Belief and Ballots: An American podcast on faith and the public sphere

Katherine Stewart is an award-winning author and journalist who has covered politics, religion, and the rise of the anti-democratic movement, for over 17 years, Her New York Times bestselling book Money, Lies, and God is on Foreign Affairs's list of Best Books 2025. Her work appears in the New York Times, New Republic and elsewhere. Her previous book The Power Worshippers won Best Book award in Religion News Association's Nonfiction category, among other honors, and formed the basis of the documentary feature God & Country, produced by the late Rob Reiner and Michele Reiner. 

Rev. David Black is the Senior Pastor of The First Presbyterian Church of Chicago. He is called to serve at the edges of the church, where people are discovering faith and where the church is engaging with its community. As one writer puts it, “to be an insider who stands near the door.” His present ministry is focused on adapting a historic church in the heart of the South Side as a hub for local artists and activists. The historic cathedral, located in the heart of the South Side, has undergone redevelopment as a hub for local artists and activists. The congregation hosts nine artists-in-residence, a dance company, an avant-garde jazz collective, an art studio for adults with disabilities, a chef-in-residence, multiple mutual aid programs, and a legal clinic providing aid to migrants. David lives in Woodlawn with his dog, Bella.

On this episode of Belief and Ballots our guest is Jemar Tisby.Dr. Tisby is the author of the New York Times bestselling book, The Color of Compromise: The Truth about the Church's Complicity in Racism, How to Fight Racism. and How to Fight Racism: Young Reader's Edition. He is also a Professor of History at Simmons College of Kentucky in Louisville. Jemar has also been a co-host of the "Pass the Mic" podcast since its inception seven years ago. His writing has been featured in the Washington Post, The Atlantic, and the New York Times among others. He is a frequent commentator on outlets such as NPR and CNN's New Day program. He speaks nationwide on the topics of racial justice, U.S. history and Christianity. Jemar earned his PhD in history and he studies race, religion, and social movements in the 20th century. You can follow his work through his newsletter, Footnotes, and on social media at @JemarTisby.

Kathryn Tanner is the Frederick Marquand Professor of Systematic Theology at Yale Divinity School.  Prior to coming to Yale, Professor Tanner taught at the University of Chicago Divinity School, where she held the Dorothy Grant Maclear chair in Theology.  Her research relates the history of Christian thought to contemporary issues of theological concern using social, cultural, and feminist theory. She is the author of God and Creation in Christian Theology: Tyranny or Empowerment?; The Politics of God: Christian Theologies and Social Justice; Theories of Culture: A New Agenda for Theology; Jesus, Humanity and the Trinity: A Brief Systematic Theology; Economy of Grace; Christ the Key; and most recently Christianity and the New Spirit of Capitalism.

Dr. Celene Ibrahim is a multidisciplinary scholar specializing in Islamic intellectual history, gender studies, comparative religion, and ethics. She is best known for her monograph Women and Gender in the Qur'an (Oxford University Press, 2020). The book won the Association of Middle East Women's Studies Book Award and was featured by the American Academy of Religion for Women's History Month. She is also the author of Islam and Monotheism (Cambridge University Press, 2022), an accessible primer on Islamic notions of the divine. She is the editor of the anthology One Nation, Indivisible: Seeking Liberty and Justice from the Pulpit to the Streets (Wipf & Stock Publishers, 2019), excerpts of which are featured in the Harvard Divinity Bulletin. She also writes on spiritual care, chaplaincy, religious leadership, and related themes. She regularly publishes essays and book reviews in scholarly journals and popular publications.

Rabbi Robin Nafshi was ordained by the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 2005. She joined Temple Beth Jacob in July 2010. Before that, she served as the Assistant Rabbi at Temple Emeth in Teaneck, NJ, and the Associate Rabbi of Temple Beth-El in Hillsborough, NJ. Rabbi Robin is a graduate of both New York University and Cornell Law School. She worked as an attorney, legal editor, and legal author in the San Francisco Bay Area before attending rabbinical school.

Joined by Dr. Emilie Townes, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Professor of Religion and Black Studies at Boston University School of Theology.  Before coming to Boston University, she also taught at a number of institutions, including DePaul University, Union Theological Seminary in New York, Yale Divinity School, and Vanderbilt Divinity School, where she also served as Dean.  She is a widely published author, having written Womanist Ethics and the Cultural Production of Evil; Breaking the Fine Rain of Death: African American Health Care and a Womanist Ethic of Care; Embracing the Spirit: Womanist Perspectives on Hope, Salvation, and Transformation; In a Blaze of Glory: Womanist Spirituality as Social Witness; and Womanist Justice, Womanist Hope.

Wayne Currie is the Director of the Father Jonathan DeFelice Intercultural Center at Saint Anselm College, a position he has held since 2016. He graduated from Northeastern University and holds a Master’s degree from UMass Boston. He is the driving force behind the college’s celebratory events in honor of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday and is one of the central figures on campus in its outreach to all students motivated by social justice.

Professor Sana Haroon is a historian of Muslim culture and society in South Asia. She holds a joint appointment in History and Asian Studies at UMass Boston. She teaches courses on the history of modern South Asia, Islam, and the Indian Ocean. She also runs the South Asian Connections teaching program, which connects UMass Boston classes with classes in South Asia. She leads the Life Stories from the Islamic World Oral History Project at UMass Boston.

Reggie Williams is an associate professor of theology at St. Louis University.  Before being appointed to St. Louis University, Dr. Williams taught at McCormick Theological Seminary.  Dr. Williams is an eminent scholar of Black theology, African American studies, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and the Harlem Renaissance.  He is the author of Bonhoeffer's Black Jesus: Harlem Renaissance Theology and an Ethic of Resistance, published by Baylor University Press, and has also co-edited with David P. Gushee Justice and the Way of Jesus: Christian Ethics and the Incarnational Discipleship of Glen Stassen, published by Orbis Books.

In this episode, we are joined by Marc Rugani, Assistant Professor of Theology at Saint Anselm College and Interim Director of the college’s Center for Ethics in Society. Dr. Rugani is a Catholic social ethicist. His research is most often interdisciplinary, exploring intersections among theology, development theory, economics, and political philosophy. His main interest is fostering mutually critical engagement between the Capabilities Approach and Catholic social teaching on integral human development and ecology.

The Belief and Ballots Podcast hosts Nichole M. Flores, Associate Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Virginia, where she researches the constructive contributions of Catholic and Latinx theologies to notions of justice and aesthetics to the life of democracy. Her research in practical ethics addresses issues of democracy, migration, family, gender, economics (labor and consumption), race and ethnicity, and ecology. A widely published author, she has recently published The Aesthetics of Solidarity: Our Lady of Guadalupe and American Democracy from Georgetown University Press.

Director of the Center for the Study of Religion and Public Life Professor R. Ward Holder and his Research Assistant Michael Hanna reintroduce the Belief and Ballots podcast in its new iteration. Now hosted by the Center for the Study of Religion and Public Life at Saint Anselm College, the podcast explores the relationship between faith, the public sphere, and political engagement, including interreligious and interfaith perspectives. 

Fr. Mark Massa S.J. unpacks Catholic Fundamentalism, tracing its origins and key figures while exploring why it appeals to some Catholics and its impact on American culture and politics. Looking ahead, he delves into the future of Catholic Fundamentalism in a pluralistic world. Share your thoughts, questions, or topic suggestions via email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with us on social media and continue the conversation. Don't miss out! New episodes of Belief and Ballots drop biweekly.

Professor ⁠Erik Cleven⁠ discusses the importance, prerequisites, and limits of dialogue and introduces transformative dialogue, an approach to conflict transformation that he co-developed. Professor Cleven emphasizes the importance of doing the needed work before starting a dialogue and how that affects the process and expected outcome. Share your thoughts, questions, or topic suggestions via email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with us on social media and continue the conversation. Don't miss out! New episodes of Belief and Ballots drop biweekly.

Professor Cathleen Kaveny explores the complex relationship between legislation and morality in the U.S. This episode offers a thought-provoking journey through the challenges of integrating religious voices in public debate, navigating the influence of personal convictions on judicial rulings, and exploring the implications of executive orders and Supreme Court rulings on the discussion surrounding divisive issues. Share your thoughts, questions, or topic suggestions via email at ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠ Connect with us on social media and continue the conversation. Don't miss out! New episodes of Belief and Ballots drop biweekly.

Our guest, ⁠⁠Professor Ward Holder provides a comprehensive analysis of President Joe Biden's Catholic faith and its profound impact on his political ideology. Professor Holder delves into the evolution of the president's faith while highlighting his emphasis on conscience and social justice and how they align closely with the principles of Catholic social teaching. Share your thoughts, questions, or topic suggestions via email at ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠ Connect with us on social media and continue the conversation. Don't miss out! New episodes of Belief and Ballots drop biweekly.

Our guest, ⁠⁠Professor Peter Josephson, delves into the intricate relationship between faith and politics in the 2024 presidential election, focusing on the beliefs of former President Donald Trump. Share your thoughts, questions, or topic suggestions via email at ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠ Connect with us on social media and continue the conversation. Don't miss out! New episodes of Belief and Ballots drop biweekly.

Our guest, ⁠Professor Randall Balmer, is a highly knowledgeable historian who has authored more than a dozen books. In this episode, we will delve into his experiences with evangelicalism, the movement's diverse nature, and its evolution on the public and political scene in recent history. Don't miss out! New episodes of Belief and Ballots drop biweekly. Subscribe and join the conversation. Contact us via email at ⁠[email protected]

Episode 1: Place of Faith in the Public Square: Should Religion Be Part of the Conversation? Our guest, Professor Michele Dillon, shares insights into her academic journey, the historical significance of faith traditions in America, and the evolving role of faith in political and societal debates. Engaging with topics such as climate change and societal inclusivity, she emphasizes the potential for religious voices to contribute meaningfully to contemporary and future challenges. Don't miss out! New episodes of Belief and Ballots drop biweekly. Subscribe and join the conversation. Contact us via email at [email protected]

Belief and Ballots, an American podcast on faith in the public sphere, is a podcast of St Anselm College's campus ministry co-sponsored by the Departments of Theology and Politics. The podcast explores the relationship between faith, the public sphere, and political engagement, including interreligious and interfaith perspectives. Belief and Ballots features interviews with scholars, activists, and religious leaders from a variety of Faith Traditions. The podcast also includes discussions of current events and political issues from a religious perspective with a focus on how different Faith Traditions can come together to address these issues. Don't miss out! New episodes of Belief and Ballots drop biweekly. Subscribe and join the conversation. Contact us via email at [email protected]