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Podcast
The State of Belief
Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush’s weekly podcast features conversations with diverse leaders — spiritual, civic, and artistic— who strive to build a more just and inclusive America. The show highlights personal stories of resilience, promotes religious diversity, and combats extremism. It also explores how citizens and politicians can collaborate to create a welcoming nation, celebrating the positive contributions of diverse beliefs.
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On Diversity and Democracy With Wajahat Ali
This week on The State of Belief, Host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush talks with author, commentator and attorney Wajahat Ali, who maintains that everybody has a superpower. Waj lists some of them, and stresses how important it is not to throw up our hands in the face of massive challenges and threats from the current administration and its supporters.
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Book Bans vs. the Right to Read: Kelly Jensen and Rev. Amos Brown
This week on The State of Belief, host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush welcomes Kelly Jensen. She’s a passionate advocate for intellectual freedom, democracy, and the right to read. As an editor at Book Riot and a former librarian, Kelly has been at the forefront of the fight against book bans and censorship. The urgent conversation covers the growing wave of censorship, the role of religious extremism in book-banning efforts, and what we can do to safeguard free expression and democratic values.
12/5/2025
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Faith is Standing Strong: Rev. Dr. Shannon Fleck
Host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush talks with Faithful America Executive Director Rev. Dr. Shannon Fleck about the threat to the constitutional Establishment Clause posed by the Supreme Court case St Isidore, and the hope for bringing people together across lines of division around shared values and priorities.
5/5/2025
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Remembering Pope Francis: Father James Martin Reflects on LGBTQ+ inclusion, environmentalism, and compassionate leadership
Explore the lasting legacy of Pope Francis through the eyes of Father James Martin. From LGBTQ+ inclusion and environmentalism to his compassionate leadership, reflect on what made Pope Francis a transformative figure.
21/4/2025
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How We Love Is To Tell the Truth - Michael Eric Dyson
This week on The State of Belief, host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, a distinguished professor at Vanderbilt University and a passionate advocate for social justice.
14/4/2025
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The Rule of Law and the Chaos of MAGA: Jay Michaelson
This week on The State of Belief, Rabbi Dr. Jay Michaelson discusses U.S. politics, censorship, antisemitism, and LGBTQ+ rights with Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, emphasizing faith, activism, and defending democracy.
24/3/2025
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About State of Belief
Paul hosts weekly conversations with inspiring spiritual leaders, civic exemplars, artists and activists from across the country who are working, in the words of the great James Baldwin, ‘to achieve our country.’ The State of Belief Radio features personal stories of resilience with individuals from diverse backgrounds and offers stories from communities across America who are working for an inclusive religious diversity with dignity for people of faith and no faith.
Support the podcast
We are only able to keep State of Belief on the air thanks to listeners like you! Please visit this form to learn about ways to give.
Connect with our team
Contact our office via phone or email to learn more about The State of Belief.
About the team
Learn more about the Producer of The State of Belief Podcast, Ray Kirstein.
The State of Belief Producer
Ray Kirstein
Ray has been our producer since 2010. In recent years, Ray has made his home in Leipzig, Germany while continuing to produce State of Belief Radio.
The State of Belief Host
Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush
Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush is President and CEO of Interfaith Alliance.
