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.…

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.…

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…

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.…

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…

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

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…

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…

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 …

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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.…

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.…

'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

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 …

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…

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…