Ray Kirstein
State of Belief Producer

Ray Kirstein

Ray Kirstein has served as producer for The State of Belief since 2010. That’s somewhere in the area of 750 episodes and counting. Previously, Ray held diverse positions in radio including production, program director, and announcer at several country music stations, and leadership roles at Sirius Satellite Radio and the Air America Radio Network. (He’s also worked for the State Department at one point but that’s still kind of hush-hush.)

This all began early in his life with helping his parents produce a Lithuanian-language radio program for expats in Ray’s hometown of Rochester, NY. (First time on the air? Age 3, reciting a poem as the easter bunny…) The experience of building community using the spoken word in that setting has been a component of every job on his resumé – and nowhere more so than at Interfaith Alliance.

Ray’s been living in Germany since 2012, and loves being in nature, exploring new places in Europe, and telling everyone who will listen about how amazing his little dog is.

Faith and FIFA: Religion at the World Cup
State of Belief
July 11, 2026

Faith and FIFA: Religion at the World Cup

Religion News Service journalists Jack Jenkins and Mehditha Anis on the World Cup, Religion, and Politics

America’s Founding Principles and the Future of Democracy with Constitutional Scholar Jeffrey Rosen
State of Belief
July 4, 2026

America’s Founding Principles and the Future of Democracy with Constitutional Scholar Jeffrey Rosen

What the process of founding the United States can teach us today about keeping our democracy alive: insights from the author of "Pursuit of Liberty: How Hamilton Versus Jefferson Ignited the Lasting Battle Over Power in America"

Paul, Brad, and the Kids: A Snapshot of an American Family for Pride
State of Belief
June 20, 2026

Paul, Brad, and the Kids: A Snapshot of an American Family for Pride

Plus: Guthrie Graves-Fitzsimmons, author of a new report on same-gender marriage and religious freedom

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