Quakers Today

In this episode of Quakers Today, we ask, “What does it mean to be welcomed in a space?” Peterson Toscano (he/him) and Miche McCall (they/them) discuss the concept of feeling welcome. Miche describes their sense of safety under a blanket while podcasting from Logrono, Spain, during their Camino de Santiago pilgrimage. They explore how welcoming spaces can be challenging for individuals with unique...

In this episode of Quakers Today, we ask, What does bird watching have to do with Quakers? You will find a complete transcript of this episode at www.quakerstoday.org Lessons from Birds about Nature, Community, and Racial Justice Birdwatching may seem like a serene, perhaps even solitary activity, but in the latest episode of the Quakers Today Podcast, we discover it's a window into much larger co...

Season three of the Quakers Today Podcast begins with the introduction of new co-host Miche McCall (they, them). Along with co-host Peterson Toscano, they unpack the profound questions of faith, activism, and the essence of community. Meet Quakers Today podcast’s newest team member, Miche McCall.  Miche is a professional Friend who works to inspire others to live in alignment with Spirit and joy....

In this episode of Quakers Today, we ask, How do you process memories, experiences, and feelings? In this special episode of Quakers Today, you will learn about what we have in store for you in Season Three. We also look back to share highlights from Season Two. These include: An episode featuring actress and environmental activist Darryl Hannah as she discusses a bold campaign against the use of...

This bonus episode of Quakers Today features a reunion of Quaker leaders from the U.S. and the U.K., discussing how Quaker organizations work towards a just world. Recorded during American Friends Service Committee's annual Corporation meeting in  Philadelphia in April 2023, the episode includes Joyce Ajlouny, Bridget Moix, Oliver Robertson, and Sarah Clarke. T They explore responses to global cha...

In this episode of Quakers Today we ask, How do you process memories, experiences and feelings? For the best listening experience we encourage you to listen to this episode with headphones or earbuds.   Rashid Darden's Personal Reflections The episode features Rashid Darden and his reflection of identity and faith. As a Black person in a predominantly white faith community, Rashid's experience is...

Writer Vicki Winslow appears in this month's episode of Quakers Today. As part of that episode, this is bonus audio of Vicki reading her story. Music and sound design by Peterson Toscano. After experiencing the loss of her father, Silena Yancey travels from North Carolina to the American Southwest to find inspiration, which she hopes leads to equilibrium. Vicki shares, "My story 'Sabbatical' is la...

In this episode of Quakers Today we ask, Outside of Quaker Worship, where do Quakers seek inspiration, spirituality, and community? Whether you're looking to understand the charismatic charm of megachurches, the deep-rooted history of Pendle Hill, England or the mysticism of Howard Thurman , this episode invites listeners to broaden their horizons and embrace the myriad ways the Spirit speaks to u...

In this episode of Quakers Today, we ask, "When it comes to activism, do the ends justify the means?" A Barbie Hoax with a Message Actress and eco-activist Daryl Hannah speaks with host Peterson Toscano about her announcement that "Mattel intends to go 100 percent plastic-free by 2030 in all their toys. They hope to support a global ban on plastics." Unfortunately, the excitement was short-lived....

Quaker Worship, Nature, and Hunting The episode introduces Timothy Tarkelly , a Quaker in Chanute, Kansas with a deep love for nature. Tarkelly draws parallels between the stillness of Quaker worship and his experiences in the outdoors, emphasizing the power of silence and anticipation in both settings. He wrote the Friends Journal article, Allowable Diversions: A Friend Explores the Morality of H...

In this episode of Quakers Today we ask, What Do You Desire? Linda Seger speaks about Circle Thinking. It is counter-cultural, highly effective, and something Quakers have been doing for a very long time. Her article, “Circle Thinking, A Quaker Model of Leadership” appears in the June/July 2023 issues of Friends Journal . Linda is the author of 34 books, including Beyond Linear Thinking: Changing...

In this episode of Quakers Today we ask, What do you expect and need from a leader? Kat Griffith steps out of her comfort zone and runs for local office. The lessons she has learned about herself and her community will encourage, inspire, and challenge you. Learn more about her experience through her article,  “One Quaker’s Excellent Adventure in Politics.” Kat is a former high school teacher, hom...

In this episode of Quakers Today we ask, What is a daily practice that clears your head and steadies you for the day? The host of Quakers Today, Peterson Toscano, speaks with Karla Jay, the global ministries coordinator for Friends United Meeting . Her husband, Michael Jay, is the pastor of Raysville Friends Church . Karla has been on the pastoral team at Iglesia Amigos de Indianapolis , where her...

In this episode of Quakers Today we ask, What are your thoughts and feelings about virtual online worship communities?  Writer Linda Seger talks about the essential work of centering into quiet as part of her regular writing process. In her QuakerSpeak interview, “ Quakerism, Creativity, and the Artistic Process ,” Linda shares about her approach to creativity and spirituality and how it is shaped...

In this episode of Quakers Today we ask, How has your view of Jesus God or religion changed since you were young?  Hayden Hobby was raised in an evangelical church. He reflects on leaving an abusive God and finding a new way of expressing faith. For Quakers today Hayden talks about the experience that led him to write the essay "Surviving Religious Trauma, How I left an Abusive God." Today he stud...

Lucy Duncan and Rob Peagler from Reparation. Works discuss the questions that help guide their work. Lucy has been involved with groundbreaking reparations efforts in Philadelphia's Green Street Friends Meeting. Later this month Lucy and Rob will co-lead an online workshop called Exploring a Quaker Commitment to Reparative Justice . It is sponsored by Pendle Hill Quaker Center in collaboration wit...

In this episode of Quakers Today we ask, “What does redemption mean to you?”  Attorney, coach, mediator, and Quaker thought leader, Adria Gulizia, speaks with Peterson Toscano about evil. Adria’s article “Facing Evil, Finding Freedom: How Christ's Victory Over Sin Is Ours to Share Today” appears in the December 2022 issue of Friends Journal. To read more of Adria Gulizia’s writing visit Shadow of...

In this episode of Quakers Today we ask, “What is a fictional story that has inspired you or challenged your world view?”  Writer Anne E.G. Nydam reads an excerpt from her short story, “The Conduits.” You can read the entire story in the November 2022 Fiction edition of Friends Journal. Click here to hear Anne reading the whole story. Visit nydamprints.com to learn about Anne E.G. Nydam’s block pr...

Hi I’m Peterson Toscano . I am a Quaker and a podcaster. Whenever I tell someone that they thought I think they imagine some dude sitting behind a microphone in quiet contemplation.  Ah, no. For me podcasting is all about sounds. It is also about people and the stories they have to tell.  For over 10 years I have produced or hosted nearly 10 podcasts. They have touched on a variety of issues. LGBT...

How do prevailing cultural values affect your life?  What is your understanding of the Divine and how it works in you? What music, films, or games represent how you see yourself in the world? Quakers Today are asking all sorts of questions. We decided to invite Quakers and other seekers to share their questions and their journeys with us. Hi, I’m Peterson Toscano, host of the new Quakers Today pod...