The State of Belief
The State of Belief
Every week, Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush hosts lively, funny and poignant conversations with inspiring religious and civic leaders, as well as artists and activists from across the country. Listeners get a potent mix of spiritual wisdom, political strategy, and hopeful commentary from national and local leaders who are rising up to meet this urgent moment in America. With the tagline, “Where Religion and Democracy Meet,” State of Belief is a celebration of our nation’s diversities and an invitation to join together to, in the words of the great James Baldwin, “achieve our country.”
Meet the Host
Paul Brandeis Raushenbush
Paul Brandeis Raushenbush
Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush is President and CEO of Interfaith Alliance. An ordained Baptist minister, Paul has been a leader in the interfaith movement to protect freedom and preserve democracy. As the great-grandson of the first Jewish Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis and great-grandson of Baptist theologian Walter Rauschenbusch, a key figure in the Social Gospel movement, Paul’s commitment to interfaith advocacy comes in part from his own interfaith background. Prior to coming to Interfaith Alliance, Paul has served as senior vice president of the Auburn Seminary, the founding and executive editor of HuffPost Religion, associate dean of religious life and the chapel at Princeton University, and a founding editor of Beliefnet.com. Most recently, he was the senior advisor for public affairs and innovation at Interfaith America.

Before hosting State of Belief, Paul was the host of Huffington Post’s podcast “All Together” where he interviewed guests as diverse as President Jimmy Carter, Patti Smith, RuPaul, Bishop T.D. Jakes, and Rabbi Jonathan Sacks. Paul speaks about religious diversity and the importance of inclusive religious liberty at colleges, churches and institutes around the country including The Chautauqua Institute, the Center for American Progress, the New America Foundation and the Aspen Institute. He is regularly invited to offer commentary on issues of religion and society on national television and radio including a repeated guest on CNN, CBS, ABC, MSNBC, NPR, Al Jazeera, and BBC.
Podcast image for
Katelyn Beaty and Roxanne Stone
Our first live episode, coming to you from Religion News Service's 90th anniversary gala in the heart of Manhattan.
Podcast image for
Jeffrey Salkin
It is all about the journey — and that is what Abigail Pogrebin and Dov Linzer do so well.
Podcast image for
Amber Hacker and Tom Levinson
A former CEO of 10 public companies talks about the work and joy of giving.
Podcast image for
Rev. Amanda Henderson
RNS Vatican correspondent Claire Giangravé takes us inside the Synod on Synodality, where centuries-old questions about women’s leadership are still simmering.
Podcast image for
Katelyn Beaty and Roxanne Stone
Our first live episode, coming to you from Religion News Service's 90th anniversary gala in the heart of Manhattan.
Podcast image for
Jeffrey Salkin
It is all about the journey — and that is what Abigail Pogrebin and Dov Linzer do so well.
Podcast image for
Amber Hacker and Tom Levinson
A former CEO of 10 public companies talks about the work and joy of giving.
Podcast image for
Rev. Amanda Henderson
RNS Vatican correspondent Claire Giangravé takes us inside the Synod on Synodality, where centuries-old questions about women’s leadership are still simmering.
Latest Episode
September 24, 2024
PLAY EPISODE
Host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush moderates a panel discussion on interfaith relations in a post-October 7 world, featuring Dr. Najeeba Syeed, Rabba Rori Picker Neiss, and Rev. Fred Davie. Paul also asks Rabbi Jill Jacobs about observing Rosh Hashanah in this troubled time
PLAY EPISODE
Previous Episodes
Host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush moderates a panel discussion on interfaith relations in a post-October 7 world, featuring Dr. Najeeba Syeed, Rabba Rori Picker Neiss, and Rev. Fred Davie. Paul also asks Rabbi Jill Jacobs about observing Rosh Hashanah in this troubled time
PLAY EPISODE
State of Belief host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush talks with historian Kristin Du Mez, author of "Jesus and John Wayne," about her new documentary "For Our Daughters: Stories of Abuse, Betrayal, and Resistance in the Evangelical Church"'; and with Mary J. Novak, executive director of NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice, which is launching the Nuns on the Bus & Friends tour
PLAY EPISODE
State of Belief host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush talks with leaders of Interfaith Alliance affiliates in Southwest Florida, North Dakota, and Pennsylvania about their work bringing together people of diverse beliefs around shared values and vision for their communities
PLAY EPISODE
Host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush talks with Dr. Robert P. Jones, founder and president of the Public Religion Research Institute, which has just released the incredibly detailed Census of American Religion. Robby's latest book, "The Hidden Roots of White Supremacy and the Path to a Shared American Future" has just been released in paperback with a new afterword.
PLAY EPISODE
Podcast image for
Katelyn Beaty and Roxanne Stone
Our first live episode, coming to you from Religion News Service's 90th anniversary gala in the heart of Manhattan.
Podcast image for
Jeffrey Salkin
It is all about the journey — and that is what Abigail Pogrebin and Dov Linzer do so well.
Podcast image for
Amber Hacker and Tom Levinson
A former CEO of 10 public companies talks about the work and joy of giving.
Podcast image for
Rev. Amanda Henderson
RNS Vatican correspondent Claire Giangravé takes us inside the Synod on Synodality, where centuries-old questions about women’s leadership are still simmering.
Podcast image for
Katelyn Beaty and Roxanne Stone
Our first live episode, coming to you from Religion News Service's 90th anniversary gala in the heart of Manhattan.
Podcast image for
Jeffrey Salkin
It is all about the journey — and that is what Abigail Pogrebin and Dov Linzer do so well.
Podcast image for
Amber Hacker and Tom Levinson
A former CEO of 10 public companies talks about the work and joy of giving.
Podcast image for
Rev. Amanda Henderson
RNS Vatican correspondent Claire Giangravé takes us inside the Synod on Synodality, where centuries-old questions about women’s leadership are still simmering.