Hope Podcast: Featuring Maya Lee, MDiv Candidate

In this episode, Kevli Sheth, MDiv II, reflects on her path from Western Kentucky to Harvard Divinity School, and we explore how Jain and Hindu traditions, Kathak dance, and feminist movements have been important elements of her spiritual formation.

Marshall Laidlaw (he/him), MDiv III, is an emerging scholar of American religions and sexuality from Red Wing, Minnesota. In this episode of the Hope Podcast, we hear how his work seeks to uncover the hidden histories of queer and trans religious communities, particularly around the HIV/AIDS crisis. Marshall tells us how remembering these frequently forgotten stories can build strategies for queer kinship, survival, and joy within and beyond the academy.

Artificial intelligence has become the subject of intense public debate. While some people are excited by its possibilities, others are concerned about its effects on jobs and communities, the power of the companies developing it, and what people may lose by relying too heavily on these tools. In this episode of Harvard Religion Beat, Harvard Divinity School professor David Lamberth discusses the ethical and religious questions surrounding AI, what these systems may overlook about how people think and make meaning, and how individuals and organizations can make more thoughtful decisions about using them. Show Notes: Produced and hosted by Jonathan Beasley Edited by Tyler Sprouse Logo art direction by Kristie Welsh HDS Executive Seminar - Leading Ethically in the Age of AI: https://www.hds.harvard.edu/academics/professional-lifelong-learning/leading-ethically-age-ai Harvard Divinity Bulletin essay "Meaning Making, Bodies, and AI": https://bulletin.hds.harvard.edu/meaning-making-bodies-and-ai/ Intro/Outro music: "Shape Of Hope"; Publishers: Abbey Road Masters; Universal Production Music Ad break music: "Atmospheres"; Publishers: Aurora; Universal Production Music Sign up for the HDS Current newsletter: www.hds.harvard.edu/news/connect Follow HDS on social media @HarvardDivinity

In this episode, Maya Lee, MDiv III, shares their journey from Brooklyn to Harvard Divinity School, and we explore their deep engagement with Buddhism, social justice, and hospital chaplaincy.

Miriam Pellegrino is an artist and designer compelled by the strange and the Sacred. They work as a human-centered design researcher, strategist, and illustrator. Miriam is also a student at Harvard Divinity School, where they are working toward a Master of Theological Studies with a focus in interior design and experience design for meaning-making. When they aren’t contemplating what spaces best support the flourishing of all life, you can find them searching for the best gluten-free bagel in the Boston area.

What did religion actually look like in America in 1776? In this episode of Harvard Religion Beat, host Jonathan Beasley speaks with Harvard Divinity School professor Catherine Brekus about the role of faith in Revolutionary America—from Sunday worship and the influence of ministers to the experiences of women, enslaved people, and Indigenous communities. Brekus also explores how religion shaped the American Revolution, what life was like at Harvard during the founding era, and why this history continues to inform conversations about religion and public life today. Show Notes Produced and hosted by Jonathan Beasley Edited by Tyler Sprouse Logo art direction by Kristie Welsh Intro/Outro music: "Shape Of Hope"; Publishers: Abbey Road Masters; Universal Production Music Ad break music: "Atmospheres"; Publishers: Aurora; Universal Production Music Sign up for the HDS Current newsletter: https://www.hds.harvard.edu/news/connect Follow HDS on social media @HarvardDivinity

Is the world becoming more religious or less religious? Gina Zurlo, Lecturer on World Christianity at Harvard Divinity School, talks about the demographic, cultural, and social forces reshaping religion around the globe. Drawing on a recent Pew Research Center report on religious diversity, Zurlo explores Christianity's shift toward the Global South, the impact of migration and demographics, and what researchers are learning about faith and spirituality among younger generations. Produced and hosted by Jonathan Beasley Edited by Tyler Sprouse Logo art direction by Kristie Welsh Pew Research Report on religious diversity around the world: https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2026/02/12/religious-diversity-around-the-world/ Harvard Divinity Bulletin article: "Is the World Becoming More or Less Religious? Depends on China." https://bulletin.hds.harvard.edu/is-the-world-becoming-more-or-less-religious-depends-on-china/ Intro/Outro music: "Shape Of Hope"; Publishers: Abbey Road Masters; Universal Production Music Ad break music: "Atmospheres"; Publishers: Aurora; Universal Production Music Sign up for the HDS Current newsletter: www.hds.harvard.edu/news/connect Follow HDS on social media: IG, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn (@HarvardDivinity)

In this episode, Hiatt and Jordan celebrate the end of their tenure as Hope Podcast hosts by interviewing each other about poetry, ministry, and how the two together make a kind of life.

In this episode, Hiatt and Jordan celebrate the end of their tenure as Hope Podcast hosts by interviewing each other about poetry, ministry, and how the two together make a kind of life.

One year after his election, Pope Leo XIV’s leadership is beginning to take shape—blending continuity with change. How is he guiding the Catholic Church in a moment of global uncertainty, and what does it reveal about the future of the papacy? Raúl Zegarra, Assistant Professor of Roman Catholic Theological Studies, offers insights into Pope Leo's first year. Produced and hosted by Jonathan Beasley Edited by Tyler Sprouse Logo art direction by Kristie Welsh Intro/Outro music: "Shape Of Hope"; Publishers: Abbey Road Masters; Universal Production Music Ad break music: "Atmospheres"; Publishers: Aurora; Universal Production Music Sign up for the HDS Current newsletter: https://www.hds.harvard.edu/news/connect Harvard Divinity Bulletin: https://bulletin.hds.harvard.edu/ Follow HDS on social media: IG, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn (@HarvardDivinity)