Western Friend Podcast

Keith Runyan is a Quaker change-maker and the new General Secretary of Quaker Earthcare Witness. He is a visionary and activist, born and  raised in Pacific Yearly Meeting in Northern California. In 2018, he  undertook a 12-day hunger strike while traveling in the ministry to  bolster awareness and action on the climate crisis and environmental  justice. In Episode 28 of our podcast series, Keith shares his vision for Quaker action for earth justice.

From today’s episode:

• Braiding Sweetgrass, book referenced in today’s episode
• Quaker Earthcare Witness

More information on Western Friend Podcast
More information on Soul Force Ones

Dr. Richard Grossman, a recently retired OBGYN, discusses abortion and community on this episode of the Western Friend Podcast. Dr. Grossman continues to work on several population-centered projects and shares about his work, his purpose, and his essay published in the most recent issue of the Western Friend magazine.  Later, the conversation is opened to members of the community who joined us for the live recording. 

Links:

• Dr. Grossman’s essay on Abortion and Community
• Website for Population Matters

Episode 26 of the Western Friend Podcast features the keynote panel conversation from Pacific Yearly Meeting, held on July 22, 2023. The episode begins with an introduction by presiding clerk of PYM Laura Magnani, and is followed by the panel discussion led by Sofia Faith Cantu, who goes by Faith and Nora Lisette Cooke, who addressing the topic of centering the voices of the next generation.

There are a few moments where the speakers pose a query for reflection. Feel free to take a moment to pause the episode if you would like to reflect, and resume when ready. There are brief musical intermissions that indicate when you can pause. 

We hope you enjoy this month’s episode, and stay tuned for new episodes released the first Saturday of every month. You can also find all of the previous episodes wherever you get your podcasts. 

Episode 25 features an intergenerational panel of speakers at the 2023 Annual Session of North Pacific Yearly Meeting – in conversation on the theme, “Meeting at the Corner of Wisdom and Power.” Facilitated by Paul Christansen of Eastside Friends meeting, the panelists include:  

Zane Freewyn, Multnomah Monthly Meeting

Hazel Jordan, Olympia Friends Meeting

Adam Billen, South Seattle Friends Meeting

Jane Snyder, Multnomah Monthly Meeting

Jerry Graville, Lopez Island Monthly Meeting

Click below for links to:

• Western Friend Podcast
• Western Friend
• Soul Force Ones

This episode features the keynote address by Jon Watts given at the 2023 IMYM annual gathering on the theme of “Becoming the Quakers the world needs today.” 

Jon is a Quaker media creator and spiritual entrepreneur, and a member of the Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting. He founded the QuakerSpeak project as well as a NEW podcast called Thee Quaker. 

Below you can find links to the projects he references in today’s episode:

• Dance Party Erupts During Quaker Meeting for Worship
• How Does Culture Influence Quaker Worship?
• Thee Quaker Podcast
  • Quakers and The Internet
  • George Fox and the Birth of Quakerism
  • Quaker Meeting for Worship
• Why I Blockaded 40,000 Tons of Coal with a Lobster Boat

Don’t forget, you can find all previous episodes in the archives wherever you listen, and new episodes are released the first Saturday of each month. Thank you for tuning in!

Episode 23 of the Western Friend Podcast features a conversation with teacher, speaker, author, scholar, and activist Philip Clayton. He is president of the Institute for Ecological Civilization ("EcoCiv") and the Institute for Postmodern Development of China.  On this Episode with community, he examines questions like: Is it simple to live simply? And just how complicated, or simple, it is to attain ecological civilization?

Attorney, peace activist, author, educator, and former member of the Virginia State Legislature Bill Durland joins us for episode 22 of the Western Friend Podcast. Delving into the theme of "Martyrs for the Truth," Dr. Durland shares about his journey to Quakerism and Pacifism, why more people aren’t standing up for justice today, his history as a civil rights attorney and peace activist, optimism for today,  even...breaking the law! You don’t want to miss it!   

See his contributions to Western Friend HERE
You can find more of his writing HERE

The Soul Force Ones podcast can be accessed HERE

Episode 21 brings something new to the Western Friend Podcast! This is a panel discussion from a workshop on the topic of "Quaker Leadership of the Future." Following the panel and the open forum where panelists engaged each other in conversation, the Soul Force Ones add a 15 minute remix, where the hosts delve into the notion of non-theist Quakerism and how to bring folks into community. 

This episodes panel included:

• Folks who support leaders of the future in our yearly meetings:
  • IMYM – Erin Bates, Assistant to the Yearly Meeting
    • IMYM = Intermountain Yearly Meeting
  • NPYM — Paul Christiansen, Rising Clerk of the Yearly Meeting
    • NPYM = North Pacific Yearly Meeting
  • PacYM — Alma Moon, Co-Clerk of Young Adult Meeting
    • PacYM = Pacific Yearly Meeting
  • SCYMF — Erin Wilson, Coordinating Committee and Safeguarding Committee for the yearly meeting
    • SCYMF = Sierra Cascades Yearly Meeting of Friends
• Folks employed by Quaker organizations to support leaders of the future:
  • AFSC – Julian Andaya, Director of AFSC's Emerging Leaders for Liberation Program
    • AFSC = American Friends Service Committee
  • FCNL — Larissa Gil-Sanhueza, Senior Manager of FNCL’s Young Adult Program
    • FCNL = Friends Committee on National Legislation
  • QVS — Woody Logan-Wood, City Coordinator for the QVS Portland Program
    • QVS = Quaker Voluntary Service

Tom Ewell joins the Western Friend Podcast for Episode 20 to discuss non violent organizing and his work with the Sound Defense Alliance. Tom is is a member of Whidbey Island Friends Meeting and is active with Quaker Voice on Washington Public Policy and Friends Committee on National Legislation.  He is joined by maryon attwood and Terra Huey as they discuss the urgent need to address the noise made by Growler aircraft at the navy air station at Whidbey Island in Washington state.

You can read Tom's article, Persistence, in the Jan/Feb issue of the Western Friend Magazine HERE. 

You can find the full archive of Western Friend Podcast episodes HERE.

Episode 19 of the Western Friend Podcast features an interview with Barbara Birch. Barbara is a member of Strawberry Creek Meeting in Berkeley, California. She discusses her research on Elizabeth Fry, embodied spirituality and its relevance to Quakers today, as well as Friendly 12-Step recovery.

Click here to read Barbara's article in Western Friend, "Eilzabeth Gurney Fry: A Quaker Mess."