9. David Clayton - (He's not MAGA, please don't scroll. He's got a moral compass and a soul.) Alexis Rice speaks with David Clayton - a powerhouse of conviction who has broken through on social media, creator of the Official Empathy Tour, and candidate running for North Carolina’s 5th Congressional District - about faith, political power, empathy, and living with moral clarity in a time of cultural and spiritual noise. David has built a massive audience across social platforms by speaking directly about corruption, representation, dignity, and the human cost of systems that prioritize power over people. He says what many people are thinking and his messages are a breath of fresh air. In this conversation, he shares the life experiences that shaped his worldview, including personal loss, caregiving, and work supporting veterans experiencing homelessness. Together, Alexis and David discuss the misuse of religion in politics, the difference between faith and religious power structures, and why many Americans - across political identities - feel unrepresented by current leadership. David also shares why empathy, service, and accountability shape how he views faith and public leadership. This episode is for listeners who feel politically or spiritually disoriented, for those questioning how faith is used in public life, and for anyone searching for voices grounded in integrity - for those who still believe - as David says- in having a moral compass and a soul. ⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussion of suicide, loss, and grief. Listener discretion is advised. If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 (U.S. Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) or visit 988lifeline.org. You are not alone. 💡 Key Takeaways • Faith as belief vs faith used for political gain • Why representation requires lived empathy • How trauma can shape compassion and service 👤 About Our Guest David Clayton is running for North Carolina’s 5th Congressional District and is known for direct, values-driven conversations about faith, politics, and culture. He has built a large cross-platform audience by speaking candidly about corruption, representation, and moral responsibility in leadership. His work focuses on veteran advocacy, government accountability, and restoring dignity to public policy conversations. 🔗 David Clayton - Official Links & Social Handles 🌐 Campaign Website https://www.clayton4nc.com 🔗 Link Hub https://direct.me/empathytour 📱 Social Media Instagram (Empathy Tour): @officialempathytour Instagram (Campaign): @davidclayton4nc Bluesky: @empathytour.b Support the show About The Sacred Slope Where the slippery slope becomes sacred ground. For the spiritually tender—raised in or rooted in Christianity. Come explore our global, diverse, inclusive Christian faith, deconstruction, and spiritual identity in a rapidly changing world. Through conversations with clergy, scholars, and cultural voices, the show creates space for people navigating faith after certainty, church harm, or political co-option of religion. 🎧 WATCH: YouTube / Spotify LISTEN: Apple Podcasts + everywhere FOLLOW: @thesacredslope (IG, FB, Threads, TikTok, YouTube, Bluesky) 🔗 Connect 🎧 Explore episodes & community: linktr.ee/TheSacredSlope 🎙 Hosted by Alexis Rice 🎵 Music by Brett Rutledge, Eddie Irvin & Sean Spence 📬 Nominate a guest: alexis@thesacredslope.com 🌿 Community Guidelines 🌿 Fruit of the Spirit: ❤️ love • 💫 joy • ☮️ peace • 🕊 patience • 💝 kindness • 🌿 goodness • 🙏 faithfulness • 🤲 gentleness • 💪 self-control