ORIGINS STORY
Faithful Politics began as a WordPress blog where Will Wright shared reflections on faith and public life. His writing sparked a Facebook group that tackled tough topics like abortion and Christian nationalism—not just to argue, but to understand. Though the group faced challenges, it revealed a deep hunger for better, more thoughtful engagement.
Not Right.
That opportunity came in early 2020, just before the world shut down. Will met Pastor Josh Burtram, a visiting church planter who had preached at the church Will’s family attended. They officially connected at a friend’s house, and despite knowing little about each other (other than their stark political differences), they decided to launch a podcast. The name was a given—Faithful Politics already had a life of its own.
Not Right.
That opportunity came in early 2020, just before the world shut down. Will met Pastor Josh Burtram, a visiting church planter who had preached at the church Will’s family attended. They officially connected at a friend’s house, and despite knowing little about each other (other than their stark political differences), they decided to launch a podcast. The name was a given—Faithful Politics already had a life of its own.
About
My name is Alexa Young
Briefly introduce yourself and share something interesting with website visitors. Double click to edit the text.
Not Left.
What started as a simple experiment between a progressive political thinker and a conservative evangelical pastor quickly grew into something deeper. At a time when most public discourse was dominated by outrage, tribalism, and 15-second clips, Faithful Politics offered something different: space. Space to listen. To ask questions. To disagree without walking away. Will and Josh didn’t pretend to see eye to eye, but that was the point. They modeled what respectful disagreement could look like—how two people with fundamentally different worldviews could still pursue truth together.
Up.
Over time, the show became more than just a podcast. It became a kind of community classroom—bringing in historians, theologians, journalists, and activists to unpack complex issues with depth and humility. Listeners kept tuning in not just for the conversations, but for the posture: curious, open, and grounded in both faith and a desire to learn. Through live events, high-profile guests, and collaborations across ideological lines, Faithful Politics has become a trusted space for anyone wanting to think more deeply about how faith shapes our politics—and how, maybe, we don’t have to become enemies just because we disagree.
"Not Right. Not Left. UP." isn’t just a catchy tagline—it’s the heartbeat of our podcast. It represents our commitment to moving beyond the partisan tug-of-war that dominates so much of today’s discourse. Too often, conversations about politics and religion get stuck in binaries—Republican or Democrat, conservative or progressive, right or wrong. But at Faithful Politics, we believe there’s a different way to look at things.
“Up” is our way of pointing to something greater--something transcendent. It speaks to whatever your faith teaches you, moral conviction you live by, or the pursuit of truth beyond party loyalty. It's a reminder that we’re not here just to score political points or defend ideological turf; we’re here to ask deeper questions: What’s right? What’s just? What’s faithful? Sometimes that answer will align with the left, sometimes with the right—but our guiding compass is always "up."
In practice, this means we intentionally bring together voices that challenge us, not just affirm us. It’s why you’ll hear episodes featuring theologians and political scientists, conservative thinkers and progressive activists, people of deep faith and those with no faith. Our goal isn’t agreement—it’s understanding. And hopefully, through that understanding, a little bit of learning too.
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Alexa Young, CA
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About
My name is Alexa Young
Briefly introduce yourself and share something interesting with website visitors. Double click to edit the text.
"Not Right. Not Left. UP." isn’t just a catchy tagline—it’s the heartbeat of our podcast. It represents our commitment to moving beyond the partisan tug-of-war that dominates so much of today’s discourse. Too often, conversations about politics and religion get stuck in binaries—Republican or Democrat, conservative or progressive, right or wrong. But at Faithful Politics, we believe there’s a higher path.
“Up” is our way of pointing to something greater—something transcendent. It speaks to faith, moral conviction, and the pursuit of truth beyond party loyalty. It's a reminder that we’re not here just to score political points or defend ideological turf; we’re here to ask deeper questions: What’s right? What’s just? What’s faithful? Sometimes that answer will align with the left, sometimes with the right—but our guiding compass is always "up."
In practice, this means we intentionally bring together voices that challenge us, not just affirm us. It’s why you’ll hear episodes featuring theologians and political scientists, conservative thinkers and progressive activists, people of deep faith and those with profound questions. Our goal isn’t agreement—it’s understanding. And hopefully, through that understanding, a little bit of healing too.