In this special episode of Quakers Today, we share a conversation from The Seed: Conversations for Radical Hope. Host Dwight Dunston speaks with Dr. Riyam Kafri Abu Laban, an educator, writer, and former principal at Ramallah Friends School. From her home in Ramallah, Dr. Kafri Abu Laban reveals how Palestinian cuisine is deeply tied to identity, history, and resilience. Despite the challenges of forced displacement and cultural appropriation, Palestinian food remains a bridge to the past and...

One of the original creators of the groundbreaking book Our Bodies, Ourselves, shares her role in writing the first edition and reveals how each subsequent edition reflected the input from diverse voices.

In this episode of Quakers Today, co-hosts Peterson Toscano (he/him) and Miche McCall (they/them) explore how queer Quakers respond to climate change with joy, creativity, and radical inclusion. The episode features Damon Motz-Storey and Lina Blount, who delve into the intersection of queerness, spirituality, and climate activism. Miche and Peterson also review two books that provide fresh perspectives on environmentalism and queer ecology. Featured Segments: Queer Quaker Responses to Climate...

What is Prefigurative Practice and how can it help us live in the future today?

We explore George Fox’s and Richard Nixon’s complex histories. How do we reconcile their significant contributions with their troubling actions and inactions?

In this episode of Quakers Today, we ask, “What does it mean to be welcomed in a space?” Peterson Toscano (he/him) and Miche McCall (they/them) discuss the concept of feeling welcome. Miche describes their sense of safety under a blanket while podcasting from Logrono, Spain, during their Camino de Santiago pilgrimage. They explore how welcoming spaces can be challenging for individuals with unique identities, especially in religious settings, and emphasize that genuine inclusivity often...

Birdwatching may seem like a serene, perhaps even solitary activity, but in the latest episode of the Quakers Today Podcast, we discover it’s a window into much larger conversations about community, justice, and spirituality.

Dive into the heart of Quakerism with the season three premiere of the Quakers Today Podcast. Join Peterson Toscano and new co-host Miche McCall as they explore the intersections of faith, activism, and community.

Get ready for a pre-season treat with ’Quakers Today’ as Peterson Toscano revisits the highlights of season two and sets the stage for the upcoming season three. From the 400th birthday of George Fox to the trickster activism of the Yes Men, this episode is a tapestry of Quaker values and modern challenges. Hear from a Quaker hunter who finds spirituality in nature and a business owner who redefines leadership through circle thinking. Plus, an original short story that will transport you to...

Exploring the intersection of Quaker values and global challenges, this episode features leading Quakers discussing non-violence, peace, and justice in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine.

Few people know just how much Quakers influenced writer, Virginia Woolf.Hear about Virginia’s aunt, Carolina Stephen. Plus a new short story by Vicki Winslo

A dramatized reading of the original short story, ”Sabbatical” by Quaker author, Vicki Winslow

In this episode of Quakers Today we ask, Outside of Quaker Worship, where do Quakers seek inspiration, spirituality, and community? Whether you’re looking to understand the charismatic charm of megachurches, the deep-rooted history of Pendle Hill, England or the mysticism of Howard Thurman, this episode invites listeners to broaden their horizons and embrace the myriad ways the Spirit speaks to us.

An activist group tricked the media and public with a false story which ended up exposes a lie about a corporation. But do the ends justify the means? Hear about the Quaker behind the Barbie Hoax.

Quaker Worship, Nature, and Hunting The episode introduces Timothy Tarkelly, a Quaker in Chanute, Kansas with a deep love for nature. Tarkelly draws parallels between the stillness of Quaker worship and his experiences in the outdoors, emphasizing the power of silence and anticipation in both settings. He wrote the Friends Journal article, Allowable Diversions: A Friend Explores the Morality of Hunting.  Timothy published several books of poetry including On Slip Rigs and Spiritual Growth...

In this episode of Quakers Today we ask, What Do You Desire? Linda Seger speaks about Circle Thinking. It is counter-cultural, highly effective, and something Quakers have been doing for a very long time. Her article, “Circle Thinking, A Quaker Model of Leadership” appears in the June/July 2023 issues of Friends Journal. Linda is the author of 34 books, including Beyond Linear Thinking: Changing the Way We Live and Work. Read Carl Blumthal’s review of Linda’s book online FriendsJournal.org....

In this episode of Quakers Today we ask, What do you expect and need from a leader? Kat Griffith steps out of her comfort zone and runs for local office. The lessons she has learned about herself and her community will encourage, inspire, and challenge you. Learn more about her experience through her article,  “One Quaker’s Excellent Adventure in Politics.”Kat is a former high school teacher, homeschooler, and yearly meeting co-clerk. She describes her current circumstances as “cheerfully...

Was it a hoax? Group hysteria? Or was this a genuine spiritual encounter? Karla Jay tells us what she heard and saw on her visit to Asbury University.

In this episode of Quakers Today we ask, What are your thoughts and feelings about virtual online worship communities?  Writer Linda Seger talks about the essential work of centering into quiet as part of her regular writing process. In her QuakerSpeak interview, “Quakerism, Creativity, and the Artistic Process,” Linda shares about her approach to creativity and spirituality and how it is shaped by her Quaker faith.“Being able to center allows you to go to the computer to start that process...

In this episode of Quakers Today we ask, How has your view of Jesus God or religion changed since you were young?  Hayden Hobby was raised in an evangelical church. He reflects on leaving an abusive God and finding a new way of expressing faith. For Quakers today Hayden talks about the experience that led him to write the essay "Surviving Religious Trauma, How I left an Abusive God." Today he studies in a program taught jointly by Bethany Theological Seminary, and Earlham School of...

Lucy Duncan and Rob Peagler from Reparation.Works discuss the questions that help guide their work. Lucy has been involved with groundbreaking reparations efforts in Philadelphia's Green Street Friends Meeting. Later this month Lucy and Rob will co-lead an online workshop called Exploring a Quaker Commitment to Reparative Justice. It is sponsored by Pendle Hill Quaker Center in collaboration with the Woodbrooke Centre in Birmingham, England. We share an edited excerpt of the conversation....

In this episode of Quakers Today we ask, “What does redemption mean to you?”  Attorney, coach, mediator, and Quaker thought leader, Adria Gulizia, speaks with Peterson Toscano about evil. Adria’s article “Facing Evil, Finding Freedom: How Christ's Victory Over Sin Is Ours to Share Today” appears in the December 2022 issue of Friends Journal. To read more of Adria Gulizia’s writing visit Shadow of Babylon.  Click here to hear a longer version of this conversation We hear from a group of...

In this episode of Quakers Today we ask, “What is a fictional story that has inspired you or challenged your world view?”

Hi I’m Peterson Toscano. I am a Quaker and a podcaster. Whenever I tell someone that they thought I think they imagine some dude sitting behind a microphone in quiet contemplation.  Ah, no. For me podcasting is all about sounds. It is also about people and the stories they have to tell.  For over 10 years I have produced or hosted nearly 10 podcasts. They have touched on a variety of issues. LGBTQ+ liberation, faith, Bible scholarship, climate justice, and storytelling. I come to all of these...