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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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The Light We Give: Simran Jeet Singh on Courage and Community
Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush talks with Simran Jeet Singh, writer and seminary professor, about courage and resilience in challenging times, as well as building connections across lines of difference.
7/2/2026
Simran Jeet Singh
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Jewish-Muslim Solidarity: Moral Witness in Pressing Times
Highlights from a Capitol Hill briefing on Jewish-Muslim solidarity as a defense against authoritarianism, featuring prominent Muslim and Jewish leaders and lawmakers. With discussion and inspiration from host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush and interfaith organizer Maggie Siddiqi.
31/1/2026
Rev. Fred Davie
Salam al-Marayati
Amy Spitalnick
Jamie Raskin
Lateefah Simon
Jewish Council for Public Affairs
We The People v Trump with Democracy Forward's Skye Perryman
Host Paul Brandeis Raushenbush talks with Democracy Forward President and CEO Skye Perryman about the first year of the second Trump administration. Skye describes how, amid a flood of policies and orders emanating from the White House, Democracy Forward's attorneys have brought many hundreds of challenges in court - and have prevailed in a great majority of them.
24/1/2026
Skye Perryman
Democracy Forward
Courage in Community: Minnesota Faith Leaders Respond to ICE Crisis
Host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush talks with four Minnesota faith leaders on the ground defending their communities against ICE attacks: Rev. Susie Hayward, Rev. Dr. Rebecca Voelkel, Rev. Jim Bear Jacobs, and Rev. Dr. Jia Starr Brown.
17/1/2026
Rev. Susie Hayward
Rev. Jim Bear Jacobs
Rev. Dr. Rebecca Voelkel
Rev. Dr. Jia Starr Brown
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Dancing with the Divine: Exploring Religious Freedom in 'The Testament of Ann Lee'
Host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush is joined by Interfaith Alliance colleagues Alyssa Klein and Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons to discuss religious freedom in America today through the lens of a new film celebrating the history of the Shaker faith in this country, "The Testament of Ann Lee." Religious Freedom Day is January 16th.
10/1/2026
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What Happened? Top Religion News Stories of 2025 with RNS, and Looking Ahead to 2026
Religion News Service reporters Adele Banks and Jack Jenkins reflect on a pivotal year in which faith communities played a visible role in responding to political, social, and economic upheaval, from immigration advocacy to support for federal workers and marginalized groups.
3/1/2026
Adelle Banks
Jack Jenkins
Religion News Service
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.
