Faithful Politics

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: [email protected] this episode of Faithful Politics, Will and Josh sit down with journalist Jack Jenkins, a leading religion and politics reporter known for his thoughtful coverage of faith movements, extremism, and spiritual life in America. The conversation explores how compassion shows up in ordinary religious communities, why moments of unexpected moral clarity matter, and how American faith traditions continue shaping public life even in deeply polarized times. Jack shares insights from years of reporting at Religion News Service, including what he’s learned from covering everything from clergy on the front lines to the spread of Christian nationalism. This is a grounded, hopeful conversation about the spiritual instincts that still emerge even in messy political moments.Additional ResourcesJack Jenkins’ website: https://jackjenkins.meJack’s work: https://religionnews.comGuest BioJack Jenkins is an award-winning national reporter covering religion and politics. He writes for Religion News Service, where his work focuses on Christian nationalism, social movements, church-state issues, and the role of faith communities in American public life. His reporting has appeared across major national outlets, and he is known for bringing nuance, empathy, and deep context to some of the country’s most contentious debates.Support the show🎧 Want to learn more about Faithful Politics, get in touch with the hosts, or suggest a future guest?👉 Visit our website: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com 📚 Check out our Bookstore – Featuring titles from our amazing guests:faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/bookstore ❤️ Support the show – Help us keep the conversation going:donorbox.org/faithful-politics-podcast 📩 Reach out to us: Faithful Host, Josh Burtram: [email protected] Political Host, Will Wright: [email protected] 📱 Follow & connect with us: Twitter/X: @FaithfulPolitik Instagram: faithful_politics Facebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcast LinkedIn: faithfulpolitics 📰 Subscribe to our Substack for behind-the-scenes content:faithfulpolitics.substack.com 📅 RSVP for upcoming live events:Chec...

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: [email protected] this episode, Will and Josh talk with Dr. George Yancey, a sociologist at Baylor University who specializes in race, identity politics, Christianophobia, and how faith communities can move beyond today’s culture-war structures. The conversation unpacks why identity politics has become such a powerful force, how Christians can disentangle their core identity from political tribes, and why social identity theory helps explain today’s polarization. Dr. Yancey also discusses his research on Christianophobia, the limits of both conservative and progressive models, and how a Christ-centered identity offers a more honest path forward than culture-war loyalty.Additional ResourcesDr. Yancey’s YouTube channel: Shattering ParadigmsSociology Department at Baylor University (contact): https://www.baylor.edu/sociology/Guest BioDr. George Yancey is a sociologist and professor at Baylor University whose work focuses on race, social identity, anti-Christian bias, and the intersection of faith and culture. He is the author of several books on racial reconciliation, Christianophobia, and sociology of religion. His research emphasizes data-driven analysis and a Christ-centered approach to navigating America’s most polarized debates.Support the show🎧 Want to learn more about Faithful Politics, get in touch with the hosts, or suggest a future guest?👉 Visit our website: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com 📚 Check out our Bookstore – Featuring titles from our amazing guests:faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/bookstore ❤️ Support the show – Help us keep the conversation going:donorbox.org/faithful-politics-podcast 📩 Reach out to us: Faithful Host, Josh Burtram: [email protected] Political Host, Will Wright: [email protected] 📱 Follow & connect with us: Twitter/X: @FaithfulPolitik Instagram: faithful_politics Facebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcast LinkedIn: faithfulpolitics 📰 Subscribe to our Substack for behind-the-scenes content:faithfulpolitics.substack.com 📅 RSVP for upcoming live events:Chec...

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: [email protected] and Josh welcome Joshua Cohen, author of William F. Buckley Jr.’s Guide to Friendship in a Polarized Era, to explore what one of the most influential conservative thinkers can teach us about civility, humor, gratitude, and cross-ideological friendship. Cohen explains why Buckley’s Catholic faith shaped his approach to public life, how his friendships with liberals reveal a blueprint for healthier political engagement, and why long-form conversations matter more now than ever. The episode covers Firing Line, the Buckley–Vidal clashes, truth-seeking, and what it means to disagree without becoming disagreeable.Additional ResourcesBook: William F. Buckley Jr.’s Guide to Friendship in a Polarized Era https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9781956454925Joshua Cohen’s podcast: Eyewitness History https://www.historyonthenet.com/eyewitness-historyGuest BioJoshua Cohen is a writer, interviewer, and host of the podcast Eyewitness History, where he speaks with people who lived through major historical events. His book on William F. Buckley Jr. examines how the legendary conservative icon modeled civility, curiosity, and deep friendship across ideological divides. Cohen’s work blends history, ethics, and public life with a focus on how ideas shape real-world choices.Support the show🎧 Want to learn more about Faithful Politics, get in touch with the hosts, or suggest a future guest?👉 Visit our website: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com 📚 Check out our Bookstore – Featuring titles from our amazing guests:faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/bookstore ❤️ Support the show – Help us keep the conversation going:donorbox.org/faithful-politics-podcast 📩 Reach out to us: Faithful Host, Josh Burtram: [email protected] Political Host, Will Wright: [email protected] 📱 Follow & connect with us: Twitter/X: @FaithfulPolitik Instagram: faithful_politics Facebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcast LinkedIn: faithfulpolitics 📰 Subscribe to our Substack for behind-the-scenes content:faithfulpolitics.substack.com 📅 RSVP for upcoming live events:Chec...

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: [email protected] this episode of Faithful Politics, Will and Josh speak with Holly Berkley Fletcher, historian, essayist, former CIA Africa analyst, and author of The Missionary Kids: Unmasking the Myths of White Evangelicalism. Drawing from her childhood in Kenya as an MK and years of research on the American missionary movement, Holly explores how missionary culture has shaped white evangelical identity, race narratives, and U.S. religious politics for more than a century.She discusses the history of American missions, the deep roots of evangelical “calling,” the romanticized myth of the missionary saint, and why missionary children often carry the hidden costs of their parents’ spiritual ambitions. The conversation dives into race, colonial influence, trauma, American exceptionalism, Christian nationalism, global evangelicalism, and how missions became both a mirror and mask for white American Christianity. Holly also shares personal stories—from boarding school trauma to growing up surrounded by stark inequality—that illuminate the insider/outsider vantage point MKs uniquely bring.If you care about global Christianity, American evangelical culture, deconstruction, mission work, or the complicated intersection of faith and identity, this episode offers an honest, challenging, and deeply human lens.Buy: The Missionary Kids: Unmasking the Myths of White Evangelicalism https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9798889832034Guest Bio Holly Berkley Fletcher is a historian, essayist, and former Africa analyst at the Central Intelligence Agency, where she spent nearly two decades focusing on political, cultural, and security trends across the continent. Raised in Kenya as a missionary kid, she later earned a PhD in American History, giving her a unique insider/outsider perspective on evangelical culture. Her book, The Missionary Kids: Unmasking the Myths of White Evangelicalism, blends memoir and research to examine the American missions movement, the psychology of calling, racial narratives, and the long-term impact on children raised in missionary families. Her work explores faith, identity, trauma, and globSupport the show🎧 Want to learn more about Faithful Politics, get in touch with the hosts, or suggest a future guest?👉 Visit our website: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com 📚 Check out our Bookstore – Featuring titles from our amazing guests:faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/bookstore ❤️ Support the show – Help us keep the conversation going:donorbox.org/faithful-politics-podcast 📩 Reach out to us: Faithful Host, Josh Burtram: [email protected] Political Host, Will Wright: [email protected] 📱 Follow & connect with us: Twitter/X: @FaithfulPolitik Instagram: faithful_politics Facebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcast LinkedIn: faithfulpolitics 📰 Subscribe to our Substack for behind-the-scenes content:faithfulpolitics.substack.com 📅 RSVP for upcoming live events:Chec...

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: [email protected] reporter Jennifer Smith Richards of ProPublica joins Will and Josh to break down her major reporting on Oklahoma’s controversial education overhaul under Superintendent Ryan Walters. She explains how Christianity was woven into new academic standards, why educators across the political spectrum objected, and how figures like PragerU, David Barton, and Heritage Foundation president Kevin Roberts influenced the proposed curriculum. Jennifer also walks through the dramatic rollback of civil-rights enforcement at the U.S. Department of Education and what the loss of federal oversight means for students with disabilities, racial discrimination claims, and families seeking accountability. This is a sobering, deeply important look at the future of public education, Christian nationalism in policy, and the stakes for parents and students nationwide.Additional ResourcesThis Is Ground Zero in the Conservative Quest for More Patriotic and Christian Public Schools: https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-education-department-oklahoma-public-schoolsPragerU Kids curriculum referenced by Oklahoma DOE: https://www.prageru.com/kidsGuest BioJennifer Smith Richards is an investigative reporter at ProPublica, specializing in education, civil rights, and systemic failures affecting children and families. Her reporting has uncovered national patterns in school discipline, civil-rights enforcement, curriculum changes influenced by political movements, and the real-world impact of state-level education policy. Her work is widely recognized for its depth, clarity, and public impact.Support the show🎧 Want to learn more about Faithful Politics, get in touch with the hosts, or suggest a future guest?👉 Visit our website: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com 📚 Check out our Bookstore – Featuring titles from our amazing guests:faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/bookstore ❤️ Support the show – Help us keep the conversation going:donorbox.org/faithful-politics-podcast 📩 Reach out to us: Faithful Host, Josh Burtram: [email protected] Political Host, Will Wright: [email protected] 📱 Follow & connect with us: Twitter/X: @FaithfulPolitik Instagram: faithful_politics Facebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcast LinkedIn: faithfulpolitics 📰 Subscribe to our Substack for behind-the-scenes content:faithfulpolitics.substack.com 📅 RSVP for upcoming live events:Chec...