Quakers Today

The Dissonance: Host Peterson Toscano reflects on the gap between Quaker faith and a global economy built on extraction and inequity.

Stop leaving economics to the ’high priests’ of Wall Street—discover how Quakers are reclaiming money as a tool for healing, integrity, and reparations.

We revisit a vital conversation with Australian activist and Quaker Adrian Glamorgan about activism, despair, and finding our specific leadings. We also hear from Kat Griffith on the spiritual work required to bridge deep political divides in rural communities.

We explore the wide theological spectrum of the Religious Society of Friends from those who view the Bible as the inerrant word of God to those who may not believe in God at all.

Discover the transformative power of affinity groups in the Quaker community! This episode features insights from Eileen Flanagan, Ollie Tabor, Vanessa July, and Curtis Spence on how these sacred spaces foster connection and healing

Hear insights from Father James Martin and Ollie from Quake it Up. Discover how ancient stories can resonate with our modern lives.

Quakers Today follows a group of Friends and allies on a 300-mile walk from Flushing, Queens to Washington, D.C., retracing the legacy of the 1657 Flushing Remonstrance and bearing witness to the sacred right of sanctuary. Along the way, walkers reflect on faith, hospitality, and immigrant justice, culminating in a powerful act of protest on the National Mall.

Peterson Toscano and Sweet Miche delve into the journey of spiritual unlearning, inspired by Philip Gulley’s book Unlearning God: How Unbelieving Helped Me Believe. The conversation with Philip explores the challenging process of questioning inherited beliefs about God, theology, and fear.

Discover the importance of creating inclusive environments where everyone can feel accepted and valued.

We look at how Quaker meetings align their financial practices with their values.

In this special episode of Quakers Today, we share a conversation from The Seed: Conversations for Radical Hope. Host Dwight Dunston speaks with Dr. Riyam Kafri Abu Laban, an educator, writer, and former principal at Ramallah Friends School. From her home in Ramallah, Dr. Kafri Abu Laban reveals how Palestinian cuisine is deeply tied to identity, history, and resilience. Despite the challenges of forced displacement and cultural appropriation, Palestinian food remains a bridge to the past and a testament to memory, resistance, and celebration. The Seed podcast is a project of Pendle Hill, a Quaker study, retreat, and conference center welcoming all for Spirit-led learning and community. About Dr. Riyam Kafri Abu Laban: Dr. Kafri Abu Laban is a writer and educator whose work spans essays, poetry, and articles on Palestine, motherhood, and education. Formerly a chemistry professor, she transitioned to educational leadership as a principal and now leads initiatives at AlNayzak Organization. A proud Ramallah Friends School and Earlham College graduate, Quaker values continue to shape her life and faith. Follow her on Instagram and LinkedIn. Special Music: This episode features “Sada” by the Sada Trio—Ahmad Al Khatib, Pedram Shahlai, and Feras Sharestan—Middle Eastern virtuosos keeping their cultural roots alive in Sweden. Friends Journal Fiction Issue: Explore Quaker-themed fiction in Friends Journal’s November 2024 issue, including “Bread of Life” by Vicki Winslow and “Penns Spring” by our co-host, Peterson Toscano. Read more at FriendsJournal.org. Monthly Question: What novel, film, or television series changed your relationship with the world? Share your answer by calling 317-QUAKERS or responding on social media. Follow Quakers Today on TikTok, Instagram, X, and visit us at QuakersToday.org. Selected Quotes: “Our cuisine is a direct extension of the land…we hold on to our food because it’s really our identity.” — Dr. Riyam Kafri Abu Laban. “Food is resistance, memory, healing, and celebration for displaced people.” — Dwight Dunston. Quakers Today is the companion podcast to Friends Journal and other Friends Publishing Corporation (FPC) content online. It is written, hosted, and produced by Peterson Toscano and Miche McCall. Feel free to send comments, questions, and requests for our new show. Email us at podcast@friendsjournal.org. Call our listener voicemail line: 317-QUAKERS. Music from this episode comes from Epidemic Sound.

In this episode of Quakers Today, co-hosts Peterson Toscano (he/him) and Miche McCall (they/them) explore how queer Quakers respond to climate change with joy, creativity, and radical inclusion. The episode features Damon Motz-Storey and Lina Blount, who delve into the intersection of queerness, spirituality, and climate activism. Miche and Peterson also review two books that provide fresh perspectives on environmentalism and queer ecology. Featured Segments: Queer Quaker Responses to Climate Change with Damon Motz-Storey and Lina Blount Damon Motz-Storey (they/them), a genderqueer Quaker, discusses the importance of radical joy, play, and community in climate work:“We’re going to save the earth, and we’re going to do it in six-inch heels and full makeup.” Damon Motz-Storey became the Chapter Director of the Oregon Chapter of the Sierra Club in 2023. They have a wealth of experience leading environmental and climate justice campaigns in the Pacific Northwest. Their achievements include blocking major new coal, oil, and gas expansions, pioneering the Portland Clean Energy Fund initiative, and contributing to Oregon's 2021 state legislation for low-income utility bill discounts, home energy retrofits, and a commitment to 100% clean electricity by 2040. Damon also worked with the Coalition of Communities of Color, managing communications for Portland's successful 2022 city government reform measure and organizing record-breaking fundraising events to support racial justice efforts. They live in East Portland near Powell Butte and enjoys hiking, cycling, weightlifting, cooking, and performing in drag. Lina Blount highlights the role of interconnectedness and reciprocity in climate justice:“Our liberation is bound up in each other's, especially in climate work, because it’s how ecosystems work.” Lina Blount is an organizer, trainer, and nonviolent action strategist who has been involved in environmental justice campaigns in the Philadelphia area for over fifteen years. She currently serves as the Director of Strategy and Partnerships with the Earth Quaker Action Team. Lina has previously worked with the Divestment Student Network and has extensive experience as a canvas director and anti-fracking organizer in Pennsylvania. She identifies as a Quaker and considers the Earth Quaker Action Team, her primary spiritual community. Book Review: Queer Ecologies and Sustainable FuturesBooks Reviewed: Deviant Hollers: Queering Appalachian Ecologies for a Sustainable FuturePeterson and Miche review this collection of essays edited by Zane McNeil and Rebecca Scott, which critiques environmental exploitation and maps alternative futures through queer perspectives. Smarter Planet or Wiser Earth? by Gray CoxMiche introduces this book, published by the Quaker Institute for the Future, which examines the ethical implications of smart technology and its role in building a sustainable global community. Read Brad Gibson's Friends Journal review. Quotes: "It is our superpower to insist upon joy, even in a world insistent on pushing us back into the closet." – Damon Motz-Storey "Chosen family and ecosystems both offer models of connection that are life-giving and generative." – Lina Blount "We can laugh and dance through climate action because that’s how we’ll keep going." – Damon Motz-Storey "Ecosystems don’t just work locally. There’s this incredible web of interconnection." – Lina Blount Announcing Season Four: After a short break, Quakers Today will return to producing regular programs on November 12, 2024. Look out for extra features and announcements in October that will appear in your podcast feed. Question of the Month: We want to hear from you! Here is a question for you: What novel, film, or television series changed your relationship with the world? The world of fiction can alter the way we see ourselves, each other, the natural world, the political order, history, and society. What work of fiction shifted your perspective or alt

We explore George Fox’s and Richard Nixon’s complex histories. How do we reconcile their significant contributions with their troubling actions and inactions?