One Question

Matthew Brake, Jason Bayless, Muoki Musau
  • 5.0 (1)
  • POLITICS

One Question brings together two Christians and a Skeptic to talk about the state of the world, and what justice looks like in practice. We unpack what’s happening in the world, name the forces behind it, and stay focused on what people do to build the world we truly deserve–together.

Episodes

  1. 3H AGO

    Leaving the Christian Right, Pt. 1

    Matt grew up organizing prayer meetings to vote George W. Bush into office. Today, he's not sure he's welcome in the same churches that shaped him. In Part 1 of Leaving the Christian Right, Matt, Muoki, and Jason trace the real turning points — not the tidy ones. They go deep on the largely untold origin story of the Christian Right: why abortion wasn't actually the founding cause, how desegregated schools and the Bob Jones University controversy quietly ignited the movement, and how evangelical political energy became a machine for manufactured grievance. Matt maps his own journey from religious right true believer to Iraq War critic to finding his way out of partisan tribalism — and how satire, of all things, cracked things open. The conversation gets personal fast. Muoki shares what it was like navigating black identity inside predominantly white evangelical spaces — hearing "it's not a skin issue, it's a sin issue" while getting stopped by police on his way to school. Jason brings the outside perspective, pressing both of them on the harder questions: Who decides what gets wrapped in the divine? And how do you hold firm to a text when the text is being weaponized? They also get into the years-long wrestling match with LGBTQ affirmation — not as a hot take, but as a real story of sitting with the tension, reading Brueggemann, revisiting old conversations, and eventually landing somewhere that felt more honest than theologically airtight. Plus a detour through purity culture, Paul's worst advice, and why the Bible having internal contradictions might actually be the point. If you've ever felt the gap between what you were taught and what you've lived — this one's for you. One Question brings together two Christians and a skeptic to ask: how do we move from words to action in ways that actually strengthen community?

    1 hr

  2. APR 5

    The Paternalism Problem

    In this episode, Matthew, Muoki, and Jason explore the intricacies of justice, the pitfalls of paternalism in mission work, and the importance of mutual relationship in social justice efforts. Muoki shares his experience in overseas Christian missionary work and describes the impact - positive and negative - of the “market” of charity in Christian spaces. They challenge traditional narratives of aid and emphasize listening, respect, and collaboration with impacted communities. Key Topics: The limitations and dangers of paternalism in mission and social justice workUnidirectional vs. reciprocal learning and its impact on agencyThe role of systemic structures in perpetuating dependencyThe importance of relationship-led approaches over crisis-driven initiativesHow liberation is a continual, mutual process, not a one-way rescueMoving towards community-led solutions and exit strategies in development workThe influence of historical colonialism on current aid and missionary modelsThe necessity of listening to and valuing the agency of marginalized communitiesPractical ways to embody mutual aid and shared liberation in activism Timestamps:  00:00 - Introduction 05:32 - Linking systemic structures and dependency in mission work 10:11 - Critique of charity that perpetuates inequality 13:56 - The problem of paternalism and institutional power in aid work 23:07 - Systemic influence of colonialism on aid and development models 33:11 - Respectful engagement vs. colonialist mentalities in social actions 41:37 - Redefining liberation spaces beyond crisis-response models 53:04 - Moving away from paternalistic approaches towards relationship-based justice 62:01 - Building system outside harmful frameworks through true mutuality Resources & Links: A Radical GuideJames Baldwin quote on love and critiqueFrantz Fanon, The Wretched of the EarthWillie Jennings, The Christian ImaginationChris Hanson, Open and Relational Parenting

    1h 4m

  3. MAR 22

    Who controls the divine?

    God has been used to justify war, empire, and oppression. So what happens when people claim divine authority to legitimize their actions? In this episode, we wrestle with a tension that sits at the center of faith, power, and justice: If the divine can be invoked to justify anything… who holds that accountable? What We ExploreWhy invoking God can create unquestionable authorityHow power “wraps itself in the divine” to control narrativesThe problem of accountability when authority is tied to GodThe tension between faith as motivation vs faith as justification Justice has been built by people both with and without faith. Invoking God can inspire meaningful action, but it can also erase the contributions of real people and centralize power in dangerous ways. So the real question isn’t who controls God, it’s what we’re actually building together. If something in this episode made you see your world differently - tell us! And if you’re tired of performative outrage and you want practical, honest conversation aimed at real action—follow the show and share this episode with someone who’s willing to build. Hate us already? Email us at OneQuestionPodcast1Q@gmail.com  Resources/references/texts/etc.A Radical Guide https://www.radical-guide.com/  Bonhoeffer, Ethics Walter Bruegemann, A Prophetic Imagination Emma Goldman, Anarchism and Other Essays, Jürgen Habermas, Awareness of What is Missing: Faith and Reason in a Post-Secular Age Søren Kierkegaard, Fear and Trembling Thomas Merton, Peace in a Post-Christian Era James Cone, A Theology of Liberation Alystair McIntyre, After Virtue: A Study in Moral Theory Karen Armstrong, Fields of Blood Biblical Narratives: Numbers 16; Exodus narrative; teachings of Jesus on love, nonviolence, and discipleship

    1h 9m

  4. MAR 7

    Beyond “Us v. Them”

    In this opening conversation, we introduce One Question—a podcast bringing together two Christians and a non-believer to talk about the state of the world and what justice looks like in practice. We explore why cross-belief dialogue matters, where charity falls short, and how communities can move from words to action without defaulting to “us vs them.” What You’ll Hear in This Episode: Why we’re doing this podcast—and why we don’t want another debate showThe personal histories that shaped each host’s relationship to faith, doubt, and justiceThe difference between charity, mutual aid, and building durable communityWhy “labels” can clarify values—but also dehumanizeA shared commitment: flagging the moment the conversation slips into the usual narrative If you’re tired of performative outrage and you want practical, honest conversation aimed at real action—follow the show and share this episode with someone who’s willing to build. Hate us already? Email us at OneQuestionPodcast1Q@gmail.com  Resources/references/texts/etc. A Radical Guide https://www.radical-guide.com/  Charles Marsh, Strange Glory: A Life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer https://www.amazon.com/Strange-Glory-Life-Dietrich-Bonhoeffer/dp/0307269817  Bonhoeffer, Letters and Papers from Prison https://www.fortresspress.com/store/product/9780800697037/Letters-and-Papers-from-Prison  Bonhoeffer, Ethics https://www.fortresspress.com/store/product/9781506402727/Ethics  Walter Bruegemann, A Prophetic Imagination https://www.fortresspress.com/store/product/9781506449302/The-Prophetic-Imagination  James Cone, The Cross and the Lynching Tree https://orbisbooks.com/products/the-cross-and-the-lynching-tree  Abraham Heschel, The Prophets  https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-prophets-abraham-j-heschel

    1h 8m
  • 4 Episodes

About

One Question brings together two Christians and a Skeptic to talk about the state of the world, and what justice looks like in practice. We unpack what’s happening in the world, name the forces behind it, and stay focused on what people do to build the world we truly deserve–together.

Information

  • Creator
    Matthew Brake, Jason Bayless, Muoki Musau
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    4
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Matthew Brake, Jason Bayless, Muoki Musau
  • Show Website
    One Question