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© 2025 Wendland-Cook Program in Religion and Justice
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Welcome to "Religion and Justice," a podcast brought to you by the Wendland-Cook Program in Religion and Justice at Vanderbilt Divinity School.
Hosted by Gabby Lisi (she/they/he) and George Schmidt (he/him/ours), we explore the intersections of class, religion, labor, and ecology, uncovering their implications for justice.
This podcast is a space for investigation, education, and organizing around these intersections. Join us as we engage in thought-provoking discussions with experts, fostering dialogue for actionable change.
Together, we navigate religion, justice, and solidarity for a more equitable future.
30 Episodes
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What if “reconciliation” lets the powerful off the hook? We sit with theologian and former United Church of Canada moderator Carmen Lansdowne to rethink repair from the ground up—centering Indigenous wisdom, circular time, and mission reimagined as solidarity. Carmen opens a candid window into her story of sobriety, Advent, and returning to a faith that saved her life, then presses the church to pair grace with real accountability: stop harm, welcome transformation, and measure change by rela...
Benny Overton and Rosemarie Henkel-Rieger share their journey building the Southeast Center for Cooperative Development and explain how cooperative businesses create a democratic alternative to traditional capitalism. • Origins in labor organizing and union work with UAW and AFL-CIO • Different types of cooperatives including worker-owned, consumer, and producer co-ops • Cooperatives address power imbalances structurally rather than just contractually • Co-op Academy provides training throug...
This episode was recorded in May 2025. We'll have Fr. Bruce back on the pod to discuss our new pope in the coming months! What makes a pope "Marxist"? Is challenging capitalism equivalent to embracing communism? Father Bruce Morrill, Jesuit priest and theological scholar, joins us for a fascinating exploration of Pope Francis's complex legacy and the radical vision that defined his papacy. We begin with the surprising history of the Jesuits—known as the "Pope's Marines" and sometimes e...
What happens when theology meets revolution? In this episode of Religion and Justice, we sit down with Joshua Bartholomew, author of Black Theology and the Black Panthers, to explore the rich, radical relationship between Black Christian theology and one of the most influential political movements of the 20th century. Bartholomew walks us through the theological foundations of the Black Panther Party, the spiritual imagination of figures like James Cone and Huey Newton, and how Black theology...
What if justice — as we commonly understand it — isn’t enough? In this episode, theologians David True and Tom James, co-authors of The Transcendence of Desire: A Theology of Political Agency, join us to explore the limitations of liberal justice frameworks and the radical potential of love-as-desire. We talk about the co-optation of justice under capitalism and how eros — not sacrifice — might be the generative ground of prophetic politics. From Antigone’s defiant love to James Cone’s revolu...
Recorded in January 24, 2025. Built upon four blog posts from Joerg, Aaron, Gabby, and George, this event will explore how faith and justice intersect to create pathways for collective liberation. At the heart of this conversation is the belief that mourning, grief, and collective suffering can be powerful tools for social change. Rooted in the understanding that justice is not just a personal endeavor but a communal one, we will explore how faith traditions and movements for justice ca...
In this episode of Religion and Justice, Gabby and George welcome Terra and Joerg, co-editors of Liberating People, Planet, and Religion: Intersections of Ecology, Economics, and Christianity. Their groundbreaking work explores how faith communities can confront ecological devastation and economic inequality, offering a powerful call to action for justice and sustainability. Join us as we dive into the origins of their book, the pressing questions it tackles, and the ways religious traditions...
Editor's Note: We originally uploaded this episode with audio for a Terra and Joerg episode. The corrected episode was uploaded shortly thereafter (~48 hours). The official Terra and Joerg episode will be released in mid-February. Stay tuned! In this episode, Gabby and George talk with Dr. Terra Schwerin Rowe, an Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy and Religion at the University of North Texas. Dr. Rowe is a leading voice in the emerging fields of energy humanities and c...
In this special Christmas episode of Religion and Justice, we are joined by Dr. Joerg Rieger to unpack the profound and often overlooked realities of the nativity story. Far from the idyllic scenes of "Silent Night, Holy Night," Dr. Rieger presents the birth of Jesus as a story of drama, precarity, and resilience amidst imperial power and systemic injustice. We explore how Jesus’s precarious beginnings—born in a stable, fleeing as a refugee, and navigating the threats of empire—mirror the str...
In this special episode, George and Gabby take a backseat as we present a powerful conversation featuring Dr. Joerg Rieger, Dr. Elaine Nogueira-Godsey, and moderated by Dr. Jeremy Posadas. Together, they explore the intertwined exploitation of people and the planet, examining how Christianity has historically contributed to systemic injustices. But it’s not just about identifying the problems — it’s about seeking solutions and discovering how those most impacted can lead the way. Tune in to h...
In this special episode, we honor the life and legacy of Gustavo Gutiérrez, a towering figure in the realm of liberation theology. Gabby and George sit down with esteemed scholars Jung Mo Sung and Joerg Rieger, both of whom have been influenced by Gustavo's teachings and friendship. Through reflections and shared memories, our guests illuminate the transformative power of Gutiérrez’s work, exploring how his commitment to justice and solidarity continues to inspire and challenge us today...
In this episode of Religion and Justice, we sit down with Dr. Tad DeLay to discuss his latest work, Future of Denial: Ideologies of Climate Change. As global temperatures rise and wildfires, droughts, and floods become more common, denialism continues to morph—from greenwashing corporate strategies to political distractions. Tad DeLay offers a deep dive into the psychology, history, and capitalist machinery that fuel climate change denial. We explore the violent consequences of this denial fo...
In this episode, Gabby and George dive into the connections between ecological exploitation, economic inequality, and religion with renowned theologian Joerg Rieger. As the founder of the Wendland-Cook Program in Religion and Justice at Vanderbilt, Rieger shares insights on "deep solidarity," a concept that unites various forms of exploitation across class, race, gender, and environment to foster resilient alternatives. Rieger highlights how ecological care and human liberation are intertwin...
In this episode, we sit down with theologian Priscila Alves Gonçalves da Silva to explore how faith, solidarity, and human resilience intersect in times of socio-economic despair. Drawing on her personal experiences growing up in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro and witnessing her mother’s struggles during the COVID-19 pandemic, Priscila delves deep into the feelings of helplessness caused by modern capitalist systems. She reflects on how the working class often internalizes guilt for their pove...
In this special episode, George and I take a break from hanging out with our guests and let Aaron Stauffer lead! Join Aaron, Director of Online Learning at Vanderbilt Divinity School, as he leads a compelling conversation with three distinguished scholars exploring the deep connections between the social gospel movement, labor, and economic justice in the South. In this episode, our guests—Associate Professor of History of Christianity Paul Lim, Distinguished Professor of Theology Joer...
In this episode, we explore the intersection of religion, ecology, and economics through the lens of the Wendland-Cook Program's "Liberating People and the Planet" series. We delve into how capitalism entangles communities in destructive ways and how religion might offer liberative practices to imagine a more enlivening future. The companion book to this series has been released this Summer 2024, Liberating People, Planet, and Religion: Intersections of Ecology, Economics, and Religion (2024...
In this episode, hosts Gabby Lisi and George Schmidt are joined by Robert Kell, the New Economy Program Manager with Appalachian Voices and a graduate of Vanderbilt Divinity School (Wendland-Cook Program Fellow). Together, they discuss Robert's article, "Flooding in Appalachia Calls Us to Redemptive Work," which delves into the environmental and social challenges facing Appalachia. Robert shares his personal connection to the Appalachian region, recounting the lessons he learned from his Gran...
In this episode, hosts Gabby Lisi and George Schmidt sit down with Genevieve Rand, a prominent leader in the trans worker rights movement. Together, they delve into the struggles and triumphs of trans workers in the labor movement, discussing the unique challenges they face and how unions can better support them. Genevieve shares powerful stories of resilience, solidarity, and hope in the face of growing hostility toward trans individuals. Join us for an insightful and inspiring conversation ...
In this episode of Religion and Justice, hosts George and Gabby sit down with members of the Vanderbilt Divest Coalition, Palestine Hurra Collective, Vanderbilt Divinity School Students Against Genocide, and Vanderbilt Graduate Workers United to discuss the urgent issues of divestment, Palestine, and the Vanderbilt administration's response to the Gaza Solidarity Encampment. Join us as we hear firsthand accounts of activism and solidarity on-campus, explore the motivations behind divestment e...
In this episode of "Religion and Justice," George Schmidt sits down with Chaia Heller, a writer, activist, and prominent voice in the field of social ecology. The discussion revolves around Chaia's article, "Tales from Eco-la-la Land," which explores the intersection of spirituality and ecological philosophy, and addresses the problems of moralizing and depoliticization within the ecological movement. Chaia shares her journey from studying with Murray Bookchin, the creator of social ecology, ...
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