Crossing Faiths

This podcast episode explores the multifaceted relationship between food, identity, and community, particularly within immigrant and Jewish communities in America. It features a discussion with a professor emerita specializing in American Jewish and immigration history, who shares personal anecdotes and insights related to how food serves as both a boundary, preserving cultural traditions and a br...

This episode features a conversation with Momin Sheikh, exploring the intersection of faith, culture, and identity within the Muslim community, particularly focusing on the experiences of first-generation American Muslims. The hosts discuss the nuances of being "Pakistani Muslim" versus strictly religious, addressing how cultural practices often blend with and sometimes overshadow core Islamic ten...

In this conversation between John Pinna and Roya Mahboob, they discuss the stark contrast between Afghanistan's "golden age" of women's advancement from 2001-2021 and the current Taliban regime's gender apartheid policies. Mahboob details how her organization, Digital Citizen Fund, has shifted from establishing technology centers and teaching digital literacy to supporting underground education ne...

In this candid conversation between John Pinna and Elliot Toman, the hosts explore compelling aspects of religious narratives, focusing on Christianity and Islam's different interpretations of Jesus. John, a Muslim, argues that the Islamic view of Jesus presents him as a prophet who didn't die on the cross but ascended to heaven, removing the "cult of personality" that Christianity created. Elliot...

In this podcast interview, John Pinna speaks with Michael Barton, a Muslim revert from Wichita, Kansas who converted to Islam in 2006. Barton discusses his journey from Methodism to Islam, describing how he felt disconnected from his Christian upbringing despite a strong belief in God. He shares how his college anthropology studies and encounters with Muslim students sparked his interest in Islam,...

The interview between John Pinna and Mustafa Akhwand explores various themes related to U.S. foreign policy, diplomacy, and Muslim-American experiences. The conversation centers on the need for direct engagement and better understanding between the U.S. government and Middle Eastern countries, particularly in places like Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Akhwand, as executive director of Shia Rights W...

In this episode of Crossing Faiths, Rabbi Aaron Zimmer and Rabbi Eli Feder discuss their endeavor to explore the relationship between science and religion, specifically focusing on using physics to argue for the existence of God. Motivated by a desire to reconcile modern scientific understanding with religious belief, they challenge the notion that science and faith are incompatible. The rabbis in...

In this thoughtful conversation between John Pinna and Adi Sharabi, they explore themes of identity, cultural heritage, and religious traditions across multiple communities. Adi, who identifies as an Arab Jew with Yemeni roots currently living in Thailand, discusses her journey from being a tour guide in Israel to becoming an online educator and content creator reaching millions of viewers. The co...

A Christian and a Muslim talk religion & politics. In this episode, John and Elliot engage in a conversation about the archetypal influences behind Star Wars that eventually leads to an examination of how ideological agendas can reduce the effectiveness of humanitarian intervention.

A Christian and a Muslim talk religion & politics. In this episode, John pushes back against Elliot's suggestion that the Gospel is the cornerstone of Western Civilization by asking: Who's Gospel?

A Christian and a Muslim talk religion & politics. In this episode, John and Elliot discuss the function of religion in superimposing meaning over apparent meaninglessness.

The conversation between John Pinna and Elliot Toman delves into various sociopolitical and cultural topics, including the legal and cultural implications of religious freedom in the U.S., with a focus on misconceptions about Sharia law and legislation in Texas. They discuss broader cultural dynamics, such as the intersection of religious literacy and education, the rise of Christian nationalism,...

Lawrence Stephenson was born and raised on the East Side of London to atheist parents. After years of spiritual exploration, he became a Christian as an adult and went on to help plant a thriving church in Scotland. Now, Lawrence has overcome his dyslexia to write a fascinating piece of Christian fiction in which he explores heaven, hell, and the mysteries surrounding the early portions of Genesis...

Lucien Greaves is a prominent social activist and the co-founder and spokesperson for The Satanic Temple. Born in Detroit, Michigan, Greaves studied neuroscience at Harvard University, specializing in false-memory syndrome. In this wide-ranging interview, John Pinna Lucien about religious freedom, misconceptions about Satanism, and the organization's core principles. Greaves explains how the Satan...

Note: Elliot would like to apologize for butchering Zoltan Istvan's name in relation to the 2020 election. The 2024 presidential candidate for the Transhumanist Party is Tom Ross. Disclaimer: The personal opinions stated in this episode are just that: Personal opinions. They in no way reflect the official position of any group, organization or affiliation.

In the podcast, Reem Alsalem, the United Nations Special Rapporteur for Violence Against Women and Girls, discusses her role and mission to address and combat violence against women and girls globally. She highlights the complexity and scope of her work, including engagement with both governments and non-state actors, and emphasizes her commitment to centering survivors' voices and adapting her fo...

In this engaging conversation between host John Pinna and Rabbi Josh Franklin of the Jewish Center of the Hamptons, they explore the intersection of faith, humor, and community leadership. The discussion begins with Rabbi Franklin's personal journey to becoming a rabbi despite initially resisting following in his father's footsteps, then moves into his current work serving both local and global Je...

In the conversation, John Pinna, a Muslim, and Father John Anderson, an Orthodox Christian priest, discuss various aspects of Islamic law, particularly focusing on "Zina" (adultery or illicit sexual relations). They explore how threats of sexual violence, such as rape, violate Islamic principles, including the prohibition against violence unless in self-defense, and how such threats also fall unde...

This interview between John Pinna and Joseph Atwill revolves around Atwill's controversial thesis from his book Caesar's Messiah , which posits that the Gospels were a Roman invention designed to quell Jewish messianic rebellions during the first century. Atwill argues that the Flavian emperors, particularly Vespasian and his son Titus, fabricated the figure of Jesus as a peaceful, pro-Roman messi...

In this interview, John Pinna speaks with Abbie Hafez about her journey from Christianity to Islam. Abbie discusses growing up in a small Christian community in Michigan, her unexpected move to Dubai, and her gradual exposure to Islam through her Muslim husband. She describes the profound emotional and spiritual impact of reading the Quran and praying for the first time, which led to her conversio...

In this podcast interview, Rabbi Sarah Noyovitz ("Rabbi Noyo") and John Pinna engage in a thoughtful conversation centered on the power of language in multi-faith dialogues, particularly regarding sensitive issues like the Israel-Palestine conflict. They explore how certain charged words, like "genocide," can halt meaningful conversations and discuss the importance of using language that facilitat...

Troy Gramling is pastor of Potential Church, a fast-growing church based in the Fort Lauderdale area with over 20,000 members. He recently released his new book, the title of which is "Potential: The Uncontainable Power of God Within You." In this interview, Elliot Toman engages Troy in a discussion about his definition of success in the context of Christian ministry, and his experiences transitio...

The conversation between John Pinna and Father John Anderson on the podcast centers around the role of political debates in U.S. elections, particularly reflecting on a recent debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. They criticize the current state of media-driven debates, viewing them as spectacle rather than informative discourse, arguing that debates should focus on policy specifics rath...

Dr. James Beacham is a physicist at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN. He researches phenomena such as dark matter and quantum black holes, and is known for his advocacy for next-generation collider experiments at higher energies. In addition to his research, he regularly speaks around the globe about the future of science, technology, and society. In this podcast interview, John Pinna and Dr. Bea...

Dr. Hayes shares his journey from atheism to Christianity, detailing his experiences with the occult and a profound spiritual encounter that led him to faith. The conversation also touches on the intersection of science and religion, particularly how Dr. Hayes reconciles his work as a nuclear physicist with his Christian beliefs. He emphasizes the importance of understanding both purpose and funct...