Interfaith, Identity, and Social Justice with Father Andy Switzer
Searching for Common Ground with Rabbi Mark
Release Date: 07/02/2025
Senator Chris Van Hollen on Healing a Divided Nation
Searching for Common Ground with Rabbi Mark
In this powerful episode of Searching for Common Ground, Rabbi Mark Perman welcomes Senator Chris Van Hollen for an honest discussion on political polarization, media echo chambers, and the growing challenges of finding bipartisan solutions in Washington. From the starkly different worlds portrayed by competing news networks to the fear-driven gridlock in Congress, Senator Van Hollen shares candid insights on: The shrinking space for cross-party collaboration The media’s role in fueling division His firsthand experience advocating for human rights abroad What Americans can do to...
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"This Is Not Politics, This Is Conscience" — A Conversation with Rabbi Ammos Chorny
Searching for Common Ground with Rabbi Mark
In this powerful episode of Searching for Common Ground, Rabbi Mark Perman and his wife Elizabeth are joined by Rabbi Ammos Chorny for a deeply thought-provoking discussion about conscience, moral clarity, and the urgent responsibility to speak out in the face of injustice. Drawing from his published statement with the Rabbinical Assembly, Rabbi Chorny reflects on the troubling parallels between historical persecution and today’s treatment of immigrants and minorities in the U.S. With a rich background in military chaplaincy, international scholarship, and interfaith leadership, Rabbi Chorny...
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Interfaith, Identity, and Social Justice with Father Andy Switzer
Searching for Common Ground with Rabbi Mark
In this inspiring episode of Searching for Common Ground, Rabbi Mark Perman welcomes Father Andy Switzer, pastor of Saint Agnes Catholic Church in Shepherdstown, WV. Together, they dive into the importance of interfaith collaboration, the role of clergy in public life, and how social justice and faith can intersect to create positive change. Father Andy reflects on his upbringing in a family rooted in community organizing, his path to priesthood, and his commitment to building bridges across religious and political divides. From being arrested during a labor rally to studying in Israel and...
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Bridging the Divide: Tekesha Martinez on Healing, Hope, and Leadership
Searching for Common Ground with Rabbi Mark
On this powerful episode of Searching for Common Ground, Rabbi Mark Perman sits down with former Hagerstown mayor, expert mediator, and poet Tekesha Martinez. In an intimate and unflinching conversation, Tekesha shares her extraordinary journey—from a childhood in foster care to becoming Hagerstown’s first Black mayor. Together, they explore what it takes to truly mediate conflict in today’s polarized world, the role of trauma in building empathy, and how Tekesha’s spirituality and poetry fuel her purpose. From navigating systemic barriers to leading with integrity and compassion,...
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Finding Hope in a Divided America — with Attorney Mark Zaid
Searching for Common Ground with Rabbi Mark
In this compelling episode of Searching for Common Ground, Mark Perman sits down with renowned whistleblower attorney Mark Zaid, known for defending civil servants, media figures, and intelligence officers across the political spectrum. Together, they dive into the erosion of democratic norms, the rise of fear-driven politics, and how due process and constitutional values are being tested in today’s America. With stories from inside Washington and reflections on historical parallels, Zaid challenges us to consider what it really means to protect democracy—and whether there’s still a path...
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Conversations That Cross the Divide
Searching for Common Ground with Rabbi Mark
In the premiere episode of Searching for Common Ground, Rabbi Mark Perman of Hagerstown, Maryland, introduces the purpose behind the podcast: creating space for civil, honest conversation in a time of deep cultural and political division. With support from his wife Elizabeth, Rabbi Mark explores themes like empathy, generational differences, religious identity, and media polarization — all while inviting listeners to reflect, listen, and engage beyond labels. Whether you're left, right, or somewhere in between, this episode lays the foundation for a series rooted in shared values and...
info_outlineIn this inspiring episode of Searching for Common Ground, Rabbi Mark Perman welcomes Father Andy Switzer, pastor of Saint Agnes Catholic Church in Shepherdstown, WV. Together, they dive into the importance of interfaith collaboration, the role of clergy in public life, and how social justice and faith can intersect to create positive change.
Father Andy reflects on his upbringing in a family rooted in community organizing, his path to priesthood, and his commitment to building bridges across religious and political divides. From being arrested during a labor rally to studying in Israel and engaging in interfaith work, his story is one of compassion, courage, and conviction.
This episode is sponsored by Andrew K. Coffman Funeral Home, Inc., a long-standing part of the Hagerstown community, dedicated to serving families with dignity and care.
Sponsor Contact Information:
Andrew K. Coffman Funeral Home, Inc.
40 E Antietam Street
Hagerstown, MD 21740
📞 301-739-1444
📧 [email protected]
🌐 www.akcoffmanfh.com
To contact Father Andy Switzer:
Email [email protected] or visit Saint Agnes Roman Catholic Church in Shepherdstown online for more information.
In a world often defined by division, this conversation is a hopeful reminder that empathy, action, and honest dialogue can still unite us.