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Quakers Today

Quakers Today

By: Friends Publishing Corporation
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Summary

Quakers Today explores Quaker thought, faith, and action for everyone seeking to deepen their spiritual life and navigate our changing world. In Season Six, we’re going "into the wallet." Host Peterson Toscano is joined by new co-host Diana Yañez, a certified financial planner and Quaker. Together, they explore money not as personal math, but as a spiritual practice. From reparations to ethical investing, we dive into "The Priesthood of All Believers, Economics" to learn how to align our resources with our deepest values.

Listen to this Friends Journal podcast or watch the extended video edition on the Friends Journal YouTube page. Quakers Today is a project of Friends Publishing Corporation. Season Six is sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee and Friends Fiduciary.

Copyright 2022 All rights reserved. Philosophy Social Sciences Spirituality
Episodes
  • Quakers and Relational Finance

    Quakers and Relational Finance
    May 12 2026
    In this second episode of our season-long exploration into "The Wallet," Peterson Toscano and Diana Yañez dive into Relational Finance. This concept challenges the traditional divide between "financial experts" and "spiritual seekers." Taking the Quaker theology of the "priesthood of all believers" and applying it to economics, we explore how taking personal responsibility for our money—and our institutional assets—leads to deeper integrity and more equitable power-sharing. From the boardrooms of major corporations to micro-grant partnerships in Kenya and Sierra Leone, we look at what happens when we stop letting others stand between us and the truth of our financial impact. In This Episode The Unmediated Truth: Jeff Perkins reflects on the Quaker commitment to taking responsibility for one's beliefs, even when it comes to the "taboo" topic of money.Decolonizing Power: Traci Hjelt Sullivan discusses how Right Sharing of World Resources is shifting power from Western offices to local coordinators, moving from "saviorism" to genuine partnership.Ownership as a Tool: We explore how holding onto shares in a company (rather than just divesting) can be a powerful way to "hold the door open" for justice in corporate boardrooms. Our Guests Jeff Perkins Jeff is the former executive director of Friends Fiduciary. He is a member of Chestnut Hill Friends Meeting in Philadelphia and lives in Philadelphia with his husband. His journey to Quakerism began at a nuclear test site protest in the 1980s, where the integrity of Quaker activists inspired his lifelong commitment to faith-led action. Traci Hjelt Sullivan Traci is the executive director of Right Sharing of World Resources (RSWR). With decades of non-profit management experience, including roles at Pendle Hill and Friends General Conference, Traci brings a global perspective to her work, having lived or worked in Ethiopia, Zambia, Botswana, Kenya, and beyond. She is a member of Green Street Meeting in Philadelphia. Nathan Kleban Nathan is the program and advancement associate at RSWR. His background includes serving as an environmental volunteer with the Peace Corps in Mali and working with the Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP). He currently lives in Iowa City, Iowa. Amy Carr Amy is the senior shareholder advocate at Friends Fiduciary. She utilizes her background in information science and data research to engage companies on ESG (environmental, social, and governance) issues, bringing Quaker values to the forefront of corporate dialogue. Organizations Mentioned Friends Fiduciary Corporation: A Quaker nonprofit providing professional investment and planned giving services to Friends meetings, schools, and organizations.Right Sharing of World Resources: An organization providing seed grants to women’s self-help groups in the Global South, rooted in the Quaker testimony of simplicity.American Friends Service Committee (AFSC): A Quaker organization working for social justice, peace, and humanitarian service around the world. Disclaimers Quakers Today is a project of Friends Publishing Corporation. This season is sponsored by Friends Fiduciary and the American Friends Service Committee. Investment Disclaimer: Friends Fiduciary unites Quaker values with expert investing. However, the information provided in this episode is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment, financial, or tax advice. Please consult with a professional financial advisor regarding your specific situation. Question for Listeners How do you balance "expert advice" with your own spiritual leadings when it comes to your money? Have you ever felt a "dissonance" between your investments and your values? Share your thoughts! Leave a voicemail: Call 215-645-0132Email us: podcast@friendsjournal.orgSocial Media: Respond to us on Facebook or Instagram. Diana Gisel Yañez is an Investment Advisor Representative of Natural Investments PBLLC. Natural Investments is an independent Registered Investment Advisor. Quakers Today and Friends Journal are not a registered entity and are not an affiliate or subsidiary of Natural Investments. See our Disclosures and Disclaimers and read our Form CRS.
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    19 mins
  • Quakers, Money, and the Priesthood of All Believers

    Quakers, Money, and the Priesthood of All Believers
    Apr 14 2026

    Is finance truly "gross," or is it a vital spiritual practice? In the Season 6 premiere of Quakers Today, host Peterson Toscano is joined by new co-host Diana Yañez—a certified financial planner and convinced Quaker. Together, they move "into the wallet" to explore how our faith intersects with our finances.

    We’re calling this "The Priesthood of All Believers, Economics." We argue that we cannot leave the world of money to the "high priests" of Wall Street; every Friend has a role in discerning where our resources go.

    In this episode, we explore:

    • Money Biographies: Diana shares her journey from the 2007 foreclosure crisis to ethical financial planning, while Peterson reflects on his time serving the world's wealthiest executives.

    • Voices of the Season: Preview insights from upcoming guests on reparations, value-based pricing, and the business case for Quaker values.

    • Quaker History & Integrity: We revisit a 2012 Friends Journal article to ask how we stay honest in a capitalist system.

    • Ethical Investing Tools: A look at how to use InvestYourValues.org to screen your mutual funds and ETFs for fossil fuels, weapons, and private prisons.

    Question of the Month:

    What insights or practices guide your relationship with finance today?

    • Leave a voicemail: 317-QUAKERS (317-782-5377)

    • Email us: podcast@friendsjournal.org

    • Social Media: Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok.

    Links & Resources:

    • Read the full show notes and transcript: QuakersToday.org

    • Screen your investments: InvestYourValues.org

    • Learn about our sponsors: FriendsFiduciary.org and AFSC.org

    Featured in this series:

    Amy Carr, Douglas Tsoi, Lucy Duncan (Reparations Works), Susan Waltz, Fran Brokaw, Aangoo Tucho' Ethan Birchard, Traci Hjelt Sullivan (Right Sharing of World Resources), Nathan Kleban, and Lisa Graustein.

    Disclaimers:

    Quakers Today is a project of Friends Publishing Corporation. This episode is for educational purposes and does not constitute specific financial or investment advice.

    Diana Gisel Yañez is an Investment Advisor Representative of Natural Investments PBLLC. Natural Investments is an independent Registered Investment Advisor. Quakers Today and Friends Journal are not a registered entity and are not an affiliate or subsidiary of Natural Investments. See our Disclosures and Disclaimers and read our Form CRS.
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    17 mins
  • Sexuality, Gender Identities, and Quakers

    Sexuality, Gender Identities, and Quakers
    Mar 17 2026

    In this special end-of-season episode of Quakers Today, host Peterson Toscano explores the intersections of faith, sex, and gender. As an "Interval" between Seasons 5 and 6, we hear from LGBTQ+ individuals about living their truth with integrity within their spiritual communities. We feature insights from a pioneering transgender priest, a Quaker healer and musician, a best-selling queer author, and voices from the Southeastern Yearly Meeting.

    For a full transcript visit www.quakerstoday.org This episode is also available as a YouTube video at https://www.youtube.com/@FriendsJournal

    This Season of Quakers Today is sponsored by:

    • Friends Fiduciary
    • American Friends Service Committee
    Transgender Identity and the Church

    Rev. Dr. Tina Beardsley, one of the first transgender priests in the Church of England, discusses the evolving challenges trans and non-binary people face within both society and the broader LGBTQ community.

    "The trans experience is often about a journey toward wholeness that the church is only beginning to understand."

    Healing Through Song

    John Calvi, a Quaker healer and writer, shares the story behind the music he composed during the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis to provide comfort and spiritual grounding. Many thanks to Pendle Hill and Dwight Dunston for giving us permission to use this excerpt from their podcast, The Seed: Conversations for Radical Hope.

    • Takeaway: Music can serve as a vessel for collective healing during times of profound community trauma.
    • Link: John Calvi’s Website
    Horror as a Tool for Hope

    Queer author Ryan La Sala discusses his new eco-horror book, The Dead of Summer, and explains why "scary stories" are a necessary outlet for processing real-world anxieties.

    • Takeaway: We need stories that acknowledge the "horrible times" we live in to find the courage to move through them.
    • Link: The Dead of Summer by Ryan La Sala
    Community Beyond the Binary

    Peterson shares audio recorded at the Southeastern Yearly Meeting, capturing a celebration of community that transcends traditional gender binaries.

    "It was a celebration of community that transcended traditional gender binaries." — Peterson Toscano

    Thank You Notes from the Future

    Last month, we asked: If you received a thank-you note from 100 years in the future, what are they thanking you for?

    • Teacher Margaret (Email): Thanked for providing a "sheltering wing" for a child in turmoil whose descendants are now thriving.
    • BearCloverCA (TikTok): Thanked for planting native plants and minimizing waste to preserve the Earth.
    • Daniel Cummings (Social Media): Thanked simply for "not giving up."
    • ROmAnA (Social Media): Thanked for breaking a cycle of trauma and being a "good mom."
    Question for Next Month

    What insights or practices guide your relationship with finance today?

    Share your thoughts:

    • Leave a voicemail: Call 317-QUAKERS (317-782-5377)
    • Email us: podcast@friendsjournal.org

    Social Media: Respond on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok.

    Sponsors

    Quakers Today is a project of Friends Publishing Corporation. This season is sponsored by:

    • Friends Fiduciary: Ethical investing through a Quaker lens. Learn more at FriendsFiduciary.org.
    • American Friends Service Committee (AFSC): Challenging injustice and building peace. Visit afsc.org.
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    49 mins
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