Potstirrer Podcast
by Jaye Pool
Where politics, religion and history collide - and it's not always polite! American political opinion podcast hosted by former political science instructor and current political observer Jaye Pool. Left-leaning yet not perfectly bound by ideology. Historical context with a dose of progressive Christianity in the mix. #StirThePot #Resist #p2 #progressiveChristian #Exvangelical
Episodes
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Second American Revolution
Jaye discusses Project 2025, the 900-page wishlist from the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank that is arguably the most influential group in US politics. She discusses its ties to former president Donald Trump, lists several of its policy proposals, and the four pillars of this plan....
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Back
Jaye is back with new episodes of Potstirrer Podcast! In this brief return episode, she shares her reasons for the two-year hiatus, life updates including a new project, and what to expect in future episodes of the show. Potstirrer Podcast links: Link-in-Bio:...
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Break
An announcement - check it out! Link-in-Bio: https://potstirrerpodcast.com/linkinbio/ Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/potstirrercast IG: http://www.instagram.com/PotstirrerPodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/potstirrerpodcast/ Website: http://PotstirrerPodcast.com Jaye Pool's NaNoWriMo…
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108 - The Dry Depths of My Soul: Conversation with Allison K. Garcia
Christian novelist Allison K. Garcia joins Jaye for an engaging conversation about the book The Dry Depths of My Soul, the first installment in The Mosaic series. This is Allison's initial foray into the genre of Queer Christian fiction. This exciting, energetic discussion includes discussion of...
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107 - Broke the Bread, Spilled the Tea: Conversation with Mitchell Kesller
CONTENT WARNING: This episode includes brief discussion of abuse and suicide. Listener discretion is advised. Author Mitchell Kesller joins Jaye for a meaningful conversation about his debut book, Broke the Bread, Spilled the Tea. Broke the Bread, Spilled the Tea seeks to bridge the gap between...
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106 - From the Moon I Watched Her: Conversation with Emily English Medley
CONTENT WARNING: This episode includes discussion of trauma, mental illness and sexual assault, including the sexual abuse of children. Listener discretion is advised. Novelist Emily English Medley joins Jaye for a conversation about her debut book, From the Moon I Watched Her. From the Moon I...
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Bonus - Harder Core Urban Legends
In a public release of this bonus episode originally released on Patreon in November 2019, Jaye talks more urban legends by discussing a couple of processed food-related legends. Is McDonalds adding animal byproducts and other gross fillers to their hamburgers? Are popular meat substitutes such…
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105 - My Gay Church Days: Conversation with George Azar
Author and former evangelical pastor George Azar joins Jaye to discuss his new book, My Gay Church Days, his memoir about his life while in evangelical Christianity, where he eventually joined church leadership, while keeping secret his truth as a gay man. This real and candid conversation…
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104 - They Will Not Stop at Roe
In this episode of Potstirrer Podcast, Jaye reacts to the leaked draft US Supreme Court Opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. Written by Justice Samuel Alito, the draft majority opinion signals an overturning of the Roe v. Wade precedent regarding abortion, and would leave...
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Bonus - The Bill Clinton Impeachment Scandal in the Age of #MeToo
CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains content discussing explicit sexuality, sexual assault and harassment, violence, and suicide. Listener discretion is advised. In this public release of a Patreon bonus episode originally released in November 2018, Jaye goes back in time to tell the story of…
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103 - Speaking Up About Religious Trauma: Conversation with Andrew Pledger
Activist, artist and podcaster Andrew Pledger joins Jaye on this episode of Potstirrer Podcast to share his compelling story about growing up in Christian fundamentalism and his road to recovery from spiritual abuse. The conversation includes discussion of mental health, religious trauma and…
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102 - Potstirrer SCOOPS!: National Deflection
In this episode, Jaye focuses on a particular argument politicians and pundits make when countries reckon with past and present incidents of national shame, which is that other countries also have shameful incidents in their histories. Jaye discusses why - although the thought experiment is...
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101 - Finding Paz: Conversation with Allison K. Garcia
Christian fiction author Allison K. Garcia returns to Potstirrer Podcast to discuss the final installment of the Buscando Home series, Finding Paz. Allison and Jaye's heartfelt discussion includes some of the themes in the novel, such as grief, separation from family, and familial connection on…
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100 - The Truth is Cancelled
In Episode 100, Jaye celebrates the milestone by taking on the topic of cancel culture. Cancel culture is praised by advocates and maligned by critics, but is often ill-defined. Jaye delves into the origin and types of cancel culture, including the deplatforming of celebrities, boycotting of...
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99 - Undoing the Knots: Conversation with Maureen O'Connell, PhD
Christian ethicist, associate professor and author Maureen O'Connell, PhD joins Jaye on this episode of Potstirrer Podcast to discuss her new book, Undoing the Knots: Five Generations of American Catholic Anti-Blackness, a in-depth, historical and introspective examination of Philadelphia's Irish...
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98 - War on Christmas 2021
In the annual Potstirrer Podcast holiday special War on Christmas 2021, Jaye's husband Chuckles joins to discuss walking away from political conservatism and the Republican Party. Chuckles and Jaye discuss issues such as the Second Amendment, broken governance, and more. Twitter: @potstirrercast...
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97 - Voter Suppression Part 3: Undefeated
This multi-episode series is about efforts to suppress or limit the vote in certain communities across the United States in order to achieve specific outcomes. In Part 3, Jaye talks about the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the voting rights timeline following the VRA being signed into law. Several...
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Bonus - The Pied Piper of R&B
CONTENT WARNING: The following episode includes discussion of domestic violence, sexual assault and abuse, including that of children. Listener discretion is advised. This public release of a bonus episode originally released on Patreon in April 2019 includes extra bonus segments from Jaye's...
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96 - Potstirrer SCOOPS!: The Great Resignation
In this episode, Jaye discusses "The Great Resignation," the abnormally high number of American workers voluntarily walking away from work, which has been a constant trend since April 2021. Why are so many workers leaving their jobs or even careers? Jaye dispels the myth of the "lazy unemployed…
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95 - Potstirrer SCOOPS!: Illusion of Safety
Jaye announces a move to a Thursday fortnightly schedule, and introduces Potstirrer Scoops! - a shorter, commentary-based format that will be used for some episodes going forward. In the first episode of Potstirrer Scoops!, Jaye discusses the recent arrest of two Columbus, Ohio police officers on...
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94 - Distinction Without a Difference
CONTENT WARNING: The following episode includes discussion of pregnancy termination, sexual assault, gun violence and domestic terrorism. Listener discretion is advised. Jaye gives her thoughts on the recently-implemented Texas law restricting abortion past six weeks gestation. The discussion...
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93 - Christians Against Christianity: Conversation with Obery M. Hendricks Jr., Ph.D.
Theology professor, author, and African Methodist Episcopal elder Obery M. Hendricks Jr., Ph.D. joins Jaye on this episode of Potstirrer Podcast to discuss his historically rich and theologically informative book Christians Against Christianity: How Right-Wing Evangelicals Are Destroying Our…
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92 - Voter Suppression Part 2: Woman Suffrage in Color
This multi-episode series is about efforts to suppress or limit the vote in certain communities across the United States in order to achieve specific outcomes. In Part 2, Jaye discusses the history of voting rights in the United States based on sex from the founding until the immediate aftermath…
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Bonus - America's Drug War: Turn On Tune In Drop Out
In this public release of a bonus episode originally released on Patreon in December 2019, Jaye discusses the life of Dr. Timothy Leary, the "Godfather of LSD." How did someone so apolitical (in the height of an extremely political era!) make political enemies, and what made President Richard…
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91 - Disrupting Whiteness: Conversation with Drick Boyd, Ed.D.
Activist, former pastor, and professor emeritus Drick Boyd, Ed.D. joins Jaye on this episode of Potstirrer Podcast to discuss his thought-provoking book Disrupting Whiteness: Talking With White People About Racism. This riveting conversation includes themes that are a part of Dr. Boyd's book,...
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90 - Voter Suppression Part 1: Stolen Seats, Stolen Lives
CONTENT WARNING: The following episode includes brief discussion of physical violence and sexual assault. Listener discretion is advised. This multi-episode series is about efforts to suppress or limit the vote in certain communities across the United States in order to achieve specific outcomes....
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Bonus: Heart & Mind
CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains discussion of homophobia and mental illness. Listener discretion is advised. In this public release of a bonus episode originally released on Patreon in August 2019, Jaye discusses the divorce announcement of Joshua Harris, the author of Christian self-help...
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89 - The Atlanta Spa Shootings
The Atlanta spa shootings on March 16, 2021 were one of many large-scale shooting incidents that occurred after a lull in mass gun violence due to the pandemic. But this spree shooting stuck out due to the various issues the tragedy touched on, including gun control and the Second Amendment,...
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Bonus - Graphic Images & Content Warnings
CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains graphic descriptions of physical violence, physical suffering and death. Listener discretion is advised. In this public release of a Patreon bonus episode originally released in July 2019, Jaye discusses graphic images of suffering and oppression. Should…
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88 - A Kinder, Gentler Caging
It is the middle of President Joe Biden's first 100 days in office, and his administration has been hard at work attempting to end the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, as well as other policy priorities. But actions on immigration-related policy, as it relates to a shift in direction from...
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Bonus - The Black 14
In this public release of a Patreon bonus episode originally released in January 2020, Jaye tells the story of the 1969 University of Wyoming Cowboys football team. Fourteen African-American players on the team were dismissed by their head coach in the middle of the 1969 season for asking...
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87 - Always Tomorrow, Never Today
How could seemingly normal Americans end up becoming right-wing extremists? Jaye discusses the role of extremist Christianity as a gateway to radical right-wing movements. Does the fact that Christianity is the dominant religion in the United States blind us to the possibility of family, friends...
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86 - This Is America
The year 2021 has begun in the United States with a tragic attack on democracy. On January 6, pro-Trump rioters who were taking part in a protest stormed the US Capitol Building in Washington DC, during a joint session of Congress held to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election. The...
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85 - War on Christmas 2020
In the fourth annual Potstirrer Podcast War on Christmas Special, Jaye reflects on the strange, horrifying year that was 2020. Would a decently better response to the pandemic have netted Donald Trump a second term? And does incoming president Joe Biden have the fight in him to take on the groups...
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Bonus - Jaye's Top Five Terrible Humans
In this flashback bonus episode - originally a two-parter first released in May and June of 2019, Jaye shares her Top Five Terrible Humans List. These are influential Americans, dead or alive, who made a negative contribution to their sphere of influence during their lifetime. In this episode…
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84 - A Republic, If You Can Keep It
The 2020 US general election has taken place, and after days of counting in several swing states, former Vice-President Joe Biden has won the election decisively over Donald Trump. However, the expected gains for Democrats in Congress - the "blue wave" - were not realized. Why did this result...
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83 - The Last Stand
The 2020 US general election is coming up, and it's time to get ready! Jaye discusses political polling - including why the 2016 presidential poll predictions were not as much of a failure as it has been reported in the press. Will 2020 be a repeat of 2016? Also, Jaye discusses the current...
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82 - 1984
In the runup to the 2020 US general election, many events have occurred on local, state and federal levels that point to an authoritarian slide for the United States. Jaye discusses some of these events, including the presidential and vice-presidential debates, the plot to kidnap Michigan…
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81 - Finding Seguridad: Conversation with Allison K. Garcia
Christian fiction author Allison K. Garcia returns to Potstirrer Podcast to share with us about her upcoming novel, Finding Seguridad, the second in the Buscando Home series. The conversation includes discussion of themes in the book, as well as a range of topics, including the experiences of...
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80 - US-Middle East Relations, Part 3: Partition
CONTENT WARNING: The following episode includes discussion of violent themes, specifically war and genocide. Listener discretion is advised. This multi-episode series is about the history of relations between the United States and the Middle East, including both US foreign policy and the Middle...
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79 - Exposed
CONTENT WARNING: The following episode involves discussion of crime, police brutality and bigotry, including physical violence, murder, and racism. Listener discretion is advised. In this commentary episode, Jaye shares her reaction to the events during the week of the 2020 Republican National...
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Bonus - For the Bible Tells You So
CONTENT WARNING: The following episode includes discussion of physical and sexual abuse, including the abuse of children. Listener discretion is advised. In this flashback bonus episode first released as a Patreon bonus episode in August 2018 originally entitled "Abuse: Endorsed by Scripture?,"...
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78 - Policing, Part 2: Solving the Police
CONTENT WARNING: The following episode involves discussion of crime, police brutality and bigotry, including physical violence, sexual assault, murder, racism, Islamophobia, homophobia and transphobia. Listener discretion is advised. In the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd at the hands of...
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77 - Policing, Part 1: Working as Intended
CONTENT WARNING: The following episode involves discussion of crime and police brutality, including violence, injury & death. Listener discretion is advised. In the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd at the hands of police, and the resulting Black Lives Matter uprisings and protests, there...
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Bonus - Affluenza
In the public release of February 2019's Patreon bonus episode, Jaye discusses the news story from January 2019 about the confrontation in Washington DC, between Catholic high school students from Northern Kentucky and a Native American elder. How does a seemingly straightforward news story,...
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76 - May the Odds Be Ever In Your Favor
CONTENT WARNING: The following episode involves discussion of the COVID-19 pandemic, police brutality, and historical events related to racial, ethnic, disability and class discrimination, including discussion of violence, illness, injury & death. Listener discretion is advised. Against the...
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75 - US-Middle East Relations, Part 2: Make Room for Other
This multi-episode series is about the history of relations between the United States and the Middle East, including both US foreign policy and the Middle Eastern immigrant experience. In this episode, Jaye recounts the early history of relations between the United States and the Middle East,...
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74 - US-Middle East Relations, Part 1
CONTENT WARNING: The following episode includes discussion of war, with references to physical and sexual violence. Listener discretion is advised. This multi-episode series is about the history of relations between the United States and the Middle East, including both US foreign policy and the...
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Bonus - End Times MacGuffins
In the public release of the September 2019 Patreon Exclusive, Jaye discusses Donald Trump's "disloyalty" comments regarding Jewish Democrats. Why would Trump rely on an anti-Semitic trope while stating he is an ardent supporter of Israel? Jaye also outlines reasons why white evangelicals, who…
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73 - The Equalizer
CONTENT WARNING: The following episode includes discussion of terrorism, hate crimes, disasters, & public health crises that have involved illness, injury & death. Listener discretion is advised. None of the content of this episode is a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the...
About this show
Where politics, religion and history collide - and it's not always polite! American political opinion podcast hosted by former political science instructor and current political observer Jaye Pool. Left-leaning yet not perfectly bound by ideology. Historical context with a dose of progressive Christianity in the mix. #StirThePot #Resist #p2 #progressiveChristian #Exvangelical
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Jaye Pool
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