For the final Transformative Wisdom special of this season, Dora sat down with Faith in Public Life Chief Operations Officer Rev. Dr. Matthew Scraper to discuss the relationship between Christianity and indigenous traditions in his own story and our nation's history. Matthew Scraper is a seasoned nonprofit executive with a Master of Divinity and a Doctor of Ministry in Organizational Leadership from Asbury Theological Seminary.

He recently served as the Chief Operating Officer at the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits, where he led strategic planning and managed financial oversight to support the organization’s goals and expand its reach. An ordained elder in the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference of the United Methodist Church, Matthew has a strong foundation in community and spiritual leadership, which he has demonstrated throughout his career. He has also served in various pastoral roles, supporting and guiding diverse communities through his ministry. In addition to his leadership roles, Matthew is a U.S. Army veteran, an experience that has honed his organizational and strategic skills. He is actively involved in the community, serving on boards and volunteering with organizations such as the First Americans Museum, where he contributes to initiatives that drive significant community impact.

The Cross and the Trail: The Battle for Cherokee Spiritual Sovereignty

To see more episodes of Wrestling Out Loud: Faith and Liberation and see more of Faith in Public Life Action's work visit www.fplaction.com

This Juneteenth, our Theologian in Residence is in conversation with Kritee Kanko on liberation and reproductive health. Together they share their experiences of building spaces for liberation and envision what freedom looks like, even under oppressive systems.

Kritee is a Buddhist priest, Climate scientist, Zen teacher, Grief-Rage ceremony leader, and Love-Justice advocate and writer. She is the founding guiding teacher of Boundless in Motion and a cofounder of Rocky Mountain Ecodharma Retreat Center. 

To see more episodes of Wrestling Out Loud: Faith and Liberation and see more of Faith in Public Life Action's work visit www.fplaction.com

For our season finale of Wrestling Out Loud: Faith and Liberation, I’m honored to welcome Sunita Viswanath, a longtime human rights leader whose life’s work has been grounded in the belief that faith must be deeply tied to social justice. Sunita has co-founded several organizations such as: the international human rights organization Women for Afghan Women and the Hindu social justice organization Sadhana.  She currently leads Hindus for Human Rights as co-founder and Executive Director. Sunita has been a trailblazer in mobilizing Hindu Americans to reclaim a progressive, inclusive spiritual practice. Her decades of activism from New York to Afghanistan, remind us that spirituality and social change are deeply intertwined. In our conversation, we talk about what it means to be a faith leader in politically volatile times, how to resist with conviction, and where we go from here.

To see more episodes of Wrestling Out Loud: Faith and Liberation and see more of Faith in Public Life Action's work visit www.fplaction.com

Idit Klein is a visionary leader who has spent three decades at the forefront of movements for justice. As the founding president of Keshet, Idit has transformed the landscape of Jewish life by making LGBTQ+ equality not just a conversation, but a communal value and a call to action. From building national community programs for LGBTQ+ teens and serving as executive producer on a documentary film, to mobilizing Jewish communities nationwide, her work is a masterclass in what deep, lasting inclusion truly looks like. In our conversation, we talk about what it takes to move faith communities from performative to transformative, how to build coalitions across lines of difference, and what gives us hope in the face of rising attacks on our rights. 

To see more episodes of Wrestling Out Loud: Faith and Liberation and see more of Faith in Public Life Action's work visit www.fplaction.com

Imam Makram El-Amin, a steadfast voice for justice, dignity, and spiritual leadership in the heart of Minneapolis. For over two decades, Imam El-Amin has served his community through faith and action, guiding one of the city’s most vibrant masjids, addressing food insecurity and housing through leadership of the nonprofit Al Maa’uun, and showing up in moments of crisis with unwavering support. A student of the late Imam W. Deen Mohammed, his bridge-building across faiths and continents has taken him from the streets of Minneapolis to global stages with Bishop Desmond Tutu, the Dalai Lama, and Pope John Paul II. In this episode, we talk about what it means to lead through uncertainty, how to respond when sacred spaces are under threat, and how faith can be a light in even the darkest times.

To see more episodes of Wrestling Out Loud: Faith and Liberation and see more of Faith in Public Life Action's work visit www.fplaction.com

The Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis, a force of nature, minister, activist, and theologian. As the first African American and the first woman to serve as a senior minister in the historic Collegiate Church, she has spent her life advocating for justice, gender inclusion, and an end to gun violence. In this episode, we talk about the ways faith sustains activism, the stories that inspire resilience, and what it means to show up for our communities in times of crisis.

To see more episodes of Wrestling Out Loud: Faith and Liberation and see more of Faith in Public Life Action's work visit www.fplaction.com

This Memorial Day, our host Theologian in Residence Dora Muhammad and Rabbi Mike Rothbaum remember how our ancestors survived hardship and tragedy, and how our government creates so many of the conditions for said hardship. From  the Japanese internment camps during WWII, to Ellis Island and immigration stories of people being categorized upon arrival, they the richness of our stories and the true meaning of never forget. 

To see more episodes of Wrestling Out Loud: Faith and Liberation and see more of Faith in Public Life Action's work visit www.fplaction.com

Shivani Parikh, a powerhouse advocate for racial justice and immigrant rights. As a movement lawyer, she is on the front lines, defending tenants, challenging post-9/11 surveillance, and supporting working-class Desi families in their fight for dignity and power. Beyond the courtroom, Shivani is a leader in multiple civil and legal organizations, ensuring that advocacy extends beyond policy and into real change. In our conversation, we talk about the urgent challenges in today’s political landscape and the pathways forward for justice.

To see more episodes of Wrestling Out Loud: Faith and Liberation and see more of Faith in Public Life Action's work visit www.fplaction.com

Sonny Singh is a musician and activist whose work sits at the intersection of faith, culture, and justice. From his early days singing Sikh devotional music, to touring the world with Red Baraat, Sonny has always used his voice, both literal and figurative, to inspire change. His solo music, praised by NPR and Rolling Stone India, carries messages of hope, resilience, and defiance. In our conversation, we discuss how faith informs activism, how music fosters belonging, and what it means to stay spiritually grounded in uncertain times.

To see more episodes of Wrestling Out Loud: Faith and Liberation and see more of Faith in Public Life Action's work visit www.fplaction.com

As the co-founder of Black Voters Matter, LaTosha Brown has dedicated her life to expanding democracy, fighting voter suppression and empowering Black communities across the country. Her work bridges past and present civil rights movements, and she understands deeply the moral responsibility faith communities have in times of crisis. In our conversation, we discuss the personal moments that shaped her commitment to justice, the role faith leaders must play to protect democracy, and how we can all take action in the fight ahead.

To see more episodes of Wrestling Out Loud: Faith and Liberation and see more of Faith in Public Life Action's work visit www.fplaction.com