Welcome to "Religion and Justice," a podcast brought to you by the Wendland-Cook Program in Religion and Justice at Vanderbilt Divinity School. Hosted by Gabby Lisi (she/they/he) and George Schmidt (he/him/ours), we explore the intersections of class, religion, labor, and ecology, uncovering their implications for justice. This podcast is a space for investigation, education, and organizing around these intersections. Join us as we engage in thought-provoking discussions with experts, foster ...
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What Now? A Post-Inauguration and Election Conversation
53:31
53:31
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53:31Recorded in January 24, 2025. Built upon four blog posts from Joerg, Aaron, Gabby, and George, this event will explore how faith and justice intersect to create pathways for collective liberation. At the heart of this conversation is the belief that mourning, grief, and collective suffering can be powerful tools for social change. Rooted in the und…
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Faith, Ecology, and Economic Justice with Joerg Rieger and Terra Rowe
53:27
53:27
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53:27In this episode of Religion and Justice, Gabby and George welcome Terra and Joerg, co-editors of Liberating People, Planet, and Religion: Intersections of Ecology, Economics, and Christianity. Their groundbreaking work explores how faith communities can confront ecological devastation and economic inequality, offering a powerful call to action for …
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Critical Petro-Theology and Extraction with Terra Schwerin Rowe
58:30
58:30
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58:30Editor's Note: We originally uploaded this episode with audio for a Terra and Joerg episode. The corrected episode was uploaded shortly thereafter (~48 hours). The official Terra and Joerg episode will be released in mid-February. Stay tuned! In this episode, Gabby and George talk with Dr. Terra Schwerin Rowe, an Associate Professor in the Departme…
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The Drama and the Miracle of Christmas with Joerg Rieger
36:40
36:40
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36:40In this special Christmas episode of Religion and Justice, we are joined by Dr. Joerg Rieger to unpack the profound and often overlooked realities of the nativity story. Far from the idyllic scenes of "Silent Night, Holy Night," Dr. Rieger presents the birth of Jesus as a story of drama, precarity, and resilience amidst imperial power and systemic …
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Faith, Exploitation, and the Path Forward
1:10:08
1:10:08
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1:10:08In this special episode, George and Gabby take a backseat as we present a powerful conversation featuring Dr. Joerg Rieger, Dr. Elaine Nogueira-Godsey, and moderated by Dr. Jeremy Posadas. Together, they explore the intertwined exploitation of people and the planet, examining how Christianity has historically contributed to systemic injustices. But…
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Gustavo Gutiérrez with Joerg Rieger and Jung Mo Sung
33:23
33:23
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33:23In this special episode, we honor the life and legacy of Gustavo Gutiérrez, a towering figure in the realm of liberation theology. Gabby and George sit down with esteemed scholars Jung Mo Sung and Joerg Rieger, both of whom have been influenced by Gustavo's teachings and friendship. Through reflections and shared memories, our guests illuminate the…
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Capitalism's Climate Denial: The Ecocidal Engine of Our Time with Tad Delay
55:24
55:24
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55:24In this episode of Religion and Justice, we sit down with Dr. Tad DeLay to discuss his latest work, Future of Denial: Ideologies of Climate Change. As global temperatures rise and wildfires, droughts, and floods become more common, denialism continues to morph—from greenwashing corporate strategies to political distractions. Tad DeLay offers a deep…
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Deep Solidarity: Rethinking Ecology, Economics, and Religion with Joerg Rieger
1:02:46
1:02:46
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1:02:46In this episode, Gabby and George dive into the connections between ecological exploitation, economic inequality, and religion with renowned theologian Joerg Rieger. As the founder of the Wendland-Cook Program in Religion and Justice at Vanderbilt, Rieger shares insights on "deep solidarity," a concept that unites various forms of exploitation acro…
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Solidarity in Times of Helplessness with Priscila Alves Gonçalves da Silva
57:36
57:36
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57:36In this episode, we sit down with theologian Priscila Alves Gonçalves da Silva to explore how faith, solidarity, and human resilience intersect in times of socio-economic despair. Drawing on her personal experiences growing up in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro and witnessing her mother’s struggles during the COVID-19 pandemic, Priscila delves deep i…
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The South's Role in the Social Gospel Movement with Yolanda Pierce, Joerg Rieger, Paul Lim, and Aaron Stauffer (S2:E1)
54:10
54:10
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54:10In this special episode, George and I take a break from hanging out with our guests and let Aaron Stauffer lead! Join Aaron, Director of Online Learning at Vanderbilt Divinity School, as he leads a compelling conversation with three distinguished scholars exploring the deep connections between the social gospel movement, labor, and economic justice…
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Decapitalizing the Means of Thriving with Gabriella Lettini, Tim Van Meter, and Jeremy Posadas (S1:E15)
58:00
58:00
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58:00In this episode, we explore the intersection of religion, ecology, and economics through the lens of the Wendland-Cook Program's "Liberating People and the Planet" series. We delve into how capitalism entangles communities in destructive ways and how religion might offer liberative practices to imagine a more enlivening future. The companion book t…
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Flooding in Appalachia: A Call to Redemptive Work with Robert Kell (S1:E14)
1:07:35
1:07:35
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1:07:35In this episode, hosts Gabby Lisi and George Schmidt are joined by Robert Kell, the New Economy Program Manager with Appalachian Voices and a graduate of Vanderbilt Divinity School (Wendland-Cook Program Fellow). Together, they discuss Robert's article, "Flooding in Appalachia Calls Us to Redemptive Work," which delves into the environmental and so…
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Trans Worker Rights: A Conversation with Genevieve Rand (S1:E13)
1:08:18
1:08:18
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1:08:18In this episode, hosts Gabby Lisi and George Schmidt sit down with Genevieve Rand, a prominent leader in the trans worker rights movement. Together, they delve into the struggles and triumphs of trans workers in the labor movement, discussing the unique challenges they face and how unions can better support them. Genevieve shares powerful stories o…
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Divestment, Palestine, and Solidarity at Vanderbilt (S1:E12)
1:09:05
1:09:05
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1:09:05In this episode of Religion and Justice, hosts George and Gabby sit down with members of the Vanderbilt Divest Coalition, Palestine Hurra Collective, Vanderbilt Divinity School Students Against Genocide, and Vanderbilt Graduate Workers United to discuss the urgent issues of divestment, Palestine, and the Vanderbilt administration's response to the …
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Eco-La-La Land with Chaia Heller (S1:E11)
1:24:27
1:24:27
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1:24:27In this episode of "Religion and Justice," George Schmidt sits down with Chaia Heller, a writer, activist, and prominent voice in the field of social ecology. The discussion revolves around Chaia's article, "Tales from Eco-la-la Land," which explores the intersection of spirituality and ecological philosophy, and addresses the problems of moralizin…
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Sacred Roots: Exploring the Social Gospel in the Southern United States (Grant Series) (S1:E10)
38:43
38:43
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38:43In this special episode of "Religion and Justice," hosted by Aaron Stauffer, Assistant Director of Wendland-Cook and Director of Online Learning at Vanderbilt Divinity School, we embark on a captivating exploration of the Social Gospel in the South. Despite the absence of our regular hosts, Gabby Lisi and George, this episode promises a rich and en…
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Listening to the Spirit with Aaron Stauffer (S1:E9)
1:02:44
1:02:44
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1:02:44George and Gabby sat down with Aaron Stauffer, author of "Listening to the Spirit: The Radical Social Gospel, Sacred Value, and Broad-Based Community Organizing." In this interview, Aaron offered deep insights into the intersection of religion, social justice, and community organizing. Drawing from his extensive experience in interfaith broad-based…
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Deep Solidarity and Moralizing with Tess Gallagher-Clancy and Joerg Rieger (S1:E8)
1:09:44
1:09:44
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1:09:44George and Gabby had the privilege of sitting down with Tess GC of LeftCatholic/SpiritofSolidarity and Dr. Joerg Rieger. They engaged in a discussion about religion, justice, and leftist philosophy and activism. They cover the concept of deep solidarity, the role of confession and repentance within the secular left, the nature of organizing and the…
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Organizing in the South with Rev. Sekou and Joerg Rieger (Grant Series) (S1:E7)
57:10
57:10
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57:10In this special episode of "Religion and Justice," join the roundtable discussion featuring Rev. Sekou, Joerg Rieger, and Aaron Stauffer as they unravel the roles of scholars and seminaries in the contemporary fight for justice and equity. Delving into the intricate dynamics of communities of belonging, education, and activism, the episode explores…
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The Bible and Settler Colonialism in Palestine and Beyond (Part II) (S1:E6)
1:00:19
1:00:19
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1:00:19PART TWO | In the midst of an ongoing struggle for justice in Palestine, this episode unfolds from a poignant webinar titled "The Bible and Settler Colonialism in Palestine and Beyond." This vital conversation took place on January 27, 2024. Featuring Rev. Prof. Mitri Raheb, Atalia Omer, and Revelation Velunta, the episode delves into the intersect…
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The Bible and Settler Colonialism in Palestine and Beyond (Part I) (S1:E5)
57:55
57:55
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57:55In the midst of an ongoing struggle for justice in Palestine, this episode unfolds from a poignant webinar titled "The Bible and Settler Colonialism in Palestine and Beyond." This vital conversation took place on January 27, 2024. Featuring Rev. Prof. Mitri Raheb, Atalia Omer, and Revelation Velunta, the episode delves into the intersection of reli…
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Counter Memory with Wilson Dickinson (Grant Series) (S1:E4)
1:07:26
1:07:26
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1:07:26In this episode, George and Gabby embark on an exploration of the Southern Social Gospel featuring Wilson Dickinson. Wilson is a minister, educator, and director of the Green Good News. Discover the theological underpinnings of the Southern Social Gospel, delve into alternative memories within the environmental movement, and explore the lasting imp…
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Special Feature: Christianities and Socialisms with Cornel West, Cynthia Moe-Lobeda, Joerg Rieger, and Angela Cowser (S1:E3)
1:23:45
1:23:45
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1:23:45As conservative efforts have moved the public image of Christianity to the right, it is time to reclaim alternatives. While for many older Americans “socialism” is still a bad word, younger generations tend to be curious about the complex histories of socialist movements in the United States and globally. Hosted by the Wendland-Cook Program in Reli…
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Climate Crisis of the Collective Imagination with Maddy Lewis (S1:E2)
52:03
52:03
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52:03Hosted by George Schmidt (he/him/ours) and Gabby Lisi (she/they/he), in this episode as they sit down with Maddy Lewis (they/them), former Wendland-Cook fellow and current PhD student. In this conversation, they delve into the connections between the climate crisis, the role of the church in community, and how religion shapes the way we interact wi…
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A Place of Solidarity with Elijah Prewitt-Davis (S1:E1)
53:24
53:24
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53:24Hosted by George Schmidt (he/him/ours) and Gabby Lisi (she/they/he), in this episode as they sit down with Elijah Prewitt-Davis, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati, Ohio. In this insightful conversation, they delve into the profound connections between class, religion, labor, and ecology through El…
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