Best DC Public Library Podcasts (2025)

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Faith Rising for Democracy: How to Show Up for No Kings, With Adam Friedman 43:50

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3d ago43:50

43:50

The latest episode of The State of Belief features Adam Friedman, organizing and election strategist at Interfaith Alliance. In this episode, host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush and Adam dive deep into the significance of the upcoming No Kings demonstration on October 18th and the vital role of faith communities in advocating for democracy. The dis…

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Episode 24 - Al Capone Does My Shirts - live from the Gaithersburg Book Festival 45:29

6d ago45:29

45:29

It's banned books week, as we continue our look at books that have been challenged or banned. This week, it’s Gennifer Choldenko’s tale “Al Capone Does My Shirts.” Back in 2016, the book was challenged by a group that said the book “perpetuates negative stereotypes” by including Al Capone as a character in the book. And earlier this year, a school …

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League of Women Voters CEO Celina Stewart: Courage is Not the Absence of Fear 1:00:58

10d ago1:00:58

1:00:58

This week, host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush is joined by Celina Stewart, Chief Executive Officer of the League of Women Voters. They get into the way the League’s work has evolved over the past 105 years, with a focus on expanding access to the ballot, as well as on voter education,protecting voter rights, and strengthening civic engagement. Cel…

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Episode 169: Gordon Hintz - County Executive for Winnebago County 2:02:27

10d ago2:02:27

2:02:27

Get to know Gordon Hintz. This episode is a lively conversation with Gordon Hintz, the Winnebago County Executive and former state legislator. The conversation flows through discussions about the local community, personal life, and public service. A key theme emerges around Hintz's dedication to public service and his evolution from state partisan …

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Episode 49 - Ungifted by Gordon Korman 26:15

14d ago26:15

26:15

What does it mean to be "gifted?" Don't we all have unique gifts to share with the world? Readers from Eliot-Hine Middle School on Capitol Hill discuss Gordon Korman's story of a prankster who lands in a "Gifted" program. KNX sports anchor (and Talking About Cars podcast host) Randy Kerdoon is celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host.…

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Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum, Randi Weingarten, and Skye Perryman speak on Religious Freedom in Public Schools 1:03:12

17d ago1:03:12

1:03:12

Religious freedom and public education: how do these issues come together? This week on The State of Belief, we hear leading voices make a compelling argument for ensuring the latter comes with a healthy dose of the former: Labor leader Randi Weingarten, activist Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum, and Democracy Forward's Skye Perryman. Most of this episode wa…

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Donna Barba Higuera 8:26

21d ago8:26

8:26

Kitty Felde talks to the author of Lupe Wong Won't Dance Donna Barba Higuera about creating an unlikeable character. She also gives us a sneak preview of a new science fiction novel she's writing.

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Confronting Antisemitism and Its Weaponization: The Nexus Project's Jonathan Jacoby 50:12

24d ago50:12

50:12

This week, host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush is joined by Jonathan Jacoby, National Director of the Nexus Project. The compelling conversation highlights Jonathan's unique insights on confronting antisemitism and fostering a pluralistic democracy. Drawing from his family history as the descendant of Holocaust survivors and his intrinsic connectio…

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Lupe Wong Wont Dance 24:02

28d ago24:02

24:02

Does square dancing count as an athletic activity? Lupe Wong doesn't think so and is willing to fight the system to make her point. Readers from Charles Hart Middle School in Washington, DC discuss the book with host Kitty Felde and interview the writer Donna Barba Higuera. Our celebrity reader is the former president of United Square Dancers of Am…

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I Sat Down With Kevin Rinke to Talk About What's REALLY at Stake in Michigan 2:24:47

29d ago2:24:47

2:24:47

I sat down with Kevin Rinke to talk about what’s REALLY at stake in Michigan: - Michigan Gubernatorial Candidates - “AxeMITax” petition. - Protecting our elections with "Americans For Citizens Voting" Petition And much more! This fight is about FREEDOM, COMMON SENSE & WE THE PEOPLE. Visiting the Detroit area? A Dream Limousine And Sedan, serving S.…

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Episode 168: Brandon Bjorkman - Owner / President of Motion Works Media LLC 1:56:23

29d ago1:56:23

1:56:23

Get to know Brandon Bjorkman. This podcast episode features Brandon Bjorkman, a content creator and "epic dream magician" with a background in radio, TV, and film. The discussion explores Brandon's work, particularly his involvement with Discover Oshkosh and the "Why I Love Oshkosh" video series, emphasizing the importance of storytelling and authe…

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Libraries and Religious Freedom, with ALA President Sam Helmick 53:01

1M ago53:01

53:01

This week on The State of Belief - a conversation with Sam Helmick, the newly inaugurated president of the American Library Association. Sam and host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush mark National Library Card Sign-up Month by discussing the importance of libraries in advocating for intellectual freedom and access to information, noting that librarie…

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Honeymoon Road: Pete & Me & our Model T 22:30

1M ago22:30

22:30

In 1925, newlyweds Pete and Gert packed up their lives and headed west for California in a Model T Ford. Gert chronicled thejourney in a series of letters. Now, one hundred years later, a pair of cousins Kitty Felde and Marie Felde follow their route to see America through their eyes. Join us on a podcast journey at honeymoonroad.com.…

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Trump Posted A Video Calling The Vaccine Preservative Thimerosal “POISON.” 37:41

1M ago37:41

37:41

President Trump just dropped a red-pill nuclear bomb on Truth Social. He posted a video with an NIH Geneticist and Biochemist laying it all out: vaccines are filled with toxic chemicals like mercury. For years, the establishment mocked parents, silenced doctors, and destroyed careers of anyone who dared to question Big Pharma’s profits. But now, th…

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The Power of Community: Keya Chatterjee and the Vision for a Free DC 47:29

1M ago47:29

47:29

The Trump administration’s federal takeover of the nation’s capital is having a profound impact on Washington, DC’s 700,000 residents - and on our very democracy. That’s according to this week’s guest on The State of Belief, Keya Chatterjee. Keya’s the co-founder and executive director of Free DC, a civic campaign defending Washington, DC’s home ru…

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Hypatia Academy by Esther Goldenberg 23:37

1M ago23:37

23:37

Did Harry Potter make you wish you were going to boarding school? This week, we visit another extraordinary boarding school with invisible students and k'lepreechons. It's Hypatia Academy by Esther Goldenberg. It's the favorite book of this trio of Maryland readers. NPR's Morning Edition host Rachel Martin is celebrity reader. Kitty Felde is host. …

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How the Christian Right is Taking Over America with Talia Lavin 48:38

2M ago48:38

48:38

She's a Jewish woman who has spent countless hours undercover, impersonating the White supremacist, misogynistic, antisemitic extremists she was researching for her first book. She's also brought an outsider's view to the growing dominance of Christian Nationalism in our society and our government for her second. This week on The State of Belief, j…

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Episode 167: Kourtney Kositzke - Education & Community Program Manager of the Bergstrom-Mahler Museum of Glass 1:15:45

2M ago1:15:45

1:15:45

Get to know Kourtney Kositzke. This podcast episode features guest Kourtney Kositzke, who discusses her role as the Education and Community Program Manager at the Bergstrom-Mahler Museum of Glass in Neenah, Wisconsin. Kositzke highlights the museum's unique status as an admission-free art museum, specializing in glass art since 2012, and emphasizes…

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Back to School Episodes: Ribblestrop by Andy Mulligan with Peter Sagal 22:33

2M ago22:33

22:33

Americans have a romanticized image of English boarding schools. RIBBLESTROP is the opposite of that. Writer Andy Mulligan has created what must be the most dangerous school on planet earth. And this trio of readers at Watchung Booksellers in Montclair, New Jersey, debate whether they'd like to attend. Peter Sagal, playwright and host of NPR's quiz…

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"Curiosity, Not Contempt": Adam Nicholas Phillips on Bridging Divides 58:59

2M ago58:59

58:59

What does it mean to build bridges amidst the turmoil of the second Trump Administration? How have interfaith communities moved forward with productive dialogue post-October 7th? Is there a more nuanced way to think about Christian Nationalism and the MAGA constituency? In this episode of The State of Belief, Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenush and Inter…

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A Conversation with Shannon Messenger 8:58

2M ago8:58

8:58

Thinking of writing a series? We ask New York Times bestselling writer Shannon Messenger about the 101 things a series writer has to think about. Kitty Felde is host.By Kitty Felde

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An Unlikely Social Justice Warrior: Muslim Feminist Ani Zonneveld 56:05

2M ago56:05

56:05

This week on The State of Belief, host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush sits down with Ani Zonneveld, feminist Muslim activist, musician, and Grammy-winning songwriter. Ani’s journey from Malaysia to Germany, Egypt, India and eventually Los Angeles - and the lessons learned along the way - is nothing short of inspiring. And she lays it all out in her…

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Grassroots Army: Parent Sued for Exposing Explicit Books in Lowell School Libraries 50:55

2M ago50:55

50:55

In this explosive episode of the Grassroots Army Podcast, Garrett Soldano sits down with a parent being sued by a Lowell School librarian for allegedly running a “smear campaign” after discovering sexually explicit material in the district’s libraries. Hear the full story, the legal battle, and what it means for parents’ rights, transparency, and p…

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Get Lit: Gray, Angelella, Lennox, Seibel 1:06:56

2M ago1:06:56

1:06:56

Please be advised that this episode contains explicit language. Join us this month as we talk to Sarah Gray, who has a memoir out with Simon and Schuster titled, An Everlasting Life. She’s also a member of the DC Library Writers Workshop and she’ll read her piece The Lacemaker (read here) and we’ll talk about expectations and publishing a memoir. W…

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Number One on Book Club for Kids' Top Ten List - Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger 21:24

2M ago21:24

21:24

We added up the numbers and found our NUMBER ONE top listened-to episode over the past decade of Book Club for Kids! It's Shannon Messenger's fantasy adventure Keeper of the Lost Cities. Readers from St. Elizabeth School in Maryland discuss The girls ask our writer to pick her favorite characters, something she hates to do. Our celebrity reader is …

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Separating Church from Hate: A Conversation With John Fugelsang 53:50

2M ago53:50

53:50

This week on The State of Belief, truth through comedy. Host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush welcomes comedic genius John Fugelsang, author of the new book Separation of Church and Hate: A Sane Person's Guide to Taking Back the Bible from Fundamentalists, Fascists, and Flock-Fleecing Frauds coming September 9th. Together, they delve into the tension…

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Episode 166: Darryl Eschete - Library Director of the Oshkosh Public Library 1:42:24

2M ago1:42:24

1:42:24

Get to know Darryl Eschete. This podcast episode of "The Kosh" features an interview with Darryl Eschete, the Director of the Oshkosh Public Library. The conversation delves into the evolving role of modern libraries beyond just books, highlighting their function as community centers, providers of diverse media and digital resources, and vital "thi…

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On The Grassroots Army Podcast, Garrett Soldano sits down with Meghan Reckling — a fearless leader fighting for election integrity in Michigan. 51:11

2M ago51:11

51:11

Michigan — This Is Your Wake-Up Call! You were born for a time such as this. We are living in a moment that demands courage, conviction, and action. If you’ve ever felt like the world was slipping away from truth and common sense… If you’ve prayed for a way to make a difference… THIS IS IT. On The Grassroots Army Podcast, Garrett Soldano sits down …

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Top Ten Episodes Number 2 James and the Giant Peach 21:17

2M ago21:17

21:17

It was our fourth episode and Roald Dahl's first book for children. Number Two on our top ten list is "James and the Giant Peach" with Cash Peters as celebrity reader. Students from LA's Equitas Academy discuss the book with host Kitty Felde. Free curriculum guide at bookclubforkids.org.By Kitty Felde

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From Sanctuary to Courtroom: Immigration and Religious Liberty with Legal expert Elizabeth Reiner Platt 54:12

2M ago54:12

54:12

This week, host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush had the pleasure of interviewing Elizabeth Reiner Platt, the brilliant mind leading the Law, Rights, and Religion Project. They dive deep into her newly published report, Religious Liberty and Immigration: Legal Analysis of Past and Future Claims. Despite the administration's rhetoric about protecting …

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A Conversation with Varian Johnson 5:17

3M ago5:17

5:17

What makes a good mystery? We talk to writer Varian Johnson, author of The Parker Inheritance. Kitty Felde, who writes her own mystery series THE FINA MENDOZA MYSTERIES is host.By Kitty Felde

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Episode 165: Liz Last - Executive Director of Oshkosh Healthy Neighborhoods 1:39:16

3M ago1:39:16

1:39:16

Get to know Liz Last. This podcast episode features an engaging conversation with Liz Last, Executive Director of Oshkosh Healthy Neighborhoods, focusing on the power of community building and local engagement in the Fox Cities region. The discussion highlights how Oshkosh Healthy Neighborhoods develops and supports neighborhood associations by pro…

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Faith, followers, and the files: Jay Michaelson and the Epstein Cover-up 55:02

3M ago55:02

55:02

We are back from a brief summer break, and are ready to hit the ground running! This week on The State of Belief, the political, ethical, religious and legal aspects of the sordid case of the Jefferey Epstein files. Whether or not there are incriminating documents, the relative silence from most faith-oriented leaders raises questions. Host Rev. Pa…

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TOP TEN EPISODES #3: The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson 21:48

3M ago21:48

21:48

We're happy to report that the number 3 most popular episode of Book Club for Kids is no mystery...actually, it IS a mystery: Varian Johnson's The Parker Inheritance. Do you love a mystery? Do you love playing detective, looking for clues on every page? This week’s novel is about a lot of things – segregation, bullying, and most of all, a family my…

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The Comeback They Never Saw Coming: Faith, Family, and the Fight for America 1:50:22

3M ago1:50:22

1:50:22

I’ve made mistakes, but I refuse to let them define me. They tried to ruin my name, my family, my business… But I’m still standing. Stronger. Louder. Unshaken. You can’t cancel a man of faith, grit, and purpose. Hear the truth on The Grassroots Army Podcast EP 455. This is my comeback and we’re just getting started.…

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TOP TEN LIST #4: The Bad Guys by Aaron Blabey 19:46

3M ago19:46

19:46

Can you believe it? Book Club for Kids began ten years ago in the summer of 2015. And we’re celebrating by counting down our top ten most listened to episodes over the past decade. This week, just in time for the second installment in the Bad Buys series is the graphic novel that started it all: number four on our top ten list, Aaron Blabey’s The B…

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Get Lit: Robbins, Bock, Colson, Scott and Carr 1:00:01

3M ago1:00:01

1:00:01

Join us this month as we talk with author Denise S. Robbins who has a new book out called The Unmapping; the Washington Writers Publishing House co-president Caroline Bock and Jona Colson, who are celebrating WWPH’s 50th anniversary; author Rion Amilcar Scott who reads from his book, The World Does Not Require You; and indie lit legend Brian Allen …