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
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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

In this episode, I take a closer look at Homestead, the post-apocalyptic drama from Angel Studios based on the novel Black Autumn. I explore its themes of faith, anti-government sentiment, and personal property rights, plus its connection to real-world trends like doomsday prepping and Christian nationalism. Join me as I unpack how this film reflects the intersection of faith, politics, and culture.

Subscribe: JemarTisby.Substack.com

Spirit of Justice (All Ages Books): bookshop.org/shop/jemartisby

Key Themes:

1. Plot and Production Context: Homestead adapts Black Autumn to showcase survivalism, faith, and societal collapse.
2. Anti-Government Narrative: The film critiques federal institutions, highlighting themes of tyranny and resource control.
3. Religious Messaging: Heavy-handed Christian motifs like Noah’s Ark and miraculous conversions drive the story’s resolution.
4. Real-World Parallels: Reflects trends in doomsday prepping and libertarian ideologies among the ultra-wealthy.
5. Cultural Implications: Examines how media shapes public perceptions of faith, politics, and self-reliance.

For further research:

• Silicon Valley Billionaires and Doomsday Bunkers - Bloomberg
• Religious Movies and Hollywood Trends - WSJ
• Homestead Review - Culture Mix

On this episode I speak with Amanda Tyler, head of the BJC, a Baptist group that works for religious freedom for all, about her new book "How to End Christian Nationalism."

We talk:

• Defining Christian nationalism
• How to talk to your family member, neighbor, friend who is in the sunken place of Christian nationalism
• Why women subscribe to this ideology when it is so anti-women
• And more...

Pick up the book at EndChristianNationalism.com and access a whole library of resources for use in your local context at ChristiansAgainstChristianNationalism.org

Give your kids the gift of knowing the stories that shaped us. Pre-order "I Am the Spirit of Justice" and "Stories of the Spirit of Justice"!

Get more news and views at: JemarTisby.Substack.com

Fuller Texas and the Pannell Center for Black Church Studies welcome author, speaker, and public historian, Dr. Jemar Tisby, author of The Color of Compromise, in celebrating the release of his most recent book The Spirit of Justice: Faith, Race, and Resistance. In this chat recorded live at Fuller Texas, Dr. Tisby will share the heart behind his new work which features bold stories of individuals who have gone before us and how their legacy continues to encourage us to pursue solidarity as the fight against injustices continues today. Following the presentation, Dr. Dwight Radcliff, Academic Dean of the Pannell Center for Black Church Studies at Fuller, will joined Dr. Tisby for an audience Q&A session.

Our thanks to Fuller Texas and the Pannell Center for Black Church Studies at Fuller for sharing this conversation with the Footnotes audience.

Joel Edward Goza dismantles the deep-seated myths that perpetuate white supremacy—and makes the case that reparations are necessary to heal America’s racial wounds and live up to our democratic ideals.

Like many well-intentioned white people, Goza once believed that he could support Black America’s struggle for equality without supporting reparations. Reparations, he thought, were altogether irrelevant to the real work of racial justice.

This is a book about why he was wrong. In fact, any effort to heal our nation’s wounds will fail without reparations.

In Rebirth of a Nation, Goza exposes lesser-known aspects of racism in American history and how Black people have consistently been depicted as responsible for their own oppression to justify slavery, Jim Crow, mass incarceration and gross inequality. Goza’s iconoclastic and incisive account exposes how revered figures like Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln embedded white supremacy deep into our nation’s consciousness—and how Ronald Reagan manipulated this ideology so that society cheered as he advanced a set of policies that wounded our nation and intensified Black America’s suffering.

But Rebirth of a Nation is not merely about accountability. It is also about hope. A reparations process is not a utopian dream; Goza offers a practical path toward closing the racial wealth gap. Rebirth of a Nation shows readers how they can join the reparative process, working toward the creation of a more perfect union.

Dive into the pages of The Spirit of Justice and uncover the enduring power of faith and resistance in the fight for racial equality. Here are key themes and takeaways you'll explore:

• Historical Resistance: Learn about the brave individuals who stood against racial injustice throughout American history.
• Faith in Action: See how deeply faith influenced major movements and led to significant changes in society.
• Inspiration for Today: Draw strength and inspiration from past victories and strategies to fuel current and future activism.
• Cultural Impact: Understand the role of African American culture in shaping resistance and fostering a legacy of change.
• Continuing the Fight: Recognize that the journey towards justice is ongoing and the spirit of resistance is as necessary now as ever.
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Get your copy today: The Spirit of Justice: True Stories of Faith, Race, and Resistance: Tisby, Jemar: 9780310144854: Amazon.com: Books