Thee Quaker Podcast

What happens when the optimistic spiritual vision of Quakerism collides with the messy reality of life? Season 4 of Thee Quaker Podcast explores the intersection of faith and social change, centering on Lucretia Mott and the radical early fight for universal suffrage in the United States. This season, we are also featuring intimate, on-the-road stories from traveling minister Emily Provance and an exclusive look at modern political advocacy with The Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL). This season asks what it truly means to be a faithful "disturber of the peace." Subscribe now and join us starting October 20th for a brand-new journey into spiritual courage!

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Days before reporting to a federal penitentiary for a 900-day sentence, lifelong Quaker Jacob Hoopes joins us to talk about the escalating Portland ICE protest that led to his arrest and conviction. With incarceration looming, he examines the deep friction between his actions that afternoon, his commitment to justice, and the Quaker Peace Testimony. As Jacob faces the reality of federal prison, his father Tom shares how a stunned but resilient community is matching a 900-day sentence with 900 days of intentional action.

Visit https://www.900daysoflight.com/ for updates and information about Jacob. 

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World Quaker Day is on Sunday, October 4th, 2026, and this year’s theme is “Let Peace Be Among Us.” To mark the day, the Friends World Committee for Consultation is doing something pretty incredible: a massive, global online Meeting for Worship. It’s a chance to bridge time zones and traditions—to be in a shared, digital worship that stretches around the entire world.
Find out more and other ways to take part in World Quaker Day at www.worldquakerday.org.
 

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To wrap up season three, we’re counting down our top five most impactful episodes of the year. Join us as we revisit the moments that sparked the most conversation and discover how these centuries-old practices can help us make sense of the modern world.

As we wrap up Season 3, we want to hear from you. What resonated with you this season? What would you like to hear more of, and how can we improve? We'd be so grateful if you took just five minutes to fill out our short listener survey. Thank you so much!

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What if the most radical spiritual act you could commit is a burst of shared laughter? Join Mark Winner and Liz Brainard as they share how Open Table Friends Church threw out the polished facade of their religious tradition to build a digital sanctuary rooted in chaotic joy and messy authenticity. 

Full Video of the "Fun" Meeting for Worship - https://www.youtube.com/live/y9VqDeUXchk

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An active-duty soldier experiences a sudden moral awakening that leaves him trapped inside the military machine he can no longer answer to. We go inside the barracks to discover the Quakers who are helping him get out. Through the GI Rights Hotline, counseling services, and peace advocacy, Quaker House has been quietly providing a vital life line to people in uniform for almost 60 years. Discover how this place of peace has operated so effectively in a city of war, and how we can all become more effective peacemakers.

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Quaker House is a manifestation of the Friends’ Peace Testimony. Based in Fayetteville, NC, home of Fort Liberty, Quaker House provides counseling and support to service members who are questioning their role in the military; educates them, their families, and the public about military issues; and advocates for a more peaceful world. To learn more, to get involved, or to support our mission, visit us at www.quakerhouse.org/

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As we wrap up Season 3, we want to hear from you. What resonated with you this season? What would you like to hear more of, and how can we improve? We'd be so grateful if you took just five minutes to fill out our short listener survey. Thank you so much!

Become a monthly supporter!

Sign up for the Daily Quaker Message.

George Lakey is a well known Quaker pacifist, but he didn’t grow up that way. In fact, it wasn’t until George became involved with Quakers that he came to believe in the power of nonviolence.

Now in his 80s, George has spent most of his life as an advocate for social change through nonviolent direct action. In fact, he wrote the book on it. In this episode, he shares his deep conviction that pacifism is the way forward, even in an age of troubling conflict and polarization. We asked George about his lifetime of nonviolent activism, and why Quakers are pacifists.

This episode originally was released on May 8, 2024.

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As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, the true architects of its rebellious spirit might not be the founding fathers you expect. Quaker historian Max Carter joins the show to unpack the radical, plain-speaking movement that quietly hardwired the nation's legal system, culture, and architecture. Discover how a "holy experiment" accidentally fueled a revolution and shaped the foundational values that Americans still live by today. 

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World Quaker Day is on Sunday, October 4th, 2026, and this year’s theme is “Let Peace Be Among Us.” To mark the day, the Friends World Committee for Consultation is doing something pretty incredible: a massive, global online Meeting for Worship. It’s a chance to bridge time zones and traditions—to be in a shared, digital worship that stretches around the entire world.

Find out more and other ways to take part in World Quaker Day at www.worldquakerday.org.

Become a monthly supporter!

Sign up for the Daily Quaker Message.

When authoritarianism wraps itself in faith, how should a spiritual community respond? We trace the chilling historical parallels between 1930s Germany and the modern political moment as Quaker lawyer Scott Holmes crafts a modern declaration of resistance. Drawing on the 1934 Barmen Declaration, we explore the collision of religion and nationalism. How do we maintain integrity when political forces co-opt sacred traditions? Join us to navigate the challenge of preserving truth and radical love in a fractured world.

Read Scott Holmes' full statement here: https://curtisscottholmes.blogspot.com/2025/12/statement-of-faith-toward-shared.html?m=1

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The sheer scale of the climate crisis can easily lead to burnout if we don't have a strong anchor to hold us steady. Today, we are digging beneath the protests and policies to explore the deep, spiritual roots that actually sustain this vital work. Join us to discover how a profound shift in our theology can transform environmentalism from a crushing global obligation into a deeply personal, daily practice of love.

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World Quaker Day is on Sunday, October 4th, 2026, and this year’s theme is “Let Peace Be Among Us.” To mark the day, the Friends World Committee for Consultation is doing something pretty incredible: a massive, global online Meeting for Worship. It’s a chance to bridge time zones and traditions—to be in a shared, digital worship that stretches around the entire world.

Find out more and other ways to take part in World Quaker Day at www.worldquakerday.org.

Become a monthly supporter!

Sign up for the Daily Quaker Message.

How do Quakers prepare for Meeting for Worship? How do we get ready for an hour of silence in which we may feel called upon to stand and give a message?

In this week’s episode, we share three essays written by members of Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting about their experience of Quaker Meeting for Worship.

This episode originally aired on June 21, 2023.

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