Prophetic Resistance Podcast

Welcome to the Prophetic Resistance podcast hosted by Rev. Michael-Ray Mathews. Grounded in our diverse faith traditions, we are exploring what it means to embody love in the face of fear, to show up like hope in seasons of despair, to stand ready to be light in the darkness and water in a parched land. In each episode, we are learning from the stories, traditions, and wisdom of our beloved community of freedom-fighters, justice-seekers, and faith leaders. And together, we are investigating how – in this moment – leaders of faith and moral courage can cultivate prophetic resistance rooted in revolutionary love.
September 15, 2022

Episode 63: Rev. Nicole Barnes

Midterm elections are less than 100 days away, and the Prophetic Resistance Podcast is kicking off our Rise + Vote series — co-hosted by my dear sister the Rev. Dr. Cassandra Gould — to explore all the ways our votes are both sacred and powerful. 

I can think of no better way to kick off this series than with this week’s guest, my friend and colleague, Rev. Nicole Barnes.

Nicole is the nationa …

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July 27, 2022

Episode 62: Dr. Simran Jeet Singh

In this episode, we welcome my very dear brother, Simran Jeet Singh, father, runner, scholar, and executive director of the Religion & Society Program at the Aspen Institute. We talk about his Sikh faith, religious pluralism, and his latest book, The Light We Give: How Sikh Wisdom Can Transform Your Life whic …

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July 15, 2022

Episode 61: Rev. Dr. Emma Jordan-Simpson

In this episode, we welcome the Reverend Doctor Emma Jordan-Simpson, the new president of Auburn Seminary in New York. 

We discuss how her upbringing and grounding in the Black Church tradition have informed her approach to pastoral care, as well as her focus on the needs of children to help them thrive. In the recent wake of the tragedies in Brooklyn, Buffalo, Orange County, and Uvalde, we talk about how …

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June 1, 2022

Episode 60: Dr. Maureen O’Connell

Today’s guest is Dr. Maureen O’Connell, an associate professor of theology at LaSalle University in Philadelphia and a clergy leader with POWER Interfaith. Maureen recently released a book titled, “Undoing the Knots: Five Generations of American Catholic Anti-Blackness.” Maureen and I dig into the history behind the book, including how Irish Catholics learned to define themselves as Americans by rejecting Bla …

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May 4, 2022

Bonus Content: The Four Episode with McBride

Hey, Fam! We are pleased to highlight another episode from our cousin project, The Four, a podcast I co-host as part of fearsome faith foursome including Jacqui Lewis, Lisa Sharon Harper and Otis Moss III.

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April 20, 2022

Bonus Content: Meet The FOUR!

The Prophetic Resistance Podcast has a first cousin!! We are pleased to bring you the inaugural episode of The Four – a fearsome faith foursome talkin Black Life, Love, Power and Joy. This podcast is for everyone.

I co-host this podcast with dear friends who have all been guests on the Prophetic Resistance Podcast: Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis of Middle Collegiate Church in New York, Lisa Sharon Harper of Fr …

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April 6, 2022

Bonus Content: Revolutionary Faith with Leigh Butler of Akina

We are pleased to bring you a special episode from our kindred project, Revolutionary Faith, hosted by Rev. Alvin Herring, executive director of Faith in Action. In this episode, Alvin speaks with Leigh Butler, CEO of Akina and Stephanie Roberts, Co-Founder. Akina is a hub for Black mothers and women who are eagerly searching for community, connection, and information resulting in better outcomes for our next gene …

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March 16, 2022

Episode 59: Season 6 Premiere – Dr. Leah Gunning Francis

Welcome to Season 6. In this inaugural episode we welcome back Dr. Leah Gunning Francis, Dean at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis. A scholar-activist, Dr. Gunning Francis has been featured in the PBS Documentary The Talk: Race in America and the 2021 Sundance film, Ferguson Rises: A Racial Healing Documentary.

In this episode, we dig into her new book, Learn more

February 16, 2022

Season 6 is Coming on March 16

Our winter hiatus is almost over!  And season 6 will drop in your feed on March 16th.

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October 20, 2021

Episode 58: Rev. Jen Bailey

Today’s guest is Rev. Jen Bailey, an ordained minister, public theologian, and national leader in the multi-faith movement for justice. She is also the founder and executive director of the Faith Matters Network,  a Womanist-led organization equipping community organizers, faith leaders, and activists with resources for connection, spiritual sustainability, and accompaniment. This episode explored the life cycl …

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