Across the Divide Podcast

Pastor Nabil Habiby joins Daniel Bannoura to discuss Nabil's article "What do Arab Evangelical Zionists Want?" During the conversation Nabil shares about his background as a Lebanese pastor from a Palestinian background, accusations against him of being dhimmi, and his frustrations with Zionist Christians.

Pastor Nabil Habiby serves as a Christian teacher and preacher, particularly for young adults, online, in a local ...

In this episode of the Faith and Activism series, Abeer speaks with Thanh Nguyen, a Vietnamese American peacebuilder and researcher currently working with Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center in East Jerusalem. They discuss how colonial histories and theological frameworks shape global understandings of justice in Palestine/Israel. Drawing from Thanh’s experience in faith-based organizing and decolonial research, the conver...

This episode is a live-recorded conversation that Across the Divide held as an event for the local community in Cincinnati, OH on May 29, 2025. The conversation explores the intersections between faith and activism across religious traditions. In it, Jen has a conversation with three local faith leaders and activists–Muslim, Jewish, and Christian. Because this episode was recorded during a live event, the audio and video quality ma...

In this episode, the finale of the Touring the Holy Land Series, Jen has a conversation with Saleem Anfous. As they reflect on the tourism series as a whole and the importance of these conversations in the current context, Saleem shares from his experience as a tour guide in Palestine and Across the Divide’s producer. Saleem reflects on the opportunities for mutual transformation that he has witnessed through guiding Christians in ...

In this episode of the Faith and Activism series, Abeer speaks with Bryan Carey, a peacebuilding consultant and the Director of International Peacebuilding at Peace Catalyst International. Drawing on his years of experience living in post-conflict Bosnia, Bryan reflects on the theological and practical shifts needed within Christian communities to move from domination-based models of faith to power-with approaches rooted in justice...

In this episode of the Touring the Holy Land Series, Jen has a conversation with Rev. Dr. Mae Elise Cannon, the executive director of Churches for Middle East Peace. Mae shares some of her transformative experiences traveling and leading trips in Palestine-Israel. She unpacks the role that privilege plays when foreigners travel to the region, emphasizing the cognitive dissonance  that travelers often face when encountering conflict...

In this episode of the Touring the Holy Land Series, Jen has a conversation with Jer Swigart on immersive peacebuilding in the context of Israel-Palestine. In this conversation, Jer discusses the complexities of Christian tourism in Israel and Palestine, highlighting its role as a propaganda tool that often neglects the realities of the local communities. He emphasizes the importance of building deep, meaningful relationships with ...

In this episode of Touring the Holy Land, Jen has a conversation with Sara Williams about the power dynamics of narratives surrounding the Holy Land and the emergence of solidarity tourism among American Christians. Sara shares a shift she has observed in her research from traditional pilgrimage models to a focus on witnessing marginalized communities, emphasizing the call to come and see as a transformative experience. Sara and Je...

In this episode of the Faith and Activism series, Abeer engages in a conversation with Rev. Dr. Sari Ateek to explore how theology, identity, and justice intersect in the life of a Palestinian Christian leader. They discuss Sari’s journey from Israel/Palestine to leading St. John’s Norwood Episcopal Church in Maryland, his commitment to inclusivity and radical generosity, and why he believes the true Christian message calls for the...

In this episode of the Touring the Holy Land series, Jen has a conversation with Michel Awad on the current state of tourism in Palestine-Israel and the challenges posed by mass pilgrimage tourism, which often disconnects visitors from the local community. Awad emphasizes the crucial role of church leaders in promoting a more balanced and informed approach to pilgrimage, encouraging visitors to engage with local Palestinians. He hi...

In this episode of the Touring the Holy Land series, Jen has a conversation with Raphael Greenberg, an Israeli archaeologist focused on the political implications of archaeology in Israel/Palestine. Raphael shares his personal journey into archaeology, highlighting the intersection of science and politics, particularly in the context of Israeli-Palestinian relations. He discusses the colonial roots of archaeology and its entangleme...

In this episode of the Faith and Activism series, Abeer has a conversation with Rev. Amy Graham about the transformative power of faith in driving justice and activism. They discuss Amy’s journey from West Virginia to co-founding The District Church in Washington, DC, and how her experiences in social work, pastoral ministry, and advocacy have shaped her understanding of the Gospel’s call to action. The conversation also highlights...

In episode 2 of the Touring the Holy Land series, Jen talks with historian Stephanie Stidham Rogers about the history of Protestant pilgrimage in Palestine. They discuss the historical context and cultural influences in the 19th century that shaped the phenomenon of Western Christian tourism in Palestine. Stephanie explains how American Protestants viewed the Holy Land as a "frontier" and the role that Orientalism played ...

In this episode, Jen kicks off the "Touring the Holy Land" series by telling some important stories that are entangled in Holy Land tourism. She takes us back to the dawn of Christian pilgrimage to Palestine in the 4th century CE, and highlights some of the dominant narratives in the American Christian Holy Land tourism industry today. This episode features quotes from some of our listeners who have traveled to Palestine-...

In this episode of theFaith and Activism series, Abeer has a conversation with Amir Toumie about the enduring struggle to reclaim Iqrit—a small Christian village whose residents were forcibly displaced in 1948. They discuss the legal and social fight for the right of return, the unique role of faith in sustaining the community’s hope, and how Iqrit has become a powerful symbol of nonviolent resistance, rooted in spiritual and cultu...

For the series finale, Jen Maidrand joins Daniel Bannoura for a live recording where they discuss the series and answer questions from the audience. Apologies for some of the technical difficulties. This was our first livestream, but we'll make sure this won't happen in future streams.

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In the episode of the Faith and Activism series, Abeer speaks with Dr. Beth Seversen about her research on Palestinian Christians young adults navigating discrimination and their resilience and sumud.

In the extended conversation for our Patreon supporters, Beth also shares more about cultural sensitivity in activism.

To access this extended conversation and others, consider ⁠supporting us on Patreon⁠.

Beth holds a PhD in Intercultura...

In the penultimate episode of our Christian Zionism series, rabbi Brant Rosen discusses his journey out of Jewish Zionism and his thoughts about the war in Gaza. For the rest of the conversation rabbi Rosen discusses Christian Zionism and the harms that he, as a Jewish person and a rabbi, sees in this sort of problematic and harmful Christian support for Jews and Israel.

For Patreon supporters, Daniel and rabbi Brant discuss a...

In this special episode, Daniel has a conversation with Najib George Awad, a Syrian theologian and historian, about the sudden fall of the Assad regime in Syria and the various challenges facing the Syrian people after this “incomplete revolution”.

For our Patreon supporters, Najib and Daniel discuss Kalam (Muslim theology) and the rich history of Muslim-Christian debate in the Middle Ages. To access this extended conversation and ...