Thee Quaker Podcast

We follow two emerging Quaker communities from different traditions to witness the messy, faithful reality of starting a Quaker meeting. There are no formulas here, only the collective wisdom of people who are discerning a call together. It’s an invitation to explore what happens when we stop trying to control the outcome and simply agree to join the work the Spirit is already doing.

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Quakers believe in loving your neighbor, but what is a peace-loving Friend to do when their city is invaded by armed forces intent on violence? For this week’s episode, we bring you a special conversation with four Quakers from the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St Paul who have been wrestling with just that. 

Notes:

Three of our guests are active in ISAIAH, a "statewide multiracial group of faith communities, Black barbershops, ...

This week, we take a field trip to Marlborough Meeting in Kennet Square, PA. Step inside a Conservative Quaker meeting with us to witness a commitment to simplicity and integrity that has endured for centuries. Discover why the ancient instruction to 'stand still' might be the exact antidote to our modern exhaustion.

Want to discuss today’s episode? We created a space for connection, not just content, on Discord—a free app for your...

In a world often governed by force, Quakers have stood apart for centuries with a radical commitment to peace. But this isn't just a political stance; it is a spiritual practice that challenges us to see the Divine in everyone—even our enemies. This week, we dive into the history of the Peace Testimony and explore how its living wisdom can guide us through modern conflict.

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Season 3 continues next week! In the meantime, we are inviting you to join our new digital community on Discord, a private space where we can engage in deeper dialogue and help build a vibrant digital Quaker community. Think of it as a series of organized chat rooms that prioritize safety and quiet over the algorithmic outrage found on platforms like Facebook or X. You can find easy-to-follow instructions for setting up your accoun...

Zachary Moon was raised in a Quaker Meeting full of anti-war protesters. Then he felt God calling him to join the military as a chaplain. In the following months and years he had to wrestle with that leading and the response of his family and community.

On this week’s episode, we ask, what happens when your calling seems to be in opposition to the thing that unites your faith community? And can you be a Quaker pacifist while wearing...

It’s been a little over two years since we embarked on this journey to give Quakers a platform in the digital age. We believe Quakers have something to offer in the 21st century, and by telling our stories and exploring our practices, we can both deepen and broaden the modern Quaker movement.

This project—Thee Quaker Podcast—is part of our ecosystem of online Quaker media, along with The Daily Quaker Message and Quaker Videos, all p...

Unlike many Christian traditions, Quakers have no creed. So one of the most commonly asked questions about us—What do Quakers believe?—is sometimes a difficult one to answer. We posed the question to long-time Quakers, new Quakers, Quaker scholars, and more. Join us as we explore this nuanced and rich discussion of Quaker beliefs.

This episode was originally released on July 10, 2024. Check out our full archives for more stories of ...

Quaker author and activist Eileen Flanagan joins us to explore the wisdom that she has learned from her decades of experience in organizing around the climate crisis, and how that very crisis is exposing the “illusion of separation” in our times. Eileen helps us move beyond individual conviction to creating effective and diverse coalitions for positive social change.

"Common Ground: How the Crisis of the Earth is Saving Us from Our ...

It’s one of the most asked questions about the faith: “Do Quakers read the Bible?”. The answer is complicated, as this single book has been used as both a brutal weapon and a profound source of liberation. This episode dives into that paradox, examining a faith that places a living Spirit above the written word. This distinction gives people permission to wrestle with the text, to question its authority, and even to find faith in w...

What does it mean to “conspire for goodness” in a fractured world? We visit the historic Valley Mills Friends Meeting to talk with pastor Rachel Doll O’Mahoney about the power of a community built on deep, authentic care. Then, we hear her surprising sermon that reclaims the word “conspiracy” as a radical invitation to breathe together for a more hopeful purpose.

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The Quaker experiment at Eastern State Penitentiary was meant to be a sanctuary for the soul, a place to reform criminals through silence and reflection. Instead, it accidentally engineered a form of psychological torture: solitary confinement. This episode uncovers the complicated history of this "Great Experiment" and then journeys to the offices of AFSC Prison Watch, where a new generation of Quaker activists are confronting thi...

Using both the pulpit and the page, Quaker pastor Philip Gulley has been a bold voice that challenges the church’s stance on heaven and hell, LGBTQ issues, and more. As he’s seen greater censorship in the publishing world, Phil has moved to an online newsletter where he examines the rise of Donald Trump and calls on Christians to be more active in the pursuit of truth and justice.

In this interview, Jon speaks with Phil about Christ...

Despair doesn't serve the world, but neither does cheap hope. So what's the alternative? Join Quaker musician and author David LaMotte on a journey from smoky bar gigs to the silence of a Quaker meeting to discover a powerful vision of "grounded hope" that confronts the myth of powerlessness. Stick around for profound insights and two live song performances that will leave you feeling a little less alone and a lot more capable of c...

A group of Quakers embark on a grueling 300-mile walk from New York to Washington D.C. to deliver a powerful message to a government that doesn’t want to hear it. Their journey, inspired by a nearly 400-year-old act of solidarity, is unexpectedly thrust into the national spotlight when their quiet walk goes viral. This is a story about exhaustion, reluctant celebrity, and what happens when the end of the road is just the beginning ...

Sarah and Angelina Grimke were unapologetically anti-slavery and pro-women’s rights. Their convictions were driven by their faith in God, yet it got them booted from Quakerism, made their name a curse among their Southern peers, and even caused controversy among fellow abolitionists. 

The Grimke sisters made history, yet their names have largely been forgotten. Today, we introduce you to these unlikely abolitionists.

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