Ray Kirstein
State of Belief Producer

Ray Kirstein

Ray Kirstein has served as producer for The State of Belief since 2010. That’s somewhere in the area of 750 episodes and counting. Previously, Ray held diverse positions in radio including production, program director, and announcer at several country music stations, and leadership roles at Sirius Satellite Radio and the Air America Radio Network. (He’s also worked for the State Department at one point but that’s still kind of hush-hush.)

This all began early in his life with helping his parents produce a Lithuanian-language radio program for expats in Ray’s hometown of Rochester, NY. (First time on the air? Age 3, reciting a poem as the easter bunny…) The experience of building community using the spoken word in that setting has been a component of every job on his resumé – and nowhere more so than at Interfaith Alliance.

Ray’s been living in Germany since 2012, and loves being in nature, exploring new places in Europe, and telling everyone who will listen about how amazing his little dog is.

"Congregation of the World": Union Seminary's Rev. Dr. Serene Jones
State of Belief
June 6, 2026

"Congregation of the World": Union Seminary's Rev. Dr. Serene Jones

The first woman president of historic Union Theological Seminary in New York City reflects on her 18 years in the position, and on the state of activism and religious vocation in 2026 America.

Lessons in Empathy from an Unlikely Rabbi: Angela Buchdahl
State of Belief
May 30, 2026

Lessons in Empathy from an Unlikely Rabbi: Angela Buchdahl

Rabbi Angela Buchdahl shares her inspiring journey as the first woman and Asian American rabbi at Central Synagogue, exploring themes of faith, identity, and belonging.

Vanita Gupta on Public Trust and the Role of Law in Our Democracy
State of Belief
May 23, 2026

Vanita Gupta on Public Trust and the Role of Law in Our Democracy

Sacred Stories for Our Moral Compass with a former US Associate Attorney General and lifelong civil rights champion.

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