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Quakers Today

Quakers Today

By: Friends Publishing Corporation
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Quakers Today explores Quaker thought, faith, and action for everyone seeking to deepen their spiritual life and navigate our changing world. In Season Six, we’re going "into the wallet." Host Peterson Toscano is joined by new co-host Diana Yañez, a certified financial planner and Quaker. Together, they explore money not as personal math, but as a spiritual practice. From reparations to ethical investing, we dive into "The Priesthood of All Believers, Economics" to learn how to align our resources with our deepest values.

Listen to this Friends Journal podcast or watch the extended video edition on the Friends Journal YouTube page. Quakers Today is a project of Friends Publishing Corporation. Season Six is sponsored by the American Friends Service Committee and Friends Fiduciary.

Copyright 2022 All rights reserved. Philosophy Social Sciences Spirituality
Episodes
  • Quakers and Capitalism

    Quakers and Capitalism
    Jun 16 2026
    In this third episode of our season-long exploration of Quakers and Money, Peterson Toscano and Diana Yañez turn toward one of the largest and most difficult questions of the series: How do Friends live with integrity inside capitalism? Last month, we explored relational finance and asked whether taking responsibility for our money and institutional assets can lead to deeper integrity and more equitable power-sharing. This month, Peterson names the friction many Friends feel: the sense of being trapped in a massive economic system built on extraction, inequity, colonialism, and environmental harm. Through conversations with Lisa Graustein, Nathan Kleban, David Watt, and Traci Hjelt Sullivan, this episode examines the spiritual dissonance between Quaker values and capitalist structures. We hear about stolen land, inherited wealth, paternalism in charitable giving, the legacy of slavery in Quaker history, and the denial made possible by class and racial privilege. Rather than offering easy answers, Peterson and Diana ask what it means to stay on a journey with truth. If capitalism harms people and the planet, how might Friends move beyond individual purity or denial and toward mutual aid, community wealth-building, repair, and solidarity? In This Episode The Dissonance: Peterson reflects on the gap between Quaker faith and a global economy built on extraction and inequity. Capitalism and White Supremacy: Lisa Graustein names capitalism and white supremacy as forces that keep the here and now from becoming the realm of God. Stolen Land and Reparative Responsibility: Lisa shares the story of New England Yearly Meeting selling property after repudiating the Doctrine of Discovery and raises questions about what should happen to profits from land acquired through colonization. From Charity to Right Relationship: Nathan Kleban of Right Sharing of World Resources challenges paternalistic models of giving and asks who the economy is actually for. Quaker Wealth and Enslavement: David Watt, professor of Quaker studies at Haverford College, reminds us that some early Quaker wealth in Philadelphia was tied to Barbados, sugar plantations, and the labor of enslaved people. The Wealth of Not Having Debt: Traci Hjelt Sullivan expands the definition of ancestral wealth, naming the opportunities that come from beginning adult life without student debt. The Inner Capitalist: Diana reminds us that the Quaker belief in “that of God in everyone” also extends to capitalists, and to the parts of ourselves that continue to benefit from extractive systems. Our Guests Lisa Graustein Lisa Graustein is a Quaker educator, activist, and writer whose work often explores money, power, race, and reparative justice. In this episode, she reflects on inherited wealth, stewardship, and the responsibility to repair harm caused through the accumulation of resources. Nathan Kleban Nathan Kleban works with Right Sharing of World Resources, a Quaker organization that supports women-led economic projects in the Global South. Nathan brings a relational and community-centered lens to economics, asking how people get their needs met and how communities express their gifts outside extractive systems. David Watt David Watt is the Douglas and Dorothy Steere Professor of Quaker Studies at Haverford College. In this episode, he offers historical context about Quaker wealth, including the connections between early Philadelphia Friends, Barbados, sugar plantations, and slavery. Traci Hjelt Sullivan Traci Hjelt Sullivan is the executive director of Right Sharing of World Resources. She brings decades of nonprofit leadership and international experience to her work. In this episode, she reflects on truth, denial, race, class, debt, and the spiritual work of recognizing our own responsibility. Resources and Recommendations QuakerSpeak: “What If Wall Street Were Honest?” https://quakerspeak.com/video/what-if-wall-street-were-honest/ North Carolina Quaker Mark Hulbert has tracked investment advisors since the early 1980s. In this QuakerSpeak video, he talks about how his Quaker background and commitment to integrity led him to ask whether Wall Street advisors were telling the truth. Spent https://playspent.org/ Diana recommends Spent, a free browser-based survival game that places players inside the poverty trap. You begin with $1,000 and try to survive for 30 days while making impossible choices: pay rent, fix the car, buy medicine, or keep the lights on. It offers one way to better understand how expensive it can be to be poor in the current economic system. Caliban and the Witch by Silvia Federici https://pmpress.org/index.php?l=product_detail&p=1575 Diana references Federici’s work while discussing the relationship between capitalism, labor control, gendered violence, and colonialism. The Dawn of Everything by David Graeber and David Wengrow https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374157357/thedawnofeverything/ Diana also points to this book while ...
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    27 mins
  • Quakers and Relational Finance

    Quakers and Relational Finance
    May 12 2026
    In this second episode of our season-long exploration into "The Wallet," Peterson Toscano and Diana Yañez dive into Relational Finance. This concept challenges the traditional divide between "financial experts" and "spiritual seekers." Taking the Quaker theology of the "priesthood of all believers" and applying it to economics, we explore how taking personal responsibility for our money—and our institutional assets—leads to deeper integrity and more equitable power-sharing. From the boardrooms of major corporations to micro-grant partnerships in Kenya and Sierra Leone, we look at what happens when we stop letting others stand between us and the truth of our financial impact. In This Episode The Unmediated Truth: Jeff Perkins reflects on the Quaker commitment to taking responsibility for one's beliefs, even when it comes to the "taboo" topic of money.Decolonizing Power: Traci Hjelt Sullivan discusses how Right Sharing of World Resources is shifting power from Western offices to local coordinators, moving from "saviorism" to genuine partnership.Ownership as a Tool: We explore how holding onto shares in a company (rather than just divesting) can be a powerful way to "hold the door open" for justice in corporate boardrooms. Our Guests Jeff Perkins Jeff is the former executive director of Friends Fiduciary. He is a member of Chestnut Hill Friends Meeting in Philadelphia and lives in Philadelphia with his husband. His journey to Quakerism began at a nuclear test site protest in the 1980s, where the integrity of Quaker activists inspired his lifelong commitment to faith-led action. Traci Hjelt Sullivan Traci is the executive director of Right Sharing of World Resources (RSWR). With decades of non-profit management experience, including roles at Pendle Hill and Friends General Conference, Traci brings a global perspective to her work, having lived or worked in Ethiopia, Zambia, Botswana, Kenya, and beyond. She is a member of Green Street Meeting in Philadelphia. Nathan Kleban Nathan is the program and advancement associate at RSWR. His background includes serving as an environmental volunteer with the Peace Corps in Mali and working with the Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP). He currently lives in Iowa City, Iowa. Amy Carr Amy is the senior shareholder advocate at Friends Fiduciary. She utilizes her background in information science and data research to engage companies on ESG (environmental, social, and governance) issues, bringing Quaker values to the forefront of corporate dialogue. Organizations Mentioned Friends Fiduciary Corporation: A Quaker nonprofit providing professional investment and planned giving services to Friends meetings, schools, and organizations.Right Sharing of World Resources: An organization providing seed grants to women’s self-help groups in the Global South, rooted in the Quaker testimony of simplicity.American Friends Service Committee (AFSC): A Quaker organization working for social justice, peace, and humanitarian service around the world. Disclaimers Quakers Today is a project of Friends Publishing Corporation. This season is sponsored by Friends Fiduciary and the American Friends Service Committee. Investment Disclaimer: Friends Fiduciary unites Quaker values with expert investing. However, the information provided in this episode is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment, financial, or tax advice. Please consult with a professional financial advisor regarding your specific situation. Question for Listeners How do you balance "expert advice" with your own spiritual leadings when it comes to your money? Have you ever felt a "dissonance" between your investments and your values? Share your thoughts! Leave a voicemail: Call 215-645-0132Email us: podcast@friendsjournal.orgSocial Media: Respond to us on Facebook or Instagram. Diana Gisel Yañez is an Investment Advisor Representative of Natural Investments PBLLC. Natural Investments is an independent Registered Investment Advisor. Quakers Today and Friends Journal are not a registered entity and are not an affiliate or subsidiary of Natural Investments. See our Disclosures and Disclaimers and read our Form CRS.
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    19 mins
  • Quakers, Money, and the Priesthood of All Believers

    Quakers, Money, and the Priesthood of All Believers
    Apr 14 2026

    Is finance truly "gross," or is it a vital spiritual practice? In the Season 6 premiere of Quakers Today, host Peterson Toscano is joined by new co-host Diana Yañez—a certified financial planner and convinced Quaker. Together, they move "into the wallet" to explore how our faith intersects with our finances.

    We’re calling this "The Priesthood of All Believers, Economics." We argue that we cannot leave the world of money to the "high priests" of Wall Street; every Friend has a role in discerning where our resources go.

    In this episode, we explore:

    • Money Biographies: Diana shares her journey from the 2007 foreclosure crisis to ethical financial planning, while Peterson reflects on his time serving the world's wealthiest executives.

    • Voices of the Season: Preview insights from upcoming guests on reparations, value-based pricing, and the business case for Quaker values.

    • Quaker History & Integrity: We revisit a 2012 Friends Journal article to ask how we stay honest in a capitalist system.

    • Ethical Investing Tools: A look at how to use InvestYourValues.org to screen your mutual funds and ETFs for fossil fuels, weapons, and private prisons.

    Question of the Month:

    What insights or practices guide your relationship with finance today?

    • Leave a voicemail: 317-QUAKERS (317-782-5377)

    • Email us: podcast@friendsjournal.org

    • Social Media: Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok.

    Links & Resources:

    • Read the full show notes and transcript: QuakersToday.org

    • Screen your investments: InvestYourValues.org

    • Learn about our sponsors: FriendsFiduciary.org and AFSC.org

    Featured in this series:

    Amy Carr, Douglas Tsoi, Lucy Duncan (Reparations Works), Susan Waltz, Fran Brokaw, Aangoo Tucho' Ethan Birchard, Traci Hjelt Sullivan (Right Sharing of World Resources), Nathan Kleban, and Lisa Graustein.

    Disclaimers:

    Quakers Today is a project of Friends Publishing Corporation. This episode is for educational purposes and does not constitute specific financial or investment advice.

    Diana Gisel Yañez is an Investment Advisor Representative of Natural Investments PBLLC. Natural Investments is an independent Registered Investment Advisor. Quakers Today and Friends Journal are not a registered entity and are not an affiliate or subsidiary of Natural Investments. See our Disclosures and Disclaimers and read our Form CRS.
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    17 mins
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