Thee Quaker Podcast

Todd Drake is a Quaker graffiti artist and printmaker who uses the street name "Quaker pirate". In this episode, Todd teaches the finer points of graffiti etiquette, explains the provocative inspiration for his new portrait of Benjamin Lay, and shares his philosophy of doing good without asking permission.

See his work here: https://quakerpirate.format.com/

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Benjamin Lay was a fierce abolitionist whose dramatic protests against slavery embarrassed the powerful Quakers of his day. They kicked him out and tried to erase him. This is the story of his return.

Marcus Rediker's Books: https://www.marcusrediker.com/books/

Abington Monthly Meeting's Efforts Towards Reconciliation: https://www.abingtonquakers.org/Groups/380563/Benjamin_Lay_Reconciliation.aspx

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Quakers are widely known for being early and outspoken abolitionists, and while that is true, it is not the whole story. Join us as we explore the Germantown Quaker Petition Against Slavery, its delayed impact, and the people who continued to fight the good fight even after many believed that it was already won. 

High Definition scan of the 1688 Germantown Quaker Petition Against Slavery

The Grimke Sisters: How Two Southern Slave-Owning Quakers Became America’s Fiercest Abolitionists

This episode is brought to you by Olney Friends School. Located on a 350 acre campus in Barnesville Ohio, Olney Friends School is a leading Quaker day and boarding school that boasts a 3:1 student to teacher ratio and a 100% college acceptance rate. Since 1837, Olney has pioneered a progressive educational model that adapts to each student’s unique needs. Their flexible, project-based curriculum blends mastery learning with intellectual exploration, preparing diverse learners for college success and lifelong curiosity.

To enroll your student or to learn more, visit olneyfriends.org.

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Quakers have a long history of getting into trouble for the sake of justice, but what drives them to act? Why do some Quakers feel compelled to break the law, make public demonstrations, or disrupt business as usual? In this episode, we explore those questions through the story of Jane McCarthy, a 74-year-old grandmother with incurable cancer who is risking her home to protest her council's investment in fossil fuels. We then travel back to the 17th century to uncover the urgent motivations of the first Quakers, who used disruptive and radical tactics in their quest to turn the world upside down.

Erica Canela's forthcoming book: https://ericanela.co.uk/blog/zealous-a-darker-side-of-the-early-quakers/

Season 1 episode on James Naylor: https://quakerpodcast.com/james-nayler-the-quaker-who-rode-into-bristol/

This episode is brought to you by Olney Friends School. Located on a 350 acre campus in Barnesville Ohio, Olney Friends School is a leading Quaker day and boarding school that boasts a 3:1 student to teacher ratio and a 100% college acceptance rate. Since 1837, Olney has pioneered a progressive educational model that adapts to each student’s unique needs. Their flexible, project-based curriculum blends mastery learning with intellectual exploration, preparing diverse learners for college success and lifelong curiosity.To enroll your student or to learn more, visit olneyfriends.org.

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Sign up for the Daily Quaker Message.

Season 3 of Thee Quaker Podcast is two short weeks away. Co-hosts Jon Watts and Zack Jackson take you on a tour of where the podcast has been and where it is going. This season we’ll focus on “Quaker prophetic witness”: We’re talking about guerilla theater, loving your enemy as you’re confronting them, impossible odds, and stories of spiritual courage that you’ve never heard before. Season 3 launches on August 12th with new episodes every Tuesday. 

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When the federal government rescinded a decades-old policy protecting houses of worship from immigration raids, a group of Quakers filed a lawsuit against the Department of Homeland Security. Their argument is uniquely Quaker: the threat of armed agents in their meeting houses creates a "chilling effect" that doesn't just lower attendance, it fundamentally obstructs their ability to worship, a practice which requires the presence of a diverse community to hear the full expression of God.

What happens when Quakers sue the government? What might be the unexpected ripple effects? And what does it mean for the future of religious freedom when standing by your principles lands you on the radar of a congressional committee?

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In times of political upheaval, when institutions feel unreliable and the future uncertain, how do we resist authoritarianism without becoming what we oppose? Daniel Hunter, co-founder of "Choose Democracy" and seasoned organizer, shares how Trump's second election unexpectedly led him to claim his Quaker identity and discover how ancient Quaker principles provide a roadmap for modern resistance. 

He reveals remarkable acts of civil disobedience happening right under our noses, and explains why recognizing these moments of courage is crucial for building sustained resistance. This vital conversation explores finding strength in uncertainty, courage in community, and hope in the midst of chaos, offering practical resources for resistance grounded in spiritual practice.

Daniel Hunter – https://www.danielhunter.org/

Choose Democracy – https://choosedemocracy.us/

“How We Win: A Guide to Nonviolent Direct Action Campaigning” by George Lakey

World Quaker Day is on Sunday, October 5th, 2025, and this year’s theme is “Love your neighbor.” Friends World Committee for Consultation would like to invite you to take that message to heart and live it out in your own local community. Find helpful ideas for how to do that and free resources at fwcc.world/worldquakerday.

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In times of political upheaval, when institutions feel unreliable and the future uncertain, how do we resist authoritarianism without becoming what we oppose? Daniel Hunter, co-founder of "Choose Democracy" and seasoned organizer, shares how Trump's election unexpectedly led him to claim his Quaker identity and discover how ancient Quaker principles provide a roadmap for modern resistance. He reveals remarkable acts of civil disobedience happening right under our noses, and explains why recognizing these moments of courage is crucial for building sustained resistance. This vital conversation explores finding strength in uncertainty, courage in community, and hope in the midst of chaos, offering practical resources for resistance grounded in spiritual practice.

Daniel Hunter - https://www.danielhunter.org/

Choose Democracy - https://choosedemocracy.us/

"How We Win: A Guide to Nonviolent Direct Action Campaigning" by George Lakey

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A few months ago, twenty police officers smashed down the door of Westminster Quaker meetinghouse and arrested a handful of young activists as they sat eating hummus and breadsticks. This dramatic raid triggered a profound response from a faith community that hasn't been the target of a similar action since the 17th century.  

When the very act of dissent is being criminalized, how do we stand up for what is right? How do we demand justice while leaving the door open for reconciliation? Can silence, solidarity, and a simple cup of tea challenge the aggression of the state?  

Youth Demand - https://youthdemand.org/

Quakers in Britain - https://www.quaker.org.uk/

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Professor and activist Chloe Schwenke shares her journey as a transgender woman finding acceptance within her Quaker community while navigating increasing political attacks on trans rights. She explores the concept of "Quaker anger" as a spiritual response to injustice and calls for authentic action beyond just feeling stricken by current events. This conversation examines how faith communities can move from witnessing suffering to actively defending human dignity in times of crisis.

Read her memoir, "SELF-ish: A Transgender Awakening" by Chloe Schwenke

Visit the episode page for a transcript, links and discussion questions.

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