Every time I get a request for a donation, I wonder “where is it going?” and “why do you need money?” which I have specifically wondered about presidential races. I finally found someone who could answer my questions AND give me ways to give more strategically and have more impact with my donations. In this episode of The Connected Way, I connect with Brian Derrick, founder of Oath, a platform that is using tech and real-time data science to revolutionize political donations and civic engagement. It feels like such a win to even have him join us - he answers my questions and, and we also talk about the importance of strategic donations in elections and how Oath helps everyday donors make the biggest impact with their contributions.

TUNE IN TO EPISODE 11 TO HEAR:

• Why you’re being inundated with donation requests right now.
• How political fundraising and finances really work. And some of the aggressive marketing tactics used to push donors (which can be quite disconnective) including the sense of urgency/deadlines.
• Why grassroots donors have a major influence on local and down-ballot races, which are often overlooked. Your money (even $5) does make an impact and there are ways to make it have MORE impact. (@oath.vote helps A LOT). Grassroots donors can especially have a major influence on local and down-ballot races, which are often overlooked.
• The influence of Super PACs and billionaire donations on elections.
• Why fundraising is important as a tool for impact and influence, but why how the system is broken and why campaign finance reform is absolutely necessary.

ABOUT OUR GUEST: Brian Derrick is a political strategist, activist, and tech entrepreneur who is revolutionizing civic engagement through his groundbreaking company, Oath (www.oath.vote). As Founder and CEO, Derrick created Oath, a political fundraising platform that's redefining how people engage with elections, with over $25 million directed to high impact races in 2024. You can donate and find out more at oath.vote and you can find Brian on instagram @brianderrick_ and Oath @oath.vote and Brian also co-hosts the podcast Vibes Only which provides political insight and commentary.

RESOURCES:

Donate at www.oath.vote

Donate to Max Impact Races on Oath.Vote

Donate to Top Issues you Connect with

Follow Brian Derrick on Instagram @brianderrick_

Follow Oath on Instagram @oath.vote

Vibes Only Podcast

Movement Voter Project

Campaign Finance Breakdown on Wikipedia

A Basic Breakdown of PACs

LEARN MORE & SUPPORT THE SHOW:

Follow Rev Dev on Instagram

Follow Rev Dev on Facebook

Follow Rev Dev on TikTok

Sign up for the newsletter

Donate on venmo to support the podcast

Donate on paypal to support the podcast

Contact Rev Dev

How are so many Christians in this country voting Republican? How would Jesus vote and what did he really teach? When we remove the fear-tactics of the threat of Hell, what were the actual teachings of Jesus and how can we learn from them?

In this episode, we connect with Brian Recker, a former evangelical pastor who has been deconstructing his own faith and understanding of Christianity (his departure was catalyzed by Donald Trump’s rise in politics). We discuss Heaven, Hell, Sin, Abortion, Taxes, Trans rights, Healthcare and lots in between. And Brian and I connect on the essential threads of Jesus’s teachings based in acceptance, love, care for the marginalized, and interconnection.

TUNE IN TO EPISODE 10 TO HEAR:

• The true teachings of Jesus are about peace, love, acceptance and equality.
• What if there wasn’t fear of going to “hell,” and what if it doesn’t exist?
• How political tactics of some Churches can impact people’s faith and values.
• How some Christians are so focused on their own “kingdoms” of individualism.
• What Jesus might think about taxes, trans rights, abortion, and beyond.

ABOUT OUR GUEST: Brian Recker is a former evangelical pastor who now offers pastoral reflections on deconstruction, toxic theology, and reclaiming a healthy spirituality. In addition to his regular posts on social media, he has a substack where he writes regular meditations, and his book HELLBENT is coming out in 2025 with TarcherPerigee. You can learn more about Brian on his website www.brianrecker.com where you can sign up for his substack, and follow him on Instagram @berecker. He also has a podcast called Sacred Counsel.

RESOURCES:

Follow Brian on Instagram @berecker

Sacred Counsel Podcast

BOOK: "scripture, ethics, and the possibility of same sex relationships" by Karen Keen

The Bible for Normal People Podcast

LEARN MORE & SUPPORT THE SHOW:

Follow Rev Dev on Instagram

Follow Rev Dev on Facebook

Follow Rev Dev on TikTok

Sign up for the newsletter

Donate on venmo to support the podcast

Donate on paypal to support the podcast

Contact Rev Dev

In the second part of this two-part series, Rabbi Salem Pierce and I continue our discussion, focused on the emotional and complex realities of the Israeli-Palestine conflict.

TUNE IN TO EPISODE 9 TO HEAR:

• Rabbi Salem shares her personal experience and what she’s witnessed in Israel
• She shares insights about the impacts of generational trauma felt by both Jewish and Palestinian communities and the deep emotional impact of recent events.
• We explore the call for a ceasefire, emphasizing the need for diplomacy as the only viable path forward amidst ongoing violence.
• We discuss the moral tension between supporting the State of Israel and advocating for equality and the recognition of all lives as equally valuable.
• Rabbi Salem draws on Jewish teachings to highlight the importance of compassionate, open dialogue, even when confronting deeply polarizing issues.

ABOUT OUR GUEST:

Rabbi Salem Pearce is Director of Spirituality at the Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life, serving communities all across the U.S. South as a "circuit-riding rabbi" from her home in Jackson, Miss., where she lives with her two cats. She was ordained by Hebrew College Rabbinical School in Boston in 2018 and has served as Director of Organizing at T'ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights, in New York City, and Executive Director at Carolina Jews for Justice in Durham, N.C. Her rabbinate has involved justice work on a variety of issues: immigration, reproductive rights, workers rights, and Israel/Palestine. She is passionate about Torah, baseball, non-fiction, and travel. You can learn more about her at www.salempearce.com

RESOURCES:

Learn more about Rabbi Salem Pearce

breakdown of jewish denomination affiliation in 2020 - most recent I could find (9% orthodox)

Rabbis for Ceasefire

T’ruah - the Rabbinic Call for Human Rights

Gisha: Israeli not-for-profit organization, founded in 2005, whose goal is to protect the freedom of movement of Palestinians, especially Gaza residents.

B’Tselem: The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories

HIAS: Originally founded to assist Jews fleeing pogroms in Eastern Europe, today HIAS works around the world to assist displaced people of all backgrounds.

LEARN MORE & SUPPORT THE SHOW:

Follow Rev Dev on Instagram

Follow Rev Dev on Facebook

Follow Rev Dev on TikTok

Sign up for the newsletter

Donate on venmo to support the podcast

Donate on paypal to support the podcast

Contact Rev Dev