Thee Quaker Podcast

George Lakey is a well known Quaker pacifist, but he didn’t grow up that way. In fact, it wasn’t until George became involved with Quakers that he came to believe in the power of nonviolence. Now in his 80s, George has spent most of his life as an advocate for social change through nonviolent direct action. In fact, he wrote the book on it. In this episode, he shares his deep conviction that pacif...

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, the true architects of its rebellious spirit might not be the founding fathers you expect. Quaker historian Max Carter joins the show to unpack the radical, plain-speaking movement that quietly hardwired the nation's legal system, culture, and architecture. Discover how a "holy experiment" accidentally fueled a revolution and shaped the founda...

When authoritarianism wraps itself in faith, how should a spiritual community respond? We trace the chilling historical parallels between 1930s Germany and the modern political moment as Quaker lawyer Scott Holmes crafts a modern declaration of resistance. Drawing on the 1934 Barmen Declaration, we explore the collision of religion and nationalism. How do we maintain integrity when political force...

The sheer scale of the climate crisis can easily lead to burnout if we don't have a strong anchor to hold us steady. Today, we are digging beneath the protests and policies to explore the deep, spiritual roots that actually sustain this vital work. Join us to discover how a profound shift in our theology can transform environmentalism from a crushing global obligation into a deeply personal, daily...

How do Quakers prepare for Meeting for Worship? How do we get ready for an hour of silence in which we may feel called upon to stand and give a message? In this week’s episode, we share three essays written by members of Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting about their experience of Quaker Meeting for Worship. This episode originally aired on June 21, 2023. Become a monthly supporter!  Sign u...

How do you build peace in a war zone? During the Troubles in Northern Ireland, it didn't always start with politicians or treaties. Sometimes it started with an ordinary cup of tea. Explore the hidden history of how Irish Quakers stepped into the margins of a deeply divided society, using radical acts of hospitality to do the quiet, dangerous work of turning enemies into friends. Become a monthly...

Irish Quakers have always punched far above their weight, leaning on deep spirituality and radical hospitality to bring relief during the Great Famine and build quiet trust throughout the Northern Ireland peace process. Last month, podcast producer Zack Jackson traveled to Ireland Yearly Meeting to learn, firsthand, how this diverse community has managed to have such an outsized impact on the isla...

Quaker author, speaker, and teacher Parker Palmer joins us to explore the tension between the world's demands for success, and our soul’s need for integrity. By sharing his personal journey through darkness and renewal, he offers a deeply moving invitation to let go of forced outcomes and instead live with simple faithfulness to our unique gifts. ---------- Want an experience that lives at the int...

When corporations destroy the environment and ignore human rights, the loudest protests usually come from the streets. But while activists are calling for change from the outside, another movement is quietly working to steer these massive organizations from within. Discover how Friends Fiduciary is taking a seat at the shareholders’ table, using Quaker values to persuade global brands to put human...

As the climate crisis accelerates, humanity faces an unprecedented spiritual test. Quaker minister and scientist Brian Drayton joins us to explore how we can engage in the deep spiritual formation required to respond faithfully to the challenges ahead. Order "The Gospel in the Anthropocene: Letters from a Quaker Naturalist" by Brian Drayton here: https://qkrs.org/drayton Become a monthly supporter...

As a professor at Earlham College, Michael Birkel was known for his dynamic and thoughtful teaching style. As an author, he is known for capturing Quaker theology and practice in an accessible way.  Today, we’ve got this thoughtful Quaker scholar on the show to share his thoughts on mysticism, spiritual reading, and giving the next generation of Quakers room to express their faith. This episode or...

In the Quaker tradition, waiting worship is never an empty silence; it is a profound, shared, expectant stillness. In this experimental episode, we gathered together for worship at Green St. Meeting in Philadelphia, placed field microphones around the worship space, and created an immersive, stereo audio documentary of communal waiting. You will hear the physical reality of people gathering togeth...

Elizabeth Hooton was the fierce and determined matriarch of the early Quaker movement who outmaneuvered magistrates and kings to spread the Gospel of Love.  From her illegal farmhouse congregation in England to the royal courts of an empire, Hooton’s journey reveals a pioneer who refused to remain quiet when the Spirit asked her to speak. She proved that a tender heart can still possess a sharp pr...

After fleeing for their lives from Russia to the United States, an asylum-seeking family was met not with sanctuary, but with chains and a rusty detention cell. Just as the faceless deportation machine threatened to swallow them completely, the American Friends Service Committee offered a lifeline. This episode tells the story of what happens when grassroots Quaker love combines with institutional...

Chatbots are becoming integrated into everything, AI images and videos are impossible to discern, and the line between real and artificial is starting to blur. What wisdom does Quakerism have to lend to the usage and development of AI? Should Quakers use AI at all? Is there that of God in the algorithm? Become a monthly supporter!  Sign up for the Daily Quaker Message .

Quaker peace activist George Lakey has been singing freedom songs in the streets since the civil rights movement. Today, George says, as our democracy faces an existential threat, it is important that we look to other countries whose people have resisted autocrats and won. On this week’s podcast episode we talk with George about those cases, and the nonviolent database he has helped to assemble wh...

We follow two emerging Quaker communities from different traditions to witness the messy, faithful reality of starting a Quaker meeting. There are no formulas here, only the collective wisdom of people who are discerning a call together. It’s an invitation to explore what happens when we stop trying to control the outcome and simply agree to join the work the Spirit is already doing. Become a mont...

Quakers believe in loving your neighbor, but what is a peace-loving Friend to do when their city is invaded by armed forces intent on violence? For this week’s episode, we bring you a special conversation with four Quakers from the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St Paul who have been wrestling with just that.    Notes: Three of our guests are active in ISAIAH, a "statewide multiracial group of fai...

This week, we take a field trip to Marlborough Meeting in Kennet Square, PA. Step inside a Conservative Quaker meeting with us to witness a commitment to simplicity and integrity that has endured for centuries. Discover why the ancient instruction to 'stand still' might be the exact antidote to our modern exhaustion.   Want to discuss today’s episode? We created a space for connection, not just co...

In a world often governed by force, Quakers have stood apart for centuries with a radical commitment to peace. But this isn't just a political stance; it is a spiritual practice that challenges us to see the Divine in everyone—even our enemies. This week, we dive into the history of the Peace Testimony and explore how its living wisdom can guide us through modern conflict.   Become a monthly suppo...

Season 3 continues next week! In the meantime, we are inviting you to join our new digital community on Discord, a private space where we can engage in deeper dialogue and help build a vibrant digital Quaker community. Think of it as a series of organized chat rooms that prioritize safety and quiet over the algorithmic outrage found on platforms like Facebook or X. You can find easy-to-follow inst...

‘Tis the season to answer one of the Internet’s most burning questions…Do Quakers celebrate Christmas? We called up Friends from around the globe to find the answer(s), and you might be surprised at what they say.  Become a monthly supporter!  Sign up for the Daily Quaker Message .

Zachary Moon was raised in a Quaker Meeting full of anti-war protesters. Then he felt God calling him to join the military as a chaplain. In the following months and years he had to wrestle with that leading and the response of his family and community. On this week’s episode, we ask, what happens when your calling seems to be in opposition to the thing that unites your faith community? And can yo...

It’s been a little over two years since we embarked on this journey to give Quakers a platform in the digital age.  We believe Quakers have something to offer in the 21st century , and by telling our stories and exploring our practices, we can both deepen and broaden the modern Quaker movement. This project— Thee Quaker Podcast —is part of our ecosystem of online Quaker media, along with The Daily...

Unlike many Christian traditions, Quakers have no creed. So one of the most commonly asked questions about us—What do Quakers believe?—is sometimes a difficult one to answer. We posed the question to long-time Quakers, new Quakers, Quaker scholars, and more. Join us as we explore this nuanced and rich discussion of Quaker beliefs. This episode was originally released on July 10, 2024. Check out ou...