Potstirrer Podcast

In November of 2018, 26 year old American explorer and missionary John Allen Chau was killed by the Sentinelese people, an isolated tribal group living on North Sentinel Island off the coast of India. Chau went the island illegally in order to share with them about Christianity. The incident is controversial, sparking outrage, consternation, and even admiration. Were Chau's actions worth the cost of his life? And could his actions cost the Sentinelese people their lives as well? Jaye...

In light of the growing normalization of white supremacy and related forms of bigotry in the United States, Jaye focuses on the debate between unfettered free speech and the regulation of hate speech. What does "free speech" truly mean in the US context, and why does it matter? Should "dangerous" speech be made illegal? Jaye also discusses libertarian ideology - specifically how, despite its emphasis on individual rights, it may fall short in the realm of free speech. In a corporatocracy,...

The 2018 midterm elections are here! In this episode, Jaye talks midterm predictions, the Voting Rights Act, millennials and Gen Z, and voter suppression. Jaye also discusses a major think tank responsible for the current Republican agenda, and which supplies the manpower behind GOP presidents from Ronald Reagan to Donald Trump. Why does this organization have a vested interest in subverting democracy? Can the American people overcome the anti-democratic measures of right-wing politicians...

What if the religious extremism Americans should be most concerned about comes from Christianity? In this episode, Jaye explores the authoritarian, extremist elements of American evangelicalism and the overwhelming support of Donald Trump by white evangelical Christians. Jaye also discusses the Quiverfull movement, the increasing emphasis on authoritarianism and control within evangelical Christian colleges, dominionism, racial reconciliation, evangelical support for Donald Trump's inhumane...

Episode 38 - Voting Still Matters...For Now With the voter registration deadline upon us in many states, Jaye discusses the long-term impact of the vote, and why getting registered to vote and exercising the franchise is important in saving our democracy. She explains how voting in conservatives to federal and state offices over time has led to increased money in politics and reduced political impact from individual voters, especially poor Americans and ethnic minorities. Despite this, Jaye...

Political science researchers Benjamin Knoll and Cammie Jo Bolin join Jaye in this episode to share with listeners their knowledge and research on women clergy, and talk about their new book, She Preached the Word. The researchers discuss some of the book's themes, including the barriers to ordination of women, the acceptance of women clergy in congregations, and the effects they have on their congregations. They also discuss their research methodology, including the new, original data...

Episode 36 - Power and Purity Several scandals involving sexual harassment and sexual abuse have been uncovered recently in a number of churches across the Christian landscape. Why is abuse within the church such a huge story, why does it occur, and what can churches do better to reduce abuse occurrences and respond to these incidents? Jaye discusses a few of these recent scandals - delving into authoritarianism, sexual repression, and purity culture, and how these mechanisms can enable...

Many of us think of demagogues as charismatic leaders who hold an extreme degree of power over their supporters. But why do people fall for demagogues? In this episode, Jaye takes a deep dive into the subject of demagoguery - exploring how we understand and debate political and social issues. What does a country run by demagoguery mean for democracy? Twitter: @potstirrercast IG: @potstirrerpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/potstirrerpodcast/ Website:...

Highly-rated Latino Christian fiction author Allison K. Garcia is back on Potstirrer Podcast to share with listeners information about her upcoming novel, Finding Amor. Allison chats with Jaye about the inspiration for the new book, writing about characters in a different culture than her own, the family separation crisis on the US/Mexico border, and more! Allison even gives us a sneak peek of what we can expect from Finding Amor! *Note: Please excuse the sound quality of the episode, as I...

With Donald Trump verbally capitulating to Vladimir Putin during the Helsinki summit July 16, the Russia investigation heating up, and Special Counsel Robert Mueller investigating the NRA for potential money laundering for the benefit of Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, Trump is clearly embroiled in a great deal of controversy. But in the face of it, Trump tells the American people to believe him over the facts that are publicly available. Evangelical leaders are also steering their flock...

With the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the US Supreme Court by Donald Trump, many pro-life Americans are rejoicing at the pick. Their hope is that Kavanaugh's elevation to the Court will signal the end of Roe v. Wade, the US Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion nationwide. Jaye explores the question - what will happen if Roe is set aside by the US Supreme Court? Will this achieve the goal of ending abortion, or is that truly the goal? And - to Americans who are staunchly...

Several US Supreme Court rulings in June that have emboldened Donald Trump and the GOP, and have left Democrats reeling. In addition, US Supreme Court justice Anthony Kennedy is retiring, which means the Trump administration has another opening they can fill on the court. Jaye discusses these and related developments, seeks to place them into perspective. In the wake of these events, Jaye aims to provide messages of admonishment, motivation, and hope. Thank you for listening! Subscribe,...

In our multi-parter second installment of Riverside Chats, Jaye is joined by her husband Chuckles as they share just a little bit of their lively political conversations - as a couple with divergent political views. In Part 2, Jaye and Chuckles discuss poverty, police brutality, and the landscape for 2018 and 2020. Should the Republican Party, who is in control of all branches of federal government, consider courting voters outside of their core base? PLUS - Potstirrer Podcast has now...

In today's episode, Jaye discusses recent news stories related to undocumented immigration and refugees from Latin America. Where are the 1500 missing migrant children that were being tracked by the federal government? How are children in the custody of US Customs being treated? And is there any moral or ethical issue with calling MS-13 gang members "animals?" Jaye delves into past events as she makes the case that when we dehumanize other people, it becomes all too easy to treat them...

In our multi-parter second installment of Riverside Chats, Jaye is joined by her husband Chuckles as they share just a little bit of their lively political conversations - as a couple with divergent political views. In Part 1, Jaye and Chuckles debate the Stormy Daniels controversy, revisit health care, and begin discussing the 2018 midterm elections. Should the Democratic Party attempt to court Trump voters, and if so, how can they do that without losing their base? The Riverside Chats...

Do we have a "free press" in the United States? Jaye makes the case that even though the news media are not owned by the government, elite monopolistic ownership of media outlets and lack of federal regulations lead to outcomes not much different than state-run news media. What does the lack of free press mean for our democracy? Also - we debut a new segment called "Editorial by Jaye." In the first "editorial," Jaye gives her reaction to the Alfie Evans case. While the case is extremely...

In the concluding episode of a two-part series, Jaye continues her discussion on the decline of the United States within the framework of her hometown, Detroit, Michigan. She discusses the conditions in Detroit prior to the 1967 Detroit riots that led to the riots and the decline of the city, including workplace discrimination, housing segregation, the destruction of tight-knit black communities by urban renewal, racial strife between white and black Detroiters, and tensions between police...

In the first of a two-part series, Jaye discusses the decline of the United States within the framework of her hometown, Detroit, Michigan. She also outlines the conditions needed for a thriving country. Is "inefficient" government truly the problem? Is America a failed state? Thank you for listening! Subscribe, review, rate 5 stars, and share! Check us out online: Twitter: @potstirrercast IG: @potstirrerpodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/potstirrerpodcast/ Website:...

In this episode, Jaye contemplates her academic background and personal experiences in American evangelicalism when examining the recent focus by the mainstream media on white evangelicals. Over 80 percent of white evangelical voters supported Donald Trump in 2016, and many American evangelical leaders continue to defend Trump's rhetoric and actions, which sharply run against the very Bible evangelical doctrine states is the inerrant word of God. Are white evangelical believers being...

In this episode, Jaye discusses the recent school shooting in Parkland, Florida. What are the problems contributing to these school shootings, and what can be done to decrease the instances of these tragedies in the future? Jaye takes on the arguments made on both the extreme pro-gun and anti-gun sides - as Americans on all sides of the Second Amendment / gun control debate are needed to cooperatively craft lasting, working solutions that will save the lives of children and preserve our...