The Revealer

American Jews have contributed significantly to the movie industry. But has Hollywood sufficiently depicted American Jewish life? Dr. Helene Meyers, author of the book Movie-Made Jews: An American Tradition, joins us to discuss the place of Jews on screen and how movies have contributed to shaping American Jewish identities. We explore the role antisemitism has played in the portrayal of Jews on f...

Why is Islamophobia so common in the United States? Dr. Caleb Elfenbein, author of the book Fear in Our Hearts: What Islamophobia Tells Us about America, joins us to discuss what Islamophobia reveals about life in America today. We explore why anti-Muslim fear persists throughout the country, how Muslim communities have responded to Islamophobia, and how everyone can combat Islamophobia so that Mu...

What role has religion played in the CIA’s missions around the world? Dr. Michael Graziano, author of Errand into the Wilderness of Mirrors: Religion and the History of the CIA, joins us to share captivating stories about religion in America’s Central Intelligence Agency. We explore how the CIA set out to understand religious traditions across the globe in their fight against Soviet communism, wha...

This episode features conversations with three experts on religion and climate change who have investigated how different religious communities have responded to the climate crisis. Our discussion begins with Dr. Amanda Baugh. She has been exploring Latinx Catholics’ conservation actions and examining how environmental activism can become less centered on white Americans. Next, Dr. Adrienne Krone...

What role has religion played in shaping sex education in America’s public schools? Dr. Kristy Slominski, author of Teaching Moral Sex: A History of Religion and Sex Education in the United States, joins us to discuss why liberal Protestant leaders wanted sex education in America’s schools. We explore what teachings sex educators promoted about gender and monogamy, how they responded to the visibl...

What are evangelical men taught about gender and their place in the world? Dr. Bradley Onishi, a scholar of religion and host of the Straight White American Jesus podcast, joins us to discuss why evangelical men valorize aggressive masculinity. We also explore what evangelical men are taught about their sexual desires, how evangelical conceptions of masculinity contribute to cultures of violence,...

As travel reopens throughout the world, we are taking a look at the popularity of “Holocaust tourism.” Dr. Daniel Reynolds, author of Postcards from Auschwitz: Holocaust Tourism and the Meaning of Remembrance, joins us to discuss why millions of people travel to Nazi concentration camps and other sites of Holocaust memorialization each year, what messages Holocaust memorial sites typically promote...

June 2021 marks forty years since the first identified cases of what came to be known as HIV/AIDS. In this episode we chat with Dr. Lynne Gerber about a predominantly gay church in San Francisco and how it responded to the AIDS epidemic. We discuss how that church and its minister helped a gay community devastated by sickness, death and constant funerals, and why knowing this history about the AID...

What are faith-based prisons and why are they legal in the United States? Dr. Brad Stoddard, author of Spiritual Entrepreneurs: Florida’s Faith-Based Prisons and the American Carceral State, joins us to discuss why several states operate “faith and character-based correctional facilities.” We explore who goes to these prisons, how faith-based prisons theoretically promote religious pluralism, and...

This episode explores the surging popularity of Prosperity Gospel Pentecostalism among Latino Americans. Dr. Tony Tian-Ren Lin, author Prosperity Gospel Latinos and Their American Dream, joins us to explain what the Prosperity Gospel entails and why it has been so appealing to Latino Americans, especially to new immigrants. We discuss how the Prosperity Gospel gives people a feeling of control ove...

This episode explores issues of gender and sexuality in Mormon communities. Dr. Taylor Petrey, author of Tabernacles of Clay: Sexuality and Gender in Modern Mormonism, joins us to discuss the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints’ current positions on gender and the place of LGBTQ Mormons. We explore tensions within Mormon communities around these issues, how Mormon leaders tried to teach ch...

In our first episode of 2021, journalist Olga Segura, author of Birth of a Movement: Black Lives Matter and the Catholic Church, joins us to discuss the place of religion in the Black Lives Matter movement. We explore why Church leaders need to partner with Black Lives Matter, how the Catholic Church upholds white supremacy, and how Black Lives Matter is a model for Catholic social justice endeavo...

In our last episode of 2020, we examine the role of crafting within American Judaism. Dr. Jodi Eichler-Levine, author of Painted Pomegranates and Needlepoint Rabbis: How Jews Craft Resilience and Create Community, joins us to discuss why focusing on crafting can give us a fuller understanding of American Judaism, how thinking about crafting can transform stereotypes about Jewish women, and the con...

This episode features conversations with four people from four different religious traditions. Each is also an expert in religion. They discuss why they are voting for Biden and Harris, how their expertise guides what they would say to others who are wavering on their vote, and what they hope for the country if Biden and Harris win the 2020 election.

Investigative journalist Katherine Stewart, author of the acclaimed book The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism, joins us to discuss what Christian nationalists want if Trump stays in office, why many of them are comfortable with the erosion of democracy, and what people can do who oppose Christian nationalism and want a greater separation of church and state.

Dr. Kayla Wheeler joins us for a conversation about why fashion is an important thing to consider when trying to understand religion. The conversation focuses on Black Muslim men’s fashion and explores how some Black Muslim men’s styles have influenced their religious beliefs and the broader culture. The episode also considers the recent corporate retail attention on Muslims by multinational corpo...

The Museum of the Bible has attracted much scrutiny since it opened in 2017. In this episode, Dr. Jill Hicks-Keeton joins us to discuss the museum’s evangelical endeavors. We also explore why the museum has been embroiled in so many scandals, what role the Green family of Hobby Lobby plays in shaping the museum’s evangelical mission, and what the Museum of the Bible’s prominence in the nation’s ca...

This episode explores Hasidic Jews who lead double lives. Dr. Ayala Fader, author of Hidden Heretics: Jewish Doubt in the Digital Age, joins host Brett Krutzsch for a conversation about Hasidic Jews who privately reject their tradition’s teachings, but who continue to practice Hasidic Judaism publicly. They also discuss why Hasidic communities are flourishing in America in spite of these double-li...

In this episode, National Correspondent for America magazine Michael O’Loughlin joins us for a conversation about the AIDS crisis, queer identity, Catholicism, and what these issues can teach us about the present day. O'Loughlin is the host of the podcast Plague: Untold Stories of AIDS and the Catholic Church.

Host Brett Krutzsch is joined by Dr. Shreena Ghandi to discuss all things yoga. Beginning with yoga's popularity among white women, the conversation covers new yoga trends, including the growing turn to yoga as a therapeutic practice, and how yoga classes are helping people during a global pandemic.

In this first episode, host Brett Krutzsch interviews Dr. Brian Clites, who has spoken with over 70 survivors of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church. What are the consequences of the intense media scrutiny that survivors face? And how can we take steps to better support survivors?

Coming in April 2020! The Revealer online magazine will begin publishing podcast episodes that correspond to our monthly issues. If you're curious about the intersection of religion, race, politics, sexuality, gender, and culture, stay tuned for the all-new Revealer Podcast!