Living Our Beliefs: Exploring Faith & Religion in Daily Life

Episode 26. Nayma speaks from the heart in describing the ups and downs of her journey – growing up in Bangladesh and moving to America with her family after university.  Despite the challenges of immigrating, she has persevered.  Internalizing the belief that it was God’s plan to continue her path in a new country, she set about building a new life.  Graduate school and work, along with teaching...

Episode 25. The meaningless Judaism of his childhood Conservative synagogue, and the depressing results of chasing pop music fame, prompted a search for the ‘truth’ of Judaism. Since studying Talmud in Jerusalem in his 20s, David has felt a deep connection to the land of Israel and a spiritual home in the Orthodox community. Inspired by the Tanya, David has authored the Real You Project.  In this...

Episode 24. Halim’s faith is grounded in the Qur’an and its message of God’s existence and as guide for living. His research into Mohammed’s covenants, including those in the Qur’an, show their authenticity, predominantly accepted by people doing interfaith work. This conversation is a fascinating exploration of the diverse Australian community, Halim’s research and teaching about Islam, Islam-Wes...

Episode 23. A practicing Baptist Christian, Allyson brings her faith into all that she does.  As a physician, co-founder of the apparel company Be Bougie, Deacon at her church and active volunteer in her sorority, not to mention time with family and friends, her sense of purpose derived from God guides her.  Even in bad times, she retains her faith that God has a plan, knows what is best and is by...

Episode 22. In this Bonus episode, Barbara Neustadt talks about Tahara, the sacred Jewish tradition of washing and preparing a body for burial.  As co-President of the Community Hevra Kadisha of Greater Boston, and a member since its founding in 2013, Barbara has a wealth of knowledge and personal experience.  She generously and clearly explains the structure and process of Tahara, as well as who...

Episode 21. Emi spoke with heart about his complex background – growing up Roman Catholic by Dominican immigrants, converting to Islam at Boston University, speaking Spanish as a first language, and his racial and cultural identity as both Hispanic and Black.  All of this makes Emi the unique human he is.  Having explored various religions and lived in different places, he is able to understand wh...

Episode 20. Luis, Professor at Boston University,  spoke of several big topics, including  Liberation Theology, religion as a complex entity, LGBTQ identity, and the importance of focusing on problems rather than identity.  Luis  unpacks complex theological ideas and connects them to everyday life.  In addition to Christian theology and elements of the New Testament, we drew lines to Jewish concep...

Episode 19. Kelly has overcome a difficult childhood and built a successful career as a marketing strategist, coach, mentor to entrepreneurs, speaker and published author.  Accepting Christ in her 20s and developing a relationship with God has fueled her Christ-centered work with other Christians.    Highlights: ·       She lives a Christian lifestyle as an Evangelical. ·       Religion is the rul...

Episode 18. Born in Uganda and raised in Kenya, Sos has lived in the U.S. for ten years, learning about the system and how he can build a new life.  Despite the challenges, he remains positive and focused on the opportunities and bringing joy through stories.  He is a published author, and his children's book was inspired by his interactions with African Americans.  As a Black African, he bri...

Episode 17. Sue clarified her identity as an evangelical Christian during her PhD program (UK), understanding that faith was more important than leadership.  When you live ‘in spirit’, you are an influencer and a leader.  While living a life in Christ and according to the Seven Fruits of the Holy Spirit are key, she is sensitive to the context.  Speech and behavior need to fit the situation, espec...

Episode 16.  Rayne and Callie Simons, Pentecostal Christians living in California.  The Pentecostal way of life focuses on the emotional connection with God and the Holy Spirit.  Through coaching football and nursing, they are ‘sowers of seed’, living by example.  Family, friends and foes alike are treated with care and respect.  Rayne and Callie see the core of the person, letting theological dif...

Episode 15. In this first Bonus episode, Nora speaks extensively about being a Muslim Chaplain on college campuses and elsewhere.  Chaplains must wear many hats – supporter, advocate, program developer, and interfaith colleague.  While chaplains work in many settings – colleges, hospitals, prisons, and even companies, Nora felt called to the college environment. As a passionate and knowledgeable M...

Episode 14. Exploration and learning mark Anberin’s journey.  Raised in Bangalore India by her mother, a Sufi Muslim who also found inspiration in Buddhism, Anberin was inquisitive and could explore, seeking her spiritual and creative home.  The expressive place was filmmaking from an early age, though her spiritual home took longer to find.  Eventually, she found it in Eastern Orthodoxy, while fi...

Episode 13. Miriam is a life-long Jew, but has practiced in different ways.  Being mindful about food is one of many ways she lives the tradition.  For Miriam, being a Conservative Jew fits perfectly, as it retains the liturgy and ritual, while being egalitarian, whereby men and women sit together in the sanctuary and women can lead services. The many lay-offs her husband went through were stressf...

Episode 12. Azra embodies a commitment to living her Islamic faith – she models the lives of prophets as best she can, all the while being a strong entrepreneurial woman in the 21st century. Part of her approach is to follow the Qur’anic saying regarding the diversity of humans and learning from others, not despising them.  Highlights: ·       Azra identifies as a Muslim and demurs on the question...

Episode 11. Raised in an observant home, Susan has been a Jewish professional, educator, and artist throughout her adult life. Being married to a rabbi has reinforced, though not formed, this public engagement in the community. Now that her husband has retired, and her own engagement has mostly ended, they are in a post-retirement transition. In addition to hearing about Susan’s background and cur...

Episode 10. Being a committed Evangelical Christian means living by example every day, not just on Sunday morning at her non-denominational church. Deana seeks to live the biblical precepts and inspire curiosity through example. As a life-long Christian with beliefs on the conservative side, having word and deed be shaped by scripture is what she’s always known.   Her surety of belief provides a b...

Episode 9. Shane's path in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (often called LDS or the Mormon Church) has had its share of change.  After his troubled teenage years, he got straightened out, grew during his Mission experience.  Family changes have prompted some adjustments in his beliefs and experience.  Despite the challenges, he remains committed to his Christian faith and the...

Episode 8. Shabiha’s American upbringing by her Pakistani father and Guyanese mother and the multi-sect Islamic school her father organized built a strong base of knowledge about Islam.  She then committed to be a Muslim more seriously at Rutgers University, where her Islamic studies intensified and she began to veil, wearing a hijab . Her Islamic identity and practice are foundational and inform...

Episode 7. Maxine grew up in a Jewish home, including keeping kosher.  She has left that strict observance but retains the core identity and some observance.  Zen practice and meditation have been added, something she states proudly.  Improv has also been a part of her life, creatively and professionally.  In her work with corporations, she combines business savvy, improv and humor in her Collabor...

Episode 6. Brendan Killian reveals the entwined relationship between God, sobriety and his art making.  He talks about how he experiences God outside the church, yet continues to feel a calmness in an empty dark quiet church.  The aesthetics of a Catholic church, images he grew up with, continue to speak to him, even if the service distances him from God. Ten years of sobriety and the recovery mov...

Episode 5. In this engaging conversation with Cathy, a web design professional from Chicago, we delve into her walk with God and how she lives her faith.  From her Catholic upbringing through New Age, and on to her current home as a Born Again Christian.  Besides her path, we touch on the books of the Bible and some important terminology.   Highlights: -  Identifying as Christian rather than Evang...

Episode 4. Yasminah is many things – a wife, mother, writer and passionate Jewish educator.  She is a Jew of Color and as such is part of an increasingly visible minority within a minority.  Additionally, she is an Orthodox Jew with deeply held beliefs and practice.  The daughter of educators, she has been steeped in Jewish education since childhood. Quotes: “We are Jews through and through.”   “I...

Episode 3. Yusef and I explore the deep integration of his practice as a Sufi Muslim in an interfaith life.  He also explains the importance of the relationship with his Master/Sheikh and the path of Islamic mysticism. Highlights: ·       While Yusef identifies as a Sufi Muslim, part of the Sunni tradition, he has much respect for Shia Islam and sees himself as a universalist.  ·       Yusef is in...

Episode 2. Nathan and I talk about how they celebrate and integrate all the messy complicated parts of their religious, personal and professional life.  From a Roman Catholic family to a Master of Divinity from Boston University, to Spiritual Director at Still Harbor, and that's just part of the story.   Combining his trans and queer identity to providing spiritual accompaniment as a witch, ...