The Revealer

Why have wealthy tech industry executives aligned themselves with conservative Christians and what are their shared political goals? Bradley Onishi, author of American Caesar: How Theocrats and Tech Lords are Turning America into a Monarchy, joins us to discuss why tech leaders and conservative Christians see democracy as a problem. What are the overlapping priorities that brought this alliance together? Why do they no longer view democracy as essential to the United States? And, what needs to happen to push back against this movement so we can preserve democracy in America?

How are Christian women empowering the political right, and what are the issues that unite them? Katie Gaddini, author of Esther’s Army: The Christian Women Who Power the American Right, joins us to discuss the large demographic of politically conservative Christian women in the U.S. How do these women see themselves and their fellow conservative Christians? How do they view issues of gender, sexuality, and race? And, what might people on the political left do to encourage Christian women on the right to work for a more just and equitable society?

Why should we consider women specifically when thinking about the conspiracy theories that haunt and shape American politics? Noelle Cook, author of The Conspiracists: Women, Extremism, and the Lure of Belonging, joins us to discuss the women who stormed the Capitol on January 6 and the conspiracy theories they believe. What are some of the most prominent conspiracy theories January 6 women insurrectionists believe? How do conspiracy theories function like a religion? How are conspiracy theory communities a reaction to the problems facing the world? And, what can be done about the massive problem of political conspiracy theories today?

What are the limits of today’s wellness culture and how might thinking about the religious roots of wellness trends give them more meaning? Liz Bucar, author of Beyond Wellness: How Restoring the Religious Roots of Spiritual Practices Can Heal Us, joins us to discuss today’s wellness industry. How might things like yoga and fitness classes offer more if we think about religion? How might religion counter some of the dangers of detox dieting? What can some of the religiously-rooted teachings in Alcoholics Anonymous offer all of us? And, even for those of us who feel uncomfortable with religion, what can religious insights offer that can help with genuine well-being?

What is the history of evangelical queer activism? William Stell, author of Born Again Queer: A History of Evangelical Gay Activism and the Making of Antigay Christianity, joins us to discuss what gay evangelical activists set out to achieve. Who were some of the most prominent evangelical gay activists and what were their goals? How did evangelical leaders and institutions respond to this activism? What led to the decline in evangelical gay activism such that many people today cannot imagine it was ever a viable movement? And, what is the state of evangelical queer activism right now?