LifeWise Academy: The Project 2025 Connected Religious Release Program in Public Schools (Bradley Onishi and Daniel Miller; Straight White American Jesus podcast)

Brad interviews activist and parent Natalie Hastings, LifeWise Academy, a religious release program in public schools that takes children out of their school day for Bible study. Hastings provides insights into the program’s growth, its impact on students, and its connections to larger political movements such as Project 2025. The discussion highlights concerns about the program’s effects on school resources, inclusion, mental health, and the push for policies mandating such programs in different states.

Natalie Hastings is a public school parent who began tracking the efforts of national extremism on public schools when her own district elected four new board members who promised to “fight CRT,” canceled an opt-in Racial Diversity Awareness Day, and passed a “Culture of Kindness” resolution to restrict teaching and discussions on race, gender identity, and inclusion. She educates and activates local communities to protect the rights of every student through Honesty for Ohio Education, an alliance of 70+ nonprofit organizations and its Honesty Teams Network, a partner in HEAL Together Race Forward’s #PublicSchoolStrong initiative. Hastings also manages research for Ohioans Against Extremism, (OHAgainstExtremism.org) a new website launching in August 2024.
Interview: 

https://www.straightwhiteamericanjesus.com/episodes/lifewise-academy-the-project-2025-connected-religious-release-program-in-public-schools/

LifeWise Academy: The Project 2025 Connected Religious Release Program in Public Schools (Bradley Onishi and Daniel Miller; Straight White American Jesus podcast)

Brad interviews activist and parent Natalie Hastings, LifeWise Academy, a religious release program in public schools that takes children out of their school day for Bible study. Hastings provides insights into the program’s growth, its impact on students, and its connections to larger political movements such as Project 2025. The discussion highlights concerns about the program’s effects on school resources, inclusion, mental health, and the push for policies mandating such programs in different states.

Natalie Hastings is a public school parent who began tracking the efforts of national extremism on public schools when her own district elected four new board members who promised to “fight CRT,” canceled an opt-in Racial Diversity Awareness Day, and passed a “Culture of Kindness” resolution to restrict teaching and discussions on race, gender identity, and inclusion. She educates and activates local communities to protect the rights of every student through Honesty for Ohio Education, an alliance of 70+ nonprofit organizations and its Honesty Teams Network, a partner in HEAL Together Race Forward’s #PublicSchoolStrong initiative. Hastings also manages research for Ohioans Against Extremism, (OHAgainstExtremism.org) a new website launching in August 2024.
Interview: 

https://www.straightwhiteamericanjesus.com/episodes/lifewise-academy-the-project-2025-connected-religious-release-program-in-public-schools/

Project 2025 and the GOP Platform (Hemant Mehta and Jessica Bluemke, The Friendly Atheist podast #539)

— The GOP’s 2024 platform is a dream come true for Christian Nationalists. (2:59)

— A desperate Donald Trump wants to distance himself from Project 2025. Here’s why. (29:12)

— 14 Christians go on trial in Australia after “faith-healing” death of 8-year-old girl. (35:20)

— Texas pastor fined after illegally using church donations to boost his city council campaign. (41:45)

— Canadian megachurch halts services after insurers pull sex abuse coverage. (51:00)

— LifeWise Academy sues Ohio man who posted their entire Bible curriculum online. (58:33)

— Oklahoma Dept. of Education will force teachers to use the Bible in public schools. (1:15:25)

— “God’s Not Dead 5,” a film no one asked for, already has a trailer. (1:31:22)

— Two influential atheist groups are in court battling over one man’s large donations. (1:37:23) 

Interview: 

https://friendlyatheistpodcast.com/2024/07/11/project-2025-and-the-gop-platform/

https://youtu.be/SAZYhNOCq6E?si=ObIudp8r0Ru-YIT7