“Not Your Typical” Faith-Based, Social Justice Radio Show Expands Audience to Bay Area

Program Pushes Barriers, Aims for Religious Talk Radio Without “Preaching, Proselytizing or Political Talking Heads”

Provoke Radio, the social justice program that made waves last year in the Baltimore area with its insightful – but never preachy – religious programming, has expanded to two radio stations to cover the Bay Area.

“Provoke is not like anything out there,” said Claire Hartman, the show’s producer. “We talk about social issues through the lens of faith and within the context of inter-religious dialogue. It’s like we took religious talk radio and subtracted the preaching, and proselytizing. We’re more interested in people who walk the walk.”

Hosted by Father Steven Spahn, SJ, the show – just into its second season on the air – has explored such topics as Muslim-Christian faith relations, embryonic stem cell research and multi-racial adoptions.

“Our show focuses on profiling everyday people who do amazing things day in and day out for social justice. These are stories you won’t get anywhere else,” said Hartman. “It’s not your grandmother’s religious programming. We like to think we give a voice to the voiceless.”

Provoke Radio comes from a Jesuit background and prides itself on challenging faith and pushing beyond the barriers of denomination into social justice. As one guest said on the second season’s debut, “That’s where many people of faith get very nervous….having to criticize built in structures of our society that keep the poor in their conditions.”

The program is available not just in Baltimore and the Bay Area, but also in the St. Louis, Mo., area. In addition, each program is archived in free podcasts on the show’s website, www.provokeradio.com and. In addition, Provoke Radio will soon be available nationwide on SIRIUS Satellite Radio and nywradio.com, an internet station based in New York City.