Thee Quaker Podcast

Zachary Moon was raised in a Quaker Meeting full of anti-war protesters. Then he felt God calling him to join the military as a chaplain. In the following months and years he had to wrestle with that leading and the response of his family and community.On this week’s episode, we ask, what happens when your calling seems to be in opposition to the thing that unites your faith community? And can you be a Quaker pacifist while wearing a military uniform? Become a monthly supporter! Sign up for the Daily Quaker Message.

It’s been a little over two years since we embarked on this journey to give Quakers a platform in the digital age. We believe Quakers have something to offer in the 21st century, and by telling our stories and exploring our practices, we can both deepen and broaden the modern Quaker movement.This project—Thee Quaker Podcast—is part of our ecosystem of online Quaker media, along with The Daily Quaker Message and Quaker Videos, all published by Thee Quaker Project.Now with thousands of readers, listeners, and viewers around the world, Thee Quaker Project is bringing daily inspiration and courage to seekers and Quakers and supporting them to take the next steps on their spiritual journeys.Please consider supporting Thee Quaker Project with a gift of any size. It is only because of listeners like you that any of these projects exist at all.  Become a monthly supporter! Sign up for the Daily Quaker Message.

Unlike many Christian traditions, Quakers have no creed. So one of the most commonly asked questions about us—What do Quakers believe?—is sometimes a difficult one to answer. We posed the question to long-time Quakers, new Quakers, Quaker scholars, and more. Join us as we explore this nuanced and rich discussion of Quaker beliefs.This episode was originally released on July 10, 2024. Check out our full archives for more stories of spiritual courage.-------The School of the Spirit is now accepting applications for year two of its in-depth program "God’s Promise Fulfilled: Encountering and Embodying Grace in the Shadow of Empire." This second year focuses on moving from discernment into action. Participants explore their unique calls to action and learn how to live out their faith in the world, supported by a community of fellow seekers. The program is hybrid, offering four residencies (in-person or virtual) with online meetings in between. If you are seeking spiritual depth and a path for compassionate change, this is for you. Year two begins in May, and registration is open now. Learn more at schoolofthespirit.org/gpf. Become a monthly supporter! Sign up for the Daily Quaker Message.

Quaker author and activist Eileen Flanagan joins us to explore the wisdom that she has learned from her decades of experience in organizing around the climate crisis, and how that very crisis is exposing the “illusion of separation” in our times. Eileen helps us move beyond individual conviction to creating effective and diverse coalitions for positive social change."Common Ground: How the Crisis of the Earth is Saving Us from Our Illusion of Separation" by Eileen Flanagan---------------------Westtown School is a Quaker, college preparatory day and boarding school for students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade, located in West Chester, Pennsylvania, United States. Guided by the essential Quaker calling to seek out and honor that of God in each of us, Westtown School challenges its students to realize their individual gifts while learning and living together in a diverse community. Their campus sits on 600 acres of land that includes a 14 acre lake, an arboretum and natural forest, and an instructional organic farm. Learn more and schedule a visit at www.westtown.edu. Become a monthly supporter! Sign up for the Daily Quaker Message.

It’s one of the most asked questions about the faith: “Do Quakers read the Bible?”. The answer is complicated, as this single book has been used as both a brutal weapon and a profound source of liberation. This episode dives into that paradox, examining a faith that places a living Spirit above the written word. This distinction gives people permission to wrestle with the text, to question its authority, and even to find faith in walking away.Sarah Ruden: https://sarahruden.com/Ashley Wilcox: https://www.womenslectionary.com/Peterson Toscano: https://www.petersontoscano.com/about-peterson-----------Monteverde, Costa Rica -- January 15-20, 2026A Quaker-Led, Interfaith Spiritual RetreatAmid the mist and quiet beauty of a mountaintop cloud forest, Earth & Ember invites spiritual seekers and contemplatives to explore how our lives can be rooted in compassion and peace--while still engaging with a world marked by injustice, greed, and cruelty. Each day offers centering practices, meaningful participation in our rainforest community, rich spiritual conversation, and the wisdom of local scientists, artists, and peacemakers.Learn more at www.earthnember.com Become a monthly supporter! Sign up for the Daily Quaker Message.

What does it mean to “conspire for goodness” in a fractured world? We visit the historic Valley Mills Friends Meeting to talk with pastor Rachel Doll O’Mahoney about the power of a community built on deep, authentic care. Then, we hear her surprising sermon that reclaims the word “conspiracy” as a radical invitation to breathe together for a more hopeful purpose. Become a monthly supporter! Sign up for the Daily Quaker Message.

The Quaker experiment at Eastern State Penitentiary was meant to be a sanctuary for the soul, a place to reform criminals through silence and reflection. Instead, it accidentally engineered a form of psychological torture: solitary confinement. This episode uncovers the complicated history of this "Great Experiment" and then journeys to the offices of AFSC Prison Watch, where a new generation of Quaker activists are confronting this legacy by listening to the raw, firsthand accounts of people who have survived the modern system.  ---------------------------------------------Westtown School, a leading Quaker day school for Pre-K to 12th grade is hosting Open Houses this Fall. Upper School, Saturday, October 25th, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.Middle School, Thursday, October 30th, 9:00 to 11:30 a.m.Lower School, Wednesday, November 5th, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.Learn more at www.westtown.edu/fall. Become a monthly supporter! Sign up for the Daily Quaker Message.

Using both the pulpit and the page, Quaker pastor Philip Gulley has been a bold voice that challenges the church’s stance on heaven and hell, LGBTQ issues, and more. As he’s seen greater censorship in the publishing world, Phil has moved to an online newsletter where he examines the rise of Donald Trump and calls on Christians to be more active in the pursuit of truth and justice.In this interview, Jon speaks with Phil about Christian nationalism, his focus post-election, and much more.This episode was originally released on February 12, 2025. Check out our full archives for more stories of spiritual courage. Become a monthly supporter! Sign up for the Daily Quaker Message.

Despair doesn't serve the world, but neither does cheap hope. So what's the alternative? Join Quaker musician and author David LaMotte on a journey from smoky bar gigs to the silence of a Quaker meeting to discover a powerful vision of "grounded hope" that confronts the myth of powerlessness. Stick around for profound insights and two live song performances that will leave you feeling a little less alone and a lot more capable of changing the world. https://www.davidlamotte.com/ Become a monthly supporter! Sign up for the Daily Quaker Message.

Quakers have a long tradition of worshipping in silence, but what really happens when the room gets quiet? In this episode of Thee Quaker Podcast we visit a silent Quaker Meeting for worship and find out for ourselves about this challenging, powerful, and ultimately freeing experience of trying to listen for the divine in a noisy world. Become a monthly supporter! Sign up for the Daily Quaker Message.

This week, we take you to New Garden Friends Meeting in Greensboro, North Carolina where pastor Brenda Esch delivers a deeply personal message about the fear and promise of new beginnings.  Become a monthly supporter! Sign up for the Daily Quaker Message.

A group of Quakers embark on a grueling 300-mile walk from New York to Washington D.C. to deliver a powerful message to a government that doesn’t want to hear it. Their journey, inspired by a nearly 400-year-old act of solidarity, is unexpectedly thrust into the national spotlight when their quiet walk goes viral. This is a story about exhaustion, reluctant celebrity, and what happens when the end of the road is just the beginning of the real work.Watch the video of the walk here: https://www.quakervideos.com/the-quaker-walk-to-washington/------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 an event near you at worldquakerday.org.  Become a monthly supporter! Sign up for the Daily Quaker Message.

Sarah and Angelina Grimke were unapologetically anti-slavery and pro-women’s rights. Their convictions were driven by their faith in God, yet it got them booted from Quakerism, made their name a curse among their Southern peers, and even caused controversy among fellow abolitionists. The Grimke sisters made history, yet their names have largely been forgotten. Today, we introduce you to these unlikely abolitionists.-----Want to contribute to an upcoming episode?Leave us a voicemail and tell us what silent worship means to you and what tips you would give to someone who was trying it for the first time: Call us at 215-278-9411 or email a voice memo to producer@quakerpodcast.com  Become a monthly supporter! Sign up for the Daily Quaker Message.

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/  Become a monthly supporter! Sign up for the Daily Quaker Message.

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 Become a monthly supporter! Sign up for the Daily Quaker Message.

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 SlaveryThe 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. Become a monthly supporter! Sign up for the Daily Quaker Message.

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. Become a monthly supporter! 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.  Become a monthly supporter! Sign up for the Daily Quaker Message.

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? Become a monthly supporter! Sign up for the Daily Quaker Message.

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 LakeyWorld 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. Become a monthly supporter! Sign up for the Daily Quaker Message.