Growing Up Moonie, And What Comes Next

In this final episode of Preach, host Lee Hale talks with his producer Tricia Bobeda about what they learned making the show, and Lee’s exciting new chapter at NPR. From KUER and PRX.

Host Lee Hale finds himself talking to strangers about religion a lot. So when he was test driving cars, it was bound to come up. It turned out the car salesman, Pete Philbrook, grew up a strict Jehovah’s Witness. And he was willing to answer all of Lee’s questions about the other door-knocking faith. From KUER and PRX.

The Oracle of Los Angeles and author Amanda Yates Garcia talks with host Lee Hale about being raised a witch, how she practices magic now, and the power of Saturn. From KUER and PRX.

The host of NPR’s It’s Been A Minute opens up about his Pentecostal roots, the power of church music and what he's praying about in these challenging times. From KUER and PRX. Hosted by Lee Hale.

She describes herself as a fat, black and queer yoga teacher. And Jessamyn Stanley has garnered a massive following online for her authentic, unapologetic love of yoga. The author and podcaster talks with host Lee Hale about leaving behind her strict upbringing in the Bahá'í Faith and wandering in a spiritual wilderness. Plus, how to combat cultural appropriation. From KUER and PRX.

Host Lee Hale woke up to an earthquake in Salt Lake City Wednesday morning. Between that, and all the coronavirus news, it seemed like a good time to call his friend Jakob Lewis. Jakob hosts the podcast *Neighbors *from Nashville. They had an honest chat about finding faith in times of need, existential uncertainty, and how maybe we can all be better neighbors (even while we keep our physical distance). From KUER and PRX.

The former Saturday Night Live writer and creator of the TBS comedy talks about how his Hebrew school days inspired him to create a God character perfect for Steve Buscemi, writing through his existential anxiety and why he’s agnostic about pretty much everything. Hosted by Lee Hale. From KUER and PRX.

This episode is packed with goodness from Preach’s first ever live show, including: Mindfulness expert Thomas McConkie on why he ran away from home as a teen. The founders of The Emerald Project on training FBI agents to combat Islamophobia. Millennial Rabbi Samuel Spector on leading Utah’s largest Jewish congregation. Comedian Stacey Harkey on navigating being black, gay and Mormon in Utah. Hosted by Lee Hale. From KUER and PRX.

Hideo Higashibaba was born into the Unification Church. Its members are commonly known as “Moonies” because of their devotion to the self-proclaimed messiah Rev. Sun Myung Moon. Hideo left the church in his 20s and has since come out as queer and transgender. He now calls the church a cult, and mined his own story to create a podcast called “Growing Up Moonie”. He talks with host Lee Hale about why he decided to delve into his painful past, and what he learned from it. From KUER and PRX. Find more at preachpod.org

Makinde Adedapo grew up practicing an ancient West African tradition in Chicago. He talks with Lee Hale about discovering your destiny, the explosion of interest in Yoruban culture and how things can get complicated when your dad is also your priest. From KUER and PRX. More at preachpod.org