The Cost Of Freedom feat. René August | Episode 005 | Five Hardest Questions Podcast

Welcome to the newest episode of Five Hardest Questions, where bold conversations meet fearless truth.

In this week’s episode, Dr. Greg Ellison II and Okorie “OkCello” Johnson sit down with Rev. René August — South African anti-apartheid freedom fighter, pastor, global peacebuilder, and protégé of Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

A lifelong advocate for justice, reconciliation, and moral courage, Rev. August brings a wisdom forged through resistance, faith, sacrifice, and the ongoing pursuit of human dignity.

Born and raised in South Africa during apartheid, Rev. August dedicated her life to confronting systems of oppression while helping communities imagine healing beyond violence. Her journey from activist to spiritual leader reflects a deep commitment to truth-telling, compassion, and collective liberation. Through her work alongside Archbishop Tutu and global movements for justice, she has become a powerful voice on forgiveness, accountability, and the responsibility of memory.

Through five probing questions, this conversation explores: 
• What it means to fight for freedom without losing your humanity 
• The spiritual cost of oppression and resistance 
• Forgiveness as both burden and liberation 
• The relationship between faith, justice, and moral imagination 
• How generations carry both trauma and hope

This is more than an interview. It is a meditation on courage, healing, and the unfinished work of freedom.

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