Sacred Rebel Voices

When fear begins shaping how we see our neighbors, hearts slowly harden—and communities fracture. In this episode of Sacred Rebel Voices, I sit down with Erin Hoagland, Executive Director of the Center for Interfaith Cooperation in Indianapolis, to talk about polarization, interfaith dialogue, and how we build community trust in divided times. We explore: • Why fear narrows our vision• How curiosi...

Music can comfort us—but can it actually change us? In this reflective and wide-ranging conversation, Carrie Underwood explores the deeper power of music—not just as something that soothes pain, but as something that invites transformation. We talk about: • Why healing alone isn’t enough• The difference between emotional release and real growth• How faith and creativity intersect• What it means to...

In a time when outrage is rewarded and division is profitable, what does real courage look like? In this conversation with Jeff Worrell, founder of Project Civility, we explore why civility is not weakness—but strength. From national polarization to local leadership, Jeff shares how courageous dialogue can reshape communities, restore trust, and invite people back to the table. We talk about faith...

Ron Diamond has spent over 35 years bringing wonder to audiences through magic, illusion, and mentalism — and with nearly 22,000 performances under his belt, his passion for joy is stronger than ever. In this conversation, Ron shares how magic is more than entertainment — it’s a pathway to laughter, healing, and human connection. We explore the discipline behind performance, the art of creating aw...

What do you do when everyone tells you your vision for a city is impossible? In this episode, Jim Brainard shares how he turned a town of 25,000 into a global model for urban living by choosing beauty over bureaucracy."Jim reflects on the early resistance he faced, the courage required to invest in beauty and public space, and the deeper philosophy behind building not just infrastructure—but...

What is the cost of conviction? Elizabeth Diop served as a chaplain at Children's Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio, providing a gentle presence for children in crisis. Then, she attended a rally for Ayman Soliman. Days later, she was out of a job.​In this episode of Rebel Voices, Elizabeth talks about her mission at the Children’s Hospital, the interview that changed everything, and what happens w...

Ayman Soliman was a beloved chaplain at the Children's Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio, until he was suddenly detained by ICE. For 73 days, his life and future were held in the balance—until his community decided they wouldn't stay silent.​In this episode of Sacred Rebel Voices, we sit down with Ayman to hear the raw, untold story of his detention and the incredible power of collective action...

In this conversation, Diane Zehr reflects on what it means to answer a call when the path ahead is unclear—or when the door itself seems closed. Drawing on her own journey in ministry, Diane speaks honestly about calling, courage, resistance, and faithfulness, and about what it takes to keep saying yes when the world (or the church) says no. This is part of Sacred Rebel Voices, a series of convers...

When fear is loud, and division feels inevitable, fierce love can feel like the most daring choice of all. In a time shaped by anxiety, polarization, and uncertainty, love is often mistaken for softness or retreat. Yet the love our world most needs is not passive—it is courageous, grounded, and willing to stay present when fear urges us to harden or withdraw. This Whisper of the Sacred Rebel is an...

What does it take to create order in a world of high-stakes gambling and "wild west" rules? Today on Sacred Rebel Voices, we sit down with a true legend of the game: Matt Savage, the Executive Tour Director of the World Poker Tour (WPT). ​Matt didn’t just join the poker world; he revolutionized it. From his humble beginnings as a chip runner to becoming the man who literally wrote the ru...

In this episode of Sacred Rebel Voices, Jerry Zehr sits down with Alexandra Hudson—author of The Soul of Civility and founder of Civic Renaissance—for a thoughtful conversation about what civility really means in a fractured public life. Rather than politeness or silence, Alexandra invites us to consider civility as courage: the willingness to engage across difference without surrendering convicti...

In a world that often rewards conformity and silence, living your own story can feel risky—even dangerous. We learn early which parts of ourselves are welcome, and which parts are safer to hide or leave unexplored. This Whisper of the Sacred Rebel is an invitation to live from your own truth—not to perform it, defend it, or prove it, but to inhabit it with honesty and courage. We reflect on what i...

What happens when a man fueled by 25 years of combat rage and a deep-seated hatred decides to build a bomb to destroy a local mosque? For Richard "Mac" McKinney, that was the plan—until he walked through the doors of the Islamic Center of Muncie and met the very people he intended to kill.​ In this episode, I sit down with Richard McKinney, the subject of the Academy Award-nominated docu...

In a world that rewards control and constant effort, surrender is often misunderstood as weakness. This short reflection invites you to consider a different truth: that real strength sometimes begins when we loosen our grip. In this Whisper of the Sacred Rebel, we explore strength in surrender—learning when to release what we cannot carry alone, and how letting go can open us to trust, freedom, an...

Rabbi Sandy Sasso is one of the first women ordained as a rabbi in American Judaism and the first woman rabbi in Reconstructionist Judaism. But this conversation is not simply about being first—it’s about what it takes to listen deeply, to trust an inner call, and to step forward when no clear path exists. In this episode of Sacred Rebel Voices, Jerry Zehr sits down with Rabbi Sasso to explore fai...

In a world that often feels heavy and exhausting, joy can be a quiet act of resistance. This short reflection invites you to pause, breathe, and reconnect with joy as a source of courage, healing, and hope.

In this brief opening, host Jerry Zehr shares the heart behind the podcast and invites listeners to join a journey of courage, compassion, and hope.