(Unsplash/Will Francis)
by John Dear
On this episode of "The Nonviolent Jesus Podcast," we've put together a special one-hour, year-end episode of highlights from the 52 episodes throughout 2025. It is overwhelming and inspiring.
You will hear short segments, usually 2-3 minutes each, featuring, in order: Martin Sheen, St. Joseph Sr. Helen Prejean, Franciscan Fr. Richard Rohr, Benedictine Sr. Joan Chittister, Brian McLaren, Bryan Stevenson, Cornel West, Fr. Charles McCarthy, Stanley Hauerwas, John Fugelsang, Paul Chappell, Kathy Kelly, Social Service Sr. Simone Campbell, Rep. Jamie Raskin and Joan Baez. I've never heard anything like it in my life — a collection of so many teachers, visionaries and leaders of peace and nonviolence all in one gathering like this.
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You will be inspired by Sheen and Chittister's exuberance, Prejean and Stevenson's deep sharing about death row, and Rohr, McLaren and Fugelsang on Jesus. West has wit and wisdom, McCarthy calls us to live the nonviolent love of Jesus as demonstrated in the Gospels, while Hauerwas declares boldly that Jesus is nonviolence. Chappell, Kelly and Campbell each share their insights into peacemaking and finally, Raskin explains his passionate call for democracy.
Book cover to Blessed Among Us by Robert Ellsberg
We end with Baez remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, reading her new poem ("I used to be a pessimist until / someone suggested it was / a waste of time, so I'm trying to quit. / Being an optimist may be / a waste of time, too, but / at least it's less depressing. / Be an activist instead"), and singing the civil rights anthem, "Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me 'Round."
"The Nonviolent Jesus Podcast" will start the new year with publisher and author Robert Ellsberg talking about the saints, and mark King's birthday holiday with a special conversation with his assistant, the Rev. Andrew Young.
