Thee Quaker Podcast

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The Daily Quaker Message is an invitation to enter into a closer relationship with Spirit. Every day in your inbox, you’ll get an email with a short Quaker message to meditate on. Often that will be a quote but sometimes a song, a poem, a piece of art, or a video. We’ll also share an exercise to try in your own life and a query to consider throughout the week. 

These daily emails are short but powerful, and we hope they will help you move toward a deeper spiritual practice.

Like the podcast, it’s free to subscribe! Sign up at DailyQuaker.com.

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Lifelong Quaker Bayard Rustin was the architect of the 1963 March on Washington, a mentor to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and an international peace activist. 

His identity as a gay man kept him in the shadows for decades, but he’s become something of an icon in recent years. In this episode, we explore the life and work of this groundbreaking Friend who made an indelible mark on American history.

Visit our episode page for more resources on Bayard Rustin, discussion questions, a transcript and more!

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Quakers have a long history of peacefully fighting for racial equality, and there is a lot to explore about their work during the Civil Rights Movement. 

In this episode, we share first-hand stories of Friends whose spiritual courage led them into the heart of the movement, even when they were beaten and threatened with death. Quakers were among the most influential advocates of nonviolent direct action, choosing boycotts and sit-ins over fists and guns. Today, we explore their work and how it affected one of the most important eras in American history.

Visit our episode page for links to books by our guests, discussion questions, a transcript, and to comment.

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Award-winning singer-songwriter Carrie Newcomer has been called a “prairie mystic” for her meditative, poetic lyrics and folk-infused melodies. Carrie is also a thoughtful Quaker, whose faith comes through in her music, her poetry, and her podcast with author Parker Palmer.

On this episode, Carrie shares how she came to Quakerism, how she writes from a place of meditation and silence, and, of course, she sings a few songs for us.

Learn more about Carrie Newcomer on her website.

Visit our episode page for discussion questions, a transcript, to comment, and more!

From our sponsor:

New Garden Friends Meeting in Greensboro, North Carolina, is accepting applications for a pastoral minister position through April 15, 2024. Find the job description at https://ngfm.org/pastoral-minister-job-description.

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Quaker clothing is something of a mystery for non-Quakers. For more than 300 years, Quakers have been known for their “plain dress.” But what does plain dress mean today?

On this episode, we talk to Quakers who have felt a spiritual leading to dress simply, but as you’ll hear, that means different things to different people.

Comment on this episode, consider our discussion questions, download a transcript and more on our episode page!

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When a midweek worship group for young Quakers sprung up at Portland Friends Meeting in Maine, it ruffled some feathers. Some wondered why they needed to meet separately. 

On today’s episode, we hear how this group of millennials found a spiritual home in not one but two weekly meetings for worship.

Our episode page has discussion questions, a transcript, a place to comment, and more. Check it out! 

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Why are there so few Black Quakers in mostly-white Quaker meetings? What can white Quakers do to support and encourage Friends of Color? And what can we learn from how Black Friends worship? 

This season we’re taking inspiration from Civil Rights organizer Bayard Rustin and looking at how Black Quakers are at work in the world, starting with our first episode of Season 2.

In this episode, we talk to Ayesha Imani, a founder of the Ujima Friends Meeting and Ujima Friends Peace Center.

Through Ujima, Black Friends have created a vibrant hub of worship, culture, and peace by providing for the needs of their Philadelphia neighborhood as they try to embody the Beloved Community — an idea championed by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in which everyone is cared for and there is no poverty, hunger or hate.

Go to the episode page for discussion questions, a transcript and to leave a comment.

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This year, we’re exploring the life and work of spiritually courageous Friends like Bayard Rustin. We’re delving into burning questions about Quakerism. We’re going inside Quaker meetings across the U.S. and the world. And we’ll introduce you to new voices!

Don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss an episode.

Leave a comment and find transcripts and discussion questions for every episode at QuakerPodcast.com.

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We’re looking back at some of your favorite episodes and ours with our year-end countdown. Join us as we remember some of the most thoughtful moments in our first season. 

Find links to all of the episodes mentioned, a transcript, and discussion questions at https://quakerpodcast.com/our-top-5-episodes-of-the-year.

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Should Quakers still be on social media? In this bonus episode, author and professor Wess Daniels talks about why he left Facebook and Twitter, and how he's encouraging his students to take a step back from the algorithm to explore an age-old Quaker practice: silence.

Visit our episode page to learn more about Wess Daniels, share your thoughts, read our transcript, and review our discussion questions.

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