What can a Star Wars series teach us about authoritarianism, resistance, and the state of democracy in America? In this episode of Footnotes , Jemar Tisby sits down with his friend and producer, Beau York, a man steeped in Star Wars lore. Together they explore how Andor —a show set in a galaxy far, far away—becomes an urgent mirror for our political present. T hey discuss the rise of empire, the courage of ordinary people, and the power of storytelling to stir the soul when facts fall flat. Whet...
May 23, 2025•54 min
Dr. Beth Allison Barris the James Vardaman Professor of History at Baylor University. She earned her PhD in Medieval History from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is the bestselling author of The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth. In this episode we talk about her latest book, Becoming the Pastor's Wife: How Marriage Replaced Ordination as a Woman's Path to Ministry . We discuss: The role of the pastor's wife Complementarianism and ...
Apr 16, 2025•1 hr 7 min
In this episode of Footnotes , I sit down with investigative journalist Katherine Stewart to discuss her latest book, Money, Lies, and God: Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy . Katherine’s work, including her previous book The Power Worshipers , which inspired the documentary God & Country , exposes the hidden networks of money, power, and religious extremism shaping our political landscape. We dive into the key players behind the antidemocratic movement—funders, thinkers, ser...
Feb 18, 2025•57 min
In this episode, I take a closer look at Homestead , the post-apocalyptic drama from Angel Studios based on the novel Black Autumn . I explore its themes of faith, anti-government sentiment, and personal property rights, plus its connection to real-world trends like doomsday prepping and Christian nationalism. Join me as I unpack how this film reflects the intersection of faith, politics, and culture. Subscribe: JemarTisby.Substack.com Spirit of Justice (All Ages Books): bookshop.org/shop/jemart...
Dec 31, 2024•39 min
On this episode I speak with Amanda Tyler, head of the BJC, a Baptist group that works for religious freedom for all, about her new book "How to End Christian Nationalism." We talk: Defining Christian nationalism How to talk to your family member, neighbor, friend who is in the sunken place of Christian nationalism Why women subscribe to this ideology when it is so anti-women And more... Pick up the book at EndChristianNationalism.com and access a whole library of resources for use in your local...
Oct 31, 2024•50 min
Fuller Texas and the Pannell Center for Black Church Studies welcome author, speaker, and public historian, Dr. Jemar Tisby , author of The Color of Compromise , in celebrating the release of his most recent book The Spirit of Justice: Faith, Race, and Resistance . In this chat recorded live at Fuller Texas, Dr. Tisby will share the heart behind his new work which features bold stories of individuals who have gone before us and how their legacy continues to encourage us to pursue solidarity as t...
Oct 28, 2024•55 min
Joel Edward Goza dismantles the deep-seated myths that perpetuate white supremacy—and makes the case that reparations are necessary to heal America’s racial wounds and live up to our democratic ideals. Like many well-intentioned white people, Goza once believed that he could support Black America’s struggle for equality without supporting reparations. Reparations, he thought, were altogether irrelevant to the real work of racial justice. This is a book about why he was wrong. In fact, any effort...
Sep 24, 2024•34 min
Dive into the pages of The Spirit of Justice and uncover the enduring power of faith and resistance in the fight for racial equality. Here are key themes and takeaways you'll explore: Historical Resistance: Learn about the brave individuals who stood against racial injustice throughout American history. Faith in Action: See how deeply faith influenced major movements and led to significant changes in society. Inspiration for Today: Draw strength and inspiration from past victories and strategies...
Sep 03, 2024•32 min
We are nearing 100 episodes! Let me know what you'd like to hear or see more of on the Footnotes podcast. Email: info@jemartisby.com Please leave me a review! The last new review was July 2023! I'd be glad to read yours on the next episode. You're hearing from Rev. Dr. Jennifer Harvey about her latest book "Antiracism as Daily Practice: Refuse Shame, Change White Communities, and Help Create a Just World" ORDER HERE We discuss: --Why I resonate so deeply with her approach to antiracism --How Bla...
Jul 16, 2024•54 min
Author interview!!! Caleb Cambpell has written a book you've probably been waiting for... It's called "Disarming Leviathan: Loving Your Christian Nationalist Neighbor." At one point in his young life, Caleb Campbell was an avowed white supremacist. Then through a series of experiences he followed Jesus and has turned his energies toward discipling his white Christian nationalist neighbors out of this harmful ideology. In a first for Footnotes, we are jointly releasing this episode. I wanted to h...
Jun 29, 2024•1 hr 10 min
We often frame the white Christian nationalism as a problem exclusively of far-right, fundamentalist evangelicalism. What we talk much less about is mainline Protestants and how they have contributed to the rise of Christian nationalism from the 1940s to the present. I talk with Rev. Dr. Brian Kaylor about the book he co-authored called, Baptizing America: How Mainline Protestants Helped Build Christian Nationalism. Among the topics we cover are: Defining mainline Protestantism Distinguishing be...
Jun 27, 2024•1 hr 5 min
Juneteenth became a national holiday in 2021. While many African Americans have celebrated the holiday for decades, many other people know little about it. In this teach-in Dr. Jemar Tisby--a historian, professor, and bestselling author--talks about the history of Juneteenth and describes its importance in the life of the nation. In this video you will learn about: --The announcement on June 19, 1865 in Galveston, TX --The Junteenth flag and its symbolism --Why we should celebrate Juneteenth as ...
Jun 19, 2024•57 min
Dr. Jemar interviews Rev. Dr. Brenda Salter-McNeil about her latest book "Empowered to Repair: Becoming People Who Mend Broken Systems and Heal Our Communities." Dr. Brenda is a professor of Reconciliation Studies, a program she founded, at Seattle Pacific University. She is also a pastor and has been doing racial reconciliation work for decades. We talk about her journey from Trenton, NJ to Seattle, WA, the importance of self-care in justice work, and how to move beyond the theory and get pract...
May 27, 2024•54 min
In my second book, How to Fight Racism , I wrote a section called "Create a Pipeline of Mental Health Therapists of Color." In it I suggested that "you or your church could contribute to scholarship funds for people of color interested in getting trained in mental health and therapy." Well, a group actually did this and formed the Black Mental Health Counselors Reparations Foundation. I spoke to the three founders: Drs. Dr. Layla Bonner, DeAndrea Witherspoon Nash, and Danny Bryant. They explain ...
May 23, 2024•1 hr 5 min
There is a movement of people who grew up in evangelical Christianity out of those circles. These are ex-evangelicals or "exvangelicals." Now Sarah McCammon, a politics reporter for NPR, has given us the first book-length treatment of this movement and the individuals within it. In this interview we talk about her very evangelical upbringing (and wax nostalgic about growing up in the 90s along the way). She tells us her thoughts about what's leading to this disillusionment with evangelicalism. W...
May 01, 2024•57 min
I have often said, "White Christian nationalism is the greatest threat to democracy and the witness of the church in the United States today." Now there's a documentary showing and telling why this is true. I talk to Dan Partland, the director of "God & Country" a feature-length documentary film that "takes a closer look at the dangerous implications and explores how a base of Christians has radically stoked a movement erasing the line between Church and State." Partland explains how he appr...
Feb 14, 2024•57 min
Michael Wear is the author of The Spirit of Our Politics. It's a book that takes a fresh approach to how faith and politics should interact. Instead of beginning with policies, pundits, or politicians, Wear encourages us to begin with our own spiritual formation. We talk about everything from our similar conversion stories in evangelical contexts to how to engage people with radically different political persuasions. Order The Spirit of Our Politics HERE. Be sure to subscribe to my Substack: Jem...
Jan 29, 2024•59 min
Finally, finally, finally you can pre-order my latest book The Spirit of Justice: Stories of Faith, Race, and Resistance! This is a book for all those who are weary and heavy-laden. It encourages you by telling the true stories of people who found reservoirs of strength—what I call the spirit of justice—to resist oppression and keep on keeping on. If you pre-order the book you get several bonuses. You get exclusive access to the first chapter of the book. You get access to my keynote message fro...
Jan 25, 2024•13 min
I went to Northern Ireland as part of an endeavor hosted by the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship and the Telos Group. We were looking at justice and peacemaking in the context of worship. To that end we visited places such as Corrymeela, Derry, Giant’s Causeway, Clonard Monastery, and Stormont just to name a few. In this very special episode of Footnotes, I offer some of my reflections about the trip. The journey deeply impacted me, and I hope this is not my last trip to Northern Ireland! R...
Jan 22, 2024•26 min
In this episode I talk with first-time author Ronald Olivier whose life is a movie...or at least a book. He wrote "27 Summers: My Journey to Freedom, Forgiveness, and Redemption During My Time in Angola Prison." As a historian and racial justice advocate, I've made incarceration one of my primary areas of focus in terms of action and raising awareness. That's why I was honored and excited to talk to Ronald about his experiences in Angola Prison and what he has share with us now that he's on the ...
Dec 20, 2023•1 hr 5 min
Racism, white supremacy, and the attempt to control Black bodies didn't go away after the Civil War. As I often say, "Racism never goes away, it adapts." One of the ways racism persists is through our criminal legal system, especially the death penalty. Joia Erin Thornton is the founder and executive director of the faith leaders of color coalition (flocc). Through her organization she works toward eliminating capital punishment in the carceral system. She talks about her journey into this work ...
Nov 28, 2023•49 min
How do you keep the flame of justice burning in the midst of so much misery and disappointment? A new book, Heart on Fire: 100 Meditations on Loving Your Neighbor Well, is just what you need. In this episode I get to interview first-time author and long-time artist, Dani Coke Balfour. We talk about how art relates to activism and how all of us have a role to play in doing "good work." Be sure to grab your copy of Heart on Fire wherever books are sold! Buy the Book On Amazon Bookshop Episode High...
Nov 21, 2023•55 min
On this episode of Footnotes, join me as I delve into an enlightening conversation with the esteemed author Rev. Dr. Esau McCaulley, discussing his highly anticipated new book "How Far to the Promised Land." Episode Highlights: We talk about how Black Christians in white evangelical spaces get "pushed out, burned out, or sell out" and how McCaulley has endured in his place of work How he thinks about his interracial marriage in view of the historic and ongoing Black experience with racism What h...
Nov 08, 2023•58 min
According to a Psychology Today article, racial and ethnic minorities represent 30 percent of the population, yet 83.6 percent of mental health professionals identify as non-Hispanic White. And only about 5 percent of students enrolled in graduate level psychology programs are Black. Adebisi Gbadamosi is a Black woman therapist who specializes in addressing racial and religious trauma. She specializes in working with peo[le of color to process racial trauma, Christians to process faith-related t...
Aug 02, 2023•1 hr 4 min
The United States has five percent of the world's population but 25 percent of its incarcerated individuals. But the statistics only tell part of the story. Behind the numbers are real people. Stanley Frankart is someone who made it out of the prison system and is now helping others to do the same. Through the nonprofit he co-founded, Young Christian Professionals, Frankart and his team offer character education and professional development to reduce rates of recidivism. Learn More: -Young Chris...
Jul 26, 2023•1 hr 19 min
Racism is not an ideology invented by people of African descent—people of European descent who are considered white hold that dubious distinction. So what is the role of white people in fighting racism? In part four of the Fighting Racism series, I talk with Shelley and David Park. They are the transracial adoptive parents of a son who is Black. They also composed a curriculum called “Let's Talk Race: A Beginners Guide to Conversations about Race.” In this 5-week course they talk to other white ...
Jul 19, 2023•52 min
In this episode we are going to talk with someone who knows all too well the challenges of environmental racism externally and the challenges of fighting for racial and ethnic diversity internally at a company. We are joined by Abigail Oduaol. She works for an organization called Earthjustice which employs more than 500 people. She serves as a senior development office but has also taken it upon herself to spearhead the company's antiracist initiatives and their efforts to make the workplace mor...
Jul 12, 2023•58 min
In this episode we hear what one homeschooling parent, Brytni McNeil is doing to create a more racially inclusive and honest culture in homeschooling. Brytni is so graciously vulnerable in sharing her story of coming from a colorblind approach to race to becoming color-conscious. She talks about the challenges of being a Black homeschooling parent and how she is working to make homeschooling families more aware of racial dynamics. Learn more about her work HERE. Subscribe to JemarTisby.Substack....
Jul 05, 2023•56 min
“Welcome to the FIGHTING RACISM series, a project that explores how real people just like you are fighting racism in their everyday lives. My name is Dr. Jemar Tisby. I'm a historian, an author, a speaker, and a professor of history at Simmons College of Kentucky, and I will be your host and guide throughout this series. In this episode I unpack the ARC of Racial Justice and tell you how this series came about and what to expect. See below for the upcoming episode themes. Fighting Racism Series ...
Jul 01, 2023•18 min
"Critical Race Theory has become a lightning rod in contemporary American politics and evangelical Christianity. This irenic book offers a critical but constructive and sympathetic introduction written from a perspective rooted in Scripture and Christian Theology." I sit down with the co-authors Dr. Robert Chao Romero and Dr. Jeff Liou to talk about the need for this book and the intersection between Christianity and Critical Race Theory. Buy the book "Christianity and Critical Race Theory HERE....
May 30, 2023•50 min
