Jon Watts

10/28/2023

O is one of the most inspiring, visionary human beings I know. Last weekend she let me follow her around with my tape recorder.

What if every conversation you have is an opportunity for vocal ministry?

10/05/2023

Are you in the Doug Gwyn Fan Club? Then you'll definitely want to check out this week's podcast episode, all about what Georgia calls “this morass of disgruntled, unsettled, and probably pretty freaked out Brits”

Who in the world were the Ranters, and what do they have in common with Quakers?

09/14/2023

What does a viral tweet have to do with Quaker needlework?

09/12/2023

Come work with us!

This Fall, we’re pleased to announce that we’re starting work on our second project. And we’re looking for a talented Social Media & Newsletter Coordinator to join us.

08/15/2023

Know someone who is a social media wiz? We'd love to have them on our team!

This Fall, we’re pleased to announce that we’re starting work on our second project. And we’re looking for a talented Social Media & Newsletter Coordinator to join us.

08/03/2023

Whenever I've given a talk in the last few years, inevitably someone comes up to me afterwards to talk about ZOOM WORHSIP. I get it. This has been a whiplash of a transition for Friends (from distraction-free plainness in our Meetinghouses... to big screen TVs and cameras!!)

Let's talk about it.

From Pendle Hill’s daily worship, which exploded in popularity during the pandemic, to Fall Creek Meeting in rural Indiana, which never used Zoom, to what we can learn from the Amish… we explore how Quakers are coping with this new era of interconnectedness, and whether zoom screens in the meeti...

07/01/2023

Georgia has outdone herself on this one... fantastic storytelling. I highly recommend you listen to this episode.

Sarah and Angelina Grimke were bold advocates for abolition and women’s rights. How did they disappear from history?

06/26/2023

Hear 3 Quakers talk about what silent worship means to them, and how they prepare.

We share three essays written by members of Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting about their experience of Quaker Meeting for Worship.

06/16/2023

How are Quakers responding to the recent explosion of communications technology? What can we learn from our spiritual ancestors?

It's a topic I've been thinking about for a long time, and I'm so glad for the opportunity to explore it. What can we bring to this conversation about how life is changing in the 21st century?

We explore 17th century social media, Quakers and fandom, and the power of TikTok.

06/03/2023

How did Quakerism begin? For the second episode of Thee Quaker Podcast, we were joined by Max Carter, Rex Ambler, and others to explore the story of George Fox and the Valiant 60, and ask:

How is the story of Early Friends relevant today?

In the mid-1600s, an unusual man named George Fox rejected the religious norms of his day and founded a new radically different faith. Does that matter to Quakers today?

05/25/2023

I am so pleased to share the inaugural episode of Thee Quaker Podcast. This project is the result of the discernment, skills, and generosity of literally hundreds of Friends from all over the world, and features the hard work our very talented new podcast producer Georgia (she interviewed Quakers from 3 different continents to put this one episode together!) I couldn't be happier with how it turned out, and I'm so excited for this to be a weekly thing.

After years of dreaming and raising support and strategizing, I am so happy to announce that Thee Quaker Podcast is launched. Check out our first episode!

05/07/2023

I first had the idea for a Quaker podcast in 2014... that was the year Serial spun off from This American Life–the same year Alex Blumberg founded Gimlet Media and documented the process in the show Startup.

“What an incredible art form, and an opportunity for Friends to tell powerful stories”–I thought to myself, as I plunged headlong in a different direction: building a solid foundation for the QuakerSpeak video project.

Now, after nearly a decade of dreaming (and coming on 2 years of planning/fundraising/what-have-you) I couldn't be more excited to announce that Thee Quaker Podcast–the one I've been dreaming about–is finally *almost* here!

We'll begin releasing weekly episodes on May 24th... in the meantime, please listen to the trailer and subscribe! We can't wait to start this journey with you. :)

Join us each week as we explore stories of spiritual courage. We’ll delve into the lives of Quakers past and present, and explore the big questions about modern life and spirituality. A podcast for spiritual seekers, lifelong Quakers, and everything in between.

03/20/2023

Right Sharing of World Resources interviewed me for their recently newsletter. Here's a snippet about my experience in India.

I am deeply grateful to be included in this incredibly meaningful work. Read more:
https://rswr.org/sites/default/files/Newsletters/rswrnws_Q1-23.pdf

01/25/2023

Giving a talk tonight at Wilmington College in Ohio.

12/19/2022

Do you know someone with audio journalism experience? They won't want to miss this! The deadline is Dec 31st!

This December, we're pleased to announce that we're starting work on our first project. And we're looking for a talented audio producer to join us.

12/02/2022

We're hiring! Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we are starting work on our first project, and we're looking for a talented audio producer to join us.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone with audio journalism experience to join a growing team of passionate media creators and put their stamp on something new.

Please pass this along to anyone you think might be interested!
(It's a full-time position with great benefits)

This December, we're pleased to announce that we're starting work on our first project. And we're looking for a talented audio producer to join us.

11/28/2022

I have been so touched as I’ve seen Friends from all over the world support this vision for a thriving online presence in the 21st century.

And we've only got $800 to go to reach our goal of $50,000!! Can we make it over the finish line by the end of November?

Visit us here to help make it happen -->

Imagine a world where people log onto the internet seeking deep connection and spiritual refreshment… and they find it.

11/26/2022

In this week's Quaker video: What is "the Light," and why are Quakers so excited about it?

In this week's Quaker video: What is "the Light," and why are Quakers so excited about it?Quaker Speak is a weekly video series. Subscribe so you never miss...

11/20/2022

Super excited for Right Sharing of World Resources. Here is their official announcement that they are expanding their work into Guatemala.

It's official: Right Sharing has partnered with COOSAJO in Guatemala to serve women there! Here is Right Sharing General Secretary Jacqueline Stillwell (aka Jackie) with COOSAJO General Manager Edgar Antonio Aldana Perez (aka Tono) holding the signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). We couldn't have expanded into Guatemala without your support! Thank you.

There will be more exciting updates in from Guatemala in the coming week!

11/19/2022

Out of curiosity, Mackenzie Morgan started searching Twitter to see what people were saying about Quakers.

Out of curiosity, Mackenzie Morgan started searching Twitter to see what people were saying about Quakers. SUPPORT QuakerSpeak on Patreon! http://fdsj.nl/pa...

11/15/2022

I don’t know what a piece of music is ultimately going to say or sound like until I write it. It's kind of like a writer who imagines a character but once they imagine that character, the character is relatively independent in the story. Like once you imagine a character with a personality, you don’t get to choose what you want them to do arbitrarily-- they start having a voice of their own. That’s how improvisational, instrumental music feels to me. It starts traveling on its own, and I feel like I’m on the journey with it. In that way, it gets into my head and my heart like an earworm.

Here's a song I composed in my album, "Music from QuakerSpeak" titled "Cooperative Housing."

from the album Music from QuakerSpeak

11/12/2022

The practice of Quakerism doesn’t just take place on Sunday morning. Many of us have spiritual disciplines that we carry throughout the week. Patricia McBee explores the Quaker disciplines that address this need.

The practice of Quakerism doesn’t just take place on Sunday morning. Many of us have spiritual disciplines that we carry throughout the week. Patricia McBee ...

11/08/2022

What can you imagine visually accompanying this piece of music?

https://fb.watch/fzn1uem8hi/

11/05/2022

What are Quakers doing when they sit in silence on Sunday morning? These 7 Friends share their answers.

11/01/2022

I know music theory and I know some about the science of music and about how chords fit together and stuff like that– but when I’m actually playing I don’t understand most of what’s happening. It’s off of the charts. The pieces often go off of the charts of what I can comprehend intellectually. Then we get into a zone where its a surprise to me- I don’t know what chord is coming next. I don’t know what this piece is ultimately going to say or sound like.

from the album Candle Suite

10/28/2022

I'm Speechless!

Dear Friends, A little over a month ago I posted about a dream for the future of Quakers and online media. It’s a dream that builds on my past work, and begins to ask what the next generation of Quakers and spiritual seekers needs from us.

The response has been overwhelming! In just a month, 76 Friends from all over the country have brought us 90% of the way to our public goal of $50k. That brings us just $5k shy of our entire startup goal of raising $125k by the end of 2022!

If you’re one of those 76 generous Friends, thank you so much. And if you haven’t had a chance yet to support this vision, it’s not too late! Can we make it to 100 supporters by the end of October?

http://TheeQuaker.org

10/25/2022

It feels like there’s a process where usually at the beginning of a composition or at the beginning of a live session, things will feel a bit frantic and a little all over the place and maybe a little frazzled– then by the end, I’ve been transformed and the music sounds different: more grounded maybe, more patient. Things start coming together in magical ways that I couldn’t have imagined if I was in a different mind set. It feels like a journey.

https://fb.watch/fzmONiTPQi/

10/22/2022

One of the most famous Quakers ever is also one of the most controversial. So was Richard Nixon really a Quaker? Author and Quaker historian Larry Ingle tackles the question.

10/18/2022

I’ll be with a piece for months at the time. During that time, I’m refining the editing process. I’m adding strings here, tweaking the drums, mixing and mastering things in different ways. Then it happens just like you wear out a pop song. You’re listening to your favorite song on the radio and you realize that was one time too much. I think I’ve outplayed this song. I end up in that same place with my music where I feel like I’ve squeezed the juice out of it, in terms of what its speaking to me about. That’s usually time to move on whether I end up releasing it publicly or not. As an artist, I get so much out of that process that when that’s starting to feel flat, there’s no real reason to force it.

Here's a link to Youtube for a full recording of an album I composed titled "Limits & Expectations."

Download this full album athttp://freemusicarchive.org/music/Jon_Watts/Limits__Emotions_InstrumentalYou are welcome to use this music under the following con...

10/15/2022

Today, as some Christians in Indiana claim their religion justifies refusing service to LGBTQ customers, Quaker Kody Hersh lifts up the Jesus who stood with those on the margins of society.

Today, as some Christians in Indiana claim their religion justifies refusing service to LGBTQ customers, Quaker Kody Hersh lifts up the Jesus who stood with ...

10/12/2022

In the year 2000, when I was first getting into underground hip hop, I came across this rapper from Minneapolis who blew my mind.

Eyedea had the ideal mixture of emotional vulnerability, intellectual philosophizing, and straight up braggadocio. My hip hop trifecta.

But the man never got his propers. It is my feeble attempt to put his work in the spotlight that I included him in my coverage project. So this here is my version of his song “Smile”.

In the year 2000, when I was first getting into underground hip hop, I came across this rapper from Minneapolis who blew my mind. Edit 12.12: Eyedea was from St. Paul Eyedea was a musical prodigy, beginning to tour at just 16 years old, and already starting to develop his signature style of fast pac...

10/08/2022

Do Quakers sing in worship? These Quakers do! Laura Dungan and Aaron Fowler from Wichita, Kansas talk music, Spirit, and a sound so low the human ear can’t perceive it.

Do Quakers sing in worship? These Quakers do! Laura Dungan and Aaron Fowler from Wichita, Kansas talk music, Spirit, and a sound so low the human ear can't perceive it.

10/05/2022

"The echo is infinite /
You close your eyes /
the air is musty /
it smells like dust"

This song, "Don't Doff Your Hat," was written for my first album "Clothe Yourself in Rightrousness" back in 2011.

"Don't Doff Your Hat" from the album "Clothe Yourself in Righteousness" by Jon Watts Produced by Jake Thro Violin by Marina Vishnyakova Download the song

10/04/2022

When I compose music, I think there’s some grief in it. There's some grief and also some hope and some awe. There's an awe about the beauty of this experience we’re having together.

Here's a song from my album "Music from Quakerspeak" titled "The Moon Doesn't Sleep."

from the album Music from QuakerSpeak

10/03/2022

This will come in handy! Maybe there should be a Quaker version...

excuse me

10/01/2022

Discovering George Fox’s Journal when we was just 14 years old, Kevin-Douglas Olive found a language to describe his experience and the people he belonged with.

09/24/2022

Quakers believe that the real way that you understand what the Bible has to say to you is to let the words be illuminated. Paul Buckley explains.

Quakers believe that the real way that you understand what the Bible has to say to you is to let the words be illuminated. Paul Buckley explains.http://quake...