How did the Federal Bureau of Investigations contribute to the rise of white Christian nationalism? Lerone A. Martin, author of The Gospel of J. Edgar Hoover: How the FBI Aided and Abetted the Rise of White Christian Nationalism, joins us to discuss the place of religion and race at the FBI. Why did J. Edgar Hoover, the FBI’s long-serving director, believe a Christian America was a safer America and what did he do to make that vision a reality? How did the FBI form partnerships with conservative Christian leaders and institutions, and what religious activities took place at the FBI for its special agents? And how does knowing this history about religion and race at the FBI help us make sense of the rise in white Christian nationalism today?

Why are corporations and billionaires like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos invested in space exploration? Mary-Jane Rubenstein, author of Astrotopia: The Dangerous Religion of the Corporate Space Race, joins us to discuss the corporate space race and its connections to religion. We explore why the corporate space race is so concerning, what religious ideas undergird Americans’ beliefs that we have a right to colonize the cosmos, and how Indigenous religious teachings could help us think differently about our relationship to outer space in ways that could also help our planet.

In what ways are atheists stigmatized, and what are some reasons for social divisions among atheists? Chris Stedman, author of Faitheist: How an Atheist Found Common Ground with the Religious, joins us to discuss the 10th anniversary of his landmark book. We explore how atheists have partnered with religious communities to address social issues, why some atheists have been drawn to right-wing politics and white supremacy, and how atheists can respond to rising Christian nationalism in the United States.

This episode explores gender diversity in present-day Islam and in Jewish history. We chat with Dr. Katrina Thompson to learn how transgender and nonbinary Muslims are transforming Islam and creating spaces specifically for trans and queer Muslims. And we chat with Dr. Max Strassfeld to learn about the eight gender categories the rabbis of the Talmud devised during the first six centuries of the common era, and what their awareness of bodily gendered diversity can tell us about transgender politics and equality today.

What is religious cultural appropriation, and how might many of us be engaged in it right now? Dr. Liz Bucar, author of the forthcoming book Stealing My Religion: Not Just Any Cultural Appropriation, joins us to discuss why religious appropriation is so common. We explore prominent examples of religious borrowing, from non-Muslim women wearing a “solidarity hijab” to white Americans teaching yoga. And we discuss how one can respectfully borrow from religious communities in responsible ways.

What connections can be made between horror films and novels where Catholicism is prominent to actual horrors committed by the Catholic Church? Three experts of American Catholicism – Drs. Jack Downey, Matthew Cressler, and Kathleen Holscher – join us to discuss Catholic horror, both fictional and real. We explore why Catholicism has been such a popular source of inspiration for horror filmmakers and writers, what horror can reveal about contemporary society, and why examining horror can help us make sense of the clergy abuse crisis and other atrocities committed by the Catholic Church.

Why are various religious communities, as well as some non-religious Americans, deeply concerned about the place of pornography in the United States? Dr. Kelsy Burke, author of The Pornography Wars: The Past, Present, and Future, of America’s Obscene Obsession, joins us to discuss longstanding battles over pornography. We explore why various religious communities oppose pornography, why evangelical Protestants in particular are anxious about masturbation and sex addiction, and what disputes over pornography reveal about today’s political climate.

What happens when people go to Christian organizations that promise to help them change their sexuality or gender identity? Kristine Stolakis, director of Netflix’s acclaimed documentary Pray Away, and Lynne Gerber, author of Seeking the Straight and Narrow, join us to discuss conversion therapy and ex-LGBTQ ministries. We explore the beliefs these organizations promote about gender and sexuality, why such groups remain prominent today, and how to end conversion therapy for good.

How are Black Buddhists using Buddhism to heal from the traumas of racism? Dr. Rima Vesely-Flad, author of Black Buddhists and the Black Radical Tradition, joins us to discuss why Black Americans have been turning to Buddhist teachings and practices to deal with living in a white supremacist society. We also explore how Buddhism has helped Black Americans confront misogyny, homophobia, and transphobia, and how Black Buddhists have found a sense of stability within a deeply racist world.

Why are Americans with no ethnic ties to Russia converting to the Russian Orthodox Church? Dr. Sarah Riccardi-Swartz, author of Between Heaven and Russia: Religious Conversion and Political Apostasy in Appalachia, joins us to discuss why people who are displeased with American culture are converting to Russian Orthodoxy. We explore their political views, their frustrations with democracy and the separation of church and state, their love of Vladimir Putin, and what all of this means for America and the war in Ukraine today.