Quakers Today

Quakers in Conversation: AFSC special: Non-Violence in Times of Crisis

This bonus episode of Quakers Today features a reunion of Quaker leaders from the U.S. and the U.K., discussing how Quaker organizations work towards a just world. Recorded during American Friends Service Committee's annual Corporation meeting in  Philadelphia in April 2023, the episode includes Joyce Ajlouny, Bridget Moix, Oliver Robertson, and Sarah Clarke. T
They explore responses to global challenges and the importance of Quaker values in a turbulent world. The episode emphasizes non-violence, listening, and engagement as core Quaker principles. The discussion also covers the impact of COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine, highlighting the Quaker approach to peace and justice. The episode, hosted by Marisa Mazria Katz, showcases the Quaker practice of creating safe, inclusive spaces for dialogue and action towards global peace and justice.
Guests
Joyce Ajlouny: General Secretary of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC). A Palestinian-American, she focuses on issues like education, gender equality, economic development, and humanitarian support. Ajlouny has led initiatives supporting peace and justice efforts in the U.S. and abroad, including places like Jerusalem, Gaza, Guatemala, and Somalia.
Bridget Moix: General Secretary of the Friends Committee on National Legislation. She works on deeply fractured politics in America, leveraging Quakerism as a tool for change. Moix focuses on nonpartisan engagement, seeking solutions and common ground in a divisive political environment.
Oliver Robertson: Head of Witness and Worship with Quakers in Britain. His work includes responding to global crises such as COVID-19, focusing on peace education and collaboration across borders. Robertson emphasizes the importance of pacifism in Quakerism, especially in times of war.
Sarah Clarke: United Nations Representative and Director of the Quaker UN Office. Clarke's role involves creating spaces for dialogue at the UN, focusing on listening and engagement. She has been instrumental in spotlighting issues and countries often overlooked at the UN, maintaining a focus on Quaker values in her work.
You will find a complete transcript of this episode at our showpage www.QuakersToday.org 
Special thanks to Brian Blackmore, Director of Quaker Engagement
Question for next month
How do you process memories, experiences, and feelings?
You may think to yourself, Oh, I want to answer that question, but you are running or cooking or traveling, and it is not convenient to call at that moment you are listening to this episode. Then life crowds in and you forget to call. If you have been thinking of leaving a message, this might be the perfect question for you.  How do you process memories, experiences, and feelings?  For some people going for a walk alone in the woods helps or chatting with a friend or some other way. What about you? How do you process memories, experiences, and feelings?
Leave a voice memo with your name and the town where you live. The number to call is 317-QUAKERS, that's 317-782-5377. +1 if calling from outside the U.S.
Quakers Today is the companion podcast to Friends Journal and other Friends Publishing Corporation (FPC) content online.
Season Two of Quakers Today is sponsored by American Friends Service Committee 
Do you want to challenge unjust systems and promote lasting peace? The American Friends Service Committee, or AFSC works with communities worldwide to drive social change. Their website features meaningful steps you can take to make a difference. Find out how you can become part of AFSC’s global community of changemakers. Visit AFSC.org.
Feel free to send comments, questions, and requests for our new show. Email us at podcast@friendsjournal.org.

Quakers, Fiction, and Virginia Woolf

In this episode of Quakers Today we ask, How do you process memories, experiences and feelings?
For the best listening experience we encourage you to listen to this episode with headphones or earbuds.  
Rashid Darden's Personal Reflections
The episode features Rashid Darden and his reflection of identity and faith. As a Black person in a predominantly white faith community, Rashid's experience is unique and enlightening. He shares, "The surprising thing about my journey in the Quaker faith is that I'm still able to show up as my entire self and not be penalized for it... and in fact, to be celebrated for it." 
Rashid Darden is an award-winning, best-selling novelist of urban LGBT experiences, a seasoned leader of Black fraternal movements and nonprofit organizations, and a professional educator in alternative schools. He lives in Conway, North Carolina. Rashid serves as the Associate Secretary for Communications and Outreach for Friends General Conference. 
Hear more of Rashid’s reflections in the QuakerSpeak video, Growing the Community of Friends, Embracing Diversity, and Quakerism. It is also available at the QuakerSpeak YouTube Channel. Many thanks to Christopher Cuthrell for providing this audio. 
Influences on Virginia Woolf
Peterson Toscano draws a parallel between the Quaker faith and the literary world, focusing on Virginia Woolf, a renowned early 20th-century author. Some scholars suggest that Woolf's feminist stance and innovative writing techniques were significantly influenced by her Quaker aunt, Caroline Stephen. She is the author of the classic religious text, Quaker Strongholds. This connection highlights how Quaker practices of self-reflection and inner exploration may have impacted Woolf’s iconic stream of consciousness writing style, particularly evident in characters like Mrs. Dalloway.
Dig Deeper into Caroline Stephen and Virginia Woolf
A Quaker Influence on Moder English Literature: Virginia Woolf and her Quaker Aunt Caroline Stephen by Alison M Lewis
The Search for God: Virginia Woolf and Caroline Emelia Stephen by Kathleen A. Heininge, George Fox University
Virginia Woolf’s Vision of Utopia by Diane Reynolds
Quakers and Fiction: Vicki Winslow’s “Sabbatical”
The episode also brings us the story "Sabbatical" by Vicki Winslow. After experiencing the loss of her father, Silena Yancey travels from North Carolina to the American Southwest to find inspiration, which she hopes leads to equilibrium. Vicki shares, "My story 'Sabbatical' is largely a collage... In many ways, we're all on a sort of pilgrimage." This narrative invites listeners into the internal pilgrimage of its protagonist, providing a window into the process of self-discovery and reflection.
Vicki Winslow is a writer who currently serves as clerk of the Friends Meeting in Liberty, North Carolina. Her publications include Follow the Leader for middle readers, a novella called The Conversion of Jefferson Scotten, and short stories in both literary and online journals including the story The Last Bear in Deep South Magazine.
Read the full story in the November 2023 issue of Friends Journal or on FriendsJournal.org. In our podcast feed, you will also find a bonus recording to Vicki’s story. 
Satire in Quaker Context
Adding a different flavor to the episode, Peterson discusses Donn Weinholtz’s book, Jesus Christ, M.B.A.: A Gospel for Our Times. The story is illustrated by David Weinholtz. Carl Blumenthal reviewed the short book for Friends Journal. He writes,
Conventional wisdom says that if Jesus returned today, he would be branded a heretic, a lunatic, or a criminal. Yet Donn Weinholtz’s satire on the Second Coming imagines him as a rabble-rouser, who, instead of rendering unto Caesar what is Caesar’s, plunges into the political fray as an independent candidate for the U.S. presidency.
Closing Thoughts and Invitation
As Peterson Toscano and the team begin preparing for the next season of Quakers Today, he invites listeners to share their experiences of the show and share feedback. Leave a voice message or send an email. You will find contact details below.
Question for next month
How do you process memories, experiences, and feelings?
Leave a voice memo with your name and the town where you live. The number to call is 317-QUAKERS, that's 317-782-5377. +1 if calling from outside the U.S. Or email podcast@friendsjournal.org 
Quakers Today is the companion podcast to Friends Journal and other Friends Publishing Corporation (FPC) content online.
Season Two of Quakers Today is sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee. 
Do you want to challenge unjust systems and promote lasting peace? The American Friends Service Committee, or AFSC works with communities worldwide to drive social change. Their website features meaningful steps you can take to make a difference. Through their Friends Liaison Program, you can connect your meeting or church with AFSC and their justice campaigns. To learn more, visit AFSC.org 
 

BONUS EPISODE: Vicki Winslow Reads Her Short Story ”Sabbatical”

Writer Vicki Winslow appears in this month's episode of Quakers Today. As part of that episode, this is bonus audio of Vicki reading her story. Music and sound design by Peterson Toscano.
After experiencing the loss of her father, Silena Yancey travels from North Carolina to the American Southwest to find inspiration, which she hopes leads to equilibrium. Vicki shares, "My story 'Sabbatical' is largely a collage... In many ways, we're all on a sort of pilgrimage." This narrative invites listeners into the internal pilgrimage of its protagonist, providing a window into the process of self-discovery and reflection.
Vicki Winslow is a writer who currently serves as clerk of the Friends Meeting in Liberty, North Carolina. Her publications include Follow the Leader for middle readers, a novella called The Conversion of Jefferson Scotten, and short stories in both literary and online journals including the story The Last Bear in Deep South Magazine.
Read the full story in the November 2023 issue of Friends Journal or on FriendsJournal.org. Hear the complete episode, Quakers, Fiction, and Virginia Woolf by visiting QuakersToday.org

Quakers, Witchcraft, and Pentecostals

In this episode of Quakers Today we ask, Outside of Quaker Worship, where do Quakers seek inspiration, spirituality, and community?
Whether you're looking to understand the charismatic charm of megachurches, the deep-rooted history of Pendle Hill, England or the mysticism of Howard Thurman, this episode invites listeners to broaden their horizons and embrace the myriad ways the Spirit speaks to us.
You will find a complete transcript of this episode in the show notes at www.QuakersToday.org
Listen as host, Peterson Toscano and his guests delve into Quaker spirituality beyond the confines of traditional Quaker worship. 
Quakers and Mental Health: Join Carl Blumenthal as he shares an intimate connection between Quakerism, spirituality, and mental illness, revealing his personal struggles with bipolar disorder and how it intersects with spiritual highs and lows. This is just an excerpt from the QuakerSpeak video entitled, Quakers, Spirituality, and Mental Health. You will find a full version of this QuakerSpeak video on the YouTube QuakerSpeak channel.  Or visit Quakerspeak.com. Carl’s also has written about Quakers and mental health for Friends Journal.
"The reason I'm interested in the connection between Quakers and mental health is that George Fox himself, I think, was going through, you might call it an existential crisis, you might call it a severe depression when he found himself on Pendle Hill." -Carl Blumenthal
Intersections of Faith: Modern Reflections on Ancient Roots: Sara Walcott and Andy Stanton-Henry discuss their unique spiritual influences—charismatic worship and paganism—and how they find common ground in their differing beliefs. Can we listen without prejudice and let the Spirit move us in surprising ways?
We navigate the realms of Charismatic Christianity, embodied spirituality, and even witchy traditions, exploring how Quakerism might be embracing an animistic world view and listening to fresh winds of the Spirit from unexpected places.
Dig Deeper
The Pendle Witches from The History Press
“For a long time ‘witch’ hadn’t necessarily meant ‘evil’, and could often be used interchangeably as a term for a healer or wise woman, and though Demdike and her family had received accusations of casting curses from their neighbours before, it was an event in March 1612 that caught the attention of Pendle’s justice of the peace, Robert Nowell, and sealed the family’s fate.”
Quakers, radicals and witches: a walk back in time on Pendle Hill by Chris Moss for The Guardian
Sara Wolcott
If Quakers Were (Also) Witches
Workshop Sara led at Ben Lomond Center, If Quakers Were Witches
Sara Jolena Wolcott, M.Div., directs the eco-spiritual ministry, Sequoia Samanvaya. She teaches on circular time and origin stories, especially the intersections of colonization/climate change/spirituality. A member of Strawberry Creek Meeting in Berkeley, California, she lives with her partner alongside the River That Runs Both Ways (Hudson River). 
Andy Stanton-Henry
All the Way Back To George Fox: Experimenting with Quaker Charismatics 
Friends Journal Author Chat Video with Andy Stanton-Henry
Ken Jacobsen’s review of Andy’s book Recovering Abundance: Twelve Practices for Small-Town Leaders
Andy Stanton-Henry is a writer, Quaker minister, and chicken-keeper. He holds degrees from Barclay College and Earlham School of Religion. He carries a special concern for rural leaders, leading to his recently published book, Recovering Abundance: Twelve Practices for Small-Town Leaders. A native Buckeye, Andy now lives in East Tennessee with his spouse, Ashlyn, blue heeler Cassie, and 11 laying hens.
A Spiritual Walk with Howard Thurman: Dive into Loretta Coleman Brown's new book, What Makes You Come Alive: A Spiritual Walk with Howard Thurman, which highlights the transformative spirituality of the black American theologian and mystic, Howard Thurman. Discover a road map to psychological and spiritual freedom. Read the review by Ron Hogan.
After the episode concludes we share voicemails from listeners who answered the question, When it comes to activism, do the ends justify the means?
Question for next month
Outside of Quaker Worship, where do Quakers seek inspiration, spirituality, and community?
In this episode you heard about Quakers looking outside the Religious Society of Friends for something more. They are asking, “Is something missing in Quaker worship?” It may be something we once had that is now lost. Some may be seeking new infusions of influences for a new time in history. Peterson has often heard Quakers say something like, “I attend Quaker meetings for worship, AND I also…” then they tell him about the other faith traditions or spiritual practices that feed them, center them, or enhance their Quaker faith and practice. 
What about you? Outside of Quaker Worship, where do Quakers seek inspiration, spirituality, and community? And if you are not a Quaker, Outside of your usual spiritual or religious tradition, where do you seek inspiration, spirituality, and community? 
Leave a voice memo with your name and the town where you live. The number to call is 317-QUAKERS, that's 317-782-5377. +1 if calling from outside the U.S.
Quakers Today is the companion podcast to Friends Journal and other Friends Publishing Corporation (FPC) content online.
Season Two of Quakers Today is sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee. 
Do you want to challenge unjust systems and promote lasting peace? The American Friends Service Committee, or AFSC works with communities worldwide to drive social change. Their website features meaningful steps you can take to make a difference. Through their Friends Liaison Program, you can connect your meeting or church with AFSC and their justice campaigns. To learn more, visit AFSC.org 
Feel free to send comments, questions, and requests for our new show. Email us at podcast@friendsjournal.org.
Music from this episode comes from Epidemic Sound. You heard Mischievous Operations by Alfie-Jay Winters, Chicken Nuggetz by Baegel and JOBII, Being Nostalgic by Flyin, The Bards Tale by Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen, Sunday Morning Sermon by Duke Herrington, Jaybird by Boone River, Mindful Endeavors by Amaranth Cove, Million Years (Instrumental Version) by Sture Zetterberg, You’ve Got It (Instrumental Version) by John Runefelt

Quakers and Barbie: How Lies Exposed the Truth About Plastic Pollution

In this episode of Quakers Today, we ask, "When it comes to activism, do the ends justify the means?"
A Barbie Hoax with a Message
Actress and eco-activist Daryl Hannah speaks with host Peterson Toscano about her announcement that "Mattel intends to go 100 percent plastic-free by 2030 in all their toys. They hope to support a global ban on plastics."
Unfortunately, the excitement was short-lived. Hours after People Magazine's story celebrated Mattel's eco-conscious move, the toy company contacted The New York Times to clarify the situation.
In an email, Mattel described the campaign as a “hoax” that had “nothing to do with Mattel.” The company said that the activists had also created fake websites made to look as if they belonged to Mattel. “Those were duplicates — not Mattel actual sites,” it said.
This elaborate hoax was perpetrated by Daryl Hannah and the Barbie Liberation Organization (BLO) against the Mattel Corporation and the media. Yet, behind this public trickery was a broader, poignant message: the need to address the environmental crisis wrought by plastic waste.
One of the tricksters behind the hoax graduated from Greenwood Friends School, a Quaker elementary and middle school. As a boy, he attended Millville Friends Meeting. Operating under the pseudonym Jeff Walburn, this member of the artist-activist group the Yes Men describes the methodology behind their "mischief performances."
"I helped write a lot of the materials, which includes press releases and websites. And we had a press conference. We made a fake product commercial for this new line of Barbies that would, instead of being made of plastic, be made out of mycelium and mushrooms. It's a little far-fetched because it's not being done yet, but it's also still very feasible."
The Yes Men not only impersonate corporations but also suggest that these corporations are finally doing the "right thing." In doing so, they engage in what they refer to as "identity correction."
In a world where conversations around activism are often steeped in solemnity, the latest episode of the Quakers Today podcast injects an element of whimsy while navigating the moral complexities inherent in social change. Host Peterson Toscano delves into a topic that straddles the lines between activism, ethics, and trickery, raising a tantalizing question: "When it comes to activism, do the ends justify the means?"
Dig Deeper
Read Peterson Toscano’s article, “Speaking Lies to Power: Daryl Hannah, Barbie, and Quaker Tricksters” and learn about Quaker tricksters Bonnie Tinker and Benjamin Lay. 
See Peterson’s full video interview with Daryl Hannah
Check out the videos “Jeff Walburn” and The Yes Men created for the Barbie Liberation Organization hoax this year and 30 years ago.Eco-Warrior Barbie fake TV Commercial
Plastic Free with Daryl Hannah parody video
Fake press conference with Daryl Hannah 
BLO Vs. Climate Doom
1993 BLO Hoax to protest gender-based stereotypes
Short Documentary about the BLO’s successful action to swap out the voice boxes of Barbies and GI Joes in 1993.  
Welcoming a New Generation of Quakers
The September issue of Friends Journal explores how to welcome a new generation into the Quaker community. The episode features an audio collage of five writers who shared their insights and experiences around the theme.
Olivia Chalkley argues that progressive Christians, including young "Christ-curious" individuals, could find a home in Quakerism by reclaiming their faith from its association with reactionary politics.
Madison Rose emphasizes that the Quaker commitment to social justice and individual spiritual journeys has consistently drawn them back to the community. Quakerism, for them, is a space of "respite" that allows a direct, personal relationship with the divine, free of any intermediaries.
Nikki Holland shares how Quakerism allowed her and her husband to bring their "full, true selves to worship," a stark contrast to their previous faith communities where they felt marginalized.
Sofia Williams enjoys the weight of Quaker history and the sense of both immediate and long-term community felt during meetings.
Annie Bingham found solace and a sense of timeless wisdom in Quaker meetings, particularly as a break from the imbalances felt in their college community.
Question of the Month
For this episode of Quakers Today, we ask the question, "When it comes to activism, do the ends justify the means?"
Leave a voice memo with your name and the town where you live, and we may include your message in our October 17th episode. The number to call is 317-QUAKERS, that's 317-782-5377. Dial +1 if calling from outside the U.S.
Quakers Today is the companion podcast to Friends Journal and other Friends Publishing Corporation (FPC) content online.
Season Two of Quakers Today is sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee. 
Do you want to challenge unjust systems and promote lasting peace? The American Friends Service Committee, or AFSC works with communities worldwide to drive social change. Their website features meaningful steps you can take to make a difference. Through their Friends Liaison Program, you can connect your meeting or church with AFSC and their justice campaigns. To learn more, visit AFSC.org 
Feel free to send comments, questions, and requests for our new show. Email us at podcast@friendsjournal.org.
Music from this episode comes from Epidemic Sound. You heard Next To Me by LVLY, Sneaking Into the Kitchen by Arthur Benson, Young Mystery Detectives by Trailer Worx, Meet myCelia EcoWarrior Barbie takes on plastic polluters by Jeff Walburn, Confidence is Key by Arthur Benson, Rewind time by Clarence Reed, Stay with Us by Sleeping Vines, Clockmaker’s Daydream by 369, A Beginning by Rymdklang Soundtracks. 

Quakers and Worship, Nature, and Hunting

Quaker Worship, Nature, and Hunting
The episode introduces Timothy Tarkelly, a Quaker in Chanute, Kansas with a deep love for nature. Tarkelly draws parallels between the stillness of Quaker worship and his experiences in the outdoors, emphasizing the power of silence and anticipation in both settings. He wrote the Friends Journal article, Allowable Diversions: A Friend Explores the Morality of Hunting. 
Timothy published several books of poetry including On Slip Rigs and Spiritual Growth (OAC Books), Objects We Know We Don’t Deserve: Poems on Dutch Art (Alien Buddha Press), and Gently in Manner, Strongly in Deed: Poems on Eisenhower (Spartan Press). He recently collaborated with Elena Samarsky, a Ukrainian visual artist, on a work of paintings and poems entitled All Other Forms of Expression. When he’s not writing, he teaches English and Debate to students who, according to Timothy, are far more talented and interesting than he is.
You can find Timothy’s squirrel quiche recipe below. 
Follow Timothy on Twitter/X and Instagram.
LGBTQ Identity and Quakerism
Erin Wilson's story shines a light on LGBTQ inclusion within Quakerism. She demonstrates how questioning and embracing equality are integral to both her Quaker faith and her journey of self-discovery. Wilson's tale underscores the significance of creating space for diverse identities within the community. You can see Erin Wilson’s QuakerSpeak video and other QuakerSpeak videos at the QuakerSpeak YouTube Channel or at QuakerSpeak.com. 
Navigating Christianity and Quakerism
Mark Russ' reflections on the intersection of Christianity and Quakerism offer insights into the complexities of his faith. Russ, who lives in Birmingham, United Kingdom, candidly shares his experience as a Christian within the Quaker community in the UK, exploring the struggle of reconciling his identity with the broader Quaker ethos.
His queerness adds another layer to his journey of embracing his Christianity which he explores in his book Quaker-Shaped Christianity, How the Jesus Story and the Quaker Way Fit Together. Read William Shetter’s review of Quaker Shaped Christianity on Friends Journal online. 
Mark Russ is a writer, theologian and teacher. Since 2013 Mark has written useful, Quaker-shaped Christian theology on his blog jollyquaker.com. From 2015 to 2022 he was a member of the Learning and Research Team at The Woodbrooke Centre, an international Quaker learning and research organization based in Britain. Before retraining as a theologian, Mark enjoyed a successful decade as a music teacher in London, and spent a year visiting and living in various faith-based intentional communities in the UK and USA. He is currently a full time PhD student at the University of Nottingham, researching liberal Quaker theology and whiteness. He lives with his husband in Birmingham, England.
Follow Mark on Twitter/X and LinkedIn.
You will find a complete transcript of this episode at QuakersToday.org.
After the episode concludes we share voicemails from listeners who answered the question, What was a time when you rebelled and why?
Question for next month
Here is our question for you to consider. Who is someone who has inspired your faith or worldview?
Leave a voice memo with your name and the town where you live. The number to call is 317-QUAKERS, that's 317-782-5377. +1 if calling from outside the U.S.
Quakers Today is the companion podcast to Friends Journal and other Friends Publishing Corporation (FPC) content online.
Season Two of Quakers Today is sponsored by American Friends Service Committee 
Do you want to challenge unjust systems and promote lasting peace? The American Friends Service Committee, or AFSC works with communities worldwide to drive social change. Their website features meaningful steps you can take to make a difference. Through their Friends Liaison Program, you can connect your meeting or church with AFSC and their justice campaigns. Find out how you can become part of AFSC’s global community of change makers. Visit AFSC.org. 
Feel free to send comments, questions, and requests for our new show. Email us at podcast@friendsjournal.org.
Music from this episode comes from Epidemic Sound. You heard Noche de Sueños by Lawd Ito, Against a Paler Sky by Hushed, Es Solo by Mimmi Bangoura, Keep Together by Indigo Days, Could Have Been Us, by Blue Topaz
Timothy Tarkelly’s Squirrel Quiche Recipe
Squirrel Quiche is a two-part process. Before you can make the quiche, you need to cook the squirrel. I developed this recipe on my own. Once you get it down, you can use the meat to make a variety of dishes: quiche, pizza, bbq sliders, soup, tacos, etc.
Slow Cooked Squirrel
Ingredients:
1-2 Squirrels, skinned and gutted
As many cloves of garlic as you can handle
1 tbsp each of salt, pepper, and oregano
Half an onion
1 peeled lemon (helps with gamey flavor - can also use lime, vinegar, or some other source of acid)
1 can of beer (I use NA Busch, as I don’t drink alcohol)
6 cups of water 
4 bullion cubes
Steps:
In a crockpot, place the squirrels in the crockpot. Add all other ingredients.
Cook on low for 6-8 hours (fox squirrels tend to take longer than gray squirrels).
Remove squirrels and place in a large bowl.
Let the squirrels cool until you can touch them without burning your hands.
Carefully remove the meat from the bones. Arms, legs, and back strap are the easiest and most enjoyable pieces, the rib, belly, and spine meat is much more difficult to get, is more stringy, and is optional. However, I always go for it. 
Discard bones and remove any bbs from the meat if you find any (only a problem if you hunt with a shotgun).
This meat can be used in a variety of dishes.
Squirrel Quiche
Ingredients:
3-4 strips of bacon
A cup of diced green onions
1 diced serrano or 1 small jalapeno
Salt & Pepper
Tony Chachare’s creole seasoning (or your own cajun blend of salt, pepper, oregano, paprika, and garlic powder).
1.5 cups of shredded cheese
6 eggs
Pre-made pie crust
Steps:
Preheat oven at 375
In a skillet, cook the bacon until desired crispiness (mine is basically burnt) and crumble into small pieces. 
Put the pie crust in a nine-inch pie pan (it helps to let the crust warm up on the counter for 20-30 minutes beforehand.
Add the bacon, green onions, squirrel, serrano, and 1 cup of cheese into the pan.
In a separate bowl, beat the six eggs until smooth and consistent.
Pour the eggs over all of the ingredients in the pie pan.
Add the remaining cheese on top.
Place in the oven for 40 minutes. 
Let cool, slice, and then serve.

Quakers and Decision Makers

In this episode of Quakers Today we ask, What Do You Desire?
Linda Seger speaks about Circle Thinking. It is counter-cultural, highly effective, and something Quakers have been doing for a very long time. Her article, “Circle Thinking, A Quaker Model of Leadership” appears in the June/July 2023 issues of Friends Journal. Linda is the author of 34 books, including Beyond Linear Thinking: Changing the Way We Live and Work. Read Carl Blumthal’s review of Linda’s book online FriendsJournal.org. Linda has been a Quaker for over 50 years. She has a ThD in Religion and the Arts and MA degrees in Feminist Theology, Religion and the Arts, Drama and Theology, and Drama. She has given seminars on writing in 33 countries around the world. She lives in Cascade, Colorado. 
Christopher Cuthrell is the new Video Producer of the QuakerSpeak Project. He tells us a little about himself and why he is excited about Season 10 of QuakerSpeak videos. Learn more about Christopher through Gail Whiffen’s Friends Journal interview with him. In it he talks about his film and animation work including the beautiful animated short film, The Boy and the Moon. 
Learn about the new book Susanna and Alice, Quaker Rebels: The Story of Susanna Parry and Her Cousin Alice Paul By Leslie Mulford Denis. This true story set 100 years ago brings to life the struggles, victories, and important relationships these two cousins experienced. Read Claire Salkowski’s review in the August 2023 issues of Friends Journal. 
You will find a complete transcript of this episode at QuakersToday.org.
After the episode concludes we share voicemails from listeners who answered the question, What do you desire?
Question for next month
For the August episode of Quakers Today we ask the question, What was a time in your life when you rebelled and why? 
Rebelling against society norms and breaking the rules may have gotten you in trouble. In the end you may have decided that it was totally worth it. Or you may have regretted the rebellion even if the cause seemed right. 
What was a time in your life when you rebelled and why?
Leave a voice memo with your name and the town where you live. The number to call is 317-QUAKERS, that's 317-782-5377. +1 if calling from outside the U.S.
Quakers Today is the companion podcast to Friends Journal and other Friends Publishing Corporation (FPC) content online.
Season Two of Quakers Today is sponsored by American Friends Service Committee. 
Do you want to challenge unjust systems and promote lasting peace? The American Friends Service Committee, or AFSC works with communities worldwide to drive social change. Their website features meaningful steps you can take to make a difference. Through their Friends Liaison Program, you can connect your meeting or church with AFSC and their justice campaigns. To learn more, visit AFSC.org 
Feel free to send comments, questions, and requests for our new show. Email us at podcast@friendsjournal.org.
Music from this episode comes from Epidemic Sound. You heard Strapt and Alone in Swan Lake by Pandaraps, My Lifeline by Hector Gabriel, Stillness Within by Roots and Recognition, Morning Hike by Linsey Abraham, Morning Mist by Staffan Carlen,and  El Que La Hace La Paga by Wendy Mancini.

Quakers and Leadership

In this episode of Quakers Today we ask, What do you expect and need from a leader?
Kat Griffith steps out of her comfort zone and runs for local office. The lessons she has learned about herself and her community will encourage, inspire, and challenge you. Learn more about her experience through her article,  “One Quaker’s Excellent Adventure in Politics.”Kat is a former high school teacher, homeschooler, and yearly meeting co-clerk. She describes her current circumstances as “cheerfully unemployed but awfully busy! Interesting times and no lack of meaningful work!” She is primary caregiver to her 91-year-old mother-in-law, is active in Northern Yearly Meeting, clerks the vibrant Winnebago Worship Group in east-central Wisconsin, writes regularly for Friends Journal, interprets (Spanish/English) for FWCC, and is editing an antiracist clerking manual—a work in progress. She is also busy with county board work and a range of local social justice, community building, and environmental initiatives. Personal joys include kayaking, snowshoeing, writing, cooking, tending a ridiculous profusion of houseplants, being a news junkie, and most recently, learning ASL.
Windy Cooler shares a review and a reflection about the award winner film, Women Talking. See Windy’s longer written review of the film, “A Thought Experiment in Sympathy and Love.” Windy Cooler, is currently the convener of Life and Power, a discernment project on abuse in Quaker community.Windy Cooler (she/her) is an embraced public Friend and the assistant clerk of Sandy Spring (Md.) Meeting of Baltimore Yearly Meeting. Her ministry has long centered on Quaker caregiving in times of crisis and in group discernment: finding the wisdom in communities to address sticky issues. A regular guest of Quaker communities in the United States, and more recently in the United Kingdom, she is also Pendle Hill’s 2020 Cadbury Scholar and a 2022-23 fellow of Odyssey Impact, a change-making organization that centers story-telling as a strategy for building social justice.
Jean Parvin Bordewich tells us about Bayard Rustin and other Pacifists who revolutionized resistance. She reviewed the book War By Other Means: The Pacifists of the Greatest Generation Who Revolutionized Resistance by Daniel Akst.Jean Parvin Bordewich is a member of San Francisco (Calif.) Meeting, now attending Friends Meeting of Washington, D.C. She is a trustee of Guilford College in Greensboro, N.C. A former senior staff member in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives and local elected official in New York's Hudson Valley, she now writes plays about politics and history.
 
You will find a complete transcript of this episode and more show notes on the Quakers Today page at Friends Journal. 
Question for next month
In the July episode of Quakers Today we ask, What do you desire?
The question comes from listener Glen Retief. Glen asks us to consider this question, What do you desire? It is a broad question that you can answer in lots of ways. What do you desire for yourself? Your future? Your relationships? It could also be connected to the wider world around you. What do you desire for your community? The place where you worship? Or for other earthlings? What do you desire?
Here is our question for you to consider. What do you desire? 
Leave a voice memo with your name and the town where you live. The number to call is 317-QUAKERS, that's 317-782-5377. +1 if calling from outside the U.S.
Quakers Today is the companion podcast to Friends Journal and other Friends Publishing Corporation (FPC) content online. It is hosted by Peterson Toscano, and  it is produced for Friends Journal through Peterson Toscano Studios. 
Season Two of Quakers Today is sponsored by American Friends Service Committee.
Do you want to challenge unjust systems and promote lasting peace? The American Friends Service Committee, or AFSC works with communities worldwide to drive social change. Their website features meaningful steps you can take to make a difference. Through their Friends Liaison Program, you can connect your meeting or church with AFSC and their justice campaigns. Find out how you can become part of AFSC’s global community of changemakers. Visit AFSC dot ORG. That’s AFSC dot ORG
Send comments, questions, and requests regarding our podcast.. Email us at podcast@friendsjournal.org.
 
Music from this episode comes from Epidemic Sound. You heard In Love with Myself (Instrumental Version) by Katnip, Hidden Fields by Clarence Reed, Shinjuku by Leimoti, Rising Hope by Reynard Seidel, Work Together by Isola JamesGuuter Gator by Benjamin King