rights. It will be hard to build a case if you don’t know what you can actually speak to. And finally, bring someone with you, if you can. You need someone who can stand with you. This will only bolster and fortify your story.

As a warning, she implores the victim to count the cost. Understand that the consequences are real. If you have to work there, consider finding employment somewhere else before blowing the whistle. Additionally, there is power in numbers. If others can corroborate your story, you’ll have a better shot at sticking the landing. The more people at the table to speak truth to power, the better the chance is to swing the pendulum toward justice. For truth to come forward in the light, there is going to be loss. It is a painful process. Tiffany talks about how some of her closest friends at work started slinging mud in order to protect their proximity to power.

Tiffany is an advocate for you, and all believers. Pray for the wisdom of the Father. Look to the solace that David finds in the psalms. And remember that God will never forsake His promises.

Main Takeaways

• Unchecked misogyny, if not addressed, harms us all—not just women. (2:57)
• Allowing women to speak truth to power in the church is seen as a threat. (6:30)
• Complicity requires nothing of you. Speaking up takes risk. (9:45)
• The voices of women were amplified in the early church. (12:30)
• Know that you are not alone. (18:30)
• Before it becomes an issue, organizations should develop policy and by-laws. (21:00)
• If you are going to speak out against an abuser, prepare yourself for a personal attack. (24:40)
• In the psalms, David and the psalmist declare God’s power over their misfortunes. (26:00)
• “God is never going to forsake the truth tellers.” (29:00)

Episode Timeline

• Tiffany explains the background of her new book, Prey Tell (2:00)
• How Tiffany decided to actually whistleblow, so to speak. (4:15)
• Historical examples of where people didn’t speak up. (7:00)
• The believability of women compared to men. (11:30)
• What women facing these situations should do. (16:30)
• Know what resources are at your disposal. (17:35)
• Tiffany talks about her own story as a victim. (21:45)
• Tiffany clings to the psalms through her troubles. (26:00)
• Tiffany closes us in prayer. (29:30)

Tiffany's bio:

Tiffany Bluhm is the author of She Dreams and Never Alone, their companion Bible studies, and the forthcoming book Prey Tell: Why We Silence Women Who Tell the Truth and How Everyone Can Speak Up. She is a sought after speaker, writer, and podcast co-host of the popular podcast Why Tho, a show answering the existential and nonsensical questions we ask ourselves, with author and speaker, Ashley Abercrombie. 

She speaks at conferences and events around the world, and her work has been featured in World Vision Magazine, Pentecostal Evangel, TODAY Parents, the Hallmark Channel, The Jenny McCarthy Show, and more. Her Bible studies on the Bible app have been downloaded more than 130,000 times and she was named a Woman to Watch in 2018 by Premier Media.  

Tiffany leads an engaged audience online around women’s issues, identity, and faith. As a minority, immigrant woman with a interracial family, she is passionate about women’s equality, justice, and dignity. 

Find Tiffany online at tiffanybluhm.com.

Pick up Tiffany’s new book, Prey Tell, on Amazon.

Listen to Tiffany's podcast on iTunes.