Faithful Politics
Dive into the profound world of Faithful Politics, a compelling podcast where the spheres of faith and politics converge in meaningful dialogues. Guided by Pastor Josh Burtram (Faithful Host) and Will Wright (Political Host), this unique platform invites listeners to delve into the complex impact of political choices on both the faithful and faithless.
Join our hosts, Josh and Will, as they engage with world-renowned experts, scholars, theologians, politicians, journalists, and ordinary folks. Their objective? To deepen our collective understanding of the intersection between faith and politics.
Faithful Politics sets itself apart by refusing to subscribe to any single political ideology or religious conviction. This approach is mirrored in the diverse backgrounds of our hosts. Will Wright, a disabled Veteran and African-Asian American, is a former atheist and a liberal progressive with a lifelong intrigue in politics. On the other hand, Josh Burtram, a Conservative Republican and devoted Pastor, brings a passion for theology that resonates throughout the discourse.
Yet, in the face of their contrasting outlooks, Josh and Will display a remarkable ability to facilitate respectful and civil dialogue on challenging topics. This opens up a space where listeners of various political and religious leanings can find value and deepen their understanding.
So, regardless if you're a Democrat or Republican, a believer or an atheist, we assure you that Faithful Politics has insightful conversations that will appeal to you and stimulate your intellectual curiosity. Come join us in this enthralling exploration of the intricate nexus of faith and politics. Add us to your regular podcast stream and don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube Channel. Let's navigate this fascinating realm together!
Not Right. Not Left. UP.
Episodes
445 episodes
Andy Hale on Church Conflict, Political Polarization, and Rebuilding Trust
Church conflict is no longer the exception—it’s the norm. In this episode of Faithful Politics, Will Wright and Pastor Josh Burtram are joined by Andy Hale, congregational psychologist and author of Mending the Fracturing Ch...
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1:02:42
Dan Carr on Christian Identity, MAGA Politics, and Civic Engagement
In this episode of Faithful Politics, Will Wright and Pastor Josh Burtram speak with Dan Carr, a pastor and Republican political organizer whose faith and politics are closely aligned with the MAGA movement.The conversation expl...
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Season 7
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51:14
Matthew Boedy on Turning Point USA and the Politics of Faith
In this episode of Faithful Politics, Will Wright and Pastor Josh Burtram speak with Dr. Matthew Boedy, professor of rhetoric and author of The Seven Mountains Mandate, about the ideological and strategic framework driving mod...
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Season 7
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46:31
Heather Cronk on Exvangelicals, Organizing, and the Future of Faith in Public Life
In this episode of Faithful Politics, we sit down with Heather Cronk, founder of Project 21:12, to talk about what happens after people leave evangelical Christianity—and why that story matters politically, socially, and morally. Heath...
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Season 7
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1:02:39
Free Speech Under Pressure – Nadine Strossen on the First Amendment, Protest, and Power
Former ACLU president and First Amendment scholar Nadine Strossen joins Faithful Politics for a wide-ranging conversation on what free speech actually protects—and what it doesn’t—in today’s political climate. Strossen explains why fre...
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Season 7
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1:02:02
Faith, Power, and Becoming Courageously Uncomfortable – Bishop Dwayne Royster on Christianity in a Time of ICE Raids
In this episode of Faithful Politics, we sit down with Bishop Dwayne Royster, pastor and national faith leader with Faith in Action, to wrestle with what faith looks like when political power is being used to intimidate, exclude, and d...
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Season 7
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45:59
Mother Agapia Stephanopoulos on Palestinian Christians, Gaza, and the Land of Jesus
In this episode of Faithful Politics, we talk with Mother Agapia Stephanopoulos, a Greek Orthodox nun who has spent nearly three decades living and working in Jerusalem and the West Bank. From teaching Palestinian girls in Bethany to navigating...
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Season 7
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1:00:42
Marc J. Defant on Evolutionary Psychology, Feminist Studies, and the Limits of Academic Rigor
In this episode of Faithful Politics, we’re joined by Marc J. Defant, a professor of geology and geochemistry at the University of South Florida, to discuss his controversial peer-reviewed paper Evolutionary Psychology and t...
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57:51
POV: Venezuela, Greenland, and the Minnesota Shooting
Note: Audio from our most recent POV. You can watch the live version on our YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/live/Mw5zzuCeIRYPOV episodes are intentionally slower. They create space to step back from the constant churn of he...
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1:07:20
Amar Peterman on Becoming Neighbors – The Common Good, Made Local
In this conversation, we sit down with Amar D. Peterman to talk about his new book, Becoming Neighbors: The Common Good Made Local. Amar reflects on his experience as an Indian American adoptee formed across Catholic, evangelical, and interfait...
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Season 7
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57:04
Ryan Burge on The Vanishing Church: How Polarization Is Hollowing Out American Faith
In this conversation, we’re joined by Ryan Burge, professor of practice at the John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics and author of The Vanishing Church. Burge walks us through what the data actually shows about religion in America—es...
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Season 7
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1:02:07
Faith, Resistance, and the Courage to Say No - Inside The Traitor’s Circle with Jonathan Freedland
In this episode of Faithful Politics, Will Wright and Josh Burtram are joined by Jonathan Freedland, an award-winning journalist, longtime Guardian columnist, and bestselling author, to discuss his latest book, The Traitor’s Circle.Free...
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Season 6
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41:32
Rachel Morrison on Religious Liberty, Biden’s Policies, and Eradicating Anti-Christian Bias
In this episode of Faithful Politics, Will and Josh sit down with attorney and EPPC fellow Rachel Morrison to unpack the legal and political fight over “anti-Christian bias” in America. Drawing from her new Ethics and Public Policy Center repor...
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Season 6
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56:36
Taking Back the Bible from Christian Nationalism - A Conversation with John Fugelsang
In this wide-ranging and deeply personal conversation, Will Wright sits down with comedian, broadcaster, and author John Fugelsang to unpack how Christianity became entangled with political power - and how the teachings of Jesus have been disto...
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Season 6
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44:59
Justin Giboney on the Black Church, Culture Wars, and a Better Christian Public Witness
In this powerful episode, Will and Josh talk with Justin Giboney, attorney, minister, political strategist, and co-founder of the AND Campaign. Justin unpacks the themes of his new book, Don’t Let Nobody Turn You Around, exploring how the Black...
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Season 6
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45:17
Inside America’s Spiritual Landscape with Religion News Service Journalist Jack Jenkins
In this episode of Faithful Politics, Will and Josh sit down with journalist Jack Jenkins, a leading religion and politics reporter known for his thoughtful coverage of faith movements, extremism, and spiritual life in America. The conversation...
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Season 6
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59:17
George Yancey on Identity Politics, Christianophobia, and a Better Way Forward
In this episode, Will and Josh talk with Dr. George Yancey, a sociologist at Baylor University who specializes in race, identity politics, Christianophobia, and how faith communities can move beyond today’s culture-war structures. The conversat...
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Season 6
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1:06:03
Joshua Cohen on William F. Buckley and the Lost Art of Friendship Across Difference
Will and Josh welcome Joshua Cohen, author of William F. Buckley Jr.’s Guide to Friendship in a Polarized Era, to explore what one of the most influential conservative thinkers can teach us about civility, humor, gratitude, and cross-ideologica...
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Season 6
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58:53
Holly Berkley Fletcher on Missionary Kids, White Evangelicalism, and the Myths of Calling
In this episode of Faithful Politics, Will and Josh speak with Holly Berkley Fletcher, historian, essayist, former CIA Africa analyst, and author of The Missionary Kids: Unmasking the Myths of White Evangelicalism. Drawing from her childhood in...
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Season 6
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59:21
ProPublica's Jennifer Smith Richards on Oklahoma’s Push for More Patriotic, Christian Public Schools
Investigative reporter Jennifer Smith Richards of ProPublica joins Will and Josh to break down her major reporting on Oklahoma’s controversial education overhaul under Superintendent Ryan Walters. She explains how Christianity was woven into ne...
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59:29
Corregan Brown on Building Better Arguments: Bridging Principles, Power, and Polarization
How do we argue without tearing each other apart? Corregan Brown joins us to explore the art of disagreement in an age of outrage. He breaks down the difference between arguing policy and clarifying principles, showing how many of our public fi...
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Season 6
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51:16
China’s Crackdown on Zion Church: William Nee on the Fight for Religious Freedom
In this episode of Faithful Politics, Will and Josh talk with China expert William Nee about the major October 2025 crackdown on Beijing’s Zion Church, one of the largest underground Christian networks in China. William explains w...
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Season 6
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53:51
Ethan Hollander on Democracy, Autocracy, and America’s Authoritarian Temptation
In this return visit to Faithful Politics, political scientist Dr. Ethan J. Hollander helps us take a hard, honest look at the health of American democracy—and why so many people around the world are tempted by strongman rule. Drawing on his Gr...
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Season 6
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1:04:34
Conflict Resilience with Bob Bordone — How to Disagree Without Giving Up or Giving In
Can you stay in hard conversations without trying to “win” or walk away? In this episode, Harvard Law School Senior Fellow and USA Today bestselling author Bob Bordone joins us to unpack conflict resilience—the ability to stay grounded, curious...
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Season 6
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52:18
Jim DeMint on What the Bible Really Says About Creation, End Times, and American Politics
Is the real crisis in American politics actually a crisis of biblical authority and interpretation? In this episode of Faithful Politics, Will Wright and Pastor Josh Burtram sit down with former U.S. Senator Jim DeMint to talk abou...
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Season 6
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58:33