Freedom Road Podcast

By Freedom Road LLC

What's Freedom Road Podcast about?

This podcast is a forum for experiences that build common understanding, common commitment and common action. It is produced each month by FreedomRoad.us, and hosted by Lisa Sharon Harper.

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Freedom Road Podcast episodes:

04.24.2024
Grace Ji-Sun Kim, When God Became White
In this episode we are joined by theologian and author, Dr. Grace Ji-Sun Kim. Dr. Kim is Professor of Theology at Earlham School of Religion and the author or editor of 24 books, including: Surviving God, Spirit Life; Invisible; Hope...
03.24.2024
The Cross, The Resurrection and Gaza
This episode comes to you in partnership with Inverse Podcast. The diverse InVerse podcast community explores how the Scriptures can turn the world upside down, or be weaponized to uphold the status quo. So, this episode we’re going to talk...
03.05.2024
Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac “Jesus Under the Rubble”
This episode comes to you in partnership with The Historic African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In the spirit of the Historic Black Church, which has begun to rise up and call for a ceasefire in Gaza,...
02.27.2024
Rashid Khalidi “The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine”
This special episode comes to you in partnership The Historic African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas. In the spirit of the Black Church, which has begun to rise up and call for a ceasefire in Gaza, St. Thomas’s 17th rector,...
02.13.2024
God & Country
In this critical election year where the most dedicated base for the GOP candidate is a rising tide of White Christian Nationalism within the evangelical community, we must take the time to understand it. So, we invited the producer/director of...
01.23.2024
Bad Faith: THE FILM
This episode we are joined by the filmmakers of the newly released and riveting documentary, “Bad Faith: Christian Nationalism’s Unholy War on Democracy.” Director Stephen Ujlaki has produced more than 25 feature films, made-for-television movies and documentaries, and served as dean...
01.02.2024
2023! with guests Rev. Dr. Waltrina Middleton, Dr. Claudia Owens Shields and Corey Nathan
This episode we have part of Lisa Sharon Harper's posse on the show! Rev. Dr. Waltrina Middleton, Dr. Claudia Owens Shields and Corey Nathan are all partners with our work on Freedom Road. Waltrina is the executive director of Community...
12.19.2023
Rabbi Sharon Brous
This episode we are joined by Rabbi Sharon Brous. In 2013 Rabbi Brous was listed as America’s #1 most influential Rabbi. Her 2016 TED Talk “It’s Time to Reclaim Religion” has been viewed 1.5 million times and is utterly inspiring....
11.28.2023
Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb: Advent in Palestine – Today
On this episode we are joined by Dr. Mitri Raheb, Founder and President of Dar al-Kalima University in Bethlehem. The most widely published Palestinian theologian to date, Dr. Raheb is the author and editor of 50 books including: Decolonizing Palestine:...
11.14.2023
David Gushee: Defending Democracy from its Christian Enemies
This month we are joined by one of the foremost Christian ethicists in the world, Dr. David Gushee, Distinguished University Professor of Christian Ethics at Mercer University, and Chair of Christian Social Ethics at Vrije Universiteit (“Free University”) Amsterdam, and...
10.31.2023
Robert P. Jones: The Hidden roots of White Supremacy and the Path to a Shared American Future
This month we are joined by Robert P Jones, President and Founder of Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) and the New York Times Best Selling author of several books, including: The End of White Christian America and White Too Long....
10.17.2023
Britney Whaley “Cop City”
This episode we are joined by Britney Whaley, South East Regional Director of the Working Families Party. There’s a lot to unpack, just when we mention the Working Families Party and we will get there. But the reason Britney was...
10.03.2023
Tamice Spencer-Helms: Faith Unleavened
On this episode we are joined by Tamice Spencer-Helms, author of Faith Unleavened: The Wilderness Between Trayvon Martin and George Floyd and founder of Sub:Culture Incorporated, a nonprofit that provides holistic support and crisis relief for Black College Students. We invited...
09.19.2023
Dr. Claire A. Nelson
On this episode, we are joined by Dr. Claire Nelson, Futurist, Sustainability Engineer, Social Entrepreneur, Storyteller, the Founding President of the Institute of Caribbean Studies, and the chief ideation leader of the Futures Forum. We invited Dr. Nelson to speak with...
09.05.2023
Dr. Chanequa Walker-Barnes: Sacred Self-Care
On this episode, we are joined by Dr. Chanequa Walker-Barnes, theologian, psychologist, and author of Too Heavy a Yoke, Black Women and the Burden of Strength, and her newest work, a 49-day devotional titled, Sacred Self-Care: Daily Practices for Nurturing...
08.22.2023
Rev. Dr. Michael Nabors “Doing Reparation”
On this episode we are joined by Rev. Dr. Michael Nabors, Senior Pastor of the Historic Second Baptist Church of Evanston, IL. Recently, Second Baptist Church has become a leading faith center in America in facilitating Race Talk Solidarity Circles...
08.08.2023
Dr. Terence Lester – All God’s Children
On this episode we are joined by Dr. Terence Lester, PhD, author of several books, including his most recent, All God’s Children: How Confronting Buried History Can Build Racial Solidarity. We invited Terence to speak with us because his book, All...
07.25.2023
John Blake – More Than I Imagined
On this episode we are joined by John Blake, award winning journalist at CNN and author of the celebrated book, More Than I Imagined: What A Black Man Discovered About The White Mother He Never Knew. We invited John to speak...
07.04.2023
Andre Henry
On this episode we are joined by Andre Henry, author of All the White Friends I Couldn’t Keep, cohost of the Hope and Hard Pills Podcast, local LA-based activist and singer/songwriter/producer. His work has been featured in The Nation, The...
06.14.2023
Rev. Gail Song Bantum
On this episode, we are joined by Rev. Gail Song Bantum, Lead Pastor of Quest Church, which recently voluntarily cut ties with its denomination—the Evangelical Covenant Church—because of its hard right turn on LGBTQIA+ inclusion. Pastor Gail was invited to speak...
06.07.2023
BONUS EPISODE: Lisa Sharon Harper on Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other
This is a special presentation of an interview with Lisa Sharon Harper on TALKIN' POLITICS & RELIGION WITHOUT KILLIN' EACH OTHER. Here are the show notes on this episode from our friends at TP&R: "In this conversation with renowned speaker, writer,...
05.24.2023
Rev. Carlos Rodriguez
On this episode, we are joined by Carlos Rodriguez, CEO of The Happy Givers and author of Simply Sonship, Drop the Stones and the upcoming book, Flip the Tables. We invited Carlos to speak with us today, because he is one...
05.09.2023
Transgender Lives Matter
On this episode, we’re going to talk about transgender identity and its weaponization within the American political arena. We’ve invited three people whose voices, lives and faith can shed light on a topic that has been intentionally obfuscated in the...
04.25.2023
Ally Henny: I won’t shut up!
In this episode, we are joined by popular influencer, Ally Henny, Vice President of The Witness: A Black Christian Collective, and the author of I Won’t Shut Up: Finding Our Voice When the World Tries To Silence You. Ally was invited...
04.11.2023
Morgan Harper Nichols: You Are Only Just Beginning
In this episode, we are joined by popular poet and artist, Morgan Harper Nichols. We invited Morgan to speak with us today, because her poetry and art are forces for healing in the world. And we need some healing right about...
03.28.2023
Rev. Dr. Luke A. Powery on BECOMING HUMAN
On this episode, we are joined by Rev. Dr. Luke A. Powery, Dean of Duke University Chapel and associate professor of homiletics at Duke Divinity School. He is also the author of the new and celebrated book, Becoming Human: The...
03.14.2023
Christena Cleveland: I'm Too Sacred For This
On this episode, we are joined by Christena Cleveland, a social psychologist, public theologian, author, and activist. She is the founder and director of the Center for Justice + Renewal as well as its sister organization, Sacred Folk. Christena has been...
02.28.2023
A New Vision for Public Safety with Jamila Hodge (EJ-USA)
On this episode, we are joined by Jamila Hodge, executive director of Equal Justice USA (EJ-USA). Jamila brought 15 years of criminal justice experience as a prosecutor, policy advisor, and technical assistance provider to her role at EJ-USA when she...
02.02.2023
Candice Benbow and Church Girls
On this episode, we are joined by Candice Benbow: Author, Essayist, Public Theologian and Eductor. Candice is the creator of the Lemonade Syllabus, the author of Red Lip Theology, which launched to much acclaim earlier this year, and a regular...
01.18.2023
Fox and Rob “Time”
On this episode we are joined by Sibil Fox and Rob Richardson, featured in the award-winning Amazon documentary, Time, which is now published as an incredible book that tells more of the story. Fox and Rob are a formerly incarcerated couple....
01.03.2023
Michael Emerson and The Religion Of Whiteness
On this episode we are joined by Dr. Michael Emerson, renowned sociologist and Head of the Department of Sociology at University of Illinois, author of the landmark sociological study on evangelicals and race, Divided by Faith. In the context of the...
12.12.2022
Voices of Lament with Natasha Sistrunk Robinson
This month we are joined by Natasha Sistrunk Robinson, T3 Leadership Solutions, founder and cochair of Leadership Links. Most noted for her book, A Sojourners Truth and Mentor for Life. Natasha’s latest project brought together a bunch of dynamic women...
11.30.2022
Join the Resistance with Michelle Ferrigno Warren
This month we are joined by Michelle Ferrigno Warren, President and CEO of Virago Strategies, a consulting group that provides strategic direction and project management for civic engagement campaigns alongside communities affected by racial and economic injustice. Michelle's new book,...
11.14.2022
Buried Seeds with Alexia Salvatierra and Brandon Wrencher
This month we are in conversation with Rev. Dr. Alexia Salvatierra and Brandon Wrencher. Dr. Alexia, a national leader in faith engagement in immigrant justice for decades, is the dean of Centro Latino and associate professor of integral mission and...
10.13.2022
Kamal Bell - Dirt and Healing
This month Lisa Sharon Harper is joined by Kamal Bell, founding owner of Sankofa Farms. The goal of Sankofa Farms is to create a sustainable food source for ethnic minorities in both rural and urban areas located in Durham and...
09.13.2022
Robert Draper (The New York Times Magazine): The GOP's Anti-Democracy Experiment
This month we are joined by Robert Draper, New York Times Magazine political journalist to discuss his most recent article: “The Arizona Republican Party’s Anti-Democracy Experiment”. Apart from being a regular commentator on MSNBC, CNN and Washington Journal, among others, Draper...
08.16.2022
Featuring The FOUR: Ruby Sales
This month, we feature an episode from a new podcast featuring Freedom Road's Lisa Sharon Harper: The FOUR. You can check out other episodes of The FOUR at thefour.black. Few have worked harder to cut and mend the ties between oppressor...
07.12.2022
Featuring The FOUR: Kristin Kobes Du Mez
This month, we feature an episode from a new podcast featuring Freedom Road's Lisa Sharon Harper: The FOUR. You can check out other episodes of The FOUR at thefour.black. Kristin Kobes Du Mez catapulted to the top of the best-seller list...
06.04.2022
This Here Flesh with Cole Arthur Riley
This month, Americans will pause to commemorate the day when the last enslaved African Americans were notified that they had been set free, on June 19, 1865 (two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation). In this context, Lisa...
05.04.2022
Funding Color
At a moment when our nation stands at one of the greatest transition points in its history, the work of faith leaders of color is critical, yet often goes underfunded--leaving leadership pipelines that lack capacity to maximize their gifts, apply...
04.04.2022
The Call for Radical Truth-Telling and Reparations
This month listen in as Lisa dives deep with two awe-inspiring leaders whose work is reshaping America. Dr. Ron Daniels is convenor of the National African American Reparations Commission and president of the Institute of the Black World 21st Century....
02.22.2022
Reverend Otis Moss III
Lisa Sharon Harper welcomes Rev. Otis Moss III, pastor of Chicago's historic Trinity United Church of Christ, and they discuss the twin passions for community advancement and social justice that are the foundations of his ministry
01.17.2022
The Call to Soul Force with Michael-Ray Mathews
Listen in as Lisa talks with Michael-Ray Mathews (Deputy Director of Faith In Action, an international faith-rooted federation of community organizing networks). In the shadow of the 1/6 commemoration, Mathews says we all must go deeper. We must tap into...
12.24.2021
Fierce Love with Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis
Join host Lisa Sharon Harper and the Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis, senior minister of Middle Collegiate Church in New York City, as they talk about the world's need for Fierce Love today
12.24.2021
We're Not Playing: A Vaccine Update with Dr. Nicolette Louissant
Join host Lisa Sharon Harper and Dr. Nicolette Louisssant, executive director of Healthcare Ready, as they sift through the fears and get to the facts about COVID-19 vaccination.
10.05.2021
Race and Repair: In Conversation with Jen Hatmaker
At a time when white nationalism is threatening democracy, itself, join Lisa Sharon Harper and Jen Hatmaker (New York Times best selling author and host of the For The Love podcast) in this special deep dive between friends on what...
08.06.2021
Bad Faith with Randall Balmer
Join host, Lisa Sharon Harper and Rev. Dr. Randall Balmer, author of Bad Faith: Race and the Rise of the Religious Right. In the past Balmer has gestured toward the connection between race and The Religious Right. In Bad Faith, Balmer draws a direct,...
07.06.2021
Meet Gen Z
Listen in as host, Lisa Sharon Harper, dives deep with Gen Zers Joseph Baah (17 years old) Janelle Addison (13 years old) and Jazzlyn Addison (10 years old), on how they are processing the events and traumas of the past...
05.07.2021
The Equal Rights Amendment
Join host, Lisa Sharon Harper and her guest Allyson McKinney Timm, founder and Executive Director at Justice Revival, as they discuss the history - and the future - of the Equal Rights Amendment
04.09.2021
Who Stole My Bible?
On January 6th, White Christian Nationalists stormed the U.S. Capitol and revealed the breadth and depth of the distortion of Christianity in the U.S.. Listen in as host, Lisa Sharon Harper, Rev. Jennifer Butler, author of Who Stole My Bible?: Reclaiming Scripture as...

What's Freedom Road Podcast about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Freedom Road Podcast episodes:

Grace Ji-Sun Kim, When God Became White

The Cross, The Resurrection and Gaza

Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac “Jesus Under the Rubble”

Rashid Khalidi “The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine”

God & Country

Bad Faith: THE FILM

2023! with guests Rev. Dr. Waltrina Middleton, Dr. Claudia Owens Shields and Corey Nathan

Rabbi Sharon Brous

Rev. Dr. Mitri Raheb: Advent in Palestine – Today

David Gushee: Defending Democracy from its Christian Enemies

Robert P. Jones: The Hidden roots of White Supremacy and the Path to a Shared American Future

Britney Whaley “Cop City”

Tamice Spencer-Helms: Faith Unleavened

Dr. Claire A. Nelson

Dr. Chanequa Walker-Barnes: Sacred Self-Care

Rev. Dr. Michael Nabors “Doing Reparation”

Dr. Terence Lester – All God’s Children

John Blake – More Than I Imagined

Andre Henry

Rev. Gail Song Bantum

BONUS EPISODE: Lisa Sharon Harper on Talkin' Politics & Religion Without Killin' Each Other

Rev. Carlos Rodriguez

Transgender Lives Matter

Ally Henny: I won’t shut up!

Morgan Harper Nichols: You Are Only Just Beginning

Rev. Dr. Luke A. Powery on BECOMING HUMAN

Christena Cleveland: I'm Too Sacred For This

A New Vision for Public Safety with Jamila Hodge (EJ-USA)

Candice Benbow and Church Girls

Fox and Rob “Time”

Michael Emerson and The Religion Of Whiteness

Voices of Lament with Natasha Sistrunk Robinson

Join the Resistance with Michelle Ferrigno Warren

Buried Seeds with Alexia Salvatierra and Brandon Wrencher

Kamal Bell - Dirt and Healing

Robert Draper (The New York Times Magazine): The GOP's Anti-Democracy Experiment

Featuring The FOUR: Ruby Sales

Featuring The FOUR: Kristin Kobes Du Mez

This Here Flesh with Cole Arthur Riley

Funding Color

The Call for Radical Truth-Telling and Reparations

Reverend Otis Moss III

The Call to Soul Force with Michael-Ray Mathews

Fierce Love with Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis

We're Not Playing: A Vaccine Update with Dr. Nicolette Louissant

Race and Repair: In Conversation with Jen Hatmaker

Bad Faith with Randall Balmer

Meet Gen Z

The Equal Rights Amendment

Who Stole My Bible?