Religion Unplugged

Religion Unplugged

Author: The Media Project Language: English Episodes: 100
In a world where faith is often reduced to headlines or soundbites, Religion Unplugged offers a different kind of space. This podcast, from The Media Project, engages with the profound and complex ways belief shapes our lives, politics, and history. You’ll hear candid conversations and stories drawn from original reporting by a global network of journalists. We move beyond simple debates to explore the nuanced realities of spirituality and religious practice as they intersect with culture, conflict, and community. Each episode is an opportunity to listen deeply to narratives that are frequently overlooked, understanding that religion remains a powerful and growing force across the globe. This isn’t about doctrine; it’s about the human experience at the intersection of the sacred and the everyday. Tune in for a grounded, journalistic approach that unplugs the stereotypes and connects you to the authentic stories defining faith in the 21st century.
Episodes
Inside The Ongoing Battle Over Religion in US Public Schools [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:43
Is religion allowed at public schools? This is one of many questions created by the simultaneous American commitments to refrain from establishing a national religion while also protecting freedom of religious expression…
Thoreau's God: Interview with Richard Higgins [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:34
With "Walden," Henry David Thoreau presented fresh viewpoints about materialism, independence and community which have challenged readers for well over a century. But what did the famed American writer believe about reli…
The Unbreakable Boy: Interview with Kevin Downes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:55
Religion Unplugged's Culture Critic, Joseph Holmes, interviews Kevin Downes, CEO of Kingdom Story Company, to learn about the company's new film, "The Unbreakable Boy," starring Zachary Levi and directed by Jon Gunn.
Before You Climb Any Higher: Interview with Jonathan McReynolds [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:22
Grammy Award-winning gospel singer Jonathan McReynolds speaks about his new book, "Before You Climb Any Higher." Jonathan tells Matthew Peterson what he has learned about God and success on his journey to becoming a majo…
What is Religion's Role in The 2025 Oscars? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:37
Culture Critic Joseph Holmes, Culture Editor Jillian Cheney, and "Theme Park Theologian" Houston Coley talk about what this year's Oscars say about religion in 2025.
Inside The Story: Interview with Audrey Jackson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:53
Last year, Audrey Jackson travelled to Antakya, Turkey to document the efforts of churches and faith-based relief organisations a year after severe earthquakes shook the region. Matthew Peterson interviewed Audrey to lea…
How To Think Impossibly: Interview with Jeffrey J. Kripal [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:00
All over the world and for many years, people have claimed to see objects in the sky, prophesy the future, and speak with mythical beings. Impossible experiences happen all the time, but what do we do with them? To find…
Between Borders: Interview with Elizabeth Tabish [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:38
Film critic Joseph Holmes sits down with Elizabeth Tabish (Mary Magdalene from The Chosen) to discuss her career in film, how the faith-based film industry is different, and how her new film Between Borders contributes t…
Experiments in Mystical Atheism: Interview with Dr. Brook Ziporyn [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:00
For decades, New Atheism has been characterized by "the humanistic rejection of religion." But Dr. Brook Ziporyn's new book, Experiments in Mystical Atheism, argues instead for "the religious rejection of God." Matthew P…
Habits For a Sacred Home: Interview with Jennifer Pepito [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:22
The new year brings new opportunities and new obligations by the boatload. As calendars fill up and to-do lists get longer, home life can get rocky. Matthew Peterson speaks with Jennifer Pepito about her recent book Habi…