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PODCAST

Religion Unmuted

Boniuk Institute and Religion and Public Life Center

Religion Unmuted is the podcast where we explore how religion is lived. We aim to amplify voices that are not often heard in public conversations about religion. Join us for research-driven dialogue as we look for religion in unexpected spaces—such as the workplace, the lab, or on the campaign trail—and in everyday life.

religion & spirituality social sciences

All Episodes

25:18

Spiritual Care in the Hospital Setting

Religion Unmuted ·

2025/12/22

In this episode of Religion Unmuted, host Todd Ferguson speaks with Stacy Auld, Vice President of Spiritual Care and Values Integration for Houston Methodist, a prominent healthcare system. Stacy offers a fascinating look at the multifaceted role of a hospital chaplain, exploring how her work has evolved from providing bedside care to leading system-wide initiatives. Listen to discover the spiritual side of healing and what brings chaplains hope in a demanding but sacred profession. TOPICS COVERED

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18:50

Principled Pluralism

Religion Unmuted ·

2025/11/21

Tariq Modood is Professor of Sociology, Politics, and Public Policy at the University of Bristol and recipient of the Boniuk Institute's 2025 Senior Scholar Award. Modood joined Religion Unmuted to discuss the evolving role of religion in modern, multicultural societies. He argues that demographic shifts have led minority groups to assert religious identities as key grounds for inclusion and respect, moving beyond earlier focuses on just racial or ethnic categories. TOPICS COVERED (02:16) - The

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34:49

What's Trending: Gen Z's Political and Religious...

Religion Unmuted ·

2025/10/31

In this episode we dive into key trends surrounding Generation Z with Melissa Deckman, CEO of the Public Religion Research Institute, including Gen Z's high rates of religious non-affiliation—with about 36% identifying with no religion. Deckman discusses how Gen Z women are driving progressive political engagement at higher rates than their male counterparts, propelled by issues like feminism, abortion, and LGBTQ rights. She also challenges the narrative of a "masculine religious revival," noting

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28:05

Work: What's Religion Got To Do With It?

Religion Unmuted ·

2025/09/26

For many Americans, a significant portion of waking hours are spent at work. In this episode, host Rachel Schneider is joined by three guests to discuss their book, Religion in a Changing Workplace, which explores how faith affects people while at work. They argue that workplaces should not suppress religion out of fear of conflict, but instead provide "nuanced" and even "active" accommodation to help employees flourish. RESOURCES AND LINKS Learn more about the book Religion in a Changing

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30:16

When Diversity Efforts Fail

Religion Unmuted ·

2025/08/29

In Who Pays for Diversity? Why Programs Fail at Racial Equity and What to Do about It, sociologist Oneya Fennell Okuwobi examines how well-meaning diversity efforts in universities, corporations, and churches often fail to achieve true racial equity—and can even harm people of color who sacrifice their well-being and advancement for the greater good. In this episode Okuwobi shares how her research on multiracial churches revealed the limits of “racial reconciliation” and “diversity” when these

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28:41

Digital Faith and Identity

Religion Unmuted ·

2025/07/02

Digital technologies are profoundly shaping personal identity, community, and spiritual life. Our guest Felicia Song has written about these issues in her book, Restless Devices, and tells us how her research stems from both personal and academic inquiry into modern technology and digital media. She argues that faith communities must seriously engage with technology’s role in spiritual formation and communal life, especially as technologies like AI and social media increasingly shape our habits and

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26:59

Rejecting Neutrality in Interfaith Work

Religion Unmuted ·

2025/04/24

In this episode of Religion Unmuted, John Barton and host Elaine Howard Ecklund discuss the urgency of interreligious peacebuilding and how religion can serve as both a barrier and a bridge in global conflicts. Blending theory, practice, and personal narrative, this episode explores how rooted, yet open, religious identities can contribute to peacebuilding in an increasingly divided world.

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30:33

Faith, Politics, and the Power of Embracing Loss

Religion Unmuted ·

2025/03/28

Consultant, professor, author, and former pastor Curtis Chang joins Religion Unmuted to discuss the dangers of partisan idolatry and why he believes Christians should prioritize faith over political identity. Chang also shares insights from his books, emphasizing the virtues of hope and humility and framing anxiety as a natural response to loss that can lead to spiritual growth.

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26:47

The “Religious Imaginary” and American Politics: From...

Religion Unmuted ·

2025/02/27

In this episode of Religion Unmuted, Diane Winston discusses the intersection of religion, media, and politics, focusing on how the media shaped the religiously infused vision of the American Dream during the Reagan era and how similar dynamics play out with Donald Trump today. She explores the influence of Evangelical Christians in politics, especially their support for Trump despite his lack of religious commitment, and reflects on the changing portrayal of religious values in the media.

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31:49

Lived Religion and the Enduring Legacy of HBCUs

Religion Unmuted ·

2024/12/18

Marla Frederick, Dean of Harvard Divinity School, and countless others owe their education--and much more--to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Frederick shares how her experience at Spelman College shaped her views on faith, leadership, and her approach as dean of a multi-religious institution of higher education.

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30:59

Unclaimed Doesn't Mean Unmourned

Religion Unmuted ·

2024/11/01

Bringing her journalistic eye to a sociological problem, Pamela Prickett gives listeners insight into a growing American issue: thousands of bodies are going unclaimed by relatives after death—up to 150,000 each year. Prickett unpacks the why behind the issue, as well as the ways that religion is being used to craft rituals and communities of care so that people do not go unremembered or unmourned.

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18:30

Season 3 Teaser

Religion Unmuted ·

2024/10/28

The Religion Unmuted season 3 hosts, Elaine Howard Ecklund and Rachel Schneider, reveal the new, expanded vision for this season of the podcast. They also get a bit personal, sharing how their own identities and work have had an impact on Religion Unmuted and its vision.

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25:15

A Historical Look at Patriarchy Within Christianity

Religion Unmuted ·

2023/03/17

In this episode, Religion Unmuted takes a historical look at Christianity and in particular how patriarchy was fundamental in the religion’s founding. Our guest April DeConick also brings attention to the ways in which women did have specific roles in early Christianity and how that can be honored today.

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29:45

Gender, Religion, and Conservative Politics

Religion Unmuted ·

2023/02/03

The 2016 election shone a bright light on the entanglement of politics and faith for white evangelical Christians. Historian and author Kristin Kobes Du Mez talks the past, present, and future of evangelicalism in America as well as the role of women in this cultural and religious movement that is here to stay.

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25:26

Seeing the Whole Person and the Whole Pain

Religion Unmuted ·

2022/11/18

The work of a chaplain involves providing spiritual care to individuals outside of a congregational setting, work that can be difficult and varied. According to our guest, sociologist Wendy Cadge, a chaplain can be witness to a person’s whole pain as well as recognize and discuss death, all in ways that can be difficult for family, healthcare workers, and even society at large to do. In this episode she tells some of the stories of chaplains gleaned from her years of research, including the ways

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29:10

Reproductive Justice and Religion

Religion Unmuted ·

2022/10/28

Elaina Ramsey provides a practitioner’s perspective on reproductive justice and religion in this episode of Religion Unmuted. As director of Faith Choice Ohio, she works to promote and advance reproductive justice as a holistic movement, and she explains why her faith is so integral to her fight for reproductive justice.

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34:04

Using the “F” Word in Religion: Bringing Feminism to...

Religion Unmuted ·

2022/09/30

Let’s start with the definition: Xochitl Alvizo has not one but two favorite definitions of feminism. We ask the religious studies scholar first to define the term in this episode of Religion Unmuted; then we move to unpacking the many layers behind feminism and feminist thought, including the importance of context, intersectionality, and in particular interactions with theology, religious practice, and religious trauma.

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36:51

The Power of Listening

Religion Unmuted ·

2022/09/16

Juanita Rasmus is an author, speaker, spiritual director, and co-pastor of a large Methodist church in downtown Houston. She joins Religion Unmuted to share her personal mental health journey as well as how listening and noticing can lead to spiritual and emotional healing.

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22:09

Why Religion Is Still Relevant

Religion Unmuted ·

2021/08/27

Following the last two presidential elections, Rabbi Dr. Andrea Weiss solicited letters from religious studies scholars to speak directly to our nation’s politicians. Why should we listen to what scholars of religion have to say about today’s most pressing problems? In this episode, Weiss shares her explanation for why these viewpoints matter, as well as the importance of expanding the diversity of religious voices coming to the table to speak about contemporary issues.

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32:47

From Self-Care to Collective Care

Religion Unmuted ·

2021/07/30

Amid an unrelenting year, a year in which suffering has pervaded social life, “self-care” has become a buzz word. Ads and articles about self-care abound on social media and in everyday discourse, but discussions about self-care have been disconnected from thinking about community care. In this episode of Religion Unmuted, Pamela talks with Rev. Jennifer Bailey about caring for ourselves, particularly as women, and how self-care links to loving others, across differences in race or faith.

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32 results

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