For some, engaging in politics looks like watching particular cable news or social media networks and then amplifying whatever voices align with their own particular values or biases. But perhaps the key to healthy political engagement isn’t about spending time watching C-SPAN, but instead is about focusing on the people we are becoming. In this last episode of season 5 of The Disrupters, Kaitlyn Schiess welcomes Michael Wear, founder of the Center for Christianity and Public Life. Together...

When surrounded by all the needs in the world, people can become overwhelmed and paralyzed to even begin to engage politically if at all. But instead of thinking about every issue to engage in, perhaps the way forward is to find areas of deep focus and personal interest. In this fascinating dive into the convergence of personal faith and public life, host Kaitlyn Schiess welcomes Kathryn Freeman, a voice of experience at the intersection of theology and political advocacy.  Freeman's journey...

The impact of empire has far-reaching implications for the church, the nation, and the world. Even Christians who would claim that the kingdom of heaven is the only true ultimate rule and reign can find themselves complicit in supporting and furthering the empires of our current age. Former presidential candidate Mark Charles wanted to show a different way forward, using the political process to speak truth to power. In this thought-provoking episode, host Kaitlyn Schiess speaks with Charles...

For many Christians, disillusionment with the church has become more common as a result of institutional distrust and trauma. But internal confusion can also present people with an opportunity for self-examination and contemplation. In this episode, renowned theologian and ethicist Russell Moore joins Kaitlyn Schiess to discuss the essential work of self-reflection, accountability, and honesty in the face of cynicism. Through prayer, Scripture reading, and engagement in community, Moore...

How do the intertwining threads of love and justice weave a powerful narrative of transformation within the fabric of communities? In this episode, host Kaitlyn Schiess engages in a thoughtful conversation with guest Amy Williams, who has worked in gang intervention and restorative justice for over 29 years. Together, they explore practical avenues through which Christians can actively contribute to the restoration and flourishing of their neighborhoods, viewing the process through the lenses...

When most people hear the word "politics," their minds immediately go to partisan battles, ideological divisions, and the dysfunction of 24-hour news cycles.  This episode challenges the conventional notion of politics. Instead of focusing solely on partisan battles, ideological divides, and the often chaotic media cycle, it explores a more profound perspective with guest Luke Bretherton, a professor at Duke University and an expert in moral and political theology. Bretherton wants listeners...

Cultivating neighborliness may not seem to have much long-term impact, but its capacity to bridge diverse communities and ignite lasting connections demonstrates that it can actually have profound and far-reaching effects on our society. In this episode, host Kaitlyn Schiess engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Shannan Martin about her remarkable journey of cultivating neighborliness in her community through the twin pillars of civic engagement and nurturing...

American evangelicalism, at the intersection of faith and politics, has been a focal point of public discourse for decades. From presidential elections to heated policy debates, evangelicals have significantly influenced the nation's political landscape. While faith often motivates individuals to seek positive change, it can also become entangled in complex challenges, leading to what many describe as political dysfunction. In this episode, host Kaitlyn Schiess delves into this complex...

We live in a polarized world where conversations, particularly political ones, have evolved into a battlefield of words, frequently leaving emotional scars.  These discussions are no longer just about perspectives and opinions but deeply rooted emotions and personal experiences.  But have we ever paused to reflect on the connection between our emotional reactions, our bodily responses, and these complex dialogues? In this episode, host Kaitlyn Schiess explored this topic with therapist and...

Although there are notable examples of evangelical churches with overt ties to political leaders and leanings, many churches take a more ambivalent posture. Many pastors are loathe to even mention politics or political issues from the pulpit. But perhaps they can learn from the example of Black church leaders. As this week’s guest Tyler Burns explains, in the Black church a pastor's role often extends far beyond the walls of the church. They are not solely spiritual leaders but can also exert...

With another election season approaching, how can Christians navigate the challenging political landscape without losing their souls?  In this season, we’ll dive deep into the topic of engaging in politics while remaining spiritually grounded and relationally connected. I'm your new host, Kaitlyn Schiess, and together, we'll embark on a journey of thought-provoking conversations with a diverse range of experts and individuals who bring invaluable firsthand experiences from the world of...

We've got some exciting news to share—we’re introducing a new voice and a fresh perspective to season 5. Welcome to the next host of The Disrupters, Kaitlyn Schiess! Before we jump headfirst into all the exciting things this season has in store, let's take a moment to reflect on our journey so far. We deeply appreciate the work of our former host of seasons 3 and 4, Nancy Wang Yuen, who enriched The Disrupters with her unique perspective and thought-provoking conversations. In this transition...

Content warning: This episode contains sensitive content about sexual assault.  Former movie mogul Harvey Weinstein was recently sentenced to an additional 16 years in prison on top of his current sentence of 23 years for sexual assault. In this bonus episode of The Disrupters, Nancy Wang Yuen speaks with Weinstein’s former assistant, advocate, and activist Rowena Chiu. She left the film industry after being victimized by Weinstein in 1998. The 2022 film She Said tells the story of the New...

In recent years there has been much cynicism regarding Christians’ role in American politics, especially from younger generations. Kaitlyn Schiess, a doctoral theology student at Duke Divinity School and author of Liturgy of Politics: Spiritual Formation for the Sake of our Neighbor (IVP), understands those challenges. “A lot of young people today, who want to stay in the church or really truly believe the gospel and want to to take Scripture as authoritative in their lives don't know how to...

For those not paying attention, it might seem as though Deb Liu, the CEO of Ancestry.com and the author of Take Back Your Power has been on a straightforward path to success her whole life. Despite Chinese cultural norms that tend to favor boys over girls, Deb’s parents were incredibly supportive, accepting her for who she was: “[My father] took us fishing, he taught me how to shoot. We went crabbing and shrimping. He treated us like he would any other boy or girl. And it was really great. I...

In this series, Nancy Wang Yuen is joined by co-host New York Times bestselling author and historian Jemar Tisby for a miniseries exploring the Christmas season through the lenses of race, gender, and class. They examine some of the implicit and explicit messages that permeate Christian Christmas culture and that we often enjoy and consume indiscriminately. In part 4, Nancy and Jemar discuss the obsession with white Santa and the ways that cultural representations often distract from the...

In this series, Nancy Wang Yuen is joined by co-host New York Times bestselling author and historian Jemar Tisby for a miniseries exploring the Christmas season through the lenses of race, gender, and class. They examine some of the implicit and explicit messages that permeate Christian Christmas culture and that we often enjoy and consume indiscriminately. In part 3, Nancy and Jemar discuss what it actually looks like to have people of color fully represented in Christmas movies.  The...

In this series, Nancy Wang Yuen is joined by co-host New York Times bestselling author and historian Jemar Tisby for a miniseries exploring the Christmas season through the lenses of race, gender, and class. They examine some of the implicit and explicit messages that permeate Christian Christmas culture and that we often enjoy and consume indiscriminately. In part 2, Nancy and Jemar discuss the proliferation of the Christmas Rom-Com, and the cultural tropes that often come alongside...

For the next four episodes, Nancy Wang Yuen is joined by co-host, New York Times bestselling author and historian Jemar Tisby for a miniseries exploring the Christmas season through the lenses of race, gender, and class. They examine some of the implicit and explicit messages that permeate Christian Christmas culture and that we often enjoy and consume indiscriminately. In part 1 of this series, our hosts discuss the reasons for doing a series like this at all and also share about their own...

Michael Chang is a legendary tennis player, primarily known for his improbable 1989 victory as a teenager at the French Open, among his many successes. But for Chang, that is not his primary legacy. “I've never thought of tennis as just being tennis,” says Chang. “I've always positioned it as a way to touch lives, to share my faith, to inspire young people…young Asian athletes in particular.” It’s a perspective that has helped Chang see his sports career, however successful it has been, in...

It can be exhausting to fight injustice. But for those who are marginalized, it can be traumatizing. And especially when that injustice is around every corner, it can often seem impossible to heal in the face of it.  But according to educator and activist Dr. Christina Edmonson, healing is a gift that has already been given: “For believers, healing is one of our blood-bought rights. It is something that has been given to us to do this. It has been won for us in the resurrection.” If that’s...

If you’re listening to this podcast, you’ve probably left, or considered leaving evangelicalism. But what does it mean to leave evangelicalism, and what is evangelicalism anyway? In today’s episode, Nancy speaks to reporter Jon Ward about the disparity between what the evangelical movement’s aspirational ideas and the current reality of the evangelical movement at work in the world. “A lot of evangelicalism is a cultural project, which presents itself as a theological project,” says Ward....

Back in early 2020, on the first season of The Disrupters, Jemar Tisby told then-host Esau McCaulley that a person of color’s participation in historically white Christian spaces inherently come with a cost: “You get pushed out, you burn out, or you sell out.”  For McCaulley, this was a challenge to his own approach, as a black Christian who was a professor in a white-Christian institution: “This podcast is a record in time, and this is a hypothesis.” Said McCaulley at the time. “Let’s follow...

Nancy Wang Yuen is back for Season 4, and this season, she’s going to spill some tea. Join us on Monday, October 31 for the first in a series of conversations about how to heal and move on from the toxic religious institutions and movements that many of us have been a part of for years.