Society Builders

The first in a series of episodes exploring what effective social action looks like in practice.  In this episode we focus on social action facilitated through individual initiative. Our guest is Faegheh Evans who for over 20 years has been offering 'Spiritual Parenting' courses to almost 700 people in the Perth metro area.  We provide an overview of her curriculum, explore its relation with the c...

An exploration of the Universal House of Justice's Ridvan message of 2026 reviewing progress over the past phase of the Nine Year Plan and priorities moving forward. Includes discussion of the state of the world, 'profound, insightful conversations', a framework for hope, and new patterns for community life.  The episode concludes with the song: "Ridvan 2026" exploring themes from the message. Con...

Explore how to engage in meaningful conversations about the turmoil in Iran without falling into division or despair.  Centered on the principle of constructive resilience, it reveals a powerful alternative to protest—one rooted in unity, service, and spiritual clarity.  Through historical insight and practical guidance, listeners are invited to transform concern into action, navigate difficult qu...

An exploration of the Universal House of Justice's message to the Conference of the Continental Board of Counsellors on December 31, 2025.   The episode explores progress in the Plan as it approaches the end of its first phase and provides an exciting glimpse of new patterns as clusters move beyond the third milestone.  This includes new patterns of collaboration with wider society. The episode co...

An exploration of the Universal House of Justice's Ridvan message for 2025.  Includes an exploration of the construct of 'hope' - a summary of key achievements over the past year - and an appeal based on the urgency of the hour.  The episode concludes with an original song, "Ridvan 2025", exploring key themes in the message. Contents: 0:00 Introduction 1:28 A dark, dark world 3:56 A focus on hope...

An exploration of two key messages by the Universal House of Justice exploring Bahá’í  family life: The message of March 19th, 2025 and its Naw Ruz message (2025) to the Baha'is of Iran. We explore the evolution of a new construct in our new Society Building aspirations: 'The Bahá’í Home' - focusing on marriage, family, community and the role of family in elevating conditions in wider society. The...

An exploration of Bahá’í-inspired approaches to social action, one of the key pillars of 'society building'.   In Part Four, we explore how our approaches need to facilitate learning in action across four stages: Action, reflection, consultation and study which is framed by application of the Creative Word and scientific analysis. The episode concludes with the original song "Learning Together in...

An exploration of Bahá’í-inspired approaches to social action, one of the key pillars of 'society building'.   In Part Three we explore the power of capacity building - and how even impossible dreams can be met as we cultivate this capacity.  We explore this on three levels of capacity building: for the individual; for institutions; and for the community.  This episode sets the stage for the final...

An exploration of Bahá’í-inspired approaches to social action, one of the key pillars of 'society building'.   In Part Two, we explore how our approaches should be participatory, giving agency to all.  We discuss how this builds on the construct of 'universal participation' and frame agency as both right and responsibility.  We conclude by focusing on the change each of us can make in our lives an...

An exploration of Bahá’í-inspired approaches to social action, one of the key pillars of 'society building'.   In Part One, we explore two key principles: Organic Growth (that initiatives should start small and grow over time) and coherence (finding balance between our material and spiritual needs). CONTENTS 0:00 Introduction 5:10 Organic Growth 20:13 Coherence 29:06 Closing Thoughts

The third and final episode in a sequence exploring Bahá’í-inspired approaches to depolarization. Part three explores how to break false binaries and how to optimize conditions for contact between antagonistic groups, including a strong positive-to-negative ratio, facilitating synchronicity, empowering participant agency, dialog over debate and the role of theories of change.

An exploration of Bahá’í-inspired approaches to depolarization building on what we've been learning over the past few episodes from the world's leading luminaries in this discourse. Part Two explores what we can do to help 're-humanize' the other and how we can better listen to and understand others so that they truly feel 'heard'. CONTENTS 0:00 Introduction 3:19 Re-Humanization 18:51 Active Liste...

An exploration of Bahá’í-inspired approaches to depolarization building on what we've been learning over the past few episodes from the world's leading luminaries in this discourse. Part One explores what we can do to limit the influence of toxic polarization in our own lives and how we can best regulate our own behavior so we don't unintentionally contribute to the problem. Show notes: Dr. Peter...

An exploration of the Ridvan Message of 2024 by the Universal House of Justice. The message explores the interaction between the forces of disintegration and integration at work in the world today - highlighting the inescapable need for a sustained, rapid rise in the number of those committing their time, energy and concentration to the success of our peace-building initiatives. CONTENTS: 0:00 Int...

In this episode we explore the recent message which the Universal House of Justice sent to the Baha'is in Iran on Naw Ruz (March 20th, 2024).  The message is not only important for the love and admiration which the Universal House of Justice showers on the Persian Bahá’i community, suffering under intense and relentless persecution, but also because in many ways, it represents the next chapter, bu...

An interview with Nealin Parker, Executive Director of Common Ground USA, exploring the range of like-minded organizations contributing to depolarization (including over 6,700 such organizations in the US alone). Nealin explores the different approaches such organizations take and provides guidance on how to find collaborators, assess  their quality and best engage with them. She also explores the...

An interview with Dr. Lisa Schirch, a global authority on social media's impact on polarization.  Here, Dr. Schirch explains how the algorithms that drive social media platforms favor polarization, a force further amplified by malicious foreign actors exploiting the platforms. She also explores solutions at the individual level designed to improve our media diet and improve our etiquette of expres...

An interview with Andrea Bartoli, former dean of a number of prestigious conflict resolution schools; diplomat; and President of the Sant'Egidio Foundation for Peace and Dialogue.   Andrea shares insights from his participation in a number of successful peace initiatives, starting with efforts that brought an end to the civil war in Mozambique.  He also shares lessons learned through Sant'Egidio,...

On November 28, 2023, the Universal House of Justice shared its message providing a history of our organic evolution as a community over the past hundred years.  This episode explores parts of that message addressing the 'society building' focus across four key themes: the organic evolution of initiatives, our interaction with wider society, principles for society building and the interplay betwee...

An interview with Rabbi Roly Matalon sharing his efforts to promote depolarization including an amazing exchange which saw representatives of his very progressive-liberal congregation living with MAGA supporters for three days - followed by their living with his congregation for three days.  The results of this exchange will move you and highlight the power of personal transformation in better lea...

An interview with global pioneer in mediation training, Gary Friedman, co-founder of the Center for Understanding in Conflict which has trained over 10,000 mediators.  Gary has taught at both Harvard and Stanford and for the World Intellectual Property Organization in Geneva and the American Bar Association and is the author of three books.  In this episode, Gary shares his 'understanding-based' m...

An interview with award-winning scholar, Dr. Peter Coleman, sharing his research at Columbia University's 'Difficult Conversations Lab', exploring the variables best contributing to bringing antagonistic groups closer together. In this 'power hour', discover the main principles which have emerged in the scientific literature for effective depolarization.  This includes the benefits of complicating...

An interview with award-winning journalist Amanda Ripley who shares insights on the science of bringing antagonistic groups together based on her recent best-selling book, High Conflict: Why We Get Trapped and How We Get Out.   Includes discussion on evidence-based strategies for depolarization and on  how the Baha'i community serves as a role model in this arena. CONTENTS 0:00 Introduction 5:20 B...

How can you best engage withe the prevalent discourses of society?  In this episode, we explore FIVE stages one should consider in engaging with a discourse: Prioritizing which discourse to engage with. 'Reading society' and getting familiar with the discourse. Immersion in the Baha'i Writings in search of relevant insights. Sharing insights in ways that be best understood and welcomed. Reflection...

The term 'discourse' means different things to different academic disciplines.  There's a difference, for example, between political vs. scientific discourse.  In this episode, we explore what discourse means to Baha'is, focusing on five key characteristics: 1. A unifying focus; 2. We view discourse as consultative; 3. We strive for an uplifting approach; 4. Our contributions are principled; 5. We...