Faithful Politics
Dive into the profound world of Faithful Politics, a compelling podcast where the spheres of faith and politics converge in meaningful dialogues. Guided by Pastor Josh Burtram (Faithful Host) and Will Wright (Political Host), this unique platform invites listeners to delve into the complex impact of political choices on both the faithful and faithless. Join our hosts, Josh and Will, as they engage with world-renowned experts, scholars, theologians, politicians, journalists, and ordinary folks. Their objective? To deepen our collective understanding of the intersection between faith and politics. Faithful Politics sets itself apart by refusing to subscribe to any single political ideology or religious conviction. This approach is mirrored in the diverse backgrounds of our hosts. Will Wright, a disabled Veteran and African-Asian American, is a former atheist and a liberal progressive with a lifelong intrigue in politics. On the other hand, Josh Burtram, a Conservative Republican and devoted Pastor, brings a passion for theology that resonates throughout the discourse. Yet, in the face of their contrasting outlooks, Josh and Will display a remarkable ability to facilitate respectful and civil dialogue on challenging topics. This opens up a space where listeners of various political and religious leanings can find value and deepen their understanding. So, regardless if you're a Democrat or Republican, a believer or an atheist, we assure you that Faithful Politics has insightful conversations that will appeal to you and stimulate your intellectual curiosity. Come join us in this enthralling exploration of the intricate nexus of faith and politics. Add us to your regular podcast stream and don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube Channel. Let's navigate this fascinating realm together! Not Right. Not Left. UP.
Episodes
What happens to Christian faith when hell is no longer the centerpiece of the story?
In this episode of Faithful Politics, Will Wright and Pastor Josh Burtram talk with Brian Recker—public theologian, former evangelical pastor, and author of the upcoming book Hellbent—about how a fixation on hell distorts t...
What happens when the language of faith is weaponized for politics?
In this episode of Faithful Politics, Will Wright and Pastor Josh Burtram speak with Karrie Gaspard Hogewood, a licensed social worker and PhD candidate at Tulane University, whose research explores the growing influence of Christian nation...
What does it really mean to follow Jesus when it comes to justice?
In this episode, we sit down with Rev. Joash P. Thomas to talk about his new book The Justice of Jesus. Joash doesn’t shy away from hard truths—he argues that much of Western Christianity inherited what he calls a “colonizer’s gospel,” one t...
Why are nearly half of Gen Z unaffiliated with organized religion—and what does that mean for campuses wrestling with conscience and rights?
Kevin Bolling, Executive Director of the Secular Student Alliance, joins Will and Josh to unpack the lived reality behind the headlines: church–state separation, “10 C...
What explains the persistence and appeal of Christian patriarchy in contemporary America?
In this episode, journalist and author Sarah Stankorb (Disobedient Women) examines the theological and institutional architecture surrounding **Doug Wilson, Christ Church, Canon Press, and the Communion of Reformed Eva...
What happens when the Bible that was meant to bring life becomes a source of harm? Pastor Zach W. Lambert, founder of Restore Austin and co-founder of the Post-Evangelical Collective, joins the Faithful Politics Podcast to talk about his new book, Better Ways to Read the Bible. Drawing from his own journey out of Sou...
What do Americans really believe about LGBTQ rights, same-sex marriage, and religious liberty? In this episode of the Faithful Politics Podcast, we’re joined by Melissa Deckman, CEO of the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI), one of the nation’s most trusted voices on the intersection of faith, culture, and pol...
What does it mean to live out brave faith in the world’s most violent neighborhoods? In this episode of Faithful Politics, we sit down with Dr. Kurt Alan Ver Beek, a sociologist, missionary, and co-founder of the Association for a More Just Society (ASJ) in Honduras. Dr. Ver Beek’s decades of work tackling systemic c...
Why do claims of “persecution” surge whenever Christians lose cultural power? PRRI’s 2024–25 state-by-state analysis shows three in ten Americans qualify as Christian nationalism Adherents or Sympathizers—a durable share shaping law, policy, and public life.
Sociologist Andrew L. Whitehead—author of Americ...
More than 60 years after MLK's “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” 11 a.m. on Sunday remains one of the most segregated hours in America. Why? And can the church finally become a catalyst for real racial healing?
In this compelling conversation, Dr. David McFadden joins hosts Will Wright and Pastor Josh Burt...
Why doesn’t the U.S. Constitution mention God—and what does that silence mean?
Steven Smith, one of the nation’s foremost legal scholars on law and religion, joins Will and Josh to unpack the complex—and often misunderstood—relationship between the Constitution, religious liberty, and American identity. His ...
Why do everyday Americans feel more divided than ever—despite living side by side?
Anthropologist Anand Pandian joins Faithful Politics to explore the literal and metaphorical walls shaping American life. Drawing from his new book, Something Between Us: The Everyday Walls of American Life and How to Take The...
Why does so much political dysfunction begin before Election Day? In this episode of Faithful Politics, Will Wright speaks with Nick Troiano, Executive Director of Unite America and author of The Primary Solution. They unpack how gerrymandering and redistricting battles in states like Texas and California are only pa...
What happens when your zip code determines your child’s future?
In this episode, Will and Josh talk with Jason Bedrick, a research fellow at the Heritage Foundation’s Center for Education Policy, to unpack the complex—and often contentious—landscape of school choice. Bedrick shares his 20+ year journey in ed...
More than half of all historical carbon emissions have occurred since 1989—after world leaders knew the risks. So why do we still believe we can innovate our way out of collapse?
In this sobering and deeply philosophical conversation, Roy Scranton—former soldier, literary scholar, and author of Impasse: Clim...
What happens when a religious sect rooted in patriarchy and Christian nationalism gains influence over America’s largest government agency?
Dr. Samuel P. Perry, a scholar of race, religion, and rhetoric at Baylor University, joins Will to unpack the rise of the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CRE...
Nearly 60% of Americans still believe the Pope speaks infallibly—but what does that actually mean?
In this illuminating episode, Dr. Stephen Okey, a Catholic theologian at Saint Leo University, helps us unpack the mysteries of the papacy—from apostolic succession and the theology of confession to why popes c...
Nearly 4 in 10 Americans now say they actively avoid the news. Why is our information landscape leaving so many people overwhelmed, cynical, or checked out?
In this episode, Will and Josh sit down with award-winning journalist Julie Rose, host of the Top of Mind and Uncomfy podcasts, to explore the moral cos...
80% of white evangelicals voted for Trump in the 2024 GOP primaries—despite everything. Why? And what does it reveal about the state of the Christian conscience?
In this raw and pastoral conversation, Will and Josh speak with Pat Kahnke—author of A Christian Case Against Donald Trump—about the moral cost of ...
Can the Bible affirm same-sex relationships without compromising its authority?
More than half of LGBTQ youth raised in non-affirming Christian households report suicidal thoughts, according to The Trevor Project. In this timely and vulnerable conversation, Matthew Vines—author of God and the Gay Christian a...
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