What can a Star Wars series teach us about authoritarianism, resistance, and the state of democracy in America?

In this episode of Footnotes, Jemar Tisby sits down with his friend and producer, Beau York, a man steeped in Star Wars lore. Together they explore how Andor—a show set in a galaxy far, far away—becomes an urgent mirror for our political present. T

hey discuss the rise of empire, the courage of ordinary people, and the power of storytelling to stir the soul when facts fall flat.

Whether you're a sci-fi fan, a student of history, or someone longing for hope in dark times, this episode is for you.

***NOTE: This episode has spoilers.

You can follow beau at instagram.com/incognitbeau and check out his new project at www.MidnightHTX.com

Check out Jemar's (spoiler free) Substack article: Why You Should Be Watching Andor Right Now

Dr. Beth Allison Barris the James Vardaman Professor of History at Baylor University. She earned her PhD in Medieval History from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and is the bestselling author of The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth.

In this episode we talk about her latest book, Becoming the Pastor's Wife: How Marriage Replaced Ordination as a Woman's Path to Ministry.

We discuss:

• The role of the pastor's wife
• Complementarianism and how it bolsters gendered divisions in church leadership
• The "First Lady" in the Black church tradition and how it differs from white evangelical conceptions of the "pastor's wife"
• The aggressive sexism and patriarchy we're seeing in the political realm and how that connects to the church

1. Order Dr. Barr's book HERE.
2. Remember to leave a review of Footnotes
3. Subscribe to my newsletter: JemarTisby.Substack.com

In this episode of Footnotes, I sit down with investigative journalist Katherine Stewart to discuss her latest book, Money, Lies, and God: Inside the Movement to Destroy American Democracy.

Katherine’s work, including her previous book The Power Worshipers, which inspired the documentary God & Country, exposes the hidden networks of money, power, and religious extremism shaping our political landscape.

We dive into the key players behind the antidemocratic movement—funders, thinkers, sergeants, infantry, and power brokers—exploring why financial influence is central to their success.

Katherine unpacks the pervasive lies fueling these movements, the complex web of organizations behind them, and the racial and religious dynamics at play.

This is a conversation about the urgent threats to democracy—and the resistance rising to meet them. If you care about the future of American democracy, you’ll want to listen to this one from start to finish.

Get the book: Money, Lies, and God

Support Jemar's Work: JemarTisby.Substack.com