After two successful seasons, KUER's podcast Preach will end as its host Lee Hale moves on to work as an editor and producer for NPR's All Things Considered in Washington, D.C.
The podcast about the messiness of faith launched in September of 2019. It featured more than two dozen intimate conversations with a diverse range of guests about their doubts and beliefs, how they wrestle with life’s big questions, and the way spirituality intersects with daily struggles and joys.
Guests ranged from household names (actor Rainn Wilson from The Office and NPR host Peter Sagal) to provocative thinkers (Dead Man Walking inspiration Sister Helen Prejean and Krista Tippett of public radio's On Being) to everyday people who shared experiences from across the spectrum of spirituality. Season two featured a recording from Preach’s sold out live show in Salt Lake City.
“It was so encouraging to find out how hungry we all are to talk about these things,” said Hale, who also worked as a religion and education reporter at KUER. “And I’m so grateful to all our guests, and all our listeners, for sharing the stories of their faith — messiness and all — with us.”
Preach was created with the help of PRX’s Project Catapult, an accelerator for podcast ideas at public radio stations around the country fueled in part by support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
Lee’s pitch for the show was inspired by his upbringing in a devout Mormon family and by the stories he covered for KUER News. His journalism career began at NPR, where he was a Kroc Fellow.
“From Lee’s kernel of an idea to this reflective final episode, Preach has been such a satisfying listen and a bold new venture for us,” said Joel Meyer, KUER’s Station Manager and self-appointed “podcast bureaucrat.” “We’re so proud of Lee’s work on this podcast and in our newsroom over the past five years. We’ll miss him dearly, but NPR listeners across the country are gaining a thoughtful and creative staffer behind the scenes of their favorite afternoon program. Here at KUER, we’ll build on Preach’s success with new projects.”
The podcast’s last episode will be released this Friday, April 17, and will feature a conversation between Hale and Preach producer Tricia Bobeda. The show will remain available on PreachPod.org and various podcast apps.