What's Ray Saying?

An exploration of voting as a lived experience rather than a political act. Through personal stories, community memory, and historical context, this episode looks at how ordinary people understand the moment they step into a voting booth. From first-time voters to elders who’ve seen decades of elections, the episode traces how choice, identity, and responsibility intersect in one quiet act. It’s n...

The Chaplains Corps was created to offer comfort, guidance, and moral clarity to soldiers in the hardest moments of their lives. But chaplains also serve inside a system that demands obedience, violence, and silence. In this episode, Ray examines the long arc of the Corps — from its early entanglement with American wars to the modern pressures reshaping its mission today. Drawing on interviews, ar...

Ray and Chaplain Shabazz turn toward the future — what must change, what leadership should look like, and how the Chaplain Corps can evolve to meet the moral challenges of a new generation. Drawing on lived experience and institutional insight, Shabazz lays out a vision for a Corps rooted in justice, empathy, and real accountability. A closing conversation about courage, reform, and the work of bu...

In the heart of the series, Ray and Chaplain Colonel Shabazz confront the moments that tested him — morally, spiritually, and institutionally. They explore the conflicts he witnessed, the burdens he carried, and the realities of being a Black Muslim officer in a system that often misunderstands both. This is where the quiet truths come out: the cost of service, the weight of conscience, and the th...

In this three-part series, Ray sits down with Chaplain Colonel Khallid Shabazz — a Muslim chaplain, a combat-tested officer, and a man who has spent his career navigating faith, duty, and the contradictions of military life. Through candid conversation and hard-earned truth, Ray explores what it means to serve a country that doesn’t always serve you back, and how a Black Muslim officer carries mor...

This week, we're sharing an episode of the acclaimed podcast Articles of Interest , a show that explores the hidden history and surprising cultural power of what we wear. Ray talks with the show's creator, Avery Trufelman , as part of AOI 's "Gear" series, which looks at the military and outdoor clothing we wear in our daily lives — from uniforms to specialized apparel — and how those design choic...

In this episode Ray breaks down how obedience, loyalty, and survival collide in America — in the military, in politics, and in Black life. From lawful orders to the legacy of Black resistance, he explores why conscience, not compliance, has always been the real engine of American progress. A sharp look at power, duty, and the courage it takes to say “no” when it matters most.

In this episode, Ray takes another look at tropes, specifically euphemism, stories that follow the path of misunderstanding by substituting words and phrases to deflect or minimize the impact of negativity. He's joined again by Kory Thomas May, and Tiffany Christian. For more on Ray, visit drraychristian.com and support the show!

We want to share with you this special episode of Death, Sex & Money , a Slate podcast. Ray joins host Anna Sale to share why he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1978, what it was like serving in the years between major conflicts, and the challenges he faced leaving military life behind. He reflects on the trauma he carried, his time as a paratrooper and drill sergeant, and how he eventually found...

In this mini-episode of What's Ray Saying? , Ray is joined by Kory Thomas May and Tiffany Christian. He ponders the characteristics of familiar narratives and storylines and the limits of understanding and expectations that are inherent in predictable, predetermined outcomes. As a public service, Ray presents his own prime example of the ultimate trope. For more on Ray, visit drraychristian.com an...

Let us introduce you to Our Ancestors Were Messy , a podcast covering the gossip, scandals, and pop culture that made headlines in the Black newspapers of segregated communities during the pre-Civil Rights era. On each episode, host Nichole Hill and her guests follow the story of an ancestor who went searching for opportunity, adventure, liberation, and love and made a mess - and eventually histor...

In this episode, Ray lets Tiffany take over the microphone as host and Interviewer of their daughter, author and award-winning storyteller Juniper Ray Christian - Dickens. They talk about their journey as a writer, their new book, their Webby Award, and their perspective on personal identity. Crown of Blooms by R C Dickens, Paperback | Barnes & Noble®

Let us introduce you again to another show we think you'll enjoy. RISK! is a live show and weekly podcast where people tell true stories they never thought they’d dare to share in public, created and hosted by Kevin Allison (MTV, Comedy Central, HBO, Netflix). In this best-of episode,  you'll hear stories, including one from Ray, that examine ideas of exposure, vulnerability, reunion and death. To...

In this mini episode of What’s Ray Saying, Ray whimsically explores his encounters with the “dog on the street” and the diversity of canine culture. Through dialogue that breaks down stereotypes and builds understanding, he reimagines his conversations and the epiphany of understanding difference. Special thanks to Mark Pagan, the voice of the sophisticated, street-smart-but-smooth-on-the-outside...

If you’ve been enjoying "What's Ray Saying?", here's another podcast we think you’ll like. On “ Know What You See ”, host Brian Lowery delves into the ways our fundamental need to connect with others profoundly shapes our experience of life. Brian is a professor of social psychology at Stanford University, and on his podcast, he explores the surprising, perplexing and sometimes transcendent lives...

We want to share with you a new podcast I was proud to do an episode for. It's called " Little Devils " , hosted by Jasmin Bauomy. "Little Devils" explores how often we are quick to judge others and ourselves for mistakes, failures and imperfections, and what happens if you move toward these things, examine how they came to be, and unearth the stories beneath them.  On this episode, I tell the sto...

A message from Ray.

In this mini episode of What’s Ray Saying?, Ray talks about the significance of intentional black social connections and a chance encounter with a group of Black folks in an unexpected place. Featuring a conversation with Lynn Patterson.

In this bonus episode Ray explores story, memory and song with the podcast, The Volume Knob . The Volume Knob is a personal storytelling podcast produced by Keith Serry, a writer/producer/performer - and, when called upon, lawyer - in Montreal, Quebec. TVK debuted in the summer of 2020.  Keith asks all the storytellers on his show to try and convey how music makes us feel by asking them to tell th...

In this episode, as their two youngest prepare to leave home for college, Ray and Tiffany contemplate a new phase of their life together. What will it be like without kids in the house all the time?

Here's another great podcast featuring a conversation with Ray. The Confessional is hosted by author and ordained Lutheran pastor, Nadia Bolz-Weber. She invites guests to share stories about times they were at their worst. They talk honestly about what led to that moment, what they learned from it, and how they changed as a result. Let's step into The Confessional. For more about the show, go to n...

In this episode, Ray takes a trip back home and talks with his sister Janice about the challenges of caring for the sick and elderly at home. They discuss what they saw during the days of their youth, the secrecy, and the need for help. For more about Ray go to drraychristian.com and let him know what you're thinking. Thanks!

In this episode, Ray talks with Tiffany about the nature of military stories he hears on various shows and the degree of mis-information he perceives from them, and the possible reasons for why the general public and producers may seem less interested in factual details than him. 

A Ray story produced by Spooked: "The Birds" - As a little boy in Richmond Virginia, raising pigeons, Ray Christian made a friend with the same hobby. But there was something mysterious about Ray’s new pal. Spooked features true-life supernatural stories, told firsthand by people who can barely believe it happened themselves. Be afraid. Created in the dark of night, by Snap Judgment Studios, in pa...

In this episode, Tiffany takes over the direction of the discussion and asks Ray to examine his views and perspectives on gender expectations for their own children.