Freedom Road Podcast

On January 6th, White Christian Nationalists stormed the U.S. Capitol and revealed the breadth and depth of the distortion of Christianity in the U.S.. Listen in as host, Lisa Sharon Harper, Rev. Jennifer Butler, author of Who Stole My Bible?: Reclaiming Scripture as a Handbook for Resisting Tyranny, and South African public theologian, Rev. Rene’ August, lean deeper into our sacred texts in a way that shines light on the path forward to meet our challenges today. 

This month marks the 88th Anniversary of the opening of the very first Nazi concentration camp in the small town of Dachau. For five years the neo-Nazi movement in the U.S. gained ground during the 2016 Election cycle and under the Trump administration. On January 6, 2021, when white nationalists attempted an insurrection, Nazi language was scrawled across t-shirts and on banners. Marginalized communities across the country were stunned by what we saw. Given Jews' serial experience of expulsion and genocide, it is arguable that no group felt more of an existential threat on that day.Join host, Lisa Sharon Harper and guests, Rabbi Sharon Brous (IKAR) and Rabbi Jill Jacobs (T'ruah) as they engage in this transparent, vulnerable, mind-blowing conversation that leans into critical questions that we all must understand in this current moment: What is anti-Semitism? What are its roots? How do we recognize it when it is in the room? And what can we do about it? 

The world recently watched white nationalists scale the walls of the US Capitol Building to attempt an insurrection; killing 6 people, including 3 police officers. The world watched as 147 GOP members of Congress affirmed the lie that fueled the insurrection. The world watched as scores of GOP Senators voted not to even hear the evidence against the one man most responsible for the violence and the lies. Where do we go from here?Writing months before his passing, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr tells us exactly what happened on January 6, 2021 as he charts the path for America’s reformation. Listen in as host, Lisa Sharon Harper, and guest, Dr. Drew Hart, launch a six-week national study of Dr. King's book, Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community?, in this special episode of Freedom Road Podcast. For a deeper dive, join the National Book Study here: https://freedomroad.us/downloads/national-book-study-where-do-we-go-from-here-by-rev-dr-martin-luther-king/ 

In the final dark days of 2020, six presidents of Southern Baptist Seminaries issued publicly condemned Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality; forbidding the subjects from being taught at their institutions. Join host Lisa Sharon Harper on Freedom Road with special guests: Dr. Ange-Marie Hancock Alfaro (Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality scholar), Marlena Graves (evangelical scholar and activist), Dr. Drew Hart (professor of Theology, Race and Justice), Dr. Dennis Edwards (Pastor and New Testament scholar), Dr. Chris Williamson (Pastor of a multi-racial church in Nashville, TN and author). Dive deep, lean in and listen as these evangelical scholars and leaders of color set the record straight. 

Cast out in a boat without oars with host, Lisa Sharon Harper, and special guest, Wes Granberg Michaelson, author of Without Oars: Casting Off Into a Life of Pilgrimage. In our post-Trump America it is clear that white Americans are experiencing a major shake-up—especially white men. Something more is needed to address the questions of the white soul. Wes’s new book, Without Oars, might just point the way toward the transformation we need to embrace a new future for our nation and for the Church. 

Brian McLaren (author, speaker, activist) thinks outside of the box. He’s a true prophet who decodes the current moment and casts vision for what’s coming. Join host, Lisa Sharon Harper, and Brian McLaren as they dive deep on the state of white men in the post-Trump era--and what spiritual re-formation will require of them in this shifting age.

This fall Evangelicals launched an honest, raw conversation about our values for integrity and leadership. We decided this conversation was too good and the stakes are too high not to share with our podcast audience! We asked this core question: In our churches, are the principles of our faith guiding our politics? OR Is our politics guiding our principles?Join Lisa Sharon Harper as she hosts Rev. Dr. Alexia Salvatierra (Assistant Professor, Fuller Seminary), Kyle J. Howard (Theologian and trauma-informed soul-care specialist), Justin Adour (Lead Pastor at Redeemer East Harlem) and Andrea Lucado (Author and Journalist) in this National Town Hall on Evagelical Faith and Politics.

Interfaith leaders came together in the wake of the death of Mr. George Floyd by officers who knelt on his neck and body as he pled with them, “I can’t breathe!” In the weeks before and since Mr. Floyd’s death, multiple other black men, women and children have been killed by police. Listen as 14 of the most prolific and prophetic faith leaders in our nation engage the National Town Hall on Policing and Law Enforcement.Featuring: Host, Lisa Sharon Harper, Freedom RoadRabbi Sharon Brous, IKAR- Los AngelesValarie Kaur, Revolutionary Love ProjectBishop Yvette Flunder, Fellowship of Affirming MinistriesStosh Cotler, Bend the ArcBishop Darren Ferguson, Healing Communities USAShane Claiborne, Red Letter ChristiansSister Simone Campbell, NETWORK LobbyJim Wallis, Sojourners Rev. Dr. Leroy Barber, The Voices ProjectRev. Dr. Otis Moss III, Trinity United Church of ChristRev. Dr. Liz Theoharis, The Poor People’s CampaignRev. Aundreia Alexander, National Council of ChurchesRev. Adam Taylor, SojournersCo-sponsored by Freedom Road, LLC and Faith in Public Life

In the context of the most divided nation since the 1960’s millions of Americans came together online for The Mass Poor People’s Assembly and Moral March on Washington. Join host, Lisa Sharon Harper, in conversation with three leading voices of The Poor People’s Campaign: Rev. Liz Theoharis (Co-Chair), Yara Allen (Director of Theomusicology) and Callie Greer (Impacted Anti-Poverty Activist). Three powerful women of the Campaign give us the story behind the story of Poverty in America.

In this raw, honest, beautiful episode host, Lisa Sharon Harper, is joined by three guests, all of whom have intersections with the issue of disability. Shannon Dingle, Lisa Anderson, Amy Kenny and Lisa engage a rare kind of conversation--the kind that changes them in rare time, as we listen in. See the world through the eyes of these three disabled women. Be inspired and be changed forever.