Potstirrer Podcast

In the 50th episode of Potstirrer Podcast, Jaye reacts to the Mueller report - or really, the Barr Letter summarizing the report filed by Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Are the conclusions Attorney General William Barr came to regarding the report accurate? What do we know about Barr, and should he be trusted? Jaye makes the argument that any finding from the Mueller report likely won't matter in...

CONTENT WARNING: This episode includes discussion of sexual assault, child molestation, and domestic violence. Listener discretion is advised. R. Kelly has been an R&B superstar for two decades, with hit songs such as "I Believe I Can Fly" and "I Wish," and winning several music awards, including three Grammys. But while Kelly has enjoyed mainstream success, throughout his career, he has been plag...

CONTENT WARNING: This episode includes discussion of homophobia, anti-LGBTQ bigotry, sexual assault and suicide. Listener discretion is advised. The relationship between the American church and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people has all too often been rocky, and conflict is inflamed by opposition by churches and Christian political institutions to equal rights for LGBTQ...

When most Americans think of late civil rights icon Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we often picture a unifying Christian minister who used non-violence to advance his dream of racial equality in the United States. But in death, has Dr. King been whitewashed? In the final installment of this two-part series, Jaye provides an overview of Dr. King's transformation - from "outside agitator" to "col...

When most Americans think of late civil rights icon Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we often picture a unifying Christian minister who used non-violence to advance his dream of racial equality in the United States. King would have been 90 years old this year, had he not been assassinated. We observe his birthday every January, and often hear his name invoked, as well as that of other civil right...

In response to Vice-President Mike Pence stating Christian education should be off-limits to criticism, defending his wife Karen's decision to teach at a Christian school that excludes the LGBTQ community, hashtag #ExposeChristianSchools, started by scholar and exvangelical Chris Stroop @c_stroop, went viral, particularly on Twitter. Jaye discusses the need for extremist ideology and abusive behav...

It's a new year, and Jaye ushers in 2019 with thoughts on the government shutdown, advice for the Democratic Party regarding the 2020 presidential election, and a read on Vice President Mike Pence. What makes Pence worse than Trump, and why would a Pence presidency be worse for the United States than Trump remaining in office? Twitter: @potstirrercast IG: @potstirrerpodcast Facebook: https://www.f...

For this year's "War on Christmas" holiday special – Jaye is joined by her husband Chuckles as they react to strange stories and answer listener questions. Jaye waxes poetic about KFC on an open fire while Chuckles reveals something that even Jaye didn't know about him.   Citations:   "Col. Harland Sanders 11 Herbs and Spices Firelog." KFC. https://www.kfc.com/fire-log    "German Chocolate Factory...

In November of 2018, 26 year old American explorer and missionary John Allen Chau was killed by the Sentinelese people, an isolated tribal group living on North Sentinel Island off the coast of India. Chau went the island illegally in order to share with them about Christianity. The incident is controversial, sparking outrage, consternation, and even admiration. Were Chau's actions worth the cost...

In light of the growing normalization of white supremacy and related forms of bigotry in the United States, Jaye focuses on the debate between unfettered free speech and the regulation of hate speech. What does "free speech" truly mean in the US context, and why does it matter? Should "dangerous" speech be made illegal? Jaye also discusses libertarian ideology - specifically how, despite its empha...

The 2018 midterm elections are here! In this episode, Jaye talks midterm predictions, the Voting Rights Act, millennials and Gen Z, and voter suppression. Jaye also discusses a major think tank responsible for the current Republican agenda, and which supplies the manpower behind GOP presidents from Ronald Reagan to Donald Trump. Why does this organization have a vested interest in subverting democ...

What if the religious extremism Americans should be most concerned about comes from Christianity? In this episode, Jaye explores the authoritarian, extremist elements of American evangelicalism and the overwhelming support of Donald Trump by white evangelical Christians. Jaye also discusses the Quiverfull movement, the increasing emphasis on authoritarianism and control within evangelical Christia...

Episode 38 - Voting Still Matters...For Now With the voter registration deadline upon us in many states, Jaye discusses the long-term impact of the vote, and why getting registered to vote and exercising the franchise is important in saving our democracy. She explains how voting in conservatives to federal and state offices over time has led to increased money in politics and reduced political imp...

Political science researchers Benjamin Knoll and Cammie Jo Bolin join Jaye in this episode to share with listeners their knowledge and research on women clergy, and talk about their new book, She Preached the Word . The researchers discuss some of the book's themes, including the barriers to ordination of women, the acceptance of women clergy in congregations, and the effects they have on their co...

Episode 36 - Power and Purity Several scandals involving sexual harassment and sexual abuse have been uncovered recently in a number of churches across the Christian landscape. Why is abuse within the church such a huge story, why does it occur, and what can churches do better to reduce abuse occurrences and respond to these incidents? Jaye discusses a few of these recent scandals - delving into a...

Many of us think of demagogues as charismatic leaders who hold an extreme degree of power over their supporters. But why do people fall for demagogues? In this episode, Jaye takes a deep dive into the subject of demagoguery - exploring how we understand and debate political and social issues. What does a country run by demagoguery mean for democracy?   Twitter: @potstirrercast IG: @potstirrerpodca...

Highly-rated Latino Christian fiction author Allison K. Garcia is back on Potstirrer Podcast to share with listeners information about her upcoming novel, Finding Amor . Allison chats with Jaye about the inspiration for the new book, writing about characters in a different culture than her own, the family separation crisis on the US/Mexico border, and more! Allison even gives us a sneak peek of wh...

With Donald Trump verbally capitulating to Vladimir Putin during the Helsinki summit July 16, the Russia investigation heating up, and Special Counsel Robert Mueller investigating the NRA for potential money laundering for the benefit of Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, Trump is clearly embroiled in a great deal of controversy. But in the face of it, Trump tells the American people to believe h...

With the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the US Supreme Court by Donald Trump, many pro-life Americans are rejoicing at the pick. Their hope is that Kavanaugh's elevation to the Court will signal the end of Roe v. Wade, the US Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide. Jaye explores the question - what will happen if Roe is set aside by the US Supreme Court? Will this achieve the...

Several US Supreme Court rulings in June that have emboldened Donald Trump and the GOP, and have left Democrats reeling. In addition, US Supreme Court justice Anthony Kennedy is retiring, which means the Trump administration has another opening they can fill on the court. Jaye discusses these and related developments, seeks to place them into perspective. In the wake of these events, Jaye aims to...

In our multi-parter second installment of Riverside Chats, Jaye is joined by her husband Chuckles as they share just a little bit of their lively political conversations - as a couple with divergent political views. In Part 2, Jaye and Chuckles discuss poverty, police brutality, and the landscape for 2018 and 2020. Should the Republican Party, who is in control of all branches of federal governmen...

In today's episode, Jaye discusses recent news stories related to undocumented immigration and refugees from Latin America. Where are the 1500 missing migrant children that were being tracked by the federal government? How are children in the custody of US Customs being treated? And is there any moral or ethical issue with calling MS-13 gang members "animals?" Jaye delves into past events as she m...

In our multi-parter second installment of Riverside Chats, Jaye is joined by her husband Chuckles as they share just a little bit of their lively political conversations - as a couple with divergent political views. In Part 1, Jaye and Chuckles debate the Stormy Daniels controversy, revisit health care, and begin discussing the 2018 midterm elections. Should the Democratic Party attempt to court T...

Do we have a "free press" in the United States? Jaye makes the case that even though the news media are not owned by the government, elite monopolistic ownership of media outlets and lack of federal regulations lead to outcomes not much different than state-run news media. What does the lack of free press mean for our democracy? Also - we debut a new segment called "Editorial by Jaye." In the firs...

In the concluding episode of a two-part series, Jaye continues her discussion on the decline of the United States within the framework of her hometown, Detroit, Michigan. She discusses the conditions in Detroit prior to the 1967 Detroit riots that led to the riots and the decline of the city, including workplace discrimination, housing segregation, the destruction of tight-knit black communities b...