This week on Soul of the Nation we welcome the Rev. James Martin, a Jesuit priest, editor at large of America magazine, consultant to the Vatican's Dicastery for Communication, and author of numerous books, including the New York Times bestseller Jesus: A Pilgrimage. His new book is called “Come Forth: The Promise of Jesus’ Greatest Miracle.” In this episode Father Martin shares his insights on the biblical story of Lazarus, an important Vatican meeting and how to stay spiritually centered and hopeful in a dark and turbulent world. 

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This week on the Soul of the Nation, we welcome Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde, the Episcopal Bishop of Washington, DC. Bishop Budde serves as spiritual leader for Episcopalians in the District of Columbia and Maryland, the first woman elected to this position. Bishop Budde is also the author of several books, including, “How We Learn to Be Brave: Decisive Moments in Life and Faith.” In this episode, Bishop Budde talks about standing up to Donald Trump, "dangerous unselfishness," and how to be Good Samaritans during bad times.

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In this live recording of Soul of the Nation, Rev. Jim Wallis and the Center on Faith and Justice hosted Harvard University political scientist Steven Levitsky for a discussion on his new book “Tyranny of the Minority.” In the book, Levitsky argues that authoritarianism threatens the foundations of the U.S. political system, which the Constitution prevents from becoming a true multi-racial democracy. Levitsky is co-author of the New York Times bestseller How Democracies Die and the David Rockefeller Professor of Latin American Studies and Professor of Government at Harvard University. 

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This week on Soul of the Nation, our host, Rev. Jim Wallis, engages in a profound conversation with climate advocate and author Kyle Meyaard-Schaap. Together, they explore the timely and pressing subject of climate change through the lens of faith and Christian values.

Meyaard-Schaap, author of the thought-provoking book "Following Jesus in a Warming World: A Christian Call to Climate Action," delves into the intersection of spirituality and environmental stewardship. This enlightening discussion looks into how followers of Jesus can rise to the challenge of the climate crisis, recognizing it as a moral imperative.

Rev. Jim Wallis and Kyle Meyaard-Schaap explore the key themes of the book, providing insight into how faith communities can play a pivotal role in addressing climate change. They discuss practical steps, advocacy, and the spiritual awakening needed to combat the warming world. 

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In this episode of Soul of the Nation, Rev. Jim Wallis and the Center on Faith and Justice host a conversation about Robert P. Jones' groundbreaking new book, "The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy: And the Path to a Shared American Future." Delving deep into the history of white supremacy in America, Jones takes us on a journey back to 1493 and guides us through the examination of contemporary communities that offer models of racial repair. Joining the conversation are Vann Newkirk II, a staff writer for The Atlantic, and Jennifer Rubin, a columnist for The Washington Post. 

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This week, Soul of the Nation welcomes Bill McKibben, an American environmentalist, author, and journalist who has written extensively on the impact of global warming. He is the Schumann Distinguished Scholar at Middlebury College and leader of the climate campaign group 350.org. In this episode, they discuss the historical and ongoing struggles for racial equity in America, shedding light on the important work of faith-based communities in promoting justice, diversity, and inclusion. Their conversation highlights the power of unity and collective action in the fight for social equality and justice. The episode also explores the urgent need for environmental stewardship and how we can repay our debt to the environment. Rev. Wallis and McKibben emphasize the ethical and moral dimensions of taking responsibility for the impact of human activity on the planet. They discuss the imperative of mitigating climate change and the practical steps we can take to protect our environment for future generations.

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This week on Soul of the Nation, our host Jim Wallis is joined by two of the country’s preeminent Christian leaders to celebrate and discuss the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King’s “Letter From Birmingham Jail.” Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, Interim President and General Secretary of the National Council of Churches, and the Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III, Senior Pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, join to reflect on King’s famed epistle and its lessons for our day. Sixty years after its publication, “Letter From Birmingham Jail” continues to challenge Christians – and all people of faith – to understand that, as King warned, “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

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This week on Soul of the Nation features a public conversation with Rev Dr. Kelly Brown Douglas, Dean of the Episcopal Divinity School at Union Theological Seminary. In this Q&A moderated by Rev. Ebony Grisom of Georgetown University, Douglas explores the role of Black women in the church, discusses the importance of maintaining hope against what seems at times as insurmountable odds and lays out a pathway towards moving beyond the white imaginary.

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Jim Wallis, the Founding Director of the Georgetown University Center on Faith, advocates spirituality and social change in America. Under Wallis’ leadership, Sojourners has had international acclaim as a group of Christians who work together to live a gospel life that integrates spiritual renewal and social justice.

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This week, Soul of the Nation welcomes Matthew Desmond, a sociologist at Princeton University whose research focuses on poverty in America. He is the author of four books, including “Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City,” which won the Pulitzer Prize. Desmond’s new bestselling book is called “Poverty, By America.” In this episode, Desmond explains why the United States has more poverty than any other advanced democracy, calls the Republicans' plan to reduce federal spending by cutting poverty programs "sinful and shameful," and offers five ways we can all become "poverty abolitionists."

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