E76 We Pray Freedom: A Conversation with Charon Hribar and Liz Theoharis

🎙️ Episode Summary

In this powerful conversation, host Bruce Reyes-Chow sits down with Dr. Liz Theoharis and Charon Hribar to discuss their new book We Pray Freedom: Liturgies and Rituals from the Freedom Church of the Poor. Together, they explore how ritual, prayer, song, and community become vital tools in the fight against poverty and injustice. Despite the darkness of our current moment—from rising authoritarianism to devastating policy cuts—Liz and Sharon remind us that hope is not naive. It's real, attainable, and already blooming in grassroots movements across the country.

From free dental clinics in churches to Jericho walks around detention centers, they share concrete examples of communities living into a vision of abundance and justice. They challenge us to move beyond performative allyship, to sing together, to take action together, and to remember: we get there together or we don't get there at all.

This is a conversation about reclaiming faith traditions rooted in liberation, staying grounded in difficult times, and the radical possibility that poverty could actually end—if only we had the political will.

🤝🏽 About Our Guests

Dr. Liz Theoharis is a theologian, Presbyterian pastor, author, and anti-poverty activist. She serves as the executive director of the Kairos Center for Religions, Rights and Social Justice and co-chairs the Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival. A biblical scholar with decades of organizing experience, Liz has been working in poor and low-income communities for 30 years, fighting against Christian nationalism and advancing a vision of "everybody in, nobody out." She is co-editor of We Pray Freedom: Liturgies and Rituals from the Freedom Church of the Poor. Liz on Instagram

Charon Hribar is a song leader, cultural organizer, and social ethicist who serves as the managing director of cultural strategies and communications for the Kairos Center and co-director of Theo Musicology and Movement Arts for the Poor People's Campaign. A PhD holder who grew up in a steel worker family in Western Pennsylvania, Sharon has spent over 20 years building movements that connect struggles across education, healthcare, and environmental justice—all grounded in culture, ritual, and song. She is co-editor of We Pray Freedom: Liturgies and Rituals from the Freedom Church of the Poor. Connect with Charon. Charon on Instagram

✨ Episode Highlights

• The origin story of "We Pray Freedom" and why this collection of liturgies matters now
• Hope in action: Real examples of grassroots organizing transforming communities
• Beyond plug-and-play liturgy: How to engage authentically with ritual and avoid performative justice
• The reality of poverty in America: Why 140+ million people are poor or low-income, and why ending poverty is actually possible
• The power of song and ritual: How collective practices break isolation and reinforce shared humanity
• A dying mule kicks the hardest: Understanding our current moment as the birth pangs of a new world
• Practical grounding: How to stay connected, take action, and avoid overwhelm in these times

🔗 Episode Links & Resources

• We Pray Freedom: Liturgies and Rituals from the Freedom Church of the Poor (Broadleaf Books)
• The Kairos Center for Religions, Rights and Social Justice