Thee Quaker Podcast

Quaker peace activist George Lakey has been singing freedom songs in the streets since the civil rights movement. Today, George says, as our democracy faces an existential threat, it is important that we look to other countries whose people have resisted autocrats and won. On this week’s podcast episode we talk with George about those cases, and the nonviolent database he has helped to assemble which shows 39 recent cases of countries whose people nonviolently overthrew a dictator. This episode originally aired on March 14, 2025.

We follow two emerging Quaker communities from different traditions to witness the messy, faithful reality of starting a Quaker meeting. There are no formulas here, only the collective wisdom of people who are discerning a call together. It’s an invitation to explore what happens when we stop trying to control the outcome and simply agree to join the work the Spirit is already doing.

Quakers believe in loving your neighbor, but what is a peace-loving Friend to do when their city is invaded by armed forces intent on violence? For this week’s episode, we bring you a special conversation with four Quakers from the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St Paul who have been wrestling with just that.

Step inside the silence of a Conservative Quaker meeting to discover how a commitment to simplicity, integrity, and prioritizing "truth over pace" offers a powerful antidote to our modern exhaustion.

In a world often governed by force, Quakers have stood apart for centuries with a radical commitment to peace. But this isn't just a political stance; it is a spiritual practice that challenges us to see the Divine in everyone—even our enemies. This week, we dive into the history of the Peace Testimony and explore how its living wisdom can guide us through modern conflict.