Quakers Today
Quakers Today explores Quaker thought, faith, and action for both Quakers and non-Quakers. It aims to help listeners deepen their spiritual lives, expand their thinking, and find strength and comfort in a rapidly changing world. The show is hosted by Peterson Toscano and Sweet Miche. It is a project of Friends Publishing Corporation, with Season Five sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee and Friends Fiduciary.
Episodes
Quaker Economics: From Personal Finances to Collective Power
In our final episode of the season, we reflect on what we have learned and focus on concrete, practical next steps to align our money with our values. Moving beyond individual guilt and financial anxiety, we explore how practicing integrity and simplicity—combined with targeted collective action—can help us transform our economic systems and pursue shared liberation.
Guests Rich Kent, Dov Baum, Li
Quakers, Reparations, and Reparative Economies
Co-hosts Peterson Toscano and Diana Yañez explore reparations beyond simple transactions. Rooted in abolition, repair is examined as a relational commitment and spiritual discipline aimed at ensuring historical and systemic harms are never repeated.
Guests Anthony "Ant" Smith and Lucy Duncan discuss the historical lessons of Reconstruction and share how Philadelphia's Greene Street Friends Meeting
Quakers and Wealth
In this episode of Quakers Today, Peterson Toscano and Diana Yañez speak with Quaker Fran Brokaw about inherited wealth, family stories, grief, reparations, and the spiritual practice of releasing money.
Fran describes inherited wealth as feeling like the dragon’s hoard in The Hobbit: treasure guarded so it can get bigger and bigger. Over time, she began asking deeper questions:
What is this money
Quakers and Capitalism
In this third episode of our season-long exploration of Quakers and Money, Peterson Toscano and Diana Yañez turn toward one of the largest and most difficult questions of the series: How do Friends live with integrity inside capitalism?
Last month, we explored relational finance and asked whether taking responsibility for our money and institutional assets can lead to deeper integrity and more equ
Quakers and Relational Finance
In this second episode of our season-long exploration into "The Wallet," Peterson Toscano and Diana Yañez dive into Relational Finance. This concept challenges the traditional divide between "financial experts" and "spiritual seekers." Taking the Quaker theology of the "priesthood of all believers" and applying it to economics, we explore how taking personal responsibility for our money—and our in
Quakers, Money, and the Priesthood of All Believers
Is finance truly "gross," or is it a vital spiritual practice? In the Season 6 premiere of Quakers Today, host Peterson Toscano is joined by new co-host Diana Yañez—a certified financial planner and convinced Quaker. Together, they move "into the wallet" to explore how our faith intersects with our finances.
We’re calling this "The Priesthood of All Believers, Economics." We argue that we cannot
Sexuality, Gender Identities, and Quakers
In this special end-of-season episode of Quakers Today, host Peterson Toscano explores the intersections of faith, sex, and gender. As an "Interval" between Seasons 5 and 6, we hear from LGBTQ+ individuals about living their truth with integrity within their spiritual communities. We feature insights from a pioneering transgender priest, a Quaker healer and musician, a best-selling queer author, a
Quakers and Finding Your Center in Turbulent Times
In this episode of Quakers Today, host Peterson Toscano explores how we can remain steady when the world feels like it is spinning out of control. We revisit a vital conversation with Australian activist and Quaker Adrian Glamorgan about activism, despair, and finding our specific leadings. We also hear from Kat Griffith on the spiritual work required to bridge deep political divides in rural comm
Quakers and Jiwasa: Moving from I to We
In this episode, special co-host Diana Yáñez and Sweet Miche explore the concept of belonging, not just to each other, but to all of existence. From the linguistic wisdom of the Aymara people to the radical call of liberation theology and the hard work of healing Quaker involvement in Indian Boarding Schools, we're asking what might happen to our faith if we start living from the "We" instead of t
Quakers: What Do We Believe?
In this episode of Quakers Today, co-hosts Sweet Miche (they/them) and Peterson Toscano (he/him) tackle a question that seems simple but is actually quite complex: What do Quakers believe?
We explore the wide theological spectrum of the Religious Society of Friends from those who view the Bible as the inerrant word of God to those who may not believe in God at all.
A Smorgasbord of Beliefs
We hear
Quakers and the Mystery of Worship
In this episode of Quakers Today, co-hosts Sweet Miche (they/them) and Peterson Toscano (he/him) invite you to learn more about the sometimes baffling practice of silent worship. Whether you're a long-time Friend or someone who has never stepped into a mostly silent meeting, we are pulling back the curtain to explore what happens in our hearts, minds, and bodies when we sit together in worship.
Th
Quakers and the Groups That Hold Us
In this episode of Quakers Today, co-hosts Sweet Miche (they/them) and Peterson Toscano (he/him) explore the impact of affinity groups and how they provide a space for community and spiritual nourishment.
Affinity Spaces: A Sacred Necessity
African American Friends Vanessa Julye and Curtis Spence speak from the heart about why affinity spaces are sacred. Vanessa, Associate Secretary for Organizati
Quakers and Action: How Do We Balance Peace and Protest?
In this premiere episode of Season Five, co-hosts Peterson Toscano (he/him) and Sweet Miche (they/them) explore the urgent question: How do we balance peace and protest in today’s world?
Prophetic Voices for Troubled Times
Australian Friend Greg Rolles shares his experiences with nonviolent direct action, police intimidation, and the risks of faithful disobedience. Arrested more than 25 times for
Quakers, the Bible, and Spiritual Authority with Father James Martin and Ollie from Quake It Up
In this episode of Quakers Today, we consider the Bible. Co-host Peterson Toscano (he/him) speaks with Jesuit priest and best-selling author Father James Martin about the story of Lazarus and what it means to live a resurrected life in today’s world. From a powerful visit to Lazarus’s tomb in Palestinian territory to reflections on freedom and healing, Father Martin brings spiritual and historical
Quakers, Revivals, and Reevaluations
In this special interim episode, co-host Peterson Toscano revisits two powerful stories that explore revival and reevaluation on both personal and communal levels.
First, we hear from Karla Jay, Global Ministries Coordinator for Friends United Meeting and part of the pastoral team at Iglesia Amigos de Indianapolis. Karla shares her eyewitness account of the 2023 Asbury University revival, a spirit
Quakers and a 300-Mile Testimony: Quakers Walk to Washington
In this special interim episode of Quakers Today, Sweet Miche shares how Quakers strive to embody religious freedom and the sacred right to provide sanctuary. We feature excerpts from the Quaker Walk to Washington, a remarkable 300-mile trek from Flushing, Queens—a place steeped in the origins of religious freedom in America—to Washington, D.C. This journey of deep spiritual conviction and witness
Quakers and Home
the word “home” mean to you? From a laundry ministry on the streets of San Francisco to a Quaker refuge during World War II, Friends are reimagining what it means to offer shelter, connection, and belonging. Our episode gets its inspiration from the May 2025 issue of Friends Journal.
Peterson: Gabe Ehri writes in the opening editorial, “In a world as profoundly abundant as ours, it is a societal f
Quakers and Unlearning with Philip Gulley
Philip Gulley, Peterson, and Sweet Miche share their personal journeys of unlearning traditional theological concepts and reflect on what makes Quakerism a meaningful path to a more authentic faith. Gulley highlights fear as a significant motivator for religious beliefs and a tool for control and how the current political moment is a masterfully evil manipulation of human fears. Gulley also offers
BONUS Episode: Full Conversation with Philip Gulley
In this unedited conversation Philip Gulley, Peterson Toscano, and Sweet Miche share their personal journeys of unlearning traditional theological concepts and reflect on what makes Quakerism a meaningful path to a more authentic faith.
Quakers Today: A Project of Friends Publishing Corporation
Quakers Today is the companion podcast to Friends Journal and Friends Publishing Corporation content. It
Quakers and Neurodiversity
In this episode, co-hosts Peterson Toscano (he/him) and Sweet Miche (they/them) explore best practices for welcoming and supporting neurodivergent individuals in Quaker worship and educational settings. Poet and writer Kate Fox shares insights from her article "A Place of Unmasking," drawing connections between early Quakers' spiritual practices and contemporary understandings of neurodiversity. K
Quakers, Nature, and Indigenous Wisdom
In this episode, co-hosts Peterson Toscano (he/him) and Miche McCall (they/them) explore the deep connections between Quaker spirituality, nature, and Indigenous wisdom. This episode features Gail Melix, an Indigenous Quaker who shares how walking in the woods transformed her experience of burnout into a practice of prayerful meditation. Paula Palmer examines the legacy of Quaker-run Indigenous bo
Quakers and Money with Joann Neuroth, Alicia Mendonca-Richards, and Brian McClaren
Peterson Toscano (he/him) and Miche McCall (they/them) look at how Quaker meetings align their financial practices with their values. The episode features Joann Neuroth sharing how Red Cedar Meeting in Lansing, Michigan, has shifted its financial priorities to work towards racial justice. Alicia Mendonca-Richards discusses how Quakers can embrace mystical knowledge to rethink our economy. You wil
Quakers and Staying Steady Amid Turmoil
Co-hosts Peterson Toscano (he/him) and Miche McCall (they/them) explore concepts of spiritual optimism and pessimism while navigating turbulent times. The episode features Adrian Glamorgan, who suggests Quakers can stay grounded and act faithfully during difficult times by embracing devotion. Additionally, we highlight the life of Minerva Hoyt, a pioneering conservationist who played a pivotal rol
Palestine, Food, and Memory with Dr. Riyam Kafri Abu Laban
In this special episode of Quakers Today, we share a conversation from The Seed: Conversations for Radical Hope. Host Dwight Dunston speaks with Dr. Riyam Kafri Abu Laban, an educator, writer, and former principal at Ramallah Friends School. From her home in Ramallah, Dr. Kafri Abu Laban reveals how Palestinian cuisine is deeply tied to identity, history, and resilience. Despite the challenges of
Quaker Wendy Sanford on Our Bodies, Ourselves
In this special interim episode of Quakers Today, host Peterson Toscano (he/him) talks with Wendy Sanford (she/her,) one of the original creators of the groundbreaking book Our Bodies, Ourselves. Wendy shares her role in writing the first edition and reveals how each subsequent edition reflected the input from diverse voices.
She discusses the importance of addressing issues of race, class, sexua
Queer Quaker Responses to Climate Change
In this episode of Quakers Today, co-hosts Peterson Toscano (he/him) and Miche McCall (they/them) explore how queer Quakers respond to climate change with joy, creativity, and radical inclusion. The episode features Damon Motz-Storey and Lina Blount, who delve into the intersection of queerness, spirituality, and climate activism. Miche and Peterson also review two books that provide fresh perspec
Quakers in the Future
In this episode of Quakers Today, we ask, “What does Quakerism have to offer society?”
Co-hosts Peterson Toscano (he/him) and Miche McCall (they/them) explore the concept of prefigurative practice within a Quaker classroom and beyond. What happens when students don't just learn about the future but begin to live it? They also feature queer Jewish poet Jessica Jacobs, who in her new book of poetry,
Reckoning with Quaker Racism
In this episode of Quakers Today, we ask, “Who is a historical figure you admire but whose words or actions trouble you?”
Co-hosts Peterson Toscano (he/him) and Miche McCall (they/them) discuss the complex legacies of two notable Quakers: George Fox and Richard Nixon.
George Fox
Johanna Jackson and Naveed Moeed are a part of this year's cohort of the Quaker Coalition for Uprooting Racism. They co
Quakers and Welcome
In this episode of Quakers Today, we ask, “What does it mean to be welcomed in a space?”
Peterson Toscano (he/him) and Miche McCall (they/them) discuss the concept of feeling welcome. Miche describes their sense of safety under a blanket while podcasting from Logrono, Spain, during their Camino de Santiago pilgrimage. They explore how welcoming spaces can be challenging for individuals with unique
Quakers, Birds, and Justice
In this episode of Quakers Today, we ask, What does bird watching have to do with Quakers?
You will find a complete transcript of this episode at www.quakerstoday.org
Lessons from Birds about Nature, Community, and Racial Justice
Birdwatching may seem like a serene, perhaps even solitary activity, but in the latest episode of the Quakers Today Podcast, we discover it's a window into much larger co
Quakers and Community
Season three of the Quakers Today Podcast begins with the introduction of new co-host Miche McCall (they, them). Along with co-host Peterson Toscano, they unpack the profound questions of faith, activism, and the essence of community.
Meet Quakers Today podcast’s newest team member, Miche McCall.
Miche is a professional Friend who works to inspire others to live in alignment with Spirit and joy.
Announcing Season Three of Quakers Today Podcast
In this episode of Quakers Today, we ask, How do you process memories, experiences, and feelings?
In this special episode of Quakers Today, you will learn about what we have in store for you in Season Three. We also look back to share highlights from Season Two. These include:
An episode featuring actress and environmental activist Darryl Hannah as she discusses a bold campaign against the use of
Quakers in Conversation: AFSC special: Non-Violence in Times of Crisis
This bonus episode of Quakers Today features a reunion of Quaker leaders from the U.S. and the U.K., discussing how Quaker organizations work towards a just world. Recorded during American Friends Service Committee's annual Corporation meeting in Philadelphia in April 2023, the episode includes Joyce Ajlouny, Bridget Moix, Oliver Robertson, and Sarah Clarke. T
They explore responses to global cha
Quakers, Fiction, and Virginia Woolf
In this episode of Quakers Today we ask, How do you process memories, experiences and feelings?
For the best listening experience we encourage you to listen to this episode with headphones or earbuds.
Rashid Darden's Personal Reflections
The episode features Rashid Darden and his reflection of identity and faith. As a Black person in a predominantly white faith community, Rashid's experience is
BONUS EPISODE: Vicki Winslow Reads Her Short Story ”Sabbatical”
Writer Vicki Winslow appears in this month's episode of Quakers Today. As part of that episode, this is bonus audio of Vicki reading her story. Music and sound design by Peterson Toscano.
After experiencing the loss of her father, Silena Yancey travels from North Carolina to the American Southwest to find inspiration, which she hopes leads to equilibrium. Vicki shares, "My story 'Sabbatical' is l
Quakers, Witchcraft, and Pentecostals
In this episode of Quakers Today we ask, Outside of Quaker Worship, where do Quakers seek inspiration, spirituality, and community?
Whether you're looking to understand the charismatic charm of megachurches, the deep-rooted history of Pendle Hill, England or the mysticism of Howard Thurman, this episode invites listeners to broaden their horizons and embrace the myriad ways the Spirit speaks to us
Quakers and Barbie: How Lies Exposed the Truth About Plastic Pollution
In this episode of Quakers Today, we ask, "When it comes to activism, do the ends justify the means?"
A Barbie Hoax with a Message
Actress and eco-activist Daryl Hannah speaks with host Peterson Toscano about her announcement that "Mattel intends to go 100 percent plastic-free by 2030 in all their toys. They hope to support a global ban on plastics."
Unfortunately, the excitement was short-lived.
Quakers and Worship, Nature, and Hunting
Quaker Worship, Nature, and Hunting
The episode introduces Timothy Tarkelly, a Quaker in Chanute, Kansas with a deep love for nature. Tarkelly draws parallels between the stillness of Quaker worship and his experiences in the outdoors, emphasizing the power of silence and anticipation in both settings. He wrote the Friends Journal article, Allowable Diversions: A Friend Explores the Morality of Hu
Quakers and Decision Makers
In this episode of Quakers Today we ask, What Do You Desire?
Linda Seger speaks about Circle Thinking. It is counter-cultural, highly effective, and something Quakers have been doing for a very long time. Her article, “Circle Thinking, A Quaker Model of Leadership” appears in the June/July 2023 issues of Friends Journal. Linda is the author of 34 books, including Beyond Linear Thinking: Changing t
Quakers and Leadership
In this episode of Quakers Today we ask, What do you expect and need from a leader?
Kat Griffith steps out of her comfort zone and runs for local office. The lessons she has learned about herself and her community will encourage, inspire, and challenge you. Learn more about her experience through her article, “One Quaker’s Excellent Adventure in Politics.”Kat is a former high school teacher, home
Quakers and Revival
In this episode of Quakers Today we ask, What is a daily practice that clears your head and steadies you for the day?
The host of Quakers Today, Peterson Toscano, speaks with Karla Jay, the global ministries coordinator for Friends United Meeting. Her husband, Michael Jay, is the pastor of Raysville Friends Church. Karla has been on the pastoral team at Iglesia Amigos de Indianapolis, where her fa
Quakers and Virtual Communities
In this episode of Quakers Today we ask, What are your thoughts and feelings about virtual online worship communities?
Writer Linda Seger talks about the essential work of centering into quiet as part of her regular writing process. In her QuakerSpeak interview, “Quakerism, Creativity, and the Artistic Process,” Linda shares about her approach to creativity and spirituality and how it is shaped b
Faith Transformations
In this episode of Quakers Today we ask, How has your view of Jesus God or religion changed since you were young?
Hayden Hobby was raised in an evangelical church. He reflects on leaving an abusive God and finding a new way of expressing faith. For Quakers today Hayden talks about the experience that led him to write the essay "Surviving Religious Trauma, How I left an Abusive God." Today he stud
Quakers and Reparations
Lucy Duncan and Rob Peagler from Reparation.Works discuss the questions that help guide their work. Lucy has been involved with groundbreaking reparations efforts in Philadelphia's Green Street Friends Meeting. Later this month Lucy and Rob will co-lead an online workshop called Exploring a Quaker Commitment to Reparative Justice. It is sponsored by Pendle Hill Quaker Center in collaboration with
Quakers and Redemption
In this episode of Quakers Today we ask, “What does redemption mean to you?”
Attorney, coach, mediator, and Quaker thought leader, Adria Gulizia, speaks with Peterson Toscano about evil. Adria’s article “Facing Evil, Finding Freedom: How Christ's Victory Over Sin Is Ours to Share Today” appears in the December 2022 issue of Friends Journal. To read more of Adria Gulizia’s writing visit Shadow of
Quakers and Fiction
In this episode of Quakers Today we ask, “What is a fictional story that has inspired you or challenged your world view?”
Writer Anne E.G. Nydam reads an excerpt from her short story, “The Conduits.” You can read the entire story in the November 2022 Fiction edition of Friends Journal. Click here to hear Anne reading the whole story. Visit nydamprints.com to learn about Anne E.G. Nydam’s block pr
What is Quakers Today and Who is Making it Happen?
Hi I’m Peterson Toscano. I am a Quaker and a podcaster. Whenever I tell someone that they thought I think they imagine some dude sitting behind a microphone in quiet contemplation.
Ah, no. For me podcasting is all about sounds. It is also about people and the stories they have to tell.
For over 10 years I have produced or hosted nearly 10 podcasts. They have touched on a variety of issues. LGBTQ
Announcing the Quakers Today Podcast
How do prevailing cultural values affect your life?
What is your understanding of the Divine and how it works in you?
What music, films, or games represent how you see yourself in the world?
Quakers Today are asking all sorts of questions. We decided to invite Quakers and other seekers to share their questions and their journeys with us. Hi, I’m Peterson Toscano, host of the new Quakers Today p
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