Across the Divide Podcast

Author and historian Jemar Tisby joins us to discuss the connections that blacks, and especially black Christians, have with the Palestinian struggle for justice and liberation. Jemar explains how the concept of “God of the Oppressed” provides a powerful framework to shape Christian advocacy for both blacks and Palestinians. Become a monthly supporter of Across the Divide on Patreon at https://www...

Rev. Joash Thomas joins us for a conversation on justice and its relationship to the church. Joash provides helpful insight about the hesitancy of many Christians to think biblically about the justice, and offers some practical steps for individuals and church communities to prioritize justice in their lives and ministries. Much of the conversation is based on Joash’s recent book “The Justice of J...

This episode is a part of Across the Divide’s Monthly Book Club. Here Jen has a conversation with John Munayer and Samuel Munayer about their edited volume The Cross and the Olive Tree: Cultivating Palestinian Theology amid Gaza. They discussed how this book emerged as a communal Palestinian theological project and the unique approaches that the eight contributors took. John and Sam both reflect o...

Lisa Loden, Christian Israeli public theologian and poet, joins Daniel for a candid conversation about the October 7th and the ensuing genocide in Gaza. They discuss Lisa’s story as a Messianic Jew and Lisa shares about her thoughts on what’s happened in Gaza and how a theology of suffering and hope can help us move forward. Lisa Loden is a theologian, lecturer, author, teacher, peacemaker, and a...

Ben Norquist joins us to discuss how Christianity Today, the flagship Evangelical magazine, has been covering Gaza over the last 2 years. The discussion delves into several publications by CT, including its podcast, that have revealed a problematic and dehumanizing attitude toward Palestinian, one that effectively provided a theological cover for the genocide of the Palestinians in Gaza. Purchase...

In this episode, Abeer speaks with Kayla Tychsen, Parent Coach and certified Integrative Trauma Coach, about the deep connections between parenting, personal healing, and justice. They explore what it means to re-parent ourselves, unlearn inherited narratives, and raise children with empathy, courage, and critical thinking. Kayla shares insights from her own journey navigating faith and activism,...

This episode kicks off Across the Divide’s Monthly Book Club. Here Jen has a conversation with Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac about his book "Christ in the Rubble: Faith, the Bible, and the Genocide in Gaza." They discuss how the book emerged from Isaac’s pastoral work and activism after October 7th. Together they reflect on the theology of a God who dwells amid the rubble in Gaza and Munther’s...

Bruce Fisk joins Daniel to discuss his research on the weaponization of the Bible and the usage of the language of moral clarity by many prominent Evangelical and other Christian leaders to justify and sanction Israel’s genocide in Gaza. Get your own copy of “ Being Christian After the Desolation of Gaza ”Sign up to join the Palestine solidarity delegation: https://forms.gle/asNkGWXgVB5MRAuZ8 Bruc...

New Testament professor Ross Wagner (Duke Divinity School) joins Daniel for a conversation about his recent article titled “Being Christian After the Desolation of Gaza”. The conversation ranges from exploring the narratives that Americans tell themselves about Palestinians to a study of the Biblical concepts of Jubilee and  “the year of the Lord's favor.” Purchase your own copy of Being Chris...

Hear the compelling story of Elom Tettey-Tamaklo, a former Christian Zionist from Ghana who eventually gets in trouble for his leadership at the Harvard University Gaza encampment. Elom also gave a passionate talk at the recent Church at the Crossroads conference, which we discuss here as well. Born in Atlanta, raised in Accra and Harare, and having worked in Ramallah, Amman, and Philadelphia, Elo...

In this episode, Leyla King, Palestinian-American Episcopal priest and author, discusses the importance of getting a voice to Palestinian Christians whose stories are often overlooked in the broader conversation about the conflict. By humanizing the Palestinian experience, Western Christians gain a deeper understanding of the situation beyond political headlines. The conversation is based on Leyla...

Professor Ebrahim Moosa joins Daniel for a conversation discussing Muslim support for Palestine. They discuss political Islam, violence, Hamas, and all things controversial.  Ebrahim Moosa (PhD, University of Cape Town 1995) is Mirza Family Professor of Islamic Thought and Muslim Societies in the Keough School of Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame. He co-directs, with Scott Appleby and...

Preston Sprinkle joins Daniel for a conversation tackling Evangelical support for pro-Israel. They discuss Preston’s journey out of dispensationalism, and tackle the reasons why so many Evangelicals are Zionist and pro-Israel. Preston is an international speaker and a New York Times bestselling author, who’s written over a dozen books including his most recent book: Exiles: The Church in the Shado...

In this episode, Jen speaks with Daoud Nassar, a Palestinian Christian who stewards his family's 100-acre farm located about 6 miles southwest of Bethlehem known as Tent of Nations. They discuss Daoud's family's history, their nearly 40-year legal struggle to keep their land, and the relationship between faith, hope, suffering, and love. Daoud describes his family’s commitment to nonvi...

Fariza Gulomikova shares with us her journey form Islam to Christian Zionism, and then, later, her conversion out of Christian Zionism into a more Biblical faith grounded in following Christ. Fariza is an entrepreneur and advocate. Born and raised in post-Soviet Tajikistan in a Shia Ismaili Muslim family, she became a Christian at the age of 11. She immigrated to the United States at 18 in pursuit...

Daniel is joined here by Yasmina Haddad who shares her story as a Palestinian and Lebanese Latina, and roots, and how they shape both her identity and her advocacy for peace in Palestine in her local church community. Register to Church at the Crossroads at ⁠⁠churchatthecrossroads.com⁠⁠ and use the coupon "ATD" for a 10% discount. We'll see you there! Support our work on Patreon at ⁠...

Daniel Bannoura is joined by renowned Bible scholar Mike Bird to discuss, among other things, how the Bible has been mishandled by many Christians to justify support for Israel and turn a blind eye to the suffering of the Palestinians. Mike offers important advice on how to read and interpret the Bible and apply it to the world around us. Mike Bird (PhD, University of Queensland) is a “biblical th...

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...

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...

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 ev...

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 witn...

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 powe...

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 o...

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...

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 tr...