Best Boniuk Institute and Religion and Public Life Center Podcasts (2025)

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When Diversity Efforts Fail 30:16

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26d ago30:16

30:16

In Who Pays for Diversity? Why Programs Fail at Racial Equity and What to Do about It, sociologist Oneya Fennell Okuwobi examines how well-meaning diversity efforts in universities, corporations, and churches often fail to achieve true racial equity—and can even harm people of color who sacrifice their well-being and advancement for the greater goo…

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Digital Faith and Identity 28:41

3M ago28:41

28:41

Digital technologies are profoundly shaping personal identity, community, and spiritual life. Our guest Felicia Song has written about these issues in her book, Restless Devices, and tells us how her research stems from both personal and academic inquiry into modern technology and digital media. She argues that faith communities must seriously enga…

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Rejecting Neutrality in Interfaith Work 26:59

5M ago26:59

26:59

In this episode of Religion Unmuted, John Barton and host Elaine Howard Ecklund discuss the urgency of interreligious peacebuilding and how religion can serve as both a barrier and a bridge in global conflicts. Blending theory, practice, and personal narrative, this episode explores how rooted, yet open, religious identities can contribute to peace…

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Faith, Politics, and the Power of Embracing Loss 30:33

6M ago30:33

30:33

Consultant, professor, author, and former pastor Curtis Chang joins Religion Unmuted to discuss the dangers of partisan idolatry and why he believes Christians should prioritize faith over political identity. Chang also shares insights from his books, emphasizing the virtues of hope and humility and framing anxiety as a natural response to loss tha…

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The “Religious Imaginary” and American Politics: From Reagan to Trump 26:47

7M ago26:47

26:47

In this episode of Religion Unmuted, Diane Winston discusses the intersection of religion, media, and politics, focusing on how the media shaped the religiously infused vision of the American Dream during the Reagan era and how similar dynamics play out with Donald Trump today. She explores the influence of Evangelical Christians in politics, espec…

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Lived Religion and the Enduring Legacy of HBCUs 31:49

9M ago31:49

31:49

Marla Frederick, Dean of Harvard Divinity School, and countless others owe their education--and much more--to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Frederick shares how her experience at Spelman College shaped her views on faith, leadership, and her approach as dean of a multi-religious institution of higher education.…

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Unclaimed Doesn't Mean Unmourned 30:59

11M ago30:59

30:59

Bringing her journalistic eye to a sociological problem, Pamela Prickett gives listeners insight into a growing American issue: thousands of bodies are going unclaimed by relatives after death—up to 150,000 each year. Prickett unpacks the why behind the issue, as well as the ways that religion is being used to craft rituals and communities of care …

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Season 3 Teaser 18:30

11M ago18:30

18:30

The Religion Unmuted season 3 hosts, Elaine Howard Ecklund and Rachel Schneider, reveal the new, expanded vision for this season of the podcast. They also get a bit personal, sharing how their own identities and work have had an impact on Religion Unmuted and its vision.By Boniuk Institute and Religion and Public Life Center

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A Historical Look at Patriarchy Within Christianity 25:15

2+ y ago25:15

25:15

In this episode, Religion Unmuted takes a historical look at Christianity and in particular how patriarchy was fundamental in the religion’s founding. Our guest April DeConick also brings attention to the ways in which women did have specific roles in early Christianity and how that can be honored today.…

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Gender, Religion, and Conservative Politics 29:45

2+ y ago29:45

29:45

The 2016 election shone a bright light on the entanglement of politics and faith for white evangelical Christians. Historian and author Kristin Kobes Du Mez talks the past, present, and future of evangelicalism in America as well as the role of women in this cultural and religious movement that is here to stay.…

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Seeing the Whole Person and the Whole Pain 25:26

3y ago25:26

25:26

The work of a chaplain involves providing spiritual care to individuals outside of a congregational setting, work that can be difficult and varied. According to our guest, sociologist Wendy Cadge, a chaplain can be witness to a person’s whole pain as well as recognize and discuss death, all in ways that can be difficult for family, healthcare worke…

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Reproductive Justice and Religion 29:10

3y ago29:10

29:10

Elaina Ramsey provides a practitioner’s perspective on reproductive justice and religion in this episode of Religion Unmuted. As director of Faith Choice Ohio, she works to promote and advance reproductive justice as a holistic movement, and she explains why her faith is so integral to her fight for reproductive justice.…

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Using the “F” Word in Religion: Bringing Feminism to the Conversation 34:04

3y ago34:04

34:04

Let’s start with the definition: Xochitl Alvizo has not one but two favorite definitions of feminism. We ask the religious studies scholar first to define the term in this episode of Religion Unmuted; then we move to unpacking the many layers behind feminism and feminist thought, including the importance of context, intersectionality, and in partic…

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The Power of Listening 36:51

3y ago36:51

36:51

Juanita Rasmus is an author, speaker, spiritual director, and co-pastor of a large Methodist church in downtown Houston. She joins Religion Unmuted to share her personal mental health journey as well as how listening and noticing can lead to spiritual and emotional healing.By Religion and Public Life Program

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Why Religion Is Still Relevant 22:09

4y ago22:09

22:09

Following the last two presidential elections, Rabbi Dr. Andrea Weiss solicited letters from religious studies scholars to speak directly to our nation’s politicians. Why should we listen to what scholars of religion have to say about today’s most pressing problems? In this episode, Weiss shares her explanation for why these viewpoints matter, as w…

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From Self-Care to Collective Care 32:47

4y ago32:47

32:47

Amid an unrelenting year, a year in which suffering has pervaded social life, “self-care” has become a buzz word. Ads and articles about self-care abound on social media and in everyday discourse, but discussions about self-care have been disconnected from thinking about community care. In this episode of Religion Unmuted, Pamela talks with Rev. Je…

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Called to Lead 25:30

4+ y ago25:30

25:30

When women do not feel called to lead within their faith community, what is lost? The Rev. Christine Lee joins us to share her take on women in leadership positions, drawing from her perspective as the first woman Priest-in-Charge at an Episcopal church in New York City. In this episode we address the unique struggles and contributions of women in …

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In Pursuit of Multiple Truths 29:49

4+ y ago29:49

29:49

Where should we turn for the truth about immigration issues today? Whose stories should we be paying attention to? To discuss the possibility of multiple truths, we invite three of our previous guests to return to Religion Unmuted and reflect on their unique viewpoints as scholar, activist, and journalist working on the ground and at the intersecti…

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The Spiritual Harm of Family Separation 42:55

4+ y ago42:55

42:55

In 2017 the immigration policies known as “zero tolerance” and “family separation” were established, affecting thousands of men, women, and children trying to enter the United States. Hear the stories of three women—Lupe, Julia, and Gena—and how they were impacted by these policies—as a woman, as a daughter, and as a Christian. Author Gena Thomas j…

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Communal Flourishing in Divided Times 23:23

4+ y ago23:23

23:23

How do we build community that is strong in identity while remaining porous and flexible? Can women and religion be assets to inclusive community building? These questions have never been more urgent, as the United States wrestles with deep political divisions and faces a humanitarian crisis tied to immigration at the border. Drawing on her experie…

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A Society That Cares 28:22

4+ y ago28:22

28:22

Sister Norma Pimentel shares her personal journey—from spending her youth in both Mexico and the US (by traversing what she saw as a bridge, not a border); to finding her faith; and eventually devoting herself to a religious life in the Catholic Church. All of these experiences shaped her views on immigration and led her to her work today, as Execu…

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Crossing Borders 24:22

4+ y ago24:22

24:22

Borders are everywhere—and not just physical borders, like that along the southwestern part of the United States which so often comes to mind. There are numerous political, ideological, and other figurative boundaries that separate us in our everyday lives. Scholar, author, and documentarian Miguel De La Torre sheds light on these borders during hi…

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Thinking Beyond Elections 26:26

5y ago26:26

26:26

How does religion inspire and give hope to people in different communities who are working on the ground? In this episode, we want to push the conversation to deeper understandings of how religion, race, and gender shape American politics in everyday life. Jamillah Karim, Besheer Mohamed, and Laura Olson return for part 2 of the panel interview.…

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Gearing Up for Tuesday 23:08

5y ago23:08

23:08

In this episode of Religion Unmuted, we bring back all three experts from previous episodes for a group conversation about pressing issues in the days leading up to the 2020 election. From COVID to the Supreme Court, abortion to racial justice, hear how religion and gender may play a crucial role in the election outcome.…

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Black Islam and Radical Love 17:44

5y ago17:44

17:44

'None of you truly has faith, until you love for your brother what you love for yourself.' Jamillah Karim grew up hearing this Muslim saying. In this episode, Karim describes this concept as "radical love," and how this tenet of Islam can be part of an effective response to calls for racial justice.By Religion and Public Life Program

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A Male Perspective on Gender in Politics and Religion 20:18

5y ago20:18

20:18

Let’s talk politics: Gender matters, but do other things matter more when it comes to predicting people’s views on certain issues and how they will vote? Our guest in this episode of Religion Unmuted, researcher Besheer Mohamed, uses polling data to tackle tough questions like this one and others, revealing a surprising story and dispelling common …

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Race, Religion, Gender, and the Presidential Election 16:58

5y ago16:58

16:58

There's no arena where the intersection between race, religion, and gender is more evident than it is in the contest for the presidential election. And that's never been truer than it is in 2020 in the contest between Trump and Biden. In this episode of Religion Unmuted, we talk to political scientist Laura Olson about the intersections--and divisi…

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Religion Unmuted teaser 3:24

5y ago3:24

3:24

Religion Unmuted is hosted by sociologists Pamela Prickett and Elaine Howard Ecklund. In this teaser episode, Prickett and Ecklund share why they created this show--to provide an informed, social-science driven conversation about religion in public life and to elevate women's voices in conversations about religion--and preview what is to come in fu…

Boniuk Institute And Religion And Public Life Center Podcasts