Bigger Than Belief

WCCO
  • 5.0 (23)
  • NEWS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Bigger Than Belief is a weekly podcast exploring faith, belief, and religion – all through the stories of believers. With an emphasis on understanding belief through personal experience, we aim to create a conversation about faith that is fair, honest, and easy to understand - regardless of what you do (or don't) believe. We'll also take a journalistic approach to concepts and questions that are difficult to understand, while helping to make sense of current events impacting believers in our communities.

  1. 6D AGO

    Imam Mowlid Ali on ICE, Ramadan, Community Support

    On this week’s episode of Bigger Than Belief, Imam Mowlid Ali of Abubakar As-Sadique Islamic Center joins the podcast to talk about the start of Ramadan – and what Ramadan means to American Muslims. He also shares the impacts of operation Metro Surge on Minneapolis Muslims, his thoughts on Jake Lang’s Anti-Muslim protests, his letter to the President, and his reaction to staggering community support during the federal immigration crackdown. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    36 min

  2. FEB 12

    Clergy Members Arrested Protesting ICE: Part Two

    On Friday, Jan 23rd, 99 clergy members were arrested, charged and released during an anti-ICE protest at Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport. Reverend Katherine Lewis of St. David’s Episcopal Church in Minnetonka, Reverend Daniel Ruth, Executive Director of Lutheran Partners and Reverend Amanda Lunemann of Grace United Methodist Church in Burnsville were among the 99. On part two of this two-part episode, they join Adam to discuss the role of compassion in the church and their message moving forward. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    32 min

  3. FEB 5

    Clergy Members Arrested Protesting ICE: Part One

    On Friday, Jan 23rd, 99 clergy members were arrested, charged and released during an anti-ICE protest at Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport. Reverend Katherine Lewis of St. David’s Episcopal Church in Minnetonka, Reverend Daniel Ruth, Executive Director of Lutheran Partners and Reverend Amanda Lunemann of Grace United Methodist Church in Burnsville were among the 99. They join Adam to discuss the moment and the message moving forward. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    31 min

  4. JAN 29

    60+ Faith Leaders Pen Open Letter to ICE, Elected Officials, Asking for Peace

    This week, federal agents staged in Minneapolis as part of Operation Metro Surge shot and killed another person. 37-year-old Alex Pretti was shot and killed Saturday morning in South Minneapolis. His death sparked immediate protest, and reamplified calls for a change in strategy for Operation Metro Surge. One day prior to Pretti’s death, more than 60 faith leaders in Minnesota signed off on an open letter to local, state and federal officials, demanding peace, out of “concern by the toll the crisis is inflicting”. On this week’s episode, Adam sits down with the letter’s three main authors – Jason Adkins of the MN Catholic Conference, Carl Nelson of Transform MN, and Steve Hunegs of the Jewish Community Relations Council – to unpack the open letter and examine the call from faith leaders moving forward. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    49 min

  5. JAN 22

    How Faith Leaders are Driving Minnesota’s General Strike on Friday, Jan 23.

    Businesses, unions, schools and elected officials are joining together Friday, January 23 – calling for a one day “economic blackout” that’s being described as a day of “truth and freedom”. They’re urging people not to shop, work, or go to school. It’s the latest coordinated protest against Operation Metro Surge, the federal immigration crackdown that’s brought thousands of federal agents to the Twin Cities. On this week’s Episode of Bigger Than Belief, Adam Duxter sits down with Minister Janae Bates Imari, Co-Executive Director of ISAIAH, a progressive multi-faith non-profit, to discuss the organization’s role in the day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    26 min

  6. JAN 22

    How an Immigrant Church in MN is Serving Food, Families as Federal Crackdown Continues

    Federal Agents continue to pour into Minnesota. Department of Homeland Security says thousands have been arrested in the seven weeks of “Operation Metro Surge”. As the federal crackdown continues – immigrant churches are on high alert. Sergio Amezcua is pastor of Dios Habla Hoy (DDH Church) in South Minneapolis, an evangelical, Spanish speaking church of 500 members. Last month – his church put out a call to the community – offering grocery deliveries. As of this week, more than 20,000 families have requested help across Minnesota – and 4,000 people have signed up to volunteer. Pastor Amezcua joins Bigger Than Belief to talk about these efforts, but also to comment on how faith has taken center stage in Minnesota in recent days – as protestors disrupted a church service in St. Paul Sunday, and a man’s promise to burn the Quran Saturday resulted in a massive counterprotest that featured clashes and violence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    40 min

  7. JAN 15

    How Matt Moeller Went from Prisoner to Pastor

    Before he was even 18, Matt Moeller found himself behind bars. Facing nearly 20 years in prison, he was grappling with what felt like a life ruined. Then, just one week after arriving in prison he was invited to a church service. That service would send him on a completely new journey. After doing his time he found work as a restorative justice pastor for Westwood Community Church. Matt Moeller joins Adam this week to explain how his faith gave him freedom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    58 min

  8. JAN 8

    Kingswood Security Consulting Founder Simon Osamoh

    Simon Osamoh’s journey reads almost like a novel. Born in the UK, he spent years working as a detective for the British police as he launched a career in public safety. While serving as a detective, he came face to face with organized criminals and terrorism plots. Eventually, his journey took him to Minnesota, where he served as head of counterterrorism at the Mall of America. In 2013, an unexpected call came through – asking him to help build a safety plan at a place of worship. In the decade since, he’s built a security consulting firm that’s expanded across multiple states – all with the goal of securing places of worship. In this episode, he shares stories of forgiving a criminal who’d threatened him and his family, making peace with the lifelong absence of his father, and how church security has taken on a new dynamic in the last ten years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    57 min
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Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
23 Ratings

About

Bigger Than Belief is a weekly podcast exploring faith, belief, and religion – all through the stories of believers. With an emphasis on understanding belief through personal experience, we aim to create a conversation about faith that is fair, honest, and easy to understand - regardless of what you do (or don't) believe. We'll also take a journalistic approach to concepts and questions that are difficult to understand, while helping to make sense of current events impacting believers in our communities.

Information

  • Creator
    WCCO
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    13

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