Thee Quaker Podcast

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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Benjamin Lay was a fierce abolitionist whose dramatic protests against slavery embarrassed the powerful Quakers of his day. They kicked him out and tried to erase him. This is the story of his return.

Marcus Rediker's Books: https://www.marcusrediker.com/books/

Abington Monthly Meeting's Efforts Towards Reconciliation: https://www.abingtonquakers.org/Groups/380563/Benjamin_Lay_Reconciliation.aspx

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Quakers are widely known for being early and outspoken abolitionists, and while that is true, it is not the whole story. Join us as we explore the Germantown Quaker Petition Against Slavery, its delayed impact, and the people who continued to fight the good fight even after many believed that it was already won. 

High Definition scan of the 1688 Germantown Quaker Petition Against Slavery

The Grimke Sisters: How Two Southern Slave-Ow...

Quakers have a long history of getting into trouble for the sake of justice, but what drives them to act? Why do some Quakers feel compelled to break the law, make public demonstrations, or disrupt business as usual? In this episode, we explore those questions through the story of Jane McCarthy, a 74-year-old grandmother with incurable cancer who is risking her home to protest her council's investment in fossil fuels. We then trave...

Season 3 of Thee Quaker Podcast is two short weeks away. Co-hosts Jon Watts and Zack Jackson take you on a tour of where the podcast has been and where it is going. This season we’ll focus on “Quaker prophetic witness”: We’re talking about guerilla theater, loving your enemy as you’re confronting them, impossible odds, and stories of spiritual courage that you’ve never heard before. Season 3 launches on August 12th with new episode...

When the federal government rescinded a decades-old policy protecting houses of worship from immigration raids, a group of Quakers filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security. Their argument is uniquely Quaker: the threat of armed agents in their meeting houses creates a "chilling effect" that doesn't just lower attendance, it fundamentally obstructs their ability to worship, a practice which requires the presence o...

In times of political upheaval, when institutions feel unreliable and the future uncertain, how do we resist authoritarianism without becoming what we oppose? Daniel Hunter, co-founder of "Choose Democracy" and seasoned organizer, shares how Trump's second election unexpectedly led him to claim his Quaker identity and discover how ancient Quaker principles provide a roadmap for modern resistance. 

He reveals remarkable acts of civil...

A few months ago, twenty police officers smashed down the door of Westminster Quaker meetinghouse and arrested a handful of young activists as they sat eating hummus and breadsticks. This dramatic raid triggered a profound response from a faith community that hasn't been the target of a similar action since the 17th century.  

When the very act of dissent is being criminalized, how do we stand up for what is right? How do we demand ...