How do faith and values shape life in the Pacific Northwest? Join FāVS News producer Jason Jones for in-depth conversations with locals navigating questions of belief, ethics and community. From the Inland Northwest to across Washington state, Religion Desk explores the stories behind the headlines — one interview at a time.
West Central Abbey's Vinyl Lounge Listens for Meaning in Records
Once a month a group gathers at West Central Abbey in Spokane for Vinyl Lounge. Tim Martin, the Abbey's Music Steward, chooses a vinyl LP, sets up a turntable and speakers in the church's sanctuary, puts out snacks, and plays the album for those who are gathered. After listening, they discuss the album and its spiritual implications. They've listened to many types of records in the year they've been doing it. At the last Vinyl Lounge, they heard an album from the black metal band, Liturg...
5 Aug 2026
For the Love of God Brewing Shows Love to Fire Victims
For the Love of God Brewing, a brewpub and restaurant located not far from the destruction of recent wildfires in Spokane, Washington, chose to donate all proceeds from Tuesday, August 4, 2026, to fire victims through the H.O.M.E Starts Here Fund. Owner, Steve Moss, joined the Religion Desk Podcast to talk about why they were choosing to help fire victims and why their business has such a curious name. For the Love of God Brewing is at 2617 W Northwest Blvd in Spokane, Washington.
28 Jul 2026
The Dual Calling of Bivocational Ministry
In the past, work as a leader of a faith community was usually considered a pathway to the middle class. As churches have changed, and more congregations are smaller, paying a full-time clergyperson becomes a challenge. In Signs of Rebound Amid Uneven Recovery: The Changing Congregational Landscape, a report from the Hartford Institute for Religion Research, it’s noted that smaller congregations still struggle. 40% of congregations in the United States have 50 or fewer people attending. Anoth...
12 Jul 2026
Belief at the Metaline Falls Bigfoot Festival
Hundreds of people gathered at the small Northeastern Washington town of Metaline Falls on June 20 and 21 to celebrate Bigfoot. Amidst the music, vendors, and food trucks both believers in Bigfoot and sceptics joined together for a fun weekend. The Religion Desk visited the festival to hear from organizer, Bill Bisson, the Sasquatch Hobbit Hunters, as well as many venders and festival goers. Author of The Secret History of Bigfoot, John O'Connor, joined the podcast from Massachusetts to talk ...
20 May 2026
Spokane's New Roots Garden Connects Refugees to Their Culture
New Roots Community Garden is a joint project between the International Rescue Committee and the YMCA of the Inland Northwest. Cassy Benefield visits the garden to hear from Angela Hanni from the YMCA and Madison Beal and Bikash Chhetri from the IRC.
29 Apr 2026
Earth Day Block Party in Spokane: Reuse, Repurpose, and Recycle in Action
“Reuse, repurpose, and recycle” became more than just a slogan when hundreds gathered for last Saturday’s Earth Day Block Party at West Central Abbey. More than 50 donated bicycles were shared at the party by River City Youth, and the Mend It Cafe with Spokane Zero Waste was inside repairing party-goers’ clothing. Community groups staffed booths, and food and native plants were available. Kate Burke, Executive Director of River City Youth, and Elyse Hochstadt, Executive Director of Spokane Ze...
29 Mar 2026
Bonus Episode: Interview with Dr. Patricia O’Connell Killen
Retired Religion Professor, Dr. Patricia O’Connell Killen, joined the Religion Desk to share insights on the changes in the religious landscape in the United States and how that has affected mainline congregations and denominations. You'll find the entire interview with Dr. Killen here.
29 Mar 2026
How Mainline Churches like Lidgerwood Presbyterian Church are Adapting to a New Era
In the middle of the last century mainline churches, the historical Protestant denominations, were a powerful force in American life and culture. Around half of the United States claimed membership in a mainline church in the 1950’s. Since then, these churches have seen a sharp decline in engagement and membership with many churches closing and an uncertain future ahead for the congregations that remain. Lidgerwood Presbyterian Church in Spokane Washington is a church that has seen these chan...
10 Mar 2026
Holden Village Interview with Emma Maple
Reporter Emma Maple joined the podcast for a brief interview about her recent article about Holden Village and their closure for the year because of recent landslides.
4 Mar 2026
Inside a Quaker Meeting with the Spokane Quaker Worship Group
Many find silence uncomfortable, but the people of the Spokane Quaker Worship Group embrace it. When they meet at 8:30 AM on Sundays, they gather as an unprogrammed Quaker meeting which means they wait together in silence until someone is moved to speak. Some days a few will speak, but on many days the hour will pass in silence. Quakers, though, aren’t intimidated by the quiet gathering. They are shaped by the experience of being together in the silence and hearing, when something is shared, ...
10 Feb 2026
An Old Classroom, a New Purpose: How North Hill Christian Church is Housing LGBTQ+ Neighbors
As churches change, how they use their buildings change, too, and many times churches are left with more physical space than they need. North Hill Christian Church in Spokane, Washington has a space in their church building that, decades ago, was a children’s Sunday School room and since then has been used for storage. They’re partnering with Jewels Helping Hands, a non-profit that serves the unhoused population in Spokane, to make the unused space in the church into a shelter space to house ...
20 Jan 2026
Spokane Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Rally and March
The community of Spokane, Washington gathered at the Spokane Convention Center for the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Rally and March on January 19, 2026. Here are some of the sounds of the day.
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