Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: Will@faithfulpoliticspodcast.com

Why are nearly half of Gen Z unaffiliated with organized religion—and what does that mean for campuses wrestling with conscience and rights?

Kevin Bolling, Executive Director of the Secular Student Alliance, joins Will and Josh to unpack the lived reality behind the headlines: church–state separation, “10 Commandments in classrooms,” chaplains replacing counselors, school vouchers, and the legal fights around drag shows and student speech.

From Texas organizing to LGBTQ student protections, Kevin shares how secular and religious students often work together to protect religious liberty for all, even as white Christian nationalism reshapes public policy. We also explore the family side of belief change—how parents and students can navigate identity, community, and care without coercion.

Learn more: https://secularstudents.org

Guest Bio
Kevin Bolling is Executive Director of the Secular Student Alliance (SSA), serving since 2017. He’s a veteran nonprofit leader with two decades of experience in student organizing, higher-ed programs, and civil society advocacy, focused on church–state separation, LGBTQ inclusion, and student leadership. Under his leadership, SSA supports chapters nationwide across high schools, colleges, and virtual communities.

Support the show

🎧 Want to learn more about Faithful Politics, get in touch with the hosts, or suggest a future guest?
👉 Visit our website: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com

📚 Check out our Bookstore – Featuring titles from our amazing guests:
faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/bookstore

❤️ Support the show – Help us keep the conversation going:
donorbox.org/faithful-politics-podcast

📩 Reach out to us:

• Faithful Host, Josh Burtram: Josh@faithfulpolitics.com
• Political Host, Will Wright: Will@faithfulpolitics.com

📱 Follow & connect with us:

• Twitter/X: @FaithfulPolitik
• Instagram: faithful_politics
• Facebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcast
• LinkedIn: faithfulpolitics

📰 Subscribe to our Substack for behind-the-scenes content:
faithfulpolitics.substack.com

📅 RSVP for upcoming live events:
Chec...

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: Will@faithfulpoliticspodcast.com

What explains the persistence and appeal of Christian patriarchy in contemporary America?

In this episode, journalist and author Sarah Stankorb (Disobedient Women) examines the theological and institutional architecture surrounding **Doug Wilson, Christ Church, Canon Press, and the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC)*. Drawing on years of investigative reporting, Stankorb situates Moscow, Idaho, as both a local case study and a national model for the diffusion of patriarchal theology through publishing, education, and digital media.

The conversation explores how discourses of submission and hierarchy provide not only a template for family and congregational life but also a framework for civic and political engagement. We analyze the implications of head-of-household voting, institutional cover-ups of abuse, and the theological rationales that normalize gendered power disparities. Stankorb highlights survivor narratives as essential sources of data, underscoring how authority structures can perpetuate cycles of harm under the guise of religious fidelity.

By situating Wilson’s project within broader debates over Christian nationalism, religious liberty, and political theology, this episode raises critical questions about the entanglement of faith and authoritarianism in the American public square.

Disobedient Women:How a Small Group of Faithful Women Exposed Abuse, Brought Down Powerful Pastors, and Ignited an Evangelical Reckoning
https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9781546003816

Articles by Sarah:

• https://www.vice.com/en/article/inside-the-church-that-preaches-wives-need-to-be-led-with-a-firm-hand/
• https://www.elle.com/life-love/opinions-features/a64637668/tradwives-escaping-patriarchy-social-media-interview-2025/

Support the show

🎧 Want to learn more about Faithful Politics, get in touch with the hosts, or suggest a future guest?
👉 Visit our website: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com

📚 Check out our Bookstore – Featuring titles from our amazing guests:
faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/bookstore

❤️ Support the show – Help us keep the conversation going:
donorbox.org/faithful-politics-podcast

📩 Reach out to us:

• Faithful Host, Josh Burtram: Josh@faithfulpolitics.com
• Political Host, Will Wright: Will@faithfulpolitics.com

📱 Follow & connect with us:

• Twitter/X: @FaithfulPolitik
• Instagram: faithful_politics
• Facebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcast
• LinkedIn: faithfulpolitics

📰 Subscribe to our Substack for behind-the-scenes content:
faithfulpolitics.substack.com

📅 RSVP for upcoming live events:
Chec...

Have a comment? Send us a text! (We read all of them but can't reply). Email us: Will@faithfulpoliticspodcast.com

What happens when the Bible that was meant to bring life becomes a source of harm? Pastor Zach W. Lambert, founder of Restore Austin and co-founder of the Post-Evangelical Collective, joins the Faithful Politics Podcast to talk about his new book, Better Ways to Read the Bible. Drawing from his own journey out of Southern Baptist fundamentalism, Lambert explores how scripture was weaponized in his youth and how he rediscovered a Jesus who brought hope, not fear.

We unpack his framework of “lenses” for reading scripture—why harmful approaches like moralism and literalism distort God’s heart, and how healthier lenses like fruitfulness, context, and Christ-centeredness can transform the way we engage the Bible. Lambert shares pastoral stories of people hurt by misused verses, insights from his time at Dallas Theological Seminary and Duke Divinity, and his church’s inclusive ministry in Austin.

The conversation doesn’t shy away from tough issues: hell, patriarchy, LGBTQ inclusion, and the grief of leaving behind certainty. Lambert reminds us that the answer to bad Bible reading isn’t no Bible reading—it’s better Bible reading. If you’ve wrestled with faith, struggled with scripture, or wondered if there’s a more life-giving way forward, this episode will encourage, challenge, and equip you.

Buy the book Better Ways to Read the Bible: https://bookshop.org/a/112456/9781587436680

Guest Bio

Zach W. Lambert is the lead pastor and founder of Restore Austin, a thriving church in Texas committed to radical inclusivity and justice. A graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary and current doctoral student at Duke Divinity School, Lambert brings a unique blend of evangelical roots and academic depth. He co-founded the Post-Evangelical Collective and serves on the boards of the Austin Church Planting Network and Multi-Faith Neighbors Network. His debut book, Better Ways to Read the Bible (Brazos Press, 2024), equips Christians to move beyond harmful interpretations toward healthier, Christ-centered engagement with scripture

Support the show

🎧 Want to learn more about Faithful Politics, get in touch with the hosts, or suggest a future guest?
👉 Visit our website: faithfulpoliticspodcast.com

📚 Check out our Bookstore – Featuring titles from our amazing guests:
faithfulpoliticspodcast.com/bookstore

❤️ Support the show – Help us keep the conversation going:
donorbox.org/faithful-politics-podcast

📩 Reach out to us:

• Faithful Host, Josh Burtram: Josh@faithfulpolitics.com
• Political Host, Will Wright: Will@faithfulpolitics.com

📱 Follow & connect with us:

• Twitter/X: @FaithfulPolitik
• Instagram: faithful_politics
• Facebook: FaithfulPoliticsPodcast
• LinkedIn: faithfulpolitics

📰 Subscribe to our Substack for behind-the-scenes content:
faithfulpolitics.substack.com

📅 RSVP for upcoming live events:
Chec...