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
494 episodes
Church & State 250: Faith, Empire, and the American Revolution
Was the American Revolution really a fight for religious freedom? Katherine Carté, Professor of History at Southern Methodist University and author of Religion and the American Revolution: An Imperial History, helps separate the na...
Church & State 250: Christianity and the Story America Tells About Itself
How did Christianity become so deeply woven into the American story? Matthew Avery Sutton, professor of history at Washington State University and author of Chosen Land: How Christianity Made America and Americans Remade Christiani...
Church & State 250: How Christians Justified Manifest Destiny
How did Manifest Destiny become a Christian story about land, providence, and moral duty? L. Daniel Hawk, Professor of Old Testament and Hebrew at Ashland Theological Seminary and author of Undoing Manifest Destiny, joins Will Wrig...
Church & State 250: Doctrine of Discovery and America Before 1776
Can America tell the truth about itself if it starts the story in 1776? Mark Charles, Navajo writer, speaker, activist, and co-author of Unsettling Truths, opens Church and State 250 by arguing that America’s religious story begins...
Greg Garrett on White Lies and the Racial Myths That Protect Power
Why do racial myths continue to shape American politics, religion, and culture long after people claim to reject racism? Greg Garrett, author of White Lies: Dismantling Ten Cultural Myths About Race, joins Faithful Politics to expl...
Tim Chapman on Principled Conservatism in the Trump Era
What does conservatism mean when personality politics starts replacing policy, principle, and coalition-building? Tim Chapman, president of Advancing American Freedom, joins Faithful Politics to explain how he thinks about the futu...
Robert Joustra on Christian Nationalism, Global Politics, and Just War
What should Christians do when global politics becomes personal, chaotic, and violent? Dr. Robert J. Joustra, Professor of Politics and Spoelhof Chair at Calvin University and author of Christ and Covenant in Global Politics, joins...
Rich Logis on Leaving MAGA and the Cost of Changing Your Mind
Why do people stay in political movements even after they begin to have doubts?Rich Logis spent seven years as a committed MAGA activist, commentator, and organizer before ultimately leaving the movement and founding Leaving MAGA, a non...
Maggie Siddiqi on Religious Freedom, Sharia Law, and American Pluralism
What does religious freedom actually protect when people are afraid of someone else’s faith? Maggie Siddiqi, Senior Advisor at Interfaith Alliance and former Director of the Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships at the U.S. Depar...
Leigh Larson on Christian Nationalism in the U.S. Military Chaplaincy
How is Christian nationalism showing up inside the U.S. military chaplaincy, and why does it matter for religious freedom?In this episode, Will talks with Leigh Larson, a theologian, Air Force veteran, public scholar, and founder ...
The Age of Feeling: Robert P. George on Truth and American Democracy
What happens when feelings become the test of truth?Robert P. George joins Faithful Politics to talk about what he calls “the age of feeling,” a moment where many people treat personal emotion as the final word on what is true. Ge...
Why Christian Nationalism Is Harder to Challenge Than We Think
What happens when people believe in religious pluralism, but still lean into Christian nationalism when they feel threatened?In this episode of Faithful Politics, Will Wright and Pastor Josh Burtram speak with political scientis...
Adam Klasfeld on Trump’s Anti-Weaponization Fund, Abrego Garcia, and the SPLC
What happens when the justice system becomes one of the central battlegrounds of American politics?In this episode of Faithful Politics, Will Wright and Pastor Josh Burtram speak with Adam Klasfeld, veteran legal journalist and editor in...
Catholic Schools and LGBTQ Students: What Educators Are Actually Doing with Jonathon Sawyer
What happens when LGBTQ students navigate faith, identity, and education inside religious schools?In this episode of Faithful Politics, Will Wright talks with Jonathan Sawyer, a PhD in education policy from the University of Color...
A Conservative Christian Case Against Christian Nationalism with D.G. Hart
In this episode of Faithful Politics, Will Wright and Pastor Josh Burtram talk with historian D.G. Hart about Christian nationalism, church-state separation, the American founding, and what can happen when Christianity becomes too closely tied ...
The Christian Past That Wasn’t: Warren Throckmorton on Christian Nationalist History
Was America founded as a Christian nation? Warren Throckmorton joins Faithful Politics to unpack the historical myths behind that claim and explain why they still matter today. Drawing from his book The Christian Past That Wasn’t
How Gerrymandering Is Reshaping the 2026 Elections with FairVote's David Daley
David Daley joins Faithful Politics to explain how gerrymandering, mid-decade redistricting, and recent Supreme Court decisions are reshaping the 2026 elections. The conversation covers Virginia’s redistricting fight, the Supreme Court’s decisi...
POV: Did Biden Target Christians? Anti-Christian Bias Report Explained
In this Faithful Politics POV episode, Will Wright and Pastor Josh Burtram examine the Trump administration’s anti-Christian bias report and ask whether it proves real discrimination against Christians or mostly reframes policy disagreements as...
Nijay Gupta on Why Paul Was Not Just Preaching About the Afterlife
What did the Apostle Paul actually teach about heaven, resurrection, and the meaning of life on earth?Dr. Nijay Gupta joins Faithful Politics to talk about Paul, heaven, resurrection, and why Christian faith is not meant to function as ...
Ainsley LeSure on Racism Beyond Intent
What if racism is not just a belief someone holds, but something people do through everyday choices, institutions, and patterns of behavior?Ainsley LeSure joins Faithful Politics to explain why racism cannot be reduced to personal...
Christian Patriarchy and Abuse: Tia Levings on Leaving High-Control Religion
What does religious trauma actually look like inside high-control Christian environments?In this episode of Faithful Politics, we sit down with Tia Levings, author of A Well-Trained Wife and I Belong to Me, to un...
Peter Montgomery on the Religious Right and Christian Nationalism
What is the religious right, and how has it shaped American politics over the last 50 years?In this episode of Faithful Politics, we sit down with Peter Montgomery to break down the religious right and its influence on American politics...
Can Christians Give More Effectively? J.D. Bauman on Faith, Charity, and the Ethics of Impact
What if having good intentions alone isn’t enough? In this episode, we sit down with J.D. Bauman, Executive Director of Christians for Impact and author of All the Lives You Can Change, to explore a challenging question: are Chri...
Nadine Smith on Civil Rights, Power, and the Fight for Equality in America
In this conversation, Nadine Smith traces her journey from investigative journalism to becoming one of the country’s leading civil rights advocates. Drawing from decades of experience, she explains how organizations like Color of Change work to...
Rep. Jennifer McClellan on Iran, Voting Rights, and AI Risks
What is actually happening inside Congress right now—and how does it affect everyday people?In this episode, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan breaks down a wide range of issues shaping the current political moment, from rising healthcare...