Iqbal Akhtar

Interfaiths

Religion EN ↓ 56 episodes

The Interfaiths podcast , hosted by Prof. Dr. Iqbal Akhtar , an Associate Professor of Religious Studies and International Relations at Florida International University (FIU), offers a scholarly and deeply engaged exploration of interfaith cooperation. The podcast distinguishes itself by moving beyond theoretical dialogue to focus on tangible, real-world applications of interfaith work, making it a crucial resource for the next generation of religious and civic leaders. The central mission of the podcast is to dissect and understand the dynamics of interfaith relations through two primary lens...

Author

Iqbal Akhtar

Episodes

Interfaiths: From Porto to Miami: Jewish Identity, Campus Climate, and the Path to Dialogue 24.12.2025 21:40

In this episode of Interfaiths , we sit down with Jason, an undergraduate student at Florida International University, to explore the diverse textures of modern Jewish identity. Jason shares his unique backstory growing up in Porto, Portugal—a city where he was often the only Jewish person his age—and the culture shock of moving to Miami’s vibrant, highly visible Jewish community. The conversation...

Interfaiths: One Moon, Many Phases- A Monk’s Journey of Renunciation and Art 24.12.2025 36:30

In this episode of the Interfaiths Project, Professor Iqbal Akhtar sits down with Haridas, the secretary of the Sacred Vedic Arts Temple in Miami, for a deep dive into the intersection of personal identity, devotion, and religious transition. Born into a Jewish family in New York, Haridas shares his candid story of navigating corporate anxiety and spiritual emptiness before discovering the transfo...

Interfaiths: The Monsoon Winds of Identity- From Najaf to Zanzibar with Dr. Ibrahim Al-Marashi 24.12.2025 33:30

In this episode of the Interfaiths podcast, we are joined by historian Dr. Ibrahim Al-Marashi for a fascinating journey through a family history that defies modern geopolitical borders. We trace his lineage from his grandfather—a cleric fighting the British in the 1920s Iraqi insurgency who fled to become a spiritual leader for the Khoja community in Zanzibar—to his mother’s hidden Syriac Orthodox...

Interfaiths 21: FIU Students Sarah Currea and Serhan Özgül on Bridging Divides 24.12.2025 43:42

Join Professor Iqbal Akhtar and FIU students Sarah Currea and Serhan Özgül for a powerful conversation about interfaith dialogue in the face of global conflict. In this episode of the FIU Interfaith Podcast, Sarah and Serhan share their personal journeys with religion and their experiences in FIU's Jewish-Muslim Dialogue group. They discuss the challenges of discussing sensitive topics like the Is...

Interfaiths: Interview by Phillip Lwiza of Nabila Yusuf 01.12.2025 55:55

My name is Nabila Yusuf, and I am a 23-year-old master’s student of History at Bayero University Kano, Northern Nigeria. Education has always been my path to freedom, and I have worked hard to support myself fully, without external financial or family assistance. Despite the obstacles, I have remained committed to building a future in which my research and advocacy can give African women and youth...

Interfaiths: Interview with Prof. Dr. Mohammad Homayounvash 10.06.2025 32:12

Welcome to the premiere episode of the Interfaiths podcast with Dr. Iqbal Akhtar. In this episode, we are honored to host Dr. Mohammad Homayounvash, Director of the Jaffer Institute for Interfaith Dialogue and Education at Miami Dade College. Together, they discuss the critical shift from "hardcore" international security studies to a more holistic approach that includes civilizational and religio...